Archive for December, 2008
Cricket Wireless – My Cricket Adventures 12/31/2008
Dec 31st
I was driving home just the other day talking to my friend on my Cricket EZ and for the first time since I can remember I lost a call on a cell phone, it was just dropped. Well actually I have lost other calls when calling from 0 or 1 bar areas before, but that was not the case here. I’m driving along and my friend’s voice turns into digital gibberish. I say “Hello, you are breaking up,” because I’m so used to it being the other guy’s phone. Seconds after that I look down and the call timer shows the length of the call and suddenly 0 bars on a road I’ve made several calls from as I approach home – I call home before I get there to see if we need anything picked up.
I’d also like to add that I really miss my old cell phone also because I had an earbud/headset with it - I really need to get one. I hope the Cricket EZ headset/earbud is still $9.99, very decent price.
Has anyone had a Cricket EZ phone? I’ve been told by the sales people at the local Cricket store that they’re not very sturdy phone.
Gmail to Google Document…just a click and edit away
Dec 31st
Now you can easily make a Google document out of one of your emails with Gmail’s new feature. After turning this new feature on (Gmail > Settings > Labs) when you have an email open you will see a new button labeled “Create a document” and you can make a Google document out of it.
So say you email the boss a list, a proposal or whatever and he or she finds it useful and says to move forward with it… great, just open that email, click the “Create a document” and you can edit, save and share it like any other Google doc!
Try it out for yourself, or click the link above to the Gmail blog for more info…
Dead Space – Basic Tips
Dec 30th
After playing through Dead Space on the Xbox 360 I’ve compiled a short mental list of tips:
- stalk, don’t walk; watch corners – you’ll live longer if you move slowly and intently as opposed to just running around
- listen – EA’s done a great job of making all kinds of sounds (immediate and environmental sounds) that sound like your about to get nailed by another Necromorph, get to know the sounds so you can tell the difference between someone suddenly breaking in on your radio and a necromorph howling as it barrels toward you (many time from behind)
- necromorphs set traps – get used to being attacked from more than one side, ask yourself questions like “Gee, why is that necro walking away from me?” and instead of thinking your exccellent shoting has actually scared them
- a necro on the floor isn’t always dead – they set traps and lay on the floor as if dead until you approach and sometimes will also play dead when you are shooting them
- read the walls, read the text logs, listen to the audios – for hints and information, for example, early on you’re given a sign on the wall, an audio log, and a radio message to shoot the necros limbs for a quicker kill
- reload – reload whenever feasibly possible, its better to relaod after every battle and at every chance during a battle instead of standing there and reloading while they tear you apart
- use your stasis – use your stasis to slow necros, especially if you are having difficulty killing them or there are too many of them coming at you
The biggest tip is to save often and enjoy the game!
MORE DEAD SPACE
Dead Space on Wikipedia
EA’s Dead Space site
Dead Space blog
Dead Space – Writing on the Wall
Dec 29th
Playing through Dead Space on the Xbox 360 for a second time I noticed some writing on the wall in the lab, on the lower floor in the Bio Lab. They are written on the wall near the save point, looks like its written on the wall in black magic marker (human writing, these aren’t Necromorph translations):
- Lydia, If I don’t make it back take care of the kids for me. I Love You, Steve
- No God, Know Fear. Know God, No Fear.
- The prudent see danger and take refuge. The simple keep going and suffer for it.
- Run and hide! Don’t stay here. Its not safe here any more.
- They are watching. (This one is found to the left of the door near the save point)
Here are a couple of Dead Space tips I’ve mentally collected while playing through the first time on Easy.
NOTE: According to the game’s cover artwork this game is rated 18+ (UPDATE: Blog says rated Mature 17+ for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language)., a well-deserved rating considering the mature themes, pervasive gory violence, and incredibly intense blend of survival horror-action gameplay, an emotionally immersive musical score and striking sound effects.
MORE DEAD SPACE
Dead Space on Wikipedia
EA’s Dead Space site
Dead Space blog
Gmail Holiday Wrap-up
Dec 23rd
Its the day before Christmas Eve and Google’s cooked up a little fun, they’ve posted a recent Gmail stuff-type list for the holidays. you know, new stuff they’ve added that they note, you will now have time to tinker with (like me, trying to get Google Sync working with my calendar).
Their wrap up mentions these new features, complete with links to vist on their site (click the link above to visit – link below link to articles on my blogs):
- Gmail voice and video chat
- SMS chat
- more Gmail emoticons
- Gmail themes
- tasks in Gmail
- Calendar and Docs gadgets for Google Desktop
- a faster Gmail app for mobile phones
- Mail Goggles
- Gmail Stickers (ooh! I still have a chance to mail in!)
- … and a reminder to check out Gmail labs
Cricket Wireless – My Cricket Adventures 12/20/2008
Dec 20th
Well I’ve had this Cricket account for 18 days now, and that tiny Cricekt EZ earpiece is driving me nuts – that and the fact that others had my phone number before me. I keep getting automated calls from a school my kids don’t go to.
Tonight I did some Googling and found that the Cricket EZ Earbud Headset will set me back for about $9.99 online plus shipping. Now its time to drop in to a store to pick one up so I don’t have to wait for shipping – I expect to pay about $15 in the store for this earbud headset. I look forward to the headset so I can put the phone down while talking, it gets pretty irritating on calls longer than about 2 minutes holding such a narrow phone.
Apple Grows Up – Ditches Macworld
Dec 19th
The Apples VS PC commercials have made such a statement they’ve spawned copycats (see Mac VS PC parody on Youtube). They’ve opened stores, the iphone is a big hit, etc etc. Recently Apple announced they wouldn’t be doing Macworld any more, and the Apple community is in a small uproar (I know that makes little sense – but you get it).
What, remains to be seen, is the real cause of Apple’s pullout?
Assassin`s Creed
Dec 16th
Assassin`s Creed for the Xbox 360 is very interesting, and quite a challenge for my gaming style. Steeped in history, Assassin`s Creed is set in Jerusalem in 1191 against during The Third Crusade.
Assassin`s Creed is a stealth-based game where your opponents react to your actions. Depending upon the way your character moves and the circumstances your character may or may not remain undiscovered. As your character is an Assassin the power of “blending into the crowd” is very important, after all an assassin who’s drawn attention to himself is close to death – unless the circumstances favor him.
As an example, when approaching an assassination target its best to first deal with hostiles around him or her first. If you attack a target with many men surrounding him and get killed you don’t get credit for the kill, and will have to try again.
TIPS:
When you are in the cities, the rooftops are your friend – your best friend.
Watch for hiding spots while walking around, and you can find them on your map.
Blend, blend, blend, enough said. Well, okay one more bit – after killing a guard with the hidden blade, even with another guard nearby, if you time the kill right you can go right into blend mode and walk off quietly.
