Posts

Back online!

So, I don’t really know when this will be true because it will depend on the time the new IP address replicates through DNS, but still, I’m back online! So, my previous host lost most of my data. I will slowly restore/rewrite as much as I can. For now, enjoy the new look and new engine, of which I will probably be writing in the following weeks as I develop it further with my friend Patrice.

You’re invited!

I’ve got plenty of invites for Joost and, this will sound weird, I don’t have enough friends to give them to. So, since Joost is encouraging me to give them away however I want, the first 999 people to request one, will get it. Use the comments. Here you have their promotion video: Joost is a way to watch TV on the Internet. Their software is pretty good, unfortunately their content is not.

Why is Google better than Live Search?

One word: relevance. I was looking for information on WPF/e (now Silverlight) today and, without thinking twice, I went to Google to find it. However, after seeing how good the results were for this Microsoft technology, I thought I go take a look at the Redmond-giant’s own search engine and see how it performed. Disappointing, to say the least. Take a look at the results (I’m shrinking them to put them side by side, but you can click to see them better):

Pourquoi Google est meilleur que Live Search ?

Un mot : pertinence. Je cherchais des informations sur WPF/e (désormais Silverlight) aujourd’hui et, sans y réfléchir deux fois, je suis allé les trouver sur Google. Cependant, après avoir vu combien les résultats de cette recherche d’une technologie Microsoft étaient excellents, je me suis dit que j’irais voir ce que ça donnait du côté du moteur de recherche du géant de Redmond. Décevant, pour ne pas dire autre chose. Regardez les résultats (j’ai réduit les images pour les mettre côte à côte, mais vous pouvez cliquer pour les voir en grand) :

¿Por qué Google es mejor que Live Search?

Una palabra: pertinencia. Hoy estaba buscando información sobre WPF/e (ahora Silverlight) y, sin pensarlo dos veces, fui a Google para encontrarla. Sin embargo, después de ver que tan buenos fueron los resultados de la búsqueda de esta tecnología Microsoft, decidí darme una vuelta por el motor del gigante de Redmond para comparar. Decepcionante, cuanto mucho. Vean los resultados (reduje las imágenes para ponerlas a la par, pero se puede hacer clic para verlas mejor):

How many countries can you name in 10 minutes?

I got to 81 while teaching (yes, I know I shouldn’t play in class…) I might have guessed more if I had been doing only that and if it were more flexible with spelling (”The Bahamas” is not the same as “Bahamas” for example). How many can you do?
My Windows Vista is finally complete

My Windows Vista is finally complete

As you probably read before in my blog, I’ve had a crippled version of Windows Vista since I installed it. Microsoft calls it the “N” version. Well, as of yesterday, my Windows is complete! Microsoft is pushing the Nsku Media Restore Pack for Vista x86 (KB925749) through Windows Update. A “recommended” update described as: Media Restore Pack (MRP) and Format Restore Pack (FRP) are non-discoverable, regulated releases required to satisfy consent decree agreements for Windows sale in certain markets.

Time’s up!

It has happened, my Office Professional 2007 trial has expired… And entering a new Trial key did not extend my trial period for another 60 days :( If only I could get my hands on one of the at least two keys I legally have the right to (one from MSDN and one from helping out during the TechDays.) I do have to congratulate Microsoft on the way they are managing licensing with Office 2007, though.

I’ve been tagged (prologue)

Since Patrice tagged me, I guess it’s my geek duty to share 5 things people don’t know about me with whatever stranger stumbles upon my blog (and the few regular readers.) I’ll need a moment to think though, because if there are aspects of my life that are not public it’s probably because I like them that way. There’s a trip to China coming up soon (Saturday), so I’ll have some time to think then.

Crossing oceans... (part II, the return)

So, here I am, preparing to go back to Paris. And, by preparing, I mean I’m already at the airport in San José where they do offer free WiFi (unlike Barajas). There was lots of work to do last week: a full schedule of meetings last Monday and Tuesday and after that, a less-full schedule of family to meet until today, as well as a passport to make. I’ll be talking about the passport later this week (or in a couple of weeks, we’ll see) in order to put the “tech” back in my blog.