Bill Gates & Co helped made a product (Windows) which can be used on almost any computing device. By that, I mean you can go down to Best Buy, buy all the pieces you need, and build a Windows computer (shut up Linux users: you require too much tinkering for the average Joe). This helped bring the personal computer to the masses. For a number of reasons, this brought Gates tremendous wealth. Now, certainly, Jobs & Co played a role in that as well, but their paths diverge quickly.

Some make the argument that Job’s contributions to the world made it a better place. The iPad didn’t make the world any healthier or smarter. Perhaps the developers who created applications to use on the iPad did. The only world that Jobs really improved with his products are the worlds of those who directly benefited from the money tree. Is there anything wrong with this? Absolutely not. I only take issue with those who praise him as the savior. Let’s just refer to him as what he really was: Jobs was an excellent capitalist.  He spent his time figuring out how to create another piece of consumerism plastic with built-in obsolesce. I don’t buy into the “genius” of Jobs. He wasn’t by himself, sitting atop of mountain, stepping down once a year to give us mere mortals a piece of hand-crafted brilliance. He had an excellent team of creative individuals who probably endured an immense amount of stress as Jobs thought himself perfect and demanded the same everyone around him. For whatever reason, Apple decided to create an image of an ultimate, infallible leader. Corporations don’t put creative geniuses at their helms, they put cutthroat capitalists in those seats. Jobs was celebrated for working, right up to the end, on creating more wealth for Apple’s shareholders. Then, it happened. Consumers around the world wept. Why? Because they weren’t sure they were going to get another cool product to spend too much on. Jobs was stinking rich, and he knew it. With his over-reactive legal department suing anything with a fruit on it, he attacked Android for stealing everything from him. Apple’s entire culture is built around exclusivity, being a walled-garden with complete control over what you can do with what you own. You can’t play unless you pay. Windows has to play with everyone, lest they be taken to court again. Apple can force consumers to use iTunes with their iStuff. Meanwhile, Microsoft has to be cut up into several business units and pander to governments around the world because of “anti-trust” issues. Apple’s no underdog, nor a champion for them, they just have a better legal department.

Since stepping down as Microsoft’s CEO, Gates now spends his days literally giving away his wealth which saves lives around the world and teaches computer literacy to children who would otherwise never have the opportunity. And, not just giving the money away, but taking the time to research and invest in long-term strategies to better the lives of the underprivileged.

Which of these men is worshiped?

It says a lot about who we are as a people.

There, I’ve said it.

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The Tallies: Steve Jobs & Bill Gates originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on November 7, 2011.

• Panasonic BL-C30A NETWORKCAMERA.zip
  All CD files in a .zip folder

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Configuration Program for Panasonic BL-C30A originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on August 8, 2011.

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Hey, Oracle! We hate this crap. originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on March 16, 2011.

At first, I set up a shortcut on her smartphone which jumped right to the web sites for SubFinder which allowed her to job shop throughout the day. But with my mind still turning, I knew I couldn’t let this continue manually. This is the INTERNETS! That means connected systems and automation, my friends!

SubFinder has no built-in notification system, aside from the archaic one-at-a-time phone calling system(I know, right?). However, I was able to find a new online service called SubAssistant which checks your SubFinder account for you, then sends you a text message or email alert when one is available. All you need to do is sign up, enter your SubFinder info, set your notification preferences, and wait for the jobs to come to you. Once I set this up for my wife, she couldn’t believe how many notifications she was receiving. While SubAssistant doesn’t auto accept the jobs for you, it was easy for my wife to get the email on her phone, then immediately pop open the browser and pick up the job manually.

While looking for automated programs to check SubFinder, I ran across a couple of others for different sub systems like Sub Sidekick, Jobulator, and SubAlerts, but all these programs require you to download software to your own computer and leave your computer on 24/7 so the software can check the site. I liked SubAssistant’s approach; its all online so you don’t have to worry about leaving your computer on or missing jobs because you forgot to start the software after a reboot. (Not to mention the electric bill!) Another option is using something like the Check4Change plugin for Firefox or ReloadEvery for Internet Explorer and (I think) Chrome. But again, these two just refresh the page and essentially tie you to your computer.

Does anyone know of any other program that can do the same thing for SubFinder? SubAssistant works great, but it doesn’t hurt to try others, right?

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New Program Checks SubFinder Automatically originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on March 16, 2011.

When you go through the cart process, be sure to remove any “backup” or physical media options. As long as you’re careful enough to keep the downloaded ISO somewhere safe along with the product key, you don’t need to pay Microsoft for their backup or physical media.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Student Discount is on again originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on February 8, 2011.

No copyright infringement intended?? That’s like saying “no offense, but…” right before you say something that’s really offensive.

This one is like stealing a neighbor’s car then becoming indignant when he confronts you for stealing it. “What? I told everyone I didn’t own your car while driving it, so I’m good to use it for anything I want, right?!”

And my favorite:

The pissed off YouTube user with an incredibly misplaced sense of entitlement and absolutely no clue about how advertising, copyright, marketing,  or really, anything works in the real world. “This is YOUtube, the place where we can post OUR videos that we make with YOUR music, YOUR video, and YOUR imagery using the free Windows Movie Maker or Adobe Premiere that I illegally downloaded!”

Idiots.

Discover:
Copyright Law
Fair Use

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I’m Stealing Your Car, and that’s Okay originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on February 3, 2011.

For those interested in the actual product, not the glamor shots found every where else, I took a few snapshots of the figure placed next to the Motorola Droid X for comparison.

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My New Cubical Buddy – Android Mini Collectible Standard Edition originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on February 2, 2011.

Disclaimer: I do not condone utilizing this “hack” as a means to avoid paying for the program.

—

Back when I used June Fabric’s PdaNet on my T-Mobile G1 and later on the Motorola Droid X, I discovered (as I’m sure many others did) an easy, temporary, bypass on the trial restriction to connect to secure https web sites using PdaNet during the trial period. Eventually, I rooted (discover rooting) my device and now enjoy the benefits without the need for USB tethering using PdaNet.

To connect to secure web sites, simply use the program’s nag screen, or the context menu when you right-click on the system tray icon to start the process of purchasing the program. Continue through the process as if you are going to purchase the program. Once you reach a web page which utilizes https during the purchasing process (either PayPal, or June Fabric’s other credit card processing choice), you should now have access to any other secure web site. Though, I never quite pinned down if the bypass worked per session, or within some time frame, but at some point, you will likely loose the ability to connect to secure web sites. At this point, just repeat the procedure.

Again, you are responsible for your actions with this information. I used this as a means to fully vet the program before deciding that rooting was a better way to go. Futhermore, I am not sure this will even work with newer versions of the program as I haven’t used it for some time. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Alternatively, PdaNet allows you to continue using its free version (with nag) without access to secure web sites. If you’re more technically inclined, you can set up a VPN through a computer at home and use that to encrypt all traffic keeping PdaNet and your carrier out of your traffic, https or not. More information on this is available on post #13 on this DroidXForums.com thread.

See my previous post on using PdaNet to tether without rooting.

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Bypass PdaNet Trial Restriction on Android originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on January 25, 2011.

NOTE: Proceed at your own risk. While performing these steps should be harmless, I cannot be held responsible for your choice to proceed if bad things happen.

1. Restart your device. Be honest, you haven’t done that,  yet, have you?
2. Clear data for the program that is not syncing (e.g Calendar, Email). Typically, I’ve seen sync issues with only one program. Then, restart the device.
   

   Select "Applications" from Settings Menu

   

   Select the "All" tab, then click the "Clear Data" button for each program with the sync issue (e.g. Calendar and Calendar Storage)

3. Remove then set up the Corporate Sync account (don’t do this unless you have all the details for connecting to your account again)
   

   From the Settings menu, select Accounts, long-press on the Corporate Sync account and then remove.

4. Wait it out. I’ve had users where the first two procedures above didn’t correct the issue with sync, however, after ignoring it for a few days, the sync returned.
5. The nulcear option: Reset to factory defaults
   

   Found in the Privacy menu under the Options menu, the Factory Data reset should be regarded as a last resort and only if you know exactly what a Factory Reset entails.

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Android Corporate Sync Issues [Troubleshooting] originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on January 16, 2011.

Also, have you noticed how “moms” are discovering all the shocking and weird stuff that’s changing everything? I need to open a lab. Srew the scientists, this lab will be staffed by moms!

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Crap in Advertising – Part 1 originally appeared on 365 Discoveries on January 14, 2011.