noam's blog.a.lish

It's happening, Flash on a mobile device! The first mobile device being demoed is the HTC Hero device as you can see here, it's quite impressive and I love the multi-touch (what they're referring to as "HTC Sense" technology.

The HTC Hero will be available in Europe starting in July and in Asia later this summer, while a "distinct" North American version will ship later in 2009 (aka as the Google Ion). However, pricing was not announced at this time.

Like the T-Mobile G1 and Google Ion/HTC Magic, the HTC Hero has the signature curve at the bottom, but it's a bit more svelte at 4.4 inches tall by 2.2 inches wide and 0.5 inch thick. In addition, it features a 3.2-inch HVGA touch screen with an antifingerprint screen coating.

This is really exciting, looks like the iPhone and Palm mobile devices really have their work cut out for them.

Looks like this is one of those viral videos that everyone is sharing on facebook.

It's good to be on top. Google's top execs decline to get paid!?! Well that's nice of them isn't it? Compared to the assholes from Wall street Sergey, Larry, and Eric seem to be saints. I keep reading about how AIG, and other bailout-ee's spend my taxes and it pisses me off. If these companies ran at 50% the efficiency the Google runs maybe we didn't have to bail their stupid asses out???

Wall Street executives feeling harassed by taxpayers outraged at their pay might take note of how Google's ruling triumvirate fared in 2008: $1 in salary each, no bonus, no stock grants, and no stock options.

Google has offered co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Chief Executive Eric Schmidt "market-competitive" salaries every year since 2005, but once again in 2008, the three turned it down, according to a company regulatory filing Tuesday. "Due to their own preferences not to receive salary compensation, Eric, Larry, and Sergey each rejected these offers and continue to receive base salaries of $1," the company said.

Also in 2008, the company decided that the stock-based compensation it had awarded to top executives in 2007 was "sufficient to help us meet our retention and business objectives through 2008," so no new stock compensation was awarded to them except in the case of new Chief Financial Officer Patrick Pichette, who was set to receive compensation worth more than $2 million along with thousands of shares and stock options in his first year.

Schmidt received perks totaling $508,764 in 2008, up from $480,561 the year before. That covered $402,562 in personal security costs and $106,201 Google paid to fly his family members and friends on paid chartered flights.

Of course, Page, Brin, and Schmidt are certainly not paupers. The 29,148,614 shares of Google's Class B common stock Page held at the end of 2008 are worth $10.1 billion at Tuesday's closing price of $347.17; Brin's 28,611,862 shares are worth $9.9 billion, and Schmidt's 9,372,740 shares are worth $3.3 billion.

p.s. I feel like that's what I make too, of course I wasn't given the option to decline my pay.

I'm a huge cat person. I truly believe the world is divided into 2 kinds of people, those who love cats, and those who suck. So if you're of the good type, you'll enjoy this.

p.s. I have a cat, his name is Louis.

HTC is reffering to it as the Magic, this slim and sexy new phone looks like it will be the official next Android phone. Unfortunately it seems this phone will only be available in Europe and even if you buy it and try to use in the US you will not be able to enjoy 3G speeds.

You can actually order it online here, no this phone doesn't have a full keyboard, so you're going to have to wait for the official Android Cupcake release.

It's not secret that I'm a TV addict. I love my shows and I'll see them how, and when, I want to see them. Since I'm bound to Comcast (the crappiest company to ever provide cable television btw) my DVR isn't very reliable, yes even after replacing it with a newer model. So due to that fact I have to rely on other sources for my TV shows. I discovered boxee at a friends house a while back and immediately set up an old box I had with boxee and connected it to my TV. I had been streaming Hulu from boxee and all seemed well until Hulu announced they are taking themselves off of boxee at the request of their "content providers" which apparently remain nameless. You can read all about it on the Hulu blog HERE.

Personally I don't understand what the difference is if I watch Hulu via boxee or via FireFox. I don't see any ads on Hulu.com, the ads are only in the videos, so what gives? As the comments in the Hulu blog mention, people will now be forced to download content illegally and no one will win, the content providers won't get their ad money, their advertisers will stop supporting this free stream of content, and soon Hulu will go away too... so what can we do? If we abandon Hulu we will have lost the best free content provider out there, but if we don't these "content providers" will continue to tell us how to view content that is free... weird dilemma.

Since the box I have boxee installed on is a computer, I just watch Hulu via FireFox, but I can't use my nifty remote control so it's quite annoying. I hope boxee and Hulu reach some sort of arrangement with the content providers soon, it's really a shame how this has turned out.

It's official! You can now charge for your Android application.

Android Market update

I'm pleased to announce that Android Market is now accepting priced applications from US and UK developers. Developers from these countries can go to the publisher website at http://market.android.com/publish to upload their application(s) along with end user pricing for the apps. Initially, priced applications will be available to end users in the US starting mid next week. We will add end user support for additional countries in the coming months.

Sweet! Only thing is I tried to set up my merchant account and something seems to be wrong with the "I accept the terms and conditions" button... everytime I click on it it takes me to a different page with no "approve/ok" button, then when I go back to the settings page for my merchant account that annoying "I accept the terms and conditions" button is still there... wtf??

If you missed last nights David Letterman then you missed out on one crazy Joaquin Phoenix. It gets uncomfortable to watch and one point. Check it out... also Bar Refaeli goes on after and it seems like David wasn't in the mood after Joaquin's behavior.

p.s. "I'll come to your house and chew gum" was probably the funniest thing...

WTF? 10 degree shifts day after day? New York weather is crazy man.

Need some cash? Feel like you deserve a bailout as well? Don't mind standing on line for hours? Well you'll love this...

The mystery man, who calls himself 'Bailout Bill', says in the middle of an economic crisis ordinary Americans who are struggling to make ends meet deserve a bailout.

In order to get the money people have to go the 'Bailout Booth' in the heart of Manhattan's Times Square.

It's a small cubicle, a couple of blocks away from the massive Virgin Megastore.

The minimum anyone can get is $50 (£35). The maximum is $5,000 (£3,513).

No matter who you are or what you do Bailout Bill guarantees that you'll get something if you just show up and tell your story.

Hundreds have already braved the freezing temperatures to get their free dosh. Some have stood in line for hours before getting to the front.

p.s. If only I wasn't so lazy... anyone want to stand online for me? Or even just give me money?

If you have a choice, or if you're even considering Comcast allow me to save you some time, money, and a lot of frustration. Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT get Comcast. Allow me to elaborate (this is the abridged version of what happened, it was way longer, and much more painful than this post can ever represent).

Roughly a month ago I started a journey with this awful company to replace my current DVR which has been a pain (noisy, unreliable, you name it). I was mailed a new DVR only to find out it didn't work. The only reason I ordered it was to get a new one, that worked, and that I didn't have to treck out to Comcast's HQ to pick it up, I thought that would save me some time. When the box didn't work I had to call a technician over, which meant taking 1/2 a day off. The technician came, with the wrong equipment, and ended up leaving me the same way he found me... with a 2 defective boxes.

I got my bill last week. Only to find out that Comcast had the nerve to charge me for renting 2 boxes, and service on 2 boxes!!!! I immediately called 1-800-Comcastsucks only to wait for 45 minutes!!! until someone picked up. Comcastic service?? really?? The "kind" lady on the phone explained that if I returned the DVR I would get credited for whatever they charged me for, the only problem was that they charged me for service and rental but she kept saying (literally repeated 3-4 times) that they would refund the rental charges.

So I ended up returning the 2 DVR's today and getting a new one, the line was long, the service was horrible but I was able to get a brand new working DVR, and according to the lady who helped me she refunded my account. When I got home I rushed to check if she had actually refunded me, now that I know what to expect from Comcrap, it wasn't a surprise to find out she credited the wrong amount. No, she didn't credit too much... that's not how these guy's operate! Have you not learned anything?

The best way to get a straight answer, and a relatively fast one, from Comcast is to go online and chat to a representative. Here is an excerpt of my conversation, please notice how much this company sucks.

Me: I was told today at the Comcast location that my account had been credited but I do not see the credit online or when I call 1800Comcast.

analyst J: Mr. Wolf, as I can see on your account the credit adjustment has been applied and this will be reflected on your next statement.

Me: May I ask how my current balance is over 10$ more than my previous balance? and also, when I went online to comcast.com my next bill shows a balance of 170$ how come? analyst J: Your current balance on your online account is $175.89. Since the adjustment has been posted in the account your balance will be $154.24.

Me: i understand that part but I still don't understand how my bill is over 10$ more expensive than last months bill which was 142.70.

analyst J: Mr. Wolf, as I checked the bill the reason why the rate increase is because of the Pay Per View order which is added on the account for $4.99 dated December 21, 2008.

Me: so there's a tax on PPV movies now? of about 5$? 142.70 + 4.99 = 147.69 not 154.24. so there are still about 8$ unaccounted for. That's what i have trouble understanding.

analyst J: You have a Pay Per View order also last January 22, 2009 for the amount of $4.99.

Me: so even more to worry, you're saying that my last bill *included* a ppv movie and so does the current one so how is there over 10$ difference?

analyst J: I understand that you are confused with the bill statement. Let me help you clarify the issue. Our statement is in a month advance, Mr. Wolf. And you billing cycle starts every 2nd day of the month to the 1st day of the following month. So as of the order last December 21, 2008 pay per view will be included on the January statement. What you are seeing today in the online statement is for the bill cycle of February 2 to March 1, 2009.

Me: i have my january and feb bills infront of me the only difference is the extra charges that i was supposedly credited for today so if I understand my bills correctly the charges should be identical or in other words 142.70 moreover, when I look at next months charges, online, I see a balance of 170.90$ which makes absolutely no sense.

analyst J: What I can do for that since, I believed that this has been an error on the system. Please give me a minute to adjust your bill for the amount of $4.99. Your balance now is $149.25.

Me: I would like to argue that 149.25 does NOT equal 142.70 but I am a little tired by all of this... i'm sure you are too.

analyst J: I can process you the difference of $6.55 which will total the blance on your account to $142.70. Is there anything else that I can help you today?

UN-Fucking-Believable. You've been warned.

p.s. Turns out a lot of people on the web feel the same... just search for "comcast sucks" on google. This is probably my favorite: Comcast Blows

Got this in an email today and thought it was pretty funny...

When English is the second language. I particularly like the doctor's office in Rome!

IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN, EVEN A FOREIGNER, IF DRESSED AS A MAN. Bejing, China

Cocktail lounge, Norway: LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

Doctor's office, Rome: SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES.

Dry cleaners, Bangkok: DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS.

In a Nairobi restaurant: CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER.

On the main road to Mombassa, leaving Nairobi: TAKE NOTICE: WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE.

On a poster at Kencom: ARE YOU AN ADULT THAT CANNOT READ? IF SO WE CAN HELP.

In a City restaurant: OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS.

In a cemetery: PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY BUT THEIR OWN GRAVES.

Tokyo hotel's rules and regulations: GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIOURS IN BED.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR.

In a Tokyo bar: SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS.

Hotel, Yugoslavia: THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID.

Hotel, Japan: YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEÂ CHAMBERMAID.

In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY.

A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE, MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Hotel, Zurich: BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand: WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?

Airline ticket office, Copenhagen: WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

A laundry in Rome: LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD TIME.

p.s. Now try to translate using the little flags at the top and see what happens...