technology archives
Jun
30
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…
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
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
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…
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…
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
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
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….