Teenagers of High School

asdfmovie7!

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 22:51:00 +0000

For those of you who do not know TomSka, he his a comedian on YouTube and he like to make videos that feature action, sketch comedy, and cartoons. His most popular cartoon (series) is asdfmovie and the last we saw of it was asdfmovie6 which came out 8 months ago. But yesterday TomSka finally released the long-awaited asdfmovie 7.

Personally my favorite sketch was the one with the suicidal muffin.

What People Do On Cell Phones To Pass Their Time? [Infographic]

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 03:36:00 +0000

We've teamed up with Coupon Audit to produce an infographic about cell phones. Enjoy. And remember, you can share this infographic on your blog (even Tumblr) using the HTML code at the bottom of this post.

This Infographic is produced by Coupon Audit (provides Toms promo code) and Teenagers of High School.

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Google Glass Review !

noreply@blogger.com (Bradley Ubiera) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 07:38:00 +0000

Hey guys, sorry Ive beeb gone for so long, but I have just been very busy lately. No need to fear, Bradley is here with some more tech news for you. This time Im here with a review of Google Glass the explorer edition. I was able to get my hands on one.

I'd expected a lot more from Google Glass. The hype around this wearable device – a pair of glasses which incorporate a little screen in the top right of your right eye's field of vision – has been colossal since the release of the first teaser video in April 2012.

Glasses that let you see a map without using your smartphone! Hands-free Googling! Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder who had been spotted wearing them in a carefully careless manner on the New York subway, suggested that using a smartphone was "emasculating", and the company sold around 10,000 to "explorers" who are, right now, its guinea pigs. It's the future – or is it?

I'd thought so, until I had a tryout with a pair. My reaction? They're great for particular uses, but you're going to struggle to find a use for them all the time. They're not going to replace looking at your smartphone any time soon. Emasculation may be here to stay, Mr Brin.

I'm a fan of wearable computing. I own a Pebble watch, and love it. If someone calls or texts my smartphone, the number and/or the message pops up, with no need to take the phone out of my pocket. I've tried ski goggles which displayed my speed and altitude, as well as a map of the ski resort showing runs and lifts.

So I was expecting a lot from Google Glass. Perhaps too much.

The device, lent to me by one of the explorers (whom I won't name, as Google has been known to disable devices), is pleasantly light. You can wear it without lenses, so you just have the frame, and a little lens above your eye. It doesn't feel strange, though of course weirdness is in the eye of the beholder. And I wear that Pebble, so don't ask me for style tips. The frame is made of titanium, which you can happily bend to fit your face without breaking.

Getting Started:

You turn Glass on by tilting your head up, or tapping the side of the frame. This activates the tiny screen. It then just shows the time, and the phrase "OK Glass", which seems to float about six inches in front of the right of your face.

Say "OK Glass", or tap the side again, and you get a menu – options such as "Google … ", "take a picture", "record a video", "get directions to … ", "send a message to … ", "make a call to … ", "hang out with … " – the latter being a shared video feed. All require a smartphone connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to function. Otherwise Glass is just a fancy low-res camera.

The menu is too long to fit onto the screen, so you have to learn to tilt your head up or down to see the others (though after time you'd remember them).

You then say aloud what you want: "Get directions to King's Cross", or "Google 'how high is the Empire State Building'". The voice recognition is accurate, though it misfired a few times on the Empire State Building, which we tried a few times for our film. The results are read back to you by a microphone just beside your ear using bone conduction, so it's almost inaudible to outsiders.

Of course, you won't have been inaudible. By this stage you've already given your instructions to the crowded train carriage. You're also wearing something that makes you look like something from Star Trek's Borg, with no lenses. Normal people don't do this. If you were worried about what people think of you using this technology, you might not have left the house.

Taking pictures and videos is easy. You don't even have to say: "OK Glass, take a picture". You can just press a button on the top of the sidepiece, or hold it down for video. There's no warning to anyone around you that you're doing so, no red light, no audible click. That seems like a potential privacy concern, and very different from the situation that has pertained ever since mobile phones became camera phones.

The best use for Glass, said the explorer who lent it to me, is for maps. You don't have to pull your smartphone out of your pocket when you're walking around somewhere unfamiliar. All you do is ask for directions, and it updates the display.

OK Glass, that's great. But is it worth the estimated $500 (£330) to $1,000 cost? It's hard to see, especially considering the nitty-gritty of trying to make the device work nicely with a smartphone, which consumed about half an hour of our time as we tried to join Wi-Fi networks (it can't join password-protected ones) and link over Bluetooth (it kept dropping the connection).

Final Thoughts:

Since this is just basically a dummy model, a beta you could say, I cant give a final rating. For now I think that Google should take a lot of time to focus on Glass, because right now I dont find it as interesting as I had hoped. PEACE !

Guest Post: How To Become The Next Adele

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 02:21:00 +0000

Singing sensations like Adele are an inspiration to performers and wannabes around the world. At just 25 years of age, she has Grammy awards and features in the Guinness World Records for a variety of achievements. Her success is what motivates people to get into the industry and become professional singers. Success didn't just land on the doorstep of Adele though, or countless other singers before her. So how did she do it and how can you strive for the same level of achievement?

Know What You Want

Adele is not just a singer, but a songwriter, musician, composer and arranger. Her huge list of talents has helped her along the way to become the superstar she is today, but you don't have to do all of these things together. Singing and songwriting often go hand-in-hand but it's not the end of the world if you don't like composing, or playing musical instruments doesn't come naturally to you. Figure out what it is that you want to do and focus on that. Don't feel that you need to learn to play half the instruments in an orchestra just to make it as a musical performer. If you have a talent for the piano and want to pursue it as well as having the voice of an angel, then combine the two. Just don't feel like you've already limited yourself if you don't want to be a musician.

Commit Yourself

Once you've decided what you want to do, you need to make a commitment to it. If you want to make it as a singer, you can't use it as a part-time activity; it has to become a priority. Take singing lessons and practice every single day. Work on the points that are weaker and rest your voice when you need to. Obviously you have to keep practicing, but if you are struggling with a throat infection, it's best to rest your vocal chords as much as possible. If you try to work through it, you may cause permanent damage to your voice. Join after-school club choirs and singing groups that allow you to work with other singers and perfect your voice.

Be Confident

It can be quite common for singers to suffer from stage fright and a lack of confidence in their performances. This can adversely affect your voice so if you are shy, make a conscious effort to overcome this. Consider enrolling into a stage school, which will allow you to be around other performers and work on your confidence. Sing in front of people whenever you have the opportunity, even if it's just family and friends. The more you do this, the greater chance there is of improving your confidence. Enter local and school talent shows to get used to performing to bigger crowds and make a conscious decision not to let your fear of performing affect you. Adele has been said to suffer from severe stage fright so imagine what it would be like if she let it overcome her. When you consider the confidence and strength behind her performances, it may help you to maintain your own composure on the stage.

About the Author

Twinkle toes blogger and journalist Lauren Sutton is a former child performer herself, having had dancing lessons at young age. She writes this post for Stagecoach UK, a leading school for young performers. Find out more about Stagecoach on Facebook and Twitter (@Stagecoach_GBR).

Meme of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 15:30:00 +0000

8 TPS Games That You Need to Play Before The Next Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:03:00 +0000

We all love First Person Shooter games but nothing beats a TPS game. However as we now approach the next generation of gaming, you may want to play a few good games with your Xbox 360s and PS3s just to relive all the joy they brought you. So here are 8 TPS games that you need to play before the next generation officially arrives.

1. Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is actually a game that came out in the "previous generation of gaming" and it originally was only released on the Nintendo GameCube. However, it's was such a huge success that it was later released on PS2, Wii, iOS, and PC. The game was soon remastered in HD for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2011.

It was a very scary survival horror game for its time! One might say that it is the best survival horror game ever made. Instead of recycling a formula that Capcom itself conceded was growing tired, the development team tried to create a strikingly new Resident Evil experience. So they got rid of the zombies and sent the player on an epic adventure to save the President's kidnapped daughter. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is that you are trying to figure out what the things that are neither zombies nor humans are. This is one game you should play again before the PS4 and the Xbox One comes out.

2. Star Wars: Battlefront II

Unfortunately, you can only play this game on PSP, (the original) Xbox, and PS2. However, there is a PC version that you can still play. EA just teased a reboot of the Battlefront series during E3 2013 that will most likely be released on next-gen consoles since the teaser trailer was showing off the Frostbite 3 engine. But, there is a reason to be worried because EA has a special partnership with Microsoft that just might lead to this game being released for Xbox One and PC only.

Battlefront II has a fun and (often) chaotic multiplayer. The Galactic Conquest Mode is a blast to play and was completely revamped. The game even allows you to play as the bad guys. You can shoot Rebel scum as a Stormtrooper or play as the powerful Sith, Darth Vader, and choke those who dare defy your power.

3. Gears of War

You would have had to been living under a rock for the last 6 and a half years not to know what Gears of War is. It was initially released as a Xbox 360 exclusive but was later ported to PC. One of the biggest reasons for its success (other than its revolutionary cover system) is probably its trailer. Many refer to it as the best video game trailer ever released. When this trailer began to air in 2006, not only did it turn a lot of people on to Gears of War, but it's the reason that a lot of people even bought an Xbox 360 in the first place. You can see the utter helplessness on Marcus Fenix's face as Gary Jules whispered the words, "Mad World..."

Plus, Gears of War features the best weapon ever created! They fused a gun and a chainsaw together to make the ultimate weapon. Nothing can compete with that.

4. Mass Effect 3

Few games come with the amount of hype Mass Effect 3 has swirling around it. As the culmination of BioWare's epic sci-fi RPG trilogy, Mass Effect 3 hasn't garnered this groundswell in an artificial way. Rather, anticipation steadily sits at a fever pitch because the previous installments -- Mass Effect, and especially Mass Effect 2 -- rate amongst the best games ever made. And in many ways, Mass Effect 3 has set the bar even higher as the worthy conclusion to one of the finest stories ever told in gaming history, even if it's still admittedly imperfect.

Mass Effect 3 throws you back into the role of Commander Shepard, the first human Spectre that has, at this point in the story, gone above and beyond proving his (or her) commitment to galactic order. After reluctantly working for the xenophobic human-first organization Cerberus and jumping through the Omega-4 Mass Relay to fight the Collectors at the center of the Milky Way in Mass Effect 2, Shepard's greatest challenge still lies ahead.

Mass Effect 3 has a very incredible map layout which brings out the best in the enemy's AI.

You will want to replay not only Mass Effect 3 but the whole entire trilogy before Mass Effect 4 comes out.

5. Max Payne

You can play the original Max Payne on PC or Mac if you don't own a PS2 or Xbox anymore. The game features a gritty neo-noir style and uses graphic novel panels (with voice-overs) in place of animated cutscenes to narrate the game, as it draws inspiration from hard-boiled detective novels by authors like Mickey Spillane.

By default, the left mouse button fires your equipped weapons as rapidly as possible, while the right mouse button triggers Max's "Bullet Time" special ability, which temporarily puts everything in slow motion, as in the 1999 sci-fi hit, The Matrix.

Bullet time is spectacular. The sounds of gunfire become muted and distant, and you hear a rush of air and then the pounding of Max's heart -- and you'll invariably hold your own breath as all this happens, because the effect is so well done. Bullet time isn't just for show -- it effectively gives Max superhuman reflexes, as while all the action in the game is slowed, you can still aim as quickly as you can move your mouse. Hence, bullet time lets you perform incredible feats of marksmanship--and, in combination with the movement keys, deadly acrobatic leaps in any direction. This particular technique, called a "shootdodge," is the key to surviving most of the game's gunfights.

6. Sniper Elite V2

This game is available on PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and (now) Wii U. Instead of emphasizing a direct approach to combat, Sniper Elite V2 encourages the player as a sniper to use stealth and keep distance from enemy soldiers.

Plus, there is an extra mission that allows you to kill Hitler. And if you wish, you can shoot him in the testicles (like every other enemy in the game) and the slow-mo x-ray camera will show his testcles being blown apart inside his body.

7. Dead Space

Dead Space has sold 2 million copies and is a very scary survival horror that is not for the light-hearted.

Combat involves a mechanism called "strategic dismemberment", in which the player must cut off limbs or sections of the Necromorphs to defeat them. For example, shooting most Necromorphs in the head will have little effect, but they can be stopped once the player removes its arms and legs. Depending on how they are wounded, Necromorphs can adopt new stances and tactics, even sprouting new limbs or giving birth to new enemies in the process.

What makes Dead Space even scarier is how impressive the Necromorphs' AI is. Despite resembling zombies, they do not think like zombies. For example, zombies wouldn't sneak through vents to surprise-attack you but Necromorphs do.

8. Splinter Cell: Conviction

Conviction is a Splinter Cell game in name more than anything else. You could easily swap Sam Fisher for Jack Bauer or create an all new character and no one would give it a second thought. The gameplay is fast, and Sam has been transformed into the ultimate killer.

The murder of his daughter Sarah has siphoned away the hope and joy in Sam's life, and he's left with a single focus: find her killer. A few old friends put Sam on the trail, but that trail isn't a straightforward one, and Sam soon finds himself wrapped up in a conspiracy far greater than it first appears.

But I recommend playing this game on Xbox 360 only. The PC version is heavily flawed.

So now the question is, which game are you going to play first?

Sorry Guys

noreply@blogger.com (Kamell Peterson) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Sorry, for the recent lack of posts. Take note that we are still teenagers in high school so our final tests and state exams really kicked our butts this time around so we spent a lot of time studying and less time posting. But now as tests and exams are over for all of our writers we can get back to regular posting starting in July. Don't worry, in the meantime we are still updating our Instagram account, Google+ page (which has gotten very popular lately) as well as our Facebook page.

80 Hilarious Examples of Video Game Logic

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:08:00 +0000

See Also: 57 Examples of Cartoon Logic

Which one did you think was the best? Don't forget to tell us in the comments. And you might want to like our Facebook page for more articles just like this one!

57 Examples of Cartoon Logic

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Sudden Clarity Clarence 10-Meme Blitz

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:53:00 +0000

Collision: The Next Big Thing!

noreply@blogger.com (Muhammad) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Hiya! Sorry for not being able to post much. Here's a review on a manga one of my closest friend is working on and plans to publish soon. She has a Facebook page just for this project and I hope you like it and support her.

Celi is a 16 year old girl who is sarcastic and awkward, and really only had her brother to depend on so she treasures any true friend she is blessed with. She goes to Corvino Academy and finds out what she's actually capable of with the help of her history teacher. She meets other people with powers similar to hers, but nowhere near as strong as hers. She encounters forces from Hell and supernatural beings and gets into epic, bloody fights with them, too! Let's just hope she can control her powers, being the emotional wreck she is.

Here are some pictures and drawings that she has drawn for the project so far.

Like I said, if you want more info, go to her Facebook page. Show support guys, I'm pretty sure it'll turn out out to be a great manga. Until next time!

Anime Review: Hakkenden Touhou Hakken Ibun

noreply@blogger.com (Shantel Allison) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:29:00 +0000

Hello there and welcome to my humble super biased anime reviewing corner! :) Today we(I) will be looking at Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun or Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East in English.

Hakkenden

Plot: When their village was wiped out five years ago, only Shino Inuzuka, Sosuke Inukawa, and the girl Hamaji, who was raised as if she were their sister, survived. And both men inexplicably have the same peony-shaped birthmark. Genpachi Inukai and Kobungo Inuta were raised hundreds of miles away as foster brothers, but they too share the same birthmark. When they went north as part of the army three years ago, they went to confront demons and came back forever transformed. Now the Imperial Church has come for Shino and Sosuke and they must find eight mystical gems and their owners or face a fate worse than death at the hands of the Church.

(Source: Sentai Filmworks)

Music: Okay so I finished watching this series a couple months ago, so you'll have to deal with me and my lack of OST looking. Although that opening......it's so good that I STILL listen to it! Personally I think I just really like Faylan's music because I literally have a list of anime openings where I'm like "damn this is good! who sung is? oh Faylan? no wonder I like it." And DAT ENGRISH.
   - Opening: "God FATE" by Faylan
   - Ending: "String of Pain" by Tetsuya Kakihara (eps 2-12)

Characters: So I'll just talk about the three main characters here, since a lot of other characters come in later on and I am NOT describing all of them.

Shino: A boy who appears to be 13 years old. He holds the living sword Murasame on his right arm and is therefore considered to be a demon.Five years before the start of the story Shino was a very weak and ill child who was made to dress and act like a girl by his parents because they heard doing so would help him grow. He is very close to Sosuke and Hamaji and regards them as siblings.

Sosuke: He can shapeshift into the dog Yoshiro, who had been Shino's loyal pet, and has a peony mark on the back of his neck. He treats Shino and Hamaji like family, as he does not have any relatives.

Hamaji: She is like a sister to Shino and Sosuke. She is a health nut, who always obsesses that everyone is fed properly, although she is not a very good cook. She is manipulative towards the boys, but deep down she cares about them.

And since this is relative to Shino...
Murasame: Murasame is the living sword spirit, rumored to have sway over anything regardless of shape or form. It is said that whoever possess Murasame will meet a tragic end. The spirit can transform into a crow and can communicate human language. Murasame sometimes sits on Shino's arm and likes to pick and eat food droppings.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Plot Development: I felt like the show was paced very well. Although it did leave some questions unanswered here and there, the second season announced on the last episode might clear everything up as well as provide some closure.

Enjoyment: This show was very fun for me to watch. The comedy which was implemented never seemed to get old for me even if it was repeated a few times. Also, the story was interesting as I have never seen anything like it before. Or I can't remember. Who knows.

So bringing all of these factors together, I award Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun 4/5 stars.

Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun originally aired from January 6, 2013 to March 31, 2013 with a total of 12 episodes. According to MAL, season 2 is scheduled to start on July 7 of this year.

Apple iOS 7 Development

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:59:00 +0000

That Goes In Your A**, Honey

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:03:00 +0000

First Impressions: Shingeki no Kyojin (episodes 1-5)

noreply@blogger.com (Shantel Allison) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:52:00 +0000

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, AND NO I'M NOT DEAD YET! *cough* Well, I have regents tomorrow. And Wednesday. *sighs~* So instead of a full out review, I'll do a first impression. Yay!!! XD I figured I should do this since it's shorter than a review AND gives me an excuse to talk about new anime which are either awesome or....not so awesome. Leave suggestions as to what I should review next by emailing me at shantel.a.007@gmail.com with subject tag "ToHS anime reviews".

So now I will proceed to type out my reactions to everything I normally talk about in a review and maybe a little extra. Without spoilers of course.

Attack on Titan

Plot: Holy crap....we're not at the top of the food chain any more?!?!?

Music: OH MY GOD EARGASM~~~ THAT OPENING!!!! *proceeds to jam*

Characters: Mikasa you are such a BAMF! Eren you...not so much.Armin man up already! LOL POTATO GIRL. AND SHE'S SPIDERMAN?!

Fun Fact - I was reading "Mikasa" as "Misaka" for the longest while because of A Certain Scientific Railgun. Not helping how season 2 is airing now as well...

Plot Development: I smell....Deus Ex Machina logic needed.....

Animation: Normally - meh. 3D Gear - eyegasm level. DAT QUALITY. I swear, the 3D gear has to just be an excuse to be awesome.

Titans: Is that.....Iron Man? O_o

Overall First Impression: In the beginning I didn't start watching AoT. Actually, I didn't jump on the bandwagon until episode 7. Reason being that the hype was about as large as it was for Sword Art Online and we all (of those who watched it) know how that turned out (._.). Well, if AoT can pull itself out of all these plot holes, I think it should be fine.

Final Verdict --> WATCH IT

or in the words of Funimation....

"You should be watching"

3 Social Media Android Apps That Need To Go Flat

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 03:33:00 +0000

I have always thought the iOS version of Twitter was better than the Android version until Twitter's embraced of the full capabalities of Android's Holo design (the user interface for Andorids that was introduced with Ice Cream Sandwhich or Android OS 4.0) in an update. The flat design also sped up the app a little for outdated Androids running Gingerbread (or Android OS 2.3). Scrolling through tweets was no more of a chore because Twitter also improved the resfresh speed and smoothness of scrolling. Twitter continued with its flat design when it finally ported Vine, the new social network launched by Twitter that makies it easy to create and share short looping videos, from iOS to Android.

But then I thought of a few other social media apps should follow in Twitter's footsteps and go with a flat redesign. It could improve their apps' functionality and set it apart from their iOS versions.

1. Facebook

Oh yes, I said it. Facebook's Android app sucks. It's slow. It's glitchy. And the 3D effects in the design look horrible. It makes it less enjoyable to go on Facebook on the go and many teens are agreeing as they turn to other social networking apps.

But it has come a long way from how it looked when it was just released. Back then, it resembled the design of the Facebook app still used on old Blackberries today.

However, Facebook doesn't any signs of flattening out the design because it's copying its mobile user interface so that the web version looks just like it. Their first step towards this was the new Graph Search which does look beautifully modern (if you ask me). And yet, Google+ embraced its mobile UI for its web UI faster than Facebook has. I'm just saying...

But don't give up yet. Apple is rumored to be finally flattening out the look of its mobile OS in iOS 7. Facebook (and Twitter) are highly integrated with iOS so Facebook on iOS could be flattened out with the redesign, forcing the Facebook team to flatten out its app on Andorid, too.

2. Instagram

For those of you who don't know, Instagram was an photo-based sharing app that was originally released for iOS. Later, it was ported onto Android and bought by Facebook for 1 billion dollars. Now, don't get me wrong. The Instagram app for Android is a masterpiece. It does need a little flattening though but not too much becuase that would make it look awkward.

Instagram could also take some ideas from its parent company and Pinterest. An option for the menu to be on the left side of your screen and it to appear by you swiping right would be ideal. Plus, an option to see photos in profiles and your newsfeed in a two column format wouldn't hurt either.

3. Mashable

If you don't know what it is, Mashable is a Scottish-American technology and social media blog founded by Pete Cashmore in 2005. It is a very accurate source for all your social media news. It receives 2 million monthly visitors and has 3 million Twitter followers. However, it is notorious for its horrible Android app. In fact, their app on iOS and Kindle is also horrible because they're the same thing.

The design needs to be flattened but besides that it's just a horrible app overall. When you tap the All tab, the oldest articles always display first. This wastes cache and memory on your phone. You can't read full articles offline which means to read full articles or see galerires and videos (which Mashable uses often) you have to click the link at the bottom of the excerpt the app provides you and use your browser to see the rest. It's kind of a shitty tactic to gain more traffic to their website. The comments don't load correctly and if you happen to encounter these bugs all at once on newer Androids, the app crashes.

The app just needs a huge revamp. It's clearly shown through it's 3.3 out of 5 rating on the Google Play Store.

So are there anymore social media Android apps you would like to see flattened out and simpilified? There has to be one that you think needs the opposite of a facelift.

Helpful Tip of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:21:00 +0000

See what happens when you press Ctrl+W.
Also, watch this video about the new XBox One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0

20 Succesful Black Man Memes

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:05:00 +0000

Conversations on Twitter #2: How Would a World With Nokia Dominating Samsung Look Like?

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:54:00 +0000

This time on Twitter, we talked about a topic that kind of "exploded" on Google+ a while ago. The Finnish smartphone manufacturer used to be the biggest in what it does until Apple overtook Nokia as the largest smartphone maker by volume in 2011. Instead of switching from making it phones with Symbian to Android, Nokia disappointed the world in 2011 when Microsoft announced a partnership with Nokia and after this announcement, Nokia's market share price fell about 14%, its biggest drop since July 2009. Nokia has stated that it cannot make Microsoft and Android phones at the same time due to its limited resources. But what would happen if Nokia ditched Microsoft and actually made Android devices. Would you buy one?

So the conversion started out with T-Mobile promoting the Lumia 925 in a tweet. Just that you know, the Lumia 925 will become Nokia's flagship device once it comes out and it sports a processor clocked at 1.5 GHz and a 8.7 PureView camera with a full aluminium body and (of course) Windows 8. It's a very impressive device, but it's still runs Windows 8.

Excited for the @nokiaus #Lumia 925? Pre-register for it now: t-mo.co/10wpykY
— T-Mobile (@TMobile) May 14, 2013

We said what many people have on their minds...

@tmobile @nokiaus Not many people are excited... Nokia needs to start making Android phones... They could be very good at it.
— Teenagers of HS (@teensofhs) May 14, 2013

But there was some disagreement. @dublzero0 believed that Nokia would not make a great Android manufacturer.

@teensofhs @tmobile @nokiaus yes, and get lost in a sea of buggy, laggy handsets.No thanks.
— JB (@dublzero0) May 14, 2013

I can see some people disagreeing with Nokia making Android devices but the fact is that Nokia could have had even more market share than Samsung has now.

Whether a manufacturer is making Windows Phone devices or Androids, it is under threat from Samsung, a company with remarkable marketing and manufacturing capabilities. But if there is any phone company, other than Apple, which can match Samsung then it is Nokia. When it comes to phones, Samsung’s rise started in the summer of 2010 when it launched the Galaxy S. In 2011, when Nokia decided to go with Windows Phone, Nokia was selling more smartphones than Samsung. According to IDC, in Q1, 2011, Nokia sold 24.2 million smartphones while Samsung sold just 10.8 million. If Nokia had jumped in the fray at that time with Android and showed some fight, it had a great chance of beating Samsung. When people talk about Samsung dominating Android scene, they tend to overlook this simple fact.

Nokia’s fortunes may change in the future but I have no doubt that its decision not to do an Android phone in 2011 was a missed opportunity. So what do you think?

An Interview With The Accomplished Author Of Forever ME

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:28:00 +0000

+Thomas Amo is the author of the Young Adult novel, Forever ME. It is a very interesting book about a teen just trying to fit in but she's having trouble doing just that. So I had the chance to interview him and this is our first interview on our site. I have to say I was really excited. But I also managed to snag the first chapter of Forever ME just for our fans. You can just follow the instructions to download it at the end of this interview.

Question: What inspired you to write Forever ME?

Thomas Amo: I was just about to leave home one morning and as I was about to turn off the television there was a segment on a morning television show about a group of teen girls in Texas who were encouraging other teen girls to go one day a week without makeup. They called themselves "Redefining Beautiful" The idea being you don't have to wear makeup to be pretty. I was so inspired by that and within ten minutes I had the concept of Forever ME.

Question: So what makes Hannah, well..., Hannah?

Thomas Amo: Hannah is a “Plain Jane” type. She doesn't wear makeup, designer labels, or carry a Coach purse. She's a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl. She lives with her father the town sheriff. She is considered an "Eastie" because she lives in the poor part of Wichita Falls, Texas. She has her own friends and lives a pretty well-adjusted life. She's fair, stands up for herself and cannot stand injustice of any kind. She loves her beat up, Jeep, and practically the only shoes you can get on her feet are flip-flops. She's sweet, gentle and caring, but she's tough too. She loves to read and play guitar.

Question: So what was your favorite part of your book?

Thomas Amo: Hannah had to take on responsibility at 14 when her mom died of cancer. So she's protective of her father. My favorite part of the book is where one of the snobby girls comes to her privately to learn how to defend herself. Hannah asks Taylor what would she do if she had to fight. Taylor bounces around the yard and tries to act tough and Hannah simply knocks her over with one push.

Question: So what was saddest part of your book?

Thomas Amo: The saddest part for me was when a character died. I cried the entire time I wrote that scene. I don't want to give away any spoilers. But I had spent two years writing Forever ME so I felt like it was a real loss. I never experienced that kind of emotion before as a writer so I knew it meant something.

Question: When and why did you begin writing? And when did you first consider yourself a writer?

Thomas Amo: I first became interested in writing after my mom took me to Disneyland as a boy when I was 8. It was the Haunted Mansion that did it...I was so taken it by it...I wanted to write my own ghost stories. But then I began thinking that if I could write really cool stories, I could buy my mom a house. It wasn't until many years later when I was in the theatre did I consider myself a true writer. I began to write plays for the stage when I became a theatrical producer from 1997-2005. I wrote mostly crazy comedy, British farce type of shows. But in 2007 I turned to writing novels.

Question: Do you have a specific writing style?

Thomas Amo: I'm told I write cinematically. In other words, I write in a style where it's like a film. I like to write dialogue more and describe less. I try to avoid boring the reader with 3 pages describing a leaf falling from a tree. And I usually write in third person omnipresent. I've haven't written in first person yet.

Question: How did you come up with the title of the book? Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Thomas Amo: The title came at the same time the concept did that morning. It was just there. I usually don't get a title so easily. As far as a message goes, I began with the intent to do a story about girls obsessed with how they look but as I got deeper into the story and the secondary characters took on a life of their own, the subject of bullying came up a great deal. It wasn't just typical teens bullying teens but it was friends bullying friends and parents bullying their kids. I suppose I knew there were different kinds of bullying but until I wrote about it, I didn't realize just how damaging it all is and that girls go through so much more than boys do in school. The pressure is horrendous on girls to look a certain way, the clothes they wear, the friends they have, and where they live. Sometimes I think school feels more like a prison than an educational institution for some students. I wanted girls to take the message, you don't have to impress anyone. Don't let anyone steal your dream, don't be afraid to stand up for others. Sometimes it only takes one person to encourage you to change your life.

And if you are being bullied, TELL SOMEONE! If they won't listen tell someone who will!

Question: What books have most influenced your life most and if you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Thomas Amo: I always read about people in show business. But I loved books about old Hollywood, the silent era, how those stars lived their lives, and the British comedians who always made me laugh. I studied them so I could be funny too when I went on stage. A writer who I consider a mentor is a man named Scott Cherney. He writes in a way that makes me fall into his stories. He's not very well known but I love his work.

Question: What book are you reading now?

Thomas Amo: I'm currently reading Tiffany King's, "Miss Me Not."

Question: And to finally conclude the interview, do you have any advice for other writers? Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers and fans?

Thomas Amo: If you want to write for a living, approach it everyday as your job. Make sure you spend a certain amount of time everyday writing something, even if it's a paragraph. That's a paragraph you didn't have before and soon enough it's a book. Make certain you get an editor and hire a cover artist. Readers will let you know right away if they think your book needs editing. I would say to readers, I love to hear from you, I learn from you all the time. When a reader says they didn't like my book, I want to learn what I could do that would make my writing better. A friend once told me, "Writing ain't for sissies." And he was right, you have to develop a strong skin for rejection. But don't let anyone stop you from pursuing your dream. If you give up on your dream, you only spend your life making someone else's dream a reality.

Just as I promised in the beginning of the article, Thomas Amo has provided us with a PDF file containing Chapter One of his novel. You can receive it now by signing up for our free weekly newsletter!

And I just want to thank Thomas Amo for this wonderful interview. You can buy his book on Amazon here! He even has a wonderful 4.4 out of 5 rating!

3 Reasons Why The PS4 Is Going To Dominate The Next Generation of Gaming

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Wed, 29 May 2013 04:23:00 +0000

So much has happened within the past few weeks. Sony teased the reveal of the look of the new PlayStation 4, a ton of Android rumors were confirmed this week, and Microsoft finally revealed the Xbox One. But many gamers now agree that the PlayStation 4 is the console for them. Especially since 75% of 76,000 in an IGN poll said that they are disappointed in the Xbox One reveal. Honestly, I am too. However, I loved the PlayStation 4 reveal WAY better. But I’ll take it a step further and say that Sony could beat Microsoft at it’s own game...

1. The Xbox One Is Just Another Watercooler

We all know it is. The Xbox ONE is everything but a gaming system. It runs three operating systems, it is heavily integrated with Windows 8, it’s integrated with Skype, it can use two apps simultaneously, and it can do other things that nobody cares about. Basically, you can just go to Mashable’s Watercooler section if you want to fully experience the Xbox One. EVERYONE on the internet is ranting about this!

2. The Xbox One Has A Slower RAM Than The PS4

Going into the next generation of gaming, it is obvious that every console is going to need as much power as they can get. Developers are expected to push these next-gen consoles to the limit so RAM is very important. Microsoft did not specify what type of RAM, CPU, or GPU would be in the Xbox One during the reveal. They were hiding something and for a good reason too. It wasn't until various media outlets asked Microsoft in a Q&A panel that this information was revealed. And now we know that the PS4 has 50% more “raw power” than the Xbox One because the Xbox One will make use of DDR3 RAM instead of the much faster GDDR5 RAM that will be featured in the PS4. It’s looking bleak for Microsoft as more games are expected to have graphics that very vivid and smoother than ever before and have environments that are HUGE and more detailed than ever before!

Even the outdated graph shows (it was mainly based on rumors that proved very accurate) that PlayStation 4’s RAM surpasses that of the Xbox One’s (or Durango’s, it’s project name).

3. Microsoft Hasn’t Been Doing Well

Microsoft hasn’t been having their way recently. Some people tend to think this started when Windows Vista was released and Google Chrome started dominating Internet Explorer. But I and many others blame the recent bad tidings on Windows 8. It’s very advanced and Microsoft has proven that but they are just not exciting anyone with their new OS, especially with the incident of them running out of time to add a notification center to Windows 8. It has come to the point where consumers cannot fall in love with Microsoft anymore.

Microsoft’s woes don’t show any signs of going away. Windows 8 tablets seem like the devices Microsoft is selling the most of but the iPad dominates the tablet market with Android-powered tablets taking up the rest of the market share. Microsoft has to realize that they are not going to get out of this mess by doing the same thing over and over again, like they have been for the past 6 months. They have to offer us innovative products that we WANT.

But Microsoft has only one chance to redeem itself and they need to take advantage of it during E3.

Still Gone, But Here's A Bit of Stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Shantel Allison) — Mon, 27 May 2013 21:03:00 +0000

So yesterday I finally found enough time to watch Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) which I have to say is PRETTY FRIGGIN AWESOME so far. All I can say right now is that if you haven't started watching it, WATCH IT. Although waiting 1 week for each episode is soooooo hard I could almost die.

On that note, the opening for this show is eargasm worthy. And oh my gosh the animation quality......I could almost cry. So me being who I am, I went on YouTube to listen to this song over, and over, and over again. As a result, I found out that "Shingeki no Kyojin goes with everything/anything" is now a meme.

Like this.....

For reference here's the original

Oh, and this is a thing

So this is what's going down. Next week I have finals therefore this week I am studying. The second and third weeks of June I have regents (big test things for those of you who dont live in NYS) but I only have tests 3 of those days so I can possibly post. Then after that is FREEDOM!!! I will try to get out some reviews (maybe) 4th week of June and into summer. Oh yeah, I have a job first 6 weeks of July-August so not TOO much posting.

New Meme...

noreply@blogger.com (Manny Edwards) — Sat, 25 May 2013 02:12:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't made a post in so long. I had to do... some stuff...

Meanwhile, somewhere in Africa...

Don't Expect Much Posts From Us Until Late June

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:56:00 +0000

As +Teenagers of High School we have a hellish nightmare to deal with. It can be hard to cope with high school and writing the blog at the same time but we have always managed to overcome it by having a team of multiple writers. However, we can't risk losing "crunch" time right now as the school year is ending in NYC and the NYS Regents are being issued soon. So we cannot make much posts for May and most of June. But don't worry! I, personally, am working a new summer project for the site and a significant update to our Android app that may require you to delete our old one. And we will still be active on Google+, Twitter, and Instagram so you can just follow us there. Meet you there!

See Also: Why We're Quitting Tumblr

[Guest Post] Cameras: Capturing the Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Emeka Mbazor) — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:47:00 +0000

Almost everyone at some point or another has held a camera at some point in his or her life. Heck, if your reading this, there's a good change your reading from something containing a camera. Whether it's a smartphone, or a laptop, it probably has a camera. People see cameras everyday in many forms. They are essentially what we use to capture the world around us, and we use them to make memories. Whether it's simply a camera from a smartphone, or an expensive $500 camera, we still use them to capture the world around us.

Remember the days before smartphone cameras? When if you forgot the digital camera, you were completely hopeless in taking a good picture. While it's true digital cameras generally take better pictures, it doesn't change the fact that a smartphone can still be a lifesaver. What would we do without smartphones? Honestly, could we even survive? Chances are, if you've been using a camera for any length of time, you've had some technical difficulties. Who hasn't when it comes to little button-pushing things with a million settings and a tiny screen. Thankfully however, some problems can be solved far easier than others.

If you’re freaking out because your camera won't turn on, let's not cause a scene here. Chances are your batteries dead. I've done it too, crying over the loss of a $150 digital camera only to find a dead battery. Just buy a new one, and keep on taking those pictures. If the images from your camera don't look right, the solution usually involved cleaning your camera's LCD screen. If this doesn't solve your problem, it's possible that the resolution at which you shot your photo wasn't high enough to create a good image on the digital camera's screen.

If you've ever heard of the dreaded lens fungus and disregarded it, beware. While if you live in the desert, it shouldn't be a problem, but if you live in a wetter climate, this can happen to your camera. Lens fungus occurs when water is trapped inside the surface of the camera. If the water gets warm enough, obviously fungus can grow. The fungus will look a little like a spider, and it could affect your pictures. The obvious solution to prevent this from happening is to simply try to avoid getting your camera wet. If your camera does happen to get wet, dry it off as soon as possible to prevent anything bad from happening.

For a lot of people, getting that first digital camera can be a big step. Most people are getting more and more accustomed to simply using their iPhones for those special moments. But, even though it's an extra electronic device to carry, wouldn't you like your pictures to be of the highest quality possible? For pictures or videos, the best is usually preferable.

The first cameras were basically huge boxes with a lens and a focusing screen. Though they weren't as good as cameras today, I bet some people would find those things easier to operate. And plus, a good number of people prefer the looks of older cameras rather than the sharper image of cameras today. Though I will admit there is something special about taking a picture and watching it come out of a camera before you eyes.

So with cameras, we really are at a point in society when living without them just doesn't seem possible. How else could you easily capture those wonderful and special moments in life? While paintings are great and beautiful, getting a painting of your children standing in front of Mickey Mouse may take a while, and some coaxing too. Cameras have become an everyday necessity for so many people, not just photographers. I mean living without them just seems impossible now. So use your camera! Take pictures (even if the people your taking a picture of want you to stop) and record the moments so you can see them again and again forever...

About The Author

A natural born writer, Stacey Barton writes professionally and for fun across a wide range of niches with particular attention to how classic brands can continue to offer the same product for decades and somehow survive the turbulent and ever changing consumer market.