5 Media Programs We Love To Hate

We use a lot of different programs to view a lot of different types of media files. Some programs do a fairly good job of delivering information. Unfortunately, a lot of programs do nasty things like spy on you, hijack your system or just plain bug you. Below is a list of top 5 media programs we all use that you can only love to hate:


Adobe Flash

Ok, Flash isn’t all bad. It has been a great platform for amateur animators, and it certainly is a popular way to deliver streaming video cross-platform. Flash becomes a problem when entire websites are created using it. In the age of Web 2.0 no one likes being forced to watch opening animations or waiting for elaborate menus to glide into place before being allowed to click on them. Especially problematic is the inability to right click anything which takes away the ability to download most webpage elements. Flash is unsupported on most mobile devices as well. Hey web designers, do us a favor and leave Flash for goofy videos on Youtube and make your webpages functional.


Quicktime (For Windows)

Quicktime for Mac OSX does a fairly decent job. It integrates into the OS and plays most media files with little effort (especially when outfitted with flip4mac). Quicktime for Windows is a different story. It’s nearly impossible to find a way to install it without also being forced to also take iTunes. Inattention during the install process allows the program to hijack almost all media types from other programs. Once it’s installed it sets up shop in the system tray even when not running. The program itself is slow and lacking in features. It’s no wonder PC users don’t want to switch to Macs. And by the way Apple, you can quit asking us EVERYTIME we load the program, we never want to upgrade to Quicktime Pro.


Adobe Acrobat Reader

It’s somewhat ironic that the creators of the PDF file format also make the worst viewing software. Acrobat Reader is painfully slow to load. Nothing sucks more than watching your system grind to a halt as you realize that link you just clicked on is a 2 page PDF. Adobe tried to fix this by loading a part of the program into memory on windows startup, but now it just means you can have Adobe Reader around slowing down your computer all the time! Once loaded, the reader nags you to update it nearly every time it loads. It also seems strange that a program simply designed to view PDFs needs to constantly phone home. Geesh.


RealPlayer

Good luck trying to find the free version for download. Once you do find it, RealPlayer will automatically load at startup and randomly pop ads up through its “message center”. Both can be disabled but they always seem to turn back on somehow (kind of like adware!). Like Quicktime, failure to pay attention during the install results in RealPlayer hijacking the playback of all your media files. To top it all off, RealPlayer seems to be more concerned with including a webrowser, burning DVD’s and selling its monthly subscription than actually playing media files.


Microsoft Internet Explorer

It does it’s job well enough, but even with the touted upgrades, you just can’t help getting the feeling that using Internet Explorer is like putting a big sign on your PC saying “I’m a Giant Security Exploit! Attack Me!”. Of course IE is a big target because so many people use it. Unfortunately, those who want to break away from Internet Explorer and use better alternatives are all to often forced back into using it on websites that are only designed to be viewable using IE (www.windowsupdate.com being a prime example). Its a vicious circle: People can't break way from IE because websites require it, websites require it because people keep using it.

Top 10 Stupidest USB Gadgets

USB has come a long way. You're no longer stuck with connecting only boring old printers and web cameras to your computer. Slowly, non-computing peripherals started to get added to the list of USB-Compliant devices. First came somewhat useful mug-warmers and night lights. Then came less useful Christmas trees and missile launchers. Today the market is filled with hundreds of bizarre devices of questionable utility. Below is our top 10 list of the stupidest (but still potentially quite fun) USB-compliant devices:

10. Mii Stor Ice Flash Drive

This little gem has 456 5ct diamonds set in a platinum case. There's no storage capacity listed, but I'm sure anyone willing to spend the cash to get one doesn't really what it stores. Here's hoping you don't leave this thumb drive on top of the photocopier just like the other 2 you lost.

Available At: miistor.com $30,000

9. USB Stress Button

When you get really stressed just whack this molded plastic button and all your stress will melt away as your watch your computer screen countdown and show an animated explosion. I sure know nothing de-stresses me like rebooting my computer after this poorly designed software freezes it up.
Available At: usb.brando.com.hk $17.00

8. USB Mini Humidifier

This one is interesting since it doesn't really look like it's big enough to actually make any difference whatsoever. That's probably a good thing since the last time I checked Computers + Moisture = Badness.

Available At: USBgeek.com $35.00

7. USB Thumb Ionizer
Many are convinced the full tower sized ionic air cleansers don't really do anything and can even cause more harm than good (see wikipedia). Even if you are a believer, it's hard to imagine this tiny thumb drive makes any impact on air quality at all. It does come with a fancy built-in blue LED though.
Available At: kleargear.com $14.99



6. Rechargeable USB Shaver
As many men have learned, sometimes shaving with a cheap electric razor is no better than scraping one's hair out with a dull butter knife. This shaver could be the exception and really high quality, but something really creeps me out thinking of bits of me being connected via USB to a computer.
Available At: usb.brando.com.hk $22.00

5. USB Humping Dog
Its sole function is to use up a USB port and hump it to oblivion. 'Nuff said.
Available At: thinkgeek.com $9.99






4. Warmmi USB Heating Knee Pads
Just strap these puppies around your legs, string the cords through your pants, find 2 empty USB ports and you're all set for toasty knees. I can't really say I know many people afflicted with cold knees, but somebody out there was itching for 5 volts of warmth. Don't forget to unhook yourself from the computer upon getting up, we don't want any accidents now.
Available At: vavolo.com $19.99/pair




3. USB Pole Dancer

Nothing adds class to a computer desk than adding this bikini-clad plastic doll spinning around a pole to "I'm Too Sexy". The whirring of the motor only adds to the ambiance. It's a complete steal at $40. Plug this one in at the office. I dare you.
Available At: stupid.com $39.99




2. Tidy "Tippist" Doily Tablecloth Keyboard
This USB keyboard has some ridiculously cool features. It's flat, can be rolled up, and is even machine washable. But why oh why did it have to be shaped like a freaking doily?!! "Hmm, we're going to make a keyboard on the cutting edge of technology, so naturally it's important it appeal as much as possible to the elderly." Clear marketing genius.
Available At: toniawelter.de (Only Available In Store - Germany)



1. USB Powered Air Conditioned Shirt
By drawing in air through 2 fans, these shirts extreme computer programming sessions. You might not actually be cool wh claim to keep you cool even under the mostile plugged in, but you sure would look cool all puffed up in these stylish shirts. Unfortunately when you walk away from the computer all your left with is a shirt with 2 holes in the side and a bunch of dangling cords.
Available: Hopefully Never

4 Positive Ways The iPhone has Changed The Wireless Industry

The iPhone is ridiculously cool. It has its shortcomings like most phones, but overall it is a huge leap forward in mobile phone design. Any phone that is exciting enough to impress my technophile friends, but easy enough for my technophobe mother to use HAS got to be something special. In the wake of all this attention devoted to the iPhone and its interface, it’s important to take a step back and look at how one phone model is changing the entire wireless industry. Even if you don't have an iPhone yourself, here are 4 positive benefits of the iPhone's introduction


4. Increased Awareness of GSM Phone Locking

The media gave a lot of attention to the 1.12 update and subsequent bricking of unlocked iPhones. Thanks to this, everyday people were made aware their phones weren’t bound to networks due to a difference in technology, but as a result of provider locks. It may not be a coincidence that Verizon recently announced their decision to finally allow other CDMA phones not previously purchased from Verizon on to their network. GSM locks aren’t likely to disappear anytime soon, but at least now more people know they can unlock their phones and jump ship.


3. Sending a Message: Allow 3rd Party Development

Apple tried to hold out and prevent any official 3rd party development of applications for the iPhone. This is in contrast to almost every other modern phone that allows some sort of 3rd party development even if just through J2ME/BREW programs. We were told “web apps” would be just as good as native applications. They aren’t (especially when delivered at dial-up speeds). The resulting backlash has forced Apple to reconsider, and the company now says it will open up the phone. Hopefully Apple and future smartphone manufactures will not make the same mistake and allow at least some form of official support for 3rd party development out of the box.


2. Reduced Data Rates In Canada

It is true that few Canadians use or are even aware of what data on a cell phone is. That doesn’t mean it’s fair to charge those who do use data $0.05/kb. Who would want to download a mp3 that costs $175? On a practical level you sure can forget any kind of bulk html browsing or blackberry emailing. With the imminent arrival of the iPhone to Canada, Rogers is launching a $20 for unlimited data plan. Other carriers will almost definitely follow suit, and we can finally get headlines like “Canada Worse than 3rd World Countries when it comes to Mobile Data” headlines out of the news.


1. Embarrassment for Microsoft and the Windows Mobile Platform

Apple’s first crack at a phone resulted in a revolutionary OS that literally turns heads with both its innovation and simplicity. That has got to be embarrassing for Microsoft who has been touting its clunky, slow and unintuitive smartphones for a long time. Ok, so Microsoft isn’t the only company with an outdated OS (isn’t the Palm Treo just a Palm IIIc with an antenna glued on?), but Microsoft does deserve knocking down for its “If its got windows its got to be good” attitude.