The Hutch Tech Blog

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3

OS: Why Apple Just Won the OS Wars
2009-06-08 19:55:00
I don't know what it will do to their bottom line, but Apple may have just won the OS wars today by pricing their upcoming Snow Leopard (OS 10.6) at $29. Think about it this way: If you buy a new Mac today with Leopard (OS 10.5) in September you can upgrade to the latest and greatest for $29. If you buy a new Windows-based machine today with Vista in October you can upgrade to the latest and greatest (Windows 7) for $200--or even $300+ if you want the Ultimate version.I'll grant you that you'll have to buy Apple hardware to run Snow Leopard, or be willing to risk running a Franken-Mac on "non-approved" hardware, but that Apple-tax folks so often quote is starting to sound a lot lower.- Hutch
More About: Wars

GOOGLE: Ride the Wave
2009-05-31 01:59:00
Just in case you don't have time to watch the entire video, head over to mashable.com and enjoy their review.- Hutch
More About: Google , Ride , Wave

INTERNET: The Future is Now... A Cliche' No More
2009-05-29 08:12:00
Okay, if you're not ready to geek out, and you have trouble getting past the horn-rimmed glasses and plaid button-down shirts you might want to skip this...HOWEVER, if you're ready to see the cool new stuff coming to your browser, then by all means take the time to watch these videos from the Google I/O conference.
More About: Internet , Future , The Future

WEB DESIGN: Soothing Balsamiq
2009-04-02 21:08:00
I've recently had occasion to dust off my rusty web design skills. In the past when I've wanted to demo/prototype a site for a client I've usually just gone ahead and built the site using my web design program du jour. Why not, right? You're going to build it anyway, so just start now. However, taking this approach can also lead to limitations, or even setbacks. What if the client changes the scope of the project in such a way that it changes the tools I'll be using to create the site? What if I just get the colors wrong, and that takes the focus off the initial layout design?Too often we get started on web design by focusing on everything but the design. Yes, there's a place for function, prototyping, testing, but in the beginning layout needs to be king. That's where Balsamiq comes in. Balsamiq takes a unique approach in web layout by becoming your virtual paper napkin and pen. They actually take hand drawn shapes and text and allow you to do your layout with that...
More About: Web Design , Design

SEMANTIC WEB: Lord, Help Us
2009-03-20 16:34:00
My faith in technology (no pun intended) was disturbed today when I received this recommendation from Amazon . Perhaps there's a connection I'm missing here.- Hutch
More About: Internet , Lord , Semantic Web

GOOGLE: Calendars Are Meant To Be Free
2008-12-02 18:09:00
One of the hardest things I faced when switching from my PC to the Mac back in 2004 was my addiction to all things MS Outlook. I had an Exchange server and was used to all that glorious synchronization. Entourage was not a solution (the notes and tasks would sync with the server but not back to MS Outlook on the PC). I then tried a 3rd party solution from Snerdware (I debated mentioning their name, but figured that you needed to know it to avoid it) that was thoroughly under-supported and still didn't do all I wanted.Eventually I ditched any hopes of syncing with the PC world apart from using the web-based version of dotMac/mobileMe.Then Google Calendar started supporting the CalDav standard. If you followed the instructions it worked well, but it was not exactly intuitive. It's worked so well, in fact, that it's one of the key reasons I decided to ditch mobileMe altogether (see my article on replacing mobileMe for free here).So imagine my surprise when I read in Macworld to...
More About: Mobile , Free , Calendars

GOOGLE: Predictive Flu Virus Analysis Via Web Search
2008-11-13 22:11:00
Thanks to our friends at DownloadSquad.com, I now believe that Google does indeed know far too much...about everything. Evidently they can use your IP location information along the current and historical flu-related searches around you to determine when you're most susceptible to the flu virus.Wow!- Hutch
More About: Virus , Analysis , Search

HUMOR: A Long, Long Time Ago, In A Dorm Room, Far, Far Away
2008-11-10 17:18:00
And the award for best science fiction saga retelling by quadruplets using acapella themes from other movies scored by John Williams goes to...this guy:This is what happens when technology gets too cheap and powerful--talented geeks will rise up and rule the world.- Hutch
More About: Humor , Time , Long , Room

MAC IN THE CLOUD: MobileMe for FREE
2008-11-09 00:41:00
I don't know about you, but as much as I've enjoyed dot mac (now MobileMe), I just can't bring myself to fork out another $100 a year for the privilege of having a yournamehere@me.com e-mail address (or even keeping my grandfathered @mac.com address). Yes, I know, there's a lot more to it than that, but here's how I've finally broken the MobileMe stranglehold on my pocket book. I want the backup/synchronization functions I get with MobileMe, it's just in a world of free-mium services I can't justify paying for it. Is that so wrong?The only element I've yet to replace (and I'll be beginning my search immediately before that pesky re-enrollment date comes 'round) is space to host my web sites. I really don't want to re-vamp my sites to fit the constraints of some of the freebie solutions. I just want some basic server space for my existing HTML. When I find something I'll let you know.However, all the other MobileMe functions have been fairly easily replicated. Oth...
More About: Free , Cloud , The Cloud

N00BS: Information Even Grandma Can Use
2008-09-10 21:43:00
Whether it's WiFi, twitter, or just Web 2.0 sometimes you need a little help explaining how it all works. Thanks to FreePint, I recently came across two gems (one that's been mentioned here before) that will help you do just that....in Plain English from Common Craft are a series of videos about technology (and a few other things) that try to streamline and simplify how things work.7 Things You Should Know is just like it sounds, a PDF list of 7 items about a particular tech subject.So now when multi-touch, twitter, or blogging are just too difficult or exhausting for you to explain, let the experts do it for you.Prepare to begin forwarding links now.- Hutch
More About: Internet , Information , Grandma

STYLE: Fashion for the chipmunk in all of us
2008-08-11 23:21:00
Fellow technology lovers, we all know how difficult it is to take our digital life on the road. Here's one solution: www.greatpockets.com. Thanks go to Bob for the link.- Hutch
More About: Fashion , Style , Chipmunk

VIDEO: The Horrifying Sequel to Cloverfield
2008-08-02 21:30:00
Beware things in fuzzy blue packages. Thanks to our friends over at Mahalo Daily for the link:- Hutch
More About: Video , Cloverfield , Sequel

VIDEO: Fonts with Personality
2008-07-24 16:23:00
Thanks to Leo and Amber over at NetAtNight for pointing out the wonder that is If Fonts Were People:- Hutch
More About: Video , Personality

ENTERTAINMENT: You Look Nice Today - Come for the misogyny, stay for the ho
2008-06-26 14:17:00
If you're a child of the 80's (and let's face it, who isn't) you'll love the random and ribald humor of You Look Nice Today : A Journal of Emotional Hygiene. One word of warning: Every time I think the hosts/vaudvillians/audio raconteurs are about to have a clean episode someone begins a profanity laced rant. Not the kind of the-swearing-was-appropriate-for-the-scen e moment you might find in a war movie or a cop buddy flick where the hardness of life pushes a man to extreme utterances. No, it's as if our garrulous guides have to peg the meter in a forced, almost juvenile fashion. Don't get me wrong, this is still high-brow entertainment. I'm just sorry to have to recommend it.- Hutch
More About: Internet , Entertainment , Stay

BLOGGING: When is "Live" blogging NOT live blogging?
2008-06-09 14:24:00
I, like many others, watched Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote vicariously on the web (we'll probably have to wait until tonight for the recorded QT video) by observing the typed live blogging efforts of folks on the scene. Typically I watch the presentation via the MacRumors.com site (macrumorslive.com) anxiously awaiting each new comment and photo. This year was no different, except that since I had a faster connection I figured I'd look at Engadget's, MacWorld's, and CNet's live blogging efforts as well. What a disappointment. MacRumor's web page updated automatically (unlike the competition) and included a lot more pictures (at least 87 at my last count). No offense to the MacRumors team, but I certainly expected these other outlets to blow them away--how wrong I was. Guess the big guys don't always have a better product.- Hutch
More About: Blogging , Live

Guilty by Association: The End of Social Networking
2008-04-03 07:29:00
In the future, no one will be your friend. At least not online.Currently we are all being asked to join, create or define online the various networks that exist in our offline lives. Some of these networks may represent a simple gathering of our current friends, co-workers, and family members as listed in our address book. Others involve the grouping of fellow competitors and compatriots in a particular game or business venture. Still other networks are built around personalities, bands, or even trends we wish to follow. And right now, we take for granted that these connections remain private (or at least semi-private), and under our control.American citizens take great pride in our protection of privacy rights, however as netizens we also tend to feed (and feed upon) the glories of openness and sharing in common. How we balance these two extremes will become very important in the near future. Right now we have limited control on who can see the online connections we create (...
More About: Social , Social Networking , Networking , Association , Guilty

iTunes Subscriptions = Other Players Shopping the iTunes Store
2008-03-20 21:33:00
Contrary to popular belief Apple is not in the design business; Apple is in the money making business. In a perfect world it would all be about simple, industrial design and clean lines, but that world is yet to come. Reality beckons. Rumors abound this week about Apple creating an all-you-can-eat model for the iTunes music store tied to higher prices for iPods and iPhones. Some have downplayed these rumors as merely wishful thinking, but here's how I think it will shake out.1) Apple wants to continue dominating the online and retail music sales industries. This will eventually make them money (remember Amazon.com took a while to become the profitable business it is today).2) Apple can't tie iTunes subscriptions to higher iPod/iPhone/iTouch pricing alone because that would lead to major lawsuits.3) Apple can't simply open access to iTunes for other players because that gives it only a basic licensing fee ($10-$20 per device) and whatever profit margin it currently makes on mu...
More About: Shopping , Players , Itunes , Store , Subscriptions

GOOGLE: The Dark Side Emerges...
2008-03-08 20:44:00
If you've read even a handful of posts here at the Hutch Tech Blog, you know that we love Google . Sadly, that relationship that just yesterday seemed so promising is beginning to sour.Weird Al's got nothing to worry about.Thanks, DownloadSquad.- Hutch
More About: Dark , The Dark , Side , The Dark Side

TECH: Twitter for Grandma
2008-03-08 06:42:00
I've been using Twitter for about a month now. I resisted the urge to use it until I could see a practical place for it in my life. For me, it became a tool to allow me to micro-blog those little, fun things I came across and didn't have time to actually write about. Recently I unearthed this video called Twitter in Plain English on commoncraft.com (through, I believe, a mention on 43folders.com). It makes the case for what Twitter can be and how can make use of it in real life.Enjoy.- Hutch
More About: Internet , Tech , Grandma

Unite Against the Time Bandits
2008-03-02 07:15:00
Below is a presentation from Merlin Mann of 43Folders.com on time and productivity. Boring topic? Maybe. But a knowledgeable, honest, and interesting speaker makes it come alive.And yes, I'm available for lunch--just look at my girlish hands.Enjoy.- Hutch
More About: Time , The Time

VIDEO: Violent Video Game Luv
2008-03-02 00:05:00
Okay, it's about two minutes too long, but this little video tribute to Jack Thompson is superb. The first minute or so includes a unique visual history of gaming consoles and systems. Kudos to my teenage son for sending me the link.Enjoy.- HutchWARNING: MAY CONTAIN VIOLENT IMAGES THAT COULD CAUSE YOU TO STRIKE OUT AT SOCIETY, OR JUST LAUGH.
More About: Video , Game , Video Game , Violent

MUSIC: The Golden Days of Digital Music
2008-02-23 20:50:00
Many moons ago Steve Jobs had to spend time explaining to us what an iPod was and why we needed one. I can't even remember my life before the iPod.Enjoy.- Hutch
More About: Music , Digital Music , Days , Digital , Golden

FREE: Free Books. No, Really.
2008-02-23 20:35:00
I know some people just cannot bring themselves to read electronic books. I, personally, do not understand these people. A recent post from the Freakanomics folks in the NYT gave some links to free books from various publishers. While I know that this may not appeal to all our readers, the fact that these companies are exploring the idea tells me we may see a lot more of this in the future.I know that Amazon is pushing this idea with their Kindle device. Sony has had an ill-fated attempt with their reader as well. Eventually, though, someone will get it right. Once you have the right mix of price, convenience, and portability (along with a LONG lasting battery) we may never need a trade paperback again.- Hutch
More About: Books , Free

GIFTS: As Remaining Time Decreases Clarity Improves
2007-12-21 16:39:00
Or so I tell myself. Yep, we're getting down to the wire on Christmas shopping (especially if you're going to ship anything) and you're running out of ideas. Well, if you're reading this blog your either a friend, family member, lost, being tortured by a band of rebel militants, or quite possibly just a bit of a geek. So, here's a rundown on some of the more obvious last-minute gifts you might get the less geeky in your life:1. Flickr Account - That's right, flickr. Everyone's got digital photos these days, even if they're just taking them with their cell phone, and yet people still aren't backing them up. Who has time to burn them all to CD and put them in the safe deposit box anyway? So why not give the gift of easy, online, permanent backup. It's only $25/yr. Now, to be honest, you'll probably want to spend some time finding a nice card and creating a dummy e-mail account you can give to them as part of the package because I don't believe they offer gift certi...
More About: Internet , Gifts , Time , Clarity , Clar

More Free Entertainment
2007-12-17 21:33:00
The holidays tend to be a time when we sit around a bit more, watch some movies and just relax--or at least try to relax. And what better way to relax than with some audio-visual entertainment. You can always watch those free streaming re-runs online that I mentioned in the previous post, but why not enjoy a DVD movie and save some money at the same time? I've always loved the idea of Netflix (though I've never been a subscriber), and while you can save a load on time and late fees, it still costs money. Why not try your local library instead? Sure, they won't deliver to your house (at least not in my area), but many library systems get multiple copies of first run DVDs on the day of their release. They'll also have plenty of classic movies, hard to find stuff, and even those documentaries from PBS you've been meaning to watch (I finally did placate my Ken Burns fixation with the help of my library).Aside from movies they'll also have plenty of music CDs. Now, I'm not ...
More About: Internet , Entertainment , Free

ENTERTAINMENT: Free TiVo...Kind Of
2007-12-07 19:30:00
Here in the U.S. many things are free: fresh air, water, ummm.... Okay, maybe not so many things are free, however, one thing that is definitely not free are TV listings. Yep, you read that right. If you want to know what's on TV, you gotta pay the piper.Now I don't blame TiVo or its competition from making money, but the subscription model for time-shifting TV is starting to get me down. There are a lot of free, open-source PC-based products that provide TiVo-esque options, as well as a lot of PCs being sold with media center functions. Heck, you could even dust off the VCR. All that's great, but in the end, all we want is to watch our favorite TV shows when we want to watch them. And many us don't want to take the time to set up such a system.So here's my solution that should work for you, dear reader, with little or minimal cost. First, if you're willing (and able to get comfortable) watching TV on your computer monitor (or laptop) just do that. Go to hulu.com (NBC...
More About: Entertainment , Free , Tivo

FUN: Kindergarten was Never This Fun
2007-11-20 00:57:00
If you haven't seen it already, you need to watch the video showing the beta of Crayon Physics Deluxe. There's a link on the site that will let you download the original Crayon Physics for free. Sadly, it's PC only, but man is it cool.- Hutch
More About: Kindergarten

OFF TOPIC: Italian Spiderman
2007-11-17 23:07:00
Thanks to the team at HotAir.com I now feel culturally enriched by the phenom that is Italian Spiderman .I know, it's not about tech, but it's too good to pass up. Enjoy.- Hutch
More About: Topic

TECH: Zen and the Art of DNS Maintenance
2007-11-17 21:36:00
If you're like most people you probably never think about DNS. Why should you, usually it doesn't cause any problems. And unless your home network is confusing, convoluted, and double-NATed like mine, you just accept the defaults and move on.But for some reason, Comcast recently made some changes to how their DNS system worked--at least in my area. I don't know if it had to do with packet shaping or preventing P2P file sharing, but it made our systems less responsive and our Internet traffic pause for minutes at a time. Believe me, it's no fun to watch Mrs. Hutch's conniption fits when watching Heroes stream and stutter over the Interweb. It was time to take action.Finally I stumbled upon Open DNS.com (or did I hear about them on the TWIT podcast?). I'm not going to go into all the services they provide (including parental control/site blocking), but I will say they resolved my issues and we were back to network TV streaming bliss. Oh, did I mention that you can use them...
More About: Tech , Maintenance , Tena

TECH ANNOYANCES: - CPU Usage, Your Printer, and a Boot to the Head
2007-11-15 23:54:00
I have been fighting the spoolsv.exe service on my work PC for weeks now. Seems it would just start using 50% of my CPU resources (without asking, mind you) on a whim. I have an extremely new HP workstation (try not to drool), so I wouldn't really notice this until I was running queries in Access which would grind to a near halt. So I was left playing the kill-the-service game when I saw that extra CPU usage in my task manager which would then be followed by the restart-the-service game when I needed to print. Evidently you can't print without the print spooler service running. Weird, huh?Finally after looking through tons of articles which stated (without any direct examples or proof) that I must have a virus/trojan I came upon some info at Annoyances.org (click here for the thread in question). Evidently my use of Remote Desktop had left some residual print job in the queue of the Microsoft Office Document Image Writer (which I never use) and this was causing the CPU hogga...
More About: Tech , Printer , Head , Usage , Boot