Archive for April, 2009

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Windows 7 vs Seven Remix XP

April 27, 2009

Start Menu  It’s kinda ironic that today I learned Windows 7 Release Candidate will be get its public release on May 5th, as last night I found a mod that tarts Windows XP up to look like Windows 7. The pack includes an entire package that does a convincing job of transforming the ‘Fisher Price’ style OS that I’ve come to loathe; it includes login splash screens, cursors and sound effects. However I have a few reservations. Mainly, on my first install, it interfered with a number of DLL files which stopped other apps from launching. I removed it and reinstalled, this time without any of those DLLs (there’s an option to uncheck them in the easy to use installer). I still miss the search feature in the start menu (which I fixed using Google Desktop), the snipping tool (fixed with a rather funky app; PrtScr) and the general feel of Windows 7/Vista. The Seven Remix XP package is available to download from Deviant Art.

It’s kinda annoying that I’ve only just reformatted my desktop machine, but I’ll likely download the release candidate of Windows 7, probably installing it alongside Vista and Ubuntu, rather than the virtual machine I used for the beta.  Might even see if it can cope with a netbook.

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YouTube Audio Test

April 23, 2009

A little over a month ago, I blogged about how YouTube were to remove all music videos, this is done by an automated process known as audio content ID system. This system was designed by a third party company, Audible Magic, but how easy is it to trick? 

As it turns out, it’s not to difficult, as an angry individual with too much time on their hands went about to prove with extensive testing. His results show that modifying the sound by as little as 5% can bypass the audio content ID system.

Thanks @Martyjw

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Tenori-On

April 6, 2009

TENORI-ON Whenever I read about the Yamaha Tenori-On or a stylophone, I imagined the horrible noises about to be conjured up by people who are convinced that what they’re doing with them is making music. However, a friend introduced me to Little Boots over this weekend, who along with vocals and piano uses a Tenori-On to make music.

Her cover of Bullet in the Gun, shows how she uses programmed beats on the Tenori On, as does Time to Pretend. She’s also got a few of her own songs, such as Meddle and Stuck on Repeat

Perhaps it’s because I’m a fan of electronic music that I don’t just consider this to sound like a polyphonic ringtone, but I love her music already.