Breaking Windows

Best Practices: Creating KML/KMZ; Google Earth Browser Plugin

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:17:15 -0500

I have spent the last couple weeks working with KML and KMZ files that were provided by a third party. While most if not all of these suggestions or "Best Practices" may seem like basic knowledge to any web designer/developer, they are not common knowledge to all. My job (one of many) is to make a web site perform well, load fast, and generally not seem "broken" or "buggy" to the user. In this case I had to figure out exactly how to reduce the size of KMZ files, and get them loading propery in Google Earth in the browser.

Through trial and error, and by that I mean a lot of trials, and a lot of errors, I have come to understand that the Desktop version of Google Earth is much more forgiving than its Browser Plugin counterpart. For the project, we are embedding KMZ into a web page, and not providing a link to download and then view in the Desktop version of Google Earth.

Fake Kevin Butler PlayStation Network Spam

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:51:48 -0500

So I got one of these spam messages. Over the top obvious. But considering that it means the sender (who is in my Friends List) would have to be stupid enough to believe it and send it on... well lets just say I am pretty sure we have no hope left for humanity. It is the classic chain email thing "send this to X people and you will win $1 M dollars" bull shit. Then I got a second one, and now a third. It is not like I haven't seen numerous MS Points scams come across my Live account, it just needs to stop. Here is the message, transcribed with all grammar/punctuation intact. Never a subject to the message:

Hello there Playstation Network user I am Kevin Butler from Sony Entertainment Company I would like to stop this spaming rumor about Playstation Network users have to pay to playing online,please help me stop the rumor spaming if you send this to 35 people you will be granted $37 on playstation store just check your wallet money on playstation store.This message is tracked by me Kevin and Sony Entertainment Company.

Like I said, anyone who would send this message on, they win a Darwin award. So I did some digging, and found variations on this message pop up. It needs to stop folks. I hope Kevin Butler comes and kicks your ass if you are sending these PSN messages.

I used to have this blog...

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:16:42 -0500

Well, it has been some time since I have written here. Did I get burnt out? Run out of time. Not really. Twitter happened. I joined Twitter in January of 2007, but have in the past year used it more regularly. But I have the itch to blog again. Mainly to rant about stuff. So yay, Breaking Windows is back!

Off to San Francisco Today

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:48:20 -0500

It has been a long time since I have updated this blog. This has to do with the fact that I am writing more on Blogcritics, plus running the Gaming section; blogging on BG Views; developing BG Views; and lastly I pretty much use Twitter as a blog mechanism these days. Today I fly to San Francisco to the EA Blogger Day event, which I went to last year as well. It should be fun, check my Twitter account for updates while I am there. I will have a write up on Blogcritics and talk about it on our radio show as well. I will likely write about it for The BG News, too.

Tiger Woods 10 Wii Course List

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:18:07 -0500

Tiger Woods 10 on the Wii has 27 courses. The only thing I could really ask for in this list is Glen Abbey Golf Club and Spyglass Hill. Banff Springs Bay Hill Club Bethpage Black Course Cog Hill CC Doral Golf Resort Eastlake Golf Course Fancourt Golf Course Firestone CC Gary Player CC Harbor Town Golf Links Hazeltine Golf Club The K Club Kiawah Island Golf Oakmont Golf Club Pebble Beach Pinehurst No. 2 Riviera CC Sheshan GC St. Andrews Torrey Pines Golf Course TPC Boston TPC Sawgrass TPC Scottsdale Turnberry Ailsa Wentworth Golf Club Westchester Golf Course Wolf Creek Resort In contrast, the Xbox 360/PS3 versions have 16 courses.

My 1 vs. 100 Beta Experience

Sun, 24 May 2009 02:35:12 -0500

I recently wrote about my impressions on Blogcritics. Check it out if you have not. Saturday night the show was at 7 PM EST instead of 9 PM EST, a much better time of day if you ask me. Again there was no lag to speak of, but Chris Cashman and Jade kept getting cut off mid-sentence for the first part of the show. I guess that cannot be helped. Jade is from Xbox Canada, and was on for a fair bit of the entire show. There was one person who won it all, beating all 100 Mob members. That was pretty cool to see. Of course in the beta no Microsoft Points are awarded, but winning $125 worth of MSP for a few minutes of trivia questions does not seem that difficult (until you are in the hot seat, of course). They got the woman on the phone to talk about getting through 15 questions and beating the Mob. The entire "live" experience is really a neat thing, on so many levels. I hope we see a beta soon in the States, and I really hope we hear that 1 vs. 100 goes live for real at E3 this year.

Hellz Yeah!! Little Mac is Back!

Tue, 19 May 2009 01:40:35 -0500

I am so glad that "Hellz Yeah!!" is not on the box art. So, I did not get a pink hoodie, like others did. But you know what? I would likely never wear a pink hoodie. Ever.

(Click to Embiggen)

It says here I am not to spoil the game's "special, super secret" character in my review. I guess I have some playing to do to beat it and find out. Ah well, the game looks good and plays like Punch-Out!! so we are safe there. Have to recommend ditch the Nunchuck and use the Classic Control scheme for this one. I think this game is going to mean more for those among us who actually played it on the NES. Lots of fun, and nostalgia. I will be talking about this on our radio show tomorrow and will have a full review up on Blogcritics Gaming.

I have an Emo Xbox

Sat, 16 May 2009 23:03:05 -0500

According to my 360 Voice Blog, I have the superbly saddening "Emo Xbox" badge. I object. I demand a "voice" with the people who run that site. Is it my fault that I have had to buy five Xbox 360 consoles in four years? No, no it is not. When my 360 was down I (mostly) remembered to put up the Vacation Notice. I will have to ask Ryan what the hell the Emo Xbox badge means.

Fallout 3 Game Corruption Problem

Sat, 16 May 2009 22:42:59 -0500

I have a problem but it is not straightforward by any means. I just got a brand new 360, Arcade, as my last one's DVD drive died. I had an issue that my Gamer Profile got corrupt when trying to use my hard drive on a different 360 until I could afford to purchase a new one of my own.

All Small and Mighty

Thu, 07 May 2009 23:52:11 -0500

Sometimes we get oddball stuff from PR. We recently worked with a firm on a promotion for The Apprentice. One of our other writers wrote the article, I think it was Josh, so I was surprised to get a package in the mail. It had a "You're Fired" baseball cap and a coupon for $6.50 off All Small and Mighty. I will have to take a photo of the ball cap.

My Nintendo DSi Review, Fox "News" DSi Review

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:27:34 -0500

Do you smell that, its the smell of bull crap. Here, read the lede:

The new Nintendo DSi handheld gaming console, which arrived in stores April 5 for $170, is a quantum leap forward from the similar-looking DS Lite. It adds another layer of applications and functions to the core DS system to become the first Nintendo handheld that's plenty of fun even without the games.

Fox headlines the review as "A Quantum Leap Forward." I could literally pick this apart line by line, but I won't. However this one does stand out:

The single new feature promised in the DSi — as in "eye," or "individualization" — sounded like a throwaway gimmick.

Really? Only one new feature promised? I guess DSiWare doesn't count. Look, I am not saying my review is the best one you will read, but at least it is "fair and balanced," which cannot be said about FOX News. OK sorry I can't stop at just one.

The previously existing Pictochat and Download Play functions are applications as well, but it's two of the new apps — called just "Camera" and "Sound" — that really sell the DSi.

This entire review reminds me of complaining that Time Crisis 4 doesn't have on screen reticles. You can go buy a PMP (that is Personal Media Player for those not paying attention) and get better "Camera" and "Sound" capabilities for under $100. You will get a much higher resolution camera, and OMFG even MP3 support. Oh and video, too. Little Jonny (or Big Jonny for that matter) may cream his pants over being able to play with his photos or music, but that is not going to keep him entertained very long. This is a portable gaming console, what sells this specific one is the new distribution channel, that being DSiWare. Also "Wario Ware Slapped!" (it's called Wario Ware Snapped - get it, like snapping a photo) only recognizes the silhouette of your face and hands. Or did you not see Nintendo demo it at GDC this year. There is nothing worse than misinforming the user in a brand new product review.

New Site: DoBlu.com

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:19:16 -0500

I promised it's been coming for a while and it's happened. My new Blu-ray site is up and running, and if anyone wants to chip in and design a new logo, that's be great. So, uh, yeah. It's there and you should read it and stuff. God I suck at PR.

More Verizon Wireless Opting Out Nessesary

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:56:29 -0500

You may recall me telling you to called Verizon Wireless to have them block "Premium Text Messaging." Well now you should login to your Verizon Wireless account to opt out of them mining your personal data. For me, I was already opted in without even knowing it. @brianking posted this link on RRW which references this blog post, which points you to this link to turning off Customer Proprietary Network Information Settings. Unless of course you want Verizon to sell your personal information to anyone, which is what will happen if you do not opt out. Pretty shady, isn't it?

Charles Schneer Passes

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:26:58 -0500

Many won't know the name, but Charles Schneer has died at age 88. He's best known for his role as producer on nearly all of Ray Harryhausen's classic films - excluding the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms - including some of the greatest stop motion creature features ever created. Having grown up with Harryhausen films, this is one of the biggest losses in the industry personally short of Harryhausen himself passing away. After the jump is the note from IMDB (can't link unfortunately):

Live Streaming Video of the Swearing-in of Barack Obama

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:54:46 -0500

Watch it online.You do need Silverlight.