thelaggard

THE LAGGARD HAS MOVED

2005-06-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

Thelaggard has moved due to make room for more content. Please visit us here:

Changing planet revealed in atlas

2005-06-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

BBC has an article that shows satellite images taken over the past few decades. The images are extremely detailed and help to point out changes in the landscape due to deforestation, urbanisation, and climate change.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Changing planet revealed in atlas

Another performance enhancer in Major League Baseball

2005-06-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Ran across this article while surfing today. A new type of contact lens work like sunglasses. They are being used in sports on a daily basis. Not only do they help to see the ball, they also protect your eyes from sun damage.

FOXSports.com - MLB- Performance-enhancing contact lenses?

Apple to use Intel chips in '06-CNET

2005-06-04T18:55:00.000-07:00

This is quite interesting. Why would Apple move to Intel when Intel just got their 64 bit chips out recently. IBM has had their 64 bit chips out for quite sometime. Thoughts?

Apple to use Intel chips in '06-CNET - Yahoo! News

Ford sales decline AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN

2005-06-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

Well what do you know? Ford sales were down again. At least this time, they didn't disguise the fact by only pointing out the rising Mustang sales. Look at these stats:

Lincoln sales down 20.2%

Mercury sales down 7.6%

Ford sales down 13.9% (F-Series down 9%, Taurus & Focus down considerably, Mustang up 47%)

Yes, SUV sales were down, but they were up for Nissan who posted an impressive 15+% sales increase over last year.

Ford's Sales Decline

AIM Triton Beta Test, NEW INSTANT MESSENGER

2005-05-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the latest offering from AOL. As most of you know, AOL is looking to become more of a portal such as Yahoo! or MSN. With their latest instant messenger offering, you can see this to start to take place.

First of all, I must disclose that I currently prefer using Trillian because of how poorly AIM looks. I have always thought it looks quite childish and needs to update its look. With that being said, the new Triton version of AIM looks much better. It uses tabbed messaging which always comes in handy. It helps to reduce the number of windows open on your taskbar. The other feature that they have added is better contact management for your buddies. The contact info is now accesible within the IM conversation. Lastly, they have added an image window, file transfer window, and VOIP window for easy access.

Although it is in beta, I suggest checking it out. I just wish you could upload your Microsoft Outlook contacts. BTW, what is with the beta thing? Did everyone copy Google?

AIM Triton Beta Test

Hilton Hotel users gain automatic upgrades!

2005-05-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are road warriors or just travel a lot, here is a code for Hilton Hotels and their customer loyalty program. By just calling the Hilton Honors customer service line and mentioning "CTCH," they will give you instant access to their preferred Gold membership. The Gold membership privileges include free breakfasts and automatic upgrades to suites if they are available. I have included another link below that lists all of their brands under the Hilton Honors name. They include Doubletree, Hampton, and Conrad! Thank me later and help support thelaggard! Also, please let me know via the comments box if you are looking for more promotions such as these....

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Brands

Your credit card payment just doubled

2005-05-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

Interesting article that talks about how the major card companies such as MBNA, Citibank and Bank of America have increased minimum payments from 2% to 4%. I believe the government pushed for this as they have see the average debt levels for households dramatically increase as consumer spend has gone up.

MSN Money - Your credit card payment just doubled

Economic Report: U.S. PPI up a larger-than-expected 0.6% in April

2005-05-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen my posting concerning the lowest trade deficit in 6 months posting. Just to add to that, I have provided a link to the PPI report from this week. Some economists have said that with the yuan is is undervalued by about 40%. This makes all of China's exports extremely cheap for the major consumers such as the US. What could a revaluing of the yuan do to the US economy? Considering Walmart plays a major role in keeping inflation lower, we could see much higher prices. Energy wouldn't be the only contributing factor.

So what can we do? To counter the potential increase in inflation, you may consider picking up inflation protected securities. I recommend taking a look into Vanguard's VIPSX. Although it has already seen a decent run up in the short term, this could be a great hedge pick for the next couple of years. You can't beat the expected 3 year expense projection of just $58 for a $10,000 investment.

Economic Report: U.S. PPI up a larger-than-expected 0.6% in April

Trade deficit lowest in 6 months?

2005-05-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

This press release states that our trade deficit is the lowest it has been in 6 months. Granted that it is still considerably higher than the averages of the past couple years, but this is good progress. The US is starting to show their strength in the services arena and it also looks like commercial aircraft exports are helping.

My only question is what will the potential revaluing of the yuan do to the deficit. I really am not looking forward to paying 20 cents extra for my Chinese imported Wrangler Jeans that I plan to pick up from Walmart next month....

Trade Deficit lowest in 6 months

Revaluation of the Yuan

Reply to The Huffington Post's post about the iPod

2005-05-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

I ran across this entry lately, that I didn't agree with. The author's name is Hilary Rosen and she writes for The Huffington Post. Her bio states: "Hilary B. Rosen is currently an on-air business and political commentator for CNBC and MSNBC; and a consultant in the media industry. She is the former Chairman and chief executive officer of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the trade group representing the U.S. sound recording industry where she served for 17 years before retiring in June 2003."

The commentary is outdated and doesn't address new material, ideas, or suggestions. Hilary just got an iPod recently and points out that the .aac format is proprietary. I think that she doesn't give Jobs and Apple enough credit for the revolution that has been started. Apple was the first mover in this space to gain a mass audience. Until Apple begins to start losing market share or feels a threat from the other online stores/manufacturers, I don't believe Jobs and Apple should budge. I will be the first to admit that I wish .aac was universal, but why would Apple open the format at this point in the game? A previous post on thelaggard points out that Apple has already gained 58% of the flash market after releasing the Shuffle 6 months ago. Why is this? It's because Apple has created a product that is easy to use that the market enjoys using. The iPod revolution has people of all ages downloading, uploading, swapping, and creating playlists all over the world. Yes, the sleek design and marketing of Apple has played its part, but its ease of use and simple user interface is what put this product on the map. I still believe that Apple has no need to open it up until one of the following happens:

1. Market share in music downloads begins to fall.

2. Market share for hard drive players begins to fall.

3. Market share for flash players begins to fall.

4. Margins on any of the products fall below Apple's normal margins and they are forced to open up the iPod to 3rd party manufacturers.

Am I wrong in my thinking? Look at what this product has done to the earnings of Apple....Comments are appreciated.

Previous posts are on the lower right, please support thelaggard.

The Huffington Post | The Blog

American Express hurting its brand image?

2005-05-09T12:03:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, American Express has granted MBNA the chance to distribute their cards for close to a year now. The idea was to build the customer base and in turn force more merchants to accept Amex. As you also know, Amex has some of the highest merchant fees. Therefore the burden would fall onto the merchants. Due to the size of Amex's customer base, the merchants are basically forced to accept Amex. Walgreens actually stopped accepting Amex, but ended up pulling them back.

Here is my question: Is American Express hurting its brand image? Have they lowered their standards for new card applicants? Or have they created brand/card extensions with higher APR's for the lower standard applicants? Will Amex retain the exclusive image it has held for so long? Amex has pushed the consumers to believe that Amex is for financially responsible, successful middle to upper class citizens. The use of Coach K of Duke University, Jerry Seinfeld, and their strong push into financial services for corporate America.

I don't yet know the answer, but I do know that Wall Street is enjoying their growth in revenue. But is the long term damage more severe? It seems as if the only differentiator now for Amex is their customer service and HUGE reward network. Thoughts, questions?

MBNA/Amex Offerings

American Express Chart

Newest marketing/retail concept from Apple (AAPL)

2005-05-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is Apple's latest marketing/retail concept. They have gone "mini" on their retail stores and now use vending machines to sell iPods. This was actually spotted in Atlanta's Concourse A. Just because I might get sued by Apple, here is the disclosure. DISCLOSURE: THESE ARE NOT OWNED AND OPERATED BY APPLE. Check out previous posts to the bottom right and help support thelaggard.

iPod vending machine on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Save your mobile phone bill!

2005-05-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Add your cell phone to the "Do Not Call Registry," simply because of this statement:

"In a few weeks, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. You will be charged for these calls. Call this number from the cell phone you are registering with the Do Not Call Registry, 888-382-1222. Or, you may process your do not call information at www.donotcall.gov. It is the national/federal DO NOT CALL list. It only takes a minute of your time and it blocks your number for 5 years."

National Do Not Call Registry

Review of the new 2006 BMW 330i Sedan

2005-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Wasn't a huge fan of the older 330i, because I fell in love with the G35 coupe, but this year's 330i is looking mighty impressive. The latest version is still a sedan but has the look of a coupe. Impressive stat of 0-60 in 6.1, but still has the price tag of a BMW. Take a look at the review from Car and Driver. Enjoy!

Car and Driver - 2006 BMW 330i - April�2005

Update: GM & Ford now JUNK status

2005-05-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

Just an update to a previous post....See previous posts below on right sidebar.

S&P slashes GM, Ford ratings to 'junk' status - Transportation Equipment - Automobiles - Transportation - Manufacturing - Analyst - Bond Market

Bill Gates and Microsoft vs. Google

2005-05-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

A long article from Forbes about Bill Gates vs. Google. Here is an excerpt:

"Microsoft was already months into A massive project aimed at taking down Google when the truth began to dawn on Bill Gates. It was December 2003. He was poking around on the Google company website and came across a help-wanted page with descriptions of all the open jobs at Google. Why, he wondered, were the qualifications for so many of them identical to Microsoft job specs? Google was a web search business, yet here on the screen were postings for engineers with backgrounds that had nothing to do with search and everything to do with Microsoft's core businesspeople trained in things like operating-system design, compiler optimization, and distributed-systems architecture. Gates wondered whether Microsoft might be facing much more than a war in search. An e-mail he sent to a handful of execs that day said, in effect, "We have to watch these guys. It looks like they are building something to compete with us.""

If this is true, why did it take them that long to figure out they were planning to compete? MSN.com was already taking a hit by that time on page impressions because of Google's popularity. The next step is obviously developing web tools similar to what Yahoo! and MSN were doing.

Technology - Why Google Scares Bill Gates - FORTUNE

General Motors (GM) is up over 18%?

2005-05-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me? A couple of comments here.

Why is a company that is doing this poorly going to shoot up 18% due to an investor increasing his stake in the company?

Negatives:

1. GM is paying an average of $1600 per car in just pensions and benefits.
2. Their market share has been sliding for decades.
3. They pay the highest incentives in terms of cash rebates, 0% APR of any other manufacturer.
4. Their current contracts force them to keep all their factories running at 80% utilization, but they are already holding way too much inventory.
5. They have a TON of cash, but are burning through it very quickly at this rate.

Positives:
1. They have a nice dividend. Let's just hope they get rid of it to save some cash.
2. Nice run up and support from a major shareholder today, but it was most likely due to all the shorts covering their positions. There has been a huge amount of negativity towards GM lately. Have you seen the latest cover of Business Week?

Overall, I'm not saying I would never invest in GM, but in this times, I am going to wait for it to base. From there, I will see if anything has changed in terms of their operations, dividend payout, etc. At that point in time, I will re-access.

GM: Summary for GEN MOTORS - Yahoo! Finance

Kerkorian's Tracinda Offers to Buy GM Stake

Apple Exec: Shuffle Grabs 58% of Flash Player Market

2005-05-04T13:59:00.000-07:00

Based on this posting, Apple's Shuffle has already grabbed 58% of the market after six months. Truly is amazing when you consider that the Shuffle is nothing revolutionary. iTunes, its ease of use, and the iPod hype are most likely the largest factors of its success.

Apple Exec: Shuffle Grabs 58% of Flash Player Market

Mac OS X Downloads - Yahoo! Local Traffic

2005-05-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

This is an awesome DL for the new Panther operating system Dashboard Widgets. Enjoy!

Apple - Mac OS X Downloads - Dashboard Widgets - Yahoo! Local Traffic

Rave Reviews for Tiger OSX 10.4

2005-04-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Check out the rave reviews for Apple Computer's Tiger OSX 10.4. As most of you know, Walter Mossberg writes for the Wall Street Journal in the Personal Technology column. Keep in mind that it gets released tomorrow! Some of his quotes about Tiger OSX include:

"This is a big deal. Along with a similar built-in search capability Microsoft is working on for its next version of Windows, Spotlight could spark a major change in the way people use computers."

"Overall, Tiger is the best and most advanced personal computer operating system on the market, despite a few drawbacks. It leaves Windows XP in the dust."

Enjoy and please support thelaggard!Personal Technology -- Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal.

Full Xbox 360 Image

2005-04-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here comes more Xbox 360 information. Not sure if these pics are real, but expect to see more leak as we get closer to the unveiling next month. Personally, I think this looks just like the old one, big, bulky, and boring. Sony's will probably look a lot more sleek.

Please support the laggard.

Full Xbox 360 Image : Gizmodo

AOL Testing Next Generation AIM Client - Triton

2005-04-26T19:42:00.000-07:00

As you know, thelaggard is a huge advocate of instant messaging. Well, here comes the much needed AOL IM update in the form of Triton. This really is long overdue. I was about to delete the current program off my laptop because of its lack of tab browsing. How annnoying is it chatting with 3 seperate people and having three seperate windows?

Anyways, take a look at this link and be sure to stay tuned to thelaggard to find out when the beta is released.

BetaNews | AOL Testing Next Generation AIM Client

The Adobe Acrobat killer?

2005-04-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

Is this finally the end of the .PDF? I sure hope so. How many of you have computers that basically crash when opening a .PDF. Don't get me wrong, Adobe's Photoshop is awesome, but I absolutely hate their Acrobat Reader. What do the rest of you think?

An Adobe Killer from Microsoft - Search Engine Journal

The ultimate credit card!

2005-04-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

I have found you the ultimate Mastercard for all of your needs. Not only does is it reloadable, it also has an enchanting picture of Clay Aiken. Please do not sign up for this. Is it just me or does Clay look a troll slash/hobbit? He would be perfect for Lord of the Rings.

Clay Aiken Mastercard

Xbox 360 hype is building

2005-04-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Xbox 360 is going to be unveiled at this years E3 show. Here is one of the commercials that MTV is playing to gain hype for the MTV unveiling. MSFT is even getting the pop band "The Killers" involved.

Xbox360_mtv_spot.mov

Fred Durst demo video from 1989

2005-04-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Take a break from everything and laugh a little. Here is the latest Fred Durst video to surface the internet.

Fred Durst demo video from 1989

Can you read this?

2005-04-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt!

Quite strange isn't it?

All the TV you ever need....for FREE!

2005-04-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have used TV torrent. It was actually shut down, but here is the latest and greatest. Name a show and its there. Apprentice, 24, etc. Enjoy and please support thelaggard....

btefnet.net - Main

Personal Coverage Check for T-Mobile

2005-04-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is interesting. T-Mobile now allows you to search their coverage map down to street detail. Too bad, I'm a Cingular customer though. Maybe this will force the others to get up to speed...T-Mobile Personal Coverage Check

Bush's iPod Playlist

2005-04-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what Bush is listening to while riding his bike every morning? Now you have the chance to see! Is our President cool? Do any other presidents have iPods? When is he getting the PSP?

BBC NEWS | Americas | Bush's iPod reveals music tastes

Apple - Mac OS X Tiger Release Date Confirmed

2005-04-12T11:03:00.000-07:00

It is now official. Apple has confirmed an April 29th release date of MAC OS X Tiger. Check out some of the cool features that come along with this latest release. How soon will the mac mini's begin to ship with Tiger?

Please support the laggard...

Apple - Mac OS X

Why can't we get NTT DoCoMo here?

2005-04-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Look at the difference between here and Japan! They have a mobile Apple Store. Have you tried to access the Apple Store via Cingular, Verizon, T-Mobile at speeds that remind you of the 14.4 days? I can only dream....

Apple Store Mobile Launches in Japan : Gizmodo

Awesome Google Maps Real Estate Listings

2005-04-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, the link below is not a site from Google or Craigslist.

A developer came up with an interface that interacts with both Craiglist and Google Maps. The satellite portion has yet to be implemented, but it is still pretty cool. Because eBay owns a significant share of Craigslist, could we have an eBay/Google deal on the way? Or would eBay potentially just partner up on the Rent.com side of which they own. Should be interesting to see how it is used and by who. On a side note, make sure to check out my Maui posting with the link to Google Maps Satellite.

Help support thelaggard!

Craiglist Listings via Google Maps

Comcast too big?

2005-04-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Comcast bid to overtake Adelphia. Ther is an FCC limit that states that no one cable company can reach 30% of the nation's customers. Om Malik reports that Comcast currently reaches 29% of the market. Is this true? My question is where did the 29% figure come from? A clarification is needed for market reach vs. market share as well. Has that figure changed since the research was done? I highly doubt a company such as Comcast would overlook this FCC limit that has been in effect since 1992. Or did they just totally screw up?

Om Malik on Broadband � Comcast too big?

What about the 750 million Chinese who aren't getting rich?

2005-04-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

Interesting article about how China is divided. China is like two different counties, urban and rural. Here is an excerpt and the link to the article is below:

Statistics in China are easy to come by and hard to have faith in. But here goes: About 750 million Chinese are farmers, and about 85 million make less than $75 a year. The average rural per-capita income in Sichuan province in 2002 was $253, less than the fees required to attend a local middle school. Rural incomes have almost doubled since the mid-1990s, but taxes have jumped four to five times. (To register to get married, for example, you have to pay 14 taxes.)

The Empty Village - What about the 750 million Chinese who aren't getting rich? By Henry Blodget

No more CRACKBERRY!

2005-04-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

I have officially done it. I have gotten rid of my crackberry (Blackberry). I had had enough once my girlfriend began to point out the number of times I would look at it per day. It seriously is ridiculous. Corporate America gives us these devices to ensure that we are constantly "connected." Since when is a person expected to return an email within twenty minutes! Did you notice that once your colleagues become aware that you own a blackberry, you get even more emails? The other problem is that you cannot effectively surf the web due to the slow cell networks the US still has. So instead you focus on work email. The crackberry should be attributed to slave labor for allowing corporations to put a mobile office in our laps and subject us to be constantly "connected."

So how do i feel now? Well, I feel great. I am more relaxed. I spend more time with my girlfriend and we are getting along better.

Actually, who am I kidding? I hate life without my crackberry. What am I to do without it? Is the Treo any better? Would appreciate any thoughts....

Maui up close and personal!

2005-04-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

Google acquired Keyhole last year and have integrated them into Google Maps already! For those of you not familar with Keyhole, they produce satellite images of the earth.

Just for fun, I focused in on my favorite vacation spot: Maui, HI. Take a look, pretty cool, don't think I will use Yahoo! Maps ever again.

Google Map of Maui, Hawaii

I wish this was my commute home....

2005-04-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this video of Highway 280 in Norcal (Northern California). Highway heads up the peninsula into downtown San Francisco. Living in the midwest/east coast, you don't see a commute home like this....Enjoy.

Driving 280 Movie

SLEEPTRACKER Watch: Does it really work?

2005-03-31T08:43:00.000-08:00

I have had my eye on this watch for quite sometime now, but wasn't sure if it really worked. I mean can a watch accurately determine when you should wake up based on your sleep pattern. The watch claims wake you up when you are in a light state of sleep.

The best part is that Gear Live has reviewed this device and gives it a 10 of 10. For $149, is the watch worth a try?

Gear Live | SLEEPTRACKER Watch Review

Gmail gets even better!

2005-03-31T07:58:00.000-08:00

Check this out, Google's Gmail gets even better! Gmail now offers rich text, which includes bullets, various fonts, highlighting, indenting. The other awesome addition is that you can now forward HTML emails. They no longer get converted to text. I believe that this is the only major area in which Gmail was lagging Y! Mail.

Let me know if you want an invitation, otherwise you can just go here.

"Icon" ads over commercials at TiVo

2005-03-31T03:11:00.000-08:00

Great article written over at PVR Blog. I am huge user of Tivo and have not enjoyed the "icon" ads very much. If Tivo decides to keep them the way they currently are, customers may have some major issues. I wouldn't see how Comcast would use the ads in this manner. Instead of being pop-up ads, they should be fixed banner ads along the top or bottom when fast forwarding. Do anyone of you out there want to comment on Comcast's current DVR service? Thank you for thelaggard support by clicking on Google ads!

"Icon" ads over commercials at TiVo | PVRblog

First Viewing of The Office on NBC

2005-03-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

Just watched The Office on NBC for the first time. As some of you know, this is based off the BBC version of the same title. Ricky Gervais, the executive producer of the American version is also the lead in the UK version. The UK version has seen lots of success and hopes to do the same in the US.

The episode I watched tonight was about the ever popular Diversity Day. It was actually pretty funny. Being a new hire @ a consulting firm very recently, I went through something very similar. The quote, "we must embrace and celebrate diversity" comes to mind.

The main boss character Michael who is played by Steve Carell necessitated the training and decides to teach his own version after the diversity consultant leaves. Various races are written on cards and then placed on the foreheads of co-workers. The co-workers are then instructed to converse about stereotypes of the other race and have the co-worker guess as to which race is on their card. Michael walks around the entire time playing the instigator of racial/stereotypical remarks.

Overall, I thought the show was entertaining quite funny. I plan to watch the next episode and make my final decision from there. Let me know what all of you thought.

Cingular tops in customer complaints

2005-03-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

Thinking of switching to a new wireless carrier?

You may want to stay away from Cingular. My only question is what was their rating last year? I know AT&T was the worst last year, but how much have they contributed to the 299.8 million complaints? Based on this chart alone, one should only use Verizon. Problem with Verizon is that all of their plans are too high. What service do you all recommend?

Cingular tops in customer complaints - Engadget

Toshiba's 60-Second Charge Battery

2005-03-29T13:01:00.000-08:00

If we can't produce batteries that last longer, let's produce batteries that charge quicker. Toshiba claims they can charge their upcoming battery in 60 seconds. The best part about the battery is that after 1000 charge cycles it only loses 1% of its charging capacity. How many of you out there are working off 1 yr. old Dell laptops that now are down to 27 long minutes after a full charge? Although this can be attributed to several things such as the processor, Dell has got to improve on this....Toshiba's 60-Second Charge Battery : Gizmodo

What is Yahoo! 360?

2005-03-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this new initiative from Yahoo! The idea is to consolidate all of a user's pictures, contacts, events, and blogs into one portal that friends and famiy can access. Although it hasn't been released and will probably be in beta for quite some time, you can be added to the waiting list to try it out in the very near future. It should be interesting to see how they can integrate their Flickr purchase into Yahoo! 360. Now if they could only create a Yahoo! Mail similar to Gmail, Yahoo! would be my main destination. Try it out and let me know what you think....

What is Yahoo! 360?

Yahoo! ups Email Storage

2005-03-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

It looks as if Gmail is making a better dent than originally thought. Gmail was actually released earlier this month and now Yahoo! has apparently felt compelled to up their storage space to match Googles. I personally use Gmail as my only online mailbox and have loved it for over 6 months now. What does everyone else think of Yahoo!? Do they have better spam filters, a better user interface, etc?

Yahoo! News - Yahoo Inc. Again Expands E-Mail Storage

Mobile pizza trucks deliver fast food

2005-03-22T13:37:00.000-08:00

How cool is this? The pizza is being made as its delivered via WiFi and a mobile kitchen. I hope this rolls out to a location near me soon! Enjoy.......Mobile pizza trucks deliver fast food

Pixar's HQ is amazing

2005-03-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

take a look at these pics of Pixar's HQ based in Emeryville, CA. The environment is obviously created to inspire creativity. The cubicles look awesome. They are set up as if it's a small village....enjoy.

Pixar HQ

bogged down by email?

2005-03-21T19:27:00.000-08:00

How many of you at work are constantly bogged down by excessive emails from coworkers. Then throw in those stupid forwards that can take forever to get through.....Use this guide to help you through the day....

"Over 100 real e-mails come in each day. At three minutes apiece, it will take five hours just to read and respond. Let's not even think about the messages that take six minutes of work to deal with. Shudder."

HBS Working Knowledge: The Leadership Workshop: Tips for Mastering E-mail Overload

new travel site

2005-03-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

have any of you thelaggard followers out there tried the latest travel beta site? Yes, I said travel beta site. It's actually from AOL and I like what I see thus far.

the user interface is simple, easy to use, and to the point. its actually not that new, its based off of kayak.com Still, if AOL can continue to add new sites, this could become very popular. Instead of going to Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity, now you can go to all 3 and more in one shot. My only question is when are they going to add Southwest.com to one of these spider search engines?

Please keep thelaggard going strong by clicking on the google ads. Thanks.

Check it out here:
Pinpointravel.com

Lack of Posts

2005-02-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lack of posts, I have been on vacation. Look for lots of action the next couple of weeks. I have TONS of ideas for posts! Stay tuned!

How good will Yahoo! earnings be?

2005-01-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

With the recent comments being extremely positive and the bidding up of Yahoo! and Google shares, will the earnings be enough to push both of these richly valued stocks even higher?

Take a look at this chart. The bollinger bands are narrowing signifying a steep move up or down. Google reports on 2/1, around the same time when millions of insider shares will open up. Personally I think that the institutions will swamp these up and Googles share will near valuations similar to Ebay. What do you all think?

Google Stock Chart

Google Facts

2005-01-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ran across this blog entry that details some interesting facts about Google. Among them is the fact that Google’s main page is so bare because the founders didn’t have much HTML knowledge.

A night with Google

iPod Shuffle Reviewed

2005-01-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

As you have seen from pictures and read the product description below, the iPod shuffle is Apple’s newest iPod version via the flash format.

After playing with the Shuffle for about an hour, I have come away satisfied, but not overly impressed. First off, the Shuffle is incredibly simplistic and small. The design is hard to beat due to its simplicity. There are play/pause, next/previous, and up/down volume buttons. On the back of the player is the ability to set play mode to random “shuffle” or fixed order. The ear buds seem to be the exact same model as the current iPods. It has built in USB, so you plug the actual player into your USB port. Because it is flash, it can double as a flash memory stick for files if you wish. This is a nice feature that Apple has added, but can be found on similar flash players. The sound quality is a dead replica to that of the current iPod.

The reason I’m not overly impressed is because its just a flash player. It has no screen making you basically guess at what’s playing if you’ve never heard the song before. This isn’t that bad of a thing when you think about the price tag. Secondly, you will most likely be setting up playlists of familiar songs via iTunes for the player making the songs easy to recognize. As the advertisements say, the Shuffle is extremely light. It will be perfect for any active individual who currently uses a cd player, tape player(OH GOD!), or heavier iPod.

As most of you know, I currently own a 3G iPod. Yes, I did end up buying a 512MB Shuffle via the Apple Store in SF. It will be a great compliment to my current iPod. Heck, I even thought about possibly selling my other iPod on eBay and just using the new Mac mini as my server for all music. Overall, I do recommend the Shuffle and am happy with the purchase.

Thank you for your support of thelaggard and it’s google ads.

Apple's <$499 MiniMac Debuts

2005-01-11T15:41:00.000-08:00

The other major key announcement at today’s MacWorld Expo in San Francisco was the Mac mini. The initial pricing is $499 for a 40GB hard drive and $599 for an 80GB hard drive. Both models come with 256MB DDR SRAM and ATI Radeon 9200 graphics cards. The optical drive is a slot-loading combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW).

With that being said, I’m really not too excited or impressed. As some of you know, I have NEVER purchased an Apple product other than the iPod. What would actually make me want to switch? Why don’t I just go to Dell and pick up the equivalent? When you throw in the optional Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities you are adding on another $129. It’s also a must to upgrade the RAM to 512MB which will set you back another $75.

Here are a few reasons of why I might make the switch:

1. Size: This G4 enabled computer is only 2” tall by 6.5” wide.

2. Superior operating system: I have been in love with Panther ever since trying it in the SF Apple Store months ago. Will Tiger be that much better?

3. Apple products are just cooler. Is it just me or are these products cool to have now? Am I being whisked away by this supposed halo effect?

4. Available ports: Take a look at the pic below.

5. Need for a digital media hub.

So what does everyone out there think? Should I make the switch? As you can see, Apple is touting this as cheap and inexpensive, but it is pretty comparable to other desktops out there. The major difference is the design engineering that has gone into this impressive unit.

And no, support of the site by clicking google ads won’t make me get one any sooner. Nice try Rick!

iPod Shuflle Announced

2005-01-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Steve Jobs just announced the iPod shuflle today @ MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, CA

USB 2.0 capabilities
No screen
Weighs under an ounce
Functions as music player and/or USB flash drive
512MB version is $99
1GB version is $149
Shipping immediately
Pictures Just Released: iPod Shuffle
Size comparison: iPod Shuffle

If you enjoy the content, please click on a few Google ads. Thank you.

Microsoft relases AntiSpyware

2005-01-10T19:53:00.000-08:00

thelaggard recently dl’d Microsoft’s newly released AntiSpyware. How many of you have random pop-ups even though you have dl’d the Google toolbar? How many of you feel like some of your computer settings have changed recently?

To be quite honest, thelaggard is impressed with the latest offering from Microsoft. They first authenticate that your O/S is a “genuine” copy of Windows. After downloading the program, you have the ability to scan your computer similar to programs such as Spybot. After about 3–5 minutes of scanning, the program displays a list of potential spyware. The spyware is recognized on your computer as the program compares its findings to its Spyware database.

Although I run Spybot on my computer weekly, Microsoft’s computer was able to find one other program. This is a classic example of why using more than one antispyware program might be a good idea. Anyways, make sure to download the program and run it on your computer. Better to be safe than sorry.

Microsoft AntiSpyware

Walmart lowers DVD Rental Service to $12.97

2005-01-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

Walmart announced today that they will allow consumers to rent up to 3 movies @ a time for $12.97 per month. Blockbuster’s comparable service is $14.99 a month and Nexflix’s 2 movie service is $17.99. Is this the end of Netflix? Have they completely lost their first mover advantage? Is the turnaround service of Walmart comparable to that of Netlfix and Blockbuster? Having tried all three services, I prefer Netflix’s website and service. But keep in mind that Blockbuster’s service has just begun and they are rapidly expanding their distribution service locations. Anyway you go, you can’t go wrong with any of them. It is a great way to rent movies! At least try out the free trials that all 3 have to offer.

In other news, Hollywood Video accepted Movie Gallery’s bid. The two companies plan to merge to become a stronger competitor to Blockbuster.

Walmart DVD Rentals

bored with your gift card from xmas?

2005-01-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

How many of you got gift cards for Christmas? I am always happy to receive a gift card regardless of value, but I hate when I get one from a store I don't like. This Christmas I received one from Old Navy, but I hate the place. I was thinking that I should just give it to a friend for his/her birthday, but came along a site named Swapagift.com Buyers, sellers, and swappers can use this site to procure a card they really want. I was actally able to find someone who had a $50 Best Buy card, but wanted one from Old Navy. Unfortunately my card was for only $25 so I swapped my card and offered $20 in cash. It worked out quite well, I received a card I wanted for a value of $45. There is a catch of course...The fee to use the service is a flat $3.99. Other option would be to just sell your card on eBay.

Swapagift

please say it ain't so: Brad and Jenn break up?

2005-01-08T18:35:00.000-08:00

I really don’t understand. Why should we care about Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt breaking up? What is with our fascination with celebrity couples? Should we mark this day on our calendar for a day of remorse next year? Why did I see this on Yahoo!? Why have I seen it on every single magazine cover while checking out @ Safeway? Should I go about differently today because of this tragic news story?

Honestly, I just don’t get it. Then again, why am I posting this information and sending you the link? I guess I really do care.

Brad and Jenn break up..:(

BOOO Ashlee Simpson

2005-01-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

With the constant technology postings, I thought that a humorous post was needed. In case you missed the FedEx Orange Bowl halftime show, here is a link detailing Ashlee Simpson and her performance. No, she didn’t come out topless like Janet Jackson, but she was booed off the stage. Her face is pretty funny when she starts to hear the boos. This girl should stop performing live, the SNL incident was bad enough.

Boo Ashlee Simpson

t-shirt (fashion) blog!

2005-01-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

Came across this site while surfing. Some of you may shop @ Urban Outfitters and wear these “themed” t-shirts. It’s a break from the mass produced shirts of Old Navy and Gap. Check it out and purchase something if you wish.

Preshrunk Beta

skype to take over instant messengers?

2005-01-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

The latest version of Skype was released yesterday. The major new feature in Skype V1.1 is the ability to have groups up to 50 chat together. With the ability to also make calls over Skype, this new addition could threaten the instant messenger providers. Other new features include improved contact management, avatars, and system tray notifications.

When will Yahoo Messenger, AIM, and MSN Messenger provide CLEAR voice chats like Skype?

Skype V.1.1

iHome and headless iMac?

2005-01-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

Gizmodo has posted some pictures of the iHome. Are these pictures real? Is this the home media device that will stream data throughout the wireless home? We can only wait for Macworld next week to find out. Or you think I could sneak a peek @ the SF Mac Store on Stockton & Market?

iHome Pictures?

instant messenger's unite!

2005-01-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

A private company by the name of Trillian just released their updated instant messenger software. The software combines AIM, Yahoo!, ICQ, and MSN into one program. Therefore you can access all four services at once. Major improvements in this version include:

1. Tabbed messaging - This is a huge improvement. Now if you are carrying on multiple chats, the conversations can be consolidated into one window. Saves space and time.

2. Secure IM - For those of you chatting at work, this feature makes it much harder for the guys upstairs in IT to log your conversations.

3. Wikipedia Capability - In case you are unfamiliar with a word and/or meaning, the wikipedia feature will give you definitions and inferred meanings. Great tool for those acronyms you can't seem to figure out.

Overall, thelaggard highly recommends this tool and think you should at least check it out. Jump on the trend and get with the program!

Download via CNET

power outlet hogs unite

2005-01-06T16:59:00.000-08:00

A NY Times has an interesting look into the mobile crowd and their demand for power outlets. Everywhere you go now, people are plugging everything from laptops to iPods. The article also points out how hardware makers need to come up with longer lasting batteries.

I am personally guilty of this. It's always great when you find an outlet in an airport to get that last few minutes of charge into your laptop. How could I survive the flight without seeing the end of Old School for the 200th time?

NY Times Power Users

the "all in one" phone?

2005-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

Are you one of those people who is in search of the "all in one" phone? Do you want to access TV, Video On Demand, Pictures, iTunes, Games, Network Games, Video Surveillance, Maps, Email, Voicemail, Calls, Caller ID, Wireless Web, Text messaging, Instant Messaging

I know that I want to pull out my 2" x 2" LCD cell phone screen and watch streaming video clips. Hopefully they make all the Seinfeld's downloadable on demand. Are you kidding me? Are these companies for real? Do the Verizon's, Cingular's, and T-Mobile's think they can sell these services to everyone? Are they just after generation Y?

thelaggard doesn't realize the beauty of going on vacation and not being contacted 24/7. He doesn't know how to put down his crackberry as he calls it....here is the post I am referring to: Crackberry

the latest apple thinksecret rumor

2005-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday it was announced that Apple is suing Thinksecret. So now that Thinksecret has gained even more credibility they announce a new rumor.

Thinksecret believes that Apple will announce a flash based iPod at the upcoming Macworld in San Francisco. They believe that the new iPods will be priced @ $149 with 1GB of memory. Personally I think this is a great idea. The market for flash based players is much larger. Secondly, there will be several current iPod users that will pick up a flash based play for on the go activities. I personally would use my 20gb iPod as a server or depository for my music. Then pick and swap songs every few months on the flash based iPod.

So how can you profit off of this? You could always buy stock in Apple, but they have had quite a run. Or you could buy Sigmatel (SGTL) who is the largest maker of chips for flashbased players. Would AAPL begin to use them or would they stick to Portalplayer (PLAY) like the current iPod?

Thinksecret rumor via Engadget

Apple Chart

SGTL Chart

Comments, questions?

are you in love with your crackberry (blackberry)?

2005-01-05T13:02:00.001-08:00

How many of you laggard readers are in love with your blackberries? Some users are so addicted to their blackberries they have been given the nickname of crackberries. I have been an avid user of my crackberry for roughly a year and have been satisfied up until today. I had been eagerly anticipating the new O/S software release. I dl'd the software last night and am in no way impressed. Why do I have to stare at a bland piece of blue plastic while my coworker plays with his sleek silver treo 650? It seems as if the only major advantage to the crackberry is its "push" email system. Where is the vibrant screen, camera, and multimedia message service that my coworker has? I am so jealous.

macworld in SFO

2005-01-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

what does apple have up its sleeves? rumors of cheaper imacs, voice recognition ipods, and iWork are surfacing across the web as potential product releases at the upcoming macworld next week in San Francisco.

marketwatch predictions

with the current stock chart, aapl looks ready make a drastic move depending on their earnings on 12th and their product releases at macworld.

stock chart

the credible earningswhispers.com is predicting they will beat earnings by .04:

earningswhispers: AAPL

all in all, don't worry, stay tuned to thelaggard for breaking news live from macworld! what do you readers want to see most? post comments below!

desktop search engines compared

2005-01-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Slate posted an interesting article that reviews the desktop search engines of google, askjeeves, hotbot, copernic, and msn. thelaggard has been using googles for about 3 months now and won't be satisfied until .pdf's, trillian chats, and full text can be searchable. until then, slate is giving copernic an "A" review. thelaggard will dl copernic and let you know my comments. what do all you readers use?

slate desktop search engine review

man blows .914 blood alcohol test

2005-01-04T16:04:00.000-08:00

Canada.com is reporting that a bulgarian man blew five blood tests at a 0.914, far above the usual life-threatening range, police and doctors said Tuesday.

canada.com odd story

jetblue having its 5 yr. anniversary sale

2005-01-03T18:05:00.000-08:00

thelaggard LOVES this airline, what more can you ask for? directv for every passenger? they also just added satellite radio. check out the link below for sales such as oakland to boston, $85 each way!

jetblue sale

google pierces the $200 mark

2005-01-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

although the nasdaq was down 1.07% today, googles stock rallied. in case you haven't noticed, they have been releasing new ideas every week via their google labs. take a look at the links below.

google labs
yahoo stock profile: GOOG

so whats next for google? in last night's 60 minutes interview, execs hinted at a few things. they are looking to translate all of the world's information. integrate all of their acquisitions into daily operations. this would include keyhole and picasa to name a few. take a look at the full interview in the link below.

60 minutes google interview

the link below has a detailed animation that demonstrates the power of keyhole. imagine the uses within the real estate world with this tool. imagine the use within the media.

google's keyhole

what will they think of next?

2005-01-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

autoblog reports that vw has started offering free car insurance for a year when you buy a beetle or golf. will the american companies copy vw?

vw incentives

voIP?

2005-01-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

does anyone use voice over internet protocol? thelaggard has used skype, but have yet to try vonage. even if you are calling landlines, the rates are pretty low. will 2005 be the year of voIP?

Skype
Vonage

the end of late fees?

2005-01-02T21:13:00.000-08:00

does anyone even rent movies from brick and mortar establishments? netflix is too easy and blockbuster just lowered rates on their dvd program to below $15 a month. this space is extremely crowded with walmart, blockbuster, and netflix. even amazon has started up in the UK.

no more late fees

track traffic via yahoo maps

2005-01-02T20:43:00.000-08:00

yahoo! recently added the ability to track traffic via their yahoo! maps service. it is very similar to service called sigalert that is used by california residents.

yahoo! traffic maps
sigalert