Got Facebook? If so, join our new social group, SD Times Readers. We’d love to have you! Social networking is an interesting phenomenon. Some social networks that I belong to are super useful. Some are completely worthless. Some work great using low-tech solutions like e-mail lists. Others are thriving thanks to the latest technology. We’re […]
Coffee in California, or at least in the Bay Area, doesn’t taste right. One reason, of course, is because when I’m on the East Coast, I frequent delicious Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shops. But even when I make Dunkin’ Donuts coffee at home (we order the beans online), it doesn’t taste as good as it should. […]
This email just came in… it’s a scam. The message contains a link that looks like it’s from amazon.co.uk, but actually goes to to a doramail.com Web server that mimics the Amazon.co.uk login page. Don’t be fooled! From: “Amazon.co.uk” Subject: Amazon Marketplace Items Canceled Dear member, Per your request,your listings for the following items in […]
In a keynote address to nearly 43,000 OpenWorld attendees, Oracle Chief Executive Officer, Larry Ellison unveiled the HP Oracle Database Machine, a system designed for extreme performance data warehouses… Thus begins a press release from Oracle. I had thought about writing a blog entry that makes fun of the name, “the HP Oracle Database Machine,” […]
I’m a big fan of singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega. That meant a major disappointment last May, when she came to the IMAC Theater, within walking distance of our Huntington, N.Y., headquarters office, to kick off her most recent tour… but on a date when I couldn’t be in New York. Dang! “Tom’s Essay,” Suzanne’s blog post […]
Elation when the Large Hadron Collider went online. Sadness when a major glitch caused a helium leak, because now the system won’t be back online until the spring. The LHC is huge. I mean, I’ve toured the Stanford Linear Accelerator, which is an impresive 2 miles long. The LHC has a circumference of 17 miles. […]
My friend Phil Spiegel has written a wonderful book, entitled “Triumph Over Tyranny: The Heroic Campaigns That Saved 2,000,000 Soviet Jews.” The hardcover will come out on Oct. 10. You can pre-order the book from Amazon.com right now. In the meantime, you can check out Phil’s Web site for the book. As he writes, Shalom […]
You’d think that when an airline makes a change to your itinerary, the change would make sense. But no! Sometimes it doesn’t. Later this year, I’m making a quick trip from San Francisco to Tampa. My return flights were as follows: 1. United #1531, departs Tampa at 11:00am, arrives Denver at 1:00pm 2. United #98, […]
The Adventures of IP Man is the new comic strip put out by Broadvox, a VoIP company. Designed, of course, to promote the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol Technology, the strip is cutely drawn, but shallow and unsubtle. Our superhero, IP Man, and his simian sidekick, Metoo, take on the evil Mr. Bellhead — […]
Our conference chairman, David Rubinstein, has finished moving all the classes around, and that means that we can open registration. Hurray! SPTechCon, the SharePoint Technology Conference, will be held January 27-29, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency SFO, in Burlingame, Calif.: For three exciting days in January, you’ll be eating, drinking, sleeping, talking and living Microsoft […]
I think that’s what Microsoft wants. In any case, they are running a big promotion selling Office Ultimate 2007 for $59.95. The promotion is called “The Ultimate Steal.” The company says you can save 91% off the estimated retail price. Isn’t Microsoft against stealing software? The company goes to tremendous lengths to stop Windows XP […]
Microsoft built some great features into its Zune music player. Not enough, apparently, to break Apple’s lock on the market with the iPod product family, it’s true. However, if someone just compares the specs of current Zune hardware and software against that of the Zune, the Zune ain’t so bad. Yes, I mean the FM […]
I received this email — sent to a “bcc” distribution list — from Tom Brennan, organizer of the OWASP 2008 conference next week in New York. OWASP is the Open Web Application Security Project. The contents of the email are interesting and provocative enough to share them verbatim. (I’m not associated with the conference.) You […]
With its iPod touch 2.0, released this past week, Apple got it right. The company kept the features that worked really well with the original iPod touch, and added in some of the advances that appeared in the iPhone 3G. The major changes to the iPod touch in the second generation are: • It’s a […]
EclipseWorld has secured special rates with the Hyatt Regency Reston. Single occupancy: $239 per nightDouble occupancy: $264 per night To make your reservations online, use this link. You can also call the hotel directly at +1-703-709-1234. Be sure to identify yourself as an EclipseWorld attendee to receive the group rate! Note that this rate will […]
I’ve checked out the EclipseWorld registration database, and here are the 9 hottest classes — they’re going to fill up fast! W-2: Building Commercial-Quality Eclipse PluginsBy Eric Clayberg and Dan Rubel 103: Let Eclipse Generate Your Java System TestsBy James Hanlon 203: Become a Graphical Editing Framework Master!By Koen Aers 306: RAP or GWT: Which […]
Yesterday, Microsoft finally gave in, accepting the Unified Modeling Language and joining the Object Management Group. Microsoft wasn’t the only tools company that avoided UML, but it became the highest profile one. The modeling tools that debuted a few years ago in Visual Studio Team System used Microsoft’s own modeling system, as the compan claimed […]
Your humble blogger was a guest on a podcast hosted by Bola Rotibi, principle analyst for software delivery at MWD Advisors. Here’s how they describe this fascinating, must-listen program: In this 33’06” podcast episode Bola discusses a series of questions focused on the issue of making the right technology choices. Her guests are Alan Zeichick […]
I’m not sure what Helen is looking for…. what do you think? From: “helen kumba”Date: September 9, 2008 6:41:47 AM PDTTo: undisclosed-recipients:;Subject: Hello, Hello, My name is Helen; I am 25 years in search of a man who understands love as trust and faith rather seeing it as a way of fun always but a […]
It’s funny to see kiosks and other devices with behind-the-scenes error messages. • In-store displays that have a press-any-key-to-continue prompt (and no pointing device) • Airport flight monitors that are locked into a boot sequence • Point-of-sale systems with a Blue Screen of Death • Highway signs carrying an error message. Yesterday, the external informational […]
The case for commercial reusable software components is a strong one. Reusable components hit a real sweet spot: They solve genuine problems, whether it’s connectivity, GUI input or output controls, AJAX plumbing, reporting, data conversion, connectivity – tasks are that bread-and-butter necessities for modern applications. Sure, developers can and do write one-off code to handle […]
Yesterday, for the first time, I flew jetBlue on my regular route between San Francisco and New York’s JFK airport. I’m probably the last business traveler in America to try jetBlue. I will fly it again. My default airline has long been United. As a Premier Executive traveler with United, I’ve been immune to many […]
Son Michael has been working with the beta of Google’s new Chrome browser for Windows. Sadly, his ancient father is waiting for the Mac version to come out (there’s a sign-up box for notifications). Here’s what Offspring has to say about it: Today is the first beta release for the all-new web browser, Google Chrome. […]
The first Microsoft commercial with Jerry Seinfeld debuted today. It featured the comedian meeting up with Bill Gates at a shoe store, where they eat churros, try on shoes, and otherwise pal it up. Yes, Seinfeld is the new pitchman for Microsoft. For a reported $10 million, he’s charged with restoring the Redmond software giant’s […]
A public service announcement to my fellow computer scientists, techies and other interested parties, on behalf of the Association for Computing Machinery: ACM Bulletin Service Today’s Topic: ACM Awards Call for Nominations September 4, 2008 Each year, ACM recognizes technical and professional achievements within the computing and information technology community through its celebrated Awards Program. […]
As Penn Jillette, the magician, musician and now political commentator writes for CNN, I don’t want anyone as president who promises to take care of me. I may be stupid, but I want a chance to try to be a grown-up and take care of my family. Freedom means the freedom to be stupid, and […]
Microsoft today slashed the price of the Xbox 360 game console, which beginning on Friday will cost as little as $199. The system comes in three versions: • Xbox 360 Arcade, $199.99 — includes the console and one wireless controller, and a tiny 256MB of of flash-based storage. No headset, no network cable, no HD […]
The consulate general of Sweden kindly invited me to this seminar, but I can’t make it. Perhaps you’ll want to attend? They did say that it was okay to forward this invitation. INVITATION The Consulate General of Sweden and NASDAQ OMX invite you to attend the seminar How to Tackle A Financial Crisis: The Case […]
It came from the original Battlestar Galactica television show in the 1970s, but “frak,” as a generic swear word, is all over the delightfully reimagined series, which debuted in 2003. And according to this story on CNN, “The curse word ‘Battlestar Galactica’ created,” it’s all over everything else. As the story says, “Dilbert” creator Scott […]
Last week, I mentioned a story in the Daily Telegraph, which presented the 100 ugliest cars based on a reader poll. It turns out the the British newspaper had already done its list of “the 100 most beautiful cars of all time: Beauties and beasts” in March.On the whole, I’m pleased with their readers’ taste. […]