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It would, and allowing Circle use even better than that – a lot of my colleagues have fallen into using Talk as the most convenient mode of communication around the office, so I am “active” a lot of the time chatting with them. They know during the day they can ignore the “do not disturb” flag, everyone else respects it. If I set myself simply to available it feels like everything thinks it’s open season. But allowing status by circle would be even more useful, because DND could become useful for work folks, too. I really feel like the presence aspect is underused (not just by Google, it’s just that that’s where my personal experience lies).

1 day ago on Google Hangouts upgrade removes ability to host Google Voice calls on your computer

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The expectations and etiquette are different, in my experience. People expect a response to an IM (“it said you were available, why are you ignoring me?”) in a way that they don’t from an SMS, at least not immediately.

1 day ago on Google Hangouts upgrade removes ability to host Google Voice calls on your computer 2 replies 1 recommend

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Obviously you’re not someone who gets “hey, are you about?” messages from family while you’re at work unless you set yourself busy. That’s my primary use. Filtering work/family/friends so I can actually be productive. Really important to me.

1 day ago on Google Hangouts upgrade removes ability to host Google Voice calls on your computer 1 reply 3 recommends

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This. It’s the reason I uninstalled hangouts from my phone, and I’m unlikely to go back until they add statuses back in. I just hope I have that option when 4.3 comes out.

1 day ago on Google Hangouts upgrade removes ability to host Google Voice calls on your computer

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Losing the ability to set status was already a dealbreaker for me. This is just icing on the cake. Ironically, Hangouts may push me towards more Skype use. Such a shame – if they’d just gotten things a bit more unified before launch, and allowed you to set statuses, I think it would be a great app and service. But those things are just so important, you can’t lose them.

1 day ago on Google Hangouts upgrade removes ability to host Google Voice calls on your computer 1 reply 6 recommends

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While I agree the lack of prosecutions of CEOs and other executives at major financial institutions is a scandal, that doesn’t mean that folks dealing in smaller amounts of Bitcoin should get a free pass. Both groups should be prosecuted.

5 days ago on Biggest Bitcoin exchange accused of violating US financial regulations, CEO faces fine or jail 1 reply

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Or simply universal coverage. Then it simply becomes a diagnostic tool.

6 days ago on Larry Page wants to 'set aside a part of the world' for unregulated experimentation 1 reply

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If it’s $200 or $250, I can imagine getting this as a secondary phone for days when I just want to be able to do calls and messaging with something I don’t care about being damaged. My N4 feels too fragile to be with me at work sometimes, and this could fit the bill as its substitute.

7 days ago on BlackBerry Q5: an entry level BlackBerry 10 handset (hands-on) 1 reply 1 recommend

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Sort of. They’re going to continue to support CalDav, but only for “approved” developers, whatever that means. I guess that would then beg the question of whether they would let Microsoft be one of those.

7 days ago on Outlook.com gets Google Talk support, rolling out worldwide this week 2 replies 1 recommend

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True in some ways, but much urban planning in the US (and to a lesser extent elsewhere) was done with significant “input” from the motor vehicle industry. Why is driving more convenient? Because our cities are designed that way. Why are our cities designed that way? Well…
To say nothing of the fake controversy funded by oil companies to make it seem like anthropomorphic climate change isn’t established science.

7 days ago on Climate change threatens to destroy Alaskan village within four years 2 replies 1 recommend

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This. Nice to see at least one of Microsoft’s teams isn’t overtaken by hubris. But until Microsoft gets CalDav support into Windows 8’s calendar… that’s what would show they realize their position in the market now.

7 days ago on Outlook.com gets Google Talk support, rolling out worldwide this week 1 reply 3 recommends

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Maybe there’s not that many Windows Phone users.

I fixed it for you.

7 days ago on Outlook.com gets Google Talk support, rolling out worldwide this week 2 replies 25 recommends

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Exactly this. The 2nd amendment is designed to allow states to have the right to raise and maintain militias independent of the Federal government. The amendment was specifically added to allow southern states to quickly form militias to put down slave revolts. It was never intended to be about individual gun ownership, but instead about states rights.
Linky.

15 days ago on First 3D-printed gun fired on video, blueprint files available to download 2 replies

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I’d love to see various network diagnostic tools and network scanning tools, wifi scanning, those would be an immediate and significant help to me. There are a couple in the store, but they’re not really full featured and need significant improvement. This may be due to the restrictions on what Metro apps can access on the system level, though.
Yes, I know that at least on full Windows 8 you can get all that functionality at the desktop. But if you’re standing, tablet mode with big touch targets is just so much easier to use, it would be nice to have those sorts of tools available.

18 days ago on Windows RT Apps

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Barely. It’s just a glorified web browser, and not touch optimized at all. I never use it (except for search) – it’s less convenient than the web browser.

18 days ago on Windows RT Apps

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I’ve always felt the right balance was having an IAP to double coins or whatever the in game currency is. Make it a hair too difficult to make good money by default, and balanced after buying a single $3 powerup. It allows folks to try out the game, then make a one time payment and keep enjoying. The problem is that doesn’t seem to be the IAP model, for the most part, which is instead go after a few players willing to spend a lot to level up fast. Which makes games suck for the rest of us.

18 days ago on Indie iOS darling 'Punch Quest' finally lands on Android 1 reply 3 recommends

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Definitely agreed on the exporting. The automatic weekly email to my Kindle is an absolute killer feature that Instapaper offers that I’m continually surprised no one else copies (like, for instance, offering a paid “Weekender” version of The Verge. No need to go through Amazon, could just be emailed direct to devices).

26 days ago on Instapaper acquired by Betaworks, owner of Digg 1 reply

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I love my Surface Pro, and it’s a great device. But I don’t recommend it to anyone.

That doesn’t mean it’s not the right device for a lot of people, but my experience is that unless you’re sure it’s the right device for you, there’s probably something more appropriate out there. From what you’ve said above, I’d look at getting a Series 7 instead.

26 days ago on Surface Pro Owners: May i have your honest opinion? 1 recommend

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As with all app stores, “when it has the apps I need.”
I would love to have a proper piece of network mapping software that works within the Metro environment, tools, command line (yes, you can do all that stuff in the desktop, but when you’re standing infront of a rack of switches, using the CLI in tablet mode is awkward). A proper Gmail client, a proper Facebook client.. I know folks who need dictionary/glossary apps that just aren’t there yet. Sure, most of the basics are covered (except Facebook, and no, the Facebook website is NOT an acceptable substitute), but we’re a long way from having a solid app store in the environment.

26 days ago on Surface Pro Owners: May i have your honest opinion? 1 recommend

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I think the catch-22 was on the pen size. My wife has a Thinkpad Tablet 2, and while it’s nice to be able to dock the pen properly, you’re left with a pen that’s small and uncomfortable to use.

26 days ago on Surface Pro Owners: May i have your honest opinion?

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Different folks, I guess. I love my Surface Pro but I’d call it a train-wreck in the lap, unless you’re using it in its tablet form factor.

26 days ago on Surface Pro Owners: May i have your honest opinion? 1 reply 1 recommend

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That would be a major step. I don’t think that’s all they need to do, but it would make a big difference.

27 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm

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I’m not sure if a middle ground is the right answer. Context sensitive design would make a lot more sense. A right click shouldn’t behave the same way as an edge swipe. The same response isn’t appropriate to both actions. Similarly, if you’re using a mouse/keyboard the system could detect that and up the density compared to if you’re touching the screen. Respond to what the user is doing and give them the best interface for that context. You ought to be able to make the look and layout similar enough that switching from one to the other isn’t too jarring.

27 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm

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If you’re going to stay in the desktop, why would you buy a Surface Pro? An ultrabook would seem like a far more appropriate choice?

28 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm 2 recommends

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Huh. May have to check it out, thanks. I know some folks who use it on Android but hadn’t realized it was available for Windows 8, too.

29 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm

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I’d say the biggest thing specific to touch is how menus are laid out, at the edges. If you right click, you then need to move the mouse to the edge to click whatever option you’re looking for, rather than have a menu appear right where your mouse cursor is. Much of Metro requires large movements of the cursor across the screen. Easy, even appropriate with touch where a wide range of delineation between objects makes sense, and edge gestures are an easy way to bring up options, but not really appropriate with a mouse IMO.
I like Metro overall, and I like the fact I can go from one interface to another on Windows 8 depending on what I’m doing at the time, but it’s hard to argue Metro is a better interface for KB/M than the old desktop. I do think that with a bit of refinement, that could be fixed, though. It doesn’t require trashing it.

29 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm 6 replies 7 recommends

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What’s that third one?

29 days ago on Microsoft painted itself into a corner with the Metro UI paradigm 1 reply

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I find myself wondering whether the only way for a civilization to industrialize and technologically advance is through widespread fossil fuel use, enough to cause environmental catastrophe and destroy that civilization? If that’s the case, then any intelligent civilization in the course of its advancement dooms itself. I wish I thought there was another way to industrialize, but damned if I can see it. You need that energy dense fuel.

29 days ago on Forever alone? How NASA's Kepler craft is finding another Earth 3 replies