vevmedia.net/blog » Web

Climate on sale

vevmesteren — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:56 +0000

Hackers hijacked the European climate exchange (a carbon trading website) and replaced it with a truth site detailing flaws in the system. It also contained this video:

The Story of Cap & Trade from Story of Stuff Project on Vimeo.

To see the entire site see here: http://nassibou.atspace.org/

VIA

My favorite Chromium Extensions…

vevmesteren — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:09:31 +0000

…so far anyways. Having been running Chromium for a while now, I have really grown quite fond of this browser and the speed at which the web comes so readily available to me. One thing that they definitely got right is the library of extensions, which is rapidly catching up with the Add-On library that Firefox (that still leads by a mile though). And no matter how many of you out there want to sell me the speed of Opera (on a complete that side-note), ‘Opera just don’t got it’. That whole floating widget thing just never caught on with me. But maybe I am just a creature of habbit. And my habit has always been against Opera. Enough about them, as I am not here to write about them. My focus are the Extensions I use. Before I do though, a word of appreciation when it comes to Chromium as such. Setting aside speed and slick integration into my Ubuntu Karmic Koala OS. There is one thing that Chrome actually took from IE, I am almost surprised to say this, but the fact that the Extensions in no way are adding any toolbars to the most important part of the browser really goes to show that even MicroS with IE got at least one right. Nor are there any Menus that are impeding visually, oh let’s not forget about the ‘New Incognito Window’ function either, allowing you to surf the web cache-less. Very awesome during a website launch. On to my favorite extensions in no particular order of appreciation…

Chrome SEO by Sean Bannister

“The Google Chrome SEO Extension. Make your SEO tasks easier with Chrome SEO Tools, includes ‘all’ the stats and data you need.” These are their own words. I like using it to write down initial numbers, then showing off new ones at a later stage. In general a great tool to evaluate SEO efficiency (Or the lack there off when in a pitch).

Webpage Screenshot by Amina

I remember way back when I was at a web shop that shall remain unnamed (but not unlinked off course) there was a brilliant colleague of mine (again unnamed and this time unlinked) that had this awesome tool that would allow him to send any URL into it, and on the other end, lo and behold, a jpeg (maybe a PDF I don’t quite remember) would come out, and not only of what was visible in the crummy browser window, no the entire page. Head to footer. Well this tool does the same, great when doing a round of QA any type of HTML and CSS.

Pendule by Christian Frey

Is there any developer can really make their way around without the Web Developer tool bar extending so many Firefox Browsers out there? I would think not. And the amount of times that I have tried convincing a colleague about the speed advantage of Chromium, but being told that the web developer tool bar is missing. Well the Pendule extension holds most of the tools I appreciated so greatly from the Web Developer Toolbar.

Firebug Lite by andrei.pervychine

Continuing down the same line, many developers can not do without Firebug either. Though I have never really needed it, as I am a CharlesProxy kind of guy. But just to stuff you on that one two, there is a Firebug for Chromium as well. As a matter of fact there are two separate developers working on an adaptation (maybe time to join forces guys)?

My Shortcuts by Thomas Hunsaker

Though I am still not convinced of the whole cloud hype (now that even Balmer swears to it, something fishy must be going on) I have been using GoogleDocs for a while now, just for it’s portability. Being able to move docs from one workplace to the other without any machine, being able to collaborate on docs etc really speaks for itself. This extensions just ads customizable dropdown of shortcuts to my favorite apps in the google cloud.

Chromed Bird by cezarsa

By far my favorite Twitter client for Chromium. Simple slick, and it does the job, enough said about that. Few words for the extension I have probably been the most faithful to.

goo.gl URL Shortener by giakomino

Why did I choose this URL shortner over the others you ask, well because it was there. And it, like the extension above, does the job. The Options I just started exploring a few days ago, so I will leave it at that.

On a closing note there is one essential extension that I am still looking for. I am looking for a proper delicious implementation. There are, obviously heaps and loads of those that claim they can please me. But so far no good. Yahoo’s own Firefox extension is still the one to measure by, but for Chromium there just isn’t one yet. If you know of any, let me know, also any other extensions you think I should use, please feel free to share…

Hollywood’s last ditch effort to hold on to the cinema model?

vevmesteren — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:53:14 +0000

Interesting discussion over on the guardian.co.uk to check out.

Will 3D change cinema for ever?

The Observer conversation: James Cameron’s Avatar is the biggest box office draw in history and is expected to triumph at the Oscars on Sunday. But how much of its success is due to the fact it was shot entirely in 3D? And what does this mean for the future of entertainment?

Participating:
John Lyus – heyuguys.co.uk
Matt Bochenski – littlewhitelies.co.uk
(the forver/still young) Jonathan Cresswell – britishgaming.co.uk

On a completely (and not so) different note, I would, at this point, like to ask the guardian.co.uk to allow embedding of their videos.

VIA

The Lo-Fi Manifesto

vevmesteren — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:25:27 +0000

1. Software is a poor organizing principle for digital production.
2. Digital literacy should reach beyond the limitations of software.
3. Discourse should not be trapped by production technologies.
4. Accommodate and forgive the end user, not the producer.
5. If a hi-fi element is necessary, keep it dynamic and unobtrusive.
6. Insist on open standards and formats, and software that supports them.

VIA

Apple vs Google, Apple vs Adobe, Apple vs Microsoft, Apple vs Who else?

vevmesteren — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:13:23 +0000

The launch of the iPad (a name I still find rather unfortunate) kicked of a flurry of hoorays and boos from all over the web. It has really been quite funny to follow. I do have to admit I too have my problems with the iPad (or rather the iPodTouch which I own) in the sense that you HAVE to go through iTunes to manage your content. There are, off course, a multitude of 3rd party tools (or Linux hacks) that you can use, but the one and only painless way seems to be iTunes. Something that makes managing content on this device a pain, especially for someone like myself, who likes his Linux-Box.

The same goes for developers for whom the only way to distribute their content legally is the AppStore.

But it is not Apple’s refusal to embrace the open source universe and the hordes of developers who apparently stand at the ready, but rather the so called battle of the titans that the iPad’s release supposedly kicks of.
Let me admit at this point that I am really looking forward to my first meeting with this newest Apple-Gadget.

Apple has always wanted to depict themselves as the outsider, or the troublemaker, the different thinkers (call it what you want)…they have always been that annoying kid on the block that nag others for this and that (The year-old get a mac ads). But for the first time (that I can remember) a launch of a new product does not seem to have the unison wow-effect. This really gives me hope.

The iPad provides the ultimate browsing experience? (get used to the blue lego’s)

Adobe on their side, made the first step towards this handheld market, when they announced that Flash CS5 you can now compile your FLA directly to the iPod (and with that, I would assume, the iPad).

For years now, it has been clear that the web, as such, will move out of the browsers, and on to platforms. Why is it then then that people like Lee Brimlow (who calls himself a Platform Evangelist) are screaming so loud. A few years ago Adobe launched Air, allowing Flash developers to deploy their Flash creations in a whole new way. Yes there are now browsers that do not display Flash, but honestly, what would a full fledged Flash/Video website like Tackfilm look and feel like on an iPad. I have problems believing that the either a pod or a pad would be able to make this the memorable experience it could be. In any case, I think this is a question of choosing ones battlegrounds. I think Apple should definetely look into making the Flash player an option, but it not being there by default really does not bother me that much. Give people the choice of what they want to do with their new gadget. But then again has choice ever been in the interest of closed source system or platform suppliers.

The iPad And Chrome OS Netbooks Are On A Collision Course

What I really found interesting in this Techchrunch article was that they where seeing this as a start of an attack of Apple vs Google (and their highly anticipated Netbook) with Microsoft suffering in the middle. The question is, is Microsoft really suffering? If this really is a Mac vs Google issue, doesn’t this mean that Apple has lost focus. Have they become too confident by opening a war on a second front? A two front war is rarely won by those that start it. Is Apple really ignoring the most basic advice of Sun Tzu, who said “Never ever divide your army into two and never fight on two fronts at the same time”. I guess only time will show how this will turn out.

There is not really any point to my post, it is more of a message in a bottle really. Now I’ll throw it out into the sea, see if it’ll land on somebodies shore.

Yahoo Pipes

vevmesteren — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:48:48 +0000

Mark Val told me about pipes a while back, and I have finally gotten around to open a few pipes and play with them.

If used properly pipes.yahoo.com is clearly an incredibly powerful tool that allows you filter any kind of data feed, combine it with others and pretty much do anything you want with it. I wish I had some time to play around with it…

http://pipes.yahoo.com

The most dangerous man in America

vevmesteren — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:26:14 +0000

1971–Daniel Ellsberg, a top-level Vietnam War strategist, concludes the war is based on a decade of lies. He leaks 7,000 pages of top-secret documents to the The New York Times, a daring act of conscience that leads directly to Watergate, President Nixon’s resignation and the end of the Vietnam War.

VIA

Ubuntu 9.10 is here

vevmesteren — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:58:58 +0000

I have to admit, that I did not manage to hold out and updated when the release candidate was ready last week. But now it’s official, the even faster Karmic Koala is packed, ready and good to go. And ‘go’ it does. Faster then ever. I am with Ubuntu since 5.10 and have never looked back…
I can do everything that I did before, I game, I program, I surf (wirelessly always – there is an evil rumor about Linux/Wireless troubles). And all that in the knowledge that my files and my operating system are safe. I can adapt the OS to my own needs, wants and moods. And on a side note, that might some less, but I have learned my way around Terminal which in turn has given me the ability to manage my servers directly through SSH. What can I say…I am a geek, and I’m lovin’ it.

Try out the LiveCD option which loads the entire operating system into your computers memory for voyeurism sake…

Get your free Ubuntu now…

Educate yourself for there is nothing new under the sun

vevmesteren — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:32:06 +0000

Throughout these last weeks, the constant bombardment has become insufferable. This campaign, that can be called nothing less but: the terrorizing of the population of this earth is getting out of hand. There is not one day, not one news report that passes, in which we are not confronted with this elaborate sales campaign. Glaxo Smyth Cline and their fellow companies in the business are raking in bilions, literally. Much like the elaborate marketing campaigns for Gardasil, too little is said about the proven side effects. Too little public discussion is allowed it seems….

Corbett Report – Know your vaccines

The swine flu killed 4000 people World wide so far. 30 000 people die every year in the US alone, every year…

Less then 200$ Media center

vevmesteren — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:46:25 +0000

Roll your own boxee on DL.TV from boxee on Vimeo.