So I’m a Fat Liar
I said I’d never post again about running, but then something this cool comes along and makes a liar out of me.
DRM, who cares when you can pull something like this off. Unbelievably cool.
Archive for May, 2006
iDon’t Get It
Looks like there are quote a few anti-ipod site/movements out there. The irony is that many seem to be funded and ran by ipod competitors. I think we’ve seen this in the past - the products that win in the market do so not by bashing better products and their users; but by innovating and designing a better, more compelling product.
I’ll link to the story but not to the anti-ipod sites, they can dig for traffic from the college kids with black nails that complain about everything anyway and geeks who hate DRM because it cramps their stealing style.
By the way this is not a compelling alternative to the ipod. The winner is obvious.
Help! A Call to Designers
After a recent machine rebuild I am having a terrible time managing color in Photoshop for web work, primarily PNGs and JPEGs.
Can any designers who read this please let me know what color profile you use with Photoshop to overcome the issues show in the screen below…basically Safari (top left) and Firefox (top right) display PNG color very differently. Safari matches Photoshop.
Help! - Thanks.
UPDATED
Apparently I’m nuts and didn’t realize the PNG issues with color management. THere is a nice thread on Ars.
I’m Not Doing Anything Wrong, My Government Is
Buzz has posted a link and brief discussion about federal info gathering on the citizenry. He closes his post with a quote from a conservative “friend”…
“if you aren’t doing anything wrong, you don’t have anything to worry about!�
I hate this line, it’s often used by conservatives and reactionary groups across the globe. The arrogance and overwhelming egotism and weakness contained within that statement just kills me. Only a group so emboldened in their power over others can dare to even attempt to make that statement with a straight face. All groups, ideals, points-of-view run counter to someone, something, and at the drop of a hat the tables can turn and my “wrong” becomes right and my power allows me to impose my “right”. I think this is key to why conservatives are in for a tough journey in the next few years, their arrogance and condescending attitude will topple them. And it’s statements like this that show, with crystal clarity, that arrogance and attitude.
Apple Pricing and Value
With the Apple portable family now complete I have a few open questions. Maybe you can help or guide me through. One of the reasons, or at a minimum benefits, of transitioning to Intel was that it would make more chips available and ultimately reduce cost to manufacture. Now I can understand that those costs have yet to be realized by Apple, let alone the consumer, but how can Apple make no movement on price what-so-ever? I’ve always hated the fact that with each upgrade the baby is thrown out, and they never create a cheaper version, something hobbled entry -level.
So what has Apple improved? A bell or whistle here or there, but overall nothing compelling. Apple has done a great job building demand and floating on the “wow windows on a my mac” wave, and I’m sure that’s brought in customers. And existing users are upgrading to the new line because, well because you have to not because you want to. In the big picture, Apple in the past 3-4 years has made no daring leaps in laptop/desktop design. Now I know there are bits (isight, magnet craziness, glossy screens) but overall the design is stagnant. They seem to be spending more time on retail store design than on hardware - ipod not included. Although we all know those ipod designs come from creative anyway. Black is something Apple used to produce, and without the $200 premium charge and not something to really jump up and down about.
So what do I want, since I seem to be such an expert….glad you asked.
1. Thinner version of something - less power is fine, just make a lighter, thinner, ultraportable
2. A real battery life, anything that will allow me to work for more than 90 minutes untethered
3. Heat control - again maybe a little less power to keep from carrying around a furnace
4. Dockability…what a crazy idea…I think it’s awful that Apple doesn’t provide any support for this
Anyone agree? Disagree? What would you like to see?
pURGE - Initial Take
While I am quite aware I am not the target market for the MTV - Microsoft abomination that was released yesterday. URGE seems to be cut from the same “iTunes rip-off cloth” as the other subscription services out there. It’s obvious this is a Microsoft effort with an MTV logo, nothing about this site says MTV, the design is consistent with all of the current Vista advertising and general look and feel of new Microsoft sites. Then there is the obvious use of pseudo-glass effects from Vista. This look is already starting to get stale and the OS won’t be out for another 2-3 years.
There’s something so edgy about screenshots taken against the wrong background color…enjoy. Also make sure and checkout the players “they” prefer. What about the player everyone else in the world prefers? Oh that’s right, no support.
Automatic deduction of points for Toby Keith as featured artist on homepage.
Now Some Civil Content
One of the best looking and most effective (from a user perspective) political sites I’ve ever seen.
Jim Esch for Congress - not only did they farm the work out, they’re embracing the medium and trying some neat new things. But in all honesty, he’s challenging a 4th-term congressman whose site is not too shabby. Need an example of someone not doing things so well…uhh Chet, I’m looking at you.
Really nice work by Lincoln-based Archrival. Nebraska, whodathunkit?