Some OS X software problem

Writing a quality software is important.

This is unbelievable, it always take me more than 20 minutes (I think is about 30 minutes) to sync my pda with the palm desktop software on Mac OS X, even if I just modified a few records. May be I am using a newer version of Palm Desktop (version 4) together with my older version of Palm Vx (OS version 3.x), and there is some compatibility problem.

I think there is some problem with the new palm synchronization software. Palm use to write a lot of good software, like the Palm OS, simple and easy to use, the palm desktop is another piece of good software.

The new palm software is not better than the old one, those on Mac OS is even worst. Mac OS is popular for its easy to use interface, but I find it difficult to use the Palm Desktop for Mac OS X. I don't know why, is just difficult to use.

May be is a common issue, these software developer only familiar with windows operating system, especially on the display interface. Last time I encounter some problem with java applet display on Linux system, the java applet can't refresh the display properly and efficiently. Most people don't care, because they run java on windows platform.


Firefox (ajax) display problem

Here is another example. My firefox on Mac OS X, have this display problem when access to meebo website. The scroll bar at the back display on the front window, don't tell me this is a transparent effect, because when firefox run on my windows platform does not have such problem.

Idealism and Pragmatic

Most people know about Linus Torvalds and Linux, but not RMS (Richard M. Stallman) and GNU, that's normal. Most people know GNU software from Linux and not the other way round.

RMS is idealistic. He want all software to be free, contamination are not allowed in free software, that is a great vision. Free software (GNU) is a revolution to the software world for the past ten or twenty years, and is still goes on. Linus is pragmatic. Usability of linux kernel widely adopted by many users, including commercial sectors. Many developers join Linus, write codes for linux kernel, some other company package the linux kernel together with other open source software as a commercial product.

I respect them, both RMS and Linus.

Open source software always remind me of independent movie production, I think they are quite similar in one way or the other. They are not controlled by big company, like Xerox or Paramount.

I know some independent movie maker (including producer and director) in Malaysia, sometimes I watch their movie (or shorts) to show my support to them (just like using open source software).

Some of the local independent movie maker insist their movie to be artistic, which was not understand by most audience. If you are looking for commercialize movie, you should go for hollywood style movie. Artistic movie target for a different audience, unfortunately there is not a big group of audience out there.

Same thing happen to some local open source software society, they insist software to be free (as freedom) and be free (as free beer). I am wandering if the local open source software people watch the local independent movie, what they will say?

Most probably local open source software people will ask, why should I pay for an entrance for local independent movie? Why it is not free? Why can't I duplicate the DVD (movies)?

For me, open source community must be open minded, free or commercial is not an issue. Open minded means to accept more ideas, more audience and more flexible.

I respect both of them, the local open source software community and local independent movie group. Keep it up.

GSC e-payment

I like movies, but I am lazy. I hate the long queue infront of the cinema ticket counter, so normally I watch movies during weekdays, or waint until everyone finish wathing it.

Some people like to use online booking or telephone booking, but you need to collect the ticket 30 minutes before the movie started. If you know my 'movie marathos', I watch the 7:30pm show after work, I might not able to make it before half an hour time.

Sometimes the phone booking seats was not collected, it will be openned to the others. I did tried my luck to get those seats, is good seat, right in the center of the cinema. I just don't understand why they implement such a system, the system may be abused because you don't have to pay if you don't collect the tickets. If they want to earn the extra 50 cents per booking, I will be very surprised.

Finally GSC came out with the e-payment ticketing system. I have been using it for quite some time and I am happy with it. You pay for the ticket online through credit card, the tickets is yours, you don't have to reach early to pick up the tickets. The e-payment system only available for Mid-Valley and 1U (new wing) cinema only.


GSC e-Payment: Choose your seat

How do you get the tickets? Remeber to bring along your credit card which you used to pay the tickets. Insert the credit card into the e-Payment KIOSK, follow the procedure, you will get the tickets. Sometimes the machine will response a bit slow, just be patient, if is not working, you can always re-print your ticket through Gold Class ticket counter.

The e-payment system charge extra 50 cents for each tickets, is expensive. The good things about using the e-Payment system is, you can choose your seat online, is using Flash technology. You see, these days website don't use Java applet, they use flash. YouTube use flash, was bought over by Google for 1.65 billion USD recently.

Devil wears prada

"size zero is new 2"

If you think working in Google is your dream job because you can wear casual to work, then 'The Devil Wears Prada' is not the movie for you.


The Devil Wears Prada

But if you like open source because you are innovative, you can watch the movie, is quite a nice movie.

The yahoo movie review is here.

The movie is base on the bestseller novel with the same name written by Lauren Weisberger. Most readers believe Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runaway fashion magazine in the movie, was build base on editor-in-chief Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine, because Lauren (the novel writer) work there as an intern.

Chinese Grand Prix 2006

I watch the last few minutes of the F1 race, while having a late lunch in a restaurant.


Chinese Grand Prix 2006, Shanghai.

Michael Schumacher win over Fernando Alonso, Schumacher catch up from 6th place to number 1. Both Alonso and Schumacher score 116 point.


F1 2006 schedule.

If you do not want to miss the last few races for Schumacher, you can add in F1 2006 schedule (iCal) in you Google Calendar.