Categories
Computing Technology

Holy Crap, Windows 3.1 Runs on the N95

This is probably the most amazing sign of the times I’ve seen!

I am now, officially, an old-timer. Tech-Grandpa Shaun.

Fortunately not yet a has-been.

It really puts the pace of progress in perspective when I see Windows 3.1, the first GUI “operating system” I ever crashed and re-installed, running on the Nokia N95, the very same phone I now have in my pocket today. There’s a bit of DosBox hackery involved, but I am absolutely gobsmacked. Now I need to go dig out some floppy disks

[Via Gizmodo]

Categories
Technology Web

The $300 Million Button – How Small Design Details Make Big Differences

A row of shopping carts.
Image via Wikipedia

Here’s Jared Spool’s story in which he tells how a single change to a site’s shopping cart checkout process from a forced registration to an optional registration increased the site’s annual revenues by $300 Million!

As one of the “test customers” says in the article. “I’m not here to be in a relationship. I just want to buy something.”

Yes, sometimes you simply do not need the 6 step registration, newsletter and community feel. Avoid the hype and get the job done.

I think a lot of South African sites can learn something from that statement. (Nice work, springleap!)

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Categories
Entertainment Sports TV

World Cup 2010 – Let the Ticket Scalping Begin!

FIFA
Image via Wikipedia

Friday 20th February 2009 is D-Day for those South African soccer fans who want to attend a match in the 2010 Soccer World Cup. They’ll either have to be willing to fork out huge chunks of cash for a prime spot, or buy up all the cheap seats going for at least R140.  (One wonders if South African flag coloured binoculars will be complimentary with the purchase?)

From mg.co.za:

“In order to facilitate the access of ordinary South African football fans to a tournament that might otherwise be beyond their reach, Fifa has blocked off about 16% of the tickets — all the cheapest category four tickets — for South African residents.”

If FIFA truly wanted to be charitable towards South Africa, they’d give a cross section of all ticket categories at reduced prices.

“Tickets for the tournament go on sale to the general public on Friday on Fifa’s website, fifa.com, and through nationwide branches of South Africa’s First National Bank (FNB), a national World Cup sponsor.

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 12:  A general...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This sale starts online at 1pm (11am GMT) and runs until March 31.”

Yes, because Internet penetration in this country sucks so bad and the crime is so bad that we have to sell tickets at the bank or nobody will be able to buy them?!!? Either way, you still have to wait a further month after parting with your money to see if you win the lucky draw to get your ticket(s).

Either way, I predict thousands of these tickets are going to end up in foreign hands, at a premium of course. The opportunity to make a quick buck is way too high. This is South Africa, the land of corruption, after all.

So sports fans, best you go find yourself a long queue on Friday. Or, like me, you can just kick back and watch the games in High Definition on TV.

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Categories
Entertainment TV

Jim Carrey as CSI’s Horatio Caine

Watch this fantastic clip where Jim Carrey, arguably one of the best actors of our time, gives his take on the trademark Horatio/Caruso one-liner.

And here’s a link to a clip with dozens of Horatio’s CSI one-liners.

Categories
Computing Entertainment Security

Handy list of Facebook Privacy Settings

Allfacebook.com recently published a handy list of 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know.

Included in the list are instructions for creating custom friend lists, removing yourself from search results, preventing tagged photos of you from being visible to all, and restricting access to stories and contact information. It’s a very handy guide with some seriously good tips on how to protect yourself in the big bad world of friendface. 🙂