Windows 8 Developer Preview Overview/Rant

     I would like to start off by saying that I never tested a prerelease version of MS Windows that I absolutely hated with in the first 5 minutes of playing with it, until now that is. However they may end up fixing the problems that I have with it if they get enough complaints. Anyway other than the new Metro UI “which I do not like at all, and will not be discussing except for a small rant” there are a few nice added features and Explorer UI changes.

     As for added features there is now native ISO mounting integration which is accessible via the new Windows Explorer ribbon. Microsoft is also including Hyper-V their enterprise virtualization solution. One big surprise I notest is that Microsoft has merged Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials and is built it in to Windows 8, labeled as just Windows Defender.

     And now for my Metro UI Rant. First off Microsoft says its touch centric and not touch first, however in my experience I have found that to be incorrect, in fact when metro is enabled it is vary difficult to operate with a standard keyboard and mouse. just to shutdown you have to click your user tile then logoff, after logoff you can then swipe up the lock screen and shutdown “as you see a lot more steps then just start shutdown”. In order to use the classic start menu you must enable it and disable the Metro UI, otherwise the start button just takes you to the Metro Start Screen, If you disable the Metro UI it also removes the Explorer ribbon and reverts back to Windows 7 Explorer style. I have been unable to find out how to close a Metro style application using a keyboard and mouse.

More to come later, including screen shots…

Third Annual CCFD Carnival & Columbia Fireworks 2010

 

      The event begins on Tuesday July 13th at 6:00PM with the opening of the annual CCFD Carnival which will run between 6PM and 10PM from Monday through Thursday, on Friday and Saturday the carnival runs from 5PM until 10:30PM. On Saturday July 17th their will be a musical performance from Hindsight from 6PM until 10PM, 105.7 The X PMS Host Nipsey will be on hand from 7PM until 9PM, and finally Staring at 10:15PM will be the CCFD Rocks Columbia: Fireworks Extravaganza 2010. Parts of this week long event will be Broadcasted Live! via ustream.tv so keep an eye on the ustream video feed below from July 13th till July 17th. 
(this article was simulposted on blog.myjsrtech.com, ccfd8-7.co.cc, &  ccfdbeta.myjsrtech.com) 

Also Check out:

• CCFD 8-7 Beta and The Unofficial CCFD 8-7 
   “both operated by JSR-Tech”
• and of course the current official CCFD8-7.Com

Live Video Feed via Ustream.tv

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

Last Years Fireworks Part 1

Columbia, Pa's 4th of July Celebration Fireworks 2009 - Sponsored by the Columbia Consolidated Fire Department, Station: 8-7

This years event is rumored to be the biggest yet for Columbia. Last years event was a lot longer, and a whole lot better than Wrightsville's in just about every aspect except for total space, that’s where Wrightsville has the advantage. There is a way bigger volume of area in which you can clearly and easily view Wrightsville's fireworks compared to Columbia's, however even though everyone is cramped in to a much smaller space Columbia has had a much longer, bigger, brighter, and more extravagant of a show for the past two years in a row.

Windows 3.1.1 for Workgroups on Wii

I just Installed Windows 3.1.1 for Workgroups on the Nintendo Wii using DosBox Wii 1.1 here's the video via Qik.com, note video was made using 2G jailbroken iPhone with Qik app.

Microsoft is Replacing Works with Office Starter

     Microsoft announced yesterday on their TecNet Office Blog that they’re releasing a new subset of MS Office with the 2010 “Office 14” version. They are calling this new version Office 2010 starter, like Windows 7 starter this version is only available preinstalled on a new pc but unlike Win7 starter, Office starter is advertising based “so free on new PC’s”.

     This new version of Office is a limited subset of Office and includes only two Office apps,  Word 2010 Starter, and Excel 2010 starter. These are striped down versions of their full version counterpart “like Office Web Apps” and as such have limited functionality, though I assume  like Office web apps you be able view any Word, or Excel doc with full fidelity and just limited editing. 

     Office Starter will support the Office Any time Upgrade feature they’re adding to the 2010 version of Office. Microsoft also notes that this subset will be replacing MS Works, which I feel is a good move as Works is old and too limited and allows MS to drop the Works file format.

     I just hope it will include the Office Web Apps integration its big brother has seeing as the web apps are free to anyone whether or not you have Office. MS Office 2010 Starter will be available on new PCs when Office 2010 is released sometime next year. 

TMI Generators Parked in Columbia, PA

Today the two massive turbine generators in rout to Three Mile Island began their journey though Columbia Pennsylvania. They are currently parked at Linden St. between 2nd and 3ed St. until tomorrow night at 1:00 AM.

Beginning tomorrow night at one o’clock AM they will be continuing their venture and will be crossing the rout 30 bypass, During which routs 441, and 30 will be closed. Rout 30 will remain closed until six o’clock AM the following day. After they are passed rout 30 they will begin their assent up and over Chickies Rock. Once their passed Chickies Rock it’s pretty much a strait shot to Three Mile Island.

Provided below are some photographs of the TMI Generators