by Jason Prahl | Sep 15, 2006 | Blog, Software
New in iTunes 7
Movies, Cover Flow, Automatic Album Art, New User Interface, iPod Games, Download Manager, Higher Video Resolution, Library Backup, Multiple Libraries, Gapless Playback, and Parental Controls and Ratings.
My favorite new feature of iTunes 7 by far is the new Automatic Album Art with Cover Flow. As long as you have an iTunes Store account, iTunes will automatically fetch available album art for any CD you imported to iTunes. With Cover Flow, you can flip through your digital music and video collection just as you would CDs. You will find the cover flow view in the top right by the search bar. Simply click on the third button from the left closest to the search bar which is the cover browser option. You might have to manually update some of your cover art, but for the most part this works great. (See my collection below) Overall, iTunes 7 allows you to enjoy better views, an improved Source List, and easier way to navigate your digital entertainment collection, and I love it.
Apple is pushing the new movie feature however, but 9.99 to 12.99 is still a lot to pay for media you can’t hold in your hand. That’s my opinion anyway. I would like to see all the movies be rental prices (3.99 to 6.99) and then I would download away. You can also see the cover flow view in the movie store. It’s really sharp, way to go Apple. The other cool new release to the Apple store is Games that are priced at 4.99 which is a great price. I see Texas Hold em! Yeah. Anyway, you will need a new iPod to use this feature. What are you waiting for, get to downloading, it’s FREE as always. I think Apple has finally done it, and I will be using iTunes to listen and manage all my digital music. Rest in peace Media Player and Winamp.
by Jason Prahl | Sep 9, 2006 | Blog, Music
I just found out that Leigh Nash, the former lead singer for Sixpence None The Richer, has a new CD. I loved Sixpence from their first CD to their last and was sad when I read that they decided to break up.
So, when I heard that Leigh had a new solo CD I was curious as to whether I’d like it as much as I like Sixpence’s music.
I wasn’t let down. While it’s a bit different than Sixpences music it’s still very good.
“Blue On Blue” isn’t anything earth shattering, but it’s certainly been playing over and over since I downloaded it from iTunes. (Yes, Brandon that’s right I said iTunes!)
This cd features more of Leigh’s deep and sometimes dreamy lyrics along with her distinct and smooth voice. Now I need to go dig up my Sixpence mp3’s for another listen!
by Jason Prahl | Sep 5, 2006 | Blog, Computer Tips, Microsoft Windows
I’ve noticed in recent weeks a new thing show up in my Windows Explorer called “My Sharing Folders.” Apparently it’s something that the new version of MSN Messenger sets up.
Why do all these manufacturers think that they need to add so much junk to my computer without telling me they are going to do so. Then, why not have an easy way to get rid of it let’s say in the options for the program?
I’m very particular about my computer. I use it every day for many hours and I know every detail about what it’s doing, so when little annoyances like this show up I notice them pretty fast.
I found the following instructions on this site to remove the new pesky icon.
If you have some sort of beta version, type this in your start > run:
regsvr32 -u “C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\fsshext.dll”
If you changed the MSN installation folder, type that instead of the path.
Use this command for the official version:
regsvr32 -u “C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\fsshext.8.0.0xxx.00.dll”
where “xxx†is your version. (found in help > about Live Messenger)
ps. What does the polar bear have to do with this? Nothing, I went to the zoo recently and it just cracks me up.
by Jason Prahl | Aug 31, 2006 | Blog, Miscellaneous
I’ve come to the conclusion that most everyone in Chicago seems to smoke. You can’t walk around downtown more than a minute without seeing someone smoking a cigarette! It’s no big deal when they are off to the side smoking, but when you all of the sudden end up walking behind someone and a huge puff of smoke hits you in the face it’s most unsettling!
The other thing that you see a lot of is people talking on cell phones. It’s most disturbing when they are walking along and using either a Bluetooth headset or one that looks like headphones. I don’t think some of these realize just how loud they tend to talk using those. Although I’m sure I’ve done the same thing annoying someone else just talking on my cell phone.
Another interesting thing is the number of times you get asked for money. I sat and watched a girl walk around and tell her story of how she was in Chicago visiting her son who was in the hospital (she of course only looked 16 at best) and how she had her purse stolen and needed money. “Sorry, no cash on me”, I told her. I saw at least 10 people give her various amounts of money over a 30 minute period. Many of the people who asked me for money were extremely polite. “Sorry, no cash on me” I told a young man. “Thank you sir, for your time. You have a beautiful day.” He replied.
The sheer number of people just blows me away about this place and the variety of ethnic backgrounds is astonishing I come from Springfield, MO and there’s just not the melting pot of people you see here, which is kinda sad in a way.
One last observation…taxis…wow, there are a lot of taxis and they are crazy! They’ll just about run you over in a crosswalk even when you have the right a way. Boy do they like their horns too. It’s plain to see that at least 5 vehicles in front of the taxi are at a complete stop with no way to move forward and yet they will lay on their horns like there’s no tomorrow followed by leaning out their windows and yelling at the 5 immovable cars in front of them to move! I watched at least 6 taxis pull up behind an empty, parked SUV and honk their horns and yell at the SUV to move. Then taxis behind the taxis behind the SUV would begin to yell and honk. Amazing.
Chicago is a fascinating and interesting place to visit, but there’s no way I could live here! :)
by Jason Prahl | Aug 26, 2006 | Blog, Miscellaneous
I’m sitting outside a little cottage we rented at a place called Big Cedar Lodge. It’s a cool weekend get-a-way place with lot’s to do.
We’ve done canoeing, putt putt (that I actually won for once!), swimming and some nice trails for walking. Check out my moblog for some shots I took my Treo 650.
I’ve been surprised that the camera on the Treo isn’t better than it is, but overall I do like the Treo 650. I get back tommorrow and immediately am headed to Chicago. I’m really looking forward to doing a bunch of shooting while I’m there.
by Jason Prahl | Aug 14, 2006 | Blog, Miscellaneous
I made it through the blah’s of a bad summer cold. But now I’m into a lack of time. I’m really wanting to get out and shoot, but between taking an evening class and a MCSE test scheduled for this Friday and some software I am really needing to work on in my spare time I’m just not getting there. I’ve managed to get some shots off and in a couple of weeks I am looking forward to a couple of days off work and away from responsibilities to wander around downtown Chicago shooting to my hearts content. Let’s just hope the weather co-operates!
I’m really looking forward to getting back to writing and coming up with some more photographer’s tips. If any of you have some great ideas you can share that would be awesome!
by Jason Prahl | Aug 14, 2006 | Blog, Miscellaneous
The definition of “hiatus” = A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break. That explains the frequency at which we’ve been posting here lately.
The reasons? A serious summer cold/allergies. Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 evening class. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional test scheduled for this Friday. Travelling for work. Add to these events Church, Family, a couple of major projects at work and a couple of addictive Nintendo DS games and you’ve got a recipe for overload.
Time seems to be flying by as fast as the subway appears to be in this shot.
by Jason Prahl | Aug 5, 2006 | Blog, Miscellaneous
The look on this fish’s face sums up how I feel and have felt for about a week and a half.
I haven’t felt like writing, I haven’t felt like shooting and I haven’t felt like processing shots. I haven’t been around to look at other photoblogs either. Add to this the temperatures outside, taking an evening class, major projects at work and trying to balance Church and Family life.
I thought the cold/allergies yuck I’ve had was breaking up yesterday as I was feeling much better, but today I’m right back where I was. Oh well, enough whining for now I guess.
by Jason Prahl | Jul 28, 2006 | Blog, Computer Tips
Recovering items that have been deleted from the deleted items folder is only available in Microsoft Outlook if you are using an Exchange Server email account.
By default you can only get to the “Recover deleted items” option on the tools menu if you have the deleted items folder selected.
This doesn’t really make much sense because you can shift-delete an item from any folder and that permanently deletes it bypassing the deleted items folder.
The retention times for keeping these deleted items is set on your Exchange Server, I think the default might be only 1 day, so if you permanently deleted items beyond that retention time you are out of luck. I changed our retention time to 14 days. The settings for this are found when you right-click on your mailbox store
With the following registry change you can get to the “Recover deleted items” option on the tools menu from any Outlook folder:
Caution If you use the registry editor incorrectly, you might cause serious problems that might require you to reinstall your operating system. Use the registry editor at your own risk.
1. Exit Outlook.
2. Open the Windows registry editor.
3. Browse to My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\Client\Options.
4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type the name DumpsterAlwaysOn.Note Do not type any spaces in the name.
6. Set the DWORD value to 1.
7. Restart Outlook.
The Tools menu now has the Recover Deleted Items command for every Outlook folder.
by Jason Prahl | Jul 25, 2006 | Blog, Computer Tips, Microsoft Windows
You’ve got a PC out there running Windows XP or a 2003 Server. You want to do a remote desktop session to it and mess with a users computer. The “allow users to connect remotely to this computer” is not enabled. You don’t want to get up and go to the users computer. Open regedit, goto file/connect remote registry. Enter the name of the computer you want to enable the remote desktop on. Navigate to the following registry key:
HKLM\System\CCS\Control\Terminal Server\fDenyTSConnection
Change the value data to 0. Wait a minute or two and you should be able to connect to the remote computer.
