foolscap » Technology

Pedalin’ the TWiT

Douglas — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:55:20 +0000

Just in from a nice long run in the Sprite (wishing for the new Super Sprite). This is the second “Coat Hanger” I’ve done recently on Long Pond

The length, in fact, exactly matched that of the excellent tech podcast that has long been an integral part of my every weekend: Windows Weekly #163 with Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, where I was tipped off about my new default browser (for the moment at least), Minefield.

Not uncommon in the southwest shadows of the lake, the first leg is partly missing due to connectivity issues. Actual length is more like 3 miles.

GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

Ignite my butt!

Douglas — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:24:37 +0000

Two presentations to prepare–start to finish–over the next two weeks!

Ignite. What it is and how to give one (as per the famed Scott Berkun)

Urisa: The Association of GIS Professionals

Final Patent from HP

Douglas — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:42:21 +0000

At least, I am not aware of any others in the hopper. This one took nearly 4 years from the date of filing! Looks like it is now listed at the European Patent Office as well.

Abstract of US 2007172151 (A1) Translate this text
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for guiding a camera user to take an appropriate set of component photographs to be stitched into a stitched panoramic photograph of a scene. In one example embodiment, the camera constructs and displays a video mosaic while the user sweeps the field of view of the camera over the scene. The camera computes the number and locations of a set of component photographs that will tile the scene, and then guides the user to sweep field of view of the camera over the scene a second time, visiting each component photograph location. A high-resolution component photograph may be taken at each location. Optionally, the camera gathers information from frames used to construct the video mosaic and uses the information to select settings for focus, exposure, or both to be used during the taking of the component photographs.

The Windows franchise. A retrospective

Douglas — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:39:11 +0000

Some thoughts gathered in preparation for hosting a Windows 7 Launch Party

Click and drag this timeline:

Please upgrade your browser

Windows 1.0

Released: 20 November 1985

info wiki
Trivia: Windows 1.01 replaced 1.0 a few weeks after release due to a keyboard input problem. A few months after release, Balmer was in true form selling Windows 1.0. Screenshots.

IBM/MS OS/2

Released: Apr 1987

The development of OS/2 began when IBM and Microsoft signed the Joint Development Agreement in August 1985.[3] It was code-named “CP/DOS” and it took two years for the first product to be delivered.

Windows 2.0

Released: 9 Dec 1987

info wiki
The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel run on Windows 2.0.

Windows 3.0

Released: 22 May 1990

info
And episode of The Computer Chronicles describes the major advances in Windows 3.0 which is now serious competition for OS/2;

Windows 3.1

Released: 6 April 1992 info

A Japanese Windows 3.1 commercial;

Windows 3.1 Launch Party

Windows 95

Released: 24 August 1995 info

Windows 95 launched by Jay Leno

Bill Gates and Brad Silverberg launch Windows 95

Windows NT

Released: 24 August 1996 info

Windows 98

Released: 25 June 1998 info

Windows 98 Launch and the famous Blue Screen of Death demo

Windows 2000

Released: 17 Feb 2000 info

Windows Me

Released: September 14, 2000 info

A Windows ME Ad

Windows XP

Released: 24 AUG 2001 info

Balmer on XP

Windows Vista

Released: 8 NOV 2006 info

Windows Vista Launch in Tokyo

Windows Vista Launch in Manhattan

Gates Keynote in Brussels on 9 Nov 2006

Windows 7

Released: 22 Oct 2009 info

And Finally, a bit more Kylie

Here’s how we were told to do it

Of course, someone had to crash the party

and the requisite Hitler parady

And lets wrap it up with a SNAP, PEEK and SHAKE demo!

So where’s the Windows Franchise heading?

Let’s look at Moore’s Law…

In a whitepaper dated September of 2009, Intel is coming out bullish on Moore’s Law: “Intel currently has visibility on how to extend Moore’s Law for several more generations.”

Ray Kurzweil’s take on Moore’s Law

And its extension into the future singularity

Call Me

Douglas — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:52:12 +0000

Finally! WordPress for BlackBerry

Douglas — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:54:30 +0000

Well, it’s a bit crude – but then it’s open source…

IMG00304-20090925-1842.jpg

IMG00299-20090925-1838.jpg

[well that fairly well sucks. Full image upload isnt a viable option I guess. I had to go into the HTML and tweak the size to get these images reduced down]

Let his dataset change your mindset.

Douglas — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:13:45 +0000

Hans Rosling — our modern-day hero of data visualization — has done it again.

…And all through the house not a creature was stirring…

Douglas — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:55:57 +0000

Long Pond Geotracking

Douglas — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:50:30 +0000

A nice Father’s Day morning workout in the Nauticraft tracked with InstaMapper. Just in case, here’s a screengrab of the live map below.

DeepZoom Long Pond

Douglas — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:15:23 +0000