Month: January 2008

Categories
Uncategorized

Of interest: Bill Gates calls for “creative capitalism” in Davos

Today in the Journal, Robert Guth reports that Bill Gates called for a revision of capitalism at the World Economic Forum 2008 in Davos, Switzerland, what Bill referred to as “creative capitalism” in his speech today…

“In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the software tycoon plans to call for a “creative capitalism” that uses market forces to address poor-country needs that he feels are being ignored…

“Three weeks ago, on a flight home from a New Zealand vacation, Mr. Gates took out a yellow pad of paper and listed ideas about why capitalism, while so good for so many, is failing much of the world. He refined those thoughts into the speech he will give today at the annual Davos conference of world leaders in business, politics and nonprofit organizations.

“Among the fixes he plans to call for: Companies should create businesses that focus on building products and services for the poor. “Such a system would have a twin mission: making profits and also improving lives for those who don’t fully benefit from market forces,” he plans to say.”

Amazing what insights can bubble up on the way home from a family vacation.

Bill said…

“This week’s Economist had a section on corporate responsibility, and it put the problem very nicely. It said it’s the interaction between a company’s principles and its commercial competence that shape the kind of business it will be.

“The challenge here is to design a system where market incentives, including profits and recognition, drive those principles to do more for the poor.

“I like to call this idea creative capitalism, an approach where governments, businesses, and nonprofits work together to stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or gain recognition, doing work that eases the world’s inequities.”

Bill also spoke about how the RED Campaign started off in Davos a couple of years ago, stemming from a late-night talk with rocker Bono.  As Bill said, if you allow consumers to associate with a cause they feel passionately about –while buying a great product — they will.

Again, the full speech from Davos can be found on the Microsoft site here, titled “A New Approach to Capitalism in the 21st Century”

Also of interest: Video of The Journal’s Rob Guth interview with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. (Jan. 23, 2008) 

Tags: Bill Gates, Davos, charity, How to, RED.

Categories
Uncategorized

Of interest: Windows Vista isn’t just blue, it now comes in (red)

You may be used to seeing the Windows Vista user experience in a shade of blue. (Well, it looks blue.)

Now it comes in red.

image

Nick on the Windows Vista blog has a post on an announcement with Dell and (RED), to be made this at Davos. 

You can see for yourself on the Microsoft Windows Vista site and read more…

“Windows and Dell have joined (RED) to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. When you buy a Dell (PRODUCT) RED PC with Windows Vista Ultimate (PRODUCT) RED, Windows and Dell will jointly contribute $50 to $80, depending on the product, to The Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.

“Co-founded by U2’s Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade Africa), (RED) is an innovative and sustainable way businesses and consumers can work together to change the world.  It is a business model, not a charity. Working with (RED), companies create special versions of their products with the (PRODUCT) RED brand. When consumers choose to buy (PRODUCT) RED, a portion of the profits goes directly to The Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.”

Of interest: info on the Windows Vista blog about the new packaging for Windows Vista and Office 2007.

Categories
Uncategorized

Your questions: “what’s the next craft project with your kids?” In a word, it’s RetroDog

Had lunch with my friend, Angela, from the MOSS team last week, and she remembered the Halo-ween costume we designed and built for Max.  I explained that we’re always embarking on some new crafty project with the boys, whether its costumes or custom code (as our eldest son, Max, is in to making his own video games courtesy of Mark Overmars’ Game Maker software… soon to delve into Microsoft XNA Game Studio). 

Another friend asked via mail serendipitously enough later that day, “what’s the next craft project you’re doing with your boys?”

That would be RetroDog.

Let me explain.

Each year, our local grade school PTA holds an auction to raise money for all sorts of things that the regular budget simply doesn’t cover, such as classroom aids, project materials, video production and special projects.  To help persuade parents to donate, a number of items will come up during the annual auction… such as custom art pieces that follow a particular theme, all produced by the kids (with a healthy dose of parental involvement).  One year, it was hearts (so we did a series of single hearts, one painted by each child, and then mounted on a large board and framed).  Another year it was self portraits, again in the same collage presentation.

This year, it’s big, ceramic dogs.

Yes, dogs.  Not even the school mascot (which is a tiger), but life-sized, white, cast Labrador dogs (a yellow lab, as best as I can divine). 

That’s where we come in, having ben one of the lucky parents drafted/ volunteered to help prepare the dogs for their artistic transformation.  Many other parents pursued mosaic dogs, some covered them with furry pom poms, and others are still determining what will look best. 

We went with acrylic paints and a design that seemed to work, which is a collage of Peter Max inspired designs and colours.

What on earth does this have to do with customer satisfaction, Microsoft, software products or computer hardware?

Actually, quite a bit. 

Without the computer, various software and peripherals, I would have a devil of a time getting this dog suited and ready for an evening dinner auction.

imageAfter recalling a number of colourful posters by the pop artist Peter Max, I started by launching a query on Live search for Peter Max posters which opened a Pandora’s Box of options.  (Safe Search was set to Moderate, so initial searches done after the kids toddled off to bed.)  This presented a number of works, including posters for American Airlines and various designs featuring a field of stars, sunsets and clouds, all with more 60’s psychedelic colours than you could imagine (well, perhaps you can).

Then, using my now discontinued of Microsoft Digital Image Suite Pro (note: as a customer, I disagree with that decision — to discontinue the product — as it works just fine on Windows Vista and offers a good set of tools), I created a template of the dog sculpture, used the magic wand to create a cut-out mask, and pasted sections of the Max image behind doggy mask. 

image And after a few minutes consulting with our nine-year-old (lest you think I was going to do this by myself) on the colour choices, placement and orientations of the patchwork of Max-isms… voila: instant painted dog designs.

Next, using Vista, Paint, Digital Image Suite and Word, I drafted up a quick flyer on our progress to share with the other parents.  We included various links found with Live Search as well, in case anyone was curious as to the current whereabouts of Peter Max or his latest designs unleashed on the art world, if you’ll pardon the pun.

Transferring the design to the dog relied on the skills I still maintained from the college art classes I took oh-so-long-ago, but that’s also where the customer service angle steps in: the good folks who work at the local craft stores had lots of tips and suggestions (having heard the questions countless times before: “Excuse me, I need to paint a dog this weekend for a class project… how do I go about that?”).  It’s wonderful to find people who have a passion for arts and crafts in one place, and as part of their day job they distribute advice and suggestions to the parents of fourth graders everywhere who have been unceremoniously come face to face with another home craft project. 

imageAnd my hat’s off to the folks at our local Michael’s and Jo-Ann’s for their help, as to the good people at Liquitex for posting the “Liquitex: The Acrylic Book” resource on-line for free, which has a whole section on such painting quandaries.  Albeit there is not a specific section on how to paint a dog (which the statement by itself is one that would put you in the bad graces of the local SPCA), there is a great section on how to use their acrylic paints on just about any surface, with details on how to prep and seal the final work for posterity. 

So now we’ve prepped the dog, waiting to take it to school later this week, where we will work with the kids to paint the bright colours in a sort of patch work, three dimensional paint-by-numbers project.  Later in the week as we get a little closer to declaring the work completed, I’ll post a photo or two.

Years ago, I remember how the prep on a piece of artwork would take days and days of searching through reference works, drawing out various design, photocopies and hand colouring of comps and sketches.  Getting a Mac in the late 80’s (and then a colour Mac) made the process somewhat easier, but the research part and then the experimentation with colour on all those Apple Laserwriter print outs was time consuming. 

Now — as people have been saying for the last several years — armed with a digital camera, scanner, art package, and the ability to search the Internet for just about any image you can imagine (and some I’d just as soon forget, thank you), the creative process is more rapid than I could have imagined when I purchased my first computer.  And the process is almost fast enough to meet the demands of even the most impatient nine-year-old (and their parents, too).

Tags: Art, crafts, painting, How to, your questions.

Categories
Uncategorized

Windows Home Server is a “top pick” at CES (BusinessWeek)

BusinessWeek has a short photo overview of their top product picks from CES…

PC-to-TV is starting to grow up, and Microsoft turns a marketing gaffe into a clever pitch. Plus, Alienware’s astonishing surround-screen visuals

BW also selected Windows Home Server a “Great product, lousy name,” a good solution for consumers “to store, back up, and access their growing collections of photos, songs, and videos.”

Microsoft (MSFT) came up with a clever viral marketing gambit that includes a spoof of a children’s picture book called Mommy, Why Is There a Server in the House? Helping Your Child Understand the Stay-at-Home Server.

image 

Tags: CES 2008, CES.

Categories
Uncategorized

What I’ve read this week (through 011508)

Off to a quick lunch, but first a posting of some of the articles in my reading pile, courtesy of del.icio.us. Keep in mind that many of the descriptions are taken directly from the articles.

Macworld 2008 coverage (CNET News) – By CNET staff, 1/15/2008 — “Macworld 2008 is under way, and CNET’s fleet of editors is blogging the keynote, scouring the show floor, and digging up the best and most novel Apple announcements, gadgets, hardware, and software coming from Macworld 2008.”

More info on the Apple Stores… saved by 25 other people …

More info on Windows Vista Team Blog : Windows Vista Power Management

Live from Macworld 2008: Steve Jobs keynote – Engadget… saved by 164 other people

Hardware hack: Silence Your Xbox 360 with a New Fan (lifehacker) – I’m not clear if such a mod will get you banned on Xbox Live, but here ExtremeTech walks through how to replace the stock fan unit on an this Xbox 360 (which they say “screams like a 747”) with a whisper quiet, $25 alternative. 

Related: Want to know how the Xbox 360 is assembled? Then see this slideshow on CNET News for a look at the insides of the new Xbox 360 Elite: this slide link includes a look at the fan location and mounting.

Mark my words, Sony may well regret its victory in the video disc war – Times Online – “Sony faces a paradox: the impending success of Blu-ray could be bad news for the company because it will distract it from the real task of developing digital download systems. Blu-ray might well turn out to be the worst thing that ever happened…

What’s Your Pick for the Best and Weirdest of C.E.S.? – Bits – Technology – New York Times Blog

HD DVDs Fall Like Dominoes – Bits – Technology – New York Times Blog – By Saul Hansell — Nothing has been announced, but Variety is reporting that the last two major studios backing HD DVD — NBC Universal and Paramount — are opening the door for a switch to Blu-ray.

DVD Movies With an iTunes Copy: Worth More? – Bits – Technology – New York Times Blog – More interestingly perhaps, the studios are hoping to create “premium” versions of DVDs that include a copy of the movie that can easily be put on an iPod (and presumably a laptop with iTunes or an Apple TV).

Melinda Gates goes public – Jan. 7, 2008 (Fortune) … about living with Bill, working with Warren Buffett, and giving away their billions. By Patricia Sellers, editor at large… saved by 13 other people

Screenshot Tour: Early Look at Office Live Workspace Beta – Office Live is, at the moment, only worth your time if you prefer to edit words, spreadsheets, and other documents in Microsoft’s Office products…. saved by 9 other people

Featured Windows Download: Automatically Remove Ads from Recorded TV with Lifextender – Free, open source Vista application and Media Center plugin Lifextender removes commercials from Windows Media Center-recorded TV shows, cutting the average 30 minute show down to around 22 minutes… saved by 35 other people …

Microsoft enters the interactive TV market with DVR Anywhere – DMNews – “Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and multimedia platform. With DVR Anywhere, viewers can watch recorded programs from multiple TVs in the home while simultaneously recording other shows.

RIAA chief says ripping okay, Sony BMG lawyer “misspoke” during Jammie Thomas trial – Engadget – Posted Jan 4th 2008 6:59PM by Nilay Patel

Newegg.com – Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive – An additional HDD for your new HP Home Server EX470 or EX475

Conspicuous by its absence, Vista is a no-show at CES – Sharon Fisher and Scott M. Fulton, III — January 10, 2008 — One of the consumer electronics industry’s biggest brands has had an ever-diminishing presence at CES, and the trend continued this year. It’s Windows, which this year moved from the backseat…

Home Server Hacks: Upgrade the Memory in your HP EX470 or EX475 – HP claims that the RAM can not be upgraded, but that just isn’t so. The HP EX470/475 contains a single 512 MB stick of PC2 – 5300 667MHz memory.

The Gap In Google’s Defenses (Forbes.com) – Sramana Mitra 01.11.08 — “Google is powerful, with 64.5% of all U.S. searches (as of Oct. 27) and 79% of the click ad market. But is Google invincible? I’ve laid out Google’s strengths and weaknesses.”

FiOS tops satisfaction survey; worth moving for? (arstechnica) – In Consumer Reports, Verizon’s fiber optic FiOS service was rated best of breed, and the FiOS television service trumped all comers, including DirecTV, AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warner. By Nate Anderson, January 10, 2008

Analysis: Will streaming HD movies bypass Blu-ray? (betanews) – by Scott M. Fulton, III, January 10, 2008 — It may not be exactly possible for high-definition discs to pick up where their lofty goals of 2005 left off. Transmission technology has evolved very rapidly during that time…

New Year’s Resolutions for Web 2.0 (businessweek) – There will be lots to watch in 2008, as Web sites struggle to turn a profit. The fallout won’t be pretty, written by Sarah Lacy

Sony’s Blu-Ray Breakthrough businessweek – Jan 8, 2008 — Warner Bros.’ decision to back the format makes buying a PS3 less of a gamble for gamers—and promises licensing fees in the future by Kenji Hall

Oops, I Screwed Up My Negotiations (businessweek)  — January 10, 2008, — “Can I tell my boss of three months that I didn’t ask for enough money or the correct title when I agreed to take the job?” by Liz Ryan

Bringing Passion to Starbucks, Travelocity (businessweek) — Jan 9, 2008 — Two companies are trying to take employee engagement and customer service to new levels. Your small business can learn a lot from them, by Carmine Gallo

Five Mobile Trends for 2008 (businessweek)  Jan 9, 2008 – Among them: wireless carriers sharing networks and pushing data services, and the release of more multimedia devices like the iPhone, by Natasha Lomas

So You Want to Publish That Novel (businessweek) January 9, 2008 — Blurb lets you create any sort of book—even one with photos—for as little as $20, by Stephen H. Wildstrom

Kitchen Timesavers That Speed Up Dinner (lifehacker) – To help you plan, prep, and cook better food, I’ve put together some of my favorite food and kitchen hacks, from the nuts and bolts (like faster tomato de-seeding) to bigger organizational tips… saved by 301 other people

PCMag.com’s CES 2008 Photo Blog – News and Analysis by PC Magazine — PC Magazine’s slideshow of the sights and technology on display at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show. by Kyle Monson, Lance Ulanoff, Cisco Cheng, Sascha Segan, Craig Ellison, Brian Heater, Dan Costa and Chloe Albanesius

The Bill Gates Exit Strategy BS – Columns by PC Magazine — The idea that Bill Gates is going to run that foundation of his full-time is a joke. by John C. Dvorak

Watch Full-Length TV Online with Fancast — Fancast goes “well beyond simple video streaming by integrating movies and other services into the site…” directing you ecommerce sites to buy a DVD, rentals or to buy tickets (if what you searched is still in theaters)… saved by 64 other people

Best Buy’s Anderson “Nervous” About US DTV Changeover : Dealerscope Today — A little over a year before analog television signals are turned off, the CEO of America’s largest CE retail chain admits that he is “very nervous” about the transition, especially the enormity of supplying customers with converter boxes.

Identity Theft Protection — By Internet Infrastructure Features Staff — A variety of services are available to consumers for identity protection and remediation, but the most effective solutions lie elsewhere. Even if you’re careful, you can still be a victim of identity theft.

Dell Unveils Curved Gaming Monitor — PCs — InformationWeek — The monitor has a resolution of 2,880 by 900 pixels, which is the equivalent of two 24-inch monitors. By Antone Gonsalves InformationWeek January 8, 2008 06:39 PM

Microsoft’s ‘Extender’ for Vista and HDTV reaches reality by Jacqueline Emigh, January 7, 2008 — Microsoft’s Extender for Windows Media Center isn’t altogether new. But the extender products announced at CES 2008 — from Samsung, HP, Linksys, and others — are a different kettle of fish due to their use of Vista…

Seat entertainment system crash on (Les’s space) “Yes, you read that right: I was on an airplane that crashed. Well, OK, the *whole* plane didn’t crash, just the Linux based seatback entertainment system. (But I had you going for an instant, didn’t I??)”

PC Magazine’s Show Coverage of CES 2008 – News, Reviews, Gadgets and more from International CES 2008

Canon’s Nine New SD Camcorders Smack Sony (PC Magazine) — Canon added to its camcorder line today with the announcement of 9 more SD offerings. Broken up into 3 categories, flash drives, and MiniDV, Canon has updated it own line of recorders and fired back at Sony’s 16 new offerings they announced yesterday.

Tags: misc, articles, what I read.