Blog Moved
Posted by: Geries Handal on: March 22, 2009
This blog is now self hosted, you can visit it at www.gtothesquare.com.
Why Asus new Dual-Display concept is not “revolutionary”
Posted by: Geries Handal on: March 6, 2009
It was reported on monday by notebookreview.com: “Asus shows off revolutionary new dual-display concept notebook”.
Asus concept (source notebookreview.com)
My question is: how come it wasn’t revolutionary when One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) announced a very similar concept almost a year ago, called the OLPC XO-2.
Actually the the one by OLPC look cooler than the Asus one.
I guess the editor at notebookreview was quoting Asus because is how they made the announcement according to this news piece.
It’s funny how much the words revolutionary, unique, special and first of its kind, are used today. Correct if I’m wrong, but the last time a product launch that lived to its hype of calling it revolutionary was the iPhone. Even if its not perfect, it changed the industry. Other examples:
- the Asus Eee was revolutionary the notebook industry, what manufacturer doesn’t produce netbooks,
- the Wii was revolutionized the gamming industry by producing a console appealing to non gamers,
- Guitar Hero, not sure about it but hell it changed how we look at music and games
However, Asus dual-screen is not, you can’t call it revolutionary when somebody already has published the same concept.
Sometimes we try to impress other so much, that the only ones that are impress are ourselves. I guess the lasting impressions are those that don’t seek to impress.
Music and policies at Stockholm’s Metro
Posted by: Geries Handal on: March 4, 2009
A week ago, I was waiting for the metro (or tunnelbana) on the T-Centralen of Stockholm. It was around 11:20 pm on a Tuesday night. There, I could listen the echoes of percussion and strings. When I got closer I saw four teenagers playing a guitar, some drums and signing. The few people around where enjoying the show and music. I even shut down my mp3 player to listen to their “covers” of popular songs and feel the rhythms of the drums. When they finished with a song, the people around will applauded, a was a very fulfilling seen.
Things changed when the “security” came, you see the metro police or “ORDNINGSMAKT” are generally dressed in red. They are always around in public transportation to control any disturbances or drunks (very common on weekends). The thing that strike me the most, was that four members of the ORDNINGSMAKT (which the smallest was around 1.82 meter tall and around 90 Kg) came down to put a end to the 4 teens playing. The teens where at most 50 kg, this is passive bullying. When teens saw the first guard, they started to pack. The image of four big men with the red uniforms around the kids, was priceless.
Yeah there is the rule that this kind of behaviors is not accepted and is worst when performers ask for money. However these kids were not asking for money, they were doing it for pleasure, for fun. The metro is full of art on the walls, “some saying is the biggest art exposition on the world”. Why not permit vocational performers in non rush ours to delight the passengers and add to the “art exposition”. Like I guy told me that night, what else can you expect, this is Sweden.
Stockholm metro has a history of problems with graffiti, if they had to chose between performances or graffiti, I bet they will go for the performances.
There is a time when policies should be reviewed and I never thought about until I saw what I saw. Is Interesting how we overlook some regulations since “its the way is been for a long time”. I wonder how many of our habits need are overlook, because we fail to see into the mirror critically and constructively.
Why is hard when anybody can do it
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 28, 2009
- In: General
- 2 Comments
Anybody can setup a blog and be publisher; anybody can upload videos to Youtube and have a TV channel; any body can create music and distribute it to the whole world, but being “that easy” is what makes it hard. Easy to do, equals low barriers of entry, with that comes low barriers of exit. As a result: easy we start and as easy we drop-out.
For some reason things that are not challenging are seen as easy, which is not all true because not everybody can keep a blog, TV Channel, or whatever non challenging hobby we are into. A lot of people, entities and companies compete for our attention, becoming a distraction and making it difficult to constantly doing something for “love of the game”. Not everybody is that resistant, to be persistent, give it all. We may start with high energy and hopes, but rapidly deflating. Then we try to inflate some more, however a hole that we don’t seem to find, keeps us semi inflated. At the end we just give up and tell ourselves that it at least we tried, so we can sleep better at night. It takes a lot of passion and determination to be an Amateur; to do it for pleasure of just doing it.
Sure we can start a blog easily, however if you don’t post constantly, you don’t have a blog. Anybody can post a video on the Internet, but not everybody can make a TV channel out of it. You see, when people say its not challenging or not easy, they are referring to the implementation part. What is really really tough is actually is constant execution.
So for the next “easy project” remember:
“Less is more.. and is better with a KISS”: starting with something simple and not complex will permit it grow in us and develop that passion we need to keep it up.
“Talk is cheap”: when somebody tells us “anybody can do it”, lets ignore them. But if for some reason we can’t, lets ask them if they have jobbies or do something for the “love of the game”, or even better, to “show what they have done”. Generally, talking has the lowest barrier of entry, which makes it even easier to shut them up with our actions. Feeding on cheep talk sometimes is good to fuel your passion, however watch out for the indigestion and don’ abuse. By the way if the show you something, they maybe had earn it, therefore look and the next one…
“Arrogance is earn”: Once we had actually done something, for respectful period of time: we had earned it and take care of any bashers, critics and cynics. In the meantime save the energy for productive stuff i.e. like building our passion.
The Pirate Bay Trial Day 4 and 5: Where are the Software Companies?
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 20, 2009
- In: Copyright| Web
- Leave a Comment
The question I have been asking myself is “where are the software companies, whose cracked software can be found on the p2p networks?”. Software companies figure out long ago, that they can fight these phenomenon. Slowly, they had changed, now big companies offer basic free versions of their products, understanding that $$$ is “Business to Business”, and not with consumers. You see, if Microsoft gives out free software to students, is because they know that when this students graduate and get a job, they will ask for the software they know how to use. As a result Microsoft now offers “Express” version (in other words basic version) of many developing tools. Future developers ask for this tools when they join the workforce (or can earn enough money to buy them).
The story is different for Media companies, because they think that they depend on consumers they do anything possible to charge consumers. That dear readers is just being lazy and comfortable. They been like this for such a long time, to the point of forgetting other life than selling to consumers. For example, why don’t they focus on merchandise, spectacles, limited edition products and concerts. Let people hardcore fans by feeding the thirst for music. That is no the case, instead they turn into bulling down, any wave of change.
Wonder why the Soundcloud is not in trial? They even charge for you to upload and share music on their site. Yeah I forgot they are a new company that provides a service.
Like they used to say: lead, follow and get of the way. So I get out of the way for the recap by Torrent Freak Day Four and Five. They do a better job than most of us.
Day Three: the The Pirate Bay users are the guilty
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 18, 2009
- In: Copyright| Web
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Yes, the title may sound sensationalist however that is the strategy of the defense. The strategy apparently named as the “King Kong defense” consists on arguing that The Pirate Bay doesn’t initiate the transfer, the users do. The sites [TPB] administrators are unable to identify the users because they can register with any name i.e. King Kong, also they are unable to find out where the user is, it could be in the “jungles of Cambodia”. The term already has Wikipedia entry, which tells you how fast “the community” is. This is reported by torrent freak on the day three recap of the trail.
Basically they are throwing the ball to the users of TPB, yeah we are the guilty ones not the administrator. They are playing it safe and is logical the defense is arguing that they just are service providers. It’s similar arguing that a screwdriver is a tool for building and a weapon that can be used for man slaughter, it all depends on the person using it. Screwdrivers are not regulated like weapons, should they?
I read a post on twitter (sorry I couldn’t find it), the “twitterer” was wondering what will be the defense strategy. He said that it will be a hypocrisy to claim TPB are just a host of torrent files, not the actual media. Well what other choice does the defense has? Any ideas from the legal experts out there? They have to exploit this “blind spot” on the system, remember when the laws where made, there was no P2P. If it takes for us to “take the blame” then be it. However we are not guilty of nothing, but of permitting old laws to continue existing. If it requires us to play that role, be it. This will let The Pirate Bay continue playing theirs and overtake any resistance to the change that is here.
Like I said it before on the my previous post “Why this trial is important” We had chosen to consume without paying. The privilege is of the artists and media companies that we choose to listen and see what they produce, not the other way around. Without us they will not exist, and we are beginning to understand that.
Day two of The Pirate Bay Trial: lessons and other stuff
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 18, 2009
- In: Copyright| Web
- Leave a Comment
Day two of the TBP is on the books and the big news of the day: 50% of the charges where dropped. Although that may a headline, there is more substance on the sidelines. For example, the comments on twitter are hilarious, smart and interesting. Unfortunately I didn’t flag them or save them, however if you been following it, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t well most of the jokes are toward the Prosecutor Håkan Roswall technological incompetence and illiteracy to fully understand BitTorrent. He could just gone to How Stuff Work and showed the “How BitTorrent Works”, instead of using slides and videos.
Blog post are abundant, however is though to follow everything. From twitter I found a post by Thomas Mennecke on Slyke news (i guess is a news blog). He recalls the how almost 10 years ago Napster made P2P mainstream, how this trial in essence is similar to what went on with Napster. I love to look for patterns and anomalies (don’t do it professionally) and I’m a fan that history (kind off) repeats itself. I agree with Thomas last statement:
BitTorrent, file-sharing, and P2P technology isn’t going anywhere.
The thing is that ”old habits are tough to break” and 10 years on the internet is a lifetime. For this habit to continue, our dependence on TPB (site and tracker), Mininova and other sites should decrease. Imagine if they all closed today. What will be of the world with so much hunger? Some may panic, other will move on and few will try to find a way out and create new ways to share. Still the P2P world will be less worried, if there were more niche torrents trackers i.e wrestling, basketball, Fox cartoons, manga. In other words “not having all our eggs in one basket”. But maybe we need this test, generally people become very resourceful in critical times, at the end of the day only time will tell.
I guess this is Håkan Roswall before the trial (source)
To finish, here are some random thoughts and lessons from this two days:
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Håkan Roswall is a great example of how when people spend a lot time in a box (his being law) we become incompetent on other boxes (common sense and technology). So, Håkan next time get a Mac and a kid to explain the “complicated” tech stuff.
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The people, the community and the customers are not always right, but they are actually in control (we just need help other people see it)
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Times have change and there will be always resistance to change
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Have you ever ask yourself what will you do if you had stock on MGM, Warner, Fox, etc?
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ideas are stronger than words and richer than richest of them all.
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We need more private trackers, then again we need places so anybody can have their private trackers
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Not anybody can do what the TPB founders are doing, in other words “not everybody is made of the same wood”.
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Thanks to Sofia for great work.
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Finally, some people just don’t get it, either because they don’t care, conflict of interests or simply they are blinded by greed.
Note: You can download the new “Steal this film: trial edition” here and remember to visit torrentfreak regularly if you just want a recap and not follow the conversation in twitter.
Why the The Pirate Bay Trial is important
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 16, 2009
- In: Web
- 2 Comments
Some will call it “the political trial of the decade” or a “show… or an spectacle”, however at the end of the day (and many to come) is a battle of interests. In one corner the plaintiffs: 20th Century Fox, EMI, MGM, Colombia Pictures, Warner Bros, Sony BMG and Universal. On the other The Pirate Bay (TPB) and a community of people in pro of choice, freedom to share ideas, files, media, feelings, etc. It’s not a clash of generations, although is tough to argue on that when you see the people against TPB. Niether is a clash of ideologies, its about the money, money the plaintiffs think they are not making, because people choose to download either than to buy it.
The trial is important because “the people” (we, the customers of the plaintiffs) are asking for a change, and not through hallow words, but through action. You see when there was no Internet, we didn’t have a choice, we had to consume what they wanted us to consume, see what they wanted us to see. At the same time we permitted them to accumulate riches at our expenses, but times had change we have more power, freedom to choose and we just realized that. We had chosen to consume without paying and if we find it fitting we will give back by becoming fans, sharing, spreading the word, hosting the media, buying merchandise that supports the artists and through other ways of supporting the creators of media.
You may think, how is possible, why should we given “that privilege” to watch a movie or listen to a cd for free, and then decide if we should pay for it. Then I ask, what is a movie without eyes to see it or a song without ears to listen and feet to dance? Who is the privilege now, here is a hint: they are. Its like food court Chinese restaurants or shops at a fair, they are competing for you to buy their food and goods, they give you a free sample and decide or can even choose to neglect them.
Gottfrid Svartholm Warg (aka Anakata), Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi (aka Brokep) and Fredrik Neij (TiAMO), The Pirate Bay Founders chose to take a stand for us. Their intentions may be question, however for their gutsy performance you have to cheer for them. Ask yourself the following: will you risk what they have at stake, to take a stand for your ideas? Not many people will do, however they are not alone and that is for a reason.
If The Pirate Bay wins, appeals will come and if they lose nothing will change, the community will find a way to continue fighting. The interesting thing is that the result itself is not important. However it is important because its an eye opener, it permits the community to grow stronger and continue to take a stand.
In the meantime I salute at the The Pirate Bay, the community of supporters and at Sofia for translating the trial through Twitter.
Posting Animoto “Cool Slides Shows Videos” in WordPress
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 12, 2009
- In: Life Hacks| Web
- Leave a Comment
Once you have made your video in Animoto, you might want to post it in your blog. If you have WordPress and already wrote the post, and want to include it, the process is not that smooth as it should. Generally I write and then look for the media to include, or included until the post is finish. Animoto has the option of creating a post, that goes to your WordPress drafts, with the “embedded widget” and then you could add the content. However if you include more than one video, your not going to do more than one post? Also I want more control and freedom, copy paste freedom.
Note the reader: It might seen of too complicated for some users and they are better of posting the video from Animoto and then write the blog, true. However the target audience is for people that want to post more than on video or/and want more control.
Here is how you do it:
Go to your Animoto account and play your video.
Then click on the Post/Embed online button, the video will stop.
You will be presented with a variety of social media places where to post the video, choose the Embeded instead. There you will be presented with to options: MySpace and Other Sites. Click on Other sites.
Copy the code and put it on notepad or some text editor.
Here is a sample code that I copy from my video:
<script type=”text/javascript” src=”http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/46928cc51133af17/499300880f97edc6/46928cc565ffaf02/94f136e9/-cpid/791d0466298564d9/autostart/false/widget.js”></script>
Note the two alphanumeric strings above: one in red and the other in blue. You copy the code bellow and assign to the wid the red string and to the pid the blue string. Genearrly the red one will be the same for all your videos in Animoto and the blue one will change every time you generate the code in the site, even for the same video.
['clearspring_widget title="Animoto.com" wid=" " pid=" " width="432" height="260" domain="widgets.clearspring.com"]
(Note the apostrophe betwen the braket and clearspring, that should be removed when posting, is so the wordpress will not try to process it as a widget)
At the end you will end up with the following:
['clearspring_widget title="My Animodo Post Hack" wid="46928cc51133af17" pid="499300880f97edc6" width="300" height="200" domain="widgets.clearspring.com"]
Which will look like this:
You can also change the title, width and height of the widget. The hight and width alters the widget, not the content so you will end up like a “baddly cut off” video, as shown above.
Once you finish, you are ready to put it in your post in HTML or source mode, depending on the editor. You can use the preview button to check how it looks and if you need to tweak the size to goes better with your blog and blogging style.
Conclusion
Social media is about sharing, if you suck at it even with a great product/service, it will not pick up as it should. Animoto uses Clearspring for the posting and embedding of the content produced on the site. Its ok to outsource that, generally those one fit all solution that promise the heavens, don’t do a good job. Usability test will be nice to find where clearspring product fails. At least the Facebook one does a good job if I’m already logged, unfortunately I can’t put it in “my videos”, its posted like YouTube videos.
What can a swing and Al Pacino teach you about Software Development?
Posted by: Geries Handal on: February 8, 2009
(click to view bigger version)
The image above shows how most software projects are executed or done. The swing is something we can related to and is simple to understand, however it is easy to get wrong, if we don’t communicate well.
Doesn’t matter if a portal, software for a customer or in house solution, most of the time, it is how it goes. The main reason? Nobody in the team is on same page and by team is everybody, including the customers. And for that to occur, dialogue, trust, research, time, respect and patience is needed (missing any, ends up like the swing story board).
Like the film industry, a great movie will de the result of all the people involve being on sync. The difference between a great project and a bad project is the team. And as Al Pacino in “Any Given Sunday” said:
Either we heal, NOW as a team… or we will die, as individuals
