Opinion Road

Google Reader iPhone App: problems

The Google Reader iPhone App (or any reader application for that matter) and Desktop Readers are the types of interfaces [and if not the model for those] that will eventually the replace age-old practise of scanning broadsheet newspapers, the writing for which is already on the wall.  This makes these types of UIs crucial in [...]

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GMail - too much space is never enough

What a full GMail inbox looks like I always wondered what GMail would do if, and whatsmore if I even could, reach/ed the capacity of my GMail account.  Well, as if to prove one of the corollary of Parkinson’s Law, today I discovered the limit of GMail’s patience with by hammering it (as an ‘email mule’) [...]

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How not to write a job posting

I keep an eye on the job market, just so I know who’s hiring, what they’re hiring for, and where I fit in with my current skills. I don’t read postings on monster.com or anything like that, I just keep up with a few choice job boards. After reading some well-written postings, it’s easy to [...]

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Shaking the phone: a disturbing trend

I have recently noticed a disturbing trend start to develop in iPhone apps. It’s the “shake the phone to refresh” interaction model (a.k.a. the “Etch A Sketch” interaction model). The worst culprit is the Facebook app which requires the user to shake the phone to see their friends’ latest updates. To any iPhone developers out there, [...]

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Tracking ADSL Data Usage (Bandwidth) on iiNet

Recommended software: iiUsage For those of use below the equator (where data allowances are still measured and capped), monitoring bandwidth usage is usually a case of logging into to ISP control panel page.  iiNet, for example, have Toolbox - a reasonable utility, but a pain to login if all you want to know is our current [...]

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Proof that Outlook 2007 is a Resource Hog

Having recently doubled my PC memory, I was not surprsied to find that running five fat (’phat’?) applications at the same was a lot less painful with less need for the OS to use virtual memory (virutal RAM at a snails pace via your hard disk). However, upon returning to my computer today, I was suprised [...]

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Stealth Bomber or Motorcycle?

Clearly they can’t decide Only in America In July 2009, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first flight of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which occurred on July 17, 1989. As a visual centerpiece of its year-long celebration of this milestone, Northrop Grumman, the Air Force’s [...]

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Philips Ultra-Widescreen 21:9 Cinema LCD

Can you imagine? … Letterbox bars on the side! “Ridiculously wide” is right.  It doesn’t even seem right 2.40:1 - wow.  Whilst Philips continue to make very poorly constructed products (IMHO), they certainly haven’t stopped innovating - my hats off too them. Philips Ultra-Widescreen 21:9 Cinema LCD Moves the Letterbox Bars To the Side - Gizmodo Australia.

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Steve Jobs away from Apple until June 2009

In the article “Steve Jobs taking leave from Apple due to complex health issues” at AppleInsider.com, Steve writes “I’ve have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations” What are they running over there, a 7-Eleven or something?!  This is the single biggest problem with Apple  - too much reliance on a [...]

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Microsoft Windows 7: One Edition

Okay, so it’s going to be a “solid build” - good - we wouldn’t want a wobbly build!  However, what we’re all wanting to hear from Microsoft is confirmation that there will only be ONE product: One Edition, not Six Microsoft - please - not this again.  Just one edition “Windows 7″ - simple, clean.  If you [...]

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