Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Windows 7 and Mac OS X side by side.
My First Impression:
Wow this is hideous. I'm not one to really care about how an operating system looks as long as it works well, however, over the past few years, I've become more and more comfortable with my Windows Vista/Windows 7 look. The transparent windows and stunning Visual effects have really gained on me over time.
Features:
The Dock/Superbar
In past versions of Windows, Mac has certainly one-upped Windows with the Dock,however with the "Superbar" in Windows 7 (which may have been an idea stolen from Mac) Microsoft now has a chance in this race. It wasn't long ago when I left my Facebook up in an Apple store and was quite surprised to see my status when I got home. I feel that I may have left it up because that window looked like nothing more than another icon on the dock. I imagine that this is something that Mac-users get use to, however, I MUCH prefer the Windows 7 method of organizing open windows and icons. If a window on the taskbar is open, it has a luminescent box around it. If a window is open on a Mac's dock, it looks just like every other icon.
Finder/Indexing
One of my favorite things in Windows Vista/7 has been the incorporation of indexing into the start menu. This was another thing that was claimed to be stolen from Mac, however, I feel that that is a total lie. I have always been amazed with the search results found in the Windows start menu (like typing scarlet and finding every picture of my mom), however, I was overwhelmed with the search results I found in the search function in the top right corner of a Mac. It started out telling me a definition of the word for which I searched, then split all of the files into different categories by file types (which is also done in Windows). The only real thing that makes Mac's finder better, is the definition, however, that is one thing that isn't found in Windows, and small improvements like that really add up.
Dashboard Widgets/ Desktop Gadgets
Another thing claimed to be stolen from Mac (you may here me referring to that a lot in this article) is the incorporation of gadgets in windows. Gadgets are found on the desktop on Windows, and Widgets are found in the Dashboard on Mac. I find that it is much more convenient to have these tools on the desktop so that you can just minimize a window and get to them all. Plus, it's really convenient to be able to use a window and a gadget hand-in-hand, which can't be done in a Mac because you have to open the Dashboard, not just drag a winow beside the gadget like you can in Windows. Plus, a recent improvement in Windows 7 allows you to view all of your gadgets without even going to the desktop or opening something new. You do this by just hovering your mouse above the lower left-hand corner of the screen, which allows you to peek at all of your gadgets, which I find really useful, because I have an RSS, Twitter, and Facebook gadget on my desktop, and would like to see if anything catches my interest without minimizing any window. There are, however, less gadgets to choose from and download in Windows Vista/7 than there are in Mac.
One thing that I would never be able to get use to is the lack of third-party application support. I have so many third-party programs on my computer that if I removed them all, it would probably clean up about half of my hard drive. This is one thing that Apple will neverbe able to measure up on. I also would like to be able to replace a piece of hardware with whatever I want. Not necessarily something made by Apple.
As for Viruses, I pretty much have no comment. If there were NEAR as many mac-users as PC users, there would probably be more people to generate viruses (though I don't have an eye to see into alternate realities). Also, I don't get viruses, and I use a PC. Microsoft Security Essentials has really come through for me, and it is made by the "dreaded" Microsoft.
I use a Dell Studio 1555 with 4 gb of RAM, 2.1 gHz processor, a high definition graphics card, and 320gb of hard drive space. I'm fairly certain that my PC will run just as fast as any Mac out there once it starts up. If I decide I want to go out and spend a few thousand dollars on a PC, it will more than likely startup just as fast, if not faster, than a Mac, and it will probably zoom through everyday tasks.
As for features, Mac and PC are just about tied in the race, however, one thing that will always keep me on a PC is the simplicity of EVERYTHING. Mac has nice hand gesture capabilities, however with the help of third-party software, I have the same gestures on my computer. Aero features (snap, shake, peak, and flip 3-d) are now a necessity for my daily computing. I now use them on a daily basis. Any feature that is on a Mac, can be added in about 10 minutes by downloading on a PC. You can't say the same for a Mac because of the poor third-party software support.
Please pardon the bad grammar and the random capitalizations. I have no clue if features should be capitalized, so some are and some aren't. Also, I'm tired, so things aren't really flowing well right now.. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thoughts on Windows 7
Noron 360 Makes Security on a PC as Simple as it is on a Mac
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Who says you can't just open a new PC and get to work?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Band Blows Crowd Away With All That Jazz
They line up one by one. A rippling wave goes through the stomachs of all members. The hundreds of spectators seem to have silenced. They’re in this spot for one reason: the gratification of a successful half-time show.
At the football game against Aiken High School, the band debuted their Latin jazz marching show. This shows features songs by Chuck Mangione, Barry Manilow, and Santana. Though these artists aren’t on the typical high school student’s iPod, junior Eric Danko believes the selection of music is well chosen.
“The band was very well-practiced and played some great works,” Eric said, “They performed very well.”
The band spent two weeks before school started to begin memorizing their music. They worked for approximately six hours per day learning this new style.
“Musically, the show is a major style change from what I’ve done in previous years,” band director Monte Blackwell said. “This particular collection of songs is very well arranged and written for marching band.”
Though this style of music has never been performed by the band, band students, such as senior Caleb Morris, have taken a liking to the new style.
“This year’s show is one of the best we’ve ever done,” Caleb said.
At the football game against Aiken High, the band performed two of their four half-time show songs and seven stands tunes.
“The band’s performance at the first game was as I expected: a good first performance,” Mr. Blackwell said. “The field show and the stands music will constantly and consistently improve as the season progresses.”
One of the band’s major concerns, on the field and in the stands, is to induce team spirit. Sophomore Danielle Smith even thinks that the band has somewhat of an effect on the football players’ performance on the field.
“I think it’s like a chain reaction,” Danielle said. “The band pumps up the crowd, the crowd pumps up the team.”
Other students, such as junior Lauren Pearson, believe that the band doesn’t have an effect on the football team, however, they do a great job of cheering up the crowd.
“Whenever a tune caught my ear, I started dancing with my friends in the student section,” Lauren said.
Another reason the band is there is to, of course, entertain the crowd. According to freshman band student Kylie Taylor, that means the band is doing their job.
“The band is there to get the crowd excited enough to cheer for the team,” Kylie said. “We bring the party to the football games!”
What's going on?
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Windows Live Writer
This is the very first blog post that is being written from Windows Live Writer, a program by Windows Live that allows you to edit blog posts. Windows Live Writer allows a person to edit and create new blog posts with ease right from his or her desktop. It’s quite easy to type, edit fonts, insert pictures, and arrange objects around your blog posts. When you get the chance, check it out! get.live.com
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Microsoft Office Live Workspace
Microsoft Office Live Workspace
Web Storage Simplicity
By Charles Woodward
Microsoft Office Live Workspace is yet another tool to simplify the lives of Windows Live’s users. It is built to accompany Microsoft Office by allowing the user to completely skip saving information to the hard drive, and immediately upload for later use. In fact, one of the ways to create one of these documents is to go to the Office Live website (http://www.officelive.com/) and click “Get Started FREE.” This will either send you to a page allowing you to sign in, or it will send you straight to a page known as your “Documents” Workspace. From this page you can create other workspaces to which you will add files later, or you can simply upload all for your files, without organizing them, straight to your Documents folder. I created a folder for my 2009-2010 School year. To create a Workspace, simply click “Create a workspace now.” To add documents previously saved on your hard drive, click “Add Documents.” Everything in this service (And all other Windows Live Services) is very simple. The “New” is probably the most useful option on this page. Choosing new will allow you to create a new note, List, Task, Task List, Contact List, Event List, Word Document, Excel Document, Powerpoint Presentation, and Folder, all of which you can do online except the Word Document, Excel Document, and Powerpoint Presentation. Clicking on either of these three will launch a set-up for an add-on to Microsoft Office. After you go through the setup, go back to your workspace and press New then either of the three Microsoft Office Applications, at which point you will be able to create a new Word Document, Excel Document, or Powerpoint Presentation, without saving to your hard drive, enabling you to access these files from any computer with internet. Another way to save files to Office Live Workspace is go to the website and sign in. After that, go to your document, and after you've installed the add-on, click on the Office Menu in the top left corner, then click "Save to Office Live, at which point you will choose a Workspace, and your document will be immediately uploaded.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Microsoft Fever
Monday, June 29, 2009
Drowning in the Annoyance of Chowder
This video, at lease the first two minutes and thirty seconds of it, displays many traits that I'm sure you don't want your children to mimic. Among the many are stupidity and disrespect. There are many other television shows that are on that display traits such as these, however, this is the main one that I noticed, as I hear it on a lot while my brother watches it. I advise you, for the sake of a brighter, more intelligent tomorrow, block shows, such as Chowder, that shows how "cool" it is to act stupid.
Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 3: Midnight Sun Game
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 2: Solstice Festival
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 1: The Midnight Sun Run
Warm beads of perspiration emerge from your forehead as you open the door of your well air-conditioned home. The date is June 21st, and you don't care about the summer solstice for the fact that it's 100 degrees outside. A few thousand miles north, however, there are festivals celebrating this under-recognized day. All of Alaska is cheering for the summer solstice not only for the fact that there's no snow, and it's above freezing, but also because the sun never completely sets. On this amazing day, there is sunlight twenty four hours. Some people ask, "How could people sleep in such conditions?" Well, some close the blinds, or even tape trash bags over their windows. As for me, I love the light. It gives you that feeling that you're not actually sleeping for the night, you're having a relaxing afternoon nap.
One of the major events celebrating the summer solstice is the Midnight Sun Run. This run is six miles (10 kilometers) long and has more than 3,500 runners. Well, you can't actually call some of them runners. In the past years I've seen runners, walkers, joggers, skiers, electric skaters, and other forms of athletes. One of the major goals of mine this year is to finish the entire race before 11:30. Another interesting thing about this race are the costumes. There have been Jolly Green Giants, George Bushes, Salt and Pepper, and hundreds of other interesting designs. I haven't left yet, however when I get there, I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures.
Well, my short term goal wasn't quite achieved. I got into the finish line at around ll:49 PM. Either way, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed myself. My favorite thing about it this year was the costumes. There were less this year, however, they were much more creative. There were storm troopers and pirates from Samalia, however my favorite was Octo-Mom. Some costumes were even used as advertisements. Lulu's bakery,a local store in Fairbanks, sent out a man dressed as a bagel. Another one of my favorites was a mosquito. This is funny because Alaska is notorious for horrible mosquitoes. As promised, I took many pictures.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Music: Effectiveness of Expressions and Gestures
Another good thing to have when performing is a story. There is such thing as good acting (just as there is such thing as good music playing), but how would you like a play with no plot? Probably just as much as you would like music with no plot. When you think of a story in the style of that of the music, the style and interest is displayed in your playing. If you can't think of a story in the style of your music, make one up.
A common misconception for a lot of musicians is that, when you're not playing, all you need to do is count. That, of course being a misconception, is incorrect. What I typically do, is either sway to the beat or move my head to the beat while continuing the story in my head. This helps you keep the style of your song, so that when you come back in, you don't need any time to adjust.
Note: In the following video, you can hear the bass trombone much more than you can hear me(the tubist). Either way, I have the same as everything else you're hearing: Loud, big, and nasty melody.
Excerpt from The Phantom of the Opera
By Andrew Lloyd Weber
Monday, June 15, 2009
Apres un Reve
Apres un Reve by G. Faure
Charles Woodward, Tuba
Suzanne McBride, Piano
grammar: a thing of da past?
Sunday, June 14, 2009
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A Brief Biography of Adriano Banchieri
What do you think of when you hear music? Many people think of the pitches, many think of the tone of the instrument, however there is an element that many do not notice, unless trained to notice it. Without this element, one could dislike, almost detest a song, but not know why. This element is dynamics. There was a time, however, when dynamics were just a twinkle in the musician's eye.
Tommaso Banchieri was born on September 3, 1568. In 1590 he became a monk and changed his name to Adriano. He lived in Italy where he studied the organ and composition with his teacher, Gioseffo Guami, at the monastery. In 1596 Banchieri published the piece "La Organistina Bella" for the organ. This was the piece of music that brought the unknown element that made music more beautiful, and hence appreciated. This was the first piece to ever include dynamics. Over his lifetime, Adriano Banchieri composed many more pieces, that were unexpected, yet loved by his audiences. Banchieri died in 1634.
Many musicians, if you can call them that, dislike dynamics because they are difficult to master. Others, like myself, find them challenging, yet enthralling. Dynamics are what give the audience the feeling that they want more. It could also, if played incorrectly, give the audience the feeling that what they've been given is far too much. It could even be the element of music that makes irresistible and almost addictive. Dynamics could be the most powerful part of all music.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriano_Banchieri http://www.hoasm.org/VA/Banchieri.html http://www.karadar.com/Dictionary/banchieri.html http://www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Adriano_Banchieri/25963.htm
Two Fantasies By Adriano Banchieri
Jon Kaplan, Trumpet
Jane Aspnes, French Horn
Benjamin Cepeda, Trombone
Charles Woodward, Tuba
Jane Aspnes, French Horn
Benjamin Cepeda, Trombone
Charles Woodward, Tuba
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Job Well Done!
Welcome to Well-Rounded
Hello, my name is Charles Woodward. I live in Aiken, South Carolina and am loving life right now mainly because I am in Alaska. I come up here every summer to attend a music academy known as the University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Music Academy. At this academy I play tuba and euphonium. I have been playing tuba for about five years. I have been playing the euphonium for about seven months. I am currently typing on a piece of junk that I've fallen in love with, or rather the things it can do. My current operating system is Ubuntu 9.04. The gadgets that I may blog about are: Zune, Samsung Glyde, Canon Powershot A1000 IS, and more. I will probably do book reviews, and speak of what's happening in the world from the point of view of a highschooler. That's Right! I am currently a junior in high school. I may even share some of my poetry with you, which you may or may not enjoy. I must leave now, but don't forget to check back for something you may or may not find interesting.