Windows Annoyance (part 8)

My handy camera makes .MOV video files. They play perfectly fine on the camera. Upload it to Windows 8. Double click on it and it launches the all screen Media player and boom it crashed! Try it on the old Windows Media Player (that does not jump out to Metro) and it plays fine. What's the deal? The same computer. Both are Microsoft programs. The "modern" one crashed, without even a meaningful error message. Waita minute, I was able to see files play on that before. Did it crash after some mandatory update that requires me to reboot?

Windows Annoynance (part 7)

For a decade+, when you install something in Windows, you can find a link to what you just installed on the Start button menu. Alas it is gone in Window 8. You will need to jump out of the desktop, and scroll scroll scroll to the right and find it on the start screen. The icon has a lot of space around it too. Ok, for convenience I need it on desktop. Fortunately I can pin in the taskbar. But look, the taskbar is only so long and it is not nice to put too many things on it. Can I drag the shortcut out into the desktop? No. Can't do that.

This Metro thing really is an disaster.

Modern Javascript libraries

Javascript has come a long way. It used to be a tool to do simple things, such as giving you an annoying alert if you have not entered a required field (now that's considered a poor way to handle validation). Now there are compact powerful libraries that do things I didn't even think was possible before.

I've heard people talk about knockout.js and Angular.js. Going through the tutorials can be an entertaining experience. Basically these libraries let you do Model-View-Controller things all on the client side. Impressive! Of course, there is also the dollar-sign-everywhere jquery that just about everyone uses.

Ok, this can be debugging/programming nightmare if you forgot a $, and {} here and there, and there is some learning curve. Usually I prefer SIMPLE client side code. I prefer to sprinkle logs and invoke the debugger on a real language such as java instead of fighting javascript issues (that may or may not be available on that ancient browser you may be dealing with)... But the javascript libraries and crispy fast because no network trips needed.

See wiki's List of javascript libraries. There are so many out there.

Harsh Windows 8 Verdict: It has failed

ZDNet gives a harsh report card for Windows 8 and plenty of reasons why it failed. See here: Five reasons why Windows 8 has failed.

Yikes, it has done poorer than Vista. While you are at it, read the "Metro is awful" link.

Now Microsoft, do you realize that you made some wrong decisions? (Fire the guy who pushed this interface) Are you going to say dude, at first people didn't like the mouse either?

Yikes your Surface isn't selling either. I'd LOVE to see a product that is even better than the IPad or the Android pads, but I didn't find the Surface is it. It is heavy and wacky.

Before you go into depression, let me tell you this: Windows 8 isn't doing well because Windows 7 was good... it got you back on track after the Vista failure. To fix Windows 8, LISTEN to your users, specifically ME:

1. Give an option to go back to Windows 7 interface with Start button. Gimme Aero back. I am sick of flat colors.
2. Gimme back the DVD player. Come on.
3. LOTS of people wanted an option to boot right into Desktop. Give this option to people. Nobody needs the flipping tiles Start screen.

French curves revisited

Go to a store that sells school supplies you may notice bags of tools for architecture students. Ah, the 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 triangle. I know these special triangles since high school. (Are you able to tell why they are so special?) Come on, you know the compass and protractor. The triangular architect ruler is not for drawing, but for measuring. In modern times students probably all just go to the computer and not need to bother to draw by hand anyway. I am afraid that store won't sell a lot of these. But one curious tool is the French curve. I never knew where it came from. In real life, circles and lines just don't cut it... curves are needed. They are used to draw curves... but why that shape? I decide to find out.

Sure you can look it up too. Oh my it is based on the Euler Spiral. It is Euler again! Yes the guy who has a constant named after him: e, among many other things. Look, this Euler Spiral is how people build curves for roller coasters and highways. Uh, I admit I am not totally understand everything about the spiral here. (Yikes I feel so uneducated) But you see those integrals? Calculus was here.

To the guy who dare to ask me: "Tell me one use of calculus." On that day I wasn't able to tell right away on top of my head instantly... other than, "it allows you to solve problems not able to solve without". Here you go!

Look at this graphical presentation. I am very impressed.