Client-side Web

CNET: The great JavaScript debate: Improve it or kill it?

All in all I enjoyed the article. There's no doubt that the current JavaScript needs to evolve or be replaced. I can't really choose which option now, but maybe more towards a replacement?

I use more jQuery than pure JavaScript nowadays. I love its way of DOM object accessing. And I consider it's more of a new language than an extension. So, I don't care learning a new language for a JavaScript replacement or two. Because most of the JavaScript usage is DOM manipulation, the way jQuery is structured makes a lot of sense. And I even wish there would be a native jQuery engine instead of background JavaScript translation.

Speaking of the article, I have a bit of opinion on the last two paragraph on the third page, though. -- It is not about the "platforms [...] closed, vertically integrated, and proprietary" vs. "the open, standards-based Web." As the author suggested, apps in the former is "purpose-built". Depending on the purpose of each project, the client-side technology should be picked. Write-once-and-run-anywhere is too much to wish for at this moment, considering the current clients vary in their processing power and power consumption. Developers should be flexible and not to be afraid of writing in multiple platforms. Besides, it would be a key for your job security.

Social Sites

CNET: Facebook time is tops abroad, with Singapore No. 1

I still don't like socializing at sites like Facebook. To me, it seems cold and emotionless. It seems to reveal another sides of people, which is good in a sense, because some people may feel a relief from the real-world activities. But that is the biggest reason I don't like to be at those social sites. I just prefer to be the same me anywhere. I don't want to act differently between in the real world and on the Net. I don't want "friends" on the Net who I never see and talk to in the real life. I prefer one-on-one connection rather than friends of friends of friends of... are all friends. And I don't want to see a lot of people doing any of these I don't like.

To some I may look old school. To another I may look anti-social. I don't care. I just want to care more about the closest friends, when it really matters.

Yes, zip line is dangerous, people! (And so are any other sports.)

USA Today: Hawaii zip line deaths raise concerns in unregulated industry

Yeah, that thing can potentially kill you. (I just broke my ankle.) But I don't know how some regulations can safeguard those. Dangerous sports are dangerous. And that's the reason we do them. And it's fun. I've been lucky so far. But I'm guessing my death will be a painful one, or maybe it will happen in an instant. I prefer the latter. I hope the one died in the accident had the latter too. RIP.

Blogger iPhone app

An official Blogger app for iPhone and iPod Touch has arrived. This post is written in the app. While I like the overall design and responsiveness, I do not see myself switching from Blogger+ so soon. That is because the 'plus' has some convenient functions like link maker, paragraph-by-paragraph editing, etc. Nevertheless, it's a very good start and I hope it will get better.

I don't get some of them

10 Things Apple Could Change Now That Steve is Gone [Mac|Life]

I disagree some of those. No budget Mac. I agree there will be some price drop. But the thing is because of tablets and smartphones a lot of people will no longer need "full-fledged" computers like PC and Mac. Those will remain only at work places to create something or for people creates something at home. So, what you will have is either mobile devices only or mobile devices + computers.

And no BluRay and no Flash. This could be just me, but you don't have to watch anything if something only available in those formats. There are way too many things available out there paid or free. If you desperately want to watch BluRay, get a player and a TV. If you want to watch Flash, do it in a PC/Mac. One device shouldn't be able to do too many things.

HP! You Do It Again!

HP kills tablets, confirms PC spin-off plans [Computerworld] -- Ha! I knew you would do that, HP! It is not the first time. You raped and murdered iPAQ. And now webOS. You are like a sexual serial killer. Did you enjoy that? You must have. You were on probation on my list. I was hoping you would redeem yourself. And you miserably failed in the second chance. As I promised, I will never, ever buy your products. And it doesn't hurt at all, because your iPAQ was the only thing I have ever purchased. And I don't need a PC either. Ah! You are dumping PC too!

Microsoft drops Reader after Amazon, Apple take over

[electronista] -- It's a shame, but I knew this day was coming. I used to be a long time MS Reader/LIT user with my Pocket PC's. Since I started using it ten years ago, I have only bought a few books (except text/reference books.) It is not an exaggeration that it started my dropping physical media. I now do not buy not only books but also newspaper, CD, DVD and Blu-ray. I just don't buy any material if it's not available in an electronic format.

Years have gone by and I now use an iPhone. Before my transition from Pocket PC to iPhone, I made it sure that anything I was doing in Pocket PC could be done in iPhone. MS Reader was taken over by Stanza, and then iBooks. I have had no reason to go back to Pocket PC.

Again, it's a shame that yet another Microsoft's half-hearted effort is killing their great product. Those might have just been produced too early for a mass to accept. But that's the problem of Microsoft. They may be innovative, but cannot feel the air in the public. They may have had an acceptable OS at a time by luck, but do not know how to sustain it by leaving it. They had a key to solve the current issue of theirs right in Pocket PC and Windows CE ten years ago. But it has been lost forever.