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Get And Give The Gift of Open Source

December 7th, 2007 by iDunzo

This Christmas I decided to give a few gifts to people in the open-source community.

I’m making donations to the maintainers of some of my favorite and most widely-used software projects. They’ve earned some payback!

Most of the programs I depend on most, I’ve discovered, are actually not big ones — they’re little things, applications that fill in the gaps between other apps, and that make my work all the easier.

The first big open-source project that gets a little of my Christmas cheer is the PortableApps suite, an incredibly useful bundle of no-install-needed editions of popular open-source programs.

It’s a one-stop shop of sorts for a whole slew of common apps — Firefox, the OpenOffice.org suite, VLC, and 7-Zip — and it can be run either from a removable drive or from a single self-contained directory on a PC.

I’ve pointed a number of friends at it as an easy way to consolidate all of their applications and documents into one place.

If they upgrade to a new machine — or if their PC ever gets borked and they need to recover files from it — they can simply copy the PortableApps directory somewhere else and pick up right where they left off.

It’s funny how many open-source projects of one kind or another you can end up using without even thinking about it.

Not long ago I started using the above-mentioned 7-Zip as my archiving application of choice — not only because it was open-source, but because it actually gave me slightly better compression ratios than WinRAR on certain kinds of files.

I’d originally started to use it provisionally, more as a companion program to WinRAR than a flat-out replacement.

Eventually I disabled WinRAR’s Explorer menu integration; not long after that, I deinstalled WinRAR completely. Any program that gets that much use from me deserves a hand.

Some of my other favorite programs are not open source, but are freeware and get my support just because they’re that good.

The image viewer and converter Irfanview, for instance: I can’t think of any other program I install as unhesitatingly on any computer as this one, and that I get quite as much use out of. Its author definitely gets a donation from me this year, whether there’s source code or not.

What projects, open-source or not — but ones you’ve used regularly — have you donated to?

Posted in Open Source + Software + Technology | 1 Comment »

Folding Cup: Flawed Cootie Avoiding Concept

December 6th, 2007 by iDunzo

The premise of the Folding Cup is that, at a party, you are forever in danger of grabbing somebody else’s paper cup.

Designer Jaehyung Hong solves this problem with tiny fold up tabs around the base, each carrying a number, letter or symbol from a deck of cards:

So. The procedure: First, choose a code and twist the tabs to mark your drink.

Second. Try to remember it.

Third, try to both read and remember the code after several cocktails.

See the problem? The concept will probably never surface, but don’t despair.

The time honored method still works: write your name on the cup with a sharpie. And use big letters.

Posted in Food + Geekery + Technology + Toys & Gadgets | Comments Off on Folding Cup: Flawed Cootie Avoiding Concept

Google Ruins Its Apple iPhone Home Page

December 5th, 2007 by iDunzo

Google redesigned the Google home page presented to Apple iPhone users and now it is totally useless.

Before, it was the general mobile version of the site, which showed my headlines, weather, Gmail and other content all in a quick glance.

Now it is a simple search box and I have to actively choose to view my content. Why did Google make it more difficult to use?

More and more companies are beginning to design versions of their sites that have versions optimized for the iPhone. I never thought Google would take that route, but it has.

So much for the “real Internet” on the iPhone.

The old version of the Google Mobile home page was just right.

It was fully customizable and let users choose from a wealth of news feeds for the latest headlines, movie times, weather reports, stocks and so on.

For those that wanted a brief rundown on what was going on in the world and in your own neighborhood, it fit the bill. Now it doesn’t. At all.

The new version of the Google home page for the iPhone has a large search box smack in the middle of the page and tabs across the top to access different services.

Those tabs are Home, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, and More. Below them are some more selections for signing in and changing search preferences.

The Home screen is just the search box. I could not find any way to customize this page or add in the content that I was used to seeing here.

The Gmail tab obviously brings you into the Web version of your Gmail.

The Calendar tab shows you the upcoming events in your calendar. The Reader tab shows you all your RSS feeds (assuming you have any and actually use Google’s Reader).

The More tab brings you to a basic menu of other Google mobile services, such as Documents, Google-411, Blogger, etc.

It’s under this More tab that you have access to news and unfortunately it is no longer the customized news you had picked out, but just the generic Google news stories of the day.

If you ask me, Google is trying to make its home page more smartphone like. Quick access to calendar and email accounts are buttons or functions you’d see on smartphones.

The reason I am complaining is because it took something that I had come to rely on, and changed it to something that is less useful to me.

Will others love it? I am sure they will. My experience has been altered for the worse.

Posted in Apple + Google + Technology + Wireless | Comments Off on Google Ruins Its Apple iPhone Home Page

Six Tips to Managing Workplace Conflict

December 4th, 2007 by iDunzo

Ever held a differing opinion from your boss? Boasted dissimilar ideas than your co-worker? Been knocked out by a colleague over a disagreement about a project?

OK, so the last one might be a stretch, but it’s happened before… I’ve seen it. Ka-blam!

Like birth, death, taxes, choice and change, conflict is a constant fact of life. It’s also a fact of the workplace, especially when you deal or interact with people.

Make use of the following tips to resolve conflict at work:

1. Choose your battles

How important is the dispute really? Does it truly affect you, and is it a chronic problem? If it’s a one-time incident or mild transgression, let it pass.

2. Expect conflict

Decide that friction will occasionally emerge in the course of human relationships. Don’t fear it – rather, learn to spot the symptoms early and see opportunity in the resolution.

3. Use neutral language

Avoid judgmental remarks or sweeping generalizations, such as, “You always turn your reports in late.” Use calm, neutral language to describe what is bothering you.

For example: “I get very frustrated when I can’t access your reports because it causes us to miss our deadlines.” Be respectful and sincere, never sarcastic.

4. Practice preventive maintenance

Avoid retreating to the safety of withdrawal, avoidance or the simplistic view that your co-worker is a “bad person,”. These are defense mechanisms that prevent the resolution of conflict.

Try focusing on the problem, not the person. Never attack or put the other person on the defensive. Focus on actions and consequences.

5. Listen actively

Never interrupt the other party. Really listen and try to understand what the other person is saying.

Let him (or her) know you understand by restating or reframing his statement or position, so he knows you have indeed heard him.

6. Get leverage on yourself

When dissent between you and a co-worker appears without resolution, it is time to get leverage. Ask to be held accountable.

This brings your performance evaluation into the equation but without taking away your responsibility for resolving the conflict.

This is hard to do, but remarkable change can happen when you are held to task.

Remember to Fight the Good Fight and if you ever have conflict at work, remember these six tips. They could help save your mind, body and soul. If you feel you still need help navigating workplace conflicts, you could consider taking online negotiation courses from Creighton University.

Posted in General + Random Thoughts + Technology | 1 Comment »

Wal-Mart Kills DRM

December 3rd, 2007 by iDunzo

Wal-Mart has ordered record labels to kill off DRM once and for all. The market or at least the one that matters most has spoken.

The mega-retailer is mandating that suppliers provide MP3 versions of everything, according to Billboard. Most have already complied, its article suggests, with Sony BMG the predictable holdout.

Let us forget for a moment that Wal-Mart’s online music store is a joke. When Wal-Mart tells content publishers to jump, they don’t ask how high: they just do it. No-one wants to be taken off that particular shelf.

Posted in Music + Technology + Web | Comments Off on Wal-Mart Kills DRM

Details On Upcoming BlackBerry 9000 Series

December 2nd, 2007 by iDunzo

You can always count on BoyGenius for some juicy details on upcoming devices.

He has once again struck gold with some details on a new 9000 series from RIM that will sport an iPhone-like touchscreen.

Here are some of the technical specifications:

• 480 x 320 screen
• 1GB of built in memory (the 64mb was getting old)
• Intel XScale PXA270 processor at 624MHz
• 3G multiband HSPDA support
• 2 megapixel or maybe even a 3.2 megapixel camera
• GPS & WIFI in the Same device

Personally I hate the idea of a touchscreen and would mourn the loss of my trusty keyboard. I really dislike the two handed requirements of a touchscreen.

I do like the idea of 1GB of built in memory and High Speed Packet Data Access. I’m looking forward to at least giving it a test drive before I totally say no to the new BlackBerry.

Posted in Technology + Toys & Gadgets + Wireless | Comments Off on Details On Upcoming BlackBerry 9000 Series