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Microsoft Humor

Ken Segall let us know about a “funny” (?) video in his post The Microsoft festival of comedy.

Now, while you might think I’d join in with the laughter, I also think that in some ways, it’s not funny. I mean, I know that Steve Jobs thinks Blu-ray is a dud, and isn’t going anywhere, especially not into his Macs, but for those of us who work in the media creation industry, we’ve got to deal with it.

Ken has the following to say:

The big advantage of Windows laptops? They can play Blu-ray discs. Like (a) you’ll really appreciate Blu-ray on 15-inch screen, and (b) you’d rather carry discs around than just download high-def movies onto your Mac.

But this to me, is one more example of Apple products seen as consuming devices, not creating devices. If you want to just watch a high-definition video, it makes sense to download it to your Mac, but if you want to make a high-definition disc to give to a client, you’ll be making a Blue-ray disc, and you’ll need to buy an external drive (Other World Computing sells them) and you’ll need extra software (Toast will work) and while it’s all possible, it’s like this thing that Apple is just convinced you won’t want to, or need to do.

I pity the Mac user who is handed a Blu-ray disc and asked to play it, only to have some Microsoft weenie stick it in their laptop to play…

And you know, I actually found the video well done, and kind of funny…

Don’t get me wrong… I still don’t like Microsoft, and I still don’t like Windows, but I also get fed up with the control and decisions Apple sometimes makes about their products.

Also, I’m pretty sure Avatar sucks.

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Do you want to continue?

Fire Eagle

In the post Users vs. Accounts vs. Signer-Uppers I talked about how there’s a difference between the people who just sign up for a service, and the people who actually sign up and continue to use that service.

My suggestion was that a service should check in with you by sending you a reminder to see if you still wanted to use it and keep your account active.

I’m not sure if the Fire Eagle team got the idea from me, or came up with it on their own, but either way, I was happy to get an email from them which led me to the question you see above.

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Tools

Dremel Moto Jig Saw

Thor Drill Press Model #580

I’ve been playing with some new lighting techniques (learned at Z2 Photo) and figure I’d give it a try while creating an inventory of some of the tools in the “2XL Makerspace” (also known as “my basement workshop.”)

These tools belonged to my dad, and they still work quite well. I find it interesting that many of the tools we use today (computers, phones, and even software) will not be used by our children when they are our age. By that I mean, the actual tools we use. If you’ve got a PowerBook now, you’ll probably replace it in a few years, and then replace that, and replace that, and on and on… in comparison, the jig saw and the drill press were the exact same ones my dad used over 25 years ago to make things.

Maybe the cycle is just sped up… I just gave my kids the old 20″ iMac because I replaced it with a MacPro. Of course in a few years that iMac will seem slow and outdated, or it will break, or die, or somehow become useless. The lifecycle of our tools for digital work seems so short… My youngest daughter asked if she can have my DSLR when I get a new one. Is it normal for her to think I will get a newer (better, faster) camera at some point? I’m sure I will… but I’m also sure that in 10 years she’ll be able to buy a newer (better, faster) camera for half of what I paid for mine.

Is this the price of progress, or is it just the difference between tools that create things in the physical world vs. tools that create things in the digital world?

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Next Project (Sketch)

(consider it cc:by)

This is a rough (really really rough) sketch of the next thing I plan to build. The perspective is all wrong, and I’m not sure the finished piece will look anything like this, but this is how I recorded the idea so I could remember it.

I’ve also got a parts list started, but probably won’t share that… I mean, what fun would that be!?

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Holiday Make-a-thon

Make-a-thon

Join us on Friday, November 26th, 2010 for a Holiday Make-a-thon!

This will be a family-friendly event where you can avoid the crowds obsessed with getting the deal of the century on the latest must-have geegaw and actually make something that you can give as a gift this holiday season (or keep for yourself!)

The event is co-sponsored by Bucketworks, Milwaukee Makerspace, and UberDorkCafe. We’re asking for a $5 donation per family, and we’ll provide some snacks & drinks. (Feel free to bring something to share as well.)

make a thing!

So what will you make? We’ve selected a number of electronic kits if you want to try your hand at soldering/building. (And those Makerspace guys will teach you to solder and help you along the way, so don’t be scared if this is your first electronic kit.) Choose from the following SparkFun Electronics kits: Sapphire Bracelet, Diamond Bracelet or Ruby Bracelet for $49.95, It’s a Through-Hole Christmas, Charlie Brown! for $17.95, Simon Game for $24.95, Lectro Candle Kit for $9.95, and Terror-Min for $9.95. (Order your kits NOW so you get them in time.)

If electronics isn’t your thing, you can try to knit a coffee cup cozy or a scarf with Ashe, or try your hand at making Germ Soap (from American Science & Surplus on 6901 West Oklahoma Ave.) or go green and turn plastic bags into a sturdy one-of-a-kind messenger bag with Natali from the UberDorkCafe. (See video.)

We’ll also have James Carlson reading a story (book TBD) and Sam Dodge taking family portraits.

You don’t have to RSVP on The Facebook, but you can if you want… and you can see who else will be there.

(Hmmm, who knows? Maybe I can show people how to make an Arduino Powered Twitter Monkey…)

Update: See a time lapse video of the event.