February 09, 2008
Tentative deal to end the Strike
This blog is very much pro-labor. Having been a union man myself-- and always having been a member of the suburban proletariat, I know exactly what it means to not have a collective bargaining agreement with an employer. If case you're wondering: it means that you take whatever the boss wants to give you, and you (in the words of one former employer) are "grateful you have a job".
Anyway, there's a deal on the table. It's going to the Guild for a vote. There's a copy of the deal memo online. It looks like it adresses most of the major points of contention, though I'm not cognizant enough of the fine points to say if this is a good deal or not. If it's being brought to the guild, it's probably an acceptable deal-- a step up from a year ago...
Posted by Andrew at 09:34 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2007
The Ultimate Trojan Horse meme virus
Dear Soviets: We've just invented something that will increase our economy a bajillion fold. At the same time, if you try to implement it, it will destroy you. Surprise!
"DARPA's mission is ''to prevent technological surprise to the U.S., but also to create technological surprise for our enemies,' "
(Source: DARPA: Bridging the Gap; Powered by Ideas, Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, Feb. 2005, p. 1." found here on page 17)
Posted by Andrew at 02:20 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2007
Apple Screws up
Apple warns iPod users against Vista | Breaking News | News | Telegraph
But Apple is still warning PC users not to use Vista until it can release a completely new version of the iTunes software.
Apple’s website states: “Apple recommends that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes which will be available in the next few weeks.”
So, Apple had how many months to make a version of iTunes that was compatible with Vista? It doesn't seem to have done so. Just about every other software maker was able to, but not Apple. By shear coincidence, Apple also benefits from a slow Vista launch. Hmm...
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November 29, 2006
Ancient computing
Ancient Computer Found, Can't Play Doom - Gizmodo
So, some scientists have found what may be the world's oldest computer. Which is kind of rad...
What this shows me is not the hight of ancient technologies, but rather it's limitations. The computer was made of gears; Each gear was hand cut. Until humanity was able to mass-manufacture precision instruments, we would always be stuck using such crude tools...
Though perhaps had they stuck with such designs, our ancestors would have developed such tools. All of this brings to mind the simple question: if the thing was so bleeding useful, why did people stop using it? Surly the Romans (who conquered the Greeks) would have found it just as useful-- and there must have been a Greek slave willing to trade the design for his freedom...
I would submit that this machine didn't work nearly as well as we think it might have...
Posted by Andrew at 04:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 16, 2006
A look back
3 years ago, I set out, in a series of posts, to determine what the "Next Generation" consoles would look like (X-Box, Play Station, and Nintendo). Well, here we are. Its 2006, and within a month all 3 players will be ready. Indeed, Microsoft is already out there. How’d I do?
Well... I rock. I know at least enough to be a Microsoft or Sony executive. Though given the track records of each company, perhaps that’s not saying much. I predicted that each system would ship with modern versions of then-current Xbox equipment. Granted that MS and Sony make gamers buy the “platinum” package, or whatever they’re calling their boxes...
My prediction was that Sony would have to play catch-up, and no know how. I seem to have been correct on this: no one I know is all that excited about the Sony system. MS decided to give us the best controller on the market; making it small enough to fit in your hands (an actual issue!), full of analog-y goodness, and wireless. In effect, they went from stealing Sony’s controller to stealing Nintendo’s...
Speaking of Nintendo. man was I wrong! While everyone else was letting their system evolve, Nintendo was pulling off a Revolution. They completely rethought the way games ought to be played, and have managed to build genuine excitement about their new concepts. I was right about one thing: Nintendo is aggressively marketing the idea that the Wii can play GameCube games...
Over all: I did fairly well. Not great—I completely missed the Nintendo thing—but pretty well. I also predicted that Microsoft would be the big winner this time around. That forecast seems to be bearing out...
Posted by Andrew at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2006
Instant Messaging.
I’ve been using the internets since Al Gore invented them. I remember back when you Prodigy users couldn’t send Emails to AOL users. I won’t swear by the exact process (almost undoubtedly the market began to demand, rather than disdain it), but eventually Email—and just about every other function of an ISP—broke free of it’s walled garden. Users could send Email to users of other systems. And just about then—call it 1996--, Instant Messaging became big...
I’ve long shaken my head at the need to have either 4 separate programs open (AIM, Gtalk, Yahoo!IM, MSN Messenger), or to have an ugly kludge like Trillian or GAIM. Even when I have such a beast, it requires up to 4 accounts. This began to change a bit with the last Beta versions of MSN messenger and Y!IM, which can actually talk to each other...
Ideally, Instant messaging would be just one more use of bandwidth, which any Email address could be plugged into any client. I’d like my computer’s address book to function as my buddy list. And so forth. This just got a step closer to reality when LiveJournal introduced their Instant Messaging service. LJIM isn’t that big a deal in and of itself. The fact that it’s build on an open network is a big deal. It means that users of LJIM and GTalk – two separate networks—can now talk to one another. It didn’t require a negotiation, or a compromise, or even an acknowledgement that the other company exists. The fact that users of either system can talk to the other is a boon for both...
That’s how IM will integrate. A service or network will decide that they wish to offer Instant Messaging, and rather than create their own proprietary protocols (which takes time/money), they will use the Jabber network. I could see Comcast setting something up in the next year or so. Eventually, the big 3 will find themselves having to either open up or be shut out. The market begins to demand it...
Posted by Andrew at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
August 02, 2006
Tunderbird HO!
The Rumbling Edge: Thunderbird 2.0 Alpha 1 Released - Changelog Part 1 of 2
Some of you know that I am fan of Mozilla's Thunderbird Email client. It's about to get better...
Looking at the change log (top link of this entry) makes it very clear the future direction of Email clients. A couple years ago, Google revolutionized Email with their Gmail system. I don't use anything else: Gmail has a great interface. Now Thunderbird will be emulating it. I can't wait to try it out. If it lives up to expectations, you can expect hearty exhortations to switch over. Indeed, if you're using Outlook Express, you're gonna receive that exhortation no matter what...
Posted by Andrew at 06:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 08, 2006
Word to the WISE
As some of you may recall, I’ve given Linux a try a few times. I love the idea of Linux. I love the idea of an operating system that doesn’t care what browser I use, or what word processor I’m typing on, or any of the scores of things that Microsoft is invested in. Yet no mater how much I like Linux in theory, its execution seems lacking...
Specifically, its executables seem lacking. Here’s the process when I use Windows:
1) I download the file
2) I double-click the file that ends in “.exe” or “.msi”
3) I hit “I agree” once then “next” a bunch of times
4.1) I may have to reboot.
4.2) I use the damned program
Here’s how that runs when I use Linux
1) I download the file
2) I stare at the file helplessly while I try to figure out what to do next. I’ve heard rumors of something called “apt-get”? Where is that? the hell? I dunno what to do. Why did I even bother with Linux? Gah! This is so frustrating..
3) Abandon the attempt. Reformat the hard drive to remove Linux. (Reformatting, you see, is easier than installing a program)
It isn’t like Linux developers are blind to this problem. Linspire has developed an entire business model around it. Other developers use a similar method of program-delivery. Basically each distribution vendor takes responsibility for each bit of software that will go onto user’s computers, and gives it whatever tweaks and bits that will make it work for their users. Imagine if the easiest, most simple method of getting new programs was to download them from Microsoft...
Linux is making great strides towards becoming a viable desktop operating system. No matter how pretty Linux’s new eye candy, no matter how "secure"* is, no matter the great new features, if I can’t decide to install a great new program no one has ever heard of before—or even an older program the 6 person staff who make my distro don’t use— Linux has no utility for me. The problem is solvable, if the will is there...
*I have this sneaking suspicion that half of Linux’s security reputation rests on this very inability to install programs.
Posted by Andrew at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2006
building a better internet
Ezra Klein: Net Neutrality and Utopia
Posted by Andrew at 11:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 24, 2006
Actual Bug Report
Steps to Reproduce: 1. Create 2 unique user accounts (for steps sake, let's call the two accounts Joe and Mary) in Windows XP Home. 2. Logout and sign-in under Joe. 3. Open Firefox and go to an e-mail site or to jdate.com or wherever. 4. Attempt to log-in to the site so that Firefox will ask whether or not you want your password saved. 5. Choose not to save the password. 6. After successfully logging in and having selected the "never save password" option, logout. 7. Log-in as Mary and open Firefox. 8. Browse, browse, browse... but you don't really have to. Just go to "View Saved Passwords," click on the tab that will show you sites to never save passwords for, and you'll see whatever painful site Joe denied to save a password for. 9. Break-up with fiancé.
Posted by Andrew at 01:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2006
Dear Google,
Why on Earth have you not integrated your Desktop and your RSS Reader. It isn't like you don’t have RSS functionality built into the Desktop. And it isn’t like that RSS reader is any good...
Posted by Andrew at 11:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 19, 2006
Future of computing.
See, the thing is: the cell phone is already as compact as it’s going to get. But we want more features from it. Interface becomes the limiting factor. Something like this pen
is the way we’re pretty much going to have to go...
Posted by Andrew at 12:53 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 04, 2006
Told 'ya!
Google denies plan to enter dying, low-margin PC biz | The Register
Posted by Andrew at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 03, 2006
Don’t believe a word of it
Google to develop a cut-price PC
Just try to imagine a Google operating system. Every damned application you use would have to be re-written to work on this computer. Even most of Google’s own applications wouldn’t work. All this so they can do... what? I don’t see what creating their own OS and computer brand gets them that being on every computer and desktop doesn’t already do for them. Except piss off Microsoft...
Posted by Andrew at 01:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 28, 2005
If this isn't a hoax, it'll be damned cool!
Don't have a LAN connection, use your body - Indiatimes Infotech
Posted by Andrew at 11:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 16, 2005
Webmail 2.0
I use a desktop client (Thunderbird, for those playing along at home) to keep track of most of my Email. I also have a web-based Email account Gmail. Gmail was a revolution. For those of us who have used it, the interface completely redefined the way we think Email ought to be handled. This is no mere hyperbole; the ability to add tags Email, the "conversation view" (Gmail automatically clusters email between the same people with the same subject lines) were simply outstanding...
Which is why I don’t understand why Yahoo! and Microsoftaren’t busily ripping off the interface. There are some good and useful features being introduced; both companies are managing to stick a clone of Outlook Express onto a web server. The integrated RSS feeds and calendars that both companies are bringing in will be nice...
These features, however, are evolutionary. They take established desktop applications and stick them on the web. Perhaps Yahoo! will be able to integrate Flickr or Delicious into their systems. But that’s an entry for another day...
Posted by Andrew at 10:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 15, 2005
Web two point oohhh...
So, some of my more technically savvy readers may have heard the phrase "web2.0" of late. What this refers to is a collection of rather useful web-based applications that were developed after the .com bust of 2000. What most of these applications have in common is that they allow the user (you and me!) to add context to the web...
The two niftiest tools have been RSS feeds and Tags. Both tools are ways for users to say “I want to use this content in that way"...
As an example: You can subscribe to the RSS feed (using a reader) for my site by using this link. Rather than having to look at my site every day or so, you can get notification when I’ve updated. Simple...
In a certain sense, much of the development of Web2.0 is an outgrowth of that other big web2.0 medium: blogs. In a very real sense blogs are a method of picking and choosing news and commentary; contextualizing and deepening what had previously been less clear...
I’ll be talking more about this in coming days, but I thought I’d give you guys a reference...
Posted by Andrew at 05:27 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 30, 2005
Firefox 1.5
Well, Firefox 1.5 is out. End users won’t notice a huge difference, thought there are a couple of UI enhancements that are nice. Tabs for pages you’ve not yet read are italicized, for instance. Also, when they patch it users will no longer be required to download the whole thing and reinstall the program, you’ll only get the new code...
But it’s a bit more stable, and a bit less resource intensive, and has a bunch of new backend features that web designers will love you to have. I could list them off, but they mean almost nothing to me and probably not to you. Anyway, Go get it...
Oh, and before you do, check and make sure that any of your favorite extensions are 1.5 compatible. They all ought to be by now, but there is all the difference in the world between "is" and "ought"...
Posted by Andrew at 10:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 12, 2005
Yeah Competition!
SeattlePI.com Microsoft Blog - Yahoo-MSN IM deal
Yahoo! and Microsoft ink a deal to allow “interoperability” between their services. See, right now, if you want to be on both the Yahoo! and Microsoft Instant Message networks, you have to sign up for both, and have to run both programs separately. Imagine if Sprint phones could only talk to other sprint phones...
In the near future, if you’re on one of the IM networks, and have friends on the other, you’ll be able to chat with them sans opening a new account with that other provider. This will let people choose a program based upon interface design, rather than network size.
If only they can get AOL to sign on. As it stands currently, AOL has the worst of the IM interfaces. But since AOL also has the biggest network, most of us are locked into having them as a service...
Let’s see, Google opens up their own IM service, and now that each company’s number 1 rival has a competing product, these two messaging clients will be able to talk to each other. Google, by the way, is dedicated to allowing for an “open” instant messaging standard-- they use one that anyone can hop onto. This is probably a factor in everyone’s thinking...
Posted by Andrew at 12:24 PM | TrackBack
September 23, 2005
Geeky tomfoolery
Massachusetts verdict: MS Office format's out
It isn’t like I don’t support the State Commonwealth of Massachusetts on this one-- in principle. But there is a long way from principle to reality. The simple fact of the matter is that there are a pair of competing document standards: Microsoft’s “.doc” format, and “OAISIS”. One of these standards is accessible by just about everyone with a computer. The other will start to be used by Massachusetts...
Now, if California, Texas and New York were to join Massachusetts, things might be different. But soon, Mass. Will find themselves creating documents no one else-- including their own citizens-- can read...
Posted by Andrew at 10:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 15, 2005
Holy single point of Failure batman!
Wired News: Dutch Treat: Personal Database
This isn’t a bad idea, but putting every piece of information on one person in one database creates a huge target. They better have people monitoring it constantly...
Posted by Andrew at 08:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 30, 2005
Computer Dumb Ass alert!
Opinion: Five reasons NOT to use Linux
See, this article is actually kinda snarky. He's creating a straw man out 5 reasons people commonly give for not using Linux, and then comparing them to Windows-- in Window's disfavor. For fun and profit, er, fun, I am going to take the arguments apart...
Reason number one: Linux is too complicated Even with the KDE and GNOME graphical windowing interfaces, it's possible -- not likely, but possible -- that you'll need to use a command line now and again, or edit a configuration file.Compare that with Windows where, it's possible -- not likely, but possible -- that you'll need to use a command line now and again, or edit the Windows registry, where, as they like to tell you, one wrong move could destroy your system forever.
With Linux, of course, you need to use the command line to to complicated things like install a program. Windows makes you use the command line when you want to do everyday tasks like editing the registry-- except that there is a graphical interface for that. I don't even know how to access the command prompt, something for which I am profoundly grateful...
Reason number two: Linux is a pain to set up
It's true. After all, with modern Linuxes like Xandros Desktop or SimplyMEPIS, you need to put in a CD or DVD, press the enter button, give your computer a name, and enter a password for the administrator account.
Gosh, that's hard.
On the other hand, with Windows, all you have to do is put in a CD or DVD, do all the above, and then immediately download all the available patches. After all, Symantec has found that an unpatched Windows PC connected to the Internet will last only a few hours before being compromised.
Unpatched Linux systems? Oh, they last months, but what's the fun of that?
True, I haven’t used SimplyMEPIS, but Xandros, SUsE and Mandrake (now Mandriva) all made me do a hell of a lot more than he implies. I had to actually choose between his aforementioned “KDE and GNOME graphical windowing interfaces”-- With no knowledge of what the hell I was choosing between! Also, I have had to figure out how to “mount” the partition and a few other things like that. None of which were explained very well, but all of which had big ‘ol warning signs...
Fun!
Reason number three: Linux doesn't have enough applicationsReally now. I mean, most Linux systems only come with secure Web browsers, like Firefox; e-mail clients, like Evolution; IM clients, like GAIM; office suites, like OpenOffice.org 2.0; Web page editors, like Nvu; and on, and on, and...
Microsoft, on the other hand, gives you Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, the most popular Web browser and e-mail client around -- even though they do have a few little, teeny-weeny problems. Of course, Windows also has an IM-client, Windows Messenger, which, come to think of it, has also had some problems.
And, Microsoft also has Microsoft Office, which -- oh wait, you don't get that with the operating system, do you? You also don't get a Web page editor either, do you?
Well, still, with Windows you get so many more choices of software, don't you? Like Lotus 1-2... oh really? I didn't know that. Or, WordPerfect... oh, pretty much dead too.
Still, so long as you want to run Microsoft programs at Microsoft prices, Windows is the operating system for you!
Yeah, I remember just the other day, I booted up my SUsE partition and started playing Doom 3, until I got bored and installed World Of Warcraft. And- Wow! Google Earth looks so good under OpenGL on Linux. Not to mention the fact that I can always listen to my music whenever I want, right out of the box...
Wait, I can’t do any of that under linux. Not that the applications themselves don’t exist, but I don’t know how to get them working. Actually, many of the applications don’t exist...
Reason number 4: Linux isn't secureIf Microsoft says so, it has to be true! So what, if you can scarcely go a week without reading about yet another major Windows security problem in our sister publication, eWEEK.com's security section! Who would you rather believe -- Microsoft, or your own eyes?
son number 5: Linux is more expensive
Are you calling Microsoft a liar? Those nasty Linux companies, like Red Hat or Novell/SUSE charge you a fee for support. Others, like Linspire sell you the product. How dare they, when you can download free, fully-functional versions of almost all the Linux distributions.
Strawman and strawman. A big company is lying about its competition, fine. But no one else is talking about such things...
In short, I like Linux. I think it’s a great idea, and I really want someone to succeed at making a distribution I want to use. But right now, it simply isn’t mature enough. And articles like this one don’t help the maturity level at all...
Posted by Andrew at 03:24 PM | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
Google Desktop search 2.0
Well, google has yet another nifty new toy. In addition to desktop search, Google has added a sidebar to make information management easier. When I say "information management", I mean there’s a panel for weather, one for news, one for CPU usage, etc. If there was only one which would take my RSS feeds and let me know when something new came up, I’d be a happy man...
The thing is, Google is taking 3 of my major programs (Copernic, Desktop Sidebar, and Forcastfox), and trying to put them all in one place. I like the idea, but after a few minutes testing, the execution seems a bit lacking. Though, at this point, I am only picking a few nits. Google has sensibly created a Plugin architecture, which should help overcome some of my issues...
Posted by Andrew at 12:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 20, 2005
Google, haX0r
Posted by Andrew at 12:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 28, 2005
Sin of the times
Or perhaps a Co-sin? Well, whichever…
I was working on a paper yesterday, and needed to look up a certain statistic. I flipped through the class reader a couple times. Couldn’t find it. Finally I logged onto the school library’s website ran a search for the author, and pulled up the original paper—which turns out to have been in the reader all along...
I am starting to forget how to look stuff up without search features. I wonder if it should even be necessary? I mean, my time is valuable; there are other things I could be doing than trying to remember exactly who said what when. The simple fact is that I know it was said, and the computer can keep track of the rest. Alas, I cannot click Ctrl+F on the great keyboard of life and discover these things...
Posted by Andrew at 11:02 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 28, 2005
Google Goodies
Ever wonder what your house looks like from space? How about the City of San Francisco? Theres a new Google Toy which covers, near as I can tell, every part of planet Earth...
For the US, Canada, and England, it will give data on such things as coffee shops, movie rentals, and gas stations. In the US, it will give Zip Codes, and even congressional districts!
Its a 10 meg download, and requires a decent Internet connection (data is streamed in rather than cached locally) they recommend a fairly modern computer (say newer than 2 years). Its not available for Mac or Linux...
Posted by Andrew at 03:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 31, 2005
I put my hand on a Mac, it got GUI...
I really hate Macs. Their interface is just so... awful. It all starts with the Keyboard
Posted by Andrew at 07:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 14, 2005
game girl advance: Armistice Xbox
Xbox 360 does not compete with Sony or Nintendo. It is not a gaming console. It is a powerful device to deliver content online and over WiFi. Microsoft's real competition is Apple, Yahoo, and Google. Apple's movie-download service. Yahoo's retail channels. Google's - well, everything. Heck, throw Comcast and TiVo in there for good measure. The games are merely a means to an end - an "instant-on revenue to support an exponential expansion into the livingroom," as Eric put it over an IM chat we had.
Look, a TIVO is basically a couple of hard drives, a really powerful processor (or two), some awesomely useable software, and as quiet a cooling system as can be fitted into a box small enough to fit in the living room. So, too, is the new X-Box...
Indeed, way back on the 7th of July 2003, I wrote:
I expect each of the next gen. systems to ship with at least what the X-Box shipped with, and what the PS2 is being upgraded to: a Hard Drive, and a broadband adaptor. I also wouldn't be too surprised to see out of the box 4 controller support. To be completely honest, I don't think that there is a whole lot of room for innovation in the hardware, though the software side of things is set to explode. Other than better graphics, we shouldn't expect too much new next time aroundMore Specifically:
The reason for the Hard Drive is simple: the thing is bloody useful. Players are able to turn their consoles into media centers (more on that later), bringing the much-anticipated "convergence" around in a way that no one quite saw coming. It also lowers load time dramatically, increasing the intensity of game play by not forcing the player to pull out of the game's world...
Hot damn, 100% accurate! Am I good or what? Indeed, I may not have gone far enough-- Microsoft seems to be going completely convergence happy, taking advantage of the existing home networking infrastructure and letting people play movies and music, as well as their games...
One thing that Microsoft really doesnt get enough credit for is interface design. I have constantly found them to be the best at figuring out how people want to use software, and designing their interfaces around that. So I fully expect Microsofts DVR software to be better than TIVOs. All in all, I cant wait to get my hands on one of these things. And in a couple of years, so will my parents...
Posted by Andrew at 10:38 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
April 30, 2005
Nero fiddled...
Kevin Drum Raps about Thunderbird. I dont have much to add here, besides noting A) if youre my parents, you should think about switching and B) I havent had any problems with spam. Of course, since I have a Gmail account that is given out to everyone, and a personal home account for friends and family, my spam issues are pretty small...
Having said that, Mr. Drum also mentions some issues with the free anti-virus program AGV. He mentions the problem its email scanner caused my email to cease functioning altogether.
I, too had this problem using AGV and Thunderbird in conjunction. The problem is not solvable, as far as I know...
See, Thunderbird has a single file for the entire inbox. When a virus gets sent along as an attachment, AGV quarantines the file-- the entire Thunderbird inbox. This makes Thunderbird stop working...
Nero operates differently, and thus doesnt have that same problem...
Posted by Andrew at 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 15, 2005
Thuderbird is not Outlook
The Mozilla foundation has a pair of toys on the market: Firefox and Thunderbird. Firefox has become a media darling-- and is probably the best browser on the market. If youre not using it right now, go download it and get started! Go on, this article is will be waiting for you...
Now, Thunderbird, Thunderbird hasnt gotten the attention. Its a very well done Email client, with direct integration of RSS feeds, good spam filters, and its as themeable and extendable as Firefox. It is in every sense a wonderful replacement for Outlook Express. If you wish to download it, you can simply hit the button on the upper-left side of this blog, the one labeled "Thunderbird". If youre my parents, I am specifically writing this to you...
The thing is, Thunderbird is Email. Thunderbird is not Email, calendar, notes, etc. It is most certainly not an Outlook killer. Outlook is a big, corporate sized tool that works fast and well. Someday in the near future, The Mozilla foundation hopes to have a tool that builds onto Thunderbird, and will be able to be as feature-rich as Outlook, but it aint there yet...
Which should be obvious. I dont know why This article was even written. Its a bit like complaining that no one is switching to Itunes for movie watching-- it isnt meant to do that...
If, however, youre using Outlook express, (and not using Hotmail), feel free to switch on over to Thunderbird. Youll never want to look back...
Posted by Andrew at 06:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 01, 2005
April fools from Google?
Of course, last April fools Google joke was Gmail...
Posted by Andrew at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 21, 2005
Reading better than Typing?
"Holding other family characteristics constant, students perform significantly worse if they have computers at home," the authors conclude. By contrast, children with access to 500 books in their homes performed better. The negative correlation, the researchers explain, is because children with computers neglect their homework more.The Royal Society's quantative approach mirrors concerned raised by qualitative analysis of technology in education. Children are now awash with "facts", but don't know what to do with them.
Schoolchildren are developing a "problem-solving deficit disorder", and losing the ability to analyze. A better way, experts insist, is to encourage creativity. And the best remedy for this is to turn off the computer and stimulate childrens' imaginations.
Well, when you put it that way, duh...
Of course, if we really wanted to get to this, wed have to significantly change the way we test in this country. Since putting facts together into interesting and useful ways requires a good deal of subjectivity, essays would have to play a more prominent roll, and multiple choice tests a lesser one. This opens up a whole nother can of worms...
Posted by Andrew at 01:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 10, 2005
Thunderbird and Gmail
Gmail got a lot of press when it was announced because it has a Gigabyte of storage. At the time it was a huge number, but since then just about everyone else in the free Email biz has caught up. The one place where Gmail excels is it User Interface design...
If youve not used Gmail (Ive got a lot of invites, so Email me), you dont know how easy Email sorting can be. Instead of dropping everything into folders, Gmail allows the user to stick a label-- or several labels-- on it, and drop the message into an archive. If you want to find it later, simply run a search for the message and Gmail will pull it up for you. In this manner, only Email you still want to see stick around in your inbox. The rest can be safely pushed into the archive...
One other feature which Gmail has is the conversation view. Conversation view groups Email to/from the same people with the same topics together into a series of tabs. No more need for ">". ">>", etc!
Together, these features represent a revolution in Email GUI design. It sounds like the design team for Mozilla Thunderbird have Caught on...
Posted by Andrew at 03:23 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2005
Pretty new toys.
If you are a user of Firefox or Thunderbird, I highly recommend you take a look at this site. Mr Spuler has done a wonderful job creating toys, tools, and themes for both programs...
Also, Google has released its 1.0 version of Google Desktop Search No word yet on how well it works (I found previous versions insistence on exact spelling to be an unforgivable problem), but after it indexes my system, well find out...
Posted by Andrew at 11:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 18, 2005
Ive heard many bad things about Microsoft...
Customers, resellers bite Apple back | The Register
But if someone had to have a monopoly, I am glad its not Apple...
Resellers in the suit are accusing the company of breaching confidentiality. Apple is using resellers' customer lists to target new customers for its own retail network of Apple stores which it began rolling out in 2001, says David Franklin, a partner at Franklin and Franklin, one of the law firms: They're stealing customers that would otherwise be more than happy to go to the normal resellers.
Posted by Andrew at 10:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 25, 2005
The future of Linux?
The Linux development process begins and ends with the programmers. While there are still some individual volunteers and government agencies that chip in, more than 90% of the patches now come from employees at tech companies. Many of those workers are formerly independent aces who have been scooped up over the past few years. Some of these people simply submit code, and others, called maintainers, are in charge of improving specific functions.
From there on, it's a continuous cycle. Individuals submit patches; maintainers improve them. Then they're passed off to Torvalds and Morton, who review the patches, ask for improvements, and update the kernel. Every four to six weeks, Torvalds releases a new test version so that thousands of people around the world can probe it for flaws. He puts out a major upgrade every three years or so. Unlike at traditional software companies, there are no deadlines. The Linux kernel is done when Torvalds decides it's ready.
This link should even work!
Posted by Andrew at 08:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 11, 2005
Funny, true
iProduct.gif (GIF Image, 640x1050 pixels)
Posted by Andrew at 11:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 09, 2005
Google's future
Posted by Andrew at 12:54 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 08, 2005
Big oops from Google
Google exposes web surveillance cams | The Register
Video surfers are using this knowledge to peek in on office and restaurant interiors, a Japanese barnyard, women doing laundry, the interior of an Internet collocation facility, and a cage full of rodents, among other things, in locales scattered around the world.
Posted by Andrew at 03:04 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 27, 2004
More from Mozilla
Mozilla's Lightning to strike Outlook?
Yes, I avoided the obvious pun. I may be the Punning Pundit, but I can show some restraints. I keep them in the nightstand...
Anyway. About two weeks ago, I was thinking to myself about the possible future for Mozilla. Since it was mid finals, though, I didnt post about it. My thinking went something like this:
FireFox is a wonderful browser, the best on the web. Thunderbird is an awesome lite Email reader. If you are using the Microsoft equivalents of these programs, for the Gods sake, switch (yes, Marcie, I am writing to you!)...
However, I keep going back to Outlook for my Email needs. It isnt all that special with Email itself, but its Calendar program is one of the most useful pieces of software I use. Outlook also has a very nice Contacts system. Name, Email address, Phone number, IM name, Picture, Birthday. All there...
And the fact that Outlook coordinates the various parts of itself is the killer feature. For instance, if I tell Outlooks Contact manager what my sisters birthday is, Outlook will add that to the calendar-- and give me enough advanced notice to actually buy a present. Ever since I called my Step-mother a month and a half late to wish her a happy Birthday (thinking I was only calling a few days late!), Ive started using this feature...
When I saw that Mozilla was working on the Sunbird calendar program, I was happy. It certainly isnt mature yet, but it is well on its way. The problem is that Sunbird wont be integrated into Thunderbird-- leaving all my information separate. Sorry, family, Im forgetting birthdays again...
So, the Lightning project is welcome news. If done right (and the current Mozilla team has a habit of doing things right) I can cheerfully ditch Outlook in favor of a heavy-duty, free Email client. Who could ask for more?
Posted by Andrew at 01:56 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 19, 2004
Gmail.
Anyone want a Gmail invite? Ive got 4 left. If you want one, send me an Email with:
Your current Email address (so I know where to send the invite!)
The personal name you wish Google to know you as.
The Surname you wish Google to know you as.
Unfortunate, Google really does need a name of some sort. Though if youre like me, youll give them a fake one just because you can...
Posted by Andrew at 01:29 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 06, 2004
Interesting...
Posted by Andrew at 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 23, 2004
Expletive deleted
Not just the expletive, actually, but the whole flipping internet.
So, I was grabbing this new icon set from a download site Ive used in the past. On occasion, they will wrap downloads with adware. No big deal, thought I: I can just get rid of the junk it will install and be on my merry way
Long story short: deleting the junk destroyed my internet connection. My computer is completely unwilling to talk to anything that isnt inside its own case. I dont have the faintest clue how to fix it, short of a full format/reinstall. I was planning on doing one of those next week when my new processor arrives, but doing one early seems a bit wastful...
Any help?
Posted by Andrew at 11:13 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 17, 2004
Ive been wondering about this.
How to use liposuction to repair Adobe Reader 6
Like (Im sure) most people, Ive long marveled at how bloated .PDF (adobe) files are. I actively avoid them, and try very hard to look at every link I click just to ensure that Im not accidentally opening one of those things...
Simply put, when I click a .PDF, it takes all of my systems (considerable) resources over a minute to load the damned thing. I stumbled upon this article from the Inquirer, though, and followed its instructions. Now .PDF files take about 15 seconds to load...
Posted by Andrew at 10:08 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
August 06, 2004
Rights for the Wronged
Dark_Indy over at Old School Gamers proposes a Bill of Rights for end users. Seems like a good idea to me. I really dig the logic on this one:
They keep saying that all you are buying is the license, what difference does it make how many copies of the software I have cluttering up my house?
Bingo.
Something to note: He spells it spywere. Technically, this should be Spyware (like I should mention someone elses spelling!) I must say that I like his version better. It has that sort of werewolf feel to it; like you thought you were getting something good, but instead it attacks you in the middle of the night and destroys your family...
Posted by Andrew at 11:45 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
I want this case...
Unleash your pc to the extreme at PCUNLEASH
Anyway, if you havent come across the V1000 before, then what Im about to show you may blow your mind. So youve been warned. Because not only is this case different on the outside, but the interiors layout is very innovative as well. But dont take my word for it. Read on, and see if this case changes the way you think about cases.
Posted by Andrew at 11:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 15, 2004
Microsoft
Despite recent evidence, Im something of a Microsoft partisan. Over the years, theyve come out with products which are consistently better than their competitors...
The key to MSs success has been to put the end users experience ahead of any other issue. People who dig into MS code are often driven nuts by this, but Ive never heard my parents complain about Internet Explorer being non-standards compliant. What MS does _very_ well is to ensure that the same operations will reach the same outcomes. Try this: open your web-browser. Find some text. Press and hold the left mouse button, and drag it along that text. Release. Press Ctrl^C. Open anything onto which text can be dumped. Press Ctrl^V. the text shows up!
It doesnt have to be that way. Programs could use other keys. Programs could not support this feature at all. Programs _could_ make the ctrl key shut down your computer. But MS decided that all their programs would work together, and work the same way. If MS hadnt done this, my parents would probably not notice that it was missing. They probably dont notice that its there. But they use it, and their lives are easier because of it...
How about a more extreme example?
I first heard about this from one of the developers of the hit game SimCity, who told me that there was a critical bug in his application: it used memory right after freeing it, a major no-no that happened to work OK on DOS but would not work under Windows where memory that is freed is likely to be snatched up by another running application right away. The testers on the Windows team were going through various popular applications, testing them to make sure they worked OK, but SimCity kept crashing. They reported this to the Windows developers, who disassembled SimCity, stepped through it in a debugger, found the bug, and added special code that checked if SimCity was running, and if it did, ran the memory allocator in a special mode in which you could still use memory after freeing it.(emphasis orig.) Joel Spolsky (read the whole thing)...
Because it served my parents, MS made sure SimCitys bugs worked.
The problem with MS is that theyre lazy. They work _very_ hard as long as there is competition. They put out products which are better than anyone elses as long as there is market share to gain. Once they crush their competitors, they pretty much stop. After IE6, they basically stopped work on IE. I dont know that this sort of behavior will ever go away-- I do know that since I want Internet Explorer to be better, I use Firefox...
Whats amusing to me is how much people who create software (especially in the open-source community) sneer at Microsofts efforts to make my parents happy. Some of them are starting to understand the connection between my parents and commercial success (Linspire is a good example). Until everyone does, though, Microsoft is going to rule...
Posted by Andrew at 11:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 07, 2004
I Vote Death
Nigerian big wig spammers caught in the net
Posted by Andrew at 01:26 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2004
Is Microsoft Replaceable?
Macintosh and Linux (for some reason, I can't find any people on my blogroll who use Linux, though I know some of my readers do) users are laughing at this question, but the vast majority of us use Microsoft products every time we hop onto a computer...
Microsoft's three basic strengths are its Web Browser, Email clients, and Office Suite. While many have criticized MS for letting these tools become stagnant, Its been a long time since I've experienced any product on the Market that was as good as, let alone, better than, what MS was putting forth...
Make no mistake an operating system is chosen mainly on the basis of the applications that will run on top of it: until someone other than MS is making tools as well as MS does, Windows will always be the market leader...
(yes, yes, Apple makes shiny toys better than MS does. I'll even grant that Safari is better than IE-- without having ever used Safari. But Apple lacks an Office suite that works as well as MS's. Until they have one, Apple will be stuck with the market share that they have now...)
So, in this round-up, I pit Firefox against Internet Explorer, Thunderbird against Outlook Express, and Open Office against Word. I'll even lower the bar a bit: if an application is within shouting distance of the MS product, it'll get the nod...
First up, we have Firefox. Firefox is a nice little (free) browser that has done everything I have asked it to. This product is actually better than its Microsoft Equivalent. Perhaps the easiest-to-notice to use Firefox is tabbed browsing. This is something which you'll have to experience to understand how it works, but in a nutshell, tabs are a tool for Internet junkies to keep their desktops from being too cluttered...
Next most obvious feature is pop-up blocking. I'd forgotten how ubiquitous pop-ups were until I turned off my Googlebar for a while. Boy, those things are annoying. With Firefox, I'll never have to deal with another one...
The best thing that Firefox has done is more of a design concept than a feature. I'll let them explain it:
We've put a lot of thought into making using Firefox easy and obvious. Browsers like Mozilla and Opera seem to be focused more on esoteric features, at the expense of all-round usability. That's why we have created a browser that works in the simplest and most straight-forward way out of the box. Defaults have been carefully chosen so you don't need to spend time setting up the browser. Menus and dialog boxes are kept clean and free of options that only a marginal number of people use. If there's a feature that Mozilla or Opera has that Firefox lacks, it's probably for good reason. But if you really do need a particular enhancement, a large number of quality extensions are available for free. -Why you should switch to Firefox.
If you decide to switch, the first thing it will ask you is if you want to copy your Internet Explorer settings over to Firefox. After that, it just gets better...
I've not used Outlook Express in a long time. I may never use Outlook for my mail again. Thunderbird is a full-featured, nice looking, fast Email client. It does a good job at checking my spelling (anyone who has Instant Messenged with me knows my spelling is piss-poor), and its contact list may actually be superior to Outlook. It doesn't have Gmail's Lables or Conversation View, but otherwise this thing is damned near perfect. If they'd only add a calender (Someone is working on it), I'd ditch Outlook altogether...
This program will also let you import your Outlook/Outlook Express settings/mail/contacts right in. A useful feature...
Open Office is probably the weakest link of the three programs. It has the most settings that need tweaking out of the box, its Spell checker is not as robust as I should like (it misses "repeat words", and doesn't correct things lik ethis-- a fairly major failing given my typing habits). I've been keeping my eye on this product for a year or so now, and it has most definitely come a long way...
I almost decided to ditch Word for it completely when I thought I saw that it had a bibliography feature (An obvious feature I'll never understand why it is missing from current Word Processors.) Unfortunately it was only the creators of the program bragging that they'd written a book...
I've written this whole post on Open Office, and after posting to the web, I'll chuck this program and go back to Word. Open Office is almost there, but not quite...
Conclusion
The two programs that I tested which are done by Mozilla are definitely ready for prime time. They function well, have good defaults, and let me know what I am doing. Firefox is actually good enough that I installed it on my Parents' computer, as well as my roommate's over the weekend. I recommend them highly...
The third is a program which I'd recommend to anyone looking to ditch Microsoft (but not someone who depends on a word proccessor for a living. Sorry, Mr. Scalzi) : there's a penalty involved as far as ease of use is concerned, but not a big one. I fully expect that within a couple of years, that penalty will have gone away completely...
Posted by Andrew at 11:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 25, 2004
Well well!
Moneycontrol.com - News Detail
Link comes from a reader...
An Indian company could power internet giant Google's next killer application. Geodesic Information Systems, a Mumbai-based company listed on the BSE, is believed to be running a pilot project for what could some day be the Google Instant Messenger.
I wonder if it will have all the features I want. Especially the RSS reader...
Posted by Andrew at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 16, 2004
Best Computer ever!
Hot damn! I wonder how well it cools?
Posted by Andrew at 09:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 19, 2004
The last sentance should give the EU pause...
European politicians. Remember democracy?
Posted by Andrew at 08:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 23, 2004
if this is true...
It might just spell the end of Windows. Of course, we've heard this claim before...
Posted by Andrew at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 22, 2004
Pretty...
Sony's Electronic Paper eBook Bound For Greatness
Posted by Andrew at 09:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 15, 2004
Bingo!
Linux will fall flat on its face --" report
Oh, come on, send your letters in...
Posted by Andrew at 09:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 18, 2004
Well well! This looks interesting...
Wired News: Aussies Pull Broadband out of Air
I wonder how long it will take to get here and how cheap it will be when it does?
Posted by Andrew at 10:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2004
If, by "months", he means 24-36...
AMD's Jerry Sanders says 64-bit switch to take 'months, not years'
Posted by Andrew at 09:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 14, 2004
Spam spam spam spam!
Click it!
Posted by Andrew at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 14, 2003
Nifty Tool!
Wired News: Googling Without a Browser
Sometimes I'm just too lazy to open a browser...
Actually, this seems like a fairly nifty tool; it includes a dictionary and Thesaurus feature. Not to mention, of course, Google itself...
Posted by Andrew at 10:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Ngage!
When one creates a handset which receives universal revilement, one should make very sure that the one redeeming feature is not copyable. Bye-Bye N-Gage! It couldn't have happened to a nicer consol...
Posted by Andrew at 07:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 10, 2003
Tablets
Progress seen steady as Tablet PC turns one - Computerworld
If the Tablet PC were to have expansion slots for Video and Sound cards, it might do quite well among the gamer set. Who wouldn't like to be able to unplug their PC and take it wherever they go; the plug it into a new monitor at a different location entirely and have a desktop system?
Immagine a world were one can simply pull their PC out of the cradle and take it to a friend's house, complete with home movies, songs, video games, or office suite. Hell, why not take that computer to mom's plug it into her TV and let her watch her grandchild's first steps? Or over to your Girlfriend's apartment and plug it into her stereo? Or to a LAN party and having the ultimate in "plug 'n play"? Or, gods forbid, I can plug a headset into one and make a VoIP call. Right now Tablet PCs are being designed as very limited tools for a very limited audience. Let me turn it into a portable desktop, though, and I'll buy one tomorrow....
Posted by Andrew at 03:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 04, 2003
Striking a blow for Microsoft!
Red Hat to discontinue desktop support
Posted by Andrew at 08:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
My Office
It is my firm conviction that people use computers for Productivity first, Games second, and Creativity third. So, if I wanted to beat (or: Onezor, in the parlance) Microsoft, I will want to start with a new Office suite. Something that does things MS doesn't...
The name will be, of course, "My Office". I'd love to see MS try and claim that "my" is trade marked by them, for their exclusive use. The ensuing lawsuit would be enough for me to garner lots of personality. I would, of course, win. The name would also allow me to call my word processing program "My Word", and who could resist that?
The first thing that an office suite needs is a good dictionary. I'd simply license one from Oxford or Miriam Webster. Hell, perhaps after it becomes successful, I'd let them bid. An essential secondary to a good Office suite is a good grammar checker. I'd ask the MLA to do one, and see about incorporating their style book into the program as well. Then I'd see about getting the Associated Press to do a plug in for their style guide, just to nail home that demographic. Basically, anyone who uses words for a living is going to find themselves at home on my system...
Then we'll see about the office workers. Those people for whom the choice is either learn office or get a secretary. The time has finally come, I think, to try and make the paperless office a reality. So, all tables inserted into the My Word program would be thumbnail sized, and expand upon mouse-over. If printed, they would be thumbnail sized on paper, with reference to a full chart at the end. To be honest, I never use these things, but I'd find out what people needed them for and figure out how to make them easier to use...
Eventually, when I had created an office suite that could stand toe to toe with MS (and let's face it, nothing today really does), I would be ready to create an OS. First, I'd build it on a Linux core, just to take advantage of all the work done by those guys. Then, I'd buy WinAmp from AOL to create an A/V solution. I'd have a consistent interface across the whole platform: Basic interaction done with the left button, advanced options accessible on the right button. A nice, slick icon set because people enjoy eye candy. I'd build a nice DirectX knock off so that games can be easily made for it. Hell, I'd even port MyDirectX (or whatever) to MS, so that game developers could have an even easier time creating games for both OSs...
And I would give people who already own My Office for MS a free upgrade to My Office for MyOS, just to make the cost of switching that much less. And after all, everyone knows that without productivity software, no one will use the OS...
Posted by Andrew at 04:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 28, 2003
.Mac, meet .Net.
As far as I know, Apple Computers was the first company to market a computer suitable for home use. This should have granted them an enormous lead over the rest of the industry, and should have guaranteed them a leadership position within the industry. What has happened instead is an upstart has taken over 90% of the world's desktop space. The reason, I think, is simple...
Microsoft decided that it would make its money in selling productivity. Their famous package is Microsoft Office; a set of programs so ubiquitous that it is almost inconceivable to run a computer without one...
Apple, on the other wrist, decided to make its money by allowing people to be more creative. Their standard has always been pretty OSs and graphics programs that make your eyes melt. Hell, the top ten reasons to switch are basically "be creative, be creative, it's pretty"...
Mac has a small problem, though. Creativity is a luxury item, productivity is a necessity. There are a small percentage of people (maybe 3%) for whom being creative pays, for the rest of us, we need Office. And Office just doesn't work as well on the Mac. I don't know if Apple will view this as a problem, they seem quite happy with their market niche...
Ultimately, though, parents don't buy computers for their children's dorms so that they can take digital pictures, or chat well, or listen to music. My Dad gave my Sister a computer so that she could do her homework. And for the vast majority of us, that means banging away at the word processor. Apple won't be able to overtake Microsoft until it has an office suite at least as good at spell checking as Itunes is at playing music...
Posted by Andrew at 10:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 27, 2003
New Tool!
I just installed a new Microsoft program to play with; One Note. It is nominally a part of their office suite, but doesn't seem to come with any of the editions. What