tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26606683765644863562024-02-21T04:04:26.106+02:00Open DuckWritings about Life, sw Development, and the like. Hopefully, with Added Value. :)Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-21103841290187043292013-05-31T01:41:00.001+03:002013-09-03T14:10:10.120+03:00Bugs to fix in OS X 10.9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mail & Spotlight:</span><br />
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Allow separate Control Panel > Spotlight entries for:<br />
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"Mail messages"<br />
"Mail attachments" (not currently there)<br />
"Chats"<br />
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Currently, one can either index bodies <i>and </i>attachments (and chats), or neither. I'm not the only one who would like to have Spotlight for the messages but <i>not </i>the attachments. Does it harm? Yep. Mail takes CPU time doing the indexing (open 'Actions' window to see).<br />
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Elsewhere on the net:<br />
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<a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4198130?start=0&tstart=0">https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4198130?start=0&tstart=0</a><br />
<a href="http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_can_i_stop_spotlight_searching_my_email.html">http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_can_i_stop_spotlight_searching_my_email.html</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOKNRRn_imCUGAgfCKGPKK8tJqPlhCfn4PnTSoYShu1UD8AqqS8aqNfJE9Z4lk9nXQ8l-W71D3dSgwqM2g_ogQ27EiY89F_4Clm5K5yQB7Xoog_LYznNonjHS3qLO-rKkWbwwrf7jjw/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-31+kello+1.41.53.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOKNRRn_imCUGAgfCKGPKK8tJqPlhCfn4PnTSoYShu1UD8AqqS8aqNfJE9Z4lk9nXQ8l-W71D3dSgwqM2g_ogQ27EiY89F_4Clm5K5yQB7Xoog_LYznNonjHS3qLO-rKkWbwwrf7jjw/s320/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-31+kello+1.41.53.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Currently (OS X 10.8.3) one has only a single Spotlight entry for both Mail (bodies & attachments) as well as Chats (probably iChat?).</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Calendar bug when traveling:</span><br />
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Caught on OS X 10.8.4.<br />
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I noticed this on a trip from Finland to India, having a repeating calendar entry using U.S. Pacific time zone.<br />
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What happened is that after changing the computer's time zone (manually, it didn't detect it automatically for some reason) the U.S. event was still shown in Finnish time. I could have been fooled, but India is a funny 30 minutes apart from the rest of the world, so it caught my eye.<br />
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I also found a workaround for this, to get the dates properly updated.<br />
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Here's the calendar entry. Repeats weekly, on Tuesdays, 11am U.S. Pacific time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1P0HrH-BP6E_yX8nFglz_-S3eSsAP5AR4Roj9wzPVcKgnBxICi0WYHW3g63qCyN8gzQ8itaVPCKml8p2mL2PEBPQQX7iFJG3EFQx_zED5vhJ4gLuOga6FFiMWypQTKNf__2yVUWH3g/s1600/apple_calendar_before.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1P0HrH-BP6E_yX8nFglz_-S3eSsAP5AR4Roj9wzPVcKgnBxICi0WYHW3g63qCyN8gzQ8itaVPCKml8p2mL2PEBPQQX7iFJG3EFQx_zED5vhJ4gLuOga6FFiMWypQTKNf__2yVUWH3g/s400/apple_calendar_before.png" width="281" /></a></div>
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Now, how to get that to be 23:30 as it should? </div>
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I ticked the below checkbox off and back on. That did it! (Calendar > Preferences > Advanced):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyniGWHghRS7j2YS3KyWE_am9_sSaLoqKhin9RLqDY4T2Fr3X52NHqrSgq89duW4mqpcAvV0qgNlvq2BSJA-gNqqB1XUDHda7ZfzXAtvdwgDrYqFPZVkpf2ohFL-XOgkG8FOBbY5H4Q/s1600/apple_calendar_setup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyniGWHghRS7j2YS3KyWE_am9_sSaLoqKhin9RLqDY4T2Fr3X52NHqrSgq89duW4mqpcAvV0qgNlvq2BSJA-gNqqB1XUDHda7ZfzXAtvdwgDrYqFPZVkpf2ohFL-XOgkG8FOBbY5H4Q/s1600/apple_calendar_setup.png" /></a></div>
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Now, the item is shown properly:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKJ39M9GTBb0M1JUMEHBZJMCW_sojLccuGWibrdXtgiMDX0fPaV6fi0DACKIXrVYKcApf4U0KI1VBu3G1msSLv3MJp5XInd6WLgpiR3UxxQn6JTYNOCvPC4AKJo_qgnlrBjbfIaAnPA/s1600/apple_calendar_after.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKJ39M9GTBb0M1JUMEHBZJMCW_sojLccuGWibrdXtgiMDX0fPaV6fi0DACKIXrVYKcApf4U0KI1VBu3G1msSLv3MJp5XInd6WLgpiR3UxxQn6JTYNOCvPC4AKJo_qgnlrBjbfIaAnPA/s320/apple_calendar_after.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I haven't tried reproducing this bug. Maybe it has something to do with the specifics on how I got here (i.e. could be India specific, could be manually changing the time zone, could be anything). If it is a common bug, covering <i>everyone</i> using Macs and traveling, I cannot believe it's there.<br />
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Maybe, if Apple was more open about collecting bugs, these would get better ironed out (this is somewhat controversial though - I use OS X over Linux because things usually Just Work on the Mac). So Apple - if you're reading this - you can do better. You can be more open. You can actually discuss bugs with users instead of this one-way <a href="http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html" target="_blank">OS X feedback form</a>.<br />
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<b>Numbers - two small features</b></h3>
Since Numbers is so great, I'm using it a bit on "uncharted" territory as well, namely doing a language dictionary of Kannada words.<br />
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Two small features would make it ideal:<br />
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1. Ability to mark certain cells (a row) to take text in a certain language (with a certain keyboard layout)</h4>
Now, I must manually change between Kannada (Indian) and Qwerty keyboard. If I could make the Kannada cells know that their type is "text with selected keyboard layout" this would happen automatically. This means integration with the Keyboard selector on the top bar, so that the current input type would be shown there, of course. You are Apple - you know how to make this Right.<br />
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2. Embedding audio recordings</h4>
I didn't find an easy way to make a cell carry audio. I'd like to embed the sound of each Kannada word, spoken out by someone. Ideally, also this could be a cell type so that external tools are not needed to be used (and no files need to be saved). The feature could be useful for many other cases as well.<br />
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<i>I filed these requests on Aug 14th 2013 on the <a href="http://www.apple.com/feedback/numbers.html" target="_blank">Numbers feedback form</a>.</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">TimeMachine not shutting up</span><br />
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Caught on OS X 10.8.4.<br />
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As many of us, I increasingly use Dropbox for file storage and syncing between my Macs. It simply is more manageable than iWork.<br />
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Since those files are anyways backed up, I have excluded <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">~/Dropbox</span> at the Time Machine preferences.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-JoHPB2TN9GfX2STx8GZaG58i25DW-txizANxvVF2AuTeV-ybOtwX8EdoCLU0AZwANs_hyphenhyphenEzJfT9_Z5wOhi73yQkh-NQYIVa8LQH9iACr7rPRR1HjXWEpOqGL2qvF3MYWDxauBWQLA/s1600/excludes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-JoHPB2TN9GfX2STx8GZaG58i25DW-txizANxvVF2AuTeV-ybOtwX8EdoCLU0AZwANs_hyphenhyphenEzJfT9_Z5wOhi73yQkh-NQYIVa8LQH9iACr7rPRR1HjXWEpOqGL2qvF3MYWDxauBWQLA/s400/excludes.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I would expect this to completely ban TimeMachine from scanning and storing stuff within the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">~/Dropbox</span> folder, right?<br />
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Nope.<br />
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Recently, I noticed a Numbers file I store there had the File > Restore > All versions ... menu item enabled, and I had a look. Yep. All the earlier versions are there, nicely stacked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm3nDZDfg4qlFUp5UfLCcUNGtBTVS21vUTAgNhLdFc5V2LaQIzY0iix2gl7qPcagI8Zy27D9KpVFc2yYQ9uo-c8Ssx0VgW5BvKzw2A5eIMHMTeMJ1uZ9BaVjWN-NLS5iEpAaDqgtdew/s1600/nicely+stacked+versions.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhm3nDZDfg4qlFUp5UfLCcUNGtBTVS21vUTAgNhLdFc5V2LaQIzY0iix2gl7qPcagI8Zy27D9KpVFc2yYQ9uo-c8Ssx0VgW5BvKzw2A5eIMHMTeMJ1uZ9BaVjWN-NLS5iEpAaDqgtdew/s400/nicely+stacked+versions.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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What should I make of this? </div>
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There are 28 versions stored of this document. Did I ask for them? Nope. Did I ask to exclude versioning / backups? Yes. Why are they there?</div>
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I presume "exclude" for Time Machine just means exclude from backing up. It should also mean exclude from even creating local duplicates / versions. What if this was a really, really big file (which it is not). Say a video. </div>
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I'm seeing this as a bug that Apple should fix.</div>
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At the same time, I have a nice list of 123 versions (the full history) available on Dropbox. 100kB each. Isn't Dropbox marvellous? :)</div>
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Lighter gesture for Touchpad one-finger-stationary, another moves</h3>
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The above may not ring any bells, but if you've used the Touchpad (= any recent Macbook), you have used it.</div>
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Press the pad by one finger (so that it clicks). Now move another, while keeping the finger down. Text, or icons get selected.</div>
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It's neat, but rather heavy duty compared to most (all?) other usual gestures, where the pad "click" is not needed. It's also straining on one's thumb.</div>
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I wonder if Apple has considered leaving the click out. That is, it could work like this:</div>
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- touch the pad in one place (don't click, just a gentle touch), keep the finger touching</div>
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- move a second finger up/down/left/right anywhere on the pad</div>
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This doesn't currently do anything (if you move both fingers it's a scroll gesture). Can I select somewhere that the 'click' would not be needed?</div>
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Not that I find (Preferences > Touchpad). So, Apple, please...? :)</div>
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+ One bug in Kannada font / keyboard mapping</h3>
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This one might or might not be on Apple. It may as well be a Unicode bug, or a bug in the Ashwin Kumar's amazingly useful <a href="http://web.nickshanks.com/fonts/kannada/" target="_blank">Kannada keyboard layout</a> for OS X. Apple carries two Kannada keyboard layouts by default, but they are the 'official' Indian ones and suit badly to Qwerty thinking. Ashwin's fixes this.</div>
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Anyways, the problem is with foreign-origin words (which Kannadigas use a lot, unfortunately). If they end in a consonant, they are marked with a 'crossed' character s.a. ಕ್, ದ್, ಹ್ etc. You get the pattern. So should 'r' but instead we get ರ್. Shit now it worked.</div>
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If I do the same in i.e. Numbers, I get this (depending on font):</div>
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With Kannada MN (a built-in OS X font) I get:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_aZfZ8xIrxTIrFUMlHNnPIbQz3zl5Kl1NQLevYoML9ZMgEY3UQr1mR029f0ukH4fHO9BXQcouuIi2ZYPmVkDoKD_8VPzjOj8mXkXE9UJ5xO9Md3Lmwe9XOInnoIJk1xiyJLY7K__tg/s1600/Kannada+MN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="44" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_aZfZ8xIrxTIrFUMlHNnPIbQz3zl5Kl1NQLevYoML9ZMgEY3UQr1mR029f0ukH4fHO9BXQcouuIi2ZYPmVkDoKD_8VPzjOj8mXkXE9UJ5xO9Md3Lmwe9XOInnoIJk1xiyJLY7K__tg/s200/Kannada+MN.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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With Helvetica Neue I get:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpILljHV2nPAkYO6q6U0BMpRFSk_p8awgk0Xd5-99xbn-qx22B14oM_sImFOQ8n8o4BKdPCHD1RHLHruTYQkutT4nUT5Wwc9MPAysc6dtVQJbkNl57UkLsnktyXza0riVIp_5Znj1nFQ/s1600/Helvetica+Neue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpILljHV2nPAkYO6q6U0BMpRFSk_p8awgk0Xd5-99xbn-qx22B14oM_sImFOQ8n8o4BKdPCHD1RHLHruTYQkutT4nUT5Wwc9MPAysc6dtVQJbkNl57UkLsnktyXza0riVIp_5Znj1nFQ/s200/Helvetica+Neue.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Neither of these is correct. The "mirrored 3" character is 'r' but it's never used alone. It adds an 'r' prior to the character that it is preceeding (yes, figure out that logic, us westerners... we have it easy). Anyways, it's in the wrong place here and should be the 'ರ-crossed' character instead.</div>
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Go Unicode nerds. Who is at fault? Unicode, Apple, or Ashwin Kumar??</div>
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Another possible fault or inconsistency with the OS X Kannada Unicode font is in the 'mo' and 'moo' syllables:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gl8l2xJSmLG2ZdsDxupm5eZrHzcEII8aJlWvc2zi_I08uh_hM7VOSifjx0y11H6HWfILsOvCeKVHAPI2hoBVE70fZWxCIHfNf3AbfkFA6ybmg8437WqvUWwdzlBY7QZI9RPwhW77zw/s1600/movo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Gl8l2xJSmLG2ZdsDxupm5eZrHzcEII8aJlWvc2zi_I08uh_hM7VOSifjx0y11H6HWfILsOvCeKVHAPI2hoBVE70fZWxCIHfNf3AbfkFA6ybmg8437WqvUWwdzlBY7QZI9RPwhW77zw/s200/movo.png" width="145" /></a></div>
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The part marked red is not there in a book that uses 'mo'. It doesn't need to be, because a similar syllable 'vo' gets its tail drawn from "the butt" (really - I think that's how they teach it here). Anyways, OS X "mo" and "moo" are understandable, but different from the books that I have.</div>
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Also, it seems the preference is to write 'v' with the top line, always (Helvetica Neue leaves the top out for 'va', 'vu' and 'vuu').</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRPz73QRaDIVFQz1iSvqPTUCG1Z5lAzSs4nR6WffdpB2cWcwv02VEdS2ipEslT-PM1uZIQKCtPj_byNnlvuWKMsH1qmgQ9dTjUHe-HTFgedMc-GUdoS1l4LpWIIPPa7YYqAFuJmbEFg/s1600/va+vu+vuu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRPz73QRaDIVFQz1iSvqPTUCG1Z5lAzSs4nR6WffdpB2cWcwv02VEdS2ipEslT-PM1uZIQKCtPj_byNnlvuWKMsH1qmgQ9dTjUHe-HTFgedMc-GUdoS1l4LpWIIPPa7YYqAFuJmbEFg/s1600/va+vu+vuu.png" /></a></div>
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Maybe this is simply of different styles of writing. Maybe it's a bug. Please comment if you know better. Thanks. :)</div>
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<b>Addendum 2-Sep-2013: </b></div>
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Did some more testing on this. Here are the three detected trouble cases in three different fonts:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW92DJgUj0DrZpmFqVUE1xb-dF_-foia9ZFP4WgIc_7pQ9_-ydsHNLHcuf0KEHus6FC0a6GAM0NvY7sXHNUNS1AQuFo4yjdW7BlOPVlzP6ii-9nzqWODfWqRxIKquBMXVsBePsQ83SdA/s1600/three+fonts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW92DJgUj0DrZpmFqVUE1xb-dF_-foia9ZFP4WgIc_7pQ9_-ydsHNLHcuf0KEHus6FC0a6GAM0NvY7sXHNUNS1AQuFo4yjdW7BlOPVlzP6ii-9nzqWODfWqRxIKquBMXVsBePsQ83SdA/s1600/three+fonts.png" /></a></div>
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Helvetica Neue does all the three cases 'wrong' (but is generally usable even so).</div>
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Kannada MN (built-in OS X font) does 'va' correctly, but gets completely confused with 'mo' and 'cut-ra'.</div>
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Kadage (an addon font from <a href="http://web.nickshanks.com/fonts/kannada/" target="_blank">here</a>) does 'va' correctly, 'mo' wrong in another way (these may be taste/dialect issues as well?), and 'cut-ra' correctly.</div>
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On the correctness, Kedage seems to be winning. It would be great if Apple fixed these issues in the built-in fonts (both Helvetica Neue and Kannada MN) in upcoming OS X versions.</div>
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Dashboard World Clock</h3>
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A bit on the side of things, but wouldn't it be nice to:</div>
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- See the difference from current time in hours (and half hours for India); now I find myself often calculating that manually</div>
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- Having selectable background color / material for the clocks (on their reverse side, behind the 'i' button). This would allow customizing a set of clocks and easily seeing which is for which area. Now all clocks look alike, only the title tells where they point to.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins9Y9Ald6vl6qh4cYQNS9x8to1cdNOSGDVnVdgqMMCa8RoM2yHZ9_IpQMqouJGouS6WHm1-km845t5sGZgSA11UG7Guvpyue1UctgxoS1cYIGIDQr5Myb8gftavgQZe83Fj_xMMxYZg/s1600/clocks1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEins9Y9Ald6vl6qh4cYQNS9x8to1cdNOSGDVnVdgqMMCa8RoM2yHZ9_IpQMqouJGouS6WHm1-km845t5sGZgSA11UG7Guvpyue1UctgxoS1cYIGIDQr5Myb8gftavgQZe83Fj_xMMxYZg/s320/clocks1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaZeF7TVnNtxCEuAibfZC5swTbKBkHkZwVTeMmMF3UUXxFAUsCxuk_o3hAFJOm2p9AbunKBPBe3Zah3HQYoX518wzegFocv1V9G44pt3RhkYnj4yr1aH49U6_CfLvWHKpP_ihyN-p0Q/s1600/clocks1+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="83" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaZeF7TVnNtxCEuAibfZC5swTbKBkHkZwVTeMmMF3UUXxFAUsCxuk_o3hAFJOm2p9AbunKBPBe3Zah3HQYoX518wzegFocv1V9G44pt3RhkYnj4yr1aH49U6_CfLvWHKpP_ihyN-p0Q/s320/clocks1+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ideally, one could change the colors differently for the up/down portions, thus reflecting i.e. the flag colors of a country.</div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-68958035528953312472013-05-15T10:52:00.001+03:002013-05-21T21:41:18.033+03:00Review of WSP Solutions magazine (Nov 2012)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">WSP Solutions Magazine (Nov 2012)</b><br />
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During my visit to WSP Group here in Helsinki I picked up some of their publications. Here's a review of their Nov 2012 "Solutions" magazine.</div>
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The initial feeling is Wow - glossy, haute couture style fashion pictures. How does this go together with the theme of sustainability? </div>
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In bright white the cover says: "Designing Future Cities"</div>
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In coal black it says: "From Low Carbon to High Fashion"</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Part of me likes this playing with opposites. It's cool to try bring fashion (vanity) and carbon efficiency (sanity) together. We shouldn't regard either as unnecessary. The cover approach does shake one's thinking up a bit.</span><br />
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But. It's mostly the glossy, recycling-unfriendly material of the physical paper that makes me think "it's all just PR". These people are not really there for the long haul sustainability, they're simply giving lip service because that's currently "fashionable". Changing the paper quality of their publication would help them be more credible.</div>
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<b>Page 2-3</b></div>
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The inside is more light in colors, with the normal green / yellow / orange / blue pastel color scheme going throughout. To me, this feels slightly fake. The easy way out. All the graphics look "nice" by themselves, but they are the usual clipart that can be added to any environmental, urban article. Nothing WSP about them (probably the whole layout and/or editing of the magazine has been outsourced - this is what one gets - a generic magazine). Did WSP want that? Or would they want more of their feeling to it? Now, if I were a customer, and didn't read any of the text, this would be a completely ignorable experience.</div>
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The above is probably due to my experience as a startup pitcher. We're taught to be rememberable, unique, honest. It wouldn't be too much to ask that to show in big corporations, as well?</div>
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Then to the text - and this is where it gets better. </div>
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Short story on WSP + Genivar merger. Great, not too long, written from the customer's point of view (what are the benefits).</div>
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Sample on a "win" they've gotten in Ontario, Canada. The practical cases are always good, and there are plenty more in this magazine. We want to work with companies who are successful.</div>
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Short review on -5% carbon emissions, titled as "strong progress". Well, from where I see it it's more of "a start" and "good intentions". A company such as WSP should strive for -50% or more reductions. The problem with telling -5% (yearly) reduction is that they're basically saying "we're no worse than the others". In fact, they do say "We continue to benchmark our performance against other companies". This is just safe betting - a vigorous approach would aim at way more. Of course, most of WSP's carbon footprint probably comes through their design work's implications and not from their own office environment. Were I in charge of WSP office sustainability I'd press for full carbon neutrality by year 20xx, and compare to that. Comparing to others in a badly managed planet is not very meaningful.</div>
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Also, the small text was on 2011 figures. In a November 2012 magazine. It takes over half a year for such results to surface? Is that the same for their financial reports - don't think so. Same deadlines for sustainability reports as financial ones (another agenda to push for the sustainability responsible of WSP).</div>
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Page 3 is general backdrop on urban statistics. The text and the sunny picture are somewhat conflicting.</div>
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<b>Page 4-6</b></div>
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Good text. </div>
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The WSP personnel really makes a positive impact on me, as a reader. Like this:</div>
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"Talented people want to do interesting things in their downtime, they want to know that the world’s best art is down the road, and they want to be proud of the place they live in. They want to live somewhere where they know that their participation in the economic life of a place isn’t having a negative knock-on effect on the environment, and where there are other people like them, with similar talents and ideals."</div>
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Seems they hold the individual - the citizen - in great value. And the style of the text overall in the magazine is intimate, concrete and benevolent. </div>
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<span style="color: #58595b; font-family: 'Gill Sans'; font-size: 13px;">“It comes down to what a city wants to be famous for,” says Toyne. “Is it six-lane highways and gridlock and the fact that it takes four hours to go even a short distance, or for being a free-moving, easily navigable city, accessible to all?”</span></div>
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“Many of the world’s cities are becoming the same,” agrees Brooks. “Retail is a key factor. It used to be a key component of identity, but now you can go to different cities and walk down the high street and you could be in the same place, it’s Starbucks, McDonald’s, Benetton.” He believes there will be a reverse:</div>
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This is interesting to read. These people are crafting our urban future, by designing our cities. They smell the trends and here they are conveying those trends back to us, as readers. This is nice. </div>
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Maybe blogs have taught people to write better. They will get immediate feedback and criticism. In blogs, you need to be bare and honest. That approach also serves a company magazine (on page 6 is a link to Jason Brooks' blog - unfortunately the link is a generic <a href="http://wspgroupfuturecities.com/" target="_blank">wspgroupfuturecities.com</a> link and not to any blog. In fact, I failed to find Jason's advertised blog even with 2 minutes of searching).</div>
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<b>Page 7</b></div>
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There's a mention on a subject familiar to me - Sibbesborg just 30 km east of Helsinki. WSP has won the design contest and they're informing about what's going to be happening in that development up till 2050.</div>
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This leads to an idea for the magazine editors: do follow-ups of such projects, such that there becomes a continuation on how a certain team or a certain project is doing.</div>
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<b>Page 8-11</b></div>
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On city identity and iconic architecture. Again, I enjoyed the article. It's a great approach to have multiple different people give their insights. It balances an article. Also, these people seem not to be WSP employees but collaboration partners (architects etc.). This to me tells of an open ecosystem and friendly but effective working habits. A gang one desires to be part of.</div>
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The article mentioned the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard" target="_blank">Shard</a>, a previously unknown London skyscraper to me (though I've probably seen it under construction but haven't realized). Made me google things. Now I know. Thanks for raising my curiosity.</div>
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<b>Page 12-13</b></div>
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"taking it further, making sustainability a key component of their identity and using it to compete against their rivals for talent and investment. WSP is helping them do it."</div>
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This is interesting. But pictures tell more than words, and again here clipart prevails over anything that would have given context to the Chicago Lakeside or Sidney. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_g3YBTrfobL8UgqqeDWlzSqPOttC0mLg1rputh7v7Gze6kP0b_fkKH5cbaRVgm7iXdvfQkdEED-5GgPvfFazJ2p7J7aNbL06d7inCdCfNB13soSd2KWieGf9nDDPlgt5Mur5MPWA-w/s1600/IMG_1431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_g3YBTrfobL8UgqqeDWlzSqPOttC0mLg1rputh7v7Gze6kP0b_fkKH5cbaRVgm7iXdvfQkdEED-5GgPvfFazJ2p7J7aNbL06d7inCdCfNB13soSd2KWieGf9nDDPlgt5Mur5MPWA-w/s640/IMG_1431.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hey, I know this guy! Following <a href="https://twitter.com/richpalmeris" target="_blank">@richpalmeris</a> on Twitter. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
WSP could actually mention authors' twitter tags if they are active there (even if it's their private and not corporate accounts). Just an idea.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The text is nice and professional, telling of city branding of Cape Town. Suits the magazine nicely and has a complementing approach to the earlier articles. Well done.</div>
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By now, the mismatch of visual vs. text is more than obvious. I also realize that none of the actual photos have any humans in them (apart from a portrait on page 2). This must be because it's more difficult to get rights to use identifiable people in a magazine shoot. But this causes a conflict between what WSP is trying to say in "cities are for the people" and showing empty streets (Bristol, page 2) or far away scenery (Capetown, page 14).</div>
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<b>Page 15</b></div>
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
This is the page showing project wins (as the title says). These are always interesting, but the lack of any visuals to make the data graspable in a glimpse (essential in a magazine s.a. this) is striking. Add i.e. a map of the world highlighting the locations (helps one to focus on areas of his/her interest). Add bars below each win highlighting their budget magnitude (instead of merely giving numbers in the text). I think the visual designers simply skipped this page.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
It's also unknown, why the three latest contact backdrops are black, when the others are light green? I thought it might be WSP vs. Genivar (is not). Transportation vs. rest (is, but doesn't make sense). A magazine should use visual cues that make sense to the reader. This one is probably just random, and therefore counterproductive. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The last (Finnish) case is highlighted with light green background. It's about recognition, not project win, and the highlight is supposed to be indicating that. Well, it doesn't. It sits firmly under the "Transportation and infrastructure" section. (Not that I care, but really… layout people… someone actually got paid for doing this "work"?)</div>
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<b>Back cover</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClCNRt-WE1MRetqGSMyUpQ1GskwZuJ0-CvIQLDvyJoFniKNEJb4h3syWNGltylX_O1Hca_iX69mCiqVm2mfce4-ngS_dwRat2n4qCLPmNmEno9R29Ir9lY6Go2dDx4IoTOR9JTl6jsA/s1600/IMG_1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClCNRt-WE1MRetqGSMyUpQ1GskwZuJ0-CvIQLDvyJoFniKNEJb4h3syWNGltylX_O1Hca_iX69mCiqVm2mfce4-ngS_dwRat2n4qCLPmNmEno9R29Ir9lY6Go2dDx4IoTOR9JTl6jsA/s400/IMG_1432.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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The back cover tries to draw the loop into conclusion by returning to the "high fashion low carbon" theme of the front cover. It's visually messy, but ok. Finally we have faces. :) I would consider using the back cover for continuity and connection. This is where you want to engage the reader to stay in touch. Maybe give previews of the next magazine's issues (if already decided upon). Push for Facebook, Twitter, Newsletter engagement. Use a QR code for the mobile handset (yeah, none of the bosses use those, but it will make the magazine seem cool and young). There are currently two links here, but neither of them lead to longer term engagement.</div>
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b>Digital copy</b></div>
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Available here: <a href="http://www.wspgroup.com/upload/Upload/Solutions_complete_V18_low.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.wspgroup.com/upload/Upload/Solutions_complete_V18_low.pdf</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
Opposite to the paper copy, the digital one suffers from exactly the opposite: too little quality. For some unknown reason, they're linking to a low resolution (4.4MB) PDF that has artifact problems on all of its pictures. This is such a naive mistake. You make a great-looking brochure to only ruin it online. Why, oh why? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybOZG6Ctfc2NmHrQxEbPdBpz6DXJ4__uUuozfIcyEIJj8dd0eSy2mx-WpgkV7r4dTCFCTMRTyLIo_tzZH7GzE6QoT_AbmoarDNWAJbW31aj4QFBf04HkUbQTH92R-2IdrSOCnF40a9g/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-14+kello+12.05.20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybOZG6Ctfc2NmHrQxEbPdBpz6DXJ4__uUuozfIcyEIJj8dd0eSy2mx-WpgkV7r4dTCFCTMRTyLIo_tzZH7GzE6QoT_AbmoarDNWAJbW31aj4QFBf04HkUbQTH92R-2IdrSOCnF40a9g/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-14+kello+12.05.20.png" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq16jgA__fkFqvUj7e6Y9t6R5XBMyptWY1i1CT0o-zLAkfJLwXPg0ieidNzGOtG76QqDnoESxJ5UM9sIfHxH_8cJW5fkdxzttiW4fEyPzxx55AbkYjTAgNJv9EjQKCPqptmUTMwiGXlQ/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-14+kello+12.05.31.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq16jgA__fkFqvUj7e6Y9t6R5XBMyptWY1i1CT0o-zLAkfJLwXPg0ieidNzGOtG76QqDnoESxJ5UM9sIfHxH_8cJW5fkdxzttiW4fEyPzxx55AbkYjTAgNJv9EjQKCPqptmUTMwiGXlQ/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-5-14+kello+12.05.31.png" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
a) the people didn't care</div>
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b) no boss noticed it</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
c) no-one reads it online anyways</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
d) something else</div>
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<br /></div>
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This is part of branding. </div>
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Interestingly, WSP has done it right with their older (March 2011) copy. Brilliant finishing. </div>
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<a href="http://www.wspgroup.com/upload/documents/PDF/Solutions/Solutions_March2011_v5LR.pdf%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.wspgroup.com/upload/documents/PDF/Solutions/Solutions_March2011_v5LR.pdf </a></div>
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b>Summary</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The good</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
+ fresh approach mixing "opposites" of high fashion and low carbon</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
+ very good, honest, personal, detailed, readable text contents</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
+ <strike>no typos or other stupid mistakes</strike> (apart from Jason's non-existent blog)</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
The bad</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
- seemingly non-recyclable glossy paper on the physical magazine</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
- selected layout and clipart pictures are too generic</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
- non-relevant and too tiny pictures, without faces</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
- low picture quality of the on-line version</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
- link to "Jason's Blog" doesn't lead there</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Fix the layout and picture issues, plus consider the relevance of a shiny, non-recyclable paper material, and this will rise the overall magazine to the level that its text already is.</span></div>
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</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The right link to Jason's blog is:</span></i><br />
<a href="http://wspgroupfuturecities.com/globalblog/2012/09/13/social-sustainability/what-makes-a-winning-city/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://wspgroupfuturecities.com/globalblog/2012/09/13/social-sustainability/what-makes-a-winning-city/</span></a><br />
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</div>
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Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-78327071250195719412013-05-13T20:47:00.002+03:002013-05-13T20:54:28.516+03:00Testing 3D capabilities of JavaFX 8 (Early Access) on OS X<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It works! :)<br />
<br />
1. Install <a href="https://jdk8.java.net/download.html" target="_blank">jdk-8-ea-bin-b89-macosx-x86_64-09_may_2013.dmg</a> on your Mac<br />
2. Copy-paste <a href="https://wikis.oracle.com/display/OpenJDK/SphereAndBox.java" target="_blank">SphereAndBox.java</a> to a work directory<br />
3. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">javac SphereAndBox.java</span><br />
4. <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">java SphereAndBox</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVagZBg4IADHKFhTjdLCjPfSVyQx0WUszkcTmK6WyiqcTgBH1dbEhMcEOhCsskbEI8O67pt1yy9gb3CCEHFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Great! :)<br />
<br />
If it did not work for you, check that:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">$ java -version</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">java version "1.8.0-ea"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0-ea-b89)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.0-b31, mixed mode)</span><br />
<br />
If you get anything else, clear the JAVA_HOME env.var and try again (or comment here and let's debug).<br />
<br />
<div>
The demo is not much, but it does give a solid 3D proof-of-concept. Can't wait to craft real worlds in Scala (n.b. ScalaFX does not currently support JavaFX 8 and it might take a while before it does. 3D abilities are a new feature of JavaFX 8.).</div>
</div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-76354939329581086342013-05-05T20:46:00.001+03:002013-05-05T20:51:40.601+03:00Suomi Öljyn Jälkeen (Partanen, Paloheimo, Waris)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: white;">My review of a new book, in Finnish. "Finland After Oil".</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.intokustannus.fi/kirja/suomi_oljyn_jalkeen/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg7QAc_zRP7HCRANuvWyx3bdPrFEoCYy6ZpOx3FZ8eR1a0AT_R-sdG2IQYKkKAkKE5OR_I023Yt8YxTXpfVmaKmb4XlqT2tTcX0U1Tx0CheVmB42HP-yzlQbtWZNjYOBCW3VAxQX-jg/s640/kannet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Mainio kirja.<br />
<br />
Olen sivulla 246 ja vasta nyt alkaa kirjan itsensä niminen luku, "Suomi öljyn jälkeen".<br />
<br />
Tähän asti kirja on kurvannut läpi energiahistoriamme ja sen erilaiset umpisolmut. Varsin hyvää, luettavaa tekstiä, joka toisaalta menee riittävän syvälle saadakseen lukijalle ahaa-oivalluksia, mutta toisaalta ei jää pureutumaan yhteen näkökulmaan tylsästyttävän pitkäksi aikaa.<br />
<br />
Samoin kirjoittajien tyyli on mieleeni. Asiat sanotaan suoraan - esim. Venäjään liittyvää analyysia oli miellyttävä lukea, mukaan lukien itselleni uusi sana 'kleptokratia'. Kirjoittajat ottavat asiat henkilökohtaisesti ja kiertelemättä, mutta osaavat samalla pitää asiallisen etäisyyden ja perustella väitteet numeroilla tai muuten mielestäni riittävällä analyysilla.<br />
<br />
Jonkinlaista turnausuupumusta on tässä lukijassa jo havaittavissa. Tyyli tietenkin toistaa vähän itseään ja ongelmia löytyy - yllättäen - enemmän kuin ratkaisuja. Ensimmäiset 150 sivua menivät ahmimalla, nyt viimeisten 50:n kanssa on niin ja näin. Toisaalta kappaleiden pituudet ovat koko ajan olleet mukavia. Juuri kun yhdestä näkökulmasta on saatu käytyä läpi kaikki olennainen (jonka tämä lukija jaksaa omaksua), esitetään jatkoksi jotain vähän erilaista ja taas mielenkiintoista.<br />
<br />
Pidän jollain sairaalla tavalla romahduskirjoista. Jos sitä joskus epäilee, että ihminen on todella tyhmä, nämä antavat sille perustetta. Oikeastaan tekevät luulosta tiedon. Joukkona me olemme <i>äärimmäisen</i> tyhmiä. Kuten kirja asian esittää: millään muulla eliöllä ei ole järkeä tuhlata tällaista energiavaraa. Ei kyllä meilläkään. Evoluutiomme taitaa lopettaa itse itsensä.<br />
<br />
Kirja mielestäni tarvitsee kumppanikseen vielä toisen, joka näyttää enemmän valoa ratkaisuihin ja luo mahdollisuuksia täynnä olevaa tulevaisuutta. Olemme aiemminkin pärjänneet tiukissa paikoissa, ja meillä on edelleen tieteemme tukenamme. Kriisi lieneekin enemmän poliittisten rakenteiden aikaansaama ongelma - ns. "demokratia" etunenässä. Lukiessaan tällaista kirjaa alkaa väliin huokailemaan suunnitelmatalouden perään, mutta ei sekään olisi vastaus.<br />
<br />
Jos jostain en oikeastaan ole pitänyt, se on kirjan nykyinen kansi. Tuo ei mielestäni kuvasta kirjan paljon laajempaa sisältöä ja analyyttista mutta luettavaa asennetta. Likainen öljytynnyri vie koko kannen. Ehkä parempi olisi ollut kuva jostain suomalaisesta, jossa tynnyri lojuu tyhjänä ja tarpeettomana sivussa (toisaalta tuulimyllyjä jne. aikalaiskliseitä pitää välttää).<br />
<br />
Upea kirja! Hieno lukukokemus!<br />
<br />
Nyt hoitamaan tästä käännöstä ruotsiksi, englanniksi ja ehkä ennen kaikkea venäjäksi ja kiinaksi.<br />
<br />
Ja samalla sitä ratkaisukirjaa...<br />
<br />
Julkaisija: Into Kustannus, <a href="http://www.intokustannus.fi/kirja/suomi_oljyn_jalkeen/">www.intokustannus.fi</a><br />
ISBN 978-952-264-196-0<br />
<br /></div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-1623615698677986412012-12-18T15:04:00.004+02:002012-12-18T15:04:39.395+02:00Adding 'condapply' to Scala, for natural JavaFX bindings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The <a href="http://www.scala-lang.org/" target="_blank">Scala</a> programming language is wonderful, and if anything, it suffers from a little bit too many tweaks and shortcuts (access syntactic sugar).<br />
<br />
But here's one more suggestion.<br />
<br />
The particular itch is that JavaFX bindings that in <a href="http://code.google.com/p/visage/" target="_blank">some languages</a> can be expressed in a normal if/else:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> def z = bind if (b) then x else y;</span><br />
<br />
cannot be created so nicely in Scala (or in Java, for that matter) - since <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">if</span> and <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">else</span> are keywords.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> def z = when (b) then x otherwise y;</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
This is how the current <a href="http://code.google.com/p/scalafx/" target="_blank">ScalaFX</a> library does it.<br />
<br />
Since Scala is a very powerful language, I began to toy with the idea, how it could allow the "natural" binding syntax for ScalaFX. And - I think it can (well, not the current Scala, but it could be added).<br />
<br />
<b>Existing apply and unapply</b><br />
<br />
Currently (Scala 2.9) Scala has methods called <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">apply</span> and <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">unapply</span>, which are called when i.e. a function call is invoked on a class. The compiler transforms the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(...params...)</span> of the call into a <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">apply(...params...) </span>call for the class. This is very, very common in Scala.<br />
<br />
The <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">unapply</span> is used less seldom, in pattern matching (in case you want your class to support this amazing feature fully). Normally classes don't need to do that much (one can use "case classes" that do it automatically).<br />
<br />
Anyways, this provides a precedent as to methods where the compiler transforms its syntax into bendy method calls.<br />
<br />
<b>Introducing condapply</b><br />
<br />
I would like to call this <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">cond</span>, but that would probably be a bit too common, and it would lose the mental bridge to existing (and well understood) <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">apply</span> and <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">unapply</span> methods. So let's say it's <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">condapply</span>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> def condapply[T]( t: => T, f: => T = null ): T</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's Scala prototype for a method that takes two "by name" parameters (that simply means, they will be lazily evaluated; only one of them). Both the parameters are expected to provide the same type of value (<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">T</span>), and the method itself will return this very type. If no <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">else</span> branch exists, <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">f</span> will be <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">null</span>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What ScalaFX could do with this, is to have the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Observable</span> trait implement this method, and therefore make <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Observable</span>'s applicable within an <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">if</span>. What the implementation would do is bind that <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Observable</span> to the two branches <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">t</span> and <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">f</span> (mathing <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">then</span> and <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">otherwise</span> in JavaFX API).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By the Scala prototype the branches would not need to be of the same type as the condition, but here they happen to be.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For cases where there is no <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">else</span> branch, the Scala compiler would create a <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">condapply</span> call with just one parameter. It would be up to the class to catch both cases (either using two separate prototypes, variable argument list, or default parameter for the latter parameter).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>The benefits</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The suggested addition to Scala would allow conditional bindings to be expressed in the usual if/else syntax, s.a.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> def z = if (b) x else y</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
It will not render any existing code invalid, since currently the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">if</span> statement is limited to conditions of type <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Boolean</span>. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whether it will make code more readable, and easily understandable, is a matter of opinion. Personally, I would probably use it, but also something like:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> def z = bindIf (b) x bindElse y</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
is quite okay (and can be done without changes to Scala).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Other uses</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There may be other uses to the presented technique outside of ScalaFX.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-64738401834621194602012-11-08T16:33:00.003+02:002012-11-08T16:35:26.160+02:00Oracle - how to be More Believable on OS X<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently, the baton on Java on OS X was passed from Apple to Oracle. From Java 7 onwards (i.e. now), updates come from Oracle. Also, integration with operating system has changed in various ways.<br />
<br />
Most of this is good.<br />
<br />
And then there's this.<br />
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Instead of nicely integrating the Java Control Panel into where the rest of the settings are (i.e. within the topmost window), Oracle chooses to launch the one below.<br />
<br />
There's a plethora of user interface issues here.<br />
<br />
1. "About" is topmost on the Control Panel window, on the first (default) pane. It's the *last* thing a user needs. Move it!<br />
<br />
2. It simply looks Bad and Boring. This is not in line with the coolness that JavaFX tries to bring to Oracle. Put some meaningful graphics on the first pane?<br />
<br />
3. *All* of the four buttons on the first pane have "..." in their captions, meaning you can do *nothing* in this pane alone. Too deep organization.<br />
<br />
The reason for this, of course, is that they want to run the Control Panel in Java (it looks just the same in Windows). That's probably a valid excuse for the first OS X version. Not for the long run.<br />
<br />
So let's fix this. :)<br />
<br />
Don't launch anything new, make things fit in the OS X usual Control Panel (hire some consultant to do it in Objective-C, it's not contagious).<br />
<br />
We can probably use the same tabs, but some would benefit from a renaming. Let's check them one by one (sorry that I haven't made any UI sketches on this - have other things to do):<br />
<br />
<b>General tab</b><br />
<br />
Drop the "About" from here (moves i.e. to under "Update" where it's more relevant).<br />
<br />
Drop "Network settings are used when making Internet connections." *Anyone* (anyone who found the Control Panel, anyways), does know that. Less is more and this simply makes Oracle (the boss within Oracle who demanded this text) look Stupid..<br />
<br />
Since you're saying "only advanced users should modify..." why exactly is *this* on the front page, then?<br />
<br />
Pressing 'Network Settings...' gives:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe1iYv2QSddIBWhjjngqCSpeL4pU61JLFpWP-lYAqzUNQFQ3ka0EsieqTDA_MmpMojCoh-z_HRyodBPssFGuMHnJmvlOZW-U9S9NeLLav0HX7-lcWx1OsqmDatycx14bKV-QqtilBAg/s1600/java_general_network.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe1iYv2QSddIBWhjjngqCSpeL4pU61JLFpWP-lYAqzUNQFQ3ka0EsieqTDA_MmpMojCoh-z_HRyodBPssFGuMHnJmvlOZW-U9S9NeLLav0HX7-lcWx1OsqmDatycx14bKV-QqtilBAg/s400/java_general_network.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This should imho be a "Network" tab of its own, just prior to the "Advanced" tab. You said it yourself. For advanced users. = moved.<br />
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Temporary Internet Files has the same "only advanced users should".. mention. By having these right on entry page of the Control Panel you make the occasional Java users (who are millions) think Java is "only for advanced users". Unnecessarily. Move this, too.<br />
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There's enough in there to grant a separate, top-level tab (within the real OS X Control Panel area). Let's put "Temporary files" (or "Disk cache") before "Advanced".<br />
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Then there's the "View..." dialog of the initial page (yet one very advanced thingy).<br />
<br />
Or actually, it turns out to be almost like a separate application within the Control Panel (which is within the OS X Control Panel). Way too deep - I bet most people never knew this even exists? I did not. :)<br />
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It's three things.<br />
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"Applications" shows which apps are taking disc space for their cache files. This is great, but... the icons on top allow one to i.e. launch these programs and look into their source code. Someone in charge of this wanted more than one icon, and got it. *Completely unnecessary* within a Control Panel.<br />
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Let's make this into a "Cache" tab (for brevity) and just keep the possibility to list the apps and remove their cached data.<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"Resources" has things that come from the Internet. Maybe it can be selected like above (show) but maybe the two lists could be put in one, i.e. Apps on top, followed by Resources. </div>
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<div>
"Deleted applications" is completely unnecessary. Someone in some meeting wanted to play safe and duplicate a trash bin. Don't Do That. Stick to simplicity. Though Java (well, JVM) is gorgeous, you don't want it to explode on people's faces. They already have enough stuff to take care of. One can always re-install an app from the original place. Trash.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
That covers the first, "General" pane, and - nicely - nothing remains on it. I would claim that the proper title for the pane should have been "Miscellaneous" since these really were things that didn't fit anywhere else. Too bad they were placed on the *entry* place of the Java Control Panel.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Update</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<div>
What a waste of empty space.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Merge this with the "about" popup that comes from the General tab. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would bet that the *most* frequently used feature of Java Control Panel is to check which version you are running and possibly upgrade. Make this the entry page (it already has the nice graphics). Don't hide it behind an "About.." button.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That covers the "Update" pane, which now functions as the nice entry page within the Control Panel.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Java</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's kind of awkward to have a "Java" pane within a "Java Control Panel", isn't it? If this pane is "Java", what are the others?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Again, you probably noticed the (lack of) use of empty space, and making people push yet another Button... (A copy of this pane alone would make for 15 minutes of teaching at a University Usability Course - if people would learn by bad examples, which they don't). :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ok, let's be humble and press the "View..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There comes "Java Runtime Environment Settings".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's forget about the unnecessary interim "Java" tab and call the tab "Runtimes" at once.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, knowing that in the Oracle way of distributing Java for OS X there is only one runtime at any one time, I wonder what's actually the point of all this. Apple had a similar list where one could manage multiple Java Runtimes. Oracle itself has said this was a very, very bad idea. So .... what is this for?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Security</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Use certificates to positively identify .. certifications." Yeah, right.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
- empty space</div>
<div>
- button...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just call the whole page "Certificates", and have this (what pops up by pressing the button) right on the topmost level:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Certificates is probably an even more advanced issue than Network and Temporary Files and therefore deserves to be listed after them.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Advanced</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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This can probably remain pretty much as-is, since the name anyways implies you should know what you're doing. A tiny help pane on the right side for getting info on the settings might not hurt (especially since the OS X Control Panel would have more horizontal page available).</div>
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Maybe reduce the font size a bit. It's advanced. There are many options. Smaller font size means I can get a better overall view at once.</div>
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<b>Altogether, now</b></div>
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So the current (Oracle Java 7 SE) Java Control Panel organization is like this:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">General</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> About...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Network Settings...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Settings...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> View...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Update</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Java</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> View...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Security</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Certificates...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Advanced</span></div>
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The proposed flatter organization is:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Update</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Network</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Temporary Files</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Caches</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Runtime (if required)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Certificates</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Other</span></div>
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Since essentially all the entries (except for 'Update') are advanced (already declared so in the current Control Panel implementation), it is probably in place to re-title the earlier "Advanced" as "Other".</div>
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<b>The Theory</b></div>
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I've developed a theory (mainly by observing XBox/Zune and other Microsoft mess-ups) that the internal structure of an organization is traceable in the software it produces. That is, unless a special effort is taken to smoothen such borderlines from the eyes of the user. I bet that the issues mentioned above are not coming from developers. They reflect something within probably Sun and not Oracle that caused this kind of approaches to be taken. It is sad if such usability failures are allowed to live further over the years, since *this* is what most people will feel when they touch Java. Is it flat, easy and good-looking. Or is it unnecessarily structural, hard to handle, and aging.</div>
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Oracle, please decide.</div>
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Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-67341247415044027162012-10-31T21:46:00.002+02:002012-10-31T21:46:54.036+02:00An IDE for ScalaFX development? Yes - PLEEEEEASE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This entry should tell you how to get an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) up and running for Scala development - and especially for ScalaFX (graphics application) development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It shouldn't be even this difficult (and most likely will become easier over the years).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The *current* (Oct 2012) situation is that I fought over a week with Eclipse Juno without still getting it to fully work. With IntelliJ the fight was roughly half a day (not bad). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With this text, you'll be up and running within an hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You shall need:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- OS X</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- Scala 2.9.2 installed via <a href="http://mxcl.github.com/homebrew" target="_blank">HomeBrew</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">- ScalaFX jar precompiled</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You probably should read this <a href="http://openduck.blogspot.fi/2012/10/getting-scalafx-22-demo-up-and-running.html" target="_blank">earlier blog post</a> first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">- Download "IntelliJ IDEA". Use the "Early Adapter Program" (recommended for Scala plugin to work) and take IDEA 12 (it has a great duck splash screen):</span><br />
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<a href="http://confluence.jetbrains.net/display/IDEADEV/IDEA+12+EAP">http://confluence.jetbrains.net/display/IDEADEV/IDEA+12+EAP</a> ( I took version 'idealC-122.639.dmg'. )</div>
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- Drag 'Leda-IC-122.639' app to somewhere (i.e. /Applications).</div>
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- Launch it and pick 'Open plugin manager' (top right corner of the welcome page):</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- "Browser repositories…" > choose "Scala" plugin (v.0.6.287) (double click to download & install)</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- You may also wish to install "SBT" plugin but it seems to only provide compilation help, not sure how it can be used for debugging.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- restart IntelliJ</div>
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<b>THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!</b></div>
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In order to use the Scala plugin, it needs to be given a "language facet", essentially libraries that tell where Scala compiler & libraries can be found.</div>
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We'll do it here using the command-line-installed ("brew install scala") version 2.9.2 files.</div>
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- Create a project (i.e. from scratch)</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Select type: "Java module"</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Click "Scala" on the "desired technologies" page (below) and fill the "Create compiler library" and "Create standard library" names to your liking (and probably you want them to be 'global').</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We'll make these point to the right HomeBrew-loaded jar's in a minute.</div>
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You should get to the main IDE soon.</div>
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There's a ton of things you should go through in File > Project Structure… Do it now.</div>
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Within there, you see 'Modules > Scala' that should be like this:</div>
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Notice that "scala-compiler" is selected as the way to compile Scala. This points to the scala-compiler.jar and scala-library.jar that we'll now define under "Global Libraries" (last entry of the "Project Structure…" dialog):</div>
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Make the entries look like this (in case you do have Scala 2.9.2 via 'brew'):</div>
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This should allow IDEA to compile Scala. </div>
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NOTE: It is absolutely essential that you only play with one version of Scala. Don't download "another" 2.9.2 and make IDEA point to it (did not work - at least not for me).</div>
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- Within "Project Structure… > Libraries" add 'scalafx-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar' (that you've snitched earlier, compiled with the same Scala version):</div>
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- To compile, "Build > Rebuild project" (I'm not a fan of automatic build)</div>
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- To start code, right click i.e. on 'Main.scala' and take 'run MainFX.main()' (no breakpoints etc.) or 'Debug 'MainFX.main()' (will stop at breakpoints).</div>
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Did it work?</div>
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Note that i.e. renaming the "Scala compiler library" seems to be enough to throw the "Scala facet" setting off the wall, and requires it to be reset ("Project Structure… > Facets)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">References:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://confluence.jetbrains.net/display/SCA/Getting+Started+with+IntelliJ+IDEA+Scala+Plugin">http://confluence.jetbrains.net/display/SCA/Getting+Started+with+IntelliJ+IDEA+Scala+Plugin</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10407777/scala-compiler-not-found-in-intellij-idea-11-with-play-2-0-project">http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10407777/scala-compiler-not-found-in-intellij-idea-11-with-play-2-0-project</a></div>
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Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-91549047630554799422012-10-20T15:34:00.003+03:002012-10-31T21:26:45.618+02:00Replicator service for spare parts, anyone? (mail order, reasonable price, scanning included)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I broke a small part of a classic table lamp recently, and am now considering the options of how to fix the damage.<br />
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Glue will probably not be strong enough. Wood will take time and not be 1:1 with the original.<br />
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Are there any 3d-printing shops available (within Finland, EU or globally) which would also offer the necessary scanning for actual replication of existing parts?<br />
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Ideally, they would extend the missing part, and give me perfect holder piece that lasts the next 40 years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRNCdLNmHGmi1jkIVghSwQPkcqe6oNyfF8GweTSWc4ng858e0LaZB5dBD0r2zQmELkTs9R0uxHgh-ZEOwPqTO6p08VNFhyphenhyphenAX06daEu9tXKDWKrwMLCT2Ec56EzwmSboe28CMzOPdlNQ/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRNCdLNmHGmi1jkIVghSwQPkcqe6oNyfF8GweTSWc4ng858e0LaZB5dBD0r2zQmELkTs9R0uxHgh-ZEOwPqTO6p08VNFhyphenhyphenAX06daEu9tXKDWKrwMLCT2Ec56EzwmSboe28CMzOPdlNQ/s640/IMG_1201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
We thought this was science fiction. Star Trek has it. But the technology is there, and the business model is simple. I'm sure there's someone already out doing this - please find me. I'm your customer! :)<br />
<br />
Contact either by comment here, email to akauppi(at)welho.com or twitter @bmdesignhki.<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum.</b><br />
<br />
Got the parts done, in bright Xmas Red. Lamp says Thank you, Robin B!<br />
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Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-71077804820350586052012-10-17T13:06:00.002+03:002012-12-24T22:25:30.368+02:00Getting ScalaFX 2.2 demo up and running on OS X (with Oracle Java 7u7)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-small;">News 20-Oct-2012 - JDK 7u9 and a JavaFX 2.2.3 samples are out:</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u9-downloads-1859576.html">http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u9-downloads-1859576.html</a></div>
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<span style="color: orange;">Use those files instead of the 7u7 mentioned below. The performance of some JavaFX Ensemble demos is now way better on the NVidia 9400 GPU (but not all). Also, there are new demos included in the bundle.</span></div>
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<i></i><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; min-height: 14px; text-align: left;">
JavaFX is a 2d/3d GPU-accelerated graphics library that is going to be replacing the Swing as the main Java application UI library.</div>
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ScalaFX is a Scala language binding to JavaFX.</div>
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JavaFX development kit is distributed as an integral part of the general Java 7.x development kit (JDK), by Oracle.</div>
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Below are the steps to get a basic ScalaFX project started, developing on OS X.</div>
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You will need:</div>
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- OS X 10.7.3 or later ("Lion" or later) (a JDK 7u7 requirement)</div>
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- Basic experience on command line usage on OS X</div>
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- HomeBrew (or similar) command line tool installation system ('brew' is great and easy to install)</div>
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- Willingness to accept the Oracle 7.x JDK license agreement</div>
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<b>Getting ScalaFX and JavaFX 2.1 running on OS X</b></div>
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<b>Java SE 7 Update 7 (or later)</b></div>
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Download and install "Java SE 7u7" (or later) from Oracle:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u7-downloads-1836413.html">http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7u7-downloads-1836413.html</a></div>
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Take these files:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>jdk-7u7-macosx-x64.tar.gz</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>javafx_samples-2_2_0-macosx-universal.zip</div>
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The JDK (development kit) contains the JRE (runtime engine) so just a single install is sufficient.</div>
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Installation FAQ:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-install-faq.html">http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-install-faq.html</a></div>
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Note for users with Apple Java 6:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-preferences.html">http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-preferences.html</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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JDK 7 Installation for Mac OS X:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-jdk.html">http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/webnotes/install/mac/mac-jdk.html</a></div>
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In short, just install the .pkg file by double-clicking. It will not replace the Apple Java 6 (in case you have Java enabled). You will need Java 7 for JavaFX 2.2 to function on OS X.</div>
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<<</div>
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You can determine which version of the JDK is the default by typing <span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New';">java -version</span> in a <b>Terminal</b> window. If the installed version is 7u6, you will see a string that includes the text <span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New';">1.7.0_06</span>. For example:</div>
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% java -version</div>
<div style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12px;">
java version "1.7.0_06-ea"</div>
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Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_06-ea-b13)</div>
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Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.2-b04, mixed mode)</div>
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To run a different version of Java, either specify the full path, or use the <span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Courier New';">java_home</span> tool:</div>
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/usr/libexec/java_home -v 1.7.0_06 --exec javac -version</div>
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<<</div>
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<b>JavaFX samples</b></div>
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Likely you already downloaded these (see URL and filename above).</div>
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Extract the files to some suitable directory.</div>
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To launch the .jar files, right-click and select 'Open in Jar Launcher > Run (or Open or something)'. This seems the way to bypass safety system preventing to launch .jar by a simple double click.</div>
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( <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">On OS X, they don't (yet) support launching from the HTML files. Ignore them. )</span><br />
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The UI responsiveness may be sluggish at times. This may be because of lack of optimization for hardware (GPU) rendering. Oracle site says any GPU supported by Lion should do, but in practice my MacBook Air (integrated Core i7 Intel GPU) performs way better than 2009 Mac Mini with NVidia. Likely the situation will improve once Oracle gets more OS X tuning done. Hope so.<br />
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<i>BrickBraker.jar</i></div>
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Nice retro game.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PI7ShoNlL7CJakvZoEuPLMymmkvOMn43f9mb4CA7TeS9jaGpox2zrgEnjq4vH8l2KEZloupvzh9TDLFffyO7ARMm9axLo2WdLJrYulTx7DTvn-tnica9w_EAapDHCxYfzI9EVozWWQ/s1600/breaker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PI7ShoNlL7CJakvZoEuPLMymmkvOMn43f9mb4CA7TeS9jaGpox2zrgEnjq4vH8l2KEZloupvzh9TDLFffyO7ARMm9axLo2WdLJrYulTx7DTvn-tnica9w_EAapDHCxYfzI9EVozWWQ/s400/breaker.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Ensamble.jar</i></div>
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Try making this into full screen mode (the '+' icon at upper right). Unfortunately it seems the 'real' full screen mode (Apple-F) is not supported by JavaFX (or this demo)?</div>
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The 3D-xylophone was probably hot in (…no, it never was). Now it mainly displays the lack of antialiasing in its rendering.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNphI93pmLbxwyhgDDCzl7GuBXIXCP0vH48GA5ylD1BYZWFbPCf77EA6jkyj_xhx3bacgCzt7n9Gx07Ud7q2kxRrwAV7rtXV3UdADto7D1d-3NTwJ1VPGHQQXxv8K2Sf4KYrgvKRoaw/s1600/xylophone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNphI93pmLbxwyhgDDCzl7GuBXIXCP0vH48GA5ylD1BYZWFbPCf77EA6jkyj_xhx3bacgCzt7n9Gx07Ud7q2kxRrwAV7rtXV3UdADto7D1d-3NTwJ1VPGHQQXxv8K2Sf4KYrgvKRoaw/s400/xylophone.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Advanced media" demo looks like animated gifs when played in full-screen on my Mini (but good on MacBook Air).</div>
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"Audio spectrum data" demos are great - check the lyrics! :)</div>
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The song is available <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAAEA3ccMD4" target="_blank">also in Youtube</a>.</div>
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<b>ScalaFX compilation</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<a href="http://code.google.com/p/scalafx/">http://code.google.com/p/scalafx/</a></div>
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First, get 'hg' (Mercurial) and 'sbt' to the Mac (i.e. using HomeBrew):</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> $ brew install hg sbt</span></div>
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This makes a copy of 'scalafx' repository (to local folder 'scalafx'):</div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> $ hg clone https://code.google.com/p/scalafx/</span></div>
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The instructions in 'README.txt' are outdated. Do this instead:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> $ export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_07.jdk/Contents/Home/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> $ sbt clean compile package</span></div>
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</div>
<i>(without the 'package' sbt does not create the target/*.jar file)</i><br />
<br />
To launch a demo of fading circles (makes other things on your computer crawl so don't leave it on :) ):<br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> $ sbt run</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURpqMOx8_fyCFLvzF4ut0DMhE-7mZ6O08MAEmlqqSzmgotG35qJPEFArDE03SQ8ij309GUVh6kQ83Mxig9tfqkNIrqKe7vD7yE4brYvQ4eZ3GMaXKN778lGWp9OOcdyGdGxH2ST_SvQ/s1600/shadedcircles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURpqMOx8_fyCFLvzF4ut0DMhE-7mZ6O08MAEmlqqSzmgotG35qJPEFArDE03SQ8ij309GUVh6kQ83Mxig9tfqkNIrqKe7vD7yE4brYvQ4eZ3GMaXKN778lGWp9OOcdyGdGxH2ST_SvQ/s640/shadedcircles.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b>Making your own project</b></div>
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Create these files:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> build.sbt</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> lib/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> scalafx-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> src/</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> mydemo.scala</span></div>
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'build.sbt' you can adopt from the one used in ScalaFX samples.</div>
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'lib/scalafx-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar' is a copy from the 'target' directory of scalafx compilation.</div>
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'mydemo.scala' is whatever file you wish to use (again, something from the scalafx 'demo' directory would be fine).</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="font-family: Times;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> $ sbt run</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Please make a comment if you got things working, with this walkthrough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<br /></div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-29066301596305077192012-10-01T18:44:00.001+03:002012-10-01T18:46:54.128+03:00iPhone Lite - Yes, They Should!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Analysts" are telling this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/01/apple-seen-as-unlikely-to-introduce-new-inexpensive-iphone-model">http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/10/01/apple-seen-as-unlikely-to-introduce-new-inexpensive-iphone-model</a><br />
<br />
I'm telling Apple should introduce an iPhone Lite and here's how I would have it done. Heh, writing's Cheap! :)<br />
<br />
In the new <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod-nano/" target="_blank">iPod Nano</a>, Apple has introduced a form factor that also suits a phone. 7.6 x 4 x 0.5cm. You can fit three of those on a Samsung Galaxy III (almost; that's 13.7 x 7 x 0.9cm).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0-H2un7w5L6XyrQRjXa2_SKstOQz7EEKyD4eCMcixADeYHArpta5jOhOvGqEVDjI0FyDIck_-hjbFUdgYrgJitY7XvFtvvlObsX5YcgFW-ayOTuG3Fh8CvOTJzBHZWLajdk366yXwQ/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0-H2un7w5L6XyrQRjXa2_SKstOQz7EEKyD4eCMcixADeYHArpta5jOhOvGqEVDjI0FyDIck_-hjbFUdgYrgJitY7XvFtvvlObsX5YcgFW-ayOTuG3Fh8CvOTJzBHZWLajdk366yXwQ/s400/Capture.PNG" width="372" /></a></div>
<br />
Ingredients to add:<br />
- GSM/EDGE telephony (no 3G necessary)<br />
- iMessage<br />
- Twitter (with pictures)<br />
<br />
That's it.<br />
<br />
Since the device is so small, one can think of using it with earphones only (the same as currently).<br />
<br />
Having such a wide gap to the existing entry-level iPhone 4 makes a clear differentiation between the models. At the same time, this makes iPhone Lite perfect as a child's phone. Or as an entry level developing world phone (Brazil et.al.) without tarnishing the Apple brand.<br />
<br />
Apple already has this division between iPhone and iPod touch. They only lack a phone in the Nano size category. It should look *exactly* the same.<br />
</div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-30949534242987532662012-09-12T16:53:00.001+03:002012-09-12T16:53:32.807+03:00Apple ohoy - fix the iMess(age)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got into a strange situation lately, and here's how to get "out" of it.<br />
<br />
My wife upgraded to Mountain Lion and enabled iMessage for herself. Cool. Worked. But she does not have an iPhone.<br />
<br />
When creating a message to her, on my iPhone, there is "iMessage" shadowed on the message field. But these will only reach her on the laptop.<br />
<br />
There seems to be no way to select between iMessage/SMS to a certain recipient!<br />
<br />
The solution I found (simply by trial and error + luck): copy her phone number from the address book. Create a message with this phone number as the recipient.<br />
<br />
Now I have two discussion threads with her - one SMS, one iMessage.<br />
<br />
Isn't this a MESS?<br />
<br />
What Apple could do is to:<br />
<br />
- acknowledge that people using Apple products might still have - say, ehem - an Android phone.<br />
- allow users to switch between "send as iMessage/SMS" for a single message and/or for the recipient.<br />
(I should probably suggest a way for how to do this - otherwise they'll patent even that?)<br />
- keep whatever discussions I have with person X in *one* thread, where SMS's and iMessages are interleaved, by their time. They are already color coded, that is great (blue=iMessage, green=SMS). Just keep them in one pile, it's a one person!<br />
<br />
btw, as a precautionary effort I switched the unused entry on my wife's address card from "iPhone" (which didn't have a number) to something else. Just in case the system checked whether a person "has" an iPhone.<br />
<br />
Anyways, Apple WAS good at making complex things simple.<br />
<br />
Missing that.<br />
<br /></div>
Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-44485819489654990242012-08-06T12:37:00.001+03:002012-08-06T12:40:08.638+03:00Apple *always* lets you down!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I upgraded to Mountain Lion, and expected to get laptop/desktop/phone integration. That's what they had publicized. A more "iOS" experience, also on the desktop. Yeah. Right.<br />
<br />
Got an alarm just a few minutes ago. Clicked it "shut" on my desktop. What the h*ll... It's still ringing on the phone in the entrance!<br />
<br />
I genuinly thought they'd make the things *integrated*. You react to a message on one device, it gets handled on the others as well.<br />
<br />
Nope.<br />
<br />
Apple always leaves something for the next update. But this one they should have covered.<br />
<br />
While whining, how about incoming SMS'es. If I'm working on a computer, let me see the SMS'es there, and react to them. INTEGRATE.<br />
<br />
Currently, SMS'es are still confined only to the phone. No technical reason they would need to be so.<br />
<br />
I'm beginning to think Apple is losing the magical "it just works" that they were known for, in the time when using PC's was hard. Losing their innovation mojo. Please - do better!!!<br />
<br /></div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-11723036266085863772012-08-03T21:17:00.001+03:002012-08-03T21:19:48.324+03:00App Store should meet Bonjour (= local caching of downloads)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span id="goog_1310486027"></span><span id="goog_1310486032"></span><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhyphenhyphenMNdyA0paaa-owJWFN-0aw1i8uSJJyKB7qU437eqSkaGVsWgJ_NF7qg9cQXHxw5a2mKxiqgBNM3XE5nNIiMCaUscwArtSDl2xOXairSqZAWAXh1TZ4Qj-V_NpEvijPRi9WXLXeF9w/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2012-8-3+kello+21.07.37.png" width="400" /><span id="goog_1310486033"></span><span id="goog_1310486028"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://twitter.com/bmdesignhki/status/231451046185148416">http://twitter.com/bmdesignhki/status/231451046185148416</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some more details on that.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It feels stupid that after one 4.3 GB download, each family computer under the *same* App Store license must perform the exact same download again, from who knows how far on the Internet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A better approach would be for App Store agent to keep a cache of recent downloads (or even partial downloads) and expose that cache to any other computers on the same network, via Bonjour. Technically, this should be easy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Authentication would still happen via the actual App Store servers, just as now. Only once the download begins, local caches would be preferred over the actual server seeds on the Internet. This is much akin to torrents, but not quite. It would reduce the server load that Apple is getting by some (maybe 10-15%). </div>
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1310486029"></span><span id="goog_1310486030"></span><br />
What do you think? I find no down side to Apple doing this, starting in some future version of App Store. Luckily, we only have two Macs at home.</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-29386284909664079962012-06-24T21:40:00.002+03:002012-07-01T18:22:55.321+03:00Nordic Crown - new currency for S, N, DK, Iceland, Finland - others?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There was an article recently that proposed Finland to be the first Euro country to get "enough" and exit the currency. It was called <i>Finexit</i>.<br />
<br />
I fail to see this happening as such, but if connected to a larger Northern European change of currencies, it might actually make a lot of sense.<br />
<br />
Currently, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland each have their crowns. None of these countries are in the Euro. They could fairly easily form a real economic union, learning from the mistakes of the Euro and not repeating them.<br />
<br />
If *that* were to happen, it would be an easy choice for Finland to join in.<br />
<br />
But it might not stop there.<br />
<br />
Poland has been knocking on the Euro door, but not so much recently. We have joint history with wars, joint kings, all that stuff. And Poland is one of the nicely performing non-Euro economies, anyways. Call it the Baltic Union if you will.<br />
<br />
Then there are Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia (another Nordic Euro country). Frankly, I don't expect Estonia to jump off Euro but the others might jump in the Crown.<br />
<br />
Together with Poland, the Nordic area would have a population base roughly the same as the UK. This should be enough to have a stable, global currency.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, the Finnish Bank (or someone) is working on this.<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: As you can guess, I know pretty little of the banking world. Then again, so it seems the people working within the system do, as well. ;)<br />
<br />
The Nordic Crown could take on the NOK abbreviation, or a more hip NK2.<br />
<br />
What I feel would be great with such a monetary union is that it employs countries within and outside of the EU, as well as within and outside of the NATO.<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum.</b><br />
<br />
The population estimates were rather correct. All the suggested countries (incl. Poland) would bring 63.6 million people into the Nordic Crown area. That is slightly more than either UK (62.8 M) or France (63.5 M).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_population">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_population</a><br />
<br />
Historic exchange rates (last 2 years) of the involved currencies.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMO_NxKpe02Ih20DsBYyAPPhW1OEiFpABDMQeNmlfUfBk87WptXYTF8be2vpgVmxFNaZWEhY2Gd8Y1M7FEY4g9U_VQd7J67catrRZ4oROdNKKn73idwyTCe37Go0kaVysZ1CxBf06uw/s1600/NOK-DKK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMO_NxKpe02Ih20DsBYyAPPhW1OEiFpABDMQeNmlfUfBk87WptXYTF8be2vpgVmxFNaZWEhY2Gd8Y1M7FEY4g9U_VQd7J67catrRZ4oROdNKKn73idwyTCe37Go0kaVysZ1CxBf06uw/s1600/NOK-DKK.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3iwIJJnnq8srCvp2QGSNK9oHky4Xs-7nvUgT9hJ1h_esqqQdq7Za97CmYoYH1fprr49Thnpl3KXIYdb0IM3aYEZ1xASVKzzQzFQWkZeK-60p180aR75gAWWyDCu6BlJJTBRjjI3XA/s1600/NOK-EUR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihO3iwIJJnnq8srCvp2QGSNK9oHky4Xs-7nvUgT9hJ1h_esqqQdq7Za97CmYoYH1fprr49Thnpl3KXIYdb0IM3aYEZ1xASVKzzQzFQWkZeK-60p180aR75gAWWyDCu6BlJJTBRjjI3XA/s1600/NOK-EUR.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IMVVEwQgBbcPyV2JWHsKlUqPPs3oUNjezcpHtlv9lc4PJlXgiVq68z1XXNknbgYGiRo9vl7GQETlkJ56cu6XOnxy-nRWWy3KBCFe3qr0zE6ZtSoVIdd097-VpMqrGVSjtWrlBJqsTA/s1600/NOK-PLN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IMVVEwQgBbcPyV2JWHsKlUqPPs3oUNjezcpHtlv9lc4PJlXgiVq68z1XXNknbgYGiRo9vl7GQETlkJ56cu6XOnxy-nRWWy3KBCFe3qr0zE6ZtSoVIdd097-VpMqrGVSjtWrlBJqsTA/s1600/NOK-PLN.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9ZMl2XNLDHR7b2Sy6hOfPkcDb_Y9_Se288NtCs-cJAAZ2TOqSNkGIVJa1Tdp8NxczvC7-GwAyWVMS8g1DFm0fQ0ZnTmX3wUvjFy0IIpg_ZJ1lA61jw6q-0VKc-D4YQgmT-6YDArrrQ/s1600/NOK-SEK.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9ZMl2XNLDHR7b2Sy6hOfPkcDb_Y9_Se288NtCs-cJAAZ2TOqSNkGIVJa1Tdp8NxczvC7-GwAyWVMS8g1DFm0fQ0ZnTmX3wUvjFy0IIpg_ZJ1lA61jw6q-0VKc-D4YQgmT-6YDArrrQ/s1600/NOK-SEK.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Comparison to Swiss franque tells something of the stability of the current NOK:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr963JFKmcoDENbkq88tkb4amBU_0qdMQykgXiidGhumCcsi4SuhGO-mMksT6kn6W2nQ-oy8bWvDKtZ96jbMbq2fyfExGOAJaU-gyNNl49DebYLguoqpdVsfXm3RINEvDwLrxWI_x-fA/s1600/NOK-CHF.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr963JFKmcoDENbkq88tkb4amBU_0qdMQykgXiidGhumCcsi4SuhGO-mMksT6kn6W2nQ-oy8bWvDKtZ96jbMbq2fyfExGOAJaU-gyNNl49DebYLguoqpdVsfXm3RINEvDwLrxWI_x-fA/s1600/NOK-CHF.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Addendum II</b><br />
<br />
Inflation rates (May 2012):<br />
<br />
Norway: 0.50 %<br />
Sweden: 1.0 %<br />
Finland: 3.1 %<br />
Poland: 3.6 %<br />
Denmark: 2.1 %<br />
Iceland: 5.40 %<br />
<br />
For comparison:<br />
<br />
UK: 2.8 %<br />
Euro-zone: 2.4 %<br />
Switzerland: -1.0 %<br />
<br />
Interest rates:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Norway: 1.50 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Sweden: 1.50 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Finland: 1.00 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Poland: 4.75 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Denmark: 0.45 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Iceland: 5.75 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
For comparison:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
UK: 0.50 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Euro-zone: 1.0 %</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Switzerland: 0.0 %</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Source: <a href="http://www.tradingeconomics.com/">http://www.tradingeconomics.com/</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-35386675357490514772012-05-12T13:39:00.002+03:002012-05-12T13:39:46.361+03:00How Apple Maps could be better<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The news birdies brought this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/report-apple-dumping-google-for-own-maps-app-in-ios-6">http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/report-apple-dumping-google-for-own-maps-app-in-ios-6</a><br />
<br />
I have long wondered how far it will take for Apple to want to cut any ties to Google. Since it seems they are doing this, how about adding some *useful features* to the maps app on iOS.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Online vs. offline maps</span><br />
<br />
The main problem I face with the iPhone in general, is that roaming abroad is still dreadfully expensive. As I've written before, I feel "at home" when the phone works not only as a phone but as a twitter and email client, and a maps engine.<br />
<br />
Now, Apple could somehow fix the whole thing by i.e. starting their own global 3G operations, and giving reasonable global roaming charges. Let's forget that. What they can already do with regards to the maps update/transition is make roaming less needed. Fix it at the application level.<br />
<br />
Current situation: separate map apps<br />
<br />
For navigating in my home country, I use iOS Google maps. Works splendid. Pulls data off 3G.<br />
<br />
For trips abroad, I can either pre-visit such areas in the Google map, and then hope the maps remain in the application's cache. They normally do. Or I can download (and possibly pay) for separate city-wide "offline maps" apps. There are *many* of these (by vendor, by city, free / commercial).<br />
<br />
What Apple *could* do in the iOS 6 maps upgrade is unify all this. Make the caching explicit, and cut away the need for *separate* map apps. Just one Maps.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is how to do it...</span><br />
<br />
- Add to the preferences of the Maps app a selection of cities that will be kept available "offline", i.e. cached to the phone's memory itself. Navigation and route finding within such areas should work even when data roaming is disabled.<br />
<br />
That's... all.<br />
<br />
I hope Apple does get to see this customer feedback. If you second this idea, please say so to them <a href="http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
- Asko<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-2002095675121769952012-04-29T10:52:00.003+03:002012-04-29T10:52:58.531+03:00My letter to President Dilma Rousseff (of Brazil)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Dear President,</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I live in Helsinki, Finland, and have little first hand exposure to rain forests.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
However, I read this wonderful book on the Amazon, "The Tree of Rivers", which I wholeheartedly recommend to You.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Rivers-The-Story-Amazon/dp/0500514011/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335684957&sr=1-2">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Rivers-The-Story-Amazon/dp/0500514011/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335684957&sr=1-2</a></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Through that book, it might be I know more of the rain forests than most Brazilians. And I'm worried - for you and for all of us.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Rain forests don't make for the best cultivated land, if cut, but their effect on the larger climate for Brazil is tremendous. They help provide rains for the southern areas which are far more prosperous, ecologically. This is the farming heart lands for your economy. By cutting deeper into the Amazon, you are risking changing the climate patterns for these farm lands. You are playing with fire.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
So it is not for the sake of the planet, or us foreigners that you should stop cutting the jungle and rather start restoring it. It's for your own country, and it's ecological as well as economical future.</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
I'm not from Green Peace. I'm a single entrepreneur in Finland, trying to turn the tide of our planet. I am not in such a decisive seat as you are, but I can understand the conflicting interests that go across your mind in such issues. Be wise, study the details - and I do recommend the above mentioned book.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yours, sincerely,</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Asko Kauppi</div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
Helsinki, Finland</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-73274360715293402442012-04-11T14:12:00.002+03:002012-04-11T14:12:26.786+03:00Limited data roaming (suggestion for Apple iOS)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
The iPhone is more than a phone. To me, it's primarily a Twitter device. However, when I'm abroad all this functionality becomes crippled because of expensive data roaming charges.<br />
<br />
There is something Apple can do to help. Instead of the current "all or nothing" introduce an intermediate "limited roaming data" setting, which would a) allow only selected applications to utilize data services, at all and b) allow such applications to detect the mode and fall back to "use least possible data transfer".<br />
<br />
This would be useful for keeping such applications as Twitter, Google (or some other) maps and email working, even when outside of WLAN, but without unnecessarily eating up the precious roaming bits. It can also be combined with relatively cheap, low-bandwidth roaming contracts, where the usual 3G speeds would not be available.<br />
<br />
Ideally, I would want basic (64k) data speeds to be available anywhere I go, without (much) added charge. They are nowadays almost as important as the calling and SMS systems are.<br />
</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-69529262082009153612012-02-25T18:50:00.000+02:002012-05-17T15:13:44.917+03:00My list for the next XBox...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Microsoft seems to be making an "XBox 720" console, with the usual "better graphics blah blah" specs. That's great. We can do with a GPU upgrade, more RAM etc. They'll get all those wishes from the game developers.<br />
<br />
Here's something to add to that basket, from a game (casual) end user.<br />
<br />
<b>- support for two monitors</b><br />
<br />
Yes. Two HDMI ports. Would be awesome for games s.a. SSX snowboarding, or racing games. Instead of split screen, give each player a full high-res screen! Even for shoot ups s.a. Battlefield this would allow wider view angle.<br />
<br />
Since current PC-level CPU's are anyways (I presume) ready for multiple monitor support, this wouldn't be such an over-the-top requirement. Most likely, it'll already be on the silicon that Microsoft works with. Just don't disable it. Use it.<br />
<br />
When used for dual player mode (i.e. SSX or car games) each HDMI could carry their own audio, as well. This allows (maybe with earphones) to hear your own stuff.<br />
<br />
This may sound like "really, that's the last thing this world needs". And maybe so. But at the same time, playing in company and against a human opponent is incredibly much fun! Almost all of my NHL (2008, I confess!) gaming is like that. There dual screen mode is not badly needed, since there's only one puck. With SSX and car games, splitting the screen literally takes half the fun out!<br />
<br />
Some more things:<br />
<br />
-<b> get rid of the DVD</b>. I trust you will (it's slow, noisy and... simply old-fashioned). Downloaded content of games on standard (non-writable) USB sticks.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Addendum:</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tietokone.fi/" target="_blank">Tietokone</a> has an article today: <a href="http://www.tietokone.fi/uutiset/seuraava_xbox_ei_levyasemaa_myyntiin_ensi_vuonna">http://www.tietokone.fi/uutiset/seuraava_xbox_ei_levyasemaa_myyntiin_ensi_vuonna</a><br />
<br />
- no physical disk drive. Check.<br />
- games will be sold on little memory cards. Hmm... okay, just make it a real USB dongle, like Autodesk does.<br />
<br />
What they really should do is:<br />
- make a <b>good local caching thing</b> (with <b>unlimited storage on the Cloud</b>). One can install *any*number of games, the ones not being used lately can get removed and can be re-fetched from the Cloud. All this seamlessly. Plus ability to change the local cache disk, without as much hassle as there currently is. Just disk out, disk in. If the Cloud has the primary copy, the local disk is nothing but a cache (unless you're being offline).<br />
<br />
- Finally, <b>smooth integration of Zune (or whatever videos are called) </b>with XBox dashboard. Still not there. Microsoft internal organizational glitches show all over the final UI. Why don't they learn. Why?<br />
<br />
- Bring <b>text input to the 21st century</b>. Actually, let me show the secret key codes (of so many games nowadays) to the Kinect camera, instead of typing them in. Have some overall thinking!<br />
<br />
Addendum II:<br />
<br />
Another rumor, via Finnish Pelaajalehti.com: <a href="http://www.pelaajalehti.com/uutiset/huhu-uusi-xbox-vaatii-jatkuvan-nettiyhteyden">http://www.pelaajalehti.com/uutiset/huhu-uusi-xbox-vaatii-jatkuvan-nettiyhteyden</a><br />
<br />
The graphics arrangement looks promisingly capable of two-monitor usage (I hope MS is really checking this option out!). I'd leave the Blu-Ray out, or at least make it optional. With a fast network connection, who needs it (and MS would make more money selling *all* games downloadable, anyways). If they need physical media, non-writable USB sticks are *way* better for everyone (maybe USB 3.0 so even read times are blazingly fast).<br />
<br />
Addendum III:<br />
<br />
Power hungry. Not.<br />
<br />
The current XBox 360's drain something in the neighborhood of 150W when playing a game. Older models probably more. And this is without the tv.<br />
<br />
Now, an Apple TV (2nd generation) drains 6W.<br />
<br />
See the difference? Now, *what if* the Apple TV system-on-chip actually gets good enough to run Xbox 360 level graphics. It can. That's a 20-fold difference in power consumption!<br />
<br />
So, if I were Microsoft I would be highly concerned with the power envelope of the new (if ever) XBox 720. It's not only the features. Cut down the moving parts (no DVD, hard disk etc.). Cut down the size. Cut down the power need. Try to get close to the Apple TV while still being a great ass-kicking game machine.<br />
<br />
Actually.<br />
<br />
Make an XBox almost as small as the Apple TV. With Kinect. With existing XBox 360 features only.<br />
<br />
Then make the "XBox 720" with upgraded performance, but only about twice the size and power envelope of the little brother. Continue selling both. Kinect games are fine with the existing graphics.</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-5015312488124492462012-01-28T15:50:00.000+02:002012-01-28T15:50:23.841+02:00My wish list for the next iPhone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There's some <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5-rumours-what-you-need-to-know-721534" target="_blank">rumors</a> on the net about what the iPhone 5 would be like.<br />
<br />
- bigger screen (5")<br />
- quad-core A6 processor<br />
- 4G and LTE network support<br />
<br />
Now, let me give a single 3GS model user's point of view of what I'd like to have.<br />
<br />
The bigger screen sounds good. Since buying the iPhone my phone usage has transformed. It's mainly my Twitter machine, then email, then SMS, then phone. Really - using it as a phone is ... well ... getting less important all the time. But of course the phone functionality must be there, and be there flawless. But I'm not keen on the network specifics, as long as they work.<br />
<br />
One *definite* killer version would be this:<br />
<br />
- free Twitter roaming around the world<br />
<br />
The way I realize I'm "back home" again after a travel is that I can tweet naturally. Whenever. Using 3G. This I cannot do on trips and... it's weird. This and the inability to use Google maps (unless I've been smart to preload the particular maps before the trip) is what bugs me the most. Don't bother with 4G/LTE unless there would be a decent global data roaming (hey - I'm fine with 64k speeds abroad!) that would not cost incredibly.<br />
<br />
Doing this would make it feel like a world phone (ehem - I mean tweet unit).<br />
<br />
Quad core. Nah. Details. Three would be fine but if four is easier to do, whatever. :)<br />
<br />
One more thing.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, the enclosure changes. Either to full aluminum (no you wouldn't do that, it's already passé and it scratches easily and feels cold in freezing temperatures). Go with carbon fibre, or any composite!<br />
<br />
Be it "thermal plastics" or "nanocellulose", figure out the light and sturdy construction that will make us go "ooooooh" in awe. Do it One More Time.<br />
<br />
Carbon covers simply look brilliant, they feel sturdy and nice, and they have somehow a "natural" feel to them. Go Green, Apple!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://puremetalcards.com/blog/tag/carbon-fiber/">http://puremetalcards.com/blog/tag/carbon-fiber/</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://puremetalcards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/iPad-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://puremetalcards.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/iPad-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
FastCoExist: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1687643/apple-composite-materials-patent-enables-sexy-looking-bullet-proof-iphone-5s" target="_blank">Apple patent foresees sexy, bullet-proof iPhone</a><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br /></div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-22287563352225183532012-01-17T19:18:00.004+02:002012-01-17T19:37:19.360+02:003T-lehden analyysi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
(This is a Finnish piece, discussing the demise of an esteemed Prosessori magazine and the 'properties' of the <a href="http://www.3t.fi/" target="_blank">3T</a> weekly technical newspaper supposed to be taking on its readership.)<br />
<br />
Vuoden vaihteessa saimme jättää hyvästit Prosessori-lehdelle ja tilalle alkaa tulla 3T (teknologia, talous, työelämä).<br />
<br />
Sinänsä vaihto voi olla ihan perusteltu, ja painotus pelkän tekniikan rinnalla myös talouteen ja työelämään on ihan jes. Mutta saatuani ensimmäisen 3T-lehden luukusta tunnelmat olivat ristiriitaiset. Paksu nivaska, Prosessoria tuplasti isompi (A3) koko, mutta... oliko pelkkää höttöä sisältä.<br />
<br />
Tein analyysin lehden 40 sivusta päästäkseni selville, mistä epäselvyys ja sekava tunne johtui. Sillä "sekava" lienee juuri paras sana kuvaamaan tätä ensimmäistä lehteä. Osin se on kuin Prosessori (itse artikkeli oli hyvä - siis se yksi!). Isolta osin se koettaa olla jotain Tiede-lehden (sen huonomman) kaltaista. Laitoin nuo jutut analyysisarakkeeseen "sälä". Kansikuvia on ainakin kaksi, mutta itse lehden etukansi on uhrattu mainokselle. Niin myös iso osa sen sisemmästä pinta-alasta, ripottaen sinne tänne niin että itse asiaa joutuu etsimään.<br />
<br />
Mielestäni nuo kaikki osattiin Prosessorissa paremmin. Mainoksia saa olla - ne ovat osin hyödyllisiä - mutta ne kannattaa pitää erillään tekstiaineistosta. Prosessoria ei tehnyt mieli laittaa paperinkeräykseen, mutta tämän lehden kohdalla sitä ongelmaa ei ole. Ei jää ikävä, eikä etsi "sitä juttua" jälkikäteen.<br />
<br />
Koettaako 3T olla juuri tuota? Ohimenevää surffausta tämän hetken "tekniikan, talouden ja työelämän" aallon harjalla. Senkin voisi tehdä Tyylillä, vertailukohtana esim. joku The Economist, joka on sekä ajankohtainen, hyvin taitettu että täyttä asiaa. Toivottavasti 3T ottaa opiksi, tai perun tilauksen ja alan kirjoittaa lehden nimen pienellä t:llä, jos joskus on tarvis.<br />
<br />
Tässä se analyysi:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7QdKKhvLh2Sr2GxqnT2GyEPdj1zyO9aEFRsH5-68qhk_Gr6WNAkzIwtZ6TgvGHfQKClo9KPRbNOHDG5rjGk8gYG_nhAhsSgyyqBHEt6_x-FQp5GWtkyD2NyEZ4miHATWEqU_xF3klQ/s1600/3T_pinta-ala.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7QdKKhvLh2Sr2GxqnT2GyEPdj1zyO9aEFRsH5-68qhk_Gr6WNAkzIwtZ6TgvGHfQKClo9KPRbNOHDG5rjGk8gYG_nhAhsSgyyqBHEt6_x-FQp5GWtkyD2NyEZ4miHATWEqU_xF3klQ/s640/3T_pinta-ala.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Mainoksia on eniten, 38,1% ja yhdessä työpaikkamainosten kanssa miltei puolet lehden pinta-alasta (46,1%).<br />
<br />
Sälää on 8,8%. Tämä on pieniä "tietoiskumaisia" irtotietoja, joita luullakseni Prosessorin lukijakunta kohtelee lähinnä kohinana. Eli signaali/kohinasuhde laskee näiden takia - POIS!<br />
<br />
Kansikuviin ja otsikoihin menee yhteensä 7,4%. Ihan hyvä, mutta laittaisin lehden KANTEEN kansikuvan, eikä mainoksen. Vain Turun Sanomissa on kannessa mainos, ja se ei ole hyvä referenssi!<br />
<br />
Takakannen voisi käyttää säläkokoelmaan, jos sellainen nyt oikeasti pitää jossain olla.<br />
<br />
Itse artikkelien - otin tähän kaiken sellaisen, mikä liittyy lehden TTT-asiaan ja joka oli yhtä palstaa pitempi juttu - määrää saisi ainakin tuplata, ehkä triplata. Nyt artikkeleita on vaivaiset 16,5% lehden paperialasta, ja pienempien "muu aineisto" -juttujen kanssakin (sellaisia yhden, kahden palstan pätkiä) 21,2%. Signaali/kohina suhde jää kaikkineensa huonoksi, 45:55 jos kansikuvat ja otsikotkin lasketaan "signaaliksi".<br />
<br />
Aion seurata 3T:n signaali/kohinasuhteen kehittymistä parin numeron ajan, ennen kuin teen lopullisen päätökseni. Sille yhden artikkelin tekijälle (Anna Ruohonen, "Palvelukseen halutaan superinssi") kiitos - ilman tuota juttua lehdestä ei olisi jäänyt käteen mitään ja olisin tilauksen jo peruuttanut. Toivottavasti seuraavasta 3T:stä löytyy jo pari vastaavan tasoista asia-artikkelia!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3T netissä</span><br />
<br />
Lehti pyrkii selvästi olemaan sekä paperi- että online-julkaisu. Jälleen... peräänkuuluttaisin sitä Tyyliä neljänneksi T:ksi noiden kolmen rinnalle:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAI3T0jM6ipS42Z4AUVRVcOfQcwMJNHE_6tY8MkXvRrFMZ-rREsRhOpaDDzeMc_CQSjXziKlgA4HgwKlg5Ana1ZXYPaTHLEi9BfC1XQLEeMsY3BXO-qr1glO8DY-g_bqPiJQ3uG6uUGw/s1600/3T-online.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAI3T0jM6ipS42Z4AUVRVcOfQcwMJNHE_6tY8MkXvRrFMZ-rREsRhOpaDDzeMc_CQSjXziKlgA4HgwKlg5Ana1ZXYPaTHLEi9BfC1XQLEeMsY3BXO-qr1glO8DY-g_bqPiJQ3uG6uUGw/s640/3T-online.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Jopa enemmän sekava kuin paperilehti.<br />
<br />
<b>Neljä</b> saraketta. Enemmän ei todellakaan ole parempi, mitä tulee nettijulkaisuihin.<br />
<br />
Saanko tilaajana poistettua mainokset näkyvistä kokonaan? Ainakin tuon oikean sarakkeen?<br />
<br />
Vasemman sarakkeen striimin näen kuitenkin myös Twitterissä. POIS.<br />
<br />
Jälleen sama kuin paperilehdessä: enemmän tilaa itse jutuille, ennen tuota "Lue lisää"-linkkiä.<br />
<br />
...ja sivun pohjalta löytyy näytön verran ja yli lopputekstejä, tarpeettomia linkkejä ja mainoksia Sanoman omiin muihin julkaisuihin (sisäsiittoisuus ei ole cool; laittaisin nuo linkit pienemmälle!)<br />
<br />
Tällä kaikella pyrittäneen mainostulojen maksimointiin. En usko, että se siihen johtaa.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9e42Sj8b99fLkXl9KoFYQetQ2p8icwk7S8YiWakJ607RlFwylYrjdaFUly_cCWltrDb_JhBfYTRub-w95ZQ95Fgi-cjYre8WgSCx8fliROR3HpGkJwR9wRAoUte1qMe8X-wTehb7SA/s1600/3T-footnote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9e42Sj8b99fLkXl9KoFYQetQ2p8icwk7S8YiWakJ607RlFwylYrjdaFUly_cCWltrDb_JhBfYTRub-w95ZQ95Fgi-cjYre8WgSCx8fliROR3HpGkJwR9wRAoUte1qMe8X-wTehb7SA/s640/3T-footnote.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<i>3T-lehden veppisivun "alaviitteet". :)</i><br />
<br />
Palaan asiaan parin numeron päästä, n. 27.1.<br />
<br /></div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-27176315829293951582012-01-14T11:33:00.002+02:002012-01-14T11:33:49.779+02:00Making interim commits in git<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm reading the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Version-Control-Git-collaborative-development/dp/0596520123/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326533123&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Git Book</a> and wondering about a habit that I have in using version control (so far, subversion).<br />
<br />
I like to make commits only for working, at least compiling, stuff. But I also want to make them as "fallbacks" in the middle of bigger changes, in case things start going in a bad direction. In svn, I mark these commits as "interim" by their comment.<br />
<br />
That works well with subversion. The commits end up in the repository, but there's no real harm in that. Svn stores deltas, so there will be the changes from A to interim (to 2nd interim, ...) to B. Not much different from having changes directly from A to B. No downside.<br />
<br />
Git, however, stores the whole binary "blob" of a file in a commit. Anything that's changed. Moreover, I wouldn't really even want to get the interim commits all the way to the repo. I would simply want to have a temporary "level of undo" where I can fall back.<br />
<br />
I will now keep an eye open for a solution using git that would allow this. Something like:<br />
<br />
- start working on new change<br />
- make "interim" commits<br />
- once ready (things compile, and run, and the undos won't be required): purge the interim commits<br />
- make one real commit that contains all the changes (A to B)<br />
- git push<br />
<br />
If anyone already knows how to do this, I'd be interested. If not, I will try to figure it out.<br />
<br />
If it *cannot* be done with git, I think the system would benefit of such an addition (ability to merge commits that haven't been pushed into a single one, removing the blobs that aren't being referred to any more after the merge).<br />
<br />
-asko</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-5953274855302876372011-12-06T13:38:00.001+02:002011-12-06T14:10:21.544+02:00When companies are ssssshhhhh quiet.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've got a <a href="http://macmaa.com/2009/04/02/logitech-dinovo-mac-edition/" target="_blank">Logitech DiNovo Mac</a> keyboard, and I'm actually <em>very</em> pleased with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://macmaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dinovo_intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://macmaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/dinovo_intro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Except that while there's Logitech software for this keyboard on Mac OS X, and Logitech software for their other keyboards on Windows, there's absolutely nothing for using this - the Mac edition - on Windows.<br />
<br />
Now, people are mixed users these days. We have Macs with BootCamp and we do occasionally run Windows on these machines. What does Logitech do about this? <br />
<br />
(...listening...)<br />
<br />
They don't seem to even recognize the issue. This describes half of the issue, on Logitech's own user forum:<br />
<a href="http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Keyboard-and-Keyboard-Mice/Use-of-F1-F12-with-DiNovo-Mac-Edition-under-bootcamp/m-p/389994">http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Keyboard-and-Keyboard-Mice/Use-of-F1-F12-with-DiNovo-Mac-Edition-under-bootcamp/m-p/389994</a><br />
<br />Can companies still do this, at the Age of Twitter? Seems they can. :(<br />
<br />
What I would appreciate of Logitech is to acknowledge the situation and say whether they think they'll be doing anything about it. They *certainly* have the software knowledge to get the bells-and-whistles (volume keys would be nice, and the Fx-key issue described above) to fix this. They do Windows software. The functionality could be part of their normal (next version) Windows tools, simply supporting also the Mac variant of the keyboards.<br />
<br />
But do they say anything? Nope.<br />
<br />
Sorry, Logitech. I like your mice and your keyboards, but... your customer (lack of) support sucks.<br />
Please prove me wrong! :)<br />
I've got Setpoint 6.32 installed on the Windows system. All it seems to provide is this dialog (no settings for controlling the Function and sound keys):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWYJiHA_tgLw8wHBdbqk4tOY2mGpkoDalQnaT-sMzxVQzA1qRKhyphenhyphen8Jvn0CqtH9v12JpACjnMJ7_Xy8HolXvVVzJvvAn4b15RRxZq0oJ-_ELX5Gnhs3pXRXdDsEry7hm7cctHg07VuKQ/s1600/Sieppaa.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWYJiHA_tgLw8wHBdbqk4tOY2mGpkoDalQnaT-sMzxVQzA1qRKhyphenhyphen8Jvn0CqtH9v12JpACjnMJ7_Xy8HolXvVVzJvvAn4b15RRxZq0oJ-_ELX5Gnhs3pXRXdDsEry7hm7cctHg07VuKQ/s400/Sieppaa.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Also Apple Support Communities has a similar, fruitless<a href="https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2799478?start=0&tstart=0" target="_blank"> call for help</a>.</div>
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Note: Users of the Logitech Dinovo Edge Mac edition (which is a <em>separate</em> product, with embedded touchpad) are running to <a href="http://forums.logitech.com/t5/Keyboards-and-Keyboard-Mice/Windows-7-and-Dinovo-edge-Mac-Edition/m-p/383130" target="_blank">similar issues</a>. They also have keyboard setup issues, which I don't recall ever having had. Anyways, Logitech naturally should extend SetPoint to deal with their keyboards as well, in BootCamp.</div>
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<br />For comparison with my SetPoint dialog (that only has the 'Tools' tab), here is how SetPoint looks if there is a supported keyboard (and mouse) connected:</div>
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<a href="http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/image-files/logitech-501-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/image-files/logitech-501-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-58072808587833113182011-10-22T13:07:00.004+03:002011-10-22T14:52:33.070+03:00Making narrative videos based on Keynote could be easier<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
( This is a copy of a <a href="http://www.apple.com/feedback/keynote.html">feedback</a> I sent to Apple's Keynote team. )<br />
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<<<br />
I love Keynote - you've gradually developed it into a very versatile and nice tool, for making in-person presentations.<br />
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However, where I feel it can be improved is making narrative "taped" presentations. I have done such recently using a combination of Keynote, Garageband and iMovie, and the experience left me feeling like swimming upstream. The workflow was clumsy and making changes to a certain slide's audio was elaborate. Doing the same completely within Keynote would be ideal.<br />
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Keynote has basic narration recording and slide synchronization already (see <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3699">here</a>). However, the approach seems to suffer from some UI confusion and lack of suitability to at least my usage case.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>The UI terminology is not very clear. </b></span><br />
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Here is the current menu structure:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH19saKr4-l4B-iucQi2JeDFCBSweshZFhHmnUfHuwl7v3wIhdu3Zt-WR4SsrbC7Ngila749pqgMHuLxKHKbY0YG1lKmmNi5bCgKsa3mnj8r8oLJCKdU3mA3fTEUgU_A5E7SO4aR45iA/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-22+kello+13.08.26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH19saKr4-l4B-iucQi2JeDFCBSweshZFhHmnUfHuwl7v3wIhdu3Zt-WR4SsrbC7Ngila749pqgMHuLxKHKbY0YG1lKmmNi5bCgKsa3mnj8r8oLJCKdU3mA3fTEUgU_A5E7SO4aR45iA/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-22+kello+13.08.26.png" /></a></div>
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This kludges together both the narrative part and rehearsal, which are actually two unrelated things. Top three entries are for making narrative presentations. The two lowermost are for exercising live presentations.</div>
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My suggestion for the same menu:<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Play</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
> Play with narrative</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
> Record narrative</div>
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> Clear narrative</div>
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---</div>
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> Rehearse slideshow</div>
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> Customize presenter display...</div>
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This way, one would use the word "narrative" for a recorded slideshow, with audio, and the word "slideshow" for any kind of general reference (s.a. rehearsing your live presentation).</div>
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The use of "Play" as the main menu name can be argued, since it also covers recording and rehearsal. "Studio" might actually be equally good? :)</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The workflow seems wrong.</span></b></div>
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"Record slideshow" has following options:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlLldcJE06MJdDVQdGG4m7BNO-Q_T815Qxsn8EvH7dvyyQXOmsuSOXl7iAYbNRDuC8lM8ORH9TZ-r4dmkHABh5vrotTAakTyUIR3fYwi_ukGgv7_7cgni8VjI_hGvgXyCcNIEKpE3Ww/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-22+kello+13.08.37.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlLldcJE06MJdDVQdGG4m7BNO-Q_T815Qxsn8EvH7dvyyQXOmsuSOXl7iAYbNRDuC8lM8ORH9TZ-r4dmkHABh5vrotTAakTyUIR3fYwi_ukGgv7_7cgni8VjI_hGvgXyCcNIEKpE3Ww/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-22+kello+13.08.37.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The "Record from beginning" moves to the first slide of narrative and begins a whole new sound track for all the slides. The "Record & Replace" (or "Record & Append" in some cases) stays on current slide and replaces the soundtrack for this (and subsequent) slides.</div>
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This works for ad-hoc narratives where the person casually goes through all the slides in order. It fails on narratives with planned text to read, where getting one slide right at a time is already a good bite.</div>
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My suggestion:</div>
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Get completely rid of the options dialog. Take people directly to recording stage, but in paused mode so they can start when ready. If they remain within the particular slide and end the recording by pressing ESC, replace only that slide's recording. If they proceed to following slide, replace the recording of that slide as well.</div>
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I believe this change is great since it cuts away a whole (unnecessary) dialog, and suits both the old and the new usage case. If one wants to narrate the whole slideshow at once, simply go to first page, start recording and proceed through all the pages. But it also allows to go back to certain page later, and re-record only that one. Without scrapping the audio of the slides behind it.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Going further</b></span></div>
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You could make a little (loudspeaker icon) icon by the slides in the Slides pane to show which ones have a narration attached to them and which not. Pressing that icon could play the narration without necessarily moving to that slide. Currently, such features are in the Document level in the Inspector - again highlighting the idea that narration would be an undivided, document centric thing. It actually is a the opposite - a page-specific thing that gets bound together just as slides get bound together when running them as a slideshow.</div>
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I believe this misconception is underlying all the problems I'm facing with the current narrative Keynote features. Fix that, and all will drop in place.</div>
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I believe these issues are easy to fix and look forward to that happening. </div>
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Here is my current narrated presentation I did using the painful Keynote + Garageband -> iMovie workflow:<br />
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<a href="http://bmdesign.smugmug.com/Investors/Vision-public/18497382_sPHbtM#1529667808_sSFPcwz">http://bmdesign.smugmug.com/Investors/Vision-public/18497382_sPHbtM#1529667808_sSFPcwz</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Going slightly more further (addendum)</b></span></div>
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Apple could actually scrap the narration features altogether from the Menu. "Play with narration" becomes unneeded if playing with narration would be available at the usual slideshow starting. "Record narration" may still be required - somewhere, to get things going. "Clear narration" can be done by usual slide handling, instead. Less UI is a good thing.</div>
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I would like to have external editing of the narrations (s.a. the effects you get in Garageband and clipping) but this is troublesome because of the need to synchronize a narrative with on-screen presentation effects (i.e. showing text or animations). Therefore, it's probably best to leave within Keynote.</div>
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Currently (iWork '09) exporting narrations to iCloud is not supported, but obviously it should be. However, these can be pushed as videos instead of interactive slideshows. I would like to have automatically generated markers for the beginning of each slide, though, so viewers would be easily able to skim back and forth to a particular slide.</div>
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Narrative slideshows are used extensively in i.e. pitching for projects or raising funds. I hope Apple makes producing them way easier than it now is. :)</div>
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p.s. I exported the slides to iCloud. Notice how much crisper the graphics look, because of no conversion to MPEG4 video. Also, the upload was 46MB compared to 230MB for video.<br />
<a href="https://www.iwork.com/document/?d=Public_thing.key&a=p1303025490">https://www.iwork.com/document/?d=Public_thing.key&a=p1303025490</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One more thing...</span></b><br />
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The slide comments should be viewable (at least as an option) when recording the narration. Currently, they are not. I've placed the text to read in those comments and it makes sense to have it there, i.e. for making printouts.</div>
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</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-60686633796369676032011-10-17T22:19:00.003+03:002011-10-17T22:20:00.096+03:00Microsoft not-so pearls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Microsoft has always sucked in translations.<br />
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They localize things they should not (s.a. the Windows\Desktop folder name - *in* the file system) and they have a track record of making translations so awkward one can actually use the English version easier than the 'native'.<br />
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Generally, I'm fine with Windows 7 (in Finnish). It's actually cool.<br />
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Unless you come to these dialog boxes, with authentication:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFLrkMLiZIATU7GWYc0v5Jo4dbGPecAJI_aQ3X7HNAdBUBlaW8w1EcOyhgDRvidNDsV41xytEcy5kQ5Lj8Qn39UGVqUkS-Lv0QYHfkLbcW6R8-pIrBxxLR8-H7wc5_dPSZznTOWQtdA/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+11.50.41.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkFLrkMLiZIATU7GWYc0v5Jo4dbGPecAJI_aQ3X7HNAdBUBlaW8w1EcOyhgDRvidNDsV41xytEcy5kQ5Lj8Qn39UGVqUkS-Lv0QYHfkLbcW6R8-pIrBxxLR8-H7wc5_dPSZznTOWQtdA/s320/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+11.50.41.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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"Valinnainan" in the title is a typo (correct form is "Valinnainen"). This is sadly hilarious, because it makes the whole dialog look like a poor-mans trojan software, with bad Finnish. But this is authentic. Sigh.</div>
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Maybe there comes a time when pirated software has better localization than Redmond-based. Wouldn't be hard. :!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ucXnIPjpJq5Ma9nSVwHsV3pXVbwClzXOScrlDHAm5LyRAkdib4MwuDMvsuMUYBZb1wOVNq0TdhO5zZMqR4mFl39uGZ1e-CIqMqzM3bFC14hbUYvvdKR96ZJCUsok4ECkz5wdp5v59Q/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.26.59.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ucXnIPjpJq5Ma9nSVwHsV3pXVbwClzXOScrlDHAm5LyRAkdib4MwuDMvsuMUYBZb1wOVNq0TdhO5zZMqR4mFl39uGZ1e-CIqMqzM3bFC14hbUYvvdKR96ZJCUsok4ECkz5wdp5v59Q/s320/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.26.59.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nothing wrong with this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxPl2l-XXy6EL93Scptbp-qIl0Zktd7njwqpGWBhlH93Hc7MONhyhb71DfwgcsJc1TGI6kfKXOOwsDPKBVmtuxzswlLIMkTZEJKXeb222jgI-VowK2_kjDCV_weiH3o-QugjW6t74Yw/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.41.20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxPl2l-XXy6EL93Scptbp-qIl0Zktd7njwqpGWBhlH93Hc7MONhyhb71DfwgcsJc1TGI6kfKXOOwsDPKBVmtuxzswlLIMkTZEJKXeb222jgI-VowK2_kjDCV_weiH3o-QugjW6t74Yw/s320/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.41.20.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Afghanistan?<br />
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We're running *Finnish* localized Windows, and this is the best guess for where I might be? *sigh^2*<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r5QlIuTZa0rtov0HVGNKcNqP5bwmTLJjvRmy3b_FVVkBsCVNisvGhgYSwMAiLIccjeyUqZ4alNRgFgRb2yQF18NECrdY47kC6L9ZsmPTPCdNJT_0tpqqe91nfTB1V7tKXtacIhzB1Q/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.51.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6r5QlIuTZa0rtov0HVGNKcNqP5bwmTLJjvRmy3b_FVVkBsCVNisvGhgYSwMAiLIccjeyUqZ4alNRgFgRb2yQF18NECrdY47kC6L9ZsmPTPCdNJT_0tpqqe91nfTB1V7tKXtacIhzB1Q/s320/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.51.45.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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This dialog is what one sees when *calling* an automated robot lady at Microsoft, to get magic numbers that make the Windows behave like it's genuine (which it is). I hope I never need to do that again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPlWSK67IHgWPx400MmfndhARMdiOOuf1eMexdSytoVjzHdyzFtOMth9PXwzEQjVsqyGZzX1z6JSXj40-SBFAQ4ISMCsKvFBObVBIwFbyaObt1gQYa97uTDypWODorbUll77y5Nad5A/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.52.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPlWSK67IHgWPx400MmfndhARMdiOOuf1eMexdSytoVjzHdyzFtOMth9PXwzEQjVsqyGZzX1z6JSXj40-SBFAQ4ISMCsKvFBObVBIwFbyaObt1gQYa97uTDypWODorbUll77y5Nad5A/s320/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-05-05+kohteessa+12.52.15.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Finally, hey we're there! Activated Genuine Windows 7. Cool. :)</div>
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The reason for all this was that I use Windows 7 Home Premium via Bootcamp, but also under VMWare (from the Bootcamp partition). A usage case that works, but confuses every authenticity scheme I know of (well, Windows and Autodesk, but that's enough).</div>
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Somehow I have the feeling that using a pirated Windows 7 might let me through with *less* typos, *less* phone calls and ... never mind.</div>
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</div>Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2660668376564486356.post-53981021948909034602011-09-24T11:52:00.000+03:002013-07-02T11:48:15.766+03:00How to Tweet (always in progress)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Disclaimer: I will keep editing this blog entry when I find good (or: bad) samples that highlight a particular point. You can participate by tipping me on such at <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/bmdesignhki">bmdesignhki</a>. Thanks.</i><br />
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<i>Edit 2-Jul-2013: Now, after almost 2 years, I seem to disagree with some of my original points. That happens. :) Will make some commentary today below (this is connected to asking @tuomasenbuske and @alexstubb to visit here connected to their <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23twitterkirja&src=typd" target="_blank">#twitterkirja</a> project).</i><br />
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Twitter is gorgeous, and I plan to use it in business extensively (already do). But many people use it 'wrong', mostly unknowingly. Every means of communications has also an informal 'protocol', whose intention is to make the communication more efficient. This also probably is the underlying rule in this blog entry: make <i>digesting </i>your tweets easier. Make them short, and catchy. Do some work for the reader (not the other way round).<br />
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First of all, Twitter is like swimming. It's easy and natural once you're there. It may be hard to explain. You should not use Twitter (to make your own tweets) half-heartedly, as most organisations nowadays do. Do it all, or keep out. Like with swimming.<br />
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When starting, I found <a href="http://www.brentozar.com/twitter/book/">The Simple Twitter Book</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/brento">BrentO</a> very useful. It describes the basics (s.a. what is a re-tweet, hashtag etc.) and how to use Twitter from a business angle. Read it. <br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#1 Don't use hashtags within a message (only at the end)</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">Jul-2013 :</span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">I now regret this first entry. Maybe it's the learning curve. Hashtags within message body are okay, but don't overuse them. They are similar to using bold in documents, since they are normally rendered in a different color (this also has to do with why overuse is so tedious). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">One way a hashtag helps the reader is it allows a one-click route to see more about the particular subject. It also brings more readers to find your tweet in the first place (i.e. I currently use the #scala hashtag a lot). For this sake it's good to use rather established tags (they're somewhat akin to ad-hoc mailing lists, really). Sometimes, to make a point, you can make a whole unique #iwouldntcareless kind of tag. For fun. :) </span><br />
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Hashtags are cool, but I find them disturbing when being injected within the message body. Twitter messages are supposed to be glanced at once, and those hashes simply ... don't do no good.<br />
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<strike>Use hashtags at the end of messages only.</strike><br />
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<strike>Bad example:</strike><br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/rmchase/status/130603599939121152" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEF3xoPyT9S31uUijjjBeywxRmBiGk1KELhqNclUl7_LAzU4wrKrw6UglChKgVDQkzD8c49pjLaCu81tMayq-L6IMINvbs8A3XwQ44030GUtxof5RbjR4eUFfIXaNEiSAnbqR00JuvA/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-30+kello+15.43.06.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here @rmchase (whom I deeply admire - sorry for needing to use you as a bad example) uses #bikesharing instead of just writing "Largest bike sharing in the world". Also, note that the #buzzcarFR is actually completely unrelated to this tweet (so I removed it when making my own retweet):<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/bmdesignhki/status/130640667692105729" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDpVw-zFINJJGh1GaCCJIJipef0-PJ36m0l4KLVa1CFmUaUIRtDs4-z-Q8Usp15U8bDVyuI5JQpmHQs4M-mq4sz4JkgIjAgozmi4HIR46v-HVeuHMHNbqlmUljVsuH1G5fpwpvpoqomg/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-30+kello+15.47.56.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Good example:<br />
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<i> (to be added, please suggest one. Something that has relevant hashtags <strike>in the end</strike> - and a readable, catchy message body.)</i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#2 Don't use integrated tools (they suck)</span></b></div>
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These days, many sites suggest they could do your tweeting for you. Don't trust that. They will simply clutter your timeline with automated-looking unworthy tweets that cause people to lose interest in you.<br />
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Also, use of "Twitter integration" may cause situations where the same message ends up through multiple channels on your Twitter feed (see below).</div>
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Bad example:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7KNKp1ir4fh8hSkimDwaiEzrxo2gk22xpcqyxeEnVtpNYlpLLnrTHz3y7aEanzm-BdOcyfCLs_gbqDp3lVhDGPNpZF-DK2rbblb9LPpID9pu5NyQL3RYS9zQLZbEDm0diEZhchpb1A/s1600/tweeted_same_twice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7KNKp1ir4fh8hSkimDwaiEzrxo2gk22xpcqyxeEnVtpNYlpLLnrTHz3y7aEanzm-BdOcyfCLs_gbqDp3lVhDGPNpZF-DK2rbblb9LPpID9pu5NyQL3RYS9zQLZbEDm0diEZhchpb1A/s400/tweeted_same_twice.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here, the tweets look different and I actually clicked both links. But they are the same! What I figure has happened is that the user has created a hand-made tweet in twitter ("17 minutes ago") and also entered a note on LinkedIn, but with completely different title ("15 minutes ago"). LinkedIn uses their interim URL scheme to know who pressed what and when (thus the "lnkd.in/...") but leads one to the same page.<br />
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The user might not even realize that this happens. He has simply thought that making LinkedIn updates automatically show up also elsewhere is a good thing. It is not (unless you are aware of it - and rely on it completely).<br />
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Good example:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBugYOmNkK3c7fGJn8S5kZiT-nTAZV8mt-yvAS3vxSqUtriu4Q3A9bIMQD1jeRubh0d_QuWzHVMFhpoRZIZRilSotJ5m7lPTYbZSG06BW6XAnqz8rH2nuFYSWefrvaJeEF3ancWSOtQ/s1600/bbb.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBugYOmNkK3c7fGJn8S5kZiT-nTAZV8mt-yvAS3vxSqUtriu4Q3A9bIMQD1jeRubh0d_QuWzHVMFhpoRZIZRilSotJ5m7lPTYbZSG06BW6XAnqz8rH2nuFYSWefrvaJeEF3ancWSOtQ/s400/bbb.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Actually, the exact same (original) tweet serves as a good example. This looks like something carefully crafted for Twitter viewers only. It is easy for the reader and contains all relevant information. It is easy to decide whether I want to click the link or not, and 'via @growvc' gives appropriate credit to the tweet flow.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#3 Don't use multiple links in one tweet</span></b></div>
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Tweets are supposed to be simple. Putting two URL's is technically possible, but troubling for the reader. If interested in the tweet, which one to push. Both? One of the main benefits of twitter is the shortness of messages; the author is supposed to take care in making the message clear and easily congestible. Do it. Take time. You decide which URL is the best.</div>
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Often, this happens because of "integrated tools". Facebook places the original (good) link on the tweet but insists on placing its own (to track, I don't know what) as well. Actually, both of these may lead to the same final page, which is even more annoying for the reader.</div>
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Bad example:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aWU9QNxi3NEGv24CrsIZH7apuRqv_jepYuYZV2vQwxIs_4aibYdSSlGRrTzJM0sjFAlS2mjBQ_DduhGOpyEMqiQ4p0zhwFGaD91ZxLGeQ7ZqjALt5vbuLd_jw4_zFrSOSM9vEwccPg/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+11.32.37.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aWU9QNxi3NEGv24CrsIZH7apuRqv_jepYuYZV2vQwxIs_4aibYdSSlGRrTzJM0sjFAlS2mjBQ_DduhGOpyEMqiQ4p0zhwFGaD91ZxLGeQ7ZqjALt5vbuLd_jw4_zFrSOSM9vEwccPg/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+11.32.37.png" /></a></div>
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Note the two links, both leading to the same page. Also note "via Facebook"</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#4 Don't use interim pages</span></b></div>
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Twitter is supposed to be simple. Straightforward. Fast. Don't annoy your readers by making a tweet that does not take people to the particular page, but some interim page where they must again look for the right link. This is misusing Twitter, and comparable to email spamming.<br />
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My friend <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/prtguru">prtguru</a> does this all the time. I haven't had the guts to tell him (but - please do).</div>
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Bad example:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhFvo0-w7BoplQQ42IlXAZLa1QciOWq6IwWKK13Nub_6e-9xA8pf_ExaQut6Xl8oEiUZlb4M4Xda592XiMmPq8TnUZQbwdoTL4b-Vmv0X2n5srSjdgtzXPKXCGSMB6LvPJjkyOWI-vA/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.01.44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhFvo0-w7BoplQQ42IlXAZLa1QciOWq6IwWKK13Nub_6e-9xA8pf_ExaQut6Xl8oEiUZlb4M4Xda592XiMmPq8TnUZQbwdoTL4b-Vmv0X2n5srSjdgtzXPKXCGSMB6LvPJjkyOWI-vA/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.01.44.png" /></a></div>
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All his tweets lead to the same page, <a href="http://www.prtconsulting.com/news.html">http://www.prtconsulting.com/news.html</a>. From there, I will need to re-search the particular news entry that I was actually going for.</div>
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Even worse, since the news page is often updated, older tweets (that may get new publicity by re-tweets months after their original exposure) will lead to the general link page, covered by more recent entries. This really sucks, from a Tweet reader's point of view.</div>
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Correct action is to always use links taking directly to the particular page, links that will remain valid as long as possible (at least some 2-4 months).<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Jul-2013: Peter now seems to give links to particular news pages, which is good for both him and his readers.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#5 Mark videos, especially if needing flash</span></b></div>
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If you're linking to stuff other than a usual web article, say so.</div>
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Add "(pdf)", "(pdf 6MB)", "(video)", "(flash)" or similar to the tweet, just prior to the URL. Many people (s.a. myself) read tweets over mobile connection <strike>and for such tweets, we'd rather collect them and see at home</strike>.</div>
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Bad example:<br />
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<i>(some tweet that links to a Flash-only site or video, without saying. Completely unusable on an iPhone / iPad)</i><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Jul-2013: In the two years, mobile rates have gotten cheaper. What I've grown to do in my own video tweets is to mark i.e. "(2:30)" for a 2,5 minutes video clip. Twitter clients nowadays show previews of i.e. Youtube links automatically, but it's neat to be able to see the duration of such link. This helps the reader to know how much of time they may be committing if clicking the video icon. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Good example:</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #741b47;">(some tweet to a video with time quoted)</span></i><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#6 Mark interests other than what your subscribers expect, with hashtags</span></b></div>
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My <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/bmdesignhki/followers">followers</a> are probably interested in urban design, cleantech and ecological issues. Anything else may be considered as noise by them, and causing too much noise is a sure way to get unfollows. </div>
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Still, occasionally I want to tweet on other things, but I try to mark them as such.</div>
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Example:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oshYklKcBCKhL3dEva4o1l95Lh3ywQoVQOJp6_7ExKtvZvC9q2Az26LA3rdP-IjdlJRyR4-d82QH6nLNvYJox-Jr6oDyLdJSBB-ivJ7shaez58vWEZVXu3R0ADTs7kbNzY39zRMtRg/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.15.44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oshYklKcBCKhL3dEva4o1l95Lh3ywQoVQOJp6_7ExKtvZvC9q2Az26LA3rdP-IjdlJRyR4-d82QH6nLNvYJox-Jr6oDyLdJSBB-ivJ7shaez58vWEZVXu3R0ADTs7kbNzY39zRMtRg/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.15.44.png" /></a></div>
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With this one I was cautious anyways. It's a link to an online petition to call action against shark fin usage - fishery that casts whole shark bodies back to water after the fin has been cut off. They cannot swim that way, and slowly die. I find this shameful for humans, and though a petition does little, it's something. To highlight it's not the usual stuff I tweet, I added '#wildlife'. Could have added '#petition' as well, though it's mentioned in the body.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#7 Be consistent with the language</span></b><br />
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Many people (s.a. myself) tweet in multiple languages. Since tweets are anyways short, it is unnecessary to burden them with a further remark on which language is being used. Just be consistent. If the link you're referring to is in Finnish, tweet in Finnish. Giving the headline in English won't help your English readers get anything much out of the article behind the link.<br />
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btw, it wouldn't be a bad idea for Twitter to somehow (automatically?) find out the language used in tweets, so English readers could i.e. opt out of my non-English tweets. <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/feedback">@feedback</a><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Jul 2013: Twitter recently introduced Bing translations of tweets (not available in most clients though). This allows anyone to at least get a clue on what the tweet is about. Good feature (I've used it for Arabic-Finnish translations a couple of times).</span><br />
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Bad example:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sWTNLTwjDmgOI0vZEfdpELcNU0TUCpVEpmGJakniYHyZV2LjmeQm6MvPlMmijY4qSGa2F38l5MxBATeKCId8-4h89PQIOMbiDHk0Q0wcOfP5w5jIrMExISdvcluHrmEhY6GBbBw23w/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.23.13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sWTNLTwjDmgOI0vZEfdpELcNU0TUCpVEpmGJakniYHyZV2LjmeQm6MvPlMmijY4qSGa2F38l5MxBATeKCId8-4h89PQIOMbiDHk0Q0wcOfP5w5jIrMExISdvcluHrmEhY6GBbBw23w/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+12.23.13.png" /></a></div>
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Ville's tweet starts with English, says "This looks interesting...", but links to a Finnish page and finally apologises of the language (but at that point, it's too late!).<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#8 Have a rhythm</span></b></div>
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Like in poetry (because it's short) also in tweets rhythm matters. It makes an extra caking on the subject. How you present is important.</div>
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Bad example:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEVwuljewrSvw8dYYzUOUA_c41WcHwiedzrZR9bw6gg08eft1RzPcPJGV7KSP1GnUylBaWjUmanQoygdyhs1LI7yJC0ddKtE1uXDfIhZEgaNI74j7WIJUvPEiPyAh-sOKgBZpz4uJUw/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+18.44.15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEVwuljewrSvw8dYYzUOUA_c41WcHwiedzrZR9bw6gg08eft1RzPcPJGV7KSP1GnUylBaWjUmanQoygdyhs1LI7yJC0ddKtE1uXDfIhZEgaNI74j7WIJUvPEiPyAh-sOKgBZpz4uJUw/s1600/Na%25CC%2588ytto%25CC%2588kuva+2011-09-24+kohteessa+18.44.15.png" /></a></div>
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This is obviously from an automated delivery "tube" (see point 2, "integrated tools") which destroys much of Sitra's often otherwise relevant tweets.</div>
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Also, look at it.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Sitra.fi renewal:" </span></div>
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This is completely unnecessary - what added value does it bring? (I only later realized the tweet was actually about revamping their website. Good - it says so in the front but "renewal" lead me to think of internal organisational renewal instead.)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> "Kill your design-darlings:"</span></div>
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Hmm - okay, we are getting to the essence?</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Art Director (definition):"</span></div>
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Third prelude ending in a colon. Nothing, yet.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Person with superior vision of design..."</span></div>
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Now, it seems they ran out of 140 characters, so the integrated "tube" cut the message short. What's the point? This tweet is unnecessary, and it's making the brand of Sitra look bad online. Like most of their other integrated tweets.</div>
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Let's see how to say the same with rhythm.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Revelations re-designing sitra.fi: early feedback and content are king(s). <link>"</span></div>
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That's probably not the best, but it does tell what the story is about. I would still say it lacks rhythm (it's too long). The "(s)" at the end tries to be funny.</div>
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<i>(a good example on rhythm here, some day)</i></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#9 Remove extra parameters from Youtube URL's</span></b></div>
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Be careful when copy-pasting URLs to Youtube videos. Depending on how you came to the clip, they may have unwanted parameters.</div>
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&at=...</div>
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This parameter starts viewing the video from a certain place. Usually, you want to remove it so people will get to see the entire clip.</div>
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&feature=player_embedded </div>
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You can remove this one as well.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Jul-2013: This happens a LOT. People simply don't realize it and actually - Twitter could automatically cut out many parameters without damaging content. I think they should. <a href="https://twitter.com/feedback" target="_blank">@feedback</a></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">#10 Always check your URL's after the tweet. Always.</span></b><br />
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It's very easy to post tweets that have a completely wrong URL (copy-pasting error) or have a dysfunctional, partial URL. One that I came across recently (now deleted so no snapshot of that) pointed to http://china. Obviously, no such thing - it was supposed to point to <a href="http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/chinas-green-economist-stirring-a-shift-away-from-gdp">http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/chinas-green-economist-stirring-a-shift-away-from-gdp</a> .<br />
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Tools automatically shorten URL's so spotting these things while you are forming the tweet is no longer obvious. Remember you can always delete a tweet and repost it (there could actually be a 'modify' function in Twitter that would take the existing tweet contents as a template, while deleting the old one, atomically).<br />
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<i>(example of a tweet with broken URL)</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#11 Use hashtags when sidelining off your usual track</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">July 2013: this seems to be a duplicate of #6. Sorry.</span><br />
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Hashtags (words #likethis within your tweet) are originally meant for helping the search of content within all tweets in the world. However, you can also help the reader categorize a tweet using them, especially if you are tweeting of something outside your normal focus.<br />
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I use i.e. #entertainment, #movies, #ads etc. to tag my tweets that would be outside my normal contents (which would be transport, computers, technology - those I do not tag since people following me are probably expecting such content anyways, and unnecessary tags are a chore).<br />
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Like this, today:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwQgUwqwGAaXlplyWcERBjn7l1Y9bZQikUYRB_KNo9fq_nsqYr1UsZR9TL5ReBj_YgFLbbZuxFWs54ZVf0gichPZnWaD3tRXn575SEkyEWHfROSlkPZIOWQ0PQY1VR2rz2w3-YCXmw/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-20+kello+9.40.18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklwQgUwqwGAaXlplyWcERBjn7l1Y9bZQikUYRB_KNo9fq_nsqYr1UsZR9TL5ReBj_YgFLbbZuxFWs54ZVf0gichPZnWaD3tRXn575SEkyEWHfROSlkPZIOWQ0PQY1VR2rz2w3-YCXmw/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-20+kello+9.40.18.png" /></a></div>
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What this hopefully does for the reader is to make it faster clear for him/her whether they are interested in the subject. Speeds up filtering (which is *vital* for tweets).</div>
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What this does for oneself is it avoids the danger of dropping followers because of sidelining to something that they would normally not be expecting. You don't want unfollows, right. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#12 No commas between hashtags, please.</b></span></div>
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Hastags don't need commas as separator.<br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/growvc/status/130632204555522048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGFHUrZQ3Vu5mjT72lJBPMFXMcx5KrBJoT3abrXQGy67fdiv1YApM6NFjFHY9CCJvs7XAyo9gKMLjc74L7M2BbfiD1fDHwh3SOolPfvNaRiHb24wum_4QPtUMu9-y8ZiBsaYVrmoSzHA/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-10-30+kello+15.50.34.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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They should have simply said: #startup #entrepreneur #vc #networking<br />
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Another issue altogether is that the "Going the SaaS Route" is a very vague, and bad tweet to begin with. It is not self-consistent. It does not carry enough information to make me know whether I want to click the link or not. It makes me confused, and wastes my time.<br />
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Something better could have been:<br />
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"Things to consider about going SaaS (software-as-a-service)."<br />
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However, the blog entry itself is rather vague, and a good punch-line is hard to fine. Maybe it is only appropriate that a tweet leading to it would be vague as well. (Sorry, GrowVC - I do like you otherwise)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#13 Do NOT use automatic notifications</b></span></div>
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Twitter is NOT 4square. Your followers don't want automated announcements on where you are. We want your original ideas, clever tweets and well thought-out retweets. That's why we follow.</div>
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This is a problem if an otherwise worthy-to-follow tweeter enables some system to do things like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQImC_Wp2foQhY5GxiOUdIRyRzXqAYxOv4q6ipoxKz0DFThX-MEAxfEMGFJWXo_fbdyalxh0OIBQxLg0sqjzbuOZU3nipjTCT3xn_aXKXBMc9hRlmEO2EsS6vC3nHEhTU19OeBy_h7nw/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-11-12+kello+10.29.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="45" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQImC_Wp2foQhY5GxiOUdIRyRzXqAYxOv4q6ipoxKz0DFThX-MEAxfEMGFJWXo_fbdyalxh0OIBQxLg0sqjzbuOZU3nipjTCT3xn_aXKXBMc9hRlmEO2EsS6vC3nHEhTU19OeBy_h7nw/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-11-12+kello+10.29.16.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't.<br />
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Twitter clients (or Twitter itself) should also start having filters so we can filter these things out of our timeline. I would never ever want to see *any* tweet starting with "@someone is now departing". Ever.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;">Jul 2013: Or someone gymming. You should exercise for your own good. Don't boast it to the world. It's lame (me thinks). :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#14 When 140 characters simply isn't enough - multipart tweets</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotg5wlo3_uetBxF0zWfKnhyphenhyphenu-49-Qczu5EnxHKmVv3yluJnborrXTAteMo13F8r5IVC0mRUJtUukgnz-K6bEHPp8W-SuDxEQRSNGJslzlZEHF0xIVhGSc4MWq1LOub2IIBEa0ucmNlw/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2011-11-11+kello+22.05.00.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotg5wlo3_uetBxF0zWfKnhyphenhyphenu-49-Qczu5EnxHKmVv3yluJnborrXTAteMo13F8r5IVC0mRUJtUukgnz-K6bEHPp8W-SuDxEQRSNGJslzlZEHF0xIVhGSc4MWq1LOub2IIBEa0ucmNlw/s400/Kuvankaappaus+2011-11-11+kello+22.05.00.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This multi-part tweet from @Battlefield is actually pretty good. "(1 of more)" etc. ties them together. The problem naturally is that one must read them from bottom-up, but... </div>
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Generally I would advice not to go multi-part, but if you absolutely must, this is the way. Well done, <a href="https://twitter.com/Battlefield" target="_blank">@Battlefield</a>.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>#15 "Like us" tweets</b></span><br />
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This one is interesting <span style="color: #741b47;">[July 2013: but luckily rare]</span>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ll9YG37GpGBXzl0dkFZFYals5FWWSGSUFw3cskQh8Q9xEO2k8V76wRVT8YYdBAelmcG3vrAdqE8o_XeA7ftNk9hOV6KEpEbqSe0I0FMcaZ3qIYztcGR8h0i6VqhBLsbsnEwTguVTSA/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2012-4-25+kello+22.18.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ll9YG37GpGBXzl0dkFZFYals5FWWSGSUFw3cskQh8Q9xEO2k8V76wRVT8YYdBAelmcG3vrAdqE8o_XeA7ftNk9hOV6KEpEbqSe0I0FMcaZ3qIYztcGR8h0i6VqhBLsbsnEwTguVTSA/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2012-4-25+kello+22.18.56.png" /></a></div>
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Now, why would anyone *not* want to preserve our oceans? Essentially the tweet is only asking to "RT us", akin to the Facebook "liking".<br />
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To my taste, this is cheap, and against the way Twitter is normally being used. This is exactly what keeps me away from Facebook. Companies coming to "social" communications easily fail to grasp the subtle yet vital differences between the way the different forums work. So this is Facebooking the Twitter.<br />
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It's not that bad. You can always unfollow. But it's likely not to get you the desired effect on Twitter. Do this on the Facebook side. We thank you. :)<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">#16 Twitter can take international alphabets - use them! </b><br />
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I'm attending a seminar tomorrow. The name is "Varaslähtö" (early / false start in Finnish) but the arrangers are proposing the tag #varaslahto.<br />
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Why? No reason.<br />
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We're so used to cutting down on "umlauts" in emails and web addresses that this extends unknowingly also to Twitter. However, your tag can be in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or whatever. Certainly Finnish.<br />
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So: #varaslähtö it should be. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.sitra.fi/tapahtumat/2012/varaslahto-tulevaan">http://www.sitra.fi/tapahtumat/2012/varaslahto-tulevaan</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">12-Nov-2012: </span><span style="font-size: large;">#17 Know what the reader expects - don't give false expectations </span></b><br />
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Like with any communication, set yourself in the role of your audience.<br />
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Getting this tweet:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_iTrFqs0e3e7r3YeEoNSmNjIh1sByakymgfq8_axH7diPZ-TpynoGB4jitHVcbM1WXxX2m7WC5e_WJAg6E9X4sC85Y0RbFBPpHzmyE5vrWrg-wXXHh6nC13Rj74UqU2y8ku9l_J9Vg/s1600/nicolas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_iTrFqs0e3e7r3YeEoNSmNjIh1sByakymgfq8_axH7diPZ-TpynoGB4jitHVcbM1WXxX2m7WC5e_WJAg6E9X4sC85Y0RbFBPpHzmyE5vrWrg-wXXHh6nC13Rj74UqU2y8ku9l_J9Vg/s640/nicolas.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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..I was expecting to see the presentation. A video, at least some slides. There is a link, after all!</div>
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Nope. This was merely about such an event starting in a conference, around this time. How does this make me feel? Disappointed, since I would have wanted to see the stuff. Fooled, since I thought I would get somewhere (other than the program part of the conference). </div>
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How does this make the sender and the re-tweeter seem to me? Like they fooled me, intentionally. Of course, they did not, but the emotional tag is already there.</div>
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Don't do this. If you retweet, check the links first. Don't give false expectations. If it's just the agenda, say so. This would provide the necessary info to the reader, and avoid them feeling fooled. </div>
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Better yet, make a tweet when the thing is happening and another once (if) it is available for viewing onling. Thanks. </div>
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Here's the agenda page the tweet pointed at:<br />
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<a href="http://devoxx.com/display/DV12/Building+Amazing+Applications+with+JavaFX">http://devoxx.com/display/DV12/Building+Amazing+Applications+with+JavaFX</a><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">28-Dec-2012:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">#18 Don't dilute your tweets by flooding them </span></b><br />
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Tweets are like little chirps of birds. One or two, now and then, is beautiful. Too much, too fast is NOT!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrrv_dqAbCYf_HhKKGwInMtN0b5N4iqBkURx0L9dOu6CzK_bBDsOi1-OvNJBCEDOT3F9jGbSoba5MnOc64IyNdCSIrUaYIAzQWjQpsfJ2pGxZi8dzMWt0ZmaFGfaqMyYfjjvI6CWNww/s1600/zzz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrrv_dqAbCYf_HhKKGwInMtN0b5N4iqBkURx0L9dOu6CzK_bBDsOi1-OvNJBCEDOT3F9jGbSoba5MnOc64IyNdCSIrUaYIAzQWjQpsfJ2pGxZi8dzMWt0ZmaFGfaqMyYfjjvI6CWNww/s400/zzz.png" width="350" /></a></div>
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Any of these tweets might be important, but seeing them all at once, tweeted within roughly an hour (and there was more) makes them look garbage. It dilutes their value. Twitter is not a mailing list, it's a forum of serendipity. This is going against its stream.</div>
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This hurts the author of the tweets the most. You want your tweets to come out at nice times of the day, among other people's interesting tweets. This leads to people ignoring your messages, and worse, unfollowing. Stupid move.</div>
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To avoid this, there is i.e. the <a href="http://bufferapp.com/" target="_blank">BufferApp</a> that allows one to schedule tweets for later deliver. I'm not a huge fan of that app (since it kind of down-plays the serendipity factor, and allows i.e. concentrated efforts to catch the best twitter delivery times - well, to at least a certain time zone. also, it's amazingly complex.). Anyways, it's there and it will release one's flood syndrome.</div>
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Sorry, @mbauwens. I never read any of the tweets above. Had it been two, I would have. :)</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2-Mar-2013:</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">#19 Do NOT tweet the same stuff. Time flies - fly with it!</span></b><br />
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Check this tweet from @EV_Innovations:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4up5hrXAmHUa4-VMAJYbXgEmulxTkyXujct86yCcjmNLa4jYXujasfZnNy7I1u5zNnpqs7bNfppSdvp7MTwij_2VHq4Wm2x1StuKgDgNEejTgPIYLVtAseOfnP-78cxB8hVz1tZQZA/s1600/bluebird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4up5hrXAmHUa4-VMAJYbXgEmulxTkyXujct86yCcjmNLa4jYXujasfZnNy7I1u5zNnpqs7bNfppSdvp7MTwij_2VHq4Wm2x1StuKgDgNEejTgPIYLVtAseOfnP-78cxB8hVz1tZQZA/s1600/bluebird.png" /></a></div>
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Nothing wrong with it, right? And there's not. Except... I had the feeling I had seen that before. Yep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hVycPnVZNZSiaeClmCaCoFOL5Kzb5vtcsWqwNoRGBuH7IaINhx7j8moNFGd53pKFySpdkIkYyM-Sb9VGDTfTLRfNCbEup5ULscG3OWMTHscTUhM6Oxv1qIRgr3ZdYSGudT415MWUKw/s1600/bluebird_history.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hVycPnVZNZSiaeClmCaCoFOL5Kzb5vtcsWqwNoRGBuH7IaINhx7j8moNFGd53pKFySpdkIkYyM-Sb9VGDTfTLRfNCbEup5ULscG3OWMTHscTUhM6Oxv1qIRgr3ZdYSGudT415MWUKw/s640/bluebird_history.png" width="427" /></a></div>
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They only have <i>three</i> unique tweets in this whole time. I do get the idea behind this behaviour: by repeated tweeting <i>newcomers</i> will likely find information about them more likely. But they will not stick. What you want with Twitter is a community, a fellowship, who sticks with you, interacts with you, and promotes you further. This only manages to annoy such followers. You get quick turn-in, and quick turn-out.<br />
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Currently, @EV_Innovations has 581 followers. I don't call that success.<br />
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This kind of feels lame, and lazy for me. In Twitter, one should do one's best to <i>spare the time of the followers</i> - not your own time. This does exactly the opposite.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">17-Jun-2013: </span></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">#20 Be Relevant</span></b><br />
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Tweets from <a href="https://twitter.com/ericlowitt" target="_blank">Eric Lowitt</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjd4CMxhjGKb0d0LU3Y2BeO753fpO3r2sdfnZOl0204IN-TPgJ_uLFG1UMkHF5gEEedw3C_tITFAwufxWziDjDXBlE7yU-zqKWRJdQXiuEKLGjBqppPCTMHweNt9IPAzGIyk19fzH7Q/s1600/Kuvankaappaus+2013-6-18+kello+15.41.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjd4CMxhjGKb0d0LU3Y2BeO753fpO3r2sdfnZOl0204IN-TPgJ_uLFG1UMkHF5gEEedw3C_tITFAwufxWziDjDXBlE7yU-zqKWRJdQXiuEKLGjBqppPCTMHweNt9IPAzGIyk19fzH7Q/s640/Kuvankaappaus+2013-6-18+kello+15.41.17.png" width="359" /></a></div>
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Eric should be able to use Twitter effectively. Collaboration is his thing, and he must spend a lot of time in social engagements. Why then does this not show on his twitter feed?</div>
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- there's never anything that's acutely happening Right Now (for which Twitter is the awesomest venue since tweets age in minutes).</div>
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- it feels like re-heated porridge from yesterday (that was re-heated from the day before..)</div>
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- it lacks person-to-person engagement</div>
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- it often lacks relevant links (to material other than his)</div>
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In short, it's like reading a mail order catalog. Not the best use of Twitter.</div>
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Eric - sorry. I didn't have the heart to send you a link. I'm a chicken. (on the bright side, <i>no-one</i> reads this blog so you're safe :) ).</div>
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<i>...more entries may be added...</i><br />
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Asko K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17128056786952824895noreply@blogger.com0