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Microsoft Proposes Obnoxiously Restrictive Pay-As-You-Go Computing System [Microsoft]December 30 2008

Many have said that the future of Microsoft will be in subscription-based software, cloud computing or some combination of the two. Well, let's hope that it doesn't turn out anything like patent application 20080319910.

Much of the application is unsurprising, and even somewhat dated. The vision incorporates heavily-subsidized hardware (though not under a timed service contract) that can utilize services on a pay-as-you-go basis. Certain programs and functions cost more than others, and could be unlocked on demand. At first that sounds like a reasonable approach, but it's not just high-performance software that can be rented, it's high performance itself.

Described in the patent is a system by which individuals will be forced to rent different levels of computer performance, being shunted into an arbitrarily-slow mode if they choose not to pay. In other words, to play a high-end game, you'd have to rent not just the game, but a sort of unlock for your processor, RAM and video hardware, just so you can fully make use of them.

The idea of subsidized, service-fee based computing has potential, but

Gmail notice touts Chrome and Firefox, dismisses IE as too slowDecember 30 2008

Google is pushing users of its Gmail service to dump Internet Explorer 6 in favor of its own Chrome browser or Firefox, claiming that they're twice as fast as Microsoft's software.

Man involved in plane crash survives to Twitter about itDecember 29 2008

Section: Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Websites

When a passenger on the Continental Airlines flight that skidded off the runway in Denver was brought to safety, he did what came naturally.  He posted about it on Twitter.

Mike Wilson used his iPhone to post entries about what he’d just been through, starting with a play by play of the actual crash:

Wilson described the takeoff as normal “when we suddenly veered off.“ Wilson described a “sudden bottom-dropped-out feeling and then a jolt” when the plane dropped into the ravine.
“I believe it was after the jolt that the right engine, which was near my row, caught fire,“ he said. “By the time the plane stopped we were burning pretty well and I think I could feel the heat even through the bulkhead and window.“

He then went on to complain about losing his glasses and being refused drink service by the airline once he was safe at the airport lounge.  His postings earned him interviews with NBC and Fox News.

This isn’t th

Social Media is No Place for Robot BehaviorDecember 29 2008

**Warning: this is mostly a bitchy, moany, inside baseball post about Twitter. Skip it. The next one will be useful.**

I’m sick of robots. Truly. Your automated direct message back thanking me for following you does three things exceptionally well:

1. Irks me because it’s a robot.
2. Annoys me because you ask me to click your junk.
3. Tempts me to go back and unfollow you on principle.

You don’t need to use robots to thank me and click on your stupid website. If you’re too busy to be an actual human on a social network, don’t join another social network. It’s okay. We understand. Lots of people think Twitter is stupid.

But if you’re going to stick around, maybe reconsider the robot thing. Please? The only robot I ever liked was Whee

Revisit of My Goals for 2008December 24 2008

Two days before before the new year of 2008, I set a list of work-related goals for myself as I have done for a couple years now. In my Goals for 2008 post I listed 5 specific goals I hoped to achieve in 2008. This post will revisit those goals in detail to see which of them I met and which I fell short of.

To be honest, I usually forget about these main work goals I set for myself throughout the year until when New Years starts to creep forth. While this can be self-defeating in some ways as it’s important to constantly remind yourself of your goals if you intend to conquer them, it’s also simply a great way to measure your successes throughout the year as well as to remind yourself what you still need to work on.

If you haven’t set any long-term goals for yourself (I consider 1-2 years long term when it comes to the Internet) I highly recommend you do. Most rich and highly successful people (in any industry) recommend it for a multitude of reasons. Whether it be a subconscious effect or a daily motivating reminder, simply setting goals for yourself will bring you one step closer to actually achieving them.

My Goals for 2008

1. Average 3,000+ RSS on my blog

Result: Fail

While I failed this goal, I didn’t do too bad. My RSS has been averaging around 2050 for around the past 6 weeks, which is nearly double what