Sudden Boredom

This entry is not related to technology. I just wanted to write how bored I am today. Last week I was very excited because I am finally getting the hang of Digital Painting and how I can also use the knowledge I gain in doing Web Design.  Last week I also made a quick 3D model of an Eastern Dragon and I surprised at how quickly I can create a 3D model now.

But then Sunday came. I suddenly got hit by this feeling of boredom. I hope I get out of this funk soon.

Disadvantages of Using Facebook

Last week I decided to deactivate my Facebook account. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely delete it. Your account just become hidden until you login again. And everything will be like it was before.

But it's better than nothing.

Using Facebook actually has a lot of advantages. If you are searching for an old friend you have lost contact with, chances are you will find them on Facebook.

And then there is the commercial aspect. Facebook currently has 800 million active users. 400 Million of those are logged in any time in the day. Think about the possibility.

So why did I decide to close it?

Your Status Updates can Potentionally Ruin a Relationship

After using it for more than a year. This social network presents some problem. I noticed that the more I gain friends (old friends, new friends, friends from many years ago) in my network the more I gain people who resent me.

For example, If I post a personal view, maybe political or religious, chances are it will hit the nerves of someone with a different opinion. They find out how different you are. And since the foundation of your friendship is not strong yet or not strong anymore because you haven't seen each other for a while, they take it personally and they resent it. And so you just lost a friend in a bad way. And you don't have any chance to patch it because you don't have the opportunity to meet just like before.

The funny thing is, if I posted the same thing in a personal blog, it will not attract such reaction. I wonder why?

Maybe because if you post, something it feels like you are directly talking to someone. And who ever felt comfortable being told by a mere peer.

Unlike blog post which feels like directed at any random people who happen to come by.

Not Liking Someones Post Consistently Can also Ruin a Relationship

I've observe that some people like to post a lot. And if you consistently do not react and you don't click the 'Like Button', they begin to feel that you don't like them at all.

Likewise if you post something and nobody reacted it feels like you just talked to air.

It's a bad feeling really for everyone.

Games are a Time Consuming Distractions

One of the reasons that made Facebook successful are the presence of online games: Farmville, Fronterville, CafeWorld, Backyard Monsters to name just a few.

The problem with these games is that you constantly have to return to them to make any progress. In some you need to invite new friends to join the game during every new level.

I was playing Backyard Monster before I deactivated my account. The object of the game is world conquest and I progressed enough that I now have 31 outposts. So I really became one of the strongest players in my Map. But the problem is – it now takes more than an hour just to tend all those 31 outposts. And if you just leave them unattended, a lot of game resources will be wasted. Add to that you never know if someone might be attacking your bases while you are away. You also have to watch for that.

Other social games have similar problem. The more you increase in level the more it becomes a chore to tend your account.

And then you have your other friends who are making game requests not just in one game but in several games.

And so you are committed to check everyday or else you will be left behind.

But isn't games intended to help you relax and unwind instead of giving you more work which are not essential to your personally life.

Spending to much time on Facebook checking Friend Status

You can also waste your watching the statuses of your friends. Checking out what they are currently doing. People like news that is why news websites are the most visited sites on the internet. What more if you are checking on your friends.

Meeting Old Friends You wished You would have Never Met Again

People change. You may be okay with each other when you were younger but your childhood friends may have acquired some bad attitude since last you met.

They may have become judgemental or simple annoying that there will be situations that you wish that you never met them again at all so that you can preserve the good memories you have together.

You Don't really have Control over your own Content while Facebook is making a profit of it

Try deactivating your account. You will find out that you will not be able to delete it. It is still there just hidden.

They might say it is for convenience incase you change your mind and return.

But what if I really want to erase everything.

Another is about my upates and photos.

If you like to travel or if you want to share something, I believe it is better for you to post it in your own blog.

Who knows your blog may prove to be popular and you start attracting advertisers. Or someone might like your work and they hire you for a certain job.

If you are blogging on Facebook, you can't take advantage of this opportunity because in the end Facebook owns their website and you are just renting their resources for free.

If ever an advertiser is interested to advertiser on your page, they will talk to Facebook not you.

You might say you are really doing these updates for personal reasons anyway. But still it is an opportunity lost.

Not Completely Getting Out

And so I've deactivated my Facebook account. But it doesn't mean I am getting off it completely. You just can't ignore 800 Million active users. I do have another account that I use for marketing purposes.

But I will distance my personal life and personal information. There is just too much hassle and too many privacy concerns.

Firefox 6.0: How to Remember Last Opened Tabs

Starting from the release of Mozilla Firefox 5.0 the browser could no longer remember your last open tabs by default.

The reason for this is probably because the browser opens more slowly when it has to load multiple tabs
.
But if you find this feature useful, there is still a way to bring it back.

How to Make Firefox Remember the Previously Open Tabs

1.  Go to Options

2. Click on Generals

3. Look for "When Firefox Starts"

4. Select "Show my windows and tabs from last time"

5. Click "Ok"

The next time you open Firefox it will load any tabs you previously did not close.

If you don't like doing this by default, there is still a way to open your previous tabs using the history.

1. Click on History

2. Click on Previous Session

Disadvantages of Big LED/LCD Monitors

When it comes to computer monitors we all want it big, perhaps, as big as our pocket can afford. The reason for this is because we expect large monitors to give us better viewing experience. But actually, that is not entirely true.

There are also some disadvantages for having a high resolution monitors.

Need to View Videos in High Definition

To appreciate watching videos in your big monitor, the video must be HD. You are going to notice pixelation when you view a 360p video from Youtube. Therefore, you should opt to view using 760p.

Demands a Larger Internet Bandwidth

But 760p and higher resolution videos are going to “demand a larger internet bandwidth”. If your internet subscription is not fast enough you will have to endure a lot of buffering.

Requires More Computer Memory

Every pixel used by your monitor will consume computer memory. The higher the resolution, the more RAM it has to consume.

Need More Powerful Video Card

Higher resolution monitor requires more processing power. A 1600x900 pixels resolution will demand more processing power than a 1024x768 or 800x600 resolution. You will notice this when you are playing computer games. Your PC Game will always respond faster at lower resolutions.

Large Blank Spaces When Surfing the Internet

Websites are currently optimized for 1024x768 display. If you are using a higher resolution you will notice large blank margins on either side of your screen.

Can the New Yahoo Mail Beat Gmail?

Before there was Gmail there was Yahoo Mail and MSN Hotmail. But when Gmail came many made the switch.

These are the reasons:

1. Large Storage Capacity

When Gmail came at the scene in 2004 it offered an initial storage space of 1 Gigabyte. Meanwhile Yahoo Mail and Hotmail were only offering 4 megabytes of space during that time. In 2004 Yahoo was promoted to increase the email capacity to 100 megabytes. If I remember it correctly, you have to pay if you wanted additional storage capacity.

The move by Google was significant because email is very vital and space can quickly run out if you frequently communicate through email.

It is such a relief that you don't have to worry about the number of emails you receive and you have a peace of mind that succeeding emails will not bounce back to the sender.

Google has since increased the capacity to more than 7 gig and Yahoo offered unlimited storage.

But it was too late for Yahoo.

2. Search

Gmail was the first to introduce the use search in email applications. Before you had to go through each email if you are looking for something.

3. Threaded conversation

Gmail neatly organizes email and the corresponding replies into a single thread. This way the emails are organized and you can quickly follow along the conversation in each of your email.

4. Amazing Spam Filter

Google has one of the best spam filter there is. It is really amazing how they do it. Whereas with Yahoo, my emails easily amidst so many spams.

5. Reliability

Gmail is very reliable compared to Yahoo Mail that suffered from frequent glitches. There were times that the emails does not reach the recipients for a couple of hours and even one whole day. This has led to some miscommunication and confusion.

But Yahoo announced that they will be rolling out a new email service last May 24, 2011.

The new service promises more speed, organization, and efficiency.

We will find out in the weeks ahead.

Smartbro Broadband vs PLDT DSL Internet

As you all know PLDT and Smartbro can be considered a single company. PLDT is the mother company and Smartbro is its subsidiary company.

The company as a whole offers two kinds of Internet connections: a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and a wireless broadband internet.

If you are thinking of applying for internet connection you may be wondering which of these two is better.

Let's take a look from the Wireless Broadband Subscriber's (Smartbro) perspective.

Advantages
1. There is minimal interruption of service. This is true because data travels through air instead of wires. You won't lose your connection because of faulty telephone wires, wire theft (happens a lot in our country), or telephone wire accidents (typhoon).

2. You don't need an existing telephone line. With DSL, if you don't have an existing phone line you still have to apply for one. This could take some time because PLDT has to check a lot of things like, is there an available slot in your area? If there is none, you will have to wait until a slot becomes available.

Meanwhile, Smartbro will only need to setup an antenna in your place. The longest time a subscriber will have to wait for their connection is about two weeks.

Disadvantages

1. Connection is Noticeably Less Stable Than DSL. When you view videos with DSL versus Wireless Broadband, wireless broadband will buffer more often.

Bandwidth quality significantly drops when sharing with atleast one more computer. Meanwhile DSL's bandwidth is ok up to three or four computers.

2. Static IP. The assigned IP does not change. This can be a disadvantage with regards to privacy.

It is also advantage with regards to file sharing websites. Most of these websites has time limits. If you have you have used up the limit you can't just reboot your modem and get another IP address (File sharing websites uses the IP Address to identify it's users).

3. Shared IP. Aside from having a Static IP address you are also sharing it with other users probably near your area. Again the problem with this is that you will often get messages on certain websites that you have used up your limit when you have not even visited the website yet. Example websites were this often happens are file sharing and video sharing websites.

And also, if the shared IP address is being investigated for criminal activity by one of it's users, the other user's will also be involved. Fortunately, we haven't heard or known such case happening yet. But it can be a possibility.

4. Commercial Interruptions. This is one of the most annoying thing about Smartbro. At times, you will experience your browser going to a Smartbro Advertisement without your consent.