I have had a Flickr account now for probably a few years, never really did anything with it. Over the last few months I bought a new camera and started taking more photos, then I started backing up all my photos, then I needed a place to share my photos. Enter Flickr once again, I had a normal free account, sure this was okay for awhile but I did a bit of thinking and decided to go Pro.
Well going Pro was a great thing, I love making sets, collections, adding favorites, groups and on and on. I have uploaded at least 5 photos a day since I got my pro account, its great to be able to comment on other photos and have people give me feedback. Now not that this is anything that anyone who uses Flickr doesnt know but for me its been enlighting and its been a force behind wanting to take more photos and continue to express my creative side.
Some people ask, "is going pro worth it" and yes it absolutely is. I've never had so much fun with photos, its been more addicting for me than twitter and Facebook combined (okay Facebook isn't that addicting to me).
Check out my Flickr feed on this site to see just how addicting it has been for me, and if your a Flickr user look me up, make a few comments and pick at least one of my pics as a favorite. Then stay and browse and be inspired, because for me that's what Flickr has been, an inspiration.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Me and my PSP
My time with Sony's PSP has been interesting, I originally bought it more because it was something I wanted since it was a handheld game system and portable media device at a time I didn't really have a portable media device. Yet over the years I bought very few games for it and it kinda just gathered dust as devices like Zunes, iPhones and laptops became much more useful in the jobs the PSP could be used for. I travled with the PSP a few times and a program I had called TVtoGO which was a plug in for Media Center allowed me to catch up on some shows.
The web browser in the PSP kinda stinks, at least I could never get it to do much and the iPhones is much better and I can't really remember the last game I played on it although I did get some digital downloads to play on the go if needed (they have never been needed). The latest addition was the addition of the Playstation Store accessible directly from the PSP which was a nice addition.
Yet after all this time I finally used one of the neatest features, the ability to stream from the PS3. Although I have tried to do this before it was more of a novelty the last time I used it and not much of a useful thing. I realize the PS3 can be left in standby mode and you can try to access your media while away from home but I don't really care to have my PS3 on standby all the time and accidentally able to be turned on while I'm away.
However last night I used the PSP to stream video from my PS3 which was streaming from my PC to catch up on some shows while lying in bed. In fact the PSP is much easier to sit in bed with than my laptop which can get a little warm on the lap and cumbersome to get comfortable with. I will admit it also streamed easily and the quality was very good, no issues or hicups during play and I banged out two shows before bed. The ability to turn off the PS3 before your done is also nice. I have a feeling that I will actually be using this feature more and more in the future. I just need to make sure I put the PS3 in Remote mode before I'm done and its nice and accessible before bed.
So imagine that something I found useful on both the PSP and the PS3 and something I can speak nicely about for Sony. It also allows me to get yet more use out of my technology and thats the key thing, if you've got the technology and you've paid for it, use it!
The web browser in the PSP kinda stinks, at least I could never get it to do much and the iPhones is much better and I can't really remember the last game I played on it although I did get some digital downloads to play on the go if needed (they have never been needed). The latest addition was the addition of the Playstation Store accessible directly from the PSP which was a nice addition.
Yet after all this time I finally used one of the neatest features, the ability to stream from the PS3. Although I have tried to do this before it was more of a novelty the last time I used it and not much of a useful thing. I realize the PS3 can be left in standby mode and you can try to access your media while away from home but I don't really care to have my PS3 on standby all the time and accidentally able to be turned on while I'm away.
However last night I used the PSP to stream video from my PS3 which was streaming from my PC to catch up on some shows while lying in bed. In fact the PSP is much easier to sit in bed with than my laptop which can get a little warm on the lap and cumbersome to get comfortable with. I will admit it also streamed easily and the quality was very good, no issues or hicups during play and I banged out two shows before bed. The ability to turn off the PS3 before your done is also nice. I have a feeling that I will actually be using this feature more and more in the future. I just need to make sure I put the PS3 in Remote mode before I'm done and its nice and accessible before bed.
So imagine that something I found useful on both the PSP and the PS3 and something I can speak nicely about for Sony. It also allows me to get yet more use out of my technology and thats the key thing, if you've got the technology and you've paid for it, use it!
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009 Tech Resolutions!
I spent a good portion of 2008 acquiring pieces of tech to help make things work a little bit better and or efficient. For 2009 I plan to use that stuff a bit more and wrap up some work on getting more media up and running. So for 2009 here's the plan.
1. For one the don't buy allot of games and finish the ones I have is back on the list, I think that one needs to be put up top this year to remind me to keep the spending on the low side.
2. One thing I wanted to put on the list and its already being worked on is using the new MacBook and iWeb together with my MobileMe account and get a website up and running. You can find the early parts of www.artlevandoski.com already growing.
3. Add a Harmony Remote for the upstairs room. Although there is only the Cablebox and Xbox 360 I think its time to simplify a little more and add a second Harmony remote to the family room.
4. Last year I dared add a second 360, this year I may dare add a third. That is something I never EVER thought I'd say but we have a third room (the toy room) that is quickly becoming a viable media room and the kid likes to have his media available wherever he wants it. (By kid I'm trying to reference my child, but mostly its really me!
5. Finish adding my movies to the network! A project I started last year and in true fashion to me really ripped through it (no pun intended), originally I thought it would take me into 2010 to fisnish it up, but with a little bit of work and a bunch of movies not making the cut I think I can wrap it up this year.
And that's where I'm going to keep it at, just a short list. Mostly again this year it'll be about the continuing issue of trying to minimize the work involved and maximize the enjoyment of the media in my family's life. Last year I was really surprised at how my wife adapted to it and my son really started to enjoy it, and in the end it's really allot of fun for me as well.
Here's to a great 2009!
1. For one the don't buy allot of games and finish the ones I have is back on the list, I think that one needs to be put up top this year to remind me to keep the spending on the low side.
2. One thing I wanted to put on the list and its already being worked on is using the new MacBook and iWeb together with my MobileMe account and get a website up and running. You can find the early parts of www.artlevandoski.com already growing.
3. Add a Harmony Remote for the upstairs room. Although there is only the Cablebox and Xbox 360 I think its time to simplify a little more and add a second Harmony remote to the family room.
4. Last year I dared add a second 360, this year I may dare add a third. That is something I never EVER thought I'd say but we have a third room (the toy room) that is quickly becoming a viable media room and the kid likes to have his media available wherever he wants it. (By kid I'm trying to reference my child, but mostly its really me!
5. Finish adding my movies to the network! A project I started last year and in true fashion to me really ripped through it (no pun intended), originally I thought it would take me into 2010 to fisnish it up, but with a little bit of work and a bunch of movies not making the cut I think I can wrap it up this year.
And that's where I'm going to keep it at, just a short list. Mostly again this year it'll be about the continuing issue of trying to minimize the work involved and maximize the enjoyment of the media in my family's life. Last year I was really surprised at how my wife adapted to it and my son really started to enjoy it, and in the end it's really allot of fun for me as well.
Here's to a great 2009!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Children of the Tech
Okay apparently I am putting off my New Years Tech Resolutions, but I wanted to touch on something real quick. While my son is only 3 years old he has already learned something that is definitely his generation of kids, he can watch anything, anywhere. Through the magic of On Demand and my home network my son has already learned that no matter where he is in the house, if there is a TV he should be able to watch anything he has seen anywhere else. Now for the moment this is true yet there are holes that need to be filled this year. Its almost sad when I have to tell him "no not in this room" since he kind of looks at me with that "why" look. For him (and my own selfish tech reasons) I'll fill that hole for him this tax season.
What am I using to move all this media around, well there's a few backbone programs and such but for the most part the Xbox 360 makes a great little media center and its pretty easy to use, even for my wife.
I'm very much proud that my son has learned to enjoy his TV wherever he wants, of course in a few days he'll have to deal with the in laws home during the day where the tech is a little less prevalent, sooner or later I'm going to have to outfit the grandparents with all this technology as well!
Of course as soon as the warmer weather hits there will be one place where there is no TV or 360 and that's outside, where kids can still be kids and actually PLAY!
What am I using to move all this media around, well there's a few backbone programs and such but for the most part the Xbox 360 makes a great little media center and its pretty easy to use, even for my wife.
I'm very much proud that my son has learned to enjoy his TV wherever he wants, of course in a few days he'll have to deal with the in laws home during the day where the tech is a little less prevalent, sooner or later I'm going to have to outfit the grandparents with all this technology as well!
Of course as soon as the warmer weather hits there will be one place where there is no TV or 360 and that's outside, where kids can still be kids and actually PLAY!
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