Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Cr-48 Update

First of all, I hope you all had a very, Merry Christmas.  And in case I don't see you, good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night, and Happy New Year!  (Can someone give me the movie reference, please?)

My family and I really enjoyed ourselves in Orlando, Florida, this past week.  So, keep your eyes peeled for a post or posts with relevant photos.

Now, down to business.  Here some additional thoughts I've had on my Cr-48, since we last met.

Battery.  Yes, I would say it does last about 5-7 hours, depending on the type of use.  And even though it died on me absent a clear warning, I believe it "saved" my data and tabs, so they were still there, when I plugged my AC in.

Using Google Docs on the Cr-48
Google Docs lethargy.  I've been rather disappointed, here.  I've found that some of my larger docs take ages to load, even on my souped-up HP machine; I sometimes feel like I'm having a Gandalf-out-of-body experience, waiting on the Cr-48.

I think I'm most disappointed when the letters on the Docs' screen fail to keep up with my fingers.  As I write this post in Blogger, I think the drag may be unique to Docs (I'm failing to see the same thing in Blogger).

Underlying Chrome channel unchangeable.  In the previous post, I conjectured/hoped I would be able to switch the Chrome channel I run inside of Chrome OS.  That's a negatory, good buddy.  A Chromium dev informed me that "Chrome and the other parts of Chrome OS are updated in lockstep; there's no way to set different update policies for them.  Newer versions of the browser aren't compatible with older versions of the OS, and vice versa."  Gasp!  Needless to say, as I consider myself a heavy canary/dev build user, I'm uber bummed out about this, cough, development, and hope it changes, fast.

Good Luck with the 3G . . .
Verizon 3G 100MB experience.  Yes, it's nice to have when I lack WiFi, for whatever reason.  On the other hand, I felt like I ate through 1MB (or 1% of my monthly allowance) every time I simply opened up a web page (almost like how cell phone providers charge a full minute, regardless if the call lasts two seconds).  I also felt like 3G was noticeably slower than my already slower Cr-48 experience.

Cr-48 Ninja Team
Hotel wireless.  To be short in writing, I was unable to log on to our hotel's wireless until I made two customer support phone calls and only after I realized that the Cr-48's "hardware address" is (I think) the same thing as a Windows machine's "MAC address."  I imagine this is all part of the beta experience.  The poor IT dude (it was Christmas!) I talked to had yet to even hear of Chrome OS . . .

Funked out fonts?  At a minimum, I'm really weired out with my Times New Roman fonts on Docs (and I think my normal fonts on Blogger, as well).  I hope this is also a beta issue; I imagine fonts are intended to look the same, across OSes.

Chromium OS login screen
Guest Mode.  Thanks for the shot, Sebastian of DLSquad.
Ninja support.  While I was somewhat disappointed with the Cr-48 support I received from the designated "Ninja team," I'm very grateful it even exists and that it responds to user queries.

Where's my ctrl+end?!!?  Call me a keyboard shortcut fanatic, if you want, I'll gladly accept the label.  I'm still grumbling about this MIA shortcut.

Guest mode leaves regular mode in the dust?  I'll end this post with my puzzled musings.  I've been wondering what gives on the Cr-48's speed, so, the other day, I tried out the guest mode and felt like I had my socks blown off, in comparison to regular mode.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?  More than anything, I simply hope Guest Mode's relative zip is an indicator the Cr-48/Chrome OS's speed will improve substantially, soon.

Please chime in with any questions/observations of your own.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Got My Cr-48 at UPS Last Night: Let the Instability Begin!

In case you're puzzled about my title, Cr-48 is named for a particularly unstable Chromium isotope (Chromium is also the open source project behind Chrome/Chrome OS).

Here are my initial thoughts:





  1. Speed - Overall, feels pretty slow, at the moment. I did the jail break maneuver, and I’m unsure if I’m actually on the dev channel, as the OS status still says “0.9.128.12 . . . beta.”  At the end of the day, this is still like 4-6 months, pre-release.
  2. CPU noise - I’m actually surprised at how loud it can run. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure it's substantially quieter than my dual core HP Pavilion Dv-7t 2000.
  3. Touch pad - I think I really just prefer the traditional side region scrolling area.  I also feel like I have to bludgeon the touch pad to get the new Apple-style push-click (I really prefer tapping).  Finally, I had some issues with accidentally brushing my touch pad, while typing.  I think that got cleared up, some how.  Maybe I unknowingly changed the sensitivity settings.
  4. Screen size - I really like the size, actually.  I feel really comfortable with it.
  5. Keyboard transformation/shortcuts - Mainly, I love it.  I can do delete by simply pressing alt+backspace, yet the old ctrl+delete functionality seems to have been extinguished.  I also think that using esc in Chrome to stop a page from loading has been axed.  I really like that I can bypass the two-finger click with alt+click (I pretty much stick my tongue out at the two-finger click on the Cr-48).  On the other hand, I'm pretty confident this is broken in Docs, right now, which is a huge bummer when I'm trying to do things like spell check. Finally, I’m feeling uncomfortable with ctrl+alt+down/up arrow for end/home, and I believe Chrome OS lacks traditional ctrl+end/home (skip to beginning/end of a doc), altogether; I really hope I'm wrong, as I feel like I use that combo all the time.
  6. Battery life - I love how it actually gives me an estimated time remaining (and that it lasts like 10x longer than my HP).
  7. “System tray”  - I love how it’s just my clock, my network, and my battery:  All I ever wanted, anyway!
  8. Flash - Yes, I can confirm that I’m disappointed with how jerky flash has run for me.  Again, this is pre-release.
  9. Search engines and passwords - Neither is synced, and I’m pretty bummed out about it.  Ah, well.  Good old manual entry to the rescue!
  10. Underlying Chrome Version - We now come full-circle to speed issues (it's probably apparent how much I value keyboard shortcuts).  Underneath my Chrome OS version, I appear to be running Chrome stable. I’ve been using the canary build, on my HP, for the past while, and I believe it's about 12 weeks, three months, or two versions ahead of stable, in terms of features and speed.  I miss my bleeding edge features/speed! I think I've heard it rumored that there is or will be a way to switch Chrome channels. I sure hope so.

All in all, I'm pretty impressed with what I've seen so far, with my principal gripe being the Cr-48's speed lag (which is probably because a) this is pre-release OS software, b) I'm used to a dual core Intel Centrino, and c) I'm currently on Chrome stable, rather than canary).

Please hit me with any questions you're dying to ask (or otherwise). I'll post more, later.


                                

Monday, December 13, 2010

Win a FREE Cr-48 (Chrome OS) Notebook!!



JUST KIDDING!! 
I mainly want see how many angry comments I get below, cursing me to Hades for luring people in with my malicious Google Alert trigger.

Muahahaha.

Seriously, though, I do hope you get one from Google.  Best of luck to you!


By the way, I'm writing this after actually applying to a (presumably) legitimate competition.  I'll post about it when it's closed.  :)  UPDATE:  Here's what the competition was:  http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/12/win-chrome-os-notebook.html

Sunday, December 12, 2010

What Shall We Give?

"Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit."



Here's President Monson's full Christmas devotional from this year:

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Good Times Reviewing for White Collar

So, after reviewing for White Collar Crime, basically all day, I feel like the foot in this image:

The White Collar Crime Review Demon Has Its Way With Me
10 bonus points if you can tell me where I found this fun piece.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Pain

The following may upset you. It may even shock you. But I feel it is my duty as a concerned cititizan to bring you this important massage:



Yes, when I saw that 25 computers were, in fact, harmed in the making of this video, I almost cried. How about sending me a Cr-48 and letting me use it! On the other hand, I definitely appreciate the message illustrated by the destruction.

P.S. F-Word, if you're unable to identify the "who" and "where," from the opening line, I may have to repossess your quote card.

2010 Year in Review by Google

I saw this today and was pretty impressed.  Hope you enjoy it.



Yes, sometimes I feel like Ferris Beuller:
Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The 12 Days of a Large Family (7 Kids) Christmas

My wife and I both enjoyed this one, and she particularly goaded me to post it.  It's the comments this family of 7 children has heard while out shopping, sung to the 12 Days of Christmas.



In case you're wondering, let me say right off the bat that they are neither Catholics onr members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  I know because they say this at the beginning and the end, respectively.

Hope you enjoy it!

Church-goers tend to be happier people, says study; Cougar Abogado says its because of their unity in God

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40557983/ns/health-behavior/

"Religious people are more satisfied with their lives than nonbelievers, but a new study finds it's not a relationship with God that makes the devout happy. Instead, the satisfaction boost may come from closer ties to earthly neighbors."

I saw this headline in my Google News this morning, decided to take a quick peak, and share a couple thoughts.

First, if this study is accurate, I think that "church-goers" being happier would make plenty of sense because, I assume, they are united.

The Savior prayed,
22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17: 22-23
We find further evidence of happiness (I say "further" because I assume the Son of God was happy in His unity with the Father and His disciples), in the Book of Mormon, stemming from unity.  On the other hand, in contrast to the article, we learn that these people were happy because of their unity in God:
3And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.
15And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. 4 Nephi 1: 3, 15-17.
In summary, the MSNBC subtitle may be correct, "It's not the sermon — it's the socializing that's the key." Yet, I think the purpose of the socializing is what matters. "[W]hen ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God" (Mosiah 2:17). Indeed, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25: 40). And, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14: 15). I do believe and know there is great happiness in the unity of loving Christ and keeping His commandments.

Perhaps ironically, for our day, the people described in the Book of Mormon were happiest because of their unity, rather than their differences. In fact, the text tells us the key to their happiness was that they side aside their differences and focused on being "one, the children of Christ."

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Becoming a Zombie . . . Plants vs. Zombies


Okay, so tonight I felt like blowing off a little steam after some (lovely) Tax review (gotta love those deductions!) and almost turned into a zombie playing PLANTS vs. ZOMBIES.

Tonight was my first foray into the Chrome web store games, and I'd heard about this title, and so I figured I'd give it a shot.

I was pulled in from the word "go," with the inherent war strategy, and stayed engaged, throughout, with fresh items and challenges.

I literally felt like I had to pry myself away from this one or risk becoming a zombie and being planted, by my wife, . . . six feet under!!

I gave this one five stars for all around awesomeness and probably would have kept playing four hours if my will power had utterly failed me.


When you've got a few minutes to burn, go try this one outJust make sure you've got plenty of will power, so you can pry yourself away!!

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mmcegpfdgcoclcdfkjahiimlikdpnina 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Google Launches Chrome Web Store, Shows Off Chrome OS/Chromebook, Cougar Abogado Grovels


IT HAS BEGUN!!!

Cr-48 Chrome hardware pilot program: 'Not for the faint of heart'

Today, while I soaked up some rays studying for Federal Income Tax (please, contain your excitement), Google launched its Web Store and gave an update on its forthcoming OS and a taster of the bad boy shown above.

As it turns out, Google is actually going to give away a number of these notebooks to crazy online dwellers like myself (hopefully!), daring and brave enough to test out the new OS, by putting it through its paces.  Pick me!  Pick me!!  OH PLEASE, PICK ME!!!

Okay, while I stop foaming at the mouth, please enjoy these videos on web apps and Chrome OS.





I've actually taken a peak at the Web Store and was pretty impressed with what I saw:  Toddler Jukebox (an app for playing kids songs, is the #1 paid app!!).  I also gave WGT Golf Challenge a swing and came away quite impressed with the graphics.
WGT Golf Challenge
To give one gripe, before I sign off, I'm pretty bummed out that app tabs appear to have lost (at last for the moment) the fabled features I once thought they would present.  See my comments here, for more.

App tabs - in the top left corner
On a somewhat ironic note, running the latest Chrome canary build, 10.0.603.3, this post died twice, so I resorted to using Firefox 4b7, so I could actually create this post, it's that important to me . . .  HINT, HINT, Chrome team!!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Friday, December 3, 2010

Ancient Scripture Provides Answers to Modern Critics

Okay, so earlier this morning, I wrote the previous post, http://cougarabogado.blogspot.com/2010/12/modern-computing-set-to-enter-matrix-as.html.

I commented, near the end of that post, that I feel apprehensive about what man will do with such massive improvements in technology.  Moreover, we can see how man has already begun to make relativistic arguments that God is a figment of man's imagination and that sin is simply a misnomer, or rather, "the effect of a frenzied mind."

Answers to modern critics
I think you'll find it interesting to note, ironically, that nearly identical arguments were made over two thousand years ago!  (So much for man having evolved into a much "smarter" creature, since that time.)  In fact, I found myself reading about them, this morning, for my daily scripture study, in the Book of Mormon.

Here are some of the arguments made by an ancient (to us, "modern" to himself), "scientific" philosopher:

13O ye that are bound down under a afoolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can bknow of anything which is to come.
 14Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.
 15How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not asee; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
 16Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a afrenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.
 17And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man afared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; andbwhatsoever a man did was cno crime.
 18And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
(Alma 30: 13-18).  Sound familiar?  I strongly encourage you to read pages 214-16 of the latest Book of Mormon study companion.  There, you'll find "modern" comparisons to this man (Korihor)'s teachings and answers to his challenges.

Indeed, man may be advancing in computing potential by leaps and bounds, yet some of his foolish arguments against the existence of God and sin have been parroted for millennia.

I'm so grateful our Heavenly Father foresaw these evil philosophies (see, e.g., Doctrine & Covenants 89: 4) and provided us with divine scripture, almost 200 years ago, to combat them and protect our families against them.

Modern Computing Set to Enter The Matrix (as in the movie)

Okay, every now and again, I read an article about future technologies, and I get pretty stoked.  I remember first reading about USB 3.0, Google's 100Gb internet project, Chrome OS :), and others.

I can legitimately say I often feel like computer technology will move a lot faster than we expect.  Well, over the past couple days, I've seen some more evidence for that belief.

If you want to understand where I'm coming from, here, READ THE TWO ARTICLES I LIST, BELOW.  I'M TELLING YOU, THEY MAY TAKE 15-20 MINUTES TO READ, TOTAL, AND YOUR BRAIN WILL BE LEAPING OUT OF YOUR SKULL.  (Or at least I imagine you're going to be blown away.)  (I apologize, in advance, for a couple innuendos in the second article I was offended by.)

IBM chips: Let there be light signals
When I read the following article by Stephen Shankland at CNET (clicking on the image above will also take you there), my eyebrows raised:  http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20024223-264.html?tag=mncol;1n

When I read the following article by Jason Perlow at ZDnet (also in the image, below), my eyebrows fell off.  Seriously:  http://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/exaflop-computing-moores-law-isnt-dead-its-moved-to-warp-speed/15021pg%3D2?tag=mantle_skin;content

Exaflop computing: Moore's Law isn't dead, It's Moved to Warp Speed
My understanding is basically that this new technology will be like putting fiber optics on CPUs and making things crazy fast.  In the interest of time, here is one excerpt from the ZDnet article:
Eventually, perhaps by the year 2020 or even sooner, nanophotonic supercomputers will exist that approach the Exaflop range in terms of performance . . . .
So with Exaflop-level supercomputing and enterprise computing, or even Petaflop-level consumer computing, just what exactly can you do with all of that processing power?
Well, with Exaflop/s, you can do the sort of things that take current supercomputers weeks or years to do in only minutes or days. It would allow the average citizen to gene sequence their babies the moment they are born to anticipate future diseases for an entire lifetime, or sequence their own DNA and apply corrective action as needed, such as synthesize custom medications.
It would allow for the  real-time simulation of complex systems such as world weather and allow for meteorological science to advance at a level approaching magic or witchcraft  — the ability to accurately model how destructive storms such as tornadoes and hurricanes actually work and form, and accurately predict how they will behave.
WHOA.  Levels approaching magic or witchcraft?  I'm reminded of some scenery from the book of Revelation here, "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?"  (Revelation 13: 4)

I take great comfort in remembering that the Savior has all power, and He will come to cleanse the earth, maybe sooner than we realize.
I used to think that all those things about the beast, etc. having a lot of power would be someone using old-school witch-craft.  I'm now betting it will be super-computing witchcraft.  And if we already worship ourselves (think the Internet, Facebook, Twitter) now, think about how much more that will intensify in under a decade!

I'm feeling blown out of my socks right now.  I'm very apprehensive about what man could negatively do with this massive technological breakthrough.  On the other hand, I'm even more awed to get a minute taste of how much power the Savior Jesus Christ has and remember that He is in control.  Phew!

Okay, now back to earth, class, and finishing my Corporate Finance paper on golden parachutes . . .

(Oh, and happy 375th post to me.  Maybe I'm entering warp speed, myself?)

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Late Night Cheer

Sometimes I can feel pretty depressed with life and law school papers.  These family photos helped cheer me up so much, I want to share them with you.  I hope you enjoy!






Please visit my wife's blog for the captions and background information.  Ah, if only tonight were 12/16/10!  (Finals/everything over and done.)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Please Write Apple and Invite Steve Jobs to Restore the Manhattan Declaration App

I believe we live in a glorious nation that excels in letting people speak their mind.

Manhattan Declaration Phone App which has been deleted by AppleOn the other hand, I was sad to learn, recently, that Apple removed the Manhattan Declaration App from its app store because some people consider it hateful and bigoted.

I suppose some people may say I'm hateful and bigoted because I support traditional marriage and believe homosexual behavior is immoral and sinful.

As I've openly declared before, I have a brother who self-identifies as homosexual, and I love him very much.  On the other hand, I am disappointed with his choice to label himself that way.

Rather than view my brother as an inferior gay, or a "second class citizen," I view him as a beloved child of God who merits my love and respect.

Although I feel I've expressed my disagreement in love, I'm surprised to see so many people shouting their wish to silence me and others they disagree with.  While, I strongly disagree with those who who support same-sex marriage and similar views, I firmly believe they have a right to politely speak their voice.

Rather than be silenced, I will let my voice be heard, and I have.  Here is what I wrote to Steve Jobs on this matter:
Mr. Jobs:

First of all, my congratulations on Apple's many successes this year. I'm particularly impressed with the new MacBook Air line. Moreover, I'm curious to see how Apple responds to Chrome OS, once it actually arrives. :)

With that said, I was very sad to learn that Apple removed the Manhattan Declaration App.

I feel very strongly about traditional marriage, an unborn child's right to life, and the preservation of religious freedom in this greatest nation on earth.

I view Apple as a strong presence in our society and, as I believe Apple intends to be, a trend setter.

I invite you to use your influence for good, to let individuals peacefully speak their mind.

Please reinstate the Manhattan Declaration app.

All the best[.]
Writing six years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley invited us to stand for truth:
President Gordon B. HinckleyThe building of public sentiment begins with a few earnest voices. I am not one to advocate shouting defiantly or shaking fists and issuing threats in the faces of legislators. But I am one who believes that we should earnestly and sincerely and positively express our convictions to those given the heavy responsibility of making and enforcing our laws. The sad fact is that the minority who call for greater liberalization, who peddle and devour pornography, who encourage and feed on licentious display make their voices heard until those in our legislatures may come to believe that what they say represents the will of the majority. We are not likely to get that which we do not speak up for.
Let our voices be heard. I hope they will not be shrill voices, but I hope we shall speak with such conviction that those to whom we speak shall know of the strength of our feeling and the sincerity of our effort. Remarkable consequences often flow from a well-written letter and a postage stamp. Remarkable results come of quiet conversation with those who carry heavy responsibilities.
Will you please stand with me in inviting Steve Jobs and Apple to reinstate the Manhattan Declaration and to let people speak their mind?

You can write him at steve@apple.com.

Please also sign the petition to have the app reinstated.

If you have yet to sign the Manhattan Declaration, please sign it at the link, below.

http://www.manhattandeclaration.org/home.aspx