Comments on: UCalgary Widget for MacOSX Dashboard http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/ apparently much happier in person Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:45:12 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Everett Wilson http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82285 Everett Wilson Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82285 Yes, I prefer the <a href="http://www.benkazez.com/newsreader.php?checkVersion#pound">more robust</a> version that you suggested. But, good work at tracking down the RSS feed for the UNow.ca mag! Regards. Yes, I prefer the more robust version that you suggested. But, good work at tracking down the RSS feed for the UNow.ca mag!
Regards.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82311 dnorman Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82311 well... Windows is the default supported by IT because it's the best, most flexible solution out there, no? I'm sure there are at least a few MCSE grads sitting on campus who would agree with that. well… Windows is the default supported by IT because it’s the best, most flexible solution out there, no? I’m sure there are at least a few MCSE grads sitting on campus who would agree with that.

]]> By: John Ellard http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82321 John Ellard Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82321 The ease with which you produced this lays bare the "Windows" only bias of UofC IT. Never mind facutly and staff who use other platforms, a casual survey of laptops in any student lounge makes it clear that the designers of the UofC Widget were content to leave a sizeable number of students out of the loop. The ease with which you produced this lays bare the “Windows” only bias of UofC IT. Never mind facutly and staff who use other platforms, a casual survey of laptops in any student lounge makes it clear that the designers of the UofC Widget were content to leave a sizeable number of students out of the loop.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82400 dnorman Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82400 Marc - I'm not sure what you're talking about here. The widget I assembled (for MacOSX) is merely an interface on top of publicly available RSS feeds. That's pretty open, and standard representation of data. As for the Microsoft machine - it hasn't steamrolled this campus (at least entirely). Our webservers are mostly linux (the ones I use are all MacOSX Server). But - the right tool for the job. As much as it hurts me to say it, people do need to be able to use Windows at least some of the time. True, someone was talked into licensing a Windows application to call the official "widget" - but so what? It's extremely easy for us to reproduce the thing using open standards. What does it matter if someone also provides an easy application for those that use Windows? Nice generalizations, though. Marc – I’m not sure what you’re talking about here. The widget I assembled (for MacOSX) is merely an interface on top of publicly available RSS feeds. That’s pretty open, and standard representation of data.

As for the Microsoft machine – it hasn’t steamrolled this campus (at least entirely). Our webservers are mostly linux (the ones I use are all MacOSX Server). But – the right tool for the job. As much as it hurts me to say it, people do need to be able to use Windows at least some of the time. True, someone was talked into licensing a Windows application to call the official “widget” – but so what? It’s extremely easy for us to reproduce the thing using open standards. What does it matter if someone also provides an easy application for those that use Windows?

Nice generalizations, though.

]]> By: Marc D. http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82485 Marc D. Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82485 dnorman: I'm afraid you're going to redefine "best" and "flexible" for your statement to be true. Although trying to read between the lines, perhaps that was, in fact, your intent. What is it with universities, whom you would think had a few more braincells available than your typical business, that insist on forcing people to purchase software from a company that has been proven (in several courts, in several countries) to be an unethical, corrupt predator? Whatever happened to DATA based standards? Specify the non-proprietary data standard, let people use that data using whatever tools suits their needs. UofC used to be more flexible when I attended. I guess the Microsoft machine managed to buy a few more university administrators? Pity they sell themselves so cheaply. dnorman: I’m afraid you’re going to redefine “best” and “flexible” for your statement to be true. Although trying to read between the lines, perhaps that was, in fact, your intent. What is it with universities, whom you would think had a few more braincells available than your typical business, that insist on forcing people to purchase software from a company that has been proven (in several courts, in several countries) to be an unethical, corrupt predator? Whatever happened to DATA based standards? Specify the non-proprietary data standard, let people use that data using whatever tools suits their needs. UofC used to be more flexible when I attended. I guess the Microsoft machine managed to buy a few more university administrators? Pity they sell themselves so cheaply.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82512 dnorman Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82512 Thanks, Paul. Some scouring of the UCalgary websites didn't pull up any matches. I even tried cracking open the .exe files that get installed on Windows - no luck there (but I didn't try very hard). The funny thing is - would anyone actually USE this on a Mac? There are other built-in ways (other Dashboard widgets) that we don't really need Yet Another Slightly Modified Dashboard Widget... Thanks, Paul. Some scouring of the UCalgary websites didn’t pull up any matches. I even tried cracking open the .exe files that get installed on Windows – no luck there (but I didn’t try very hard).

The funny thing is – would anyone actually USE this on a Mac? There are other built-in ways (other Dashboard widgets) that we don’t really need Yet Another Slightly Modified Dashboard Widget…

]]> By: Paul R. Pival http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82513 Paul R. Pival Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82513 I dunno man, you're the one who built it! ;-) The Windows version also has hotlinks to various pages on campus, including HR, MyUofC, Admin. And there's a separate one for students, but I have no idea where the links on that one go, having not downloaded it. <b>If</b> it popped up with new information and <b>if</b> I wasn't an RSS junkie, the yeah, I could see how such a widget could be useful to the average campus person. Possibly even a welcome way to receive notices instead of via email. Rumour has it future versions will be more customizable to the departmental level, so you could choose to receive updates from the Biology dept, if you so chose. Just another option, I guess. I dunno man, you’re the one who built it! ;-) The Windows version also has hotlinks to various pages on campus, including HR, MyUofC, Admin. And there’s a separate one for students, but I have no idea where the links on that one go, having not downloaded it. If it popped up with new information and if I wasn’t an RSS junkie, the yeah, I could see how such a widget could be useful to the average campus person. Possibly even a welcome way to receive notices instead of via email. Rumour has it future versions will be more customizable to the departmental level, so you could choose to receive updates from the Biology dept, if you so chose. Just another option, I guess.

]]> By: dnorman http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82515 dnorman Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82515 well, yeah... but wouldn't a properly designed website serve a better purpose, providing this stuff from any computer, whether a widget is installed or not? well, yeah… but wouldn’t a properly designed website serve a better purpose, providing this stuff from any computer, whether a widget is installed or not?

]]> By: Paul R. Pival http://www.darcynorman.net/2006/09/14/ucalgary-widget-for-macosx-dashboard/#comment-82527 Paul R. Pival Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000 746056179#comment-82527 D'Arcy, you're close, but the Windows widget is also pulling info from sources other than the ones you've found, and sadly I don't think they're RSS feeds (at least not all of them). I'll scout about and let you know what I can find out :-) D’Arcy, you’re close, but the Windows widget is also pulling info from sources other than the ones you’ve found, and sadly I don’t think they’re RSS feeds (at least not all of them). I’ll scout about and let you know what I can find out :-)

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