KickTheLinks.com is an aggregate of an ever-growing collection of select bookmarks. Kick the links to useful online tools, tech-related articles,
rich internet application (RIA) design and development related topics, web 2.0, and of course, fun sites to pass the time.

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Thursday, March 30, 2006

Music: AllTunes

Allofmp3.com has released allTunes v1.0, a browser/interface to their ever-growing (and very CHEAP) music catalogue. I assume that allTunes will replace the AllOfMp3 Explorer. Apparently the service is available to Smartphones as well as a PC desktop.

I have used allofmp3.com for quite a while now. It is a Russian site that offers music priced at 2 cents per MB downloaded. An album in mp3 format typically costs anywhere from $1 - $3+ depending on compression users choose. One might ask, "Why pay for music when you can download for free off of bittorrent?" The answer is simple - convenience. Users may choose file type (including FLAC) and compression setting for each song/album to download. The mp3s are tagged. Users know that what they are downloading is as advertised instead of the crapshoot of downloading from a file sharing program.

I tried allTunes out and it works well. I like that data results are updated as I type in the Search field. The results appear very quickly, which I assume is because the catalogue has been downloaded to the client. However, that catalogue download is much quicker than the download with the old Explorer for whatever reason. Performance of allTunes seems much better than the old Explorer as well. I occasionally get an error when trying to preview a song in the browser. What is bizarre is that I tried to play a downloaded song in the browser and winamp opened (my default mp3 player, even though I usually have iTunes open all the time). I would like to see a "Similar artists" section when I am viewing a particular artist or album (similar to the site structure).

One note on the actual site itself - An email subscription is offered, but an RSS feed of added albums would be much more useful.

allTunes:
http://www.alltunes.com/

AllOfMP3.com:
http://www.allofmp3.com/

Similar article on TechCrunch(includes numerous user comments):
http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/03/29/allofmp3-launches-alltunes/

posted by Robert, 11:01 PM | link | 0 comments |

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Useful: Find similar sites

If you would like to find sites similar to one that you currently enjoy, try using similicio.us.

http://www.similicio.us/

I subscribe to the Dodger Thoughts blog, so I thought I would try to find similar blogs using the similicio.us site. As expected, I got a number of baseball-related links, including Dodger Blues. However, I also got a few strange results, such as a link to hackingnetflix.com, which looks interesting, and graycharles.com, a blog about some American Idol talent show contestant.

Found the original link to similicio.us on http://www.waxy.org .

posted by Robert, 12:22 PM | link | 0 comments |

Monday, March 27, 2006

Fun : Dr. Seuss Bedroom

Last year, I painted some Cat in the Hat images on one side of my son's bedroom. This year, I added images from a few other Dr. Seuss books on the other walls - some scenes my son chose from Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Socks, and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

Flash 8 required (I used the nice drop-shadow filters):

http://www.kickthelinks.com/seussroom/

posted by Robert, 3:57 PM | link | 0 comments |

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Blog : del.icio.us introduces private saving

Now you can save your links on del.icio.us as "private":

http://blog.del.icio.us/blog/2006/03/private_saving_.html

posted by Robert, 8:38 AM | link | 0 comments |

Flash : Web Development : Actionscript 2.0 Best Practices

Found this on Monkey Bites as well ... macromedia.com has an article listing Best Practices for Actionscript 2.0 development:

http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/flash/articles/as_bestpractices.html

Also check out the Flash 8 development Best Practices:

http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/flash/articles/flash8_bestpractices.html

posted by Robert, 8:27 AM | link | 0 comments |

Web2.0 : Fun : Web 2.0 or Star Wars?

Take a quiz and see if you can tell which are names of Web 2.0 companies and which are names of Star Wars characters:

http://www.cerado.com/web20quiz.htm

Link from Monkey Bites:

http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/

posted by Robert, 8:21 AM | link | 0 comments |

Friday, March 17, 2006

Flash : Fun : Monty Python's Silly Walk Generator

This is fun - create your own silly walk. Choose characters and backgrounds, then adjust your character across multiple frames to create your own walk. Adjust the speed and silliness meters. Built in Flash.

http://www.sillywalksgenerator.com/

Another one found on news.com:
http://news.com.com/2061-11200_3-6050280.html

posted by Robert, 11:46 AM | link | 0 comments |

Web2.0 : Interesting : March Madness Mashup

Map containing all 64 teams in the Big Dance. Popups show a mascot icon, with a link to the team page on cbssportsline.

Kick the link to the March Madness Mashup (slow load - be patient) :
http://www.internetbargaincenter.com/ncaa/

Found on news.com:
http://news.com.com/2061-11200_3-6050686.html?part=rss&tag=6050686&subj=news

posted by Robert, 10:10 AM | link | 0 comments |

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Useful: Amazon S3 - Simple Storage Service

Amazon has launched Amazon S3, an internet storage service "designed to make web-scale computing easier for developers."

Apparently, users may upload an unlimited number of objects up to 5 GB in size. Download protocols include HTTP and BitTorrent for now. Additional interfaces will be available in the future.

The pricing model is as follows: pay only for what you use, $0.15 per GB of storage used, and $0.20 per GB of data transferred.

Kick the link below to learn more:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/104-5080668-3599102?node=16427261

While this seems cheap at first glance, I am not sure this solves my ever-growing problem with file backups that I would love to have access to from any computer (digital photo originals, video, .fla and .psd files, audio files, etc.).

posted by Robert, 1:47 PM | link | 0 comments |

Fun: The origin of the high-five

Apparently the first known high-five was between Dodger outfielders Glenn Burke and Dusty Baker after Baker hit a grand slam in Game 2 of the 1977 National League Championship Series. Although this happened a little before I was watching baseball, I am a big Dodgers fan, so I find myself taking pride in this for some reason. I'm sure that this interesting bit of trivia is debatable.

Kick the link for more information, including a story of how seriously Baker took the high-five:
http://dodgerthoughts.baseballtoaster.com/archives/331386.html

Original article:
http://www.thebookpimp.com/dodgers/index.htm

posted by Robert, 12:26 PM | link | 0 comments |

Gadgets: Camera, GPS, more officially announced for PSP

Tokyo, March 15, 2006 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that it will continue to further expand the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) platform with new attractive accessories, features and services responding to active demand throughout the world.

For expanding the potential capability of PSP hardware, new camera (PSP-300) and GPS receiver (PSP-290) will be introduced from this autumn. By adding these new attractive peripherals, new features such as motion tracking technology of Eye Toy™, developing the new game titles by utilizing the video chat function, portable navigating system with GPS function are highly expected.

SCEI will also start a new download service offering selected popular PlayStation^® format tittles from the past. By reviving software assets, users will be able to enjoy exiting PlayStation titles anytime, anywhere on PSP.

Kick the link to the full story:
http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4151&NewsAreaID=2

Found on Wired Gear Factor:
http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/gadgets/index.blog?entry_id=1436258

posted by Robert, 11:32 AM | link | 0 comments |

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Fun: Greatest video game collection EVER

From TechEBlog - the greatest video game collection ... EVER:

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/greatest-video-game-collection-ever

Unbelievable!

posted by Robert, 2:22 PM | link | 0 comments |

Fun: Lego Computer

PC Magazine has commissioned Nathan Sawaya to build a fully functional Lego computer.

The PC, made of 3,000 bricks, will take around 25 hours to build, almost twice the time as typical desktop Lego sculptures. That's just a guesstimate though, as the working version is still under construction.

“We're about halfway there. We have a working LCD monitor, a 17-inch LCD monitor - it's actually a Samsung Synchmaster monitor - and it's encased in Lego’s,” says Jeremy Kaplan of PC Magazine. “I'm thinking we're going to have two CD drives, there’s going to be a host of USB ports, it's going to be close to a 2-Gigahertz processor, and 512 MB ram - standard stats. It'll be a pretty decent computer. It won't be a barn burner, but it will be a decent computer.”

Be sure to check out the video:
http://rdu.news14.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=81746

Also, definitely check out Nathan Sawaya's website. The Lego sculptures are incredible, including a life size Lego scuplture of Han Solo encased in carbonite. The guy is a legend around LegoLand.
http://www.nathanbrickartist.com/

posted by Robert, 1:35 PM | link | 0 comments |

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Google: Mars Maps

Google Mars! The default view is a (psychadelic) shaded relief map color-coded by altitude. Users may also view by "Infrared" or "Visible". Now to find all those faces that the tabloid photographers have been finding for years.

http://www.google.com/mars/

posted by Robert, 2:45 PM | link | 0 comments |

Fun: Real Life Simpsons

The intro to the Simpsons, recreated with live actors. This is great. It must have taken a lot of effort to put this together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49IDp76kjPw

posted by Robert, 10:45 AM | link | 0 comments |

Monday, March 13, 2006

Flash: Gadgets: Flash on PSP

Flash Player for PSP. According to the post, "the current version supports most action script through version 7 and runs on 1.5 only. We are currently testing for 2.x PSPs" and to "consider the current release a 'proof of concept' release."

http://files.psphacks.net/details.php?file=93

posted by Robert, 3:43 PM | link | 0 comments |

Fun: So Dreamy - The Elvis Camera

Take pictures that look as though Elvis is right next to you with the Elvis Camera! Picture the King as a surfer serenading you by tropical moonlight— as a handsome G.I. taking you for a stroll in the park. Follow the simple instructions, making certain to center your subject in the frame, then develop as you would any other disposable camera. Your 4" x 6" photos will magically feature 4 each of 6 different Elvis scenes--starring you! 24 exposures; built-in flash.

Too bad there aren't any images of the Vegas era. No pictures of Elvis handing you a sweaty scarf while serenading you with "Can't Help Falling In Love" from the stage. Back to Photoshop ...

http://www.lighterside.com/website/store/product_detail.asp?UID=2006030712394825&item%5Fno=63812&keyword=F1LS&cat%5Fkeyword=F1LS&search%5Fpage%5Fno=7

Found on RedFerret (http://www.redferret.net/?p=6648).

I started a little "wishlist" of images I would like to see in the Vegas-era version of the camera:

posted by Robert, 3:38 PM | link | 0 comments |

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Gadgets: iPod + Wikipedia

I have a PSP, an Archos Gmini 400, and a Sandisk MP3 player, so I don't have much need for an iPod. However, this is really useful if you do own an iPod -

http://encyclopodia.sourceforge.net/en/index.html

Encyclopodia is a free software project that brings the Wikipedia, which is one of the largest encyclopedias on the world, on the Apple iPod MP3-Player. It has been successfully tested on a third-generation iPod and on an iPod mini, but it should also work on other iPod generations.

I found the information on news.com:

http://news.com.com/2061-10793_3-6044679.html

posted by Robert, 4:01 PM | link | 0 comments |

Useful: Street-Side Views in Windows Live Local

Windows Live Local now has street level photos available for viewing. Right now, Seattle and San Francisco are the first cities with this functionality. Change your view from "Race Car" to "Sports Car" to "Walking" views and explore the cities using your keyboard or mouse.

Unfortunately, no mashups can be developed to work with the technology.

http://preview.local.live.com/

Check out the Windows Live Local site as well. Closer views of your house than google or yahoo maps.

http://local.live.com/