Musicians Die but Legends Live Forever RIP Prince

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Jeff

April 21, 2016 at 10:07 am we lost a music icon.  Prince meant different things to different people. For me it all started in the 80’s with the album 1999 and songs like,

Prince

Prince the Legend Passes Away at 57 Years Young

Little Red Corvette Lyrics

Little red Corvette
Baby you’re much too fast
Little red Corvette
You need a love that’s gonna last

1999 Lyrics

‘Cuz they say two thousand zero zero party over,
Oops out of time
So tonight I’m gonna party like it’s 1999

June 25, 1984 changed everything when Purple Rain album was released. It was nonstop playing the cassette. I remember wearing out the first cassette within 3 weeks and purchasing another one to listen to great songs like,

When Doves Cry Lyrics

How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world that’s so cold? (So cold)
Maybe I’m just too demanding
Maybe I’m just like my father too bold
Maybe you’re just like my mother
She’s never satisfied (She’s never satisfied)
Why do we scream at each other
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry

Darling Nikki Lyrics

I knew a girl named Nikki
I guess you could say she was a sex fiend
I met her in a hotel lobby
Masturbating with a magazine
She said how’d you like to waste some time
And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind

Purple Rain Lyrics

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end

The guitar work on Purple Rain was just out of this world. Watch Prince’s first performance of Purple Rain this is where the epic moment of the movie comes from.  I would rewind over and over to listen to the guitar solo in Purple Rain.  The controversy over the lyrics in Darling Nikki producing the parental guidance labels on albums.  Come on who didn’t love those iconic lyrics “I guess you could say she was a sex fiend” and “masturbating with a magazine.”

Sometimes people forget Prince was much more than a pop star.  I personally can’t label a genre for his work. Watch this blues video, PRINCE : Red House (PURPLE Version) with Maceo Parker it is full on blues.  Prince’s blues guitar work is mind melting.

It is raining here in Redding, CA and all I can see is purple rain.  Rest in Peace Prince Rogers Nelson.

Did Prince influence you or do you have a favorite memory of Prince?

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Samsung Gear VR A Pleasant Surprise.

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Jeff

I’ve been using the Samsung Gear VR for a week now. Here is a small review of how the last week has gone in virtual reality (VR). Keep in mind that I am new to VR.

I do recommend a game controller the SteelSeries Stratus XL has been flawless for me so far. The controller makes it easier to maneuver around VR and especially helpful killing all the Aliens and little monsters.

Recommended games and apps as the first to download.

Herobound – these little bastards are addicting. This game produces one of the orientation issues I list below.

Herobound VR Game

Herobound Spirit Champion: Gear VR

Gunjack – I can play this game for hours shooting down Alien spaceships. Gives the neck a heck of a workout.

Gunjack

Gunjack VR game

Other games I have recommended can be found on G+ at https://plus.google.com/+JeffBlanke…

Pros and Cons of the Samsung Gear VR.

Pros:

The price for the Gear VR is right at $99 if you already own a Samsung compatible phone (http://amzn.to/1ovkOPR). This makes entering Virtual Reality a lot more cost effective than the Rift, Vive or Hololens.

Certainly glad VR eats through the battery that is a built in timer. Keeps me on a short leash to stay honest to the warnings. Who would have thought this would be a pro.

Cons:

When using the headset the orientation wonders off. As an example when I’m playing a game I’m looking straight initially. After a while I find that I am sitting sideways and no longer facing forward. No this is not part of the game. If I am not in a chair that swivels 360° then it is quite uncomfortable.

If I lie down and put the goggles on and startup Netflix the screen does not orientate based on my position lying down. It would be nice to lay down put Gear VR On start Netflix and have the screen directly in front of my eyes. Instead now the movie is down which is based on the sitting position again this has to do with orientation and would be nice to be able to correct on the fly.

The lenses are blurry around the edges. I am sure due to the shape of the lens. It produces a small field of view and makes you move your head a lot more than it probably needs.

Your phone can overheat easily and causes the Gear VR to give a message to remove phone to cool down.

Price of games and apps are on target of Apple apps. There are free ones but some really cool ones cost $2.99 and up with most in the $4.99 to $9.99 per game.

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Let the Blogging Begin with ScribeFire For Google Chrome

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Jeff

imageOne of the most popular add-ons for Firefox is now available for Chrome! ScribeFire is a full-featured blog editor that integrates with your browser and lets you easily post to all of your blogs.

You can post to blogs from WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Windows Live Spaces, Tumblr, Posterous, Xanga, LiveJournal, or any other blog that supports the MetaWeblog or MovableType APIs.

You can edit and update existing posts. You can schedule posts for the future (if your blog allows that). You can delete posts. You can save drafts.  You can tag and categorize.

ScribeFire for Chrome has a simple interface that is so simple even a caveman could use it, and anything you’re working on is saved if you close the editor and restored when you come back.  It really is the easiest way to update your blog.

Posted in Blogging | 3 Comments

Mobile Defense Scares The Hell Out Of Thieves

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Jeff

Downloaded Mobile Defense for the Android platform.  Specifically for my Google Nexus One smartphone.  Installed with easy from the Android Marketplace.  Once launched it asked me to register I gladly filled in the required information.  Mobile Defense sends a confirmation/activation email you have to click on the link in the email.  Mobile Defense sends you an SMS message with a code in it that activates your phone.  At which time you are required to restart your phone.  Upon restarting your phone the Mobile Defense icon disappears in the programs list.

Surf on over to Mobile Defense and log into your account.  This is where the magic is seen.  When you login your greeted with your recent activity. Things like session started, audible alert enabled and device locked are shown.  Click on the Map tab then on connect phone.  Mobile Defense sends your phone an SMS message again with a code to active there services.  

Mobile Defense Settings

Once connected the map zooms into your location and presents you with the dialog box to the left.  Here you can disconnect or lock your phone if you setup the pattern lock feature.  You can also scare the hell out of the person that is holding you device click on Alert.  You will now configure the settings of the alert.  have it play a sound (heck yes you do) and if Mobile Defense Alert Dialog Box

you want the alert to require a 4-digit pin to turn the the alert off (I recommend you do) select Require Pin.  Type in a message to appear in the dialog that pops up on the phones screen.

Mine would say something like:

Please call 530-410-6560 to report the phone being found.  This phone is being tracked and if not reported we assume you stole it.  Thank you

I guess that would get there attention wouldn’t?  Oh not to mention the sound it plays is deafening and sounds like a home alarm system going off.

Details show the information about your device at that moment for example:

image

The coordinates of your device, signal strength of the radio and the data connection which shows the SYSID of the router if Wi-Fi. 

There is talk of the ability to remote wipe your device in future updates.

Mobile Defense is like having AAA.  It sits quietly in your pocket until you need it.

I have had Mobile Defense on for a few short days but have not seen any battery issues or conflicts with other programs.  This program has become one of my top 5 must have programs for the Nexus One.

Just think with Mobile Defense you will always know where your kids are of course that is for another post. 

Posted in Android Platform, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment