AWOL

Sorry I've been absent since the New Year. I've been really busy with a ton of projects, notably (to Star Trek^® fans) the shiny new LCARS 47 Development Blog. I figured that I'd move all the posts relating to LCARS to their own domain.

Anyways. I hope your new year is going great.
Eleanor

theVAULT • Featured Image: Roadside Snow

It's Christmas week, so I thought that this week's feature from theVault should be something snowy. You know the drill, it's available for free download and use on your blog or website.

Merry Christmas!

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LCARS 47 Version 6 Update

I'm about 30% into completing version 6, so I'm gonna take a moment to outline a few new features.

• Custom Starship Name
• You can now set a custom name in LCARS 47, which will display throughout the Apps
• LCARS 47 version 5 will also be updated to reflect the changes.
• The default name is "USS Champagne" in tribute to naval traditions, and the opening of Star Trek: Generations.
• Custom Registry
• As with the custom name, you can also set the registry (the default is NCC-79850).
• Starship Class Plugins
• You can download separate starship class schematics which will be displayed throughout the apps. Each plugin will overwrite any existing starship class schematic previously installed.
• Starship classes available are;
• Akira Class
• Defiant Class
• Galaxy Class
• Intrepid Class
• Nebula Class
• Nova Class
• Prometheus Class, and
• Sovereign Class (above)
• More starship classes will be released in time.
• Federation Database (below)
• After the release of version 6.0, data packs will be released, adding an array of new information in succession from the Federation database. Planned data modules are;
• Federation law, directives, orders and treaties
• Starship schematics
• Historical data, and
• Cartographic data

There's also a ton of new easter eggs, hidden secrets, and surprises.

That pretty much covers everything. Thanks to Stefan Blakemore for convincing me to add the schematics options. Just a note, there are no details on the release date, due to fluctuating development time, just check back or, visit http://i.thebluprint.org/LCARS.

C****rship

I understand the usefulness of copyright, I really do. In fact I list it among one of the most useful ██████ in the world. But lately, it's been usurped by governments and corporations to impose censorship.

Using file torrents, for example, we all ████ it's illegal to download pirated software, movies, TV shows... or is it? Short answer: No.

Provided you have ██████████ licensing, you can download whatever the ████ you like. That's a fact. Another fact is that this freedom has been abused, and now corporations and governments are using this █████ to impose censorship upon us. ISPs are actively bandwidth throttling torrent ███████ as it is, imagine how censorship would affect your Internet experience. 

That's all fine, but what about freedom of information, free speech, free expression? When do those get considered? Probably when you have ████ money than Hollywood. It's about the buck. 

What can you do about it? Call your government. Write letters. Make them listen.

Happy C****rship Day

theVAULT • Featured Image: Lanes

A long exposure shot of oncoming traffic from a highway bridge is this week's feature. As usual, it's available for free download and use on your blog or website.

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theVAULT • Featured Image: Keys

This week's feature from inside theVault. This as a closeup shot of of my piano keys. It's available for free download and use on your blog or website.

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Microsoft Tag

Previously, I discussed the use of QR codes. Now, here's something that's seemingly new, the Microsoft® Tag (or the high capacity color barcode). It's far more colorful than the generic QR code, and you can arguably add more artistic license to one (right). Anyone with a bit of Photoshop knowledge can spruce up their Tag.

So, what's the difference and why should you care? Well Tags don't seem as universal as QR codes and as a result, don't seem to be as common. Although users can download the free Tag app to the their smartphone, it comes bundled with newer versions of Microsoft's Windows® Mobile. But most smartphones are already QR ready, so is there any point to it?

For the artistic quality, it's absolutely worth it. Then there's the marketing point, Tag does offer some pretty good metrics (right (screenshot portions © Microsoft)).

Being integrated with Bing, there is an added feel of safety to Tag. Essentially, Microsoft can remove any tag it finds in violation of its terms of service, acting as a pseudo-regulation authority; something which QR lacks.

What ever your motivations, I recommend testing Tag alongside QR, rather than making a dart-switch to Tag. In any event, happy Tagging.