tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-242237432024-03-13T16:05:26.130-04:00Cranial SoupPeas, carrots, green beans, and gray matter.Apphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04973805741360160102noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-24976566143347482082009-12-09T10:35:00.001-05:002009-12-09T10:35:33.566-05:00It started with a piece of string...<p><img style="margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; display: inline" title="string" alt="string" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_qlCAUZtia6Q/Sx_DxLa1WfI/AAAAAAAAA6U/aGnsPMmN_18/string%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="160" /> Then evolved into a short elastic strap with a set of snaps at both ends. This was my solution to a problem. </p> <p>What problem was that? </p> <p>When my daughter was just a baby, back in the mid 80's, she kept throwing her pacifier out of the stroller and then would holler like hell, and I couldn't give it back to her to shut her up because it was now dirty. So I tied a string on it and attached it to the stroller. It didn't stop her from throwing it, but it did keep it from hitting the ground and getting dirty or lost. </p> <p>But the string didn't work well for bottles, and untying knots was a real hassle, and something that couldn't stretch restricted her from being able to drink her bottle while lying down in the stroller. A string only worked well while she was sitting up. </p> <p>Elastic and snaps...it was perfect. Other mothers saw what I had done and wanted one for their kids' bottles, too. I made a bunch and kept them in my purse, individually sealed in little zip-lock bags. They cost me less than $1.00 to make, and I sold them for $2.00 each. </p> <p>Then a good friend of mine suggested I get a patent for it and find a company to mass produce them and make mad amounts of money on royalties. </p> <p>He put me in touch with a company that supposedly specialized in helping inventors get their products patented and bringing them to market. </p> <p>Word of advice: Don't deal with these companies. They will do nothing to help you. It will cost you a lot of money and you will get nowhere. </p> <p>After paying $400 for a rather poorly written "market study report", they managed to talk me into paying another $5000 and entering into a 5 year contract with them, promising to contact manufacturers and pitching my idea to them, and if a company was interested, they would get them to pay the cost of patenting it in my name, and I would get a royalty on every single copy of my invention that they manufactured, regardless of whether they actually sold any. </p> <p>They convinced me that it was far cheaper to let them handle it, since they had offices all over the world and could set up meetings with company executives. They said my cost in air travel alone would exceed the $5000 if I tried to do it myself, nevermind hotels, paying for expensive lunches, drinks, etc. They also said they were experienced and knew what to say, so I would have a better chance of getting a deal. And they had their own contract lawyers, specializing in royalty agreements, to protect my interests. </p> <p>I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. I took out a personal loan to cover the cost, from a financing company that turned out to be owned by them. It took me 2 years of high monthly payments to pay it off. </p> <p>And what did they actually do for me? Did they contact all the big name baby product companies like <a href="http://gerber.com" target="_blank">Gerber</a> or <a href="http://fisher-price.com" target="_blank">Fisher Price</a>? No, they contacted publishers, like the one that produces <a href="http://parents.com" target="_blank">Parents magazine</a>. </p> <p>They mailed out form letters to the editors of magazines targeted at the consumer that would be most interested in my product. They never contacted a single manufacturer. Those "inventors help" companies do this all the time, for any and every product idea that comes through their doors, no matter how good or bad the product idea is. The magazine editors are used to it and know it's all crap and toss every letter in the trash without ever opening them. </p> <p>And they tied my hands for 5 years, preventing me from doing all the work myself, otherwise I'd still have to give them a large cut of my royalties if I succeeded in finding a company willing to manufacture it, on my own. </p> <p>So I decided to wait till the contract expired. There was no way I was going to let these swindlers have another dime. </p> <p>Before my 5 year wait was up, a conversation with someone made me realize that my great little invention had no hope and would cause the death of many innocent babies that had idiots for parents. The more popular my invention was, the greater the potential for it to kill, because stupid people that don't watch their kids properly and don't follow instructions, would end up using it in cribs and playpens and leaving their children unattended for hours, or using it in car seats while they were driving and unable to pay attention, resulting in strangulation deaths. </p> <p>It was perfectly safe for use by parents that actually watched their kids and only used it in a stroller where they could watch what was going on. </p> <p>If my invention had made it to market, I would have no control over it and no way to stop stupid people from buying it and killing their children with neglect. My product would be blamed and not the neglectful parents, and if it became a popular product the <a href="http://cpsc.gov" target="_blank">CPSC</a> recall could have been huge, costing whatever company that produced it enormous amounts of money in recall costs and defending lawsuits, and ultimately, cost me a fortune, too. </p> <p>And I would have these deaths hanging on my conscience for the rest of my life. I would never get a peaceful night's sleep ever again. </p> <p>So that is why you can't buy my invention and why I never became filthy rich.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p align="right"><em>Photo credit: </em><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/88249458@N00/3008475029" target="_blank"><em>außerirdische sind gesund</em></a></p> Apphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04973805741360160102noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-53108292661501897122009-05-13T00:34:00.014-04:002013-10-30T20:52:23.329-04:00OpenCandy: A New Kind of Adware/Spyware<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335167503983734690" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qlCAUZtia6Q/SgpSk_Qob6I/AAAAAAAAAx8/s3LFFsZIZs4/s400/opencandy.jpg" style="float: left; height: 164px; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0pt; width: 303px;" /><br />
They claim to be doing something noble, but the only thing sweet about <a href="http://www.opencandy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OpenCandy</a> is the sales pitch to naive developers that might just fall for it, tricking them into thinking it is somehow different than the typical common adware/spyware.<br />
<br />
A lot of developers do seem to be biting the bait, but no matter how you slice it, it's still adware/spyware, and to me it stinks worse than the old fashioned kind.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.opencandy.com/what/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">OpenCandy's own words</a>, this is what they do:<br />
<blockquote>
Recommendations are made to users during the installation process. Utilizing the install process creates a user-friendly experience and offers optimal engagement for making a software recommendation. The user is presented with a screen that describes the recommendation, at which time they may choose to install the recommended software.</blockquote>
That makes it adware!<br />
<blockquote>
We then provide analytics back to the creators, so they can see how their software and recommendations are performing. This way they can better understand how to build and recommend great applications. </blockquote>
That makes it spyware!<br />
<blockquote>
We've also provided our technology as a platform to a handful of software creators who are utilizing an offer screen during the install process as an advertising unit. Some creators are already monetizing their distribution by offering apps like browser toolbars, so we're helping them improve their user experience and optimize the effectiveness of their offers. </blockquote>
That makes it your typical spyware/adware we have always known.<br />
<br />
Actually, this is much worse, because instead of big companies like Sun & Opera making some software and offering it for free and advertising Yahoo's toolbar in the installer, we have a lazy predator company backed by venture capitalists that doesn't want to bother with or take the risk in developing a ton of software of their own to push toolbars to make their millions. They want to use the software of naive developers to accomplish it.<br />
<br />
An ad is an ad, and to me there is no difference.<br />
<br />
There is no difference between showing an ad for some other product by some other developer in the installer of my software, no matter how much I might even like that software myself, and popping up an ad for CocaCola or Viagra on a user's screen during the install process.<br />
<br />
Do you remember what you parents told you about not taking candy from strangers and why? Well, these guys are not really strangers, they are known preditors. The founders of OpenCandy are <a href="http://www.opencandy.com/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the same guys</a> responsible for the inclusion of the <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=divx+adware" target="_blank">spyware/adware in DivX</a>.<br />
<br />
Now, before you call me a hypocrite for bashing adware installers while having ads on my blog, let me explain the difference:<br />
<br />
Any visitor to my blog can turn off Javascript and not be exposed to ads. Or they can use a noscript plugin, or an ad blocker. They have that choice before they land on my site.<br />
<br />
I even offer an <a href="http://cranialsoup.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default">ad-free RSS feed</a>.<br />
<br />
If I want to recommend software to my users, I put it <a href="http://appsapps.info/links.php" target="_blank">on a separate page of my site</a> and not in my software or installers.<br />
<br />
When the ads are in an installer, the user can't install the software without seeing the ads. They have no real choice. That's the difference. And I seriously doubt that developers are going to offer two different installers and give users the option to see or not see ads or be exposed to spyware.<br />
<br />
So now that I have told you what I think, what is your opinion on OpenCandy, as either a software user or developer (or both)?<br />
<br />
<u><b>UPDATE Saturday, February 19, 2011:</b></u><br />
The following applications have been found to install OpenCandy:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>aMSN</li>
<li>Any Video Converter (last freeware, OpenCandy free version 1.21 available <a href="http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/512255-free-any-video-converter-10/" target="_blank">here</a>)</li>
<li>ApexDC++</li>
<li>ATI Tray Tools</li>
<li>aTube Catcher </li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">avast! Free Antivirus </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">AxCrypt </span></li>
<li>CDBurnerXP Pro</li>
<li>Cheat Engine</li>
<li>CNET TechTracker</li>
<li>Connectify </li>
<li>CrystalDiskInfo</li>
<li>CrystalDiskMark </li>
<li>CutePDF</li>
<li>Daemon Tools </li>
<li>DarkWave Studio</li>
<li>Dexclock</li>
<li>Dexpot</li>
<li>DoubleTwist </li>
<li>Driver Sweeper</li>
<li>Duplicate Cleaner</li>
<li>DVDStyler </li>
<li>DVDVideoSoft products</li>
<li>eRightSoft products,including Super</li>
<li>ExtractNow</li>
<li>Ezvid </li>
<li>FL Studio</li>
<li>FreeFileSync </li>
<li>Free YouTube Downloader</li>
<li>Freemake Video Converter</li>
<li>Freemake Video Downloader</li>
<li>Free Music Zilla</li>
<li>Free Video Dub</li>
<li>Free Video To Flash Converter </li>
<li>Frostwire</li>
<li>GameHouse</li>
<li>HappyLand Adventures </li>
<li>IE7Pro</li>
<li>Image Tuner</li>
<li>ImgBurn </li>
<li>IZArc</li>
<li>kantaris</li>
<li>KMPlayer</li>
<li>Launchy (when not downloaded from SourceForge) </li>
<li>Media Info</li>
<li>MediaCoder</li>
<li>MediaInfo</li>
<li>MiPony </li>
<li>mIRC</li>
<li>Miro</li>
<li>MyPhoneExplorer </li>
<li>Office 2010 Trial Extender</li>
<li>Orbit Downloader</li>
<li>PDFCreator</li>
<li>PeaZip </li>
<li>Photobie</li>
<li>PhotoScape</li>
<li>Power Plan Assistant for Windows 7 </li>
<li>PrimoPDF</li>
<li>PSP Video</li>
<li>RealArcade </li>
<li>RedKawa</li>
<li>SIW</li>
<li>Soldat</li>
<li>Soft32 Updater </li>
<li>SPlayer </li>
<li>Startup Manager</li>
<li>StepMania </li>
<li>SUPER </li>
<li>Super Mario Bros X (Level Editor)</li>
<li>Super Simple Photo Resizer</li>
<li>Sweet Home 3D </li>
<li>TechTracker</li>
<li>Trillian Astra</li>
<li>Tubetilla </li>
<li>True Burner</li>
<li>Unlocker</li>
<li>uTorrent </li>
<li>Veoh Web Player </li>
<li>Videora </li>
<li>Vistaglazz</li>
<li>WebShot</li>
<li>Winamp </li>
<li>WinSCP</li>
<li>Xfire </li>
<li>YouTube Downloader HD </li>
</ul>
This is not an exhaustive all inclusive list. This is just what I have found with a quick Google search. If you know of any other applications that should be added to this list, leave a comment and let me know.Apphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04973805741360160102noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-88431267012160750842009-02-16T12:24:00.002-05:002010-01-13T09:39:04.451-05:00What do you love?<p><img alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_qlCAUZtia6Q/SZmhKwg4EoI/AAAAAAAAAsE/Ukga_dWJSOA/100-00001%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" height="100" width="100" /> We, as consumers, have a vested interest in the products and services we use and the stores in which we shop. How much of an interest depends on how we feel about it. The more we love a product, store, or service, the more of a vested interest we have in its long term success. </p> <p>It is not beneficial to us, as consumers, to fall in love with a dud. (Not all duds are bad products, some are just poorly marketed) If you are the only one to love a product and buy it, or the only customer a particular store has, then there is no possible way for that product or store to survive, long term. You, as the lone consumer, do not have enough buying power to guarantee the success of what you love. </p> <p>So what happens to the duds? Well, they disappear, of course, leaving you to feel the pain & sorrow of losing something you love. While it might not compare to losing a pet or loved one, it's still painful to lose something you love, no matter what it is. </p> <p>It's an endless list of things that we have loved and lost, as consumers. I am sure we all can think of at least one product or service that we once enjoyed very much, that we would just about kill to have it once again. A shampoo or conditioner that made your hair look great, that perfect shade of lipstick that stayed on all day without smudging, that nail polish that didn't chip for two weeks, a favorite candy or snack, a brand of shoes that always fit as if they were made just for you, a flavor of yogurt, a dry cleaner that never ruined your clothes and always got every stain out, the Chinese restaurant that had the world's greatest lo mein.</p> <p>But alas, it's not very likely we will ever have these things again. </p> <p><img alt="credit: webphotomart.com" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_qlCAUZtia6Q/SZmhLFmfQzI/AAAAAAAAAsI/qjU0g-hwf7g/1231_wpm_lores%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="right" height="147" width="225" /> Now take a look at the products and services that you currently love. Do enough people love these things to guarantee its success in the marketplace, long term? Are they going to be here tomorrow? Are you going to have to go through the pain of losing another favorite, yet again? Is there anything that you, as a consumer, can do about it? </p> <p>Yes, there actually is. </p> <p>There are two things you can do to help. </p> <h4>1. Sharing is caring...tell people about it.</h4> <p>The more people you tell, the more will be introduced to the product or service that may have never heard about it or tried it before. And there are lots of ways and plenty of opportunities to do this. </p> <h4>2. Tell the company responsible for the product or service exactly how you feel about it.</h4> <p><strong></strong>Take the time to write a letter and mail it, the old fashioned way, on paper in an envelope with a stamp on it (perhaps you can even send a thank you card). Popular celebrities shouldn't be the only ones to get fan mail. While sending an email is quick and easy, sending real mail goes the extra mile to show how much you really care. </p> <p> </p> <p>Now this won't guarantee that a product or service won't disappear at some point, but you will be doing your part to protect your interests in its long term success. </p> <p>Is there a product or service that you use and love enough to tell me about it, today? Now is your chance to start doing something to protect your vested interest in it, by telling me (and everyone else that will read this page) all about it. </p> <p>Leave a comment. Consider it an <em>investment</em> in your own consumer happiness. </p> <h4>There is one catch, though...</h4> <p>Please do not advertise your own products, services, or websites. This is for your fans to do today, not you. Instead, tell me about someone else's product or service that you love.</p><br /> <br /><div align="center"><br /><a alt="Best Internet Marketing Posts of 2009" href="http://www.techipedia.com/2010/internet-marketing-posts-2009/" title="Best Internet Marketing Posts of 2009"><img src="http://www.techipedia.com/images/badge_best_of_2009.gif"/></a><br /></div>Apphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04973805741360160102noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24223743.post-446812569570981212008-08-20T10:06:00.004-04:002008-08-20T11:28:16.424-04:00Barbie Wants to CodeI thought the idea of branding was taken a bit too far when I saw this, but I think we can take it to an absurd distance and territories completely unknown, by proposing a fun little exercise for your 1337 Photochop skills.<br /><br />Now that <a href="http://www.popgadget.net/2008/07/hello_kitty_ant.php" target="_blank">Hello Kitty has her own antivirus</a> (how can you take a product like that seriously?), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie" target="_blank">Barbie</a> is jealous and wants her own programming IDE...and she wants <span style="font-weight: bold;">YOU</span> to design it for her.<br /><br />Your assignment (if you choose to accept it):<br /><ul><li>Take a screenshot of your favorite IDE.</li><li>Drag it into the photo editing software of your choice.</li><li>Dress it up Barbie style...all pink, flowery, and quite girly.</li><li>Make it look like something Barbie would be proud to code in.</li><li>Show it off by posting a link to your creation(s) in a comment.</li></ul>Here is one I quickly did to give you an idea of what I mean and get your creative juices flowing. I am sure you can do much better than this, with a little thought and effort.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Delphi 6 for Barbie:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://appsapps.info/blog/delphi4barbie.png" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qlCAUZtia6Q/SKws3vZDE7I/AAAAAAAAAdM/AJ1qGiJplqI/s400/delphi4barbie400.png" alt="Delphi 6 for Barbie" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236609802850997170" border="0" /></a>Apphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04973805741360160102noreply@blogger.com3