Computer: October 2004 Archives

This made me laugh out loud.

Although I believe technology is allowing people (myself included) to communicate in new and interesting ways, I still think there is a lot of hype about social software.

Whenever someone admits they read my blog regularly it shocks me. Even though the server logs show otherwise, it still is an enourmous surprise to me that anyone other than me reads this blog.

Some people, who should read it, still don't even though I routinely throw in pompous phrases like, "Of course you would have known that if you had been reading my blog."

I wish everyone had IM on most of the time. I would rather riff over IM than on phone for most casual communications. I do find it strange when an IM goes to a mobile phone.

I'm loving google desktop.

Here is my "google desktop" wish list in no special order. It might do some of these things for all I know, but there isn't much UI or documentation that might show me how.

• Ability to restrict search by file type.
• Integration with gmail.
• Tool to allow developers to write plug-ins to do something special with other file types.
• Syntax and/or configuration to include/exclude files or directories.
• Make initial indexing a little less intrusive re: system resources.
• Ability to search by other criteria.
• Ability to understand exif data, to allow for the searching of photos.

It's a really nice first effort. I can't wait to see how this will turn out.

I can't believe how good the email searching is. I don't know why the Lookout folks didn't make the UI look so cool.

I am in the middle of reading Smart Mobs, by Howard Rheingold.

It's really interesting to think about ways that IM always on communication can change human behaviors.

I use IM a lot as some of my co-workers are on the other side of the globe. Without IM, there are a number of tasks that would be much harder if I had to rely on email, voicemail, or conference calls.

I think it would be really interesting to write a short story/novella all told with IM's. The only question I have is whether one could truly give the sense of the parallel conversations which might be taking place simultaneously.

It would be interesting to actually perform the story live like a play, but using an IM client. I suppose the stage would have to look like a desktop environment.

As a cvs user, sometimes I create a sandbox for a specific date and time. Then three months later I got back and wonder, gee is there anything important left in my source tree I want to retain? I didn't know how to do that until yesterday. Thanks to Larry T. for setting me straight.

I have heard it said by numerous individuals every one has a finite number of tech support calls they can field. Once one reaches beyond this number, the individual can no longer be effective on the phone helping people. I know this to be true from the inside out. To this day this is why I don't carry a cell phone. I can't take the stress.

However, something that looks like a phone but is made for IM seems cool to me. If only there was an IM->Voice gateway I would be set. I mean it's all well and good to IM your friends, but if you need directions to the nearest pizza place, they might not be reachable by IM. How cool would it be if they were? Looks like ATT Wireless is selling a device just like this called the OGO. The only one part I don't like is it's an extra $3.00 for more than one IM provider. This is a bit of an issue for me, as there are a few hold-outs who don't use Yahoo IM. I would hate to spend $3.00 per month, just to talk to two people who won't switch.