blogs.matrixwebs.com

Playstation and Nintendo

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 23:25:48 GMT

Sony Playstation and Nintendo have had two long awaited releases this year. The infamous PS3 released by Sony and the exciting Wii by Nintendo.

Being that these were hyped up so much one would think that you would have the ability to go to www.playstaion.com and purchase a PS3, but for some reason you can’t. Doesn’t that make sense to you? The system has a url, but you can’t buy it on the manufacturer’s very own website? That has to be the most frustrating thing I’ve ever come across. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to single them out because there are plenty of these big name items that do the same thing.

I have wanted a Nintendo Wii from day one, but I have had so much trouble trying to track one down. I waited in long lines, but never got in and I went online to distributors’ websites, but was never lucky enough to get it in my basket and complete the purchase. I guess I was too slow. As of lately I have been searching on the one and only eBay to try and find one that is priced right just for me.

Thanks for sharing in on my frustration.

*Judy-Lyn*

Disney.com

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:37:16 GMT

Disney fans are in for a treat; DISNEY.COM is a sleek, crisp Web site with all things Disney. From movies to television to radio to games and more, kids can find their favorite Disney people, places, and things all in one spot.

Clearly organized by type, character, or age group, kids can find their favorites very easily. They may be distracted on the way, however; streaming videos are found mid-screen throughout, highlighting Disney.com offerings, and multiple banner ads rotate for optimum attention grabbing (and diversion).

New at Disney.com is DXD: Disney Xtreme Digital. This section offers access to games, full-length television episodes, behind-the-scenes movie clips, Radio Disney live, full-length Disney songs, and previews of soon-to-be released games. For access to most of the content you must be a registered user. Registration is free, but input of your date of birth, full name, email, zip code, and typical login information (ID and password) is required. You do have to put your parents' email address, but kids can just make one up. The "parent" immediately gets an email saying that their kid has signed up and has the option of revoking the registration or regulating how the minor participates in public forums.

This is the area where community happens: Message boards, real-time chatting (extremely well regulated with preset phrases and questions), and swapping of messages from Disney friends (you have to share your registered code to do this). Parents must enable the chat feature for kids under 13. Kids can also create their own personal page with icons, personal information, and multimedia -all chosen from preset lists. To spruce up there pages, kids can "buy" other things with earned points.

Content on Disney.com is organized by category on the top navigation bar for ease of use. An additional side navigation bar breaks the content down by target audience: Preschool, Boys, Girls, Kids & Teens, Families, and Disney Fans. Lots of the content crosses over target audiences, but each section provides an individual look and focus. For example, the Boys section is an "Action packed adventure we picked just for boys"; Cars, Toy Story, and American Dragon are front and center here. The Girls' section says "It's a girl thing, no boys allowed" and includes Kim Possible, Fairies, and Hannah Montana. The Preschool section is full of appropriate Playhouse Disney content. However, going to PlayhouseDisney.com directly is highly recommended for this age group as exploring this site is kid friendly (e.g. no streaming videos, Web site hopping, or scrolling).

The games on Disney.com are definitely worth mentioning and playing. Whether going on an Orchestra Treasure Hunt with Little Einsteins, completing Black Pearl 101 with the Pirates of the Caribbean, or playing Super Villain Smash Out with Kim Possible, the games are fun -- and a lot are educational.

Disney .com gets a big thumbs up! I love it!

**Judy-lyn**

Google it!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:57:44 GMT

Out of all the websites on line I would like to pick Google as my favorite website. Google works best because there aren’t many pictures of nonsense which helps loading go faster, but if you do want to search there is an image link that will bring up a bunch of pictures on what-ever you are searching for. I am a horrible speller but no matter what I type in It still search's out what I was looking for with the option of re-searching with the correct spelling. It has many different search option's. Its one of the only websites that is one stop. you can find a job print directions to the interview and find the lyrics to your favorite song all at one place. Now I really understand why everyone always says "Google It"!

**Judy-Lyn**

You Tube Election!

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 23:49:15 GMT

I am a huge You Tube fan as most of us at Matrixwebs are. I thought I'd share this with everyone. At this time last year, YouTube had developed a reputation as a place where "gotcha!" videos posted by citizens were changing the political landscape. Some even called the 2006 U.S. midterm elections "the YouTube election" after several candidates were caught on camera saying things they probably shouldn't have. But in 2007, that changed. Seizing the YouTube opportunity, presidential candidates came rushing to the platform themselves, setting up official campaign channels on our You Choose '08 platform. Seven of the 16 presidential candidates even announced their candidacies on YouTube.

Candidates and voters now speak to each other through video. At their best, campaigns use YouTube not as a shrunken TV screen through which to distribute their soundbites, but as a window through which to have a dialogue with the American people. YouTube's leveling effect is this: anyone can upload a video with their political message, and the best content rises to the top through community view counts, rankings, linkages, and embeds. Any voter with a video camera and access to the Internet has the opportunity to be seen and heard.

Our two presidential debates with CNN highlighted this phenomenon. Eight thousand video questions were submitted for the two record-setting debates, which opened up a traditionally closed event to the rest of the world via YouTube. Time was, you had to be in New Hampshire, Iowa, or Florida to get access to candidates at a debate. With questions coming directly from voters via video, our YouTube debates helped to break down some of the geographical barriers that have so sharply defined American politics in the past.

So what's ahead in 2008? Things are only going to get more exciting. As Congressional and Senate races heat up, you'll see more and more candidates coming to YouTube. And as the presidential races narrows down to two candidates, YouTube will be a critical battlefront in the general election. With voters, candidates, issue groups, media companies, trade associations, lobbyists and activists all interacting on the same level platform, 2008 promises to be a true "YouTube Election."