Another one for Earth Day

This time from Bill Nye.

For Earth Day

This video is a little over a year old, but it's still one of my favorites.

Well crap in a hat . . .

I missed a week of blogging. Well, almost a week and a half. There really wasn't any specific reason other than I just was not feeling it. On top of that, I broke my New Year's resolution to publish one blog post each day of the year. I think I was doing pretty good.

Why a resolution to restart the blog after a multi-year hiatus? Well, for one, it's part of my personal initiative to get better at writing, research, and controlling online content related to me. Some regular readers may remember that I posted last year on Facebook about killing my LinkedIn account. Since then, I've terminated the following accounts: Flickr, Yahoo, Twitter, Lyft, AOL/AIM, Trillian, Trello, Vimeo. Code Academy, Flipboard, Glassdoor, ImageShack, Khan Academy, PayPal, WordPress, and uTest, among others. Fairly soon – possibly around the release of Visual Studio 2017 or the Windows 10 Creators' Update – I will be killing my Facebook account. I've already started the process by "in-liking" almost all of my pages, removing all of my interests, and unfollowing a lot of people. "Why," you ask? I don't know. Maybe a prior post provided the spur. All I know is that Facebook is not a place where I care to be.

Deleting all of these accounts and focusing on the blog is my way of controlling what is out there about me. I can control the content and context of the blog and the posts therein. I will write up a post later on this week explaining the reasoning behind this blog and the URL I chose.

As of right now, I'm still on Facebook. In a few weeks, the only ways to get – and keep – in touch will be via this blog, Google+/Google Hangouts, e-mail, and telephone/texting.

Oh, and I promise I will fill in some of the blanks from the "missing week!"

May your luster never dull, and your wires never cross!

Microsoft vs. Apple: User Interface Decisions

This post is an old research paper I wrote for Indiana Wesleyan University.

Much of the news in the Information Technology field has focused on Microsoft's upcoming operating system, Windows 8. Inevitably, many comparisons are being made between Windows 8 and Apple's most recent release of the Mac OS, which is code-named "Mountain Lion." Both desktop operating systems borrow heavily from their mobile counterparts. However, Microsoft's decision to reimagine Windows from its foundations, discarding the desktop paradigm of computing, is fundamentally risky and has the potential to alienate and frustrate long-time Windows users. Apple's decision to integrate features from its mobile operating system without sacrificing the familiar desktop interface is a less risky move. Although both decisions have the same goal of bridging the gap between the desktop and mobile interfaces, they are indicative of the cultural differences between the two companies and have the potential to shape their future for years to come.

Windows 8

From the moment you log in, it is evident that Windows 8 is a complete reimagining from its predecessors. "Instead of the familiar Start menu, taskbar, and Windows Explorer, you get the Start screen, which consists of square and rectangular icons for your apps called Live Tiles" (Mediati, 2012). The Start screen displays every application installed on the computer by default, but users can choose what does or does not appear. Users can pin favorite Web sites or contacts from their address book to the Start screen to further customize their experience. However, that does not mean the desktop is gone. "Windows 8 will run traditional desktop-style Windows applications too, and it will do so in a desktop environment that resembles the layout of Windows 7" (Mediati, 2012).

Microsoft built Windows 8 with cloud computing in mind. Microsoft bundles its OneDrive service with Windows 8, just as Apple bundles its iCloud service with Mountain Lion. Microsoft's OneDrive service aims to provide users with access to all of their applications and files, thus providing a consistent user experience, regardless of what machine they happen to be logged into. "A big difference between SkyDrive and iCloud is that it offers Web access to any files you've stored on it," meaning users can access their files from any Web browser. Additionally, many third-party applications for Windows 8 can make use of OneDrive to store and retrieve files (Muchmore, 2012).

Galen Gruman of InfoWorld.com summed up his thoughts on the user experience in Windows 8 in his article "Deathmatch: Windows 8 vs. OS X Mountain Lion:"

Ultimately, you're switching between two different computers that share a file system and a few core services, and each computer is optimized for a different set of input methods. It would have been better to leave Metro for tablets and Windows 7 for laptops and desktop PCs, and slowly merged the UIs as Apple is doing with OS X and iOS. For most users, Windows 8 will be a confounding mess. (2012)

Microsoft's decision to merge the desktop and mobile interfaces in Windows 8 and create one operating system for multiple devices demonstrates the company’s need and desire to remain relevant in the an era where users are increasingly reliant on smart phones and tablets to remain connected. In this "post-PC" era, the desktop is no longer the primary method of computing for the average end user. Microsoft’s decision to go "all in" with Windows 8 could spur a new period of innovation at the company or drive users away, causing the company to enter a period of decline.

Mac OS X "Mountain Lion"

Apple has taken a different approach with Mountain Lion. "At its heart, Mac OS X is still an operating system designed for desktops and laptops." At first glance, it does not look like the OS X desktop has changed. However, Mountain Lion does have a similar feature to Windows 8's Start screen: the Launchpad. When Launchpad is opened, it displays an iPad-like grid of icons for your programs, making it easier to locate and access them. However, despite Launchpad's iOS roots, Mountain Lion looks and feels like a Mac, not an iOS device (Mediati, 2012).

Like Microsoft, Apple built Mountain Lion with cloud computing in mind. Apple built its iCloud service into Mountain Lion. "When you sign into your Apple account on a Mountain Lion Mac, all your mail settings, contacts, Safari bookmarks, messages, iTunes backups and other features will be synced via iCloud. And when you launch the App Store, all the apps you purchased earlier through the App Store are available for downloading and installation" (Muchmore, 2012). Like Microsoft, Apple built cloud storage into iCloud. However, users cannot access these files via a Web browser.

"Apple defined the graphical user interface as we know it today, and despite 28 years of changes, the core metaphors remain unchanged. That consistency makes it easy to use each new version of OS X, and Mountain Lion is no exception" (Gruman, 2012). However, Mountain Lion has one user interface flaw that undermines the ease of use: "there are now three distinct UIs and services for saving files: one for traditional apps, one for Versions-enabled apps, and now one for iCloud Documents-compatible apps." This can be confusing to long-time and new Mac OS users.

Apple brings several features from its iOS operating system to the Mac OS in a natural and incremental way. Unlike Microsoft, Apple does not risk alienating long-time Mac users with the changes to the operating system. Apple has taken a much more conservative approach to merging its desktop and mobile operating systems.

Conclusion

Both Microsoft and Apple have the same goal of bridging the gap between the desktop and mobile interfaces, but the decision to take differing approaches are indicative of the cultural differences between the two companies. Microsoft has taken the riskier approach of reimagining Windows from its foundations, which could frustrate the company's user base. Apple has taken a more conservative approach, refining the Mac OS while adding features from iOS. The main difference between the two approaches is how the designs reflect the end user experience. Apple's approach to consistency demonstrates the company's willingness to keep the existing user base happy while adding features those same users like about the iOS operating system. Microsoft is seemingly ignoring the existing user base and introducing a new learning curve. Only time will tell which approach is the correct one.

References

Gruman, G. Deathmatch: Windows 8 vs. OS X Mountain Lion. InfoWorld.com. Retrieved from http://www.infoworld.com/d/microsoft-windows/deathmatch-windows-8-vs-os-x- mountain-lion-200175?page=0,0.

Mediati, N. Windows 8 vs. Mountain Lion: which OS succeeds at bringing mobile to the desktop? PCWorld.com. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/252499/windows_8_vs_mountain_lion_which_os_ succeeds_at_bringing_mobile_to_the_desktop_.html.

Muchmore, M. Windows 8 vs. OS X Mountain Lion: Feature by Feature. PCMag.com. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/265435/windows-8-vs-os-x- mountain-lion-feature-by-feature.

I Don't Get It

What do people have to gain by antagonizing my dog? From the neighbor behind me threatening her, to assholes on bicycles, and shitty kids who really should know better, Trellis gets all kinds of flak when she either goes out the backyard to do her business or when we are out on our walks.

I don't know. I'm just frustrated, sad, and furious at the moment.

Software Issues and their Impact

Describe at least two software issues (open-source, upgrades, software bugs, copyrights/licenses, global support) and how these issues impact users and organizations.

Two issues that immediately caught my attention were software bugs and freeware/open-source software.

Software defects prevent software from accomplishing what it was designed to do. These defects can result in performance issues, data loss or data integrity issues, or incompatibilities. Software defects are an inevitable part of development. No software will ship one-hundred percent bug-free. The wide range of different combinations of applications, hardware, et cetera can lead to defects being discovered that would otherwise not be. Software bugs can be a source of many problems for companies as they could result in loss data, lost productivity, and increased costs to fix or work around these defects.

Software defects often go hand-in-hand with upgrades. Software upgrades have benefits and drawbacks. The most immediate benefit to upgrading is the ability to use the latest features and newest technology. On the other hand, users may need to learn a new way of working or navigating the software, especially in the case of Windows 8. Upgrading to any new version right away can also expose the user to defects that the manufacturer might not have found. Many companies have policies in place that delay upgrading until the software manufacturer releases a service pack or "point-one" version of the software.

Freeware, free software, and open-source software can be a source of confusion to many end users. Freeware is software that is distributed at no cost. However, users may be – and often are – bound by licensing restrictions, such as not being able to use the software for commercial or "for-profit" purposes. Such licensing restrictions often discourage businesses from using this software, no matter how beneficial it might be.

Open-source software, as its name implies, is software that is distributed along with its source code. This allows users to study or modify the code. Users can also redistribute the code or companies can use part of the code in its own software, as specified in the BSD and MIT licenses. Open-source software is typically distributed for free or at minimal cost. However, open-source software may not come with support guarantees and can carry a higher total cost of ownership (TCO). Additionally, some open-source software – typically Linux-based software – is not available or not compatible with Microsoft Windows. I should point out that open-source software is not always governed by the GNU General Public License (GPL). There are other licensing schemas available, such as the BSD license and the MIT license, which I mentioned above.

Free software – also called libre software – is software than can be studied, modified, and used without the typical licensing restrictions. Free software is typically licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). The biggest drawback to using the GPL is the licensing itself. If a software company includes GPL-licensed code in a software product, that company is legally bound to license their software product under the GPL. In some cases, simply including a copy of GPL-licensed code on the same media – even if it is not part of their software – may result in legal issues. This restriction alone can discourage companies from using free software.

Ten (10) Books that have Affected Me, Pt. 2

Continued from yesterday's post.

1. The Death of Superman - This is not (technically) a book. However, it did reignite my love of comic books and my appreciation for the medium.
2. A Practical Guide to Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux - This served as my introduction to the GNU/Linux operating system via Fedora. I saw a world beyond Windows for the first time. I took two classes that utilized this book, classes which took me to my limit of technical knowledge. I'm not ashamed to say I still use GNU/Linux to this day, thanks to Mark Sobell's excellent work on this text.
3. Rescuing Jesus from the Christians - Remember when I said I wanted to find alternate perspectives of different mythologies? This book is part of that. Part of my curriculum at Indiana Wesleyan University involved writing several research papers in preparation for my capstone project. I wanted to find an alternate perspective on Christianity that had a historical basis, yet remained compatible with the Bible. This book was the springboard for that project.
4. Batman: To Stalk a Specter - This short novel did for Batman what The Death of Superman did for comics in general: it reignited my interest in the character. Plus, we get to see Batman actually doing some detective work and utilizing a network of citizens. This book also fundamentally shaped how I view the character.
5. Why Software Sucks...and What You Can Do About It - This book started me on the path to being a software tester.

So there you have it: ten books that have affected me in some way. Feel free to make your own list if you haven't already.