It’s been a wild ride for CutEdge this year — the year where I’ve been having to juggle a bunch of extracurriculars, schooling, trying to groom out a social life (har har), pursuing other interests (drawing, music, reading), gaining knowledge, and of course, writing.  I know that I haven’t been the most consistent poster, nor the most interesting (at times — I try to entertain though).  And looking back, I do feel a little tear trickling down my cheek — let’s face it, 2008 was an interesting year.

Here are some shouts to everyone that helped — yeah, yeah, it’s always cool to have your name mentioned on the net, right?

First and foremost, to Rohan “Nahor” Sovig from Your World Wired (I’ll even link to you, *sigh*, hahaha just kidding) for getting me into blogging.  If it hadn’t been for early summer of 2007, I’d still be sitting on my Ikea chair…rotting.

Scott “Scotty D” Davidson, Michael “Mike (sorry, I couldn’t think of anything and “hammer” sounds kinda cheezy)” Chan, Nicholas “Nicholas Picholas” Chan (upcoming designer — http://nickchan.ca — yeah, it should be running soon), Amanda “Kool Mandy” Scarlato (who actually gave me the idea for this post, so I’ll make your entry longer Kool Mandy), Tom “Tommy Wommy” Kwok (Tommy Wommy’s as good as his actual name), and the rest of the Tech Design crew for making me chuckle.

Gary “G-Baby” Chan for being the enthusiast that he is, and pushing me to get those latest gadgets.

Terrence “Jayden” Wong for commenting every so often, and always informing me of the latest news.

Dhruv “Dhruvy from Dubai” Vyas for lending me that external drive — without it I never would’ve been able to write this post (heck, I wouldn’t have seen the importance in backing up altogether).

Cameron “Heawad” Amini (actually, Heawad’s his real middle name…) for keeping CutEdge.org set as his homepage and never complaining.  And being such a good sport about me smacking him everytime I lost at Gears of War 2.

Our quiet, and supportive, sponsors (on left sidebar — most of them are on the home page), who help to support CutEdge.org and its running fees.

All the PR people who’ve taken the time out to contact me: I’m not even lying, you guys really build my anticipation everyday when I check my e-mails.  Ah, and my apologies to those that I didn’t get a chance to reply to — sorry, folks!

To Farhan “Farhanali” Mohamed and Aaron “AK (47?)” Korbacher just cause they’re my friends (yeah, I knew you’d feel left out).

Definitely, to Jonathan Kwan of APH Networks — without your mentoring, pushing, and badgering, I’d have never learned to write a review (or meet deadlines, hahahaha).  Yipes, then again, maybe he doesn’t want people finding out we’re related hahaha.

Almost forgot Melissa “Money Mel (or Melonhead)” Huang for being so enthusiastic about those other blogs I tried (and failed) starting.

And last, but certainly not least, to you dear reader, for sticking with CutEdge.org and me (you stick with me, you don’t stick with I) in 2008 — and I look forward to seeing you again 2009.  …and you better come back, or else I’ll have more than just one little tear trickling.  Ah, and keep those comments and e-mails coming, I love hearing from you folks!

Hm, lots of chuckles in that post.  Probably should fix that?  …nah.

I could have only dreamed of this coming true — but here it is: the folks over at XDA-Developers (a bright bunch of people) have ported Google Android onto the HTC Touch (Vogue).  Now I’m really not so sure why it’s called the HTC Vogue (probably differences in countries — Canada calls the Samsung Blackjack just the Samsung Jack), but that’s besides the point.  Like…holy cow.  It’s alive.

HTC Touch Vogue running Google Android

photo credit: Kai Hendry

Sure, it’s got a bunch of minor bugs and issues for now, but it’s still something to contemplate — once its issues and bugs are gone, I’m definitely going to have to give this a try.

If you’re a PC user and have ever had the misfortune of running into trouble on your PC (no doubt you have), you’ll probably have seen articles involving or surrounding Windows registry.  If you’ve never investigated,  Leo Notenboom’s got a great article on what Windows registry is, and why it’s there.  And to sum things up, according to Notenboom, the Windows Registry is a central database of organized program and system settings and information.

photo credit: Signarama – Crystal, MN

For each setting you tweak, change, or delete, Windows registry creates an entry to log it.  Over time, these entries become obsolete — unnecessary.  Is it safe to remove them?  You bet — in fact, by purging these entries, you make clear space in the registry, and make it easier to call up programs and settings.  But, if you’ve got a new computer that’s slow, I’d recommend formatting (since registry probably doesn’t have that many entries anyway).

How can you clear it?  Don’t do it manually — instead, rely on the many programs provided out there.  I personally prefer CCleaner — it does the job well, and it’s free.  If you want to find out more information about Windows registry, or if you want to keep up with the times, I suggest visiting Registry Cleanerz — for information, and a set of forums to help with those questions of yours.  Have fun cleaning!

I never thought of the day I’d see this again: a 4GB iPhone — the very same that appealed to and ended up enraging early adapters (never adapt early, if possible).  It’s not that a 4GB iPhone shouldn’t be released: in fact, it could be commercially successful and even downright popular.  What makes it so different this time around?

photo credit: William Hook

Well — mainly, the pricing.  Dailytech reports that the 4GB iPhone will be appropriately priced at $99 (with a contract, no doubt).  But is 4GB really enough for you?  I’m no music fanatic, but even I use 8GB of storage on my iPod 5.5G (I suppose if I purged Rush Hour 2, Hitch — great movie, and the Ladykillers, and all those episodes of Smart Guy I could half the amount I used).  But come on, the iPhone’s got such a beautiful screen — it’s made to view videos!  Not to mention all that music with its 3.5mm headphone jack (you’d be surprised how many phones don’t feature a standard headphone jack — the T-Mobile G1, for one!).

If you’re seriously considering it, I highly recommend reconsidering it.  If you want it for the games, the 3G, or just music storage (assuming you don’t have that much music), then you should be good — and $99 really is quite a steal for the wonders that the iPhone features.  But storage is most certainly a different story — if you plan to watch videos, have a huge music collection (or just don’t chuck the iPod — but then that ruins the point of getting an iPhone, I suppose), then you might want to think twice before blowing a bill on the “cheap” iPhone.

I was just catching up on my regulars (boy, 400 feeds in a day really does hurt) when a little interesting piece of software caught my eye.  Titled Wordpad 2009, it’s Wordpad + Office 2007′s Ribbon interface.

photo credit: marklarson

…erm, yeah, I realize that the picture doesn’t have much to do with the article.  I guess I just want to cultivate some good habits of throwing in graphics to ease the reader.  …easy now.

Although not officially from Microsoft, it’s no doubt a notch up from the ordinary Wordpad.  I was actually considering downloading it — but then again, since when did I start using Wordpad?  I got it mixed up with Notepad, which I do use quite frequently.

Still, it’s an interesting concept.  Even if you’re not planning to download it, why not check out some screenies?  Head over to Deviant Art to have a look.

Visit: http://solo-dev.deviantart.com/art/Wordpad-2009-105410281

Maybe it’s just me, but I find it nearly impossible to decide on a profile picture.  Nowadays, it’s important to convey just enough to give other people a sense of who you are, without overdoing it on those special effects.  I’m a big fan of Photoshop, but even I think that’s overkill — especially just for a profile picture.  So how do we make it interesting, yet personal, enough to capture other users — or at least make them double-take?

An important piece of the puzzle is personality.  These tools I offer are all free, and offer either a way to create your own character (I suggest creating them in your likeness), or tweak your photos to make them more interesting.

1. Simpsonize Me!

Originally designed as a promotional tool for The Simpsons Movie, Burger King launched Simpsonize Me as a tool to “Simpsonize” photos of yourself.  The process, theoretically, should be simple — just upload and modify, right?

…mostly.  I only got to finish the upload on my fourth try — on my first three attempts, I actually gave up (put the computer to Sleep) or had the connection time out on me.  So, I offer an alternative to Simpsonize me, which is called “The Simpsomaker“.  Not as simple as just uploading, but I would argue a whole bunch more fun.

2. South Park Studio

Out of all five of these tools, I would say that South Park Studio’s definitely been the most famous amongst my friends.  I don’t usually endorse South Park, but I felt obligated to mention South Park Studio for their own sakes.  Maybe I’m just too darn conservative for this world.

3. Face Your Manga

Face Your Manga was a shocker — because it wasn’t as fully based on manga as one would expect.  I actually enjoyed using Face Your Manga — of course, I am an avid fan of Naruto and Bleach — but I usually don’t tend to enjoy those “manga”-y drawings.  A pleasant surprise, Face Your Manga is definitely one to consider.  Er, might want to take a half-hour out of your day before you get started on this one.

…oh, and don’t get too hopeful about the apparel.  In fact, none of these really offer much apparel customization, sadly.

4. Joystiq Mii

Mii’s have been arguably one of the most interesting and amusing features of the Wii (I feel guilty making funny-looking Mii’s — I’m not superficial, really!).  I figured it was just a matter of time before either Nintendo or another company pushed its Mii capabilities online in an avatar form.  It’s pretty precise, too — the flash app actually mimics the Wii’s own customization of the Mii very realistically.  And it turns your cursor into a Wii hand.

…er, I’m not exactly sure how to download the file though.  Print Screen comes in handy, I suppose.

5. Photofunia

I’ve saved the best for last — Photofunia, as I discovered through Lifehacker, allows you to upload your photos and then substitute it into various hilarious or famous pictures, some even using face detection technology (Mona Lisa, anyone?).  A perfect blend of amusement, customization, while not taking up too much time, I would suggest using Photofunia for those looking for a quick upgrade from a bland picture into an eye-busting double-taker.

Be Creative!

That’s probably not all the customizers out there, but they’re the ones that require least baggage (no sign-ups, no fees, no downloads!).  I think that these will be timeless classics for any user out there that wants a unique, yet interesting profile picture — hopefully, you have as much fun with them as I did.

If you’re looking for a digital audio player (aka MP3 player, PMP) and you’re on a bit of a tight budget, I’ve got just the right deal for you: a sweet, hundred-dollar 8GB Zune at Future Shop (for Canadians only — sorry, everyone else).

photo credit: renaissancechambara

If I didn’t have an iPod, I’d go pick one up right now.  But since I do, I don’t think it’s anything to go nuts about.

In case you’re thinking of hocking it in a week to a friend or just an acquaintance for $140CDN, I’ve got one piece of advice: it’ll be hard to find someone to sell it to, due to the overwhelming amount of people that have iPods and MP3 players nowadays.

But, Christmas IS coming soon, and the Zune would make for a great first MP3 player.  Please, parents, buy with discretion — if your kid is not in high school yet, there is no need to get them an MP3 player.  Or a laptop.  Or a Blackberry.

photo credit: dyanna

No, that’s not the 8GB Zune.  But I’ve always been a supporter of the 30GB too.  A much, much more interesting Zune experience — in my opinion.  Plus the videos are much easier on the eys I would think.

So the conclusion — if you skipped everything and wanted to read everything in a summary, this is it: ignore it if you’ve got something, pick it up if you’re looking, and buy one for your kid only if he (or she) is in high school (for their social developments’ sakes).

“Which computer do I buy?”

“What specs should I look for?”

“When should I buy a computer?”

“Will it run Vista?”

“What if I don’t want to risk trying Vista?”

It would be impossible to accurately review every single computer out there.  But why not try to examine the hardware and peripherals that these computers are constructed from?  I’ve got the answer to your questions.

Which computer do I buy?  What specs do I look for?

In terms of brands, I suggest anything (although I have a few reservations about Gateway) from Future Shop or Best Buy will be fine.  I can also recommend Dell — they’ve got great customization abilities, but don’t require you to build your own computer.  I’ve owned an HP Pavilion desktop which I had no problems with either.

The variety in computers makes it quite difficult to choose the right one for you.  I know you probably didn’t come here to read ten page guide, so let me summarize thing for you:

Budget Computer

If you’re running low on money but you’re in desperate need of a new computer (although I wouldn’t know why you’d want to buy a new computer if you’re low on money), here’s one for you.

• CPU: Dual core, no less.  Intel Core 2 Duo, or AMD Athlon X2.
• RAM: 1GB for XP, 2GB for Vista.  Minimum.
• Graphics: Anything for XP, nVidia 8xxx series and up or any new ATI Radeon for Vista — so you can run Aero.
• Storage: 80GB should be fine for a budget, 160GB if you can find a good deal.
• Estimated cost: $500-$1,000

Media Computer:

For the video and music junkies, these specs are still near minimum but should be enough for a smooth computing experience.

• CPU: Preferably quad core.  Intel Core 2 Quad, or AMD Athlon X2 Phenom.  For heavy video processing.
• RAM: 2GB minimum, 4GB preferable.  Good multitasking.
• Graphics: nVidia 9xxx series.  Not so sure about ATI Radeon, I’ll say anything with the 3xxx and higher.  Don’t quote me on that though.
• Storage: 320GB minimum, 500GB preferable.  Gotta have enough storage for those shows.
• TV tuner card a MUST.
• 20″ widescreen monitor, if you know what’s good for you.  Ask if the video card has dual monitor support.
• Estimated cost: >$900

Herbert’s choice:

I would go for a balanced workstation — balanced between work and play.  I’ll be much more specific about what I want here, mainly because I know more about what I want than what you do.  I was able to build it on Dell though, so I’ll be able to give you a much more accurate price.  This was based on what I consider the sleek, nicer case — the Inspiron 518.  Its size allows for upgrades, in contrast to the slim or studio version (although I did consider the two).

Source: http://i.dell.com/images/…/inspndt_518_right_314x314.jpg

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 — great for heavy work.  I like to listen to music while I do…well, pretty much anything.  Some light gaming too.
• OS: Windows Vista Home Premium, although Ultimate is also a good choice if you don’t mind the extra cost.
• RAM: 4GB, even though I’ve got 2GB at the moment and Vista runs smoothly anyway.
• Storage: 500GB — I’m a packrat and can’t stand having too little storage (I learned the hard way that even 160GB wasn’t enough for my packing ways — yeah I re-formated).
• Sound card: Here’s where Dell couldn’t really supply me with anything — I’d get a Creative Audigy from Future Shop.  Not the software version that Dell offers.  On a scale of 1 to 10, replacing a sound card is probably a 4/10 (replacing RAM is a 3/10).
• Graphics: All Dell offered was the ATI Radeon HD 3450, which I would gladly take.  The nVidia 9xxx series of cards are more than acceptable though.  Vista’s Aero UI relies on the graphics, as will some light gaming.  And dual-monitor support.
• TV tuner card is a must, again.
• So is a 19-in-1 media reader, for those important SD cards.
• 8 USB ports, please.  4 in front, preferably.
• A 20″ monitor, hopefully coupled with a 17″ monitor.
• Estimated Cost, without the monitors: $1,019 CDN

When should I buy a computer?

Anytime!  There are always specials in stores, so hunt around but don’t waste too much time.  If you’re looking to save, you might want to wait for Black Friday or Boxing Day to hit those stores — although I’m not exactly sure how much cheaper computers will be (I know TV’s are usually a lot cheaper).

If you’re interested in Dell, there are always new deals every week or so, available in a sale or coupon format.  Sometimes these sales offer some outrageous deals, so keep an eye on them!

Will it run Vista?

Any of the suggestions I recommended will be Vista-compatible.  I suggest getting the Home Premium version of Vista, for balance.  Vista Basic is the bare bones without Aero, and Vista Ultimate is probably going a bit overboard (not if you’re a media junkie though).  When in doubt, try to remember: dual core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a recently-created video card (nVidia 9xxx series or an ATI Radeon).  Might want to try it out in-store, if possible.

What if I don’t want to risk trying Vista?

Why, cause you’re afraid you’ll fall in love with it?  Haha.

But seriously folks, there are tons of alternatives to Vista.  Microsoft has recently extended support for Windows XP, and Apple has recently released their OS 10.5 Leopard, and Ubuntu 8.10 should be out, so it’s a great time to choose to explore anything asides from the Windows path.  Keep in mind that OS 10.5 Leopard only runs on Apple hardware.  And Ubuntu’s got some kinks to it.  So you might want to stick with XP, which might be a bit difficult at retailers (I’m sure you’ll be able to find a copy here and there though).

Don’t sweat it…

Don’t worry about buying a computer.  Just buy it.  I know it might sound like a major purchase, but it’s good for at least five or six years (I don’t expect Windows 7 to be as demanding a change as Vista was).  Don’t forget to enjoy your computing experience!  And it’s probably wise to ask for an OEM version of the Vista Home Premium (or Ultimate) disc if you’re buying a computer — in case you want to reformat and partition it (that’s the first thing I did with my own Dell Inspiron 6400).

Never dreamed of the day you’d play a DVD on your Wii?  How about playing any N64 game on your Wii, not just the ones on the WiiShop?  And you don’t have to sell your soul for it?  Not a chance, right?  I was immediately interested.

Wii Homebrew and Visual Boy

Turns out there is a dedicated bunch of folks working on Homebrew firmware.  Give me a minute before you start scoffing.  Homebrew doesn’t necessarily mean crappy — I know that there aren’t too many great connotations associated with the word, but these people really know what they’re doing.  Sure, it might screw up your Wii if you don’t do it right.  I haven’t tried it yet either, but I’m planning on doing so once I get my hands on a copy of Twilight Princess (you need it to install the Homebrew).  Once you install the Homebrew firmware (it will appear as a channel), there will be all sorts of applications you can “install” onto your Wii that will allow you to play DVD’s and even Gameboy on the Wii.  Slick, right?

Once I get it up and running, I’ll be sure to introduce only the coolest apps.  But for now, just wanted to throw it out there and thank the developers for creating an alternative.  Thanks, guys!

In the beginning, there was the ordinary white Macbook.  Then, a couple of years ago, they introduced the black Macbook.  And now, in 2008, Apple has finally refreshed their Apple Macbook design.  And boy, what a design it is.

Source: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/10/14/technology/15apple1.600.jpg

Similar to the colour and design scheme of the iMacs, these new Macbooks look absolutely beautiful.  Stunning.  I’ve always been a huge fan of the aluminum Macbook Pro — so much so that I was actually thinking of getting the Macbook Pro just for the aluminum finish.

Not only have the Macbooks been updated in their looks (not to say they weren’t beautiful in their older form), their specs have been updated too.  Absolutely beautiful. Call me an Apple fanboy, but this baby is a Godsend.  I would think that the updated NVidia graphics and the multi-touch trackpad would be the dealmakers though.

Source: http://www.svirtech.com.au/images/Apple_MacBook_White.jpg

Just one problem — its 13″ screen.  At the moment, I’m using a Dell Inspiron 6400 with a 14.1″ screen, and it’s still tiny.  The only solution I can suggest is adding an external monitor, and it looks like Apple’s kicked up the graphics to allow for an external monitor to be added onto the Macbook — prior to the revision, this could only be applied to the Macbook Pro.

Source: http://images.pcworld.com/news/graphics/152257-0810macbook_fam.jpg

Apple’s never failed at consumer design, in this reviewer’s opinion — and this revision is no exception.  Apple’s Macbook has caught my heart, and my wallet.