Archive for the ‘computer’ Category

來,脫下你的衣裳

今日,天氣和暖,是為你的網站脫衣的日子!

今年四月九日定為 CSS Naked Day,為了「推動 Web 標準、提倡簡潔為美、使用正確的 (x)html 語義標記、良好的層次結構。暫時把頁面設計拋棄,直接展示 <body> 内容!

我們都習慣躲在華衣美服背後,有想過為網站/部落格脫衣後的長相如何?如果你使用 WordPress 系統,可以使用 WordPress Naked Day Plugin 為你效勞。

填寫 naked day signup form 告訴世界你的赤裸行動!

來吧我甚麼都應承~
先脫衣服才說……

 

Total service

很多朋友知道我是自由身音樂/音響人,卻不多知道我是唸資訊管理系的。畢業那年主修有關電訊科技的科目,就連 final year project 也是做 WAP development(那年 WAP 才剛剛出 1.0 specification)……

我不多寫有關電訊的文章,因為我不是 gadget people,從來不會追手機追科技。雖然算起來已比一般用戶選用更多的制式 (CDMA, PCS, GSM, 2G, 3G)、服務和手機品牌,但手機五花八門的功能對我來說吸引力不算太大。

我反而看重電訊服務的整體性,由手機、使用者介面 (User Interface)、網絡覆蓋範圍及穩定性,到 backend 提供的額外功能、軟件支援、客戶服務等等,我稱之為 total service。

很少提及這些,因為所有在 backend 的事都不是一般人(如我)可以接觸到的,無論如何表達也像搔不著癢處。

今次忍不住提筆,是因為終於遇到網絡營運商 (operator) 看重 backend development 和手機 UI 的整合,為客戶提供合用且貼心的功能。

SmarTone-Vodafone x MobileRadio.hk
「一觸屏幕」功能,博客&聽眾意見交流會

HTC New Generation Touch Cruise™這次的示範機是 HTC New Generation Touch Cruise™,平台為 Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro。朋友都知我是 Palm 死硬派,現役手機是 Palm Treo 650,就連 iPhone 我也不大滿意。不用太多解釋大家都會知道 Windows Mobile 絕不吸引我,但仍然參予這次交流會的原因是 SmarTone-Vodafone 這次更著重 backend 的整合。
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Flock

二零零九年第一篇文章,跟大家說聲「新年快樂」~

二零零八年是轉變的一年,除了木村的《CHANGE》和奧巴馬的 “Change!” 外,我也正式轉成自由身工作者。開首的數個月還算不賴,甚至以為轉型成功;可是自從金融風暴以來,生意是有影嚮的,特別是我身在的音響行業,可算是娛樂事業的相關行業,所以經濟狀況變差亦會先反映在這行業。另外各公司的廣告預算亦減少了,同時亦影嚮了廣告配樂的工作。時近年尾,各歌手都在忙大小頒獎禮,音樂製作亦踏入淡季。所以呢,日子很難過啊!

我跟個別自家創業的朋友談話裏,都發現大家最近接的工作跟以往的很不同,甚至是工種和性質上的轉變。我最大的轉變就是做網站設計和系統編寫,剛完成了一間音響公司首個網站的設計、架設和程式編寫,現在又為一家非政府機構重新設計網站,之後便會跟它的姊妹機構洽談,可算是一個接一個。亦因為重操故業的原故,我把櫃底的設計書都拿出來,每天都空閒時間都在溫習和練習。

每一天都過得很踏實啊!


今明兩天都會為剛完成的網站做使用者說明文件,所以要用不同的網頁瀏覽器去測試網站的相容性和做畫面擷取。我本身是個 PC + Mac 用戶,雖然日常工作主要以 Mac 為主,但電郵和 PIM 還是以 PC 為主,所以常用的瀏覽器已包括 Firefox 3.0.5 for PC / Firefox 3.0.5 for Mac / Safari 3.2.1 for Mac / Google Chrome 1.0.154.36 for PC,備用的還有 IE 6.0 for PC / Safari 3.2.1 for PC / Opera 9.2.7。但兩部電腦能安裝的瀏覽器和不同版本數目始終有限,昨日在噗友介紹下使用了 Browserhots: Check Browser Compatibility, Cross Platform Browser Test 測試不同平台不同瀏覽器不同版本不同設定在顯示網站時會否遇到問題(除了 PC 它還支援 Mac / Linux / BSD 平台),亦因此看到 Flock 這個我以前好像聽過但沒甚印象的瀏覽器。
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廢寢忘餐新玩具

這次要介紹給 mac 友的圖像分享小工具 Skitch

這小工具提供簡單易用的介面,讓你從 iPhoto、screen capture、camera capture 和圖像檔加入照片或圖像,提供工具給你處理影像和塗鴉一番(當然歡迎不加圖像把 skitch 當成是 mac 版小畫家程式),然後你可以把完成品 click & drag 到其它 apps 直接加入圖像,或桌面和檔案夾裏成為圖像檔,當然你可以選擇圖像大小和儲存類型。另外你還可以把圖像上載到 skitch.com 帳戶(包括大量簡易超連結給你貼到網站部落格討論區等等,還可以設定供公開或私人瀏覽)、FTP、flickr.Mac、WebDAV 跟朋友分享,或傳送到藍牙設備,列印則是不可或缺的選項了,你還可以把圖像 send to twitter,它會在 twitter 附上超短 hyperlink 連結你的上載圖像。
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Mac & PC

“I’m a Mac,”
“and I’m a PC.”

Don’t know if you ever watch the Apple ad series called “Get A Mac.” The two main characters, Mac & PC, good friends in the ads, while competing fiercely in the market. In the ad series, Apple tells you reasons of “getting a Mac”. As a user of PC and Mac, I fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of both operating systems. However, I’m so attracted by the humors it brings (and I always visit the website and watch all the ads when I feel bored in working.) :P

Don’t forget to mention… I kind of like that Mac guy. :D

Earlier in December, Apple brings three new ads, namely “Meant for Work”, “Sales Pitch” and “Gift Exchange”. Apple adds the red color in the ads, bringing us the seasonal touch!

Introducing to you the brand new ad for Christmas!
And I wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

(You’ll have to install QuickTime Player to view the movie clip above.)

 

Spamming…

在互聯網每天都會面對多多少少不同形式的 spamming,針對個人的包括垃圾電郵、色情電郵、病毒電郵,針對網站和討論區的有垃圾留言和 trackbacks。

記得初期用 Gmail 時,Spam folder 常常都寫著 “Hooray, no spam here!”,每天看到時心情都很 hooray。可惜最近都要按 “Delete all spam messages now” 才行,幸好接近所有垃圾郵件都是英文郵件,分辨的時候尚算方便。Yahoo! Mail 的情況卻很糟,數量更多,而且大多都是中文郵件,真的要細看每個電郵的寄件者和主題才能分辨那些是錯誤被認作垃圾郵件的。
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The 100 Best Products of 2005

I just learn from GMail that there is a election called “The 100 Best Products of 2005″, organized by “PC World”, the world famous computer magazine. I am shocked to realize I’m frequent user of 13 out of 100.

Can you find your own favorite in the following list?
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Google Mars

Google Mars

Did you notice Google’s logo will change from time to time? Sometimes it’s specially designed for festivals or events, and this time, their new service called Google Mars.

The interface of Google Mars is similar to Google Local / Google Map and Google Earth (much powerful standalone program of Google Local). You can get lots of information about Mars there by clicking different categories next to the logo.

Have fun on Mars!

 

Apple

Apple IIe is the first Mac I touched in my life. I was studying F.1 in secondary school, in Computer Literacy lessons. We learned Logo, a programming language that provides a simple input prompt, showing graphics and words. In days of studying Information Systems in HKUST, I love to sit in front of those little old unattended Mac to do email checking and BBS or MUD telnet, while tons of people are queuing for crapy PC. I used Finale for Mac to type score when studying Sound Design and Music Recording in HKAPA.

I bought my first Mac in year 2000, with the salary I earned in the first month being a teacher. It’s a PowerMac G4 450MHz, with Applevision 850 Display. It just sits there for a couple of years… occassionally I’ll switch it on, using the little mouse to click here and there. But since I haven’t bought any softwares, it’s quite useless for me. I still remember the price… HK$19,600.

When I moved out and live alone, I put the Mac in my reading room, for DVD-playing purpose. (I don’t have DVD-ROM in my PC)

One day, my friend came and helped me out in designing Frontline’s namecard, installing three fancy graphic design softwares… the life of G4 changes!

I fell in love with those softwares, bought tons of design books to read, experiment with fancy ideas, illustrations and photos. My next homework is art director of Frontline’s concert. It’s fun and it’s tough! In that year, I worked for several freelance including companies’ coupons, namecards and letterheads, websites, wedding cards and program booklet.

In the same year, I started my job as recording engineer, using Mac everyday. Some years later, I bought DIGI001 as audio interface, installing ProTools and AutoTune 4.0, and started editing vocal tracks at home.

This year, I started making demos at home after buying GarageBand, Jam Pack and Logic Pro 7.0. This is also the moment I started to compose music seriously.

The future plan is to replace my 6 years’ old G4 with new powerful Intel-core PC, either MacBookPro or wait until the next generation of PowerMac G5 but with Intel chip. I’m considering to phase out PC running Microsoft Windows in my life. After running pilot test in my office one month later, I will discard the old PC when it comes to the end of its days.

This is the story about Apple and I.

Yesterday night I visit Apple’s website, knowing they’re launching two new products, namely Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi. iPod Hi-Fi is the gear I’m looking for a long time… ouch!

This morning when I read Mac news like what I did in past, I come across this lovely piece: Steve Bass’s Tips & Tweaks – Apple’s Ho Hum Big Announcement (And a Funny iPod Video). Click and check it out, especially the funny iPod video at the end. It tunes my day with happy mood, and I’m sure I can work efficiently till midnight!

Have a nice day!

 

Moments in life

There are moments in life we want to capture every second without missing anything. Nowadays we depend on technology like photos and videos to give a hand to our under-utilized brains.

I learn lessons days ago after re-installing operating system in my PC:

Technology fails you, but Jesus never fails.
It’s not the photos or videos being valuable. The love relationships among people count!

I lose part of the YM message archive, but I know, my friends are all still there. I won’t lose any of you because of incomplete archive in my PC.

However, technology still connects people.

Introduce to you, Rachel Tse, the new born daughter of my buddies Joanna and John Tse.

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