According to Bill Gates, Microsoft’s next version of Windows, which is currently code-named Longhorn and is due out late 2005 / early 2006, will cost them more than it cost the US government to put a man on the moon.
Quite interesting. I can’t wait to see what the guys at Microsoft have hidden up their sleeves.
From The Inquirer.
[via eclecticism]
It seems like Google don’t find it enough to just search information on websites, they want to go further and extend into the offline world, and start searching information that’s in books too.
According to their Google Print FAQ page, they say:
Now this could be bad news for Amazon, which is working on a similar full-text book search effort.
Today, i finally got around to uninstalling the beta developer release of Macromedia Central, and installing the final release of it for a spin.
I think the idea behind Central is a really good one, and one that holds a lot of potential if it catches on with more and more developers.
The idea of a rich client interface based on Flash running outside the browser mainly offline and partially online (to get data), is a really catchy one, and i for one can think of a load of ideas for applications that can be run inside Central.
I’m already wondering what my first Central app should be 🙂
If you have any suggestions or ideas, let me know in a comment 😉
I didn’t write about this before when i played around with the beta because i wanted to wait for the final release to come out and see some of the applications that will be created for it.
And well, a really interesting application i found with it is BlogReader 😉 It’s all flash of course, and coming from Macromedia, it has to look good.
I’m still exploring it functionality-wise though, but who knows, this might become my default RSS reader soon 😉
My dream of yesterday coming true today ?! I hope 🙂
A while back, with a growing number of news sites and blogs to keep up with piling up in my favourites and blogroll, i thought it was about time i got myself a good RSS reader.
I started by trying out NewsDesk, which i didn’t like, although i don’t really remember why, i just know it didn’t click for me.
After it i tried FeedDemon by Nick Bradbury, which is pretty good, but still in Beta, so i have to wait for that till it’s done.
Now, i’m actually using SharpReader, which is quite a good program, and does what it’s supposed to do well enough.
I just wish the interface looked a bit better, and had more eye candy 🙂
And, i’m about to try out another one called FeedReader, which looks like the one i’m using right now but with a slightly better interface.
So, basically, i’m still on the search for the one great RSS reader that will blow my mind, and provide me with a slick beautiful interface and all sorts of different functionalities.
So, if you know of anything that fits the above description, please let me know about it by posting a comment to this.
Update: I tried FeedReader, and well it does look better than SharpReader, and for a couple of seconds, it got my hopes high, but then the problems started, and i had to kill the process from task manager. So i chose to uninstall it and stick to my stable SharpReader until i find something better.
Anyway, i’ll be checking FeedReader again, when it’s more stable. I think it holds some promise.
God Damn It !
Now, after nearly 6 years, i finally know why the hell my old pc started playing that damn symphony !!!
It was exactly the night before i had to hand in and present my System Analysis project to the grumpiest and shittiest professor in the Computer Science department, a full Real Estate Agency system built using Oracle 7.
As if i didn’t go through enough pain with Oracle killing my pc’s memory and making me suffer to get it work right, when i finally sighed marking the end of the project, my once beloved pc started playing this symphony for me, and God knows i nearly shit myself right then and there.
After scanning the damn thing with every anti-virus software i could get my hands on and trying every possible thing that came to mind, the pc speaker was still buzzing away. by this time, in my mind, it was no longer a symphony, it was this damned pc telling me to go screw myself.
Having to take the pc with me to university for the presentation, i couldn’t allow it to go on with that maddening tune, so i unplugged the pc speaker and enjoyed the peaceful quiet that followed.
It got me through the presentation ok, although i was trembling in fear it would screw the whole thing at any second.
That pc speaker remains unplugged to this very day, holding a memory of a haunting tune that once threatened to give me a heart attack.
So, what once was code-named Royale at Macromedia has finally become Flex, and it’s in it’s Beta phase.
I’ve been reading some whitepapers and articles about this, and i’m really excited about it and can’t wait to play around with it, i’ve even applied for the beta program, i hope i get chosen.
Basically Flex is a Rich Internet Application Server that does almost everything the same as any other application server would, but generates swf flash files in the end.
It has a special markup language called MXML which is very XML-like, reminding me of ASP.NET and ColdFusion, but even easier, i’ve taken a quick look and i already feel like i’ve got a good grip on it.
It’s interface will be event driven using ActionScript 2, and it will be able to use WebServices, HTTPService and RemoteObject to access data.
Flex actually runs on a Java Application Server for the time being, but there will also be a version that runs on Microsoft .NET.
I think it’s great that developers will be able to produce rich user interfaced applications a lot easier now using Flex, and i hope that it works out great and grows into something big.
I think the main criteria that will make or break it is whether it’s fast or slow, if it’s going to mean minutes and minutes of loading time, then it will certainly fail.
An idea i have is that maybe Macromedia could have all the basic stuff such as the textboxes, buttons, …etc in Flash Player so that all the application would do is return certain tags for the player to interpret and display, instead of making it part of the returning swf. In short, something like the browser, where the load is thrown onto the user’s machine not on the server resulting in bigger files to download.
Was just reading some articles on useit.com, when i came across one about response times, which is quite interesting.
Anyway, it’s also funny when you see how only a few people consider response times when they’re developping stuff these days.
Here are the 3 important response time limits:
– 0.1 second is about the limit for having the user feel that the system is reacting instantaneously, meaning that no special feedback is necessary except to display the result.
– 1.0 second is about the limit for the user’s flow of thought to stay uninterrupted, even though the user will notice the delay. Normally, no special feedback is necessary during delays of more than 0.1 but less than 1.0 second, but the user does lose the feeling of operating directly on the data.
– 10 seconds is about the limit for keeping the user’s attention focused on the dialogue. For longer delays, users will want to perform other tasks while waiting for the computer to finish, so they should be given feedback indicating when the computer expects to be done. Feedback during the delay is especially important if the response time is likely to be highly variable, since users will then not know what to expect.
So, how’re you doing on those 3 limits ? lol…
You can read more here.
Just found this internal memo that has been circulated at eBay a couple of days ago from F’d Company, it’s so funny.
I took the liberty of adding some replies/comments that someone working at eBay could think of, in bold.
I would like to notify you regarding the new quality measures that will take place. As you are aware, eBay strives to be the best in our business, and to ensure that our members receive the best possible customer service when contacting us.
Starting in October, monitoring software will be installed on all company computers. This is not an effort to “spy” on your activities (of course not), but rather to allow our quality department to take screen shots of your computer (oh, i see ! but hey, what’s the difference ?), to allow them to better coach you regarding policy and procedures. (You mean, to better know how to screw me !)
Please keep in mind, all AOL Instant messager messages will be recorded, and all incoming and outgoing emails will also be affected. (Nope, that’s got nothing to do with spying at all)
With this said, here are some guidelines that I would like you to follow:
1. No pornography sites should be accessed unless it is part of your job
Part of their job ?? Are you telling me some people at eBay surf porn sites as part of their job ? Damn i wanna work at eBay, lol…
2. No personal emails should be sent or received using company equipment
But i’m friends with everyone here 🙁
3. AOL Instant Messengers should be used for work related purposes only.
Well, nicefatteddy76 uses ebay every once in a while, so it’s kind of work related 😉
4. While working during business hours, no access to unrelated Internet sites is allowed under any circumstances.
Does this include the porn sites mentioned above or not ?
Please remember that every action performed on your company computer will be recorded. Please act accordingly.
Hmmm, can i install Spybot or some other anti-spyware program ?
If you are caught viewing Internet sites that are not work related, you may suffer disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Even if it’s your personal blog Mr. Manager, i’m a big fan of it.
If you have questions regarding this new policy, please contact your supervisor, or lead.
He’s too busy deleting his xxx hidden folders 😛
[name removed]
eBay Manager
This is a very interesting article i found on Jakob Nielsen’s (The God of web usability) website useit.com.
It’s about the 10 most violated homepage design guidelines, which are the following ordered by compliance rate (number one is the guideline that the fewest sites follow):
1. Emphasize what your site offers that’s of value to users and how your services differ from those of key competitors
2. Use a liquid layout that lets users adjust the homepage size
3. Use color to distinguish visited and unvisited links
4. Use graphics to show real content, not just to decorate your homepage
5. Include a tag line that explicitly summarizes what the site or company does
6. Make it easy to access anything recently featured on your homepage
7. Include a short site description in the window title
8. Don’t use a heading to label the search area; instead use a “Search” button to the right of the box
9. With stock quotes, give the percentage of change, not just the points gained or lost
10. Don’t include an active link to the homepage on the homepage
It’s totally true, a big number of the websites i’ve seen on the web violate these rules.
And the only rule i can understand people breaking is the homepage size one, because it’s easier for designers to work on a known and fixed space, as it becomes more like print for them, and they can produce better eye candy.
To read the full thing and the details of each and every guideline click here.
I just came across this article about Playstation Portable. It looks awesome, very futuristic and slick.
It’ll play mp3s, mpeg4s, PS games. It’ll have Wi-Fi and maybe even mobile phone technology. And it’ll come with a 1.8 GB Universal Media Disc.
Is that just beautiful or what ?
Nintendo and Nokia should watch their asses. This baby is gonna rock.
Another cool gadget on my long wishlist 😉
(Via i never knew)
