technology archives
Oct
6
2009
Genius Playlist
Lately I've grown tired of Apple's "genius playlist" feature for iTunes and the iPod, largely because it seemed to be suggesting the same songs over and over again. Today, though, it surprised me with something pretty cool, surfacing several hidden...
Lately I've grown tired of Apple's "genius playlist" feature for iTunes and the iPod, largely because it seemed to be suggesting the same songs over and over again. Today, though, it surprised me with something pretty cool, surfacing several hidden...
Jan
28
2009
online news, circa 1981
This circa-1981 San Francisco local news report about an experimental new online news service is a bit of a freakout. My, how things have changed. Or not, even. Newscaster: Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning...
This circa-1981 San Francisco local news report about an experimental new online news service is a bit of a freakout. My, how things have changed. Or not, even. Newscaster: Imagine, if you will, sitting down to your morning coffee, turning...
Sep
10
2008
genius music
I'm playing around with the new Genius Playlist feature in iTunes, and I'm really digging what it's coming up with. Tonight, I had Vampire Weekend stuck in my head after hearing that they'll be playing at the 9:30 Club later...
I'm playing around with the new Genius Playlist feature in iTunes, and I'm really digging what it's coming up with. Tonight, I had Vampire Weekend stuck in my head after hearing that they'll be playing at the 9:30 Club later...
Jul
3
2008
wii fat
CNet's Nate Lanxon has a helpful video about how to game the system (though he concludes at the end -- and I agree -- that it's rather pointless to cheat at Wii Fit, given that the whole idea is to...
CNet's Nate Lanxon has a helpful video about how to game the system (though he concludes at the end -- and I agree -- that it's rather pointless to cheat at Wii Fit, given that the whole idea is to...
Jun
6
2008
pretty pictures
Twitter outages annoy me far more than I'd like to admit -- yes, I've apparently become that attached to the service -- but at least they offer lovely stock illustrations on their error pages. The one at right, by Australia-based...
Twitter outages annoy me far more than I'd like to admit -- yes, I've apparently become that attached to the service -- but at least they offer lovely stock illustrations on their error pages. The one at right, by Australia-based...
Apr
1
2008
getting into the april fool's spirit
True to form, ThinkGeek is offering its typical array of themed products as well. I want Wii Sports for iPhone (no link, sadly), though I could be convinced to get the Betamax-to-HD-DVD Converter. (Still doesn't beat last year's SnuzNLuz Wifi...
True to form, ThinkGeek is offering its typical array of themed products as well. I want Wii Sports for iPhone (no link, sadly), though I could be convinced to get the Betamax-to-HD-DVD Converter. (Still doesn't beat last year's SnuzNLuz Wifi...
Mar
12
2008
testing out the google chart api
Google recently released a tool that allows users to quickly create impressively clean dynamic charts and graphs. I played around with it a bit this morning and found it super-easy to use. For example, check out these charts of last...
Google recently released a tool that allows users to quickly create impressively clean dynamic charts and graphs. I played around with it a bit this morning and found it super-easy to use. For example, check out these charts of last...
Jan
27
2008
interface niceties
I've noticed an interesting bug with Google Calendar when entering new events. When I create an event, Google Calendar tries to take what I've typed and turn it into a new calendar item. Usually, it's pretty smart. However, when an...
I've noticed an interesting bug with Google Calendar when entering new events. When I create an event, Google Calendar tries to take what I've typed and turn it into a new calendar item. Usually, it's pretty smart. However, when an...
Jan
17
2008
a touchy subject
I don't know if Apple's trying to be cheeky, or if someone didn't really think these new promo tiles through on their homepage. Take this promo for the iPhone from earlier this week: Or the tile that replaced it after...
I don't know if Apple's trying to be cheeky, or if someone didn't really think these new promo tiles through on their homepage. Take this promo for the iPhone from earlier this week: Or the tile that replaced it after...
Dec
29
2007
netscape is dead
Netscape has been dying a slow death for some time, eclipsed by Mozilla and then Firefox. Today brings word that AOL has decided to officially kill it. AOL's focus on transitioning to an ad-supported web business leaves little room...
Netscape has been dying a slow death for some time, eclipsed by Mozilla and then Firefox. Today brings word that AOL has decided to officially kill it. AOL's focus on transitioning to an ad-supported web business leaves little room...
Dec
15
2007
wii nerd
I'm more than a year behind the power curve on this one, but I found out today that the Wii Remote uses Bluetooth to talk to the game console. Up until now, I'd assumed that the Wiimote transmitted data...
I'm more than a year behind the power curve on this one, but I found out today that the Wii Remote uses Bluetooth to talk to the game console. Up until now, I'd assumed that the Wiimote transmitted data...
Dec
14
2007
merry mac-mas
They've been going a bit downhill lately, with all the sniping at Microsoft about Windows Vista, but the most recent Apple "Mac/PC" ad is actually pretty cute, referencing the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movies: (If you can't see the...
They've been going a bit downhill lately, with all the sniping at Microsoft about Windows Vista, but the most recent Apple "Mac/PC" ad is actually pretty cute, referencing the old Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer movies: (If you can't see the...
Dec
4
2007
not my kind of technology
I consider myself fairly savvy when it comes to dealing with technology -- at least, computer technology. But put me in front of a jammed copier, a fax machine or a fancy coffeemaker in need of emptying (today's challenge), and...
I consider myself fairly savvy when it comes to dealing with technology -- at least, computer technology. But put me in front of a jammed copier, a fax machine or a fancy coffeemaker in need of emptying (today's challenge), and...
Dec
3
2007
geeks on the road
Geeks abound in Arlington, if the vanity license plates I've seen of late are any indication. Last night, I saw a car parked next to the Nature Conservancy in Ballston with the license plate "NSFW." His hazard lights were on,...
Geeks abound in Arlington, if the vanity license plates I've seen of late are any indication. Last night, I saw a car parked next to the Nature Conservancy in Ballston with the license plate "NSFW." His hazard lights were on,...
Nov
21
2007
(don't) give up on vista
Apple has a rather ballsy advertising campaign (Quicktime movie) right now in which they're seemingly taunting Microsoft about problems users are having with its Windows Vista operating system. They've upped the ante with an ad buy on CNet's guide to...
Apple has a rather ballsy advertising campaign (Quicktime movie) right now in which they're seemingly taunting Microsoft about problems users are having with its Windows Vista operating system. They've upped the ante with an ad buy on CNet's guide to...
Oct
26
2007
nerdvana
The headlines on the Apple Web site in anticipation of tonight's Leopard operating system release are cracking me up: New update gets Aperture ready for Leopard The Mac is back in a big way on campus "Great" Lots of "new...
The headlines on the Apple Web site in anticipation of tonight's Leopard operating system release are cracking me up: New update gets Aperture ready for Leopard The Mac is back in a big way on campus "Great" Lots of "new...
Oct
6
2007
minor annoyance
On Wednesday, I had an hour to kill in between flights at Chicago's Midway International Airport, so I decided to use the airport's wifi service to check my e-mail. The service's login page opens first with a big advertisement, then...
On Wednesday, I had an hour to kill in between flights at Chicago's Midway International Airport, so I decided to use the airport's wifi service to check my e-mail. The service's login page opens first with a big advertisement, then...
Oct
2
2007
quote of the day: planning ahead
Woman: What do you really want to do? Chuck: Workin' on a five-year plan. Just need to choose a font. - Heard in the series premiere of Chuck...
Woman: What do you really want to do? Chuck: Workin' on a five-year plan. Just need to choose a font. - Heard in the series premiere of Chuck...
Aug
29
2007
don't resize -- retarget
This demo of a new technology for resizing images is pretty interesting: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on YouTube.) Obviously, since the photo is being materially altered, it has no place in a news context unless...
This demo of a new technology for resizing images is pretty interesting: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on YouTube.) Obviously, since the photo is being materially altered, it has no place in a news context unless...
Aug
21
2007
out of the box
So after about a year of dithering about it, I took the plunge this weekend and bought a new MacBook Pro to replace my aging Powerbook G4. (It seriously has been a year. Rob was going to buy me...
So after about a year of dithering about it, I took the plunge this weekend and bought a new MacBook Pro to replace my aging Powerbook G4. (It seriously has been a year. Rob was going to buy me...
Aug
15
2007
compounding interest
I've been haunting Apple's Web site of late, obsessing a bit over the prospect of buying a new MacBook Pro to replace my PowerBook G4. This weekend, I tried to tally up how much the incidental costs would be...
I've been haunting Apple's Web site of late, obsessing a bit over the prospect of buying a new MacBook Pro to replace my PowerBook G4. This weekend, I tried to tally up how much the incidental costs would be...
Jul
1
2007
show steve the money
With all the hype, one thing is certain: Steve Jobs is making a whole lot of money this weekend. Friday was the much-ballyhooed launch date for the vaunted Apple iPhone. Rob, Dari and I had some time to kill before...
With all the hype, one thing is certain: Steve Jobs is making a whole lot of money this weekend. Friday was the much-ballyhooed launch date for the vaunted Apple iPhone. Rob, Dari and I had some time to kill before...
May
10
2007
nabaztag
Aside from serving as an adorable alarm clock, the Nabaztag (or "wifi bunny") really has little practical value for me. But with its ear "tai chi" and its jaunty British accent, it really is the cutest thing ever. (And, given...
Aside from serving as an adorable alarm clock, the Nabaztag (or "wifi bunny") really has little practical value for me. But with its ear "tai chi" and its jaunty British accent, it really is the cutest thing ever. (And, given...
May
7
2007
i've gotta think i'm saving the day
Verizon Broadband has this new "Be an Action Hero" promotion where users can upload their pictures and insert themselves into a short 3D action movie. It takes a good while to see the completed film (in my case, it was...
Verizon Broadband has this new "Be an Action Hero" promotion where users can upload their pictures and insert themselves into a short 3D action movie. It takes a good while to see the completed film (in my case, it was...
Apr
21
2007
in the market
For a little while now, I've been toying with the idea of upgrading to a new laptop. (Though I feel a bit guilty / cautious typing those words out on the very laptop that would be replaced ... er ......
For a little while now, I've been toying with the idea of upgrading to a new laptop. (Though I feel a bit guilty / cautious typing those words out on the very laptop that would be replaced ... er ......
Feb
8
2007
quote of the day: tivo prayer
Oh, so true: MARSHALL: To make sure it records, maybe we should bow our heads and say a quiet prayer to the TiVo gods. (Ted nods, and the two hold onto either end of the TiVo remote.) TED: Almighty TiVo,...
Oh, so true: MARSHALL: To make sure it records, maybe we should bow our heads and say a quiet prayer to the TiVo gods. (Ted nods, and the two hold onto either end of the TiVo remote.) TED: Almighty TiVo,...
Jan
31
2007
uptime
I just rebooted my PowerBook for the first time since ... Oct. 16, 2006. That's 107 days without restarting my machine. I don't know if that's an achievement or utter folly. I did have five Apple system updates waiting to...
I just rebooted my PowerBook for the first time since ... Oct. 16, 2006. That's 107 days without restarting my machine. I don't know if that's an achievement or utter folly. I did have five Apple system updates waiting to...
Jan
29
2007
problem solved
I just came across a baffling problem in Flash ... and a simple, but equally baffling solution.
I just came across a baffling problem in Flash ... and a simple, but equally baffling solution.
Jan
28
2007
first life
For the past year or so, academics and media-types alike seem have fallen over themselves trying to praise / hype / study the virtual world that is Second Life. I just don't get it. I understand in theory why observers...
For the past year or so, academics and media-types alike seem have fallen over themselves trying to praise / hype / study the virtual world that is Second Life. I just don't get it. I understand in theory why observers...
Dec
18
2006
joining the tivo herd
Rob and I got a TiVo last week. I've had a Comcast DVR for the past three years, and while I've certainly made use of it -- it's completely changed the way I watch television -- I've been rather unhappy...
Rob and I got a TiVo last week. I've had a Comcast DVR for the past three years, and while I've certainly made use of it -- it's completely changed the way I watch television -- I've been rather unhappy...
Dec
5
2006
whee for wii
I had a chance to play with a friend's new Nintendo Wii this evening, and boy is it fun. It's a rare thing that I just have fun with a game. We played Wii Sports, sampling the boxing, baseball and...
I had a chance to play with a friend's new Nintendo Wii this evening, and boy is it fun. It's a rare thing that I just have fun with a game. We played Wii Sports, sampling the boxing, baseball and...
Nov
22
2006
quote of the day: wasted
Rob spent some time this evening going through a couple boxes of random papers. On occasion, he would hold a document up and ask if I felt it was worthy of saving. Sometimes, our snobbier judgments about design elements tipped...
Rob spent some time this evening going through a couple boxes of random papers. On occasion, he would hold a document up and ask if I felt it was worthy of saving. Sometimes, our snobbier judgments about design elements tipped...
Nov
19
2006
what i'm reading now: interface culture
I've been doing a lot more reading since I started taking the Metro to work every day. In my mind, this can only be a good thing. Right now, I'm reading Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We...
I've been doing a lot more reading since I started taking the Metro to work every day. In my mind, this can only be a good thing. Right now, I'm reading Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We...
Nov
2
2006
apples and offices
Newsday had an interesting story yesterday about how the sudden success of The Office last year on iTunes went a long way toward saving the low-rated show from cancellation. (Newsday: "How iTunes Saved 'The Office'" - 11/01/06) "I'm not sure...
Newsday had an interesting story yesterday about how the sudden success of The Office last year on iTunes went a long way toward saving the low-rated show from cancellation. (Newsday: "How iTunes Saved 'The Office'" - 11/01/06) "I'm not sure...
Oct
27
2006
hodgmania
On Tuesday night, I went to a reading by humorist John Hodgman, perhaps best known these days as the nerdy P.C. guy in the recent Apple commercials. His book of made-up trivia, The Areas of My Expertise, just came out...
On Tuesday night, I went to a reading by humorist John Hodgman, perhaps best known these days as the nerdy P.C. guy in the recent Apple commercials. His book of made-up trivia, The Areas of My Expertise, just came out...
Aug
15
2006
a story in search terms
Much has been made recently of AOL's inadvertent public release of its logs of user search terms. Doug took a look at the data and came up with some fairly sad, PostSecret-like narratives, told through individual users' interactions with the...
Much has been made recently of AOL's inadvertent public release of its logs of user search terms. Doug took a look at the data and came up with some fairly sad, PostSecret-like narratives, told through individual users' interactions with the...
Jul
11
2006
problem-finder
The New York Times today makes an interesting point about NASA's extreme cautiousness about space shuttle safety: So many of the tools the space agency has built since the 2003 Columbia disaster can detect new problems that weren't necessarily detectable...
The New York Times today makes an interesting point about NASA's extreme cautiousness about space shuttle safety: So many of the tools the space agency has built since the 2003 Columbia disaster can detect new problems that weren't necessarily detectable...
Jul
6
2006
tentative
Merlin Mann of 43Folders today pointed out an ingeniously simple way to differentiate between scheduled and tentative appointments: Just put a little upside-down question mark -- ¿ -- in front of the subject of your appointment, and you're good to...
Merlin Mann of 43Folders today pointed out an ingeniously simple way to differentiate between scheduled and tentative appointments: Just put a little upside-down question mark -- ¿ -- in front of the subject of your appointment, and you're good to...
Jun
4
2006
iDo
Last month, when Apple opened its new flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue, a time-lapse camera captured the goings-on outside the store for the Apple Web site. One devoted geek used the opportunity to propose to his longtime girlfriend,...
Last month, when Apple opened its new flagship store on New York's Fifth Avenue, a time-lapse camera captured the goings-on outside the store for the Apple Web site. One devoted geek used the opportunity to propose to his longtime girlfriend,...
May
14
2006
virtual dollhouse
The New York Times ran an interesting story last week about how some children have begun to eschew real dolls (i.e. Barbie and the like) for the more interactive virtual "dolls" offered by games like The Sims. Francesca and Richard...
The New York Times ran an interesting story last week about how some children have begun to eschew real dolls (i.e. Barbie and the like) for the more interactive virtual "dolls" offered by games like The Sims. Francesca and Richard...
Apr
9
2006
weekly roundup
Random things that have caught my eye in the past week, but which didn't get their own blog entries: Before documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald appeared on The Colbert Report on March 30, he asked his blog readers for advice on...
Random things that have caught my eye in the past week, but which didn't get their own blog entries: Before documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald appeared on The Colbert Report on March 30, he asked his blog readers for advice on...
Apr
5
2006
apple-sanctioned winmacs
Fasciminating news today from Macworld: Apple today introduced Boot Camp, new public-beta software for Mac OS X that lets users of Intel Macs boot directly into Microsoft Windows XP. While the move may contradict previous statements by Apple, the company...
Fasciminating news today from Macworld: Apple today introduced Boot Camp, new public-beta software for Mac OS X that lets users of Intel Macs boot directly into Microsoft Windows XP. While the move may contradict previous statements by Apple, the company...
Mar
30
2006
sorting
I use Microsoft Entourage (sort of the Mac equivalent of Microsoft Outlook) for my e-mail at work. I was cleaning out my "Sent Items" folder this morning and, to help prioritize my deletions, sorted my messages by file size. Instead...
I use Microsoft Entourage (sort of the Mac equivalent of Microsoft Outlook) for my e-mail at work. I was cleaning out my "Sent Items" folder this morning and, to help prioritize my deletions, sorted my messages by file size. Instead...
Mar
8
2006
clean slate
One of the best things about getting a new hard drive is that it's almost like having a brand-new computer. Everything's clean. Everything's fresh. Everything's running really fast because you haven't installed anything beyond the bare minimum. Now's the time...
One of the best things about getting a new hard drive is that it's almost like having a brand-new computer. Everything's clean. Everything's fresh. Everything's running really fast because you haven't installed anything beyond the bare minimum. Now's the time...
Mar
7
2006
under the knife
My laptop has just gone in for "surgery" to replace its fussy hard drive. I can only hope that's all that's wrong with it. Before I left for Seattle, it was making those unsettling grinding sounds on an increasing basis...
My laptop has just gone in for "surgery" to replace its fussy hard drive. I can only hope that's all that's wrong with it. Before I left for Seattle, it was making those unsettling grinding sounds on an increasing basis...
Feb
23
2006
obsolete
It's official: Aegis, my two-year-old Powerbook, is now obsolete. Macworld reported yesterday that, with the release of the new MacBook Pro, the Apple Store online has stopped selling the 15" Powerbook. As if to underscore that point, my hard drive...
It's official: Aegis, my two-year-old Powerbook, is now obsolete. Macworld reported yesterday that, with the release of the new MacBook Pro, the Apple Store online has stopped selling the 15" Powerbook. As if to underscore that point, my hard drive...
Feb
20
2006
unfair use
Interesting ... and a bit distressing: This week, Ars.Technica pointed out some language in recent legal filings by the RIAA that suggest that the group is introducing a new argument in its war against music piracy: Ripping MP3s from albums...
Interesting ... and a bit distressing: This week, Ars.Technica pointed out some language in recent legal filings by the RIAA that suggest that the group is introducing a new argument in its war against music piracy: Ripping MP3s from albums...
Feb
17
2006
domain registration
The 12-year-old in me giggles when I read through this list ... but it's still important advice: When you register your domain name ... be careful If you don't you could end up like ... "Who Represents?", a database of...
The 12-year-old in me giggles when I read through this list ... but it's still important advice: When you register your domain name ... be careful If you don't you could end up like ... "Who Represents?", a database of...
Feb
14
2006
too slow
Looks like my Internet search prowess is too speedy for ticketmaster.ca. While looking for concert listings in Vancouver in early May (woo! honeymoon!), I got the following error message: Please note. We limit the rate of web page requests that...
Looks like my Internet search prowess is too speedy for ticketmaster.ca. While looking for concert listings in Vancouver in early May (woo! honeymoon!), I got the following error message: Please note. We limit the rate of web page requests that...
Feb
13
2006
rules of engagement
As my Flickr obsession has deepened over the past year, I've learned a few tricks to help boost my photos' exposure within the Flickr community. That's not to say that I've established any kind of massive following on the photo...
As my Flickr obsession has deepened over the past year, I've learned a few tricks to help boost my photos' exposure within the Flickr community. That's not to say that I've established any kind of massive following on the photo...
another mac lockout
Cheers: The federal government is close to launching a new, centralized system where people can search and apply for grant money from a variety of federal agencies. Jeers: Only people visiting the site on a PC using Internet Explorer can...
Cheers: The federal government is close to launching a new, centralized system where people can search and apply for grant money from a variety of federal agencies. Jeers: Only people visiting the site on a PC using Internet Explorer can...
Feb
7
2006
tech support to the stars
Who does Bono call when he needs to hook up his XBox? The Geek Squad, apparently. The Wall Street Journal reported last week about entertainers who have added tech experts to their entourages for tech support with a personal touch....
Who does Bono call when he needs to hook up his XBox? The Geek Squad, apparently. The Wall Street Journal reported last week about entertainers who have added tech experts to their entourages for tech support with a personal touch....
Jan
26
2006
stalkeriffic
Google Maps has added higher-resolution images to its satellite view, offering two more closer-in levels of zoom. It's so close, I can see the chairs next to the pool on top of my building. I've noticed a couple snafus, though,...
Google Maps has added higher-resolution images to its satellite view, offering two more closer-in levels of zoom. It's so close, I can see the chairs next to the pool on top of my building. I've noticed a couple snafus, though,...
Jan
10
2006
just one more thing
Today was the big Steve Jobs keynote at Macworld Expo. MacCentral has a nice round-up of the new product announcements. The big news: The new MacBook Pro laptop, powered by an Intel processor and, according to Apple, four times faster...
Today was the big Steve Jobs keynote at Macworld Expo. MacCentral has a nice round-up of the new product announcements. The big news: The new MacBook Pro laptop, powered by an Intel processor and, according to Apple, four times faster...
enlarge photo
I came across a cool CSS/JavaScript-based technique for layering an image on top of the existing browser window -- sort of like a pop-up window, but without the pop-up -- called Lightbox JS. It's deceptively simple, and, as used in...
I came across a cool CSS/JavaScript-based technique for layering an image on top of the existing browser window -- sort of like a pop-up window, but without the pop-up -- called Lightbox JS. It's deceptively simple, and, as used in...
Jan
8
2006
behind the keynote
With another Steve Jobs keynote for Apple scheduled for this week, former Apple product manger Mike Evangelist (whose name is quite well-suited to his title) recounts the meticulous attention to detail that goes into preparing the deceptively low-key product demonstrations....
With another Steve Jobs keynote for Apple scheduled for this week, former Apple product manger Mike Evangelist (whose name is quite well-suited to his title) recounts the meticulous attention to detail that goes into preparing the deceptively low-key product demonstrations....
audiobook download
I discovered this afternoon that the Arlington County Public Library offers a number of downloadable audiobooks for library members. The majority of the titles available are older works, but the catalog includes a good number of books I keep meaning...
I discovered this afternoon that the Arlington County Public Library offers a number of downloadable audiobooks for library members. The majority of the titles available are older works, but the catalog includes a good number of books I keep meaning...
Jan
7
2006
moviefone im
AOL introduced a Moviefone bot for its AOL Instant Messenger service in the latter half of last year. I don't know how heavily used it will be, but it's an interesting, right-to-the-point way of searching for movie times. Users can...
AOL introduced a Moviefone bot for its AOL Instant Messenger service in the latter half of last year. I don't know how heavily used it will be, but it's an interesting, right-to-the-point way of searching for movie times. Users can...
Jan
4
2006
mac repair
MacInTouch recently released the results of its Apple laptop reliability study, which collected problem and repair survey data about some 10,000 machines sold in the past seven years: The Titanium PowerBook G4s, which were quite popular, were more broadly troublesome...
MacInTouch recently released the results of its Apple laptop reliability study, which collected problem and repair survey data about some 10,000 machines sold in the past seven years: The Titanium PowerBook G4s, which were quite popular, were more broadly troublesome...
Dec
22
2005
miraculous recovery
If this had happened to me, I think I would have completely. freaked. out: An hour or so later at her home in Bethesda, she realized her purse was gone. Her bank cards, driver's license, Social Security card, $1,000 worth...
If this had happened to me, I think I would have completely. freaked. out: An hour or so later at her home in Bethesda, she realized her purse was gone. Her bank cards, driver's license, Social Security card, $1,000 worth...
seen: power priorities
I had no idea that the vice president was such a die-hard iPod user... Yesterday's White House Briefing points out this anecdote from the press corps travelling with Dick Cheney: Nedra Pickler writes for the Associated Press with more tidbits...
I had no idea that the vice president was such a die-hard iPod user... Yesterday's White House Briefing points out this anecdote from the press corps travelling with Dick Cheney: Nedra Pickler writes for the Associated Press with more tidbits...
Dec
16
2005
zeitgeist
Just as it's interesting to see what kind of traffic search engines direct my way, it's also fascinating to see what people are searching for in general. With the end of the year approaching, Yahoo! has posted a list of...
Just as it's interesting to see what kind of traffic search engines direct my way, it's also fascinating to see what people are searching for in general. With the end of the year approaching, Yahoo! has posted a list of...
Dec
9
2005
delicious yahoo
Yahoo! has been on quite the buying streak lately. del.icio.us, my favorite online bookmark service, announced today that they had been acquired by Yahoo!. It's a great move for Yahoo!, and it makes perfect sense, given the company's focus on...
Yahoo! has been on quite the buying streak lately. del.icio.us, my favorite online bookmark service, announced today that they had been acquired by Yahoo!. It's a great move for Yahoo!, and it makes perfect sense, given the company's focus on...
birth of macrodobia
Monday morning brought an awesome Macromedia site of the day, featuring an interactive kitchens site from IKEA with nifty Matrix-like 360-degree freeze-frame images. Monday also brought some changes to the Macromedia Web site, following the completion of its merger...
Monday morning brought an awesome Macromedia site of the day, featuring an interactive kitchens site from IKEA with nifty Matrix-like 360-degree freeze-frame images. Monday also brought some changes to the Macromedia Web site, following the completion of its merger...
Dec
4
2005
from spyware to adware
This month's Wired has a fascinating story about the evolution of Claria (formerly the notorious adware/spyware maker Gator), from ignomy to financial success. ("Don't Call It Spyware" - 12/2005) Back in 2002, Gator was one of the most reviled companies...
This month's Wired has a fascinating story about the evolution of Claria (formerly the notorious adware/spyware maker Gator), from ignomy to financial success. ("Don't Call It Spyware" - 12/2005) Back in 2002, Gator was one of the most reviled companies...
Nov
28
2005
driving directions
While looking up driving directions for my trip to South Carolina over the weekend, I noticed an odd quirk between the new Flash-based Yahoo! Maps and the "classic" Yahoo! Maps: Both displayed the exact same directions and distance travelled (446.8...
While looking up driving directions for my trip to South Carolina over the weekend, I noticed an odd quirk between the new Flash-based Yahoo! Maps and the "classic" Yahoo! Maps: Both displayed the exact same directions and distance travelled (446.8...
Nov
22
2005
ie begone
The Cult of Mac weblog points out that Microsoft's MSN.com, when viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac, advises visitors to use another browser. Why does MSN look like this? Microsoft Internet Explorer website Why does...
The Cult of Mac weblog points out that Microsoft's MSN.com, when viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer for Mac, advises visitors to use another browser. Why does MSN look like this? Microsoft Internet Explorer website Why does...
Nov
21
2005
detente
I love the way this New York Times story about the rise of text ads sets the scene: Five years ago, Web advertisers were engaged in an ever-escalating competition to grab our attention. Monkeys that asked to be punched, pop-ups...
I love the way this New York Times story about the rise of text ads sets the scene: Five years ago, Web advertisers were engaged in an ever-escalating competition to grab our attention. Monkeys that asked to be punched, pop-ups...
Nov
14
2005
metrics
For having a site with relatively low traffic, I'm unreasonably obsessed with keeping tabs on my site metrics, particularly when people I don't expect tell me that they've visited my blog. I'm always curious about which of my generally banal...
For having a site with relatively low traffic, I'm unreasonably obsessed with keeping tabs on my site metrics, particularly when people I don't expect tell me that they've visited my blog. I'm always curious about which of my generally banal...
Nov
5
2005
random pop culture detritus
Apple has a trailer for the new movie version of The Producers. A movie based on a play based on a movie about a play. And it looks hilarious. A few weeks ago, the Coverville podcast featured an astonishingly good...
Apple has a trailer for the new movie version of The Producers. A movie based on a play based on a movie about a play. And it looks hilarious. A few weeks ago, the Coverville podcast featured an astonishingly good...
Oct
26
2005
preserving my sanity
I'm a big fan of Apple's Safari browser. (I like Firefox, too, but I find that Safari tends to be a bit speedier and more responsive than Firefox.) I'm also a HUGE fan of tabbed browsing, to the point where,...
I'm a big fan of Apple's Safari browser. (I like Firefox, too, but I find that Safari tends to be a bit speedier and more responsive than Firefox.) I'm also a HUGE fan of tabbed browsing, to the point where,...
happy birthday to you
Ah, voicemail, how I hate thee. I don't leave good voicemail messages. I ramble. I'll substitute slow "ummmmms" in place of key information that I've momentarily forgotten, only to panic at how painfully bad my message probably sounds and rapid-fire...
Ah, voicemail, how I hate thee. I don't leave good voicemail messages. I ramble. I'll substitute slow "ummmmms" in place of key information that I've momentarily forgotten, only to panic at how painfully bad my message probably sounds and rapid-fire...
Oct
25
2005
Oct
17
2005
apple odds and ends
Two random Apple bites of note: David Pogue of the New York Times marvels at the $1.99 pricing of ABC television show episodes on iTunes and posits an intriguing conspiracy theory about why The Mouse allowed this to happen: This...
Two random Apple bites of note: David Pogue of the New York Times marvels at the $1.99 pricing of ABC television show episodes on iTunes and posits an intriguing conspiracy theory about why The Mouse allowed this to happen: This...
Oct
12
2005
information control
Apple is notoriously secretive about products it has in development, to the point where, in the most notorious recent case, it sued the college student behind Mac rumors site Think Secret for disclosing "trade secrets." I can understand the desire...
Apple is notoriously secretive about products it has in development, to the point where, in the most notorious recent case, it sued the college student behind Mac rumors site Think Secret for disclosing "trade secrets." I can understand the desire...
Oct
4
2005
wikigovernment
In a funny brief that tweaks the failed "wikitorial" experiment at the L.A. Times, The Onion reports: Congress Abandons WikiConstitution September 28, 2005 | Issue 41•39 WASHINGTON, DC — Congress scrapped the open-source, open-edit, online version of the Constitution Monday,...
In a funny brief that tweaks the failed "wikitorial" experiment at the L.A. Times, The Onion reports: Congress Abandons WikiConstitution September 28, 2005 | Issue 41•39 WASHINGTON, DC — Congress scrapped the open-source, open-edit, online version of the Constitution Monday,...
Sep
13
2005
national public podcast
NPR has podcasts! NPR has podcasts! I've been looking forward to this for a while, actually. I've been a regular NPR listener since 2000, listening to Morning Edition and All Things Considered on my morning and evening commutes. NPR still...
NPR has podcasts! NPR has podcasts! I've been looking forward to this for a while, actually. I've been a regular NPR listener since 2000, listening to Morning Edition and All Things Considered on my morning and evening commutes. NPR still...
Sep
12
2005
from sea to shining sea
It's funny how, in this networked world, a massive power outage in Los Angeles can have a big impact on the East Coast. A big impact to me, at least. This afternoon's blackout in L.A. knocked out service to Dreamhost,...
It's funny how, in this networked world, a massive power outage in Los Angeles can have a big impact on the East Coast. A big impact to me, at least. This afternoon's blackout in L.A. knocked out service to Dreamhost,...
crash test dummy
You can't say that Ars Technica isn't thorough in its product reviews. In their review of the iPod nano, Jacqui Cheng and Clint Ecker didn't just evaluate the new music player's interface and use. They also gave the sleek gadget...
You can't say that Ars Technica isn't thorough in its product reviews. In their review of the iPod nano, Jacqui Cheng and Clint Ecker didn't just evaluate the new music player's interface and use. They also gave the sleek gadget...
Sep
9
2005
mac users need not apply
Ars Technica reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in its infinite wisdom, made its online application for disaster relief accessible only to users of Internet Explorer 6, effectively blocking out (or at least putting up some sizeable roadblocks for)...
Ars Technica reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in its infinite wisdom, made its online application for disaster relief accessible only to users of Internet Explorer 6, effectively blocking out (or at least putting up some sizeable roadblocks for)...
Sep
7
2005
new tunes
I have to admit that the newly-announced iTunes-compatible cellphone from Apple and Motorola looks pretty drool-worthy. But it's unfortunately burdened with such an incredibly lame name. ROKR? I guess I should be thankful that they didn't go with "iRock" instead....
I have to admit that the newly-announced iTunes-compatible cellphone from Apple and Motorola looks pretty drool-worthy. But it's unfortunately burdened with such an incredibly lame name. ROKR? I guess I should be thankful that they didn't go with "iRock" instead....
Aug
17
2005
silver surfer
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It's a cute play on words, particularly if you're a comic book aficionado. I'd never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,...
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It's a cute play on words, particularly if you're a comic book aficionado. I'd never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,...
Aug
12
2005
microsoft burn
Score one for Microsoft. The U.S. Patent and Trade Office rejected Apple's patent application for its iPod software interface last month because Microsoft had filed a similar claim five months before Apple did. Apple plans to appeal the decision. (Bloomberg...
Score one for Microsoft. The U.S. Patent and Trade Office rejected Apple's patent application for its iPod software interface last month because Microsoft had filed a similar claim five months before Apple did. Apple plans to appeal the decision. (Bloomberg...
Aug
6
2005
apple core
Out of curiosity and utter geekitude (and the lure of a free t-shirt), Rob and I decided to pay a visit to the brand-new Apple Store at the Pentagon City mall. We arrived just after 10 a.m. on opening day...
Out of curiosity and utter geekitude (and the lure of a free t-shirt), Rob and I decided to pay a visit to the brand-new Apple Store at the Pentagon City mall. We arrived just after 10 a.m. on opening day...
Aug
1
2005
tech guide
Gadgets to Go, washingtonpost.com's summer gadget guide, launched this weekend to coincide with the paper's publication of Rob Pegoraro's annual laptop buying guide. The section will expand to include more gadget-related stories and buying guides as the summer goes on....
Gadgets to Go, washingtonpost.com's summer gadget guide, launched this weekend to coincide with the paper's publication of Rob Pegoraro's annual laptop buying guide. The section will expand to include more gadget-related stories and buying guides as the summer goes on....
Jul
31
2005
wanderlust
My latest Web site obsession is the travel site 43places.com. It's a fairly genius framework for people to track the various places around the world they've been, create a to-do list of places they want to visit, ask questions and...
My latest Web site obsession is the travel site 43places.com. It's a fairly genius framework for people to track the various places around the world they've been, create a to-do list of places they want to visit, ask questions and...
Jul
27
2005
diamond shopping
Amazon has launched a very visual approach to buying diamonds, with an AJAX-powered application that allows users to narrow or expand their search selections via a series of sliders and instantly (without reloading the page) see how many diamonds match...
Amazon has launched a very visual approach to buying diamonds, with an AJAX-powered application that allows users to narrow or expand their search selections via a series of sliders and instantly (without reloading the page) see how many diamonds match...
Jul
20
2005
the moon is made of...
To commemorate the anniversary of first manned moon landing -- Apollo 11, on June 20, 1969 -- Google has made a small "moon" version of its Google Maps application: Google Moon. The landing spots of six Apollo missions are plotted...
To commemorate the anniversary of first manned moon landing -- Apollo 11, on June 20, 1969 -- Google has made a small "moon" version of its Google Maps application: Google Moon. The landing spots of six Apollo missions are plotted...
Jul
19
2005
wifi in the circle
The Washington Post reports this morning that free wifi may be available in Dupont Circle beginning this weekend: District-based TechAssist LLC will provide free wireless Internet access in Dupont Circle starting Friday, the information technology consulting firm said yesterday. The...
The Washington Post reports this morning that free wifi may be available in Dupont Circle beginning this weekend: District-based TechAssist LLC will provide free wireless Internet access in Dupont Circle starting Friday, the information technology consulting firm said yesterday. The...
Jul
18
2005
shelter from the storm
This cracks me up... When an iPod Sock just won't do, and you need extra protection from the cold and wind, get the inCLUDE, a parka for the iPod Shuffle. (Link found via MacMerc.com.) ...
This cracks me up... When an iPod Sock just won't do, and you need extra protection from the cold and wind, get the inCLUDE, a parka for the iPod Shuffle. (Link found via MacMerc.com.) ...
Jul
16
2005
disaster averted
Given how much of my life seems to run through my laptop, it's amazing that my personal mantra isn't "backup. backup. backup." I keep meaning to do comprehensive backups of all my documents, photos and music files on a regular...
Given how much of my life seems to run through my laptop, it's amazing that my personal mantra isn't "backup. backup. backup." I keep meaning to do comprehensive backups of all my documents, photos and music files on a regular...
Jul
15
2005
blogger on the street
Fascinating story in this month's Wired about Jorn Barger, one of the first bloggers: He says he avoids the need for a job by living on less than a dollar a day. "I was carrying a cardboard sign when we...
Fascinating story in this month's Wired about Jorn Barger, one of the first bloggers: He says he avoids the need for a job by living on less than a dollar a day. "I was carrying a cardboard sign when we...
Jul
13
2005
blast radius
CSS guru Eric Meyer's new Google Maps-based application HYDESim, which (if I understand it correctly) simulates the structural damage radius depending on the strength of a given nuclear weapon, doesn't scare me one bit. Not at all. Not even though...
CSS guru Eric Meyer's new Google Maps-based application HYDESim, which (if I understand it correctly) simulates the structural damage radius depending on the strength of a given nuclear weapon, doesn't scare me one bit. Not at all. Not even though...
podcast revolt
Microsoft is trying to banish the word "podcasting," with its implicit reference to the popular Apple music player, in favor of the more generic "blogcasting," according to reports cited by the Cult of Mac weblog. At this point, though, with...
Microsoft is trying to banish the word "podcasting," with its implicit reference to the popular Apple music player, in favor of the more generic "blogcasting," according to reports cited by the Cult of Mac weblog. At this point, though, with...
Jul
5
2005
podcasting
Last week, Apple released iTunes 4.9, offering built-in support for podcast subscriptions via the iTunes Music Store. It's a huge step forward in simplifying the process of distributing and subscribing to the audio feeds, as it offers a central podcast...
Last week, Apple released iTunes 4.9, offering built-in support for podcast subscriptions via the iTunes Music Store. It's a huge step forward in simplifying the process of distributing and subscribing to the audio feeds, as it offers a central podcast...
folksonomy
I've been intrigued of late by the concept of "tagging." It's a deceptively simple idea: Organizing content -- writing, photos, links and the like -- by keyword. (I'm not keen on the working term for it, "folksonomy," because I don't...
I've been intrigued of late by the concept of "tagging." It's a deceptively simple idea: Organizing content -- writing, photos, links and the like -- by keyword. (I'm not keen on the working term for it, "folksonomy," because I don't...
Jun
28
2005
quote of the day: looking ahead
A recent edition NPR's On the Media program featured a quote from President Lyndon Johnson's 1967 speech announcing the creation of the Publication for Public Broadcasting. LBJ's "vision" for the future seems eerily prophetic. So I think we must consider...
A recent edition NPR's On the Media program featured a quote from President Lyndon Johnson's 1967 speech announcing the creation of the Publication for Public Broadcasting. LBJ's "vision" for the future seems eerily prophetic. So I think we must consider...
Jun
21
2005
sim me
More than a year after its release for PC, The Sims 2 for Mac finally came out last week. And last night, I purchased it, knowing full well that having this game means that, for the next few weeks...
More than a year after its release for PC, The Sims 2 for Mac finally came out last week. And last night, I purchased it, knowing full well that having this game means that, for the next few weeks...
Jun
18
2005
photo printing made not-so-easy
So much for technology making things easier. AP reports that some amateur photographers are being turned away from photo printing labs because their photos are too good. The problem: Copyright law requires photo labs to be on the lookout for...
So much for technology making things easier. AP reports that some amateur photographers are being turned away from photo printing labs because their photos are too good. The problem: Copyright law requires photo labs to be on the lookout for...
Jun
14
2005
skin of the times
I recently upgraded my copy of the NetNewsWire RSS reader to the 2.0 "lite" version, and was toying a bit with some of the new features. Among those new features that I discovered this evening: The display of the windowpane...
I recently upgraded my copy of the NetNewsWire RSS reader to the 2.0 "lite" version, and was toying a bit with some of the new features. Among those new features that I discovered this evening: The display of the windowpane...
Jun
7
2005
copycat
I followed a "Buy 1 Song, Get 5 Free" promotion link for MSN Music this morning, and was a bit surprised to see that the site was aping Apple's old glassy button style for its "buy" and "confirm" buttons --...
I followed a "Buy 1 Song, Get 5 Free" promotion link for MSN Music this morning, and was a bit surprised to see that the site was aping Apple's old glassy button style for its "buy" and "confirm" buttons --...
Jun
5
2005
tabfocus
One of my pet peeves with Mac browsers is that, unlike on the PC, I can tab to every element on an HTML form except drop-down menus. I stumbled across a fix for this in Firefox a while back, but...
One of my pet peeves with Mac browsers is that, unlike on the PC, I can tab to every element on an HTML form except drop-down menus. I stumbled across a fix for this in Firefox a while back, but...
May
26
2005
mime types
This has come up a couple times recently on a listserv I'm on, and I've dealt with this problem before on a site I helped put together, so I'm storing the answer here for perpetuity... The problem: Your site looks...
This has come up a couple times recently on a listserv I'm on, and I've dealt with this problem before on a site I helped put together, so I'm storing the answer here for perpetuity... The problem: Your site looks...
May
25
2005
one step further
Developers online are doing some amazing work these days involving Google Maps and Flickr. Last week, Adrian Holovaty unveiled ChicagoCrime.org, which integrates Google Maps with the last three months' worth of Chicago crime data. You can drill down the data...
Developers online are doing some amazing work these days involving Google Maps and Flickr. Last week, Adrian Holovaty unveiled ChicagoCrime.org, which integrates Google Maps with the last three months' worth of Chicago crime data. You can drill down the data...
May
11
2005
photomat
Michaela pointed me toward Bowman Photos, a fantastic online photo gallery put together by Douglas Bowman (of design group Stopdesign). I'm impressed both by the very clean, attractive design and by the ingenius backend Bowman set up to make it...
Michaela pointed me toward Bowman Photos, a fantastic online photo gallery put together by Douglas Bowman (of design group Stopdesign). I'm impressed both by the very clean, attractive design and by the ingenius backend Bowman set up to make it...
May
6
2005
old town wifi
I noticed this item (heavily condensed here) in the April 2005 newsletter published by the city of Alexandria: City to Pilot Free, Outdoor, Wireless Internet Access The City will launch a pilot project this month to provide free, wireless Internet...
I noticed this item (heavily condensed here) in the April 2005 newsletter published by the city of Alexandria: City to Pilot Free, Outdoor, Wireless Internet Access The City will launch a pilot project this month to provide free, wireless Internet...
May
5
2005
webby
The 2005 Webby Award winners have been announced, recognizing Web sites in genres from activism to personal sites. I was very happy to see that McSweeney's won for best copy / writing in voting by both the Webby judges and...
The 2005 Webby Award winners have been announced, recognizing Web sites in genres from activism to personal sites. I was very happy to see that McSweeney's won for best copy / writing in voting by both the Webby judges and...
Apr
18
2005
buy, buy, buy
This was a bit of a shock to read this morning: Adobe to Buy Macromedia in $3.4 Billion Stock Deal By Terence Neilan Published: April 18, 2005 The document-design software company Adobe Systems Inc. said today that it had agreed...
This was a bit of a shock to read this morning: Adobe to Buy Macromedia in $3.4 Billion Stock Deal By Terence Neilan Published: April 18, 2005 The document-design software company Adobe Systems Inc. said today that it had agreed...
Apr
14
2005
downtime
Comcast's cable Internet service has been driving me up the wall lately. Three times in the past week -- last Thursday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights -- I've been unable to connect to e-mail, IM or the Web for several hours...
Comcast's cable Internet service has been driving me up the wall lately. Three times in the past week -- last Thursday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights -- I've been unable to connect to e-mail, IM or the Web for several hours...
Apr
11
2005
random hilarity
Heard in the office today: Coworker 1: Word on the street is Tiger's coming out on Friday. Coworker 2: Tiger Woods is coming out? I thought he was married! (The Tiger in question is the new updated Mac OS X...
Heard in the office today: Coworker 1: Word on the street is Tiger's coming out on Friday. Coworker 2: Tiger Woods is coming out? I thought he was married! (The Tiger in question is the new updated Mac OS X...
Apr
1
2005
bleeding edge
Austin-based writer Ben Brown has a fascinating piece about the interplay of virtual communities and physical space at this year's South by Southwest Interactive conference. (BenBrown.com: "Virtual Community Boards, Missed Connections Not Missed, and Ambient Noise") Every time I hear...
Austin-based writer Ben Brown has a fascinating piece about the interplay of virtual communities and physical space at this year's South by Southwest Interactive conference. (BenBrown.com: "Virtual Community Boards, Missed Connections Not Missed, and Ambient Noise") Every time I hear...
Mar
18
2005
code 2.0
Another wiki in the news, this time from renowned copyright lawyer Lawrence Lessig at Stanford University. Lessig has set up Code v.2, a wiki-based incarnation of his 1999 book Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, in the hopes that the...
Another wiki in the news, this time from renowned copyright lawyer Lawrence Lessig at Stanford University. Lessig has set up Code v.2, a wiki-based incarnation of his 1999 book Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, in the hopes that the...
Mar
17
2005
Mar
16
2005
google me mac
Some Mac fanatics at Google have put together a version of the Google home page that that takes the Mac OS X "dock" approach to linking to other Google products. Cute -- and I'm geekily impressed at how well they...
Some Mac fanatics at Google have put together a version of the Google home page that that takes the Mac OS X "dock" approach to linking to other Google products. Cute -- and I'm geekily impressed at how well they...
Mar
15
2005
tivo me
This makes me so happy. Maybe next year I'll have a real TiVo instead of this generic DVR... :) TiVo Inc., the struggling pioneer of digital video recorders, will make a customized version for Comcast cable subscribers, the two companies...
This makes me so happy. Maybe next year I'll have a real TiVo instead of this generic DVR... :) TiVo Inc., the struggling pioneer of digital video recorders, will make a customized version for Comcast cable subscribers, the two companies...
Mar
4
2005
mark of distinction
Walking down the street or riding the Metro, it's hard to miss the people wearing trademark white earbuds, branding themselves as proud iPod owners. It used to be a sign of hipness -- that the wearer was cool or affluent...
Walking down the street or riding the Metro, it's hard to miss the people wearing trademark white earbuds, branding themselves as proud iPod owners. It used to be a sign of hipness -- that the wearer was cool or affluent...
Mar
3
2005
the pepsi challenge
Despite all logic, I've been going to the CVS a few times a week specifically to buy Diet Pepsi. And I don't even really like Diet Pepsi all that much. (I'll drink it, but it's not my usual drink of...
Despite all logic, I've been going to the CVS a few times a week specifically to buy Diet Pepsi. And I don't even really like Diet Pepsi all that much. (I'll drink it, but it's not my usual drink of...
Feb
28
2005
textedit
We're doing Flash training at work today and tomorrow, and our instructor recommended a text editor for Mac that's pretty nifty. Smultron, free and open-source, may replace BBEdit as my text editor of choice. It has all the features I...
We're doing Flash training at work today and tomorrow, and our instructor recommended a text editor for Mac that's pretty nifty. Smultron, free and open-source, may replace BBEdit as my text editor of choice. It has all the features I...
Feb
24
2005
randomizer
Random things that I've been meaning to blog about, but hadn't gotten the chance to write an actual entry for: celebrity Apple store customers, purple vs. red ink, McDonald's in the produce business and credit card micropayments.
Random things that I've been meaning to blog about, but hadn't gotten the chance to write an actual entry for: celebrity Apple store customers, purple vs. red ink, McDonald's in the produce business and credit card micropayments.
Feb
13
2005
landline, r.i.p.
With the popularity and prevalence of cellphones on college campuses -- according to one survey, nine in ten college students have a cellphone -- the landline may be a thing of the past. The Washington Post reported yesterday that beginning...
With the popularity and prevalence of cellphones on college campuses -- according to one survey, nine in ten college students have a cellphone -- the landline may be a thing of the past. The Washington Post reported yesterday that beginning...
Feb
8
2005
google maps rocks my world
Rob just clued me in to the new Google Maps, and I've just killed the past hour or so playing with it. The star of the show is the map itself. Google Maps offers some of the cleanest maps I've...
Rob just clued me in to the new Google Maps, and I've just killed the past hour or so playing with it. The star of the show is the map itself. Google Maps offers some of the cleanest maps I've...
Jan
19
2005
seen: level of access
Washington Post columnist/blogger Joel Achenbach writes about the types of users defined by his blogging tool (TypePad): So anyway, there’s “junior author” and “author” and “owner,” but I think there’s an even higher level than that, an uber-owner, with a...
Washington Post columnist/blogger Joel Achenbach writes about the types of users defined by his blogging tool (TypePad): So anyway, there’s “junior author” and “author” and “owner,” but I think there’s an even higher level than that, an uber-owner, with a...
Jan
18
2005
geek pinup
MacMerc.com points to some rather tragic vintage photos at the blog Monkey Methods, in which Microsoft founder Bill Gates allegedly poses for Teen Beat magazine in the early-to-mid-1980s. My poor, poor eyes......
MacMerc.com points to some rather tragic vintage photos at the blog Monkey Methods, in which Microsoft founder Bill Gates allegedly poses for Teen Beat magazine in the early-to-mid-1980s. My poor, poor eyes......
Jan
11
2005
seen: dietary recommendation
Seen as a postscript on the Web page for the new iPod shuffle: Do not eat iPod shuffle. (Near the top of the page, the new iPod is pictured next to two packages of chewing gum.) Also funny: The super-enthusiastic...
Seen as a postscript on the Web page for the new iPod shuffle: Do not eat iPod shuffle. (Near the top of the page, the new iPod is pictured next to two packages of chewing gum.) Also funny: The super-enthusiastic...
Jan
3
2005
blog stats
Interesting new report from Pew re: the use of weblogs and RSS feeds: By the end of 2004 blogs had established themselves as a key part of online culture. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in...
Interesting new report from Pew re: the use of weblogs and RSS feeds: By the end of 2004 blogs had established themselves as a key part of online culture. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in...
Dec
27
2004
best of 2004
It's time again for those roundups of events and "bests" of the the past year... Arts & Culture New York Times: "Culture: Best of 2004"Salon.com: "When Comedy Drew Blood" Movies New York Times: "The Best Movies of 2004"Roger Ebert, Chicago...
It's time again for those roundups of events and "bests" of the the past year... Arts & Culture New York Times: "Culture: Best of 2004"Salon.com: "When Comedy Drew Blood" Movies New York Times: "The Best Movies of 2004"Roger Ebert, Chicago...
Dec
23
2004
quote of the day: flame war
"E-mails are the drive-by shootings of the common man." - Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, on hate mail. ("Caricature References" - 12/23/04)...
"E-mails are the drive-by shootings of the common man." - Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, on hate mail. ("Caricature References" - 12/23/04)...
Dec
16
2004
browser swap
IE is out at Penn State. Citing frequent security threats involving Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, IT officials at Pennsylvania State University urged the university's student, faculty and staff populations to use an alternative Web browser rather than IE. (Penn State...
IE is out at Penn State. Citing frequent security threats involving Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser, IT officials at Pennsylvania State University urged the university's student, faculty and staff populations to use an alternative Web browser rather than IE. (Penn State...
Dec
3
2004
oh, the irony
The New York Times today reports that the major record labels are turning to Shawn Fanning, who as a teenager created the original Napster, for help and advice in cutting down on illegal music downloads. ("Music Industry Turns to Napster...
The New York Times today reports that the major record labels are turning to Shawn Fanning, who as a teenager created the original Napster, for help and advice in cutting down on illegal music downloads. ("Music Industry Turns to Napster...
Nov
26
2004
death of the slide projector
The Washington Post's Hank Stuever had a good story yesterday about the demise of the slide projector and its place in pop culture. I love the way it's written, as a kind of slideshow narrative. ("Chuh-Click. Sunset." - 11/25/04) The...
The Washington Post's Hank Stuever had a good story yesterday about the demise of the slide projector and its place in pop culture. I love the way it's written, as a kind of slideshow narrative. ("Chuh-Click. Sunset." - 11/25/04) The...
Oct
30
2004
catching up
I haven't had time to post regular updates to this blog for the past couple weeks, as I've wound up one job and started another, so, in lieu of writing a lot of individual entries about the random things that...
I haven't had time to post regular updates to this blog for the past couple weeks, as I've wound up one job and started another, so, in lieu of writing a lot of individual entries about the random things that...
Oct
20
2004
you know you're addicted to tivo when...
... you try to fast-forward through the commercials on the live baseball game you're watching on TV ... which only reinforces your TiVo-induced distaste for live television....
... you try to fast-forward through the commercials on the live baseball game you're watching on TV ... which only reinforces your TiVo-induced distaste for live television....
Oct
7
2004
google by remote
Google just quietly rolled out a fairly brilliant new service: Google SMS. Can't remember if that store is on Wilson or Washington Blvd.? Just send a text message from your phone to 46645 (GOOGL) with the business name and city/state...
Google just quietly rolled out a fairly brilliant new service: Google SMS. Can't remember if that store is on Wilson or Washington Blvd.? Just send a text message from your phone to 46645 (GOOGL) with the business name and city/state...
Sep
17
2004
flick your bic
Today brings yet another example of "sophisticated" technology defeated by simple household objects. Wired and the New York Times today both report that many bicycle locks by Kryptonite and similar companies can be opened within a matter of seconds using...
Today brings yet another example of "sophisticated" technology defeated by simple household objects. Wired and the New York Times today both report that many bicycle locks by Kryptonite and similar companies can be opened within a matter of seconds using...
Aug
31
2004
newmac
Apple today unveiled the next incarnation of its iMac line of computers. It's a speedy G5 processor, CD/DVD player, and 17" or 20" monitor, all rolled into a single flat-panel package. It's pretty spiffy. And, against all reason, I want...
Apple today unveiled the next incarnation of its iMac line of computers. It's a speedy G5 processor, CD/DVD player, and 17" or 20" monitor, all rolled into a single flat-panel package. It's pretty spiffy. And, against all reason, I want...
Aug
26
2004
follow the story
I noticed this morning that washingtonpost.com has started doing something kinda nifty with its RSS feeds: In addition to offering feeds based on its core coverage areas (national, metro, technology, etc.), they've also started offering feeds related to specific stories...
I noticed this morning that washingtonpost.com has started doing something kinda nifty with its RSS feeds: In addition to offering feeds based on its core coverage areas (national, metro, technology, etc.), they've also started offering feeds related to specific stories...
Aug
15
2004
quote of the day: thumbtastic
"In the process, reliance on the thumb to type has re-established its place in the hierarchy of the hand. 'The thumb is the new power digit,' said Edward Tenner, a science historian for the Smithsonian Institution who has spent time...
"In the process, reliance on the thumb to type has re-established its place in the hierarchy of the hand. 'The thumb is the new power digit,' said Edward Tenner, a science historian for the Smithsonian Institution who has spent time...
ready excuses
Going on a blind date? No need to rely on your friends anymore for that pre-planned "get me out of here" excuse if things go sour. Now, for a fee, Cingular Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA are offering customers the...
Going on a blind date? No need to rely on your friends anymore for that pre-planned "get me out of here" excuse if things go sour. Now, for a fee, Cingular Wireless and Virgin Mobile USA are offering customers the...
Jul
26
2004
spam attack
I've been overrun by an insane number of virus e-mails this morning. The messages I'm getting are rather evil. (I've removed my e-mail address from the transcript.) Subject: Delivery reports about your e-mail From: "The Post Office" Date: Mon, July 26, 2004 12:00 pm To: [my e-mail...
I've been overrun by an insane number of virus e-mails this morning. The messages I'm getting are rather evil. (I've removed my e-mail address from the transcript.) Subject: Delivery reports about your e-mail From: "The Post Office" Date: Mon, July 26, 2004 12:00 pm To: [my e-mail...
Jul
23
2004
contingency plan
An unfinished copy of the band U2's newest album, Vertigo, due out this fall, was stolen during a photo shoot in France recently. If the new songs show up online, the band plans to release the album via the iTunes...
An unfinished copy of the band U2's newest album, Vertigo, due out this fall, was stolen during a photo shoot in France recently. If the new songs show up online, the band plans to release the album via the iTunes...
Jul
19
2004
walking back
This month also marks an important anniversary. Twenty-five years ago, Sony introduced the Walkman music player. (Knight Ridder/Tribune News: "July 1979: Walkman spawned a revolution" - 07/16/04) Twenty-five years ago this month, America tuned out. A midnight-blue-and-silver brick with astonishing...
This month also marks an important anniversary. Twenty-five years ago, Sony introduced the Walkman music player. (Knight Ridder/Tribune News: "July 1979: Walkman spawned a revolution" - 07/16/04) Twenty-five years ago this month, America tuned out. A midnight-blue-and-silver brick with astonishing...
free tunes ... sorta
The Washington Post reported this weekend that George Washington University is offering free Napster subscriptions to students living in campus residence halls. ("GWU Students Will Get Free Tunes This Fall" - 07/17/04) Students will be able to download songs for...
The Washington Post reported this weekend that George Washington University is offering free Napster subscriptions to students living in campus residence halls. ("GWU Students Will Get Free Tunes This Fall" - 07/17/04) Students will be able to download songs for...
ipod 4g
Newsweek appears to have the exclusive with details on the next generation of iPod music players. ("The New iPod" - 07/26/04) A cover story about Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the popular digital music player (a story and issue cover...
Newsweek appears to have the exclusive with details on the next generation of iPod music players. ("The New iPod" - 07/26/04) A cover story about Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the popular digital music player (a story and issue cover...
Jul
14
2004
customer care
At Best Buy, the customer's not always right anymore. The company has started "weeding out" costly or unproductive customers. (Associated Press: "The customer is always right? Not anymore" - 07/05/04) Some retailers are deciding that the customer can be very,...
At Best Buy, the customer's not always right anymore. The company has started "weeding out" costly or unproductive customers. (Associated Press: "The customer is always right? Not anymore" - 07/05/04) Some retailers are deciding that the customer can be very,...
Jul
13
2004
jonesing
I think my iPod has developed a disturbing fixation on Norah Jones. Among the many playlists I've transferred to my iPod is a "smart playlist" of the songs in my library that feature Ms. Jones (both from her own albums...
I think my iPod has developed a disturbing fixation on Norah Jones. Among the many playlists I've transferred to my iPod is a "smart playlist" of the songs in my library that feature Ms. Jones (both from her own albums...
Jul
6
2004
money talks
Phillip Su, a developer who worked on Microsoft's Money product (1999 and 2001 releases), posted an interesting retrospective on Money's history and the various company priorities that came into play during its product development. The most fascinating detail: Early on,...
Phillip Su, a developer who worked on Microsoft's Money product (1999 and 2001 releases), posted an interesting retrospective on Money's history and the various company priorities that came into play during its product development. The most fascinating detail: Early on,...
Jul
1
2004
snoopy
Speaking of e-mail, a far creepier, even disturbing, judgement was made in the case of a bookseller who spied on the mail sent to the free e-mail accounts he'd given some of his customers. The First Court of Appeals in...
Speaking of e-mail, a far creepier, even disturbing, judgement was made in the case of a bookseller who spied on the mail sent to the free e-mail accounts he'd given some of his customers. The First Court of Appeals in...
Jun
28
2004
the monkey, it returns
Webmonkey's back! Well, sorta, at least. I noticed this note in Wired's daily e-mail newsletter this weekend: Webmonkey Returns We heard from a lot of you after Webmonkey stopped publishing earlier this year. So, by popular demand, Webmonkey, the pioneering...
Webmonkey's back! Well, sorta, at least. I noticed this note in Wired's daily e-mail newsletter this weekend: Webmonkey Returns We heard from a lot of you after Webmonkey stopped publishing earlier this year. So, by popular demand, Webmonkey, the pioneering...
Jun
24
2004
in the pocket
I saw a story today from The Arizona Republic about a new transportation fad: pocket bikes -- teeny miniature motorcycles apparently intended to be driven by adults. ("Vehicle or motor toy?" - 06/24/04) Have you seen them? Motorcycles as small...
I saw a story today from The Arizona Republic about a new transportation fad: pocket bikes -- teeny miniature motorcycles apparently intended to be driven by adults. ("Vehicle or motor toy?" - 06/24/04) Have you seen them? Motorcycles as small...
Jun
15
2004
computers get interesting
Computer makers have finally, in the past couple years, begun to follow Apple's example of offering more aesthetically appealing computer hardware designs, to the point where now, according to a story in Business Week, the old "beige box" may be...
Computer makers have finally, in the past couple years, begun to follow Apple's example of offering more aesthetically appealing computer hardware designs, to the point where now, according to a story in Business Week, the old "beige box" may be...
Apr
11
2004
the story evolves
I've recently become a fan of RSS newsreaders, programs that download and process the XML newsfeeds provided by a variety of weblogs and news sites. With the newsreader, I can see the most up-to-date stories/posts without having to navigate to...
I've recently become a fan of RSS newsreaders, programs that download and process the XML newsfeeds provided by a variety of weblogs and news sites. With the newsreader, I can see the most up-to-date stories/posts without having to navigate to...
Mar
16
2004
in search of a name
There's so much baggage wrapped up in the idea of a "name." Will it embody the personality of the person or thing the name identifies? Does it portend good or bad things ahead? What does a name say about the...
There's so much baggage wrapped up in the idea of a "name." Will it embody the personality of the person or thing the name identifies? Does it portend good or bad things ahead? What does a name say about the...
geekery gone "cool"
Move over, metrosexuals. The "technosexual" may be the next hot thing. The technosexual is essentially the style-conscious metrosexual, but with a certain geeky obsessiveness about electronics and gadgetry. (AlterNet: "Enter the Technosexual" - 03/08/04) "With metrosexuality, it's about style, fashion,...
Move over, metrosexuals. The "technosexual" may be the next hot thing. The technosexual is essentially the style-conscious metrosexual, but with a certain geeky obsessiveness about electronics and gadgetry. (AlterNet: "Enter the Technosexual" - 03/08/04) "With metrosexuality, it's about style, fashion,...
Mar
11
2004
my first mac
It's here! My new PowerBook arrived via FedEx just half an hour ago. And I'm so incredibly giddy about it. After having worked with Macs for so many years, it's almost hard for me to believe that this is the...
It's here! My new PowerBook arrived via FedEx just half an hour ago. And I'm so incredibly giddy about it. After having worked with Macs for so many years, it's almost hard for me to believe that this is the...
Mar
9
2004
mineallmine
I finally made the leap this morning. I ordered my very own PowerBook. Over the past year, I've developed an unhealthy attachment to the 17" PowerBook issued to me by my office, and with yesterday's resignation, cutting the cord has...
I finally made the leap this morning. I ordered my very own PowerBook. Over the past year, I've developed an unhealthy attachment to the 17" PowerBook issued to me by my office, and with yesterday's resignation, cutting the cord has...
Mar
3
2004
illusion of control
You walk up to the intersection. The pedestrian sign says "Don't Walk," and traffic is speeding across your intended path. So you press the crosswalk button to signal the sytem that you want to cross. And you wait. Modern automated...
You walk up to the intersection. The pedestrian sign says "Don't Walk," and traffic is speeding across your intended path. So you press the crosswalk button to signal the sytem that you want to cross. And you wait. Modern automated...
all in the name
My coworkers and I have turned our iTunes library titles into a form of social commentary and "silent" protest. iTunes allows users on the same subnet to listen to music from each others' music libraries. In their preferences, users can...
My coworkers and I have turned our iTunes library titles into a form of social commentary and "silent" protest. iTunes allows users on the same subnet to listen to music from each others' music libraries. In their preferences, users can...
Feb
19
2004
pass the remote
The New York Times has a fascinating article today about the design process that went into the TiVo remote control. ("Now Preening on the Coffee Table: The TiVo Remote Control" - 02/19/04) When Paul Newby, TiVo's director of consumer design,...
The New York Times has a fascinating article today about the design process that went into the TiVo remote control. ("Now Preening on the Coffee Table: The TiVo Remote Control" - 02/19/04) When Paul Newby, TiVo's director of consumer design,...
Feb
17
2004
rest in peace, webmonkey
Wired reported today that Webmonkey is shuttering its virtual doors. ("Webmonkey, RIP: 1996 – 2004" - 02/17/04) With its combination of quirky humor and plainspoken explanations, the tutorial site has been a fantastic reference for web developers for the past...
Wired reported today that Webmonkey is shuttering its virtual doors. ("Webmonkey, RIP: 1996 – 2004" - 02/17/04) With its combination of quirky humor and plainspoken explanations, the tutorial site has been a fantastic reference for web developers for the past...
spellcheck begone
The computer spell-checker has been banned from the Dow Jones Newswires newsroom. In a Feb. 13 memo, staffers were told to stop using spell-check because the program was adding too many errors to stories. We have had too many incidents...
The computer spell-checker has been banned from the Dow Jones Newswires newsroom. In a Feb. 13 memo, staffers were told to stop using spell-check because the program was adding too many errors to stories. We have had too many incidents...
Feb
5
2004
added incentive
In my random musings about what my next car will be, I've been eyeing the gas/electric Honda Civic Hybrid. It's compact, gets fantastic gas mileage and isn't uber-expensive. Not that, with college loan payments coming up in the next year,...
In my random musings about what my next car will be, I've been eyeing the gas/electric Honda Civic Hybrid. It's compact, gets fantastic gas mileage and isn't uber-expensive. Not that, with college loan payments coming up in the next year,...
infosuck
I'm tired of my movements constantly being tracked, and of having to surrender reams of personal information in order to obtain and/or subsidize a product. Take, for example, grocery discount "member" cards and airline frequent flyer programs, where you sign...
I'm tired of my movements constantly being tracked, and of having to surrender reams of personal information in order to obtain and/or subsidize a product. Take, for example, grocery discount "member" cards and airline frequent flyer programs, where you sign...
Jan
22
2004
navel-gazing
After Howard Dean's third-place showing in the Iowa caucus, pundits are reconsidering their zeal for the candidate and his unconventional means of drumming up support. Salon's Farhad Manjoo equates it with the dot-com bust: Dean was propelled upward by insanely...
After Howard Dean's third-place showing in the Iowa caucus, pundits are reconsidering their zeal for the candidate and his unconventional means of drumming up support. Salon's Farhad Manjoo equates it with the dot-com bust: Dean was propelled upward by insanely...
Jan
7
2004
iDisappointment
Yesterday was the big Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote. As expected, Jobs announced a new Apple iPod: the iPod mini. It's cute, it's teeny and it comes in different colors ... but it's $249. The iPod mini has a 4GB capacity...
Yesterday was the big Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote. As expected, Jobs announced a new Apple iPod: the iPod mini. It's cute, it's teeny and it comes in different colors ... but it's $249. The iPod mini has a 4GB capacity...
Jan
2
2004
going mobile
I was futzing around a bit with AOL Instant Messenger the other day and found a new setting: If I'm offline or "away," I can have any incoming messages sent, via SMS, to my cellphone. (When I'm offline, a little...
I was futzing around a bit with AOL Instant Messenger the other day and found a new setting: If I'm offline or "away," I can have any incoming messages sent, via SMS, to my cellphone. (When I'm offline, a little...
zip it
Ben Fry at MIT put together this really nifty map of all the ZIP codes in the United States. Start typing in a ZIP code, and you can see, digit by digit, what geographic area is covered by various ranges...
Ben Fry at MIT put together this really nifty map of all the ZIP codes in the United States. Start typing in a ZIP code, and you can see, digit by digit, what geographic area is covered by various ranges...
Dec
31
2003
i shall call you ... minipod
Rumors are circulating that Apple is getting set to unveil a new, low-end iPod next month. These new iPods would be physically smaller than the existing iPod, hold 2GB-4GB of data and cost in the neighborhood of $100-200. (MacRumors.com: "Mini...
Rumors are circulating that Apple is getting set to unveil a new, low-end iPod next month. These new iPods would be physically smaller than the existing iPod, hold 2GB-4GB of data and cost in the neighborhood of $100-200. (MacRumors.com: "Mini...
Dec
26
2003
politics and the internet
Several news outlets have interesting stories about the ever-increasing role of the Internet in the political campaign process. Wired: "How the Internet Invented Howard Dean" (Jan. 2004) The biggest news of the political season has been the tale of this...
Several news outlets have interesting stories about the ever-increasing role of the Internet in the political campaign process. Wired: "How the Internet Invented Howard Dean" (Jan. 2004) The biggest news of the political season has been the tale of this...
Dec
16
2003
virtual tension
Salon has an intriguing story about how an online newspaper/blog about the community of the game The Sims Online is stirring up trouble with the game's corporate owners. ("Raking muck in 'The Sims Online'" - 12/12/02) They say the situation...
Salon has an intriguing story about how an online newspaper/blog about the community of the game The Sims Online is stirring up trouble with the game's corporate owners. ("Raking muck in 'The Sims Online'" - 12/12/02) They say the situation...
Dec
14
2003
mac curmudgeon
Attempting to install a wireless card in my old PC this evening has made me realize just how much of a Mac curmudgeon I've become. I grew up as a PC user, my family having had one in the house...
Attempting to install a wireless card in my old PC this evening has made me realize just how much of a Mac curmudgeon I've become. I grew up as a PC user, my family having had one in the house...
Dec
9
2003
macword bug
I think Word for Mac hates me. Since I started at Georgetown, I've been writing my papers for class mainly on my office Mac (not necessarily at the office; ah, the joys of laptops). However, I've had a number of...
I think Word for Mac hates me. Since I started at Georgetown, I've been writing my papers for class mainly on my office Mac (not necessarily at the office; ah, the joys of laptops). However, I've had a number of...
Dec
5
2003
keep your phone number
From the "fun juxtapositions" department ... Today's Washington Post reports that AT&T has gotten into some trouble with the FCC because of customer complaints that it's dragged its feet about wireless number portability. ("FCC May Act Against AT&T Wireless" -...
From the "fun juxtapositions" department ... Today's Washington Post reports that AT&T has gotten into some trouble with the FCC because of customer complaints that it's dragged its feet about wireless number portability. ("FCC May Act Against AT&T Wireless" -...
Nov
19
2003
busted
Last week's The Onion struck on what might be some bloggers' worst nightmare: Mom finds your perhaps too-confessional weblog. ("Mom Finds Out About Blog" - 11/12/03) (Personally, I'm not overly worried about it ... mainly because my mom already knows...
Last week's The Onion struck on what might be some bloggers' worst nightmare: Mom finds your perhaps too-confessional weblog. ("Mom Finds Out About Blog" - 11/12/03) (Personally, I'm not overly worried about it ... mainly because my mom already knows...
Oct
26
2003
tivo substitute
I've been toying with the idea of purchasing a TiVo for some time. The device, which, like other DVRs, offers a user-friendly way to automatically record television programs, has had something of a cult-like following for a couple years now....
I've been toying with the idea of purchasing a TiVo for some time. The device, which, like other DVRs, offers a user-friendly way to automatically record television programs, has had something of a cult-like following for a couple years now....
Oct
13
2003
comment spam
Spammers have found a new target: Weblog and messageboard comment forms. I've heard a little about comment spam -- unsolicited advertisements for, say, products or porn sites posted to blogs and messageboards, sometimes en masse -- over the past couple...
Spammers have found a new target: Weblog and messageboard comment forms. I've heard a little about comment spam -- unsolicited advertisements for, say, products or porn sites posted to blogs and messageboards, sometimes en masse -- over the past couple...
Oct
10
2003
foiled again
I really wonder if all these copy-protection schemes being tested by the record industry are really worth all the trouble. Early attempts at copy protection, tested abroad, produced CDs that consumers found were incompatible with some players, and which could...
I really wonder if all these copy-protection schemes being tested by the record industry are really worth all the trouble. Early attempts at copy protection, tested abroad, produced CDs that consumers found were incompatible with some players, and which could...
winmac
Because some of the software we're required to use in my office is PC-only (namely, a "trouble ticket" tracking program and a project management suite), I've been told to install VirtualPC on my Mac so I can run Windows-based programs....
Because some of the software we're required to use in my office is PC-only (namely, a "trouble ticket" tracking program and a project management suite), I've been told to install VirtualPC on my Mac so I can run Windows-based programs....
itunes for windows
AppleInsider.com reports that Apple will announce iTunes (and the iTunes Music Service) for Windows next Thursday, Oct. 16, in San Francisco. ("Apple to Host Music Media Event Next Week" - 10/09/03) Over the past couple of months, Apple has quietly...
AppleInsider.com reports that Apple will announce iTunes (and the iTunes Music Service) for Windows next Thursday, Oct. 16, in San Francisco. ("Apple to Host Music Media Event Next Week" - 10/09/03) Over the past couple of months, Apple has quietly...
Sep
21
2003
landline
The recent hurricane, and the resulting widespread power outages, inspired newfound respect for the traditional "landline" -- as well as the corded phone. With electricity out, people found their cordless phones inoperable. And since the power outage knocked some cell...
The recent hurricane, and the resulting widespread power outages, inspired newfound respect for the traditional "landline" -- as well as the corded phone. With electricity out, people found their cordless phones inoperable. And since the power outage knocked some cell...
Sep
16
2003
apple of my eye
Apple finally announced some long-expected upgrades to their Powerbook line of notebook computers. I've been jonesing for a Mac of my own for some time, particularly since my office bought me a 17" Powerbook this spring. The 17" P'book is...
Apple finally announced some long-expected upgrades to their Powerbook line of notebook computers. I've been jonesing for a Mac of my own for some time, particularly since my office bought me a 17" Powerbook this spring. The 17" P'book is...
Sep
15
2003
licensed user
The Associated Press has a semi-facetious story about the notion of licensing computer users, just like we license vehicle drivers. (Wired: "Are You Too Stupid to Surf? - 09/12/03) A virus fouls your computer and you haplessly pass it on....
The Associated Press has a semi-facetious story about the notion of licensing computer users, just like we license vehicle drivers. (Wired: "Are You Too Stupid to Surf? - 09/12/03) A virus fouls your computer and you haplessly pass it on....
geektastic
This Sunday's Fox Trot comic has a pretty geeky/techie punchline that I'm halfway ashamed to say I got ... and found funny. Check it out....
This Sunday's Fox Trot comic has a pretty geeky/techie punchline that I'm halfway ashamed to say I got ... and found funny. Check it out....
Sep
14
2003
digital transfer
George Hotelling, who, as mentioned earlier, was trying to sell a track he purchased via the iTunes Music store, posted an update about what happened with the sale, and how he finally ended up transferring the song to the new...
George Hotelling, who, as mentioned earlier, was trying to sell a track he purchased via the iTunes Music store, posted an update about what happened with the sale, and how he finally ended up transferring the song to the new...
Sep
13
2003
apple vs. ... apple
Apple Corps, better known as The Beatles' record company, is suing Apple Computer about the latter's successful iTunes Music Service and iPod MP3 player. The two companies have been fighting over trademark rights for decades, and came to a settlement...
Apple Corps, better known as The Beatles' record company, is suing Apple Computer about the latter's successful iTunes Music Service and iPod MP3 player. The two companies have been fighting over trademark rights for decades, and came to a settlement...
Sep
11
2003
d'oh
AP reports that a $239 million weather satellite was damaged when it fell to the ground while being moved. (CNN: "Satellite topples to floor in mishap" - 09/11/03) According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed...
AP reports that a $239 million weather satellite was damaged when it fell to the ground while being moved. (CNN: "Satellite topples to floor in mishap" - 09/11/03) According to a source close to the program, bolts that were supposed...
Sep
5
2003
more legal stuff
"nycfashiongirl," whom the RIAA has accused of music piracy, has enlisted lawyers to fight back. The Associated Press reports that her legal team plans to question the legitimacy -- and legality -- of the RIAA's efforts to track her. (Wired:...
"nycfashiongirl," whom the RIAA has accused of music piracy, has enlisted lawyers to fight back. The Associated Press reports that her legal team plans to question the legitimacy -- and legality -- of the RIAA's efforts to track her. (Wired:...
Sep
4
2003
out of service
I think my cellphone is possessed. For the past week, it's been randomly turning itself off and on, the the start-up chimes ringing eerily from inside my messenger bag or on my bedside table. During a call, the person I'm...
I think my cellphone is possessed. For the past week, it's been randomly turning itself off and on, the the start-up chimes ringing eerily from inside my messenger bag or on my bedside table. During a call, the person I'm...
Sep
3
2003
selling digital music
In an interesting legal test, a Michigan man is selling a track he purchased from the iTunes Music Store on eBay. In a posting to his weblog, George Hotelling writes: Does the Right of First Sale Still Exist? I just...
In an interesting legal test, a Michigan man is selling a track he purchased from the iTunes Music Store on eBay. In a posting to his weblog, George Hotelling writes: Does the Right of First Sale Still Exist? I just...
online learning
Colleges and universities have been experimenting, to various degrees, with the concept of online learning for a few years. Now, in Arizona, the state is tentatively experimenting with "cyberschooling" at the grade-school level. (Twelve other states are experimenting with cyberschooling...
Colleges and universities have been experimenting, to various degrees, with the concept of online learning for a few years. Now, in Arizona, the state is tentatively experimenting with "cyberschooling" at the grade-school level. (Twelve other states are experimenting with cyberschooling...
safari spoof
Sometimes websites are coded to allow only certain browsers (i.e. Internet Explorer), but other third-party browsers are still capable of viewing those sites. There's a hack for Safari that allows users to identify themselves to sites as being an IE,...
Sometimes websites are coded to allow only certain browsers (i.e. Internet Explorer), but other third-party browsers are still capable of viewing those sites. There's a hack for Safari that allows users to identify themselves to sites as being an IE,...
Aug
16
2003
spam me. really.
Slate's Jonathan Rauch has a modest proposal about this whole spam e-mail mess that I can solidly get behind: If the spammers want access to my e-mail inbox, they should pay for the privilege.
Slate's Jonathan Rauch has a modest proposal about this whole spam e-mail mess that I can solidly get behind: If the spammers want access to my e-mail inbox, they should pay for the privilege.
Aug
15
2003
oopsie
After I got into work this morning, I started off on my morning surfing/reading routine. Wanting to visit Slate, I typed site's URL -- http://slate.msn.com -- into my browser window. When some semi-explicit photos from a gay porn site came...
After I got into work this morning, I started off on my morning surfing/reading routine. Wanting to visit Slate, I typed site's URL -- http://slate.msn.com -- into my browser window. When some semi-explicit photos from a gay porn site came...
Aug
6
2003
no more sms divorces
The Associated Press reports that the government of Malaysia has moved to prohibit the use of electronic messages (voicemail, SMS, fax, e-mail) to initiate divorce proceedings. (usatoday.com: "Malaysia to change divorce-via-cell phone law" - 08/01/03) Under Islamic law, a husband...
The Associated Press reports that the government of Malaysia has moved to prohibit the use of electronic messages (voicemail, SMS, fax, e-mail) to initiate divorce proceedings. (usatoday.com: "Malaysia to change divorce-via-cell phone law" - 08/01/03) Under Islamic law, a husband...
Aug
4
2003
on the blogging bandwagon
First Howard Dean. Now Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has joined the blogging bandwagon, with his new weblog Travels with Tom. Daschle himself is writing updates from the road as he travels South Dakota and meets with constituents. For the last...
First Howard Dean. Now Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has joined the blogging bandwagon, with his new weblog Travels with Tom. Daschle himself is writing updates from the road as he travels South Dakota and meets with constituents. For the last...
Jul
31
2003
product activation
Macromedia is making a foray into the realm of product activation, implementing the feature in personal editions of Contribute 2. Product activation is the practice of requiring users to register their software with the company in order to use the...
Macromedia is making a foray into the realm of product activation, implementing the feature in personal editions of Contribute 2. Product activation is the practice of requiring users to register their software with the company in order to use the...
Jul
28
2003
in flight
Paul Beardsley, my uncle, has been getting a lot of attention this year (the anniversary of the first Wright Brothers flight) with his flight simulator skin/model of the 1903 Wright Brothers flyer airplane. His model was a prominent attraction at...
Paul Beardsley, my uncle, has been getting a lot of attention this year (the anniversary of the first Wright Brothers flight) with his flight simulator skin/model of the 1903 Wright Brothers flyer airplane. His model was a prominent attraction at...
Jul
22
2003
undersized mailboxes
Americans have been getting bigger over the past several decades -- and so has our mail. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. Postal Service has a begun a campaign to encourage apartments, condos and office buildings to retrofit their...
Americans have been getting bigger over the past several decades -- and so has our mail. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. Postal Service has a begun a campaign to encourage apartments, condos and office buildings to retrofit their...
Jul
7
2003
addicted to multitasking
Yesterday's New York Times has an interesting story about people who are so accustomed to multi-tasking that they're practically addicted to it. ("The Lure of Data: Is It Addictive?" - 07/06/03) The ubiquity of technology in the lives of executives,...
Yesterday's New York Times has an interesting story about people who are so accustomed to multi-tasking that they're practically addicted to it. ("The Lure of Data: Is It Addictive?" - 07/06/03) The ubiquity of technology in the lives of executives,...
Jul
3
2003
geekspeak
Mac OS X Hints reports that AOL Instant Messenger (and, by extension, Apple's iChat) now allows users to send SMS messages to US cellphone numbers from its instant messaging interface. To send an SMS in iChat, hit Cmd-Shift-N to open...
Mac OS X Hints reports that AOL Instant Messenger (and, by extension, Apple's iChat) now allows users to send SMS messages to US cellphone numbers from its instant messaging interface. To send an SMS in iChat, hit Cmd-Shift-N to open...
Jul
1
2003
browsing
I've spent a bit of time this morning updating the various web browsers on the Powerbook. Both Mozilla 1.4 and Netscape 7.1 were released within the past day or so. (And the geek in me got a kick out of...
I've spent a bit of time this morning updating the various web browsers on the Powerbook. Both Mozilla 1.4 and Netscape 7.1 were released within the past day or so. (And the geek in me got a kick out of...
Jun
30
2003
apple politics
Rush Limbaugh apparently blames Al Gore for Apple's less-than-stellar market share. ("Why Does Apple Put Politics First?" - 06/27/03) Apple is apparently a company that is so constrained by the political views of its corporate leadership and board, which now...
Rush Limbaugh apparently blames Al Gore for Apple's less-than-stellar market share. ("Why Does Apple Put Politics First?" - 06/27/03) Apple is apparently a company that is so constrained by the political views of its corporate leadership and board, which now...
Jun
25
2003
wi-fi in the trees
Wired reports that the tiny South Pacific island of Niue just set itself up with a free, island-wide wi-fi network. ("Analysts Sour on Commercial Wi-Fi" - 06/25/03) Even though it didn't distribute the computers and PC cards necessary to tap...
Wired reports that the tiny South Pacific island of Niue just set itself up with a free, island-wide wi-fi network. ("Analysts Sour on Commercial Wi-Fi" - 06/25/03) Even though it didn't distribute the computers and PC cards necessary to tap...
Jun
24
2003
another casualty of technology
Computers and the Internet have been blamed for the death (or impending demise) of any number of "traditional" offline customs and institutions. The handwritten letter. The post office. Ordinary patience. Grammar. And now: cursive handwriting. AP reports that third graders...
Computers and the Internet have been blamed for the death (or impending demise) of any number of "traditional" offline customs and institutions. The handwritten letter. The post office. Ordinary patience. Grammar. And now: cursive handwriting. AP reports that third graders...
Jun
14
2003
another twist in the "browser wars"
CNet reports that Microsoft is not going to release any new versions of Internet Explorer for the Macintosh, citing competition from Apple's own Safari browser. ("Microsoft: No new versions of IE for Mac" - 06/13/03) This comes after another MS...
CNet reports that Microsoft is not going to release any new versions of Internet Explorer for the Macintosh, citing competition from Apple's own Safari browser. ("Microsoft: No new versions of IE for Mac" - 06/13/03) This comes after another MS...
Jun
7
2003
keep your number
Maybe wireless telephone number portability isn't the "impossible dream," after all. The U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., voted down a cellphone industry challenge to an FCC regulation requiring mobile phone service providers to allow consumers to keep...
Maybe wireless telephone number portability isn't the "impossible dream," after all. The U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., voted down a cellphone industry challenge to an FCC regulation requiring mobile phone service providers to allow consumers to keep...
Jun
5
2003
uh-oh, tivo
Wired reports that TiVo plans to start selling information about user viewing habits -- including down-to-the-second data about programs and commercials viewed -- to advertisers and broadcasters. ("TiVo to Sell User Viewing Data" - 06/02/03) Although the company plans to...
Wired reports that TiVo plans to start selling information about user viewing habits -- including down-to-the-second data about programs and commercials viewed -- to advertisers and broadcasters. ("TiVo to Sell User Viewing Data" - 06/02/03) Although the company plans to...
Jun
4
2003
chatter
FBI agents investigating online child pornography are getting a lesson in instant messaging from real authorities on the subject -- eighth grade girls. Today's Washington Post reports that the FBI is consulting with teens to learn the proper lingo and...
FBI agents investigating online child pornography are getting a lesson in instant messaging from real authorities on the subject -- eighth grade girls. Today's Washington Post reports that the FBI is consulting with teens to learn the proper lingo and...
May
25
2003
'rent' or 'buy' music?
CNet reports that Microsoft is working on its own version of the iTunes Music Store, which will work with music services such as Pressplay. ("Microsoft prepares reply to iTunes" - 05/23/03) The MS version of the service would employ a...
CNet reports that Microsoft is working on its own version of the iTunes Music Store, which will work with music services such as Pressplay. ("Microsoft prepares reply to iTunes" - 05/23/03) The MS version of the service would employ a...
May
16
2003
segue
For all those who were just chomping at the bit to have one, the Segway scooter is now shipping from Amazon.com. For just shy of $5K, you, too, can have a shiny new "human transporter" in about four weeks. Can't...
For all those who were just chomping at the bit to have one, the Segway scooter is now shipping from Amazon.com. For just shy of $5K, you, too, can have a shiny new "human transporter" in about four weeks. Can't...
May
14
2003
iraqi information minister sighting
Online computer retailer SmallDog.com is running a funny ad on VersionTracker featuring the now-missing Iraqi Information Minister. If it wasn't an advertising tagline, I might use "They are DOGS! Little, small dogs!" in everyday conversation. (Thanks to Andrew for the...
Online computer retailer SmallDog.com is running a funny ad on VersionTracker featuring the now-missing Iraqi Information Minister. If it wasn't an advertising tagline, I might use "They are DOGS! Little, small dogs!" in everyday conversation. (Thanks to Andrew for the...
May
10
2003
death to ns4
The market share for Netscape 4 is rapidly dwidling -- although may web designers and developers would probably tell you that it's not disappearing fast enough. Anyone who designs websites and worries about their sites looking the same across all...
The market share for Netscape 4 is rapidly dwidling -- although may web designers and developers would probably tell you that it's not disappearing fast enough. Anyone who designs websites and worries about their sites looking the same across all...
go wireless ... at a payphone
According to today's Washington Post, local telco Verizon is going to build wi-fi access points into many of its 300,000 regional pay phones -- meaning (paid) wi-fi at the airport, in hotel lobbies -- maybe even in Metro stations? ("Verizon...
According to today's Washington Post, local telco Verizon is going to build wi-fi access points into many of its 300,000 regional pay phones -- meaning (paid) wi-fi at the airport, in hotel lobbies -- maybe even in Metro stations? ("Verizon...
May
9
2003
texting parents
Technology is catching up to truants at two schools in Ireland. When students are counted absent, the schools send their parents text messages. From Wired's "Furthermore" section: Slackers Beware It's getting harder to play hooky at two Irish schools. Parents...
Technology is catching up to truants at two schools in Ireland. When students are counted absent, the schools send their parents text messages. From Wired's "Furthermore" section: Slackers Beware It's getting harder to play hooky at two Irish schools. Parents...
May
7
2003
weblog troubles
The database for my weblog went screwy, so I had to delete it and start from scratch again. I've been able to re-import my old entries, but the entry ID numbers, between the old installation and the new one, don't...
The database for my weblog went screwy, so I had to delete it and start from scratch again. I've been able to re-import my old entries, but the entry ID numbers, between the old installation and the new one, don't...
May
5
2003
farewell, subway token
New York City officially retired the subway token this past weekend, in favor of the electronic cards introduced in 1993. From today’s New York Times: The finale was, to be honest, a bit anticlimactic. No grand gestures or valedictories as...
New York City officially retired the subway token this past weekend, in favor of the electronic cards introduced in 1993. From today’s New York Times: The finale was, to be honest, a bit anticlimactic. No grand gestures or valedictories as...
May
2
2003
weaning myself off kazaa
So I'm officially hooked on Apple's new iTunes Music Service. It's a super-easy, guilt-free way to download high-quality music tracks. The interface is very clean and intuitive, and is integrated directly into iTunes, the music software I use already on...
So I'm officially hooked on Apple's new iTunes Music Service. It's a super-easy, guilt-free way to download high-quality music tracks. The interface is very clean and intuitive, and is integrated directly into iTunes, the music software I use already on...
Apr
28
2003
legalese
Check out the disclaimer from the latest version of iTunes: A note about copyright This software may be used to reproduce materials. It is licensed to you only for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright,...
Check out the disclaimer from the latest version of iTunes: A note about copyright This software may be used to reproduce materials. It is licensed to you only for reproduction of non-copyrighted materials, materials in which you own the copyright,...
gianormous videoscreen
Wired's December 2002 issue included an interview with Ed Schlossberg, designer of the huge $20 million, 7,000-square-foot videoscreen on the outside of news agency Reuters' New York headquarters. ("Making Headlines in 10,000-Point Type" - Dec 2002) Especially interesting is the...
Wired's December 2002 issue included an interview with Ed Schlossberg, designer of the huge $20 million, 7,000-square-foot videoscreen on the outside of news agency Reuters' New York headquarters. ("Making Headlines in 10,000-Point Type" - Dec 2002) Especially interesting is the...
Apr
22
2003
10 years of browsing
Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of NSCA Mosaic 1.0, the first web browser. (A beta version of the browser was first released on March 14, 1993. The official 1.0 release was on April 21, 1993.) A poster at Slashdot noted...
Yesterday marked the 10th anniversary of NSCA Mosaic 1.0, the first web browser. (A beta version of the browser was first released on March 14, 1993. The official 1.0 release was on April 21, 1993.) A poster at Slashdot noted...
flash preloader petition
Flash guru Colin Moock has a petition that might win the hearts of Flash developers everywhere. Fed up with Flash's fairly mediocre built-in preloader support, which forces developers to jury-rig their own preloading solutions, Moock suggests that Macromedia beef up...
Flash guru Colin Moock has a petition that might win the hearts of Flash developers everywhere. Fed up with Flash's fairly mediocre built-in preloader support, which forces developers to jury-rig their own preloading solutions, Moock suggests that Macromedia beef up...
Apr
17
2003
Apr
14
2003
webmonkey tutorials
This is more for my future reference than anything else... Webmonkey has reorganized its faboo collection of web-related tutorials into four curriculums (curricula?). Design - Web graphics, redesigns, accessability/usability, etc.E-Business - Advertising, shopping baskets, logfiles, etc.Engineering - Linux/Apache/Unix, JavaScript, Perl,...
This is more for my future reference than anything else... Webmonkey has reorganized its faboo collection of web-related tutorials into four curriculums (curricula?). Design - Web graphics, redesigns, accessability/usability, etc.E-Business - Advertising, shopping baskets, logfiles, etc.Engineering - Linux/Apache/Unix, JavaScript, Perl,...
going on safari
There's a new public beta of Apple's Safari browser available. Of special interest in this edition: tabbed browsing! Safari's a very nice, speedy browser. I love the ability to dump my cache via a simple key command. And I am...
There's a new public beta of Apple's Safari browser available. Of special interest in this edition: tabbed browsing! Safari's a very nice, speedy browser. I love the ability to dump my cache via a simple key command. And I am...
Mar
24
2003
they'll give you a nickel for it...
I made a visit to amazon.com this afternoon and was greeted with an enticement to answer Amazon-related multiple choice trivia questions. (For example, "Amazon offers subscriptions to how many magazines and newspapers?") Answer right, earn a nickel. My current balance...
I made a visit to amazon.com this afternoon and was greeted with an enticement to answer Amazon-related multiple choice trivia questions. (For example, "Amazon offers subscriptions to how many magazines and newspapers?") Answer right, earn a nickel. My current balance...
Mar
13
2003
why do you blog?
One of my classmates at Georgetown is doing her thesis on blogging -- who blogs? why do they do it? She has an online questionnaire, and is calling all interested bloggers to fill it out and offer their own perspectives...
One of my classmates at Georgetown is doing her thesis on blogging -- who blogs? why do they do it? She has an online questionnaire, and is calling all interested bloggers to fill it out and offer their own perspectives...
Mar
2
2003
california does it ebay
Ever wonder what happens to all that stuff that gets confiscated at airport security checkpoints? In California, they're selling it on eBay. (San Francisco Chronicle: "Bureaucrats get EBay fever" - 02/28/03) According to the SFChron article, the state of California...
Ever wonder what happens to all that stuff that gets confiscated at airport security checkpoints? In California, they're selling it on eBay. (San Francisco Chronicle: "Bureaucrats get EBay fever" - 02/28/03) According to the SFChron article, the state of California...
Feb
27
2003
google doesn't want to be 'googled'
The Google Weblog reports that lawyers for search engine Google requested that the verb "google" be removed from, or its definition modified in, the online dictionary Word Spy. ("Google asks to be removed from dictionary" - 02/26/03) The WordSpy definition...
The Google Weblog reports that lawyers for search engine Google requested that the verb "google" be removed from, or its definition modified in, the online dictionary Word Spy. ("Google asks to be removed from dictionary" - 02/26/03) The WordSpy definition...
online shopping on college campuses
The Los Angeles Times ran a story on Sunday about an aspect of online shopping one might not normally think about: All around them, civilian America is shopping online with the same fierce enthusiasm of any Ivy Leaguer. But those...
The Los Angeles Times ran a story on Sunday about an aspect of online shopping one might not normally think about: All around them, civilian America is shopping online with the same fierce enthusiasm of any Ivy Leaguer. But those...
souring on apple
In January, I greeted Apple's Macworld announcement of the new 17" G4 PowerBook with much glee and anticipation. Some money had been freed in the department budget for new computers, and I could choose my own machine. So, naturally, I...
In January, I greeted Apple's Macworld announcement of the new 17" G4 PowerBook with much glee and anticipation. Some money had been freed in the department budget for new computers, and I could choose my own machine. So, naturally, I...
Feb
26
2003
news websites sued for patent infringement
According to a story in Editor & Publisher, 12 small U.S. newspapers have been sued for patent violation regarding a certain technology used on their web sites. ("Newspapers Sued for Violating Web Patent" - 02/26/03) The technology in question involves...
According to a story in Editor & Publisher, 12 small U.S. newspapers have been sued for patent violation regarding a certain technology used on their web sites. ("Newspapers Sued for Violating Web Patent" - 02/26/03) The technology in question involves...
Feb
19
2003
another one bites the dust
The Toronto Star reports the demise of Canadian tech / culture magazine Shift. ("Shift magazine publishes its last issue" - 02/19/03) I quite enjoyed the magazine, and I'm sorry to see it go. While not up to Wired's level in...
The Toronto Star reports the demise of Canadian tech / culture magazine Shift. ("Shift magazine publishes its last issue" - 02/19/03) I quite enjoyed the magazine, and I'm sorry to see it go. While not up to Wired's level in...
Feb
12
2003
gator lawsuit settled
The lawsuit against Gator by seven major media corporations has been settled out of court, with the outcome sealed by a confidentiality agreement, Computerworld reports. ("News Sites Settle Pop-Up Lawsuit" - 02/11/03) Gator is an adware program that serves up...
The lawsuit against Gator by seven major media corporations has been settled out of court, with the outcome sealed by a confidentiality agreement, Computerworld reports. ("News Sites Settle Pop-Up Lawsuit" - 02/11/03) Gator is an adware program that serves up...
online scoops the mainstream press
E-Media Tidbits links to another interesting story this morning. In a column in The New York Times, Tom Kuntz makes the case that the online world broke the news of the space shuttle Columbia disaster perhaps 11 minutes before AP...
E-Media Tidbits links to another interesting story this morning. In a column in The New York Times, Tom Kuntz makes the case that the online world broke the news of the space shuttle Columbia disaster perhaps 11 minutes before AP...
gamers of the world unite
The Poynter Institute's E-Media Tidbits weblog points to an interesting Associated Press story. Many games are now all about role-playing, and some players aren't participating to escape terrestrial life. They're getting on virtual soapboxes and organizing all manner of protests...
The Poynter Institute's E-Media Tidbits weblog points to an interesting Associated Press story. Many games are now all about role-playing, and some players aren't participating to escape terrestrial life. They're getting on virtual soapboxes and organizing all manner of protests...
Feb
10
2003
life imitates art?
From Wired: You're Busted, Dude Maybe getting busted for possession will wipe that smirk off the Dell Guy's face. Benjamin Curtis, the 22-year-old actor who plays Dell Computer's insufferable, idiotic pitchman, was arrested in lower Manhattan late Sunday after the...
From Wired: You're Busted, Dude Maybe getting busted for possession will wipe that smirk off the Dell Guy's face. Benjamin Curtis, the 22-year-old actor who plays Dell Computer's insufferable, idiotic pitchman, was arrested in lower Manhattan late Sunday after the...
maxis striking out?
Game studio Maxis, owned by game publishing behemoth Electronic Arts, is batting a thousand these days. Best known for "The Sims" and "Sim City," Maxis's latest releases, "Sim City 4" and "The Sims Online," have thus far been consumer and...
Game studio Maxis, owned by game publishing behemoth Electronic Arts, is batting a thousand these days. Best known for "The Sims" and "Sim City," Maxis's latest releases, "Sim City 4" and "The Sims Online," have thus far been consumer and...
Feb
9
2003
patron saint of the internet
CNN ran a story last week about an online campaign to nominate a patron saint for the Internet. ("Bishops seek saint for Internet" - 02/01/03) The Italian site Santie Beati is running an Internet poll where users can vote for...
CNN ran a story last week about an online campaign to nominate a patron saint for the Internet. ("Bishops seek saint for Internet" - 02/01/03) The Italian site Santie Beati is running an Internet poll where users can vote for...
Feb
8
2003
upward bound
My uncle, Paul Beardsley, is featured in the February / March issue of Air & Space Magazine, put out by the Smithsonian Institution. This issue of the magazine celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the airplane. Uncle Paul, as a hobby,...
My uncle, Paul Beardsley, is featured in the February / March issue of Air & Space Magazine, put out by the Smithsonian Institution. This issue of the magazine celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the airplane. Uncle Paul, as a hobby,...
Feb
7
2003
page not found
I recently found one of the funniest 404 - Page Not Found pages I've ever seen. Ah, the musings of a sad, overworked, underappreciated webserver... A 404 page is what comes up in your browser when you try to load...
I recently found one of the funniest 404 - Page Not Found pages I've ever seen. Ah, the musings of a sad, overworked, underappreciated webserver... A 404 page is what comes up in your browser when you try to load...
Feb
6
2003
gps-enabled stalkers
Wired offers another disturbing story -- although this one is more "alarming" than "disturbing" -- about recent incidents of stalkers using GPS technology to track their victims. ("Stalkers Use GPS to Track Victims" - 02/06/03) The two cases mentioned in...
Wired offers another disturbing story -- although this one is more "alarming" than "disturbing" -- about recent incidents of stalkers using GPS technology to track their victims. ("Stalkers Use GPS to Track Victims" - 02/06/03) The two cases mentioned in...
Jan
30
2003
beware browser hijackers
Wired has a rather disturbing story about a new piece of spyware / adware that's taking over users' browsers -- apparently without their permission -- and makes itself near-impossible to uninstall. ("Sneaky Toolbar Hijacks Browsers" - 01/30/03) Xupiter is an...
Wired has a rather disturbing story about a new piece of spyware / adware that's taking over users' browsers -- apparently without their permission -- and makes itself near-impossible to uninstall. ("Sneaky Toolbar Hijacks Browsers" - 01/30/03) Xupiter is an...
a neat application of blogging
Jay Small's latest Sensible Internet Design e-newsletter ("Moments of Clarity at Connections" - 01/29/03) mentions a great use of weblogs in the journalism sphere: David Reed, who runs the Web site for The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, described how...
Jay Small's latest Sensible Internet Design e-newsletter ("Moments of Clarity at Connections" - 01/29/03) mentions a great use of weblogs in the journalism sphere: David Reed, who runs the Web site for The Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, described how...
Jan
24
2003
happy birthday, dear macintosh
Today marks the 19th anniversary of the Macintosh computer. On Jan. 22, 1984, Apple aired its famous "1984" commercial during the Super Bowl. Two days later, the Mac was released. (MacInTouch.com: "Apple introduced Macintosh 19 years ago today; see '1984'...
Today marks the 19th anniversary of the Macintosh computer. On Jan. 22, 1984, Apple aired its famous "1984" commercial during the Super Bowl. Two days later, the Mac was released. (MacInTouch.com: "Apple introduced Macintosh 19 years ago today; see '1984'...
Jan
21
2003
pop-ups crank up the annoyance factor
As if pop-up and pop-under ads weren't annoying enough already... CNET has an article (Pop-ups add new twist - 12/20/02) about a new strategy for pop-up ads -- directing users to the advertiser's site when the user has just rolled...
As if pop-up and pop-under ads weren't annoying enough already... CNET has an article (Pop-ups add new twist - 12/20/02) about a new strategy for pop-up ads -- directing users to the advertiser's site when the user has just rolled...
Jan
16
2003
north korea tries to make its case online
Slate posted a story Monday (DearLeader.com - Kim Jong-il's fanboy home page) about a curious website intended to convey North Korea's point of view to the Western world. The site is purportedly a volunteer project maintained by a 20-something Spaniard...
Slate posted a story Monday (DearLeader.com - Kim Jong-il's fanboy home page) about a curious website intended to convey North Korea's point of view to the Western world. The site is purportedly a volunteer project maintained by a 20-something Spaniard...
Jan
15
2003
amazon.com can time-travel, too?
I was at amazon.com this morning looking for a book for class and stumbled upon something curious: Setting the Agenda: The News Media and Public Opinion by Maxwell McCombs List Price: $26.95 Price: $26.95 & This item ships for FREE...
I was at amazon.com this morning looking for a book for class and stumbled upon something curious: Setting the Agenda: The News Media and Public Opinion by Maxwell McCombs List Price: $26.95 Price: $26.95 & This item ships for FREE...
Jan
10
2003
passing the buck
It amazes me how shameless companies can be about passing their costs on to consumers when the government imposes certain mandates. I was looking at my Sprint PCS cellphone bill this morning (I do most of my bills online), and...
It amazes me how shameless companies can be about passing their costs on to consumers when the government imposes certain mandates. I was looking at my Sprint PCS cellphone bill this morning (I do most of my bills online), and...
Jan
9
2003
be careful with apple's safari
Some major issues have cropped up for users of Apple's new Mac web browser Safari since the first public beta of the program was announced and posted earlier this week. Probably most worrisome of the issues: a bug that can...
Some major issues have cropped up for users of Apple's new Mac web browser Safari since the first public beta of the program was announced and posted earlier this week. Probably most worrisome of the issues: a bug that can...
Jan
7
2003
so why does IE run so much faster?
Yet further evidence that Microsoft is out to rule the world... Brian Tiemann offers a good explanation (it's a bit technical, but written well for the layperson) of why Internet Explorer seems to pull up web pages so much faster...
Yet further evidence that Microsoft is out to rule the world... Brian Tiemann offers a good explanation (it's a bit technical, but written well for the layperson) of why Internet Explorer seems to pull up web pages so much faster...
Jan
1
2003
happy birthday, dear internet
Today marks an important anniversary for the Internet: 20 years ago, the ARPANET (predecessor of the Internet) switched over to the TCP/IP network protocol standard. Not a very glamorous event, to be sure, but the switch helped make it possible...
Today marks an important anniversary for the Internet: 20 years ago, the ARPANET (predecessor of the Internet) switched over to the TCP/IP network protocol standard. Not a very glamorous event, to be sure, but the switch helped make it possible...
Dec
11
2002
ghost in the machine
The Wall Street Journal had an interesting story by Jeffrey Zaslow on Nov. 26 about TiVo and Amazon.com users who were frustrated with the program/product recommendations each service's system offered them (based on past orders), and how some users are...
The Wall Street Journal had an interesting story by Jeffrey Zaslow on Nov. 26 about TiVo and Amazon.com users who were frustrated with the program/product recommendations each service's system offered them (based on past orders), and how some users are...
Dec
6
2002
spamming a spammer
In today's Detroit Free-Press, columnist Mike Wendland writes about a new snail-mail spam campaign against Alan Ralsky, who, according to Wendland, "just may be the world's biggest sender of Internet spam." Ralsky says he's been deluged with mail-order catalogs and...
In today's Detroit Free-Press, columnist Mike Wendland writes about a new snail-mail spam campaign against Alan Ralsky, who, according to Wendland, "just may be the world's biggest sender of Internet spam." Ralsky says he's been deluged with mail-order catalogs and...
word of the day: foobar
I stumbled upon this rather detailed explanation of why the words "foo" and "bar" come up so often in programming examples, and the origin of the term. I'd surmised that "foobar" was a derivation of "FUBAR," but this explanation goes...
I stumbled upon this rather detailed explanation of why the words "foo" and "bar" come up so often in programming examples, and the origin of the term. I'd surmised that "foobar" was a derivation of "FUBAR," but this explanation goes...
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