The Rarely Updated Blog of Nate Warner

Consistency is the key to usability in personal computing. User Interface design has progressed to a point that most savvy users can hunt and peck their way through a new program with out a manual.

I am terribly annoyed with both Safari and Google Maps since both have tweaked the way their UI works for no apparent reason. It drives me nuts to have to adjust my usage habits for no apparent reason.

First off Google Maps is ridiculously great; I use it everyday. I have bookmarked a page that brings up my home address so that all I have to do to get directions is type in the destination. It turns out I had bookmarked a search query and now after months of use that search returns no results. I have no idea why the google engineers decided to change things, constricting search results.

Next up Safari. The best part about Safari is the tabbed browsing. The second best part is the ability to open groups of links in tabs from the bookmark bar. For years I have had a blog category in my bookmark bar filled with marketing/business stuff as well as a sub folder with fun/friends’ blogs. Previously if opened in tabs only the business sites would open or just the friends’ blog would open. Now ALL THE TABS OPEN at the same time. What is the point of organizing your links if you still end up with 30 web-pages loading simultaneously? What is the point of changing the functionality of a feature 2 weeks before a major OS update is released? Grrrr.

Props to my buddy Pearce who got his Blogger redesign done and working despite…um…Blogger. Download Wordpress!

Check out the new site which is linked in the side bar.

Rad! I want an Intelivision version!

Atari announces the Flashback 2.0 - Engadget - www.engadget.com /

The New Yorker: Fact

Pretty amazing article. Geeks, artists, mathematicians, and people who love a good story will all enjoy this piece.

True.

Bud vase features - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals)

Channel 4 recruits VW ad spoofers

Just goes to show- you can’t be everything to everyone. Half of the world was outraged at this commercial, the other half laughed in its politically incorrect face.

Does the end justify the means?

Here are a few observations about L.A.

The traffic isn’t that bad… unless you actually have to be somewhere- then its the worst traffic in the world.

Golfing down here actually costs less than in MT, until you reach about the $40 mark, then its much more expensive (the courses are nicer though…)

The phrase fresh as a morning dew does not apply in L.A. the air quality is so bad when the dew evaporates it leaves a dusty, greasy film behind!

The views in L.A. are actually amazing. Snow capped mountains rise up on almost all sides. The catch-22: you can only see them if the air quality is good. The only time the air quality is good is right after a rain. After a rain you can’t go in the ocean since all the run-off is toxic. I was surprised to find out pretty much everyone avoids the water- ie. not a urban legend.

it’s what I do…: A simple convergence?

I love stories of amazing chance and coincidence. I think everyone else does too. Our love of coincidence could explain why movies that are but a shadow of reality, continue to enthrall audiences.

Golf and Marketing in the same article? Yes please!

USATODAY.com - Marketers shift course with changing game

I saw Sahara tonight, the new movie with Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey. I was not that excited going in but came out surprised at how good the movie actually was.

The cinematography was surprisingly solid; much more thoughtful than the typical big budget adventure. The fact it was filmed in Africa really came through.

The cast worked really well together, the chemistry was great. The acting was just far enough beyond reality to be entertaining, but still with-in the realm of reality.

The same can be said about the action scenes they were entertaining, but not over the top give me a break crazy.

If you are bored go see this movie. I liked it better than Sin City, but SC was a much more ambitious, click-ish film which I can get annoyed of. Sahara on the other hand is just plain enjoyable.

I just sat down to dinner @ McCormic’s and Schmick’s in El Segundo. I ordered a Sierra Nevada and a Quesadilla. Before taking my first bite I notice a hair. I just sent it back. I wonder what will happen?

Turns out nothing. I got charged full price. WTF?

Google Maps is one of my favorite websites. I use it nearly everyday. It is so useful that I have not opened a map since arriving in LA over two months ago. The interface is just so much better than any other site out there. Map Quest and Yahoo Maps have got to be shaking in their boots.

Today I noticed a new link called satellite. I was amazed/blown-away/dumbfounded at the quality of satellite images that are manipulated using the same kick ass Google Maps interface. The crowning achievement? Plotting driving directions on top of real satellite images. I have no idea how they achieved this, but I got directions from my home 20 miles from Helena to Big Sky Board Sports and the route was traced directly on top of the winding country road.

This is where I live in California

This is where I lived in Montana

Unbelievable.