February 2008 Archives
I have a big problem. My brain knows how to turn off the alarm in the morning without awaking. But, fortunately, somebody discovered a solution: what I need is one math alarm, that asks a math question and just finishes ringing when the correct answer is given. Check details on this blog.
NBC is preparing a new series on Knight Rider. There was a pilot movie to check audience interest and it seems that it was a success. There is a whole sub-site on Knight Rider at NBC. There is also an entry on IMDB as can be expected.
Not I am just waiting to see this pilot movie. For now, I read some comments and people liked it. I am quite afraid of the car change. But probably being a littler higher makes it possible to hide more gadgets.
Not I am just waiting to see this pilot movie. For now, I read some comments and people liked it. I am quite afraid of the car change. But probably being a littler higher makes it possible to hide more gadgets.
The Portuguese Perl Programmers Group (also known as APPP) is preparing a new event. It will be the first Portuguese Perl Workshop. It will be held in Braga on June 6th and 7th. For now, the dates are place is decided, the conference fee is defined, and a special speaker is already confirmed. We will have brian d foy for a keynote.
As a satellite event, brian d foy will perform a training during June 4th and 5th. It will be about Intermediate Perl. If you want to have more details on the contents of this training, check the Alpaca Book table of contents (Alpaca Book is the Intermediate Perl Programming book from O'Reilly). Unfortunately this training is a little more expensive.
As a satellite event, brian d foy will perform a training during June 4th and 5th. It will be about Intermediate Perl. If you want to have more details on the contents of this training, check the Alpaca Book table of contents (Alpaca Book is the Intermediate Perl Programming book from O'Reilly). Unfortunately this training is a little more expensive.
I posted about this project before, I am almost sure. It is from two friends of mine, and is getting bigger every year.
Since February 15th, Postcrossing has a new face. It is more Web 2.0. Although I do not agree with the term (what is Web 2.0 would be a good post, but there is enough discussion about that already), Postcrossing now have a lot of dynamic content and that is normally one of the points for the definition of a Web 2.0 website.
What I want with this post is to present you again this nice project. Visit it, subscribe to it, and share postcards!
Since February 15th, Postcrossing has a new face. It is more Web 2.0. Although I do not agree with the term (what is Web 2.0 would be a good post, but there is enough discussion about that already), Postcrossing now have a lot of dynamic content and that is normally one of the points for the definition of a Web 2.0 website.
What I want with this post is to present you again this nice project. Visit it, subscribe to it, and share postcards!
Optimus Maximus is a very interesting and expensive keyboard. Although there are rumors and details about it for a long time, just in the last week it started shipping.
What makes Optimus Maximus so expensive is that each key is 48x48 pixel led. It can render different colors, and any picture you want. This is kind of cool. For instance, I use my macbook pro with the US keyboard layout to be able to program quicker (for instance, Perl uses a lot of strange symbols), and I use the PT keyboard layout to be able to write correct Portuguese texts. This being said, Optimus Maximus is able to render the correct keyboard layout at each time.
Another interesting feature, is that it is possible to render bigger images. You know, like a video-wall, each key can show a part of the big picture. You can see the configuration operation at engadget.
Now, I just need to spend 370 euros... or not.
What makes Optimus Maximus so expensive is that each key is 48x48 pixel led. It can render different colors, and any picture you want. This is kind of cool. For instance, I use my macbook pro with the US keyboard layout to be able to program quicker (for instance, Perl uses a lot of strange symbols), and I use the PT keyboard layout to be able to write correct Portuguese texts. This being said, Optimus Maximus is able to render the correct keyboard layout at each time.
Another interesting feature, is that it is possible to render bigger images. You know, like a video-wall, each key can show a part of the big picture. You can see the configuration operation at engadget.
Now, I just need to spend 370 euros... or not.
Apple released these days an update for the MacBook Pro keyboard firmware. The first thing that the Software Update system says is that it will download a package to update the keyboard firmware and will run it automatically. The good thing is that it says that it will download the package to the Utilities folder under the Applications folder. Why is that a good thing? Because the Software Update system did not run the keyboard firmware updater.
Thus, closed the software update tool, and run manually the package to update the keyboard firmware. When running, it says to close all applications running and save all your work, because during the update process the keyboard will not work. That is a good thing that it warns about that. Because after entering the administrator password the system... crashed. Kernel Panic. You know, the gray screen of death. After a reboot the update process run without problems.
Now I just would like to know what is the difference. What does this firmware have that the previous one did not have?
Thus, closed the software update tool, and run manually the package to update the keyboard firmware. When running, it says to close all applications running and save all your work, because during the update process the keyboard will not work. That is a good thing that it warns about that. Because after entering the administrator password the system... crashed. Kernel Panic. You know, the gray screen of death. After a reboot the update process run without problems.
Now I just would like to know what is the difference. What does this firmware have that the previous one did not have?
Gorillapod is a pod for your camera (photo or video camera). But it is a special pod, because you can wrap the legs around most anything. It is not much expensive, it is light and comes in three models. One for compact cameras, one for big digital cameras or SLRs, and one for camcorders and cameras with zoom lenses. In any case, for my Canon S2 IS I need the model for big digital cameras (weight above 300gr). I just think it is a little big for transportation. I need to think if I will buy it or not...
For more details, check JOBY webpage.
For more details, check JOBY webpage.
This post title is a Portuguese idiomatic expressions that means something like "unthinkable". It is my new Portuguese blog title: Não lembra nem ao Diabo!
Microsot Office 2008 for the Mac was out about a month ago, together with MacBook Air. I have it installed in my Leopard and I should say it is a little better on UI than the previous version. Unfortunately, but as habitual, this release is full of bugs. It starts with saving problems (with Excel issuing a Not Enough Memory when saving a file in my MacBook Pro with 4GB) continuing with saving problems (with Excel not saving data on some cells), continuing with behavior problems (like its integration with Spaces).
I just hope Apple releases a new version of Leopard with fixes for Spaces, and hope Microsot follows with improvements for Office 2008.
I just hope Apple releases a new version of Leopard with fixes for Spaces, and hope Microsot follows with improvements for Office 2008.
I am using VMWare Fusion on my MacBook Pro, and it is rocking. The first operating system I tried was Windows XP. It was fantastic. VMWare asked for the Windows Serial Code, and answered automatically to all configuration questions made by the Windows installer. After that, the possibility to unite desktops, and have Windows windows in your MacOS desktop is just amazing. Unfortunately not all were roses. I had a lot of trouble configuring the network on Windows, but after some issues it is working reasonably well.
I did some other experiences: Solaris 10 and FreeBSD. Unfortunately Solaris started doing too much questions, and I didn't really need it. So, I forgot it. With FreeBSD it seemed much like Linux some years ago. Too much questions, too much tricky menus hierarchy. I know F. You will say it is like that, it is not for newbies, and all that wonderful things about FreeBSD. I just didn't like it.
Today I installed Arch Linux. Although being a linux not directly supported by VMWare the installation was quite smooth and it is working quite well. I know Arch Linux has some configuration issues as well, but I am used to them.
I did some other experiences: Solaris 10 and FreeBSD. Unfortunately Solaris started doing too much questions, and I didn't really need it. So, I forgot it. With FreeBSD it seemed much like Linux some years ago. Too much questions, too much tricky menus hierarchy. I know F. You will say it is like that, it is not for newbies, and all that wonderful things about FreeBSD. I just didn't like it.
Today I installed Arch Linux. Although being a linux not directly supported by VMWare the installation was quite smooth and it is working quite well. I know Arch Linux has some configuration issues as well, but I am used to them.
As you might know, I am working on my PhD. In fact, I am finishing it in some weeks (I hope). Unfortunately I got an inspiration break. I can't just write a decent sentence.
Anybody knows where can I buy some?
Anybody knows where can I buy some?
For a long time that I spent hours (OK, some minutes) looking to the gadgets and T-Shirts from Thinkgeek. Finally, there is an alternative in Europe. It does not have so variety like Thinkgeek, but it is a good start. It's name is getDigital.
This is not a brilliant movie. Jet Li and Jason Statham being the two main actors promise a lot of action and shoot. WAR have all of this, and a lot of blood. The story is more or less good, although there are some similarities with other movie (Lucky Number Slevin) and if I recall correctly I liked more the other one.
This one have something different... and do not continue reading as it contains spoilers... well, I am used to have Jason Statham being the good guy. So, the final of WAR was not much of what I was expecting. OK, it is the correct end for THIS movie. But I did not like it much. Specially because there is not much information during the movie to conclude this end.
This one have something different... and do not continue reading as it contains spoilers... well, I am used to have Jason Statham being the good guy. So, the final of WAR was not much of what I was expecting. OK, it is the correct end for THIS movie. But I did not like it much. Specially because there is not much information during the movie to conclude this end.
At the beginning it was Orkut (well, at least for me). Then it was invaded by Brazilians, and people insisted that Hi5 was a little better. Now people use FaceBook. Then, there is LinkedIn as a social network for co-workers. If you use Doppler to take track of your friends trips, you need to specify a new social network. Last.fm have the same concept of friends and neighbors. Flickr has it as well.
So, at a glance, there are more than a dozen of web 2.0 applications that insist on building your social networks.
I think it is time for a meta-Social network. A simple web-site, with simple user ids and basic data, that can be queried by all the other applications using some kind of web services. Thus, we can invite our friends just once, instead of spamming them with invitations.
So, at a glance, there are more than a dozen of web 2.0 applications that insist on building your social networks.
I think it is time for a meta-Social network. A simple web-site, with simple user ids and basic data, that can be queried by all the other applications using some kind of web services. Thus, we can invite our friends just once, instead of spamming them with invitations.
