Matthew Lang avatar

Matthew Lang

Family guy and web developer

To watch a demo of a reporting server tool being used to embed a report I have to sign in to the website to watch the video. Why?

I like the idea of the Freewrite, but I would never buy one. It creates a sense of being a distraction free writing tool, but you could still check your phone, which is probably with you 99% of the time anyway.

There is a simpler solution.

It doesn't require you to carry a clunky box or even a dedicated bag. It doesn't depend on any electrical power supply. It's completely disconnected from the Internet and it doesn't require you to press any buttons.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the pen and notebook.

ISVs that invoke insane levels of protection on the demoing of their products are closing the door on potential customers everyday.

Are ISVs like this so paranoid about their product that they have to restrict access to videos that demo the features of their product?

Falling Out With Twitter

It's happening again. I'm falling out of favour with Twitter. Last night I thumbed through about six or seven promoted tweets in my timeline and I hadn't even reached back an hour in my timeline. I don't mind Twitter injecting a couple of promoted tweets in my timeline but six is a bit much.

It's taken me a while to realise it but Twitter is killing itself. We haven't had a great feature added to Twitter in a long time. Instead we get constant fiddling with the timeline and more promoted tweets. I was all ready to defend Twitter a couple of months ago but that defence has been worn down. The timeline is less fun to read these days with the interruptions of promoted tweets and other content such as recommend people and apps.

The worse part though is that it doesn't have the banter from years ago. Very few people I follow are what I would call active users. Back in the day there were plenty of active users in my time. Maybe everyone else is busy or like me they're put off by Twitter.

The Ongoing Art of Handwriting

It will never die. I write now more than I ever did. The growing collection of notebooks and pens on my desk is proof of that.

Despite those who say it’s dying. That it’s obsolete. That, more and more, machines will take over the tasks we use handwriting for. That schools will teach it less and less. Despite all of the obstacles and the naysayers, writing by hand will live on long after you and I are gone.

How do I know?

Our children. Mine and yours. All of us who write by hand and advocate its importance and advantages. We who have children will write by hand in front of those children. Through such actions they will learn from us that writing by hand is something one does. We will teach them to do the same.

— Handwriting will not die... by Patrick Rhone at The Cramped

Just discovered the Mac gamma setting on my Dell monitor. Only had the monitor for a year. #rtfm next time Matthew!