Veign's Blog - Unhandled Perception

Friday, June 30, 2006

Top 10 Coolest Designer Gadgets

A transparent toaster, now that's cool.

How to turn a disposable camera into a permanent one

Ten Dollar Digital Camera: "Turn a 'disposable' 10 dollar digital camera from RitzCamera, CVS, or Walgreens into one you can use over and over, just like a normal digital camera."

Link:
http://...TenDollarDigitalCamera

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Microsoft's Office 2007 hits snag

Microsoft's Office 2007 hits snag: "Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it would delay the release of its Office business software suite, citing 'product performance' issues."

MS delay a product release? No, that never happens!

Take the 2007 Microsoft Office release out for a test drive

Take the 2007 Microsoft Office release out for a test drive so you don't have to worry about the huge download and the installation of beta software (which does who knows what to your computer). Microsoft has made an online version available so you can get a sneak peek at the next Office version.

Link;
http://.../office/preview/beta/testdrive.mspx

The big Google list

Google has its hands in so many cookie jars it hard to keep up. Here is a little cheat sheet of some of Google's offerings.

Labels: google

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 is now out to give it a test drive.

What New:
Internet Explorer 7 Beta 3 is now available for download and includes improvements in reliability, compatibility, user features, and security. Although Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 was layout complete, based on our customers’ feedback, we’ve made some additional changes to the look and feel of the browser. Beta 3 allows users to add the e-mail button back to the toolbar, enables users to reorder the tabs by dragging them to the left or right, and enables horizontal scrolling while zooming.
To improve the RSS experience, Internet Explorer 7 now allows users to update all their RSS feeds automatically. In addition, the user has more control in marking their RSS feeds as "READ."
Beta 2 testing has helped us improve compatibility with websites and web applications in Beta 3. Internet Explorer 7 reliability has improved in Beta 3 as several layout-rendering bugs have been fixed as well.
In addition, Beta 3 contains all the security fixes addressed in the June Internet Explorer Security Bulletin MS06-021.

Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Digital Locker

Digital Locker is a new way to try, buy, and manage software from a single location, Windows Marketplace. Could be interesting, but how does one get the registration codes for the software? Is MS going to manage this aspect with the software vendors?

Link:
http://www.windowsmarketplacelabs.com/

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Silk Icons

Silk Icons

Nice looking icons for either web development and application development.

Link:
http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/silk/

SoonR?

"SoonR is the only service that enables standard mobile phones to use the applications on PCs in an optimized way. Desktop Search, Outlook, Skype, and the files on desktop computer(s) are made available anywhere you are and even when your computer is turned off*. Any phone with data access becomes a smart phone."

Link:
http://www.soonr.com/web/front/home.jsp

Monday, June 26, 2006

Top CSS Layout Download Sites, Hacks, Galleries and Tricks

Some nicely grouped CSS sites. Categories include:

Download CSS Layouts
Create a Layout via a Web Form
Visit Layout Galleries. Be Inspired.
CSS Articles, Hacks, Tricks and Tutorials
Back to Basics : Full CSS Tutorials
Mailing List
Official CSS2 Specification
CSS Properties Reference
Printable CSS Cheatsheet
Validate your CSS file
Tweak Your CSS file
Check Top Links

Link:
http://.../top-css-layouts-downloads-hacks-galleries-tricks.html

Oh, and check out the CSS Printable Quick Reference Guide I created:
http://www.veign.com/blog/2006/05/css3-preview.html

FEBE Firefox Extension

FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your Firefox extensions. In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild your extensions individually into installable .xpi files. Now you can easily synchronize your office and home browsers.

Link:
http://.../extensions/febe/febe.html

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Windows Installer CleanUp Utility: "With the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, you can remove a program's Windows Installer configuration information. You may want to remove the Windows Installer configuration information for your program if you experience installation (Setup) problems."

How To Make Winamp Sound Better

Google Operating System: How To Make Winamp Sound Better: "These tips will make your Winamp play music louder and with higher fidelity without buying a new sound card, like Creative SoundBlaster."

Its free so it doesn't hurt to try it...

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Choosing an open source CMS

Choosing an open source CMS: "There are a lot of CMS choices -- Drupal, Mambo, Bricolage, WordPress, and Plone are some of the most recognizable names. While they all perform the same basic functions, you have to pick only one. How do you do it?"

Link:
http://internet.newsforge.com/...

One massive database of boardgames

BoardGameGeek: "BoardGameGeek is a completely free online resource for learning about, discussing, buying, selling, and trading board games."

Link:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/

Saturday, June 24, 2006

WinFS R.I.P

Read on

Claria Says to Uninstall its Adware (GAIN / Gator)

Claria Says to Uninstall its Adware: "Adware company Claria this week took the unusual step of telling users to uninstall its software, following through on a promise to exit the adware business in order to focus on personalized search. Claria says it will stop sending pop-up ads to users' computers on July 1."

One down, many to go...

Using Gmail as Your Universal Email Account

You can setup Gmail to check and manage all your other email accounts, even from your hosted domain or ISP. Check out the article on Google Tutor on how to accomplish this.

Link:
http://.../using-gmail-as-your-universal-email-account/

Website Design and development in South Carolina

Website Design and development in South Carolina
is a website I put up to showcase various techniques that are being used as flavor-of-the-week design elements. See the reflection on the images? Those are dynamically generated from Javascript. Click the image. That is also Javascript.

I will be adding some other elements over time but wanted to get something up quickly to get indexed in Google.

Link:
http://website-design-south-carolina.com/

New Device Zaps Migraines

New Device Zaps Migraines on Yahoo! News: "A magnetic pulse technique originally developed to treat psychological disorders like depression has been modified to zap away migraines before they can fully form."

I suffer from migraines and the pain can be so bad at times its hard to describe to someone who has never had one. Its just not like a normal headache. For me there is nothing that can help once one starts and I just try to get to sleep as soon as possible by taking Melatonin and Nyquil.

Friday, June 23, 2006

Former Playboy Playmate Stephanie Adams vs. BlogNYC

Former Playboy Playmate Stephanie Adams vs. BlogNYC: "Stephanie Adams"

How many brain cells is this chick operating on? I mean trying to bully a blogger and think it will get her anywhere except looking like a little cry-baby.

Will people never learn not to mess with 'the blog' as only bad can come out of it...

Butterfly from American Express

Butterfly is a sleek new credit card from American Express.

Microsoft Personal Storage Manager

Microsoft Personal Storage Manager: "Microsoft Personal Storage Manager is a free power toy for Windows that provides an easy to work with personal storage devices. With a seamless explorer like interface the tool allows you to drag your files (music, documents and more) to and from the device. It furthermore allows you to create a secured password protected section on the device for storing files you do not want to fall into the wrong hands if you lose the device. Even if your device is lost, the tool allows you to save your address, email or phone on the device so when someone finds the device they can contact you and bring it back. Lastly, the tool enables you to synchronize the content of the device with your computer enabling users that roam between computers to always have their important data up to date."

Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Alphabet Evolution

Whatch as our alphabet evolves from its earliest form

Kinda interesting...

It a big, big, big world

Really puts things in perspective as to the size of Earth as compared to other celestial bodies. Never knew how big things can be.

Yahoo! Mindset hits the mark

Yahoo! Mindset brings a slightly new way to present the results of a search by allowing you to adjust the results based on the question of 'why am I searching for this'. What they do is give you a slider high up on the results page that lets you adjust between Shopping and Researching.

Does need some work as some of the results in the #1 spot are questionable.

Link:
http://mindset.research.yahoo.com/search.php?p=shakespeare

I'm not the only one who thinks ThinkAll is doing a bad, bad thing

Check out this site. Another happy customer, yeah right...

Link:
http://thinkallsucks.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The Genographic Project

The Genographic Project: "Your results will reveal your deep ancestry along a single line of direct descent (paternal or maternal) and show the migration paths they followed thousands of years ago. Your results will also place you on a particular branch of the human family tree. Some anthropological stories are more detailed than others, depending upon the lineage you belong to. For example, if you are of African descent, your results will show the initial movements of your ancestors on the African continent, but will not reflect most of the migrations that have occurred within the past 10,000 years. Your individual results may confirm your expectations of what you believe your deep ancestry to be, or you may be surprised to learn a new story about your genetic background."

This is a cool idea but think it will be lacking much information because of the $99 cost to get your DNA into the database and analyzed. With that kind of price tag I think most people just won't do it...

Veign on Rocketboom!

I love it. Amanda Congdon wearing a Veign shirt on Rocketboom.

Link:
http://www.rocketboom.com/.../rb_06_jun_20.html

In case you want a shirt of your own (not like anybody would but what the hell):
http://www.cafepress.com/veign

Labels: bigtime, veign

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

A couple tools to stream video from your website

Online FLV Players (free):
http://www.flvplayer.com/

Riva FLV Encoder (free):
http://www.rivavx.com/index.php?encoder&amp;amp;L=3

Young FrankenSteve

Young FrankenSteve is a satire taken from Young Frankstein starring Gene Wilder.

This is just too funny...

Link:
http://www.videosift.com/siftoff/story.php?id=2577

File this under no way in hell

Animated Shark Stereogram: There is no way in the world that I would be able to see this. I can't get a still one to work.

How it all works

Good luck!

Way too many video viewing websites

Musical chairs for the video sites: "The number of YouTube-like services now stands at a staggering 173 - and in April alone 3 outfits got $30 million in funding. Who will survive?"

Opera 9 released

Opera 9 was released today.

Features:

Bit Torrent
Content Blocking
Site Preferences
Thumbnail Preview
Widgets
Improved Rich Text Editing

More features...
http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/

Link:
http://www.opera.com

Monday, June 19, 2006

Ferrari: 0 - 60 in.......never

Ananova - Student knits her own Ferrari: "Art graduate Lauren Porter knitted a Ferrari sportscar for her honours degree at Bath Spa University."

Pretty good area code map

LincMad's 2005 Area Code Map

Might be a out of date but will do the trick for me.

Be a better web designer

A couple of articles on becoming a better web designer. Both, 50 ways to become a better web designer and 5 steps to building a better website, are good reads.

50 ways to become a better web designer:
http://.../50_ways_to_become_a_better_designer

5 steps to building a better website:
http://www.project83.com/weblog/?p=9

Sunday, June 18, 2006

20 Great Low-Cost Utilities

Might be able to find a couple useful tools in a recent article from PC World about some low-cost or free utilities for general PC maintance.

Link:
http://pcworld.com.../0,aid,126037,00.asp

A website can grab the contents of your clipboard from IE

Check it out here:
http://www.jerryandmissy.com/work/clipboard.htm

Friday, June 16, 2006

There's a 9-Letter word that remains a valid word as Each Letter is Removed

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Language (Nine Letters): "The English language has at least one nine-letter word that remains a valid word as each of its letters is successively removed. "

Can you come up with it? If not click the link.

Amazon.com Grocery

Something just doesn't seem right buying Groceries from Amazaon. In my mind Amazon will always be the place to buy books, not groceries. Not so much a grocery store as a bulk ware house like Costco or Sams Club.

60 pack of cereals in a cup - More like what I would end up buying.

Top 10 Strangest Computer Setups

Top 10 Strangest Computer Setups

Too cool...

Keeping your email a secret using encryption

Lifehacker has a pretty good article on how to encrypt your email. I'm not sure I have ever sent an encrypted email. If the information is that sensitive that it needs encryption I never felt email was the way to go.

Just in case you use Gmail and want to encrypt than check out the Gmail Encrypt script from Greasemonkey (Firefox users only).

Microsoft Location Finder for Windows Live Local

Microsoft Location Finder is a application that turns a regular WiFi enabled laptop, Tablet or PC into a location determining device without the addition of any separate hardware. Basically it looks up your IP and shows your location on Windows Live Local. Really amazing how many of these little tools Microsoft has - just have to look through their downloads.

Link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...

Thursday, June 15, 2006

An Inside View From a Google Employee

An Inside View From a Google Employee is a pretty interesting read about some of the ways that Google thinks and operates. The one thing that I think is appearent with a company like Google is that they know how to bring out the best in people.

Bill Gates to Leave Microsoft in 2 Years

Bill Gates to Leave Microsoft in 2 Years: "Microsoft chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates announced in a press conference Thursday afternoon that he would be shifting priorities, leaving his full-time position at Microsoft in two years to focus his efforts on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation."

Now where's my resume...

Great Ideas That Have Changed Gaming Forever

Great Ideas That Have Changed Gaming Forever: "a game designer comes up with a fantastic concept that engages the player -- and influences the work of other designers."

Netscape changes its face

Netscape.com is currently is beta in what appears to be a Digg clone. Better late than never to the party I guess. Even more reason for Digg to upgrade to a version that deals with non-tech news too.

As of this post the top story on the new Netscape.com website is 'AOL Copies Digg'. Off to a good start.

Link:
http://www.beta.netscape.com/

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Cooliris could make browsing easier

Not sure if I beleive that statement but Cooliris does add some functionality to Firefox that some people will find useful. Cooliris is a set of free browser extensions that give you the power to quickly preview the underlying content of links without clicking. Simply rest your mouse over a link and see the content immediately.

Link:
http://www.cooliris.com/

Bringing Microsoft Windows programs to Linux and Mac!

Alkyproject.com - bringing Microsoft Windows programs to Linux and Mac!: "Alky (pronounced 'AL-KEE') is a tool that allows you to convert a Windows executable to a Mac OS X or Linux binary. We are focused on high-end gaming at the moment, though we will support other applications in the future."

Hmm...

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

ThrillKill for Sony Playstation

ThrillKill for the playstation was one violent game. Check out some other games that never came to be.

Addressing Email Loss with SureMail

Addressing Email Loss with SureMail: "A system that augments the existing SMTP-based email system with a notification overlay to make intended recipients aware of email they might be missing."

Another project being worked on at Microsoft Research. This one is something I have much interest in as it seems weekly I am sending out followup email asking clients if things had been received.

Email is an area where there can be much improvement. Just think of all the cool things that could be done with email besides eliminating spam without making things more of a burden on the sender.

Google Earth 4 (beta)

Google Earth is one of those applications that I just enjoy playing with. From looking around the world exploring a bit to locating a place to eat or stay in a town I have never been. This is probably one of the coolest 'toys' that Google has ever released.
(I'm still waiting for Google Universe)

Whats New in the version:

Cleaner, simpler user interface
Textured images for their 3D building feature
Load locations through the KML file format
Improved terrain

Link:
http://earth.google.com/earth4.html

Monday, June 12, 2006

New brand for Microsoft: ForeFront

Microsoft ForeFront: "Microsoft Forefront is a comprehensive line of business security products providing greater protection and control through integration with your existing IT infrastructure and through simplified deployment, management, and analysis. The Microsoft Forefront line of business security products helps provide protection for the client machines, server applications and the network edge."

Windows Vista Beta: A lot like Mac OS X

Windows Vista Beta: A lot like Mac OS X: "After playing around with my newly-installed copy of Windows Vista Beta 2 for a couple of hours, the thought that kept popping up in my head over and over again like a persistent mole was: 'Wow, that's a lot like the Mac.'"

Isn't that Microsoft's motto: We're alot like [fill in the blank].

Goodbye eBay, here comes GBuy

Goodbye eBay, here comes GBuy: "Google is preparing to launch a system for handling online transactions.

It is yet another small step for Google, on its road to world domination. Welcome to our new overlord.

While some wires are reporting that Google’s GBuy system is set for release on June 28th. Others have it on June 25th."

Does anyone really have any doubt that Google will put its hands into anything and everything online? When will we see Google PayPal?

Powerpoint: Compress and Optimize Presentations (ppt) to Decrease Size

Powerpoint: Compress and Optimize Presentations (ppt) to Decrease Size: "Powerpoint will save pictures in a poorly compressed format by default. By asking powerpoint to compress these pictures, you can optimize your presentations more efficently. With this decreased size you can email them and transport them easily."

Sunday, June 11, 2006

The power is in the extensions

"Mozilla's open-source solution, called Firefox, has made significant inroads into the browser market. Handy extra features are part of the reason for its growing success, as is the continual supply of third-party add-ons."

Best Firefox exntensions Volumes I, II, and III

What about:

Have a favorite not listed?

Friday, June 09, 2006

A superthin, superlight flat screen

A superthin, superlight flat screen: "Toronto-based electronics company, iFire, has created a new phosphor-based form of flat-panel high-definition television that they say is a 'true hang on the wall.'

Their 37-inch HDTV set is two-centimeters thick and weighs less than 2.2 pounds."

No Fix for Critical Windows 98, Me Flaw

BetaNews | No Fix for Critical Windows 98, Me Flaw: "Microsoft has encountered a critical vulnerability in Windows 98, 98 SE and Windows Me that it simply cannot fix, the company acknowledged Friday. The flaw affects Windows Explorer and after investigating the issue, Microsoft said it would need to reengineer a significant amount of the operating system."

People, update to XP already. Come on!

Windows Vista Beta 2 Download Available

Windows Vista Beta 2 Download Available

Or At the Source

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/preview.mspx

Online newsletter service

Constant Contact provides a solid solution for sending and managing a newsletter. I was looking for a solution for a couple of my clients and ended settling on this as the best choice for the job.

Try and let me know what you think.

This could be the ultra-portable computer for me

New UltraPortable Notebook, Ultraportable Laptop Computer: "The UltraPortable Notebook has a design that defines style. Coming in at 3.15 pounds and less than 1' thin,¹ this slim and lightweight notebook features a tough exterior and is built with durability and ergonomics in mind."

I need to do a little more in-depth review of it but from the first quick glance it seems to be everything I was looking for and the price is right.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Sync your Firefox settings via Google

Sync your Firefox settings via Google: "Google Labs releases the Google Sync Firefox extension, which saves your browser's cookies, passwords, bookmarks, history and current list of open tabs to your Google account and downloads them to any other Firefox-runnin' Google Sync-enabled computer you use so you can 'take your browser with you.'"

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Don't fall for the scam of ThinkAll when there is TheOpenCD

Don't fall for the scam that is Thinkall when there is something like TheOpenCD is around to bring the freeware to you in a single download.

TheOpenCD includes:

Productivity

AbiWord 2.4.1
MoinMoin 1.3.4
OpenOffice.org 2.0
PDFCreator 0.8.1 RC9

Design

Blender 2.37a
GIMP 2.2.9
NVU 1.0

Internet/Networking

Firefox 1.5 RC2
Thunderbird 1.5 RC1
Gaim 1.5

Multimedia

Audacity 1.2.3
Celestia 1.3.2
Really Slick Screensavers

Utilities

7-zip 4.23
Notepad2 1.0.12

Games

Sokoban 1.253
Battle for Wesnoth 1.0.1

Link:
http://theopencd.org/

If that's not enough for you check out my ThinkAll software download alternatives.

Winamp v5.23 released.

New version of Winamp

Lots of fixes!

Sony VAIO UMPC

What is going with these companies thinking people will spend $1,700+ for a glorified media player? I thought the price range for the UMPC market was in the $500 - $1000 range? So much for that.

At least this one has a keyboard (thumb keyboard) unlike the Samsung Q1.

Pre-order now from Amazon and save $0.01!

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/.../102-6798564-6883328?n=541966

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

What happens when you drink Pepsi and then eat Mentos?

Pepsi girl -Google Video

Microsoft Releases Business Antivirus

Microsoft Releases Business Antivirus: "Antigen for Exchange integrates into Exchange Server 2003 and 2000 to stop viruses and other malicious content from reaching a corporate network, as well as containing internal outbreaks. Antigen for SMTP Gateways provides similar features for Windows Server systems running a mail server."

You know what's funny. I remember Ballmer saying that we (Microsoft) will never get into the Antivirus game and try and compete with Norton.

Inside Google Spreadsheets

Inside Google Spreadsheets: "Google spreadsheets works quite smoothly. There were no noticeable lags in-between editing, and the multi-user editing is superb (and somewhat similar to Writely). The look and feel is that of Excel, but Google-branded and webified. There are less icons, less menu entries, and there is also only the most needed functionality."

Link:
http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2006-06-06-n86.html

Monday, June 05, 2006

Google Ride Finder

Never heard of Google Ride Finder before. Just can't keep up with Google and the new things.

Link:
http://labs.google.com/ridefinder

Google Spreadsheet is on its way

Google Spreadsheet is coming. Another tool that Google could use to acquire more data.

Watch for it here:
http://labs.google.com/

Yeah, but can it help reduce the price of gas

Unraveling toughest puzzle outstanding: "Two Chinese mathematicians, Zhu Xiping and Cao Huaidong, have put the final pieces together in the solution to the puzzle that has perplexed scientists around the globe for more than a century."

Really, this is so far over my head I can't even comprehend why or what significance it has.

Link:
http://...content_4644754.htm

Sunday, June 04, 2006

McDonald's gets a makeover

McDonald's Tricky Makeover: "McDonald's has decided to embrace a contemporary design for its restaurants. This will be the first time in three decades that McDonald's is undertaking such a huge redesign of its 30,000 restaurants worldwide."

Did you see the hidden scene in X-Men 3?

You had to stay through the entire credits to see a hidden scene that lasts about 10 seconds long. If you missed it then you missed a shocking twist that has to do with the movie.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Ultraportables, Tablets, or Thin Portables

Ultraportables:
http://laptopmag.com/Tools/Guide/Notebooks/ultraportables.asp

Tablets:
http://laptopmag.com/Tools/Guide/Notebooks/tablet-pcs.asp

Thin Portables:
http://laptopmag.com/Tools/Guide/Notebooks/thin-light.asp

Something I have been investigating for a long time and still as unsure now as I was before on what direction to go. I want power, ultra-portability, ease-of-use, and low cost - is that so much to ask for?

Friday, June 02, 2006

Laptop Theft Exposes 243k Credit Cards

Laptop Theft Exposes 243k Credit Cards: "The theft of a laptop out of a car of an Ernst & Young employee's car has turned into a massive data breach affecting hundreds of thousands of users of the travel-booking site Hotels.com. Altogether, the names and credit card data of some 243,000 customers have been compromised."

Amazing how careless someone would be with such valuable information like that. Not encrypted. Why?

Reason I think banks or someone needs to come up with a one-time use credit card for online purchases. Basically I would log into my online bank account and request a credit card number to use for an online purchase (this number is tied indirectly to my base credit card number - known only to my bank and me). Then after a single transaction is made against that number it becomes invalid for any other transactions. The process is transparent to the person with the card as all transactions hit against the base card number and the merchant has no idea since it processes like any other card.

Thursday, June 01, 2006

20 Things You Won't Like About Windows Vista

20 Things You Won't Like About Windows Vista: "Business and home users will be nonplussed by the blizzard of protect-you-from-yourself password-entry and 'Continue' boxes required by the User Account Controls feature, for example. Networking functions and settings are scattered all over the place. The same is true of what Windows XP calls Display Properties. By default, the main menus (you know, File, Edit, View, etc.) are turned off on Windows Vista folders, Internet Explorer 7 and several other programs and utilities that come with Vista."

Have they gone too far away from the power user to make things easier for the mom and pop user?

Alienware: Aurora ALX Desktop

Alienware: ALX Desktop is one ass-kicking system. I am sure glad I never really got into gaming, besides MAME, because I would never be able to afford to keep up with the technology.

Is it worth it?

Keyboard shortcuts for every Google webapp

Smallwire » Keyboard shortcuts for every Google webapp