Step one of my online simplification is complete, I deleted my MySpace profile. Not really a sad moment since I barely used MySpace and although I had a few friends that did, I can get ahold of them other ways.
I will continue to keep my Facebook account for the time being. While Facebook is starting to get annoying with all their stupid apps, it pales in comparison to the train wreck that was MySpace.
There are certain things that are important when designing a website that is easily used and navigated by its users. Apparently the genius designers at MySpace haven’t figured out what those are yet.
Mid-January is always a good time to be a Mac user. The annual Macworld trade show is like winning the lottery on Christmas to all the Apple faithful. Every year in San Francisco, a dizzying array of Apple software and hardware developers gather to show off their latest ideas and products. Apple of course is there, headlined by a keynote from Steve Jobs who announces the newest shiny toys and software from the company.
I’m lucky this year as I get to attend Macworld. For years now, for those of you who don’t know, I’ve been an admin for Mac-Forums.com and this year, our parent company, iNET Interactive is flying me out to attend the show and blog about what I experience. Jeremiah and Arthur are flying up from Los Angeles for a few days so I’m also excited to be able to hang out with them.
I’m not really sure what to expect since I’ve never gone, but I know there are some vendors I really want to see, some pretty cool user conferences to attend, and of course I get to be at the Keynote on Tuesday.
There have been lots of predictions but, to be honest, what I want most from Apple are probably two things that won’t be announced at the show:
- AppleTV with a cable TV tuner so it can actually behave as a DVR. Being able to rent movies from the device would also be cool.
- An iPhone without the iPod. When my T-Mobile contract is up later this year I’m going to switch to AT&T so I can get an iPhone. But I really don’t need an iPhone with a music player, I have an iPod. I’d like a cheaper iPhone.
In the end, I’m bound to have a great time. I’ve never been to Macworld and never been to California; should be a lot to see and experience. Now, where’s the stewardess with my breakfast?
Ok, my last blog entry on the MSNBC redesign was a little harsh. It is much better than FoxNews.com, but I still miss some of the old design.
However, I will give them credit for building the new site from the ground up to support Safari and Firefox.
When the redesign efforts began in earnest over a year ago, however, we decided to rethink that approach. We started by retooling our browser support matrix to include both Firefox and Safari as “top-tier,” meaning that if our work didn’t work in those browsers, it didn’t get released. We armed ourselves with an arsenal of 17-inch Macbook Pros, not just for testing but for actual development work (much of the HTML and CSS was initially written using TextMate).
That is very commendable.
Currently playing in iTunes: From Where You Are by Lifehouse
What have you done MSNBC? Your news site used to be one of the most pleasant to use, but now things are different. Today you unveiled your “new and improved” design, which in my opinion is a usability nightmare. Too much scrolling, clicking, digging to find what I need. I’m guessing you must have used the same designer who put together FoxNews.com. And what’s with the truly hideous rainbow title banner at the top?
Why do US news sites suck so bad? Why haven’t any of them truly figured out how to design a visually pleasing, easily navigable design? CNN.com’s recent design update is a step in the right direction, but it’s far from being good at this point. I think the US news sites need to look to the BBC or Google News for guidance.
One major suggestion for “the big three” of American online news services, tone down the ads a bit. When one-third or more of your page is dedicated to giant, moving, flash based ads it gets a little busy. When I can’t easily tell the difference between an ad and a story, you’ve got a major usability problem.
Currently playing in iTunes: Don’t Fear the Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult Acoustic Cover) by Him
I’ve been using Pownce for a few months now. and it become rather addicting. It’s such an easy way to share messages, files and links with your friends.
For those of you who may not know what I’m talking about, let me quote from the Pownce website:
Pownce is a way to send stuff to your friends. What kind of stuff? You can send just about anything: music, photos, messages, links, events, and more. You can do it all on our web site, or install our lightweight desktop software that lets you get out of the browser.
Pownce, which is somewhat similar to Twitter, is the brainchild of Kevin Rose of digg.com fame. If anyone wants to join, I’ve got about 26 invites for anyone who needs one. Or if you already Pownce, add me as a friend.
So I’ve been taking for years now about wanting to get a digital SLR camera. I’ve felt that my inner photographic genius was being hindered by my simple point and shoot Kodak. I need to a bigger outlet, something with more functionality.
Then while I was at Costco, I noticed they had two different bundles, a Nikon and a Canon, that were just two good to pass up. I’ve being doing alot of research over the last year on which companies made the best digital SLRs in the range I was looking at and both Nikon and Canon received rave reviews.
In the end I decided to go with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi kit not only because of the great reviews it received, but also because several great photographers I know use it and recommend it.
The bundle included:
- The Digit Rebel XTi
- EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
- EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III zoom lens
- 58mm Canon UV filter
- 1GB CF Card
- A 90 minute instructional DVD
- Canon gadget bag
Of course I’ll be the first to admit I barely know what an ISO setting is so I have a great deal to learn about the world of photography. But so far I’ve been having fun.
Currently playing in iTunes: Piano Concerto No. 5 In E-Flat Major (Emperor) by London Symphony Orchestra
Just an iChat with great friends, Ryan, Adam, Matt, and Jeremiah.
Cool.
Google’s new support of IMAP in Gmail is long overdue and much appreciated.
Max OS X 10.5, Leopard, is crammed with over 300 new features. I’ve already got it pre-ordered and am eagerly anticipating it’s arrival. Of course, like everyone, I have my favorite new features so without further ado, I bring you a list (in no particular order):
- Greater .Mac syncing: Widgets, System Prefs, Dock, etc.
- Stacks
- System-wide grammar checking
- All of the long overdue iCal features
- Tabbed chat support and Screen Sharing in iChat
- To-Dos and Data Detectors in Mail
- New Airport menu
- Word of the Day screen saver
- Spotlight Application Launching
- Time Machine
I may be an anomaly among people my age, but I have no desire to give up my home phone to just use my cell. Partially because I don’t get super great reception all around my house and partially because I just like having a normal phone.
Now my dilemma, I just wish I could consolidate my “telecommunication” bills down a bit. Right now we pay Cox for cable and internet, AT&T for our CallVantage service for the home phone, and T-Mobile for cell service. I want to get down to having to deal with fewer companies.Cox’s digital phone service is ridiculously expensive so that’s a no go, AT&T has yet to roll out Uverse completely here in Lakewood and I really like T-Mo’s cell service.
What I would really like to see would be T-Mobile offer a VoIP solution in the US. What a perfect way to compete against the entrenched incumbents and allow T-Mobile to offer a cell/home phone solution.Yes, I know they have HotSpot@Home, but their phone selection is rather limited and I like having a separate number for home.
It’s just not the same. Maybe one day they’ll see the potential.
