insanitycheck.com

Standing in line now for the grand opening at Perimeter Mall.

Many online media companies make strong pushes to the net with desktop apps… here’s a quick tip.  Get it right.

Tonight, I have experienced failure of 2 main stream apps and 1 app in “beta” - all complete duds. 

Recently purchased an HP OfficeJet 6310xi.  Great printer so far and comes with digital card readers.  They are suppose to make things more convenient, just slide in the card and images are instantly transferred to a network PC.  Well - not in this case…  It trys to transfer the images, throws an error and keeps trying until I have to close and restart everything.

Second failure: CNN Pipeline.  This one has happenned several times.  I start the machine and if it doesn’t seem to fine an internet connection at start, it throws an error and says it must terminate.

Lastly - the beta “Fox Desktop”.  After the first install, each time I turn on my PC I get a message saying an “unavailable” update is “unavailable” - Do I wish to download.  Stellar. 

Companies need to allow adequate time for intense QA.  Not throwing stones in a glass house here, just a request to have a focus back on quality and less on rush.

Discovered yesterday that MicroSoft has a new XP theme for free download - Royal. This theme is an actual official Microsoft offered theme and does not require any additional software. Once installed you use select the theme from the desktop options control panel. Looks pretty nice and clean - long overdue. MicroSoft should just buy a design shop and get new fresh ui’s for their products. They seem to just let that always go on the back burner and then rush to get it complete.

Today, My wife and I became owners of a new Toyota Prius 2006. Just after a few hours with the car, I am really digging the all the gadgets. The navigation system and bluetooth phone connection will really get lots of great use over the next few years. I am leaving the life of proud owner of a Jeep Wrangler, and as of today - adopting the title of “Tree Hugger” as my older brother puts it.

Its funny how people instantly label you as Democratic, Environmentalist and Tree Hugger just because you buy a Prius. I just like it for the gadgets… for the price its about 10K less for any new car with the same gadgets… I’ll try to post some pics over the weekend.

Right now I am downloading an episode of “Conviction” for my iPod. Its before NBC airs it online and in a format I can watch on my own time.

So many media giants are so afraid of “giving away” their product they practically should take the stance of just not allowing anyone to see their product. Isn’t the goal of mass media to get the most eyeballs? Get your content in as many formats as it takes to get as many eyeballs as you can. Advertisers will come after eyes - whereever they may be.

The moment we have all waited for.

Its been quite some time since I was able to get away from the office and try my new EVDO connection with Verizon. Just before CES last month I was able to upgrade the firmware on my blackberry 7250 using this walkthrough. I did not quite ask for the special codes on the account. The first time I called verizon I was directed to a different department that just had no clue what I was asking for. Then called the same number, told them I had the 7250, have already upgraded the firmware and need to add EVDO to my account, as it was showing Data Connection Refused. After a few moments the customer service rep came back on and all was well. 2 days later I decided to go for the broadband tethered access and just e-mailed tech support to add it to my acccount… so yes its $44.99 for unlimited blackberry data, and yet another $15 for unlimited tethered data… but its an office expense, so all is well on that front too.

One left over question… How can Verizon still charge me 10 cents for a text message? Isn’t $60 for data each month enough?

I can report Xbox 360 success. A coworker of mine was able to locate a link that check the local Best Buy’s inventory level for the system. We happenned to check one morning and the Best Buy in the area had them in stock. Rushed over and was able to pick up a premium system.

The sales process was very interesting… instead of a bait and switch tatic reportedly used in stores in the northwest, this Atlanta store seemed to have a practice of keeping all the systems off the floor so a sales guy can try to upsell every possible accessory.

“Do you have an HD Ready TV Set?” Yes. “Oh, so did you know the cables inside the Xbox package are not the best? You will need this $70 set of component cables.” Uh… no I don’t. “Well - you know you will definitely want the warranty…” Not doing anything with any extra warranty…

After all that, I think Best Buy still got what they wanted, because we needed 3 extra controllers and a game… Final ticket was over $600. Yikes…

The insanitycheck guys want to get their hands on an X Box 360. How hard can it be to give Microsoft money? Okay - now I don’t think we really have been trying… Yes, we could have stayed outside Best Buy in the wee hours of the morning, or pitched a tent outside Target, but the good news is… the insanitycheck guys just have other things to do than hang out and stand in line to give Microsoft cash. (like jobs….) Is it too hard to ask - why can’t we just walk into a store and say - hey - “I’d like and X Box 360 please.”

Any ideas or tips are welcome!

An hilarious keynote when you have Robin Williams show up. We learned of two new products, pack.google.com and Google video. With pack, you can download various google software all it once. With video, you can now sell video, and of course buy video from CBS and the NBA. Oh I got a google pack too. Sweet. [slideshow]