Latest Blog Entries by rss2 at VideoSift.com

The Motorola Droid is a Huge Step Up (But Slightly Flawed)

lucky760 (http://lucky760.videosift.com) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:05:35 -0800

(4 comments - 39 views)

I don't know why everyone dislikes its appearance so much. I find it very nice looking. Plus, it's squared corners make it infinitely easier to keep a hold on than iPods and iPhones (which I drop time after time on a daily basis). Some people take issue with the black edge that sticks out (the right edge in the above photo), but it's really necessary because it gives you something to grasp on to. Without it you'd be frustrated by having to hold on to the screen where you'd be activating things accidentally.

The things I love:

It feels very robust and sturdy. It feels indestructible.
It comes with a 16GB SD card and has a replaceable battery.
It has a 5MP camera with dual LED flash. It's very nice that you can instantly share your photos/videos via gmail or other online services.
It is extremely responsive. It has a very fast processor (relatively speaking). There is little to zero delay when doing most anything with the phone. Most importantly you can switch back and forth between lots of different processes instantly.
All programs run simultaneously. This means while you're doing something, if you're interrupted (or you interrupt yourself like to send a text message) your other processes continue unimpeded.
I get a 3G speed Internet connection everywhere. (If you want specifics, there's a map for that.)
I didn't know this until I got it, but it has a very large, very loud external speaker on the back. This is an Enormous benefit to me because I usually am forced to wear headphones with my iPod Touch while I'm driving because its speaker is very weak. It also makes speakerphone calls wonderful.
(Free) voice-guided GPS navigation with satellite view and live traffic updates. I think everyone is familiar with this feature by now.
Very simple universal search allows you to search for anything (websites, map locations, contacts) typed or spoken, and the "spoken word interpreter" is very smart even able to figure out different spellings than words sound (e.g., "in n out" or "pick up stix").
The keyboard, while a little small, feels good and is well laid out (as long as you type with your fingertips).
Instant notification if new Gmail arrives.
Centralized listing of all notifications needing my attention.

The things I'm confused by (because Google should know better or might work in some way that I can't figure out):

While the phone is on silent or vibrate mode, you are not given *any* kind of notification that you have received a new text or gmail. What's the deal with that, Google? At the very least the screen should activate so you have the visual notification, but it should definitely vibrate if you have the phone in vibrate mode. Instead it just sits there dark and silent forcing you to manually check it every few minutes to see if there are any new notifications. (I did discover you can set the notification volume separately from the phone volume, but the notification has to be audible.)
Some things are slightly buggy. When setting the notification volume lower than the general phone volume, all volume became almost mute and would not increase until I restarted the phone.
There doesn't seem to be any way to uninstall pre-installed apps I don't want, like the "Amazon MP3" app. Perhaps there's some way to do it, but I haven't been able to find it.
There's no way to set the ringtone individually for different types of notifications (e.g., new gmail, new text, etc.) There's just one ringtone selection to rule them all.
Though it's a snap to upload tons of songs via a USB cable and your computer and use any of them as your phone ringtone, there's no apparent way to use them as the ringtone for notifications.

Anyhow, just thought I'd share my opinions and also hope that maybe someone will inform me how to do some of the things that appear to be impossible. All in all, it is by far the very best phone I've ever owned (my last phone was an LG Voyager, ugh). It's really like having a fully-functional portable Internet-connected computer and I love it.

- lucky760

Watch The Ponies - 2009 Breeders' Cup

youdiejoe (http://youdiejoe.videosift.com) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:42:21 -0800

(0 comments - 9 views)

Watch the ponies fly by

- youdiejoe

Weekly Achievements for 01Nov09 thru 07Nov09

siftbot (http://siftbot.videosift.com) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:01:10 -0800

(0 comments - 14 views)

#1 Video

Richard Dawkins: One Fact to Refute Creationism by Ornthoron

If you get the joke in this, it probably means you are old by Leonards

Glenn Beck Tragically Alive After Fatal Car Accident by EDD

Lock Detects Secret Knock by wingnut

TDS: For Fox Sake! - 10/29/09 by enon

How to celebrate a goal, when you have no fans by reiwan

The Coolest Math Teacher by dw1117

6 Types of Youtube Vids there are Way Too Many Of by brycewi19

Christopher Walken Does Lady Gaga's Poker Face by demon_ix

Top 15 Videos

More Warehouse Failure! by Fusionaut reached #2
Fanwing - Incredible New Form of Aircraft by raverman reached #2
Buckets and balls by Ornthoron reached #2
Insanely Complex Rotary Weaver Makes Carbon Fiber Parts by blutruth reached #2
TDS: The 11/3 Project by enon reached #2
South Park: The difference between gays and fags by gwiz665 reached #2
The Flying Eagle - The Coolest Bowling Shot Ever by silvercord reached #3
New, full trailer for Avatar! by Hybrid reached #3
Owl Loves A Good Noggin Scratch by lovelynotes reached #3
Dawkins - When to be offended by Sagemind reached #3
How to open a wine bottle with your shoe by arvana reached #3
Fake? Mom feeds family of 6 on $4 a week by longde reached #3
Wild Monkey Rips Off Girls Shirt by ant reached #3
Kid Does a Funny Batman Spoof by Lann reached #4
'Drunk' Ewoks disrupt NBC's 'Today' Show (10/30/2009) by ant reached #4
Fans Support Comedian Jimmy Carr Over Troop Joke by Sagemind reached #4
28 Drinks Later by laura reached #4
Dennis Kucinich Raises a Valid Point on Health Care by Duckman33 reached #4
Inside the Ikea Table Factory. by therealblankman reached #4
Insane Commercial Somehow Sells Backpacks by Zifnab reached #4
Tasered In The Neck While Hands On Hood Of Car by Sagemind reached #5
Google Navigation = Death of GPS Makers by nomino reached #5
Maru's Cat-sized Hamster Wheel! by Issykitty reached #5
The best pedal demo ever.. by Jack Conte by EndAll reached #5
Must... Not... Stare... At... Cleavage..... by demon_ix reached #5
Quentin Tarantino on The Moral Choices in Pulp Fiction by rasch187 reached #5
Beer truck flipped on an overpass by arvana reached #6
Tarp Trouble on a baseball field - hilarious fail by Deano reached #6
Seth Rogen on Letterman - Why you should NOT hug cops by Issykitty reached #6
The Slutty Halloween Costume Song by laura reached #6
TDS: Indecision 2009 - NYC Edition by MikesHL13 reached #7
Erik Estrada Knocks Out Bill Maher by rasch187 reached #7
Surprise Homecoming! by Fusionaut reached #7
How many times have you wanted to do this? by rasch187 reached #7
Water droplets bouncing around on a sheet of water by Ornthoron reached #7
Inmates come to guard's aid in jail attack by Duckman33 reached #7
Hyundai Canada Gives Parking Fail Victim A Surprise by demon_ix reached #7
Johnny Depp Gives The Best Advice by guitarwolf reached #7
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Movie Trailer by Fusionaut reached #8
Lara Logan reports on the Yakuza by EndAll reached #8
A Clockwork Orange - I'm Singing in the Rain by rasch187 reached #8
Don't Be A Jerk To Horses by necrontyr reached #8
"The Sims" Horror Movie by brycewi19 reached #8
Staples Center Collapse Brings Early End To Clippers Game by Zifnab reached #8
Amateur Video World Trade Center - 9.11.01 by blankfist reached #9
Battle of the Century by KnivesOut reached #9
Impossible Basketball Shot With Baseball Bat by silvercord reached #9
Discovery Channel - The World Is Just Awesome (Boomdeyada 2) by demon_ix reached #9
Rachel Maddow Goes After Liz Cheney by MikesHL13 reached #9
Lockheed Sabre Warrior: Bringing your Nightmares to Life by therealblankman reached #9
Felicia Day Explains Colliding Galaxies by demon_ix reached #9
Lawrence O'Donnell - The Disgrace That is The Cheneys by NetRunner reached #10
James May goes for a ride in a U-2 Spy Plane by blackout reached #11
Joe Lieberman On Why He Will Filbuster To Kill Public Option by marinara reached #11
Maddow on the F-22 Raptor by longde reached #11
Rachel Maddow - Christie Faces Python Inquisition by KnivesOut reached #11
Keith Olbermann: Pat Robertson & "Demon" Halloween Candy by MikesHL13 reached #11
Demolition of a Skyscraper (38 seconds) by Seric reached #11
Congressman Alan Grayson Lists Number Of Dead Per District by demon_ix reached #11
Awesome way to eat a chicken wing: de-bone it first! by arvana reached #12
QI: Where did apples originate from? by reiwan reached #12
The Office - Bloopers, season 5! by Issykitty reached #12
Louis CK - San Francisco - 1996 by MikesHL13 reached #13
Bill Moyers - Single Payer Suppressed by Health Industry by KnivesOut reached #13
Rep. Todd Akin fails the pledge of allegiance by residue reached #13
Larry David Plays Telephone by Issykitty reached #14
Brian Cox on The Colbert Report by BicycleRepairMan reached #14
Molly Sims Dramatic Acting Reel by laura reached #14
Ford Unveils New Car For Cash-Strapped Buyers: 1993 Taurus by Zifnab reached #15
Woman Attacks Husbands Cars With Golf Clubs by Sagemind reached #15

Top Comments

Maybe they shouldn't send the soldiers to Afghanistan... by ponceleon (42 votes)
Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmy... Oh. It's only Bud Light. ... by Kevlar (41 votes)
American beer is like sex in a rowboat. They're both... by Payback (32 votes)
I'm not 100% convinced that she's wearing that dress... by atara (29 votes)
Ironically, my broadband connection had to stop and... by dystopianfuturetoday (27 votes)

Most Votes Cast

6 Types of Youtube Vids there are Way Too Many Of by brycewi19 (161 votes)
How to celebrate a goal, when you have no fans by reiwan (160 votes)
Glenn Beck Tragically Alive After Fatal Car Accident by EDD (155 votes)
Richard Dawkins: One Fact to Refute Creationism by Ornthoron (137 votes)
Lock Detects Secret Knock by wingnut (127 votes)

- siftbot

Don't talk about Batman's parents!

blankfist (http://blankfist.videosift.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:32:47 -0800

(2 comments - 55 views)

- blankfist

Days with my father..

EndAll (http://jollyollie.videosift.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:34:26 -0800

(5 comments - 102 views)

One of the most heartwarming things I've ever stumbled across on these internets.. take a few minutes, it's worth it. And don't forget to tell your parents that you love them, whenever you can.

http://www.dayswithmyfather.com/

- EndAll

I heard you were looking for me.

MarineGunrock (http://www.videosift.com/member/MarineGunrock) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:11:17 -0800

(12 comments - 111 views)
Here I am. Somewhere in southern Afghanistan, loving life. I'm moving to a new base tomorrow, where hopefully I'll have a more stable, faster connection so I can post a few picture for you. I keep seeing emails saying my posts have been promoted, so thanks to all who did that. I'll catch up with you when I can!

- MarineGunrock

"The Beatles Never Broke Up"

EndAll (http://jollyollie.videosift.com) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:11:35 -0800

(1 comment - 100 views)

On Sept. 9, 2009 I experienced something that I still am having trouble believing happened to me.

I came into the possession of a cassette tape containing a Beatles album that was never released.

I dont expect you to believe what happened to me, I sure wouldn't, but thats why I grabbed the tape as proof that my experience was real.

http://www.thebeatlesneverbrokeup.com/

- EndAll

ZOMFG THE SWINE FLU!

rottenseed (http://douchebag.videosift.com) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:41:50 -0800

(19 comments - 218 views)

Here's a paraphrased dialog between the doctor at the ER and myself regarding my flu like symptoms.

Dr: Well it sounds like we have the flu. We don't even test anymore. The CDC has declared that the quick test is only 10 to 50% accurate and the other test is about $1000 and it takes 48 to 72 hours to determine. Furthermore any antiviral I would give you will probably only be around 10%, we save that for pregnant women and those going through chemo.

Me: What if it's swine flue

Dr: There's a good chance it is, but it doesn't matter, you have to do the same things to recover from either. I know it's got a cool name 'H1N1' and all, but really it's a media hype and your chances of dying from it are next to nil. Just get some rest and don't go into work until 3 days after you've stopped coughing

So there you have it from a doctor. I don't know what his bias is if any, but this swine flu 'epidemic' is hogwash. And if I do have it, I've lived through plenty worse illnesses. I'm mildly uncomfortable at the very most. Furthermore, why did I have to pay $100 to get that diagnosis? Because my girlfriend was scared that I had the swine flue. What did I find out? That I might have it...but who cares. Worst $100 spent...ever.

My advice is if you come down with flu like symptoms that are bearable, just tough it out. Get lots of rest and drink plenty of water and all that old school shit. Even if you live somewhere that has public healthcare, it's not worth the time to get checked out. Of course I am not a doctor, don't listen to me.

- rottenseed

Bill Plympton sucks

gwiz665 (http://gwiz665.videosift.com) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:10:26 -0800

(6 comments - 174 views)

"This video has been redacted due to the copyright claim of Bill Plympton." -siftbot

Bill Plympton does not understand how the Internet works. His legal shenanigans are not good for freedom of speech, if he wants to censor the internet, he should go to the providers, not propagaters like videosift.

I don't even know who he is, and now I don't care. He sucks.

I don't blame the admins for this, I'm sure they are as outraged as I am. I just want you to know how much he sucks. (It's a lot.)

Cf.:

http://www.videosift.com/video/the-fan-the-flower-might-make-you-cry-a-little

http://www.videosift.com/video/one-of-those-days

http://www.videosift.com/video/Bill-Plympton-Parking-2001

http://www.videosift.com/video/Guide-Dog-funny-animated-short

http://www.videosift.com/video/Guard-Dog

http://www.videosift.com/video/Surprise-Cinema

http://www.videosift.com/video/Bill-Plympton-25-Ways-To-Quit-Smoking

http://www.videosift.com/video/how-to-make-love-to-a-woman-bill-plympton-style

http://www.videosift.com/video/Hot-Dog-A-Tail-of-Sadly-Broken-Dreams-by-Bill-Plympton

http://www.videosift.com/video/Push-Comes-to-shove-Bill-Plympton

- gwiz665

A Math-Oriented T-Shirt Design and a Request for Sifter Input

lucky760 (http://lucky760.videosift.com) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:57:32 -0800

(3 comments - 166 views)
I submitted this to the Tee Virus workshop and thought I'd share it here. It's a math-centric design and hopefully humorous to one or two of you Sifters.

Here's a follow-up inspired by demon_ix's comment below:

If you haven't or don't on a regular basis, please help us by at leaving your comments and casting your votes in the Tee Virus Workshop. There are a few designers there who often get very little to zero feedback on their creations and it'd be enormously appreciated if you'd just lend us 2 minutes of your day. Thanks for your help Sifters!

(And if you were a Sift member before TeeVirus launched, you already have an account there. Just login with your usual username/password.)

- lucky760