This could be a little off topic from Microsoft week, but this proves how firefox is of use to me, changing my GPA. Now this is a little trick to make all your friends think you a brainac (if anyone uses that word still) when all you do is play Half-Life. Interested?

The things you’ll need in addition to Firefox is greasemonkey and Jmaxxz Vulgar word blocker. You catching on?

Next, go to your greasemonkey options, click the script and push Edit. If its your first time, you’ll need to locate you Wordpad or Notepad replacement (or Notepad, but Wordpad’s better).

Add an argument to the top line saying your GPA and what you want it to be.

Save it and refresh your school’s website.

See before…?

After.

I was late today…first day out of the whole year…oh well. A few days ago I downloaded IE7 (Internet Explorer 7) just to see if it compared to firefox…and….it didn’t. Sorry, MS. You can add extensions to Mozilla, but if they were put into IE, it’d be considered a security threat.

So what did I like about IE7?

Well, it did have foXpose, which was cool on the cool chart, but I hardly ever use it in Firefox. Oh yeah, it has tabbed browsing (like I lived without it?)

Another thing I liked about it was their RSS–it was more Safari style than Mozilla.

Finally really quick, I believe Jemaho has edited the buttons to reflect a more vista appearance (a.k.a. changed the buttons) Grab it here.

Today is my birthday.  So I brought a polaroid camera here to school.  And it’s great, I suppose, except the film was expensive.  Last night, I was looking for something, and I came across in a google search Microsoft Codename Max.  If you haven’t heard of it, it is basically a photo journal to share with all your family and friends in a nice and presentable way.  It is still beta, but its great anywho.

At home, I have several photos from my travels and I thought I’d use Max as an alternative to Picasa.  First thing’s first–the download.  It takes some time and had to do the three-finger-shuffle (’cause I was burning a DVD at the same time, which luckly hadn’t started burning yet.).  After that minor glitch, I think it was smooth sailing….after a reboot for WinFX and downloading the actual software, which took another couple of minutes.

First experience?  I liked the animated startup splash–real classy.  The interface is very cluttered, however, I forgot all about the splash.  Too unorganized, mashing my San Francisco pictures with my Costa Rica pictures and pictures from Christmas.  I quickly created a new list and sorted.  The sideshows are nice to look at, but no transitions, but I’d expect that I suppose.  The lightbox annotation window is Vista-like, which is okay as well.

Overall, I give the product a 2.5 outta 5.  I haven’t begun to use all the controls for it, but hopeful I’ll get into it and like it a little better.

I should have probably put this on yesterday, but this week’s all about everyone’s semi-favorite (or completely not) company:  Microsoft.  I’ll be testing a variety of beta products online (such as IE7) and writing reviews.  They might be comparative reviews, proving why macs are superior (if that was every an issue) or why vista is worth waiting over.  Anyway, stick tight.  If any request, comment your heart out.

I know it came out days ago, but I’m kinda in a dilemma about getting an Intel mac. First the iMac’s upped, then the extremely overpriced MacBook IMO, then this—the Mac Mini. I’m sorta satisfied with the price range: $599 and $899, but why would I buy a monitor from Apple? Aluminum is great, but more than the computer! I could use my TV, but then I’d have to get a wireless keyboard and mouse. Dell, for me, would be the way to go, especially with all those coupons I hear about on Engadget.

But should I go Intel?

Apple praises the Intel Macs to be 4x/5x faster. That’s great but how fast will Intel compatible applications come out? Shapeshifter isn’t Intel yet I hear, which has to be on my computer running for me to make the switch. Older PowerPC applications are abandoned and often don’t run under rosetta also. This is what tempts me to get an also amazing Powerbook.
The Mac Mini, however, is the perfect computer for me because its easy to get to the back of it and looks minimal and nice, so it wouldn’t overcrowd my desk (if the chords are all over the place). That minimal design would also get me into the world of DVR and with the addition to Front Row, which also have to be on my mac, would complete my home entertainment experience.

I’m not in need of a new computer as of now, but if I do I am homefully getting a mac. Intel is an option, but I’m more likely to get a Power PC if I don’t here rapid improvement about Intel apps (like Logic!)

Now I’ve never been a fan of Twinkies, I don’t even think I’ve ever had one in my life.  Now users can enjoy them without the sticky mess!

Tastes like the real thing (at least to me, it does) Plus you don’t even have to light the oven!! Prep time includes washing and drying the foam rubber seat cushion.

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Browsing past familiar websites now and then, I notice ads everwhere: on the sides, on the bottom, on the top, and even embedded into paragraphs such as they do on cnet. What ever happened to the ad-free world? Did we even ever have an ad free world?

Now thanks to the better browser, users can enjoy several different greasemonkey scripts as well as the infamous AdBlock and FlashBlock extensions. Even on the go you can break free from seeing Google Adsense.

There is even a nifty UserContent stylesheet that does it with no extensions required. However, it sometimes does block legit flash content.

I know that Apple iTunes now comes with “built in” H.264 video converter, but what if your video’s an .avi? Or what if you want to convert your movie to MPEG-4 instead of H.264? After all, you can get a bigger picture from MPEG-4 (480×480) on your iPod if you have one. Or maybe you hate Apple and praise everything not AAC, MOV, M4V, or any other stupid extensions. Plus, a little know fact to some is that H.264 looks like the back of a Sparkletts water truck during some dark scenes (a.k.a. it flickers). MPEG-4 doesn’t correct this, but it makes it less distracting.

I came across 3GP Converter a few weeks ago and I’m delighted to say I’m somewhat satisfied with it.  It’s fully functional for avis and (I think–I forgot) MPEG-4s from your digital camera that aren’t iPod format. Of course you could always resolute on stealing Quicktime Pro but please…do your karma some good (plus you know you secretly like Apple’s stuff but can’t afford it) and settle for this. You have to tinker with the Transconding.ini to get your video ideal (try deleting the resolution size to autofit your movie).

Fetch it.

Ah, back from a smooth vacation, I should say, from the mountains.  It was cold wet, long, tiresome, but fun.  I’ll remember to go back this summer if I’m not busy.  I think that one thing’s for sure: I’m glad to be back home, ’cause I forgot my camera here . Nothing major has happened all weekend at school.  I wanted to sleep in today, so I took the latest bus to school.  I got to take a massive math test, and our history test is this week, I just know it.  Lots to do, so little time time to cram.

Spending all morning doing homework, since I hate doing homework at night.  It’s quite enervating.   Anyway, back to work…