Monday, June 30, 2008

Better M$ Windows

Windows supports multiple monitors much better than any other OS on the planet - that's a fact. But, they could do a better job:

Suppose you fall in love with a huge LCD monitor at Best Buy - a 36" beast that can do 3000x1200. That's great screen space, but, being one monitor, Windows will not support it in the most user friendly way - which is :

If it's just one monitor, give the user the option of splitting it up into multiple monitors. Like you the "identify" button under Properties->Settings, you can have the display number and the boundary glow when the user hits the identify button. Now, you can split up your 3000x1200 into 2 of 1500x1200 or whatever you want. Why? Then, you can drag a window to one sub-monitor and maximize it by double-clicking on the title bar and it'll only occupy that sub-monitor - very useful feature. When you're dragging the window, Windows will make the sub-montior boundary glow.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Better Cygwin

See, that's what I'm talking about - why Linux continues to lag behind Windows - because the people behind it are computer scientists, not people. If they want to sell to people (with an appropriate definition of "sell" of course), they have to appeal to people. People are their customers and if they don't take care of them, then M$ will.

"Choose a Download Site" during the install process - and it gives you a mammoth list of generous people who host content. How about a world make that you can zoom into and pick from. So simple. !@$!@#$!$#@

Saturday, June 21, 2008

A Better Way to Advertise

Wonder if companies already do this:

Put your ad on your website and use your server to randomly insert some keywords or numbers into the add at randome times. Ask viewers to note those down. Then, your server notes down the IP address - uses an IP address locator to get the zip-code of the viewing computer and the time (zip code, time, random keywords provided). Then, you tell your viewer that he can get a mail-in-rebate if he uses the keywords provided when making his purchase.

No-Brainer

Car and home breakins are on the rise in Churchill. They can't have surveillance cameras as that might violate resident privacy. But, why not motion detectors. They have a security guy on the premises 24/7. Why not make all the premises covered by motion detectors that are armed between (say) 12 PM and 6 AM and give the security guy a handheld device that'll tell him where the action is? I think it should be possible to make the motion detector detect the size of the object that's moving - so you can correctly say "cat" or "man".

I volunteered to setup and online group that residents can use to keep track of incidents. Need to get to it.

Monday, June 9, 2008

No Brainer

Doesn't seem to be available yet. I tried a Google on "find the fastest available broadband service provider available to you based on your current IP address". Any tips, let me know.

Here's one fast woman (dig the shot at M$!).

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

V's Prospects

GOOG was hyped, lived up to its hype, and topped out at a market cap of about $200b.
AAPL has worked long and hard for the same.
Assume V is a worthwhile company. Do you expect it to cross a market cap of $200b? No? Then the best you can do is 2x your investment from this point on.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Count on Your People

Phew - after one trip to Austin, I'm convinced OPEC's used subliminal messages in mainstream broadcast media to get American to drive at a gas-guzzling pace. I stuck to 55 religiously the whole 8 hours and must have been overtaken by about 14 million vehicles. OPEC should have a holiday that recognizes what Americans have done for them.

Truth Solves the Crime

Who's the one person who knows better than anyone else that he's the one that did it? You know, that's the best evidence. You can close your eyes and recall scenes from the past. We haven't figured out yet how to tap into someone's brain and view those images yet. But, when we have! Mandrake the magician figured out how to do it 20 years ago I don't know how - he even got people to project the images on a screen from their eyes. This would be the most foolproof evidence. Only question is how.

Friendlier Air Travel

How about the airlines collect some information (optional) from you before you board and, when you land, the system automatically calls (for example) the person going to pick you up and tells him exactly where to meet you etc? Know how you get voicemail from Orbitz giving you flight status updates, etc - why not ask you if you want someone else to also get the updates? Simple stuff. How about if you want to have a prepaid cellphone waiting for you when you get off the plane? It'll probably double the cost of air travel.

Ice Cream Your Baby Eats

Apparently, babies need to be force fed. But, they all love ice cream. So, how about we help working mothers get their lives back by putting the cure for cancer and improvements to botox on hold and inventing ice cream that's nutritious and tastes the same and contains everything a baby needs.

You're Safe in a Stopped Car

You stop for a school bus and get rear ended by a bum. Or, you've pulled over to the side of the highway for a good reason and, next thing you know, you get hit by a distracted driver. Everyday occurrences, not anymore. Seen those thick waist-high metallinc poles they use to protect some structures - in parking garages and gas stations? Here's the twist - they'll be scattered all over the place and controllable - they'll normally stay underground, except when it's essential to get them out. Say you're in your car and there's an impending collision on account of a bum heading for you. Sensors detect the approaching villian and a computer raises as many poles as required/possible to thwart the villian - he'll have a terrific collision - which he would have anyway - but you'll be as protected as much as possible.

Ankle Bracelet Moving Company

More on the theme of getting basic services without letting unsavoury elements into your house. How about the prospect of business with a company that keeps tabs on all its employees. Employees voluntarily wear ankle bracelets that allow them to be tracked. If they end up in questionable locations, it helps solves crimes. Only those who've built up a good track record of keeping away from trouble - and bums - will have the privilege of helping you with your move. Ya?