Q-bits

Beginning May 2010, this blog is no longer being actively maintained. Instead a copy has been migrated to a new domain – http://www.q-bits.net – which will from here on be hosting this blog as well as my other net activities.

In the next couple of days, I will be putting in a redirect that will automatically take users from this site to the new one. In the meantime, please click on this link to access the blog’s new location.

That’s my version of a typical cop-out for not having updated this blog for a while… nor my Flickr photostream… also my Facebook profile… LinkedIn, too… Tumblr… delicio.us… YouTube and, when it really comes down to it, even my daily Twits.

A lousy cop-out, if you mind me saying so. Truth is I’ve really not been a good netizen lately. Let’s not go there now, for the sake of brevity.

But talking of Twitter, a recently-read article states that blogs are just so 2004 (as if there was something bad with that) and that twits and micro-logging are now the way to go. Twits are short postings – limited to 140 words – dedicated to answer the question, “What are you doing right now?”

It is spontaneity at its best… or worst.

Whereas blog posting needed some train of thought behind it, some carefully worded statements, with correct grammar and proper spelling required, twits can be as random as can be. After all, even Shakespeare would have been not as eloquent if limited to just 140 words.

Not clear what I mean? Then go on over to twitter.com, start a tweet, then start following someone. You can even follow me at http//www.twitter.com/beecue

You’d find though that it would be so similar to this blog and my other social networking accounts — I am rarely there.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.

This behind-the-scenes video is an amazing testimonial of the video possibilities of the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and of course, the creative talents of Vincent Laforet and his crew. The Reverie video itself has been viewed close to two million times since it was uploaded.

This video, now running through YouTube’s fiber network, is a promotional piece for Microsoft’s Professional Developer’s Conference (PDC 2008), where the software giant is expected to give out copies of Windows 7. Well, this video will probably do that event more harm than good. See for yourself.

“I’m talking about windows se-ven, you’re taking me closer to heaven. Yeah, right!!

Now, here’s bad news for all company bosses. If you believe those workers hunched over their desktop PC are busy with work-related stuff, think again. A study by network consultancy firm, Volco, reveals that workers spend 25% of their office time goofing around on the internet.

That goofing translates to personal online activities, such as writing personal email, chatting with friends, updating profiles in social networking sites, downloading digital media, online shopping, and the like. Of course, surfing during office hours is not a new phenomena. As early as 2003, studies have already shown that US companies are theoretically losing up to 200 billion dollars a year to workers’ private online activities during working hours.

But all those private online activities are not necessarily bad. Offices may actually gain by having workers do their banking online rather than spend an additional thirty minutes during break time to do this. And those heavily engaged in social networking activities may actually help bring in contacts for the company, the study added.

An interesting aside was a question on what workers would rather do without – their coffee break or internet access? Go figure… and get back to work.

“I’m a PC… so please love me instead of that cute, exciting Mac down the block!”, seems to be the undertone of this new ad campaign from Microsoft. It’s a break from the usual, though, so that must be a good thing.

Watch it here.

Contrary to common belief, I do read all comments on this blog. I don’t always immediately get to act on them. Case in point was Thea’s recent comment to post pictures of her mom’s 50th surprise party last January. It may be too late for that so I’ll do one better – a video of the event that Martin Limgenco recorded on his mobile phone and passed on to me a while back. Here it is for your enjoyment. For those who want to look at pictures, they’re still at Thea’s Multiply page.

It’s finally here – the long-awaited (by Canon aficionados, at least) successor to the Canon EOS 5D. And the new camera is surpassing all expectations so far, in the process putting to rest doubts about Canon’s superiority (or do I say, parity) over Nikon in the digital camera realm.

So what’ s new? Headlining the 5D Mark II is a 21.03 million image pixel full-frame CMOS sensor with several improvements meant to improve shadow rendering and noise levels at all ISO settings. The highest ISO sensitivity setting goes up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions.

The refined sensor is also at the heart of Canon’s first foray into digital SLR video: the 5D Mark II can record clips at full HD resolution, 1920 x 1080 pixel (1080p) at 30fps, with sound (captured via either a built-in mono mic or through an external mic connected to the camera’s stereo mic jack). This is a grade higher than the latest video offering from the just-released Nikon D90.

The EOS 5D Mark II is slated for release end of November at a street price of $2,600 for the body only. Canon is strongly positioning this SLR to be a powerhouse for those who need a lot of pixels and HD video in one body.

Read more of the mouth-watering features here.

All nuns are not old, stunted and sad, according to Father Antonio Rungi of Italy. And to prove his point, Father Rungi says he will be organizing the first-ever, online beauty pageant for nuns this September. Participating nuns will be asked to send pictures to the Miss Sister Italy web site and users can vote for then vote electronically for the candidate of their choice. Of course, the nuns will not be asked to parade in bathing suits. Read more.