Evernote is a great cloud-based, multiplatform webclipper and notebook application. It's been really useful in keeping my notes in sync between my work computer (via web), home (Mac native app), and sometimes my iPod Touch (native app). However it really is inexcusable that it is missing a couple basic features.
You can't search for exact phrases, and symbols are ignored. So searching for "www.microsoft.com" returns all instances of "www", "microsoft", and "com". Imagine wading through a long webpage with multiple instances of those components.
Evernote is currently at Mac v1.8.2 and Windows v3.x. It has been around for 3 years, and gets a patch at least once a week. So why is it still missing basic features that are a no-brainer for note taking program?
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
How to Cancel the Examiner and Save the Planet
Many of you in SF might be vexed to be recieving unwanted SF Examiner newspapers every day of the week. I know we in my household bloody well feel that way. However, since we never signed up for it, I was at a loss for how to unsubscribe (turns out it's free, and yet the city allows this spam to go unchecked).
I found this link through Yelp forums. Hopefully it will work. We'll see in a few days:
http://www.examiner.com/delivery/cancel/
I found this link through Yelp forums. Hopefully it will work. We'll see in a few days:
http://www.examiner.com/delivery/cancel/
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Exploring the Palm Pre Plus (Verizon) - Part 1
I've been getting tired of my Palm Centro (already obsolete at time of release). Although the frequent crashes suck, the PIM functions and physical keyboard rock, as well as the ability to go sans data plan. I decided to finally upgrade to a more modern phone and get a data plan at the same time. The Pre Plus has a physical keyboard, would let me stay with Verizon, and seems pretty slick. This is my user diary for the unit I bought on 2/12/2010.
After my first day of use...
1.Good: Universal Search and Phone app
You have rapid and flexible access to all contact options. Want access to a dial pad to to key in a number that isn't already in your phone? Run the phone app. From here you can use the touchscreen dial pad, or type using the keyboard. At the bottom are touchscreen buttons for voicemail and the call log.
As with Blackberries, it will intuit whether you are trying to look up a contact or dial a raw number. You don't need to hold the option key to switch to numeric mode to enter digits, just press the corresponding keys and it will know you are dialing digits (unless you happen to have a contact named "frtgder"). The Phone app will show you any contacts that match your search, and allow you to select any of their corresponding phone numbers to dial. However, you will not be able to send SMS, email, or IM.
Not to worry though, all you need to do is enter Card View or the Launcher, and start typing. This is called Universal Search. As with the Phone app, it will show you any matched contacts, except that in this view you will have the full range of options to call/SMS/email/IM. If you entered a string of numbers, you can also raw dial that number! Furthermore, you have the ability search Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, or Twitter for whatever you entered. I think this is brilliant. I can look people up and contact them in multiple ways from one easy to access screen, and Universal Search is actually intelligent enough to know what I'm trying to do.
After my first day of use...
1.Good: Universal Search and Phone app
You have rapid and flexible access to all contact options. Want access to a dial pad to to key in a number that isn't already in your phone? Run the phone app. From here you can use the touchscreen dial pad, or type using the keyboard. At the bottom are touchscreen buttons for voicemail and the call log.
As with Blackberries, it will intuit whether you are trying to look up a contact or dial a raw number. You don't need to hold the option key to switch to numeric mode to enter digits, just press the corresponding keys and it will know you are dialing digits (unless you happen to have a contact named "frtgder"). The Phone app will show you any contacts that match your search, and allow you to select any of their corresponding phone numbers to dial. However, you will not be able to send SMS, email, or IM.
Not to worry though, all you need to do is enter Card View or the Launcher, and start typing. This is called Universal Search. As with the Phone app, it will show you any matched contacts, except that in this view you will have the full range of options to call/SMS/email/IM. If you entered a string of numbers, you can also raw dial that number! Furthermore, you have the ability search Google, Google Maps, Wikipedia, or Twitter for whatever you entered. I think this is brilliant. I can look people up and contact them in multiple ways from one easy to access screen, and Universal Search is actually intelligent enough to know what I'm trying to do.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
OSX 10.6: Finder FIXED! I weep with joy.
A while back I lamented how awful the 10.5 (and previous) Finders were. I complained that Apple was leaving out all sorts of long-overdue improvements and basic features that Windows had possessed for years.
Well, I just installed 10.6 yesterday, and looking through the New Features list, I'm suprised that several of my prayers have actually been answered. Not all of them, and not all are in perhaps the best way possible, but they're there. I think I need a moment alone...
Well let's go through them, shall we?
1)Restore deleted items to original folders.
Items in Trash now have a "Put Back" option, which works the same as "Restore" in Windows.
2)More reliable disk eject.
System services such as Spotlight indexing and file system events will intelligently stop their work so you can remove your drive. And improved dialogs tell you which applications are using the drive so you know what to close in order to safely disconnect your drive.
3)Change search locations.
One of those things that makes you say "Well, it's better than nothing." You can change Spotlight to have it search the currently selected folder by default. But you can't have it search by Filename by default. Say whaaaaaaa...?
4+) There's plenty more, but that's it for the Finder fixes.
Well, I just installed 10.6 yesterday, and looking through the New Features list, I'm suprised that several of my prayers have actually been answered. Not all of them, and not all are in perhaps the best way possible, but they're there. I think I need a moment alone...
Well let's go through them, shall we?
1)Restore deleted items to original folders.
Items in Trash now have a "Put Back" option, which works the same as "Restore" in Windows.
2)More reliable disk eject.
System services such as Spotlight indexing and file system events will intelligently stop their work so you can remove your drive. And improved dialogs tell you which applications are using the drive so you know what to close in order to safely disconnect your drive.
3)Change search locations.
One of those things that makes you say "Well, it's better than nothing." You can change Spotlight to have it search the currently selected folder by default. But you can't have it search by Filename by default. Say whaaaaaaa...?
4+) There's plenty more, but that's it for the Finder fixes.
Other ones are:
Quicker Time Machine backups, Faster wake/sleep, writing Chinese on the trackpad, PDF text selection that works across columns, Boot Camp support for HFS+, configurable grace period for screen locking,
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Glib Game Reviews: PSN (PS3) Downloadables
Comet Crash: Loving its mix of tower defense and real time strategy. The first TD where you can counter attack!
Flower: The only purchase I regret. The trailers make it look blissful and fluid as you hurtle through lush meadows. The real thing is nothing like that. There is no speed control, and it is very hard to turn when you're going full speed. The result is that you will often miss just one or two petals in a chain, and have to circle back for them--multiple times. This creates a lot of frustration and slows you down. Also, with each group you collect is followed by a mini-cutscene that shows that area blossoming. This occurs so often that it is disruptive. Summary: STAY AWAY. Neat concept but terrible execution that is not as relaxing as they claim.
Mushroom Wars: a unique and frenetic stategy game. A good $5-10 buy that is good to play with a few friends. Sadly lacks online multiplayer or any customization/handicap options for the local MP. It's fun, but these deficiencies will limit the long term potential.
PixelJunk Eden: Beautiful art design, simple but fun game mechanics, great music, and multiplayer co-op too! The only flaw is the life meter countdown that detracts from the designer's aim of relaxation. Still, it's a must-have if you like platformers.
Rag Doll Kung Fu - Fists of Plastic: fun and unique game. Looks fun for multiplayer, but the controls have a bit of a learning curve, so it will take some time to get friends into it.
Flower: The only purchase I regret. The trailers make it look blissful and fluid as you hurtle through lush meadows. The real thing is nothing like that. There is no speed control, and it is very hard to turn when you're going full speed. The result is that you will often miss just one or two petals in a chain, and have to circle back for them--multiple times. This creates a lot of frustration and slows you down. Also, with each group you collect is followed by a mini-cutscene that shows that area blossoming. This occurs so often that it is disruptive. Summary: STAY AWAY. Neat concept but terrible execution that is not as relaxing as they claim.
Mushroom Wars: a unique and frenetic stategy game. A good $5-10 buy that is good to play with a few friends. Sadly lacks online multiplayer or any customization/handicap options for the local MP. It's fun, but these deficiencies will limit the long term potential.
PixelJunk Eden: Beautiful art design, simple but fun game mechanics, great music, and multiplayer co-op too! The only flaw is the life meter countdown that detracts from the designer's aim of relaxation. Still, it's a must-have if you like platformers.
Rag Doll Kung Fu - Fists of Plastic: fun and unique game. Looks fun for multiplayer, but the controls have a bit of a learning curve, so it will take some time to get friends into it.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Another (Somewhat) Open Letter To Sony
This was prompted by the recent PS3 Firmware 3.10 update, which unexplainably focused on Facebook integration, and promised more in the future. Please shoot me now.
... By linking your PlayStation Network account to your Facebook account, you will have the option for the PS3 to automatically update your Facebook News Feed with Trophy and PlayStation Store activity. You can then check out your updates, and those of your friends, on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media favorites through the PS3’s built-in web browser.This is just the beginning of our integration with Facebook...Additional highlights from update 3.10 include:
- The Photo category on the XMB has been revamped to make it easier to see more of your photos stored on the PS3.
- The PSN Friends List has been modified based on feedback we received after update 3.00. Additionally, you can now choose a color for your PSN ID on the XMB.
(via Playstation Blog)
I appreciate the better photo layout, but the other stuff seems either minor (coloring your avatar), or misdirected (Facebook integration). So many Firmware updates… and yet few have done anything to actually improve my PS3 experience. It’s such a waste of resources when there are many more important things you could be working on in the firmware updates.
1)Instead of Playstation Home (ie Second Life Redux) how about better Friend finding for multiplayer (ie a universal way to find/join friends that doesn’t require a clunky, game-specific method such as in Rock Band 2). How about cross-game chat? Xbox360 has had that for a long time. I can't believe Facebook ranked anywhere near as high on users' want lists.
2) How about the “Memory Manager” others mentioned, so that I can selectively delete DLC and saved games?
3) And a fix so that I can organize my games into albums without typing each cAsE-SeNsiTiVe album name for EACH file? Seriously, it feels like UNIX? For a company that prides itself on shiny gadgetry, the amount of interface polish is lacking.
You might want to check your priorities. Give me some of these types of important features before worrying about how to color my avatar or clog up my already overwhelmingly bloated Facebook experience.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
SFSU Welcomes GWAR
In an effort to step up the standards of it's English curriculum, San Francisco State University has made the bold move to enlist the crazed alien-metal band GWAR, which it hopes will better prepare its graduates for the 21st century workplace.Well, not really.
Courtesy of MyLifeDump:
San Francisco State University had a graduation requirement where everyone in the undergraduate program had to take and pass JEPET (Junior English Proficiency Essay Test). If you failed, you had to take English 414 and pass it with a C or better grade in order to graduate.
JEPET was the most hated graduation requirement on campus. I took the test and passed but I am wondering if I still have to take a writing intensive course within my major to graduate according to newly implemented Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement or GWAR.
GWAR is different from JEPET because you take a writing-intensive course within your major and not a standardized test. This means one more class in addition to all the other classes required for a particular major. SFSU has begun offering GWAR courses Spring ‘09 semester but not all majors currently have the GWAR course.
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