Bannerblind doesn't just filter out flash, it filters out ALL types of advertisements. It just happens that flash banners are one of them.;) I've been using it for quite some time now and have almost forgotten advertisements even exist after getting it set up correctly.
Sure I can, but it would be a hell of a lot easier to select it out of a list rather than off of a clunky map, and furthermore, living in chicago, there are at least 4 other citys in very close proximity to me on the said map, I had to slide the stylus around all over the general area before chicago finally came up. All I'm saying is the application would be more useful if it was more straightforward. I'm not knocking the Zaurus, I think it's a great pda, I was just pointing out a couple of irritations that I noticed right away when I began using it.
The software that the Zaurus uses is still way too clunky to be ready for consumption by the general public. I've been playing around with Qtopia for several weeks now and it really isn't nearly as functional as CE or palmOS from a regular user standpoint. I've loved hacking around on the thing, but here is a small list of problems/annoyances that I've noticed so far:
* There are "Mystery Meat" buttons in nearly every application. Doing something like adding or editing a contact in the address book is made frustrating because you have to tap on a tiny graphical button that you *think* might be what you want rather than a textual pulldown menu that makes sense. (This one of the biggest annoyances. Software should be functional and easy to understand before it's made to look pretty)
* Even doing something that should be simple like changing your timezone is done with an overcomplicated application with no help of any kind (You see a screen with a world map, and you have to *guess* where your city is located by tapping on the worldmap to set the timezone correctly).
* The rotation app doesn't change the orientation of qtopia itself, only the applications running under qtopia.
* You have to basically reboot whenever you install a new program for it to show up on the desktop.
* Bootup time from a reset takes almost 1 min compared to just seconds on CE or PalmOS. (I wouldn't have cared about bootup time if I didn't need to restart the damn thing every time I install a program)
* The device seems to forget its backlight settings from time to time. (backlight turns off then won't turn on again unless you go into the light and power app to set it).
* Clicking on an icon with the stylus then moving it just a tiny amount while your trying to open an app brings up an annoying window (this comes up accidentily all the time for me).
* Seems to be very dependent on having network/internet access to install software. (This is a BAD thing on a handheld)
* Sure, it has productivity software, but it's far too limited in functionality to really be useful. Or maybe it is functional, but I just don't understand it. (have I mentioned the "Mystery Meat" factor?)
* Updating the rom is time consuming and requires extra hardware to do. (example: Updating the operating system on the Zaurus requires a blank compact flash card and a bit of work (not that I mind hacking around, but we're talking about a non-techie user standpoint here). Installing an OS update on an ipaq or similar device requires no special hardware and is fairly effortless. I've found that even installing linux and qtopia on an ipaq and making an update is easier than making the same update on the Zaurus)
Basically, the Zaurus is probably good for the tech croud/linux geek, but definately needs a lot more work before it's ready for consumption by the general public or to compete with other handhelds IMHO.
Google has had the feature to read your mind insteady of typing since April 2000. See: http://www.google.com/mentalplex/MP_faq.html for the google MentalPlex FAQ.:)
I just did a bit of digging around in Mozilla and it definately does *NOT* use the search button in the same way as Netscape 6. So it appears that us Mozilla users are not affected.:)
I find the latest Mozilla has some excellent features to filter out ads. i.e. The ask me before downloading an image feature. Which seems stupid at first, but is really nice after you start using it. Also unchecking the open unrequested windows box under the Scripts and Windows part of the advanced preferences section makes popups and popunders a thing of the past. (Now if only someone would add a feature to filter out those stupid flash based banner ads I'd be set.);)
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Bannerblind doesn't just filter out flash, it filters out ALL types of advertisements. It just happens that flash banners are one of them. ;) I've been using it for quite some time now and have almost forgotten advertisements even exist after getting it set up correctly.
Actually if you install the Mozilla bannerblind plugin flash banners can be blocked just beautifully as well.
Sure I can, but it would be a hell of a lot easier to select it out of a list rather than off of a clunky map, and furthermore, living in chicago, there are at least 4 other citys in very close proximity to me on the said map, I had to slide the stylus around all over the general area before chicago finally came up. All I'm saying is the application would be more useful if it was more straightforward. I'm not knocking the Zaurus, I think it's a great pda, I was just pointing out a couple of irritations that I noticed right away when I began using it.
The software that the Zaurus uses is still way too clunky to be ready for consumption by the general public. I've been playing around with Qtopia for several weeks now and it really isn't nearly as functional as CE or palmOS from a regular user standpoint. I've loved hacking around on the thing, but here is a small list of problems/annoyances that I've noticed so far:
* There are "Mystery Meat" buttons in nearly every application. Doing something like adding or editing a contact in the address book is made frustrating because you have to tap on a tiny graphical button that you *think* might be what you want rather than a textual pulldown menu that makes sense. (This one of the biggest annoyances. Software should be functional and easy to understand before it's made to look pretty)
* Even doing something that should be simple like changing your timezone is done with an overcomplicated application with no help of any kind (You see a screen with a world map, and you have to *guess* where your city is located by tapping on the worldmap to set the timezone correctly).
* The rotation app doesn't change the orientation of qtopia itself, only the applications running under qtopia.
* You have to basically reboot whenever you install a new program for it to show up on the desktop.
* Bootup time from a reset takes almost 1 min compared to just seconds on CE or PalmOS. (I wouldn't have cared about bootup time if I didn't need to restart the damn thing every time I install a program)
* The device seems to forget its backlight settings from time to time. (backlight turns off then won't turn on again unless you go into the light and power app to set it).
* Clicking on an icon with the stylus then moving it just a tiny amount while your trying to open an app brings up an annoying window (this comes up accidentily all the time for me).
* Seems to be very dependent on having network/internet access to install software. (This is a BAD thing on a handheld)
* Sure, it has productivity software, but it's far too limited in functionality to really be useful. Or maybe it is functional, but I just don't understand it. (have I mentioned the "Mystery Meat" factor?)
* Updating the rom is time consuming and requires extra hardware to do. (example: Updating the operating system on the Zaurus requires a blank compact flash card and a bit of work (not that I mind hacking around, but we're talking about a non-techie user standpoint here). Installing an OS update on an ipaq or similar device requires no special hardware and is fairly effortless. I've found that even installing linux and qtopia on an ipaq and making an update is easier than making the same update on the Zaurus)
Basically, the Zaurus is probably good for the tech croud/linux geek, but definately needs a lot more work before it's ready for consumption by the general public or to compete with other handhelds IMHO.
Google has had the feature to read your mind insteady of typing since April 2000. See: http://www.google.com/mentalplex/MP_faq.html for the google MentalPlex FAQ. :)
I just did a bit of digging around in Mozilla and it definately does *NOT* use the search button in the same way as Netscape 6. So it appears that us Mozilla users are not affected. :)
I find the latest Mozilla has some excellent features to filter out ads. i.e. The ask me before downloading an image feature. Which seems stupid at first, but is really nice after you start using it. Also unchecking the open unrequested windows box under the Scripts and Windows part of the advanced preferences section makes popups and popunders a thing of the past. (Now if only someone would add a feature to filter out those stupid flash based banner ads I'd be set.) ;)