Gshocker's Toys

Blocked at every turn?

Looks like Cox is going to join in the fun of blocking or slowing certain things that we the internet users love to do. Cox is currently testing some new network management tools that are going to be frustrating many users of their service.

Internet traffic will now be divided into two categories. Time sensitive and non- timesensitive. Now the time sensitive services will go thru as always. These include - Web, VOIP, E-mail, IM, Streaming media, Games, VPN etc.. The problem comes into focus with the services that have been placed in that non timesensitive realm.. Things like FTP, Network storage transfers, P2P, software updates and usenet.

Cox is saying that these rules will only kick in when the network gets busy but how are you going to know that when you sit down to update you OS and get some web site work done using FTP.

It will be interesting to see how their tests of this awesome service go as it could effect all services eventually. Please let it fail....

*Lots of talk all over the net about this one. Facts grabbed from Cnet amoung other places.

New Swallows Uni

Looks like the Yakult Swallows are getting some new uniforms for the new season. Not sure this is going to help them but they do look nice. They also unveiled a new slogan which is somewhat amusing - "Just Play to Win" . Seems most japanese teams have a slogan each year.. And yes they all do seem a bit strange. Check out theSwallows Blog to get more info.

Where is the Dell XPS line going?

Well I am not a huge fan of Dell but we needed a new laptop for our business and have an account with Dell so I took a look. First thought was hey.. maybe I will get something interesting and do the hand me down trickle effect.. After looking over what had become of the XPS line I was a bit dissapointed with what I saw.

Dell seems to be veering away from game units with the XPS line and turning that part of the market over to their other company Alienware. Now personally I think it is hard for them to compete with Alienware's image and specs in the game market but they had made a big announcement after getting Alienware that they would not be killing off the XPS line.

Why do I think this.. Well the XPS 17" is offering the Nvidia 8800 as the best they have. Even Alienware who I thought was a bit slow to change over to the 9 series cards has them now. Also there will be no 64 bit OS for the Dell. and the FSB is not the current faster 1066 which many Big Box store machines even have now.

Seem to me that Dell has moved the XPS line into more of the stylish laptop line and low end game systems. I certainly hope that I am wrong and we see a new 17" XPS game unit but I would have thought that we would see this by now. Too bad as competition in this area is always good.

Achievement Unlocked?

Not an easy one but must be worth lots of points...

Snow Camping

Heading into the mountains for some snow camping.

Green Apple Soda

Grabbed this interesting Fanta Green Apple Soda. Much better flavor than the Hawaiian Pepsi I had in Tokyo over the summer. This drink does taste like a green apple. Certainly a drink I would have again.

Trying a new phone

I had been a Windows Mobile fan for some time but had moved away from then since I stopped using my HTC about a year back. The HTC Fuze got me interested again. I just started using one about 3 days back and so far it is quite nice. My biggest issue so far it the battery life. I will continue to play around with it and see how it works out.

This is being posted using the Windows Mobile client for my blog. Just a quick post as a test.

Flying a kite.. sort of.

Not the best kite wind yesterday.. It was hard to keep them up in the air..

New MLB 09 for the PS3 is a must buy!!

Any Red Sox fans with PS3 systems will want to take a look at this title when it hits the shelves this Spring. This is a great title to start so I am sure I will be grabbing this one at some point.. Certainly it is a bonus that Pedroia is on the cover this year.

This is Crazy...

wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

This is very cool but also something I think that I will pass on. Certainly looks like fun but that whole element of death is pretty close the whole time you are doing it.