Category: Webluke

CES 2012 Pre-Thoughts

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on CES 2012 Pre-Thoughts

CES is coming for 2012 and I like to see what comes from the show. Last year it was all about 3D TVs and Android Tablets. This year it looks like tablets and apps on TVs will be some of the big things. I’m sure they will have more 3D TV but some without glasses but I don’t care because I can’t see the 3D.

Android Tablets were big last year but the ones that did come out in 2011 were flops and the main reason was that they were trying to do the old computer trick of having spec wars and charging too much. The iPad dose so good because it is not that expensive and is somewhat of a good device that has a sexy or prestige factor that the Android tablets lack because of marketing by Apple.

If they can make new tablets with Android 4.0 that are good specs and don’t cost over $500-600 then they may work out but if they want to sell lots they need to have it be good spec, Android 4.0 and cost less than $350.

As for the TVs with apps, it looks like they will be running Google TV aka Android TV, but the mistake that the companies are going to make is putting skins on them, they need to look and feel the same. Also Google and the TV companies will need to make deals to get the content producers to make apps to put their content on the system.

With Microsoft also pulling out I don’t see much coming from them, probably some new looks at Windows 8 and a recap of the new video options on Xbox 360. And I’m sure Sony and Nintendo will save most of their big things for games for E3 were I’m sure Microsoft will still have a big setup to pimp there Xbox stuff.

This year I will probably keep looking over some of the blog sites, and check out Twit.tv they have the most raw unorganized look from the floor as if you were there. CNet has some good stuff but it is more organized and almost too setup only with big names.

First Blogging / Podcasting Month Post

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on First Blogging / Podcasting Month Post

So this is my first post for blogging month. It can also be podcasting month too and I plan on doing that also because I am trying to grow both of those. So I am going to give an overview of some of the things I have been thinking to cover.

On the blog I will be talking about some of my experiences with playing with new Linux distributions. I have also just setup Google+ on my domain since that came out a few days ago so ill have some posts about the experiences with it. Also I am trying to use Google Docs to work out my posts before I put them in WordPress on my site so will see how that goes for typing things up over using Word.

On the podcast I will be talking about some of my designer to do a podcast or show. There will be coverage of some of the tech news stories, and what I think of them. I finally will work to expand some of my thoughts about technology and how we are using it right and how we are missing out on other things.

These are just a general listing of things I want to try and work out, if I can get something that works out good I may turn it into a regular show. Also the blog will probably get some more focus.

And to close typing this out in Google Docs has worked out not too bad, will see what else I can do with it.

Also if you noticed it was late L had it written up, just didn’t post it yet hehe. 10 min shot.

Podcast / Blog Month – November

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Podcast / Blog Month – November

So I heard that November is Podcast month, this is where if you are a Podcaster or want to start then you try and do a show every day for the month of November. I thought this would be a good way for me to get into doing shows so I plan on doing this. But with some modifications, I’m not sure if I will do a show every day but try and to one every other day at least.

Also it was brought up that you could do this in blogging, so I am going to post something every day in the month of November to WebLuke.Net, I hope it will be something good, may just be a video and some comments on it will have to see.

I may put up a sub-site for the Podcast not sure about that yet. I hope this will help me get use to posting more and also build my Podcasting skills or knowledge. I just hope I don’t skip out on this and miss building my abilities.

Gadget Reviews for Everyone

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Gadget Reviews for Everyone

Over the years I have been posting on and off on my website about things I have been doing, things I find that are cool or fun, and just tips or tricks on things I use. But It seems that I may have more to add to my site along with something to add more content. I have noticed that most tech related blogs or sites seem to cover everything tech or just one specific topic, while that is good to do, they seem to miss something. They focus on so much detail and seem to get to a point where everything is amazing or it’s just another gadget. On the other end is normal people who don’t care about the details who want to say that something is cool but they just make a video on YouTube saying its cool.

There should be a middle ground, a place where the important details to a normal person to know if they want something but also enough techie details to let someone who knows more to understand what makes it work that good. An example is on a tech blog covering smart phones would have things like the model of the processer, screen resolution, and radio details. But do those things matter? Not really, what most people want to know is how big is it, is it fast enough to play games and stuff on, and what cell phone company will have it and that it will work on their WIFI at home.

So what I am trying to get at is that I want to start reviewing tech products that I find cool, that real people would want to have, and put it in a way that is not too techie and not too simple that about anyone can check it out and learn about something they have herd of or may want to get.

I know there are thousands and thousands of tech blogs and sites, some big some small, but I look at things different, and I hope that I won’t get to a point were when you have seen a hundred smart phones you have seen them all, but see a hundred and say these ten are good and here is what makes them cool or more interesting to look into getting over the others.

This will be a slow start, and I know I will have to spend a lot of time getting things started. But I think it will be something I will enjoy. I will also need test units and also just getting info on new products and if I can just playing with them in store because right now I have no way of buying things just to play with it for now. I’ll be working to change that soon though.

Any way look forward to more product reviews and in a way that not just a techie would know what I was talking about but with details that matter!

Learning HTML5 and CSS3

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Learning HTML5 and CSS3

In the past few months I have been finding out that the school district I work at has not gotten enough money for some of the costs of running the schools. Because of this they have been cutting jobs and adding more work load to me and others around me. So this has driven me to look for something to help my situation, even though now I know I will have a job for the next year so far. Almost 7 years ago I learned how to build websites and I was coding all my own sites, then later switched over to Drupal and now I am using WordPress. While these are great tools I wanted to learn how to do all my own coding and start offering my services to local businesses.

So far I have learned how to do basic things now in HTML5 and CSS3, and I have been applying what I am learning to building out a site I am working on that has business listings. It’s amazing how much I have been able to remember because I learned how to do XHTML the right way and it has lots of things that are almost the same as HTML5.

One place I have been having problems getting use too was how much JavaScript you need to know, it’s almost all new to me but to make things work in most every browser you have to have a few tricks in your pages. Some other things I will be learning more about would be how to code a user system in PHP and some MySQL backend storage. I also need to get better with building some graphics for the pages. But it is all something that will happen and I know I can learn easy enough.

So where will I be building out more information on what I am doing is going to happen on WebLuke.com since I got it a few years ago and now it’s just pointing back to WebLuke.net.

Here is a link to the book I found that seems to be good at going over HTML5 and CSS3.

Fun With Tasker

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Fun With Tasker

A few months back I had found a development thread on XDA-Developers forum about a proxy app that runs on rooted phones, when someone asked if there was a way to have it turn on for a specific WIFI SSID, but it wasn’t part of the app. One of the posters gave some almost useful instructions on using an app called Tasker to automate the process. So I went and got Tasker and never got any where with it until a few days ago.

Since the app was running in the task bar I started messing with it before falling asleep and to my surprise they did have good help and even a few wiki sites that talked about how to set up different tasks. I tried the one that turned WIFI off when not at locations you can connect to but it wasn’t specific to where it was unless I left the GPS on all the time and that wasn’t a solution. But by playing with that one I started to understand how things worked, and tried a few of the others on the wiki.

I now have tasks that turn off the sound at night unless it is a stared contact calling, it turns off the WIFI when I dock it in a car dock, and have it setup to turn on the GPS when an app I know needs it is started and shuts off when it closes. A few other little ones make notifications reminding me to take vitamins since I’m trying to live healthier. There are a few things that I still want to setup and from everything I can see it’s all possible.

So if you’re looking for a way to have your phone automate things for you that you do often check out Tasker in the Android Market.

[XDA] http(s) proxy support (web, maps, etc)

[Market] Tasker

2011 New Year Already

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on 2011 New Year Already

So things here haven’t been up-to-date that much. With me getting colds and not liking how the podcast was turning out and the holidays the site was kind of neglected. But I think I have figured out how I want to do the podcast and should be coming out with a new show soon. As for the website, I am going to be posting more and try to post more of the new things I am learning. School for me has been going well but I think I need to read the books more because I think I am missing some of the information even though I know the answers to the questions they want answered.

So look out for more about what I am learning, podcasts on specific subjects not news, and I should be trying new stuff with servers and IT related subjects.

Webluke Cast 0 – Ready for Launch

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Webluke Cast 0 – Ready for Launch

Podcast or podcasting icon
This is a test Podcast of the Webluke Podcast episode 0. Basically its my explanation of what I want the podcast to be and some thoughts on how it will play out. In a few days or so I will be doing a full on show and have news and such to bring every thing to life.

There are some edits where I would cough or say umm too much but all things that are done with audio. So check this out if you want to I will be adding a Podcast Feed soon so look for that, and to support what I am doing here click on Savings & Support and help me out, below will be a way to also send me a Amazon.com gift card if you want to help out that way.

Please comment on the show and add any thing you may think that would help things out.

PS: I do know I will need some kind of intro music and exit music it just kind of pops in there 😀


Two Weeks of WordPress

Posted on | by WebLuke | Leave a Comment on Two Weeks of WordPress
The logo of the blogging software WordPress.
Image via Wikipedia

Well after over two weeks of using WordPress I think I like it. The number of posts has increased from one every few months to a one to two a week. I don’t blame the software too much, it seems like it is easier to post to a WordPress blog/website than it was for me to post to my Drupal site. The true test is in two to three months from now am I still posting as much.

A few things that I have found that I like is the web admin posting interface, it’s easy to make good looking posts and nice to write in. But the post that I am doing now is being done in Microsoft Word 2007. Just though I would try it out and see if it was easy to make a post and take advantage of the spell check and grammar checking so that I don’t mess that stuff up too much. 😛

One main thing that I like about WordPress is the ability to update plug-ins and themes. If I see one I just tell it to auto update and it’s done in seconds. Also when I want to add something I just stay on my admin page use the Add New under Plug-ins and I am installing the thing I want relay fast. Changing settings works out quite nice also, most are AJAX and after a quick Save, I am seeing it on the site. The mobile theme plug-in works great also; it lets me have a fast nice way to display my site on my Nexus One/Android and iPhones.

This means I will stay for a while it seems with WordPress and kick it around and see what else it can do. It is used by lots of big names because of how powerful it is and what you can customize. Off I go into more blog posts and updates to come, hopefully I well get a podcast going also, just need my voice to come back from this cold.

Update: Word was good to write in, but adding tags and categories didn’t work so I just sent it to the blog as a draft and finished that stuff in the admin editor.

New Monitor: Samsung EX2220X 21.5-Inch

Posted on | by WebLuke | 1 Comment on New Monitor: Samsung EX2220X 21.5-Inch
Samsung EX2220X

Well I got my new monitor I ordered the other day in. I have been using it for a few weeks now and its so nice to have such a big screen. I have wanted a bigger screen, but it’s hard for me to spend money on new computer stuff when I know I need to keep my bills and other things paid. But I knew we had the money and it was somewhat hard for me to read the text for my online college classes because they made it so you can resize the window and increase the font size. I first started looking at LG screens, but I couldn’t find one that I liked and was the size I was looking for. I also wasn’t looking at what Amazon.com had at first just trying to see what there was. I order stuff though Amazon Prime since I paid for that so I get free shipping on almost everything I want to buy online. I was ordering quite a few things that we needed and I wanted so it was cheaper to get the Prime account then pay for shipping, plus it’s 2-day. So I finely looked at the Samsung screens, I thought they would be good partly because most stores use Samsung for their displays and they are on and running almost 24/7. This screen had good specs and didn’t have the large ugly bezel (think that’s right) so if I got a second one it would match up nice and be easy to look at. Here is a rundown of the features:

  • 21.5″ 16:9 Widescreen
  • 5ms Response Time
  • 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD
  • LED Back-light
  • Connector 15pin D-SUB + DVI-D
  • Not too pricey!

This is a relay nice screen, and it’s nice to have the extra desktop space, and have two windows side by side doing with in one reading on the other. The color is also good and the picture is sharp and clean. It looks way better than even the screen on my laptop that I was liking so much that it was where my keyboard was, now its been put to the side more. If I had the extra money to burn and didn’t want to upgrade my computer more than have a second screen I would love to run two of these side by side and have lots of room to spread out. Someday I’ll get that setup going, but for now this is a great improvement.