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A quick word on Readability

March 6th, 2010

I’ve been a fan of bookmarklets which are javascript tools you can add to your browser’s bookmark menu (or bar) to extend the functionality of your browser without having to resort to a browser-specific plug-ins. One I ran across recently is called Readability and I find myself using it more and more often. It reformats the current page you are on to a single-column display with all of the extra advertising and layout ‘noise’ to make reading much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Here’s a quick demonstration of how it works. It’s free, easy, and quite nice.

Readability – Installation Video for Firefox, Safari & Chrome from Arc90 on Vimeo.

Geek, Links

Videogame Statistics

January 14th, 2010

Well, if you’re going to look back…

December 31st, 2009

…you might as well look back even further.

I liked my previous post comparing 1999 to 2009, but the interesting thing was while I was finishing it up, the family and I have been watching the original Star Trek season 1 via streaming from NetFlix on the PlayStation 3. New tech to watch old tech. Honestly, I was never much of a fan of the original series but they were interested due to the recent MythBusters episode where they tested the hand-made cannon that Capt. Kirk used against the Gorn (“The Arena”, s1 ep 18).

It’s fun to look back. It’s also good to give the kids some perspective on such an influence on modern science fiction.

Family, Links, Thoughts

Boy, that’s a lot of data

December 19th, 2009

Blogging at 68 mph

December 10th, 2009

This is going to be an interesting post as I am currently dictating this to my iPhone as I drive to work. I am using Dragon Dictate which is a new app that does voice recognition. So far the quality is interesting. This really might be a better way to blog as this is more convenient and makes use of “lost” time.

I find it difficult to formulate my thoughts, however, as dictating is a much different method of composing than typing at the keyboard. I’ll give it a good effort as I really do want to blog more often but just can’t seem to find the time.

Geek, Links, Work

Is it a commute or a video game?

November 7th, 2009

I saw a review of Waze in a blog post by The Unofficial Apple Weblog and while they were a bit cool on it as a navigation app, it is free and has an interesting take. I picked up a Kingston windshield mount which replaced where I had my GPS so am in the market for a GPS app for my iPhone. The reality is, however, that in spite of my frequent time in my car, it’s really just to and from work (all 500+ miles per week). Obviously, I know how to get to work so I can’t justify a significant expense. Since Waze is free, it was a clear choice to give a spin.

The program uses a map that is fed over the phone’s data connection and is community driven. Anytime you drive on a road that hasn’t been traversed before, you “munch” dots much like Pac Man which verifies the geometry and your speed and is uploaded to their servers which is then fed back to others as traffic information for routing alternatives. You can also point out specific traffic problems, speed traps, or even just “chit chat” which can be viewed by other users. As you munch roads, provide updates, or just confirm traffic, you get points and your points determine your ranking. I never thought that driving around would count for anything.

The website allows you to view your routes or edit the dynamic map (presented much like Google’s) to add new roads and update other aspects (house numbers, name, road connections, etc.).

The downside, is that currently the maps have some trouble with accuracy but that presumably will improve as more users use it and especially if they update it from the website. The navigation app is a little rough as well with its presentation but that’ll hopefully improve as well.

It’s a decent little app and a creative service. Back to road munching. I wonder how many points are needed for an extra life?

Apple, Links, Thoughts, Work

Good customer service is always appreciated (or at least, should be)

September 19th, 2009

Three years ago when I got my car, I purchased a iPod integration from USA SPEC which I wrote about at the time. When I recently upgraded and got my iPhone 3G S the integration still worked but it no longer would charge my phone while connected. Unfortunately, while the original iPod and most subsequent revisions were charged by FireWire and later ones charged by either FireWire or USB, the iPhone 3G S has dropped FireWire compatibility for charging (it’s never worked for data).

I contacted USA SPEC and ordered a replacement cable that basically moved the pins providing power from the ones used by FireWire to those used by USB. The problem came when I replaced the cable. It worked initially and just when I was going to clean up and put the tools away, there was the distinct smell and vision of the magic smoke. I quickly disconnected my phone and killed the ignition but the damage was done. Both the integration and the phone recognized they were attached to each other, but audio only came out the built-in speaker on the phone which one could hardly consider “integrated” with the stereo.

After another call to USA SPEC and the tech identified that most likely a resister was fried and that I needed to send both the unit and the cable for repair. Since it was long out of warrantee, it would cost me to fix it but he was unable to provide an estimate without seeing it first. I got an RMA number and shipped it out. While waiting for them to contact me with an estimate, I was stuck with using some cheesy battery-powered speakers. That was fun.

A week later, I got email confirmation that it had shipped back to me. No call, no communication, no fix? It arrived yesterday and was in-fact, a replacement unit. No invoice. I installed it today and it works like a charm.

I am always impressed with companies that dispense with “the rules” and are willing to do something nice to truly serve the customer. If you are looking to hook up your iPod/iPhone to your car, consider USA SPEC. They deserve it.

Links, Thoughts

Have we hit bottom?

July 30th, 2009

No, this is not about the national or world economic “crisis.” This is far more important. I am writing about my work, my job, and my ever-illustrious team of guys at work.

As you have seen in previous posts, tweets, and if you read between the lines, the lack of them, things have been quite stressful at work. Video games, being a luxury, are subject to soft sales when people are worried about their jobs which results in a “do more with less” mantra which can be especially frustrating in IT when things cost what they cost and doing without only works in the short-term. I have also had a position open since February which really was needed to be filled back when I was promoted to manager last November.

While the ink isn’t dry, I am happy to say that a fifth member will be joining our elite team of geeks. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that shortly, we won’t need to be doing things part-way due to the workload. We’ll finally be able to get to all those things we know we should but always seem to never address.

Other changes at the office include just that, offices. We’ve moved around and while the current configuration is less-than-ideal, we are working towards a “center of excellence” which will allow us to work more closely with colleagues of another group which will end up making each of us better as a result.

Hope is a good thing, but only if it is realistic. You can dream all you want, but if there is no way to get there, there is no drive. No passion. Not only will things be different a year from now, they will be better and we’ll be stronger, smarter, and most definitely better looking.

In all sereousness, stress has been a frequent companion for most of this year. If it wasn’t for the skill, dedication, and flexibility of my guys, the moral support of my wife, and the strength of my savior, Jesus, I don’t think I would have been able to hold it together. Thanks to all of you.

Christian, Friends, Links, Work

Quite insightful

July 26th, 2009

A colleague at work shared this and I just had to pass it on. Craig Ferguson nailed it with this routine:

Links, Thoughts, Work

Do the due

May 22nd, 2009

Life has been busy for me at work. In fact, I can’t remember being this busy ever before. Sure, I have a position open that will help with the load but that has been proving hard to fill so things won’t be improving anytime soon. I also have been trying to keep myself organized so that I can manage all the tasks I have to worry about. David Allen’s Getting Things Done method makes a lot of sense and I have been using The Omni Group’s OmniFocus which has kept me sane as I don’t have to sorry about forgetting things (if I’m good about capturing them).

The problem is that there is so much to do, too little time, and enough unexpected things that come up, my productivity is seriously disrupted. It gets so bad that the due dates I set on tasks to try and keep priorities set are becoming past due more and more often. What does one do? Do I simply keep pushing the due dates forwards until they start stacking up and becoming even more useless? Do I drop drop due dates from anything not truly essential and risk not ever getting to it?

There are several blog and forum posts on strategies that I’ve been meaning to read, but I’ve been so busy I haven’t made the time. Perhaps I have to take the time to make the time.

Links, Thoughts, Work