Ice Cavern Studios

I just received Buzz today, and I must say, I’m most impressed how Google has learned from the botched Wave beta by just shipping this tacked onto their already existing, pre-populated social system. Millions of people are already on GMail and integrating this into it is a brilliant move.

At the same time, I don’t see why this is super exciting. It’s Twitter, but tied into Google. It’s literally just another system I’m going to hook my other web 2.0 sites into and get comments from friends. In some ways, it feels really phoned in by a company, that honestly, I expect better from. They combined their reader service and their chat IM client and called it a new invention. At least they were smart enough to realize that people already have external services for stuff and it’s best to just play nice and import them.

On a side note: I’m slightly unamused that no one seems upset that they just added this. Maybe it’s because I’m a bitter Microsoft employee, but seriously? If MS tried this anywhere, people would be going ape shit. But because Google is doing it, and it’s internet related, it must be ok. Seriously, trying to circumvent a competitor by putting your competing widget in an already overpowering product…why does that sound familiar? Am I the only one beginning to think that Google is becoming a little too big? When do you flip the Megacorp-Is-Evil bit? Just some thoughts on the subject.

Software, The Internet

http://james-iry.blogspot.com/2009/05/brief-incomplete-and-mostly-wrong.html

Warning, this is really REALLY nerdy. But I found it hilarious. Take what you want from that.

Programming, Software

I know it’s been a while. I know I haven’t posted about Pat and Mel’s wedding. (I have pics, but my camera died and I haven’t gotten a new one or a cf reader yet). I know there are a million things I could takl about. But I’m kind of in a reflective mood. And given that I’m in the office, it seems fitting that I stop to talk about work and kind of how far of I’ve come.

Last night was the last PSSO concert of the season. It kind of maid me a bit reflectful. I’ve been to every one this year. Well, the post parties at least. (2/3 isn’t bad).

Six months ago or so was the fall concert. It wasn’t even two weeks since Nicole broke up with me. I was stuck in a job I hated. I was in a city that didn’t totally feel right. I was, to put it bluntly, totally lost. The world I had built up in my mind colapsed around me like a house of cards. And I came back to Seattle to get away. I came back to collect msyef.
And it was at this time I began thinking about returning. It was a bittersweet moment. It felt good to get back. I was told I was missed. I was hugged. And I was told everything would be ok.

No move forward to March 10th. I was starting a new job back on the main campus. I was working on something “cool.” I would be working with a familiar face from my times at MS.com. And I was getting a chance to start over. Boston was behind me. Groove was done. And I was being given a chance to “re-invent” myself. Mind you, my friends new me and what I was about. But I had a chance to just be me again. It was a night full of hope.

Now come back to this weekend. The end of the PSSO concert season. I was in the office playing my bass and some video games. I had a long week at work, but yet still was very happy. I went out, partied. I got up and came into the office. I’ve been in the office since 1:30 on Sunday, and I still love what I’m doing. I work with awesome people. My project is great, and I feel like I’m getting somewhere. I’m also rediscovering things I loved and just going back to being me. There are still some things I don’t know about, but for now, they aren’t too important.

^_^

Life is good. Work is good. And in a week and a half, it’s Reunions. Nice.

I gotta testify,
come up in the spot looking extra Fly……
For the day i die, I’ma touch the Sky………
gotta testify, come up in the spot looking extra Fly……
For the day i die, I’ma touch the Sky

Life and Times, Microsoft, Work, Zune

I’m saying this now, it’s geeky. You’ve been warned.
Read more…

Digital Copyright, Software, Technology, The Internet, Web Development

I’m going to be on a bit of a gaming hiatus over this next week. I have at least one interview with a team in Redmond within the next 10 days. I’ve told a few people where I’m interviewing, but I want to keep it on the down low for a bit. This whole situation is covered in irony, which I will go into after said interview.

Microsoft, Video Games, Work