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2/25/2006 RickMahn.comCome visit me at my new permanent Blog on the net at RickMahn.com. I'll problably not be updating this space regularly as I've consolidated all my blogging efforts into one site. You can see some of the latest post headlines below.
 2/1/2006 I'm Still Here...While I ramble a bit on this post, I'm using IE7 Beta 2. Looking good, and an improvement over previous betas. I'm not posting here much, but am staying busy on my other blogs.
The new features added to Spaces is nice, but it still is not camparable to professional blogging software like WordPress (I'm convinced its the best). Busy at work, busy at home, busy trying to launch Rick 2.0 (warning geek humor), and finding that there is just not enough time in the day. Many challenges at work, many projects that I'm all of a sudden becoming the Project Manager on - be carefull of what you wish for.
The challenges are great because it allows me to grow and learn every day (sometimes every minute!), and keeps pushing the boundaries that I thought werer further down the path for me professionally. More and more I wonder if just limiting myself to IT is the answer to my professional growth. Of course its not, but a person is hesitant to make too many changes or too drastic a change as it is uncomfortable to think of failing.
At any rate, its fun to be challenged! 1/26/2006 Its been awhileIts been awhile since I've posted here on my space - I've been very busy with work and am really starting to favor WordPress over MSN Spaces and Blogger (see Rick's Ramblings and Rickster). There just seems to be more flexibility in both those environments than Spaces has to offer. Especially WordPress - I've really fallen for its power and ease of use. The extensibility is fantastic as well. Blogger has some good customization options, and integration with Google's AdSense program is cool, though I understand Spaces has just added a similar feature.
I guess overall, it just is a simple thing of Spaces seeming to be a "starter" blogging service, and something like WordPress a much more mature platform. I'll still keep this blog updated periodically, but my main posting will probably end up on the WordPress blog - I may change my domain to point there as well just to make it easier to find. 1/4/2006 Still On VacationAh, still have a few days of vacation left - through the end of this week actually. With the prospect of a "Monday" on the work horizon, I'm trying to tie up my Christmas vacation with some productive personal projects. I've updated the AC website slightly with a few minor changes, one of which was the addition of my Dell Business Partner links (finally). There are still some PDFs that need to be created, and a few service details to fill out, but its coming together.
On my blogger site, I've been really busy - strange for me because keeping on top of a blog and regular posting has never been natrual for me. Even though I fall into the "Gen X" age group, the technology itself has always interested me rather than the use of technology. Anyway, my blogging has turned more into a headline site rather than deep insights and I'm thinking of modifying the name of the blog from "Rick's Ramblings" to something that fits the content better.
Well, work will be a new adventure when I get back this coming Monday. There is quite a bit of work to get done on our Windows image upgrade project, and we will have our entire group toghether in town for a quarterly meeting. Some new tasks for me are to work more towards mentoring and coaching - a bit more dificult as it is not a task that I have had to focus on previously. At any rate, it will be a growth opportunity for me, and any challenge can be exciting.
More in a few days. 12/29/2005 Long HolidayWell, I've not posted for several days, mainly because of the Christmas holiday. Since I've taken several days off work, I'll still be light on posts around here while relaxing. Of course, I'm still pondering many different paths to pursue for growth and I will be posting on those soon. The company I work for is conducting their annual employee reviews, and it does provide some good food for thought - I'll see if I can work that in here somewhere as well. 12/24/2005 Dell Small BusinessWell I've updated the site to include some Dell Small Business links. Interesting program from Dell, similar to Google's AdSense program in a way. We'll see how it goes, and if it has the desired affect. 12/22/2005 BloggingHmmm, an interesting idea struck me while at work today - actually an idea for a new opportunity. This requires an in-depth understanding of the blogging culture and what drives it, feeds it, interests it. This is kind of strange for me as I've historically been focused on hardware, operating systems, etc... Working on New BlogWell I've been working on my new blog which I intend to keep focused on news and happenings in the technology sphere that I'm interested in. In addition, I'm planning on keeping this blog updated with more of a bent on my professional life. I'll be discussing items about career decisions, opportunities, challenges, etc... This blog will also be updated about information as push AC into reality.
Check out my technology blog at: www.rickmahn.com
Keep tuned here for occasional professional information in the IT world.
-Rick 12/13/2005 New BlogI've created another blog over at Blogger.com. Checking out the different formatting options available - also can't wait for the new features of Spaces to hit as well! 11/20/2005 Windows Live Custom Domains...Another new service (in beta) from Microsoft Windows Live! Their new Custom Domains services let you point the MX record of your domain to Windows Live for email services. It also allows you to use your own domain email accounts in place of standard Passport accounts for other MSN services.
Check it out at Windows Live! 11/19/2005 Live.com...Microsoft is doing some interesting things on their new Windows Live site (www.live.com). This site along with a number of services that they are currently developing (and have in beta) are really interesting. Check them out!
-Rick 11/12/2005 Testing...No particular reason for this post - just a few thoughts about testing. Beta testing in particular. While I've been a beta tester for some time, the latest one that wrapped up in September was a bit of fun. It was for a mobile web site & services that were focused on mobile phones & PDAs. It was quite fun and as always a learning experience.
The past year, I've been increasing my beta testing for companies a bit and expanding form the Windows platform into the mobile space. Mobile devices are a great area to work in as it is constantly pushing the boundaries for size, speed, and functionality.
As we move into the future, I'm planning on participating in more testing scenarios and starting some of my own mobile projects. The mainstream PC market/environment is just that Mainstream, and is much to static at this point in time.
The vitality and spontaneous nature of the PC environment in the '90s has faded drastically. Yeah XP was cool and Vista will be cool, but it will also be predictable - so is Linux and the Mac. The new generation of devices, the creativity, and interesting projects will be (are!) on a pocketable device that is wirelessly connected, performing all sorts of things for its owner withouth any intervention. This device will (is!) doing this in real-time while moving down the highway at 60mph.
Yeah a server somewhere is needed, a PC/Laptop, and some desktop software to support it - but the important part is the piece that never leaves its owners pocket. Whether its a phone or pda, or a combination of the two, the opportunity is there and testing the new stuff is my current piece of fun for the time being. Lots of new stuff coming to market around the world in the next 6-9mos, trust me.
-Rick 11/7/2005 More RamblingYou know, I spend a lot of posts just rambling on about nothing. Like this one. It is fun to have technology simply for its own sake. I'm a technologist at heart and simple enjoy playing with 'stuff'.
Lot's of fun. 11/4/2005 PocketBreeze 5Well, it's been awhile again since my last post. Been busy at work as usual, but have been having fun doing a little research and testing.
Some updates for may favorite PPC software to support WM5 are out, most impressive is PocketBreeze 5. This version upgrade is fantastic! Check it out if you haven't already. 10/27/2005 Fast Mobile DataYou know what's really cool? Fast mobile data services. Here I am posting from my Pocket PC again using the keyboard while streaming Boston from my home system via Orb. Too cool. 10/23/2005 Windows Mobile 5Been investigating Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition, and I must say that as soon as more devices are on the market, I'll have to pick one up.
The new operating system has many changes from previous versions, mostly in stability and UI enhancements. The most striking addition is the soft keys at the bottom of the screen. These have been on most cell phones for awhile and make the PPC more usable for a phone than it was in the past.
Another new "feature" for WM5 is the requirement of ActiveSync 4.0. This version of AS seems to have some issues with creating a partnership, and also with different Windows XP configurations! MS needs to address this as a #1 priority.
Other neat updates are WMP 10, better Bluetooth support, better WiFi support, better connectivity for tethering as a modem, and much more in the network department.
At the most basic level in the OS, a major change was to move to non-volatile storage. This is also similar to what most cell phones have been using for a long time. Everything in memory is not lost if the battery goes dead. In previous incarnations of the OS and its supported devices, there needed to be constant power applied to the memory. That is a nice change - it also has the positive affect of making more power available for the same battery capacity. Previously in WM, the system had to reserve a certain percentage of battery life to keep the memory contents over a 3 day period - and would even tell the user that the battery was empty when it was not, just to support this requirement. Now, that need is not there and that remaining power can now be used by the user for additional run-time.
Finding all the new features will take time, but there are a slew of people investigating the new OS and posting all over the enthusiast sites about tweaks and settings that improve the OS.
Lots of fun. 10/22/2005 Push Email...The opportunity to try out an Exchange 2003 "push" email account presented itself this past week. I've signed up for a two week trial account at www.4smartphone.com. The system sends an SMS message to my phone which then starts an ActiveSync session with the 4Smartphone email servers. Neat stuff! |
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