BLUE GENE, A REINTRODUCTION...

The very first issue of Synapse Circuit. 

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT

BLUE GENE, A REINTRODUCTION...      

#SynapseCircuit #Editor

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! Have you heard the latest regarding whistleblower, Edward Snowden? In case you haven’t heard he has allegedly stated that Apple, Google, etc were aware and complicit in allowing the NSA and other intelligence (hee hee) agencies to spy on us! I knew it! There’s a reason why these social experimentation labs... Ooops, I am sorry... There’s a reason why these social networks have recently insisted upon the subjects... Ooops, I did it again... I meant to say that these social networks insist upon users using a probable... Darn it... I mean using a real name!

And speaking of real names... Blue Gene is my real name! I thought a reintroduction was in (New World) order seeing as my readership has made a significant jump over the last couple of weeks! You have to wonder about the nature of the intelligence that is used to spy on us (for our own good of course) when I can’t use my real name, the name is Gene. Blue Gene, on Google Plus yet I can use my credit card in the same name (are you following the logic) to purchase apps... I couldn’t make that crap up if I tried... Anyway...

ABOUT ME...
This is one of my favourite topics! Lol!

When I was at high school (secondary school – and believe me it was secondary) school in the mid-80s the idea of a computer course was exciting until I took the class... My experience was horrendous what with 30 pupils to the class and only ONE solitary computer to share amongst us. I don’t think I actually managed to get on it in the time I was on the course. My dream to be a programmer was dashed! Lol! When I left high school I went to Germany for a couple of years, I had aspirations of being a serious Electronic music artist. Germany was the place to go as they love music as opposed to being Top 40 chart lead; in other words, there was a rich alternative music scene in Germany. I became a music journalist specializing in Electronic music to support myself. That’s when I got my taste for being a journalist. I was quite crafty too! I would give my demo tape to the manager of the band / artist I was interviewing to get gigs! It worked! Hee hee... One thing leads to another and I found myself returning to London. What essentially happened was the advent of Techno and I wasn’t able to get a record deal on my terms so, I packed up and went back home to good ol’ London, UK. Sometimes I was I could have compromised a little... Lol!

1990-something: My first computer was an Amiga 4000; it was a really nice machine and the Workbench operating system was pretty awesome a true multitasker. If I am correct, Amiga Workbench had multitasking down before Windows. I had lofty dreams of producing a paper magazine using the Amiga but, sadly, very sadly, the programs failed to materialize. I had no option other than to go Windows.

I was at uni studying multimedia in a course whereby we wouldn’t touch a computer until the third year of our course; I used my grant money to knock up a computer with the help of a brainbox work associate. I also worked during my studies; I used to teach folk in the community of North London how to use PowerPoint. I taught myself Photoshop and became interested into web design. I started off learning to hand code and hated it. I did what any self-respecting non-hand-coder did, I bought Dreamweaver. Tell a lie... My girlfriend bought me Dreamweaver as a present; I had the idea to become a self-employed web designer. But instead I opted for living in Amsterdam, Holland and became employed as a web and graphic designer.

I was there for about 4 years; I worked for a good company. During that time I had the idea to create an online magazine. This magazine was called SystemBabies.

SystemBabies was conceived around 1998. The journalist bug was still inside me and I saw a niche for the one thing that eludes many paper magazines... HONESTY! I am sure that you must be aware that many technology based magazines have had a tendency to pander to the company that pays the most advertising. Sure, not all publications are like that. But I was working as a journalist in Germany I saw a lot of favouritism going on; this is how the editor was able to get the next issue out. I hated it. I hated having my work edited to the point of a neutral nothingness. Anyway, SystemBabies went on to be quite successful and the wheels fell off that vehicle when I returned to London again. In short, what happened was that the Dutch company that I registered the SystemBabies domain name went bust and I lost the domain.

TIME OFF
I took some time off away from doing an online magazine. It was exhausting and in a way I was glad for the company going bust because I was able to get a break! I got myself a job in another community based learning facility and I taught Photoshop to beginners and PowerPoint. I also did a few telesales jobs too – teaching didn’t pay well! I enjoyed the job but it was hard work keeping the lessons up to date and meeting the demands of folk who could barely hold a mouse that had high ambitions to restore old photos. Jeez!

As time went by I was able to get the SystemBabies domain name back! Whoohoo! I was happy to get back into the journalism as I love to write. This time around I tried a different format, PDF and then Interactive PDF (with videos). All was going well until the unscrupulous hosting company, 1 and 1, tried to blackmail me into giving them more of my money. I told them where to go at the beginning of last year and instead developed Synapse Circuit which is doing quite well! The Synapse Circuit Blogspot is going down really, really well!

Still to come... Part two...

Let me know what you think.

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

HYBRID ANDROID AND WINDOWS SLATES: WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT: 

HYBRID ANDROID AND WINDOWS SLATES: WHAT DO THEY MEAN? 

Good evening, Synapse Circuit Readers! Thanks for reading my article on the ‘State of the Android slate’. I don’t know about you but I keep wondering if this latest trend to have hybrid Android and Windows means. What does it mean for Android? What does it mean for Microsoft?

MICROSOFT
C’mon, let’s face it... Windows 8 RT has been an unmitigated disaster. Who on Earth would want to get a Surface tablet with RT on it? The real Windows 8 deal tablet costs a blinking fortune but at least it runs real software instead to toy town apps. However, because of the RT fallout people do not seem to be in a hurry to pick up a Windows slate...

ANDROID
My goodness... It doesn’t seem so long ago since the first HTC Android phone, the Dream. Now look at how Android handsets have taken off! It’s nothing short of amazing... It also doesn’t seem so long since the Samsung Galaxy Tab came on the market and to be honest – as much as I liked it – the 7” tablet was an overgrown phone...

But now look at the Android tablet market... I open up a tech magazine and I see yet another advert for yet another Android tablet! Whoohoo! It has a “bright” IPS display, support for Adobe Flash, Jelly Bean 4.1 and a dual core CPU! Yay! Apps?

THE SOLUTION
Of course! How did I miss it? The solution is to put the two operating systems together in one device. Maybe Android fans wishing for more serious apps would go for the hybrid and thus it’ll give Microsoft a leg up.

It’ll also give Android some breathing space to continue developing great tablet oriented apps. I think it all started with the Galaxy Note and more importantly the Premium Suite set of applications that came with it. The Premium Suite showed just what is possible on the Android platform. It does baffle me as to why Samsung or any other manufacturer sets up an app division to strengthen the tablets when they come out.

PLEASE ME
The manufacturers just can’t please me can they? The last time I was talking about standardizing tablets to include 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi, etc. I think the hardware side of things are not as good as it can or should be. Now I am complaining about the applications and how I am not entirely happy about having to fork out for a dual Android and Windows operating system.

I just don’t know my own mind... One minute I am considering the Samsung ATIV Q and the next I can’t be bothered about an Android tablet.

Maybe my approach to the Android tablet is wrong... I have been looking at it from an accessory point of view; I have the handsets and now I need to tablet to go with it.

Through the ‘State of the Android Slate’ article I learned a great deal; I was able to gauge how people are using their Android tablets. As a result I am thinking more about my needs as opposed to wanting a tablet to show off for the sake of it. Lol!

Hmmmm... What are my needs? I know what my expectations are, however I know that they do not appear to be realistic where the hardware is concerned. Can I find a good compromise? We shall see!

What do you reckon?

Thank you for reading!

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com

SHE’S AN iPHONE / MAC, I’M AN ANDROID / PC

SYNAPSE CIRCUIT:
MY ADORABLE FRIEND & ME: SHE’S AN iPHONE / MAC, I’M AN ANDROID / PC (KINDA RELUCTANTLY).

Good afternoon, Synapse Circuit Readers! I don’t know if you have read my blog that wonders if ‘Apple Brainwashes their users’, have you? I am now convinced that most Apple product users have been brainwashed... Yes, my Adorable Friend has started her mini-Apple campaign on me... Hee hee...

...iOS 7
Yes, my Adorable Friend and I had a little chat over the weekend via the Viber app... Sadly, we hardly find time to talk these days... She’s busy with her new business venture and I with my reviews, blogs, etc. But as always towards the end of our conversation she teased me about getting an iPhone and a Mac. She has just gotten wind of the forthcoming iOS 7 operating system and she was telling me how wonderful it is and how it is better than Android and that I should stop “deluding” myself. Lol! The she swiftly moves on to the subject of me getting a Mac... Lol!

I had to point out to my Adorable Friend that a lot of the “new” features such as multitasking, quick access to settings and advanced notifications have been enjoyed by Android users for at least a couple of years! Of course there is no comeback to the assertion of this fact. My Adorable Friend claims to “love” technology and admits to being a Star Trek fan yet she, like a lot of Apple users, does not seem to look beyond Apple where the love of technology is concerned. She should know more about what’s going on with other technologies.

As you know I LOVE technology big time and while I can’t profess to know every detail, trends, etc I do try to keep an eye and ear open to see what’s happening across the board... I can’t deny that there are times when I find it hard to keep up or understand certain concepts, but I do try. If anything my enthusiasm for all things tech opens up my mind a little more than the average person.

If you are a power Android user there’s no point in me going over the same things that you already know. This article is not necessarily aimed at the Android know-it-all-dork-geek.

WHY PC OVER MAC?
Despite the fact that I hate Microsoft for the inconsistencies in their Windows operating system I prefer a PC to a Mac any day of the week! When I see past my hate of Microsoft I do realize that they have a tougher time in that there are so many darn components for the Windows operating system to contend with... Ex amount of graphics cards, sound cards (even though sound is upon the motherboard these days), CPUs and what have you! I can see that it is not always easy to maintain a consistent support throughout. Not to mention the various bits of software that can cause a system shut down – oddly enough these instances came from Windows XP Pro and Internet Explorer 8! And do not get me started on these bloody service packs... Grrrrrrrrrr! The old adage that you get what you pay for rings true always! With a PC I have noticed that the more you spend on it the lesser the chance of something going irretrievably wrong! But that chance is there nonetheless!

I have two PCs... One I use for all manner of graphics / web design and general office duties and another for making music – not that I have time to make music lately! Lol! The design PC is pretty cheap and the darn thing can never perform an automatic upgrade for some reason I have yet to figure out. The music PC is able to auto upgrade but bloody constantly to the point where it’s around two to three or even four times a day! Jeez, gimmie a break! It’s annoying; why can’t the upgrades be performed one time? At least it is able to upgrade without reverting the changes. Small mercy!

The amount of money you can spend on a good Mac you’d be, probably, better off investing into a decent PC! If you have just joined me I will tell you briefly that I looked into buying a Mac once upon a time... I visited the Mac section of PC World and I tell you, I wanted to punch the Mac salesman out! Lol! I am not violent! Honest! Throughout his pitch one word came up too many times to count and that world was, “professional” (and the variant, “pro”). I’m standing there wondering if this guy thinks that the more he says “pro” or “professional” the more likely I am going to buy a Mac. I am looking at him thinking, “$@%£#*# idiot!”

HACKINTOSH?
Now this is where I think that these computer geeks have nothing else better to do... Some people would actually build the perfect PC just to run the Mac operating system on it. It is a complete waste of time in my humble opinion because once you have the perfect PC components you are then able to run the Adobe suite of software with ease! Most people who use a Mac tend to use Adobe stuff. I guess the only good thing about going to all that effort to build a Hackintosh is that one can complete the challenge. It’s like that guy who did a tightrope walk over a stretch of Grand Canyon without the aid of a safety net; what was the point? Well, no doubt everyone has a sense of what an achievement is but if I was going to achieve anything in the computer world I would love to put together a PC that runs on Android. That would be a worthwhile achievement. I still think the desktop has its place and Microsoft has squandered opportunities. Why, Microsoft? Why? I am considering Ubuntu. Funnily enough my brother has installed Ubuntu on his laptop after being fed up with Windows and a couple of years ago my brother was not very computer literate. Well done!

Look up on how to build a Hackintosh; you might find it amusing... All those wonderful components...

CHOICE
The main reason why I stick with the PC – for now – is that there is a vast range of choice when it comes to software. Just go into a store such as PC World and you’ll see that PC easily outnumbers what is available on the Mac.

When I was considering the Mac I was impressed by the iWork suite of software that came as part of a Mac mini. I was interested in web design and music making. Garageband looked really enticing and it reminded me a little of Magix music making software.

In the end, as you know, I stuck with the PC! For a couple of months now my Adorable Friend wishes to create her own website for her business, she owns a Mac and for all her one woman Mac campaign she is unable to create such as site. I told her that if she had a PC or a PC emulator then she could use a great range of excellent WYSIWYG web design software that can deliver professional results. I am tempted to pack up one of my PCs and go over to Sweden and get her site done; but time doesn’t permit. She now has a WordPress site which isn’t a bad compromise; it is what it is... ...a compromise... So much for the Mac as a creative tool... Of course, a person with some graphic design skills and experience with web design software for the Mac should have no problem in creating a site. 

The point is that the Mac is supposed to be easy enough for anyone to use at an entry level. My Adorable Friend claims that she can hack Facebook accounts and jailbreak (root) her iPhone but she can’t do any graphical design work let alone build a site. Well, I started out the opposite direction: I was largely self-taught as a graphic / web designer. Taught myself how to build a PC from scratch – it wasn’t as easy as it is now.  And I eventually learned a little about rooting my Android handsets. I would say “hack” my handsets to sound more clued up; however, it is not the case. I am still learning. The next stage of my technical evolution is to learn how to program... I will probably start by learning how to create apps for Android. How? At this moment in time I have not much of a clue!

As much as I have had some problems with Windows I do appreciate the great range of software available to me... From expensive Adobe software to inexpensive equivalents; oooh, not forgetting the amount of freeware! When it comes to music... My goodness... There are so many freebies out there for the PC owner in the name of music making: digital audio workstations, virtual synthesizers and effects... WOW!!!! Just take a look on the Synapse Circuit website for some freely available resources.

COMING ROUND...
I guess the more I think of the Samsung ATIV Q the more it makes sense... A dual boot Android and Windows 8 tablet... Hmmmm... I am just thinking of the amount of music making software I have amassed over the years...Sheesh! I’d be happy to replace my antiquated PCs... I think I’m starting a PC museum. If I told you how many PCs I have owned over the years and how many I have lying around doing absolutely nothing you’d probably wonder about the state of my mind. But seriously, I used to love tinkering with them... Taking them apart, swapping out components, etc. You have to love messing around with technology... You do get to learn quite a lot from it. The only thing I didn’t learn was that I should’ve gotten rid of the darn things earlier! Lol!

For all my frustrations it is truly a wonderful thing to be able to put together your own PC!

WINDOWS OPSYS UPGRADES: ASSISTANT
What many Mac folk don’t understand is how complex it is for Windows users to upgrade to the latest operating system. As discussed earlier, there are so many component incompatibles to consider that it’s a pain. There is the ‘Assistant’ software that scans to see if a PC / laptop can take on the upgrade.

Mac owners are lucky in one sense that Apple keeps a tight rein on their computer builds. Another thing that has been so annoying is that Windows operating system upgrades have been so bloody expensive! I think that the recent trends in smartphone and tablet technology have had a critical impact on the cost of Windows operating system upgrades. There may be some life in Windows yet! C’mon, Microsoft! Get your act together!

HYPNOTIC?
Check out this edited video below and tell me if Apple fans aren’t being hypnotized / brainwashed...

Let me also leave you with the rants of an iPhone fan... The following is real... 

"Android is a cheap knockoff.

Always has been and always will be.

If Apple borrows something, well that's just too bad -- that's the price you pay for being so "free" and "open". You know, those 'qualities' the robots are always bragging about.

And Apple will do it better anyway.

Leave your dirty 'droids at the door.

No one here wants to hear about them..."

This was in response to an article I posted in an Apple community to find out what they thought of the recent WWDC.

What do you reckon?

Thank you for reading! 

Take good care!

Please enjoy the video below! Feel free to leave some comments and subscribe!

Thank you for watching and reading!

Please check out the Synapse Circuit website for video, i-PDF and more! 

Synapse Circuit Dot Com