tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388Fri, 18 May 2012 08:53:32 +0000Cratchit.org maintains the VIC CRM and TimeTool open source projects.http://news.cratchit.org/noreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)Blogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-7525799909671596545Fri, 11 May 2012 04:11:00 +00002012-05-10T21:16:07.441-07:00 Click to visit the Gambasdocumentation site. This evening I've been playing around with Gambas, a BASIC IDE for Linux. I really expected this to either be a crappy clone of VB, or to simply suck like every other BASIC attempt I've seen in *nix. I'm happy to report that Gambas not only doesn't suck, but is pretty damned impressive for what it is... and that is a tool to build quick-n-dirty appshttp://news.cratchit.org/2012/05/gambas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-2765112988803758118Thu, 10 May 2012 17:42:00 +00002012-05-10T11:27:11.196-07:00Life just keeps getting better. Ubuntu 12.04 "Precise Pangolin" is a big step up from the mishegoss that preceded it. The Unity desktop was promoted to Ubuntu's default before its time, but has seen steady improvement since. There are folks who will love the Launcher and the Global "Mac-style" Menus... I just don't happen to be one of them. To give you a fair look at it, though, check out this http://news.cratchit.org/2012/05/ubuntu-precise-pangolin-gnome-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6026241878936407287Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:20:00 +00002012-04-25T22:27:21.377-07:00Stripping the news down to it's bare essentials: Google Docs has been re-named to Google Drive. This is an upgraded version of Google Docs, with some enhancements. It's not a completely new service. The enhancements are as follows: 1. You now have 5GB of space "in the cloud". 2. You can store any kind of doc, not just the ones supported by Google Docs. 3. There's now client software for Windows, http://news.cratchit.org/2012/04/google-drive-good-bad-hype.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-7167829601975044185Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:19:00 +00002011-10-06T04:20:10.911-07:00 Steve Jobs February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011 http://news.cratchit.org/2011/10/steve-jobs-february-24-1955-october-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-3288508589486234009Sun, 01 May 2011 22:17:00 +00002011-05-01T16:55:08.879-07:00This will be my last post about the Samsung Captivate, I promise. Now I can get down to just using it. I needed a tripod mount for my phone. I already have the tripod, so I thought the mount would be readily accessible from any number of sources. Apparently that was wishful thinking. I did find this one, but it looked a bit over-complicated and expensive for what should essentially be a bracket http://news.cratchit.org/2011/05/tripod-mount-for-android.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-8628089596884687411Sat, 09 Apr 2011 17:56:00 +00002011-04-09T23:12:35.667-07:00Having received a new Android phone last week, here are a few apps that I consider to be essential. Now this doesn't focus on those apps that actually shipped with the device. On my Samsung Captivate I would consider the following to be essential (and you can see that some are brain-dead choices: Phone, Browser, Contacts, Messaging, Gallery, Camera, Voice Search, Calendar, Maps, Memo, Navigate, http://news.cratchit.org/2011/04/android-essential-apps.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6071512889130642121Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:52:00 +00002011-04-04T04:37:00.714-07:00I've set aside my Nokia phone for a new Samsung Captivate Galaxy S phone from AT&T. Here's a quick overview of the device. This image is from AndroidGuys.com General Impressions and Form Factor I can't resist making some comparisons to the benchmark of smartphones, Apple's iPhone (though I'll keep them casual). On removal from the box I was struck by the quality of the feel. the case is http://news.cratchit.org/2011/04/samsung-captivate-android-phone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-5803533383033434742Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:33:00 +00002011-02-07T11:34:26.202-08:00 I've started a new project for charity, thanks to Edric Haleen. Click on the Periodic Table above to see what this is all about.http://news.cratchit.org/2011/02/periodic-table-of-geek-musicians.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-7981507869151308287Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:08:00 +00002010-10-19T18:09:28.713-07:00Those who have followed my blog for a long while are aware of my advocacy for the ODF (Open Document Format) and for OpenOffice.org. The support for ODF remains, but I'm switching my office software allegiance to LibreOffice. I started using StarOffice on Linux 12 years ago. In 2001, having bought StarOffice, Sun Microsystems released a free version called OpenOffice.org. I've used that since http://news.cratchit.org/2010/10/introducing-libreoffice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-3109776170222547854Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:29:00 +00002010-09-05T20:13:06.129-07:00Here's how I use Bluetooth: 1. My earpiece connects to... ...my phone for handsfree dialing and talking. 2. My mouse connects to... ...my PC. I don't need a dongle, and it doesn't use a USB port. 3. My computer connects to... ...my phone for Web access when I can't find a Wi-Fi hotspot. I don't need an Aircard, and it doesn't take up a PCMCIA slot. ...my HP photoprinter for printing. 4. My http://news.cratchit.org/2010/09/why-arent-you-using-bluetooth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-8164678661161205818Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:51:00 +00002010-09-05T16:51:15.764-07:00Of all the things to geek out about, I'm really liking my new mouse. It's a Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000.  Now you'd think that a mouse is a mouse, and there's nothing to see here, but you'd be wrong. Here's why I like this thing: 1. Bluetooth! Let's pretend you're not like most people, who think Bluetooth is limited to phone earpieces. The whole purpose of Bluetooth is to get rid of http://news.cratchit.org/2010/09/nice-new-mouse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-9156562553588457436Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:55:00 +00002010-07-11T11:57:28.888-07:00I make no secret of the fact that I'm not a big iPhone fanboy. Part of the reason is the closed nature of the platform. You have to get apps from the Apple store, approved and sanctioned by Apple. As someone who has helped design and develop corporate PDA apps, this ALONE makes the platform an abysmal failure in my eyes. As I've mentioned before, these "smartphones" are actually PDAs with http://news.cratchit.org/2010/07/android-is-next-winner-in-mobile.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-3299108921830120382Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:01:00 +00002010-07-08T08:04:08.557-07:00Today, David Gewirtz asks why old people still like their PDAs... All I can say is, I love mine.http://news.cratchit.org/2010/07/please-dont-take-my-pda.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-3539405707211672479Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:04:00 +00002010-04-06T06:10:24.060-07:00There's a great, well-produced set of videos pointing out the "elephant in the room"... that ERP suites just don't work, and the tactics that ERP vendors use to get you to believe otherwise.Additional episodes can be found at http://www.suitemates.com/http://news.cratchit.org/2010/04/suitemates.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6221929274705382034Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:39:00 +00002010-03-14T18:31:52.816-07:00 This blog is now located at http://news.cratchit.org/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to http://news.cratchit.org/feeds/posts/default. http://news.cratchit.org/2010/03/this-blog-has-moved.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6862818456783623849Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:26:00 +00002010-01-29T17:02:15.950-08:00While Apple has introduced the iPad tablet computer, MSI has quietly been developing an alternate based on the Android platform. Here's a taste:Here are some comparisons:The MSI has a camera; the iPad does not.The MSI supports Flash; the iPad does notThe screens are nearly identical in sizeThe MSI is based on NVidia's Tegra chip; the iPad on the A4. The processors are comparable in horsepowerThe http://news.cratchit.org/2010/01/android-tablet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-9132697978375029209Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:24:00 +00002010-01-28T22:37:53.928-08:00According to the criteria Steve Jobs set out in his announcement of the iPad, the device has no reason for being.Transcript:In order to really create a new category of devices, those devices are going to have to be far better at doing some key tasks. They're going to have to be far better at doing some really important things. Better than the laptop, better than the smartphone.What kind of tasks?http://news.cratchit.org/2010/01/ifail.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-5083742642254574385Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:42:00 +00002009-12-05T18:34:49.083-08:00I spent some extended "quality time" with Windows 7 lately. A customer needed to upgrade his server, and in so doing, get the networking to work with a mixture of Windows XP and Vista clients, all of whom would be running various apps on the server including one legacy app that was written for MS-DOS.Before some commenter puts his foot in his mouth by suggesting an upgrade of the legacy app, I'llhttp://news.cratchit.org/2009/12/windows-7-is-cluttered-mess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6659173969841848633Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:34:00 +00002009-12-04T12:38:58.084-08:00I've not upgraded to Lotus Notes 8.5 yet, as $BIGCLIENT, who constitutes most of my revenue, hasn't. But other people have, and I've gotten my first report on VIC CRM on 8.5.The bottom line is, as it stands right now, VIC CRM is NOT compatible with R8.5. The core problem is that the From field doesn't appear to contain the expected data. Until I examine and fix the problem, I don't recommend http://news.cratchit.org/2009/12/vic-crm-and-lotus-notes-85.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-2026454820619035892Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:31:00 +00002009-10-18T13:21:28.391-07:00Loathe as I am to do it, today's post is a solid "I told you so". Not once, but twice.First... in my last post ("You're a pirate, and you don't wash your hands") I suggested that you should turn off automatic updates, and examine security patches before applying them. Friday, ZDNet posted a story exemplifying what will happen to you if you don't heed this advice ("Microsoft exposes Firefox users http://news.cratchit.org/2009/10/i-told-you-so-i-told-you-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-6859273757122663464Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:22:00 +00002009-10-12T08:06:14.845-07:00OK, maybe you're not, and you do. But according to the Business Software Alliance, 41% of all software on personal computers is pirated (link). In the U.S. that figure is around 20%, and higher in the rest of the world.The funny thing is that this doesn't have to be the case at all. With OpenOffice.org, Firefox, Thunderbird, the GIMP, and other great Open Source packages around, there's no http://news.cratchit.org/2009/10/youre-pirate-and-you-dont-wash-your.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-733480899841562463Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:23:00 +00002009-10-11T09:52:38.506-07:00We've got our second story in a row on Rupert Murdoch, Soooper-Genius.Over at Newsweek, Weston Kosova reports that Murdoch thinks Google is "stealing" his content, and wants them to pay him. According to Murdoch, linking == stealing. Definitely read Kosova's commentary, as he has it 100% correct.Google doesn't steal anything from Murdoch. If you do a news search in Google, you get a list of linkshttp://news.cratchit.org/2009/10/rupert-muroch-puts-his-foot-in-it-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-7406238479040924219Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:23:00 +00002009-09-29T11:29:25.494-07:00On ZDNet, Larry Dignan asks, Is Barry Diller Delusional? Barry Diller is the exec formerly behind Fox Broadcasting and USA Broadcasting, and is currently in charge of the lukewarm IAC/InterActiveCorp. Larry's post contains video of Barry (once again) declaring that people should pay for Internet content.There are gobs of media moguls out there who feel that they should be paid for access to http://news.cratchit.org/2009/09/mammals-shouldnt-take-advice-from.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-1436989319668659852Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:42:00 +00002009-09-07T11:52:07.306-07:00In response to my previous post, Cloud Computing is Baaaad, Mmmkayyy?, I was happy to receive a most thoughtful comment from Greg Charland. Greg writes in part:Really, though, it comes down to the math.I'm not even going to go in the direction of google as I'm not convinced that their email solution is business-worthy.But I can offer hosted Exchange & SharePoint through a well-known provider for http://news.cratchit.org/2009/09/cloud-computing-still-bad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6966388.post-4845530854638132611Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:59:00 +00002009-09-04T19:36:23.770-07:00Cory Doctorow has a story in the Guardian (link) describing the "real" purpose of cloud computing.The tech press is full of people who want to tell you how completely awesome life is going to be when everything moves to "the cloud" – that is, when all your important storage, processing and other needs are handled by vast, professionally managed data-centres. Here's something you won't see http://news.cratchit.org/2009/09/cloud-computing-is-baaaad-mmmkayyy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dave Leigh)4