Google

47 posts in Google

Feature request: Circles plugin

· google, misc, software, www

A plugin, for Wordpress and the likes, to display only content to certain circles.

Depending on your current logged in Google profile, looks up whether you’re in one of my approved circles, and depending on the result shows the content.

Idem dito for Flickr, Facebook (lololol), LinkedIn, …

Xoom

· google, hardware, linux

I recently bought a Xoom, WiFi version.

This will be my short review about this Xoom.

First of all, this is a Xoom made solely for Google employees. It has the Google logo on it, and a green back side. As far as I know there is no public way to get the device with these colors,

 

 

Android

I received it the day Android 3.2 got released. First thing I did was upgrade from 3.0.1 to 3.1 and then to 3.2.

Introverts

· google, misc

For my introverts:

  • Myth #1 – Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.
  • Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.
  • Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.
  • Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.
  • Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.
  • Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.
  • Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.
  • Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.
  • Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.
  • Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Source.

Data roaming

· google, networking, software, travel

I bricked my Nexus S yesterday, while trying to root it (with an howto for an old Android version). As usual I was trying to do too much stuff with too little time (as I had to catch my plane later that evening).

I had to root it to get OpenVPN, ssh tunnel, or system wide proxies up and running. Things I needed to by-pass the Great Firewall in China on my mobile.

Chromebook

· google, software

Damn, Google is starting to make nifty movies about their products. Actually got me excited. Even though I know it'll be nothing for me -.-

Google Latitude

· google, misc

Pretty cool. Scary, I'll admit. Giving Google (and whoever else) the power to, well, track you. But nevertheless, pretty cool to see where I have been in 3 days time.
Finally an app that automatically checks you in (don't think other apps a la 4SQ and Gowala do that ? At least, Brightkite, when I used it, didn't do that on iPhone). Now geoloc is becoming useful. I no longer need to take my phone out. My phone is doing it for me.

However, Google, please give the ability to users to add places, and don’t just make us able to check in at businesses. I’m a bit annoyed to check in at my neighbour’s, or at another company in my office.

Oh, and fix automatically check-in feature, it doesn’t work. And loc:on status message while you’re at it! ;)

Theme, blog, and stuff

· google, hardware, linux, networking, software, www

As you noticed… Or perhaps didn’t notice, I’ve started using a new, simplistic theme a couple of days ago.

Kinda thought it might be too simplistic (I’ve hidden the sidebar, there’s no search or archive, etc), but I started to, you know, get attached to it.

So it’s here to stay, for a year or something. I guess.

I’ve also noticed that the long load times on my blog were WP_Buzz’s fault. Nice plugin, but 15 to 45 seconds of load time per uncached page wasn’t really worth it. Hope it can be fixed.