Disqus - Latest Comments for Rick Mahn

Re: Maps, satellite photos and Grand Theft Stupid

Rick Mahn — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 22:33:54 -0000

Mathew, I have to disagree with part of your analysis - the useful part. I do agree that the current state of this prototype is cheesy and silly. However, I do believe there is/will be a usefulness to this type of service. Just to be able to scoot down a street and view an intersection, portion of building, business, etc... could be very useful when someone is trying to get a "feel" for the location they are looking for.

Just today for example, I was going to a seminar in a part of Minneapolis that I'm not totally familiar with - a quick review of the street with this type of service would have saved me 10 minutes. Of couse I went early and got a coffee while looking for the place, so I'll admit that most of us work around this scenario easily. :)

But.... it is cheesy.
-Rick

Re: Foldera – What is it?

Rick Mahn — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 19:31:03 -0000

Thanks for the comment Richard! I surely will provide feedback when I've tried out Foldera. Have a nice weekend.

Rick Mahn

Re: When is Good Enough, Good Enough?

Rick Mahn — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 14:15:56 -0000

Raju,
Thank you, I shall do that!

-Rick

Re: T-Mobile MDA – Finally Got It!

Rick Mahn — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:45:39 -0000

Didn't know that they had released the upgrade - if so, I'll check it out!

Thanks Mark!

Re: Box.net – for real?

Rick Mahn — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 08:47:05 -0000

Wow - I must have missed that on their site. I'll have to go look that up and invite some friends!

Thanks Arturo!

Re: One Month Review of the T-Mobile MDA

Rick Mahn — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 15:19:16 -0000

Stanley,
Thanks for the information on Smartskey - I'll check that out. Nice site by the way (HTC Wizard Web). Just it added to my RSS Reader!

-Rick

Re: One Month Review of the T-Mobile MDA

Rick Mahn — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:40:47 -0000

Mark,
Unfortunately, that is one of the shortcomings of Windows Mobile (at least in my opinion). There are two very good enhanced PIM replacement packages out there that can help: PocketInformant and AgendaFusion. Both have much more powerful contact searching functions. Also, there is the PocketBreeze/ContactBreeze combination that brings your contacts to the Today Screen, and also has more search flexibility than the built-in contact tool.

My real disappointment (though I'm still happy with the MDA) is that you have to open the contacts database before you can search for your contact - taking a few extra seconds before making a call. Its one of few issues that I have with the device.

Re: Review – NewsGator Online

Rick Mahn — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:08:50 -0000

Jonathon,

Thank you for stopping by, and to let me know about that ability. I'll update my review to mention the steps you outlined. I very much appreciate your feedback!

-Rick

Re: New coComment Integration Features

Rick Mahn — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 16:58:28 -0000

AH,
I placed the code after the remark in the default comments.php file that says "You can start editing here.", around line 20.

I was confused by the lack of direction for this as well, so I just placed it in the first spot that looked "right".

Also, I highly recommend testing any changes on a test server if available. I use a virtual machine on my XP box to test the config changes.

Re: One Month Review of the T-Mobile MDA

Rick Mahn — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 17:55:29 -0000

Eric,
You are correct, it does indeed slow it down. The latest version (2.5.0.1) does performa bit better, and is designed for WM5, but still plods along.

I just like the WisBar features too much right now to give it up. Do you know of a good replacement?

Re: T-Mobile and the BlackBerry 8700g

Rick Mahn — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 23:04:48 -0000

Shelly,
Thanks for the info on the 8700g, I'll pass on the link you left for some of my work associates - they may be in the market for a new device.
:)

Re: New coComment Integration Features

Rick Mahn — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 23:09:11 -0000

Steve, coComment has several blog integration scripts at their site (www.cocomment.com) which enhance the performance with nearly any site software. I've integrated the WordPress code here, so if you are a CC user, and have the bookmarklet installed and functioning, it should recognize you automatically.

Also, here in the comment sections the "CO INTEGRATED" logo button is also the bookmarklet code, and will log you into CC if you are not already.

Thanks for stopping by!

Re: What to say…

Rick Mahn — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 21:43:59 -0000

Robert, thank you for stopping by! Yeah, Russ's blog was one of the first I'd found a few years ago when I was looking up info for my Nokia 3650. Going to miss his 'take' on things for awhile.

Re: One Month Review of the T-Mobile MDA

Rick Mahn — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 22:26:58 -0000

Mark,
I've had no problems with call quality. Volume is quite good, sound - very crisp and clear. After several weeks with the MDA, I'm very pleased with my choice of device. In addition to being a very good phone, it is a great mobile email platform.

I've unloaded software that I thought I would use, but in the end did not need, and that has helped the performance issues I mentioned.

Hope this helps answer your question!

Re: A Sentence

Rick Mahn — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 00:14:34 -0000

Thanks for stopping by Jerry!

I'm going to keep an eye out for more of these things. I'll stop over and check yours out.

Re: Another T-Mobile MDA Review…

Rick Mahn — Sat, 06 May 2006 10:58:42 -0000

Yeah, it is not a slim device by any stretch of the imagination. At the same time though, I'm not convinced that there is anything else that can compare. I've got a BlackBerry 8700 to review over the weekend and really am not impressed with the depth of the device - I'll talk more about this in an upcoming review of the device.

Anyway, the MDA has a lot packed into that thick little box.

Re: New coComment Firefox Extension

Rick Mahn — Sun, 07 May 2006 14:34:34 -0000

Agreed, coComment is a fantastic tool for managing comments. Though I don't comment as much as you may, it does help keep track of where & when I posted.

My only complaint with the Firefox extension is that FF thinks just about any blank field on a website is a comment field and pops up its information gathering dialog box. Guess I'll need to see if there is any way to 'train' it not to do that.

Re: Team evaporation

Rick Mahn — Wed, 10 May 2006 10:24:07 -0000

Yeah, this one's not a new manager - so he brings a ready-build bias to the mix. Of course this could be used in a positive manner, but I'm just not convinced yet. The problem is, his group has become very short and not as approachable as a result.

Re: Track your comments, no matter where you make them

Rick Mahn — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 12:02:38 -0000

Robert, you're right - coComment is onto something here... I went to their site after reading your post, signed up to receive future information on their site and the next morning I had an invite code.

Fantastic tool for bloggers!

Re: Google domains going after Outlook? MSN did that months ago…

Rick Mahn — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 21:58:03 -0000

Yeah, I noticed that as well. I've got a domain registered with Live Mail, and it works good except for the inability to use it with Outlook (or am I missing the DIY on that?).

At any rate, I believe the press always prefers to report on the "underdog", even when it is a mis-perception.

Re: Om Malik: the revenge of Windows Mobile

Rick Mahn — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 15:52:56 -0000

Ok, I'm with you on the WM5 based phones coming out - great stuff!!

But your last line where you mentioned a snomobiling trip made me smile - out here in Minnesota, we've had a mild winter with not much opportunity to ride. Hope you had a great time - I'm envious!

Re: What is the Origami Project?

Rick Mahn — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 21:13:22 -0000

Alright, more hype - I'll wait 'till 3/2/06 to find out what it is. I usually get hooked on MS things anyway. If it is an XP based phone device - it will definitly be a twist.

Re: The John Dvorakification of the blogosphere (I’m signing off of Memeorandum)

Rick Mahn — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:36:31 -0000

Hehe... I like the Dvorak reference...

Seriously Robert - you do make a good point on this. For me its tedious to dredge through Memeorandum to find interesting articles. Gabe may also be correct about the site on weekends. I've found good days and bad days for reading t.m., but mostly its frustrating to find anything relevent or intellegent to read.

The best new blogs I've found have been linked off of blogs that I read regularly - I've yet to find a new blog off t.m. that I return to.

-Rick

Re: Secrets behind MySpace’s success

Rick Mahn — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 22:34:37 -0000

MySpace holds no interest for me - a few of my single coworkers have described how useful it is. I've read many viewpoints on the popularity of the service. If MySpace isn't a fad, then there aren't any. I'll admit I've never visted the site, don't even know what it looks like, don't really care. I'm sure its great for anyone who wants to follow the "pack", sitting back from my vantage point it really just looks like a mob mentality wondering from one "cool" thing to the next. The interesting thing will be where MySpace is at in a year.

Re: Um, Robert, we do invite security experts to campus

Rick Mahn — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 02:12:12 -0000

Robert said:

"In two years no one will remember we slipped. But they will remember whether or not this was a high-quality OS."

Well, I don't know about people forgetting that it slipped, but they will end up not caring about the tardiness, simply because of the quality of the product. The quality I've seen so far is impressive.

Re: Blogging and Careers

Rick Mahn — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 22:33:23 -0000

Hmm, interesting read. It presented some things in a way I had not thought about before. I started blogging because it was interesting, for the last few months though I've been wondering what direction to take next. This article may not have given me a direction, but its making me think. I like that.