Network Manager by Day, Blogger by Night.
Archive for January, 2012
In Those Eyes by Girl Monday
Jan 18th
Lydia Holder Andal better know as Manchester based Producer and Electronic Musician “Girl Monday” who is a three-times nominated semi-finalist in the UK Songwriting Competition (Which attracts over 6000 entries worldwide annually has now put her electronic production and songwriting skills together for her first promotional taster single which was self-recorded, performed and mixed before being mastered by Andy Mitchell a US Based 2010 Grammy-nominated Mastering Engineer.
The debut single “In Those Eyes” which is said to be electronic music with a bit of soul recently got its first Radio Play via Steve Jones at Something Global (An international dance specialist show) on the 2nd of December 2011. Steve opened his show with the track and described it as “A belter, the greatest summer tune you will ever hear launched in the winter”.
Girl Monday says she is “very excited to be getting some music out there after working on this for so long. I wanted to create a really distinctive vocal and melodic sound that makes people sit up and take notice and I think I’ve achieved that with In Those Eyes”.
Girl Monday “In Those Eyes” will be released on the 30th January 2012 on iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers on Red Riot Records Limited – A brand new and 100% independent label started up by none other then Girl Monday herself.
You hear playing “In Those Eyes” by Girl Monday by clicking the play button below:
In Those Eyes by GirlMondayMusic
To read more about her go to: http://www.girlmondaymusic.com/



The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
Jan 18th
I’m sure by now most of you know what SOPA and PIPA is? If not I urge you to read up on it!
Today the 18th of January 2012 for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC it has been a web blackout in which various sites, including high-profile sites such as Wikipedia and Minecraft.net have be down/blacked out in opposition of SOPA.
But are you supporting or opposing SOPA? Or do you not really care? Or don’t understand what it’s all about? Please discuss everything you think about it… should SOPA be stopped?
I asked the same questions to my minecraft server players and here’s some of their responses:
Madrad:
As I have thought since I found out not only about SOPA but also PIPA (Protect Interlectual Property Act) I have thought that they could potentially destory everything everyone loves about the internet.
It has been said the internet is already censored in countries like china but the problem these acts bring, not only to their native USA but also to the world in general (as they will cause presidence), it will take the decision of what someone owns from the correct hands of the authorities and the judicial system, and it will place it into the hands of corperations who have already proven to abuse the systems that are currently out there.
A case and point is Megaupload. Universal (UMG?) decided that Megaupload was enableing too much piracy (a term which I already have a problem with) and had it taken down. This caused an uproar among the fans of Megaupload who use it for legal things so they made an original song. This song had original lyrics and music and also endorsed and stared many recording artists (all of whom signed saying that their clips/names could be used). This video was posted to Youtube but then UMG seeing this had it taken down. The trouble is that it did not infringe any copyright but it turns out that UMG does not actually need a valid reason to take down someones video on Youtube. This was then taken to court.
The trouble is that people need to remember that it is not only SOPA that needs to be stoped but people also need to concider PIPA and the effects of that law. I am not saying that something needs to be done about online piracy (again a word I hate) but the decision on what should be taken down should not be in the hands of corperations and compaines. Due process is essential
ElseJon:
I do care, but with any laws concerning copyright or internet are too complicated and obscure and need to be rewriten
Grindboy:
Vehemently against it. It is a stupid law written by people who have no understanding of the way the underlying infrastructure of the internet works. Blocking sites at a DNS level isn’t effective anyway since these sites can still be visited by knowing the public IP of their server and there are already services such as TOR (The Onion Router) which offer alternative DNS lookups.
It will do nothing to combat online piracy and a lot to damage the “free speech” that the US holds so dear. As a UK citizen you’d think that we shouldn’t worry about US laws however if this law gets through then it will set a worrying precedent for the rest of the world. The US has already threatened Spain (successfully) into adopting its own SOPA style law.
Also commenting on Robs point, piracy is such a stupid term for it, in order to pirate something you need to steal it and it is impossible to steal something, like a file, which is infinitely copyable without any degradation. It’s like saying that when you do one of those brass rubbings at tourist hotspots you are stealing the brass plate. Patently stupid (pun intended!)
Links for more info below:
Top 10 Search Keyphrases for December 2011
Jan 18th
5184 different keyphrases were used to find my site in December 2011, here are the top 10 with the amount of times they were used plus their overall usage percentage. As you can see my “Minecraft” posts as always are playing a key part in driving traffic to this site. If you fancy checking out my minecraft server YAMS short for “Yet Another Minecraft Server” you can signup at the forums here (http://www.darrenstraight.com/minecraft) and get yourself whitelisted, we are an ever-increasing Minecraft Community and we are certainly proud of being a family friendly Minecraft server.
| 5184 different keyphrases | Search | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| minecraft | 480 | 3.8 % |
| mario | 419 | 3.3 % |
| desperate dan | 294 | 2.3 % |
| there was an error opening this document. access denied | 225 | 1.8 % |
| super mario | 194 | 1.5 % |
| minecraft demo download | 189 | 1.5 % |
| excel 2010 easter egg | 122 | 0.9 % |
| easter egg excel 2010 | 115 | 0.9 % |
| yams minecraft | 114 | 0.9 % |
| timeline | 91 | 0.7 % |
| Other phrases | 10178 | 81.9 % |
Minecraft 1.1.0 Update Released
Jan 12th
- Bow Enchantments
- Golden Apple recipe
- New language translations.
- Slightly smoothed color transitions between biomes
- Reduced brewing time to 20 seconds
- Added spawn eggs to creative (the colors of the eggs even look like the mobs)
- Added world type options (currently only super-flat and default)
- Removed collision box from ladders
- Sheep eat grass and regain their wool
- Plus many bug fixes!
Want to see Minecraft 1.1 in action. Check out this video by the talented H.A.T. Films guys!
CyberLink Launches Public Beta of PhotoDirector 3
Jan 4th
CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW) today unveiled a new public beta program of its industry-leading photo workflow software, PhotoDirector 3. PhotoDirector 3 Beta can be downloaded for free and includes a wide array of new and improved features, including a complete set of new editing tools such as the Wrinkle Remover, Tooth Brush, Skin Smoother and Object Removal.
In June 2011, CyberLink launched the first PhotoDirector public beta program and received feedback from more than 125,000 photographers who participated and inspired a wealth of new improvements and additions for PhotoDirector 3 Beta. With the PhotoDirector 3 public beta program, participants can enjoy exciting new features including a deep set of editing tools that allow users to magically remove objects and people from images and reduce lens defects like geometric distortion. Users can also improve portraits by whitening teeth, removing wrinkles, and smoothing skin and personalizing images by adding watermarks, among a number of other enhancement features.
All consumers and photographers that participate in the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program, and complete a survey or report a bug will receive MediaShow 5 (UK £29.99), CyberLink’s media management and slideshow tool, for free, and will have a chance to win a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera. Additionally, users who submit a testimonial describing their experience with PhotoDirector 3 Beta will have a chance to win a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera, PowerDirector 10 and the full version of the official release of PhotoDirector 3 when it’s available in early 2012.
“The input we receive in the public beta process is invaluable and weighs heavily into the features we build into our award-winning products,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “We have been impressed with the creative feedback and passion that our customers have provided in the past and are confident that the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program will be very successful. We look forward to hearing feedback and testimonials from the program participants.”
To download PhotoDirector 3 Beta, or for more information regarding the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program, please visit www.cyberlink.com/event/phd3beta.
Bayan 7: Power & Purity for Ears
Jan 4th
Bayan Audio has unveild its premier iPod/iPhone dock with a world-first twin amplifier set-up driving a monster 120W of sound power.
The unique and contemporary Bayan 7 speaker dock for iPod and iPhone delivers balanced, pure acoustics across an impressively wide frequency spectrum1. Effectively squeezing the best out of any audio source it blasts music to a new dimension with superior definition, depth and zero distortion even at high volume.
Beautifully designed in the UK, the Bayan 7 is built from an efficient combination of quality, organic materials and sound-enhancing components which result in a truly natural soundstage.
The Bayan 7 demonstrably outperforms far more expensive speaker docks2, with a near-flat frequency range allowing even untrained ears to pick out subtle notes they never knew existed in those all-time favourite tunes.
Key Features
- 120W sound power output through twin amplifiers
- Dual iPod/ iPhone docking points
- Five way 2.1 channel stereo speaker configuration
- Wide frequency response gets the best from your audio source
- 8” subwoofer for pure deep rich bass
- 12mm solid wood casing for strength and acoustic efficiency
- Natural and realistic soundstage
- Apple certified with support for iPod, iPhone and iPad
- 3.5mm jack to connect other audio sources
- Charge and play functionality (USB at rear for iPad)
- Voice Mode option for audiobooks & podcasts
- IR Remote controller
Whether you’re into heavy rock, pop or opera, the choice of speaker can make or break the track. Using a designer combination of high-tech 120W twin amplifier technology and a five-way 2.1 channel speaker configuration with 8” rumbling subwoofer, 2” mid-range and 1” tweeters the Bayan 7 delivers a winning combination of a near-perfect frequency range, natural sound and loud yet defined audio.
What’s more, certified Apple compatibility with Charge & Play functionality offers total peace of mind that your Apple iPhone, iPod or tablet will keep on going for hours of listening pleasure.
Wide sound with twin amplifiers and 5-way speaker set-up:
Amplifier Quality and Configuration: Twin amplifiers have been carefully engineered to channel complex and broad spectrum sound, delivering a party-pleasing 120W power performance with depth, definition and zero distortion. One amplifier drives four mid/ high-range speakers whilst the second is dedicated to bass output, and both have been built with the highest quality components for the perfect breadth of rich sound. Such premium amplifier technology is usually only seen in products costing upwards of £500 but is integrated into the Bayan 7 and other single-amp products in the Bayan range, ensuring that you can enjoy wide-frequency natural sound reproduction that is noticeably superior to other products with a comparable or even higher price tag.
Five-Way Speaker Combination: A five-way 2.1 channel stereo speaker configuration is comprised of an 8” bass speaker for weighty deep notes, two 2” long throw mid-range drivers (which oscillate over a greater distance to provide increased output) and two 1” wide projection tweeters for tight sharp high-notes (each of which has been framed in metal, not plastic). This powerful combination makes the Bayan 7 delicately tuned to offer superb balance and an authentic soundstage, bringing each note alive and creating a realistic representation of where instruments would be on-stage for a live sense of presence in the room.
Twin Charge and Play ports for hours of listening:
Twin Ports: The Bayan 7 features twin ports on the front for docking two Apple iPod or iPhone devices at once, and allow simultaneous charging of both. What’s more, family members can switch between songs across both devices without swapping docks or files, so everyone’s music taste can be catered for without compromise.
Charge and Play: In the fast-paced world of today, battery life will be a concern of the past, with handy Charge & Play supported by the Bayan 7. This time-saving feature works not only with the two iPod/ iPhone ports at the front of the device, but also for any iPad/ tablet connected via the rear 3.5mm/ USBA port too. You can drift away for hours, with the safe knowledge that when you head out the door, the phone or tablet will be fully charged and ready to go.
Natural acoustic-boosting materials and construction quality:
Speaker Housing: Unlike flexing plastic, the rigid 12mm solid wood casing offers not just a design edge, but helps to reduce energy dissipation from the speaker (ensuring it is delivered as sound rather than vibration within the enclosure to produce a far more lucid output) and improves the overall efficiency of the speaker drivers to deliver a wider response.
Speaker Quality: The Bayan 7’s quality is driven from the roots; fundamental to this is the use of high grade speaker drivers and materials instead of lower cost components that require digitally-enhancing software. Bayan use cast steel speaker frames that enable the drivers to oscillate far more efficiently and ensure minimal energy dissipation, allowing the speakers to produce the widest range of sound that they are designed for with minimum loss.
This intelligent mix of natural and technical components delivers absorbingly pure audio with a near-flat frequency response. The result is a natural, broad soundstage and refreshing when compared to systems using alternative technologies that result in a synthesised sound, which can prove tiring on the ears.
Control your music with IR remote and music profiles:
Alongside an acoustic experience which delivers your favourite feel-good tracks with full force and emotion, the Bayan also provides a flexible and easy-to-control way to manage your song choices.
IR Remote: All Bayan products bundle a IR remote control as standard, which offers full control from the comfort of your favourite listening spot, including track control (play, pause, skip), volume control and mute, adjustment for bass/ treble and the option to put the unit into standby mode simply by lifting a finger.
Voice mode: The Bayan 7 allows you to switch from Music to Voice mode, an intelligent option which delivers perfect clarity and more pronounced voice whilst listening to audiobooks, podcasts or radio. The power indicator on the top of the unit will change colour to ensure it is always clear which setting has been selected.
Environmentally-friendly materials add green luxury:
Colour: Available in slick black or brilliant white and housed within stunning solid wood, the Bayan 7 promises a contemporary touch for any room inside the home.
Materials: Each product in the Bayan range has been designed not just for keen ears, but with the environment in mind too. Eco-friendly materials are used where possible for internal components (all lead-free), so the Bayan range uses much less plastic than many competitors. This green approach runs through every aspect right down to the product packaging, which has been constructed from recyclable card. Even traditional polythene has been replaced by recycled cloth bags for a hint of green luxury.
Apple certified with support for a host of audio devices:
Bayan is an Apple licensed partner, and all systems used to connect Apple devices use authentic Apple parts including certain control components, and the finished product has been tested and certified to Apple standards.
What’s more, the Bayan 7 has been approved with Apple’s stringent TDMA Noise Rejection tests, promising stable listening which won’t be interrupted by any irritating buzzing caused by interference from mobile phones and other radio transmitters when in use.
The Bayan 7 is thoughtfully designed to be compatible with a whole host of audio devices, including:
Docking through each of the two front connections:
- Apple iPod
- Apple iPhone
Connection via USBA/3.5mm socket tucked neatly away to the rear:
- Apple iPad
- Tablet computers
- Smartphones
- MP3/MP4 players
- Laptops/PC/Netbooks
- *CD/DVD Players
This well-known seal of approval and extensive compatibility with a range of devices means you can rest assured and take maximum confidence in the quality and reliability of the versatile Bayan range.
Pricing and Availability:
The Bayan 7 is £299 inc VAT RRP, and is available from www.bayanaudio.com.

Happy New Year everyone for 2012
Jan 1st



