September 4, 2008 by Aryeh on PC, Software, Tech

Chrome vs IE8

Today I downloaded Chrome along with the rest of the world, and am pretty impressed with the speed and design, but I am looking forward to the plugin capabilities similar to that of Firefox. I need my plugins to block the adverts, my social bookmarking tool bar, and tab management. If you watch the Google press conference about the program, they blabber on about tabs and about their design etc. but where the hell are the settings to change the functionality of the tabs? I want anything I type in the address bar to open in a new tab, not the same one, is that too much to ask? Overall it needs work, but its fast and it works great with Google Reader and Gmail, so I’m happy, but not going to use it as an everyday browser.

I also download IE8 today, come on Microsucks… which moron came up with this browser? They are regressing in their design. They want to integrate their own StumbleUpon into the browser, which is totally unnecessary because StumbleUpon already exists, and if people choose to use the program, they will. Internet browsing needs to be simple and clean, and if people want to make it complicated, they can choose to do that themselves with plugins. On to the installation… Ok this is the story, I downloaded Chrome and within 2 minutes, I was browsing. On the other hand, I download IE8 and it takes a good 5-7 minutes to install and to the run the installation, and then I need to restart the computer??? Its an Internet browser not an operating system, why the heck should I need to restart the computer to install a program? Again the largest computer company in the world can not figure out how to install a program without rebooting, its pathetic. Noting really new or innovative with the new IE8 and I’m not surprised.

-Aryeh

I dont want to be almost there just install the freakin program!

Addition:

This just proves my point. Look how heavy IE8 file is:

August 31, 2008 by hilzfuld on PC, Software, Tech

Instant Gratification

I recently installed an external hard drive for my dad. When connecting it to the PC, I realized that some of his USB ports were 1.0 and some were 2.0. I conducted a little test to see if the difference is really that noticeable. The USB 1.0 was painfully slow to the point that I could not even let it complete the transfer, I had to disconnect it and reconnect it to the USB 2.0 port, where the speed was blazing fast.

Well good news, USB 3.0 was recently announced. The speeds that USB 3.0 support are nothing short of astounding. If USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps, USB 3.0 supports ten times that. It can transfer (are you sitting down?) 27 GBs in 70 seconds. In the digital age in which we live, this will make things so much easier. Just the thought of backing up my whole PC in a few minutes as opposed to today’s few hours, makes me want to go out and exchange all my “old” USB 2.0 gadgets.

Now all I need to do is figure how to explain the importance of this “upgrade” to my wife. Any ideas?

-Hillel

Don

August 29, 2008 by Aryeh on Mac, PC, Software, Tech

Ubiquity – Understanding Language

When you’re on a website and you want to email the URL to a friend, why does it take so many steps? You need to copy the address, open Gmail, paste the address, add the name, and send. Alternatively, if I want to add a meeting to my calendar, I have to open Google Calendar, add an event etc. Come on! We are in 2008, there has to be an easier way.

Ubiquity is the answer, its brand new from from Mozilla Labs. The technology uses open APIs to create a really easy-to-use command program. The shortcut keys are really amazing and very intuitive. It provides you with a set of commands, that when typed, activate certain actions that would have generally taken many more steps.

For example I could type “email this page to Steve” and my Gmail opens with a link in the body, and Steve’s email address in the to field.

Another example is, if I want to search for something or get directions to somewhere on Google Maps, you can type “map my home address to the location” and then email it by writing ” email this to Me.”

The best part is that you can easily customize the commands and shortcut keys to fit your needs.

So take a look at the movie below to better understand what I am rambling about.

Try it and let me know what you think.

Aryeh

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1516134&w=425&h=350&fv=]

more about “About Ubiquity“, posted with vodpod

August 24, 2008 by Aryeh on PC

It’s Not a Glitch – He’s Just That Good

Hi All,

This is an awesome story of EA Sport’s creativity and real understanding of their user base.

When Levinator25 posted this video on YouTube on Aug 30th 2007, EA Sports had to respond.

It shows a clear glitch in the game PGA Tour 08 in which Tiger Woods is taking a “Jesus Shot,” from standing on water.

EA Sports had two options; one was to correct the error rewrite the code and be lame. The other option was to come up with a clever ad to answer to the bug and they did just that, take a look:

This is truly an example of people who understand the end users. Customers love to see that companies also have some humor tucked away behind the corporate bureaucracy and lawyers. This shows some real signs of life and just is, the RIGHT way to go about dealing with a little glitch in the programing code.

Way to go EA Sports!

Check out Payoneer at TechCrunch50

August 22, 2008 by Aryeh on Mac, PC, Random

More thoughts on Microsoft’s Marketing

In my previous post about Microsoft’s attempt to copy Mac’s add campaign, my point was that they are just lame, but I am going to build on that point to include that Microsoft is totally failing in their attempts to use social marketing. Today, where social marketing is where it is at, one of the largest companies in the world still cant tie their shoelaces. One of the great things about social marketing is that its cheap and effective, if used correctly. Microsoft, on the other hand, would rather spend 300 million dollars on big celebrities to probably make some stupid TV commercials that will draw some attention but are really pathetic. You are one of the most powerful companies in the world and you need Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Willie Nelson, Travis Pastrana, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Nader, Rob Corddry, Stephen Colbert (and even the late Bernie Mac is being considered for the ad) to do your marketing for you?

Get some creativity Microsoft, come on, any idiot can pay 300 million dollars and make an ad. Stop following, and innovate or else the next generation of young Americans who already hate your company will continue to buy other products.

August 21, 2008 by Aryeh on Mac, PC

Seinfeld is a PC

I’m sure you are all familiar with the clever Apple Ad campaign “Hi, I’m a Mac and I’m a PC” in which Mac takes jabs at Microsoft and it’s programs. Click here watch some

Well today Microsoft announced that they are hiring Jerry Seinfeld to do the same thing for Microsoft. Microsoft again is totally unoriginal, we’ll have to wait for to see the damage for ourselves. Jerry, all I have to say is Why?? You have so much money. Joining forces with Microsoft is not going to help your reputation.

Addition- They are spending 300 million dollars on the campaign

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