Archive for the 'Software' category
The Washington Post has an article on how macs and linux machines are now being used as bots in botnets. Being a big mac fan and owner, this is very saddening. Even though I knew it would some day be published publicly that this could and would occur.
The redeeming point here is that the hackers used an inherent flaw not in the linux or mac OSX operating systems, but in the PHP programming language installed on most if not all Linux boxes and Macs.
See the article here.
Categories: Software, Links
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I had an epiphany this morning while reaading a ZDNet article this morning about the Powerpoint notes that were “acccidentally” left in a published presentation at Google’s Analyst Day a few weeks ago. The notes focus on plans Google has for the future - how they are going to expand/improve their existing services, add new services, and expand into existing areas in which they don’t currently…. dabble.
The thing that stuck out most to me is that none of the plans were that groundbreaking or new. In the small amount of time I’ve spent thinking about where Google is planning to go, I’ve thought of many of the things listed as future plans. I’m not trying to toot my own horn though, quite the opposite in fact.
The epiphany I had, though I’ve heard it a number of times, is that ideas/insight/foreknowledge, whatever you want to call it, are something everyone has(well almost everyone), either by our mind’s amazing analytical abilities, given by Divine Providence, or by some combination of both. What we do with those ideas is a whole different world. The transition from idea or insight into action and success in any aspect of life is what distinguishes us. Me having some of the same insights into the search industry as Google is like a windless sail, a good idea, but useless on its own.
Google is a great example of this. They were one of the latest entries to the internet search world, and in fact, they entered it at a point when the general consensus was that search wasn’t a valid business model. Their difference was that they, like many others before them, knew that search could be a valid model even if the current market didn’t suggest so. What differentiated them was their actions; they took the inherently great idea of being able to effecitvely search the internet and MADE the idea work as a business model. Even when others said it wouldn’t. They created technology that actually searched the interent amazingly well, created a relevence based advertising model that was unheard of, then went out and made believers out of everyone. Even those who said search was dead. I realize I’m simplifying the situation and probably not giving enough respect to Google’s accomplishments, but the idea stands - having ideas doesn’t make us great, making those ideas reality does.
Our own personal efforts in every area of our life are what will distiguish us, having ideas or insight doesn’t do anything for us other than make us realize our wasted potential if we don’t act on them.
P.S. Google’s story also illustrates the idea that if you build something of value that people want to use, believe it or not, they’ll use it. And hopefully make you piles and piles upon piles of cash by using it, just kidding. But seriously though… hopefully.
Categories: Software, Life in General
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I was talking with my friend Adam (not roommate Adam, another one) the other day after church and had an interesting conversation on why writing is so useful to anyone. Adam is currently writing a book and has good insight into writing as more than just a means of communication.
As we were talking, I mentioned that I usually have a number of topics/problems that I am thinking about at any one time and I always have trouble nailing down conclusions about these topics without writing down and drawing out in words/diagrams the issue I am trying to tackle.
Writing my ideas and difficulties solidifies what I know and don’t know about a particular problem and seems to psychologically free my mind. I don’t have to preserve what I know because it is all written down. My mind is free to move on to the next level of analysis of the topic, knowing that any conclusions I have already come to are safe and secure in written format.
Adam said he will start writing sometimes and just burn through a section of the book without stopping to figure out the details. It’s ok though as long as he gets down what his mind is churning out at the moment. He can always go back through and use what is already written as a mental reminder to add additional detail, direction and analysis.
This is why most writers go through a huge number of drafts before publishing any sort of work. It is also the reason why so many blog posts (including my own) are so mediocre. They don’t go through multiple iterations; they’re just brain dumps. In addition, this process is complimentary to the way our brains work and fuels innovation for any endeavor, whether it is writing a book or designing the functionality of a new software. And we all thought our high school teachers were just being mean when asking us to turn in our rough drafts.
Inspiration: Conversation with Adam
Categories: Software, writing
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Most everything I write about or think about is just a synthesis of inspiration from other sources/people/ideas. I have very few (if any) truly original ideas. I have been trying to think of a good way recently to give credit where credit is due without cluttering up my writing with all sorts of contextual information. To do this, I’ve decided to start putting a short list of inspirations after posts.
The types of things I will most likely just put links to articles, ideas, people, and places that served as inspiration. For offline inspiration, I’ll probably just figure out some way to do a shout-out to those involved in the inspiration. Kind of like a ghetto bibliography. This way I can track my sources of inspiration for my own purposes as well as give readers access to information they may find helpful, while giving a simple thank you to everything/one that inspires me.
Categories: Software, Life in General, writing
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I was reading about MIT’s SIMPLICITY project this morning and being that I am in the process of designing some software that I am trying to keep simple, I was was thoroughly entranced by the conclusions, or laws of simplicity, they are coming to about design and what makes good, simple design. John Maeda, one of the project’s heads, explains the first law of simplicity.
A complex system of many functions can be simplified by carefully grouping related functions.
He uses the various iterations of the ipod as an analogy of how to carefully group related functions and how when grouping functions, it is possible to oversimplify to the point that the functions lose their individual identities and threfore their individual functionality.
His insight is giving me a whole new direction in my efforts to not only decide what to include in this software, but also how to present the functionality in a way that my carefully selected features retain their individual identities and therefore, individual funtionality and benefit.
Categories: Software
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Our minds only have so much ability to readily store information and my mind has so decided that it will have no part of everyday events, where I put my keys/wallet/phone, mundane occurances, things you put on to-do lists, important dates etc… My mind just isn’t any good at remembering this sort of thing. It’s not knowing when things are or what they are about that is the problem, I can list off the birthdays of family/friends, but when it comes down to the day, I will forget to call the person every time. It is this type of thing that has gotten me into trouble in school, at work, with family, with friends, and even with significant others.
So, as an effort to help others that may be in the same boat as I am when it comes to everday things and as a way for me to express my love for intangible objects, I present my personal lifehacks. A list of software that I love (yes love) because it enhances my life, it makes me a better person, makes others like me more, and most importantly, allows me to do and manage many more things in my life than I otherwise would be able to.
I personally vouch for and use regularly everything listed here to make my life better, which when it really comes down to it, is what all software really *should* do. Also they are all web-based or can be web-based, which means you can just use them from your web browser at home, work, or anywhere else.
- Backpack - This is a lifesaver. If it weren’t for Backpack, no idea I ever have would ever be remembered nor would I ever get anything done. A company called 37signals makes it. I use it to make to-do lists, manage work projects, send reminders to myself and generally manage information. I have pages for all the different subjects I’m thinking about and projects I’m working on and everytime I have a thought on a subject, I just add it to the corresponding page. The coolest feature though is text message reminders. You can set reminders (such as Mom’s Birthday) and the software will send a text message to your phone with the reminder on the date and time you specify. This has saved my butt a number of times. I set up reminders for everything from birthdays to picking up milk. They offer free accounts, but I use the $5 a month plan, which is well worth the upgrade.
- JumpBid - A guy from my work made this. I just started using it, but I can already see how it is going to be extremely useful. What it does is search ebay for you and then send you a text message and/or email to inform you when items that fit your criteria come up. For example you can create a search for Apple Powerbooks with less than 1 hour remaining and are currently priced between 1000 and 1300 dollars. Everytime any items on ebay fit your criteria, you get an email and/or text message. Best part about it is it’s free (thanks Wayne).
- Del.icio.us - I’ve always been annoyed by having my bookmarks tied to my computer. I would add a bookmark at work and then not have it on my computer at home. Also, I always have trouble remembering which folder I put the bookmark in. Del.icio.us solves this. I just add bookmarks to my del.icio.us account and can view them from any computer, anywhere. So the next time I want to show a friend a great article I found online, but don’t have my computer with me, I can just login and share the wealth. It also uses tags rather than folders, so I can assign multiple descriptors to a bookmark. You can also subscribe to RSS feeds of friend’s del.icio.us accounts so that everytime they add a bookmark to their account, you get notified.
- RSS feeds - Not really a software, but a technology. Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds are like automatic updaters for Web sites. so when a Web site adds a new article or a blog adds a new post, the RSS feed updates and you are updated through an RSS reader. There are a number of RSS readers out there. I recommend NetNewswire for Macs, Feedreader for PC’s and NewsGator as a Web-based reader. Once you have an RSS reader, you need to subscribe to the feeds that you want to be updated on. To subscribe to RSS feeds, look for
 logos on Web sites. For more information see Wikipedia’s entry on RSS.
- Google Alerts - A great way to keep up-to-date on happenings in the news. You enter search terms and anytime those search terms show up in a news article, Google sends you an email. Very cool way to keep up on current events. It is especially good for obscure topics that may not make it onto the front pages of news sites. Go to Google News and click on News Alerts on the left.
- Wikipedia - The online, free encyclopedia. Just as good as any printed encyclopedia, but free. Also it tends to be more up-to-date since it gets updated on a regular basis. Also has tons of subjects that would never make it into a printed encyclopedia.
So there you have it. Software that makes my life better. If anyone wants to start using any of these and needs help, feel free to let me know.
Categories: Software
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