Atomic Ninja Labs

Blue Pill.

Thursday 04 September, 2008

There has been a great deal of discussion over Google’s brand new baby, the WebKit and V8 powered Chrome browser.

Indeed, it would be difficult to miss all the news on this thing, even if one desperately wanted to. Of course, there have been concerns over what Google is really up to here.

For example, Nils Geylen attempts to join the dots:

“Did what I think happened here, happen? Did Chrome track that I visited One, then serve me this ad?”

Nils asks a very pertinent question given Chrome is a Google production and at the end of the day — even if it’s based on open source code — has had quite a polarising effect on users.

So did he stumble on to some kind of secret in-built advertising centric code? I don’t believe so. Further, it doesn’t fit the current set of processes Google use to track and serve content.

It is important to remember that Adsense is a contextual beast — whilst it’s indeed tempting to try and connect the dots — the very same algorithm used to generate advertising in other browsers was responsible in this instance, not some nefarious browser code.

If you have ever used Gmail, you’ll have seen that algorithm in action with Adsense advertising popping up — with sometimes hilarious results — on the right hand side of the message list.

It’s sometimes easy to forget just how pervasive such advertising has become. Most of us will either attempt to block, or simply through exposure, have become desensitised to their impact. In fact, can you recall the last four online advertisements you’ve seen? I certainly can’t.

However, when an environment changes and there are already privacy concerns — granted Google’s original EULA hasn’t exactly helped — it’s a great deal easier to see ghosts, where in-fact likely none exist.

Had this same coincidental advertising been generated within Firefox or Safari, it is reasonable to expect that that simply would not have been noticed. Just another blip in a proverbial sea of advertising.

Ye Olde≡

“Simply put, IE6 shouldn’t get any hate. Nor should it receive any love, either.” — Dan Rubin presents a most sensible rebuttal.

It is not standards-compliant and the demands placed on making things fit within it — something I intend to simply cease doing in future — often vastly exceed original effort on a standards compliant equivalent. IE6 isn’t evil, just past its use-by date.

Silver Surfer≡

“Like the classic Google homepage, Google Chrome is clean and fast. It gets out of your way and gets you where you want to go.” — Google developers’ on why we need a new web browser.

Webkit is a smart choice. Given gmail has evolutionised the way we view email, it may be premature to describe Chrome as just an application runtime (ala prism – even if it uses that concept in part) just yet. But it does face stiff competition from Mozilla, whom continue to increase browser share.

Number One≡

Or, never underestimate the importance of have a lieutenant when building a community-driven project. If you don’t go down with the ship and go MIA, your number one can help pick up the pieces.

“Over the past month, a lot of concern has been expressed on the Blueprint mailing list. Olav, the project founder, has not been heard from since he updated the framework to version 0.7 in February, and the last sign of any activity from him was 2 months ago on his Twitter account.”

Sure, it’s your baby and you want complete control, but do the right thing by your community and appoint a second. A coup may solve things now, but what happens when/ if the owner returns?

Hicks Review≡

John Hicks provides an account of his most recent pursuit in taming Expression Engine — and comes to an entirely sensible and smart conclusion.

“Once people got wind that I’d been trying out Expression Engine, I’ve been badgered with the question “Which one should I use: Textpattern or Expression Engine?”.”

Shark Jump≡

How to know when “WEB 2.0” has finally jumped the shark — teaching aides for school. What the fuck are we teaching children?

“This workshop explores the possibilities and potential for using social, collaborative, and interactive technologies across the curriculum.”

I’m all for teaching new media. Just not something that will be irrelevant five minutes before it’s taught.

Blue Pill.

·· { Wednesday, 03 September } ··

Ye Olde≡

·· { Monday, 01 September } ··

Silver Surfer≡

·· { Saturday, 16 August } ··

Number One≡

·· { Tuesday, 24 June } ··

Hicks Review≡

·· { Monday, 23 June } ··

Shark Jump≡

You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.