Geeking Akron: watching technology, computers and geek culture- and offering glimpses behind the scenes at the Akron Radio Center and AkronNewsNow.com.
Bryan is the site administrator, programming lead and senior cat herder for AkronNewsNow.com and Rubber City Radio Group station website operations
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posted 6/25/2008 4:09:52 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Gates Gets Windows Rage Like the Rest of Us
 As Bill Gates' retirement from full-time participation in running Microsoft is entering it's last week, there have been plenty of interesting tidbits about his tenure. Surprisingly, the man many people want to hate (who is more hated: a basic smartass or a super-rich and phenomenally successful CEO?) in the tech universe is receiving quite an easy pass. Basically, I think people are giving him his proper due, no matter how prevalent his products are (and indeed, how prevalent his product's flaws are).
It's also nice to know that he can experience the same krep with his computer that we do. Making the rounds on the blogs and tech wires right now is a copy of a 2003 email Gates sent to various people in the Microsoft.com Windows Update service division. Apparently, Ol' Bill wanted a copy of Windows Movie Maker and the Digital Plus package, and he describes the process he went through only to come to naught. It's a scream to read, knowing the source; even more because us "tech-types" easily recognize the frustration present in his communication that we've seen in every other Windows-frustrated consumer on the face of the planet that have contacted us with one problem or another.
The full email, after the jump; original story was at the SeattlePI, link courtesy BoingBoing.
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posted 6/9/2008 1:57:27 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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The Devils of Vacations
(warning: stream of consciousness blogging follows.)
As much as I was looking forward to time off, I always hate that "disconnected" feeling I get, even when it's self-imposed.
More after the jump.
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posted 5/15/2008 4:51:56 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Buying "Something" Online
Once in a while, it happens that an individual or company comes along with an interesting, albeit not earth-shattering, idea (OK, it happens quite a lot online, but I digress). Have you ever been stuck needing to buy something for someone as a gift, but been completely unable to come up with an idea? Here's the perfect solution, and even better you're just as surprised as they are upon receiving the gift.
More after the jump.
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posted 4/30/2008 2:24:27 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Apple Keyboard... on My PC?
 Yes, you heard me correctly. I had a keyboard lose functionality on two of it's keys today and I needed a replacement. Now, what would this overpowered-PC hackjob user get when he has access to standard Dell 'boards and a pile of every 100-something key OEM input devices in God's creation in the basement? An Apple Keyboard Pro. Let me tell you why.
More after the jump.
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posted 4/18/2008 9:44:31 AM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Sometimes Tech is Just Plain Creepy
 After all of the technological innovations needed for a new idea have been achieved, occasionally there must be a time when the creators must step back and say, "Ummm... nevermind."
I can't imagine that this didn't happen when looking at this photo. Apparently combining assorted technologies consisting of Dean Kamen's Segway for ambulation, teleconferencing, wireless networking and medical telemetry, this robot device (called the "uBot-5")could have been a wonder for remote medical assistence. Yet, I can't help but think if this thing came lurching toward me in my moment of distress, I'd likely think I was hallucinating and aim a few roundhouse kicks at it, if my condition allowed it, from my position on the floor.
Whoever thought that the dismembered torso with a hastily re-attached disembodied head would provide a comforting image to someone in distress needs to take a vacation away from the zombie-filled first-person-shooter video game genre for a little while. The hands look they were donated from a failed, and likely deceased, bomb-squad trainee. Better the architecture resemble a toaster on a roller skate than the pseudo-human form if said avatar looked like a victim of a tragic farming accident.
Hat tip: Gizmodo.
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posted 4/15/2008 7:24:35 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Trouble Brewing
I just told my wife, "I'll need that tube of Lotramin later... leave it next to the toothpaste."
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posted 4/15/2008 9:00:01 AM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Knife Nostalgia
 Perhaps I am breaking some sort of unwritten rule of geekdom, but I occasionally get nostalgic for simpler times. I was in the hardware store the other day looking for a decent whetstone for some of my kitchen knives, my pocketknife and tools down in the basement. My pocketknife, particularly, is about as sharp as a wet Twinky as I was cutting down some boxes here at the office. Nothing kills an edge like using it as a boxcutter.
As it was, however, I had difficulty finding anything useful and I came to the realization that a lot of people simply don't carry pocketknives anymore. I don't know whether it's political correctness, fear of being caught "with a weapon" (no, I am not in favor sending kids to school "armed"), or simply not wanting to appear like "the sort of person who carries a knife."
More after the jump.
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posted 4/11/2008 11:15:51 AM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Product Not Helping My Growing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
 The mark of a successful product, in the long run, is when it fulfills a need or a niche in the marketplace. Apparently this one might have done just that considering my burgeoning obsessive-compulsive disorder concerning handwashing and hand sanitizer (for more on that, see below).
Enter The Handler, a keychain device with a button-action hook that pops out so you can open doors, flush toilets and generally take care of business in those public areas where you know (whether you do or not) that the last person to use whatever it is in front of you had some horrible flesh contaminating bacteria or pathogen, slightly more confident in the knowledge that the micro-particulate silver will take care of most antibacterial and antiviral duties in between handwashing sessions. Hat Tip Gizmodo, who states that these ought to be found on sale in airports and drug stores for less than ten bucks in the coming months.
 I didn't used to be all weird about handwashing and such until after several years running an IT department. Basically, apart from the technical aspects of the job, the more mundane aspects required that I had my hands on other people's mice and keyboards all of the time. And after seeing what can come out of a keyboard (been using yours for a little while? Go ahead... put down a clean, white piece of paper on your desk and turn your keyboard upside down and give it a good shake over the paper- you'll see what I mean!) And watch all of the people you pass in the bathroom who either neglect to wash their hands or only do it peremptorily. And then realize you've been typing away on that person's system for the last hour... and don't even get me started on people who I've caught picking their nose. Ewwwww!
So in recent years, I have become more and more obsessive about handwashing and sanitizer. Too bad that obsession doesn't extend to general clutter.
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posted 4/9/2008 4:36:28 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Hybrid Cars: Unintentional Downsides to Technology
 I was looking through our AP video player a few moments ago when it hit on a problem that is beginning to be addressed by automakers and some few in Washington. It seems that along with the added fuel economy and serene riding style that some new Hybrid vehicles provide, the silence could be deadly for those whose sight isn't that great.
Video and more after the jump.
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posted 4/1/2008 3:17:41 PM by
Bryan Siegfried (ANN Admin)
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Finance Pages Rollout, Style Changes to ANN
Well, we're finally launching a project that has been at the front of our cooktops for the past few weeks. Finance.AkronNewsNow.com is up and rolling, and although we're still doing a bit of tweaking and some browser-specific fixes we're pleased with the rollout. Those of you who still insist on using Mosaic 2 or Netscape Gold: yer outta luck.
One of the items I have been gritting my teeth over is the new page template that you see surrounding the financial content. What you see now on the Finance pages is a stylistic beta. We want to see how people react to it and, if all goes well, we'll apply it to the entire site in the months ahead.
I'd love to have any feedback you'd like to give on the new design. And, by the way, if you're into the "inside baseball" of such things, Revision 1 ("r1") never saw the light of day (aside from myself, the business principals, the BoD and a few soda cans that remained on my desk too long) as it was merely a basic proof-of-concept design that never had any polish nor many of the site features that the current version has (r2). R3 is much more polished and incorporates more dynamic features into the site. One of the design cues we carved in stone when we began the initial AkronNewsNow site architecture two years ago was that we desired an uncluttered site that used a larger amount of whitespace in the design than other news webstites. This whitespace improves both readability and the ease with which items can be found in the site through the navigation. We feel we've succeeded in this and the new revision is more visually interesting without impacting that readability.
As in all things ANN, leave a comment about anything regarding this site or this blog (pre-emptive answer: No, I do not get free hooch from this guy). Pithy questions or comments will be reproduced in this space.
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