Bruce’s Journal

Do you really. .....  really.....  think Android is more difficult to use than iPhone. ...?

I remember having the DAMNEDEST time trying to figure out how to delete only certain items on a list...  you had to go into an Edit mode.... then swipe each item...  then touch a Delete button....  Geez....  That was on my iPhone.  Not always easy. Not always intuitive. 

It's NOT easier.

It's "cuter".

There's a big difference between "easy" and "cute"....

( This applies to dating too, BTW. ;)

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I just read this great blog article about technology, platforms, interfaces, the iPad, the future,  and "getting" what average normal users want...

See:
http://weblog.muledesign.com/2010/02/the_failure_of_empathy.php

Here is my reply to it:

This is a great article. And the comments are just as great.

I have been in IT since my first computer,  an Apple II Plus. I had one of the first Macs ever off an assembly line. I was head of IS R&D for a Fortune 400 company and single handedly spearheaded the idea of switching the entire company from IBM, DOS, and OS/2.... to this new thing no one had ever heard of.... It was called Microsoft Windows.  I knew it would "take off"... eventually. 

Here I am today, typing this from my Droid running Linux (Android).

I have always been an advocate for the "normal average person".  Just as normal people don't get programming - and they shouldn't need to...  Geeks don't get normal people.   The more geeky a person is, the less he can relate to average ordinary users.

One of my biggest passions in life is making technology "as easy to use as an elevator".

A second passion of mine is real true "extreme customer service"...

Both are very rare.

A third is FOSS.  Users DO care about what's open...... when it is explained to them that music can be copied TO their iThing, but not FROM it...  When they are told, no.  You cannot run porn apps on an iThing.  Why?  Because Apple says no.  You cannot make free calls and SMS using Google Voice app.  Why?  Because Apple says no.

Then they start to care.

Once they are burned.

Open systems will beat out closed proprietary Big Brother platforms like Apple and Microsoft.  Like the parable of the tortoise and the hare, it will take time....  But....

MARK MY WORDS

Just as I predicted, in the days of DOS, that...  "This Microsoft Windows thing is going to catch on!"

I have been predicting for years now:

Linux and other FOSS will surpass all closed and proprietary systems, in the long run.

And it already is happening.

I feel so strongly about all of this..... that I am starting my own company do do just that.  Providing a user experience,  "Easier than a Mac. Cheaper than a PC."  ...as we say.

Feel free to take a peek.  http://bredtech.com

Meanwhile,  who can tell me:

What's the state of the art in tablet hardware that can run Linux, Ubuntu,  whatever open...   that could be the hardware platform for the next Open "iPad killer" device...?

If you know, call me!

646-719-9000

Bruce Wagner

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I'm redoing it from scratch. 

I've decided Not to go with Linux Mint.  (Mint has veered too far from Ubuntu.  It really is no longer Ubuntu entirety. No longer 100% compatible with Ubuntu.)

Instead I'll use Ubuntu 9.10

I'll install "The Comprehensive Multimedia HowTo" (from the Ubuntu Forums)...

Then, I'll install ALL the best-of-breed apps.

I'll also add lots of cool customizations like Firefox add-ons, DropBox, etc., etc. (I'm open if you have suggestions!)

Then, I'll do lots of aesthetic changes, shortcuts, menu customizations, etc.

Then, I'll remaster it as a "distro" using remastersys.

Can't wait to get version 1 done to demo for you.

You can give me loads of feedback on how I can improve it.

:)

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Is it possible?
Easy?
If one wanted to remove all Mint branding on the surface and in name (while still giving all appropriate credit to Mint, Ubuntu, Gnome, Debian, Linux,  etc.),
Install a bunch of cool apps and repositories that are not there by default,
Change the look, theme, etc.
Tweak the appearance,
Organize the launch icons and menu in a special custom way,..
... and give it a new name....
(1)  Could one do this?
(2)  Would removing all Mint branding be easy or hard?
(3)  If yes, how?

Also,
(4)  Once it's completely customized, is there a way to take an existing installation, and create a bootable DVD image which would reinstall it? An ISO file?
If not, maybe a partition imaging app (something like Ghost).... so that this little mini "distro" could be easily replicated for others...?

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AN ALTERNATE - YET ELEGANT - SOLUTION

I think this is very important...

(1) I say Apple sucks for intentionally making their products
incompatible. Obviously.

(2) Here's an alternate solution -- one I am using, and I am
recommending to everyone:

Use Dropbox. ( shameless referral:
https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTk5MzA1Mzk )

Here's what I do: I put all my Music inside a Music folder within
Dropbox. (In fact, I moved EVERY folder in the Home directory... to
INSIDE my Dropbox folder!)

From any iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, PC, Mac, ANY device with a browser...

I can simply go to Dropbox.com, log in, touch Music folder, and touch
a track to automatically download and then play it!

If you want continuous music.... I simply make my own "mix tape" MP3
files... (long MP3 files that will play non-stop for 20 minutes, or 60
minutes, or whatever... of a collection of my favorite tracks -a
playlist contained in one single MP3 file, in other words.) Touch
that one MP3 file and the iPhone downloads it (Fast!)... I can do this
just before walking down the steps to the NYC Subway and I have
non-stop music for the next hour or two or whatever.

To add music or movies: Put them on your computer. (Of course,
everything is within your Dropbox folder!) (Or, you can add them
from anywhere from any device with a browser.)

To remove music or movies: Delete them from your computer. (Or
from any device with a browser.)

This solution is SOOOOO Simple!

I'm sorry, but all the technical configuration recipes listed in the
How To threads in all the online forums.... is far too complex for me
(not to mention my friends who can barely work a mouse!),... AND,
the results don't sound NEARLY as elegant as "my solution".

:)

Happy Jamming!

Use Dropbox. ( shameless referral:
https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTk5MzA1Mzk )

No, I don't work for Dropbox. I review technology and try to find
easier / better ways to do things... simpler.

Questions?

PLEASE feel free to email me, or telephone me, bruce@brucewagner.com
telephone: 646-719-9000

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Yeah..... well... Life is short.

I could pay $100 for an external drive, and get ONE copy of my data - not synched.

I paid for the DropBox 100GB option, and with the friends I keep referring, I'm almost up to another 6GB free.

So that's 106GB..... for my household's (and businesses') documents, photos, music, audiobooks, videos, whatever....

Shared.  Synched.  Backed up.  Every Saved Version Permanently Un-deletable.  And...  Available to me on every computer and smartphone in the world.  

I like it.

:)

They give you 2GB free...

Click it!   https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTk5MzA1Mzk

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We are loving Linux Mint 8.

Best part: ALL media just plays...... right "out of the box".....  perfectly. 

It's Awesome. 

We like the AuroraMint theme, and the panel at the Top, and we changed the Start Menu icon (too many Linux Mint Logos everywhere), but all those things can be changed so easily!  Love it!

Bruce & Ed

Voice:  646-368-0000

Text:  646-881-4297

"Better than Windows or Mac. Cheaper than both."™

http://BredTech.com ™

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My latest idea:

We help you shop for the best possible deal online, for the perfect PC... We help you order it... have it shipped HERE to us... 

We install Linux on it.  The most elegant, rock solid, version.... ready to play all closed proprietary media formats out-of-the-box.

We install everything, configuration of everything, certify that everything is working as expected..... Then, we ship it to you.

All you have to do is log in.  Your user name & password is already there. Your email, contacts, calendar, everything, is already there.

All software is already installed, configured, and tested.

All printers, web cams, and other peripherals are installed, configured, and tested.

And you get 24/7/365 Tech Support for 3 years. 

For $299 TOTAL.

By the way, we could do the same with an old dusty virus-ridden computer too!  Same price!

Thoughts?

Bruce

Voice:  646-368-0000

Text:  646-881-4297

"Better than Windows or Mac. Cheaper than both."™

http://BredTech.com ™

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Amazing tools to use to find great domain names / company names:

http://instantdomainsearch.com

http://www.123finder.com

http://domai.nr

http://www.bustaname.com

http://www.dotomator.com

http://www.dotomator.com/web20.html

My favorite web hosting company:

http://arvixe.com

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I, for one, totally disagree with the concept that so-called "social media" is some sort of a virtual reality game, played to win something.... what!?  "to make a name for yourself"?  To make sales? Really? To become famous? Really?

Recently I read a big long discussion / debate about which was a better "winning strategy"...   Asking people to RT something.... or not.  And....  Thanking people for RT-ing something..... or not.

My comments on that were:

It's a simple matter of manners.

But, beyond that, just as you had that tinge feeling of gratitude.... it's about recognition. 

When I thank someone for an RT, what I'm really saying is...

"Hey! I noticed that you did that! Even though I may have 8000+ followers, I noticed that YOU did that... and I appreciate YOU!"

No one ever gets tired of being appreciated.

It doesn't clutter anything because, by default, you don't see @ replies to others (unless you follow them too, which is rarely the case).

Being "worthy" is true. But it certainly doesn't mean you shouldn't express gratitude. 

I sincerely thank every follower for any and every thing they do which I'm grateful for.

For me, it's not a success formula.  It's a much higher principal for living than some mechanical rule to try to win some imaginary game.

The Real Success Formula:

ADD VALUE.

IT'S NOT A GAME.

CONSTANTLY BE THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP THE MOST PEOPLE IN THE MOST PROFOUND WAYS POSSIBLE. 

NEVER THINK ABOUT WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU.

BE SINCERE.

EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION ALWAYS.

TELL YOUR PEEPS YOU LOVE THEM.

My peeps know I love them. 

I do.

And so do you.

In the end......  one day....  you WILL learn.....  that these rules I've written are the ONLY rules that really work.

:)

I love you!

Only Love,

Bruce

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