Blog
Thoughts and things I care to shareGo Away Gartner
Is anyone else tired of listening to Gartner Study reports? Their ability to state the obvious is amazing, even to me.
Every time my employer starts looking at a new technology or a solution, the typical, tired, old Gartner report is trotted out to parade around in front of the execs to demonstrate how useful or cost-affective it is.
Doesn’t anyone else notice that the crap in these reports is not worth the TP its printed on? I mean, the amount of filler in these documents is silly, wasteful and still doesn’t present the reality of a given technology, solution or company.
And that last one really gets me – companies actually pay Gartner good money to present the (again) obvious information about them.
The only redeeming thing about a Gartner report is that unknowing nitwits in the EIEIO club think their getting valuable information that can’t be found anywhere else; especially from their lowly staff members who live and breath the knowledge supposedly represented in these reports.
If they only knew what these reports are not tell them.
Where I am
Man has it been a crazy busy summer, with work draining most of my energy. So, I’ve not had a lot of time to devote to blogging, and its bothering me. For the past year or more, I’ve really enjoyed following my favorite technology topics, expanding my RSS list with new and interesting blogs on a varied range of topics.
But something happened in June/July – something I was trying not to let happen. Work took control; I’ve let my job get the better of me this summer, and its not fun. I mean, my family and I have not been able to get away, I’m on my computer every night, I feel like I’ll never catch up.
Yeah, sure I’ve taken on a lot of new tasks and responsibilities, but its starting to get a little long in the tooth. Where is the time for relaxation and family. The amount of new things I’ve learned and am learning is great, but now there is got to be time for other pursuits.
My family and I will be moving out of the city to a smaller town in September, and I hope to star taking advantage of living out a bit. The slower pace and simpler lifestyle will help to unplug. One of the reasons is to simply enjoy being out in the country again – both my wife and I grew up in small farm communities, and we’re looking forward to get back to that kind of atmosphere.
Sorry for the diary-style post, its been a frustrating summer, and it isn’t over yet. More later ~ Rick.
Windows Live Writer – More Info
Hey! If you blog, I feel you need to try out Windows Live Writer.
Microsoft has IMO, a killer offline blogging tool. It does everything I wanted in an offline editor, and the tie-in to the Windows Live Toolbar is incredible.
WLW works with WordPress, Blogger, Moveable Type, and LiveJournal in addition to Windows Live Spaces. The functionality is at the right level, and allows you to preview, create drafts, store drafts online/offline, and work with pictures, maps, fonts, and colors right in the interface.
It also has my most desired feature – a spell checker built right in. While still in beta, it feels like a shipping product, and I’ve covered only a fraction of the features of this great freebie from MS.
For more information check out the links below.
- Review: Paul Stamatiou
- Windows Live Writer: Blog & Download
Posted using Windows Live Writer!
Microsoft – Post Gates
FYI – I’ve had some thoughts floating around in my head for weeks and never posted on them. While they are not completed, I’ve decided to post away, just to get them out “there”. I may be back to update this over time.
Here are my ideas for Microsoft after Bill Gates is not in direct control – or even if he is in control. I think these are things that the company needs to either investigate or simply do.
- Support Linux
- Port the Office Family to Red Hat, Fedora, Mandrake, Suse, etc…
- License the Windows networking protocols under a free method to all comers
- Create bulk pricing for end-consumers for all products
- Create an inexpensive licensing program for consumers in the same light as corporate SA programs.
- Keep it cheap – initial license $100, each additional $25 or whatever
- Move all products to a subscription model, with quarterly builds that are available to all customers for no additional cost.
- Leverage the “Live” Internet properties to support the SAAS model as needed (already there in some areas)
- Spin the “controversial” software like IE and Media Player out as separate products that compete within the market place
- Deliver on promises you make – or if it is not technically possible (i.e. see WinFS), then talk about the issues in an open conversation with your customers Realize that you are increasingly not everything to everyone. You have tremendous resources – focus on the things you do best.
- You’re not hip – don’t try to be
- Learn better naming practices – (hmm, “Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition” or “Palm Treo” or “BlackBerry”? – ’nuff said). There is/was nothing wrong with software versioning instead of “year” names – Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000? Give me the version info – and don’t try to say that the average consumer didn’t understand, that excuse was rubbish.
- Corporations depend on your systems – make them bulletproof
- Don’t rely on others to write stable code – pretend any code not written by MS is a virus, then you will be able to isolate and eliminate all potential problems that 3rd party software and drivers can cause to the OS. Of course this means that your code simply cannot fail – there is no other answer.
T-Mobile Begins UMA Trials (Phone Scoop)
So it looks like TMo is getting the UMA (Universal Mobile Access) thing moving! Good to see, they seem to be the first wireless carrier to move in this direction.
Of course with their T-Mobile HotSpot service, this is a natural fit to leverage the investment in both GSM and WiFi networks. At least the information I was presented with a few months ago alluded to using the phones on the HotSpot network as well as home & unsecured wireless access points.
This is also interesting because of Sprint’s latest announcement that they will be using WiMax as their 4G platform. Its not that WiFi and WiMax are that close in technology, its that true broadband networking solutions are being used for wireless communication services on a large scale.
And it further proves that the ubiquitous Ethernet standard is exactly what the information age needed during the 80s/90s to develop cheap, quality, plentiful networking capabilities.
HooHoo! Go TMo go!
Posted using Windows Live Writer!
New Horizons
Well I’ve had about enough – with work that is. Seems like whenever someone doesn’t understand something and is unable to stretch or grow, that they simply choose to say no. Or “prove it to me”.
HA! Pay attention and you may get it some year.
I’ve got more to say, but it’ll have to wait – work to do here,
Windows Live Writer
Well! Microsoft comes along and does it again. This morning on Geekzone, I found a post about Windows Live Writer, an offline blog post editor. I’ve been looking for something like this for some time.
This post is created using the new tool. I’ll post more shortly with my thoughts and such.
Quick post
Sorry for not posting in awhile, the workload in my day job has consumed all my time this summer and things haven’t gone the way I hoped they would.
I’m going to try and get back into a good posting rythum, starting with a review of the Jabra BT500 over at The Mobile Lifestyle this weekend. I’m about a week overdue on getting that done, so I’ve got to start with that.
There may also be some changes in some things on this blog as well. More things I have ideas, concerns, hopes, dreams, and gripes about, along with comments on technology and such.
More later!
T-Mobile bidding on more spectrum
Its nice to know that T-Mobile is making huge efforts to win a large portion of the wireless spectrum that they require for 3G services. The company has had the short end of the stick when it comes to wireless spectrum licensing since it started deploying data services.
I’ve been with the T-Mobile as my wireless provider for over 5 years, and have had no issues with call quality, coverage, or customer support. The things I’ve hoped they would improve on, they have; such as handset/device selection, high-speed data services and new features.
So I’m confident that if they are able to win the wireless spectrum they need to roll out 3G services nationwide, they will help lower the cost of high-speed data offered by all the carriers here in the US. Brighthand.com’s Ed Hardy has an article talking about this very topic – good read.
New Firmware Update for T-Mobile MDA (US)
Well, talk about pleasent surprises – T-Mobile Sunday released the AKU 2.3 firmware update for their MDA. You can find more information about my MDA here, but if you want to download the new firmware yourself, go here.
The update includes the long-awaited push-mail update and support for Bluetooth stereo audio (A2DP). Watch for more info – I’ll be upgrading tonight!
Via: Mobile Gadget News
I hope the leadership of the Republican Party will take his word seriously. Because this is exactly right.
This is very simple: only Americans citizens should be allowed to vote in American elections.
The SAVE America Act is common sense, and we need to pass it now!
I don’t recall you complaining when gas was $5.00 under Biden.
Hypocrisy much?
Please RT!
This Middle Ages bullshit is a cancer on the planet👇👇🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸