[Google] Leaked Comic Heralds Google Browser

Looking at my recent entries, I realize that I haven't been writing all that much about Google. It's not that I don't love the search company, because you know I do, but more because given the large number of Google-following blogs out there, I didn't really see the need to add to the noise based on every little Google movement. I do save my efforts for the big stuff, though.

Things started with Google Blogoscoped announcing that they had received an email from Google with a 38-page comic book announcing their new open source browser, Google Chrome. Google Operating System eventually chimed in with their initial analysis.

Eventually Webware added in their own detailed analysis of Google Chrome's many promised features and by then pretty much the entire blogosphere (myself included) was really excited about this new product.

Were it not for the fact that actually had to work last night, I would have immediately drafted an entry for the Geeky Guide. Given my personal rules about not blogging from the office (although I'm okay with checking on my Google Reader feeds, hehe), I was pretty keen on getting home quickly to write about all this.

Now that the dust has settled, Google officially explained the comic and how it was a bit of a mistake but all that aside, they also announced that Tuesday marks the official launch of Google Chrome for everyone to download.

And who says people don't work on Labor Day, right?

[Web] The Dearth of Personal Online Finance Services

Image via Wikipedia Recently CNET's Webware did a pretty in-depth review of the personal online finance service Mint.com, and given the many features described, a geek like me was pretty excited about the prospects of trying it out. Of course when I checked out their FAQs, there stood the blazing warning that they did not support financial institutions outside the US at this time. Bugger.

I applied myself into more Google-searching and checked the info pages for other online services like Quicken Online, Wesabe and Geezeo and all of them clearly stated that they did not support non-US banks at this time, although at the very least Geezeo promised to do so one day and even lets you file a support ticket requesting your bank. Ah yes, the illusion of support and the promise of things to come.

The lack of such services frustrated me. I'm used to things being different here than in the US and not getting access to a number of things like the webcasts of various TV shows the day after their originally shown or access to the Olympics on YouTube and so on and so forth - the list goes on and on. However given today's global economic climate, why don't we have a local solution for this yet?

I expanded my web searches to look for local solutions using a variety of keyword combination to no avail. Bugger that. Thus that left me with sending an inquiry email to my bank's online support team asking if (a) they supported any such services, (b) if they were in the process of coordinating with any service like this or (c) if they had any alternatives to recommend. I doubt I'll get a meaningful response, but then just sending the email made me feel a little bit better. Again, the illusion of being able to do something about the problem, hehe.

The main draw of such services is not just the ability to plug in the details of your finances and have them help you plan things out - frankly you can do that with any spreadsheet program like MS Excel, OpenOffice Calc of even Google Docs. No, the real benefit is their ability to link up with various financial institutions like your bank or your credit card company, pull up information on your spending and present informative charts and analysis based on that. At the same time, they also give you options for paying your various bills and services online from one central location. Who wouldn't want that?

Then again, online services in the country still have quite a long way to go before they become anywhere near useful. Most banks have horrible websites and they only get better in most cases when they are linked to larger international banks like HSBC and Citibank. Most companies have horrible online representation with very shoddy homepages and very minimal online services.

My one consolation at this time is that my bank at this time, BPI, has a pretty robust web portfolio in their BPI Express Online site and a good range of online services. I have all my BPI services accessible from one online account and from there I can pay my bills, move funds around and check on my credit card balances. It's pretty nifty that way. I wish they'd be more aggressive about expanding their online features and options but then I really shouldn't complain about what I have now.

Is this about the lack of online penetration in the country or is this just the result of big companies assuming that majority of the country is not web-savvy enough to utilize online portals effectively and thus the time and resources needed to develop robust web platforms is not yet beneficial to them? Frankly if that is the case, such thinking is outright negative and pessimistic and we really won't get anywhere until we start believing in our ability to develop and to ultimately be more entitled in terms of services like this.

In the meantime, I'll content myself with what I have and continue to monitor my expenses using my Google Docs hosted spreadsheets and perhaps send a few more emails here and there to add to the hopefully growing number of voices requesting for a regional presence by some of these online services.

[Web] Microsoft's Yahoo Bid

Yahoo Microsoft Messengers Make Nice by Photo-Mojo.

How far back do you have to go to start talking about this story? Should you be content with talking about former CEO Terry Semel completely leaving the board last Thursday? Should we go a bit further back to the announcement of 1,000 jobs being cut at Yahoo starting next month in an effort to deal with improving their bottom line without announcing a strategy for the future?

We can keep digging back into Yahoo's colorful history as much as we'd like to but the fact of the matter is that on February 1, 2008, Microsoft forwarded an "unsolicited" $44.6 billion bid for Yahoo, thus providing them with an entirely different strategy moving into the future. Here's Microsoft's letter to Yahoo in case you're interested.

Of course the news raged against the blogosphere like wildfire. High profile tech sites like CNET already have a dedicated section following the story and of course everyone is throwing in their two cents' worth.

Initial blog reactions were more centered around humor with jokes along the lines of how merging a second tier search engine with a second tier website won't result in an online presence strong enough to unseat Google from internet supremacy just yet. Others have written how it there would be some sense of poetic justice served if the resulting takeover would give Yahoo users the same dreadful experience that all those other companies that Yahoo has bought out over the years had to go through. Then, of course, things began to get more and more in-depth.

Valleywag has moved from comparing Yahoo's existence to that of a child actor in a downward spiral in recent years to trying to figure out who won't get the axe at Yahoo should the Microsoft deal push through. Let's face it, it is a takeover and nor a merger after all. Oh, and of course they also had to remind us that this bid wasn't totally unexpected, for as long as you've been paying attention.

The folks over a WebWare took a more serious bent and considered the cultural differences between Microsoft and Yahoo considering the takeover and how another icon of the internet age is bound to be lost to the Microsoft juggernaut. Google-watcher Ionut, the genius behind the Google Operating System blog ran a pretty comprehensive review of two companies have previously tried to block Google's acquisition of Doubleclick. Talk about irony.

That brings us to Sunday when Google finally broke their silence with official statement and what will theoretically be their last word on the matter as well. Naturally Microsoft was very quick to respond in their own fashion.

This struggle has scarcely begun given the negotiations that will need to take place between Microsoft and Yahoo (their stock price has already climbed up to the $28 range over the weekend from Thursday's $15 stock neighborhood) and the inevitable FCC approval hearings and accusations of this leading to monopolistic practices, where do we factor in all this? Do we want to see Yahoo acquired by Microsoft?

Just think about the brilliance that was the Passport system and how many headaches that created - do we want those same monkeys handling the many services that link to every Yahoo account? Flickr is bad enough under Yahoo's control, but what more under Microsoft? No matter how much Microsoft "respects" the Yahoo! brand, do you seriously think that it's going to survive Microsoft's higher priorities of boosting their own Windows Live line of services? Depending on whether or not Yahoo tries to resist this takeover attempt will ultimately determine if Google is justified in calling this a "hostile" takeover just yet.

Let's get realistic here - will the joining of these two companies really given them the ability to challenge Google from where it stands as king of internet search and online advertising? Perhaps not, given their success is not about the size of the workforce or the number of subscribers but their ability to dynamically innovate new technology and cater to the needs of the users. What this buy out is only going to accomplish is the murder of one of the web's most iconic brands and a greater need to migrate to Google's services in order to escape the clutches of Microsoft. Go figure.

Now all we can do and wait to see how this story will unfold.

[Web] 2008 Webware 100 Nominations Open

It's that time of the year again - CNET online application blog Webware has announced that the nominations are officially open for the second Webware 100 Awards where you, the users, get to pick the top 100 web applications across ten categories.

You can use this form to nominate your favorite sites and Web 2.0 applications. The categories are Audio, Browsing, Commerce and Events, Communications, Productivity, Publishing and Photography, Search and Reference, Social, Utility and Security and finally Video.

The nominations are open only until January 25, 2008 so be sure to vote now and get your favorite online applications into the nominations! If you're curious about last year's winners, you can view the complete list here.

[Security] Free Download for ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware Today!

Both CNET and Lifehacker have reported that for today only ZoneAlarm is offering its Anti-Spyware product for FREE in line with Microsoft Patch Tuesday.

You need to fill out the from at the website and you'll get a download URL via email (good for one computer only). If you're a fan of ZoneAlarm's firewall product and have read the CNET reviews about their Anti-Spyware product, then it wouldn't hurt to pick up this free download.

This is only valid for Windows XP/2000 users until 05:00pm Pacific, which is 09:00am Philippine time.

[GeekyCast] Disinfecting a Friend's Computer

I don't fully understand the irony behind me consistently trying to upload a new GeekyCast whenever I'm sick. This seems especially true when my nose is involved and my being sick becomes more audible than normal, hence highly evident in today's episode.

Beyond me sneezing with the mouthpiece covered and some general updates, today I quickly go over my internal checklist whenever I start tinkering with my friends' computers in an effort to make them perform better. I've created small "Utilities" folders in many of my friends' computers and laptops, sort of a signature mark of me having done work on the unit.

The software I discuss is generally free and is available for download from the web using trusted sites like Download.com, currently part of the CNET group of websites.

If you have questions or further ideas, feel free to leave your comments here or get in touch with me directly - it's easy enough if you just look around.

Download this episode (14 min)

[Apple] After the Hype

Technically speaking, this is my first iPhone post after the official launch of the device in the US. I've been trying to avoid jumping on the bandwagon and instead have been waiting and trying to evaluate how the device is really doing. I didn't want to factor in the challenges (or the lack thereof) in terms of getting a device and not even all the activation delays experienced by many users because of complications on AT&T's end. Let's just focus on the iPhone itself.

Arbet has written about the launch concerns and some security concerns, so feel free to check out those posts as well. Meanwhile, I've been combing CNET for more information.

For the most part, people agree is a great device. Great to look at, rather robust in functions and the like. There's still a bit of a learning curve with all the touchscreen stuff like the keyboard. Of course there are those with AT&T, but those concerns will never go completely away.

Beyond the desire to break it open and see how the darned thing works, the $500-$600 price tag is still pretty hefty. There is a lot of talk around waiting for the price to go down since historically Apple products like the iPod have a tendency to go down dramatically in price while further increasing the feature-set. Can anyone say 3G?

Bug reports have been minimal this early in the game, although there's an interesting CNET blog post about Hooters girls being capable of crashing the iPhone. If you're still feeling very anti-AT&T, perhaps you should follow the news about the hacking efforts from groups determined to "liberate" the iPhone.

My stand for now - there's no rush to buy this first generation iPhone. Wait it out people! Sure it's gorgeous and a really fun toy to play with but if you're patient, there's bound to be an even better device that has more features, is more stable and hopefully with a lower price tag. Sweet.

[Web] Specialized Social Networks

Have you all noticed how social networks seem to be getting more and more specific? Of course we still have the major players like MySpace and Friendster dominating their respective markets while attempting to be the end-all, be-all sites for all your social networking needs. On the other hand, there are smaller, more focused social networking sites popping up here and there.

I started thinking about this when Webware posted an entry about a social bookmarking service for books called Shelfari, which definitely looks very promising. I admit that I'm a major book geek and sites like this, which are designed to help you find more books that you may potentially like based on your current library, definitely appeal to me.

This reminded me of Flixster, a social network that focuses on movies, which a friend of mine introduced to me some time back. I didn't sign up at the time since I was trying to get away from the get-as-many-friends-as-you-can culture of the big social networking sites. However the concept behind this site also appealed to me and signing up was definitely tempting.

There are surely more sites out there with specialized topics such as iLike, which is all about music, which definitely seems to be a growing trend these days. Are we trying to get away from the jack-of-all-trades style social networks and moving towards more meaningful ones? I have to admit the thought appeals to me and it gives the sites a lot more usefulness and meaning as compared to being sites dedicated to just indicating how many supposed "friends" you have in the world.

Do you know of any specialized social networks? Leave a comment and talk about the ones you like best! Or if you think that we shouldn't leave the big ones like MySpace or Friendster, you can talk about that too. The Geeky Guide wants to hear your ideas!

[Microsoft] Windows Yellow State

It's just been announced that Microsoft has now created a new "yellow state" as part of it's Windows Genuin Advantage software authentication tool. Essentially this new state is for cases when they're just not sure whether or not your copy of Windows is authentic for any number of reasons and thus provides you with alternatives in terms of how to handle things.

I suppose this has been done in response to the relatively high numbers of false-positive flags when it comes to WGA trying to figure out if a user's copy of Windows is legitimate. Rather than sticking the to black or white test of the past, this new level is, well, a definite maybe for some users. Sorry, I couldn't resist saying that.

One one side, it's a good move by Microsoft, I suppose. It'll reduce the number of complaints that stem from users "falsely" tagged as software pirates while providing Microsoft a way to validate users authenticity while fine-tuning how WGA tests systems based on the traffic they'll see from users trying to resolve to get their system out of the yellow state. Then again, it's probably going to revive all the usual gripes about why do we continue to deal with the software giant at all, haha.

Take your pick, I suppose.

Now I'm wondering how many legitimate users are now going to get flagged as "possible" pirates...

Related Links:

• CNET News.com: Windows adds 'maybe pirate' category
  
• Ars Technica: Windows Genuine Advantage's newest setting: 'you might be a pirate'

Photo linked from Flickr user hodie's photostream.

[Web] A Social Dictionary

Sometimes blogs seem to become major link repositories - all the they do is link to other blog entries and so on. Then again, it's also a great way to gain access to more information you might not normally find on your own, so I guess everything balances out in the end.

One of the more reliable blogs of this nature, at least in my opinion, is Lifehacker. Add this to your RSS reader and get ready to get near constant updates all throughout the day. I thank the folks over at CNET for introducing me to the blog.

Today a particular entry caught my attention talking about a social dictionary / thesaurus site called Word Source. The site is very promises and definitely tries to add a Web 2.0 feel to things given the amount of interactivity built into the site. It's simple and lets you run queries straight from the address bar, which is a great thing. It's a whole lot better than using some of the other pop-up crazy online dictionaries out there.

[Google] Strawberry Issues

Google has always been known for their highly creative logos on holidays more commonly known as Google Doodles by the web community. This year's Valentine's Day logo didn't quite sit well with some members of the blogosphere given the argument that they actually misspelled their own name. I'm including the image below so you can judge for yourself:



In this case, the strawberry body along with the chocolate makes up the "G" while the stem makes up the "L" although not everyone would like to agree. It's kind of funny that it's actually made the news in some quarters - just goes to show the kind of impact Google has on the web as a whole. Google actually commented on this on their official blog and I think the response was pretty straight to the point while still being witty about it.

This really should have been a happy day but then again some people wanted to take the time to pick at Google for their interpretation of artistic license. Frankly, I'm surprised this ended up making the rounds more than the announcement that GMail is really open to the general public now (although still in beta).

Was the logo really that bad in your opinion?

Related Links:

• Google Operating System: Alternative Google Logos and Perspectives
  CNET News.com - Blogma: No so sweet on 'Googe' Valentine's Day strawberry

[Web Search] An End to 'Keywordese' ?

A lot of buzz is beginning to circulate about Powerset, purported to be a natural language search engine that will draw upon AI technologies to make the searches more intuitive.

I doubt this is going to be all that big, even if PARC is who's behind this particular search engine. The success of search engines like Google is not just based on the accuracy of its results but on the speed as well. having to type entire sentences in order to meet the natural language criteria will only add delays to the search process. Plus, how long will it actually take to refine the system to provide accurate results?

Powerset seems more a toy rather than a practical search engine that might challenge the big boys like Google and Yahoo. It'll probably help develop leaps and bounds for AI research since essentially they need to master how to teach language to a computer system. However everyone else will still stick to what they know.

We're already conditioned to keywords when it comes to searching online. The search engine technology behind Google has capitalized on this by creating a system that supports "keywordese" and improves accuracy as more queries are submitted. While it's not a smart search enging like Powerset wants to become, it's an effcient one that meets the current behaviors of the millions of people online right now. Sure, we could learn to use Powerset in time, but if the process becomes longer rather than shorter or if the results don't seem all that different, why will people venture off into something new?

I guess at the end of the day, we still need to wait and see how this thing will actually perform. Perhaps we're all getting our hopes up all for nothing.

Related Links:

• CNET News.com: Can Powerset knock out Google
  
• CNET News.com: Spying an intelligent search engine

[Technology] Less is More?

An interesting article was posted on CNET News about whether or not higher megapixel cameras take better pictures of if this is just some hoax the digital camera industry is propagating.

The article raises a lot of issues, many of which I myself have mentioned to friends. For average consumer use, you're actually fine with at least 2.0 megapixel cameras (which are now pretty much standard on newer mobile phones) and would probably go as far as 5.0 megapixels. Higher rated cameras are only useful if you're a professional photographers making much larger prints and the like.

However cameras are already inching past the 10.0 megapixel mark and what the article argues is that higher megapixel ratings may, in some ways, take worse photos than lower megapixel cameras. This is because with more and more sensors crammed into the camera, less light reaches each individual sensor, creating signal noise in the image. Thus, some bigger images become slightly grainy if there isn't enough light.

What do you all think? Is less more when it comes to digital cameras?

[Microsoft] Enter: Vista

Today's the "big" launch of Windows Vista, the latest version of the Windows Operating System.

Of course the question on everyone's mind is if it's worth the time, effort and most of all money to switch to the new OS already. The Geeky Guide has been doing its part to research possibilities, and here's what we've come up with in terms of research data.

Dropping by CNET.com, there's a lot to be said about Windows Vista, of course. There have been some disappointments for XP users upgrading to Vista since the new license policy doesn't allow for a clean install - you need a certified version of Windows XP still installed on your PC. Furthermore, experts are saying Vista isn't worth solely the security aspect in terms of a purchasing decision. Vista for now performs similary to a well-patched Windows XP so security alone shouldn't force a decison. Heck, most users are going to end up with the home edition, won't even get all the security features that the Microsoft marketing folk keep ranting about.

I guess if you really want to experience Aero, then go right on ahead and upgrade. Otherwise, it's better to wait it out some more while the other software and hardware companies catch up in making their products fully compatible with the new OS.

PC World also had a lot of interesting things to say about Vista's release. They have both a list of 15 reasons to switch and why you shouldn't as well, and both sides present some pretty interesting arguments. Of course for those wanting to just know more about what it's all about, try checking out this extensive guide. Lastly, if you're just after the look-and-feel of the new OS, you might want to experiment with these Windows XP hacks to make your PC run like Vista.

On the other side of the fence are those that argue that this is also a good time to consider switching to a new OS since migrating to Vista will have a learning curve factored in as well. You can consider going Mac now or perhaps trying Ubuntu Linux as some bloggers argue. (Credit to Digg for that last reference.

Personally, I think it's too early to tell if it's worth the switch. For now I'm staying with XP unless I need to get a new computer. Only then will I consider going the Vista route, or perhaps I'll finally make that switch to Ubuntu, hehe.

Related Links:

• Engadget: Windows Vista in pictures
  
• CNNMoney.com: Microsoft launches Vista worldwide
  
• CNET.com: Windows Vista Complete Guide
  
• CNET News.com: Vista's actual launch? Think whisper, not bang
  
• ZDNet News: A frat party for Vista's debut
  
• Gizmodo: Vista Launch Party Schwag Bag: Add It Up

[Microsoft] Spot the Difference

Here's something which is more than making the rounds over at CNET.com:

Can you spot the fake Windows XP? Check out this short photo gallery and test your Windows-savvy...

Which copy of XP is fake?

You can also Digg this CNET article.

[Apple] Reinventing the Phone

I never really understood what was so big about the iPod - and I mean no offense to fans of the MP3 player market, really. I guess I was just never a mobile music person. Heck, I never truly got the appeal of the Walkman either, haha. Perhaps it's time for me to change my (i)tune with Apple's more recent announcement.

In recent years Apple has been playing around with their revolutionary iPod concept. They made it hold even more ridiculous amounts of songs while making it smaller and smaller. They gave it a bigger screeen of video. Now they've made the big leap everyone's been talking about - at least in the tech rumor circles.

During today's Macworld conference Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPhone - and NO, I'm not talking about that Cisco crap. We're talking about the new mobile phone product from Apple that runs on OS X - I kid you not! Why on earth would a mobile phone need something that powerful?

Because it can do so much.

I'm practically drooling as I've been reading the Live Macworld Coverage over on CNET courtesy of Tom Krazit and the iPhone sounds amazing.

It's sleek and slim and amazingly powerful. Just like the iPod, the iPhone is changing the way we deal with technology with what they're calling the "multitouch" system, which makes the buttons change depending on what application you're running. Say goodbye to mobile browsing - the iPhone lets you run full webpages and even complete browsers like Safari. All that plus the usual iPod music component and a 2 megapixel camera.

You can view pictures from his keynote address here:

• CNET News.com: Steve Jobs takes Macworld stage

Good lord, he claimed they we going to reinvent the phone, a somewhat cheesy tagline used by AT&T CallVantage when they tried to hit it big. This time, however, I think Apple has actually done it.

I want one!!!

Related Links:

• Apple - iPhone (Official Site)
  
• TIME Magazine: Photo Essay - iPhone
  
• TIME Magainze: Apple's New Calling: The iPhone
  
• ZDNet.com | Ed Burnette's Dev Connection | iPhone blows away expectations

[The Web] CNET Editor Found Dead

For the past few days, I've been following the news about the disappearance of CNet editor James Kim and his family in Oregon after getting stranded on their way back from Thanksgiving.

Their disappearance had been noticed by November 28 when they failed to show up for their appointments and were no longer in communication either by email or mobile phone. A massive search was started and CNET followed every minute of it, trying to gather any leads and of course giving internet readers a chance to share their concern for the family along with a website put up by family and friends.

Things became hopeful when his wife Katiand their daughters Penelope and Sabine were found still inside their car. They had kept the heater on for heat and when the gasoline had run out, they burned the tires to keep themselves warmed. Kati went as far as breastfeeding the girls in order to keep them alive. It was said that they were located mainly because of a limited cell phone signals in the area that were used to determine their general location.

When pieces of his clothing were discovered, searchers found more cause for hope and assume Kim was trying to lead some sort of trail. The family was planning to go as far as air-dropping survival rations along the route they were assuming he was on so he could survive longer.

In the end, all was for naught when his body was discovered today, the exact condition of his remains undisclosed at this time.

Theirs was a staggering ordeal and it's a miracle his wife and two kids survived more than 9 days in the freezing cold with limited supplies to rely on. While it's a terrible loss to his family and to the internet community at large, one has to admire their courage in the face of adversity.

Rest in peace, James Kim.

[Star Trek] Happy 40th Anniversary!

Today, October 6, 2006 in terms of US dating, marks the 40th Anniversary of the landmark Start Trek series. Whether or not you consider yourself a "Trekkie," you can't help but acknowledge the tremendous impact the series has had on pop culture on a global scale.

I'm glad that CNet.com has decided to "celebrate" the anniversary with a host of various Trek-related articles, blog entries, videos and slideshows. They've centralized all Trek coverage on one page and to help all those Geeky Guide readers out, here are some of the more interesting pieces (in my opinion at least).

Of the the piece photo slideshows that caught my eye was Life Imitates 'Star Trek', which is a very brief look at some of the more prominent influences the Star Trek series has had in terms of the development of technology over the years. It's another case of life imitating art, I suppose, considering the same geeks who grew up watching the adventures of Kirk, Picard and all other that followed have become today's intellectuals changing the way our future is shaped in terms of technological advances. One such comparison is seen on the right in terms of pretty much all flip top celluar phones will have to owe some credit to the original Star Trek communicator often used on the show. At least the predominant influence in modern times was not Get Smart's shoe phone.

Another good read is Neha Tiwari's blog entry Search for Spock on the WEb, which is a nice Trek guide to what's worthwhile on the web. You have to admit that even the ranking methodologies of Google are insufficient to truly determine which of the hundreds or even thousands of trek-related sites exist on the web today. With the disclaimer that the list based on her opinion of things, her top ten sites are pretty good and I'll agree with most, if not all of them. Some of them are sites I've yet to encounter but definitely had a lot to offer even the most stringent of Trek fans.

Recent news is buzzing with the results of the Christie's auction of Star Trek memorabilia amassed over years from all of the TV series and movies. The bidding was pretty fierce and somewhat unusual at times given some of the bidders decided to come in costume as well. CNet had previously posted photos of some of the items up for bidding so feel free to go down Trek memory lane as you go over the images.

The last entry that came to mind was another Neha Tiwari blog posting, this time called Star Trek Movies: Which is best?, which tries to determine a way to really determine the ranking of all 10 movies so far. It was just interesting to see how their gross earnings over the years evened out although I would like to see someone try to recompute the totals b factoring in inflation somehow.

There are more tidbits for you on the main CNet page or elsewhere across the web as the science fiction world unites to celebrate those brave explorers or boldly went where no TV series had gone before.

[Office Humor] How to Not Work at the Office

CNet News.com remains one of my favorite sources for tech-related news. On the other hand, they're also a fun resource for discovering little things of interest on the web as well.

There's been a recent string of Esoterica Blog postings penned by one of my favorite editors Mike Yamamoto related to things you can do to make working life "less stressful", in a manner of speaking. It thought it might be interesting to share some of the more interesting resources and websites mentioned in the blog.

One of the more striking sites found was for a page discussing How to Get Away with Doing Nothing at Work and its inevitable sequel, Even More Ways to Do Less at Work and Still Get away with It. The lists are pretty one and the second set is primarily user-driven based on the comments. At one point in time I'm sure you'll admit that you've attempted some of the suggested items here to great success. Personally, I've gotten pretty good at looking stressed, haha.

Another interesting find from Esoterica is this link to a site called Call-in-Sick.com, a site which promises to do precisely that. It's a very interesting service that helps users pre-record and schedule their sick day messages to be delivered to the phone number of choice at a pre-arranged time. You have the option of practicing your delivery before you submit the recording and they also ensure that your Caller ID information is what will be used in transmiting your message.

It's a pretty novel idea, but one that I'm sure a lot of company managers and supervisors might not see in the same humorous light. It's bound to work as long as it's just meant to go to an answering machine or voicemail box rather than to a live person. Then things are definitely going to get tricky.

Don't kill yourselves over work! As you can clearly see, the internet is filled with quirky ideas that should make the hours go by a whole lot faster.

[Firefox] Javascript Hack Hoax

Last week, CNet News reported that two hackers at the Toorcon hacker conference claimed to have found a vulnerability in Firefox that would allow a user's PC to be compromised. Supposedly, the error was related to the manner in which the open source browser handles Javascript.

A lot of folks in the tech world, including Window Synder who is head of security strategy for Mozilla, were already irked with the manner in which the presentation was handled given their demonstration practically acted as a how-to guide for other hackers to exploit the flaw rather than to act as a responsible presentation of a potential security flaw as compared to how other groups like Black Hat handle such discoveries. In addition, they pair also claimed to know of at least 30 other related flaws in the browser they were not planning on revealing at this time.

Enter this week and it turns out the flaw isn't as bad as originally reported. Articles are now streaming in that it turns out hackers are only able to crash Firefox but not control the user's system sufficient in order to install spyware. Mischa Spiegmock, the Toorcon speaker, issued this statement to Mozilla admiting that they could not actually control a user's PC and neither did they know of 30 or so vulnerabilities. Mischa pretty much distanced himself from his partner at the time, an individual known as "Andrew Wbeelsoi."

The reason for all this hullabaloo? Mischa claimed in his statement that the purpose of the talk was to be humours somehow. Given how the media had initially covered this supposed revelation, let's see who'll be laughing now.