Ballmer On His Way Out, Surface: One More Kick At The Can

So, in a recent interview, Ballmer says Microsoft must seize crucial opportunities in cloud computing services, online subscriptions to Office, and search engine Bing. Really? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say Microsoft should have seized those opportunities, and now is in danger of losing out in those markets? I wonder if Bill Gates is disappointed in how his company has been handled by this used car salesman who latched onto him in Harvard. One can only hope the new CEO will manage to salvage what's left.

Microsoft surface/surface2: tablet or net book with touch screen? Microsoft's engineers just can't seem to get out of the laptop paradigm. The surface is supposed to be a tablet, but is it? Let's look closely at it. First off, it comes with a keyboard as a physical component of the device, not an add-on, like with most other tablets. Now, Microsoft believes this to be a positive, because business consumers want a keyboard. But the very fact that it has a keyboard takes it out of the tablet category and puts it back in the notebook/netbook category. Second, look at the OS. It's not a true mobile OS like iOS or android. It's an adaptation of a desktop OS, designed to work with a touchscreen. Another feature that takes surface out of the tablet category and puts it back into the netbook category. Hell, it even has a trackpad. If Microsoft's marketing department thinks this is what consumers want, they should do two things: look at the success of other tablets that don't have these features, and; market the surface in the netbook category. Personally, I would think the surface's dismal sales thus far should have been enough to convince them that what they think customers want is inaccurate.

~Mahalo~

WWDC MMXIII Revisited

Well, the 2013 edition of Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference has come and gone, and left us in awe. Do I have to say I want iOS7? Of course I want it. In my previous entry, I declared my faith in Jony's vision and I have to say, it wasn't misplaced. As for Tim, as I've said in the past, and it's more evident now, he's coming into his own. He's finding his footing and I think he's doing well.

So many things to blog about. From iOS7 to the new MacBook Air, to the new Mac Pro, including a wonderful quote from Phil Schiller, to wit: "Can't innovate anymore my ass". Loved it. I'm not gonna fill the page with a whole bunch of the same old pictures that every other blog is using. You've seen them, and it just slows down the page. But I'd like to discuss some of the new things we have to look forward to.

Of course, the big one: iOS7. It's flatter, it's not skeumorphic, no virtual cows or virtual trees were harmed in its creation. I can't wait to try it, but I'm not downloading the beta. That's for app developers to test their apps against to try and have their apps ready for the iOS7 launch. It's not for the average person to run on their iPhone. So while I really want it, I'll wait until it's officially released. It looks fantastic though. It's clean, it's smooth, it's functional.

~Mahalo~

What ever became of proof reading?

When I was in high school, late 80s, in English class, I remember how much the teachers back then would hammer into us the importance of spelling and grammar. Especially, they said, if any of us wanted to be journalists, or book authors or perhaps even playwrights. (At least one of you reading this will identify).  So it was that my skills and proficiency in spelling and grammar were honed. 

Now, to be fair, I had a head start. When I was around 2 or 3 years of age, my parents started teaching me the alphabet, counting to 100, basic addition and subtraction, and spelling of basic words. By the time I was old enough to enter the state-sponsored programming institution (school, for most of you), I was already at a level a grade ahead of my classmates. I could count to 100, add and subtract single digits, recite the alphabet, spell basic words and read most one and two syllable words. As my grade school career progressed, I became known as a perfect speller, almost never seeing less than 100% on a spelling test.

When I got to high school and began taking English and creative writing courses, spelling was no issue for me, and other students often turned to me for help with that. I was also quite good at spelling words that I was unfamiliar with, by sounding them out in my head, with the rules of the English language in mind, and rarely was I wrong. Grammar was second nature, especially with an English teacher who actually knew the subject well.

Now, all of this is not to toot my own horn, as the saying goes. Rather it is written here to illustrate the schooling I received, and perhaps to investigate the differences between then and now. As I read various blogs and watch vlogs, spelling and grammar issues often jump out at me, quite glaringly. With the current state of writing technology, there should be no errors. MS Office has had spell check and grammatick since before it was even packaged as Office. Mac OS and now OSX have all had equivalents for many years as well. Heck, even iOS has it on iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. Spell check, at least, and yet, I see so many spelling errors in works that were made on computers. I used to work with a guy whose spelling was atrocious, and he would ignore or deactivate the spell checker and grammatick in his copy of MS Office, even knowing full well that his spelling sucked.

Few things in the business world look less professional than incorrectly spelled signs and memos, especially with commas and apostrophes in places that don't require them. 

So why is it that so many people these days can't spell? Is it a schooling difference between then and now? Is it mass apathy? Mass dyslexia? Aspartame? (Yeah, I went there.) In this wonderful universe that we call the Internet, many people will often say things like "who cares about my spelling? It's the Internet, it doesn't matter". But here's something to think about: a) the Internet is simply the modern equivalent of newspapers and magazines (at least in regards to news and blogs), so if it mattered in those media, why wouldn't it matter now? And b) if so many people are slamming you for your spelling, clearly it does matter. Personally, when I encounter spelling errors in blogs, vlogs or news articles, it turns me off to the point that I may simply leave that page, and will certainly regard the author in a much less professional light. Not because the author may be dyslexic and I'm a bigot, but because even if you are dyslexic, or have other reading/writing disorders, that's no excuse, because the technology you're using has got your back, if you'll let it.

In closing, quick tips: use spell check; give grammatick a chance; research the differences between your and you're, there, their and they're, it's and its; and learn the rules for apostrophe usage. Trust me, it will make a difference in the level of professionalism your article, blog or book displays. Also, as an example of a grammatically incorrect sentence, take a look at this excerpt from a blog post I recently read: "As the quality of apps improved, as did the feature list of...". To be grammatically correct, that should read "As the quality of apps improved, so (or so too) did the feature list of...". I had another example in mind, but I've forgotten where it is now, so this will have to suffice for now.

~Mahalo~

WWDC MMXIII

World Wide Developers Conference 2013. It's just around the corner, slated for June 10-14. During this 5 day Apple-hosted extravaganza, it is said that Tim Cook is going to unveil plans for iOS 7, OSX, and will likely introduce a few product revamps that will launch in Oct - Nov of this year. The big, highly anticipated change to iOS is..... Drum roll please..... Flatness. What? Yes, flatness. What does that mean? Well, you know how iOS currently looks shiny, and glossy, and 3D? How the Notes app looks like a yellow legal pad, and the contacts booklet looks like a little leather notebook? These features are known as skeumorphic. It was something that Scott Forstall (recently deposed SVP in charge of iOS dev) and Steve Jobs were both fond of, but Jony Ive and Tim Cook are not. Largely because of the processing power (and therefore heat production and power consumption) needed to create these effects, but also because the market trend would seem to be leaning towards a flat UI, such as Microsoft's Metro interface, and even some of Android's recent developments.

So Jony has been tasked with developing a sleeker, flatter UI for iOS 7. I'm not yet sure I have any faith in Tim's leadership of Apple, but I do have faith in Jony's design taste. After all, it was Jony who brought us iMac, in 5 bold colours, not Steve.

Oh and apparently OSX is getting Siri.

Can't wait for it to happen so I can watch the keynote. Any thoughts?

~Mahalo~

It's Not Just Ok, It's Beyond Our Control

I'm not sure why this is coming up so much lately. I guess it's a sign of our times. Recently, a Facebook friend (yes, another one) posted a meme. It was a picture of a woman wearing rainbow stockings. Actually, the picture was mostly her legs, but it was fairly (though not completely) apparent that it was a woman. It could have been a femboy or trans, I'm sure, but that's not the point. The point of the meme was that you were supposed to 'know' that this is a woman. And the caption said "Rainbows. Not as gay as you thought". I have to admit, that gave me pause. Because here's the thing: if rainbows are 'as gay as I thought', the implication there is that this would be a bad thing. If it's bad that rainbows are representative of gay culture, then the implication goes further to suggest that being gay is a bad thing. And that bothers me.

Now, at this point, some of you reading this may be wondering "holy shit, is Destry gay/bi?". (Although there's only 4 of you reading this and you know the answer to that lol) But those of you who truly know me know that I don't just take up a fight only if I have a dog in it. I take up fights when I know it's the right thing to do. When I know, or feel, that I might be able to affect the outcome of a fight in a positive way for those affected, and I feel that it's the right thing to do, I do it. It doesn't matter if it affects me or not. It only matters insofar as it affects my sensibilities. I'm married. To a wonderful woman. So having the right to marry a man has no effect on me. But I think allowing it is the right thing to do. I believe that people are born the way they are, be that L, G, B, T, Q or hetero. I don't believe it's a 'lifestyle choice'. It's who you are. It's decided by genetics and hormones. For some people, it's not immediately apparent, and so when they finally 'come out', their friends and family might wonder why the sudden change? Not realizing that it's not a sudden change, it's just something that the person has finally come to realize, after perhaps years or even decades of introspection. It's not always immediately clear. But genetically, it's always been there.

And it's not always cut and dried either. Recently, on another blog I follow, a trans girl posted about how she hates hearing the names Ann Coulter, or Lady Gaga, because invariably, after some time, somebody will always make the joke that 'she's a guy'. Or "She's a tranny". The term 'tranny', is of course a derisive shortening of 'transexual' or 'transgender'. But the 'joke', made by these people, is that 'she's a guy'. And this trans girl writing the blog goes on to say that she can't get over the fact that these people don't understand how insulting they're being toward her and all trans persons. Because the implication is that a girl who might have a penis is a subject for ridicule. Just that fact is what makes the joke a joke.

A few decades ago, similar 'jokes' were made using racial slurs instead of sexual slurs. They're not different. They're no less offensive, no more acceptable. I think I've reached a boiling point with this sort of thing, and I think some of my 'friends' are going to start finding themselves with one less friend on their list, as I see these things continue. It may not seem like much, but it's a small contribution to the cause of defending LGBTQ rights. We all have the right to not be ridiculed for those things about ourselves which we cannot control.

~Mahalo~

H8rs gon h8 (is that how it's said?)

So, while I'm in blogging form, what's up with the Bieber hateage? I mean, hating his music is fine, we all have different preferences, but why hate him? He hasn't done anything to deserve personal hatred. He's a kid. He's a teen pop star, and good for him. He gets death threats all the time. I've seen Facebook comments talking about castrating the poor kid. Recently, I guess Justin said that he felt he was the Kurt Cobain of his generation. In response, I've seen Facebook comments to the effect of wishing he'd take that comparison all the way and off himself. Why? What has he done that is so bad that people want to castrate him, or see him take his own life the way Cobain did? I don't care for his music, but to each their own. I don't get this level of hatred for the kid.

I was young when Michael Jackson hit the solo scene, and nobody was hating on him like this. But not everybody liked his music. Britney Spears. I can't stand her or her music. But I don't wish harm upon her. I think maybe some people need to tone things down a bit. Hate his music, even hate him if he's doing or saying things you don't like. But until he commits a heinous crime, back off on wishing him harm. Seriously. Let the poor kid live his life. I know, some people are going to take exception to the phrase 'poor kid', and say sarcastic things like "oh he's got it so hard", and talk about how much money he's worth. But seriously, no amount of money is worth having to surround yourself with bodyguards because you know there are people out there who would love to kidnap you and cut your testicles off.

And that's not to mention the effect that his level of fame can have on a person with raging hormones and a still-developing mind. His recent displays of narcissism are a direct result of the fame and fortune he experienced at such a young age. With luck, time and patient parents and handlers, he'll get over it. I just hope his marketers don't just try to milk him for all he's worth and then toss him aside.

I'm tired. It's bedtime.

~Mahalo~

B-I-G-O-T-R-Y

Those of you already following this blog have seen it. Late Monday, a Facebook 'friend' responded to a post of mine with an appalling display of bigotry, the likes of which I've not seen in some time, and would hate to see any of my LGBT friends have to endure. Yes, I do have some. In this day and age, most of us do, even the bigot in question, though he's likely unaware.

Needless to say, I've removed him from my friends list and added him to my 'blocked' list. He has the dubious distinction of being the first.

The post in question was an internet 'meme', as they're known. It was a still photo of Gene Wilder in his role as Willie Wonka. In the picture, Mr Wonka has a very patronizing smile on his face, and the caption goes on to question the claim made by some people that homosexuality is unnatural. The caption disputes this by listing many other 'unnatural' things that we happily accept, like heart surgery.

I shared this meme because I agree with the sentiment and support full equality, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, religion, gender or gender/sexual orientation. I even have a bit of a 'dog in this fight' as i have family members who are openly gay. My 'friend', who shall now remain nameless as he doesn't deserve the attention, decided to educate us poor equality supporters. To wit: I'll have you know that Gene came from a time when gays were thrown in the gutter. I'm sure he was against homosexuals like anyone else. To put his face on a poster with a gay caption is an insult to him & to me...I'm hardly wrong & theres nothing to get over, but the fact that gays need to disappear fo r good!!!!

Now, nowhere was it claimed that Gene was gay, but regardless of the 'time' he was from, Gene is a progressively-minded man, and even if he does not support equality (which we don't know because he's never been asked) I'm sure he would not be insulted, in fact probably finds the meme funny.

My 'friend' went on to say "He was married to Gilda Radner & practically everyone hated gays back then. Shows how much you know about those times honey, if you were gay or even stuck up for gays you got the shit beaten out of you!!!! & I could care less if you don't like hearing it. Today if you want to be gay then get ready to take the flac that comes with the territory....SIMPLE!!!!!"; and "I could care less if you think I'm wrong, your just one person...remember there will ALWAYS be more against gays than with them...the nagging & the flac will never stop. Gays are too stupid to know that they've opened a BIG fucking wound that will never close..society will never let them live in peace....again SIMPLE!!!!"

More against than with? Hardly. If anything, studies have shown that society as a whole is becoming more accepting with each passing day. As for the rest of it, it sounds like something Strom Thurmond would say. About blacks or gays, take your pick. He was a KKK Grand Dragon, after all.

Anyway, this kind of bigotry really bothers me. Blogging is therapeutic. Comments?

~Mahalo~

Of Love And Circuses...

Love and War? Bread and Circuses? Ah, who cares? Love is a circus. Love is a rollercoaster. All you need is love. John Lennon, smart man, shot in the back, very sad. (Apologies to Judd Hirsch) Anyway, what am I babbling about? Valentine's Day Incorporated.

You all know what I mean. That one day of the year when if you don't do something for your partner, you must not love him/her. And if you don't have a partner, oh you poor, miserable, sad excuse for a human being. That one day of the year when you pay $150 for a restaurant meal that would normally have cost you $50. That one day of the year when you pay $60 for a dozen roses that would normally cost you $20 any other day. $40 for a $10 box of chocolates.

Why do we do it? I don't. I'm happily married over 2 years now, and we don't need to. If you ask us, it's the little things that matter the most anyway. Doing those little things for your spouse/partner on a daily basis shows them that you're constantly thinking about them, much more than a once-per-year box of chocolates will.

What did we do for Valentine's Day? Well, we acknowledged the day and said "Happy Valentine's Day" to each other, but that was about it. Aside from that, chinese takeout for dinner and playing on our computers. Romantic, huh?

~Mahalo~