Googlesoft Chomernet Framesplorer

Google Chrome Frame. Have you seen this, have you heard about this? If not, it’s all right here for you.

Microsoft slammed it, Mozilla has come out and sided with Microsoft in slamming it. Ordinarily I’m supportive of Google’s projects, but this seems odd to me. It’s one of those things that might have looked better on paper than in practice.

Of course, my reasons are different from Microsoft or Mozilla’s. They’re saying vulnerabilities may be doubled, it may be creating a sort of browser soup, and confusing the user and muddying the internet. Sure, possibly.

What I’m going to do is defend Google against themselves. Are you ready? Here’s what I think: It should NOT be Google’s job to patch Internet Explorer or any other browser.

It’s not their browser. It’s not their browser. It’s not their browser.

It’s definitely not their job. If Microsoft doesn’t care enough to make a quality product, Google shouldn’t concern themselves. I thought that’s what Chrome was about, anyway?

You don’t see Microsoft putting out plug-ins for Mac OS X or Linux that make those operating systems behave like Windows. You don’t see Aston Martin putting their engines in Ford Explorers.

I think it’s admirable that they want to try and help people who use Internet Explorer, but the best thing they can be doing is working on their own browser.

Speaking of which, why not drop this Google Chrome Frame crap and, I don’t know, release Chrome for OS X?! You want to help people out, Google? How about releasing your browser for us Mac and Linux people instead of wasting your time on Internet Explorer.

You’re using a modified version of Apple’s own web engine anyway. The least you can do is release your browser on its engine’s native platform.

Microsoft Stores

This post got me thinking.

Microsoft needs to distance themselves from Apple. I can’t speak for the US, but here in Canada they would be wise to open up as many stores as they can in as many locations as they can.

Why?

It’s because Apple have acted like complete morons here. Last time I checked there were less than 5 Apple stores in all of Canada. Sure, there are hundreds upon hundreds of certified Apple resellers, but that’s different. Those are not Apple brand stores that people can identify with.

If Microsoft’s plan is to open stores next to established Apple locations, then this retail project of theirs deserves to fail, as much as I hate to say it.

Even though there are hundreds more store locations in the US, I’m sure the same strategy would work there. Open as many stores away from Apple as they can, because you will find people starved for a decent tech store.

I love Apple, and I love Microsoft. But damn they’re stupid.

Troll Trolling

I want spend this post calling out MacDailyNews as the sorriest excuse for a Mac blog I’ve ever come across.

Despite its name, they spend a great deal of time posting on Microsoft and how much Microsoft sucks. Such a post will be followed by a “MacDailyNews Take” in which they jerk off to how much Microsoft sucks and Apple is awesome.

Apple is awesome. As much as I’ve grown to dislike Windows, I still think Microsoft is awesome too. There’s room to like both, and there’s room to criticize each equally and fairly. MacDailyNews does neither, and the result is a following of the worst kind of Mac “fans” out there. The kind that would unabashedly sniff Steve Job’s farts, and God help you if you happened to catch a whiff and said “Ugh—*cough*AACK,” because that would be a clear indication of your lack of belief in His Steveness.

In today’s world, there’s so much of This vs That, that you’re expected to pick a side and the thought that, perhaps, choosing more that just one side is completely UNHEARD OF. I see this all the time in Wii vs Xbox 360 vs PS3 arguments, or indeed Mac vs PC arguments. You have to back only one of them up, and it’s damn near blasphemy if you ever show any kind of interest or support for anything other than what you’re backing. There’s absolutely no room to like more than one side in the eyes of some people.

A Linux user who loves Windows and OS X just as much? Get out of here. That’s ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as a Christian accepting that, maybe, there’s a chance there is no God?

Right? Right?

Keeping with the religious example I’ve now just got myself stuck in, being open minded doesn’t mean your faith has to be challenged. Just because you’re an avid Mac user and a big Apple fan, doesn’t mean you can’t use Windows or Microsoft products and enjoy doing so. Yeah, sometimes Microsoft makes it hard to enjoy using their products, but… Apple’s not perfect either. And you should trust a blog to draw a clear distinction there.

I realize I could simply not visit the site, but despite its overwhelming flaw and clear shittiness, MacDailyNews does offer some interesting bits of news in the Apple community. But the majority of its content is an insult to its own God damn name, and I think the internets would be better off without shit like that clogging up the tubes.

E3 Makes Me Happy

It’s that time of year, and I highly recommend keeping an eye on Kotaku this week if you’re at all interested in E3 and video games and awesomeness.

I don’t feel like it’s the duty of my (this) blog to report on news. Actually, I don’t feel it’s the duty of my (this) blog to report on games at all, but since being a geek covers such a wide range of things (just look below for some recent awesomeness by Jeremy) it’s only natural gaming should make its way into the mix.

I realize I’ve said nothing so far, and I apologize for wasting your time… so I’ll get to my point. Look at this bigger-than-God’s-balls sized poster. For Assassin’s Creed 2.

The point I want to make is that I’ve never cared much for Ubisoft. Now, I don’t mean that in a “I HATE THEM” way… far from it. I just mean they’ve never quite been on my radar. Lately, however, they seem to have found a way, and I doubt I’m the only one who feels this way.

Assassin’s Creed was awesome. Too long and a bit fatiguing by the end, but still very awesome. And the little bits of info we’ve known about the sequel so far have suggested Ubisoft are taking what was so awesome about the first game and making it better. So… I find this poster fitting. We’ll see.

I’ve very excited to learn more about the game. I hope we get some great stuff out of Ubisoft this week.

Microsoft’s New Ads

This is their latest, following fresh off the heals of their first.

I’m not going to get into a whole commentary, you don’t have to go very far to find one. I’m an Apple nerd, and sure I get a little irked at a phrase like “to me, Macs are about aesthetics than actual computing power.” However, I am quite amused so far. I await their next ad in this series.

I don’t know if or how Microsoft are trying to compete with Apple’s “Mac vs PC” ads, and on what level, but that’s how people look at it. And I think the difference between these sets of ads really points out the difference between Microsoft and Apple.

Apple’s ads are simple and catchy. Microsoft’s ads are more complex. There’s really nothing wrong with it, but I think people miss the point when trying to compare them. And if Microsoft is trying to compete with Apple’s ads, they’re missing the point too.

I do think this new series of ads by Microsoft are their best yet. What I think they really should be doing is what Apple don’t in their ads — actually talk about the OS. Maybe if Microsoft talked about Windows, it would force Apple to talk about OS X.

Just maybe.

iMac Fund Begins!

I had been a Windows PC user since 1994. I was 9 years old at the time, and new to computers. Back then it was Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS, hardly user friendly compared to today. Up until 2005 I had a vague impression of Macintosh computers. And in 2005 I became greatly interested in the Apple world, and I’ve been following ever since.

Early 2006 I bought an old Power Macintosh G3 on eBay (the old “Blue & White” one) which ran Mac OS X Tiger pretty damn well. Not bad for a seven-year-old computer at the time running the latest version of Apple’s operating system. You wouldn’t find a PC that old running Vista.

In June 2007 I got my first brand new Mac, specifically the white MacBooks. I’m now using it as my main computer, and it’s functioning as a Desktop since I have it connected to an external display, keyboard, and mouse. And speakers. It’s currently the best computer I’ve ever owned. I say that as my loyal PC sits tucked away, still running, but stuck doing specific tasks. Like a cute little puppy.

I’ll be an Apple customer for life. I’m hooked.

Except that my MacBook isn’t really doing it for me. As I said, I’m using it as a Desktop replacement. What I’d really like is a proper desktop Mac, an iMac, that I can sit at and is a permanent fixture on my desk. Now that Apple has refreshed their desktop lineup (March 3rd) I find it’s time for me to finally get serious about saving up for one.

Today marks that day. The day I start saving. I’ve had a separate bank account, at a separate bank, from my normal bank since this last summer. It’s been sitting at $0 this whole time. Not anymore.

This is the best way you can save for something. Get a whole different bank account at a different bank, put money in it, and just forget it even exists. Out of sight, out of mind.