After my last scathing review, I am happy to say that a number of things have changed, however, I still feel that Google TV is seriously missing focus.

At the very core of GoogleTV is an internet-connected device that interfaces with my set-top box and can overlay information on my TV.  They clearly do not understand what a fantastic idea they have and the potential for greatness!  The internet connected device can automatically get any information AND make intelligent judgements. The interfacing with my set-top box means it can ACT on the information and intelligent judgements.  The ability to overlay information means it can display information the information without having to change an input or obscure the TV.

Given these three core facts, GoogleTV should be a full GUIDE REPLACEMENT.  As good as my current guide is (I do like it), it’s just a LIST.  It does not know me, it does not recommend anything for me.  This is where GoogleTV should fit in.

GoogleTV SHOULD:

• allow me to rate shows
• know my favorite/hated shows
• change my guide based on my favorite/hated shows
• display a “what’s on” considering my favorite/hated shows
• display a schedule of just my favorite shows or hide hated shows
• notify me when a new episode of my favorite show is on
• allow me to search channels for the next showing a show (new or syndication)

Do you see where I’m going with this one?  This device has the ability to know my guide, has the ability to know what I want to watch, and has the ability to help me watch what I want to watch; yet does NONE of it.

There’s a third-party app called TV Show Favs which helps, but it’s a weakly developed app which was designed for the phone.  With the app, I can mark my favorite shows, but the phone-only widget (not designed for Google TV so it looks non-proportioned) only shows the next new episode on the main channel, nothing about syndication.

In fact, there was one function I loved in Google TV 2.1 that they REMOVED for 3.x; the ability to search for a show.  Open up the search bar, type in “Family Guy” and it would tell you when the next showing is.  Now with the updated “TV & Movies” app, they are more interested in selling you an Amazon Instant Download subscription.

The only favoring allowed in Google TV is for channels. I could not give less of a shit which channel something is on as long as I have it.  Does it matter that Seinfeld is on TBS or my local affiliate?  NO!   I want to watch the show, so tune to it.  Other than your teenage daughter watching MTV all day, is anyone loyal to a channel?  Does anyone wonder “Hey, what’s on my favorite channel?” or do they wonder “Hey, what channel has something I like on?”

Currently, Google TV feels like a touchscreen-less and plan-less phone with a new remote that my girlfriend has to learn.  I see no benefit to the common user.  I spent fifteen minutes showing my girlfriend how to use the device, when I realize all I was teaching her was how to do the same thing she normally does, with a bigger remote.  Where was the benefit?  Where was the enhancement?

Google, you are in a tough position.  You need to be able to make a device my parents can use while at the same time allowing me the freedom to change and modify it as I see fit.  Good luck.

My first attempt at a home theatre system was  an XBMC on an original Xbox.  Once that outlived its usefulness (read: I got a girlfriend who didn’t want to use a controller as a remote), I transitioned to an AppleTV running XBMC.  When GoogleTV was announced, I thought it was the answer to my prayers, I was wrong.

The main problem is other companies. Do I fault Google?  Yes, a little. However, additional faults lie with Logitech, Motorola and the content distributers.

I figured with the recent price drop of the Logitech Revue to $99, how bad could it be?  Boy, was I wrong.

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Most of us have run into a hugely annoying bug with vSphere Client (a.k.a. VMware Virtual Infrastructure Client v4.0) running on Windows 7 RC. When you start the program, you’ll run into an error message:

Error Parsing the server 1.2.3.4 clients.xml file. Login will continue contact your system administrator

After clicking OK, you get the real message:

The type initializer for “VirtualInfrastructure.Utils.HttpWebRequestProxy” threw an exception

A workaround for the solution was posted by ftublo on the VMware Communities forums.

1. Create a folder (e.g. Lib) in the Windows 7 machine where the vSphere client is installed (%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\).
2. Obtain a copy of %SystemRoot%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\System.dll from a non-Windows 7 machine that has .NET 3.5 SP1 installed. Copy this file into the folder created in Step 1.
3. In the vSphere client launcher directory, open the VpxClient.exe.config file in a text editor and add a <runtime> element and a <developmentMode> element within the <configuration> element. Save the file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
...
<runtime>
<developmentMode developerInstallation="true"/>
</runtime>
</configuration>

4. Create a batch file (e.g. VpxClient.cmd) in a suitable location (e.g. Desktop). In this file add a command to set the DEVPATH environment variable to the folder where you copied the System.dll assembly in step 2 and a second command to launch the vSphere client. Save the file.

SET DEVPATH=%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\Lib
"%ProgramFiles%\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe"

NOTE: If you are running 64-bit Windows, replace all instances of Program Files with Program Files (x86).

You can now use the VpxClient.cmd (or the shortcut) to launch the vSphere client in Windows 7.

This workaround bypasses the normal .NET Framework loading mechanism. Assembly versions found in the DEVPATH folder are not checked. Handle with care.

Yes, it’s true.  Finally a way to get your personal files on each machine you work with that gets backed up online without any worry of who is rummaging through your data when you aren’t looking!  It’s the secure online backup you were looking for!

Windows? Linux? Mac? No problem.  Installers are available for all three systems.

DropBox (a glorified subversion system for the rest of us) has finally worked its way out of beta and will become the backbone for our project.  Transmission of data to DropBox is via HTTPS, so we at least have half the problem resolved.

The second problem is DropBox’s STORAGE of my files.  If they defect to the goverment faster than AT&T did with the NSA, then you can be sure your private key and personal bookmarks to porn sites will be used against you.  I wanted the storage of my files encrypted. Since I couldn’t trust DropBox, I turned to my good old friend, TrueCrypt.

The solution here is to create a TrueCrypt volume inside of your DropBox folder.  Even though DropBox has a 2GB folder limit, you shouldn’t use all of it for your TrueCrypt drive.  Unfortunately, TrueCrypt creates the encrypted partition to it’s maximum capacity, which means if you create a 1GB encrypted volume, it actually takes up 1GB on the harddrive even with nothing in it.  And transferring a 1GB file many times for little to no content isn’t the best plan.

Since the volume is filled out to maximum filesize even with no data, it’s best to create a few smaller drives (in the 256MB range) as DropBox has to upload the entire file at least once and you have to download the synchronized file on every computer.  TrueCrypt can mount about 12 volumes automatically, so my recommendation is to keep the volumes small and increase the sizes for volumes you don’t modify often.

Don’t feel guilty about using encyption.  Don’t be guilted into the “If you have nothing to hide” mantra; privacy is your right as a human, exercise it.

The Internet would be better if two related technologies would work together:

1. Google needs to get their ass in gear and present their Single Sign-On (SSO) package.
2. Forum Coders and Popular Websites need to embrace this technology.

I’m TIRED of having to create a new sign-on for every stupid shitty website (including THIS one) I want to post information on. Read the rest of this entry »

I was finally annoyed with Ads to the point I blocked them on every single device that accesses the internet through my network. Screw you all, there’s too much, it’s out of control. On the Wii, on the iPhone, in my RSS feeds, punch the monkey, win an xbox… ENOUGH.

With the help of Squid + SquidGuard + Rick752′s EasyList for AdBlock Plus, I broke free from the clutter that is web advertising.

Yes, it’s easy and you can do it. Read on for my scripts.
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Do you have Halo Fever? Seeing blue glowing spots? Locking on with your knife before cutting something? Constantly wondering where you are only carrying two things at any one time? I recommend BioShock for temporary relief!

I heard so much about this “genetically enhanced super shooter”. Alright, we GET IT, it’s “revolutionary”, Ooo. But, I was quickly silenced. A mere one level into renting this game I just wanted to play another. It’s not just the gameplay, it’s EVERYTHING.  I had to purchase it before my rental period was even up.

While the game is quite linear, exploration of the world is encouraged for extra resources. From the opening scene to your first plasmid (genetic powerup), you want to immerse yourself in the world of Rapture…

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This Alt-TAB replacement is actually an official PowerToy from Microsoft.  It will add function and beauty to your otherwise near-worthless and boring Alt-TAB window.  In addition to seeing the icon of the application window you are switching to, you will also see a preview of the application as it was running.  This helps particularly when multiple sessions of an application are open.

Launchy is the Windows version of Mac’s QuickSilver. It is free and open source (naturally) and a flexible and relatively lightweight alternative to using Windows Start Menu.

By pressing the hotkey (Alt-Space), you bring up Launchy’s main window and type what you want. A quick type of “fire” brings up your most used entry of “firefox” but doesn’t stop there.  If you have other programs (in this example, Fire Antivirus, SoftFire screensaver or Fire and Motion), it will display them as well since it contains the keyword you typed.

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Sexy Update: Open Source DeskHedron attempts to fill the void left by Yodm’3d selling out: http://blog.ozmonet.com/2009/deskhedron-yodm3d-killer/

Chris’Soft has sold out and now a dirtbag company will be producing Yodm’3d under the name DeskSpace. Naturally, these slimes will be charging for this software now.

What they don’t tell you is that Chris’Soft’s version is still free to download. v1.4 might still have minimal bugs, but if you feel that you shouldn’t have to pay for a global find and replace of a program name to a company for software that someone else made, you can still download Yodm’3d v1.4 for free

(Mirrors: http://www.winfuture.de/downloadstart,1185376417,1924.html ~ http://www.portablefreeware.com/download.php?id=1286 ~ http://www.mininova.org/tor/808321 )

ChrisSoft – Thank you for a wonderful piece of software. But true computer lovers aren’t in it for the money. Otaku Software – I wish the worst for you.