IDOS for WP7 can help you start a meme

IDOS is available on the Windows Phone 7 app marketplace. It is proposed as an entire operating system running within Windows Phone 7.

Being an “operating system” it has lots of applications within it. The store has several free apps, which you install… which actually sounds impressive for a single app, but it really just seems to move the icon from one screen to another. You aren’t buying anything, you’re “unlocking it” and it gives you the experience of installing something. On top of that, there are several apps. All things considered, it’s not super impressive. But I have found one use for it.

Text on images. This sounds like a simple thing to accomplish, but you would be surprised to find out how few apps on Windows Phone 7 can accomplish this. Want to start a meme? Not quickly on Windows Phone 7. But with this “OS” (or app) called IDOS. It’s going to let you put text over top of images in Windows Phone 7. Cut, dry, simple. It doesn’t have a ton of colors to choose from, but it gets the job done if you’re looking for something specific.

Reset spooler, rebooted, reinstalled printer, still can’t print? Fixed!

I’ve seen people who have gone so far as to uninstall and reinstall their printer yet STILL could not print! If you’ve already tried all of the steps in how to reset your print spooler, try the steps below… tested and has worked for me on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 32 and 64-bit… the solution below has worked for me several times!

  1. Stop the printer spooler (see this article for instructions).
  2. Browse to this folder: C:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS (for newer versions of Windows, you will have to say Yes to a UAC prompt asking if you want to proceed).
  3. Delete everything in the folder.
  4. Start the printer spooler (see above article about stopping/starting).

Try your print job again!

2009 – Fake Problems – It's Great to be Alive

When an album opens with the phrase: “you are the one, two, three, four / you are the single notes, in every chord…” you know you’re about to go on a ride that is musically meta. Fake Problems, and their 2009 album It’s Great To Be Alive are going to take you there.

The lead singer’s voice is unique and enjoyable. A little raspy and rough around the edges, but not unapologetic. I can imagine him saying “yeah, I could have a better singing voice, but you’re still listening, aren’t you?” The music the influences of the earlier part of last decade – the driving drum beats set forth by Modest Mouse, Jet, and Franz Ferdinand, with deep, grunge guitars. At times the album goes above and beyond the calls of indie rock, as in the third track, You’re a Serpent, You’re a She-Snake, which ends with near operatic grandiose. The album is at times influenced by everything from polka, to ska, to songs that remind me of Irish folk singing.

The album never gets dull in the middle, each song is different enough from the last that I always enjoy hearing what’s going to unfold next. Although a lot of people may be turned off by the vocalist, I really enjoy It’s Great To Be Alive and think you should at least listen to a couple of tracks before you judge it!