PS You’re still a towel.

Macworld, as in Macworld Magazine and Macworld Expo, is spelled as I have it. Macworld Expo is like Mecca, but for Mac users. It’s the ultimate event in the Mac universe. Given that fact, why is it so god damned hard to spell it right?

I’ve noticed two groups are the worst offenders, or at least get under my skin the most: vendors sending out promotional emails and Mac news outlets and blogs. The two most common misspellings are MacWorld and Mac World. Let me tell you something guys, it’s your responsibility to at least be able to spell the name of the event.

The news sites/blogs are the worst because they act as authoritative sources about Mac culture and information. How am I supposed to take your predictions and prognostications seriously when you don’t even spell it right. No matter how hard I try to displace my thoughts, all those articles end up looking like:

At teh MacWorld expo I preedict the AWEsome iPhone!!11!!!!!11!!

So please, I beg of the Mac community: spell it right. Don’t look like an idiot. Don’t make us all look like idiots.

They don’t have a domain that’s dedicated to mailing lists, so the addresses are productname-talk@barebones.com. I’m also a compulsive filer, so I apply labels to these messages for quick manipulation. One label is “mailing lists”. Rather than map email “To:” each of these email addresses, I’ve been using the fact that filters work on a contains instead of match basis to simplify. For the longest time a filter that looked for “To: talk@barebones.com” worked perfectly. It’s suddenly stopped working. It’s now an exact match.

Dear Google,

Don’t change filter behavior without notifying your users and giving them an alternative method to attain the same functionality.

Thanks,
Derik

Here’s the wacky part. If you filter based upon an email string with nothing preceding the at sign, such as “@barebones.com”, the filter becomes a contain based filter. Ugh. Say it with me: inconsistent.

I was willing to cut Google some slack with their filters and the fact that it can’t filter based on arbitrary headers (like the list headers that most mailing lists slap on for easy filtering). It’s annoying, but something I could live with. Now the filters are essentially useless. Why? It’s not hard to implement powerful, flexible filters. As accurate and fast as their search is, I still want to organize my email to help prune. It makes the results more manageable. It’s almost as if Google is intentionally trying make its filters impotent to the point that users have to stop using it, at which point, Google can axe it completely.

12:11:04 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dlong
12:11:08 AM mmskmmskmmsk: get the fuck outta here
12:11:16 AM mmskmmskmmsk: posting garbage on digg
12:11:24 AM mmskmmskmmsk: trying to promote your own shitty site
12:11:44 AM mmskmmskmmsk: like you broke a story or something
12:11:48 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you didnt break shit
12:12:00 AM mmskmmskmmsk: the article on that site was not proven fake
12:12:11 AM dbasstard: oh, you’re an ewoky guy!
Changed status to Online (12:12:11 AM)
12:12:12 AM mmskmmskmmsk: so stop trying to get press off it like you owned them
12:12:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: nope
12:12:24 AM mmskmmskmmsk: but ive followed this since last night
12:12:34 AM mmskmmskmmsk: and you’re acting like a retard trying to cash in
12:12:51 AM dbasstard: so, is it Chris? or Lethal?
12:13:00 AM dbasstard: why are you so obsessed about this?
12:13:05 AM mmskmmskmmsk: because you are
12:13:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: because you’re trying to fuck up someones site
12:13:21 AM mmskmmskmmsk: the shit was explained
12:13:29 AM mmskmmskmmsk: but no, you had to go and fuck with them
12:13:30 AM dbasstard: no, I’m pointing out a fraudulent article
12:13:38 AM mmskmmskmmsk: no you’re not
12:13:41 AM mmskmmskmmsk: it wasnt proven
12:13:45 AM mmskmmskmmsk: its speculation
12:13:50 AM dbasstard: dude, I wrote to Apple
12:13:58 AM mmskmmskmmsk: and why are you on it anyway? bored? no real news to report?
12:13:59 AM dbasstard: it was fraudulent
12:14:03 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you suck as a reporter
12:14:09 AM mmskmmskmmsk: prove it then
12:14:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you suck as a journalist
12:14:27 AM mmskmmskmmsk: be a man
12:14:30 AM dbasstard: how would you like it proven?
12:14:30 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dont be a girl
12:14:38 AM mmskmmskmmsk: actual evidence
12:14:43 AM dbasstard: like what?
12:14:51 AM mmskmmskmmsk: fuck you anyway, your article will die soon
12:14:56 AM dbasstard: besides the email from Apple PR?
12:15:03 AM mmskmmskmmsk: fucking wannabe reporter
12:15:06 AM mmskmmskmmsk: watch your back
12:15:10 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dont fuck with people asshole
12:15:14 AM mmskmmskmmsk: warning u
Changed status to Offline (12:15:20 AM)

Real mature.

I don’t normally expect visitors on a Saturday unannounced. Further, I don’t get packages. When I got to my front door, it was a Comcast employee. He warmed up by asking if I had Verizon home phone service. Well, seeing as I don’t like getting taken advantage of, the answer is no. He then asked me if I had a home phone. It’s clear where he was going, so I played along. Yes, I have internet phone service (Vonage in particular). He guessed that it was Vonage.

He then told me that Comcast offered the same service, but with better quality. That could be, but I haven’t had any issues. He then told me that Vonage uses their pipes (that’s not a quote, I don’t remember the exact phrasing) and that they allowed that, but they could shut them off at any time. For $8/month more than what I’m currently paying, I’d get a phone line through them and I’d get digital cable with a free year of Starz and HBO.

If I dropped Vonage, I would save money. However, I like the portability of being able to bring my box anywhere with me. When I go to Macworld Expo in San Francisco next year, being able to bring my phone with me will be a big bonus. Plus, I plan on spending a good amount of time at my parents’ fancy new house in Maine. I can’t do that with Comcast.

I’m sure you’re brain is bubbling, or you may be even screaming. Why haven’t I said anything about Comcast basically telling me that they could shut off Vonage whenever they want? Well, that’s because I wanted to get the other stuff out of the way first.

Pay attention boys and girls: this is Net Neutrality hitting home. Comcast threatened to degrade my independent internet phone service to the point of being shutoff in order to promote their own service. That internet connection they supply is for my use and what I choose to do with it is my business. If I want to use Vonage, I can use Vonage. The day they lock me out of it is the day they lose me as a customer. It’s unacceptable.

However, I think it’s all bark. The real question is do I want to pay $8 for an extra phone line, digital cable, and some premium channels. I think I might.

Given, it’s lumped in with those mass mailers that clog my mailbox, but it’s getting sent directly to my house. They proclaim in big proud letters:

The limitless fiber-optic power of Verizon FiOS Internet is now here.

Am I interested? You bet. Inevitably, their address checker proclaims me ineligible. After getting the 20th advertisement, I decided I wanted to find out why Verizon was taunting me. I got back this response:

Thank you for contacting the Verizon eCenter. My name is [deleted], and I will be handling your request today.

This message is in response to your email dated September 20, 2006. You inquired about receiving advertisements for FiOS through the mail. I understand your concern and I will be happy to assist you.

I apologize for any misunderstanding. Unfortunately, we do not have the capability of pre-qualifying all of our customers lines for FiOS service before sending out the advertisements for our products and services. Our advertisements include the disclaimer that states that Verizon FiOS/DSL Internet Service is provided by Verizon Online and is not available in all areas. Service availability is subject to final confirmation by Verizon.

At this time we do not have a date when FiOS will be available.

Verizon continues to work to provide FiOS access to as many customers as possible. So, while you may not qualify for high-speed Internet access from Verizon today, it is possible that you could be able to receive it in the future as the technologies improve.

If you haven’t already done so, you may check the availability of Verizon Fios any time you wish at:

         http://www.verizon.net/fios

Simply enter your telephone number in the space provided. If FiOS is not available, you will have the option of requesting an email notification when it is available.

It has been my goal today to address and clarify your concerns related to Fios service availability. I hope I have succeeded in meeting that goal. In the meantime, if you have any other questions, please let us know. We look forward to serving you.

Thank you for using Verizon. We appreciate your business.

Pleasant enough, so I can’t fault them for that. However, the line “Unfortunately, we do not have the capability of pre-qualifying all of our customers lines for FiOS service before sending out the advertisements for our products and services.” is bunk. They can automatically supply that information using the database linked to their website.

Naturally, perhaps the advertising company they’ve hired just blankets areas, but that’s a problem they are completely in control of. They could market more accurately.

Could I just ignore it? Sure, but the fact is that very rarely am I interested in things I get in the mail. The one time I’m interested in buying the product I get jerked around. Bah.

Without further ado, here is the info to join up.

Go to Yahoo’s Football Pick’em page. You’ll need a Yahoo! account.

Once there, choose to join a private group.

Group ID: 31839
Password: sharpie

I hope you all join.

Hopefully I’ll come across as insightful. I’ll try to post the link once it appears on the website.

Update: The article is up. The print version lacked my picture. I don’t know why, but I’ll suggest it’s because I’m so attractive.

The Day Job

I’ve been involved in a task that’s rather new to me, high pressure, and interesting. Overall I’m enjoying it, but it’s still soaking up my free time.

Softball to the Face

I managed to take a softball to the face 2.5 weeks ago. I was wearing my glasses and as a result, I managed to shift my nose over. I didn’t feel any pain and the initial swelling hid the fact that my nose became crooked. I had a nose bleed, but it went away quickly, so I didn’t get it looked at immediately.

Once I found out if it was fractured, I signed up for surgery I underwent Wednesday. My phobia of needles nearly made me faint as they put in the IV. Luckily, I didn’t and moments after they started pumping drugs into me, I was out. They straightened my nose and now I’m in a good deal of pain. I went to work Thursday, which was a total mistake, but the new task was acting rather needy. Luckily, my real coworkers could tell I wasn’t doing well and told me to go home.

I’m taking this week off, so I should be normal again by the time I go to work.

MacUser, Gadgetbox, and iPod Case Reviews

MacUser, Gadgetbox, and iPod case reviews for Playlist Mag are fast becoming more than a part time job.

After blogging on the former two sites, it’s usually just too late for me to do it here. I miss it. I have a bit more freedom here and I’m not really obligated to find a picture to go with my posts, which takes up a surprising amount of time.

Nintendo DS Lite

I bought a Nintendo DS Lite and I love it. I got the New Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart DS, Brain Age, and Zelda: the Minnish Cap. If you have Mario Kart DS, let me know. I want to play you.

The Future

I want to resume normal posting, but it’s all time dependent. I get a surprising number of compliments from people that I contact for MacUser on this site and it’s made me realize that I was building a readership that’s likely rather disappointed I went on such a long hiatus. It’s time I returned.

Hacking the firmware to coerce a Mac into booting Windows took a little while, but it wasn’t really all that complicated. However, putting money into a development staff for Windows drivers is quite an expensive proposition and it goes to show Apple’s commitment to leverage the move to x86 to their full benefit. They can easily scoop up fence sitters that afraid of losing the ability to run Windows.

It’s a bold move and I’m a fan.

Anywho’s, Saturday night about 3am I signed up to Vonage after my friend d00d (hi d00d!) sent me an invitation to try it out.

[Via bored. beyond. belief.]

This is just more backup that the telcos have something to fear, and it ain’t Skype.

Bias

Perhaps the most famous of the VOIP services is Skype. It’s been gaining steadily in popularity for several reasons. First, it allows free calls between users. Because there is no service charge, big savings can be had. Second, the application to use the service is cross platform. Finally, the cost to call a regular phone or have a regular phone number attached to your account is very inexpensive. That’s built a rather rabid fan base.

That base can’t just like the service, they have to see it as numero uno. Witness Skype Journal’s latest rant against Vonage. Here’s the quick summary: Vonage’s business plan sucks. I guess the waiting to be bought out by eBay strategy is the way to go (witness the dot com bubble burst). Considering the title of the website, isn’t the analysis just a little biased? Maybe?

Reason

The big reason there hasn’t been a massive exodus to VOIP is that people don’t like change. The question you have to ask yourself is whether your grandmother could adapt easily. With Skype, that answer is a resounding no. Being tied to the computer sucks (headsets don’t really alleviate the situation). On the other hand, your grandmother is already familiar with the phone. This is where Vonage is going to stick it to Skype time and time again. Phones have become so ingrained in our culture that they’ve become transparent technology. That’s what gets the masses excited.

Another issue to the billing. Unlimited plans are still very popular, even in cases where metered may actually be much more cost effective. People will put up with the higher flat fee because with it comes peace of mind. It just feels good to know that you don’t need to monitor your own usage. People have had enough of that with traditional telcos.

Mom and Dad

I’ve been using Vonage as my phone service ever since I bought my townhouse. I’ve been so happy that I sold my parents on it. It was an easy sell for many reasons. However, the easiest way to grasp it is to look at it from my parents’ perspective.

1. The equipment isn’t changing in the house. In that regard, nothing is changing.
2. They get unlimited local and long distance.
3. They get free caller ID, voicemail (with web access), and call forwarding to their cell phones.
4. They get a portable device that lets them bring their phone with them anywhere.
5. Their bill drops from $33/month to $25/month.
6. They get to keep their phone number.

Compare that with Skype and it becomes abundantly clear why Skype isn’t a real phone replacement and why serious adoption is going to hover way out of their reach. It simply doesn’t offer the features that will ease the transition to VOIP. It’s more of a stark slap in the face that will appeal to few besides the young and the technophiles. Vonage has the right idea and it’s time Skype recognized, especially if they really want to assert market dominance.

If you’re thinking about getting Vonage, drop me a line either in the comments or using the contact form. I can send you a referral that will get me a couple months of free service. Thanks!

Edit: Doh. Higher is better. I’m a moron.

Apparently, I’m much more popular than Mike, sitting pretty at 530,545.

Booya.

Jade Hansen wrote:
We came across your web log regarding our Morf Ball. We are sorry to hear of the trouble you encountered with it leaking. As a result, we’d love to send you a complimentary Cyber Gel Squeeze Ball, our other popular stress reliever. Rest assured, this item will not explode or leak. Please provide us with your shipping address, and I will have them sent out to you ASAP.

Website: handstands.com

Naturally I’ll take them up on the offer. This is a new level of customer service. Not only are they going to replace a product, but they searched me out. Take a look at their site and order anything that catches your eye.

Honestly, I could not see a downside to this arrangement (paranoid delusions are not considered). Most college students don’t want to fiddle with email client configuration. A webmail interface is perfect for campus wide availability. The over 2 gigabytes of storage space works great for students to send files back and forth on a regular basis. Because it’s maintained by Google, it also means it’ll be available to students even after they graduate. And yes, I am still a little bitter that U-Mass is too damn cheap to give lifetime email addresses to graduates.

Apparently, this arrangement is a beta test of sorts. Google followed that announcement up with a small testing program for others to host the email for a domain. Not only do they supply Gmail accounts, but they supply an administrative interface for the owner of that domain. That’s pretty slick and considering the apparent price (free), a pretty good deal.

I’m going to try it out for the domain I set up for my family as ideally, I’d like them all using Gmail because otherwise, I have a feeling they’ll constantly change email address as well as lose their emails. Should I get picked, I’ll share my experiences, but I expect they’ll be positive.

Now, that’s not to say that Netflix is perfect. I’ve had a few broken/scratched discs and sometimes they can’t find discs I’ve returned until I report them missing (then they turn up that afternoon). Overall, I’m a very satisfied customer and I don’t feel like they’re restricting my use. Rather, I tend “throttle” (slow usage) myself because I’m too busy to watch that many movies. I’ve done the analysis and I’m getting good value out of my account.

For some real Netflix analysis though, I’d check out Mike’s Netflix analysis though it hasn’t been updated in a little while. Update: Look at the power I yield, Mike updated his graph. It’s far more complete than Manuel’s anecdotal account of Netflix quality. On an up note, if our society has progressed to the point where this becomes the main concern for someone, we’re doing pretty good.

Yahoo

I finally got into Yahoo’s Mail Beta program a week or two ago. It mirrors traditional desktop email clients, allowing drag and drop among other things. It also unclutters the interface (which is simply atrocious). They finally prioritize actions that users really do use instead of things that they want to promote.

As a bonus, it works in recent Gecko browsers and Windows IE. Safari and Opera are left out in the cold for now.

Microsoft

As part of Microsoft’s new “Live” offerings, their webmail beta also adopts the traditional desktop interface, very comparable to Yahoo’s version. However, instead of having the message listing sitting above the preview pane, it’s to the right of it. That’s great for widescreen users, but I don’t like it. I like windows that are more square. Also the revamp feels very slight as far as rethinking the interface. It still uses tabs for things other than email itself.

In typical Microsoft style, it only works in the very latest IE for Windows.

The Revolution is Next Week

All in all, I’m not terribly impressed with either beta. They both adopt the traditional desktop interface, which although is nice for consistency, doesn’t really compel me to move over to their system. That’s only really useful if I use the webmail interface primarily, but if I do, why not use an honest to goodness desktop client? The desktop client will even handle offline situations. Emulating current conventions isn’t going to get me (or most users) to switch.

On the other hand, Gmail gives me pause because it presents an entirely new way of looking at things that I don’t get in a desktop client. Add that to the slick interface, and that’s why I still wrestle with the idea of moving to Gmail.

“Hey, could you either attribute my photo or take it off your site?” (My site address was given.)

“What photo?”

“The one hosted on my site.”

“Huh?”

“This one, dumbass.”

“Huh?”

“Go to hell.”