Wish list for Google Docs & Spreadsheets

Monday, February 26, 2007 Labels: Google Docs and Spreadsheets

To build upon my previous post about why Google Docs & Spreadsheets doesn't work, here is a short list of features I would like to see implemented.

Custom Font Selection: I just gotta be able to change the look and feel of my documents or I won't use it. Fix it, okay!?

Desktop Docs & Spreadsheets Sync: There must be a way to have these files automatically backed up to my local hard disk. I would prefer a mirroring solution, though. I'd like to be able to edit the same files locally or online via GD&S. Just add functionality to Google Desktop Search that will manage the synchronization process. Even better, why not add the functionality as a Backup Solution for desktop users, where those files just happen to be "backed up" (mirrored) to the same location that GD&S uses.

Added Bonus: A Windows shell extension to allow dropping all of my files into a single GD&S folder. The files would be kept locally (in that folder), but those files would also be mirrored with GD&S online. I'm thinking something similar to how Gmail Drive works (Linux version, Mac OSX version).

Super-duper Added Bonus: Even more cool than that would be to have the (same) shell extension render the file view to look like GD&S online. That would be way cool and super usable!

Note to Google: I volunteer to beta test these for you!

Why Google Docs & Spreadsheets doesn't work

Friday, February 23, 2007 Labels: Google Docs and Spreadsheets

After playing with it in the past and over the last couple of days I have become very familiar with its features and capabilities. However, I've become even more aware of what it doesn't do.

First off, I can't change the fonts and styles (like Heading 1, Heading 2, etc) to the way I like them. And, I can't select my own font from my system, period. I only have a list of 6-7 fonts to choose from. (I use "Calibri, Tahoma, Arial" as my default font for just about everything..)

Second, There is no way to upload nor work on files other than basic RTF/HTM documents and spreadsheets. For instance, if I'm going to use this system exclusively, how do I create posters, flyers, business cards, forms, etc, as I would with Microsoft Publisher? How about OneNote?

Only supporting basic documents and spreadsheets goes further to cause more problems. I generally keep all kinds of files mixed in with my documents. I keep (other people's) PDF files, images, links to websites in .url files, raw .html files, XML, source code files, and many more. Where would I put these files if I started using Google's web-based services?

I love (and live by) the "drop everything into one bin and use search to find it" mentality, but what use it is if I can't drop everything into it? Google Desktop Search allows me to do just that right now, without having to be connected to the Internet.

Which brings me to the biggest reason why I won't use it. There isn't any way (that I can see) to backup my files to my desktop for when I'm disconnected. Is there? What about when I'm traveling? How about when I purposely disconnect from the Web so I can get some writing done or when I go to the park to work while the kids are playing? (And, no, getting Internet access via Cingular isn't an option for me!)

Visual Studio clipboard ring and other keyboard shortcuts

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 Labels: Hack , Shortcut , Visual Studio

Visualstudiohacks.com is always my first choice for getting the low-down on Visual Studio. On their site I found a great shortcut key to cycle through the VS clipboard ring. In doing so, I remembered that VS actually had a clipboard ring, too. I remember being excited that they were adding one, but I must've forgotten about it. It's excellent. I found it here: http://www.visualstudiohacks.com/navtricks.

CLIPBOARD RING

Ctrl + Shift + V

Cycle through items copied to clipboard

The clipboard ring's a terrific tool for doing mass edits. Move a number of items into the clipboard ring via any Copy or Cut command, then cycle through those items as you're pasting away.

Top TV Shows

Thursday, February 8, 2007 Labels: TV

I found a list of the most popular TV shows of any era here. I was looking at it to find out how Smallville is doing in the ratings and realized that I haven't seen even a few minutes of most of the shows listed. So, I thought I'd have some fun and actually list them here.

* 1	Lost	Season 1 phenomenal, 2 great, I'm not sure about 3.
2	Prison Break
* 3	Heroes	Heroes rocks!
4	One Tree Hill
5	House	House is way cool!
6	Gilmore Girls
* 7	Smallville	Smallville is my favorite – Battlestar is closely tied.
8	Grey's Anatomy
9	24	I've seen about 10 episodes of last season. I like it, but don't watch it.
10	Beauty and the Geek	I watched a few episodes of season 1.
11	Desperate Housewives
12	The O.C.
13	Naruto
14	Criminal Minds
15	Family Guy
16	Avatar: The Last Airbender
17	Scrubs
18	Veronica Mars
19	Bones
20	Supernatural
21	CSI: Miami
* 22	Battlestar Galactica (2003)	Battlestar is one of the all-time greatest shows.
23	NCIS
24	Stargate Atlantis
25	South Park
26	American Idol	I've watched a few with Carol who is an avid watcher.
27	Charmed
28	Stargate SG-1
29	CSI
30	The Simpsons	I used to love it, regrettably, I grew out of 14-yr-old humor.
31	The Office
32	The Unit
33	America's Next Top Model
34	Jericho
35	ER	I occasionally watched during season 1 & 2.
36	Ugly Betty
37	Nip/Tuck
38	Boston Legal
39	Judging Amy
40	7th Heaven	I've only seen the series finale. It sucked bad.
41	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	I tried watching a couple shows. They were gross.
42	Friends	I've watched more with Carol than I care to admit.
43	CSI: NY
44	Friday Night Lights
45	Everwood
46	Dirt
47	Day Break
48	Survivor
49	Home and Away
50	Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
51	Reba
52	Rome
53	Bleach
54	Hannah Montana
55	Saturday Night Live	I've suffered through too many of these shows in the past trying to see something funny.
56	Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip	I tried watching a couple of the first episodes. Lame.
57	My Name Is Earl
58	Sex and the City
59	Dexter
60	Medium
61	MythBusters	I've seen a few of these. They're cool.
62	Weeds
63	The L Word
64	Seinfeld
65	The Sopranos
* 66	Las Vegas	I enjoy watching Las Vegas.
67	How I Met Your Mother
68	Angel
69	Laguna Beach
70	Deal or No Deal	Cool show. Howie is cool. I'll watch it occasionally.
71	Power Rangers
72	The Super Bowl	Haven't watched the SuperBowl in about 9 years.
73	Inuyasha
74	The Shield
75	Shameless
76	Degrassi: The Next Generation
77	Buffy the Vampire Slayer
78	Rules of Engagement
79	Law & Order: Criminal Intent
80	Aqua Teen Hunger Force
81	The Hills
82	Ben 10
83	Without a Trace
84	Two and a Half Men
85	Live with Regis and Kelly
86	Miami Ink
87	The Dresden Files
88	The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
89	The 4400
90	The X-Files
91	Danny Phantom
92	SpongeBob SquarePants
93	The King of Queens	I've watched some re-runs of this. Carol likes it.
94	The Amazing Race
95	Entourage
96	Numb3rs
97	Pokémon
98	What About Brian
99	The Class
100	High School Musical

I thought it was interesting. I haven't seen any part of 79 of the most popular TV shows. And, there are only 4 or 5 that I watch regularly. Other than those 4 or 5 shows, I don't watch any TV.

I personally, would love to see this list by people like Robert Scoble, Scott Hanselman, and Scott Guthrie. I always hear other bloggers talking about their favorite shows, but honestly, where do they find/make the time for them!? What does your list look like?

Word 2007 Blogging

Labels: Blogs , Office 2007 , Word

I really liked the possibilities presented in Microsoft's Live Writer, but it just wasn't all there. While reading Eric Nelson's recent entry about his first post from Word 2007, I just had to give it a go. It is working so far. I'm hopeful that this will make it quick enough to post more often and regularly. I guess we'll see.. Here is the url for more details from Microsoft: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA101640211033.aspx?pid=CH100626141033. Thanks Eric!

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