Benny Ling’s Bling

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Computers are like a bicycle for our minds.

Farkin Adobe!!

OK, so my last MBP was recently crushed on a flight, totally stuffed, mobo damaged, HD has errors so not much easily retrievable there. So install my Photoshop CS3 onto my new machine. I have it already on the Mac Pro and you are allowed 2 copies, one on a desktop, one on a laptop. Prob is that since my last machine is unusable, I am unable to deregister the old machine.

So when I whack the serial in it balks at me saying I can’t install it. Fair nuf, I think to myself, I’ll just ring em like when you change a part in your PC and have to ring MS.

So the number in the registration part of the Photoshop software says to ring 1800 005 034. After 15 minutes on hold I get a call centre in Bangalore or somewhere where the guy has an attitude and is is rather unhelpful, and after going thru everything proceeds to tell me that I have rung the number for American and Canadian registrations. I try to explain to him that a 1800 number only works in Australia and I have rung the number it told me to ring for Australia. Idiot who cannot comprehend anything that doesn’t match his script continues to insist I ring 1300 550 205. Pissed off I hang up and try it.

Get a recorded message saying that the number is no longer valid and I need to ring 1800 504 … but doesn’t repeat it, so have to ring it back AGAIN to catch the full number and write it down. 1800 504 971. OK, so ring THAT number and INCREDIBLY get a similar message saying THAT number is ALSO invalid, and that I need to ring 1800 614 863. FARK!! How can they so totally stuff it all up?

Phone THAT number and get a bloody recorded message saying that the Aussie line is only open between 9-5 Monday to Friday!! WTF!?!?! How the hell can they justify having global call centres that are open but not service certain countries even though they have legitimately purchased the software? The tool on the phone could even see my details, he just refused to help. What if I was needing the software due to a deadline of something? And they wonder why people pirate their software when they treat legitimate customers with such contempt!

So I ring the first number back, and even after telling them 5 times over that the 1300 number DOES NOT work, the idiot CONTINUES to tell me I need to ring the same bloody number. He just could not comprehend that he was giving out an incorrect number and that there was no one on that number.

via Farkin Adobe!! – MacTalk Forums.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-28

  • We should probably get it over and done with, so here goes: *takes deep breath* #squarespace. There, I said it… Happy now? #
  • The Cure's 'Lullaby' probably isn't the best song to be listening to at this time in the morning, but I've got a long day of work ahead… #
  • Yeah, that's screwed. http://twitpic.com/82noz #
  • So, today's insanity is a MBP that seems to have XOR memory slots – boots with RAM in either slot, just not both at the same time. WTF. #
  • I think 3.0 screws around with battery life somewhat – usually I can go two days without charging, but on 3.0 it's like just one is hard. #
  • ZOMG! SMC 24 port managed gigabit switch just arrived in a metric buttload of bubble wrap. SMC8024L if you're interested ;) Pics in a sec. #
  • SMC8024L: 24 gig ports + small + cable diag. http://twitpic.com/8395v http://twitpic.com/8395m http://twitpic.com/8395h #
  • Hanging out for BeeJiveIM 3.0, Instapaper 2.0, Tweetie, iTweetReply, AppSniper, Wordpress, Facebook, and possibly eBay updates. Cmon, Apple! #
  • "Be a tool, get a a hammer back." Thanks, OCAU. You're awesome. XD #
  • There's suppossed to be a nice water view there. WTF is this, then??! http://twitpic.com/84u06 #
  • Er… What. http://twitpic.com/84u8o #
  • Thanks to @marcofolio for the best iteration of the @instapaper bookmarklet ever. Works especially well in mobile safari, so thanks :) #
  • 90% battery remains – not much of an improvement with push off… #squarespace it all. #
  • Lulz. Poor grafitti is poor, but still hilariously hilarious. http://twitpic.com/850z8 #
  • Today's iPhone wallpaper: http://twitpic.com/85ny2 #
  • Alarm just went off at work. IT WAS LOUD. #
  • So many links, so little time. #
  • I wonder what happens if you've got a US iTunes Store account and you buy, download, and use the AT&T Navigator? #
  • Wide Area Bonjour + Bonjour-capable chat client == profit! :D #itsaplan #
  • Also, @neg2led – WTF was with the Come Clean remix you posted earlier today?! EPIC LULZ. #
  • I wish Peggle would allow me to backup replays. High scores can get stuffed – just let me keep my epic replays, for the love of all things. #
  • RT @MAC1Australia: Grab a copy of MobileMe-only $59 including GST! RT & email twitter@mac1.com.au with your link 2 get 5 FREE iTunes songs! #
  • Shiny. Not to mention damned expensive… http://twitpic.com/88q5v #
  • Subway for lunch today. #
  • Argh! @neg2led has somehow made me addicted to Hilary Duff trance/doof-doof music… On that note, got any moar? :D #
  • 55% battery life with iPhone 3.0 with push notifications off? Now THERE'S the battery life I know and love ^_^ #
  • Is it bad that I think some of the girls on TGYH (on Julia Zemiro's segment) at the moment are hot?? Kimberley in particular… Just, wow… #
  • On one hand, there is my overwhelming appreciation of good music and the desire to do the right thing and buy music that I'll listen to… #
  • …on the other hand, there is my desire for instantaneous satisfaction and love for digital downloads. Dream Theater, I'm looking at you. #
  • RT @Kieran_Murphy: Decoded Wingdings message from the end of the Chasers episode – Kudos to Nick for the image – http://imgur.com/f8VGT.jpg #
  • Finding iPhone 3.0 preformance to be worse than 2.2.1. Could have something to do with restoring from a backup, but those Peggle replays… #
  • She's broken-ed. :( http://twitpic.com/8bx5x #
  • Just bought Dream Theater's new album, Black Clouds and Silver Linings. The Deluxe 3 cd edition, of course ;) #fb #
  • Found someone's GF upstairs. She's not too bad, either ;) http://twitpic.com/8cd0e #
  • Finger hovering over the 1Password Touch Pro button in iTunes. I already own 1Pt, though… Where's that feature table, @chartier?! #
  • Thoughts, @marcoarment? RT @zacislost: wish I could add articles to @instapaper from Tumblr. Especially as the same dev is behind both.. #
  • Thoughts, @marcofolio? RT @zacislost: wish I could add articles to @instapaper from Tumblr. Especially as the same dev is behind both.. #
  • FB Purity now seems to block both quizzes AND legitimate content (status updates, etc). How's it going for you, @exocetau? #
  • Confession time. I really thought that marcofolio was the lead developer of Instapaper and Tumblr, but he IS NOT. marcoarment is. /facepalm #
  • In all honesty, there's definitely a greater amount of attractive girls in Hobart this morning, I'd have to say. Cute blonde is cute ^_^ #
  • Today's Insanity. EPIC LULZ. XD http://twitpic.com/8flur #
  • APPLECARE FOR IPHONE NOW AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA.
    http://bit.ly/ZWfSq #
  • No ma'am, legitimate iPhones do not have removable batteries. Nor do they run java. (That's what you get for buying from eBay, hah!) #
  • Nighttime digital scavenger hunt? Oh this is gonna be good… #
  • Even though that ship has sailed (and what a mighty fine ship it was), I still can't stop thinking about her. #
  • Holy sheet it's busy today.
    So. Many. Customers. #
  • If anyone uses Instapaper's "Starred Items" folder I'd love to subscribe to yours :) Shoot me a DM with your Instapaper username pls :) #
  • Just realises I didn't actually have lunch today because it was so frakking busy at work… =/ #
  • Today's relevant quote from @petedillon: "The best price is whatever puts more money in my pocket, rather than keeping it in yours." #
  • Particularly relevant to anyone in sales at this time of the year… Source from that last one courtesy @mactalk: http://bit.ly/drZXK #
  • Hmm – getting strange duplication issues in NetNewsWire – the damn RSS items keep duplicating themselves in the feed FNAR! WTF! :S #
  • I'd work for @thehitlist for free if it meant that @andypotion would release the damn iPhone app sooner, rather than later. Waiting sucks. #
  • Starting to think I need to follow some ppl who are PC enthusiasts. Pity no one on OCAU seems to have a Twitter account. I haven't looked. #
  • Today's iPhone photography brought to you by the Hobart bridge. http://twitpic.com/8nbr1 #
  • RT @andytlr: I wish the iTunes store had tabs. #
  • Shopping with the 'rents. I hope this doesn't become a habit… :S #
  • AHAHAHA. Nice work, @thehitlist – your latest update of THL just borked the whole app – now crashes on startup… Fix pls? #
  • Snappy iPhone is snappy after a clean install. I'll miss my Peggle replays, but hey, I can always restore back (yeah, like that'll happen). #
  • Hmm. Reinstalled Facebook on iPhone OS 3.0, and now it seems to be borked – it doesn't wanna log in! SOMEONE CALL THE WAAAMBULANCE!! #
  • Oops – forgot to somehow backup my bookmarks and bookmarklets in Mobile Safari. Damn. Time wasting ahead. =/ #

Copy and Paste

That we had to wait two years for the iPhone’s text selection and pasteboard is a good example of one aspect of the Apple way: better nothing at all than something less than great. That’s not to say Apple never releases anything less than great, but they try not to.2 This is contrary to the philosophy of most other tech companies — and diametrically opposed to the philosophy of Microsoft. And it is very much what drives some people crazy about Apple — it’s simply incomprehensible to some people that it might be better to have no text selection/pasteboard implementation while waiting for a great one than to have a poor implementation in the interim.

via Daring Fireball: Copy and Paste.

Better late and completely awesome than early and epically retarded, right?

Right?!

I’d actually go so far as to say that Apple made the decision not to release copy and paste until now, iPhone haters be damned. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well, and that applies to the iPhone just as it applies to any other mainstream consumer electronics device. And they do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, eh Palm? ;)

Even with all of 3.0’s numerous improvements, it’s hard to think that this shouldn’t have been the OS that shipped with the device back in 07. People have commented that iPhone OS 3.0 should have been there from the start – but look where we’ve come! That, ladies and gentlemen, is progress in it’s finest form.

Nice work, Apple. Kudos.

Intelligent, cynical and embittered women only

I am not an extremely picky guy. Being my dream girl is more a matter of the things you aren’t than the things you are.

My ideal woman:

-when asked about her hobbies, has more to say than, “Like, you know, stuff,” or the always popular “shopping, hanging out, music, friends.”

-can think outside her own head and understand that while her wants and needs are her priority (and there’s nothing wrong with that), those around her have their own desires.

-takes care of herself to some degree. We can’t help certain aspects of our appearance, but if you don’t bathe regularly and have eaten yourself fat it demonstrates a fatal lack of respect for yourself that one would expect to bleed into other aspects of your behavior.

via Intelligent, cynical and embittered women only – YMFY.

Echoed here.

Top 10 Raw Deals for Gamers

5. Downloads Priced Same as Discs

There aren’t as many test cases here yet, because few console games have been released in both downloadable and disc versions, but the data we have is disheartening. It’s much, much cheaper to sell a downloadable game: You don’t have to print a disc, and middlemen don’t take a cut. Win-win, right? More like win-lose. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue costs the same $30 as a PlayStation 3 disc or a PlayStation Store download. The disc is undeniably more valuable, since it can be resold. If the prices are the same, digital versions give gamers less for their money. (At least the IRS isn’t taxing downloads — yet.)

via Top 10 Raw Deals for Gamers | GameLife | Wired.com.

That’s just not fair.

Steam News – Left 4 Dead Update Released

Client

* Removed an infinite ammo exploit for molotovs

Add-on Campaign Support

via Steam News.

Noooo! Not the infinite molotovs hack!

On the bright side, user-created maps for the win. :D

Now for Some Music

now for some music

via YMFY.

I’m not usually one to buy my music (unless it’s free, thanks for the coupons @Mac1), so this fits perfectly with my modus operandi.

However, stealing is bad. While I won’t go out of my way to buy things that I can easily steal (music, software), I’ll usually endeavour to buy those things that I can’t easily steal (hardware, things I can touch etc), as well as those things that I use or enjoy on a frequent basis – software from awesome Mac developers Panic is a great example, as is music from Dream Theater (iTMS Link).

Perception vs Reality. Perception Wins.

perception vs reality

This one blew me away. See the image above? Unless you suffer from color blindness, you should see a pink spirally box with a green spiral and a blue spiral vortex. Except they’re not blue and green. The large colored spirals are the same green. Really.

via Perception VS Reality. Perception Wins. | UI and us.

Mac Dock Icon Spelling!

Mac Dock Icon Spelling

This literally popped up on my desktop and I thought it was too good not to share. I’ll try and come up with a few more, but here are a few get started.

via Mac Dock Icon Spelling! – Mike Giepert.

LULZ.

I’m so inmature. ;)

iPhone: Which iPhone 3.0 software features does my iPhone support?

iPhone 3.0 Features Matrix

Notes:

  1. Peer-to-peer connectivity requires compatible applications, which can be downloaded from the App Store when available.
  2. The original iPhone does not support using Bluetooth for peer-to-peer connectivity. It can use Wi-Fi and cellular data networks for peer-to-peer connectivity.
  3. MMS is not available in all areas; fees may apply. See your carrier for availability.
  4. Internet tethering is not currently offered in the United States and some other countries. See your carrier for availability.

via iPhone: Which iPhone 3.0 software features does my iPhone support?.

Smiley’s Shooty Adventure: Robotron meets Geometry Wars

Smiley

Robotron meets Geometry Wars, Smiley’s Shooty Adventure is a frantic action shooter available for both Mac and Windows. Created by Caffeine Monster Software, you are in charge of a smiley face as you take on enemies coming from all directions, using your mouse to point the fire and keyboard to move the smiley, perfect for lunch breaks when the boss is not looking and small enough to hide away quick =]

via Smiley’s Shooty Adventure [Mac, Windows, Game]: Robotron meets Geometry Wars | CreativeApplications.Net.

Anything that implements some Geometry Wars action is good enough for me :)

Just downloaded the demo. I’ll let you know how it goes…

Online Journalism A Few Years Ago vs. Today

Online Journalism

via Online Journalism A Few Years Ago vs. Today [PIC] : pics.

Damn you, with all your unecessary auto-refreshing stupidity, and your completely retarded pagination system.

This is why I’m not afraid to use AdBlock Plus.

OH HAI THAR!

For more info, hit up the very first post.

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What I'm Doing...

  • You know what? One of these days I'll become OSX Server certified. One of these days... 6 hrs ago
  • Was tempted to skip work today for some epic #BC2 action, now it's cold and I realise I should have. But I'm standing in the sun, so hooray 8 hrs ago
  • It's time like the MacHeist tweetblast that make you appreciate the fact that I have a spam account specifically for that purpose, right? ;) 10 hrs ago
  • Just bought the MacHeist bundle for Tweetie alone. It made sense to, purely because Tweetie is $20 by itself, and I get Tweetie 2 for Mac :D 10 hrs ago
  • I'm yet to read all the details on this Steam for Mac thing, but so far it's sounding pretty good. That said, I'll still be buying a PC! ^_^ 1 day ago
  • More updates...

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