Python 3.0

Python had their first major upgrade in several years and the release of Version 3.0 of the language. Surprisingly, there are numerous applications created in Python, one being YouTube. In fact, a lot of Google programming is done in Python. One of their "most significant changes include modifications to the workings of built-in-objects, such as dictionaries." 

For more information on Python 3.0 (also known as Python 3000 or Py3K), click on the following website: 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10113479-92.html?tag=mncol;title

Python

Our ICT 12 class will soon be starting a new unit called Python. If you are interested in learning about the computer programming language of Python, visit the following website, run by our ICT 12 teacher, Mr. Vogel: 

http://www.myndrs.com/python/

Twilight

Twilight a vampire/romance novel written by Stephanie Meyer. It is a story of a young girl, Isabella "Bella" Swan, who falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen. There are three other novels that follow after Twilight -- New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. 

I went to watch the advance screening of Twilight on Thursday, November 20, 2008. As anticipated I was watching it, I was a bit disappointed. The best part was towards the ending of the movie. Although, the beginning was pretty funny, considering everyone in the whole theatre was laughing. But all in all, I do recommend everyone to watch it! 

Pearl, Curve, and Bold are a few of Blackberry's latest device models. Just recently, Blackberry created a new model: Blackberry Storm. The Blackberry Storm isn't like any other Blackberry's, it has a special feature similar to Apple's iPhone, they're both touch-screen. It was announced that Storm was too arrive before the holidays, but it seems that software and hardware don't quite mesh up in this product. Therefore, it is not a glowing endorsement of the touch-screen technology in the Storm. 

Here is a thorough review on the Canadian product: 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/154212/blackberrys_storm_awkward_and_disappointing.html

Trism for the iPhone: Game Makes Big Dollars

Steve Demeter is the creator of the new game, Trism, available for iPhones. Trism is similar to the puzzle game Bejeweled, but Trism requires the player to tilt their iPhones to place the triangular piece. With the price at $2.99, over a couple of months Demeter has managed to make $250,000 from the simple game. 

Here is the link to the CNN article for more information: 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/18/iphone.game.developer/index.html

OLPC XO

The innovative idea for the "One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) program was founded by Nicholas Negroponte, to give children in developing countries an educational opportunity that they would never have. Last year, the students of Notre Dame Regional Secondary fundraised to purchase an OLPC XO. They purchased two units, one of which went to a student in a third world country. 

On November 17th OLPC will launch their Give One, Get One campaign. There are many ways how everyone can help: 

1. Tell 100 friends. 

2. Bring your laptop to work or school. 

Hopefully, by telling your friends and family about the Give One, Get One campaign, they will want to help. Surprisingly, there are about more than 100,000 members with XOs around the world. 

For more updates on One Laptop Per Child, check out the following links:

http://www.laptop.org

http://support.laptop.org

http://youtube.com/olpcfoundation

Lest We Forget

Here at Notre Dame Regional Secondary Vancouver, BC, a Remembrance Day service is held each year in honour of those who fought and died for our country. Just like in previous Remembrance Day ceremonies, we had two men play their bag pipes. Also, students in Acting 11 and 12 performed a scenario of World War I. Notre Dame Concert Choir and Band students performed various songs that related to Remembrance Day, like Amazing Grace. Mr. Scott prepared a video of the experiences many veterans faced and reenactments of what happened during the war. A red poppy is worn to remember those who sacrificed their lives for each and everyone of us. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the end of World War I.

The photos below were taken during the Remembrance Day service:

Visual Basic

On November 4th, we started a new programming language called Visual Basic. We started the new language with a Hello World program. We used various tools such as the "command" button and "label" control.

Microsoft Announces New Operating Systems

Yesterday (October 27th, 2008) Microsoft unveiled details of two new operating systems. Currently, the most commonly used Microsoft operating systems are Windows XP and Windows Vista. Although frequently criticized, often by those who have never used it, Vista is actually a very stable, rich, environment in which to work, particularly when used with up-to-date machines.

Nevertheless, Microsoft has decided to press ahead with successors for Vista. In late 2009, Windows 7 will be released. It will be much like Vista. Around the same time, Microsoft will release Windows Azure, an operating system that lives on Microsoft servers and not in your computer. This is called "Cloud Computing", the 'Cloud' being the Internet. Basically this means that you won't need an operating system or programs: they will all live in the 'Cloud.'

Whether this works out or not remains to be seen. However, many companies are already trying this, both with Microsoft and with Google products.

"Cloud Computing" is one of the most used technology buzz words at present.

Global Anti-Piracy Day Follow Up

Microsoft claimed today as Global Anti-Piracy Day. In 2007, the global economic loss was estimated at nearly $50 billion. Technology, nowadays, is expanding that the distributing of fakes is increasing. Piracy and counterfeiting are growing a threat, therefore, Microsoft is trying to raise awareness and address this problem.

Here is a link to the Microsoft site on the Anti-Piracy initiative:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/antipiracy/map.mspx

Class Blogs

ICT 12 Student Blogs (2008-09)

Ava Balingit
Ryan Battistel
Sofia Busse
Nicole Ceralde
Nathan Chiu
Tomasz Cieslik
Jonathan De Maeseneer
Danila Di Giacinto
Sonia Di Palma
Lia Estrellado
Kimberly Francisco
Dilantha Geekiyanage
Nikko Henderson
Nikka Komisarski
Steffani Mastromonaco
Caitlin Nery
Conner Olenick
Andrea Strazzullo
Adam Troczynski
Nikko Tagle
Alannah Villella
Jason Wong

These are the blogs URLs for my ICT 12 class colleagues. The class is using Blogger throughout the year to record information about various programs and techniques.

This list will be updated to include several blog URLs not presently available.

iGoogle

Today i signed up for iGoogle surface and made a couple of minor changes. I made a custom widget to display my IP address.

Binary Numbering

Earlier in the year, Mr. Vogel taught our class a computer operation: Binary Numbering. Every computer works on binary operations, which are based on "switches" or otherwise known as "bits". For example, 1111 would equal to 15. It is a four-bit byte with all the switches set to on. On is represented as a 1 and the off is represented as a 0. These four switches represent a sequence of numbers using the same positional values as the decimal system. The values are set to the power of two, reading from right to left. 

Turbo Pascal

My ICT 12 class will be working with new several programming languages, including Turbo Pascal, Java, Visual Basic, C++, Scratch, and many more. This course will help me to gain my knowledge in computers.