Links 02/14/2009 (Post-Hugs Edition)
2008 was pretty chilly, so that means climate change is over, right? Ars Technica takes a good look at the data and concludes that one year does not a trend make.
The facts are that 2008 was cooler than the last few years, but warmer than most in recent history, which lends itself to spin based on the predilections of the person talking about it. But some of that spin specifically plays upon the widespread innumeracy of the public, which isn't well prepared to separate trends from short-term variability, or recognize when certain figures are selectively chosen. We'll try to separate out some of these in a way that will hopefully help readers make a bit of sense out of the conflicting noise.
Ars Technica: Court sides with science, says no vaccine-autism link
Another good piece from Ars looks at a recent court case regarding the purported link between MMR and autism. THe article also takes a look at other vaccine-ASD correlations and finds such connections lacking. Unfortunately, autism (like global climate change) is an issue that involves punditry, politics, and emotion to such an extent as to obscure objectivity in analyzing the facts.
In other words, I doubt this is the last we’ll hear of vaccines causing autism, even if the correlation is weak and the study upon which the claims are based is fundamentally flawed.
Daring Fireball: ‘Word Count’ Script for ThisService
This is an article on Daring Fireball from two years ago, but I think it’s insanely useful if you happen to be a Mac user. I don’t think I’ve shared it before, so I’m correcting that now.
Links 01/22/09 (Geeky Stuff)
The Macintosh computer turns 25 on Saturday, January 24. Macworld celebrates this anniversary with an entire week of articles looking at the Mac’s past and speculating about its future. I’m particularly fond of John Gruber’s piece on lessons OS X could learn from the Classic Mac OS.
Ars Technica: Paradigms lost: The Windows 7 Taskbar versus the OS X Dock
I’ve seen some complaints from Mac users that the new Windows 7 Taskbar seems eerily similar to Mac OS X’s Dock. Ars’ writer Peter Bright does a nice job in this article deconstructing the separate design philosophies and functionalities between these two interface elements and comes to the conclusion that they are more different than alike. Good stuff.
CNET: Obama Wants to Know: Why Open Source?
President Barack Obama is a smart guy. Where others zig, he zags. It's perhaps not surprising, then, that he's been asking around about the benefits of open source, according to Sun Chairman Scott McNealy, who has been asked by President Obama to author a white paper on the benefits the U.S. government can derive from open source.
Despite my love for Macs, I’ve found myself quite the advocate for open source software in government. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes.
Links 01/15/09 (Healthcare Edition)
SCHIP needs to be expanded. Period. Child healthcare can cripple families – even those who reside well above the determined poverty line. In my line of work, I see too many kids live with untreated ailments, some tragically serious, because there’s no money to pay for treatment. These are the families that don’t qualify for Medicare, who are deemed middle class by some outdated and irrelevant metric, and who simply cannot make ends meet.
Our President-Elect has this to say:
In this moment of crisis, ensuring that every child in America has access to affordable health care is not just good economic policy, but a moral obligation we hold as parents and citizens. That is why I’m so pleased that Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives came together to provide health insurance to over ten million children whose families have been hurt most by this downturn. This coverage is critical, it is fully paid for, and I hope that the Senate acts with the same sense of urgency so that it can be one of the first measures I sign into law when I am President.
This is the kind of change I can believe in. I know those who will call this wasteful spending, who will oppose it as a form of socialism. I see it as an act of badly needed mercy. Don’t let us down Senate.
For a breakdown of votes, including how your representative voted, click here. To write your senator before he or she votes on this bill, click here.
Apple: Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave of Absence
Full text:
Team,
I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.
In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.
I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.
I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.
Steve
Mr. Jobs strikes me as a fairly private person, and I bet it wasn’t easy for him to send this email out. I’m sure rampant speculation will continue among pundits in technology circles, but I like what John Gruber says in his write-up:
I “demand” to know nothing further. If this is all Jobs chooses to share regarding the specific details of what ails him, that is up to him.
Links 12/30/08 (Wrapping Up the Year)
This is a great piece about the way marketing is changing the music industry. The writer is obviously displeased with this, but he does a nice job looking at the objective inevitability of the current trend.
Some choice quotes:
The question is: What happens to the music itself when the way to build a career shifts from recording songs that ordinary listeners want to buy to making music that marketers can use? That creates pressure, subtle but genuine, for music to recede: to embrace the element of vacancy that makes a good soundtrack so unobtrusive, to edit a lyric to be less specific or private, to leave blanks for the image or message the music now serves.
Musicians who don't expect immediate mass-market radio play -- maybe they're too old, maybe they're too eccentric -- have gotten their music on the air by selling it to advertisers. That can rev up careers, as Apple ads have done for Feist and for this year's big beneficiary, Yael Naim, whose "New Soul" introduced the MacBook Air. (Sites like findthatsong.net help listeners identify commercial soundtracks.)
Perhaps it's too 20th century to hope that music could stay exempt from multitasking, or that the constant insinuation of marketing into every moment of consciousness would stop when a song begins. But for the moment I'd suggest individual resistance. Put on a song with no commercial attachments. Turn it up. Close your eyes. And listen.
I have to admit to being torn on this subject myself. I think when done thoughtfully, marketed music can be a good thing. Playing games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band has broadened my musical horizons, and I am listening to and supporting artists I might have never discovered without these games. The same is true of the music in some commercials. However, when the songwriter goes into the process trying to write something marketers will grab and exploit, then the music and artistry suffer.
To an extent, selling-out may be a necessary component to success. Even performers like Bob Dylan and Michael Stipe have paid homage to the industry, but they have both done so while retaining those qualities in their music that makes them unique. Other artists merely become carbon copies following a cookie cutter song template. As with most things, balance is key. Music for the sake of music is a great ideal, but it may limit your exposure. On the other hand, sacrificing quality for marketability cheats the artist and the listeners.
Links 12/11/08 (Cramming Edition)
The author of Open Mind writes a great piece regarding regional cold spells and how they do not contradict climate change (read: global warming).
…If we want to study global warming we should pay more attention to the globe than to less than 2% of it; second, that global warming is about climate, and that even if climate changes we’re still gonna have weather.
The real sign of global warming is in the trends, not the momentary hot or cold spells. The real danger of global warming is that it brings with it fundamental changes in a great many environmental variables, including one that is fundamental to human survival: water.
Greenfyre’s: Global Warming is over! once every decade or so …
On a related note, this post drew my attention to the Open Mind piece, and the author shows some temperature trends – Surprise! Earth’s temperature does cycle every decade or so, but the downward cycles have not been compensating for the upward trends during the past forty years.
The author also takes a hard look at the consequences to poverty-stricken peoples of the effect cliate change has on fresh water availability.
Ars Technica: Broadband, green tech get love from Obama recovery plan
"As we renew our schools and highways, we'll also renew our information superhighway," said Obama. "It is unacceptable that the United States ranks 15th in the world in broadband adoption.”
and
What Obama called "the most sweeping effort to modernize and upgrade school buildings that this country has ever seen" would be part of a broader effort to deploy energy efficient technology in public facilities. "Our government now pays the highest energy bills in the world," said Obama. "We need to change that."
Links 11/19/2008
Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are
Then I realized, “Wait, I’m a Mac user. I still have plenty to ramble on about.” The sun of hope peeked over the horizon, and I knew my life had meaning again. :-)
Balmuda Design: NumberKey
I own neither an iPod touch nor an iPhone. If I did, this would be a sure AppStore purchase. It turns either device into a wireless number pad for your MacBook. Since I use my MacBook as my primary computer, I could see how this might be helpful.
The Classic theme is particularly nice.
Live Science: God and Evolution Can Co-exist, Scientist Says
I find this stuff interesting. In this case, Karl W. Giberson, a physics professor, is saying that being a scientist does not necessitate also being an atheist or agnostic. Faith and reason can exist together without one negating the other.
Giberson has rejected fundamentalism, but remains a believer as well as a scientist. He has staked out a middle ground when it comes to the battle between Christians and Darwinists, stating that they can be reconciled with one another. He is sympathetic toward the motivations of creationists and scientists alike, though he is fed up with much of intelligent design as well as hard-core atheists.
Links 11/5/08 (Of Hope & Passing)
This was a great speech, especially the concluding story tying one voter’s life to American history.
TED: Remembering Michael Crichton
The author of Jurassic Park and Sphere died yesterday after a long private battle with cancer. He was 66.
Links 11/3/08 (Thoughtful Edition)
"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."
The family is asking well-wishers to make donations to cancer research in lieu of cards and flowers.
The Girl Effect
The charitable site is based on the premise of “the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.”
Lloyd Alexander, author (1924-2007)
I’ll wrap this up with a quote that the author of PLANET3RRY posted today:
We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.
Links 10/28/08 (No Costumes Allowed Edition)
This is an insightful article by Stephen Hawking about growing up and discovering his motor neuron disease. It’s a story that’s sincere, sometimes sad, and ultimately hopeful.
I have had motor neurone disease for practically all my adult life. Yet it has not prevented me from having a very attractive family, and being successful in my work. This is thanks to the help I have received from Jane, my children, and a large number of other people and organisations. I have been lucky, that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope.
Opinion Streams: The Conservative Christian Case for Supporting Obama
He says some of the things I’ve been thinking during this election cycle but haven’t found the words to write. I think the author slightly misuses II Timothy 2:15 by taking it out of context, but the general gist of the article is spot on.
The problem, I now realize, with the union of Christians to the GOP, is that we’ve aligned ourselves with a spokes group that sees Christians as nothing more than a voting bloc to pander to with lip service about two passion-evoking issues while ignoring other values that form the core of our beliefs. And as they grip our hearts with life and marriage, the GOP exploits our values to demonize or vilify those with opposing viewpoints.
Links 10/22/2008 (Wife Day Edition!)
LittleSnapper in action: Sharing
On his Realmac blog, Nik has loaded a video that walks through using their new application to capture, store, and upload screenshots of websites. He promises more previews to come, and LittleSnapper should be available for download before the end of the year.
Daring Fireball: The Phone Company
John Gruber writes about the iPhone’s success and how it has quickly become the strongest part of Apple’s product offerings financially. Also in the post: iPhones outsold Blackberries last quarter!
A Smattering of Obama Links
Warning: these next links reflect by personal political bias. All opinions below are expressed reasonably and without any appeal to primal fears or phobias.- The New Yorker: The
Choice: I’m late posting this one,
but the editors of The New Yorker
construct a well-written and persuasive article
about their endorsement of Barack Obama. Note
that this article was written early after the
signing of Public Law 110-343.
- The Chicago Tribune: Obama no
Socialist: How do
you know if you’re really a Socialist? Try
asking an organizer for Communist Party USA.
- Rolling Stone: Block the Vote: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Greg Palast write about the GOP’s recent attempts to create voting into an obstacle course that will disenfranchise key demographics who traditionally oppose Republican candidates. This article ties in with their new website Steal Back Your Vote.
Links 10/02/08 (Post Debate Edition)
Daring Fireball: The Fear
John Gruber writes about Apple’s seemingly random rejections of App Store submissions and the possible motivations behind these rejections in the context of how Apple can make App Store a more developer-friendly venue.
I have a theory. It is more, well, emotional than logical. But it’s the only theory I can think of that makes any sense at all and fits the available evidence. The theory is that there is an unpublished rule that Apple — and in this case, where by “Apple” I really mean “Steven P. Jobs” — will not publish third-party apps that compete with or replace any of the four apps in the iPhone’s default “dock”: Phone, Mail, Safari, and iPod.
Obama ’08: The Official iPhone Application
The neat part of this isn’t that the Obama campaign released a free iPhone application. It’s that a team of respected Mac developers put this together on a volunteer basis in about a month. Read more at iPhoneDevCamp.
via DF
Links 09/16/08
This is a collection of writings by Mr. Wallace for Harper's Magazine. Tragically, David Foster Wallace committed suicide last Friday. He was discovered by his wife of four years.
Here is a quote from a commencement speech he gave that I think is just brilliant:
The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.
That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think. The alternative is unconsciousness, the default setting, the rat race, the constant gnawing sense of having had, and lost, some infinite thing.
Jeffrey Zedman Presents: A Modest Proposal
This is a fantastic piece of writing about the dishonesty that is allowed and unquestioned in American politics. Here's the opening of the article:
It is illegal to make false claims in a TV or radio commercial unless you are running for political office.
If you’re selling toothpaste, your claims must be vetted by legal and medical professionals. But not if you’re selling a candidate.
If you’re selling a candidate, not only can you lie about his record, but more to the point, you can lie about his opponent.
I also think the first comment under the article hits the proverbial nail on the head:
The most horrifying aspect of false advertising in politics is the willingness of the American public to whole-heartedly accept these claims without even thinking twice.
Links 09/09/08 (Non Apple Tech Stuff)
The Microsoft Zune gets a nice update with new software features and a new blue color. The neatest feature allows users to tag songs they hear on FM radio to buy from the Zune Marketplace. This is great if you are one of those people who always forgets what that song is they really like!
Engadget: Microsoft's BlueTrack mice are here -- laser bids a tearful goodbye
Another nice new Microsoft product. These mice use a new wide-angle blue beam that allows them to accurately function on a greater variety of surfaces.
Lifehacker: A First Look at OpenOffice.org 3.0
Jason Fitzpatrick takes a look at how the new version of OpenOffice is shaping up with emphasis on the improvements in the Mac version.
Links 09/06/08
This is a very insightful article covering the production and marketing of the XBox 360 with a strong emphasis on Microsoft's handling of the Red Ring of Death. It's six fascinating pages of history and intrigue about (what has become) my favorite console.
I hope Microsoft learns from these experiences when it's time to release the next generation of XBox.
LiveScience: Autism and Vaccines: Why Bad Logic Trumps Science
Interesting stuff. As far as I know, no truly conclusive studies have managed to connect childhood vaccinations to autism.
According to lead author Dr. Mady Hornig, "We found no relationship between the timing of MMR vaccine and the onset of autism." In fact, the new study showed that often the first autism symptoms actually preceded the vaccination shots, and therefore could not have been caused by them.
The Seattle Times: How Obama got to convention's center stage
This is a truly fascinating insight into Obama's journey from being unable to get into the Democratic convention eight years ago to being the center of it today. Eight years ago, he couldn't get in to see Gore accept the nomination as a presidential candidate. This year, Gore was his lead-in.
Links 08/27/08 (Random Linkages of Genius)
Merlin Mann shares some completely unfair and subjective criteria to which one should subject potential reading material – specifically nonfiction. However unfair, though, I think these guidelines would prove quite effective.
Mozilla Labs: Introducing Ubiquity
It's like Quicksilver for Firefox – except you would only understand that reference if you are a Mac user. Here, watch this video. Then follow the link.
Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.
National Interest: Reflections on Leaving the Party
Susan Eisenhower writes about leaving the party for whom her grandfather had served as president.
Hijacked by a relatively small few, the GOP of today bears no resemblance to Lincoln, Roosevelt or Eisenhower’s party, or many of the other Republican administrations that came after…
As an independent I will now feel comfortable supporting people of any political party who reflect those core values.
Photosynth
This is a really amazing product coming out of Microsoft Live Labs. Unfortunately, the site only works on Windows machines at the moment, but here's a video of it being demonstrated at this year's TED conference.
Links 08/19/08 (Pre-Birthday Edition)
How MobileMe handles secure information (or doesn't) is outright unacceptable. Along with making the service more reliable, Apple's MobileMe team needs to be bringing this service up to modern standards in terms of security.
- tlrobinson.net: MobileMe and (lack of) encryption
- Thought Palace: Re: MobileMe Webmail Security — There Is None
- AppleInsider: Inside MobileMe: Web 3 and Web client-server apps (additional thoughts by John Gruber here)
TimesOnline: Lifelike animation heralds new era for computer games
The video with this article is pretty astonishing. This animation is miles beyond anything I've seen before in terms of human realism.
Senator Obama's Remarks at VFW National Convention in Orlando, FL
Obama gave a great speech in front of the Verterans of Foreign Wars earlier today. (You might remember that this is the same group in front of whom McCain had accused Obama of prioritizing politics over party.) As is his usual modus operandi, Obama was very Socratic in his criticism of the Republican nominee, but he was far from passive.
From the speech:
Yesterday, Senator McCain came before you. He is a man who has served this nation honorably, and he correctly stated that one of the chief criteria for the American people in this election is going to be who can exercise the best judgment as Commander in Chief. But instead of just offering policy answers, he turned to a typical laundry list of political attacks. He said that I have changed my position on Iraq when I have not. He said that I am for a path of “retreat and failure.” And he declared, “Behind all of these claims and positions by Senator Obama lies the ambition to be president” – suggesting, as he has so many times, that I put personal ambition before my country.
That is John McCain’s prerogative. He can run that kind of campaign, and – frankly – that’s how political campaigns have been run in recent years. But I believe the American people are better than that. I believe that this defining moment demands something more of us.
If we think that we can secure our country by just talking tough without acting tough and smart, then we will misunderstand this moment and miss its opportunities. If we think that we can use the same partisan playbook where we just challenge our opponent’s patriotism to win an election, then the American people will lose. The times are too serious for this kind of politics. The calamity left behind by the last eight years is too great. So let me begin by offering my judgment about what we’ve done, where we are, and where we need to go.
Also:
I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America’s national interest. Now, it’s time for him to acknowledge that I want to do the same.
Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John McCain. When I look out at this audience, I see people of different political views. You are Democrats and Republicans and Independents. But you all served together, and fought together, and bled together under the same proud flag. You did not serve a Red America or a Blue America – you served the United States of America.
So let’s have a serious debate, and let’s debate our disagreements on the merits of policy – not personal attacks. And no matter how heated it gets or what kind of campaign he chooses to run, I will honor Senator McCain’s service, just like I honor the service of every veteran in this room, and every American who has worn the uniform of the United States.
To this point, Obama has run a very respectful campaign. He has been very careful to avoid attacking McCain's character outside of critiquing the type of campaign he's running, but you know the smear artists working for and with McCain aren't going to back down. I wonder how long Obam can last before he feels compelled to turn more negative.
Links 08/16/08
By now, I'm sure many of you have heard of Jerome Corsi's new book The Obama Nation. (I made that pun up months ago, dagnabit!) You've probably heard the likes of O'Reilly, Limbaugh, or Hannity praise it to high heaven, but there's a problem. It's filled with wild inaccuracies. Here are some summaries:
- Politico: Obama Pushes Back Hard on Corsi Book
- NY Times: Book Attacking Obama Hopes to Repeat ’04 Anti-Kerry Feat
- Washington Post: Par for Mr. Corsi
I mean, c'mon. Have some standards. This guy does not deserve the platform, he does not deserve the publicity, and he does not deserve to be treated as member-in-good-standing on the Right.
The Right seems to engage today in social promotion of hatchet men, bullies and political hit men. Those people poison the Right, and - whatever their temporary electoral effects - they serve to discredit us all.
MarketWatch: How Adobe can stop Microsoft
Columnist John C. Dvorak opines over Adobe's tumultuous relationship with Microsoft. To give some context, Adobe is probably the biggest non-OS software vendor on the market. Their products are as ubiquitous as Microsoft Office, QuickTime, Windows Media Player, or iTunes. Occasionally, however, Adobe's products run into traction when a company like Apple or Microsoft creates a similar product to Adobe's. In the case of this article, Mr. Dvorak looks at the Flash-Silverlight rivalry that is beginning to brew over Internet media delivery.
The author recommends Adobe adopt a Linux strategy, making their products more universal due to being available on all three major computing platforms. He encourages the software developer to face Microsoft head on rather than continue to outrun them. Unfortunately, Mr. Dvorak fails to address a couple of problems.
- Licensing. Adobe builds
closed-source applications with no sharing among
competitors (with a couple notable technologies
such as PDF and FLEX). In contrast, any Linux
application I can think of is licensed through some
sort of open standard such as GPL. I doubt it is
required, but open-source is certainly expected on
the Linux platform. How would Adobe adapt to this?
Would they at all? How would the Linux community
react to the applications retaining their
proprietary status? Reaction is important because
of the second major problem.
- Profit. Again, how many Linux applications can you think of that cost money? Of those, how many cost several hundred dollars? If Adobe doesn't consider revising their prices, the Linux could very well balk at the investment required to purchase Adobe products. On the other hand, if they offer their products on Linux at reduced prices (if not free as is standard practice), they risk angering and alienating their core customers on Windows and Macintosh systems. Let's not forget to mention that Adobe also has to worry about shareholders.
Now I could be wrong about these issues as my current experience with Linux is shaky at best. Furthermore, Adobe could possibly pull some amazing strategy to appeal to Linux users that I couldn't imagine, but I don't see it happening easily or soon.
Links 08/11/08 (YouTube Edition)
Here's the description on YouTube:
In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it.
This is a simply amazing video, and the most amazing aspect is that it even exists. During the turbulence of the sixties, you would think anyone sneaking up to a hotel room where a celebrity was staying would be promptly thrown out. Instead, Lennon talks to this young man and answers his questions respectfully. Thanks to the individuals who helped this interview see the light of day.
Barackobama.com: Know the Facts: Response to McCain's Most Recent Attack Ad on Taxes
In this video, the Obama campaign's economic policy director deconstructs one of McCain's ads regarding taxes point-by-point. He addresses each criticism and debunks myths being perpetuated by the Republican candidate.
I haven't seen the Obama campaign do this before quite this way, but its an effective approach. I personally hope this becomes a continued strategy.
via sensico
Links 08/05/08
This has to be one of the most disturbing yet inspiring things I've read in a while. It's quite a read but completely worth it.
Garfield Minus Garfield: Ballantine Books to Publish Book Inspired by the Webcomic Garfield Minus Garfield
The Garfield Minus Garfield comic is a brilliant experiment, and it's great to see that Jim Davis is so supportive.
Garfield creator Jim Davis was intrigued by—and pleased with—the concept. “I think it’s an inspired thing to do,” Davis said. “I want to thank Dan for enabling me to see another side of Garfield...."
Infinite Loop: Steve Jobs: MobileMe "not up to Apple's standards"
In an internal email, Steve Jobs admits that the MobileMe launch was botched, and he is reorganizing the MobileMe team, putting Eddie Cue of the iTunes team over the project.
Links 07/11/08 (Wall-E Edition)
This is a wonderful article looking at where Pixar has come from and wondering where they might be going. The fact that the author makes comparisons of Pixar to the Beatles makes the read all the more intriguing.
On a related note, Wall-E is a brilliant film. I loved every second of it.
Links 07/08/08
You know, there's a reason many people who are passionate about technology are backing Obama.
Think On These Things: Obama 101
Here's a quick and handy starting point if you want to know where Barack Obama stands on a number of issues. This blogger does a good job of debunking a lot of misinformation floating around regarding Senator Obama, and he or she has several posts that explain how some of his policy plans are feasible. Poke around the site a bit.
Links 07/01/08 (Gaming News)
I think Diablo II was one of the last desktop games I played before getting sucked into console gaming. When was that? 2000? So many memories. You can bet I'll be keeping my eye on this one!
If you're feeling nostalgic, check out this old list: The Too Much Diablo List. (I can't believe that link still works!)
Opposable Thumbs: Rock Band 2 announced, detailed, fans listened to
Let's see … Compatible with existing controllers? Check. Compatible with old downloadable songs? Check. New DLC compatible with the original? Wow. Harmonix seems to be going out of their way to get this one right.
SPeaking of DLC, it looks like a bunch of The Who material is going to become available soon!
Links 06/28/08 (Feeling Green)
The case model here is a community in Alberta, Canada that obtains ~90% of their annual energy for heating and hot water from solar panels. Think about that. Canada. Alberta. Winter temperatures there regularly drop below zero, and they have many more hours of winter darkness than we do here in the Midwest.
Seriously, what's holding the U.S. back from replicating this achievement?
Scienceray: Moving Forward with America’s Fastest Eco-friendly Train
This train's route would go from Disneyland in Anaheim, CA to Las Vegas, NV. It will be electromagnetically propelled and travel at speeds approaching 300 mph. I hope this project is a big enough success to see wider adoption.
While the need for coal-produced electricity is not entirely eco-friendly, it is friendlier than the amount of carbon emissions put into the atmosphere by cars for a comparable number of people. Additionally, as researchers continue to discover more efficient ways to harvest and store renewable and ecologically responsible energy sources, transit systems like this could be transitioned to cleaner processes.
Links 06/17/08 ("It's Not the Years…" Edition)
DId you ever wonder what fonts are used on the maps in Indiana Jones movies? I know I didn't, and yet this this post is very cool.
via Daring Fireball
NYT: A Remarkable Photo From Tornado Country
Wow. Just wow.
also via Daring Fireball
Ars Technica: Energy storage to smooth green power sources
This is an interesting piece about different options for storing energy generated by renewable methods, hopefully answering the concern that most renewable sources of energy are variable in nature (like wind, tides, and the sun).
Links 06/14/08
A young man asks what life means for Senator Obama, and, after a little stammering, I think he comes up with a pretty good answer:
What life means to me is that every day I wake up trying to figure out how can I secure their futures and the futures of all children … How can I make sure that we are giving a planet and a country to them that is better than the one we got? And, you know, so I guess what I’ve discovered is that life doesn’t count for much unless you’re somehow giving yourself to something larger to yourself.
Neocrisis: Classic game scenes recreated with Lego
I had fun with this trying to guess what game was being recreated before looking at the caption. The only one I couldn't immediately identify was Bionic Commando.
Links 06/06/08 (Politics-Free Edition)
Inhabitat: BMW’s Hydrogen Car Cleans The Air as You Drive
Get this, this car's emissions are so insignificant that they are undetectable by standard emission tests. My only question is this: how quickly can this move from concept to production?
GamesRadar: Game Names Corrected By Spellcheck.
Brett Elston at GamesRadar decides to actually use the suggestions provided by Firefox's spellchecker of some rather unusual game titles. Hilarity ensues.
My favorite? Castelvania being converted to Televangelist. Oh the horror!
MacRumors: OS X iPhone and OS X Leopard Banners at WWDC
MacRumors links to a couple of galleries giving us a sneak peek of Monday's WWDC. I think the outdoor banners look especially nice. However, Apple, if rumors are true about 10.6 coming out soon, you and I are no longer on speaking terms.
Who am I kidding?
Links 05/29/08 (With Some More Commentary Than Usual)
I don't know how to feel about this. Rupert Murdoch – you know, the man who owns News Corp, corporate entity over of Fox News? That Rupert Murdoch said this about Obama:
"He is a rock star. It's fantastic … I love what he is saying about education … I don't think he will win Florida … but he will win in Ohio and the election … I am anxious to meet him."
He also didn't have too many kind words to spare regarding McCain, calling him "unpredictable" and asking, "What's he really stand for?" The man overseeing the news outlet that has been responsible for more lies and misinformation about Obama than about anyone is now all but endorsing him? What's that squealing in the air?
CleanTechnica: 3 Hidden Costs of High Oil Prices
In my opinion, opening up further drilling sites is like putting a Band-Aid on a tumor. Yes, it will put some people's minds at ease in the short-term, but the problem still exists. Only by branching out into alternative energy sources that don't rely on fossil fuels in any way can we break out of this economic and environmental pit.
RapidWeaver 4.0
Realmac software just released an update to their website-creation tool RapidWeaver. Unfortunately, it's Leopard-only, so I won't be upgrading soon. I highly recommend RapidWeaver to anyone wanting to publish their own blog or website.
Update: Here are the release notes.
GameTrailers: Prince of Persia: Next Gen
So the team working on this (if I'm not mistaken) also worked on TMNT and Assassin's Creed. Both of these games featured gameplay elements similar to that of the previous Prince of Persia trilogy with some co-op and environmental enhancements. From the looks of this trailer, it appears TMNT's over-the-top co-op attacks as well as the expansive environments from Assassin's Creed are coming home to the Prince.
From what I've read, this game also seems to be influenced by Okami both in visual style and themes. Good stuff.
I'm so excited by this, I might just have to play the Sands of Time trilogy over again!
Links 05/27/08
I can't believe I forgot to post this earlier! Kindergarten teacher Wendy Portillo actually led her class in telling an autistic five-year-old what they don't like about him, and she guided the kids in voting him out of her class! I don't care how much trouble he might have been in, this behavior from a teacher is completely unacceptable (disclaimer: I'm a teacher, and I'm autistic).
The school website seems to be down, but you can visit the district site right here.
Engadget: Hydraulic transmission gives engines, wallets a break
Hopefully, this is another step in the direction of reducing our total dependance on fossil fuels.
Senator Obama Addresses Wesleyan University Graduates
In discussing the need for individuals willing to dedicate time and resources to public service:
Not because you have an obligation to those who are less fortunate, though you do have that obligation. Not because you have a debt to all those who helped you get here, though you do have that debt.
It’s because you have an obligation to yourself. Because our individual salvation depends on collective salvation. Because thinking only about yourself, fulfilling your immediate wants and needs, betrays a poverty of ambition. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role you’ll play in writing the next great chapter in America’s story.
The full text of the speech can be read right here.
YouTube: Is It True About Obama?
Speaking of Senator Obama, this short video covers some of the misinformation and misconceptions floating around regarding him.
Links 05/10/08
Did you know Obama offers some of his speeches as free downloads through iTunes? I didn't.
The link opens in iTunes.
The Metal Gear Retrospective: Part One
GameTrailers.com is beginning a multi-episode look at the Metal Gear video game series as Konami readies the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. This video looks back at the MSX and NES days of the series and the birth of the stealth genre.
Davis and Company: The End of the Star Wars / Star Trek Debate
Well, I'm glad that's settled.
via John Gruber
YouTube: Apple Mac Music Video
Bizarre, but cool. via TUAW.
Links 05/02/08
Another big endorsement for Obama. He served as chair of the DNC during the Clinton administration and was one of the first to endorse Hillary.
My friend Ben has taken to calling him "the Obamanator." I think he should trademark it.
Ars Technica: Is Lessig's Free Culture just a modern Das Kopyright?
According to The Progress & Freedom Foundation, it is – but you have to look at Lessig's ideas with a fair amount of paranoia and take some quotes out of context to get to that conclusion.
Ars Technica: An elephant never forgets? George W. Bush's lost e-mails
To make a long story short, the current administration jettisoned an archiving implementation that worked and replaced it with one that doesn't. Seven years later, it still doesn't.
I could make a comment here about reoccurring themes, but I won't.
Links 04/26/08 (Stayin' Alive Edition)
TED Talks: Johnny Lee: Creating tech marvels out of a $40 Wii Remote
This video literally had me saying "whoa" out-loud!
Kotaku: echochrome Demo Changing Minds Tomorrow
Another amazing yet simple piece of technology – makes me wish for a PS3.
Seattlepi.com: Why Hillary Clinton makes my wife scream
While my wife has never raised her voice at a Clinton story or speech, she has made it clear to me that Senator Clinton has entirely lost her vote at this point. While I believe that voting for policy is more important than voting for a person (even if I find that person subjectively unlikable), I can't help but wonder what a Clinton nomination might do to voter turnout in November.
Perhaps my fears are unfounded.
Infinite Loop: Exclusive preview: RapidWeaver matures with version 4
New version of RapidWeaver coming: Yay! I still don't have Leopard (and it's Leopard-only): Boo!
Links 04/10/08
When you have for the first time in front of you this 3.1 billion-letter instruction book that conveys all kinds of information and all kinds of mystery about humankind, you can’t survey that going through page after page without a sense of awe. I can’t help but look at those pages and have a vague sense that this is giving me a glimpse of God’s mind.
Francis Collins describes more in his book The Language of God.
TED: Al Gore: New thinking on the climate crisis
Al Gore delivers another fine presentation about climate change and what can be done about it.
Ars Technica - Blogging meets literary analysis: why people read blogs
Many studies have been conducted about why people blog, but I think this topic is far more interesting. What is it about blogs that keep people engaged? I hope more studies like this are conducted in the future.
Londonist - “Rape is Like Being Force-Fed Chocolate Cake” Blogs BNP Official
This is beyond outrageous. Conservative British National Party member Nick Eriksen has this to say about the concept of marital/date rape:
Women enjoy sex, so rape cannot be such a terrible physical ordeal…To suggest that rape, when conducted without violence, is a serious crime is like suggesting force-feeding a woman chocolate cake is a heinous offence.
Then again, this is the same commendable person who has also said this:
Some women are like gongs — they need to be struck regularly.
I can't seem to find out if this guy is married. I'm guessing not.
YouTube - Cheney in 1994 on Iraq
If only he had listened to his own advice later.
Links 04/03/08 (Oh No! Edition)
John Nack on Adobe: Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe's 64-bit roadmap
Short story: Adobe Photoshop CS4 for the Mac will not be 64-bit. It will be 64-bit for Windows (but you will have to own a 64-bit edition of Windows to take advantage of it).
For more technical commentary on the events leading up to this discrepancy and the potential impact, see posts by John Siracusa at Ars Technica and John Gruber of Daring Fireball.
Ars Technica: Apple passes Wal-Mart, now #1 music retailer in US
I think the title says it all.
BBC News: 'No Sun link' to climate change
I'm not sure that headline is even close to being grammatically correct, but that's beside the point. The lesson here is that, yes, we should still be working on cutting those carbon emissions. We can't blame the sun for everything.
Links 03/29/08
Here's an interesting piece by by a CNN manager who – at 48 years old – has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. I like how she wraps up.
I could tell you so much more, but instead let me share one last insight. Don't pity me or try to cure or change me. If you could live in my head for just one day, you might weep at how much beauty I perceive in the world with my exquisite senses. I would not trade one small bit of that beauty, as overwhelming and powerful as it can be, for "normalcy."
The Huffington Post: Flashback: Wright's Letter To NYT About Obama
This is a neat piece of history. The Huffington Post publishes a letter from the controversial Rev. Wright to the New York Times regarding their misrepresentation of him and his relationship with Barack Obama in an article they published on March 6, 2007 after Obama announced his bid for the presidency. It makes for a good insight on how news sources sometimes cherry pick facts and sound bites to make a story more sensational than it really is.
Ars Technica: Online Safety Begins with Parents, Not Laws and Government
Just a friendly reminder from the Department of the Obvious (not Ars Technica) that, indeed, parents are the most powerful influencers on children's lives, and they have more power to inform and protect their children than any other source.
The More You Know™
NYT: McCain Stumbles on H.I.V. Prevention
I find this exchange concerning:
Q: ...Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”
Mr. McCain: (Long pause) “You’ve stumped me.”
Q: “I mean, I think you’d probably agree it probably does help stop it?”
Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Are we on the Straight Talk express? I’m not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”
Links 02/26/08 ("Will It Ever Stop?" Edition)
ABC News: Autism Breakthrough: Girl's Writings Explain Her Behavior and Feelings
From the article:
"Autism is hard because you want to act one way, but you can't always do that. It's sad that sometimes people don't know that sometimes I can't stop myself and they get mad at me. If I could tell people one thing about autism it would be that I don't want to be this way. But I am, so don't be mad. Be understanding."
Just excellent.
Daily Kos: I Refuse to Buy into the Obama Hype
This is an incredibly well-researched post regarding legislation both Senators Clinton and Obama have been involved in and how these bills differentiate the candidates. This is good reading for anyone finding themselves having a hard time deciding which Democratic candidate to support.
I think, by know, you know which Democratic candidate I support. The question is, which Republican candidate do I like better? Inquiring minds...
The Huffington Post: Clinton, Obama And The Belief In The Magic Power Of Words
From the article:
Now, I agree with Clinton that it's important to look at how each of the Democratic candidates uses words and how rhetoric fits into how they've run their respective campaigns. And if you do, you'll see that one candidate does believe that words are like a magic wand: you utter them and reality changes. But it's not Barack Obama -- it's Hillary Clinton.
Clinton's use of words is disturbingly reminiscent of the way the Bush administration has used words: just saying something is true is magically supposed to make it true. Call it Presto-change-o Politics.
Macworld: Apple now No. 2 music retailer in the U.S.
This ranking includes brick-and-mortar locations by the way. I bet you can guess who's number one (shudder).
Links 02/20/08
This format war is finally over. Lots of consumers got the short end of the stick. Some companies are poised to lose bucket-loads of cash. I'm not a fan of format wars.
Apple: iPod shuffle Updates
The current 1GB model is dropping to $49, and a 2GB model is coming at $69. I am a fan of the iPod shuffle.
Scribd: Meet iPaper
It's kind of like YouTube for documents. Scribd has been around for a while now, but this software revision looks cool. I'm definitely trying this out!
College Humor: Irish Beatles
Hilarious.
Links 02/16/08 (Thin and Light Edition)
I'm beginning work on a post about video games that maturely tackle serious subjects, and BioShock is one of them. Any video game that aspires to incorporate the philosophies of Ayn Rand into the game world is going to be heavy fare, and BioShock does not disappoint. In fact, it delivers in spades!
Daring Fireball: The Appeal of the MacBook Air
John Gruber writes about what makes the MacBook Air an attractive machine despite its obvious limitations. From the article:
What struck me regarding Macworld’s MacBook Air benchmarks wasn’t how much worse the Air performed than the standard MacBook or MacBook Pro, but how much better it performed than their baseline notebook, a 1.67 GHz 15-inch PowerBook G4 — the fastest Mac notebook you could buy two years ago, and the very computer I still use every day. That the Air isn’t as fast as a regular MacBook does not matter because the Air — for most people and most tasks — is clearly fast enough.
The more I look at the MacBook Air, the more taken I am with it. In all honesty, how often do I use all of these ports on my MacBook Pro? I seldom even use its optical drive...
Signal vs. Noise: The MacBook Air could easily be the only machine
Adding to the praise heaped upon the MacBook Air by real people, David at 37signals writes about his experiences with it, and he believes the Air could serve perfectly as the sole computer in many households.
via Daring Fireball
BusinessWeek: Building the Perfect Laptop
If you like the MacBook Air but absolutely need Ethernet, two more USB ports, and a standard DVD drive (oh, and Windows), the new Lenovo X300 might be for you, but watch out. It's base configuration is $900 more than the standard Air model! Still, if I were a Windows or Linux user, this machine would be tempting.
Links 02/13/08 (Some Apple Stuff)
The much anticipated software update to Apple TV is available for download. If you own a first-gen Apple TV, this seems like a no-brainer.
Aperture 2
Apple's photo management and workflow manager saw a significant update today. Like version 1, I downloaded the demo. It seems far easier to use, but it still massively hogs memory and CPU cycles. Perhaps that will relent after a few uses.
Links 02/09/08
Yahoo! turns Microsoft's lucrative offer down. At this point, Microsoft can either try to come up with more cash or attempt to overturn Yahoo!'s board. For the record, I called this one completely wrong.
YouTube: The Dark Knight Trailer. IN LEGO!!!
Links 02/06/08 (Awesome Stuff Edition)
What Kind of World Do You Want?
Here's a video sharing community by Five for Fighting dedicated to giving contributions to charities you select every time a video you upload is viewed. It's a neat concept, and some people have created some very moving videos.
Adobe Labs: Buzzword
This is an amazing online word processor. It's responsive, recognizes some common keyboard commands, and just plain looks nice.
via Daring Fireball
Fluid
Speaking of web applications, this neat little utility lets you create separate desktop links to all the web apps you use. Each web application opens in its own site-specific browser, giving them their own workspaces separate from your traditional web browsing. It looks really great, but I don't have Leopard yet. However, if you do, it looks worth checking out!
also via Daring Fireball
Links 02/02/08 (Unexpected Stuff Edition)
There's nothing surprising in this article when compared to others who have chosen to back Obama – except for the author. Susan Eisenhower. Yes, his granddaughter. Wow.
Update: And now the Grateful Dead are reuniting to support this guy! I have a feeling lots of people are going to feel disappointed if he doesn't take the Democratic nomination.
Ars Technica: Microsoft Adds Yahoo! to Shopping Cart
Can't get your rival to cooperate? Just buy them with more money than they can refuse. Like John Gruber, I can't see Yahoo!'s shareholders turning this one down.
PC Magazine: Apple's MacBook Air Will Soar
You know, I'm beginning to believe this thing might be a hit. I was listening to some decidedly non-techie friends talking about the MacBook Air over dinner recently, and they were all intrigued by it, a couple implying they were considering getting one. None of these friends are current Mac-owners either.
Links 01/28/08
Happy Birthday, LEGO!
The Atlantic: The Autumn of the Multitaskers
This is an incredible narrative of one person's journey through the frenzy of multitasking and his emergence from the mania. I often quote chunks of articles to give you a taste or some part I found important, but, in this case, lifting even one sentence from context would damage the content. It's a long article but worth the read (while doing nothing else).
via Daring Fireball
Links 01/12/08
As John Gruber puts it: "Maybe they’re not so dumb after all."
Ars Technica: Under pressure from EMI, RIAA could disappear
From the article:
EMI was the first of the majors to drop DRM at iTunes and Amazon, moves that have made its digital music a more attractive option. But if EMI can force a restructuring of the IFPI and RIAA, the impact could be just as significant for the industry.
Windows Errors That Are Really Funny
"Error: The operation completed successfully." Even Windows admits how unusual it is for it to do something right. (Zing!)
Links 01/09/08
Apple – Mac Pro
The Mac Pro received a substantial update yesterday. The standard configuration comes with a whopping eight cores of processing power, but if you need to pinch those pennies, you can save $500 by settling for a measly four cores! In related news, the XServes saw a comparable upgrade.
Newsgator: NetNewsWire 3.1
NetNewsWire is free as of today. It was formerly $30. If you are a Mac user, this is a great application, and I recommend you give it a try.
Indexed: Even Grandpa Was a Punk Kid Once
This post is so very true. It's amazing what you can communicate through a Venn diagram and an index card!
Whatever: Why It Won't Work
John Scalzi on Sony's, um, brilliant (cough) new way of selling DRM-free tracks. I think he nails it on the head. From the article:
So to recap, what you’ve got here is a system that makes people leave their house in order to download music at their house, and makes them go to a store to get music that they could get at the store, somewhere else.
via Daring Fireball
Links 01/05/08
YouTube: Obama's Victory Speech
Another great speech by this candidate. I really should make a Simply Presentation post about him. Here's a transcript.
Daring Fireball: The Way the Camera Follows Us in Slo-Mo
This must be one of the best blog posts ever.
The Sixty-one - A Music Adventure
The only way I can describe this is like Digg for independent music. Singles are ranked by users, and some music is available for purchase from Amazon as DRM-free MP3 files.
Links 12/30/07 (End of the Year Edition)
Stand for Change: Full video of Barack's speech in Des Moines
Honestly, this is one of the best speeches given by a political figure in years. Regardless of your political party affiliation, this is inspiring stuff.
You can find an entire transcript right here.
AFP: 2007 stem cell breakthrough is like turning lead into gold
Stem cell research is getting more and more interesting, especially as scientists are finding ways to procure said cells without damaging embryos in the process. It's amazing this research is progressing so quickly despite political obstacles.
From the article:
"This is truly the Holy Grail: To be able to take a few cells from a patient -- say a cheek swab or few skin cells -- and turn them into stem cells in the laboratory," said Robert Lanza, a stem cell pioneer at Advanced Cell Technology.
George Orwell: The Freedom of the Press
This preface to Animal Farm was omitted at the time of the book's publication, and it's an interesting read for anyone who is a fan of Orwell's works. Additionally, like many of his writings, this preface is eerily prophetic in many aspects.
Links 12/21/07
NYT: Apple Rumor Site to Shut Down in Settlement
What exactly did Apple gain in pursuing this to begin with? It sure isn't good PR...
Ars Technica: Exclusive: Retail chain scalping Wii allotment on eBay
Ars breaks a story on a chain of gaming stores that are not selling Wiis in their storefronts. Rather, they are putting them straight onto eBay at a nearly 100% markup. While not outright illegal, this is certainly no way to gain consumer trust.
Currently, the accused retailer has an official response on its website's front page. Check it out.
Ars Technica: RIAA writes its own "news" for local TV stations
My love for the RIAA never wanes, so I have to pass this piece along about a somewhat factually-sketchy informercial the organization wants aired in news broadcasts.
I think this quote sums it up well:
For an industry already the target of so much consumer suspicion, feeding misleading claims and self-serving footage to ostensibly objective "news" outlets just doesn't seem like a great idea.
Links 12/14/07
Discussing the possibility for an open Arctic ocean in summer months, [Dr Mark Serreze] told the meeting: "A few years ago, even I was thinking 2050, 2070, out beyond the year 2100, because that's what our models were telling us. But as we've seen, the models aren't fast enough right now; we are losing ice at a much more rapid rate.
While the ocean-supported glaciers will not affect ocean levels, land-bound glaciers and ice sheets (like those on Greenland) will. This on the same day I read about failing penguin populations in the Antarctic...
Jim Hill: A special "Where's WALL-E" edition of Why For?
On a much more trivial note, in this blog post, Jim Hill tries to create a definitive list of the in-references and self references found throughout Pixar's films. Needless to say, this makes for a long read.
via Daring Fireball
Ars Technica: RIAA: Those CD rips of yours are still "unauthorized"
< soapbox > In other words, the RIAA would rather you not make mix-CDs for use in your car or put music you already own on your iPods. Why? Because you are no more than potential revenue to them rather than a human being. < soapbox / >
Links 12/09/07
David Pogue wonders if the web has run out of creativity in site naming – specifically citing numerous startups with completely nonsense names. From the article:
But here's a little wakeup call: People will learn to love your site's wacky name only if they fall in love with the site itself. Google and Yahoo became household nutty names only because everyone loved their services. They did not succeed because they had silly names.
As long as no more sites put random dots in the middle of their names, I'll be happy. (I'm looking at you ma.gnolia.com and del.icio.us!)
Ripten: Rose-Tinted Nostalgia: The Top Five Franchises That Nintendo Forgot
Not only has Nintendo forgotten about these franchises, I had too. However, seeing The Adventures of Lolo and StarTropics on the list brought back some fond memories, and I don't think Super Mario RPG was forgotten. It just had to go in a different direction once Square was no longer involved, and we ended up with Paper Mario as the spiritual successor to Super Mario RPG.
Ars Technica: Apple, AT&T dial up patent infringement lawsuit with Visual Voicemail
Yes, this case has merit, but I still don't like it. It's not like Apple was exactly secretive about Visual Voicemail in the months leading up to iPhone's release. Why didn't this company sue back in January of this year?
Links 12/02/07
Many gaming sites and other blogs are reporting over a possible controversy regarding the firing of GameSpot reviewer Jeff Gerstmann after he gave a poor review to a game that had very prominant advertisements all over the site. Here are a couple of places for some good takes on what's been going on:
Valleywag: Jeff Gerstmann - Valleywag seems to be where the story originates from, and this link takes you to all of their posts regarding Mr. Gerstmann.
Game Stooge: RIP, Journalistic Integrity - This editorial offers some balanced insight into some of the larger issues at work here. From the article:
The other problem is that writers are reporting rumors as fact, and visibly biased. It is “clear” that Gerstmann was fired due to a low review score given to a game with major advertising on the site. Why? According to most of these websites, correlation is causality. No other facts are needed, such as the fact that Gerstmann was fired two weeks later when the last of the major game releases had been released and reviewed – an obvious time to release an editor.
SitePoint Blogs: In All Fairness … Internet Explorer Still Stinks
Why is this still the dominant browser again? Kevin Yank explores the many ways Internet Explorer 7 has not improved since Internet Explorer 6. As a side note, if you view this site in any version of IE, check out Firefox. Suddenly, my site and many others will look better!
TUAW: NBC officially removed from the iTunes Store
The Universal group must have some huge chip on their shoulder to shaft their viewers with such a restrictive service in place of iTunes. It's like their CEO is on some personal vendetta against Steve Jobs.
Links 11/26/07 (Turkey Rehab Edition)
Here's an article from 2001 about why the Apple stores would all be closed within two years. It's been making rounds through the Mac blogs, but I thought I'd post it here too!
TED: Announcing 2008 TED Prize winners
The TED Prize was introduced in 2005, and it is unlike any other award. Although the winners receive a prize of $100,000 each, the real prize is that they are granted a WISH. "A wish to change the world." There are no formal restrictions on the wish. We ask our winners to think big and to be creative. The goal is that it creates an incredible sense of excitement and common purpose. It inspires the TED community, and all those who hear about the wish, to offer their help in making the wish come true.
TED is a neat organization. I don't always agree with some of the positions they promote, but I like their hearts and the inspiration they foster.
TechCrunch: Q&A With Senator Barack Obama On Key Technology Issues
Obama is one of the only politicians out there who actually seems to get technology and be able to discuss it intelligently.
CNET: Top Ten Terrible Tech Products: Windows Vista
Really? Vista is one of the ten worst technology products? By what standards? Methinks someone is desperate for attention, and I just gave it to them...
Links 11/15/07
Interesting talk about rethinking our views of fossil fuels and what defines renewable energy.
Surfin' Safari: Ten New Things in WebKit 3
Maciej Stachowiak outlines many of the improvements in the most recent versions of WebKit. You can take advantage of these features by upgrading to Leopard, updating Tiger to version 10.4.11, or by downloading the latest versions of WebKit or Safari for Windows.
Ars Technica: Ice is the new Tanooki: a review of Super Mario Galaxy
In case you needed more convincing that I'm completely enthused about Super Mario Galaxy, here's a link to the overwhelmingly positive Ars review by Ben Kuchera.
From the review:
This is a game for people who love games. Nintendo has fired a shot at everyone who claims the Wii is just a gimmick and will soon wear out its welcome. This is a game that's a must-play for anyone who enjoys platforming titles or who just likes a good challenge that won't run out any time soon...The level of polish and care put into Mario Galaxy is evident in every moment of play, and I have a feeling everyone else will be taking notes for the next few years.
Links 11/13/07
This is a great write-up helping you understand the nerd in your life. Some of his points can also translate to interacting with your high-functioning autistic children and peers. I really think I need to add this blog to my sidebar links.
via DaringFireball
YouTube: Cartoon Firefox
Completely charming animated ad for Firefox.
NYT Sunday Book Review: A Galaxy in Your Face
Artistic pop-up books are one of my autistic obsessions that emerges every time I'm in a bookstore. (I am a Robert Sabuda fanboy.) This piece of work by Matthew Reinhart brings the Star Wars universe to the magnitude of pop-up art.
(Books like this are also great examples of how children's literature truly transcends generational gaps. Everyone should spend time browsing the kid's section of their favorite bookstore!)
also via DaringFireball
Links 11/08/07
Dan Moren discredits recent claims that Apple holds a true monolopy with iTunes and iPods – specifically answering a rant from ZDNet. The article is pretty humerous, but it gets the point across. I thought this quote was especially insightful:
This argument would be a heck of a lot more compelling if it weren’t for the thousands of hardware devices that require their own proprietary software. Just the other day I was looking at writing up a nifty USB pedometer for my Gadgetbox column. Unfortunately, there’s no Mac software, and it comes bundled with its own proprietary Windows software. Where are the cries of monopoly? Are you bummed that you can’t install the PS3’s new firmware on your Wii?
For the record, I use iTunes. My library has 1176 songs in it. Of those, a whopping 39 are iTunes store purchases. Yeah, I feel really locked in here.
Naked Light
This image editing application looks amazing. It makes me want Leopard even more. A download should be available Friday.
Gamespy: Super Mario Galaxy Review
If you enjoy playing the best, then you absolutely need to play Super Mario Galaxy. It's our favorite Wii game this year, and a strong contender for the best game of the year.
Just for fun:
Links 11/04/07
Nate Anderson covers an interesting story about a man named Philip Smith who was taken to court for defamation after blogging about a bad experience he had with an eBay listing company. The court sided with Smith, saying he was acting as a journalist in his writing.
From the article:
"The fact that Smith reports negatively about his experience with BidZirk does not dictate that the article's function or intent was not news reporting or news commentary," wrote the judge. Furthermore, he noted explicitly that "some bloggers are without question journalists."
I wrote about this same topic some time ago in a case of Apple versus some bloggers, and I'm happy to see this precedent continue. I still say that many blogs provide a clearer an more unbiased picture of the world than many members of the mainstream media.
Daring Fireball: Apple Needs a Nikon
Speaking of bloggers who qualify as journalists, John Gruber writes about the benefits of having a true competitor and how Apple has no real competitor in terms of design – especially in the realm of portable music players. I keep hoping the Zune will put some heat on Apple, but I'm not holding my breath.
Storie di Apple: Discs, filesystems and Macs - Interview with Drew Thaler
This is a very insightful interview with Drew Thaler who worked at Apple during the OS 9 to OS X transition. He now works for Sony of PS3 game filesystems. Topics include CD/DVD burning development on Macs, iTunes, ZFS, font rendering, and working with Steve Jobs. It's a good time to be had by all.
1UP.com Review: Super Mario Galaxy
I'm excitied about too many games right now to be this broke. From the article:
In short, Galaxy is one of the most impressive, engrossing games in recent memory -- and quite the contrast to the rest of this year's triple-A gaming crop, which tends toward the dark, the M-rated, and the first-person perspective...Galaxy proves that Mario matters just as much today as he did 25 years ago, and that makes him one of a kind in this medium. But don't play Galaxy simply because Mario is the timeless godfather of gaming. No, play Galaxy because it's fantastic.
Links 10/30/07
Ars always has the best OS X reviews. Grab a snack and a cold drink. Relax, and dive into John Siracusa's epic discourse.
Macworld: Cash isn't king: Apple limits iPhone purchases
Well, this is a totally evil move on Apple's part. Will they let someone pay with a check then?
Links 10/26/07 (Leopard-Heavy Edition)
First, I promise not to link to every Leopard-related post on the Internet. I'm just adding some I thought were particularly interesting or fun. Second, it's pronounced, "Oh-Es Ten" not "Ahs Ecks" or Oh-Ex Ecks." It's a Roman numeral, people! (Okay, done ranting.)
• Macworld Review: Mac OS X Leopard
Leopard is, at once, a major alteration to the Mac interface, a sweeping update to numerous included productivity programs, a serious attempt to improve Mac OS security, and a vast collection of tweaks and fixes scattered throughout every nook and cranny of the operating system.
• Engadget: All about Leopard: gallery, apps, impressions
Bottom line, PC users: don't be afraid to give the Mac a second glance, there's plenty in Leopard sure to please. Mac users: run, don't walk, to get your copy when it goes on sale today.
• TUAW: 24 Hours of Leopard
This is a great collection of short posts that detail many of the enhancements and new features in Leopard. It's kind of like a Cliff Notes version of a Leopard guide book.
• Engadget: Leopard on an 8 year old G4 Power Mac -- can it be done?
Thinking of upgrading an older Mac to Leopard? the staff at Engadget see how the new OS fares on an eight-year-old Mac. I'm more surprised by how much worked rather than by what did not work!
Opposable Thumbs: Happy birthday, PlayStation 2!
Wow. The PS2 is seven years old. OT takes a look back at what made the PS2 great and how it changed the face of gaming.
Links 10/19/07
As predicted last quarter, however, Apple broke its tie for third place with Gateway by shipping 1.33 million units and growing by a whopping 37.2 percent (double that of any other US vendor) from third quarter 2006 to claim 8.1 percent of the US market for the quarter.
I remember the Mac's U.S. marketshare dropping to around 3% shortly after the introduction on OS X. Who knew a recovery like this would be possible?
Lifehacker: First Look at Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac
I am looking forward to the native speeds that Office 2008 will bring, but I'm not sure where they are going with the interface. It looks like some strange mutant child of iWork and Office 2004, with no single driving vision. As for Entourage, it just looks like a visual mess at the moment...
Destructoid: This is the end, my only friend: Nintendo drops NES support
The Nintendo Entertainment System, released for the U.S. back in 1985, will reach the end of its supported cycle on October 31. I have to admit that it never occurred to me that the NES might still be a supported product.
Ars Technica: Sony confirms $400, 40GB PS3 for the US, price drop for 80GB model
So is anyone going to sue Sony for a million bucks because they lowered the price? Seriously though, does anyone else feel like Sony just can't figure themselves out right now?
Links 10/17/07
It's like Man of the Year without the lousy techno-thriller subplot. If this goes anywhere, I wonder if he'll shed his Colbert Report persona in any interviews or (gasp) debates. On the other hand, he communicates well through his satire. Hey, if Arnold can be governor...
By the way, if you like Colbert, you'll love his ice cream.
Freeverse: Periscope 1.5
Freeverse updates their $40 webcam utility with some refined features and a completely redesigned UI (thank you). The demo period lasts for 50 hours and does not limit functionality.
via TUAW
Macworld: Apple says iPhone complies with eco standards
Apple tells Greepeace to go stick their heads in some hazardous materials themselves.
“Like all Apple products worldwide, iPhone complies with RoHS [Restriction of Hazardous Substances], the world’s toughest restrictions on toxic substances in electronics,” an Apple spokesperson, told Macworld. “As we have said, Apple will voluntarily eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008.”
Macworld: Jobs: iPhone SDK coming in February
I don't think I quite believe Jobs' spin on why the SDK is coming so long after the phone, but at least it is coming. Oh, and it will also work with the iPod touch.
Links 10/15/07
From the article:
It was a bit of a surprise to see a topic with largely scientific and technological underpinnings receive the Peace Prize. But following the reasoning of the Nobel Committee suggests it may not be the last. As humanity's technological advances increase its ability to alter the world around it, the potential for scientific findings to have implications for the future peace will only increase as well.
This is really interesting stuff. I guess some were expecting this result, but it still came as a surprise for me... not that I really had any other people in mind.
Macworld: Apple faces potential environmental lawsuit
I understand the position that some are taking that Greenpeace specifically targets Apple for notoriety, but I still think Apple needs to step up on this whole environmental thing. Especially since a certain Nobel Peace Prize winner is on their board of directors.
On a related note, TUAW asks: How green is Apple?
Links 10/11/07
I don't think I've giggled so much since I found Engrish.com!
Daring Fireball: The ‘Un’ in ‘Unsupported’
I think I finally understand a certain misguided mindset that I’ve been baffled by for a decade. This mindset is exemplified by the sort of person who thinks that Apple “screwed them over” with the release of the iPhone 1.1.1 update.
The mindset manifests in many forms, but what it boils down to is this: a sense of entitlement that users should be able to do unsupported things and yet still be supported. That it makes no sense to expect support after taking unsupported actions is why I’ve found it baffling.
I also think more people are going to be affected by this mindset as these unsupported hacks become more accessible to the general public. What was once accomplished by only the most hardcore is now freely downloadable with easy-to-use interfaces that typical users can understand. Personally, I don't understand why you would want to take the risk with such an expensive purchase, but to each his/her own.
Mac Mojo: Welcome to Word Publishing Layout View
On the one hand, I'm glad to see this evolution of Word, but, on the other, I've already been doing this in Pages for a couple of years. Also, I find some of the design decisions baffling. Custom background surfaces? Who knows, maybe it will grow on me if I pick this up. I'm living sans Office at the moment, and it's not impossible, just inconvenient at times.
Links 10/09/07
...And like so many other tragedies, the international community is turning a blind eye to the suffering people. However, if Burma's population or industry actually controlled something the world economy hinges on, this would not be tolerated.
iTunes: George Harrison
We've got solo careers from Paul, John, Ringo, and now George. I wonder when the "other shoe" will drop.
via TUAW
Links 10/05/07
So Apple’s modern keyboards have a bias against activating Caps Lock at all, and another bias to turn it off as soon as possible. That fits in perfectly with how I (mis)use Caps Lock, but I can’t help thinking it’s ALSO a subtle nudge to those to abuse Caps Lock to TONE IT DOWN A LITTLE.
That's all kinds of cool. (Personally, I've disabled the caps lock key on my laptop.)
dive into mark: If wishes were iPhones, then beggars would call
Mark Pilgrim wonders why people buy things they know they will have to essentially break to get to do what they want. I have to agree. Buy what's best for you, and use it as intended. That always nets the best results.
Opposable Thumbs: Bungie to become an independent company, leaving Microsoft
If by leaving, you mean "become a second-party developer with the option to develop for additional platforms," then yes, Bungie is leaving Microsoft. I'm not keeping my hopes up, but Macworld seems to think Bungie could return to the Mac gaming scene after this move. (As some of you might now, Bungie once developed the Mac-only Marathon series, followed by Mac-friendly Myth, and Halo was first previewed at a Macworld conference.)
Links 10/02/07 (Microsoft-friendly Edition)
image from Gateway
Surprisingly, it doesn't look half-bad, and it features some decent specs with prices between $1300 and $1800. Unfortunately, the processor speeds are pretty shameful compared to competing products (and yes, I feel a tinge of irony typing that sentence).
Ars Technica: A day on the Surface: a hands-on look at Microsoft's new computing platform
This looks pretty cool, and the videos are amazing. Anyone familiar with Jeff Han's research will instantly recognize what's going on here, but Microsoft's implementation is very smooth and accessible. I just wish they would be a little more aggressive at making this available to consumers. The industry needs progress like this.
Daring Fireball: The New Zunes
Why is Microsoft being so hush-hush about their new media players – unveiling the new Zunes at midnight? Are they ashamed of them or something?
Macworld: Is Apple On the Wrong Path?
Christopher Breen makes some good points about some of Apple's recent decisions and how they hurt Apple's image as a customer-friendly corporation. However, for the record, I've tried the new keyboard, and I like it.
Ars Technica: Picking a new fight: Halo 3 multiplayer review
Ars reviews the multiplayer portion of Halo 3.
It's clear that the real value of the Halo 3 purchase is in online play, and Bungie.net is the glue that holds all of this together ... Dump in a few more players, take the time to design your own game types, and you have the next few months of your life planned out.
Links 09/25/07
There’s very high “it just works” factor here. Music is easy to find, easy to buy, and easy to download once you have the Amazon MP3 Downloader installed. When you download music with Amazon MP3 Downloader, it simply shows up in iTunes, as you’d expect, with no manual importing or additional action required on the user’s part. Sync your iPods, and the new music shows up there, too.
This could be huge.
Look Me In the Eye
This is the blog of John Elder Robinson, author of Look Me In the Eye (due out today) about growing up with and continuing to live with Asperger's Syndrome. I'm going to be hitting our nearby B&N after school to check this book out!
Inhabitat: PREFAB FRIDAY: Zero-Energy MkLotus debuts!
Here's an incredible new eco-prefab home showcased on the lawn of San Francisco's city hall. Check out the Flickr photoset for some other great pictures.
EcoSpeak: An interview with ex-IPCC co-chairman Sir John Houghton
Mr. Houghton puts global warming in some historical perspective and still comes to the conclusion that our current level of carbon emissions are cause for concern. He also discredits our politicians' recent obsession with ethanol:
Ethanol from corn is not a good deal. Why it is being pushed by President Bush, I don’t know. It’s been disastrous for the price of corn and it’s not helping the CO2 budget significantly at all.
Rogue Amoeba: Radioshift
John Gruber has the best analogy: "Like TiVo for radio."
Finishing the fight: Ars reviews Halo 3
Ars Technica reviews Halo 3's single player campaign. I won't give away the whole review, but here's a snippet:
Suffice it to say that there are a couple of twists and turns that some may not have been expecting, and some familiar faces will come and go, to the surprise and shock of long-time fans. When the game is done, though, one thing is certain: fans will have the closure they were looking for.
Links 09/20/07 (Special Extended Edition)
• Wil Shipley believes Apple's strategy of lock-ins will soon collapse upon itself.
• John Gruber agrees and goes so far as to say...
The best thing that could happen to Apple this year would be for Microsoft’s Zune 2.0 to be a kick-ass product, both technologically and in terms of being designed to make customers happy, not entertainment conglomerates. Apple needs competition.
• Paul Thurott says, "I told you so."
Engadget: NBC to offer free "NBC Direct" download service, iTunes competitor
from Engadget:
The company is going to start testing a new NBC Direct service in October with full, free downloadable episodes which can be stored up to seven days on Windows PCs. The shows will be on offer for a week as soon as they've aired, and will include imbedded, un-skippable ads.
Wow. That sounds like the company is putting customers first. Wait, what was that? Oh, battling the 0.01% of consumers who pirate programming is your number one priority! Now it all makes sense...
I like John Gruber's take:
So his number-one priority is piracy. Not making high-quality shows. Not forging a sponsorship or advertising model that is less annoying and distracting to viewers, such that they (the viewers) would be less likely to want to fast-forward the advertising messages. No, piracy, that’s his top priority.
Infinite Loop: OpenOffice Aqua still a year away
Sigh. Mac OS X has been out for how long? Seven-ish years now? How long did it take to figure out this whole OS X thing was more than a fad?
Google Video: Conspiracy Theory Rock
Awesome parody of School House Rock.
Apparently, this video has only been broadcast once, and it was back on March 14, 1998.
Flickr: 24 fps
This photoset features the last frame from several classic movies. Neat stuff. (See how many of the films you can name from the pictures! I could name ... like two.)
via DF
Links 09/12/07
You will be able to control the game with a mouse and keyboard, just a keyboard, or with a Gibson-modeled USB guitar.
Wow. Can you imagine playing Welcome to the Jungle on a computer keyboard? Neither can I.
Opposable Thumbs: Financial Times: Nintendo Wii is now the best-selling console in the world
No surprises here.
Links 09/04/07
Vanity Fair Columnist Evgenia Peretz pens a fascinating piece about the role of the media in Al Gore's 2000 presidential defeat. This is an important lesson as we enter another season of political reporting – the reporters are not infallible, and an informed voter should double-check the facts before passing judgment.
From the article:
As Jonathan Alter points out, "Overall, the press was harder on Gore than it was on Bush.… The consequences of [that] in such a close election were terrifying."
The article also clarifies former U.S. Representative Dick Armey's (R) misstatement that Gore claimed to have invented the Internet. He only claimed to have strongly supported making it available to the civilian public.
Vinton Cerf, often called the father of the Internet, has claimed that the Internet would not be where it was without Gore's leadership on the issue. Even former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich has said that "Gore is the person who, in the Congress, most systematically worked to make sure that we got to an Internet."
Links 09/02/07
This whole thing with Apple and NBC seems silly to me, but this guy makes some valid points.
Let me explain something to you, because you don’t seem to understand it already. Your TV shows are available every day, every week, and every month of the year for free. They fly through the air (and travel through cables) at no a la carte charge to customers...
What you should have learned from the iTunes experiment is simple: Apple is helping you make money, and build fan bases...
If you’re concerned about piracy of what you’re selling through iTunes, my suggestion would be to take a quick look at the fact that you’re distributing your content in completely unprotected or compromised ways every single day...
Right now, NBC shows are still on iTunes. Apple says they're pulling them this month. NBC says December.
Links 08/28/07
Engadget: It's on: Apple event slated for September 5th
Bring on the Cover Flow iPods. Oh, and the tag-line is interesting in context with this excerpt from an old Apple Corp. press release about the Beatles breaking up (found here):
"The world is still spinning and so are we and so are you. When the spinning stops--that'll be the time to worry. Not before. The Beatles are alive and well and the beat goes on. The beat goes on."
In related news, Ringo Starr's entire back catalogue is now on iTunes.
Presentation Zen: PowerPoint tips that are clear and to the point.
Garr Reynolds reviews a new book about PowerPoint called Clear and To the Point: 8 Psychological Principles for Compelling PowerPoint Presentations. He highly recommends the book and illustrates some of the discussed concepts. Even when reviewing another's work, Mr. Reynolds remains highly interesting and informative!
Links 08/22/07
Treehugger: Why We Love Downloads
My last few software purchases have been digitally distributed. It's probably been over a year since I've purchased any boxed software.
The Macalope: The Ents will be happy
I love this blog.
Infinite Loop: Apple wins silver for eco-friendliness at EPEAT
Not bad ... but not great either.
Links 08/19/07
I've read most of the top 20, and I'm pleasantly surprised by number one.
Ars Technica: AACS DRM tentacles reach far into operating systems
So, when thinking about this issue, we have to ask ourselves: is a company like Microsoft or Apple likely to tell Hollywood to jump off a cliff? No, because both companies know that users will want to play HD DVD or Blu-ray discs on their computers. Microsoft didn't tell AACS LA to stuff it, and Apple won't tell them to, either.
Marcello's Homepage – Comics – Calvin & Hobbes
Every Calvin and Hobbes comic strip ever published. I can now sleep better at night just knowing these are here.
PagesUser: A Huge Saving of Space
So that's where all those megabytes went... I had a hunch.
Red Sweater Blog: We're In This Together
It’s pretty awe-inspiring to sit in the same room while the makers of competing products such as BBEdit and TextMate, or Transmit and Fetch discuss product design issues, laugh at each other’s jokes, and yes, withhold some of their more strategic plans! But almost everybody in the room, competitor or not, is respecting each other’s work, and having a great time.
This is something I really like about being a Mac user. The third-party developers (especially the indies) are generally nice people, and the cut-throat feeling pervasive in the Windows software market is all but absent.
Infinite Loop: The secrets to Apple's success in marketing to teenagers
In addition to the reasons listed in the article, I think another factor in Apple's success with young people is that Apple doesn't talk down to them or try to create a blatantly corny atmosphere of "hipness."
Links 08/15/08 (Part 2)
Paul Thurrott is absolutely right in this case. The Mac is not a gaming machine. It's great at many things (otherwise I wouldn't be on my second Mac laptop and desktop), but gaming is a lost cause here.
So what's a Mac user to do? Well, you can forget about this EA silliness, for starters, and grab yourself a real video game machine, like an Xbox 360 or a PS3.
Yup, we got a PS2 back in 2002, and we haven't missed gaming on the Mac since. (Well, except for Cro-Mag Rally perhaps.)
Engadget: Samsung files patent app for fertility measuring phone
Okay this has to be at least the third strangest thing I've seen today. (And quite possibly the most bizarre use for a cellular phone I've ever heard of.)
Ars Technica: Row brewing over attorneys' fees in RIAA loss
Why does this not surprise me?
Links 08/15/08
And we all download/And we all download...
Infinite Loop: RIP AppleWorks
I'm really surprised Apple killed this product today – more or less because I didn't know the product was still alive as of yesterday.
Links 08/12/08
Some of the most intelligent and cognizant thought on the Harry Potter series I've read. (I will say there are some spoilers in here for anyone who hasn't read the book and cares.) Here are a couple of key quotes:
"But reading was never dead with the kids. Au contraire, right now it's probably healthier than the adult version, which has to cope with what seems like at least 400 boring and pretentious ''literary novels'' each year."
"...If the field is left to a bunch of intellectual Muggles who believe the traditional novel is dead, they'll kill the damn thing."
Links 08/11/07
This app is just looking cooler and cooler. My wallet curses these awesome Mac software developers and their great products!
Ars Technica: Report: Gamers largely clueless about next-gen console media capabilities
Considering how insanely expensive these new consoles are coupled with the fact that 2/3 really need a HD-capable TV to show off their capabilities, this is truly surprising.
FatBits: Stuck on the enterprise
John Siracusa on Apple's focus on consumers:
Still holding that thought about the Intel stickers? Listen again to Steve's final words on the subject. "We put ourselves in the customer's shoes and say, what do we want?"
This is why Apple does not compete in the enterprise market in the traditional sense. This is why no other company created the iPhone. This is why most desktop PCs are pieces of crap. When you don't focus on the user, the user gets shafted.
Links 08/08/07
This is a good post by Garr Reynolds about the Art of Steve when it comes to presentations. Good stuff.
Ars Technica: Adobe, Microsoft accused of infringing on browser-related patents
Here we go again. All I want to know is why this company was awarded this patent years after this specific interface paradigm was already in use.
Apple – QuickTIme – Apple Special Event – August 2007
If you want to watch Steve Jobs' presentation from yesterday, it's right here. A fast connection is recommended.
Apple – iWork – Trial
If you have a Mac, you should download the trial version of iWork '08. It's only a 469 MB download!
Wired: Aug. 7, 1991: Ladies and Gentlemen, the World Wide Web
The "tubes" went public, and the world began to change.
Engadget: Apple calls multitouch Mac a "research project"
Sounds like Apple is still considering adding multitouch support to Macs. Chances are, this will show up in notebooks before desktops. I was not suprised that yesterdays announcements did not include a multitouch Mac.
Links 08/05/07
Mac OS X 10.5 is looking really nice, but I just am having a hard time with the whole 3D Dock and translucent menu bar thing...
Links 08/03/07
And WebKit continues to gain momentum as a viable alternative web rendering engine.
Insanely Great News: Paperclip: Designed by Apple in California
This has to be the most hilarious thing I've seen today. The "instruction manual" is priceless.
Opposable Thumbs: A look at the possible racism in Resident Evil 5
Personally, I prefer Silent Hill over Resident Evil any day, but this still an interesting issue to watch.
From the article:
The game is being designed by Japanese artists, not white Americans. The game uses a well-established character from the Resident Evil series who is white, Chris Redfield. Capcom wanted to move the setting to Africa, where most people are black. I don't think Capcom ever sat down and thought about the political reasons for having a white soldier against black zombies, it was simply an organic continuation of a story and a character that began years ago.
Links 08/01/07
Fascinating stuff, and it reinforces the difficulties adults have acquiring new languages. Remember that next you get frustrated that someone is having difficulty with English when they have moved here from another country.
TUAW: Microsoft Office 2008 for the Mac delayed until January 2008
This does not make Robert happy, but what can you do?
Realmac Software: What's New in RapidWeaver 3.6.2
All I care about here is the smart publishing bug fix, but some nice new features have been added as well.
Links 07/31/07
Seriously, what is the deal with these obscure companies that come out of the woodwork waving patents that they have never done anything with? Is patent-squatting some kind of new national pastime?
Infinite Loop: Apple schedules Mac event for Tuesday, August 7
Hmm, Apple is making it clear that this is not an iPod or iPhone related event. I know I'm interested.
Eureka Alert: Test scores slow under No Child Left Behind reforms, gauged by states/federal assessment
From the article:
The share of fourth-graders proficient in reading, based on federal NAEP results, climbed by one-half a percentage point each year, on average, between the mid-1990s and 2002. But over the four years after the legislation was passed, the share of students deemed proficient declined by about one percent.
The annual rise in the percentage of fourth-graders proficient in mathematics improved slightly in the same 12 states, moving up from 1.6 percent per year before ‘No Child’ was signed to a yearly growth rate of 2.5 percent following enactment of the law. This is the one out of six federal gauges where a post-NCLB gain was observed by the research team, tracking NAEP results.
Wow. NCLB is correlated with improvement in 1/6 of measured standards. Of course, NCLB really has little to do with what's best for children as much as it is about what's best for the perception that politician's care.
Infinite Loop: Eminem publisher sues Apple over iTunes downloads
The way I read the article, it sounds like this is really a dispute between Eminem's publisher and Universal Music. Anyway, Eminem's stuff has been on the iTunes store for how long now? Way to take initiative guys...
Links 07/28/07
I tend to be skeptical of all-or-nothing correlations in behavioral science. An individual may be more prone to autistic tendencies due to genetic makeup, but environment will still influence the development of a social disorder to some extent.
However, I do have to admit a biased viewpoint...
The WebKit Open Source Project: WebKit Project Goals
WebKit development is surprisingly transparent when compared to Apple as a whole. Check this out for an idea of where they are taking WebKit, the most prolific web content engine for Mac OS X.
Apple Reports Third Quarter Results
Overall, another very good quarter for Apple. Hopefully, they will get their products to comply with the new Energy Star standards by the end of the current quarter.
Links 07/21/07
This site provides a simple chart covers the basic stance of all the current candidates on 25 issues you may care about.
ThoughtDifferent.com
This site has a really neat archive of images that showcase Apple's main page from 1997 to present. I think it is interesting how quickly Apple found a design that works, and the site still follows the basic principles of that design, even ten years later.
Links 07/17/07
From the site:
We're going to give you Menuet and Art Collector, and all we ask for in return is that you'll donate what you can to a charity. If you can't donate money to one of the charities offered through our site, please go ahead and help out some local charities with old clothes or perhaps some of your time as a volunteer.
Ars Technica: RIAA spends thousands to obtain $300 judgment
Don't these guys have anything better to do with their time and resources?
Indexed: Do Your Thing
This makes me happy.
Links 07/13/07
Congratulations on the book deal, Garr! I'll be buying a copy as soon as they're available!
Multi-touch support for MPX – MPX: The Multi-Pointer X Server
Multitouch support for Unix X Windows server. If you have a *nix machine, a development version of this is already available.
Joystiq: Special Coverage of E3 2007
Instead of trying to tell you about all the things I'm stoked about from this year's E3, I'll just point you to this site's excellent coverage. You can get excited on your own.
Links 07/10/07
As usual, Ars Techica turns out a review to end all reviews. This 15 page, 19,000+ word epic covers every detail of Apple's new phone. If you are planning on being an early iPhone-adopter, this is a must-read.
Ars Technica: Sony announces price cut, new 80GB PlayStation 3 model for North America
Things might be getting interesting again on the PS3 front. After this 17% price reduction, sales have surged on Amazon.com by over 2500%, and it is currently in the #1 spot in Amazon's video game sales. On top of this, Sony will begin shipping an 80 GB model at the $599 price-point with a bundled copy of Motorstorm.
Links 07/06/07
From the article:
Instead of turning kids into loners, gaming largely fell in line with general trends of social interactions. Although there was some variability between the sexes, children who gamed with their friends generally spent more time with friends in every other activity.
and:
If people are concerned about the lack of reading done by adolescents, the fact that non-gamers spend only eight minutes a day reading should be a far larger concern than the fact that gaming causes that figure to drop by a little more than two minutes.
Yet the mainstream media put this study in a far more negative light.
YouTube: iPhone: The Music Video
This is hilarious, and no tech writer but David Pogue could pull this off! (By the way, is that New York representative John Hall at 2:16 in this video? If not, the guy bears an uncanny resemblance!)
RealMac Forge
Realmac Forge is an open-source portal for Realmac Software products. Realmac Forge was set up so users and developers can collaborate and produce new and exciting plugins for RapidWeaver.
Links 07/04/07
Subaru of Indiana has gone three years without sending any waste to a landfill through reusing waste, recycling it, or using it to supply power to Indianapolis' power grid. That's incredible! Now if their cars only got better gas mileage. On a related note, it seems Toyota has some plants that are 95% waste free. Again, the U.S. automakers are being shown up.
Engadget: How Far We've Come
iPhone meets its great-grandpappy.
Instructables: Interactive Multitouch Display
As enamored as I am with multitouch technology, I just don't see myself finishing this particular project...
Links 07/02/07
Brilliant marketing. Absolutely brilliant.
Perian: The Swiss-Army Knife for QuickTime
Perian is a free open source plug-in that greatly expands QuickTIme's file compatibility. This is a must-have for every Mac use.
Playlist: iTunes loses lock on Universal music
I can't tell if this is really a big deal or not. Basically, Universal is giving Apple the same treatment they give other music retailers now. The quote from an Apple rep in this article makes absolutely no sense. I think someone forgot to proofread:
“We are still negotiating with Universal, the music is still on iTunes, and their not resigning is just not true,” said Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr.
Internet Nexus: Apple apparently sold a lot of iPhones
Three sources, three widely different sales projections. Apparently Apple sold somethere between 200,000 and 700,000 iPhones this weekend ... give or take a few.
Links 06/29/07
The iPhone site got a makeover today. Gone is the black spartan appearance. Now it looks a lot like the iPod + iTunes page.
Ars Technica: Notebook mania leads to revised PC market projections
As notebooks prove themselves more and more capable of replacing desktops for most people – with the exception of serious power users – I expect this trend will continue.
Copyblogger: Do You Make These Mistakes When You Write?
Coppyblogger reminds us of some common grammar mistakes many are guilty of (including myself).
Presentation Zen: One secret to a healthy life (and a great presentation)
The problem with most presentation is that they are too long, not too short. Performers, for example, know that the trick is to leave the stage while the audience still loves you and don’t want you to go, not after they have had enough and are "full" of you.
Links 06/26/07
Basically, employers can currently ignore the First Amendment rights of their employees – and this should be especially important to bloggers. If you write or say something that upsets them, contradicts decisions, upsets their political views, or merely generally irritates them, they may fire you. The podcast discusses the issue very thoroughly.
It's ironic that I should stumble upon this story on the tenth anniversary of this Supreme Court decision (and I don't mean ironic in the rain-on-your-wedding-day way).
This is, without a doubt, the sexiest Windows-based laptop ever created. If it weren't for the blue LEDs and the obligatory marketing stickers, it might just be as drool-worthy as a MacBook Pro.
However, we need to work on the name. XPS M1330? That's like running into a strikingly beautiful and achingly intelligent woman but learning her name is Hanktrude. It just mars the experience. Anyway, cool features, light, small, $2,200. Check it out if you use THOSE computers.
Here are a bunch of prerelease reviews of the iPhone. Nothing staggering here at all. THe general gist is that the iPhone works exactly as advertized (including the improved battery life). The touch screen works well but takes getting used to. EDGE is slow. If you want to read the full reviews, click away!
- The Mossberg Solution: The iPhone is a Breakthrough Handheld Computer
- NYT: The iPhone Matches Most of Its Hype
- Newsweek: At Last, the iPhone
- USAToday: Apple's iPhone Isn't Perfect, But It's Worthy of the Hype
So will the iPhone do to the mobile phone industry what the iPod did for digital music. Who knows? It could be incredible. It could be the next iPod HiFi. Still, if I try one out in a store and don't instantly dislike it, that will say a lot about it as a cell phone!
via DF and TUAW
Oliver Toast: Introducing MiniMail
This small app creates a small notification window for Apple's Mail application – much like the notifier featured in modern versions of Outlook.
screenshot by Oliver Toast
It's a neat idea, and it
costs $9. Personally, I'm happy with Mail.appetizer which offers the
same basic functionality for free. (However,
MiniMail definitely offers more features.) Here's
what Mail.appetizer looks like:
Ars Technica: Microsoft's
anti-virtualization stance: forget DRM, think
Apple
Ken Fisher thinks Microsoft's stance that limitation
of Home editions of Windows virtualization based on
DRM concerns is a snowjob. The real motivation may be
to make it more expensive for Mac users to create
virtual Windows machines.
Microsoft using arbitrary methods to stifle the
competition? I can't imagine...
Ars Technica: Exonerated defendant sues
RIAA for malicious prosecution
The title says it all.
Links 06/23/07
Me (embarassedly): "Oh, so you are a universal app now. Well, that sure took a while. Um ... you know, after you didn't speak to me for months I thought you had ... you know ... called it quits. So, yeah, I've been seeing this younger and lighter screenshot utility. Um, no hard feelings?"
I totally did not see this coming. No, really! No sarcasm here. Honestly, I expected Manhunt 2 to recieve some controversy, get mediocre reviews, and sell decently – but for it to get banned from its target consoles? Paint me green and call me Gumby! And I thought Hot Coffee was a train wreck!
- Opposable Thumbs: The Manhunt Saga: ESRB assigns AO rating
- 1UP: The Murder of Manhunt 2: One Day Later
- 1Up: Nintendo, Sony Policies Prohibit AO Manhunt 2
By the way, Manhunt 2 is one of only 23 games to receive the esteemed AO rating. Manhunt 2 now joins the honorable ranks of such titles as WET-The Sexy Empire, All Nude Nikki, and Cyber Photographer. That's classy!
Rands In Repose: Keynote Kung-Fu
Learn subtle ways of Keynote, young grasshopper, and stun many throngs.
Um ... HADOKEN!!!
Links 06/19/07
This is the video related to my post about the value of silence in presentations.
via Presentation Zen
CNET Blogs: The Macalope: An Apple Blog
This should
be interesting. The be-horned one writes more about
his sellout new job on his main blog.
Links 06/18/07
The Brothers Chaps have rejected deals from both Cartoon Network and Comedy Central in favor of keeping Homestar Runner a webtoon. That's investiga-awesome for fans of the site!
1UP.com: Microsoft Suing Immersion
Immersion sues Microsoft over rumble features and wins. Immersion sues Sony over rumble features and wins. Now Microsoft is suing Immersion because Immersion sued Sony and won. What now? I'm lost.
Links 06/15/07
via TUAW
Guardian Unlimited: Call to ban all school exams for under-16s
Well, this is interesting...
Newsweek: On A Roll, Or, How Microsoft Secured Yet Another Exclusive--Beautiful Katamari--From Namco Bandai
Okay, this just made the whole "which expensive console should I buy" question a whole lot more complicated ... unless, of course, Newsweek is wrong.
via Opposable Thumbs
Ars Technica: AMA chimes in on gaming/violence connection, gaming addiction
From the article:
Overall, the committee seems to have produced a fine report that both accurately affects the current state of knowledge and puts the impetus for acting on it where it belongs: on parents, acting in consultation with family physicians.
Parental responsibility? Imagine that.
Links 06/13/07
It's sad to hear that the release of Safari on Windows is not better executed. Yes, this is beta software, but it is also software Apple is sticking in front of the world to use and abuse. Though not the absolute best, Safari is still a fine browser for Mac OS X. I hope Apple reacts quickly to the criticism their browser is receiving on Windows.
Links 06/12/07
I'm happy to see this Universal Binary of Sibelius finally come out. I'll post some impressions of the demo once I get done with the RapidWeaver posts.
PS – It's lame that Scorch is still PPC-only. C'mon, how hard is it to update a browser plug-in?
Opposable Thumbs: Microsoft seeks answer to question, "Would global warming make for a good game?"
I picture controlling Al Gore racing his hybrid through angry mobs of staunch republicans in a Grand Theft Auto-inspired gore-fest. (No pun intended!) After escaping, you would have to coordinate your fellow environmentalists in covert stealth missions (Sam Fisher-style) that infiltrate heavily-armed Big Oil corporate offices where you ultimately will battle Mother Brain. (After all, there is no possible way these oil execs are really human.)
Side missions may include freezing ice cubes big enough to cool the oceans, setting up polar bear habitats, and discovering alternatives to using oil in producing plastics. Man I need to learn game design. I think I have a winner. Now if I can only talk Al into some voiceovers...
Apple – Safari 3 Public Beta
This is a smart move by Apple. More users will drive better support by web developers. This benefits Mac users and iPhone users. Not to mention (as DF points out) that this will lead to a bunch more integrated search revenue from Yahoo! and Google.
Windows users, get downloading! Mac users, hold your horses. It doesn't offer much the current version lacks, and updating may hose other WebKit-based apps and widgets. (Trust me on this one.)
Daring Fireball: WWDC 2007 News
He calls it "WWDC 2006 2.0." While I am stoked about Leopard, I have to admit that I felt pretty "meh" about the other announcements.
Apple.com
I like. When you visit, try the search field in the upper-right corner. I was pleasantly surprised.
Links 06/10/07
This directly challenges principals set forth in the controversial Military Commissions Act of 2006, which basically allowed for the Geneva Conventions and habeas corpus to be ignored in the case of suspected terrorists and war criminals.
I just hope Senate has the guts to get this processed untarnished.
Infinite Loop: Mac vs. PC Prices
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Mac prices are competitive when compared to similarly equipped machines – especially MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and iMacs. The perceived price gap comes from the fact that Apple chooses not to compete in the bargain-basement department, allowing them to remain insanely profitable.
Also, like people who prefer buying organic foods at Wild Oats rather than Meijer, there's something to be said about paying for the experience as well.
Links 06/09/07
Like the earlier development to extract stem cells from human placentas, this is another great step forward in removing the controversy from stem cell research.
Links 06/06/07
Basically, this article states the obvious point that we value familiarity in products we use. However, I think our tendency toward "Cognitive Lock-in" makes leading technology companies wary of truly innovating.
From the article:
Overall, the results suggest that all the years of arguments over the relative merits of things like the Mac and Windows user interfaces were a waste of time: we're generally convinced that whatever we're familiar with is the best.
Apple – MacBook Pro
Faster processors, faster buses, more default memory, faster burners – what's not to like? Oh, and the 15" uses an LED display resulting in some better battery life.
OpenOffice.org for Mac OS X
As excited as I am about this project, I think I'll wait to download until the list of known issues stops saying things like, "You cannot print" and "OpenOffice.org will crash after quitting."
Another thing: does anyone else find it strange that they refer to the application as OpenOffice.org rather than just OpenOffice? Seems odd to me...
Links 06/03/07
Apple - iPhone - TV Ads
The name says it all ... coming June 29. Me? I just want an iPod that looks like one of these. The sooner iPhone gets out of the gate, the sooner a widescreen iPod takes a bite out of my wallet.
Polar Clock
This clock is completely mesmerizing.
Bean: An OS X Word Processor
This is a lightweight, free, open-souce word processor for OS X. It has broad document compatibility, but its features are somewhat limited (as is to be expected with free software). I've only used it once so far, but it seems to be stable and snappy. Really, my only complaint is that the toolbar icons could look a little bit nicer. Head over to the site, and download it for your Mac!
Links 06/02/07
Not only is this a nice article promoting project approach learning, but the elementary school I work at is featured in the article!
some of the wonderful children I work with
two of my favorite people
Pixelmator
This is an open-source based commercial photo editor with a very unique-looking interface. It also integrates with a lot of Mac OS X technologies, and it features GPU acceleration. It's due out in July and will cost $59. I'll definitely be downloading this when it becomes available.
Also, TUAW has posted a video of the application in action.
Links 05/30/07
I am perhaps more infatuated with multi-touch devices than I am with Al Gore! This looks really cool, but I wonder how long it will take to practically implement this into home technology.
Ars Technica: Why writing in games matters: Part III—creating character with Susan O'Connor
In this installment, Ars interviews game writer Susan O'Connor about the challenges facing game writers and about some games she feels contain examples of good writing.
Links 05/29/07
(Warning: language.) The disclaimer at the bottom is perhaps funnier than the story itself.
Links 05/28/07
The new version of their web page creator comes with a new look for their site. It seems very Delicious Monster-inspired. I'll post some thoughts on RapidWeaver 3.6 in a few days after putting it through some paces.
Guardian Unlimited: A drive for global domination has put us in greater danger
Here's another edited excerpt from Gore's most recent book, The Assault on Reason. I need to stop doing this. I'm bordering dangerously close to becoming a political blog!
Raw Story: Cheney criticizes the Geneva Conventions in Military Academy commencement address
I'm not a Cheny fan. (After all, my man-crush is on Al Gore). However, I don't agree that Cheny is necessarily criticizing the Geneva Conventions in this speech as much as he is trying to (clumsily) illustrate a moral distinction between American combatants and some of the opposition they face.
However, this quote from his speech is something I could take issue with:
"They view the world as a battlefield and they yearn to hit us again. And now they have chosen to make Iraq the central front in their war against civilization."
I'm sorry, who chose to make Iraq the "central front" again?
Ars Technica: Ex-military leaders call climate change a national security issue
I never thought of global warming in terms of terrorism, but there you go.
Opposable Thumbs: First look: 1.80 firmware update for PlayStation 3 truly impresses
Every PS3 patch makes the machine that much more compelling. It has no longer become a question of if we get a PS3 as much as when.
Links 05/21/07
Of course, some armchair analyst's are already saying that this is proof that Apple made a mistake when they abandoned the PPC architecture. However, it is important to note that the Mac Pro (formerly PowerMac) would not have seen a major upgrade since August of 2005, and it would likely still be running processors that topped out under 3GHz. In terms of laptops, MacBook Pros (formerly PowerBooks) would be in even sadder condition, still hobbled by the 6-year-old G4 with its 100 MHz system bus.
If Apple had not transitioned when it did, it is likely their computer division would be in a world of hurt right now if it existed at all.
Macworld: Suit against Apple claims false advertising on displays
Intriguing. I'll probably keep an eye on this case as it affects my computer. I can't say I can really tell the difference, but I do believe Apple should be more honest and forthright with their customers.
Links 05/20/07
The Bills (Gates and Clinton) unite to bring free online tools to communities wishing to decrease their carbon footprints, and a company named Business Objects is looking to provide cities with open source solutions in the efforts to curb detrimental climate changes.
- Ars Technica: Attacking climate change with open data
- Nobel Intent: Microsoft and the Clinton Foundation team up to tackle climate change
Ars Technica: Why writing in games matters: Part II—challenges of interactive storytelling
This entry focuses specifically on the challenges of fitting a plot (linear by nature) into modern games (nonlinear by design). Good stuff.
AVING USA: 120-inch wide touchscreen display 'T-VIEW'
Wow! Any word on pricing?
Links 05/13/07
From the post:
When assessing presenters, then, you may want to measure them against these four question (among others): Who are you? What do you do? Why does it matter to us? What did you contribute? If these answers are clear and the contribution was beyond expectation, then chances are the hour was not a wasted one.
Whenever I approach presentations, I feel like if I can effectively and quickly answer those second two questions, the need for the audience to worry about who I am and what I do becomes irrelevant.
Links 05/12/07
This is an amazing little widget aimed at quick-and easy photo resizing and editing. It's free, so try it out if you're a Mac user!
Links 05/11/07
I've seen this story in several places, but Paul Thurrott has my favorite take on the issue:
OK, seriously.
The legal system in this country is absolutely out of control. This is ridiculous. Is there some way I can sue these clowns because of the time I lost just writing this blog post? Spare me.
Universe Today: Maximizing Survival Time Inside the Event Horizon of a Black Hole
Useful information – I wonder when our Fox affiliate will feature it on their "Survive Alive" news segment.
ESA presents the sharpest ever satellite map of Earth
This is amazing stuff.
"It will also significantly contribute to the monitoring and assessment of global land cover and as such will support the contribution of FAO to the assessment of land degradation and the monitoring of global forest cover."
Links 05/08/07
Wow. This should have been the case years ago. It's amazing how "intellectual property" squandering can lead to derailments in common sense.
Links 05/07/07
From the article:
Instead of requiring journalists to be tied to a news organization, the bill now defines "journalism" to focus more on the function of the job: "the gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public."
As Jon Stewart pointed out in an interview with Bill Moyers, many bloggers are as effective (if not more-so) than many mainstream journalists who answer to larger organizations. This bill is a very good thing.
Ars Technica: Why writing in games matters: Part I—advancing the art of storytelling
Ars Technica looks at the scarcity of good writing in video games, some of the obstacles, and possible reasons and solutions for including better writing in games.
Opposable Thumbs: Blu-ray laser shortage ending; PS3 price cuts should follow
I'm sure Sony will keep prices where they are for a while to help recoup losses, but it's good to know they consider price drops as a viable strategy.
Think Progress: Gingrich To Conservatives: Don’t Talk About Iraq, Katrina, Walter Reed, Attorneys, Or Bush
Wow. It's petty dire when your own political party is trying to distance itself from you.
From the transcript:
Well, President Bush is not the future. He’s not a solution. He doesn’t solve Social Security. He doesn’t solve Medicare. He doesn’t solve the economy. He doesn’t solve the environment. He doesn’t solve education.
Links 05/05/07
Back in 2000, Sony was criticized for cutting back shipments of the PlayStation 2, failing to deliver an online service, having a poor library of games, and costing just too dang much. The author even criticizes the PS2's inclusion of a DVD-player. Hmm, does any of this sound familiar?
By the way, check this Curmudgeon Gamer post out if you want to see how console prices work out when you take inflation into account.
Links 05/04/07
This is becoming like the Duke Nukem Forever of Mac ports.
Links 05/03/07
Tags and multiple categories make me very happy. Clusters are nice too. Now I just need to set up a Flickr stream, so I can look like the cool blogs!
Links 05/02/07
Steve Jobs writes another open letter. This time he scribes about the steps Apple is taking toward more environmentally responsible products and manufacturing processes. (Also, he rightly takes Greenpeace to task for praising other companies based on their proposed plans rather than results.)
Ironically, based on this plan, Greenpeace has increased Apple's environmental ranking.
Ars Technica: Study shows complicated interplay between anger, aggression, and gaming
From the article:
The response of those playing violent games was more aggressive, but barely so: roughly nine out of the 60 responses were scored as aggressive, compared to about seven for those playing nonviolent games. These sorts of results are typical of the response caused by exposure to any violent media; the authors even note that a study that put people in a hot room registered a similar rise in aggression.
Has anyone ever thought to blame societal violence on bad temperature control?
Macworld: Digg users show who's the boss in Web 2.0 world
I watched this whole thing play out last night. It was bizarre (sometimes frustrating) but ultimately empowering. While I disagree with the practice of pirating media, this landslide was amazing to watch. It's yet another example of how the internet has empowered the people beyond what politicians and corporations can control through classic bullying.
Links 05/01/07
Presentation Zen: Who says we need our logo on every slide?
Garr Reynolds takes a look at the value (or lack thereof) in overusing brand imagery. For more, check out my post on this same topic.
Daring Fireball: The iPhone’s Funny Price
John Gruber takes a look at Steve Ballmer's negative iPhone remarks and a contradiction in his Windows Mobile claims. What amazes me is that Ballmer projects the iPhone picking up 2-3% cellular market-share like its a bad thing. Steve Jobs said Apple is aiming at 1% with the iPhone launch.
Engadget: Proposals would turn highways into wind farms
Why has no one thought of this before?
Links 04/30/07
I really hadn't paid any attention to this feature until now. It looks to be a pretty interesting expansion of iChat's capabilities. Especially neat is the ability to remotely interact with other people's machines through iChat ... as long as that feature doesn't open some massive security hole.
Links 04/29/07
On May 2nd of 2007, several independent Mac developers will donate the proceeds of their sales to the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund. To contribute to this great cause, go to one (or several) of the following participating sites and purchase their software.
The money you pay will be contributed to the fund and you’ll have not only the peace of mind that comes from contributing to a great cause, but also a piece of software that comes from a great company. You can also of course donate directly to the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund.
Links 04/27/07
Can you imagine being so filthy rich that you can swallow a $200 million loss? I know I can't.
- Apple Reports Second Quarter Results
- Ars Technica: Nintendo reports monster profits, promises increased Wii production
- Microsoft Reports Record Profits – Robust demand for Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system drives 72% growth in earnings per share
Ars Technica: We come not to bury Kutaragi, but to praise him
The "Father of the PlayStation" is stepping down from his position as chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment for unannounced reasons. Kazuo Hirai will be taking his place.
Daring Fireball: Interview: Dino Dai Zovi
Gruber has a nice and thorough interview with one of the individuals who recently hacked a Mac at CanSecWest. If only Maynor or Elich had been this open to discussion a year ago...
Engadget: Meizu updates miniOne: clearly, it's no iPhone clone
Uh-huh... Even the order of some of the icons are the same.
left: iPhone, right: miniOne (in case you couldn't tell)
Flickr: Photos from etchasketchist
Just wow! I could never get past geometric shapes on an Etch-a-Sketch. This person must have tons of patience.
Links 04/23/07
Garr Reynolds blogs about the advantages of using a flip chart as a visual aid during your presentations.
Links 04/20/07
However, Microsoft can't hide the fact that the Xbox 360, like its predecessor, has been a financial disaster for the company. Maybe it's time that Microsoft stopped hemorrhaging cash and looked to other markets that would be more rewarding for the company and its shareholders.
I can't see this happening. Microsoft is too proud to abandon such a high-profile product. 10 million XBox 360s are in the hands of consumers. As a product, the 360 is a success (and the article notes this). Unfortunately, as is the often the case with consoles, it is a financial black hole.
Ars Technica: Despite revenue slump, RIAA still not getting the big picture
I really didn't expect them to. The RIAA is large, inflexible, and quickly becoming obsolete. They blind themselves to the changing of their own industry much the same way AMerican auto makers have for years.
Links 04/16/07
This is a great collection of humorous PowerPoint related videos. My favorites are "Is there life after death by PowerPoint?" and "Chicken, chicken, chicken."
Andrews McMeel Publishing: Fans From Around the World Interview Bill Watterson
It's a nice set of questions. Unfortunately, no one asks when on earth he's going to return from the sky and save us from the sheer banality of recent comic strips. (I mean, come on, Garfield hasn't been funny in ages; Zits is fine; but the funniest comic is Peanuts ... by a dead guy!)
PS - Calvin is my hero.
The Inquirer: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. not nicking art after all
Well, that's good. I still don't like typing that title...
Flickr: Steve Jobs on the cover of April 1993 UnixWorld
He looks so much different with hair...
Apple – Final Cut Studio 2
This is a pretty big update to Apple's professional film editing suite. Along with all existing components receiving new and upgraded features, a new application called Color has been added. I'm not going to tell you the price here. It's too high risk for people with heart conditions, who are pregnant, or who could possible have blood pressure – of any kind.
Links 04/13/07
Daring Fireball has two posts regarding some facts about AAC and some of the recent misinformation spreading around regarding the audio format.
Nobel Intent: Teachers and testing under scrutiny
I love the opening lines:
Education is a perennial political football. It is one of those lovely subjects where everyone feels that, since they went to school once, they have an equally valid view of "what is wrong with education today."
TUAW: More Leopard Delay Reaction
In case you didn't here, Leopard is experiencing a four-month release delay from June to October. My take is that the sky is not falling – not even close. Others disagree. TUAW's post here aggregates some sensible and entertaining views on the delay.
Links 04/09/07
This is the best Apple ad campaign ever.
via TUAW
Links 04/08/07
D'oh! I wish I knew about these BEFORE we began redoing our living room!
TUAW: Our Favorite Easter Eggs
TUAW writes about some fun hidden goodies in Mac OS X (but there aren't as many as in the good old days of the classic Mac OS. grumble, grumble, kids these days...). I have to admit, though, I didn't expect –
"Nooobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
Links 04/06/07
It sounds like this could be the final post at Creating Passionate Users. I hope it isn't.
Shacknews: Half-Life 2, Doom 3 Assets in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.?
If this is true, it could spark a pretty nasty backlash from the hardcore gamer crowd as well as incite legal action from id Software and Valve.
WSJ: Using Even New PCs is Ruined by a Tangle of Trial Programs, Ads
Walt Mossberg rants about the amount of trial-ware, ads, and "special offers" that litters any new PC bought from a major vendor. He says such practices are a result of lack of respect for the consumer, and I agree. However, it's important to note that the consumer would be paying more for the computer without all of that advertising in place. It's like magazines. A bridal magazine that's 200 pages and 75% ads will cost much less than a 50 page psychology journal with no ad revenue.
This is yet one more way Dell, HP, and others sell computers at such low prices. I'm not convinced the tradeoff is worth it.
The Macalope: Run for Your Lives
The mythical Macalope reports on the recently reported iPod "virus" and its severe limitations. He christens it "The Lamest Virus Evah™!"
Human Computer Interaction in Science Fiction Movies
This paper takes a look at how science fiction movies speculate about how we will interact with technology in the future. Several movies are covered, and I especially liked the author's thoughts on Minority Report.
Links 04/04/07
This is a really neat widget from Adobe that will display the newest, the highest-rated, or the most popular color schemes form the kuler website.
via TUAW
Apple: Mac Pro
Wowza! That's a lot of cores! The 8-core option will set you back $1500! On the other hand, Cinema Displays have all received price drops. The 20" is $599; 23" is $899; and the 30" is $1799. Whenever we upgrade the desktop for my wife, I'm thinking a Mac mini and a 23" display will suit her well.
Links 04/03/07
Does this mean I have to stop blaming Katamari Damacy for my strange desire to start rolling everyone over with a large bouncy ball?
Opposable Thumbs: Kojima speaks on Metal Gear series, unwavering PS3 exclusivity
By the way, MSG stands for Metal Gear Solid in this case – not monosodium glutamate. I don't think that's included with any game console.
Darker Matter is posting material from some old Douglas Adams interviews that were only partially printed in Penthouse magazine. A lot of this material has never been published before! Here are the first two parts with the third installment still pending.
Links 04/02/07
The songs will be 256kbps AAC files instead of 128kbps protected-AAC files. They will be $1.29, and you can upgrade your current iTunes-purchased EMI songs for $0.30. These songs will also play on any device that supports AAC.
Additional Coverage
Links 03/29/07
The San Francisco Chronicle has a decent overview of the events surrounding the abuse aimed at Kathy Sierra and the subsequent hiatus of Creating Passionate Users. Again, of all people, I have such a hard time believing she was made into a target.
Playlist: iTunes Completes Me
...and this wasn't a feature from day one because?
Scribd: They didn't study
Here is a small but amusing collection of "creative" answers from students who either became too frustrated with the material or just had no clue what they were doing.
Infinite Loop: Minireview: NeoOffice 2.1 for OS X
All in all, this is a highly-recommended download. But that doesn't mean there aren't any downsides. This Aqua version is a far cry from early X11 StarOffice ports that looked like they were running on Windows 98, prehistoric save dialogs and all. But if you're one to complain about UI consistency, you may be less than impressed by by the look and little things, such as the way the home and end keys on the keyboard behave like they do on a PC (or a Microsoft application). And NeoOffice's look is very much inspired by Microsoft Office.
Also, performance was sluggish on his PowerBook G4. On the other hand, it's pretty zippy on Intel Macs.
OpenOffice.org: Press Release – OpenOffice 2.2
This update patches some newly discovered vulnerabilities, improve on-screen text appearance, and has other small improvements.
Links 03/28/07
The new 1.2ß release officially adds support for Windows Vista for those of you so inclined to use Windows on a Mac.
YubaNet: New Bush Plan to Gut Endangered Species Act
Is it me, or does the Bush administration seem to go out of their way to harm nature as much as it can? Just thinking out loud.
Opposable Thumbs: Xbox 360 Elite launched: official details and specs
It's the update everyone saw coming – 120 GB hard drive, HDMI port, Black, $479. However, there seems to be no easy way to easily transfer the information from one XBox 360 to another at this time. That could frustrate some users.
Links 03/27/07
Suite flavors from $1599 to $2499. I only wish I could afford this stuff!
Newlaunches.com: Top 10 Apple products which flopped
My favorite on this list is Cyberdog. It's like Microsoft BOB for the internet. That's not a compliment, by the way.
via TUAW
Opposable Thumbs: Game Review: Burnout Dominator (PS2)
This is an odd beast: a Burnout game that focuses on long stretches of road, careful use of your boost, and a return to the fundamentals of racing. Is that a good thing? It really depends on your tastes, but in Dominator it seems like you're giving up much of what made the series great in order for Criterion to explore some of the classical elements of the series in the current market.
Myself, I initially liked Dominator. It's single player mode is pretty compelling, but multiplayer is a buzz-kill. Aftertouch slowdown and crashbreakers are disabled in multiplayer. Bleh.
FreeSMUG: NeoOffice 2.1 is available as a free download
This is based on the OpenOffice 2.1 code-base, and it features support for Office 2007 documents and Excel macros. I'll post impressions sometime next week, but I've already noticed one big improvement: It launches in about a quarter of the time as 2.0.3.
Links 03/24/07
Jumsoft: Keynote Objects FX - I'm not sure what I think of these. If I were more of a clip art user, these would probably seem great. As it is, I only see a couple in the sample document that make me think, "I'd use that."
Keynote Theme Park: Nation Elements Americas - These look like they could be pretty useful. I've purchased a couple of this group's supplemental packs and have gotten a lot of use out of them. This is worth checking out.
IsraCast: Like a Fish – Revolutionary Underwater Breathing System
It's almost like Star Wars: Episode 1, only without the Gungans. Make sure you read down to the interview at the bottom of the article.
Kotaku: PS3 Dominates Folding@Home
Now there's a way to generate good Karma if I ever saw one.
Kotaku: London PS3 Launch Gives Out TVs to All
And to think I decided to skip the UK PS3 launch just because I live here in Westfield!
Links 03/23/07
I have no idea how this thing holds up in less controlled situations, but it's very mesmerizing to watch in this video!
Links 03/19/07
Sometimes praise comes from unexpected places. Paul Thurrott calls the PS3 "a winner." His review is very thorough, and it is one of the most positive PS3 reviews floating around. Between this review, the video for Ratchet & Clank Future, Final Fantasy XIII, and news of a Katamari PS3, this is getting harder to resist. All I need is to hear an announcement from the group that made ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, and you may actually see me frothing ... truly frothing.
Links 03/17/07
Comedian Robert Paravonian energetically and humorously illustrates the sameness of popular music. This has been around for a little while, but I thought I'd post it here as well for those of you who might not have seen it. (Warning: There is some bad language toward the end of the video.)
Pixel Designs: French Roast
x
This is a nice free theme. It's very visually appealing, but I do recommend that you download the suggested font.
Links 03/16/07
- Signal-to-Noise ratio and the elimination of the nonessential
- Slide design: signal vs. noise (redux)
CPUs: Seven Blog Virtues
Kathy Sierra posts some great tips (in PDF format) on producing a well-received blog. This is essential reading for all of us bloggers out here!
DT: 12 Ways to Boycott the RIAA
Mark Fleischmann:
The RIAA’s degeneration into a corporate bully is both sad and self-defeating. Warring against consumers has not reversed declining CD sales or replaced eroding revenues with legal downloads. It has merely turned off a new generation of consumers, possibly forever.
I think the RIAA should start reading Creating Passionate Users.
Links 03/14/07
Remember kids, in real life there is no "retry" option.
Links 03/10/07
Let me additionally say that you should never begin your talk by telling people what you aren't going to cover. Also, the author of this post mentions participation as an important part of your talk. I do agree, but don't force it. No participation is better than forced participation.
TUAW: Where OS X 'Big Cat' code names REALLY come from
I like the German tank theory better, but this is probably a more realistic origin.
Wii Fanboy: Spielburg working on Wii game with EA
Let's hope these games are more Minority Report and Saving Private Ryan than they are Hook or The Lost World.
I'm a little late getting these put up, but here are 1Up.com's lists of most wanted games this year. As an aside, I'm playing Burnout: Dominator (on the PS2 list) right now, and it is very fun. I don't miss crash mode very much, but the lack of traffic checking is taking some getting used to.
Top 10: PC • Top 10: Wii • Top 10: DS • Top 10: PSP • Top 10: PS2 • Top 10: PS3 • Top 10: XBox 360
Links 03/06/07
"Nintendo set a lofty goal with Twilight Princess. The Legend of Zelda is one of the most revered franchises in gaming, and Nintendo openly stated that their goal was to top every game in the series. In my opinion, they've succeeded."