What it feels to sue Microsoft, Apple and Google at the same time

The story goes like this: there is this little tiny company somewhere in Michigan that has been recently awarded a patent for thumbnail previews of a file. so, what to do with it? lets sue everyone!
This company has sued Vista (Microsoft) OSX and CoverFlow (Apple) and Google Chrome (Google) for using the before mentioned patent without permission...
I personally think they won't be getting too far if Microsoft, Apple and Google (=100% share of the freakin' internet and computers) join legal forces against a tiny whiny Michigan company...
but I'll give you credit, you have to have Balls the size of Texas to start this...

Songbird: The ultimate media player

That's it people, iTunes is over (at least for me). Why? you might ask, well, the answer is "because Songbird, a new open source software that does EVERYTHING iTunes does, only takes less resources, it does it faster and with the possibility to have Add-ons.
I've been hearing about Songbird for a long time online, and today I decided to try it. Typed Songbird on google and download it from the huge button in the middle of the official website.
It took close to nothing to install and, to my surprise, it allows you to import your library from iTunes (which, even tho I use(d) iTunes, didn't do) and also to just scan your library as iTunes did.
I left it scanning my ~10 Gb music library while I went to the bathroom and after I came back, it was all ready to go!
OK, so I get this iTunes-like program... lets start... TWEAKING!
Everything works pretty much like Firefox, with the Add-ons and so on, so just click on Tools>Add-ons and "Get Exensions". This is was my choice:

• Lyricmaster: This Add-on automatically downloads Lyrics for your songs and gives you the choice to store them on your machine
• The Exorcist: Delete clone songs or find Ghost (missing) songs from your libraries
• MinimizeToTray Revived (mintrayR): this lets you minimize songbird in the system tray with some basic, iTunish options, great tool that I still don't know why it isn't there by default...
  

As far as themes is concerned ("Feathers" in songbird) I downloaded a few but decided to stay with the default feather (Gonzo)
As I'm typing this, I'm listening to SkyFm over Shoutcast online radio stations, great tool
Songbird also has last.fm related tools (Which I'll start using as soon as I create an account in like... 10 minutes)
Another great tool is "mashtape" which gets album info, singer info and youtube videos from the moment you click on a song.
Here is what it looks like:
PS: it has iPod and iTouch (and iPhone I presume) support, so no excuses from Mac lovers!

My Firefox Add-ons (and themes)

Firefox is nowadays one of the most popular apps in the world. not only provides faster internet browsing speed and almost no security breaches, but it also gives us the potential to have ADD-ONS
yes, add-ons, these little apps that make your everyday internet browsing SO much easier. they can be downloaded mainly from 3 different sources

1. In your Firefox browser click on Tools>Add-ons and then the "Get Add-ons" tab
2. Go to https://addons.mozilla.org/ (official Firefox Website)
3. Finally, you can always get it from some third party website

Now that we have the sources, lets go on with my personal selection:

• Adblock Plus: great for getting rid of annoying ads!
• BugMeNot: to Bypass cumplusory web registration with the context menu via www.bugmenot.com
• Cooliris: 3D interface that allows news to be read/seen in a more interactive way
• Download Statusbar: The ultimate download app. this app allows for easy and controlled downloading without the Downloads window opening
• DownloadHelper: ever wanted to download videos from youtube/Megavideo/ANYTHING?
• Flagfox: This little geeky app lets you see the country the server is hosted on and server statistics
• Google Toolbar: No explanation needed
• Tiny menu: This Add-on compresses the Fire/Edit/View/.../Tools/Help menus into one, handy icon so one bar can be erased thus more browsing space!

As for themes, I am currently using...

• Full Flat 3.0

Overall, this is what my Firefox looks like

Firas' Website

Today I'll be talking to you about my friend Firas' website, recently uploaded and tons of useful info in various areas (tech stuff, Firefox addons, recommended apps, great wallpapers and more)
Please note that the site is, as today, in its early stages of development which only means that we have but to wait for new and awesome updates!

Wii(mote) Tweakin'

One of the things I've been working on/researching about these Christmas is the connection between a Wiimote and a PC for multiple purposes. and fortunately, turns out is not only possible but also extremely easy and, most of all, FUN!
It all came to my mind after we had to do a power point presentation for "Business Management" class about a company, and we chose Nintendo (Click here if you want to have a look at the presentation). the thing is that after several hours of research, I came across this youtube video about this guy using the wiimote and infrared emitting pens for making a interactive whiteboard. I was so shocked that I simply had to try it myself!
After that I started my research
Background Knowledge:

• The Wiimote gets connected to the Nintendo Wii by Bluetooth technology
• The things that makes your Wiimote point is a infrared detector IN the wiimote that detects the 3 infrared emitting LEDs in the Wii Sensor bar, this detector only works in a 45º area in front of the Wiimote

Ok, now you are ready to know the results of my research:

• Connect the Wiimote to the PC

1. Install BlueSoleil software, available online and in torrents...
2. Once installed Plug in/Turn on your bluetooth
3. In the Windows bar, Look for a Bluettoth Icon, if its grey, right click and press "Turn On Bluettoth"
4. once the grey icon has turned blue, right click again and press "Display Classic View"
5. Right Click on the Orange sphere and "Search devices", at the same moment, press buttons one and two in your wiimote, the 4 lights should start blinking
   
6. You'll see and Icon that looks like a Joystick thats named something like "Nintendo RVL-CNT-01", right click it and "Connect Bletooth Human Interface Device"
7. Wait a little while and when you see a dotted line connecting the icon and the Sphere, you're good to go!

• Download GlovePie!

1. GlovePie is, from now on, your best friend when talking about the Wiimote connected to your PC. GlovePie is a software that by running pieces of code, it allows your Wiimote to be detected in different situations, there are codes for emulators (Ever wanted to play Mario Kart 64 as Mario Kart Wii?) PC apps (iTunes controller, Firefox, as your mouse...) and PC games (Counter Strike, HL2, Battlefield 2...)

Here are some links that might help a little:

• http://johnnylee.net
• Johnny Lee in action!
  
• Glove Pie scripts HERE and HERE
  

Alright guys, I think this covers most of it. If you find it incomplete or something, PM me and I'll quickly update!

My personal favs

If you read my description, one thing you'll notice is that i freakin' love Japan... I find it one of the most interesting countries in the world... but how does anyone learn about anything nowadays? Internet! here are the links to two of my favorite blogs about Japan

• Kirainet: By Hector Garcia, both in English and Spanish offers one of the best comments and articles about Japan and how he got there
• Luis@Keio: By Luis Jou, a friend of mine who got a scholarship to Japan for 3 years and decided to share his expiriences with us, only in Spanish

I strongly reccomend reading most if not all of their posts, both offer lots of insider information, culture, traditions and language of 日本

Blog's up!

Alright people, my "first" blog is up and running! (its "first" because I don't really consider those miserable failures I created a few years ago as blogs...) anyway...
So you'll be seeing in these posts how my life goes and any "interesting" thing I find online, I might just post it.Aas 25th of December 2008, I am a Internatioanl Business Student in the university Carlos III in Madrid, Spain... see how that will change in... lets say...2 years
Welcome to my Blog!