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KWD

412 karma · joined July 18, 2008

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KWD··on Amazon Closing AmazonSmile
My contribution through Smile was $102. I also thought this was very small for the amount I order, however, combined with other Smile customers donating to the same charity (Feeding America) Smile generated $846,092 in donations to the charity. That made me feel better about the combined effect.
KWD··on The Windows 11 taskbar is an annoying step backward
So this taskbar change, and especially not being able to ungroup icons, will keep me from installing Windows 11 until absolutely necessary. I'm not going to install 3rd party software to meet what is current existing.
KWD··on Best Wordle guessing strategy
Same way I approach it. Just whatever word comes to mind at that time.
KWD··on Ask HN: What is your spiritual practice?
I was going to reply none, but this is me.
KWD··on The Mystery of Deceased Hiker ‘Mostly Harmless’ Is at Long Last Solved
Former cyclist. I used an old leather business card case to keep ID, a credit card, and some cash in one of my back jersey pockets. These days I'd look at some of the small aluminum cases that are for a similar purpose. My only cycling shorts that had pockets were for casual mountain biking.
KWD··on Microsoft 365 has employee surveillance and analytics built in
I receive the MyAnalytics emails where I work, and this sounded like it was based on the same thing as categories seem similar. Disabling is good, as they really have no value, and are just another distraction to dispose of in email.
KWD··on Microsoft 365 has employee surveillance and analytics built in
I work at an organization using this as it is upgrading everyone to Microsoft 365. I get a weekly MyAnalytics (think that is the name) email with my weekly engagement score for things like collaboration. It is all meaningless, and the email just gets deleted without being read now. My co-workers are doing the same with theirs.
KWD··on YouTube TV sharply increases monthly subscription to $64.99
I was already on the fence at $50, as I don't watch many of the channels. Primary use was for local, and just a couple of other channels. I'll keep it for July, and then use that time to get an attic antenna setup, and then look at an antenna + Sling option, or some other setup.

Overall, they need to split into multiple offerings so they can still present some value options. I don't watch sports, so that was already a waste of money in the subscription for me. These new channels do not add anything I'll be watching either.

KWD··on Shopify goes after Amazon with new Walmart deal
Having to do this is why Walmart is down my list of places I shop online. I'm not looking for third party sellers when I'm looking for a trusted company to buy from.
KWD··on Uber, Lyft drivers manipulate fares at DCA causing artificial price surges
First time I encountered surge pricing on a return flight (almost doubled the normal fare) is when I started looking at airport parking again. I then discovered I could prepay parking (DFW) and it is 30-50% off normal rate (and several times during special promotions I only paid $6/day). On short trips Uber/Lyft would actually be more than airport parking. For a week long trip it would be comparable, but that is assuming not impacted by surge pricing again.

I still use Uber/Lyft at my destination (paying close attention to rate), but at home, never again.

KWD··on Amazon is buying Eero
Agree, The setup was easy, and I then just transitioned devices to the new network after it was setup. It solved my connection issues in certain parts of the house, and has been trouble free for over 6 months now.
KWD··on Do I really need to get out the soldering-iron again?
I was getting tired of replacing batteries in another device and after some searching located the SanDisk Clip Sport. It was also only around $40. USB rechargeable, FM radio, and a micro SD card for my music. I've been very happy with it.
KWD··on How counterfeits benefit Amazon
I've not completely stopped, but I am going to local alternatives more often now, all because of the counterfeit issue. In addition to Target, I'm also shopping at Best Buy again, so these competitors should take notice of this vulnerability for Amazon.
KWD··on It’s COBOL all the way down
I think the statement "convinced to stay until migration was finalised" already answers your question. I'm sure there would be some that would have wanted to, and been capable of, picking up a different language, but that is not how companies do things. It's replace with the new, even though a lot of business/application knowledge could be retained otherwise.
KWD··on Amazon's policies promote counterfeiting
When I learned of the commingling they do I changed my mind about using FBA to list some products. It has also changed my mind on products I purchase when I see others are selling it FBA. Though I still use Amazon a lot, I have also increased my local shopping for products I would previously have just purchased from Amazon.
KWD··on Drinking 3-4 Cups of Coffee Is “More Likely to Benefit Health Than to Harm It”
The assumption is still that most people drink water during the day in addition to the coffee, and I'd think that is actually not the case. My experience is water is just an occasional drink during the day, not a primary drink.
KWD··on Poll Shows People Don't Want Amazon Deliverers to Have Access to Their Homes
Agree with this. Amazon drivers will place a package propped on center of door clearly visible from street, where a UPS/FedEx driver will tend to place it in a discreet manner.

Amazon also is still lacking the web access to manage the delivery that I get with UPS and FedEx.

KWD··on How Much Sleep Do Fitbit Users Really Get?
I agree. The Charge 2 is pretty accurate with the sleep start/end times, and when I'm awake during the night.
KWD··on Blue Apron Files for IPO
I actually don't recall any negative experience when I cancelled my account. It might be because I'd already opted out the future deliveries, but closed the account with no issues.
KWD··on Play Store and Android Apps Coming to Chromebooks
I would say they are better at fulfilling this particular role. A Chromebook meets and exceeds requirements for a computer for many, and with the benefit of low maintenance (it just works), so why would they need what Apple offers.
KWD··on Pandora Is Said to Have Held Talks About Selling Itself
I did similar, but instead of Spotify, after a trial period with Google Play Music decided to keep it. Much happier with the stations and ability to play some full albums I'm interested in. Cancelled the digital portion of Sirius XM to help justify the cost. Pandora was good for a long period of time, but now I hardly ever listen to it.
KWD··on Ask HN: How to find like-minded people?
Go to Meetup.com and you might find a Ruby meetup in your area. Also, search for 'Ruby User Group' for your city. Doing so for Dallas I found this group http://dallasrb.org/ .
KWD··on Matt Cutts: Android apps that I love
Well I've bookmarked this thread as I get my Android phone (Droid Incredible) tomorrow. Verizon surprised me with a ship date earlier than expected.
KWD··on So you’re inexperienced, non-technical, and you want to work for a startup
" If someone chooses to work in their spare time at X company for experience and nothing else I doubt the law applies."

Not the way law works. That someone accepted a position without pay does not preclude you from following the law. In the worst case scenario, the person leaves unhappily and they have a means to make your life miserable.

KWD··on For Google, a Risky Ploy by Turning Its Back on China
That China can take your business assets, cancel any agreement, or even put your employees in jail, is part of the risk assumed by any company that chooses to do business there. This incident is not going to change the way business is done in China. Foreign companies just see the billions of potential customers, and will bend over backwards (and risk losing investment) to do whatever they need to get access to that potential (and human rights be damned). Even Google is not wanting to pull all of it's business out of China, so they can't really be given too much credit for what they did with just the search engine.
KWD··on Time since Opera Mini for iPhone was officially submitted to Apple
However, Opera needs to be sure to disclose/advertise the app as a proxy and not just a browser. Personally, I will never want to use a "browser" app with a proxy in the middle, but as long as others are fully aware of what they are downloading then they at least knowingly get to assume whatever risk is involved.
KWD··on Nexus One’s slow sales blamed on online-only strategy
So you downvoted me because you did not like my opinion.

The thing with Customer Service is that when you don't need it, sure everything is fine. When you do need it, you want to be sure it's there. My problem is, with Google you can't be sure. And that could be problems with ordering the phone, warranty service, or whatever other unforeseen problem comes about.

Look at Google's history, and with whatever product they offer, be it Gmail, Apps, AdSense, Adwords, and you easily find the Customer Service complaints. For buying a phone, I have a choice. For Adsense/Adwords, not so much.

KWD··on Nexus One’s slow sales blamed on online-only strategy
I'd add lack of customer support as well. I'd be willing to go with the Nexus One, but I know Google has a really poor history for customer service across all their products/services. Until they learn to provide this I'll still buy through the normal channels.
KWD··on New Phones Still Sold With Old Versions of Android
It's actually a big problem. You do not want a 'buyer beware' type of issue to come out when trying to promote your product. At this point, the mobile carriers should be pushing out phones only with the latest release or clearly indicate the version of Android supported by the phone. I'll actually be in the market for a smartphone in a couple of months, and very glad I saw this article. I'm still leaning strongly to Android, but this type of issue could change my mind.
KWD··on Google ‘99.9 Percent’ Sure to Shut Down in China
One other article I read indicated that it was only the search engine itself they were looking to shut down, and not other operations. If that is the case, I'd be sorely disappointed in Google.
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