Google Talk Hacks – more of them…

Yesterday, we already figured there’d be some connection problems in Google Talk while using a wireless LAN (54MBit) to connect at least one station. Katharina and myself confirmed this last night a second time, and these difficulties do not exist while using Skype. But within the short timeframe of publishing the VoIP chat Google Talk, people already came up with many other reviews and of course their own tweaks for the system. There’s a nice collection at Initial Dawn which currently cover:

  • sleek text
  • parameters
  • button codes
  • registry settings

For the full list, refer to the long instructions…

[via FluXionTech]

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Google Talk’s First „Hack“!

Its not a real hack but something I’ve already expected to happen. Here’s a nice tutorial on how to Broadcast MP3’s, Podcasts and other audio over Google Talk. Is Google Talk that the personal radio station for everybody now?

Step 1: If you have a mic plugged in, unplug it

Step 2: Double click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner. This will open up „Volume Control“. Select „Options“ and then „Properties“. Then check the button next to „Recording“ then click OK. You may also have to change your setting under Mixer Device.

Step 3: Now the Recording Control screen should be up. On my computer I selected „Wave Out Mix“

read more | digg story

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Socialized

The Digg.com got me. Just after one hour of digging in the digg, I’ve added their feeds to my RSS Reader and continously browse their compound of a bloggish delicious social software. It’s not addictive, it is addiggtive! Not that the service allows me to optionally integrate their entries with a simple „blog this“ button, but its a web space filled with people. Fast, living, and entertaining!

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First Review: Google Talk

Google Talk – easy to use, easy to install, no big problems with that software. The instant chat function appears to work quite natural in comparison with ICQ or Skype, and as seen in the chat with Shi it was easy to handle, too. Nice to have is the information about incoming mails at the gmail accounts.

But while having a first test for a voice-chat with Robert, the software had some difficulties. Both of us had in a high-ping connection. Since we live in Germany, the idea of having a stable connection is surely on the hand. There shouldn’t be any kind of disadvantage from time lags or similiar problems, which might happen while skyping with Katharina in California (what will she think of Google Talk?).

But Google Talk had an intensified lag which occurred every 3 minutes. Furthermore, in comparison with Skype, the quality of the voice is lower for Google Talk. Robert was not even sure if the data packages were encrypted or not, since the entire setting administration does not offer any clues about establishing a secure connection.

In the end, both Robert and myself believe (see Robert’s short review in German) that this voice chat software is lacking features and capability. The almost too simple interface will surely be used for upcoming expansions, and files, pictures, and many other gimmicks are meant to follow…

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Blog Day 2005

Blog Day 2005Perhaps there’s time to push yourself above the limit of reading blogs in these days. First, Duncan pulled the 100 Blogs in 100 Days out of nowhere, now Nir Ofir created the Blog Day 2005. The idea is to maximize the blogosphere on August 31st 2005: Every blogger from all over the world is supposed to post a recommendation of at least 5 new blogs (in the same time). As effect, the readers of the participating blogs will find new unknown blogs and authors. I’m with this useful idea which reminds me of somehow of a push-and-pull marketing campaign! This Blog Day will push the blogs that either don’t maintain their daily reads as a blogroll or don’t link other blogs for giving credit as sources, but will these others who are being linked by the participants of the Blog Day honor being pushed?

Many authors do not communicate with other authors, and various blogs do not even offer to discuss within comments or trackbacks. Instead of living from this inter-connectivity within the blogosphere, some quite good authors (and their blogs) won’t be recognized elsewhere but in the niche of unknownness.

[via Light Within]

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Google Talk is out

The big secret these days of Google is out. I just downloaded Google Talk to see which features it actually got. I think I’ve even been the first user since it window pop up to say thank you to me for being the first user.

So I far I could see it didn’t got much features until now. Maybe I have to explore it more… but I probably will need other Google/Gmail users to figure out what Google has to offer me after all. I’m just wondering how they want to make money with it since this tool is still free. It’s not like the hardly need it but come on: it’s Google which seems to get richer with each day. Or am I wrong? Maybe they try to make it like with Skype and offer something which is close to SkypeOut/In. If Google reallly wants to make the world a favor they should figure out how to offer this service for although Skype is not very expensive in offering this service after all. Let’s see where this will lead to and if somebody still should need a Gmail account: leave a note with your email here ;-)

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WordPress – Official COM

Logo WordPress Commercial Version
As reported by Darren and Duncan, Lorelle explained several issues about the upcoming commercialized version of WordPress. This includes screenshots and a lot text. Basically, the new version offers a WYSIWYG editor for your posts, an upload for images up to 15 MB per file, it is based as a multi-user version of the original WordPress, and is aimed for those who cannot afford their own webserver yet. But the question is, do we really need that unless we’re unable to finance a small webserver with a database? I’m not sure… so far I can handle everything quite well with this opensource WordPress.

[via The Blog Herald, Problogger]

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Chad, oh Chad…

Now you’re back alive with a fancy website, but none of your works are for real. I hate to say this but you’ve been thrown apart from your throne of an overall failed Marketing Reel.
Screenshot ChadKroski.de 2005-08-23
Do you think this life is worth it, being a bestseller author without any books on Amazon? I suggest a much better pre-planning which includes the possibilities of developping an alter-ego on the internet… that took several weeks to pull that (legal) stunt! The website looks nice tho, but has no personal value… and a shop-link to the Telekom! Fight them, Chad Kroski, you should not listen to your demons! ;)

Updates for further reading
Who the hell is Chad Kroski?
Chad Kroski – The Second Coming

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Why a STAR for the logo banner?

MikeSchnoor.com StarMy girlfriend Kat complained about the use of a star in the upcoming design for this webspace. That made me think for a while, and her claims that it reminds her of communism are quite strong claims since nearly every major communist country used the star as their symbol (without reprinting the flags):

  • for the soviets, it was a flag with a crossed hammer and sickle below a transparent star all in yellow on red,
  • the chinese have a yellow star with another four stars on red,
  • cuba has a red triangle with a white star and blue-white stripes,
  • vietnam has a yellow star on red, laos has no star,
  • and north korea has a red star on a white circle.

    • So I guess that these were the only flags of communism with anything like a star which has been seen on a really deep red background. While one may suggest that the star is a symbol for communism, I believe ts just another symbol which has been misused.

    Let’s find out what a star really is, and preferably Webster’s dictionary is used as source:

  • a conventional figure with five or more points that represents a star; especially : ASTERISK
  • an often star-shaped ornament or medal worn as a badge of honor, authority, or rank or as the insignia of an order

    • These small definitions were the most suitable ones for the word star. As conclusion, I do not believe that a white star on a yellow-orange circle as background is a reminder of communism, or you can ban anything that’d include the star. How about the flags of the USA, the European Union, Pakistan, or the Philippines? What should be done to all the companies that identify themselves by applying their corporate identity with a star symbol? And concerning ourselves, how do we rate and categorize hotels?

    I cannot identify an evil trait or communist activities within this webspace that can be symbolized by a star. However, Torben gave me a cheeky reply yesterday upon the question of the logo, and he suggested I should place a Sichel (=sickle) into the logo. That’d be more communist than a star, I thought. In the end, a star is just a symbol being misused by corporations, regimes, and individuals. I misuse the star for my logo banner in a rather standardized and often-seen color. And esides this, I planned to modify this specific part just every week. Let’s see where the stars will unfold…

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    Re-Design

    Soon… soon to be finished. I hope I can install the new layout by tomorrow and manage it to get it working properly. But enough of this for now, it’s time to sleep. Way too much over the time… and below is the first draft of the main layout theme.
    Screenshot MikeSchnoor.com

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