New Computers on the Way

     Our first retail line of computers will be on the way soon, the DigiFruit 1.  Its an Intel Atom-based nettop and will most likely be running Moblin 2.1.  We're still in debate over Moblin or Meego.  Not sure which is the best choice.  Anyone one reading this have any say?  Let us know in the comment section.

Driver Problems

     I still cannot get over the fact that, after twenty something years, Microsoft would have gotten it right and included basic drivers for almost all standard hardware.  I mean really, there are only so many network cards, and they only use so many chip sets, and they all use the same protocols to communicate.  So why are we still having to fight and search all over the internet to get a driver for a common piece of hardware?
     And heaven forbid the piece of hardware is your internet connection, be it a NIC, or modem.  You can't even connect to the internet to get the driver.  So then you either have to go and use another computer connected to the internet and download and transfer the file, or, in the worst case scenario, you have to take the computer into the shop and pay some one just to get it running.
      With all of the resources and the power in the tech industry that Microsoft has, you would think that they would have solved this one little problem by now.
     So, in the search for something better, I will keep my eyes peeled for a system that solves this, and the best way to handle it.

Terrible Ripoff! (or Maybe Not?)

     It has come to my attention today that countless innocent Windows users are being tricked into a better, faster computing experience!  This heinous crime is the result of a Linux distribution being spread by all of the major computer manufacturers.  All of them call it something different, but the culprit in this scenario is product called SplashTop.  This new threat to your overly-complex computing lives will make things simple, way too simple.  I mean, how will you survive without all the headaches and confusion created from using a product meant for the corporate world, and not your living room?
     But enough with the pessimistic metaphor.  I've been reading up and studying on this whole SplashTop thing, and its seems to me to be an amazing idea.  So, you take the idea of Google's Chrome operating system, apply a bit more power, and add in a corporate backing with a user friendly idea, and it seems a little too good to be true.  From what I've heard, this little app-like OS can boot up and get you on the internet in about ten seconds.  With a little more guidance than Chrome OS, this system feels like a winner, and the best part is, you don't even have to give up your Windows OS.  In fact, there doesn't seem to be a way to install SplashTop without Windows.  It installs just like a normal application, and can be uninstalled from your computer in just the same way.
     As of this writing, though, I am not able to test out SplashTop, because of hardware compatibility issues with my systems.  Apparently none of them have the right combination of supported hardware.  So until I get one running that can support SplashTop, we will all just have to speculate.
     Until next time, catch you on the flip side.

FaceBook

     Today's post is short, and consists mostly of a simple question.  Do you, the customers of Digital Fruit, think Digital Fruit should get a Facebook account?  I know that I, as a writer, complain about the way Facebook is handled, but the technology is sound.  If it meant widening our customer base, should we just deal with the potential problems Facebook could create?

     Hi

     (this post was done as a sarcastic response to my wife saying I should just post hi and come back and sit on the couch with her. )

Electronic Filing

     In the efforts of reducing waste, I'm trying to file all of my taxes electronically this year.  But I'm stuck with a problem.  To sign up for a business to electronically file in the state of Washington, you have to have already filed a tax return under the name of the business.  To me, this seems kind of counter-intuitive.
     But for personal taxes, you can just go to Turbo Tax's website and they'll have it done for you in no time.
     So lets recap.  I'm complaining here because a business, which really will only be paying money in, has to take the long route and file by paper and pay the extra money to have it processed by someone else or spend the hours figuring it out, but the individual, who will probably be part of the fifty percent of Americans that will not pay any taxes at all this year, gets to use the easy filing system.  I think theres something wrong with this.

Embedding Video in a Blog Post

     I’m writing this one tonight because I didn’t realize it needed to be written.  I guess I thought this was just one of those things that people knew how to do if they were on the internet.  But apparently there are a lot of people out there that don’t know how to embed a video from something like YouTube or Vimeo on their blog or Facebook page.

     This is actually a simple task once you get the basics down, and can be made even easier if you have a nice service for hosting your blog that makes embedding a two-click process.

     First thing you need to do is find a video you want to insert on you page.  Once you have the desired video, look around the video player, either on its screen or just below it.  There should be a button titled “embed” usually including a </> somewhere near it.

     When you click on this button, a bunch of text usually pops up on screen, hopefully already highlighted. 

     Once you have the text highlighted, then either hit the provided copy button, or use Ctrl + C to copy the text.  Now head on over to your blog or social network.  If its cool like Blogger, their will be a button that you just press and it will walk you through a dialog of how to insert it.  But if your blogging platform is older or just doesn’t provide the functionality, just enter the html editing mode.  Their, just find where in the post you want to add the video, put the cursor there, and press Ctrl + V for the paste function.  When you go to publish you post, it will now display a video from a video service.

     A simpler method can usually be used to upload your own files, too.  So try it out and let me know how you’re doing.