Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Popular Science, March 1955



Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Viewing My Maps in Google Maps Mobile

Apparently, I'm late to notice this, it isn't something I use everyday, but the Google Maps mobile app, astonishingly and inexplicably, removed access to "My Maps".

So first I find this:

Well, that's just plain wrong.

Then I find this:

That's better, except that the maps list it calls up seems to all public maps viewed today.  Or something.  At any rate, it's certainly not My Maps.   I have no idea what maps those are.  So I can't view may map on a mobile device.  At all.

Nice! 

What's the point of having My Maps?   Does anyone at Google actually use this stuff?  Don't they encounter these things?  Google doesn't want us to create maps anymore, is that is?

But wait, it gets better!

There is now in Google Play store a new app called Google Maps Engine.  This map will load up and display your My Maps.  Why have one maps app if you can have two?  Three if you count Locations in Google+!  Even better still!  Awesome!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Remmina Can't Load its VNC Client Plugin

My new computer (follow up to this) came with the next version of the O/S up from the last one, Mint Linux 16.

So...  First I go to set up the VPN.  Where's VPN on the network menus?  Not there anymore!  So I Google around...  Turns out it's buried in sub menus now.  You have to hit a tiny + sign like I would have done in the past to add the network card, then select VPN type.

This worked, I'm connected.

So where is the VNC client for remote desktop to my other Linux box?  Not pre-installed anymore!  'Cause who would want to do that right?  This took a bit because I didn't even know what the application was called.  It's always been part of any distribution I have used.

Found it.  Remmina.  Installed it.  Started it.  Looks familiar...  But only has sftp and ssh in the new connection type drop down.

Google that for awhile...

Oh, I need a plug in for that!  So what I am wondering is who the hell would install this GUI app just to do sftp and/or ssh only?!  Whatever.

Ok, so I find and install the plugin.

VNC is still not in the dropdown.

Google deeper.

Oh, it's a bug.  It just doesn't work.  The package is built wrong or something.  I'm hosed.  No good VNC client for Mint 16.

Have a nice day!

I then installed an alternate VNC client called Vinagre.  And it's working.  Please leave it alone.


Saturday, March 8, 2014

Getting Back to Picasa

Google is insistent that we should use it's new Google+ interface for photos over the Picasa web albums tool, even though the Google+ tool continues to be missing many, many, many important features.


So insistent is Google that we somehow use the new interface, even though it can't do what we need to do, that the Picasa web albums URLs now redirect to Google+ photos.


This 
is 
extremely frustrating.


But there's a work work-around, for now.  Just go to this URL:


This will get you to Picasa, and you can get on with life.   You only need to do this once as it will leave a cookie, allowing you to get to Picasa in the feature.  Let's just hope that either 1) Google makes Google+ photos usable, or 2) this work around stays working.


Friday, March 7, 2014

Minty

By way of follow up to this matter:

http://computerprogrammershirt.blogspot.com/2014/02/mintbox-2-ongoing-saga.html

...they sent me a brand new unit, complete in the box.  So far, so good!


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

There's Dumb, and Then There's Yahoo Dumb

"According to Reuters, Yahoo will begin removing the option to sign into any of Yahoo's services with a Facebook or Google account, both options which have been available for years. Starting with "Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick 'Em," a fantasy college basketball service, the company says it will eventually remove Facebook and Google login buttons from all its products."

This is a dumb thing to do, sure.  But it's really tells you something about how these different companies approach their businesses.  This is something Google would never do.  And not just because they're being nice, but because such a move would be directly counter to how Google sees itself making money - by supporting as much connectedness and access as possible..  And they're right.  Bet on Google.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/4/5472186/yahoo-will-block-google-and-facebook-accounts-from-accessing-its