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Windows Vista

I bought a new laptop over the weekend (woohoo) . Its nothing too exciting, just a more modern version of my "work" (eg. grown up) laptop. It has all the usual improvements: faster processor, more RAM (after I added it in), and a bright new widescreen display (thank god for widescreen).

It also has Windows Vista. If you've been listening to the tech babble over the last year or so, you've probably been left with the idea that Vista is going to ruin your life: destroying your credit rating, ending long-term personal relationships, and bringing the wrath of the federal government down upon you.

Well, my experience was a little different. I will preface this by saying that I've only had my laptop for 48 hours, so I may discover new delightful "insights" about Vista as I go. Having said that I have to say I kind of like the fact that Vista gives the user new ways to organize content. The various menus and submenus of the "Start" button no longer sprawl across the page. It has built in support for widgets meaning I don't necessarily jave to have Google Desktop installed. The folder system presents a lo of information on the page without overwhelming me (someone used to digesting a lot of information at once, granted).

Everything looks slick and is fun to use. The old windows sound effects are gone in favor of ones that are less jarring and irritating. The "my pictures" folder does a good job of letting the user get an idea of what's in the folder.

Vista does require some more computing muscle than XP, which is irksome, but not too much. The base version of Vista really doesn't ask much of a system. The appearant speed of my new computer isn't that much faster as a result of the higher requirements for Vista, but it does run better, crashing altogether with far less frequency.

Well, thats all for now. As I learn things of note I'll share.

Yippie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the link below for an explaination of my undignified outburst above.

Library Journal

Nostalgia Moment

For those who haven't seen it, check out the new Pontiac commercial shown below. Its inspired by the classic game Spy Hunter. "Classic" in this case means that its as old as I am, and was already a classic when I finally got to play a port of it on original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

A fun game and a fun commerical. It really shows the shift in advertising emphasis in recent years.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl...

...is it really that good?!

Yes!!!

Super Smash Bros.: Brawl is good old fashioned fun. It is in every way an improvement on the previous games. The graphics are crisp and reasonably well detailed without causing the framerate to bog down in the most frantic fights. These fights are ridiculously fun and get downright manic when for characters get involved. There are, of course tons of powerups and special weapons for players to use, and if you really don't like one, you can turn it off in some cases.

It includes all kinds of "collectables" and things to do, so many that I honestly haven't done everything there is to do. The solo modes include the "classic" mode and the new Adventure Mode called "Subspace Emmisary". The classic mode pits players against a series of battles against one or more opponents, throwing in special conditions like battleing a giant version of a foe or "teams" where a swarm of weaker versions of a given character attack the player. This is good old fashioned single player SSB at its best.

The Subspace Emmissary is an attempt to infuse the game with a story and a little mild platforming. To be honest, SE isn't much to get excited about. The story is a little obtuse. The play is kind of boring for streches and the characteristics of certain characters make them, at best, awkward to use in this platforming style of play. Its not so bad that it takes away from the game (it can be ignored entirely if you want), its just very obviously not the focus.

The focus is on the "multiplayer" options, and boy does Brawl deliver on this count. Why quotes? Well, this is for two reasons. First, the multiplayer set of selections is where you go to set up a standalone brawl and this can be done with only one player against computer opponents. Second, you don't need multiple players to play against other players. Yes, SSB has joined the internet age and its done so in a big way. With an exchange of friend codes, you can play against all your friends whether they're on the other side of town or the other side of the planet. Bigger than this (in my humble opinion) is the ability to jump in and play against annonymous opponents on an ad hoc basis. No friend codes, no obnoxious pre play chatting, just brawling. You pick a character, a stage, and then go to a training area where you can practice against a punching bag until the network pairs you up with your opponents then you have a delightful time beating the crap out of eachother. I've never been a big fan of online games, but I think Brawl has made a converter out of me. It is a ball to playing with other folks, all without the fuss that so often takes the fun out of it for me.

As I alluded to, there's all kind of things to collect including the familar trophies and new "stickers". There's also a whole slew of hidden characters and stages. You can unlock new music and other stuff as well. I won't get into all these mechanics, just understand that its fun and a "completionists" dream. There is also a stage builder included that allows the player to make their own stages. I haven't played with this yet but it looks like it could add a lot to the long term replayability.

Public Libraries (because this is a Librarian's blog) with teen gaming programs would be well advised to get ahold of this game as it is sure to "pack 'em in". Just be sure you have enough consoles and TVs for your probable attendance because noone's going to want to be on the sidelines for to long with this one.

Enjoy the intro movie:

Twittering away the hours...

Okay ya'll,

Apparently bloging, chating, and IMing is soooooooo yesterday! The new tool for the compulsively in touch is Twitter, a social networking site designed to keep tabs on friend and loved ones. It allows users to stay in touch with people to perhaps an unhealthy (even downright diseased) level of minutia. Nonetheless, this is the new mode of communication.

One thing I can say is that, yes, it is addictive. I've only had an account for two hours and I'm already thinking "Ooo, I could twitter(?) that!" I can't help but feel that this is going to be bigger than blogging in the mainstream. Most people just don't like to (or shouldn't, to be honest) write that much, so Twitter is perfect as it actually limits you to 140 characters, so you can keep in touch without being a great wordsmith. As "Grammar Girl" puts it in her Unofficial Twitter Style Guide:

If you can't say it in 140 characters, reevaluate whether you should be posting it at Twitter.

So take a look at the site and maybe start an account (let me know if you do and we can swap usernames, if your interested in obsessively following my movements). You may also want to check out the wikipedia article and the Twitter Blog.

Is user-generated content loosing its luster?

Appearently. Check out this article from newsweek. It discusses new attempts to reign in the bohemian, democratic world of Web 2.0. Yes, my librarian friends, authority is enjoying an upswing! (Best not ditch those reference desks just yet).

This comes as welcome, if unsurprising, news. After all, inaccurate information is as valuable as no information. The only thing that suprises me is how long it took...

New Reader's Advisory Tool from Gale

Looks like EBSCO's Novelist is getting some company. Gale Centage has announce a new reader's advisory database that looks like its going to incorporate some Web\Library 2.0 tools, (Novelist has no Web 2.0 features) (see LJ note). It also has a really nice open web front end designed to funnel users to their local libraries, a very nice feature from a librarian's perspective. Looks like EBSCO's going to have to get moving if they want to keep their customer's attention.

Musical Pi

Hey this is nifty! Check out this boingboing post! Basically it links to a little webapp that converts the first 10,000 numbers of Pi into Music based on notes you set. Really it explains itself better than I could.

Mike

Microsoft and the European Union

I found this at TechCrunch and thought it was interesting. I'm not the foremost Microsoft supporter in the world, but I think Mr. Arrington makes a good point in this post.

If Europe spent half as much time coming up to solutions to their various ills as they spent blaming others for them they might be better off. Mad about not having a big tech industry? Here's an idea, do the capitalist thing and invest in it.

CML's Toolbar

Hey this is cool! On CML's upcoming "Power Tools" page, you can download a CML toolbar. Ordinarily toolbars of this sort really just annoy me. However, I think that this is just plain cool. I places CML's catalog right where patron's can get to it easily.

One of the most intoxicating things about Google, etc. is the convinience and immediacy. This toolbar takes CML's catalog in a more convinient direction. What's more, you can use the toolbar to search the "hidden web" through CML, providing more convinient access to electronic periodical databases. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

Very Cool!

Electronic Arts wants to buy Take Two

This should be terrifying to gamers everywhere. It seems that the biggest publisher in the game industry is intent on buying the second biggest. I'm all for capitalism, but EA is getting too big. It seems like the bigger they get the lower the quality of their product. With the notable exception of Maxis, EA seems to be the place where once venerable game franchises and developers go to die.

I have a particular concern in this case. Take 2 owns 2K Games which owns Firaxis (oi!), the current publisher of the Sid Meier's Civilization Series. I'd hate to see Civilization get the McElectronic Arts treatment...

And the Winner is...

...Blu-ray!!!!!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, Toshiba has waved the white flag, announcing that it is quitting production on the HD-DVD format. This comes as welcome news to Sony, the principal developer of the competing technology Blu-Ray. It means that they finally get what they've wanted since the Beta-Max days: to force everyone to use a format they've devised and pay handsomely for the privilege. They failed with Beta, UMD, and others, but now have a winner with Blu-Ray. No word on when\if Toshiba will develop and sell Blu-ray player of their own.

It sounds like the early adopters among you who bought HD-DVD are out of luck. I'm just glad we're finally through another format war, as they are always rather onerous.

So much for the Google Generation...

Check this out! - From Library Journal

It looks like the the "Google Generation\Internet Generation" is a myth after all. Of course if anyone bothered to ask a reference librarian we could have told everyone that a long time ago and saved everyone the cost of expensive studies.

All you need is a month working reference in a public library to understand that kids in the "internet generation" don't understand:

• what the internet is good for,
  
• how to get good search results,
  
• or how to tell the difference between good and bad results.
  

In my opinion this research highlights the importace of information literacy instruction. What was once primarily the arena of academic and school librarians now needs to be a part of the public library world. Of course, in order to do that the librarians themselves need to be better internet searchers as well...

Most Anticipated Games 2008

Just for fun, I thought that I'd share which games I am most excited about in 2008.

Spore (PC)

From the Maker of Sim City and the Sims comes Spore, a game where you evolve a single-celled organism into a complex Space Faring society. Rather ambitious, I'd say. There are pundits who feel that this could be the "Citizen Kane of video games".



Mario Kart Wii (Wii)

The Mario Kart games are always a blast and the Wii's motion controls should make it even better. (Video from a press conference in Japanese, so audio is optional if you don't understand it.



Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the third in an insanely fun series of fighting games. It just goes to show that you don't need blood and gore to have fun.



Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Various)

This game is going to be incredible. Its being treated as a Star Wars film with the full marketing treatment and everything. It looks like its going to take the cinematic experience in games to a whole new level.



Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS)

This is a nostalgic pick for me. Along time ago I played the original American version of this game (Final Fantasy II) on the Super Nintendo and became a video game fan in the process. The story and gameplay are perfect. This is the only game that's ever made me cry (just a little, don't look at me that way).

2007 Japanese Release Trailer w/Subtitles - Out in the US this year!


Final Fantasy IV DS TGS 2007 ( Subtitled in English )


Empire: Total War (PC)

There's very little out about this game. I love strategy games. I love the games in the Total War series, and the era of this installment "the age of sail" is my absolute favorite period of history. I love Naval Warfare and its getting the royal treatment here.

Back to the grind...

Well, I'm back in school. You can probably guess from that intro that I'm not entirely thrilled. It's not that they're bad classes or that my professors are ogres. I'm just cranky both becuse "it is" and because I have one class at 8:00 at night and one on Saturday.

Both classes look pretty interesting. My IT for Info Professionals class shouldn't be to difficult. I looked over the syllabus and the only thing that will be totally new to me is UNIX (yes I said UNIX). We're going to go through several things that should be at least useful to get another point of view on. I just need to get my head out of my but and get over it.

My Library Materials and Services for Adults class should be useful too. Its taught by someone currently working reference so she'll have a lot of current info to share.

Libraries: "The reports of our deaths have been greatly exaggerated..."

Check this out! Apparently the efforts of libraries to remain significant in the internet age have been successful. This seems to indicate that we've made a great start, but libraries will have to build on this to continue to be successful. Efforts like my employer's new catalog, recently supercharged by Aquabrowser, will certainly help in this regard.

So keep up the great work folks!

(The full press release that prompted this article appears here, and is reprinted in its entirety below, as I couldn't get a permalink.)

Information Searches That Solve Problems

12/30/2007 | Release

People who have faced one of several common government-related problems in the past two years are more likely to consult the internet than other sources, including experts and family members.

In a national phone survey, respondents were asked whether they had encountered 10 possible problems in the previous two years, all of which had a potential connection to the government or government-provided information. Those who had dealt with the problems were asked where they went for help and the internet topped the list:

58% of those who had recently experienced one of those problems said they used the internet (at home, work, a public library or some other place) to get help.

53% said they turned to professionals such as doctors, lawyers or financial experts.

45% said they sought out friends and family members for advice and help.

36% said they consulted newspapers and magazines.

34% said they directly contacted a government office or agency.

16% said they consulted television and radio.

13% said they went to the public library.

The survey results challenge the assumption that libraries are losing relevance in the internet age. Libraries drew visits by more than half of Americans (53%) in the past year for all kinds of purposes, not just the problems mentioned in this survey. And it was the young adults in tech-loving Generation Y (age 18-30) who led the pack. Compared to their elders, Gen Y members were the most likely to use libraries for problem-solving information and in general patronage for any purpose.

Furthermore, it is young adults who are the most likely to say they will use libraries in the future when they encounter problems: 40% of Gen Y said they would do that, compared with 20% of those above age 30 who say they would go to a library.

“These findings turn our thinking about libraries upside down. Librarians have been asked whether the internet makes libraries less relevant. It has not. Internet use seems to create an information hunger and it is information-savvy young people who are the most likely to visit libraries,” noted Leigh Estabrook, Dean and Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois, co-author of a report on the results.

She added that internet users were much more likely to patronize libraries than non-users (61% vs. 28%).

This report is the fruit of a partnership of the University of Illinois –Urbana-Champaign and the Pew Internet & American Life Project. It was funded with a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, an agency that is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The survey was conducted between June 27 to September 4, 2007, among a sample of 2,796 adults, 18 and older. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

The focus of the survey was how Americans address common problems that might be linked to government. The problems covered in the survey: 1) dealing with a serious illness or health concern; 2) making a decision about school enrollment, financing school, or upgrading work skills; 3) dealing with a tax matter; 4) changing a job or starting a business; 5) getting information about Medicare, Medicaid, or food stamps; 6) getting information about Social Security or military benefits; 7) getting information about voter registration or a government policy; 8) seeking helping on a local government matter such as a traffic problem or schools; 9) becoming involved in a legal matter; and 10) becoming a citizen or helping another person with an immigration matter.

There was some variance in the results, depending on the type of problem that people confronted. For instance, those who dealt with a health problem turned to experts more than any other source, followed by family and friends, and then the internet. And those who had issues related to big government programs such as Social Security or Medicare were most likely to go directly to government agencies for help, then the internet.

Most people were successful in getting information to help them address a problem no matter what channel they chose and no matter what problem they faced.

65% of those who approached the government for help said they were very successful.

64% of those who went to the public library were very successful.

63% of those who used the internet were very successful.

61% of those who consulted professionals and experts were very successful.

Among the sources consulted, the internet was the source that was most often cited as the one that provided a lot of the information people were seeking.

“It is important to stress, though, that even as our data show the internet is ascending, we also find that large numbers of people do not use the internet and this low-access population prefers getting information and assistance from sources other than the internet,” noted Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, and one of the study’s authors. “Those without broadband connections at home or at work have very different needs and search strategies from those who have woven the internet into their lives.”

A major focus of this survey was on those with no access to the internet (23% of the population) and those with only dial-up access (13% of the population). This “low-access” population is poorer, older, and less well-educated than the cohort with broadband access at home or at work. They are less likely to visit government offices or libraries under any circumstances. And they are more likely to rely on television and radio for help than are high-access users.

Another important concern in this research was to see how the rise of the internet might affect the way government officials and librarians could work to meet citizens’ needs.

“The big message in this survey is that those who want to help citizens – whether they sit in government offices, libraries, non-profit organizations, or politically-active groups – live in a much more complicated environment now than they did a decade ago,” said Evans Witt, CEO of Princeton Survey Research Associates International, the firm that conducted the survey and one of the report’s authors. “They must serve citizen needs that run the spectrum from high-tech digerati who want everything served to them online to grandparents in rural areas who want the government to mail them key documents that are printed on real paper with real ink."

This is just to cool...

When I read what follows, I had a good chuckle. Then I thought about it some and laughed some more, but for a different reason. It seems Nintendo's "gamble" has paid off. After all, the Queen could be thought of as the posterchild for the non-traditional gamer. It's just another demonstration that broadening one's audience is only possible when you offer your product or service on the customer's terms, as Nintendo has with the Wii. As we all know, broadening one's audience is the surest way of remaining a viable force in any business.

From: www.people.co.uk
6 January 2008

MAKE WAY FOR THE Q Wii N

Elizabeth hogs Wills' Xmas gift from Kate ROYAL EXCLUSIVE

By Dean Rousewell

The gadget-loving Queen has become HOOKED on Prince William's new Nintendo Wii games console.

William's girlfriend Kate Middleton bought him the £200 gift for Christmas - but he now has to share it with his grandma.

A Palace source told The People: "When she saw William playing a game after lunch at Sandringham she thought the Nintendo looked tremendous fun and begged to join in.

"She played a simple ten-pin bowling game and by all accounts was a natural.

"It was hilarious. William was in fits of laughter. He was enormously impressed at having such a cool gran.

"And although she is 81 the Queen's hand-eye co-ordination was as good as somebody half her age."

The Wii was this Christmas's musthave gift. Players can create their own customised on-screen lookalike - just like our jokey Elizabeth pictured above.

Kate, 26 on Wednesday, watched as William, 25, unwrapped the gift at the Royal Family's festive gathering. Our source said: "He loves his gadgets and boys' toys. So it was the perfect present for him.

"His only difficulty nowis prising it away from the Queen's clutches. She showed all the signs of becoming a Nintendo addict."

It's not the first time the Queen has joined the hi-tech revolution.

In 2001 she got her first mobile phone and has regularly upgraded to one with the latest features.

Her Majesty set up her own email account years ago.

In 2005 she took delivery of an iPod that stores more than 100,000 tunes.

And last June she added a trendy BlackBerry to her technological armoury - and made sure her senior staff were equipped with them too.