Category: Software

Fascinating Must-watch: Tim’s Vermeer

Software / Technology

I am not into art… or painting… or art history. But I am into technology, and history, and stuff that’s just cool and amazing. The documentary “Tim’s Vermeer” is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen the video at least 10 times, and I’m still amazed, and in awe that a random (albeit brilliant) computer tech-guy, figured out something that no one else had figured out in over 300 years. Johannes Vermeer was a dutch painter, baptized October 31, 1632 — buried December 16, …

Disney+ : Lessons in Agile

Business / Software / Technology / Websites

Having worked on hundreds of websites since the early 1990s, I’m confident in saying that I understand what works and what doesn’t. And, having worked in waterfall and agile software environments, and as a project manager / program manager, I know what the business teams wants vs. what the development teams can deliver (usually based on the timeline that the business owners want.) With the recent launch of Disney’s streaming video service, Disney+, it’s easy to see that Disney is trying to follow some agile methodologies. One of …

Google Meet Blocked Microphone

Software / Technology

Trying to use Google Meet and you can’t get your microphone to work… but can’t find the answer on how to fix it? Here ya go! The error message is: Something is wrong with your camera or microphone. Or: Meet is unable to access your camera or microphone, but you will still be able to join the call. Or: Microphone is blocked. Speaker is blocked. Go to https://meet.google.com Click the lock icon to the left of the URL, and click on “Site settings.” Scroll down to the “Microphone” …

Google Maps Tip – Start directions

Automotive / Phones / Software / Technology

Just a quick, favorite tip about Google Maps on mobile… After searching for a place, and getting its location on the map, it’s pretty normal/common to hit the blue “Directions” button – THEN tap the “Start” button. Instead, just tap-HOLD on the “Directions” button, and Google Maps will automatically start your driving navigation. Sure, it only saves a moment, but sometimes after tapping the “Directions” button, Maps can take a “long” time to come up with different routes for you to choose from… although for 99% of trips, …

Goodbye Top-Left Click

Software / Technology

Well, with Google Chrome‘s recent material redesign (Build 69), one of the most odd mouse shortcuts that I have used since ~1995 has gone away… that is/was the ability to close a window by double-clicking on the top-left corner of the window. And since a large majority of my time on the computer is spent in Google Chrome, it’s a noticeable change.   I just updated to Chrome 69, and a dozen times now I’ve tried clicking on that corner to close windows, but now it only resizes …

Samsung "support" chat

Business / Customer Service / Reviews / Software / Technology

More, stereotypical bad customer service. This time, from Samsung "Support". They, like most "support" companies that are hired to do technical support, do NOT read. Or, they try to frustrate you will endless tasks that don’t work… until finally, they send you off to someone else. In this case, they still didn’t fix the problem. And I am *100% positive* that calling their phone support will yield the same result – endless tasks that result in their "solutions" not working. When a computer geek like me can’t figure …

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