scottywhy? (the blog spy) - urban legends of technology

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)
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Published at circuitcity.com on Monday, October 27, 2008
(Written by ScottyWhy?)



Halloween is just days away. This time of year is already spooky enough with the ghosts and goblins and all. Modern society is making things scarier by conjuring up a brand new batch of terrors in the world of technology. Someone has to investigate these bone-chilling urban legends and uncover the truth. This sounds like a job for the Halloween Blog Spy.

Urban Legend Of Technology #1. Bill Gates is so rich, he dropped a $1,000 bill and didn't bother to pick it up.It's downright haunting how rich Bill Gates is. He has more disposable income than the "Obama for President" campaign. But this urban legend is just not true. Gate's money is in excellent hands:




Urban Legend Of Technology #2. Excessive cell phone use can cause cancer or other health problems. There is no scientific proof to support this legend. Studies have suggested that excessive cell phone use can turn you into a 16 year old girl:

(Translate Text-Talk HERE!)

Urban Legend Of Technology #3. Airport X-rays wipes memory cards clean.Fear not, ladies...airport x-ray machines will not damage your memory cards. The highly-trained security professionals running these machines have far more important uses for this advanced technology:



Urban Legend Of Technology #4. Windows' Japanese edition uses haiku to communicate messages.Not True...but imagine the possibilities if it were. Centuries of Asian wisdom delivered in a simple three line poem. If only I could read Japanese:


These are but a few of the "Urban Legends Of Technology". To learn more, tune into this Thursday's "Sandwich Of Terror" edition of Tech Sandwich!

scottywhy? (the blog spy) - is Ashton Kutcher really a photographer?

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)
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Published at circuitcity.com on Friday, October 24, 2008
Syndicated at usatoday.com
Written by ScottyWhy?

TV and movie actor Ashton Kutcher has recently been featured in a series of Nikon TV commercials. He's been shown using the Nikon Coolpix S550, Nikon Coolpix S600, Nikon D60 DSLR and Nikon D90 DSLR. This has lead some professional picture-takers to ask the question: Is Ashton Kutcher really a photographer? This is serious stuff and sounds like a job for The Blog Spy.

My deep-probing investigation started at ashtonkutcher.org, a website that promises over "15,0000 Ashton Kutcher images."

Do you have any idea how long it takes to examine over 15,000 images? I found a lot of shots of Kutcher. I didn't find any taken by him. Interesting.

Next I stumbled across the photo section of Kutcher's Myspace page. Here I discovered that this guy travels more than an AIG executive after the federal bailout checks arrived.

Most photographers think of traveling as the perfect chance to get some shots. Maybe he just forgot his camera on these trips.

Next, I checked to see if Kutcher has an account on any online photo-sharing sites like Slide.com, Picasa or Photobucket. Real photographers can't pass up a chance to share their photos with friends. I found a Flickr account registered to "ashton kutcher78."

Judging by all the beefcake and posterboy shots, I'm guessing "ashton kutcher78" isn't our guy. Heck, "ashton kutcher78" probably isn't a guy at all.
Finally, I found this...

It appears that Ashton Kutcher is the only photographer on the planet who goes to the Superbowl without his camera. More importantly, if he were a photographer, wouldn't his Paparazzi Sense tell him that Bruce Willis with his ex-wife and her boytoy is a picture that needs snapped at any cost?

So, no conclusive proof that Ashton Kutcher is actually a photographer. Who cares? I never believed he could travel back in time by reading his journal, either. I still want a Nikon D90 DSLR!

the trick-or-treat of megapixels

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)
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Published at circuitcity.com on Saturday, October 18, 2008
Syndicated at reuters.com and computershopper.com
Written by ScottyWhy?

Halloween is almost here. Before you know it, lines of costumed young-ones will be parading around your neighborhood in search of bite-size Snickers bars and candy corn. Those who keep track of such things are predicting a lot of Kung Fu Panda, Joker and Hannah Montana outfits this season.





Obviously, you're gonna need a good camera!

It's scaaarrrryyy how many people ask us questions about "megapixels" around holidays like Halloween. Holidays (except perhaps "Fat Man In A Speedo" Day) seem to bring out the photographer in all of us. Here's a quick "guide to megapixels" that should help clear up your Halloween camera concerns.

1. The more you crop a photo, the more megapixels you need. An Image taken with a low megapixel camera will appear "spotty" or "grainy" the more you crop it. More megapixels...less spots.


2. The more you want to enlarge a picture, the more megapixels you need. An image taken with a low megapixel camera won't produce as big a print as a camera with more megapixels.

A good way to understand how megapixels works is to look at a game I play on my mobile phone called BUBBLE BREAKER.


See the spaces between the dots when you crop or enlarge an image of the game. That's what happens when you crop or enlarge an image taken with your digital camera. More megapixels means more dots packed tighter together. That means less space in between the dots. That results is a less "spotty" or "grainy" final photo.

The good news is that most digital cameras on the market today are 6 megapixels or more, which is enough to fill most people's needs. The bad news is that megapixels are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to getting clear, quality photos. Think of it like building a house. Better lumber results in a better house on the inside. Better paint results in a prettier house on the outside. In the same way, more megapixels results in a better quality image on the inside. But it's the camera's image sensor and anti-shake technology combine with general photographic technique that results in clear, crisp, pretty images.

There's a lot of education behind taking a good picture. That's where circuitcity.com comes in. We offer tons of tips in the "Related Links" below. Check 'em out! Maybe you'll become such a great photographer, you'll be able to make "Fat Man In A Speedo" Day as photo-friendly a holiday as Halloween.

How To Twitter

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)

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Published at circuitcity.com on Friday, October 10, 2008
(Written by ScottyWhy?)

Twitter describes itself as "a service for friends, family, and coworkers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?" More specifically, Twitter combines the attributes of blogs, instant messages and status updates to create a very easy to use free online communication tool.

Circuitcity.com/blog is going to be using Twitter a lot in the future to play games and communicate with our readers. We thought we'd help you get started if your not already using this great service. This screencast will give you the basics on how to sign up and HOW TO TWITTER:

Things To Consider When Buying A Point & Shoot Camera.

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)

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Published at circuitcity.com on Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Syndicated at computershopper.com
Written by ScottyWhy?


If you're looking for an easy to use and affordable digital camera, a point-and-shoot is a great place to start. The problem can be that the large selection can make it hard to decide. Most buyers are happiest when they select a camera that best fits their specific needs. Here are a few features to consider that may help you pick the best camera for you:

1. Removable Storage - Digital cameras use removable memory (flash cards, sticks ect.) to store the pictures you take. The higher the resolution you plan to use, the more memory you will need. Cameras usually don't come with very much internal memory so you will need to buy more. (Here's a tip: buy two 2GBs cards instead of one 4GBs card. This will allow you to switch cards when needed and will give you a backup if you ever loss one.)


2. Flash - Most point-and-shoots have flash units built in. Be aware of its position. Some cameras are design in such a way that the flash creates strange shadows in photos when the lens is extended.


3. Image Stabilizer -This feature helps reduce image blurriness that can come from shaky hands.


4. Brand - Top brands of point-and-shoots include Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Samsung, Panasonic, Kodak, Fujifilm and Sony.


5. ISO - If you want to take photos in low-light settings, consider the ISO. The higher the ISO, the less light you will need.


6. Settings - Some photographers like to have a wide option of settings that will adjust the camera depending on lighting and other needs. Some prefer manual settings that can be set depending on the conditions. Identify which type you are and buy accordingly.


7. Battery - Most digital cameras come with their own rechargeable battery. If it is removable, it would be a good idea to get a backup.


8. Lens - The important thing to remember is that the optical zoom (from the lens itself) can produce a high-quality close-up image. The digital zoom creates the digital illusion of a close-up by cropping the image size (much like you would do in photo editing software.) If you want a camera that has some zoom strength, concentrate on its optical power and ignore the digital power.


9. Image Sensor - Larger image sensors generally capture more light with less noise. The result is pictures that are clearer, brighter, and sharper.


10. Mega Pixels - Resolution is measured in mega-pixels. Resolution determines the maximum size of a print that can be made from an image. Resolution also determines how much you can crop a photo. Generally speaking, most cameras on the market are over 6 MPs. That is enough to share photos online and make a print up to 11X14.


11. Face Detection - If you take a lot of portraits, consider a camera with Face Detection. With it the camera will recognize faces in the frame and then optimizes the color, white balance, and focus.


12. LCD - Large LCD screens give you a bigger view, but they also use more battery life. They also cause the camera to weigh more. Keep these things in mind when making your selection.


13. Size - Many people like point-and-shots because they fit in a pocket. The smaller size can often result in less features or higher price.


14. Cost - Simply put, more features equals more cost. The question you have to ask yourself is what features are the most important to your needs. You can generally reduce the cost by picking a camera that isn't loaded with features that you won't use.


15. Warranty - An extended warranty is basically an insurance policy. If you want extended protection, factor that into the final price.

using the madden curse for good instead of evil.

(Note from the editor: For archival purposes (and in keeping with our DIY viral marketing philosophy), I'm reprinting a series of articles originally written for circuitcity.com.)
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Published at circuitcitycom on Thursday, September 04, 2008
Syndicated at usatodaycom
Written by ScottyWhy?

I admitted in a previous post (8/26/2008: Gadgets Make Better Fantasy-Ballers) that I am crazy about fantasy football. Today is the start of the NFL (and fantasy football) season and I am fired-up!

I've done all my homework...I've watch every episode of Circuit City's FANalysts on You Tube...I've checked my starting lineups...I'M READY! But how does one prepare for something like the "MADDEN CURSE"?

For those not familiar, the "Madden Curse" states that anyone appearing on a cover of MADDEN NFL is destined to a reduction in productivity, a serious injury or a career ending turn-of-events. Look at the history...

• Dante Culpepper was on the cover in 2002. He blew out his knee.
• Mike Vick was on the cover in 2004. He broke his fibula.
• Shaun Alexander was on the cover in 2007. He fractured his foot.

The list goes on and on...this thing is serious!

So I propose that instead of trying to fight the "Cover Curse", let's embrace it. There are too many celebrities out there in need of a good career-ending. Let's put them on the cover of our favorite video games and let the "Curse" do all the work.

I have yet to see a single episode of the new Beverly Hills 90210. I wouldn't know any of these kids if I ran 'em over with my moped. That hasn't stopped me from already being annoyed. Let's put them on the cover of The Sims and let the "Cover Curse" take care of the rest.

I'm sure you have your list of musicians that you detest more than spinach. For me, put Michael Bolton, Paula Abdul and Britney Spears on the cover of Guitar Hero and put these over-and-done-with popsters out of their misery.



Paris Hilton is the cockroach of celebrities...we just can't get rid of her. She has survived online porn, bad TV and more wardrobe malfunctions than a New Oreleans exotic dancer. Perhaps the "Cover Curse" and Halo is the only way to bring this diva down.


C'monplay along...it's a blast. Suggest some celebrity video covers of your own in the comment section and perhaps will do a "Part II" to this post in the future.