It is totally unwise to dwell on the web with a single browser nowadays. What with the different plug-ins that are installed in most browsers available to humankind. Example, a good number of Windows users spend only about 5% on Internet Explorer, and 95% on Firefox. Reason being the latter is faster and much more flexible to plug-ins. Until Google rocked the Mozilla turf with a growing number of Chrome users on both Windows and Mac platforms. I keep three on my Mac, switching from Apple’s own Safari (55% use), to Google Chrome beta (45% use ), and Opera (5% use). But other than speed and adaptability, what compels us to settle more on a specific browser are the bookmarked sites that have been collected over time. Most of my bookmarks are in Safari, and such a circumstance makes me think twice before jumping to a much faster Chrome. Sacrificing speed for convenience.

This is where Xmarks comes to the rescue. It will solve your bookmark hassles because it works across popular browsers–and on each computer you use. Xmarks is an online sync and backup site for your bookmarks. Say, you have a desktop at home and a laptop or netbook that you bring with you on the way out. Don’t you think it would be much of a trouble to revisit each and every site you have bookmarked on your desktop just so you can have an identical set on your portable? It is possible for Xmarks to be installed in each computer you use. All you need is a backup of your bookmarks on the Xmarks server online. The server would then feed your desktop and your portable with the same bookmarked sites like how iTunes feeds the iPod with audio files.

For my purpose, I need an identical set of bookmarks on Safari and Chrome. While Xmarks can merge bookmarks created from both browsers, I decided on my Safari bookmarks as my default since that is where most of recent sites are saved. Next, I installed the Xmarks plug-in on both Safari and Chrome, making them both accessible to the server and vise-versa. Logically, I only need to backup and sync, only, my Safari bookmarks to the server. Chrome, using its own installed Xmarks plug-in can adopt the same bookmarks and install them in a like manner. Regarding Chrome’s import bookmarks function, well, doesn’t do the job like Xmarks does, especially when I would need to update my sites every now and then. That easy.

You wouldn’t mind if I tell you that Xmarks is a FREE download, right? You can download HERE

Pressing on rock played the intro of Maroon 5′s Sunday Morning; that familiar raw, subdued kick, and hard snare that precede the lazy groove of the song. On R&B, it was Akon. With the hip-hop button, it wasn’t that far, but with a much heavier rhyme and beat from Snoop Dogg. Like I mentioned, the buttons do speak for the product. These genres are where the Studios would be put to good use.

The Studio headphones create a good isolation around your ears–you only hear pure music. But pure music means “phat” beats (that’s heavy in the hiphop dictionary), beats that are electronically produced by a drum machine, or raw, analog, drum-driven rock music that is played with wild abandon. But while this pair doesn’t leave out the other details that you want to hear, it still serves a hefty amount of bass over the other frequencies. Bass that is heavy and deep, not distorted. Perfect for carrying out Timbaland’s Carry Out.

When I was younger, my definition of good sound was a system that could pump good bass. Same as most people who purchase speakers who prioritize low frequency than detail. Like they say, taste in sound does come with age. I will definitely look stupid in baggies and blings at my age but my ears haven’t abandoned any of those beats and rhyme. I confess to keeping Snoop Dogg, or Timabaland’s Shock Value album handy in my iPhone. Although this time, it is balance that I’m after. A good portion of every frequency, keeping it low not quiet. Reason why I retired my Sony EX in-ears. Sony audio is often noted for good bass reproduction. Nowadays, I find joy in the surprisingly affordable Sennheiser HD series. They play fair in the sound department without lacking delivery when the music demands for a specific frequency. Balanced pair, I should say. Enough for my 320kbps needs in iTunes.

Don’t get me wrong, the Studio pair look good and sound good, no doubt about that. They excel in specific music genres, most especially in the genre that made Dr. Dre famous. But the heavy and deep bass sound also command a heavy and deep pocket. They are sold locally at P20,000. I just hope that those who can afford and will buy the Studios do not listen to their audio in 96kbps. Well, can’t stop you from turning them into expensive blings.

Peace!

Does Adobe really care about us?

What better way to revisit blogging than with the return of Steve Jobs on the cover of Time. After all, turning bright-eyed and enlivened at the sight of this issue on my dad’s desk validates how and why this venue is titled as such.

Looking forward to having you on the next, or should I say, first entry of this blog. Listen, as the geek speaks.