A few years ago (2-3) I remember figuring out that if I add someone's ICQ number to my AIM list, I can instant message them from AIM. This was unadvertised though, and stopped working after about a week.
Of course, it sucked because unless you knew everyone by their number... there was no way to see who was online, or who you were talking to... just a bunch of numbers.
ICQ used to be my favorite protocol by far. I really liked the idea of having a number and then configuring your profile... I thought it was far superior to the AOL-style "yom4mm4_6413_unique_name" sorta screennames. It was also nice that ICQ kept history, and that if you sent someone a message while they were offline it would get to them when they signed on.
I moved to AIM simply because it was the popular protocol amongst the ladies on campus... more frequently used than a landline, i'd say.
I'm not quite sure where this would fit in (server, HTTP protocol, browser, ???) or if it already exists and just isn't widely used...
But I am *really* tired of going to webpages (particularly linux HOWTO pages.. *cough*v4l*cough*) that have NO mention of date on them. I have read through howtos that refer to a 2.0 kernel patch... and I don't know if just the patch is irrelevant, or the whole piece of software (again, *cough*v4l*cough*).
Wouldn't it be nice if webservers would timestamp a page and say when it was last modified, and the browser would show that date?
I agree completely... and while they're at it, getting rid of all those stupid adds taking up space would be great.
I mean yeah... I could pay and support slashdot to get rid of all that wasted screen space, but it sure would be nice if there was a free and easy way to view the news without those petty annoyances.
Re:How much do you actually want to do, while mobi
on
Is 3G Irrelevant?
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I *can't* switch my land line provider, because Qwest has a local monopoly. There are no other land line providers in the area. period.
The thing that bothers me is, with absolutely no extra services (no caller ID, call waiting, etc) the basic service is $15 - fine. but they add in $15 in taxes too... I can't believe a 100% markup for taxes.
I started programming "late" compared to some of you - around the age of 14/15.
First was HTML, and then I started customizing mIRC and eventually ended up doing some pretty heavy scripting for it.
Next was JavaScript, and then finally I moved on to web backend languages (I wasn't fortunate enough to have access to PHP or Perl, I had to put up with iHTML.)
So, my suggestion: start with a scripting language. don't start start off trying to write "programs", but try to customize your environment. With perl/php/cron stuff you can do neat things like have a webpage say "good day" or "good evening" when loaded.... or have the server send emails based on events... (note: OS X's unix core + applescript + nice gui would be a GREAT platform to learn this stuff on)
On a similar note, if you want the kid to learn any unix/linux on the way... don't start off with some "works magically" distro like redhat/suse/debian. Run Slack. Recompile the kernel so your soundcard works, then so your network card works, then get usb devices to work, and get hardware 3d support goin for X. When I learned linux, I spent days trashing my linux box, rebuilding it, and breaking it again. there's no better way.
I don't even know why we HAVE cursive. I learned it because we *had* to in the 4th grade. from 5th on - it was back to printing, and like most others eventually I sort of merged the 2 (basically, sloppy printing).
Of all the things we're losing in these last few/coming few decades... a handwriting style seems rediculous to bitch about. How about the ozone, various undiscovered plant/animal species, fair use rights, privacy rights, family time, moral values, role models, (on and on).
I'm not saying I do bitch about any of that either, but come on... pick something worthy of your time if you *have* to complain.
I can't wait for the day that it's illegal to make a banner look like a window, with a close button. or an OK button... or even make it look like an Instant Messenger window (I have a screenshot of a popup doing this!).
Im suprised Microsoft/apple/AOL/whoever hasn't sued the pants off these banner companies for "stealing" their intellectual property and mimicking their GUI.
And just to stay on topic: I think false advertising in any sense, software or other, should be illegal. When someone advertises features for a product, and I buy that product, those features *better* be there and work as expected!
I think it's high time for the software industry to get a slap in the face. I've heard it said that if structural engineers produced the same quality of product as software engineers, no one would go in buildings because of the danger of a random collapse.
This could also have the opposite effect. Since the RIAA is already putting out fake mp3s to piss off people searching for songs, putting out MORE fakes might just make their job easier.
I do like the idea though, very "out of the box" and bold:)
I seem to remember hearing a while ago that the FCC was trying to make HDTV support mandatory in a few years... could this be out with the old, in with the new?
I am a little confused as to whether the suggestion is to eliminate broadcast TV all together, or just make better use of the space. Since things mave moved away from broadcast TV, it doesn't need all the space it is using anymore, so maybe he is just talking about condensing it.
I agree with those of you who think eliminating it is a bad idea for now. Uses of broadcast TV are still around (portable devices, local stations, pbs/etc). Broadcast TV could also come in handy in the case of an emergency...
I have taken 2 courses (one 100-level, one 400-level) with a teacher that also had online versions of the classes. While her classes were a breeze (in the class and out I imagine), it seemed to me she put conciderable effort into the online aspect. All our class quizes were online, and homeworks/labs were submitted online. Lecture notes were posted online. Lots of people didn't even go to class, even though they lived on/near campus.
You need to keep in mind that these profs aren't paid *solely* for teaching an online course, probably. Most teachers, even classroom-based teachers, are paid to spend 50% of time with students, and 50% doing research. So logically online teaching cuts into the classroom time, and I imagine if they do it the same way mine did, the effort overlaps quite a bit so you end up with teaching time division something like: Solely for in class: 10-15% Used to benefit both groups: 20-30% Solely for on-line: 10-15%
Also, teacher slacking is definitelly not for online classes only. I have taken so many scantron (multiple choice - graded buy a machine... like ACT/SAT) tests, because the teacher admitted they didnt want to spend the time grading it themselves.
One of the key things about TiVo and the like, is that you can get program listings. I am unaware of any such listing for the radio containing info on what station has what program when.
Phone/starter kit: $50 minutes cost depending on how much you buy at a time: As described at: http://www.attws.com/personal/prepaid/epw_plans.jh tml...
$100 = 833 min $75 = 500 min $50 = 166 min $25 = 71 min $10 = 20 min
I started in december, with phone($50) + 500min ($75) and have been adding $10 cards every 45 days. I still have 420 minutes left on the account after all this time.
Only catch: Your account expires (ALL MINUTES GO AWAY) after 45 days if you do not add atleast a $10 card. Adding even a $10 keeps the account active.
Everyone keeps trying to pack in useless features
on
Nokia 5100 Reviewed
·
· Score: 1
I've been noticing this for a while. Everyone in the industry is trying to stay afloat by packing in useless features into their products.
Microsoft: Office - XP performs nearly the exact same tasks as 2000. IE - We've been able to browser the web fine since 4.0, but somehow they've bloated it up to 6. Windows - need i say more
Hardware: My machine runs at 1.1GHz. I might upgrade for Half-Life 2 when it comes out in sept, but really... do we need 3GHz cpu's and 1GB ram to browse the web?
Phones: My cell phone is a nokia 3361 (AT&T's Prepaid package). I pay roughly $10/month for service and use it only for necessities. No color screen, no voice dialing, no GSM/GPRS crap. It does what it needs to.
I really wish there world wasn't driven by the need to sell sell sell. Unfortunatelly, if these companies started producing *quality* products that were dependable, but cost 3x... they would go out of business pretty rapidly.
I think that is part of what is contributing to our economy problems: Everyone with a PIII 1.5GHz box doesn't see the need to upgrade again, for example.
I for one, don't care. I haven't seen anything I would call a "feature" since... well... a while. IE6's media integration and image handling are more of an annoyance than a feature, and I CERTAINLY don't concider DRM support a feature.
When DRM comes around, I'm moving to something else.
Slashdot Mirror
A few drive ins still exist in colorado, one in my hometown (Montrose) and one here in my school town (Fort Collins). I'm sure there are a few others.
Oh, and both do the radio thing, and the speaker-on-a-wire thing.
My gf from chicago is always excited to go to the drive in... they do provide a pretty neat environment.
And I'm (only?) 22, so don't feel too old, I concider myself young and still remember them well.
It ended because someone inside Enron ratted everyone else out.
A few years ago (2-3) I remember figuring out that if I add someone's ICQ number to my AIM list, I can instant message them from AIM. This was unadvertised though, and stopped working after about a week.
Of course, it sucked because unless you knew everyone by their number... there was no way to see who was online, or who you were talking to... just a bunch of numbers.
ICQ used to be my favorite protocol by far. I really liked the idea of having a number and then configuring your profile... I thought it was far superior to the AOL-style "yom4mm4_6413_unique_name" sorta screennames. It was also nice that ICQ kept history, and that if you sent someone a message while they were offline it would get to them when they signed on.
I moved to AIM simply because it was the popular protocol amongst the ladies on campus... more frequently used than a landline, i'd say.
I'm not quite sure where this would fit in (server, HTTP protocol, browser, ???) or if it already exists and just isn't widely used...
.. *cough*v4l*cough*) that have NO mention of date on them. I have read through howtos that refer to a 2.0 kernel patch... and I don't know if just the patch is irrelevant, or the whole piece of software (again, *cough*v4l*cough*).
But I am *really* tired of going to webpages (particularly linux HOWTO pages
Wouldn't it be nice if webservers would timestamp a page and say when it was last modified, and the browser would show that date?
I agree completely... and while they're at it, getting rid of all those stupid adds taking up space would be great.
I mean yeah... I could pay and support slashdot to get rid of all that wasted screen space, but it sure would be nice if there was a free and easy way to view the news without those petty annoyances.
Haven't you seen the comment posts with the slashdot username and password for NYT? I forget what they are exactly, but it's something like:
slashdot1/slashdot
or
slashdot/shash1
or somesuch thing...
sorry I can't be more specific, but I do know someone made an account.
Anyone know this acronym?
Yaaaay for over-seas slashdotting!
I *can't* switch my land line provider, because Qwest has a local monopoly. There are no other land line providers in the area. period.
The thing that bothers me is, with absolutely no extra services (no caller ID, call waiting, etc) the basic service is $15 - fine. but they add in $15 in taxes too... I can't believe a 100% markup for taxes.
great sig.
I started programming "late" compared to some of you - around the age of 14/15.
First was HTML, and then I started customizing mIRC and eventually ended up doing some pretty heavy scripting for it.
Next was JavaScript, and then finally I moved on to web backend languages (I wasn't fortunate enough to have access to PHP or Perl, I had to put up with iHTML.)
So, my suggestion: start with a scripting language. don't start start off trying to write "programs", but try to customize your environment. With perl/php/cron stuff you can do neat things like have a webpage say "good day" or "good evening" when loaded.... or have the server send emails based on events... (note: OS X's unix core + applescript + nice gui would be a GREAT platform to learn this stuff on)
On a similar note, if you want the kid to learn any unix/linux on the way... don't start off with some "works magically" distro like redhat/suse/debian. Run Slack. Recompile the kernel so your soundcard works, then so your network card works, then get usb devices to work, and get hardware 3d support goin for X.
When I learned linux, I spent days trashing my linux box, rebuilding it, and breaking it again. there's no better way.
I don't even know why we HAVE cursive. I learned it because we *had* to in the 4th grade. from 5th on - it was back to printing, and like most others eventually I sort of merged the 2 (basically, sloppy printing).
Of all the things we're losing in these last few/coming few decades... a handwriting style seems rediculous to bitch about. How about the ozone, various undiscovered plant/animal species, fair use rights, privacy rights, family time, moral values, role models, (on and on).
I'm not saying I do bitch about any of that either, but come on... pick something worthy of your time if you *have* to complain.
woah woah woah... 1GHz laptops for $300?? Where??
It must be used, cuz bottom-of-the-line laptops new go for about $800.
I can't wait for the day that it's illegal to make a banner look like a window, with a close button. or an OK button... or even make it look like an Instant Messenger window (I have a screenshot of a popup doing this!).
Im suprised Microsoft/apple/AOL/whoever hasn't sued the pants off these banner companies for "stealing" their intellectual property and mimicking their GUI.
And just to stay on topic:
I think false advertising in any sense, software or other, should be illegal. When someone advertises features for a product, and I buy that product, those features *better* be there and work as expected!
I think it's high time for the software industry to get a slap in the face. I've heard it said that if structural engineers produced the same quality of product as software engineers, no one would go in buildings because of the danger of a random collapse.
This could also have the opposite effect. Since the RIAA is already putting out fake mp3s to piss off people searching for songs, putting out MORE fakes might just make their job easier.
:)
I do like the idea though, very "out of the box" and bold
I seem to remember hearing a while ago that the FCC was trying to make HDTV support mandatory in a few years... could this be out with the old, in with the new?
I am a little confused as to whether the suggestion is to eliminate broadcast TV all together, or just make better use of the space. Since things mave moved away from broadcast TV, it doesn't need all the space it is using anymore, so maybe he is just talking about condensing it.
I agree with those of you who think eliminating it is a bad idea for now. Uses of broadcast TV are still around (portable devices, local stations, pbs/etc). Broadcast TV could also come in handy in the case of an emergency...
www.quietpc.com
www.quietpcusa.com (their US branch)
www.silentpcreview.com
quietpc.com has products ranging from acousticly dampend cases, to speed-regulating fans, to fanless cpu coolers, to hard drive enclosers.
Making my pc silent is one of my current side projects... fan by fan.
I have taken 2 courses (one 100-level, one 400-level) with a teacher that also had online versions of the classes. While her classes were a breeze (in the class and out I imagine), it seemed to me she put conciderable effort into the online aspect. All our class quizes were online, and homeworks/labs were submitted online. Lecture notes were posted online. Lots of people didn't even go to class, even though they lived on/near campus.
... like ACT/SAT) tests, because the teacher admitted they didnt want to spend the time grading it themselves.
You need to keep in mind that these profs aren't paid *solely* for teaching an online course, probably. Most teachers, even classroom-based teachers, are paid to spend 50% of time with students, and 50% doing research. So logically online teaching cuts into the classroom time, and I imagine if they do it the same way mine did, the effort overlaps quite a bit so you end up with teaching time division something like:
Solely for in class: 10-15%
Used to benefit both groups: 20-30%
Solely for on-line: 10-15%
Also, teacher slacking is definitelly not for online classes only. I have taken so many scantron (multiple choice - graded buy a machine
That's all I have to say about that.
One of the key things about TiVo and the like, is that you can get program listings. I am unaware of any such listing for the radio containing info on what station has what program when.
you do not need to click the 1px border to move it. You can hold down alt and click anywhere in the window.
Wouldn't it make more sense to drag a window by moving *the window* than having to find that ~10-20px tall title and move it?
a quick google seach brings up..
Fetish Doll at Skin Two
and
http://www.skintwo.com/
at&t free2go wireless:
h tml ...
http://www.attws.com/personal/prepaid/
Phone/starter kit: $50
minutes cost depending on how much you buy at a time:
As described at: http://www.attws.com/personal/prepaid/epw_plans.j
$100 = 833 min
$75 = 500 min
$50 = 166 min
$25 = 71 min
$10 = 20 min
I started in december, with phone($50) + 500min ($75) and have been adding $10 cards every 45 days. I still have 420 minutes left on the account after all this time.
Only catch: Your account expires (ALL MINUTES GO AWAY) after 45 days if you do not add atleast a $10 card. Adding even a $10 keeps the account active.
I've been noticing this for a while. Everyone in the industry is trying to stay afloat by packing in useless features into their products.
Microsoft:
Office - XP performs nearly the exact same tasks as 2000.
IE - We've been able to browser the web fine since 4.0, but somehow they've bloated it up to 6.
Windows - need i say more
Hardware:
My machine runs at 1.1GHz. I might upgrade for Half-Life 2 when it comes out in sept, but really... do we need 3GHz cpu's and 1GB ram to browse the web?
Phones:
My cell phone is a nokia 3361 (AT&T's Prepaid package). I pay roughly $10/month for service and use it only for necessities. No color screen, no voice dialing, no GSM/GPRS crap. It does what it needs to.
I really wish there world wasn't driven by the need to sell sell sell. Unfortunatelly, if these companies started producing *quality* products that were dependable, but cost 3x... they would go out of business pretty rapidly.
I think that is part of what is contributing to our economy problems: Everyone with a PIII 1.5GHz box doesn't see the need to upgrade again, for example.
I for one, don't care. I haven't seen anything I would call a "feature" since ... well... a while. IE6's media integration and image handling are more of an annoyance than a feature, and I CERTAINLY don't concider DRM support a feature.
When DRM comes around, I'm moving to something else.