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RT @shs96c: Selenium WebDriver ruby bindings released: http://code.google.com/p... We'd love your feedback! "gem install selenium-webdriver"
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13Nov
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13NovV8 sorts in 122s what Go does in 250s. Who needs a stinkin' new language ;) http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/u64q...
Matteo Scotuzzi, Ivan Zuzak and Tracy liked this 
Ruby and Python = 5min and 22min? Slower than I realized. I like that Scala is right up there in the top 5. :) - Ray Cromwell Java has been moving steadily up the charts, hasn't it? Lots of room for improvement in the JS JIT arena, but being under two orders of magnitude slower is pretty decent considering your code will run on pretty much any browser. - Matt Mastracci -
13Nov
Microsoft has confirmed its banning of players with modified consoles from Xbox Live will be permanent. But while some owners are offloading their consoles on eBay, others may have found a way to circumvent the ban.While some bans from the service (such as those for using threatening language towards other online players) are for a limited period, Microsoft says this week’s ban for owners of modded consoles will be forever.
It has clarified that in these cases the ban is for the console, not the player. It will allow players to transfer their profile to a new machine. That’s a good example of the public relations difficulties involved in the move: while you could argue Microsoft is being reasonable by not permanently banning players, there will be some who assume that the action was issued with the aim of boosting console sales.
The BBC, which reported the bans being permanent, also noted that Microsoft apparently spontaneously brought up Modern Warfare 2 when discussing the bans. While that may simply be the company taking advantage of a chance to plug its products, it gives more weight to the theory that the bannings were deliberately timed to coincide with the game’s release. As well as ensuring its “no modifications” policy gained maximum impact, it may also have proven a useful way of easing server load on what was always likely to be a particularly busy time on Xbox live.
The bannings appear to have prompted a race to sites such as eBay and Craigslist to sell the consoles. As you’d expect, there’s a range of sales tactics, ranging from those who tout the console as modded but omit to mention it’s not useless for online gaming, through those who acknowledge this flaw and promote it as a bargain for offline playing, to those who go a step too far by complaining they only modded their machine to allow them to “back-up” discs before kindly offering to include those “back-ups” with the sale.
It appears not every modded-console owner has given up hope of getting back online however. Today the DailyTech website published an article titled “Modders Release Update to Free the 1 Million Xboxes Banned by Microsoft”.
However, the article promptly disappeared from the site. It’s not yet clear whether the supposed update proved bogus, or if somebody made an editorial decision (with our without external pressure) that publicizing such a modification might not be wise.
Related posts:
- Microsoft to Xbox modders: See ya!
- Hilarious Console Rundown (Video)
- Microsoft offers to buy Yahoo! for $44.6 billion
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13Nov
In the following video, CNN’s Becky Anderson asks astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson if the end is near. As usual, Mr. deGrasse Tyson anwsers in a very cool and concise way.
Related posts:
- Neil deGrasse Tyson’s worst science movie of all time? Titanic.
- Neil deGrasse Tyson Lectures us on Saturn V
- Why you should raise your kids to be scientifically literate
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13NovBespin Embedded: Want to use a nice editor component with ease? Introducing the first clean embedded release http://mozillalabs.com/bespin...
Alex Kapranoff, Claudio Cicali ♋, Matteo Scotuzzi and Jay Bird liked this Dion, thanks for the work! - Jay Bird -
13Nov
For today’s edition of Deal of the Day, we’ve got two awesome logitech products at very cheap prices. First, there’s the MX1100 Wireless mouse. Originally priced at $79.99 but now going for $48.65, minus $10 via rebate form (total: $38.65), the MX1100 is probably the best wireless mouse you’ll find around that price range.- Elegantly contoured shape that fits your hand naturally for maximum comfort
- Revolutionary hyper-fast scrolling for flying through documents and Web pages
- Adjustable dpi laser engine (up to 1600 dpi) for customizable precision
- Enhanced 2.4 GHz cordless technology for more robust, reliable performance
- 10 programmable buttons, including a ¿stealth¿ thumb button, for additional control
[Logitech MX 1100 Cordless Laser Mouse - $38.65, Shipped]
Then, we’ve got the Logitech Illuminated Ultrathin Keyboard with Backlighting. Initially, this one was going for $79.99, but is now priced at $59.99, minus $20 via a logitech rebate form, for a final price of $39.99.- Bright, laser-etched, backlit keys that let you type easily–even in the dark
- Cutting-edge, ultra-thin profile (9.3 mm) that adds an elegant touch to any desk
- PerfectStroke key system for typing that’s silent, natural and fluid
- Sleek, minimalist design for the ideal combination of form and function
- Soft-touch palm rest and full-size key layout for enhanced comfort
[Logitech Illuminated Ultrathin Keyboard with Backlighting - $39.99, Shipped]
Related posts:
- Deal of the Day: 50% Off Logitech G9 Laser Mouse ($49.99 – Shipped)
- Gamer’s Tools Review: Logitech G15 Keyboard and G9 Mouse
- Geek Holiday Gift Idea #2:The Logitech MX Revolution wireless mouse
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13NovEric Farrar has taken his auto syncing iAnywhere prototype and released it as Sybase UltraLiteWeb http://www.sybase.com/ultrali...
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13Nov
Last Friday I was in Atlanta, where I gave a talk on social media marketing at Dan Kennedy’s InfoSUMMIT conference.
I’m something of a fish out of water at a Glazer-Kennedy event. For example, unlike at Blogworld, I’m the only person in a room of 800 who has pink hair.
I wasn’t sure they’d be too receptive to what I had to say, but they surprised me.
They were warm, welcoming, and extremely interested in my no-shortcuts, no-magic-beans answers to their questions about how to use social media for marketing and business.
So in honor of Dan Kennedy, who sometimes styles himself as the “Professor of Harsh Reality,” I thought I’d talk today about some of the not-so-kumbaya aspects of social media marketing.
Harsh Reality #1: No one is reading your blog
As far as anyone can figure, there are about 200 million blogs around the world. Technorati tells us there are about 900,000 blog posts made every 24 hours.
The world is not waiting breathlessly to hear what you have to say about losing weight with acai berries, making big money as an affiliate marketer, or how to join your Secrets of the Breakthrough Millionaire Insider Guru Mastermind Platinum Club.
Me-too content gets ignored. Scraped and remixed junk won’t cut it. There’s too much good content that you need to compete with. And there’s no magic system that can replace sitting in front of your keyboard and producing something that somebody wants to read. (Or partnering with someone who can.)
If you don’t have a great answer to the question “Why should anyone read your blog?” you’re going to be pretty unhappy with your results. That’s why we spend so much time teaching you how to produce better, smarter, more effective content.
Harsh Reality #2: You’ve got to give (some of) your best stuff away
It’s very natural to expect to get paid for what you do. And you should have a business model that leads to exactly that.
But first, you’ve got some dues to pay.
Commenter Corree Silvera mentioned her favorite Brian Clark quote from this year’s Blogworld Expo:
Don’t sacrifice a lot of money later for a little money now.
The answer to the question in Harsh Reality #1, “why should anyone read your blog?” is that you’re going to give away some of your best, most valuable, most life-improving material away for free, within a well-defined content marketing plan.
Just remember Sean d’Souza’s bikini concept. You can give 90% of it away, but there will always be people who will happily pay to see that last 10%.
Harsh Reality #3: It will eat your life (if you let it)
Social media marketing would be pretty easy if we never had to eat, sleep, shower, or hang out with our kids.
But if doing those things is important to you, you’re going to have to set some boundaries.
Know what you want to do with social media, keep yourself focused, and set a timer if you have to. The tools are amazing, but so is their power to distract you from what you’re trying to accomplish.
Harsh Reality #4: Social media hates selling
Is there anything more pitiful than that guy who gets on Twitter and won’t shut up about how he can put you in a condo today with no money down despite your lousy credit rating? Even the spammers are blocking this dude.
It’s really hard to sell products and services in social media, mostly because this audience hates salespeople worse than they hate Microsoft. You may be able to get some limited success out of it, but more likely you’ll be banned, blocked, shunned, and abused.
Instead of promoting a product or service, promote fantastic content. Promote a great special report or an amazingly valuable email course. Promote wonderful stuff that you’re giving away.
Use excellent free stuff to build authority and trust. Then you have the right to make an offer and possibly do some business. Not before.
Harsh Reality #5: What they say is a million times more important than what you say
Your marketing might be beautifully executed. You might have a special report that goes more viral than H1N1, a great-looking blog that hits Digg twice a day, and an email marketing sequence that copywriting genius Gene Schwartz would have been proud to write.
If your reputation sucks, none of it matters.
People with lousy products, crummy business practices, and shady backgrounds get found out. And word spreads with frightening speed.
Treat people right, because if you don’t, you will be exposed. And it will not be pretty.
Harsh Reality #6: A blog is not a marketing plan
Blogs are cool, but a single useful tool isn’t the same thing as a solid business and marketing plan.
Blogs are just one way to get your best content out there, and they work best when you pair them up with email autoresponders, special reports, Twitter, and any of a dozen other powerful tools.
Just hanging out and being cool isn’t enough. If you’re in social media to do business, you have to develop a strategy for taking mildly interested strangers and turning them into raving fans . . . and customers.
Harsh Reality #7: You don’t get to opt out
Businesses that think they can ignore all this “Twitter stupidity” tend to get painfully rude awakenings.
The conversation will happen with or without you. You definitely don’t need to respond to every chucklehead with a Facebook account (and you shouldn’t), but you need to keep your ear to the ground, and you need a clue.
OK, enough about harsh reality already! If you want our best advice about what to do to create a great online business, subscribe to Internet Marketing for Smart People, the Copyblogger email newsletter. It’s some of our best stuff, no junk, no fluff. And of course we will never, ever spam you or share your information with anyone.
About the Author: Sonia Simone is Senior Editor of Copyblogger and the founder of Remarkable Communication.
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13Nov
Using 3ds max 2008 – Vray, Mudbox, AE, PS, Sound Forge and Vegas, Youtube user Pantural produced this awesome 3D showreel showcasing his 3D animation skills. The initial work on the project was done in 5 days, but the whole thing apparently took over 110 days to render.
[Via TechEblog]
Related posts:
- Ford transforms Focus into musical intruments
- Prototype’s Awesome Opening Cinematic
- Ford and Microsoft get in “Sync”
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13NovLunascape Orion: Cross browser extensions - http://ajaxian.com/archive...
