Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Multitasking damages your mental capacity to concentrate.

I’ve written about a similar phenomenon before called ‘infomania’, (see QUESTION: Is your short-term memory disappearing like mine? and STUDY: Email can diminish an individual’s IQ) related to getting constant notifications like IM toasts, incoming emails, phone calls, etc. but I just recently uncovered another article about this issue.  It’s something I saved from back in 2009 from Stanford University research.

Here’s a clip from the article:

Stanford Report, August 24, 2009

Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows

Think you can talk on the phone, send an instant message and read your e-mail all at once? Stanford researchers say even trying may impair your cognitive control.

BY ADAM GORLICK

Attention, multitaskers (if you can pay attention, that is): Your brain may be in trouble.

People who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information do not pay attention, control their memory or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time, a group of Stanford researchers has found.

High-tech jugglers are everywhere – keeping up several e-mail and instant message conversations at once, text messaging while watching television and jumping from one website to another while plowing through homework assignments.

But after putting about 100 students through a series of three tests, the researchers realized those heavy media multitaskers are paying a big mental price.

"They’re suckers for irrelevancy," said communication Professor Clifford Nass, one of the researchers whose findings are published in the Aug. 24 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Everything distracts them."

…

• NEWS: Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows
  http://news.stanford.edu/news/2009/august24/multitask-research-study-082409.html

[this was originally supposed to post to my other blog but I accidentally posted it here & decided to leave it]

I just found a few pictures I took a couple years ago in 2009.  It’s a shot of my big screen TV when a show called CSI:NY was on I believe. 

If you look really carefully at the shot, you can see the two actors talking in basically a detective’s office.  If you’ve seen CSI, you know what the show’s about.

The thing that caught my eye – like any other good geek – was the book on the table.  I looked the table and said, “Whhhaaaa?”  and immediately whipped out the camera phone.  (At the time, a Samsung i760 Windows Phone)

This is what I saw:

The quick explanation for those of you not familiar with some of Microsoft’s more ancient products:  This is Visual Interdev.  The product was produced in 1997 and was phased out around 2000.  The book I suppose was a prop that they just through onto the table… in 2009.

Nice to see Que’s books on Interdev are still in good rotation!

Here’s the answer to a question that seems to be lurking on the Internet unanswered that I figured out on my own:

Q: What is “RESERVED SPACE AND OTHER CONTENT” on my Zune?  Why is it taking up 8.4GB of space (or whatever amount) on my device?  YES, I already tried changing that “Reserved Space slide bar” under Settings and it did nothing.

A: It’s lots of stuff.

• Orphaned podcast content.  Do you use podcasts?  If you do, there’s a good chance that there’s old content in there from podcasts that you’ve since de-subscribed from.  Or content that you’ve downloaded manually outside of subscription.  This content is NOT considered part of your PODCAST storage but instead considered part of Reserved Space.  Yes, I know this makes no sense.  Just go with it.
  To delete it, connect your Zune to your Windows desktop, go to the Zune software on your desktop.  Now click DEVICE – PODCASTS.  Click on each podcast and look at the stuff there… are there old podcasts from a year ago in there?  If it’s not recent stuff, congratulations:  You just found some (or most) of the junk that’s clogging up your Reserved Space.  I cleared 3.5GB by eliminating orphaned podcasts.
• Storage for Apps.  Have you installed Zune apps?  Those free games and tools that they offer off the marketplace?  It turns out they eat up a bit of storage each & how much depends on the app.  And this is NOT considered part of your APPS storage but instead considered part of Reserved Space.  I got rid of 500MB this way.
• Content NOT managed by Zune PC client.  If some of the the music, videos, or pictures on your Zune are not managed (i.e. synchronized) with your PC through the Zune PC client software, it will not be categorized as music, videos, or pictures in the “storage bar”.  It will instead be categorized as Reserved Space.
  …this of course means that the Reserved Space isn’t actually being wasted.  It actually contains music/videos/pictures that you copied over to you Zune.  This content just isn’t classified as MANAGED music/videos/pictures. 

  If you want to “reduce” the Reserved Space allocation and instead recategorize your content in the music/videos/pictures categories, what you need to do is sync your Zune’s content to your PC:

• Connect your device and go to a category – for example:  Music.
• Select all the content that isn’t already being synchronized (or just select everything if you want it all synched and categorized as Music)
• Right mouse click the content and select the right mouse menu item, “COPY TO MY COLLECTION”.
• Watch the "Reserved Space” storage allocation in the storage bar diminish… and your “Music” allocation grow, as it shifts from one category to another.

I know there’s more.  I’ve heard that content that that you copy over as a guest while connected to someone else’s PC is considered “Reserved Space”.  I’ve also heard that remnants of failed copies can consume this space but I’ve not confirmed this.

A good explanation about what Reserved Space is, is available on the Answers site.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/zune/forum/zune_install-player/reserved-space-and-content-from-other-computers/0e542859-b42e-4682-b980-495f863bfb2a

As I get more information re: “Reserved Space”, I’ll post it.

Wanna know how Windows 7 is licensed?  Here’s a 17 page guide that goes over OEM licensing vs Volume License Upgrades, Virtualized Desktops, Professional vs Enterprise, Step-ups, etc.:

The Windows® 7 operating system (OS) will help business users around the world become more productive and will help IT departments enhance security and control and streamline PC management.

Microsoft® Volume Licensing solutions provide the most flexible, cost effective way to give your organization access to the latest Windows desktop technologies. Whether your business wants to upgrade to Windows 7, have access to advanced technologies like Windows 7 Enterprise and the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, or deploy emerging virtualization scenarios, there is a Volume Licensing program that is right for your organization.

This document provides an overview of the products available through Volume Licensing, information about the products that are eligible for upgrades, and the key choices you have for utilizing Windows in your organization.

This document is for descriptive informational purposes only and is not meant to replace or override other licensing documentation such as the Windows 7 End User License Agreement, Product Use Rights, Product List, or Licensing Briefs that will be available at http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/ with the launch of Windows 7.

• DOWNLOAD: Windows 7 & Optimized Desktop Volume Licensing Guide
  http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/6/F665AA37-DB32-4386-9719-0F27723B3CBB/Windows%207%20and%20Optimized%20Desktop%20Volume%20Licensing%20Guide2.xps

This is an incredible summary web site off of Technet.  It’s literally EVERYTHING you need to know about PowerShell – including v3.0 CTP!

• RELEASE: "Windows PowerShell Survival Guide"
  http://bit.ly/vLymZw

Here’s the table of contents:

• Introduction and Getting Started
  • Purpose of this Document
  • Scope of this Document
• Learning PowerShell Fundamentals
  • Guides
  • Quick Reference Materials
  • Videos Covering PowerShell Fundamentals
  • Learning More About PowerShell
    • General Topics
    • Writing PowerShell Cmdlets
    • PowerShell Remoting
    • PowerShell and WMI
  • Essential PowerShell Resources
    • Getting Products
    • Learning Resources
    • Getting Advice and Guidance
• Guidance Topics
  • Security
  • Management
  • Operations
  • Sources for PowerShell Scripts
  • PowerShell Modules and Module Guidance
  • Powershell GUIs
  • Third party Cmdlets
  • Windows PowerShell Cmdlet Reference Material
  • Additional PowerShell Resources
• Guidance Types
  • PowerShell How-To Topics
  • PowerShell Videos
• Community Resources
• Windows PowerShell BlogsForums
• Newsgroups
• User Groups
  • Social Networking
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
• Books
• Windows PowerShell Training
• Microsoft TAG for this topic
• See Also
• Feedback and Work to be Done On This Guide

Here’s a list of stuff that I’m packing for my trip to CES 2012 in Las Vegas.  Hope it helps someone who’s going:  (I will link this stuff to the items I have on Amazon as soon as I get the chance – since I bought most of it there anyway.)

• Laptop
• Jabra VOIP speakerphone for Lync 2010
• Extra memory cards
• Cellphone battery charger
• Targus Multi-tip portable tech charger
• 1TB portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive (photos/videos)
• Mini-power strip
• Expandable power cable
• Expandable RJ-45 Ethernet cable
• Personal humidifier
• Lysol disinfecting wipes – Travel pack
• Charcoal tablets
• 5 hour Energy Drink
• Extra cell batteries
• Lightweight backpack
• Inflatable seat cushion
• Umbrella
• Noise cancelling headphones
• Media Player
• Visine
• Basic Blackjack Strategy Card
• Hand sanitizer
• Map of Las Vegas
• Map of hotel casino
• List of phone numbers (Hotel, Lawyer, Relative, LV Metro, Restaurants)
• Portable WiFi Router
• Portable 10/100 Ethernet Hub
• Personal 3G/4G WiFi Hotspot
• Clothes pin to pin drapes
• Imodium
• Tums
• Las Vegas Advisor
• Restaurant.com coupon printouts
• CD/MP3s of Vegas Tunes
• Disposable camera
• Breath mints
• Sunblock
• Lip balm
• Bottled water
• Aspirin
• Vitamin C, Echinacea, or whatever you take to prevent getting sick
• Portable snack – emergency
• Sunglasses
• Band-Aids (for feet)
• Extra credit card

And to get you in the mood:

• Install one of these Las Vegas backgrounds on your PC.
  http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Las+Vegas+Wallpaper&FORM=IQFRDR#x0y0

• Pick up a Vegas compilation on CD.  Like this on:
  http://www.amazon.com/Best-Vegas-Frank-Sinatra/dp/B004H0B08U/

The new Tag app now supports Tag barcodes, QR Codes and NFC. With so many readers and formats, everyday users have been frustrated by the fragmentation in the industry. We’ve heard your concerns and have launched one app that can scan the most common 2D barcodes and NFC touchpoints. The new Microsoft Tag app for Android and iPhone lets users scan Tag barcodes and QR Codes – both those generated by Tag and third-party codes. But wait, there’s more! Android users who have NFC-enabled smartphones can use the updated app to also scan NFC touchpoints. Users of the new app will have all this as well as features such as:

• A visual history of the most recent Tags and the ability to flag and organize favorites in a variety of ways
• Ability to share Tag experiences with friends on Facebook or Twitter as well as via email
• View other Tag campaigns through our Featured Tags section
• Save and edit contact information

Windows Phone 7.5 also supports Tag barcode and QR Code scanning through the Bing Visual Search button.

So there is no reason to have more than one reader taking up space on your mobile device… and that’s space you can use for more important apps like Angry Birds or Fruit Ninja.

DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Tag Reader – now with QR code & NFC support!
(Available for all smartphone platforms including Windows Phone 7 and 7.5, Windows Mobile, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, and J2ME phones)
http://tag.microsoft.com/download.aspx

I’ve historically used FeedDemon, an old RSS reader from the stone ages for Windows that does a good job but is generally a little resource heavy.

Today, I discovered this really cool RSS Reader for Windows desktops:  “Mishra Reader” – a Free Metro-styled WPF RSS reader for Windows.

It has several benefits and a couple drawbacks:

• The “Metro” interface is smooth as glass.  The Windows Presentation Foundation experience is really awesome and well done.  It feels cooooool to use.  I hope they make the jumpt to HTML5/Javascript in Windows 8!
• The application is really easy on the eyes in terms of reading.  It’s not hard to consume the text.
• There are SysTray notifications that show up in the taskbar when you get new feeds in.
• It REQUIRES Google Reader accounts and can’t just consume OPML files.  I don’t understand why people write software that mandates that you use a web service when OPML works just fine.  Silly.
• Free!

Give it a try.  I think this may be my newly adopted news reader!

• DOWNLOAD: Mishra Reader – Free Metro-styled WPF RSS Reader for Windows
  http://mishrareader.codeplex.com/

(Incidentally, it’s co-developed by David Catuhe, a Microsoft employee that blogs at http://blogs.msdn.com/eternalcoding)

Keeping tabs on your favorite NFL teams and players just got a lot faster with Bing. Earlier this month we released an improved NFL Instant Answer to the Bing results page. With fast, up-to-the-minute scores, stats and ticket data, Bing is an easy play on Sunday.

Let’s begin and say you’re interested in getting the scoop about the Seahawks most recent game against the Redskins.  The Bing NFL Instant Answer is highlighted below:

Scroll over “Passing” to see basic passing stats for the game:

Scroll over “Rushing” to see the game’s rushing leaders:

At the bottom of this search result, there is a link where you can check out upcoming Seahawks games and, more importantly, access to ticket information. Look for the DEAL icon and click on “Seattle Seahawks:”

Next, let’s say you’re interested in how new ‘Hawks QB Tarvaris Jackson is doing this year. Simply search Tarvaris Jackson, and the instant answer includes stats for this season, Jackson’s entire career, and even a bio:

And what if you want scores fast? Search NFL Scores in the search box and get up-to-the-minute game day scores right at the top:

With lots of action left before the Super Bowl in February, be sure to use the new Bing NFL Instant Answer to get the quickest results for your NFL queries.

I hear people even to this day complain about the existence of Internet Explorer in Windows.  “Why do I have to have Internet Explorer on my machine?  I use Chrome/Firefox!”

This frankly betrays a lack of understanding about just how much value Internet Explorer provides to Windows & its users.  You probably use Internet Explorer every day in Windows because it’s a core technology responsible for visually presenting content on the screen virtually everywhere… you just don’t know it. 

Again, just because you don’t use it to browse the web doesn’t mean you’re not using it within Windows itself.  Internet Explorer – all versions – provides 2 things:

• HTML rendering engine
• Application Development APIs

Any time any application (Microsoft or 3rd party) or component with Windows has to render HTML in some fashion – you’re using Internet Explorer.  The HTML rendering engine within Internet Explorer is used everywhere within Windows… here’s a small sample of the systems that use Internet Explorer to present formatted text/graphics:

• Windows Help
• All Microsoft Office products
• All of Microsoft administration tools
• Windows Media Player
• Performance Monitor
• Half the stuff in Control Panel
• Most of Windows Live’s tools such as Messenger & Writer
• …etc…

INTERNET EXPLORER:  A PROGRAMMABLE HTML RENDERING SERVICE
Again, other applications take advantage of Internet Explorer and assume that the IE HTML rendering engine is available in every version of Windows to present HTML formatted content or to provide windows or dialog boxes with HTML based layouts.  IE is the programmable service by which everyone presents HTML formatted content.  For example:  Maxthon is a browser that leverages the HTML rendering services (aka “Trident”) of Internet Explorer but provides an interface that’s completely different and in many ways better than what IE9 provides out of the box:

• MAXTHON
  http://www.maxthon.com/

If Windows did not include Internet Explorer as a HTML rendering service, every application would need to include & maintain it’s own HTML rendering service.  And in case you hadn’t noticed, most browsers these days are a good 50MB.  Fortunately, for all of us, there is a standard available to Windows developers… it’s called IE.

Let’s be clear:  Without IE, most of Windows doesn’t work.

SO WHY CAN’T I JUST REPLACE IE WITH CHROME/FIREFOX’S HTML ENGINE?
Obviously, Microsoft’s products, like Windows Help & Windows Media Player are never going to be using a 3rd party rendering engine based on WebKit or something like that.  But for products like JD Edwards OneWorld, which has Win32 applications that include browser windows within them… why not WebKit?  Or Gecko?

The fact is that other browser developers companies don’t seem to really care about providing their HTML rendering services programmatically to application developers in the same way that Microsoft does with Internet Explorer.  There’s not really any incentive for browser vendors to do so.  Sure, Mozilla encourages people to build ADD ONS for Firefox to make Firefox as a browser more useful, but to leverage Firefox as a rendering engine for other applications?  Not so much.