We use Macs because we want to...not because we have to

CNET's "The Open Road" blog has come up with a diagram that shows an interesting behaviour in web search regarding operating systems (Blue = Microsoft; Red = Linux; Orange = Apple) for the last 90 days:

In case you're wondering, the A mark corresponds to the day when iPhone 3G went on sale and the B mark corresponds to the day when iPhone 3G was announced. But the interesting behaviour is not related to iPhone 3G. It's that noticeable valley-shaped lines for Microsoft and Linux (Blue and Red lines, respectively). And before you ask, those valleys correspond to weekends.

So, what does this means? Well, this is somehow speculative, but it seems that Microsoft and Linux users only "deal" with their operating systems during the week, when they are working, i.e., when they "have to". On the other hand, if you look at the orange line (corresponding to Apple-related searches), you'll see that this is stronger during weekends, exactly when people tend to do things they "want to", instead of the things they "have to" do.

Bottom line... it looks like Apple has figured out how to make us "want to" use our computers, by making it simple, fun and intuitive.

Source: The Mac Newbie

So, you thought your Bluetooth headset was secure?

More DIY videos at 5min.com

Retro-blooging: best posts of May 2007

Previously, on the Tech In Me:

• Jobs vs. Gates: face-to-face
• Microsoft Surface: "touching" the computer
• Wii can take you to some angry places
• A flexible TV Screen
• The music industry is killing itself
• Stumble upon the Internet
• Must-have free apps for Ubuntu Users
• VirtuSphere: virtual reality at its best

Dear Windows, it's over

This has got to be the most genius goodbye letter anybody has ever written to an operating system :-) Ubuntu's fans are going to love it.

The Ubuntu car

You probably have heard about the DARPA Urban Challenge, the contest where autonomous ground vehicles conduct a series of simulated military supply missions without any human assistance.

What you probably didn't know was that last edition's winner, the Carnegie Mellon University's vehicle, runs Ubuntu.

This automated vehicle uses a dozen Intel Core 2 processors, but at the bottom of the software stack is Ubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake" Linux.

Well, I guess if Ubuntu is good enough to run on a driverless car, then it's good enough to run on your PC :-)

Source: Phoronix

Ubuntu Fans, Gutsy Gibbon distribution is here

Download away..have fun!

Who says Linux cannot be sexy?

Ever heard of Linux Kama Sutra? Here's some examples:

Mounting the Hard Drive











Patching the Kernel

Windows Vista and Linux-based ISP don't match

Because of a "bug" that prevents Windows Vista users from playing nice with a Linux-based ISP, some users (the ones which use Vista) in the Swedish's region of Lund cannot access the Internet...at all.

Considering that the ISP is blaming Microsoft for the flaw and refusing to change the configuration of its hardware in order to cope, who knows how long these citizens will be without their daily dose of the web.

Ironically, Sweden also holds the fastest home-based internet connection in the world, which is owned by a 75-years old lady.

From: Engadget

Must-have Free Apps for Ubuntu Users

If you're on to the trend of using the new Ubuntu distribution, then these set of free apps (tip from Free Geekery) might be quite useful for you:

• AllTray - dock any application without a native tray icon
• amarok - music player that was built specifically for the Unix/Linux user
• Automatix2 - create a way to install other apps like Skype, Picasa and Google Earth with ease
• Beagle - search tool that basically "ransacks" your personal information space to find what you have stored there
• Beryl - provides the new user with an interface that can closely mimic the Vista interface
• CheckGMail - checks a Gmail account for new mail
• Cinlerra - provides users with the ability to capture, composite, and edit audio and video with sample level accuracy
• Deluge Torrent - BitTorrent client
• Flash - a Flash player for Ubuntu Feisty
• Gimp - photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring
• Gnomebaker - burn your music and videos to CD or DVD
• KMyMoney - open source personal finance software app
• MythTV - allows you to turn your desktop into a full-fledged media center/DVR with capabilities to pause, fast-forward, rewind and capture any live television program
• Opera 9 - Internet browser
• Scribes - text editor that works with the Gnome desktop
• Thunderbird - e-mail client
• VLC - media player