Behind-the-scenes in the early days of Star Trek: TNG

Since I haven't posted lately (I have several new articles in the works), here's an interesting (but brief) look at the production of TNG in its first season. This segment aired in 1988 as part of the children's TV show 'Reading Rainbow', hosted by none other than LaVar Burton. This is considered one of the first behind-the-scenes features about the then-new series.

ST: Phase II dives headfirst into Klingon politics in' Kitumba'

Although Star Trek doesn't have a huge history of canceled TV or film projects, there are a few worth noting. Star Trek: Phase II is one of them. Originally developed in the 1970s as a continuation of Classic Trek, the series' pilot was ultimately transformed into the feature film Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979.

The present incarnation of Phase II (formally New Voyages) isn't on TV, but instead is a long-running web series, one of the first mainstream fan productions to hit the cyberwaves. Starring James Cawley as Kirk and produced by the Cawley Entertainment Company, Phase II has since turned into one of the most highly-regarded fan productions on the web.

What does the aborted Phase II TV project have to do with all this? One of the Cawley's goals is to produce scripts written for the aborted series. Two such episodes have already been released, in addition to five original stories and three vignettes (all of which can be downloaded here).

Phase II's most recent episode is 'Kitumba', a Klingon-centric show originally written by John Meredyth Lucas. Had it been produced in the '70's, 'Kitumba' would have established a very different culture for our favorite galactic warriors than what was later created for TNG.

'Kitumba' takes us to the heart of the Klingon Empire where Kirk and the Enterprise must convince the Empire's new, teenage ruler to stop a war with the Federation. The conflict could lead to mutual destruction for both sides, but is it the Emperor's war to stop?

This latest installment from Phase II does a nice job of bridging the gap between Original Series Klingons and their Next Generation counterparts. Not only does the show neatly tie up lose ends and unanswered questions, but also gives us a peek at Klingon politics and society in the 23rd century (something TOS was never able to do). 'Kitumba's many (subtle) tie-ins and references to other episodes also help it to fit almost seamlessly into established cannon.

As always, the production values and overall quality are very high. The CG effects shots (and there are quite a few of them) are top-notch and the acting, for the most part, very respectable. The show really does resemble a professionally-produced TV episode, clearly going to great lengths to get all the details right.

For those James Cawley fans out there, you may be sad to learn that this is his final appearance as Captain Kirk before turning the reigns over to actor Brian Gross. After playing the part for over 10 years, Cawley has decided to focus on the production aspects of the project, leaving the center seat to a new Kirk.

In a second notable change, Phase II will soon be transitioning to a refit version of the Enterprise, a stepping stone, transitory design to what was finally shown in The Motion Picture (see the vignette 'Going Boldly'). The redesigned ship was originally a facet of the '70s Phase II, and has been retained with virtually no changes. The interiors of the ship, however, will remain the same.

I have no way of knowing how close to the original story this episode turned out, but 'Kitumba' is a solid episode in its own right and definitely worth checking out. The show can currently be viewed on YouTube or downloaded via the Phase II site.

Phase II's next regular episode, 'The Holiest Thing', will premiere on February 14th.

Tech Tutorial: Printing from your Android Device

Happy New Year, all!

In this day and age of mobile technology, everyone seems to do more on the go rather than at their desk. Why not take that a step farther and print from your Android tablet or phone to that printer on your desk?

The concept of cloud printing isn't a new one, but has only come into widespread use in recent years. Printers with wireless capability allow anyone connected to that printer to produce a hard copy of almost any document, email, or web page, regardless of  whether you're two feet away or anywhere on the planet. One of the best ways to go about this is using Google Cloud Print. Not only does this service support printing to any cloud-aware printer from almost any computing device, but also printers that are not wireless-capable or networked.

This article assumes that your printer supports cloud printing, has wireless capability, and is already configured. This process was tested using an HP printer.

What You Need:

• A wireless printer that supports cloud printing
• An Android device
• A Google account

The Process:

There are plenty of apps in the Play Store designed to provide printer support, but many you have to pay for. Google Cloud Print, on the other hand, is totally free and works with most applications.

The most current version of Android includes Google Cloud Print, so it's merely a matter of configuring the app for your specific printer.

Wireless-enabled printers usually have an email address that allows documents to be mailed directly to the device for printing (as an alternative to using cloud print services). This address also acts as your printer's identifier over the Internet. 

• Go to the Google Cloud Print webpage to determine if your cloud-enabled printer is compatible.
• HP users need not worry as all HP ePrint printers are compatible with this service.

• Log into to your Google account.
• If you wish to configure printing for multiple Google accounts, simply set each one up individually using these same steps.

• Using your printer's web interface, front display panel, or documentation, locate the device's email address. 
• Note that your printer manufacturer may require you to register your printer with them before the email address is made active.  

• On the Cloud Print webpage, follow the prompts to register the address using your mobile device.
• Note that doing this from a device other than the one you wish to print from will configure that device for cloud printing.

• Print a test page to make sure configuration was successful.
• Google Cloud Print will give you this option after setup is complete.

• Test print from other apps (such as your browser, office suite, email client, etc.) to confirm that they've been properly configured as well.
• Your wireless printer should now appear under your app's print screen.
• For some apps, it may be necessary to manually select the Cloud Print option, as your mobile device may default to other print methods.
• If your device has the HP Print Service Plugin preinstalled, it can be disabled under Settings > System > Printing > HP Print Service Plugin.

The Google Cloud Print screen on a desktop web browser.

A note on privacy: as with any cloud-based application, you run the (small) risk of your documents being viewed by others who may intercept the print request. This chance is greatly reduced by the fact that all print requests are encrypted via HTTPS. In addition, Google keeps a copy of your document for a brief time to ensure the print went through properly, but this is deleted from their servers afterward. 

If you have privacy concerns, I'd recommend using a local printer (that is, one that's only accessible by a directly-connected computer or over a home network) for documents containing personal or confidential information.

I hope you've found this tutorial useful in getting Google Cloud Print configured on your mobile Android device.

Happy Holidays from the Enterprise Bridge!

With the big day coming up tomorrow, I just wanted to wish all of you out there in cyberspace a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! This is my final post for the year, so a huge thank you for dropping by and checking out my blog! If you like what you see here, please take a moment to share this site with your friends and help me build up that reader base :-)

Enjoy the holiday, stay safe out there, and see you all in the new year!

LG840G: a solid semi-smartphone from Tracfone Wireless

Looking for a solid, inexpensive phone, but don't want to deal with those pesky contracts? Tracfone has you covered.

Although the LG840G is far from being a new device, it's the latest in Tracfone's efforts to modernize their phone selection. A bit of a cross between a standard feature phone and a (very) low-end smart phone, the 840G packs some interesting features that puts it above all others in Tracfone's lineup. Like one YouTube reviewer put it, "this phone is the leading edge of the trailing edge of cell phone technology."

Costing just under $20 USD reconditioned (or up to $60 USD new), the 840G features a 3.2-inch compacitive touchscreen, 3G/wi-fi connectivity, Bluetooth capability, a 2 GB micro-SD card, and triple minutes for life.

Update: at the time of this writing, the 840G was the best Tracfone had to offer. Very recently, they made available two full-fledged Android smartphones, the ZTE Valet ($99.99 USD) and the Samsung Galaxy Centura ($129.99 USD). Other newly-released smartphones, such as the LG Optimus, are only available through select online retailers such as QVC or HSN. I was wondering when Tracfone would start releasing 'real' phones -- I guess I have my answer...

Appearance & Build Quality
The 840G is definitely one of the more solid Tracfones I've used. It's somewhat heavier than the 800G, but only slightly larger in dimensions. In contrast to the 800G's rounded corners (which make the phone fit nicely in the hand), the 840G is much more rectangular with 'sharp' edges. The battery cover is made of a cheaper plastic and snaps (rather than slides) into place. Even so, after being locked into place, it doesn't at all feel flimsy and can't easily pop off.

There are only two physical buttons, the volume rocker switch (left side), and the power/lock button (top). A standard 3.5 mm headphone jack is also on the top of the phone, with the charging port on the bottom. The 840G really does look and feel like a small smartphone, and could easily pass for one at a distance.

The Screen
The compacitive touchscreen is light-years ahead of the resistive display on the 800G. It's much more responsive and can be used with a light touch. Considering the screen's low resolution, the display is bright, clear, and easy to read. The overall larger display allows for much easier use of the on-screen QWERTY keyboard, although people with big fingers may still have trouble.

The Camera
The 840G's camera is a fairly standard low-end camera phone, maxing out at 2 megapixels. It's not a great 2 megapixels at that, but it works fine as a backup or I-don't-have-a-real-camera camera. It doesn't appear to be as sensitive to movement as the 800G's camera is -- the 800G camera would constantly blur with the slightest movement. I've yet to test the phone's video capability.

Internet Connectivity
The 840G is the first Tracfone to come equipped with both 3G and wi-fi internet. This puts the 840G into the realm of 'semi-smartphone'. Is it a good web-surfing platform? Not really, but for the basics, it works fine.

Wi-fi access is totally free, but surfing at 3G speeds will quickly eat up your airtime. The included web browser is pretty basic and doesn't handle complex sites very well. This can be remedied by installing Opera Mini, a portable version of the Opera desktop web browser.

The phone also comes with an email client, but I haven't had any luck getting it to work properly. On the other hand, the generic social networking app seems to work fine for Facebook, and even allows for photo uploads. If that's not enough, the phone supports most Java-based apps.

Battery Life
Under light use, the phone will last about a a week before the battery dies. Beware that if wi-fi is turned on, the battery will drain in half that time. Also keep in mind that when the battery is low, the phone doesn't give much warning, so charging proactively is probably a good idea.

Operating System
Althouth the 840G looks like an Android smartphone, it runs a stock LG phone operating system, featuring three home screens (contacts, widgets, & app shortcuts) and an app tray. It's very similar to the one on the 800G, but with some marked improvements. Overall, the OS is very easy to navigate, especially for former 800G users. Even Android users will (more-or-less) feel right at home. Needless to say, it's not nearly as flashy as Android or iOS, but it's solid and functional.

If you're looking for a cheap phone that does all the basics plus a few extras, check out the LG840G. It may not be cutting edge, but it's more than sufficient for any Tracfone user.

Europa Report: a highly-satisfying, slow-building space thriller

"Fear. Sacrifice. Contact."

The near-future. A privately-funded, international team of astronauts set off on a mission to search for life on Europa, Jupiter's largest moon. Despite a systems failure that leaves the spacecraft out of communication with Earth, the mission goes on, leading to a surprising discovery. But at what cost?

Told in found-footage style, the film is a pretty convincing look at what a real-life, deep space mission might look like. To my knowledge, this is the first movie to capitalize on the possibility of life on Europa, something that's long been believed but never confirmed. Is Europa Report a bit science-heavy? Yes. Is it slow-moving? Yes. Is it a horror movie about evil aliens on a distant world? Most definitely not. Instead, Europa Report is more of a chilling 'what-if' film that leaves you wondering about the possibilities.

Almost all the footage is shot using wall-mounted or hand-held cameras, interspersed with earth-based scenes of scientists later analyzing the mission. This aspect really adds to the movie's feeling of 'authenticity', since no real space mission has room for a full-fledged camera crew. In true found-footage style, Europa Report doesn't really feel like a movie, but instead like a collection of roughly-edited clips from the ship's data recorders chronicling the mission. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done.

Despite the movie's modest budget, the special effects are more than adequate. The visuals aren't quite on-par with other sci-fi films that have come out recently, but fit the context of this movie well. It's nice to see a movie that's not so heavily reliant on special effects for a change -- that's obviously a major trend lately, but would have ruined the 'feel' of the film had it been done that way.

Verdict: Europa Report is a very well done and scientifically intriguing movie, much more so than what I was expecting from a (fairly) low-budget production. It's especially worth checking out for those of you who want to put the 'science back in science fiction', or are looking for a more realistic portrayal of near-future space exploration. In addition, fans of 2001: A Space Odyssey and 2010: The Year We Make Contact will feel right at home with the movie's pace and feel.

I'd love to see something like this happen for real someday, but for now, we'll all just have to settle for films like Europa Report. Don't miss it!

Ender's Game: a worthy adaptation of a classic tale?

"This is not a game."

Set a century in the future, an unusually brilliant young man, Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin, is recruited and trained to lead Earth space forces in a final battle against an alien race.

For those of you unaware, Ender's Game is based on the 1984 military sci-fi novel of the same name by author Orson Scott Card. The highly-successful book spawned several sequels following Ender's later exploits as an adult. These dealt with the ramifications of Ender's actions in the original novel and his taking on the role of 'speaker for the dead'. I was originally introduced to the series by my seventh grade English teacher, and after a pretty long hiatus, I started re-reading them in anticipation of this movie. If you're looking for something new to read with really well-developed characters and a highly-engaging story, check out this series.

As far as book adaptations go, Ender's Game is surprisingly close to its source material -- it probably helped that the original author co-produced the film, but even so, it's unusual to find 'good' adaptations of even the best novels. For example, for those of you familiar with Burroughs' classic novel A Princess of Mars and it's recent Disney film adaptation, you know what I mean.

As close an adaptation as it is, Enter's Game does condense the plot considerably to fit a two-hour window, but manages to do so without loosing too much of the original story. I'm pleased to say, though, that in the process of condensing, few plot details where altered to fit the faster-paced story. The only major tradeoff is a story that feels a bit rushed and forced at times.

Aspects of the story such as Ender's time at the Battle School is (somewhat) glossed over in favor of focusing on the latter half of the novel. Other elements, like Ender's empathy for the alien queen and his relationship with Valentine, are only touched on. The book's Earth-based sub-plot involving Valentine and Peter's political writing endeavors and Peter's rise to power are completely absent. There are others, but suffice to say, it's impossible to fit a few hundred pages worth of material into a one two-hour movie. Overall, the producers did a decent job of finding compromise.

Like many sci-fi movies this year, Ender's Game is pretty special effects-heavy. Although the story involves very little space travel, much of the computer technology talked about in the book was updated for a 21st century audience and looks quite stunning. The film, for instance, replaces references to dots on a radar screen (in the simulator scenes) to completely immersive holographic displays controlled by hand movement. This was clearly an excuse to show off cool starship designs and space combat, but I'm definitely not complaining. It's unfortunate this movie wasn't released in 3-D since the visuals could have benefited from it.

If you're looking for a sci-fi action film, Ender's Game probably isn't for you. On the other hand, if you're a fan of the book series or like military sci-fi films, definitely check out this movie. It's taken nearly 30 years, but we finally have a fairly solid, big-screen adaptation of this classic tale and a good sci-fi film in its own right.