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October 23, 2005
Wireless Providers
Of course we are not mentioning any specific company, but let me know if this simulation reminds you of your wireless provider. In this simuation, you see someone who is trying to order a pizza.
You will need to have your speakers on and Flash enabled in your browser to view it. Click here to view.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 10:38 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Dolphins in the Bay of Fundy
A friend of mine sent me this picture she claimed to take down at the beach by our cottage.
The thing I find a little odd about it is that dolphins don't come up the bay, although we have had the odd whale a time or two. I think my friend is "putting me on" — what do you think?
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 08:45 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 22, 2005
Got something to discuss?
Try this:
1) Go to google.com
2) In the prompt, type: Steve MacLellan
3) Push the button that says "I'm feeling lucky"
When I tried it, and it instantly loaded my discussion forum in my browser.
Is that cool?
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 01:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
OpenOffice includes a Database
I am considering buying a new computer next year after Windows Vista is launched. Of course buying a new system usually means buying software for it, and I was considering the costs of Microsoft Office since this is what I currently have. Unfortunately, like my computer, it could probably stand an upgrade too, although it serves my purposes. After reading about OpenOffice now including a database in its application, it will give me reason to consider my options.
I mean... we all knew OpenOffice didn't include a database in their suite of of office tools, right?
Not so.
As quoted by eWeek writer, Lisa Vaas:
"We've always had a database element and were always surprised people didn't know it," said Louis Suarez-Potts, an OpenOffice.org community manager.
The problem wasn't that OpenOffice.org lacked a database. In fact, OpenOffice.org 1.1 supported dBASE (.dbf) databases without no additional software required. For more advanced requirements, OpenOffice.org 1.1 supported the MySQL database natively, or any database, for that matter, through ODBC and JDBC drivers.
I admit! They had me fooled. I thought the only option was to buy Star Office's database program, but I've been wrong before. The new version, according to the features listed on site says:
OpenOffice.org always had database front end tools, but in past versions they were very hidden. OpenOffice.org 2.0 starts to handle databases like any other application, i.e. a new database can be created via the "File - New" menu. For novice users OpenOffice.org provides a new Table Wizard that allows creating database tables without any knowledge of databases or SQL. The new embedded HSQLDB database engine, based on Java technology, allows creating "database documents". These simple database files don't require a back end database server like MySQL or Adabas D. All information (table definitions, data, queries, forms, reports) is stored in one XML file.
Apparently, the new stand-alone database, users can create and edit forms, reports, queries, tables, views and relations. The forms, reports and queries are stored in a single file format, allowing users to handle their databases in the same way they would handle other popular databases.
If you have tried the new database, please share your review here.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 01:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Screen grab! - Firefox Extension
Screen Grab is a Firefox extension that enables you to capture long webpages and saves them as images files. It does require Java enabled though... if you didn't have it enabled and have enabled it for this program you will notice that it takes an extra second or two for your browser to load.
Once the extension is installed you can select ScreenGrab from your right-click menu. It does a great job.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 12:32 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 21, 2005
Open Office turns 5 years old
OpenOffice is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute.
"With new features, advanced XML capabilities and native support for the OASIS Standard Open Document format, OpenOffice.org 2.0 gives users around the globe the tools to be engaged and productive members of their society."
It is reported that this is the first stable release since the new features have been added.
Have you tried it? How did you like it?
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Microsoft Phishing Filter
The Microsoft Phishing Filter which was to be included in IE 7.x will be made available for users running Windows XP SP2, but only as an add-on to the MSN Search Toolbar. Did you hear that slap?
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 11:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 20, 2005
Update your Blog From Your Cell Phone
eWeek reports that Opera has a new community site that will allow users to update their blogs from their cell phones. Apparently, the only thing you can't do is add video to your blog from your phone.
Millard said:
In creating the My Opera Community site, the browser developer will likely find itself trying to woo the same users as Flock, a forthcoming browser that is focused on providing social networking tools.
You can read the article here and if so inclined can learn more about the Flock Browser here. Flock is reported to be built on Firefox, and according to Wired News it "advertises itself as a "social browser," meaning that the application plays nicely with popular web services like Flickr, Technorati and del.icio.us
A recent BusinessWeek article (Oct 5th) claimed the browser would be released in about two weeks and says:
For one, it makes blogging a snap by eliminating the need to do arcane coding in order to post, change fonts or add photos. Right click the mouse on a Web page, and a blogging wizard comes up that automatically creates links, citations, and quotes that are ready to insert into a blog. A horizontal bar on the browser also can load photos from the photo-sharing site Flickr, so they can be simply dragged and dropped into the blog post.
If you decide to try it out, let me know how you like it.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 10:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 09, 2005
Bob Serling's new Blog
Anyone who knows of Bob Serling already knows that he is a marketing genius. There was a newsletter he published, seems to be a hundred years ago now, that was called something like "Reverse Invent Marketing"... or some similar name. Of course it really wasn't a hundred years ago. I was receiving it by the Internet. But it was in the early days...
You know, back in those days, many of us were building websites the same way. Have you ever noticed this? Website building, the construction, presentation, layout, marketing methods and general shape and form almost seem to follow a trend. I don't know who starts these, but I can tell you who finishes them.
In the mid 90's most websites were following a trend to put all the useful links they could find, related to their business theme, on their website. Most people didn't seem to question the philosophy behind this phenomenon. Bob did. He said:
Why would you want to do that? That's what search engines are for...
I scratched my head a bit; you know, not being the brightest crayon in the package, and all...
Then I removed all the other "useful" links to outside resources. Two things happened.
First, my traffic decreased.
Second, those that were visiting took more of an interest in what I was doing.
Regardless of whether you know Bob, or not, he has started a blog that you might want to bookmark in your favorites, or subscribe to his RSS feed.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 12:37 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
RE: Article Dashboard
On September 03, 2005 I posted a review of the ArticleDashobaord Script. Three script updates later, and I still have a broken script. These files are encoded so there isn't any chance to correct the errors myself.
In my humble opinion, if you are looking for an article generator script... keep looking.
Posted by Steve MacLellan at 06:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack