Once in a while I try to play a game on my computer. I will install free games only to find that they don't play very well. Why is this? I have installed racing games., Awful. Using your mouse doesn't work because you can't steer properly. Golf games? Stupid. I just installed one, only to find that they make impossible shots that you can't make, no matter how many strokes you take. One idiot course had you shooting up a ramp to get to the other side of a hill where the hole was. problem was the ball had to twist around once it got over the ramp. Is it a magic ball? So stay away from these nonsense games.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Gawker sites hacked
Over the weekend a hacker group called Gnosis compromised Gawker & all it's sites. It collected all the usernames of the registered commenters on all the sites Gawker owns. This would include Lifehacker, Gizmodo, Deadspin & others. Now I read the first two, but have never registered or left a comment, so I'm OK.
The problem is, of course, the hackers got hold of e-mail addresses & passwords. Now if it's only comments that's one thing. But if you use the same password at shopping sites, now it's a big problem. Check your credit card bills if that's the case.
Seriously, if you use the same password everywhere, well that's just dumb. Of course, the only site I have ever bought anything at is Apple. And I have a different password there than anywhere else. I blog here (obviously), but also on a sports site. Different username, different password. My cell phone providers website? Different username, different password. Three different e-mail accounts, different providers, different usernames, different passwords. That's what you're supposed to do. But heck, ther head of Gawker was using the same password everywhere. Duh!
Be very careful. The term "identity theft" didn't exist before the creation of the internet. There's a reason for that.
The problem is, of course, the hackers got hold of e-mail addresses & passwords. Now if it's only comments that's one thing. But if you use the same password at shopping sites, now it's a big problem. Check your credit card bills if that's the case.
Seriously, if you use the same password everywhere, well that's just dumb. Of course, the only site I have ever bought anything at is Apple. And I have a different password there than anywhere else. I blog here (obviously), but also on a sports site. Different username, different password. My cell phone providers website? Different username, different password. Three different e-mail accounts, different providers, different usernames, different passwords. That's what you're supposed to do. But heck, ther head of Gawker was using the same password everywhere. Duh!
Be very careful. The term "identity theft" didn't exist before the creation of the internet. There's a reason for that.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Metrodome's inflatable roof deflates-again
Minneapolis because of it's rough cold winters wisely decided to build a domed stadium in the late 1970's. Because of the success of the Pontiac Silverdome outside Detroit, it was decided to make it an inflatable cloth dome, instead of a solid concrete dome like the Superdome in New Orleans. Most of the time that's OK, sometimes not so much.
This morning at around 5AM, it collapsed. There had been 17 inches of snow the previous day. There were 3 tears in the roof. The NFL game between the Vikings & the NY Giants had already been postponed because the airport had been closed, meaning the Giants couldn't get into town. The game has now been moved to Detroit.
This is not the first time this has happened. In fact there have been four other deflations. November 19, 1981 (also because of over a foot of snow in Minneapolis), December 30, 1982 because of a tear caused by heavy snow (what a surprise), on April 14, 1983 (heavy snow again-don't you just want to live there?), & on April 26, 1986 a tear was caused by high winds. The last two happened when the Minnesota Twins were to play the California Angels. Hmmm. (Source: Wikipedia)
Even though this roof may be impressive, it clearly isn't the best idea for this part of the country. According to Wikipedia, it's the largest application of Teflon on Earth. But the midwest is home to some of the worst weather around, & it's just luck that none of the collapses happened during a football game. can you imagine the injuries had all that snow & the collapsing roof happened while there were 50,000 people in the building?
This morning at around 5AM, it collapsed. There had been 17 inches of snow the previous day. There were 3 tears in the roof. The NFL game between the Vikings & the NY Giants had already been postponed because the airport had been closed, meaning the Giants couldn't get into town. The game has now been moved to Detroit.
This is not the first time this has happened. In fact there have been four other deflations. November 19, 1981 (also because of over a foot of snow in Minneapolis), December 30, 1982 because of a tear caused by heavy snow (what a surprise), on April 14, 1983 (heavy snow again-don't you just want to live there?), & on April 26, 1986 a tear was caused by high winds. The last two happened when the Minnesota Twins were to play the California Angels. Hmmm. (Source: Wikipedia)
Even though this roof may be impressive, it clearly isn't the best idea for this part of the country. According to Wikipedia, it's the largest application of Teflon on Earth. But the midwest is home to some of the worst weather around, & it's just luck that none of the collapses happened during a football game. can you imagine the injuries had all that snow & the collapsing roof happened while there were 50,000 people in the building?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Google opens e bookstore
Yesterday it was announced that Google would be opening an e bookstore to compete with Amazon & Apple & all other e book sellers. Google let's you download to Android, the iPhone or iPod Touch or to a Sony or Nook. Notice I didn't mention the Kindle. Not sure why it's not supported. You can also download to your computer to read online. This is what I did.
I'm not ready to spend $150 on any e reader, & I'm not even sure e books are that good an idea. One thing I did notice is that the free selection is limited to old books, not all of which I would call "classics". I downloaded "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli originally published in 1532. The free selection is full of stuff like this, also Shakespeare, Dickens, the Wizard of Oz books, & all the Sherlock Holmes stories. Maybe if I had one of the supported e readers I would look at the books to buy.
I'm not sure about this. Barnes & Noble & Borders both have books downloadable to your computer, but you have to install a e reader program on your computer. Google's seems to be built in to it's website, since all I did was click on the book title & it immediately opened. That's an improvement, but I still wonder who is going to use it. Again especially since the biggest selling reader is not supported.
I'm not ready to spend $150 on any e reader, & I'm not even sure e books are that good an idea. One thing I did notice is that the free selection is limited to old books, not all of which I would call "classics". I downloaded "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli originally published in 1532. The free selection is full of stuff like this, also Shakespeare, Dickens, the Wizard of Oz books, & all the Sherlock Holmes stories. Maybe if I had one of the supported e readers I would look at the books to buy.
I'm not sure about this. Barnes & Noble & Borders both have books downloadable to your computer, but you have to install a e reader program on your computer. Google's seems to be built in to it's website, since all I did was click on the book title & it immediately opened. That's an improvement, but I still wonder who is going to use it. Again especially since the biggest selling reader is not supported.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Making computer screens eye friendly
I use my computer a lot when I'm home. And a lot of people use computers as part of their work. Some are on them all day. So why is so hard to come up with a screen that doesn't hurt the eyes? I've been on my computer less than an hour & I feel like getting off.
This was the argument against the iPad. That an LED screen hurts the eyes, but an e-ink screen doesn't, which is why e readers are so popular. The problem there is of course those tend to be black & white, not full color, like computer monitors, laptops & iPads. Still the iPad is a massive success, so someone doesn't have a problem. And I'm sure different people may have eyes not as sensitive as mine.
So is there a need to improve the way visuals are done? Of course there is. Everything can be improved upon. I can't see watching video on a smartphone (too small), but lots of young people do it. Of course their eyes are stronger. Although my eyes have always been somewhat weak. I've worn glasses since junior high. Some kids need them before they're 10.
But I can read a book for long stretches. I've read as many as 100 pages in a day. Try doing that online. Your eyes can't handle it. Again it's the lighting. I don't know about Kindle's or Nooks because I don't own one, & I'm not planning on getting one. I just think with all the technology out there, there must be a way to make computer monitors more eye friendly.
This was the argument against the iPad. That an LED screen hurts the eyes, but an e-ink screen doesn't, which is why e readers are so popular. The problem there is of course those tend to be black & white, not full color, like computer monitors, laptops & iPads. Still the iPad is a massive success, so someone doesn't have a problem. And I'm sure different people may have eyes not as sensitive as mine.
So is there a need to improve the way visuals are done? Of course there is. Everything can be improved upon. I can't see watching video on a smartphone (too small), but lots of young people do it. Of course their eyes are stronger. Although my eyes have always been somewhat weak. I've worn glasses since junior high. Some kids need them before they're 10.
But I can read a book for long stretches. I've read as many as 100 pages in a day. Try doing that online. Your eyes can't handle it. Again it's the lighting. I don't know about Kindle's or Nooks because I don't own one, & I'm not planning on getting one. I just think with all the technology out there, there must be a way to make computer monitors more eye friendly.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
PGE fails with smart meter website
One of the things PGE supposedly delivers when you get a smart meter installed is that you can follow your energy usage online. Well, this was the case until this weekend. Suddenly, there are no results going back two days. Nice. Does this mean that the usage will mysteriously increase dramatically? If so, I will let them know that it is not acceptable.
These utilities are known for dishonesty. PGE is already in trouble for sponsoring a ballot initiative in June that would have made it hard for an outside company to come in. The voters saw through the stunt & voted it down, so i have no misconceptions about this company. Especially since a lot of people have been complaining about the smart meters for months.
So my message is "show the results & don't screw with them. I am watching".
These utilities are known for dishonesty. PGE is already in trouble for sponsoring a ballot initiative in June that would have made it hard for an outside company to come in. The voters saw through the stunt & voted it down, so i have no misconceptions about this company. Especially since a lot of people have been complaining about the smart meters for months.
So my message is "show the results & don't screw with them. I am watching".
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Google Chrome jumps over 9%
The hot new browser from Google continues to grow, while the one most people think is the internet continues to fall. I guess this is good news, although I still don't understand why anyone would prefer Chrome over Firefox. Supposedly it's faster, but that has never been my experience.
It's clear to me that casual users will continue to use Internet Explorer, & if they want another browser, well...everyone's heard of Google. It also appears that Firefox will remain stuck at around 22-23% as it has for the last year at least. FF 4 comes out in a few months with increased performance, but is it too late? Interestingly, IE8 has over 3X the usage of IE7 while the much hated IE6 has almost the market share of Chrome & Safari combined. This because businesses still use it despite Microsoft themselves saying get rid of it. Heck my high tech company uses IE6.
It seems that IE users are switching to Chrome rather than Firefox, which would have been the case in the past. I don't like the idea of every tab being a different process because that uses more RAM. Plus I just don't care for the bare bones nature of the UI. But unfortunately, FF 4 will look somewhat like Chrome. Plus it isn't as bare bones as it would appear. On my old XP machine Firefox 3.6 was around 30mb, but Chrome was 75mb. Huh?
I think it's the new kid in town, & that's why it's gaining. Let's see if that continues.
It's clear to me that casual users will continue to use Internet Explorer, & if they want another browser, well...everyone's heard of Google. It also appears that Firefox will remain stuck at around 22-23% as it has for the last year at least. FF 4 comes out in a few months with increased performance, but is it too late? Interestingly, IE8 has over 3X the usage of IE7 while the much hated IE6 has almost the market share of Chrome & Safari combined. This because businesses still use it despite Microsoft themselves saying get rid of it. Heck my high tech company uses IE6.
It seems that IE users are switching to Chrome rather than Firefox, which would have been the case in the past. I don't like the idea of every tab being a different process because that uses more RAM. Plus I just don't care for the bare bones nature of the UI. But unfortunately, FF 4 will look somewhat like Chrome. Plus it isn't as bare bones as it would appear. On my old XP machine Firefox 3.6 was around 30mb, but Chrome was 75mb. Huh?
I think it's the new kid in town, & that's why it's gaining. Let's see if that continues.
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