The RedEye application on the iPhone makes it very simple to customize your remote layout. There is a tutorial that assists you through programming your remote and an icon based layout editor for easy customization. ThinkFlood has added a database of remote codes so programming remotes is even easier. By searching your device’s model number, preset codes can be found making it possible to easily program your iPhone without a remote control. The RedEye setup allows you to program single button pushes in one icon or to program multiple button pushes in one icon. For example: to watch TV you can program the remote to only turn on the TV or you can program the TV to turn on the TV, the cable box and your surround sound system all by one icon. Finally the last feature they added was the ability to backup your configuration to your computer or restore your configuration. I would definitely recommend the ThinkFlood RedEye or RedEye mini.

Right now while the RedEye is going through their beta process, ThinkFlood is offering each RedEye unit at cost $119 instead of the normal retail price of $149. This seems like an even better reason to jump on the bandwagon before they raise their price. It will be really interesting to see how well the unit works and I will follow up with what I think about the device and the software. I should have mine by the 16th.

ThinkFlood :: What is RedEye?.

A pretty interesting new option in automotive entertainment but definitely an expensive one is AT&T‘s new service called CruiseCast.  The idea is that you can mount a satalite receiver on top of your car and get TV in your car while traveling. This antena connects to a box which converts the stalite feed and then routes that to TVs mounted in your car.

In order to get the service you have to shell out around $1,300 and then pay a monthly fee of $28. You could buy each of your 4 kids a new 32GB iPhone 3G S and still have some money over to help pay off the additional data charges. They would be able to choose their content better and play video games on them when they get bored. The funny part is they advertise it as 40 channels plus which seems like just a portion of the channels that you get with a basic satellite package however 20+ of those channels are music channels which means nothing being that you have a radio or hopefully some way of playing your own music. However what is interesting is that they claim to have a coverage area of the whole entire United States. And in case you are traveling through a tunnel of in between New York City skyscrapers, the equipment buffers the video so that you can go 3 minutes without signal until you would know.

AT&T CruiseCast.

The VAIS Tech SoundLinQ2  SL2i device is probably one of the best purchases I have ever made. I love that the sound pumping out of my stereo is nice and crisp. I love the fact that there is no static whatsoever. That means no scanning for new channels as you pass different mountains or repositioning the iPhone or iPod so that the signal is closer to the radio. I love the fact that I can choose a song on my iPhone and then switch songs from my steering wheel as I’d like. I also have the ability to control everything like playing playlists right from the touch screen in my Toyota Prius. If you have iTunes Plus music then playing it over the stereo sounds remarkable. They also have a model that will allow you to play video right through the screen on your car. Amazing!

The fact is that before I decided to get this module installed, I had purchased 3 different FM transmitters. The first Griffin FM transmitter I purchased worked pretty well and I really loved it but the issue was that they changed the charging method on the iPhone and so that old transmitter would not charge my new 3G iPhone. Because of this, I purchased another Griffin FM transmitter however the signal of transmitter was terrible. I could plug the new one in and the old transmitter would totally trump the signal of the new one. Plus they had a auto scan feature that was just worthless. I was truly disappointed at the dismal quality of the device. Then I purchased a competing transmitter from Belkin and it was just as bad as the new one from Griffin. I was totally done with these new crappy FM transmitters and soon looked into better setups. I searching I found VAIS Tech which specializes in modules for Toyota and Lexus cars. Everyone in the forums were talking about their products so I thought I would check it out for myself. I went down to the local Al & Eds Auto Sound. I got a quote and then had them install the device. I am definitely pleased. Al & Eds Auto Sound stands behind their work and offered to remove the unit free of charge if there were ever any issues with it.

Advantages

• Amazing Sound Quality
• Charge your iPhone 3G – One of the first (SL2i-UP model only)
• You can use the rest of your iPhone while listening to music.
• Control your music with the steering wheel.
• Uses Advanced noise canceling technology

Dis-Advantages

• There will never be a 100% assurance that the device will work in your car.
• You cannot control both the iPod and touch screen in your car at the same time.
• In simple mode (controlling music through the iPod) you cannot display track information on the car’s touch screen.

Microsoft has just announced a new application which looks pretty interesting. This application will compose a tune to lyrics that you sing into the computer. The first thing is to choose what kind of song you want to compose and then the computer plays a beat. Then you sing your song while the computer records the lyrics. When its finished it analyzes the notes you sing and then creates a tune based on your song.

I will admit that the promotional video looks pretty cheesy but I think its a great tool for amateurs and something that can be fun for anyone. Heck if you are a professional you might as well try it out with your lyrics and see what this tool kicks out.  Songsmith will also let you play instrument as well as singing into it. This is great for composers that are looking for both tunes to go with their lyrics or melodys. The program looks like it does a pretty good job and its available to download right now as a trial. This trial lets you compose for six hours and then if you like it you can purchase it for $29.95.

I just wanted to take a little bit of time to reflect upon the recent past and future. This has been a huge season of change in my life. Changes ranging from academics, career, family and friends. It seems as though so many things have been thrown at me all of the sudden but I don’t mind it at all.
The first would be regarding academics. My first semester was definitely a rough semester for me and so recovering from that has been a very interesting road filled both with successes and disappointments. I have done my best this semester to place me in a position so that I will be successful for this year and the rest of my education at Biola.
The next big change was that I went for a job at Disneyland. This was something that I’ve tried to pursue in the past and haven’t exactly been successful but I’m pretty sure that God opened this opportunity right now as it has been such a wonderful experience for me. I’ve learned so much from it like what it is like living off of close to minimum wage. Also learning about such a magnificent company built by Walt Disney who had such a unique vision that is to this day such a magical place. Learning how to give great customer service has been the most rewarding and the best part of working at Disneyland.
The next two areas in my life have been so fluid lately. This semester was the first time that I had not lived with both of my parents. It is sad but it was good for everyone. I think. I still don’t feel like life has fully settled down in both arenas but its acceptable. The friends have also been such a unique situation in the past couple of months in which I’ve met so many new people and unfortunately will probably have to get rid of some (i though) pretty good and healing friendships. Apparently I was wrong and caught completely off guard.
Its definitely so ironic how things in life work but you learn so much from every good and unfortunate thing that passes by you. Right now I’m finishing getting settled into a new era of life and ready to Enjoy a wonderful Christmas with great family and friends, and a wonderful New Years.

So I started working at Disneyland just over five weeks now and I can tell you that I love it. It is so much fun to be able to leave customers with smiles on their faces and to know that they appreciated one of their last interactions there at Disneyland. I never really thought that much of  all of the hard work and preperation that goes on behind the scenes there at the Disneyland Resort. It’s no wonder that it’s still exciting to go there even though I have been going there all my life and visited probably more than 100 times. I don’t think I could be working at a better job right now with such a great employer.

Watch this video on youtube

Biola is probably the best school.. ever… ever ever ever…

-Directed and Produced by-
Colin Cabalka & Boye Fajinmi
-Written by-
Boye Fajimi
-Edited & Shot by-
Colin Cabalka
-Starring-
Colin Cabalka
Darren Lisle
&
The Biola Community
-Additional Footage-
Ben Winchell & Brandon Hahn
-Pictures-
Mike Villa
-Original Music-
David Maemone

This post is dedicated to a film that, lately, has been really close to my heart… Step Brothers and an actor who undoubtedly is even closer… Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly work well together in this sometimes raunchy but very funny comedy. There are definitely parts with thick adult humor so it is not for the faint at heart. The irony of two grown men that in the beginning flaunt there immaturity but later on succeed when their parents separate. I would definitely recommend this for someone that does not mind some adult humor and language.

My favorite actor is definitely Will Ferrell with his unique comedy which is paralleled with no one. I love his dry humor and just his overall attitude while playing his roles. I was definitely impressed with this movie as I have not enjoyed some of his recent work too much, such as Talladega Nights or Semi-Pro. Both my mom and I definately laughed our heads off at this one. Good Job Will Ferrell. My favorite movie has to be Anchorman and I’m looking forward to getting that on Blu-ray but I enjoyed Step Brothers and I will admit that it is one movie that I will end up getting on Blu-ray.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

There was a massive fire at the Universal Studios backlot in which the famous facades of New York, the courthouse in ‘Back to the Future’ and several buildings including a film vault containing up to 40,000 film reels were destroyed. The fire broke out June 1st, around 530 a.m. accidentally by a torch being from a roofing crew. Hundreds of firefighters were on scene to keep the raging fire from spreading to other nearby buildings. Firefighters faced difficulties due to extreme temperatures and low water pressure. Nine firefighters and one officer were injured in the blaze. One firefighter and the officer were hurt while recovering the films they could while the vault was going up in flames.

Officials are looking into the safety of facades and the necessity for less flammable materials being used in set construction. During the time of the fire there was a production crew filing in the area. In pictures you can see multiple film trucks and vehicles that were unfortunately destroyed in the fire. It’s assumed that the fire will result in millions of dollars in damage.