Jeffrey A. Miller: Mobile Computing

Microsoft: Where's the feed?

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:43:17 GMT

Microsoft has certainly joined the blogosphere in a big way, whether it's the famous Scobleizer or a host of developers (onsite and offsite). Much of the MSDN content is available via RSS. Ironically, however, a visit to the MSDN Blogs page, which lists the most recent blog posts from the MSDN Microsoft clan, fails to turn up the famous XML () or RSS () images. In fact, I have yet to find a master list of RSS feeds on Microsoft's website, although this FAQ about blogging and RSS/Atom points to some helpful feeds and resources. A Google search turns up a page of Microsoft PressPass RSS feeds and a Security Updates page with this feed. I did find a couple of RSS feeds on the Architecture page and a link to a list of architecture-related blogs, but again without a group RSS feed for the list of blogs altogether. You have to visit each blog to find the RSS link. Simon Guest's black-on-blue RSS link is hard to see, demonstrating the disadvantage of diversity in weblog layout. My best guess is that the URLs just map to the blog software of choice for each author (ain't the web grand?). I did unearth a very cool gem while digging through the MSDN blogs, though. Jack Greenfield's blog pointed to a blog by Grady Booch! Talk about cool! I'd only heard legends about the guy, you know, Booch Notation, the "Three Amigos," UML, Rational, etc. He has a blog--how cool is that? And he also has a picture, which I think I will add to my mugroll. Then there's also Martin Fowler's "bliki", or in his words:

A cross between a blog and wiki of my partly-formed ideas on software development

I need to come back to absorb the essence of his bliki approach to publishing. Fortunately, his hybrid approach still offers an RSS feed. And, of course, Martin has a picture too. Bottom line: Microsoft should make it easy to find RSS feeds on their site, including a link on their site map. Update: I found (after much searching) a page which lets you search the Microsoft site blogs. It serves up RSS feeds and OPML for categories of blogs.

Moving this weblog

Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:25:41 GMT

Howdy folks! Boy that sounds corny. If you're reading this post on radio.weblogs.com/0113822, I am moving this weblog to my own server with a more 'appropriate' domain name-- http://www.xagronaut.com. And I've shortened the name from The xagronaut Chronicle to Xagronaut. I apologize for any possible mistakes I might make during this process. I have seen at least one article with tips on the process, but I'm afraid I haven't followed all of the advice. I appreciate everyone who reads this weblog, and I hope you will migrate all of your links to my new address. Thanks. Still to do:

Redirect RSS feeds

Investigate a conditional redirect from my pages at the Radio UserLand community servers to my new location--should I use some kind of conditional UserTalk script in my template, or maybe some JavaScript based on the window.document.location.domain?

Thu, 05 Jun 2003 22:16:22 GMT

Color Sidekick to be Released Tomorrow. Saxton writes "Just announced by hiptop.com's T-Mobile Rep, the awaited Color Sidekick will be available at CompUSA and 1-800-TMOBILE tomorrow. The thread is ... [Slashdot]

Thu, 05 Jun 2003 22:13:34 GMT

Handspring Back Together with Palm. Mercury News: Palm to acquire Handspring. It has been a long road back -- one marked by giddy success when... [Dan Gillmor's eJournal]

Fri, 02 May 2003 04:20:18 GMT

Model Train Control Using Your PDA. VP writes "Forget that crap about PDAs making you more productive by keeping useless contact lists and appointment reminders. Here is the real reason PDAs ... [Slashdot]

See You in a Year

Thu, 06 Feb 2003 01:35:58 GMT

I went without a cell phone about six months ago for budget reasons. I couldn't see paying $80-120 per month for two phones. Especially not for the plan we had. Talk about withdrawal symptoms. Even now, I find myself worrying about Karla and wanting to call to check on her or see if she needs anything.

I have to say, not having the extra expense has definitely helped. I think. On the other hand, I'm not really sure if I haven't just spent the extra money somewhere else on extras like food, videos, etc.

There's a saying, "An advantage is not an advantage unless you take advantage of it." Sorry, I can't remember who said it. A savings or cut in your budget does nothing to save you money overall if you spend that same money on something else.

But anyway, as the title hinted, I'm watching the plans and the technology, just waiting for the right mix at the right price. Since I bought my phone, they've introduced color screens with games and digital cameras. Cool! But not cool enough. Or at least, not cool enough to get back on a plan. Yet. The longer I wait, the more I save, and the cooler the products get.

Fun Pen App

Wed, 22 Jan 2003 17:33:53 GMT

"holy crap, that's cool" [Daypop Top 40]

I wonder though. People often sign their name. My conspiracy-prone mind is saying, "Gee, they could collect signatures and idea scraps using this app." Imagine yourself sketching your latest brainchild on their app, only to have it stolen by their technicians. Stupid, I know, but at least you read this far. ;-)

Mon, 20 Jan 2003 02:09:36 GMT

"Open Spectrum FAQ" [Daypop Top 40]

Wed, 15 Jan 2003 14:52:17 GMT

"Sniffing for WiFi" [Daypop Top 40]

Awesome!

Wed, 15 Jan 2003 14:50:19 GMT

CNN.com - Military robots well trained for war - Jan. 13, 2003 [Daypop Top 40]

Wed, 15 Jan 2003 02:53:54 GMT

"Graffiti's Dead, Long Live Graffiti 2" [Daypop Top 40]

PDA Usage

Mon, 25 Nov 2002 01:33:06 GMT

Do People Really Use Their PDAs? [Slashdot]

Tue, 19 Nov 2002 03:12:25 GMT

Real PDA Wristwatch [Slashdot]

Finally, Tablet PCs

Fri, 08 Nov 2002 04:04:34 GMT

Microsoft Hypes XP Tablets [Slashdot]

Fri, 08 Nov 2002 04:02:57 GMT

NY Times: Tablets Mightier Than the Keyboard? It's the latest expression of a long-running Microsoft fantasy: a future world in which you'll write directly on the screen of your PC with a plastic-tipped pen. You'll take handwritten notes, mark up documents right on the screen and capture doodles on the digital equivalent of cocktail napkins. [Tomalak's Realm]

Yank

Fri, 08 Nov 2002 03:38:54 GMT

Sendo Can't Get Microsoft Source; Ditches Windows [Slashdot] Whoa!

Data in White Noise

Fri, 08 Nov 2002 02:57:56 GMT

Embedding Data Signals In White Noise [Slashdot] Cool!

Wed, 06 Nov 2002 05:26:48 GMT

SSL. I'm working on what's hopefully the last problem for PocketSOAP 1.4, which is related to SSL on PocketPC. The timeout support recently added uses select, so I was dismayed to read this post about problems with SSL and select. sigh. [Simon Fell]

Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:30:15 GMT

Microsoft drives .Net into car dashboards. Company working on version of Windows CE for automobiles [InfoWorld: Top News]

Mon, 21 Oct 2002 22:25:36 GMT

Samsung licenses Symbian OS. The licensing agreement gives Symbian more momentum in its battle against Microsoft and PalmSource to power the next generations of wireless phones, the company says. [CNET News.com]

Sun, 20 Oct 2002 05:08:45 GMT

What's Really New in Wireless?. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association tradeshow offered some surprises, like a Bluetooth-enabled headset for cell phones. Also: Christina Aguilera faceplates and Worldwide GPRS roaming with Deutsche Telekom. Elisa Batista reports from Las Vegas. [Wired News]

Mira is delayed. Drat! And, yet, by the time the technology is affordable for me, it will likely have faded into the backdrop of non-events (Ah, the sad story of economically-challenged technophile. :-) Not really economically-challenged, but my technology budget is indeed finite.)

Bluetooth is also incredibly exciting: the wireless cell phone headset, the wireless modem capability for a PDA or laptop--killer dude!