December 14, 2009
Bad Web Forms
If you want people to actually fill out your web form to request information, please provide one that is working right. Most people filling out a web form for information aren't going to make a phone call to finish it.
()December 13, 2009
Native Applications on Chromium OS
So, you like the idea of an OS that's just the browser? It brings lots of nice things to the table, such as fast boot times, access to a plethora of great web applications, no worries about storage (it's all online), and all the greatness of the web without the hassle of everything else bundled with operating systems these days.
Except, what if you want to run native applications? What if something requires a much higher level of performance than JavaScript can provide?
Turns out, Google thought about this long ago: they recommend using NativeClient. Right now, though, it's a download for your operating system of choice (Win, Lin, or Mac). The implication, though, is that it will be part of Chromium OS. This could be the missing key for filling in the gap between web and local performance issues and interfaces. Would we ever see a version of Premier, or even Photoshop, written to support such an environment? Yeah, probably not. But it could enable such types of applications and games that require more than what a Javascript environment can handle.
Yet, it could still be delivered through the network, so updates are always applied. Local caching can fill in for when the network isn't available (which happens, regardless of how pervasive it becomes).
But, is it enough? I suspect it would be for most folks. But, for creative folks, back-end business work, engineering, development, and other things, it won't be enough for a while.
And where does Java fit in to this? It fills the gap -- plus some -- on Android.
December 6, 2009
Why Is Google Public DNS So Slow?
Google Public DNS is certainly fast to type, 8.8.8.8, and as easy to remember as other top level DNS servers, such as 4.2.2.1. However, it's performance seems to be really lacking. That's quite odd, considering their whole reason for launching it is to have a fast DNS server for really fast web browsing. It's a great concept, but something is missing: the goal of the concept.
Have a look. That's just not a very good showing for a system that's documented to be on the other end. I used a tool called namebench, which is open source and created, apparently, as a Google 20%er project.
For kicks, I decided to run this on a dedicated server I have.
Read the rest of "Why Is Google Public DNS So Slow?"December 5, 2009
Tip: A Different Use for Private Browsing
It may be called "Private Browsing" or "Incognito" or, more colloquially, porn mode. But, there is a perfectly useful reason to use it: multiple accounts with the same service.
For instance, you can start a new Incognito session with Chrome, login to a different GMail accounts, and then close the session without ever worrying about your primary tabs getting confused with Reader, Calendar, GMail, etc.
This works because the cookies and session information isn't kept. On Chrome, though, it is shared with all incognito tabs that are running at once until they are closed. This means you can only do one additional session at a time (in addition to your primary one). But, it's often faster than opening a new browser.
(0)December 4, 2009
A Random Entry After Months?
I know! What's up with that?
Truth is, I've been really busy with lots of other stuff. I also have other outlets for writing that are soaking up a lot of my writing energy. Check them out:
- Developer.com Articles on Android Widgets (written with my wife, Lauren Darcey):
- Creating an Android Widget
- Handling User Interaction in a Widget
- Handling Lengthy Operations in a Widget
- Working with Android Calendar Entries
- Writing on our Android blog
- Guest Blogging with my wife at Network World
- Writing a new Android Book, Sam's Teach Yourself Android Application Development in 24 hours, also with Lauren Darcey
