The Zion City Archives

Which Way Did He Go?

2004-08-24T17:13:00.000-04:00

I believe an explanation is in order as to what happened to all the updates for this site. It's a long story, but basically I ended up becoming an administrator for an even larger site, called GearLive. It's all about the things I like the most: technology, gaming, music, etc. In fact I've already written several articles, including reviews for an mp3 player, and for some wireless cell phone headsets.

This site has an amazing Message Board system too, which I invite you to check out. I go by the name "HectorGearLive" on the Boards, in case you ever want to chat. I will be dedicating most of my writing to this site, and will be working to expand it as time goes by. It's only three months old, and already becoming pretty popular.

Enjoy!

-HectorGearLive

The "New" Copa Cabana

2004-07-29T08:26:00.000-04:00

I don't remember ever partying so hard on a Tuesday night. We went to the world-famous "Copa Cabana" in mid-town to get our groove on. They have a nice deal where you can get some food and dance all night for just $5 a pop. They even had a live band, the "Salsa Machine" playing throughout. They'll be hosting one of my favorites, Gilberto Santa Rosa this Saturday, but my wife and I have other plans. Besides, my feet still hurt.

The Republican Convention '04

2004-07-14T12:49:00.000-04:00

Why did they have to have the convention in New York, of all the possible places. You might as well put a target symbol above the city, saying "Terrorists, aim here!." They're closing up most of the exits in Penn Station, and forcing commuters into less trains too. Way to go, Bush.

New Samsung Phone. Here's My Review.

2004-07-13T18:30:00.000-04:00

Samsung’s Newest Phone is Full of Cool Surprises

The SCH-A670 is my third cell phone, and my first camera phone. Everyday I’m discovering something new with it, so I was compelled to write a review. My motivation is to personally reflect on its capabilities--and its few shortcomings--as much as it is to inform the consumer.

The reason I got the phone in the first place was because my wife needed a new one, and we thought it would be good to share the same phone network to save on our minutes. I switched over from Sprint in the NYC area, and after taking home the phone I immediately noticed how much stronger the signal strength was. It felt great knowing I could walk around freely in my apartment, and not have to worry about staying near the window. After transferring all my old numbers into it, I delved into its features.

The Camera

It can take up to VGA-quality shots, though at that quality you’d only be able to store about 30 pictures. As an alternative, you can lower the resolution setting to store about 180 pictures on the phone. Yes, they would look tiny on a monitor, but they look great on the phone’s screen! The camera does a very nice job adjusting to darker lighting, and can even take sepia, black and white, and embossed images if you set them on the camera menu. You can flip the phone shut in order to take pictures of yourself and still see the image through the external LCD as well.

The Screen

Wow, this thing can show some really beautiful images! Both the internal and the external screens display 65K colors, so images are really crisp. This feature above all others was the reason my wife and I gravitated to this model at the Verizon store. I had a monochrome screen in my old phone, so this was like a breath of fresh air. Very, very nice indeed.

Build

The phone is encased in a durable metallic finish. It feels substantial and expensive in your hand, though it sure is small. I’d have no trouble slipping it into my pocket, but the included leather case and belt clip-on do just fine. I like how the clip click-rotates around so that you can adjust it to your liking. My last phone popped out my waist and got run over by a bus, so I appreciate a good leather holder.

Downloads

You can get all kinds of new ring-tones through Verizon’s “Get It Now” download menu. They help to complement the included ring tones which, frankly, aren’t good. You only get 5 ring-tones by default, and the rest sound like little marching-bands. Better grab that Beyonce flava from the network! There are quite a few contemporary artists featured, including Cold Play, Eminem, and Usher. Songs sound really nice, though don’t expect the actual vocals to pop out the thing. Remember also that there is a small charge, about $2, to download each song.

I really cannot comment on the quality of the games you can download because there aren’t that many free demos available. JamDat Bowling appears to be the most popular, but I can’t expect much compared to my GameBoy, or even my Palm M515. I’d recommend you skip the games. However, the MapQuest download was really impressive, and could come in quite handy if you’re in a bind. It gives driving directions and full-color, zoomable maps. It is one of the most expensive apps though, so again, use only in case of emergency.

Wallpapers and Screensavers

This phone is such a blast when it comes to taking pictures and making them either start-up or shut-down images, or the default screen saver. You can also assign any image to any person on your contacts list. It’s all quite easy. The phone also records movies, though they can’t be sent via text-messaging. Still you can record any movie for about 12 seconds, and make that your wallpaper. It’s how I got actual moving “Matrix Code” to cycle on the screen whenever it’s turned on. I also have another Matrix scene assigned for when the phone shuts down. This is one of my favorite features because I was stuck with whatever the phone company offered as screensavers and images on my previous phone.

Text Messaging

The latest craze. You can send messages of about 160 characters in length to anyone on your contacts with a text-phone. This is pretty universal at this point. But you can also send picture messages with any image you have just taken, or have stored on the phone. If you really want to go crazy, you can send a picture image with a sound recording (up to 30 seconds) along with regular text, all in one message. Pretty sweet, but then again most of my friends don’t have a picture phone to accept the images. Bah, get with the program!

I subscribed to a cheap plan for text messages at least, and I love talking to people without having to make the actual phone call. It’s also a good idea to use the predictive T9 text input, although sometimes it will give you the unusual word and you’ll have to backtrack a bit.

Other Features

The phone includes a calendar, as well as a calculator, though I don’t use these since they are so much more cumbersome than my Palm's. You can also go online with it, and the connection speeds appear reasonable (read: much slower than the DSL you are accustomed to) but again, the text and images should look great. You can also record a series of voice memos as reminders, and set a shortcut to a function for the “up” direction on your directional pad. The keys light up a nice fluorescent blue when you flip open the phone. Finally, the messages menu will keep a store of your latest voice and text messages, though you will have to delete a few once you have about 70 texts.

Battery Life

This is a weird one, but the battery indicator appears to drain quickly. However, once it reaches a single bar, that bar can last you literally for hours, so it’s a little misleading. It hasn’t run out on me yet, though I wish it didn’t jump to a single bar so quick. Makes me nervous.

Conclusion

I use the phone most with my family: my wife and brother. Sending text is always a blast, as well as taking great image-quality photos that I can assign to many of its functions. It’s not the perfect phone--I wish it had better default ring-tones, and it can get a little warm over extended use—but I really find it to be excellent all around. Voice quality is great, as well as signal strength, and it offers plenty of potential customization.

Final Score: 8.5

3 Years Ago, At This Spot...

2004-07-03T18:36:00.000-04:00

Way back in July of 2001, I asked my wife if she would "be my girlfriend". We celebrated by going to this restaurant at the South Street Seaport with some friends. Turns out I revisited the spot today, since I had some free time.

Maury Povich TV Paternity Tests

2004-06-18T10:44:00.000-04:00

Why do people do this? My favorite is when there are two guys and a girl, and Maury says to boy number one: "You are NOT the father." And then to boy number two: "You ALSO are not the father." Then everyone runs backstage crying.

The Secret to Photography...

2004-06-16T17:42:00.000-04:00

The secret is to take as many photos as you can: practice, practice practice! I also found that most shots are better off without using the flash, which totally changes the mood of the shot, adding a jarring brightness that's not naturally there.

Only problem is, when you're working in low-light situations, the shutter needs to be open longer, and the image is subject to the movement of your hands. I wish I had a tripod, but I'll have to do without for now. Here's a recent shot:

The Puerto Rican Day Parade

2004-06-14T20:31:00.000-04:00

It turns out there were about 3 Million people at the parade this past Sunday. But there are only 800,000 Puerto Ricans in New York City. Hmmmm, there must've been either some imports, or some imposters. We only hung around for about an hour, but man what a celebration! It was a beautiful sunny day too, just perfect.

Lakers Got Owned Last Night.

2004-06-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

Check the blurb from NBA.com:

If not for a Kobe Bryant trey, the Pistons would be one win from a Finals sweep.

Exactly. Pistons up 2-1.

"G4TechTV" Channel Removed from TimeWarner

2004-06-10T20:00:00.000-04:00

It was a sad evening last night when I called my cable operator to find out that the network has been canned from my cable service. It turns out that G4 took over the TechTV channel, and TimeWarner doesn't have the rights to show "G4" content. I begged and I pleaded with them and all they could give me was 30 days of free HBO. I finally said okay, and flipped to HBO. They were showing PeeWee's Big Adventure... Just kill me now.

Kobe Ties the NBA Finals Series

2004-06-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

With an amazing 3-pointer, with just 10 seconds to go. Still, the Pistons were right in the game the whole night, and I guess they just didn't want to foul him. They were on the brink of finishing off the Lakers' entire season. No team has ever come back from a 0-2 start in their home court. Looks like it's going to be a classic series.

Worst BatMobile Ever.

2004-06-09T09:13:00.000-04:00

The New York Daily News features this picture of the next BatMobile, for the Bat-flick opening next summer.

I can't believe these designers. It's almost like they don't know what looks good to the general public.

"Someone's gonna have to get fired."

"Judgement Day" on G4TechTV.

2004-06-06T20:13:00.000-04:00

The only bad thing about just getting the TechTV channel is that I missed out on some of the original episodes of this great show. I just catch the re-runs while I can, but there's nothing like fresh gaming news. Basically the show plays like Roger and Ebert, where two guys with different tastes review the latest games. A lot of times they bicker back and forth, but this is actually good because it helps to give you a more comprehensive review. Check it out, if you're interested. I give it the "A-Okay" sign.

What miserable weather for a weekend.

2004-06-06T20:02:00.000-04:00

I thought it was June, and I'm sitting here in my apartment freezing. It rained on Saturday, and there's still a depressing cloudiness over the area today as well. I was going to grab some food at the supermarket, but I might be ordering some pizza instead. I hope all of you are doing well.

Cool Animated Graphic of the Day

2004-05-28T21:27:00.000-04:00

You gotta love animated stuff that actually looks cool. Here's a gif somebody posted on one of the message-boards that I check out. Matrix-style, baby!

"From the Director of Independence Day..."

2004-05-28T19:40:00.000-04:00

It's funny how they never say "from the director of Godzilla" when referring to Roland Emmerich, the director for The Day After Tomorrow. It's like the marketing department wants you to forget about that last film. ID4 on the other hand, was a classic. Yeah it was filled with cliche dialogue, and ridiculous plot holes (a Mac computer taps into the aliens' mothership?)...but it kicked major butt when it came to the action and effects. That's probably what Day After Tomorrow will be like too.

What Happened to the Updates?

2004-05-26T12:59:00.000-04:00

They're starting again. Man, was I afraid of this happening. So many people start out web sites, but then fail to update them after a while. Just been incredibly busy. Since I don't have much time this very instant, I'd figure I'd link a stunning nature photo that I found online. I'm getting into photography and all, but I can't take credit for this one. More to come.

"You Got Served" Out Now on DVD

2004-05-19T10:13:00.000-04:00

From the "destroy-your-credibility" department, I saw this film in the theatres a few months back, and actually enjoyed it. My wife and her sisters laughed a lot at some of the dumb scenes...but man, the music and dancing was bangin! I actually want to pick this one up, though I could really use a huge sound-system to do the film justice.

Shrek 2: As Good as the First?

2004-05-18T12:50:00.000-04:00

Well, that's what their saying over at Rotten Tomatoes. And I even saw a four-star rating on the cover of USA Today. The first one wore thin on me after two straight DVD viewings (everyone wanted to watch it on double-dates and get-togethers). But at the theatre it was pretty enjoyable. Might pick up the DVD set when they release parts three and four. Yes, they have been confirmed.

Troy Sucked.

2004-05-17T11:04:00.000-04:00

The heading says it all. It tried to be Gladiator and LOTR, but wasn't half as good as either. The effects sequences were derivative, and the plot was slow-moving. Maybe it would have been better with the gods in the story. There was one good fight sequence between the two main characters, but is that really worth a movie ticket? The next few weeks should be much better movie-wise.

Congratulations, Allison! Class of 2004.

2004-05-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

Today was a wonderful day for a graduation ceremony. This morning my sister-in-law, Allison, walked with the best of them at Adelphi University. It was getting pretty warm around 11:00, so the whole crowd (including myself) popped open their umbrellas, and relaxed under their self-made shades. Before then, we had been using our programs for some relief. To celebrate, we ate at this cool Argentinian restaurant where waiters brought meat selections to the table to cut a few slices. Man, I'm still full.

Moving to Queens Soon.

2004-05-14T14:44:00.000-04:00

Next Saturday will mark the first time I've ever lived outside of Manhattan while in New York. The new place is bigger, cheaper, quieter, cleaner. And it's still only 2 blocks away from the subway. I'm really looking forward to checking out the cool restaurants along Queens Boulevard. My wife and I finally decided to use a moving service, instead of bothering our friends. So I have to give them all a call and cancel the requests for help that I already made.

Blockbuster's Tyranny Has Ended

2004-05-14T10:01:00.000-04:00

I remember always having to take time out of my schedule, and go out of my way on the subway system, just to get to the nearest Blockbuster so that I can rent movies I really didn't want. (They took away their "guaranteed in stock" policy.) Then I get charged late fees because I didn't have it back by 12:00pm two days later. Enter NetFlix. No late charges, online ordering, and free shipping to your doorstep. Only thing is, you may not have the time to see all the movies you order. I still have three DVD's waiting to spin. Still, it works for me. No, I don't work for NetFlix.

Why Was This Site Created?

2004-05-14T08:42:00.000-04:00

Long story short, I'm not allowed to post anything I want on message boards that are operated by someone else. Through this medium I can update you guys on what's been going on. More importantly, this is a personal life diary. You'll also notice the green-on-black template used here. That's because I'm a huge Matrix fan. Check out my PC desktop below for more proof.

Will Troy Suck?

2004-05-13T11:16:00.000-04:00

Well, they say it cost around $200 million to make, but so far the consensus on Rotten Tomatoes is that it has clunky dialogue, and an overblown story, but huge action scenes that kind of make up for it. I'll be sure to post a review as soon as I watch it, maybe this weekend.

Night of Honeydips and Maximum Spiders

2004-05-13T10:39:00.000-04:00

Last night one of my best friends, Albert came over for some serious gaming sessions on the Playstation2. I cranked up the sound system, ordered some Papa John's and proceeded to get whupped on some street ball. This game is one of the best two-player games out there, with maximum potential for rim-rocking, alley-ooping trash-talk. We whooped and hollered and marveled... It's great when both people are at about the same skill-level. Then we popped in some Marvel vs Capcom 2 for extra measure.

A Sad Day In American Idol History

2004-05-12T22:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight on Fox, Latoya London, the best vocal talent on the hit show American Idol was cast aside by America. I can't say that I haven't done my best to support her. My wife and I combined our voting efforts for a total of 200 phone calls last night to the show, but America apparently can't recognize talent when it sees it. Or perhaps they just poured their votes into Jasmine Trias because they felt sorry after Simon lashed her out. Who knows. I am finished with watching this show, and wasting my time. Latoya, we love you and I can't wait to buy your album when it comes out!

E3 2004: One Great Show

2004-05-12T12:13:00.000-04:00

I've been to E3 back in 2002. Boy do I regret not being able to attend this year. Between the Halo 2 demos, newest Zelda shots (which came out of the blue), and the huge Sony PSP triumph, this E3 is turning out to be the best one ever. I'll post more thoughts once I've had a chance to catch my breath!

Nintendo GBA DS: Worse Design Ever?

2004-05-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

Wow, I really don't know what the folks at Nintendo are smoking. This new hardware looks so terrible, again showcasing why the PSP is infinitely cooler. I mean, it looks like they just slapped some plastic sides to a GBA SP.

Actual Screenshots of PSP Game: Metal Gear Solid Acid.

2004-05-12T10:23:00.000-04:00

Riding on those long commutes and flights is going to be pure joy. Here's proof of what the system is capable of. Gameboy who??? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Read about GT4:Mobile.

Sony's New Playstation Portable Photos: E3 2004

2004-05-12T09:56:00.000-04:00

Let's get this blog started in the best way possible. I''ve been waiting for this system ever since it's been announced. Basically, this is a system with the power of a Playstation2, only completely portable. There's more information at IGN's news story. Feast your eyes on these hardware pictures!!

Welcome Friends, To Zion City

2004-05-12T09:11:00.000-04:00

It all begins now...