June 12, 2007 by phillip.

I know. All you Mac lovers stuck on a PC are telling me SHUT UP! Yes it is true. Apple’s web browser Safari is now available on the PC. Apple wants to join the ranks of Firefox and Internet Explorer in running on every platform. Check it out at: www.apple.com/safari .

True cross platform would involve Linux though, people at Apple. Let’s get on the ball since Apple is running a Unix OS under the hood so it seems like it would be so much easier but I digress.

Check it out and tell me if it’s faster than the other web browsers like it says. Honestly, I still think that the Opera browser is the fastest but I haven’t given this one a good try yet. Come on though. Firefox and it’s plugins are digital manna from heaven so I’m not switching.

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June 12, 2007 by phillip.

If you haven’t already done so check out a real lifesaver. They’re called Widgets. They’re hard to explain but they’re little programs that just run on your computer doing all kinds of usefull stuff. They’re not actual programs that run on their own but under a program called a widget engine. I HIGHLY suggest this over a crazy Weatherbug program or other spyware that say they aren’t spyware.

I’ve got to say I’ve been interested in getting into stock trading. Years ago I used to have an Excel spreadsheet and keep track of what I’d gained or lost. Well, I hate this widget but love it. I pick a stock and the price I bought it at and it keeps me up to date all day on what I would have made. I love it because I’m making money on good picks. I hate it because I haven’t actually put the money down on these stocks so I’m not making any money. Sucks.

Yahoo took over this company called Konfabulator a while back and so now the program can be found at widgets.yahoo.com and there’s actually a blog at widgets.yahoo.com/blog. There are many widgets to find but the one I’m using is called XR Stock Gain by Jae Lee at XRProductions.com.

Quick tip: Always change the widget’s opacity because you’ll get really annoyed seeing something on the side of your screen all day.

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June 12, 2007 by phillip.

“Click on my pop-up. Read my blog to success. We have the cheapest prices.” The Internet is a scary place for the unknowing wanderer or the easily convinced mind. Those prone to cult-ish behavior or obsessive compulsive routines will get grabbed by the hand and led into the abyss. It’s kind of like the myth of falling into a whirlpool in the ocean. They say if you hold your breath it will spit you back out. The difference with the digital whirlpool is that it will spit you out when your credit cards are dry.

I’m sorry if I scared you because that’s not the point of my blog. In a moment of self-analysis I tried to see the point of what I do and if it is helping the average person that wants to use technology as a tool in their life. It shouldn’t be complicated or puffed up to be more than that. A door lock serves it’s purpose and does it well. So does a computer and the Internet given a little bit of know how and healthy skepticism. I wouldn’t want you to open Pandora’s box. Oh, you don’t see it? Yes, that’s exactly what it is.

Take for instance a friend of mine. He’s a good person, isn’t out to hurt anyone but he listened to Joe Blow internet guy and said to himself, “He’s doing big things.  I’ll do what he said.”  He buys computer product only to realize that later on he neither enjoys the benefits of this product nor needs it.  He’s been pulled into the abyss and will continue to till his pockets are dry.

“Why listen to Phillip Banks then?” You may ask.  Great question!  For one, you should check into things more yourself (if you have the time) and not totally rely on me.  I’m not given a huge budget to work with every piece of software but I try to work with people whenever they try anything because I want to know.  Second, feel free to email me and call me on my crap.  You may be right and I haven’t seen the grand scheme of product XYZ.  The one thing you will get is an honest opinion from a person that doesn’t buy things just because it’s there.  My unique perspective is seeing the similarities in things.  Something announced for $10,000 may just be a $100 product with bells and whistles you can add for yourself for $50.  A lot of the big podcasts, and videopodcasts seem to not take some of these things into account.
My moment, of self-analysis let me to look at my blog stats.  I must say I was shocked that I’m not just shouting into the digital darkness and would enjoy hearing from any of you about ideas you want me to look into.

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