Our whole lives, we’re told we’re special. That we have something that nobody else has. That we’re the smartest kid in class. The handsomest boy in the school. We’re conditioned into thinking that the world is ours and that we deserve to succeed.

Listen up: You are not special. Despite what your parents and peers may have told you throughout your life, it’s statistically likely that you are not a child genius. You are not the next Mark Zuckerberg. You aren’t the best looking kid in school. You’re not incredible at what you do. Statistically speaking, you’re pretty normal.

It’s so easy in life to just go through the motions. To float through your day, completely tuned out from what’s going on around you.

Wake up. Drive. Work. Eat. Sleep.

I’ve often pondered how people can go through their lives by just going through the motions. I’m surrounded by people that do every day. How come...

Interesting post on Reddit from a former web developer that explains in detail some of the reasons why Microsoft was truly evil with Internet Explorer historically.

Microsoft intentionally made the engine (Trident) incompatible with the W3C standards, created an incompatible JavaScript implementation and even attempted a incompatible Java implementation (for which they were sued). The point of this is their wel-known EEE (embrace, extend and extinguish) policy. First they implement your stuff, then they introduce incompatibilities, and then, through the power of monopoly, they pushed the original inventor out of the game. They tried to kill Sun. Literally. And to get rid of the W3C. For total web dominance.

I encourage you to read the rest, too. Most of what they did is pathetic and has stalled the internet for longer than you probably realize. It goes deeper too, the writer of the...

I find it pretty hard to hold myself back from taking a dig at people who swear by a particular brand of products. “I only buy Apple” or “Windows is the only platform I’d ever use” is enough to fill me with a fit of rage.

If you think about it, take a step back, and look at the entire picture, you could be having a better experience in general if you were more open to any product.

Instead of it being a question of Google v Apple v Microsoft, ask yourself “which product works best for me?” Every different company has it’s strengths, and by sticking exclusively to one you are absolutely missing out.

Be open minded. Consider your options all the time. Don’t be a fanboy.

You’ll be pleasantly surprised how many more options you’ll have.

Parislemon:

Probably not the best sign in the world that Microsoft has to release service packs to the RTM version of Windows 8 before it has even launched. I mean, why declare RTM then? Well one possibility is that you’re working to meet a deadline rather than releasing when a product is fully baked.

I hate to call people out usually, but MG is just being a ranting fanboy without even thinking before he types, claiming his favorite company as the best without even stopping to think for a second. It’s almost like watching Fox news.

Microsoft patching Windows 8 before it even hits market is a good thing. Things are fixed before getting into end users’ hands. Apple waited until after their OS (Mountain Lion) went to market to release bug fixes related to a major power issue, and Microsoft has fixed theirs before their product even ships.

Ed Bott points out that MG’s logic seems to...

Microsoft is loving the “anticipation” of their potential customers. They’re loving people getting “excited” about Windows Phone. There’s lots of “buzz” out there. They’re loving creating “suspense.”

…Except, there’s a problem. Yes, people are excited about Windows Phone, but most of them are getting frustrated at the lack of information or solid facts and going elsewhere. Seriously, some of the best phones ever released are available now, why would you wait for Windows Phone?

Microsoft seems to think that by putting their consumers on a drip-feeder about the OS and handsets that consumers are getting excited. They were getting excited, but now that has passed. The lack of information is disturbing, and the fact that the information is out there about handsets (we pretty much know everything about HTC’s and Nokia’s offerings) but you can’t go get one, and nobody can tell you when...

I was browsing The Verge forums today and came across this post, which is probably one of the most apt descriptions of what’s wrong with the Windows ecosystem reboot:

About twelve years ago when I was 10 years old I created my MSN account which would now be my Microsoft account. I have used this e-mail for everything, and when the Xbox came around I used it for Xbox Live. This being in the early 2000’s DLC and internet services were near to non-existent.

At the time I was living in Amsterdam, and from the time the Xbox 360 came out I have spend hundreds of euros, and hours on my Xbox account. Having bought all that DLC and unlocked thousands of achievement points. So now I live in the UK and because of Microsofts old policies, I can not in ANY way change my location. I can not add a credit card or purchase content available in the UK.

So I contacted Microsoft and all they had to say...

New Zealand is currently going through the process of freeing up mobile network spectrum by disabling analogue television broadcasts nationwide, but after months of delays by the government, networks still do not know what rights they have to the spectrum. Without this knowledge, they can’t plan future 4G networks (as there are many different spectrum types that operate globally) so development is stalled.

Carriers in New Zealand are trialing 4G LTE right now, and I’ve heard first hand that it’s actually ready to go in some cases, pending spectrum allocation, but it looks like it’s going to be held back from the public due to a grab for the actual air space the networks would “use” by the native people of the country.

Background: The Maori people of New Zealand were (subject to much controversy) the first in New Zealand. European explorers later found the country and after much...

Yes, I have switched to Windows 8 full-time, and it’s not because of the new Metro interface or charms. It’s not because of the ribbon or Internet Explorer 10. It’s really not because of anything you may expect.

It’s much more simple than that. Here’s my top reasons I’m sticking with Windows 8 on my laptop.

The fastest OS yet

I’ve just picked up a HP Folio 13 for work and home. It’s not the most powerful machine, but it’s got an SSD built in and has an i5 processor. Out of impulse I installed Windows 7, and the machine started in ~20 seconds on Windows 7. Not all that impressive, but not slow either.

On a whim, I installed Windows 8 to see if it would improve on that. I’ve been seriously impressed with the results. It starts (from POST to the login screen) in 6 seconds. Sometimes less. A seriously impressive improvement. Not only is it faster to boot, it takes seconds to log on (3...

The build up suggests the software maker has something special to unveil in late October. If it doesn’t, then many developers and potential Windows Phone owners will be left wondering, “why all the secrecy?”

Nice article by Tom at The Verge on Windows Phone 8’s secrecy. You know, how essentially nothing has been revealed to anyone in the market (ironically, except The Verge who have devices). Developers and consumers are in the dark, yet Nokia and HTC seem to be trying to push devices like they’re already available.

I think confusing consumers (and influencers in the news industry) will have a very bad short term effect this holiday season. This secrecy has cost them what Nokia gained for the platform: the upper hand.

The iPhone is on the market and WP8 is nowhere to be seen.

Now, in the technology world, everyone knows about the Microsoft Surface. It’s one of the most exciting devices of the year. The only thing is, there’s a little bitterness to that since we know virtually nothing about it, and nobody’s managed to play with one for an extended amount of time yet.

Microsoft seems to have this idea in their head that viral advertising is going to help spread the word about the device, but it’s not going past exciting a pack of geeks who already knew about it and are angrily awaiting more information.

At a guess, they’re trying to do something along the lines of creating buzz about a ‘unknown’ product, and then when the big reveal comes along, everyone will be amazed and want one. These sort of things do work sometimes, but in this case, the product base isn’t there yet. I don’t think anyone but the press actually cares.

I’m impressed Microsoft is...