Miguel Carrasco's Real World

Watch TV for Free - Part 4

If you want to watch TV and movies from your computer, this is the list for you.  I have divided the Free TV sites into two sections.  The first section lists sites that are large popular sites that are completely legal (minus Joox that seems to have every movie under the sun in streaming DivX quality!).  The second section lists Free TV sites that are in the grey area as they provide links to blockbuster movies, as well as television episodes, and other national network television.

Free TV and Movie Sites

Joox.net is pretty awesome!  All movies are sent via DivX and show fantastic.  Watch one of my favorite movies, AntiTrust!  Or how about taking a trip back in time to watch one of the movies that made Angelina Jolie famous, Hackers!  Or if you’re in the need for a laugh, why not watch Jackass 2!  Want to watch a movie that is still in theatres, then check out The Simpsons Movie!

 

Created using the award winning Azureus technology, VUZE is an amazing TV on the Internet application that delivers true HD and DVD Quality videos to your computer!  VUZE has recently also partnered with Showtime Networks, BBC Worldwide, Bennett Media Worldwide, G4, A&E Networks, National Geographic, and Starz Media.

http://www.vuze.com

 

Created by the same people that brought you Skype and Kazaa, Joost brings you the best of television, and delivers it over the Internet.  Joost has also included some social networking aspects to the application, allowing you to share your TV experiences with your friends. What you can watch: Comedy Central, MTV, CNN, Sony Pictures television, CBS, and National Geographic http://www.joost.com

 

Babelgum is a new way of conceiving television, a free on-demand TV over the Internet that lets you watch whatever you want, whenever you want as often as you want. Although Joost brings you existing television channels to the web, Babelgum brings you original content including independent and short films.

http://www.babelgum.com

 

Although the entire site is in Chinese, this is quite an impressive P2P Streaming Television Network.  It is extremely fast and responsive.  If you have a high speed broadband connection to the Internet, try this site out.  The software is easy to install, and the quality of video is quite impressive!

http://www.ppstream.com

 

Zattoo offers sports, news, and entertainment from around the world at great quality.  Zattoo lets you create a roaming profile that allows you to keep your preferences anywhere you can get on the Internet.  Zattoo has over 50 free TV channels, predominately focused around Europe.

http://zattoo.com

 

With VeohTV, watch video from thousands of web sites, in one easy-to-use full screen application. Watch streaming video from major television networks such as Fox and CBS, to independently-produced content available on sites such as YouTube, Google Video, Veoh.com and MySpace. Navigate with a keyboard and mouse or use a PC remote control. VeohTV is like a free DVR for web video. Watch video on-demand or record it to your hard drive to watch later.

http://www.veoh.com

Grey Area Television and Movies

While all the links above are relatively legal, the ones below have links to questionable content that actually provides television shows and movies that would be considered illegal in most books.

• TV Video
• WWITV
• TV Links
• Streamick
• Free Movies Cinema
• PeekVid
• ChannelChooser
• ShareTV.org
• Your TV Links
• Freetube
• My Easy TV

Of course one of the best ways you can watch TV on the Internet, like HBO, ESPN, and CNN is to download software that allows you to do this.    You can get Satellite TV for PC, Elite Edition here.  It’s by far the best software I have found, and will save you a lot of headaches.

There is also a program available at TV Show Downloads that lets you specify exactly what you want to download (Movies, TV, Music, Games, etc.) and download it extremely fast!  They even have filters that will ensure you do not get any spyware on your machine.  Instructional videos are also available here, which makes it VERY easy to use the software.  Check them out here.

10 Biggest Computer Flops of all time

Over the years, computers have changed the way we live!  In order to get us to where we are today, many software development and hardware companies have pushed the envelope to create what we use today.  Software development companies have evolved, Hardware has improved. Although we currently live in an age of amazing hardware and software achievements, these products did not come without a price.  Below is a list of some of the worst flops in computer history.

1. The Xerox Alto
   Developed in 1972 at Xerox's Palo Alto Research center, the Alto had a bitmap display, windows, drop-down menu bars, a mouse, built-in Ethernet and hard disk, keyboard, word processor and more in their software productivity suite, a paint application, and even e-mail.  Xerox was far too busy fighting the copier patent war, and was not interested.  Steve Jobs was, and in 1984, Apple introduced Apple Lisa, and the Apple Macintosh.  Although this was the most ingenious creation of the time, quite possibly responsible for the way we use computers today, it should be viewed also as a huge flop when Xerox did not capitalize on its innovation.
   
2. NeXT computer
   This seemed like a great idea at the time.  Steve Jobs resigned from Apple back in 1985 to start a new company called NeXT.  The NeXT computer would be the most affordable UNIX super computer of its time.  Running a Motorola 33-MHz 68030 processor, enclosed in a black case, there was no doubt this was the hottest and most powerful computer of its time.  However at $6,000 apiece, and with no software that would run on the machine, it was really a $6,000 brick.  Roughly 50,000 were ever produced.  The company had spent over $250 million producing them.  Although a huge disaster, this was also the computer that Tim Berners-Lee would later use to create the World Wide Web, and Steve Jobs would use as the core principles behind the new OS X.
   
3. IBM PCjr
   IBM was trying to build an affordable machine for the classroom and the masses.  Unfortunately, they ended up building an inferior non IBM-PC compatible machine with a ridiculously small keyboard that wouldn't run any software.  The costs was a few dollars less than some IBM-PC compatible clones, so it was pointless to buy one.  Another nice feature, the keyboard communicated with the computer via infrared beams.  This provided hours of enjoyment in the classroom screwing up other peoples computing.
   
4. Apple Newton
   Although produced for six years, it was never as successful as Apple had hoped.  The main reasons:  High price, Large size.  It's handwriting recognition was notoriously bad, a problem that was featured in the Doonesbury comic strip.  However, although the Newton product itself never made mass appeal, the technologies that were developed for the Newton are still used today and responsible for many huge success' for Apple (iPod, OS X) and started the PDA line of computer products.
   
5. Apple 3
   Released in 1980, the Apple 3 became one of the worst computers ever built and most expensive.  It was designed for the high end business market, but at a cost of $7,800, even businesses had trouble justifying the cost.  To make matters worse, the computer was made far too cramped with parts to make it smaller.  When it became too hot inside the computer (Engineers opted to not use a fan), chips would start popping out of the boards!  In order to correct the issue, Apple tech support could be heard saying "please lift up your Apple 3 about 10 centimeters off the desk, and drop it."  this would put the chips back in the slots sometimes.
   
6. Apple Lisa
   How much to get into an amazing Apple Lisa?  $10,000 dollars.  Announced in 1983, this was a complete disaster for Apple.  Hardly any were ever sold.  How many were produced?  100,000.  The machine itself was far from powerful, and Apple users simply preferred the Macintosh.  The development costs aren't to be found.
   
   
7. Microsoft Windows ME
   Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition was touted as the first operating system to support Universal Plug and Play.  Unfortunately, this operating systems was quite possibly less compatible with hardware, than its predecessor, Windows 98.  It was also notoriously difficult to re-install, which was terrible since this operating system needed to be re-installed almost weekly.  This was one of the worst software development projects of all time for Microsoft. Hardcore users claimed that Windows ME was more stable than 98, or 98SE, and the instabilities came from users installing bad drivers that were not approved and certified.  Nevertheless, most users of Windows were beginners, and thus the perception that Windows ME actually stood for "Microsoft Experiment", "Moron Edition", "Mistake Edition", and "Memory Eater".
   
8. Microsoft Bob
   Another Software development disaster. This one is great.  In 1995 Microsoft released a software package and interface that was aimed at replacing the Windows desktop with one aimed at novice computer users.  The interface featured a big yellow smiley face with glasses and virtual rooms.  Complete disaster!  Far too simple, not powerful enough, overpriced, and all and all, ridiculous.  This software development project was run by Bill's wife by the way!It was replaced that same year by Windows 95.
   
9. IBM OS/2
   In the 1990's after feeling "Had" by Microsoft, IBM decided they could trounce Microsoft and come up with their own operating system.  A great idea gone bad by marketing,  the idea became to market OS/2 and the PowerPC Chip together.  Had IBM pushed OS/2, and later OS/2 Warp as an operating system alternative to Windows, the computing landscape might have been different today.  Instead, by the latter half of the 1990's, Windows 95 and 98 had obliterated OS/2.
   
10. Gary Kildall's CP/M
    Grab a cup of coffee for the biggest mistake, and largest computing stroke of luck that created Microsoft, and one of the wealthiest fortunes the planet has ever seen.  This one created the software industry as we know it! In 1980, IBM finally realized they needed to put a home computer out on the market extremely fast.  However they could not find the time to wait around to build their own operating system.  They wanted to buy one, and the best one at the time, Gary Kildall's CP/M operating system.  Where was Gary Kildall on this fateful day that the IBM suits came knocking?  Out of office flying a private plane.  IBM went back to the office's and looked up Microsoft, which they thought had a broad license to sell CP/M.  Microsoft came in and negotiated a per licenses model to sell the operating system at 50 dollars per machine.  Bill Gates had created the Software Licensing Industry! 
    
    Microsoft did not have such an operating system themselves, nor did they have a license to sell CP/M.  In fact, Gary Kildall's Digital Research didn't have CP/M ready to run on the 16-bit computers IBM would manufacture.  Tim Patterson did at the Seattle Computer Company, which Microsoft bought for $50,000.  Had Gary Kildall been at the office, Microsoft and Bill Gates might have been eating macaroni and cheese, and the Digital Research operating system would be running on all of our computers. Gary Kildall died in July 1994 at the age of 52.  The computer media mainly ignored his passing.

What do all of these stories have in common?  Yes they were all mistakes (at the time), but almost all of them paved the way for some of the largest success's in computing history.  Sometimes for the same company, sometimes for other companies.  The lesson here is persistence, determination, and perseverance.

If you would like to read other software development disasters, specifically Microsoft software mistakes, make sure you read Ten Biggest Microsoft Flops of All Time!

Top 10 Funniest Videos on the Internet

In the Real World, you don't have time to search through the Internet to find some of the funny videos your friends have been telling you about for years.  YouTube has millions of videos online now that are absolutely hilarious.  Let me take you on a guided tour of some of the funniest videos you will ever see!  And please submit your comments at the end of the video as I'd like to post the viewers choice top 10 in the next few days!

1. Star Wars Kid
   The star wars kid burst onto the scene in 2002.  This kid picked up a golf ball retriever and decided he would make a video pretending to be Darth Maul. Ghyslain Raza was an instant hit when some of his "friends" decided to take his video and place it on the Internet.
   
   
2. The Evolution of Dance
   Inspirational Comedian Judson Laipply is a riot.  This video is amazing! Here is a complete list of all the songs used:
   hounddog(elvis),the twist(chubby checker),stayin' alive(beegees),ymca(village people),kung foo fighting(busstop),keep on(brady bunch),grease lightning(john travolta),you shook me all night long(ac/dc),billie jean(michael jackson),thriller(michael jackson),oompa loompa song(willie wonka soundtrack),mr roboto(styx)
   
   
3. The Lion Sleeps Tonight
   This is a great Karaoke song!  Don't ask, but do laugh your pants off.
   
4. I want it that way
   This video was a smash hit on the internet a few months ago.  Make sure you wait for the guy in the background to turn around.
   
5. Chuck Norris' Top 10
   Chuck Norris watched The Ring tape.  Seven days later, he received a call.
   "Seeeeeeeven dayysssss!"
   "Chuck Norris speaking"
   "Whoops, my bad. Wrong Number."
   
6. Volkswagen: Un-pimp Your Ride 2
   After the smashing success of Pimp Your Ride, Volkswagen came out with "Un-pimp Your Ride" and was an instant smash hit all over the internet and on T.V.
   
   
7. Britney Spears acting very strange or stoned
   Ummm... something is very wrong with Britney Spears.
   
   
8. The Monkey Sniff
   This poor monkey decided to go where no monkey had gone before... and realized why.
   
   
9. Sweet Tired Cat
   Do you ever dose off?  Get a little sleepy and have your head wobble and jerk back when you realize your falling asleep.
   
   
10. Unbelievable Impressions
    And finally I leave you with the funniest Impressions you will find on the Internet.  "One Man...".
    

Don't forget to submit your favorites in our comments as I will be bringing you the peoples choice of videos in the next few days!

Apple Crash Top 10 Images

Some people were asking if I would do a piece on Apple crashes finish up the Top 10 Crashes lists.  Yes Apple products (Macintosh, iPod, OS X) crash just like Microsoft Windows, and Linux. Apple has made some fabulous products throughout the years, however, with each piece of software and hardware, always comes crashes, even the apple store with all the positive apple goodness ora can't escape! Just so everyone is clear, I have been completely fair and done an article on Microsoft BSoD first, then Linux, and now finally Apple!

Check out these images:

1. The screen reads "The computer has rebooted after Mac OS X quit unexpectedly".
    
   
2. iPod in trouble!  But never fear!  They have a web site!
   
   
3. Poor Macintosh dies hard after a corrupted memory stack.
   
   
4. The famous Macintosh System 7 "Bomb" or "Bombed".  System 7.5.5 was quiet possibly the worst Apple OS ever.
   
   
5. Now that Macintosh machines can run Windows, they get the benefit of the BSoD!
   
   
6. Steve hasn't had the best luck doing presentations for a while, although it never seems to get as much press as when Bill Gates has problems. Watch the video here.
    
   
7. The classic "Sad Mac".  This is actually quiet possibly the worst error between the Linux Kernel dump, and the Windows BSoD.  Getting this screen means you're having major hardware or software issues that is preventing the machine from turning on.  Time to call a Mac guru.
   
   
8. iBook has crashed hard here.  Probably a hardware issue.
   
   
9. Macintosh destruction on a G4.  If you have one of these, be careful with the hinges, they break all the time like pencils.  They also had heat issues and memory issues.  Ahh well.
   
   
10. Installing Windows makes a mac crash using Parallels.. awesome lol.
     

Bonus Videos

1.   A classic video "Crash Different" absolutely hilarious! You have to watch this!
   

Linux Crash Top 10 Images

I got a plenty of e-mails from microsofties pleading that I was to harsh on Windows, and should think about doing a top 10 Linux Crash post.  The reality is yes Linux can crash, although it tends to be harder to do as you tend to know exactly what you're doing when you install Linux.  Which is why this list is hilarious.  Some of the top 10 includes planes, and trains.  It was funny to see that most of the pictures are of airplanes. 

So next time your flying on your favorite airline, don't worry when you see Linux crash and reboot before your eyes.  It seems to be a common occurrence.  I have to say however, Linux has a million and one ways to "crash", and a lot of times it will just reboot, stop responding, stop working, and force you to reboot.  Therefore I am counting reboots that have to be done because the system is unusable as a crash.  At least Microsoft standardized most crashed requiring a reboot on the ugliest blue and white screen ever and called it the BSoD. lol.

 

1. A typical users computer that runs Linux.  Linux has definitely crashed here.
   
   
   
2. Linux crashes in an airliner.   This is great.  Windows I'm used to seeing crash, but Linux... Not a good sign. This was taken on an Air Algerie Airbus A330
   
   
   
3. More detailed close up of a Linux crash.
   
   
   
4. Turns out that a LOT of airplanes you fly these days use Linux! 
   
   
   
5. Linux Crash on a train running Centro's TV software
   
   
   
6. Another Linux crash on an airplane.  I love the retro carpet on seats lol.
     
   
7. A smart phone goes down hard with a Linux Kernel Panic.
   
   
   
8. Linux crash on a subway!
   
   
   
9. Nintendo DS Runs Linux!  This person must have been fooling around with a third party tool like EZ-Client.
     
   
   
10. Tim Horton's uses Linux!  I bet they were told it would never crash like Windows!  I'll have a large double double please! Thanks Colin for taking the picture! Check out his flickr image here.
    

 

Bonus Images

1. This guys is awesome.  If anyone knows where I can buy this shirt let me know!
   
    
2. A Linux Kernel Panic during a presentation at a Linux Rally Event!
   

 

Updated:  I wont delete the comments from the Linux posters (by the way I have 4 machines running SUSE Linux myself) as I find it hilarious how some people ruin it for everyone.  This is called "satire humor" people. Of course none of these are BSoD as there is not such thing in Linux.  However, if you get some bad hardware plugged into Linux, or put the average Joe that uses Windows in front of a Linux machine, the amount of hanging, crashes, kernel panics you will get will BLOW YOUR MIND.  All of these screens below do shoe rebooting in situations where a reboot should not have happened, aka, in a plane with hundreds of passengers seeing "engine" in the boot sequence.  End users don't know the difference. 

The entire purpose of this blog is "Real World" and in the "Real World" all of things above are crashes to people.  I can explain each one, but I won't as that is not the point.  The Linux users our there should just laugh and admit that the two operating systems are different, and applicable in different scenarios.  Some people are better at Basketball, some people are better at computers.  Some people are Olympic Gold Medallists in Hockey, but that same person might not even be able to swim.  Does that make one person better than the other? no.  Just different.  Will both people fail, and hopefully get back up after a failure?  Of course!  Nobody is invincible!  And no piece of software is "perfect".  There is room for both people in the world, as there is room for two different operating systems.   However I do feel that this "elitist" attitude is definitely hurting the adoption of Linux, instead of helping.  It's to bad really.

Blue Screen of Death Top 10

The now infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) has been around since Windows 3.1.  However, by chance, this screen made an appearance back in Windows 1.0!  Have we finally discovered the original origins of this beast!  There are many causes for this error: Bad DLL's, incorrect device drivers, bad memory, damaged registry, etc.  This error has become less predominant in later years. Receiving such an error now, is much more serious than it used to be in the Windows 3.1/95/98 days.  Below are some of the Top 10 Blue Screen of Death images!  Some of these might be fake images, unless I was to take them myself how could I be sure obviously.  Enjoy! 

1. Blue screen of death on a subway car.
   
   
2. Blue Screen of Death in New York City
   
   
3. With the introduction of the x86 processor to Mac, Blue Screen of Death has finally come to Macintosh!
   
4. Blue screen of Death at an airport.
    
   
5. Fidelity gets a visit from the Blue Screen of Death.
   
   
6. I hate seeing the Blue Screen of Death in airports.
   
   
7. World Famous Windows 98 Blue Screen of Death. This one occurred back at COMDEX, April 20th, 1998.  "So I'm just going to go ahead and plug in the new device.  You'll notice that this scanner... Wow!.. Moving right along..."  "That must be why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet."
   
   
8. Not only are Macintosh laptops getting this great Blue Screen of Death upgrade!
   
   
9. Even your public phone and Internet portal systems receive visits from the Blue Screen of Death.
   
    
10. Finally.. The Original Blue Screen of Death in Windows 1.0! Although this is not the true "Blue Screen of Death", it is funny to see this happened even back in the day!  The origins of the blue screen....
    
    
    

 

Bonus Blue Screen of Death Images

1. New York City, Corner of 42nd street and 8th avenue
   

Bonus Tips and Tricks

1. Did you know typing into Internet Explorer Version 4 through 7 "about:mozilla" in the address bar would cause a BSoD (well, humor me here, its just a blue screen, but still funny). 
2. If the above doesn't work, you are running Windows XP SP2, so type: "res://mshtml.dll/about.moz" and you will get it!