Reminder: Erase Information Off Devices Before Selling

        

          This sounds like a no brainer right?  It's common sense, so why am I telling you?  Well it's because people don't realize how dangerous it can be to not delete everything off a hard drive.  It came to me after I bought a used Xbox 360 hard drive.  I went on it to start moving my files from my old hard drive to the new one.  And I noticed that there were two credit cards on it.

Simplify Media And Orb

                                 

Both are great pieces of software that work on Mac os x and Windows, they allow you to access files from one computer to another.  Simplify Media's applications allow you to share your music collection and photo collection to another computer and Orb allows you to share the same, plus any other file or document on your computer.  I like Orb especially because of the ability to share music, photos, and videos to a PS3 or Xbox 360,  but the application doesn't seem as secure as Simplify Music or Simplify Photo do.  Also both of them are available in the Apple App Store, but they are not free. I have had experience with Orb and I will most likely never pay for the software.  I like the idea of sharing any file you want over the internet, but the application and Orb's server just isn't stable.  I would recommend that you keep an eye on it though.  I mean problems can be fixed and who knows, maybe soon they will get better and downloaded onto everyones computers.  But right now I would stick with Simplify Media.  I can't fully back it up because I have not bought the iPhone app, but from the many reviews I've read it seems better off than Orb.  The interface looks more stable, but from personal reviews it has a problem with large libraries.  Why would you pay for something that wont work for everybody.  I know I wont be getting it anytime soon because I have many gigabytes of music I'd love to stream.  Also Simplify has three iPhone apps (but only 2 different types).  Two are Simplify Music (Original) and Simplify Music 2.  What really gets me mad is that users have to pay eight dollars for the updated version, when they could have given it as an update to the original.  So six dollars (Simplify Music Original) plus the updated version (eight dollars), and that doesn't even include the third app that cost four dollars to stream your photos.  So all that for some application that may not work well with large libraries.  I would definitely be mad at the company if I had paid for the original and then pay even more for the update.
          But just because things are bad now doesn't mean that won't get better.  I think that these apps are worth checking into, and I am surely going to keep my eye on them.  I would love if Simplify Media had a free or lite version of their app so it could be tested, like Orb does.  I tried Orb on my friends iPhone and it was slow loading media and skipped a few songs, giving me different errors.  Now what is interesting is that Orb is suppose to work via your Orb server (www.mycast.orb.com) with any computer, phone or internet device for free.  But they are making you pay to use it on the iPhone, one to access files (music, photos, documents) from your computer and the other Orb Live allows you to stream video feeds to your iPhone.  If you do go to the website (without using the app), you get a horrible interface that is very slow to load.  It doesn't separate multiple songs, so if you chose an album to play it would put all of the songs together.  Making one 32 minute or however long song.  If they just simply updated their mobile interface, it would be more enticing to users.
          Offering a nice clean interface for free would get them more attention then making people pay for it.  But again I would continue to see how they grow and watch out for other competing apps (maybe even free) that will try to get noticed.  Thanks for reading and here are links to the websites and iPhone apps.

Orb: Computer Application 
iPhone app: Orb Live, Orb Live Free, Orb Media

Simplify Media: Computer Application
iPhone App: Simplify Music, Simplify Music 2, Simplify Photo

Goozex Game/Movie Trading Site

Not a fan of swaptree? Well there are other sites out there, like Goozex. I must say, it is a nice site. The main difference is that you exchange games for points instead of trading game for game. You can trade games from a variety of consoles, from Dreamcast to Ps3. This site is great if you have recently released games because you will probably trade them quickly and for a lot of points. See, when you post a game that you want or would like to trade, you have to wait in line. So after everyone in front of you has traded their game, then you will get the chance to send yours. So, if your game is outdated, then you may be waiting for a while and only scrape up 200 points for it. Lucky for you though, every game is worth at least 100 points. The points for new and popular games are higher than older (as you would expect).
With that said, you can get points by trading your games, or just buying them with your credit card. 100 points are $5, 200 points are $10 and so on. You do get a small discount when you buy 1050 points or more at one time, which will cost you at least $50. To trade your games, you post them in your "Offer Queue." From there you have to patiently wait your turn in line. Depending how many people are in front of you and how popular the game is, it can take days to months for you to reach first position. Once you are in first Goozex will look for a buyer. And as soon as it has found one, you get some options on when you will send your game, or if you don't want to send it at all. The one thing I really like about Goozex compared to Swaptree, is that it doesn't seem to penalize you when you don't want to go through with a trade. For shipping you can print out one of their labels, which cost you about three dollars, or use your own method. As soon as the person receives the game he or she will give you feedback on the overall condition, and that is when you get your points. Also while putting games in your offer queue, you should put games in your "Request Queue" as well. You will still be able to move ahead in line, even without enough points to get a game. Once you have enough points for a game in your request queue and you are the first person in line, Goozex will alert you when someone is going to ship it to you. Now along with points you need to have tokens, in order to get a game. Tokens are a dollar each, but you have to buy at least five at a time. As you buy in bigger bulk you do get a discount.
As for trading movies, I'm sure the process is the same, although I don't us the feature. I do know you can trade DVD's, Blu Ray, And PSP movies. If you use it, tell me if there are any differences. Thanks for reading, and please feel free to ask any questions.
Also if you do decide to sign up, PLEASE click this referral link: Sign Up/Referral

Access To All The Games You Want In An Instant!

I'm not just talking about poorly made games that know one has heard of, I'm saying REAL GAMES such as Burnout Paradise, MLB 2k9, Crysis: Warhead, Bioshock and MORE! Picture yourself jumping across rooftops on Mirror's Edge and then your friend sends you a message about playing MLB 2k9, but you don't own the game. Pshh no need to get out of your chair, just purchase the game RIGHT THEN AND THERE! The game streams from their server to your OnLive console, so to experience high definition gaming, you need a good internet connection (the biggest pet peeve for me). I don't want to have to buy some expensive router just for OnLive, but I don't think anyone will have to or else the service wont sell.
Now a little more information about it is that the service works through Windows XP/Vista, Mac (Intel) computers and the OnLive console (of course). For playing on the computer you just need to download a (I'm hoping free) browser plug-in and that's it. The console seems to be very small from photos i've seen (even smaller than the controller itself) and has two USB ports for controllers, keyboard, or even a mouse. It also supports up to four wireless controllers and four bluetooth headsets, which makes for simple gaming. The controller reminds me of the xbox 360's, but without the middle xbox guide button. The four buttons on the top right spell out LIVE, which is kind of nice because it is a word you can remember in your head to help you get used to the buttons.
So, even though I wont be waiting in line to get this exceptional creation, I will be trying it out whenever I get the chance at a local best buy, or my friends house. Anyone interested in trading in their trusted Sony PS3 or Microsoft Xbox 360 for this new idea? Leave comments below. Also if you want to check out the website here's the link: OnLive and if you REALLY like this product then sign-up for the beta program, and try it out on your computer (I don't think you can test the console itself yet), but for those who love their keyboards and mouses (or mice) then sign right up. They start selecting testers in the summer, so hurry up. There's no telling how many people they will accept.

3D Mode

No I'm not just talking about 3-Dimensional characters (that has been around since the N64).  I mean where the game actually pops out in front of your eyes!  What you will need is a copy of Skate 2 (don't think this feature is in Skate 1) and a pair of blue and red 3D glasses (you know those ones you get in the movie theaters).  I haven't been able to try this for myself because I don't have the game, but from the sounds of it, I'd love to get my hands on it just for this element.  For those of you that own the game, just head to extras (from the main menu), and enter the code "strangeloops".  After that you should notice that the colors have shifted, that's where you throw on your 3D glasses.  In the article I found this information from, it says "old style red-blue glasses 3D Glasses", so I don't know if the new "Real-D" glasses will work for the game.  Also to undo this you just have to put in the code again.  I would like to find out how well this feature works, so if anyone out there has Skate 2 and a pair of 3D Glasses THEN PLEASE TELL ME IF IT WORKS!

FIRST! ONE!

Hey everyone, my blog is going to basically be about things I'm interested in. Things like, technology (apple, windows, xbox 360, ps3 and others), sports, and occasionally clothes (cool items I like). These are just a few of my interests, so don't worry I'm sure you'll find something that catches your eye. I hope I can keep people happy with it and I'll try my best too make in appealing. Also if anyone has suggestions on what they would like me make a post about, I can try and do the best I can about it.