IE9 Beta Released.. XP Users left out and ignored

So, a new browser for Microsoft. The (browser) war is not over it seems. FF, Chrome look out. Microsoft running after their rivals. When I had my first pc13 years ago (I had to beg my mom), I was running Netscape as browser for crying out loud. I switched to IE after a few months. Click inside IE9

In the meantime, Here are 12 Things You Need To Know About IE9 And part of that is the sucky news that XP users cannot download, will not be able to get the new browser because it's exclusive to windows 7 and Vista. Aw. majority of people still uses XP you know. All right. I know it's slowly dying and it's probably the way they want so that people will leave the ageing OS.

Okay so XP is becoming obselete? will be extinct? is an antique? cannot support acceleration and HTML5?

As I'm running my PC using XP prof, and will not be able to download the new browser, I will just try it on with another pc that is running windows 7. I have to buy one first. I'm content with my XP. I never even dared getting a Vista. FF, Chrome, running perfectly.

I don't want to be left out with technology but I'm still happy with my XP and my 3 browsers. Yes, I'm running different browsers . I'll have windows 7 machine. but 'll stick with FF as browser.

iPad Launched....for the rich

Ready for take of...sales. iPad hits stores in the US. The techies embracing it. So what's the use of iPod, and iPhone and netbooks and laptops and mobile phones that can connect to the web? Are we supposed to carry a bond paper size er, like tabloid size techie tablet just to be hip?

I wish Steve Jobs and those geniuses at Apple can give us product to help better the lives of the poor instead of enriching the already well to do who can afford to waste $$$$ for their gadgets.

In other words create a product that we majority can afford to buy. Here in this country, if you own any Apple product.. you're a Mac fanatic and you speak of money. It's a status symbol. That's a fact.

Bill Gates 2.0. and our 'Windows' to his.. life

Hello World... Hello Bill Gates. Microsoft founder just joined the Twitterati Twitterverse (@billgates). Woah and when tweeps found out immediately.. in just a several hours the number followng has grown to is 281,651 and counting. He returned to Facebook(.com/billgates) too.

Well.. I guess he's worth.. blogging. He created the OS that majority of people still use.

And speaking of joining, on this day five years ago January 01, 2005.. I signed up with web 2.0. pioneer Flickr.

Friendster was the one who (correct me if I'm wrong) pioneered and elevate what is social networking now. I remember everybody was crazy about that site so much so that in our school some years ago, it was banned and we couldn't go to the internet lab and browse through the site.

I remember Napster too. Who doesn't? and the fall from grace. And going back further.. back in the late 90's.. ICQ and YM msnger was the way to keep up and chat with friends.

Reminiscing..he he...yeah, I'm ancient already =)

Hello Windows 7

Oh yeah, sweet. Microsoft's new OS Windows 7 has now been officially launched. If you buy new computers it comes pre loaded with the new OS. I can't wait to get a new one. I'd just as well get a new one rather than be all flustered with upgrading my current pc with XP Professional to the new Windows7. I'd keep this baby of mine though. Parting is such a sweet sorrow so I'll keep ya. But (hopefully) gonna buy new one before the year ends. I don't know when computer stores here will have the new Windows 7. I don't live in the US.

I've been been saving for a Macbook Pro with the Snow Leopard (cause I wanna try. I'm not an elitist though. Hardly one. Barely) but I figured, I only use the 'net for blogging and browsing and being a voyeur of anything and everything. A mac would be a waste.

Okay Windows 7 you win. See ya when I visit computer shops.

Guides and reviews about Windows7

A Windows to help you forget- WSJ. This is the review of Walter Mossberg. Btw... to help forget Vista. (I've never had to.. so I dunno)
10 Things you need to know before moving to windows 7- CW
Five Reasons Windows XP Has a Year to Live-PC world

Microblogging Iran, Flickr..ing the Scenes, You Tube the Events and Posting on Facebook

What would those generation T (as in technology savvy) young mostly affluent people do without the social networking sites and microblogging tools? They be out on the streets together with the others protesting in more than 140 characters of invectives.

Tweeting Iran: Elex New in 140 characters or less (AP/Yahoo)
Noise Filter: Iranian Election Dispute (WHIR)

The little man (because he is...in height), re elected president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would face even more riots and possible revolt (is it possible in a country Like Iran?) er, maybe tech revolt?

People should do tweet on the whereabouts of Al Qaeda leaders or the super recluse North Korea or what's going on in Afghanistan.

Geek in the Blog

Microsoft unveiling it's new OS Windows 7 (build7100). I blogged about this some time in February and mentioned how it has so many editions: starter, home basic, home premium, professional, enterprise and the ultimate. Whew. Pick one there.

Anyway, Windows 7 RC (release candidate) available now for download but will expire 2010 and after that it will auto shut down every two hours before it's expiration. Ugh. There is also an XP mode that comes with this new OS. Read the CW link for more.

Read different reviews for Windows 7 via Arts Technica ZDnet CW IT Management Gizmodo

Cellphone video controversy

And no it's not some porny phonecam vid!

That Saddam execution having been viewed on You Tube (and other video sites) was shot using cellphone and showing to the world a hanged lifeless body of his. Many broadcast network chose not to even air the video. But of course..if you don't see it on the telly, there's You Tube. Apparently an Iraqi official filmed the whole thing using cell phone and well, it's been leaked and shown to the web audience at large.

You know what, maybe I have ESP or something, when the news of execution broke, I was like I bet there will be cellphone shot. I'm so fricking right! The minute I saw footage (just the ones shown on t.v.). I was pretty sure because maybe I know it's the easiest thing to use.

Technology is supposed to be good. Innovative in ways that we consumers get to use but for useful purpose, say... in mostly emergency cases. But once we have tech tools in the palm of our hands we can do anything as we so pleases...like film something secretly. Eeek!

For your political fantasies...

How about joining Fantasy Congress. A web site created by four students at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California. Now think of it as the fantasy football or baseball of the politicians and the whole congress. Read more from NYTimes article

And in the words of it's Website owner, Andrew Lee ... “Everyone knows about football, but more people need to know about Congress,” Mr. Lee said. “If as many people knew about Congress as knew about football, baseball and basketball, we’d all be more educated.”

Okay. Amen to that. Oh hey, I'm thinking maybe I should start something like that here. Heh.

In another blog blahs... browsing to tech page of the times and hihihi to one of the headlines We're Google. So sue us. Great title. Uh huh, they are Google indeed. Big company! Internet giant is facing plenty of legal battles most issues of copyrighted materials. They are the "government of internet" as one said. It'll be very hard to fight them and win a lawsuit.

Does Windows still matter?

According to this Is Windows still relevant article, yes, Windows still does matter.

Looks like "yesterday's product" still has a few more tomorrows left. The reality is that Windows remains as important as ever. Web-based AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) applications may be the tech world's future, but there's a long transition between now and then.

That to their arch rivals and nemesis, Windows make or break their products. In the long ago years since windows became synonymous with our computer life, we feel lost without it guiding our path to geeky techlife. But with the web 2.0-Flickr-Youtube-Google-iMac- iTunes-Myspace age we live in, of course new technology will certainly overrun the old one and will likely slam the doors to the ageing ones. Like Windows.

Years has passed. Past is not the present anymore, and with Microsoft having had to endure gazillions of viruses, many antitrust and monopoly and other strings business malpractice and course court hearings and so on, generation web 2.0 people probably could care less about the Windows of their geeky life! But to the older ones ( hehe..moi?), Windows still is has the drive-hard and soft- and the Vista to change and compete and still there to lead the rest of the generation to a happier social networking geeky fashion tech life.

Cassettes has come and gone, the Atari has been replaced by sophisticated and expensive consoles (and companies trying to outdo each other is only upping up the competition), IBM now with Lenovo China, and guess what Windows still around. They better improve and make it more appealing to the new geekazoids and old (still loyal, I guess) consumers who still has faith with Windows.

How blogging is perceive in the Philippines

Blogging in RP still seen as an 'elitist' activity--blogger

BLOGGING is currently perceived as an “elitist” activity limited to people who are educated, have access to technology, and earn higher incomes, said Dr. Ronald Meinardus, blogger and resident representative of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

“In most countries, blogging is an activity done by higher-income and educated people,”

“In the Philippines, most political bloggers are from the opposition and are critical of the current administration. In short, political blogs in this country are mostly anti-Arroyo,” he added.

I do agree with that. Mostly the blogs (this one included) I read are the ones that has a lot to say about the Arroyo administration. But as far as blogging being an "elitist" activity..maybe somewhat it is. I mean to be able to blog you need a computer and majority of Filipinos doesn't have one and those who has access to a computer and do blog doesn't really blog about political scene or current events. They would rather spend their time playing pc games or going to sites like My Space or Friendster or surf porn. Yay. Things I don't really do online.

So am I an elitist? Hardly!

Hello? Your Phone is Calling your Car!

Hop in your car, turn the key and your phone book stares up at you from the liquid crystal display screen in your dashboard. Scroll through a list of missed calls or recently dialed numbers. Find the name you're looking for, press a button and the call rings through the car's sound system, all while your phone remains untouched in your jacket pocket. At the moment, you can find it only in 2005 Audi A6 and A8 models, and only if you use certain phones, including Palm One's popular Treo 650 P.D.A. phone.

Link via NYTimes Tech page (reg req'd)

Nice technology..if you're rich, lazy or forgetful :0) Oh and I don't have the car nor the phone.

Fingering the lazy male

A Spanish designer has come up with what could be the perfect solution for the woman who feels frustrated that she has to do all the house chores.

It is a washing machine called "Your Turn", which will not let the same person use it twice in a row. It uses fingerprint recognition technology to ensure the job of loading is not dumped on just one individual. "It's an invention that has a philosophy behind it and I hope both women and men will think it's time for the men to do more around the house." Your Turn requires both partners to register their fingerprints on the sensor while it is hooked up to their home computer. When the sensor is then plugged into the washing machine, the software will only allow the wash programme to start if a different finger is placed on it each time.

Link via BBC News

The world's richest man speaks out.

Bills Gates granted interview to one of my favorite tech blogs Gizmodo

And from CNET news a perspective of a more kinder, gentler media friendly Bill Gates.

Throughout the '90s--when tech was booming and tech CEOs lined up to wax eloquent about their latest business plans or products and to jab the competition. It was fun to listen. Ellison talked up the Network Computer, Schmidtmapped out his plan to turn around Novell, and Bezos stressed "get big fast." Jobs was a magazine cover boy. Gates, meanwhile, struggled to define his image and endured pies in the face when he showed up in public. While the media was making celebrities out of dot.com CEOs and other "Davids," Goliath Microsoft was portrayed as the "evil empire" and out of touch. Read more

The tech news seems to be all about Firefox, Apple, browser wars and others. At least a Bill Gates interview is different one.

Video blogging the tsunami disaster

The power of the internet and blogs proven again. Tsunami video blogs are a hit! Many of videos from the horrible tsunami disaster came from amatuers be it locals or tourists vacationing when disaster struck. ( many news organizations are now paying tons of dollars even for just a few minutes for their videos). It didn't matter if it were captured through cam phone either. It's been quite a success some you could watch for free but others do charge fo them now.

Web blogs and the bloggers proved that it's not just mainstream media who can offer many viewers information and videos and those wants to see for themselves what really transpired that awful day when wave of water crashed down and swallowed up many lives. Many Asian bloggers are recounting their tales nows and [video]Blogging about their ordeal.