TECHNOLOGY: CNET 100 aka my “shopping list”

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13546_109-10244820-29.html?tag=mncol

Audio & Music

   * Amazon MP3

   * Grooveshark

   * iTunes

   * Jamendo

   * JamLegend

   * Lala

   * Last.fm

   * Nexus Radio

   * Pandora

   * Project Playlist

Browsing

   * Diigo

   * Firefox

   * Flock

   * Google Chrome

   * iGoogle

   * Internet Explorer 8

   * Maxthon

   * Opera

   * Safari

   * XMarks

Commerce

   * Amazon

   * Craigslist

   * Elance

   * Etsy

   * Eventbrite

   * PayPal

   * Woot

   * Zillow

   * ZipRealty

   * ZocDoc

Communication

   * Digsby

   * Dimdim

   * Gmail

   * Pidgin

   * Postbox

   * RingCentral

   * Skype

   * Windows Live Hotmail

   * Windows Live Messenger

   * Yahoo Messenger

Infrastructure & Storage

   * Adobe Air

   * BitTorrent

   * Carbonite

   * DropBox

   * Dropio

   * Facebook Connect

   * Mozy

   * OpenID

   * Windows Live SkyDrive

   * YouSendIt

Location-based services

   * FlightStats

   * Goog411

   * Google Earth

   * Google Maps

   * Live Search Maps

   * OpenTable

   * PolicyMap

   * Topix

   * TripIt

   * Yelp

Photo & Video

   * Amazon Video on Demand

   * Flickr

   * Hulu

   * Justin.tv

   * Photobucket

   * Picasa Web Albums

   * Picnik

   * Ustream

   * Vimeo

   * YouTube

Productivity

   * FreshBooks

   * Google Calendar

   * Google Docs

   * Intuit QuickBase

   * LogMeIn

   * Microsoft Office Live Small Business

   * Microsoft Office Live Workspace

   * Mint

   * Remember the Milk

   * Zoho

Search & Reference

   * About.com

   * Answers.com

   * Ask.com

   * eHow

   * Google

   * Live Search

   * Scour

   * WikiHow

   * Wikipedia

   * Yahoo

Social & Publishing

   * Bebo

   * Drupal

   * Facebook

   * Gaia Online

   * Hi5

   * Meebo

   * MySpace

   * StarDoll

   * Twitter

   * WordPress.com (with WordPress platform)

Editors’ Choice

   * Amazon Web Services

   * Aviary

   * Cuil

   * Evernote

   * Farecast

   * GoodGuide

   * Google Voice

   * Mobile Me

   * OAuth

   * Presently

   * Twitter Search

   * Windows Live Sync

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Posted by reinkefj

HARDWARE: Amazon’s Kindle; definitely not recommended

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/14/kindle-owners-start.html

Kindle owners start to lose text-to-speech on purchased books — how do DRM-free Kindle books work?
Posted by Cory Doctorow, May 14, 2009 5:22 AM

*** begin quote ***

I’m specifically interested because Amazon has announced a “DRM-free” version of the Kindle format and I’d love to sell my books on the platform if it’s really DRM-free. To that end, I’ve put three questions to Amazon:

1. Is there anything in the Kindle EULA that prohibits moving your purchased DRM-free Kindle files to a competing device?

2. Is there anything in the Kindle file-format (such as a patent or trade-secret) that would make it illegal to produce a Kindle format-reader or converter for a competing device?

3. What flags are in the DRM-free Kindle format, and can a DRM-free Kindle file have its features revoked after you purchase it?

*** end quote ***

Consistent with my irrational hatred for DRM. I wouldn’t by a Kindle if it was free.

Because sooner or later: DRM will bite you in the A double Q or some type of error (i.e., network, hardware, software, data) will lock you out.

Sorry, been burnt too many times.

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Posted by reinkefj

HARDWARE: Verizon MiFi 2200 Mobile Wifi Hotspot

Monday, May 18, 2009

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2009/05/13/review-verizon-mifi-2200-we-love-everything-but-the-price/#comment-440019

Review: Verizon MiFi 2200 – We love everything but the bill
by Greg Kumparak on May 13, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Short version: We’ve loved the MiFi mobile router since we first laid eyes on it back at CES. After a few days of playing with the Verizon MiFi 2200, we still love it just as much – but with one hangup: the nasty monthly bill. After a trivial hiccup with the activation, we had 4 computers up and running in minutes. Speeds in our area are about average for the local EVDO Rev-A network, and we’ve had absolutely no connectivity drops in our 2 days of testing.

*** end quote ***

Interesting to anyone who needs wifi!

*** my comment ***

It would seem that Verizon, like the other Baby Bells, has not mastered the ideas of a competitive marketplace. Hi speed, all you can eat, and long lock ins at a cheap price. Just like the cable companies who always think internet and voip are like cable tv (i.e., no big deal when you’re out of service), so to the Bells have that take it or leave it mentality with a cost plus percentage mark up that they had when they were regulated and guaranteed a obscene profit. Argh! Where are the internet innovators who will clear the debris and send these dinos to the dino rest home?

*** end quote ***

Over priced.

Not recommended!

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Report bad drivers

Saturday, May 16, 2009

http://www.emilychang.com/go/ehub/app/zapatag/

Zapatag

from eHub by Emily Chang

Report bad drivers, lousy parkers, litterers and tailgaters. Or, complement cool rides, clever vanity plates, and more. Post or search by license plate, with maps, tags, and photos. Track by location, user, or individual plate. Even post reports via Twitter! URL: Zapatag.

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Ms. Chang made my day. Report the crapy drivers! That’s something I’ll use.

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Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: Looking for a job?

Thursday, May 14, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Job Track – A Free service from EasyWebSitesToday
Posted by: “Job Track”
Mon May 11, 2009 6:33 pm (PDT)

Are you looking for a job? Do you find yourselves applying for way more jobs than ever before? Are you finding yourselves, in a situation where they are calling you 3 months after you have applied for that dream job and you are trying hard to remember, which job is this guy talking about, what is the job description, what salary did I mention to them or that they mentioned to me and what was the resume I sent to them?

If you have answered yes to any one or more of these questions, if that is any consolation. know you are not alone,

The unemployment rate in the US is right now in double-digits and it is taking a very long time to land on a job.When the phone rings, you ask who the person on the other side is, and they start asking questions about you and the job you applied for. You don’t want to miss the call or ask her to call again later, just because you do not remember, which job this is, which resume you sent and other details. You want to be prepared, ready and be able to pull up the information exactly how they pull up your information when you call.

In short, you need to keep track of your job search, like never before and for this you need JobTrack from EasyWebSitesToday.

To help you keep track of your job search and also to be able to meet some the requirements from the Dept. of Labor, we introduce a tool called JobTrack <http://jobtrack.easywebsitestoday.com/&gt;.

This tool is meant to help you to be on top of your job search, by letting you know, “what are the top five jobs that I am pursuing”, “what does my calendar look like for this week, in terms of interviews, either phone, follow-up or face to face”. When you are on the phone with an interviewer, it critical to keep all the relevant information, all on the same page, including the Job Description, the targeted resume and cover letter, the name of the HR person or the hiring manager, the notes you had jotted down about this job and all such relevant information at your finger tips.

So go ahead and sign up for this free service JobTrack<http://jobtrack.easywebsitestoday.com/&gt;, and check it out for yourselves, today!

*** end quote ***

I did. The sign up process isn’t friendly. So!

Not really ready for prime time, yet.

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Print On Demand for magazines

Monday, May 11, 2009

http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/07/cloud-computing-enterprise-technology-cio-network-cloud-computing.html?partner=technology_newsletter

Commentary
A Cloud In Every Garage
Russ Daniels, 05.07.09, 06:00 PM EDT
HP on how cloud computing can help re-ignite the global economy.

*** begin quote ***

HP has a cloud service, called MagCloud, that makes it possible for anyone to publish a professional-quality magazine and print, promote, sell and deliver it on demand. Printing on demand means no large press runs, no pre-publication expense, no waste.

By eliminating substantial pieces of the physical supply chain, we can offer professional-quality print to a mass audience while reducing the impact on the environment. The same on-demand technology can be extended to book publishing and allow individuals to print customized books, mixing their own content with that of professionals.

Looking ahead, we envision a rich ecosystem of printing services–connecting businesses to businesses and businesses to individuals–that delivers information where, when and how it’s needed.

*** end quote ***

Print On Demand for magazines?

I like POD for books. It makes the family history possible. Have to see how this is implemented and how much it costs. Niche magazines might be possible if they are built on a advertising model and if they are dirt cheap. Where will be the margin for the mission?

Reigniting the world economy?

Nah.

Cloud computing has major problems: version control; payment; and data ownership right off the top of my head.

Maybe I’m just an old fuddy duddy

Besides, connectivity to the cloud is NOT ubiquitous or cheap (i.e., free are very close to it). And the ISPs (i.e., AT&T, the Bells, Comcast, the Cable Companies) have other ideas on how they are going to keep their monopoly and monitize it. And, don’t forget how they are strangling peer 2 peer technology with caps and deep stateful packet inspection (i.e., poisoning).

No, this ain’t the Far East with big pipes to the home and “enlighted” politicial and technology leadership.

The inet may have been an American invention, but it’s going to be the Far East boom 2.0!

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Kindle DX for text books? Doesn’t make sense.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=17630

Revisiting the ROI of the Kindle DX: Why is Amazon blind to Wi-Fi?
Posted by Larry Dignan @ 2:24 am

*** begin quote ***

Amazon unveiled its much hyped Kindle DX, an e-book with a 9.7-inch screen designed to raise a ruckus in the textbook market, but delivered a $489 curve ball that seriously alters the return on investment calculation for academia.

On the surface, the argument for the Kindle DX (Techmeme) in academia holds somewhat but that price tag makes the case much harder for your average student. Amazon is asking students to learn a little about total cost of ownership over three years before they pick up a book. What is this? Enterprise software?

The Kindle DX runs you $489 as an upfront investment and the average student spends $488 on new and used course materials a year. In a nutshell, Amazon is asking the average student to fork over more money for the Kindle and then buy the textbooks too.

*** end quote ***

They’d have a better chance supporting the Open Textbook effort. That’s what student’s could afford.

Textbooks’ prices are obscene!

Even when I went to school.

No margin, no mission. I understand. BUT, (there is always a big butt), it doesn’t have to be a screw job!

Don’t forget Project Gutenberg and Google with it’s out of print books.

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Print On Demand allows the capture of “stuff” that otherwise would be lost

Saturday, May 9, 2009

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96515

POD books and information overload
Posted: April 30, 2009 1:00 am Eastern
Technology
Phil Elmore

*** begin quote ***

{Extraneous Deleted}

The fact, tenor and import of being a “published author” in the United States is changing, and changing rapidly. While anyone can be “published” on the Web, would-be writers put much more stock in hardcopy. There is something about holding a real, bound paper book that carries with it a certain weight, a certain validity – and it is this validation, this sense of accomplishment made physical, that a first-time author craves. Given how difficult it is to be selected or discovered by a traditional publishing house, a market has sprung up that serves amateur and first-time writers’ need for affirmation. It is the publish-on-demand self-publishing industry.

{Extraneous Deleted}

*** end quote ***

As a “published author”, (Yeah, two Lulu entrees, a third in queue, including my magnum opus “CHURCH 10●19●62”, and a few more on the drawing board!), I believe this “technology” allow the capture of family histories, individual interest topics, and other stuff that would be completely lost. It reminds me of the FIreFox books. Human knowledge is IMHO being lost at a huge rate. People die without having their stories “captured”. POD technology will allow that to be captured. It’s great!

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Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: domain email appears down via smtp

Friday, May 8, 2009

Need to figure out what to do when the mail client can’t seem to pull mail.

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Opened up a new email on GMail. It can’t reach imap.1and1.com or smtp.1and1.com.

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Went up on VWBBIE (Verizon Wireless Broadband)! <Why didn’t I think of that sooner?> Picked up one of the accounts but not the others. Now I’m really confused.

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ping works. everything working. confused!

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Posted by reinkefj

SERVICE: Generate random passwords

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

http://www.thebitmill.com/tools/password.html

Generate random passwords

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Posted by reinkefj

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