03
Sep

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I’m posting this entry using the just-released beta of Google Chrome, the new browser from search giants, Google, and I have to say, on first impressions, I’m pleasantly surprised by how good it is - it’s fast, was easy to install, is easy to use, and has a nice clean interface.

It’s practically identical to Firefox 3 in a lot of ways yet stands on it’s own (in a sort of Safari way - except better) in others - including its design - with the tabs neatly tucked into the titlebar and the address bar doubling (or is it ‘trebling’?) as a search entry box and bookmarks launcher. It’s quite tempting after using it for only about half an hour to switch over to it as my primary browser… but I’ll give it a while yet!

Also, as it seems pretty streamlined and lightweight, I wonder will we see a mobile phone version coming out soon…?

Definitely one to watch.

19
Aug

Coverflow … “invented” by Apple in order to create an attractive way of flipping through your albums on your touch-screen iPod … adapted by various software applications (including one I use quite a bit - VirtualDJ) - and now, also being used by searchme to make their “visual” search engine.

I don’t honestly know how long searchme is around, but I’ve just come across it. It’s a clever idea, and it works better and seems to give better (and more interesting) search results than Cúil (the new search engine kid on the block that claims to have a database many times bigger than Google’s). It even allows you to search videos, with the ability to actually play the videos inline within the 3D search results interface, which is quite a nice feature.

22
Jun
This is a fox. He’s on fire. “Whoosh!”… if you like.

Mind you, he can’t be enjoying that….

This week a new world record was set by over 8 million people… not for setting foxes on fire, but for all downloading the same application to their computers within the one 24 hour period - that application being the hotly anticipated Firefox 3.

(Frankly, I never understood, at the time, where exactly they got the name Firefox from… it was originally called “Phoenix”, and then “Firebird” - which made sense, as it was a sort-of phoenix from the flames;- a rebirth of the browser… but some people complained, notably Phoenix Software and the Firebird Free Database Software project people, so “Firefox” it became and remained. It’s certainly unique anyway…) [More history here].

Read the rest of this entry »

30
May

By all means, draw your own conclusions, - but it would seem to me that Jim Corr, guitarist with Dundalk based band “The Corrs”, has far too much time, money and Internet access on his hands.

In a radio interview on Today FM’s “The Last Word” yesterday, he went on a well rehearsed rant about the Lisbon Treaty and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Apparently, he got on the air thanks to his buddy Tony Fenton (pictured with him here).

During his rant, he claimed that:

  • The Bush administration, with the help of the intelligence community - the CIA, etc., carried out the atrocities in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania
  • Explosives were planted in the WTC towers in order to ensure that they “collapsed neatly into their own footprint”
  • Rudolph Guiliani, then mayor of New York, covered it up by shipping evidence (including steel from the towers) abroad
  • None of the hi-jackers were actually on the airline passenger manifests and at least eight are still alive and free today
  • We are headed towards a “new world order” culminating in a single world government which he said would be a “scientific dictatorship” - starting with Mexico, Canada and the US merging (and using one currency, the “Amero“) - and those later merging with Europe and Asia.
  • It all smacks quite clearly of some very well known conspiracy theories which have been circulating on the Internet for the past 6 years (including one in a Google Video which he referenced) - most of which a lot of us have heard (and laughed at, in fairness) before and most if not all of which have been comprehensively debunked.

    Oh!- and he also claimed, in a roundabout way, that the Lisbon Treaty will mean the eventual introduction of the death penalty in the E.U.

    They’re also talking about this on boards.ie and Damien blogged about this earlier today (but the YouTube video he referenced doesn’t have the full interview)…

    So here’s the full interview now:

    Oh and Jim’s not alone either…! Won’t we all be kicking ourselves if 10 or 20 years down the line, he’s found out to have been correct all along? Ray D’Arcy said on air today that if that does happen, he’ll publicly apologise to Jim Corr for not believing him but added that he didn’t think at that stage anyone would care about the Louth man’s opinion.

    Do we care now? Whatever about Jim’s “sensational” outburst - everyone should get themselves properly informed - there’s only two weeks left before the country goes to the polls in the Lisbon Treaty Referendum.