Information Technology Blog

Monday, March 27, 2006

Complexity kills. It sucks the life out of developers, it makes products difficult to plan ...

Amen brother ...


In an internal memo last October, Ray Ozzie, chief technical officer, who joined Microsoft last year, wrote, "Complexity kills. It sucks the life out of developers, it makes products difficult to plan, build and test, it introduces security challenges and it causes end-user and administrator frustration."
Windows Is So Slow, but Why?

The Tickle



Tickle is one of the most interesting internet companies I had opportunity to watch over the last several years. I think they have started as an online dating company with a very creative set of tests to assess your personality and preferences. I loved their IQ and compatibility tests. My head was hurting after taking IQ test the first time.

At the time I was working on a business concept for something similar. I did my home work and after seeing most of the sites of that sort it was very clear to me they were just bunch of glorious CRUD+S type of applications. I had something more interesting in mind. The day Paul had sent me the Tickle link I decided to give it up. I realized that somebody has though of this before and did a much better job that I could ever do. It was a defeat.

Today I was doing a research and ran across the Tickle link. I decided to check out the latest stuff they've got. As before, Tickle had a very well done user interface with variety of exciting links on self improvement and evaluation test to help you figure out almost anything you want about yourself and help you find best partner, best fitting occupation and even explain annoyances in your life.

Taking an IQ test this time was not as stressful as the last time I did it. Also I had scored more points. I wonder if I would have scored these points if I didn’t have a plenty of rest and a good cup of coffee this morning. As usual Tickle offered a quick summary of my test and offered to sell full report for something like 15 bucks. After I have ignored the offer, I got a message that Wall-Mart would like to pay for my test! What a clever marketing. They have got very important info about me, tried to sell it back to me and even got Wall-Mart in the loop. Day later I've started getting a spam from Wall-Mart :-)

Accoring to the "The Classic IQ Test" I'm a "Visionary Philosopher" with 135 points IQ. OTOH accoring to "The Super IQ Test" I'm Numerical Logician. The idea that I’m a numerical logician cracks me up (you have to see my bank statement).

According to Tickle:

Your IQ score is 141. This means that you are smarter than 99.0% of all other Super IQ test takers.

This number is the result of a scientifically-tested formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on the Tickle Super IQ Test.

But there's more to intelligence than a single number, a single score, or a single label. Tickle uses 8 distinguishable dimensions of intelligence in the Super IQ Test. By analyzing your individual scores on those 8 scales, we are able to look beyond the raw IQ score into how you process information, and which intellectual strengths you're best at.

Your test results indicate that the way you process information makes you a Numerical Logician.

You're exceptionally strong in mathematics and exceptionally good at using logic to solve problems. Let's put it this way — you have a way with numbers and can probably apply reason to anything and come out on top. Your spatial abilities (ability to understand the relationship between objects and physical space) are also very strong, and you can easily understand things on a complex, abstract level. There is very little — if anything — you can't do, but you are probably known for your unusually strong numerical abilities.

This set of strengths allows you to pick up scientific or mathematical information easily. Your incredible attention to detail and your enviable organizational skills support your aptitude for specific, numbers-oriented subject matter. You are less aware of individual vocabulary words and so anything presented in a visual — rather than auditory or expository — manner will be easier for you to understand.



Also:

The Super IQ Test - Numerical Logician
The Classic IQ Test - Visionary Philosopher
The Brainteaser Test - 23
What's Your Best Quality? - Honest
What Breed of Dog Are You? - Golden Retriever
The Ideal Sexual Partner Test - Type 3
Career Personality Test - ESFJ
The Celebrity Matchmaker - Catherine Zeta-Jones
The Values Test - Responsible Friend
The Ultimate Personality Test - Observer
What's Your Workout Style? - Gym Junkie
Right Job/Wrong Job - Creative
Finding Mr./Ms. Right - Shy Idealist
What's Your Sense of Humor? - Banter
Discover Your Sexual Personality - Phi

Thursday, March 23, 2006

60% Of Windows Vista Code To Be Rewritten

60% Of Windows Vista Code To Be Rewritten

Ouch! What a great opportunity for Apple – Steve Jobs is definitely lucky again. This should be a scary sign for anybody who is planning migration to Vista. It’s most likely doomed to be a half backed piece of … eh, software.

If this is really how much code is intended to be rewritten – there must some serious architecture problem with the product or serious competitive thread. Would be really nice to find out what it is though. Last time something like that happened was the beginning on 1995 when MS seeing OS/2 Warp Internet connectivity at Comdex, decided delay Windows until August. It must be something bigger this time – what it is?

It is interesting though how quickly MS can react and make bold move when snafu is discovered. Good for business, I don’t think it’s good for the consumer though. Getting one of those sexy Intel based power books is much better idea IMHO!