Month: June 2005

Off to Gnomedex

In less than 6 hours Dickson and I will be on a plane headed for Seattle to attend Gnomedex. I’m definitely looking forward to meeting some new and interesting people, and checking out all of the cool things people are doing with blogging and podcasting. We’ve also got some time to check out Seattle and have a bit of a vacation.

We should be online much of the time, so I don’t expect we’ll be hard to get in touch with. Hey, you know me, I’m almost as addicted to being connected as I am to Coke! We’re back late on the 27th, if you’re wondering.

Microsoft's own BitTorrent

Post ImageIt seems as though Microsoft is working on a technology that is very similar to the popular BitTorrent file sharing protocol. The technology is code-named “Avalance”, and is being created by researchers at the Cambridge facility:

While Avalanche is based on a different system than BitTorrent, both are essentially used for the same purpose–to distribute large files between a number of users.

A Microsoft research paper on the technology both praises and criticizes BitTorrent: “Despite their enormous potential and popularity, existing end-system co-operative schemes such as BitTorrent, may suffer from a number of inefficiencies.” The coding system used by Avalanche, which is based on network coding, is 20 percent more efficient with downloading, according to the research paper.

While the company currently has no plans to implement the technology in any products, or to otherwise release it, you never know, it could find it’s way into something like Windows Media Player in the future. A technology like BitTorrent that includes some sort of DRM would be perfect for Microsoft to allow movie downloads right inside Windows Media Player. I wouldn’t be surprised anyway!

Read: CNET News.com

New Wheels!

Post ImageSo yesterday I mentioned that I would have a fairly big announcement! Well, as it turns out, I am a little late, but here is the announcement all the same: I got a new car! Probably not such big news for you, but definitely big news for me. The car is for me, Kim, and Tom. In theory anyway – they need to take their driver training and get their licenses, and then I’ll consider handing over the keys once in a while 😉 My Dad, Martin, will have more on that I’m sure.

The new car is a 2005 Honda Civic Reverb, which is a two-door coupe. It’s got a 1.8L engine with 115 horsepower, and it’s a five-speed manual. The Reverb package means that it has the Aero package (skirting and spoiler), a in-dash six CD changer, 15″ alloy wheels, and same colored mirrors and door handles. We also got the protection package which has a paint protector, undercoating, and scotch-guarding inside. You can see the full specs here.

Yes Megan, it has power locks. Dickson, it’s definitely not cute! I love driving a stick, so I’m very happy that it’s not an automatic. Some other cool things – the CD player plays MP3 CDs, and also has a audio jack for external devices, like my Zen Touch. The color is “Fiji Pearl Blue”, which is really nice. We definitely made a good choice on the color.

So that’s my announcement! Now I’ll always have a vehicle at my disposal, and Kim and Tom and I will have something to get around in for the next few years (thanks Mom & Dad). We took some pictures tonight, which you can see here. For now, time to sleep, if only so that I can get back to driving in the morning 🙂

Notes for 6-15-2005

Been really busy lately, so I haven’t been posting as much. Anyway, here’s some notes for today and yesterday…

  • If you want to learn more about podcasting, definitely join us for the Edmonton Podcasters Meetup on Saturday! I’m really looking forward to the event.
  • We’ve entered the testing phase of the robot creation process, so
    that’s definitely good news. Tomorrow will determine whether we’re on
    schedule or behind, but I’m pretty confident the robot can make an
    appearance on Saturday.
  • No one does steak like The Keg.
  • Welcome back to blogging Dad.

I’ve got a fairly big announcement to make tomorrow, and no it isn’t
related to the robot, but I promise it’ll be cool so watch for that.

Jacko's verdict a test for online news

Post ImageMichael Jackson was found not guilty on all counts this afternoon in what was probably one of the most anticipated verdicts in history. After seven days of deliberations, the jury in the famed trial found Michael not guilty on all ten felony counts. The reading of the verdict seemed to take quite a while, but some online news sites used the event to test new systems for getting the word out quickly:

While all the major news sites had posted word that a verdict was coming, there was a scramble to find the fastest way to deliver the news that a jury had found the “King of Pop” not guilty of all 10 charges in the closely watched child molestation case.

News sites used the event as a chance to experiment with methods of getting news out quickly. CNN.com, for example, put a scorecardlike page up ahead of the verdict, with a color-coded system in place to mark “guilty” or “not guilty,” as each juror’s specific decision was read.

To be honest, I don’t care about the trial much one way or the other. I hope that Michael stops inviting children to his house, and I hope that people leave him alone. However, considering I spend far more time online than watching TV (I really only watch sports on TV) I think it’s great that CNN, MSNBC and others are experimenting with ways to get the word out faster. Unfortunately my favorite site, Google News, didn’t fare as well:

However, in a sign that automated news sites may have some work to do to catch up with their human-powered counterparts, the Jackson verdict was not prominently featured on the Google News site several minutes after the decision was read.

I don’t see any reason that Google News can’t have a little human editing. In cases like the Michael Jackson trial, it would probably have been a good idea.

Read: CNET News.com

Notes for 6-11-2005

I’ve only done a couple of these so far, but I find that making a “notes”-like post now and then helps organize my scatterbrained mind…

  • My Dad comes into town tomorrow, for much longer this time, so that should be fun!
  • I have a ton of pictures from the various convocations over the last week. If you want a copy of the pictures on CD, please let me know so I can bring you one, or drop by the office to get one.
  • Work continues on the robot, we’re making progress. Looks like we’ll have to push back the testing day slightly, but I’m still confident we can make our target date.
  • I really enjoyed my business law class last semester, and it turns out that I am using knowledge from it already. Perhaps there is a connection between classes you like and the amount you use them!
  • Dickson is right, there is definitely some strange stuff downtown late at night.

I can’t believe we’re already almost two weeks into the month. There just isn’t enough time I tell you!

Everyone loves a good rumor!

Post ImageIn case you missed it earlier this week, Apple announced it was switching to Intel chips for it’s computers starting in 2006. That’s pretty big news for the computer industry, and as a result, it has been debated, questioned, and otherwise picked apart over the last few days. People have all sorts of questions and thus theories about what is going to happen, but one of the most extreme comes to us from Robert X. Cringely (I picked out the best quotes):

And this time, what’s behind the announcement is so baffling and staggering that it isn’t surprising that nobody has yet figured it out until now. Apple and Intel are merging.

Then what is the driving force? Microsoft.

His article is a pretty interesting read, and he does ask some great questions. Why did Apple choose Intel and not AMD? Why did they not say anything about their previous marking campaigns that said PowerPC was so much faster than Intel? I expect these questions, and many others, have good answers.

As for Apple and Intel merging to dethrone Microsoft? Not likely:

  • Microsoft has so much money, they could be a bank. Heck, they could be anything they wanted almost overnight. And keeping a lot of money has always been part of the plan – lots of cash on hand means you can weather most storms. It would take a lot, an act of epic proportions, to harm Microsoft. Apple and Intel merging is not that act.
  • Dell and HP are the companies that have the real say here. If Intel were to buy Apple, I think you’d see Dell and HP knocking on AMD’s door extremely fast. Intel would lose it’s largest customers almost immediately.
  • Even if they didn’t, what’s stopping Microsoft from buying AMD? They’ve been pretty cozy lately anyway. At the very least, Microsoft could help AMD meet production demands if current Intel customers jumped ship.
  • Intel and Apple are hardware companies. Good luck creating and supporting a mainstream operating system! Microsoft is a software company at heart, it’s what they do. They might be slow at getting things fixed, but I am willing to bet they know a lot more about it than Intel-Apple would.

Basically, I don’t see the incentive for Intel to buy Apple. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think there is a much better chance that Apple would split into two companies: one focused on computers, and one focused on media (think iPod).

Read: I, Cringely

Krispy Kreme's Canadian assets for sale

Post ImageIt seems as though Krispy Kreme is not doing so well north of the border. KremeKo Inc., which runs the franchises in Canada, announced this week that it was planning to sell off assets, just weeks after it was forced to file for bankruptcy protection:

It decided this week that the greatest value could be achieved by an asset sale. The plan has the backing of Krispy Kreme and the company’s secured creditors, including the Bank of Nova Scotia and GE Capital Canada Equipment Financing Inc., which is owed more than $3 million.

KremeKo could end up selling the business as a going concern or it could entertain offers for the rights to operate Krispy Kreme franchises in Canada.

The agreement KremeKo reached back in 2000 would have it open 32 stores in Canada by 2007, paying Krispy Kreme $40,000 USD for each one along with 4.5 percent of sales. Well, that was an optimistic agreement to say the least! By April of this year, KremeKo had closed 10 of it’s 18 stores. It was also charged in Ontario with three violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

So yeah, I hope you like your Tim Horton’s! And if you’re really addicted to Krispy Kreme or something, the phrase “get them before they’re gone” has never been more appropriate. I wouldn’t be surprised if the store in Calgary was closed by the next time I go.

Read: CBC News

Technorati Beta

Post ImageAs Steve Rubel noted, Technorati has rolled out a new public beta of their site “that’s aimed at attracting those who are not quite as familiar with blogging as some of the rest of us.” The site maintains all of the features currently available, like tags and watchlists, and adds a bunch more like improved personalization, the ability to view watchlists on the web, and more third-party tag content.

I have to admit, I rather like the new design. It definitely looks more user friendly, and does indeed do a better job of explaining just what the heck Technorati is. I don’t recall seeing the Technorati blog before, which is a really nice addition to the site. Of course green being my favorite color probably means that I am somewhat partial to the new site already 🙂

So far, searching appears to be faster too. One of my biggest complaints with Technorati right now is that a search seems to take forever to load. In the new beta though, not only does searching seem faster, but more content appears to be loaded too, like images from Flickr.

For those of you new to Technorati, it’s a great way to check out what bloggers are posting. Take a look at the new beta, and see what you think!

Read: Technorati Beta

MSN Toolbar has tabs, not IE

Post ImageOkay, let’s get something straight. Internet Explorer 6 and earlier versions do not have tabbed browsing. The recently updated MSN Toolbar does have tabs, and works inside of IE. So, Internet Explorer did not gain tabs, it gained the MSN Toolbar which has tabs. Is that clear? If I read one more article about how Internet Explorer now has tabs and they suck I am going to go crazy.

Internet Explorer 7, which is supposed to go into beta this summer, will indeed have tabs built in. And you can bet they will work a lot more like the Firefox or Opera tabs than the MSN Toolbar. Why? Because it’s integrated into the browser, it’s part of the design! Expecting the tabs in the MSN Toolbar to work better than they do is unrealistic. The toolbar is an add-on, and can only make use of what IE already has, and it doesn’t have tabs.

Glad we cleared that up!

Read: IE Blog