Android Does This Well, IT Haters, Bitcoin And Stupid Ideas

Android does this well.



http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-things-android-does-really-well/2848



Good note on why we hate IT......


http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/371254/why-everyone-hates-the-it-department



Bitcoin's rise and fall...


http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/mf_bitcoin/all/1



This is just stupid......


http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ibm-file-degradation-aging-patent,14060.html

Privacy, Cloud Supercomputer, Free Privacy and SOPA

Fast compiles? Quote:
I sometimes fear we have lost something as well. Patience, careful consideration, attention to detail, and maybe solid planning.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/alfredth/archive/2011/12/22/one-compile-a-day.aspx

Interesting notes on the non-existent supercomputer ;-).
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/12/nonexistent-supercomputer

Amen! Free is the now expected.......ironic I posted here......
http://www.elezea.com/2011/12/facebook-ads-and-you/

I do think SOPA is a tad draconian. But something should be done. This is simply a "what can happen" comment.
http://david.weebly.com/1/post/2011/12/godaddy-a-glimpse-of-the-internet-under-sopa.html

Windows Phone Survival, Gamification, Code Analysis and Software Design

I think this guy is right on. And I think that MS can actually be better than both existing top phone dogs.
http://www.geekwire.com/2011/how-microsoft-survives-phone-wars

Gamification sucks?
http://inessential.com/2011/12/23/gamification_sucks

Interesting code analysis discussion......
http://altdevblogaday.com/2011/12/24/static-code-analysis/

I think this guy is right. Ironically, his site hurts my eyes (bad design?).
http://jeffcroft.com/blog/2011/dec/25/2012-web-design-vs-product-design/

Random.....

Very cool. Free iPhone dev courses.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/development-tools/stanford-posts-six-free-online-iphone-app-dev-courses-179415

Interesting. Makes me want to actually understand and develop db apps....
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222136/Salesforce.com_unit_launches_stand_alone_database_service

Interesting twist in one huge botnet take down.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222132/Internet_registry_questions_freeze_related_to_botnet_bust

This is handy, especially if you're making an image for recovery!
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/quick-tip-shrink-a-hard-drive-volume-in-windows-7/3616

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas :-).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039p6xqutU&ob=av2e

Windows 8 App Store, IT Hiring and Languages

Cool for enterprise folks. Distribute Win 8 apps via their store. Now, that could be fraught with problems.....
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-offer-windows-8-business-users-a-way-to-distribute-private-apps/11349

IT is hiring......but not just anyone.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222577/Tech_hiring_boom_Yes_for_these_skills

Old, but probably still valid. 7 languages on the rise.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/developer-world/7-programming-languages-the-rise-620

And hot script languages (java?!)....
http://www.infoworld.com/d/application-development/php-perl-whats-hot-whats-not-in-scripting-languages-175867

Time Wastes......

I'll have to take time to look at these....when there's time to waste....
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/10-of-the-best-interactive-web-designs/6332264

Funny. 10 broken things ;-).
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-technologies-that-are-just-plain-broken/2896

Hee hee....Auto-text foibles.....
http://damnyouautocorrect.com/

The comments are interesting as well.....but mostly a waste of folks bloviating....
http://waxy.org/2011/12/no_copyright_intended/

Ruby Tutorials, ICANN, Maybe Bill Can Help Win 7?

Rails tutorial.
http://ruby.railstutorial.org/
Brought to you by (I found it on):
http://www.southpolesteve.com/rails-is-for-beginners/

ICANN.....hmmmm....I think they are tired of no one paying attention to them. Bad idea, I agree.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222535/Senators_critics_question_ICANN_s_generic_TLD_plan

:-) 10 reasons Bill Gates should come back to Microsoft.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/cringely/top-10-reasons-why-bill-gates-should-return-microsoft-181362


Cool. Take a look at startup programs in Windows 7 to help performance.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/bump-performance-in-windows-7-by-trimming-startup-programs/5439

Deep Blue, Privacy and Patents

Interesting. Battle the patent trolls with AI forerunners.
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/108281-ibm-watson-to-battle-patent-trolls

I liked this story for this one quote, if nothing else :-).
"But we’ve still ended up with a mishmash of patterns from Django, Rails, and enterprise Java, all held together by melted licorice jellybeans."
http://chipotle.tumblr.com/post/13908062333/php-is-not-an-acceptable-cobol

I know, we're not a police state. But this is my disconcerting ear is hearing when discussing privacy and the amount of data out there about me.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222540/Huawei_restricts_business_in_Iran_no_longer_seeks_new_customers

Yea, not sure now. Trevor Eckhart's video showed recording of keystroke data. Granted it was key xx log and wasn't "a", "b", "c". But this is a security guy so I'm inclined to listen. So......?
http://www.infoworld.com/t/internet-privacy/carrier-iq-not-so-invasive-after-all-180959

Unix For Art Students, Geeky Gift Guides and Apple Trademarks

This is just part 1 of a series. I'll have to check out the other parts. Not a mac user, but think it would be worthwhile to understand Unix......but don't like being referred to as an art student.
http://i.liketightpants.net/and/absolute-beginners-unix-for-art-students-part-1

Uhhhhhh.......I am definitely not in this 1%.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/techrepublics-geeky-gift-guide-for-the-top-1/6331848

2011 Geek gift guide......in pdf form.....
http://www.techrepublic.com/downloads/techrepublics-geek-gift-guide-2011/3721125

Interesting. Apple facing it's own trademark issues.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222468/Apple_faces_legal_threat_to_iPad_trademark_in_China

More XKCD.....

XKCD cartoons.......these are so funny.......yet wrong.......

Cat proximity
http://www.xkcd.com/231/
Return a random number
http://www.xkcd.com/221/
Circuit Diagram
http://www.xkcd.com/730/
Uh.....wrong.....
http://www.xkcd.com/236/
We've all done this, admit it....
http://www.xkcd.com/245/
I bet this is underappreciated....
http://www.xkcd.com/249/

Notes On Programmers, Facebook, Web Hogs and Free Web Services

Mature programmers........
http://cbloomrants.blogspot.com/2011/11/11-22-11-mature-programmer.html

Interesting. I'll have to watch the interview when I get a chance.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19386/facebook_sponsored_stories_in_timeline_violating_privacy

Bandwidth hogs don't exist. Not surprised.
http://socialmediacollective.org/2011/12/05/bandwidth-hogs-dont-exist/

Interesting. Don't use free web services.
http://blog.pinboard.in/2011/12/don_t_be_a_free_user/

Fascinating....Hire a developer today!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/venkateshrao/2011/12/05/the-rise-of-developeronomics/

Apple To Remove Carrier IQ, Java Language Is King, Thai Hard Drives and Cool Web Gaming

Cool. Mouse lock and using game pads.
http://hacks.mozilla.org/2011/12/paving-the-way-for-open-games-on-the-web-with-the-gamepad-and-mouse-lock-apis/

Apple named in CarrierIQ lawsuit......but at least they are actively getting rid of it.............so they say.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222424/8_companies_hit_with_lawsuit_over_Carrier_IQ_software

Ummmmmm.....not sure I would ever refer to programming anything as "sexy". As cool as it may be, that's a reserved word for me.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222432/C_wins_developers_but_Java_still_reigns

This is interesting simply in that it shows that Thailand accounts for 40 - 45% of worldwide hard disk drive production.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222331/Thailand_floods_spur_rush_to_SSDs

Corporate Buzzwords, HTML5 Issues, Internet Is A Time Waste and Windows IQ Test

Funny. Buzzwords to hate.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/career/most-despised-corporate-buzzwords/3703

HTML5. Cool but not all is rosy.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/html5-create-new-challenges-security-pros-in-2012-180827

We, uh, waste time on the internet. Shocker.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/cringely/pointless-internet-surfing-its-the-american-way-180894

Wish we could just shoot to the end. Windows IQ test.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/the-windows-iq-test-180651

The New Anti-Trusts, e-Bay and a Little Privacy

Google and Apple as the new Microsoft large trusts.....
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397158,00.asp

New query language from eBay. Interesting.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/application-development/ebay-launches-web-query-language-180762

I guess it is plausible, but sounds intrusive still, somehow.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/google-security-researcher-browsing-history-can-be-stolen-despite-current-defenses-180906

Tongue in cheek, but a valid concern with the vast data being collected on surfers.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/business-intelligence/here-comes-the-big-data-bubble-180852

Private eyes! They're watching you! They see your every move......
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/when-will-we-take-back-our-privacy-180945

Apple, Win 8, Bricks and Clicks and Android Security...

Ha ha! Apple suggestions on how to not infringe on their patents. Don't make it rectangle. Uh.....right.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/apple-and-oranges-apples-tablet-design-suggestions/9950

Really cool bricks vs. clicks discussion.
http://www.zdnet.com/debate/great-debate-is-e-commerce-killing-brick-and-mortar/6330783

Cool note on challenges in Win 8 programming.....
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-reasons-windows-8-will-be-painful-for-developers/2885

Interesting note on Android ads and permissions on the device.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/android-apps-and-advertising-a-bit-too-cozy/7003

And along with that, Android malware up.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/android-malware-sees-exponential-growth/6960

Design Tools, Software Design and Gamepads

Free Tools for .Net programmers. Wish I were one!
http://www.devproconnections.com/article/free-tools/free-tools-net-developers-141483

CSS resources. Cool. Wish I were a web designer.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/10-css-resources-for-busy-web-designers/6331376

Interesting. Using a Gamepad with Internet games. Gotta say, cool.
http://hacks.mozilla.org/2011/12/paving-the-way-for-open-games-on-the-web-with-the-gamepad-and-mouse-lock-apis/

This talks specifically about conveying software design needs, but high level principles are for the taking.
http://mashable.com/2011/11/30/communicate-software-developer/

George Hummel wrote Tyranny of the Urgent. This is Tyranny of the Tool. Appropriate and applicable to non-software scenarios, too.
http://www.whattofix.com/blog/archives/2011/12/tyranny-of-the-1.php

Tracking, Updates and 19 Bucks For Phone Service

Interesting about tracking issues or, rather, how it can be used.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19352/smartphone_pocket_spy_tracking_by_drug_cartels_at_mexican_border_war_zone

Interesting note about the kindle fire and collecting data.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/lawmaker-dissatisfied-amazons-answers-kindle-fires-data-harvesting-180388

The message: Please update your computer. Eventually it will be: Please update your phone/kindle/etc.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security/microsoft-hackers-launch-millions-java-exploits-180311

Cool. $19 a month for phone......but you're relying on WiFi.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222357/Review_19_a_month_unlimited_wireless_service_works_like_a_charm

Make Your Own Economy, Apple and Microsoft Stuff

Interesting. Someone (or ones) trying to essentially start up their own currency/economy. Fascinating idea, but I think it still misses its mark to a degree.
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-11-2011/111122-bitcoin-for-beginners-part-1.html

AppleTV. Not an apple fan, but if something works seamlessly with iTunes, that would be cool.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19358/apple_iphone_4s_really_satisfies_as_iphone_5_ipad_3_loom

Office for iPad could be a dominant source of revenue for MS. Interesting.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19359/microsofts_secret_weapon_against_google_office_for_ipad_and_lion

Win8 app store stuff. Interesting.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-to-share-more-details-on-its-windows-8-app-store/11313

Carrier IQ and Other Spying

Not quite as comfortable as my friends with the Carrier IQ thing.

Quote from Carrier IQ:
“While we look at many aspects of a device’s performance, we are counting and summarizing performance, not recording keystrokes or providing tracking tools.”
Except that it does record keystrokes and apparently collects the map data, too, it sounds like. So I’m not sure I would trust them with my data.
How to remove it:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/finding-and-cleaning-out-your-smartphones-carrier-iq-poison/1697
7 Questions for CarrierIQ
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/7-questions-that-carrier-iq-needs-to-address-immediately/16749
Carrier IQ is a reason you should root your phone? Don’t know about that one.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/security/carrier-iq-snooping-another-good-reason-to-root-your-phone/6984
Just more on Carrier IQ. Nothing earth shattering.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222332/FAQ_Behind_the_Carrier_IQ_rootkit_controversy_
And, if you have Verizon and a few others (RIM, etc.), no worries about Carrier IQ.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222337/Verizon_says_it_doesn_t_use_Carrier_IQ_software


And Government-related spying. Kinda wish I hadn’t read this.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/12/01/security_firms_compete_to_sell_snoopware_to_repressive_governments/

Work Tips, Siri and Abortion. Facebook and No E-mail?

Good word on a) don't change things just because you can and b) don't leave things just because it's easy.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/it-jobs/network-admin-eats-humble-pie-180308

Just another annoyance from Facebook.......
http://www.cio.com/article/694686/Facebook_Privacy_Tip_How_to_Disable_Sharing_in_Social_Reader_Apps

Just a sad article overall. People upset that you can't find abortion clinics via Siri.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222280/Apple_s_Siri_balks_at_abortion_queries_pro_choice_advocates_charge

Get rid of e-mail? Uh.....right. Not a good idea. Good heart of an ideal, perhaps.....
http://blogs.computerworld.com/19353/stupid_idea_ban_email_at_huge_it_company

Apple Hypocrisy, Bing and .Net Tools

Apple trying the FUD approach apparently....
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/apples-worldwide-war-on-samsung-and-android/9945
And cool prior art:
http://www.zdnet.com/photos/apple-ipad-design-its-been-done-before-images/6284204
Plus a quote that sort of contradicts the patent claims.
http://gizmodo.com/5483914/steve-jobs-1996-good-artists-copy-great-artists-steal

Now a bit on Bing. Interesting about MS taking an opportunity to supplant more traffic from Google. But also an interesting set on searches.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/bing-has-an-opportunity-to-surge-ahead-if-microsoft-will-just-take-it/5370

Hey, here are some free tools if you are a .net developer!
http://www.devproconnections.com/article/free-tools/free-tools-net-developers-141483

Pirating, Privacy and Microsoft Tablet

Not sure what to make of this. Judge makes some very odd mandates. But I think that people are a little more "just leave it, we know pirating, etc. goes on."
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/government/ridiculous-judge-orders-sites-de-indexed-from-google-facebook-twitter-etc/11017

More on CarrierIQ.....
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/rootkit-called-carrier-iq-discovered-phoning-home-with-user-data/11792

Hey, I'd be interested in a Microsoft tablet.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/microsofts-tablet-prospects-caught-in-middle-of-amazon-apple/64341

And another article about what Microsoft faces.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/impending-crisis-for-microsoft-office-tablet-pricing/5769

Cool Stuff, Hard Stuff and Future Stuff

Pretty cool. We call these replication servers.
http://www.nczonline.net/blog/2011/11/29/how-content-delivery-networks-cdns-work/

Didn’t read it, but an e-book on Modern 3D Graphics Programming. Sounds……difficult……
http://www.arcsynthesis.org/gltut/index.html

Interesting note on the Win 8 Metro programming paradigm.
http://odetocode.com/Blogs/scott/archive/2011/11/29/programming-windows-8-the-sublime-to-the-strange.aspx

Cool. Calibrate your display.
http://www.techrepublic.com/photos/calibrate-your-computer-displays-color-settings-and-see-the-difference/457768

Reputations, Android PC, Work Visas and Internet Tax

Don’t get drunk. You can save your work reputation. And a few others.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-destroy-your-reputation/2871

Would you buy an Android-based PC? Don’t know about that one…..
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/hiner/poll-would-you-welcome-an-android-powered-pc/9867

Mostly, I was surprised to see only 140K employment-based green cards each year.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222296/Skills_based_visa_change_helps_some_hurts_others_

I actually agree with an Internet sales tax. How to implement…….?
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222297/Lawmakers_express_support_for_Internet_sales_tax

Security, App Store and WP7

Security holes. #1 on the list…..you. I enjoy TRDojo.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/itdojo/five-dangerous-and-often-overlooked-it-security-risks/3082
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-security-problems-you-might-not-realize-you-have/2768

Kind of along the privacy lines is the “walled garden” that is the app store concept.
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/39163/

Hey, I almost got a wp7 phone……. It almost would be worth it for the prank in DirectRemote.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-frivolous-but-entertaining-apps-for-windows-phone-7/1179

And sort of along that lines, some reasoning behind WP7’s lukewarm reception.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/us-cellular-carriers-are-engaged-in-a-conspiracy-against-windows-phones/5398

Randomness....

Interesting note in the "browser wars". Chrome number 2 now.
http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/chrome-takes-no-2-browser-spot-firefox-180579

The water treatment plant pump that was sabotaged by cyber crooks? Not true. Quote:
"Talk about a litmus test for what works and what doesn't work, this has been an utter disaster," Weiss said.
http://www.infoworld.com/t/network-security/lessons-the-water-plant-hack-never-happened-180560

Interesting copyright case. Not sure I agree or not, but interesting....
http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/programming-languages-cannot-be-copyrighted-says-senior-eu-court-adviser-180250?source=IFWNLE_nlt_stradev_2011-12-01

Talk about security a lot. Verizon's phones fortunately don't do this. Very telling video. About Carrier IQ.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/so-theres-a-rootkit-hidden-in-millions-of-cellphones/16708

And in other "security" related news, pilotless drones:
http://www.zdnet.com/photos/second-x-47b-robo-drone-takes-to-the-air-photos/6331263

Utter randomness.....

Good suggestions for coding (patterns). The first is a good one.
http://laktek.com/2011/11/23/basic-patterns-for-everyday-programming/

Why should you use HTML5? Here are 10 reasons. And a set of tutorials along with it.
http://tympanus.net/codrops/2011/11/24/top-10-reasons-to-use-html5-right-now/

Great words on apps vs businesses.
http://www.64notes.com/app-vs-business/

Fascinating. 4.74 degrees of Kevin Bacon.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-users-now-separated-by-474-degrees/5560