The author himself states that usability is hard to measure, but has no problem declaring that OSS usability poor. He doesn't appear to cite any research, so is there anything more than anecdotal evidence to suggest this is the case?
I like the awesome bar's tagging and title search capability, but I think that it should be separated from the typed urls. My gripe is that tagged results aren't grouped together. I'll type in 'js ref' and get mozilla developer center at the top and 'docs.jquery.com' right at the bottom where it is hidden from view. If I just type 'ref' I see all my reference links, except for the adobe AIR site which is 2nd from the bottom and again hidden from view. There is no way to be sure that you've viewed all tagged pages unless you've scrolled through all the results in the drop down.
Specifying a special search prefix, say a '\', would solve the problem. Good searching is about what you exclude as much as what you include.
However this is a single gripe in the face of quite considerable niftiness, so the ff devs certainly deserve a pat on the back.
Opera (whose 9.5 beta 2 searches the contents of all history pages), solves the slashdot problem by making '/.' automatically map to slashdot.org. That was thoughtful.
Depends what your metric is for success. They took half a decade to release an OS, constantly missed their dates and produced an OS that was mediocre and poorly received. Is that successful?
That photoshop is pervasive has nothing to do with the quality or descriptiveness of the name, it is merely the possession of this knowledge by many people. You could swap out the word 'GIMP', 'Paint Shop' or 'Foobar' to achieve the exact same effect. Photoshop is not an intrinically useful label, it is just well known.
Hoover is the perfect example. Most kids I know don't recognise the word and couldn't fathom what one does. However, they could at least guess at the function of a "vacuum cleaner" even if they hadn't ever heard the phrase.
...so it's entirely possible that the word "image", especially when used in conjunction with another non-photographic language could lead an observer to think something other than "picture
It is entirely possible. Most people would make a far more sensible guess based on the far more common usage. The word "photoshop " does not allow you to do this.
Similarly, people who are used to thinking of images being photoshopped don't struggle to think of what a piece of software called Photoshop might do.
So the word "photoshop" is easily interpreted by those who already know what it means? If the word "photoshop" had any kind of mind share before the widespread adoption of the software, then you might have a point.
And don't get me started on the stupidity of "Manipulation program"? Couldn't that moniker refer to every piece of application software you've ever come across?"
Well I suppose my picture viewer is manipulating the light from my monitor.
I guarantee you that you won't find too many people who would find the role of a piece of software called "Photoshop" hard to work out just from the title. Hint: the word "photo" is a big giveaway.
It obviously sells photos. Perhaps we can figure out what the word "manipulation" means while our photos are developed. Or is it like Getty Images?
I guarantee you that there will be people out there thinking "What's a GNU image and why would I want to manipulate it?".
At least at that point they've deciphered that it manipulates some kind of image, photoshop doesn't even tell you that. A program that manipulates images is more communicative than a shop for photos.
Lastly, "Photoshop" is short and sweet. "GNU Image manipulation program" is not. Sit a novice down to use each for an hour and the next day ask them what software they were using and I bet you that he'll remember "Photoshop" but will struggle to remember "GNU Image manipulation program".
He might however remember four letter word on the splash screen and tools palette. It's what we call an acronym.
Photoshop is a brand name. It is meant to be distinctive, not descriptive. That it communicates any information at all is a result of it's pervasive use, not the information it actually imparts.
Genetics are not the only thing that cultures have in common. Social Evolution also implies that they will share whatever is adaptive. There is no particular need for many of these traits to be genetic. It would seem that incest taboos, the golden rule and reciprocity have a cultural component that is just as strong.
Besides genetics only influence the most rudimentary ethical system- there is no gene for utilitarianism and nothing that will shape an opinion on stem cell research, for example.
And why can't differences in genders' ethics be evolutionarily derived? Men and women have different specialisations, it follows that these different domains might require different moral schemes to maximise their utility.
What are the distinguishing features of nerds? Generally, they are relatively educated, relatively non-theistic, and relatively male.
Education seems to provoke libertarian views. Whilst the pragmatic reasons for limiting and diluting liberty are freely accessible to both educated and uneducated minds- safety, societal cohesion, etc.-, the case for liberty is made by the likes of Locke, B Franklin and Orwell.
The lack of theism influences ones predilection to hold to libertarianism. First, God's will becomes the greatest moral determinate supplanting all worldly values that do not concord with it. Secondly, a libertarian society often challenges the theist who might temper their enthusiasm and advocation of libertarian principles.
The ethical system of males is thought to be more greatly grounded in ethical principle and rules than the ethical system of females which is supposed to be more driven by empathy and compassion. Given that libertarianism is a set of abstract principles it might gain more resonance with men than with women.
"The Summit offered these CIOs to see firsthand how Microsoft is working to be a strategic partner to government and educational institutions of every size"
"Offered these CIOs to see firsthand..."? I thought the great advantage of marketing droids was that they could communicate eloquently.
"Then again, you could do it without telling anyone"
Then you will be a convenient scapegoat for any particular calamity that occurs on the project. Performance problems, client goes out of business, server room on fire- you name it.
"If you ask me. Jack Thompson is a shining example of everything wrong with America these days (bigoted, sue-happy, uninformed but with LOUD AND STRONG OPINIONS)."
These days? Just how long have you been alive?
MBTA Lt. Sal Venturelli said police were told about the first package by a transit passenger who spotted it on a column that supports I-93. The parcel was located on an elevated structure above the bus way and below I-93 in the Charlestown section of Boston at about 8 a.m.
"This is a perfect example of our passengers taking part in Homeland Security," Venturelli said.
You know, I was thinking the same thing.
"The relocation manager tells me that whenever there is conflict between their relocation policy and the offer, their internal relocation policy supersedes."
That policy is just engineered to encourage duplicity. If it were the opposite, then people would actually have some incentive to get their shit together. I'd suggest you inform them that their internal relocation policy is superceded by your "suck my balls" policy. Alternatively, talk to your direct boss if you can. Relocations and recruitment have no real stake in your happiness since they won't ever see you again. Your boss, however, needs your expertise and goodwill. He/she will realise that being screwed on arrival is not great for the motivation. You'll also find that relocations become more and more accomodating as more people hear about the sleight-of-hand. Tread softly, however, you don't won't want to get branded as a malcontent and whinger.
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/accessories/756e/zoom/
The author himself states that usability is hard to measure, but has no problem declaring that OSS usability poor. He doesn't appear to cite any research, so is there anything more than anecdotal evidence to suggest this is the case?
I like the awesome bar's tagging and title search capability, but I think that it should be separated from the typed urls. My gripe is that tagged results aren't grouped together. I'll type in 'js ref' and get mozilla developer center at the top and 'docs.jquery.com' right at the bottom where it is hidden from view. If I just type 'ref' I see all my reference links, except for the adobe AIR site which is 2nd from the bottom and again hidden from view. There is no way to be sure that you've viewed all tagged pages unless you've scrolled through all the results in the drop down.
Specifying a special search prefix, say a '\', would solve the problem. Good searching is about what you exclude as much as what you include. However this is a single gripe in the face of quite considerable niftiness, so the ff devs certainly deserve a pat on the back. Opera (whose 9.5 beta 2 searches the contents of all history pages), solves the slashdot problem by making '/.' automatically map to slashdot.org. That was thoughtful.
Depends what your metric is for success. They took half a decade to release an OS, constantly missed their dates and produced an OS that was mediocre and poorly received. Is that successful?
You're short?
It obviously sells photos. Perhaps we can figure out what the word "manipulation" means while our photos are developed. Or is it like Getty Images?
At least at that point they've deciphered that it manipulates some kind of image, photoshop doesn't even tell you that. A program that manipulates images is more communicative than a shop for photos.
He might however remember four letter word on the splash screen and tools palette. It's what we call an acronym.
Photoshop is a brand name. It is meant to be distinctive, not descriptive. That it communicates any information at all is a result of it's pervasive use, not the information it actually imparts.
Genetics are not the only thing that cultures have in common. Social Evolution also implies that they will share whatever is adaptive. There is no particular need for many of these traits to be genetic. It would seem that incest taboos, the golden rule and reciprocity have a cultural component that is just as strong. Besides genetics only influence the most rudimentary ethical system- there is no gene for utilitarianism and nothing that will shape an opinion on stem cell research, for example. And why can't differences in genders' ethics be evolutionarily derived? Men and women have different specialisations, it follows that these different domains might require different moral schemes to maximise their utility.
"The Summit offered these CIOs to see firsthand how Microsoft is working to be a strategic partner to government and educational institutions of every size" "Offered these CIOs to see firsthand..."? I thought the great advantage of marketing droids was that they could communicate eloquently.
... it's only fair
"Then again, you could do it without telling anyone"
Then you will be a convenient scapegoat for any particular calamity that occurs on the project. Performance problems, client goes out of business, server room on fire- you name it.
I haven't seen a situation yet where buying beer is the wrong thing to do
I'll tell you when I'm 80
In every way. Apart from the computation.
"If you ask me. Jack Thompson is a shining example of everything wrong with America these days (bigoted, sue-happy, uninformed but with LOUD AND STRONG OPINIONS)." These days? Just how long have you been alive?
No, 'disbarment'. When they remove the rod that is up your ass.
What, are american computers based on trinary or something?
MBTA Lt. Sal Venturelli said police were told about the first package by a transit passenger who spotted it on a column that supports I-93. The parcel was located on an elevated structure above the bus way and below I-93 in the Charlestown section of Boston at about 8 a.m. "This is a perfect example of our passengers taking part in Homeland Security," Venturelli said.
You know, I was thinking the same thing.
You're probably just one of those people that hate Patriotism and don't want Clear Skies.
"The relocation manager tells me that whenever there is conflict between their relocation policy and the offer, their internal relocation policy supersedes." That policy is just engineered to encourage duplicity. If it were the opposite, then people would actually have some incentive to get their shit together. I'd suggest you inform them that their internal relocation policy is superceded by your "suck my balls" policy. Alternatively, talk to your direct boss if you can. Relocations and recruitment have no real stake in your happiness since they won't ever see you again. Your boss, however, needs your expertise and goodwill. He/she will realise that being screwed on arrival is not great for the motivation. You'll also find that relocations become more and more accomodating as more people hear about the sleight-of-hand. Tread softly, however, you don't won't want to get branded as a malcontent and whinger.
Well perhaps I don't want to make a comment. Didja think of that, Slashdot? Didja think of that?