A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

Today, I'll only add a couple of techie things that could nearly go without saying. They involve:

The Windows Vista SP1 Upgrade

My PlayStation 3 Upgrade to V2.2

I updated Vista to Service Pack 1 at least a week ago. I hadn't had a lick of trouble with Vista before the 440 megabyte download and have had none since. With a sufficiently capable hardware, I wouldn't fear advising anyone run the newest OS from Microsoft. The software's bad press may have more to do with people being politically correct (by being anit-MS) than any actual trouble with the code. My update was mostly a non-event except for one fact. After the 45 minutes of installation, the computer didn't start up with the built-in web server online. I do have to add that all the previous configuration data was there, I just needed to open the ISS and click start.



Earlier this week, the other upgrade went without much fanfare as well. Back when I first talked about buying a PlayStation as a Blu-ray player, it was because none of the existing players for sale were ready for the implementation of profile 2.0. In the most recent update, my PS3 suddenly gained this as a new feature. Boy, I'm the first on the block for this one! That means it can access the addition of Internet features on a BD. Since the first release with any interactivity isn't due for another ten days, that's pretty much a moot point at the moment. One useful enhancement is that if one stops viewing a DVD or Blu-ray disc, the player remembers the exact location. Even if one removes the disc in the interim, it'll remember. That's useful, except I generally watch things straight through anyway.

Some people think that upgrading is a hassle. On the other hand, I tend to salute companies who make firmware improvements rather than attempting to sell a whole new piece of equipment for each baby-step forward.

Labels: PS3, software, Windows

I run some of Microsoft's Home Productivity software. I was really hooked on their Digital Image products but they pulled the rug out from under me and have completely dropped that product line. I cannot quite understand why it's not profitable to keep publishing newer versions. I learned to love the software's interface and still find it extremely intuitive for most of my needs. This fall I ran out to get Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 and have tried to make the transition. More often than not, however, I simply open up the now defunct Microsoft program.

Apparently the same is happening with the localized version of MS Money. I am still using the 2006 copy and as it's a tax write-off would surely upgrade if given the opportunity. Unfortunately, the only offering in Canada is for a base option that cannot open files created in previous versions.

Rather than the normal rants against Microsoft for what they're doing, I'd like to go on record for being disappointed by what they're not doing. Namely, I'd like updates to my favourite, old MS Home software.

Labels: complaints, money, software

Tax season is officially here. In Canada the main form from the employer must arrive by the end of February. It's called a T4 slip. In the past, I'd always waited until that form arrived in my mailbox before going out to buy QuickTax, the software that allows individuals to prepare their own tax returns. It's pretty straight-forward and the software helps one get the details correct. I especially like the ability to play with what/if scenarios.

I cannot remember exactly, but I'd say that I've been filing directly from my computer for at least four or five years. Actually, I really can't recall when I last drove to drop off a printed form in the Surrey office of Revenue Canada. Any owed tax or rebates are all done through electronic banking too.

This year, though, was the first time I could view my own T4 statement directly from BCIT web services. So as to be less paper dependent, and of course more environmentally friendly, I think I'll forgo purchasing the software on CD in a box this year. If I download the program, then I will help to continue the trend toward paperless taxes.

Labels: government, Internet, software

I once purchased a boxed copy of Pinnacle Studio V9 so I could edit camcorder tapes. I think I only managed one project with it. That software just didn't seem to work like I do. I don't mind occasionally wasting money on computer software as I really have bought very little over the past two decades. The total cost has been very little if compared to the money I've dumped into hardware since the mid-1980's.

I defaulted to another video editing program. I got a free working evaluation copy of Ulead MovieFactory V3.0 that came with a LG DVD drive once. I used it for the tools as well as putting together video. I liked it so much I bought an online version 5.0 of it in 2006. Since then, I've managed to create a number discs with vacation videos. I like how the basic interface works. It functions well in 16x9 mode with the captured files from our old Sony camcorder.



Today, I decided I could upgrade the software. It's now owned by Corel Corporation. The price of MovieFactory 6.0 Plus was heavily discounted as I had the product key from the previous version. It was all seamlessly selected, paid for, downloaded, and installed after lunch. The program and bonus disk weighed in at over 800 megabytes, but .. hey .. that's why we have broadband, right? Now I'm already to eventually burn on Blu-ray or HD-DVD whichever wins as a computer storage solution.

Now I've got a new problem though. It'd be damn nice to work with files from true High-Def. video source. It's okay; I only work in order to buy trips and toys for myself.

Labels: HDTV, software

There's a dearth of good podcast aggregator software for those of us who refuse to hop on the iTunes bandwagon. The Zencast software from the folks at Creative works well enough but it feels clunky and odd.

I heard rumors that podcasting was being integrated into the new Microsoft Zune software. It shouldn't matter much that I don't have one. I sort of believe there might eventually be one in my future. Anyhow, I simply wanted something to fetch my podcasts and arrange them nicely in a sub-directory on my hard disk. SyncToy would be able to quickly move them to my Zen Stone.



It works but I have a few comments about the Zune software. The first problem is that I live in Canada. That in no way sounds like a problem until I learned that excludes me from participating at all. I am well aware that the local shops don't carry the devices but there are major malls just across the border from most Canadian cities, eh? If I type in my hotmail address I get shown quickly to a page which says:

The Zune service is not yet available in your region.
Thanks for your interest! Please continue to check Zune.net for the latest news and information.

Yeah, thanks a lot, indeed.

Even with Web 2.0 I still sort of like Redmond's insistence in having code sit on each local machine. I somewhat still agree that life shouldn't entirely be experienced though a browser. It is possible to just download the software alone, so I did. The software recognized my IP as being north of border!

I installed. The software seems to be typically Microsoftish. What that means is in about three releases from now it'll unusable. Then after another, it'll be rock solid and soon catch up in popularity to iTunes. That should be in about five years, I'd say. First off, software developers, please allow us to cut and paste into the add-podcast box. How did you let it out the door with that major fault? Nobody wants to type in an arcane xml URL. In addition, let us do a complete podcast update with single button. As it stands I have no idea when it's going to pick up my feeds. Lastly, it'd surely be nice to have it run in the background. You know what I mean. When I close, I want it running over by the clock and not be forced to keep it open on the task bar. These seem like such simple things that I cannot understand how it was released these annoyances. How come I never get to beta anything? Send me a free 80GB Zune and I'll give you more useful advice ...

The interface is somewhat appealing so I allowed it to rummage through my music collection. I think under most circumstances I'll probably use it to locate and play music rather than running MediaPlayer.

Labels: Creative Zen, opinions, podcasts, software, Windows

This afternoon around half of my students gave their course presentations during class. In the COMM 0004 courses, I have been having the students take on the same topic. Over the years, I've learned a tremendous amount of new information and today's presentations were no exception. I guess one way someone can be a life-long learner is by teaching!

Students seem to be increasingly adept at using MS PowerPoint.

Here's the assignment:

Required Topic on a Local Business
Each student in our class must pick a business that he/she has used while in Vancouver. It may sell a product or provide a service. Concepts and terms used in other college-level courses are expected and encouraged. In other words, your classmates are professionals, so make sure your presentation is too. In advance of the presentation dates, I will ask you to write a memo where you’ll state the name of the business you’ve chosen and the topic you will discuss about it.

Research for this project must prove the presenter has used primary and secondary research techniques. Every presenter should draw up suitable questions and interview someone connected with the business. Researching information from the Internet only would not be considered suitable preparation.

Necessary Length
Each presentation will last eight to ten minutes. Additional time will be used for a question-and-answer period. All questions must be answered fluently.

Use of Visual Aids
A minimum of two overhead-transparencies must be used during the talk. I may be able to arrange lab time for those who wish to use MS PowerPoint; however, you’ll have to let me know in advance of your presentation. Many students use one for an outline that helps to introduce the talk.

Group Evaluation Procedures
Please note that you will be ‘ranking’ your classmates on a ‘scale’. The lower end of the scale means that improvement is needed; whereas, the top of the scale means that the person was truly outstanding. Students will fill in each area as the person is giving his/her presentation. Giving honest and useful appraisal is an important skill that will be useful in many of your future jobs.

Labels: BCIT, software

CHANGE IS GOOD
Every so often, it's good to change the way one works. This is especially true with computers although a switch often feels painful at first. I think it's natural to feel resistance in having to relearn skills. After the initial disorientation, however, one probably barrels though tasks more efficiently. Internet Explorer 7 is a case in point. I've been running it for years now, beginning back when it was just a beta on XP. Now, when I leave the confines of Vista for my work PC, I find it a chore to work with the previous version. All my increased productivity in the new version doesn't help me cope in dealing with the old code.

OUT WITH THE OLD
I've really grown to love the simplicity of the Microsoft's image editing products. The interface seems to match so well to the things I want to do. In fact, it's so easy to touch up digital photos, that almost none touch my Flickr account unedited. I like to think I can take anything out of the camera and make it better. Due to this fact, I felt anger when I first discovered that Microsoft has dropped its Digital Image products.

IN WITH THE NEW
I decided that I had to move on although my old copy of Digital Image Pro works fine on this new computer. As it would no longer be upgraded, I wanted to migrate to a more popular package. Yesterday, I picked up Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 at the BCIT Bookstore. It must be more popular as it can be used as a verb nowadays. As I begin using the product, I'll let you know how much pain is needed for the switch.

Labels: opinions, software

I can hardly believe that I've spent from sunrise til sunset playing with computer equipment. The day just dashed by. I can almost see why some regular people hate fiddling with a PC. I feel, however, that it was a rather delightful thing to do on a horribly rainy day. Additionally, the reason I bought the new equipment is that I'm not working this week. See, I'm smart and knew it'd take an effort to move over all my life from my previous living room desktop.

I ordered the new box on Friday and picked it up yesterday. Were it not for a rather serious problem, I'd have been up and running much sooner. I wasted a lot of time yesterday. I should restate the problem here, so that Googlebots will catch some of the text and prevent someone else from going half crazy.

I got an Asus P5K motherboard. I also got a fresh copy of Vista loaded onto the computer's new drive. I got through the 35 important updates from Microsoft Update and got many other peripherals sorted out. When I re-ran Update it showed a new driver for the on board LAN card among others. I let it rip. Then, Vista would not load. It snagged on the opening screen with the little 'loading line' indicating indicating no progress. I deftly went to the ASUS site and downloaded the newest drivers from the Attansic L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller. I tried and tried by couldn't get the driver loaded without it seemingly hanging the system again. I was at my wit's end and about ready to run to purchase a network adapter card that would fit in a free slot. At last, I decided to check on the Internet.

It seems the driver on Windows Update somehow messed things up. Rebooting the machine didn't clear the board enough to allow for the installation of the correct drivers.

You know what the fix included? I simply had to unplug the computer from the outlet for 30 seconds! I've been playing with Intel PC's since the mid-80's and this is isn't the first time that completely turning off the computer has fixed things, I guess. Damn.

I'm running fine now with a four core processors humming on the Q6600 chip! Time to use some 64-bit applications ...

Labels: complaints, Hardware, software

I feel very sad that nobody I know, Twitters.
I was born way too early, I guess.

Labels: Internet, sharing, software

I had all my final exam papers corrected by one o'clock in the afternoon. Nowadays, I always use BCIT's online grade-book during the term. In that way, students can check marks online as the course progresses. I stopped keeping track on Excel spreadsheets a few terms back. That's how I kept track right from my first class at Burnaby in 1997.

This means that I've been signing teaching contracts with the British Columbia Institute of Technology for ten years! I've never worked anyplace for such a long time. It sounds a little scary. People work only four or four and a half decades at best but I've just finished one.



Back to what I was starting to say, an advantage of the online grade book shines when it comes to completing final marks. I simply click on a few links and all the data is automatically calculated and transferred. I am only required to enter attendance data and a special form if there were any failed students. Then viola, the job's done. It is sent off to be approved by a supervisor and then electronically proceeds to the registrar.

I like technology a lot, but then I've always chosen only what I feel makes my life easier. For example, I manage to completely avoid voice mail at work. My message redirects callers to my cell. If I am busy, I simply don't answer. People who do not have clear boundaries may end up stressed out by the additional demands placed on them by technology. I'd rather think I use it only to lessen my responsibilities or, at least, become a little more efficient.

Labels: BCIT, opinions, software, technology

During the evening classes, my students are often involved in group study. As we meet in a very up-to-date computer lab, they also have many projects where they have to work with CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) software. Pronunciation Power is a useful program that really can provide results. Another program, Focus on Grammar is a great deal more interesting than it sounds because it has all the skill areas included in a simple interface. I like to use commercial programs for teaching but they often are not necessary in order to make use of the equipment.

I frequently use the Internet to have my students do more normal things but add an educational goal. For example right now, they have scoured the Internet for a picture they'd like to describe. Next, they are going to open Creative's WaveStudio and describe the photo for ninety seconds. Lastly, they'll save the photo and the audio file in a special class folder so others can listen and view the results.

All the while, I can comfortably sit at the instructor's computer in front of the room. This is rare as I'm usually all over a classroom when teaching. Presently, from the front desk, I can call up what is happening on every screen in the room. The program is called NetSupport School and I've found that spying is rather fun!

Labels: BCIT, computer lab, software, technology

I rather think of audio books as cassette tapes for people who have a long, boring, daily commute. I can still be so eighties.

Today, on this rainy morning, after returning from weekly grocery shopping, I explored something new for me: digital audio books. I had briefly played with free classic audio books years ago when I used my ancient iPAQ. I just never made much time for listening. Today, however, I accidental stumbled on real offerings though my public library. Many British Columbia libraries have banded together and are implementing new opportunities.



The system is quite interesting as one really checks out the digital files by using one's library card. It's due back in 14 days and due to Microsoft digital rights management, it will expire. There's software that needs to be downloaded for each computer by Overdrive. That company seems to be positioning itself well for a future in all aspects of digital media.

There's now 60-minutes of survival Czech playing. It'll probably be of little help when we spend a few days in Prague but gosh! Maybe I have to cave in and pick up a $50 mp3 player!

Labels: library, software

The sun is shining robustly. (Is that a way it can shine?) I'm on a 15 minute break. I probably would've added an entry at home but I was still playing with Windows Vista on the home PC.

Sometime during last year, I upgraded to a 300 gigabyte drive with the intention of doing a fairly clean installation of Windows XP Pro. I thought if I kept things to a minimum, then my eventual upgrade to Vista would be more stable. By last night, that drive had been filled with bits and pieces of tattered software debris. Still, the upgrade installation of Vista Business proceeded well. It surely took a long time though.

The first few hours with the Aero interface wasn't a problem. In fact, the way the Windows glide around is slightly seductive. I'm sure it'll all seem 'old hat' by Friday.

My one major headache remains getting the Internet Server up and running. My old XP Pro had server extensions allowed and the new software has turned off W3SCV. Although the interface for daily computing functions seems streamlined and improved, managing deeper services is still tough. I've got too much going on on the work front at the moment, but I plan on getting re-acquainted with my living room PC on Friday, my free day.

Labels: software, Windows

Last night, I was searching through a CD filled with archived computer files for inspiration. I have a desire to sometimes dip into my past for these blog entries. If I'm attempting to have a documented existence I have a lot of catching up to do. Although I've been blogging for coming up on three and a half years, I had a great deal of life before that! In fact, the figure stands at a scary 44 years. So, a snippet or two from my monstrously-large past is added here from time to time.

I navigated to folders that once existed on the computer I had sent from Dubai. When we moved here, it was near top of the line with a 12 gigabyte hard disk. I think the processor was a P133. The sub-directories quietly exist on a +R compact disk now. I ended up spending more time than I anticipated looking through the ten or eleven year old files. The MS Excel spreadsheets were interesting as I used to track monthly expenses that way. The MS Word documents may have included the very cover letter that got me an interview at BCIT. There were old .jpg files although they were mostly poor-quality scans. Among the debris, I found many things I could've included in today's blog entry. Yet, I ended up copying the following tiny 18K file for inclusion.


The tiny 18K .mid file plays for 6:18 minutes.

This sort of showcases how much more we expect from a PC nowadays. I found a substantial collection of MIDI files. They are tiny files with instructions for a sound card's synthesiser and contain no actual sound themselves. It was fun to actually hear anything through the basic desktop speakers. Compare that with video programs I now routinely record from TV through a capture card. A half an hour of Little Mosque on the Prairie has a file size approximately 100 thousand times larger.

Labels: Dubai, file archives, software

I rather looked forward to writing something here today. It's now Thursday afternoon. I'm sitting at the teachers' workstation and my students are making use of the comfortable environment in our computer lab. Nevertheless, they are writing midterm examinations with pen and paper.

For at least a decade, I've been waiting for the day when a larger portion of my classes will be via a network. I started teaching Communication classes for ESL students at BCIT ten years ago. From those first classes, I received occasional student work in electronic form. I can remember using class sets of floppy discs. When was the last time I handled one of those? Nowadays, a much larger portion of classroom management occurs online because of myBCIT. They do assignments in specialized message board areas, write email, and share files.

Yet on those dreaded days of midterm and final exams, it all goes back to an exam booklet and a pencil. Will we still be stuck in their weird anachronism in 2017?


This fuzzy scan is one decade old and shows some students
from one of my first classes at BCIT in the autumn of 1997.

Labels: myBCIT, software, students

When a new course starts up, the writings in my eJournal and images tend to be a little more abbreviated. When I have lots of extra paperwork to do, I have a bit less time to devote to this blog. I also might be a little more myopic than usual but this, of course, is open for discussion.



At the start of every term, I again find new appreciation in how the web has made class organization and administration easier. I'm sure if you search, over the past few years I've mentioned myBCIT here a number of times.

I truly appreciate my colleagues, yet I cannot understand why none make use of this wonderful resource. It makes things easier! I can pester students with facts, documents, and assignments at any time of the day or night. Over the years, I have come to realize I really am a very special breed. Generally social people keep away from technology like the plague and nerdy folks play only with machines. I'm a rare combination as ...

I have extraordinary talent with both!

Labels: blogging, feelings, myBCIT, software, technology

From my first class at BCIT, I've used MS Excel spreadsheets to track marks. Right from the onset, I knew that making a few cell formulas would be easier than sitting with a calculator at the end of the term. This is because there are a number of marks to calculate. For example, here are the COMM 0004 components:

Weekly Writing Assignments 45%

Midterm Examination 15%

Oral Presentation 10%

Quizzes and myBCIT Message Board 5%

Final Examination 25%.

Although I started at the BC Institute of Technology in the autumn of 1997, the first .xls file I could quickly put my hands on is from September of 1998.

Chang, Chiao-Yun (Joey)
Chiang, Tai Hsien (Lisa)
Cho, Kyung Hoon (Kelvin)
Kang, Hyun Joo (Jeannie)
Kim, Tayleen
Kunitate, Ricaco (Rica)
Lai, Hung-Jui (Jim)
Lau, Pui (Elizabeth)
Lin Jiao (Vivian)
Lin, Yu-Wen (Tina)
Song, Hong Jin (Jin)
Tai, Fang Chi (Debbie)
Wan, Han Tsung (John)
Won, Sat Ching (Carol)
Wong, Tze Ming (Jasmine)
Wu, Yueh His (Brian)
Yen, Tsung Heng (Louis)

I could still check each of their grade components. I wonder where those students are today? I'll include them so if they Google themselves, they can drop me a line!

Labels: lists, myBCIT, software, students

An envelope arrived in the mailbox yesterday. As soon as I got home from work and a few errands, I unsealed it. It was software I'd ordered from a Wisconsin company through eBay. Maybe I should give you a little background.

During the vacation in Sri Lanka, I made a few resolutions right in this blog. First, I said that I was going to lose a bit of weight. The first week back I bought new digital bathroom scales and I'm pleased to say that I average between one and two kilograms lighter than the day I got them. My other promise to myself was to learn a little Sinhala.

Although language acquisition is part of my livelihood, I generally deal with Intermediate to High Intermediate learners of English. It has been years since I worked with beginners. As for my own skills in any other language beside English, well let's just say, I have none.



The people in the screenshot above have the patience of Job. (Either the company uses the same man and woman for all their language series or these folks are Burghers!) I put the disc in the drive and when I looked at the clock again an hour had passed. I still have a bit of trouble distinguishing between the men's washroom and passport. Also, it should be noted that hotel, credit card and water sound nearly the same as in the language I already use. Remarkably, I still feel that I learned more Sinhala language in the hour than I had since first visiting Sri Lanka in the 1980's.

Jay is a patient fellow but I don't think he could bear an hour of flashcard flipping just so I could memorize a dozen vocabulary words. Excuse me if I end this entry now. I am itching to get back to my "Essential words and phrases for absolute beginners."

Labels: software

The Internet has everything, or so I thought. I'd never before been able to come up with a topic on which I couldn't find copious amounts of information.

I was recently admiring satellite views of the world through Google Earth. Back when personal computers were new and I worked overseas, I used to collect pirated software. In the Gulf, in the eighties, there were no avenues to purchase authentic copies. I was reminded of a very early program I once used. A company called BlueSky Software once created IBM-compatible software called PC Globe.

I came up nearly empty on the Internet. I only discovered a bit about the company and the titles they produced but very little about when the specific piece of software in question was released. What I really want to see is a view of the, then state-of-the-art, CGA graphics that it boasted. Suddenly I remembered, I could double check on PC Globe by looking at my Software Games from 1989 pdf. Unfortunately, the 5 1/4 inch bendable floppy disc I was thinking about is not listed there at all.

It's a bit sad to think that something created within the last twenty years can vanish so completely. This is especially poignant as computers are what the Internet is all about. I've been unsuccessful in my search. Please drop me a line if you know anything about BlueSky's PC Globe. I volunteer to be a resource and will even write up an entry for Wikipedia!



Today, it's possible to even zoom in on the very neighbourhood where I grew up. I'm 5,000 kilometers from that location and maybe that adds to the romanticism of being able to look where my feet trod over 45 years ago.

Labels: computers, games, Google, Internet, New Hampshire, software

I could be Martin Scorsese. Okay, well maybe not.

When I was a kid I used to shoot 3-minute rolls of Super8 film. My family often spent weekends camping at Waterville Valley in the NH White Mountains. Although it was about 70 miles we'd stay at a campground in the National Forest. In the autumn of 1973, at the age of 14, I spliced together a whole summer's worth of movies onto a bigger reel. I added commentary and music on a cassette tape. I'd synch 'em up and put on a show. In that decade, I never could've imagined the day we'd have digital tape.

Now it is frightfully easy to capture adventures. I only need to plug the Firewire cable into my old Sony HC-40. Instantly, I'm given the option to copy to the drive from inside Ulead's Movie Factory 5. I've tried others, but paid for Movie Factory because it's designed to go through the process the same way I think. It takes a while to get the data on the drive. Then, I simply cut out parts I don't want, select a menu and write to DVD. The results are easy to access once on disc and inherently copyable in that form. This discs are full of colour and sound in a way which still-photography can't match.

This afternoon, I mailed a copy of our vacation in Sri Lanka to Jay's brother. He's working out of the country. It's been a long time since he's seen his wife, daughters, and the construction on a new home. He will love watching the DVD, I'm sure.

I don't know why I'm not creative more often. Doing a project today is a hell of a lot simpler than playing with Super8 film and a cassette!

Labels: sharing, software, technology

Yesterday, I downloaded the release candidate of Windows Vista. Why not? This is the fun part of computer ownership as far as I'm concerned. If I didn't like the thrill of taking things apart and tweaking them, I'd probably run the Mac OS. This action has caused me to consider how computer software is changing.



Once upon a time, a web browser was just for displaying static information and images. As proof of new directions, just a few days ago Flickr mashed up with Yahoo maps. How fun to drop my personal photos onto a world map! Although a small but exciting improvement, it really highlights the significant changes taking place. One of the versions of the upcoming Windows Vista boasts an improved way of organizing digital images. I'm sorry, but with the likes of Flickr that is already an outdated paradyme. Those functions are arriving at my operating system too late.

Why would I want to organize on my own machine, when I can upload and organize my collection on the Internet? The hot, live implementation means I can access my images wherever I roam. The idea is nice to be able to locate a specific photo from a group of thousands. That is something that an operating system could do. Yet, that is something that Flickr is already doing better for I can link the data to a web page or through email. The PC hasn't been a lone device for many years now.

This is the frightening thing for Microsoft and other traditional software producers. In the future, I will assuredly be buying fewer boxes of shrink-wrapped software to operate on my own CPU. Rather, I will find myself storing and manipulating my data within Web 2.0 applications. This gigantic shift in focus means that Windows Vista may well be the last important operating system upgrade from Redmond. And there's one thing you must know in order to fully appreciate the depth of my viewpoint: I've always loved Microsoft!

Labels: Internet, opinions, software, technology, Windows

For years, I've downloaded new drivers, utilities, and updates for my computers. I've even gotten used to my satellite receiver downloading updates. Yet, I'm still amazed by all the things which I used to think of as equipment having upgradable software too.

I got an email because I registered my Olympus camera online after I bought it. The email indicated that new firmware was available for the SP-350. I could move to the 1.3 version which included some fixes for battery-use indication.

I had never even unsealed the manufacturer's CDROM as I am perfectly happy organizing my photos using the native options in Windows XP. If I wanted to upgrade my camera, however, it instructed I had to do so via the Olympus Master software. I loaded it and and found that even it had a newer version available. I got that up-to-date first.

Next, I followed the instructions and connected the camera to a USB port. It recognized that my current version was only 1.1 and offered to download 1.3 from the Internet. I let it. When it was actually transferring from my hard disk to the camera, there was a nice graphic which showed on the LCD. After two minutes, it simply read, OK. I unplugged everything and turned off the camera. Although I've been carrying it around for eight months now, it's basically brand-new now.

I wonder what version my toaster is running?

Labels: camera, software

In the 80's and early 90's, personal computer technology changed so quickly one had to periodically throw away computers. The growth in the last 10 years really hasn't slowed down but it's become possible to upgrade a bit at a time. The computer case I'm using is yellowed and probably about eight years old. My current motherboard has been running since the very first week that my eJournal and images began in 2003. My CD burner was replaced by DVD burners. I've tripled the RAM from the original 512 megabytes. I had to replace the power supply on two, separate occasions. Just last month a new, 300-gigabyte hard drive replaced a smaller 40 and 120.

In order to keep me running through next year, I need to get a better video card. The Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor told me so.

So after work today, I'm going to pick up my order at my computer store. I also ordered a new LG DVD burner that was on sale to replace the older of the two that are already installed on my system.

This nickel and diming seems as though I'm always buying equipment. Maybe it'd be cheaper just to wait and go back to the old method. I could just toss the equipment every two or three years and buy the freshest technology all in one fell-swoop.

Labels: computers, software, Windows

Twenty years ago, I was simply happy that a computer could capture my keystrokes and let me save the results in a permanent file on floppy disk.

Nowadays, I expect lots more.

I have often thought about dabbling with video. I'm familiar with DVD format and have been copying titles since I first got a DVD burner over two years ago. My equipment had finally caught up to my capabilities; but my software had not. I wasn't happy with the learning curve presented by Studio 9 by Pinnacle. Besides, I had technical problems that their technical support couldn't help solve.

I found myself resorting to a free copy of Ulead's Movie Factory 2.5 that came with one of my DVD burners. Over the last few months, I found myself using it frequently to copy TV segments of science and technology for class. I even burned old analog 8mm video tape from trips to India and Thailand in the early 1990's. It works.

I downloaded the newer trial version of Ulead's Movie Factory 5.0 and I plan on paying them the fifty bucks for the legit copy. It'll be worth it.

Labels: software

I like it when I find some free piece of software that is so useful that I cannot imagine living without it. I discovered one of these the other day on a website. This site was actually microsoft.com!

It's a little program is called synctoy.

I've always been fairly good about backing up data. I've never had a catastrophe either. Once it was easy enough using CD's. Then, I needed the extra heft of a blank DVD in order to keep backup data. Not long ago, however, I've found that even 4.7 gigabytes isn't enough. For example, my digital picture folder is larger than that.

Additionally, I was never a fan of keeping data in a proprietary format. The OneCare Live solution, in which Microsoft is getting its feet wet for subscription services, can do backups. Yet it keeps everything deep inside of a large unreadable file format. I want to keep access to a group of usable files.

Keeping data consistent between my backup external drive, my main PC, and notebook has become a snap with synctoy. It works like xcopy used to in DOS days but it roars along with an easy-to-use Windows interface. Click the thumbnail image to visit the synctoy download page.

(The only reason that might keep anyone from quickly jumping on the bandwagon, is the fact it requires the microsoft.NET framework ver 1.1 on the PC. Some people with dial up could find that 22 megabyte upgrade difficult even though it's also free.)

Labels: software

The weather was fantastic yesterday, so I spent a few hours doing taxes!

It's not too tough to file with software; one doesn't even have sharpen a pencil nor remember how to add. Even though it was Sunday, I completed the whole process. E-filing is a breeze. Then, arranging for the refund or payment is easily handled through online banking. It is so easy, it almost makes sending the government a third of one's money ... fun?

The feeling of having it all done early, did make the rest of the day seem great.

Vancouver was lovely.

Labels: government, software

How much of your time at the keyboard now takes place on the Internet? The change has been a while in coming but I'd say it's here. Nowadays, I spend much more time typing in www.blogger.com, www.gmail.com and my.bcit.ca than in Microsoft Word on my local drive. If my Internet connection were to fail, I'd consider my computer broken.

Whatever did I used to do on pre-Net computers? How did I spend so much time on a PC in the decade from 1985 to 1995? Oh yeah. It was possible do do things with local software only.

Here, I scanned a picture of Jay playing Moonbugs on an old XT-compatible in Bahrain in 1990. Click it to see it on Flickr.

Labels: Bahrain, games, software

In a darkroom, photographers have always been able to lie a little. The term 'dodge and burn' isn't from soccer, you know. With the advent of digital imaging and software manipulation though, it's possible to fool many of the people much of the time.

Here's a car advertisement that I found on the web. I came across it because the background scenery is downtown Vancouver. That's a strange choice for a French company marketing cars in the United Kingdom. Well, perhaps it's not a strange choice if the CGI was done here.

(Patience as the QuickTime file may take a minute to load.) I surely hope the Citroen doesn't do this when it's being driven!

Labels: software

I discovered that my graphics software can stitch together separate photographs into one, large panorama shot. It was very easy to do. Rather ambitiously, I went to the balcony and took five shots. I needed to cover a one-hundred-and-seventy degree view.



Click to load the picture on flickr. This could be very convenient when it's not possible to get everything in the viewfinder. Just being able to take two side-by-side pictures and stitch them together may prove useful. Although I've owned the camera for three and a half years, I also found out that the same effect can be done 'inside' the camera. Live and learn!

Labels: balcony, Flickr, software

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Your Weekends Belong to You (Again)
Sent on August 14, 2005 by Dennis Hurd

This is just a quick note to say that teaching your class seemed very
special. I think generally several students drop out of classes during
a term but not this one! Yours was also the first class in which
there was nearly perfect attendance. (It's okay King ... we're not
angry.) This goes to show that, as a whole, you were a hard-working
group of individuals. Although you come from a variety of backgrounds,
it was a pleasure to see your dedication. There's not a single student
that I'm not proud to have met.

---

I find myself relying more and more on the web interface of myBCIT to communicate with my students. It's especially useful for weekend courses as there's a long period between classes. With nearly 100% Internet access in homes and libraries, I can be assured of 'being in the face' of each student during the week. I've gone into a variety of details in this blog over the last few years.

Message boards free us from paper and allow classmates to read each other's responses. A grade book feature allows each student access to their data online whereas that information used to exist only on a worksheet in my briefcase. I can upload files and photos for sharing. The security factor is very important as the information is available to no outsiders.

An announcement feature shows information right on their screens after login. This is a perfect way to add a homework reminder, restate a key point, or just provide a group message without resorting to email. I can't help but take each course very seriously, and luckily, most other BCIT instructors do too. The first words of this entry 'were announced' after arriving home from yesterday's final class.

Labels: myBCIT, software

The idea is nice but it's easier to stick to big, bad Microsoft. Firefox has had its share of releases due to security lapses. If you know me, you'll understand I've never been one to beat a drum against the Redmond corporation.

Really what's the point in running to install an open source program when the commerical one comes at no extra cost? I guess it just fits some people's need to root for the underdog but it must not fit into my why-bother attitude.

Still there are thanks to those who innovate as, eventually, Microsoft incorporates those 'new ideas' and this makes someone else's innovations standard. You can get a view of what next year's Windows will include by the way of local computer search. To boot, they've added tabbed browsing which is very convenient. It may even change the way you use the web.

Labels: opinions, software

I can't remember exactly when I first realized that basic, image manipulation is an important skill that should be included when teaching computing. Being able to crop, cut, and adjust images will probably be increasingly important in the working lives of many.

Using the right image in a correct manner really can convey the thoughts and emotions of a thousand words.



I liked the original photo which is the view of Vancouver's West End from the Granville Bridge. Although last week's picture is stunning, it seemed easy to modify with a bit of software to add saturation and compression. Now, I feel as though this looks like an artist's rendering. If something can be done by just about anyone, is it still art?

Labels: software

It's amazing how quickly we adapt to changes in technology and then would find it difficult living without. For example, think of banking. Do you remember when you had to stand waiting for a person in order to get your money out?

The image to the left is a slice of a computer screen shot. It shows just part of a page for the current Communication class I'm teaching. How did we function as an educational institute before instantaneous email? The system is exceedingly efficient as students are automatically granted access as soon as their data hits the BCIT registration system. Furthermore, only these students are allowed access to the information at our course homepage. I'm making a determined effort to completely use the facilities this term. Already, I can't imagine living without it.

a) The announcement feature is very important this summer as we only meet on Saturdays and Sundays. This allows me to keep them informed of important schedule changes or just about any important news.

b) Why photocopy an information sheet when I can upload the original file which can be read online? My class has 100% Internet access from home.

c) Instead of writing down a useful URL on the blackboard, it's much easier and more efficient to add it to the links on myBCIT.

d) I remember collecting portfolios in which I would get the students to write a series of short answers on different topics. I had to collect the binders at the end of term to look them over. Now, it's all there, online, under a message board area. I type in a question, they write the answers, and we all can read the results.

Labels: Internet, myBCIT, software

I only know about five other people who own a digital camera. My excitement over Flickr is infectious, but I don't want to keep bugging these folks. Some signed up yesterday, and a few have even uploaded a few photos. I want to jump and shout about Flickr somewhere though. It is so well-designed. I will mention four hints below:

First, use tags well. This is the newest style of organizing things for the hierarchically-challenged. Actually, computing has become so much less organized since DOS days when each and every subdirectory was loving created with the command 'md' and one moved around by 'cd\'ing all over the place. On flickr you won't be worrying about making folders as new photos will just appear in your stream. After you have more than a half dozen, it could be hard to find what you want. Therefore, plan and use your tags well. For example, from the 50 plus photos on the site today, you can view new westminster, burrowing owl, or 1970. It will even keep track of all the tags you've used.

Second, get all your digital-imaging friends involved in Flickr right away. This is because you will have instant access to their uploads whenever you sign on. Right on the first page you'll see photos from your contacts. You might want to allay any fears of those who think privacy is important. They can specify photo as visible to only those deemed as family or friends. Personally, some people go a little overboard about privacy, but then I'm a blogger who just loves to have people stop by and gawk.

Next, an absolutely amazing ability of Flickr is the use of groups. Each of one's individual photos may be offered as visible to a group. That means you search the thousands of topics started by others and contribute matching photos to them. For example, I shared many photos in an official Beautiful BC pool. Do you have a really off-beat topic? You can create your own group and hope others will stop and participate.

Lastly, there's more to each photo page than originally meets the eye. Explore the lower, right-hand side of the screen. For some photos that haven't been edited you may even see the option for more properties. You might even learn some information of which the photographer wasn't aware!

Labels: Flickr, software

I found myself constantly defaulting to a quick and dirty little graphics editor called MS Photo Editor that shipped with Office 95. Although I'm currently running Office 2003, I kept the program on my computer. For some reason, even my old MS Picture It! had become uncooperative after I installed more RAM.

Hell, I thought, images are important to me. So, I ran out and bought MS Digital Image Pro 10. I think a new version is imminent as they're offering a $60 mail-in rebate through BestBuy. The software surely makes photo manipulation easy. Give me a recent photograph, Don, and I can save you thousands on 'procedures'. The interactive demo started with a face photo and I learned to ...

• get rid of red eye
• remove wrinkles
• fix a double chin
• whiten yellowed teeth.

I wanted to give the friends above a gift. So I've decided on a virtual trip to Lake Louise, AB. Even though they haven't visted there yet, I can print up an entire set of vacation pictures for them.

Labels: Don, software, Tim

Finally! I've been waiting for a smooth segue to add this graphic. It's been sitting on my hard drive for a while anticipating the chance to join this blog. In yesterday's entry there was an Acrobat file which showed the game copies I had in 1989. So, now I'm able to include these two screen captures.



Jay maintains this was the only fun computer game. It used to run on my original IBM XT clone's CGA card. He doesn't have much regard for up-to-date equipment because one can't play Moonbugs.

I never use my computer to play games nowadays. Hell, my XBOX sits in a cardboard BOX as I never even manage to fire it up. I would be able to blast people right out of the room with Dolby 5.1 though. It might be I was thinking of this topic because of last month's buzz about the XBOX 360.

Labels: computers, games, software

I have found a temporary work-around to the problems I'm having with www.blogger.com. For some strange reason, after 91 weeks of success, the site will no longer connect to my server. I started writing Blogger support last Wednesday and have not received any response yet. I do have to admit that it is a long weekend in the US, and I doubt there's anyone working on Memorial Day.

I am now publishing to another server. Then, I log onto it with an FTP program and copy selected files to my hard disk. Lastly, I upload them manually to www.DennisSylvesterHurd.com/blog. It's all a bit awkward, but at least it works. Hopefully, I'll soon hear from the friendly blogger.com folks and this situation will be temporary!

It's nice to be back.

---

UPDATE (06/01/05)

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for setting up that test blog for me to test. This problem is being
caused by a networking issue on our servers which we are currently
investigating. We hope to get this resolved as soon as possible, but I'll
send you another email once it's working again. Thanks for your patience
while we work on this.

Sincerely, Graham
Blogger Support

---

Labels: software

I updated to Adobe Reader 7.0 the other day. It is noticeably faster than the previous versions when loading. It's free. If you ever read PDF files and haven't downloaded it, it would be worth your efforts.

This started me thinking about beginning to digitize personal paperwork. It might be possible to throw away a few boxes of old, yellowing documents and historical data. I know the idea might prove an anathema to pack-rat-like historian friends, such as Bret. Yet, I like the idea that I could make the digital incarnations available online too.

In order to give it a try, I played with a free software download that allows one to scan and convert to PDF. I'm a bit hesitant to run out and replace my aging scanner but it might be reasonable. My current one is so ancient that it uses a parallel port. Additionally, I scan in oodles of old pictures for my eJournal and images, so I could consider it a useful investment.



If you click the banner above, you will open my test copy. It is a four page student publication from 1991. I worked at Dubai Men's College in the UAE at that time. This initial class project eventually turned into The Foundations News. I guess my interest in showcasing students' writings is nothing new.

Labels: Dubai, software

In order to work with databases, one needs lots of data to track. That seems obvious enough, yet today I realized I've never even opened Microsoft Access on this computer. Granted there's probably less need as specific applications seem better suited to manage data. I fondly look back at days of teaching myself the difference between a field and a record though.

I first started working with a database when I had to manage lots of student data. In order to keep track of grades, I designed a record-keeping system for a newly-established a military training environment. It seemed amazing that I was able to throw all sorts of data into the program and get customized reports out of a dot-matrix printer! Finding this example is what gave me the inspiration for today's blog entry. It was in a collection of 1989 data.

Computers do everything nowadays except slice and dice; however, I occasionally feel as though they were more magical and intriguing back in DOS days.

Labels: software

I send apologies to friends who don't like reading about my views of technology.

First, God created Yahoo, (In reality, it was David Filo and Jerry Yang.) In the mid-1990's that site was a directory of web links compiled by hand. By 1997, I had moved to Alta Vista. Relatively soon after that, I stopped typing searches there and went to Google not because of its clean interface or 'coolness', I moved because it was simply better at providing a world of useful links. Google was able to comb through and index more of the Internet than any competitor. When we're looking for something, access to as much as possible is what matters most.

Unfortunately, when one's the king of the hill there's no place to go but downhill. Google's supremacy spawned an entire industry which tried to 'optimize' a site to rank well there. Google has had to respond by creating algorithms that weed out spam and underhanded methods to manipulate their results. Dealing with these concerns has eliminated their once, undisputed lead in searches. Now the company is simply too nervous and secretive to let people know they are throwing out a lot of babies with the bath water. This is too bad.

Here's some slightly-modified, recent correspondence:

---

ORIGINAL MESSAGE

To: Google Support
From: Dennis
Subject: pages in domain search but not indexed.
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:24:09 -0000

I know you are busy with important details. I have tried to look around the net to find a reason for the following but have been unsuccessful.

I have a blog that presently contains around 90 weekly pages of information. At one time googlebots used to stop by daily and all pages were indexed. My blog section has a PR of 5.

Now, I find only about 10% of my site's pages can be found with snippets in a search of my domain. The majority appear there without title or text. Do you know what factors can lead to this?

Google Search: site:www.dennissylvesterhurd.com

Language: en
WebUserLocale: en
IssueType: other_webmaster

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GOOGLE'S RESPONSE #1

Thank you for your note. The Google index contains two types of pages: fully indexed and partially indexed pages. Some of your pages are currently partially indexed. Because our robots were unable to completely review its content during our last crawl, your site appears without a cached copy or detailed title. Instead, it's listed by its URL.

We understand the frustration this situation may cause you. We're always working to increase the number of fully indexed pages in our index. You may be able to improve this page's visibility in our search results by ensuring that a number of high-quality sites link to it. While we can't guarantee that pages in our search results will always be fully indexed, "crawler-friendly" pages have a greater chance of being fully indexed. Guidelines for creating a "crawler-friendly" site are available at http://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html

Regards,
The Google Team

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MY NEXT MESSAGE

What a wonderfully quick response! I'm happy to hear back so quickly and completely. Further questions:

Your Paragraph 1 - (a) Am I correct in that the 'partially indexed' pages are not actually scanned and t