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The best present ever: the OpenX plastic Package opener

(re-posted again on 090508) 


First off, I’m mentioning this with no professional endorsement: purely a personal view here.


How many gifts given this year come in those form-fitting clear plastic packages? I know that one present Santa brought to our five-year-old — a new ATM machine — came in such. You know the type: no matter what you do, or what tool you use, you are bound to either a) cut the item or instructions securely bound in the package, b) injure yourself or others in the family to a degree requiring a holiday trip to the urgent care clinic for some holiday-coloured stitches, or c) return the product to the store without opening in quiet protest of such packaging.


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I saw that Steve was worried about the same thing today, and thought that I would offer this inexpensive, innovative tip: get an OpenX. This is the best thing to hit since the Olfa touch knife I tried to master in my days doing graphic design oh so many years ago. This little device now saves me agonizing injuries (I still have one little scar on my wrist from a plastic shard that continues to give me the willies) and is easy enough to use.


There are packages that are a dream to open (as I wrote recently about my zune OOBE), and then there are packages that double as medieval torture devices.


IMHO, the OpenX is awesome.


added http://tinyurl.com/566fhd

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The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business has left the building

James Brown's Funky ChristmasWhile the kids were opening presents (the Nintendo DS made them forget that they had other presents still wrapped under the tree), I was sad to hear that James Brown had passed away this Christmas Day.


Although I’m sure many people remember the singer as quite the showman both on and off the stage, I had the chance to meet and work with him and his tour 20 or so years ago (a past stint in entertainment that lead to my work in high tech, when I traveled with an early Macintosh).


Even then — in his mid 50’s — Mr. Brown gave every show 110%, and was kind to the people on his crew and loved the audience: he played the longest sets of just about any performer I’ve seen play live.


If you get the chance and you have a Zune pass or Rhapsody (or other) music subscription service, take a listen today to Mr. Brown’s renditions of “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Please Come Home For Christmas” from his Funky Christmas album. You’ll be glad you did.

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Microsoft Extends Xbox 360 Warranty to One Year

In case you missed this in the news, Microsoft is extending the Xbox 360 warranty to one year from the original 90 day warranty in the United States and Canada. That’s in line with many other parts of the world that already enjoy a one year warranty on the product. This increase in the warranty applies to both new purchases and for customers who already have an Xbox 360 and are within their first year of ownership.



“Customer satisfaction is a central focus and priority for the Xbox 360 system,” said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “In addition to jaw-dropping features such as high-definition graphics, an amazing catalog of over 160 games, and social online and entertainment experiences on Xbox Live(R), the Xbox 360 system now offers this extended warranty upgrade. It is truly the industry’s most compelling home entertainment offering.”


If you are a customers who already paid for out-of-warranty repair charges within your first year of owning the Xbox 360, watch for a reimbursement for console service. “Reimbursements will be automatically distributed, so customers need not contact Microsoft.”


And if you have questions about the new warranty or are having a problem with your new Xbox, visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/contact.

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Friday Humour: Create your own holiday cards, or just go elf yourself

Create your own greeting cards


It’s still not to late… the US Postal Service will deliver Express Mail overnight!


The Office Online site has more tips on creating your own holiday and special occasion greeting cards…



“Holidays and special occasions are the perfect excuse for getting crafty and creating your own greeting cards. Microsoft Office Online can help you in this endeavor with our many templates and deep assortment of clip art.”


The holiday clip art alone is worth the visit to Office Online. (“Try the egg nog… I’ll be here all week…”)


If you’re more like our family, you are moving to a more digital option across the board. Once again, as we have in recent years, we will create an electronic version of our holiday cards (with pictures of the kids) and email them to people with accounts (hardcopy for those who are technologically challenged). The we take the money we would have sent on holiday cards and we donate it to charity.


Or you can just go elf yourself, and put your own face on a dancing elf. See http://www.elfyourself.com/


My son, the elf

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New Consumer Lifestyles portal now online

Tree popped up along 156thAs I mentioned earlier this week, we regained power late Tuesday and we’re back in our home. Seems that most of our friends now have their power restored, too. You can still see examples of the impact around town and Microsoft main campus in Redmond. To gain an appreciation of the impact of the storm, the tree at right is about 18-20′ high and just popped up, root ball and all. I saw three or four just in one block, and a number of fallen trees around campus. In our neighbourhood, one very large tree that fell in the storm missed a friend’s home by just a few feet.



Also of interest (and making a big impact) is the new Microsoft Digital Lifestyle portal for consumers, now live in the UK at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/lifestyle (also in New Zealand at http://www.microsoft.com/nz/lifestyle).



“By bringing together the consumer value proposition and scenarios, integrating with the product groups, leveraging our best practices and keeping in line with technical requirements, we will be able to tell the Microsoft story in a consistent way and one that can be replicated WW and maintained efficiently.”