This is my 401st entry and I'm having a really good time – two unrelated statements, however, not obviously unrelated. It's good to finally have one week to simply do anything I want (which basically equates to "nothing"). A week of indefinite periods of sleep, indefinite amounts of pizza and a definite amount of DotA playing (which is, however, a close approximation of infinity). However, with an aim to not bore myself by recounting the details of what I've been eating for the past few days, I shall discuss some of the interesting happenings that have been happening recently.
Now, firstly, Microsoft has said that it will delay Windows Vista. Of course, I call it Vindows Wista, as I always subconsciously switch my Vs and Ws while speaking; mind you, I didn't even know that there was a difference between the sound of a V and a W before I came to this Woz-forsaken place! Getting back to Microsoft though, I no longer hate them. Vista no longer charms me as it did a year ago. As much as I'd like to deny it, and as much as Paul Thurrott (of WinSuperSite fame) would like to deny it, Windows Vista will simply include renamed and rehashed versions of features that have already appeared (in some cases, many winters ago) on other operating systems, most notably the OS X of Mac (pronounced 'ten' not 'eks'). These features include Aero Glass (debatable, but generally agreed upon as a "better looking GUI than XP's") versus Apple's Aqua, Gadgets versus Apple's Dashboard (itself a rip-off of Konfabulator - now Yahoo Widget Engine, though I believe Dashboard is smoother and better), Flip 3D versus Exposé, etc. The list does go on, I assure you. However, the list is of no consequence, for, it is important to realize that anyone with three pennies and a banana can switch to Mac OS X just as much as Dumbledore can come back to life (I've tested both the probabilities, and found them both to be highly improbable but, surprisingly, equal) and this is because of Apple's hardware-software locking business model. So, in the end, if Microsoft does not come up with a better OS, people are simply going to be stuck with an outdated OS (or Linux, but that would really be extremely masochistic). So, generally speaking, Vista is a "good thing" and I'd probably like to use it when Microsoft releases the public Beta 2.
Secondly, there's always some kind of Apple news by the time I write one of these entries and this time it's their 30th Anniversary which one journalist at C|Net is extremely worried about:
And if this wasn't enough, there's always the story I read recently with particular delight. The Register, apparently, has posted a followup to this past week's wonderfully humorous story about Tuttle, Oklahoma's technically inept city manager, Jerry Taylor. It appears that Mr. Taylor is not pleased with the publicity he has received due to the incident, despite his prior statement of, 'I have no fear of the media, in fact I welcome this publicity.' He sent an email to the Register's marketing team asking that people stop emailing him and making fun of him. It's all quite hilarious. Do follow the links and die of laughter.
さよなら, अलविदा and all that jazz.
Now, firstly, Microsoft has said that it will delay Windows Vista. Of course, I call it Vindows Wista, as I always subconsciously switch my Vs and Ws while speaking; mind you, I didn't even know that there was a difference between the sound of a V and a W before I came to this Woz-forsaken place! Getting back to Microsoft though, I no longer hate them. Vista no longer charms me as it did a year ago. As much as I'd like to deny it, and as much as Paul Thurrott (of WinSuperSite fame) would like to deny it, Windows Vista will simply include renamed and rehashed versions of features that have already appeared (in some cases, many winters ago) on other operating systems, most notably the OS X of Mac (pronounced 'ten' not 'eks'). These features include Aero Glass (debatable, but generally agreed upon as a "better looking GUI than XP's") versus Apple's Aqua, Gadgets versus Apple's Dashboard (itself a rip-off of Konfabulator - now Yahoo Widget Engine, though I believe Dashboard is smoother and better), Flip 3D versus Exposé, etc. The list does go on, I assure you. However, the list is of no consequence, for, it is important to realize that anyone with three pennies and a banana can switch to Mac OS X just as much as Dumbledore can come back to life (I've tested both the probabilities, and found them both to be highly improbable but, surprisingly, equal) and this is because of Apple's hardware-software locking business model. So, in the end, if Microsoft does not come up with a better OS, people are simply going to be stuck with an outdated OS (or Linux, but that would really be extremely masochistic). So, generally speaking, Vista is a "good thing" and I'd probably like to use it when Microsoft releases the public Beta 2.
Secondly, there's always some kind of Apple news by the time I write one of these entries and this time it's their 30th Anniversary which one journalist at C|Net is extremely worried about:
We've reached an interesting point in Apple's media-darling status when Joy of Tech runs cartoons (said cartoon appears below) in which journalists are driven to commit suicide on discovering that Apple will not be holding a 30th anniversary event. Personally, I'm there. I'm literally out on the window ledge. There is a collective fear that, come Saturday, the section of the wall-planner marked 'cover massive Apple announcement' will read like a cruel morality tale. Seppuku may be rather fiddly, but if Apple doesn't deliver, will there be any choice for the self-respecting hack but to die with honour?
As always, there are rumours of products: a touchscreen iPod here, a gamer's iMac there, an Apple phone -- but Apple hasn't announced a press event. Judging from the frenzy the rumour sites have built up, you'd guess that Steve Jobs will at least have to walk out onto the lawn in Cupertino, light a few fireworks and make some whooping noises. It's that or risk an international incident.The keen-eyed reader might have noticed honour spelled… well… as honour. Yes, this is the UK version of C|Net and here is a link to the little article.
And if this wasn't enough, there's always the story I read recently with particular delight. The Register, apparently, has posted a followup to this past week's wonderfully humorous story about Tuttle, Oklahoma's technically inept city manager, Jerry Taylor. It appears that Mr. Taylor is not pleased with the publicity he has received due to the incident, despite his prior statement of, 'I have no fear of the media, in fact I welcome this publicity.' He sent an email to the Register's marketing team asking that people stop emailing him and making fun of him. It's all quite hilarious. Do follow the links and die of laughter.
さよなら, अलविदा and all that jazz.
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