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Google over Bing?

“Our goal for this study was to gather users’ general impressions of the Google and Bing search engines, including overall functionality, presentation of content, and overall fit with user expectations and needs. We also wanted to see how much attention users paid to advertising space on the two sites.”
(from the report)
“Most users preferred the Bing visual design and thought that it was slightly better in terms of organization and refinement options.”
Overall reasons for preferring Google
• Familiarity
• Enhancements in Bing not enough to convert
• Already using other Google apps
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"American Nerd: The Story of My People"

From Simon & Schuster I received a copy of “American Nerd: The Story of My People” by Benjamin Nugent, and I will treasure it forever.

In my following review, I’ll try to not give too much of the book away because it was very enjoyable to read…

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The first chapter establishes two types of nerds:
those who are by choice, behaviour, and/or interests…
and others who are forced into the classification by social labeling and catagorizing.

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After describing some basics of nerdiness, Nugent examines various types of nerds:

(page 128)
“…the nerd receives his calling from God or nature…the nerd is incapable of selling out.”

Those who appreciate medieval culture…

Fake nerds (and why they would choose to pretend to be)…

(page 142)
Asperger’s syndrome may cause behaviour that is deemed nerdiness…
[I have never been diagnosed for this, but from all I’ve read of it, it would explain a lot of my life. Some of my kids have been diagnosed with (some) autism…]

(An Author’s Note states that some names may have been changed to protect privacy.)
There’s a chapter (page 111) about a guy Nugent knew in high school, Darren, that proves that some choose nerdum to escape uncomfortableness in their life. (I can relate to Darren.)

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An interesting passage to me is found on page 20, in the second paragraph, where Nugent addresses our/nerds preferences for people to “say what you mean, mean what you say”. There are times in my life where I’ve been considered to be too literal: I hate the phrase, “wait a second”.

Rather than participate in social gaming, and needing to decipher signals that are being sent, we/nerds prefer obvious communication.

I remember the many “pick-up lines” I’ve never had…the closest I’ve ever been able to come to flirting is: “I’m going to bed…you are welcome to join me.”

(Page 53)

Nerds tend to be more rational and logical, than emotional; the general populace tends to be more spontanious and seek gratification before considering potential consequences and outcomes.

As stated on page 37, nerds prefer to focus on expertise and can prefer to be (in general) non-confrontational to social engagement.

When we do attempt to engage, where most flirt to show interest (as described on page 106): “…debate is something nerds to in order to meet other nerds they can hit on…”

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Historical figures who were probable nerds are proposed, and Nugent used some fictional characters to explain the evolution of “manliness” and its descriptive components.

When he compared “nerds” to “jocks” and referenced Skolnick and Urkel, I waited for Doc Savage (whom I consider to be a nerd and jock) to be mentioned. I was dissappointed…

He explains how the term “sissy” evolved, which should have been obvious, but I never thought about it.

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While expounding on nerdy characterizations on television he mentions the television show “Freaks and Geeks”, which I have never seen. I waited for a mention of “Square Pegs”, which I have seen and thought would be a similar comparison to his descriptions, but it was not. It left me wondering if he was aware of the show, or felt it did not apply…

(This book was written before The Big Bang Theory was on CBS.)

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His interpretation of ethnicities pleasantly surprised me. I had never taken into consideration that some traits are due to culture. There is a probable reason those of Jewish decent seemed to read at an early age (page 80), and why nerd culture appreciates Japanese techno-art (page 82).

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“American Nerd: The Story of My People” is available as an ebook.

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I strongly suggest you buy the book:

Add it to your collection because it’s a good read.

If you are a nerd, and/or know or love a nerd.

Maybe you will learn something about yourself and your peers…maybe others will learn about you…maybe there will be more understanding.

Buy the book, highlight the parts you feel appropriate, and (assuming the recipient can read) give the book to someone who doesn’t understand you, and you wish they did…or at least would try to understand you.

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I miss my slide rule…

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USB digital TV receiver

During the Tech Tuesday segment on KOLD News 13 Live This Morning, Andy showed: a personalized coffee mug from RocketLife.Com, a World of Warcraft Battle Chest, Pinnacle Studio 12 for Video Editing and Creation, and an Encore Electronics USB DTV Tuner…

The Encore Electronics ENUTV-DAT USB ATSC Digital TV Tuner is powered by the USB port. An infrared remote control, and antenna, is included.

The HDTV resolution goes to 1920 x 1080i. You can schedule for a program to be recorded. And time-shifting allows for the recording, and playback, of live television broadcasts…at the same time! Files are recorded in iPOD, PSP MPEG-4, and Windows CE-WMV formats. Images can be captured in JPEG and BMP formats…

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Encore sent the unit to us months ago, and I tried it, but decided to withhold posting a review because of all of the changes in the final date for digital conversion.

A CD is included that has the software needed for the unit. When I inserted the CD into my computer, the Drivers & Utilities Installation menu appeared. The first item on the menu is Setup Utility…the second item is Setup Driver. The handbook states to install the driver, then the utility…

After doing so, I connected the device and an error message appeared: “The device cannot be detected or is not supported.” After restarting the computer, and connecting the device, it was recongized.

When I tested it I was in the northwest area of Tucson (Marana), inside of a coffee shop. The signals from the stations could not be expected to be very strong. One of the reasons I was trying to wait as long as possible about posting this review is because some will be increasing their power, but I don’t know when that will be and if there are stations in my area that will be.

I was able to get KVOA (Channel 4), and KHRR (Channel 40)…and our local PBS affliate, KUAT. KUAT impressed me the most:

KUAT6/HD
http://tv.azpm.org/kuat/
“271” (channel 27.1)

KUAT 6-Kids-HD.
http://tv.azpm.org/kids/
“272” (channel 27.2)

PBS-World
http://tv.azpm.org/world/
“273” (channel 27.3)

If you look at their website, there appear to be at least two more channels available.

Andy and I have tried other digital television receivers, and feel that…based on our experiences…outdoor amplified antennae should seriously be considered when at all possible.

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Apple, WWDC, new iPhones, new Macs

I watched some of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference live via the internet…I won’t tell you how because I’m under the impression it violated some agreement between Apple and the attendee. (I will say that they had over 23,000 viewers at times…)

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There are new MacBooks, there is a new operating system (Snow Leopard), and new iPhones.

(Notice that there are links on their webpage for “Special Deals”, “Refurbished Macs”, “Refurbished iPods”, and “Clearance” products…)

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The conference began with a video featuring John Hodgman of the “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” commecial campaign: he wished attendees a week with “some innovation, but not too much please.”

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In September, the Snow Leopard (10.6) operating system will be priced at $29 for the upgrade version (from Leopard 10.5), and a family pack will be available for $49. I was confused when they seem to be making a big deal that it will be a 64-bit operating system, until after I read the following from http://www.apple.com/macosx/technology/#sixtyfourbit:

“…Although Mac OS X is already 64-bit capable in many ways, Snow Leopard takes the next big step by rewriting nearly all system applications in 64-bit code…”

Snow Leopard will allow support for up to 16 terabytes of RAM.

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The iPhone 3.0 operating system will be available June 17: free for iPhone owners, $9.95 for iPod touch owners.

It is to have 100 new features. (I’ve never owned an iPhone and iPod Touch, and am shocked some of them weren’t previously available…)

Cut, Copy & Paste

Landscape Keyboard

Send MMS messages and include video, photos, audio, and contact info…
(Multimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, allows the sending of sending messages that include multimedia objects and allows for longer messages.)
MMS requires support by the carrier; AT&T is expected to support MMS late this summer.

Voice Memos

Sync Notes to your Mac or PC.

Parental Controls for music, videos, and applications…

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Effective today, the 8GB iPhone 3G costs $99.

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The iPhone 3GS will be available June 19: 16GB for $199, 32GB for $299.

Built-in video camera with editing
3 megapixels
Autofocus
Tap to focus
Video recording, VGA up to 30fps with audio
Photo and video geotagging

UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Audio formats supported: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV

3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack

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Mobile Me customers will be able to use Find My iPhone to bring up a Google Map that shows where your iPhone is (as long as it’s turned on). You will be able to send a message to the phone, and it will display a message and sound an alarm (even if it is in silent mode). Using Remote Wipe, you will be able to delete all your data; if you later find your missing phone, you can plug it into iTunes and restore it.

It’s expected to be available for the iPhone, and iPod touch.

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Some of my resources during, and after, the conference:

http://theappleblog.com/live/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10257637-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

http://live.gizmodo.com/

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/06/08/live-from-apples-wwdc-2009/

http://www.macrumorslive.com/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/165990/live_update_wwdc_2009_keynote.html

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MacHEADS: The Movie

(According to a presskit…)
“MacHEADS:  The Movie is a feature-length documentary about fanaticism and unconditional devotion to the corporate brand Apple inc. Through a series of interviews with the Mac’s most dedicated followers and fanboys, it takes an in-depth look at the cult of Mac and the people who charted  the machine’s rise to popularity, posing the ultimate question, is Apple losing faith as a community and becoming just a brand.”
There are two DVDs:  one the movie, and the other a “Special Features” DVD that is supposed to have over two hours of extras (I haven’t had time to watch it)…
The movie is over 54 minutes long.
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When I inserted the DVD, a song began to play:
“Once you get a mac…
there’s never going back…
it’s all you ever want to own…
puts your mind in the zone…”
Well…I guess I’ve been told.  I wondered if this might be one of those in-yer-face, nyah-nyah presentations where they are all right and good…and everyone else is evil and going to hell.  (See a conversation in our forum “TechtalkRadio User Group » General Category » General Discussion » Why are hardcore Mac users so bitter?“…)
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One of the first people I recognized was Violet Blue…who said she never knowingly slept with a Windows user.  I expected this to set the tone for the rest of the DVD, so (as a user of Windows) I began to dress into my emotional armor…
The first day of shooting for the movie began with Macworld conference in January 2007, and it’s what the movie opens with.
I’ve noticed that the production in this film has managed to get me excited for what’s ahead in the movie.  I’m very much looking forward to all of the (general) nerdiness and geekiness to come.
Galen Brandt is profiled, a hippie-looking chick who’s husband (Bruce Damer) is the curator of the Digibarn Computer Museum.
I think it’s a very good documentary.  And I don’t want to call it a documentary…more like an evangelic promotional piece.  It’s showing how very emotional those being shown are.  And, I find myself sensitive to their feelings…
Half-way through the movie, the tough times for Apple in the 1990s are covered.  Followed by the expressions by some of what the return of Steve Jobs meant to them, the company, and the legacy of Apple.
There is an examination, and some opinions, as to where feelings may currently stand regarding passion for:
the platform…
the products…
enthusiasm for the Mac brand by the company…
and relationships between Apple with the faithful (user groups and such).
Changing demographics, and their changing relationships, are examined.  As has been experienced in other areas of technology, youth is not personally networking and building relationships around computing via user groups.  (Studies show that wireless telephones are mostly what is used by today’s teens.)  A young guy that I imagine is about 20 years old expressed what others said:  there’s no reason for a (Mac) community to exist.
Towards the end of the movie, it segues into…as it should…the introduction of the iPhone.  There’s a gospel chorus song underneath (Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir – “I Need You To Survive”)…which made it a little creepy, but I get the point the movie is making.
Fears are expressed that Apple won’t be as interested in the Mac (as the MacHEADS are…which brought into focus for the the title of the movie).  To quote one passionate of the camaraderie:  “…don’t love Apple, love the community…”
As the movie ends, there are people in line for the iPhone.  Some have never owned a Mac…some own an iPod.  Which highlights how products and marketing has changed, and may continue to, for Apple (and others).
And a reminder that eating an apple caused humans to be removed from the garden of Eden.
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Regardless of your preference of operating systems, buy this movie.  If you are a fan of technology and/or computing, add this DVD to your collection.
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Links:
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