How to completely disable Google Web History?

Google Web History records your key search and web activity after you log in to Google Account. When you create a Google Account at http://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount, you're given the option to enable Web History with your account. Visit Google Web History for more detail.

Many people choose to NOT enable Web History for privacy reason. However, when you activate Google+ service, you may accident enable Web History. For more information, read "Think You’ve Disabled Google’s Web History Tracking? Check Again" posted at TechCrunch.

To complete disable Google Web History, after login to Google Account, type this URL:
https://www.google.com/accounts/DeleteService?service=hist
(Source: Alex at Google Web Search Community)

Upgrade to Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)

I upgraded my Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal to Ubuntu 11.10 beta 2, code name Oneiric Ocelot, on Oct. 12, before official release few days. Here are my own experience:

1. Make sure you know the admin password for PhpMyAdmin, if installed, before you upgrade. I forgot this password and it took me almost half hour to get out the infinite loop :(
2. An hour for download and another hour to install.
3. Remote desktop 'tsclient' was removed. Used 'RDesktop' or 'Remmina' instead. After using Remmina Remote Desktop client, I liked it. It's better than 'tsclient'
4. Somehow the trash icon in launchpad associated with VLC media. Uninstalled VLC resolve this issue.

How to upgrade VirtualBox 4.0.12 to 4.1.4 on Ubuntu 11.04

Oracle released VirtualBox 4.1.4, a maintenance release of VirtualBox 4.1 which improves stability and fixes regressions, on Oct 3rd, 2011. Using 'sudo apt-get update' and 'sudo apt-get upgrade' will not upgrade your Oracle VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) from 4.0.12 to 4.14. To upgrade:

1. Backup your virtual machine by press <ctrl>-E to export appliance
2. Go to Ubuntu Software Center to uninstall current version
3. Install new version Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.1.4
4. Install Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
5. Run virtual machine and apply new version of Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest Addition 4.1.4r74291

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Jobs was 56.

Apple said in a statement on its website: "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Well said, I have nothing to add. But I would like to share "one more thing". One of the things I learn from Steve Jobs in WWDC 1997: “And you know the hardest thing is, when you think about focusing right, you think well focusing is about saying yes. No. Focusing is about saying no. Focusing is about saying no. And you got to say no no no. And when you say no, you piss off people… and the result of that focus, is going to be really great products, where the total is much greater than the sum of the parts.”

Rest In Peace, Steve.

The Pencil Analogy

This article written by Brad Wallace posted on SQL Server Central on Aug. 18, 2011. It was a great editorial. After reading, I wondered who is at fault? The CEO or the contractor.

"The Pencil Analogy" reminded me of my own painful experience almost 25 years ago. As the requirements kept changing, little by little, I ended up working for nothing. I did not make enough money to keep my roof over my head. I closed my first startup business and went to work for others.

How long 2011 Developer Conferences Sold Out?

Microsoft BUILD conference occurred in Anaheim, California from Sept. 13 to Sept 16, 2011. In this developer conference, Microsoft introduced Windows 8. How long did it take Microsoft to sell out? Two months. (http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/08/02/windows.8.focused.build.conference.now.sold.out/ and http://blogs.msdn.com/b/msdnmagazine/archive/2011/08/04/10192770.aspx)

Three months ago, Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2011 ran from June 6 to June 10, 2011 in San Francisco.  Steve Jobs introduced IOS 5 at this event. How long did it take to sell out? 10 hours. (http://blogs.computerworld.com/18047/apple_wwdc_2011_tickets_registration_sell_out)

Earlier this year, Google I/O 2011 from May 10 to May 11 also took place in San Francisco, California. The ticket to this developer event sold out in record time, not days, not hours but in minutes : 59 minutes. (http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/07/google-io-tickets-sell-out-in-59-minutes/)

Thus, we know which technology is most attractive to developer.

HP TouchPad Liquidation

Last night, I read from TechCrunch "HP Issues TouchPad Liquidation Order – Get Yours Now For $100". Wow. Is that's true? I would like get one for $99 and use it for browsing, reading, listening music and watch video. I don't need other apps.

I do some more research. It looks like that price for Canada only.

But for BestBuy in USA, it still $399

Even I cannot click thru the link at BestBuy.com, I check the special return policy for HP TouchPad

So I will stop by at BestBuy to check it out. If it's $99, I will buy it.