Database Develop

A Brief Letter to Microsoft

Hi all. I've decided to try and make some future Microsoft product "my idea", so I've submitted the following letter to them via billg [at] microsoft [dit] com. I just wanted to know if you guys had any input.
Flaming is sure to happen, and while I won't argue with you, I will probably wish your firstborn child is used as a shot put.
Dear Microsoft,
Lately I’ve been bombarded with commercial after commercial showing random people (and their self perceptions) stating that Windows 7 was their idea for one reason or another. I’m not completely disgusted by these or anything, but it started my mind on one of those winding roads a character in a story might have to take to get home, or to the girl, or to the climax, or… well I guess that is kind of repetitious – but the point is, I started thinking about the variety of Microsoft’s operating systems and the history they’ve had – rather, our history together.
I’ve used just about everything Microsoft has created… I started my computer “education” by soldering a few broken parts back together on a Commodore 64 I found in a dump, and then learning BASIC on it (the BASIC on the Commodore 64 was a variant created and licensed by Microsoft). Right now, I’m typing this in Microsoft Word, on a laptop that has Microsoft Windows Vista, being distracted by a cellular phone that runs Microsoft Windows Phone 6.5.
That was a mouthful when I read it aloud.
But the reason for this letter is not so much a history lesson, but a worry of what is to come. It seems the goal over there the past few years is some cross between being different and being more like Macintosh, or Google, or insert company name here, and I’m here to state that I don’t like the transformation the publicists and tech news sites are ranting and raving about.
A few examples?
- Most recently must be the attempt to remove the clipboard features from my phone. I say “attempt”, because I am willing to bet that will be brought back, either by you or some developers out there.
- Office 2007’s menu structure looks like someone tried to “make it better” and ruined it.
- Windows Vista and Windows 7 both look like some kind of cross-dressing Microsoft product who was “supposed to be a Mac”.
What happens when you become so close to the competition that nobody can tell you apart? Developers and IT teams may not like parts of Windows, but they are able adjust most of what they don’t like to work for them. If this path continues, and all of the contenders out there do the exact same thing, you’re really shooting yourselves in the collective foot by taking away your uniqueness.
I guess what I’m really trying to say is “different” does not equal “better”. Get back to your roots and make something that your current audience will buy. Put them above the “new customers” you’re trying to reach. It’s the same error that many companies make nowadays – neglecting the long time customers for some new ones. You end up losing great customers that way.
See, I am a man. There’s an expression stating that men marry women expecting them to be the same, and women marry men expecting that they’ll change. I feel like Microsoft is giving in to the women out there – the ones who complain about it being too hard to use or not pretty enough – and we have enough of that already. I’m not trying to hate on women out there, but maybe the movie Team America explained it best… something about assholes, dicks, and ******* (I won’t go into it, but watch the movie if you need an explanation). What we need is for Microsoft to be a **** again.
Good luck and happy creating,
(Name Removed)
P.S. This email was sent using Microsoft Outlook.
Thanks in advance for any feedback,
Drunk

oooh nice
so did they reply back and what did the email say?
anyway nice letter

no replies yet, but I just sent it last night.

Mad props for Team America reference =P

the whole my idea is just a commercial not a real deal imho
http://gizmodo.com/5477384/windows-7-was-my-idea-but-to-be-fair-i-dont-know-what-im-talking-about

I don't doubt that it is just a big marketing gimick, but I wanted to explain that it looks like they are listening to people's ideas - just the wrong ones.

I'm waiting for them to show the ads on TV which make the claim that W7 has fewer clicks so I can report it to the ASA.
Starting a program like solitaire with the mouse is either the same number (if you don't mind a 2 second wait) or one more click than XP/Vista.
As for getting to the network card properties that's a heck of a lot more clicks than Vista or XP.
W7 has some very well thought out features, but unfortunately it's got more that just aren't.
I hate MS for putting me in a position where I have to say I prefer Vista! Damn them! Damn them to Hades!
WM7 looks awful, and the restrictions they're putting on it make no user or business sense.
Office 2007 is appauling, what were they thinking? Why make an application which users have to refer to google in order to complete simple common tasks?

Don't expect a reply, Drunk, at least something that isn't just generically polite and thanking you for your thoughtful input.
You blended good points that resonate with much of their shrinking user base, made up partly by people who have no idea they're running Microsoft and also in part by people who are obsessed with modifying them, with that bit on genitals. They're not interested in us anymore, nor would they want to add a lot of attention to your letter by giving you something from them to paste on and spread around. They want to intercept people from buying the other phones with no regard to who's already buying their own phones, and you can't really blame them considering how fast they're still falling (down 4% last quarter) toward obscurity.
Just to offer myself as an example of others reading what you just posted and what may be on their own minds, considering I made two websites about the damn thing, I'd say I was a bonafide WinMo fanatic, one of the last expected to say adios, but I just did, a Nexus One, and not only will I continue to love and go nuts with it I will attempt to take others with me. It's brewing right here on XDA, the place you'd think would be the haven mainly for people who like to do what can mostly only be done exclusively with WinMo phones.
Actually I read this by mistake, forgot to get rid of all my WinMo rss feeds on Google Reader to which my phone's synced. Good read though, glad you posted it. So thanks.
But no matter how much rabble you rouse here nor what signs you wave in front of their Seattle office you won't stop this train, the general direction of which they've made it clear that they are taking with WP7 being mostly the opposite of what a lot of us want. They can't please everyone and they'd rather please would-otherwise-be customers of their competitors even at the expense of estranging themselves from part of their existing customers. On the bright side, in addition to there being other options (specifically the one I took), they claim they'll keep supporting existing versions of WinMo for at least a while, though not forever on new devices I don't think which will have unique hardware that if I heard correctly won't even have removable storage, not to mention any support for decentralized application distribution. You don't like the sound of what's coming but what's coming is in their opinion good for business and I suppose mine too. When you're already failing at this rate in such a critical time of penetrating a huge market with enormous potential that will be realized further and further every day, it's hard to come up with a dumb idea on how to do things differently. Not to mention I've seen quite a few extremists shrug off each new bit of bad news saying Whatever I'll still try it, and once they do, then Microsoft has got them for at least a long enough period of time to figure out how to keep them hooked while they intercept little bits of business from the others. Right now they're handing business away. It's a joke.
Making sure the likes of you and others on sites like XDA remain happy customers as they implement these drastic changes to their mobile operations is not high up on their to do list.
Just sayin'.
Doug

Can't say I don't agree with you on most of that. I honestly don't expect much of a reply... at most a blanket letter or something like that. I've also been working my way to other vendors. I've got some android variant on my TP2 now and Ubuntu on my laptop (both still dual boots, but it's a step that direction). I just didn't want it all to happen without my 2 cents' worth being thrown at them.
Thanks for stopping by.

I hear you man, I'm all about ranting. This and this in particular. Also this.
Take a look at that and mobilitydigest.com (basically the same with a less weird domain), you'd make a great writer. Perfect style, perfect background (impressive by the way), perfect fire in your belly. We can't yet offer you money but what we can give you is an audience. Let me know.

"but I wanted to explain that it looks like they are listening to people's ideas - just the wrong ones."
yeah with the whole win phone 7 seeming like being a copy of the features of org iphone sure sounds like they are getting bad advice

PLEASE stop using the the word “retard” in your posts.

[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]

painter_ said:
[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]
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Retard
From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retard
See 4 b. for the context used.
–verb (used with object)
1.
to make slow; delay the development or progress of (an action, process, etc.); hinder or impede.
–verb (used without object)
2.
to be delayed.
–noun
3.
a slowing down, diminution, or hindrance, as in a machine.
4.
Slang: Disparaging .
a.
a mentally retarded person.
b.
a person who is stupid, obtuse, or ineffective in some way: a hopeless social retard.
5.
Automotive, Machinery . an adjustment made in the setting of the distributor of an internal-combustion engine so that the spark for ignition in each cylinder is generated later in the cycle.
I understand that you may feel like you need to defend the rights of restards, but in my estimation, it isn't really necessary and you are just muddying the waters. People with mental handicaps don't own the word, and in fact from my perspective it seem that saying it can only be used as such is erroneous in the extreme. Political correctness is self-defeating and should be avoided. I personally hate it.
Be free or don't, political correctness is just a way of enslaving our speech and thought processes.
migrax

Our world is already WAY too PC, i don't need people telling me what to do on the internet. PC needs to die in a fire...

It's only a figure of speech. Lots of things are offensive but you can't rid them all.

Don't worry, I haven't used it and never will use it in an offensive way

Divine_Madcat said:
Our world is already WAY too PC, i don't need people telling me what to do on the internet. PC needs to die in a fire...
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It's not PC. It's simple human decency, which is too conspicuously absent on the internet. I'm surprised that this is too much to ask of anyone.
I'm with painter on this one.

I don't see the point. I have never and will never call a person with special needs a retard. Therefore, calling stupid people retard is not the same. In my head, when I use the word retard, I don't picture a mentally challenged person...I picture some dumbass who just tried to jump a bike onto a apartment building roof or tried to light his farts on fire but instead lit up their pants.

This just is a simple request because to some with children with special needs, this term is derogatory and hurtful. While this could be labeled PC or a defintion can be used to prove its proper use, using this as a derogatory term to define one's ignorance or stupidity, easily offends people with special needs children and many whom have worked with children with special needs, and that's a fact.
The very definition of using an identifying term negatively to generalize a specific group is stereotypical bigotry.
A person can choose to be insensitive by using this term or decide not to and that's fine. But many of us choose to be more sensitive to a very difficult and and challenging life situation, that often involves children, by not using the term and risk adding more harm or offending others. Especially when it involves children born with birth defects.
The op made a simple and kind request, you guys decide what to do.

The word has more than one meaning and is common. My advice, grow thicker skin. People with special needs kids have a lot more to worry about than a freaking word. If you let a simple word get under your skin and offend you then you have issues you need to deal with yourself.
I dont use it because people that do have always sounded really stupid to me. Just like stupid people that say "thats gay" all the damn time and overuse the word fag.

How does rere sound then?
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App

Im kind of border line on this one. I understand how people with disability children or loved ones could interpret this as a direct offense, but at the same time, it is essential to understand and realize that words like "retard" and "gay" have been adapted by societal culture to take on a completely different meaning then originally intended. I'm willing to put money on the estimation that 99.5% percent of the individuals who have/do use the word mean no disrespect to individuals with disabilities. To be completely honest, I've used the word in every day speech or online posts, am I proud that I support a word that is derived from mentally handicapped people? No. Have I ever once used it to purposely offend a disabled person any way shape or form or commented demeaningly on a mentally handicapped person? Absolutely not. My mother worked with mentally disabled children for many years and I know first hand that many of them are possibly the nicest people to ever live. Take it for what you will.

RileyGrant said:
Im kind of border line on this one. I understand how people with disability children or loved ones could interpret this as a direct offense, but at the same time, it is essential to understand and realize that words like "retard" and "gay" have been adapted by societal culture to take on a completely different meaning then originally intended. I'm willing to put money on the estimation that 99.5% percent of the individuals who have/do use the word mean no disrespect to individuals with disabilities. To be completely honest, I've used the word in every day speech or online posts, am I proud that I support a word that is derived from mentally handicapped people? No. Have I ever once used it to purposely offend a disabled person any way shape or form or commented demeaningly on a mentally handicapped person? Absolutely not. My mother worked with mentally disabled children for many years and I know first hand that many of them are possibly the nicest people to ever live. Take it for what you will.
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Nor have I even used the term to refer to a person that is anything other than a dumbass, come to think of it, I rarely use the word at all. But I stand on the principle that I can police myself without anyone telling me I have to conform to their ideas of stereotypes, I simply resist that with great resolve.
I agree that some take offense at the word, and I also would suppose that it is their problem, and they can simply not read if they are offended.
That I care to contribute should be taken with the appreciation that I know how to be diplomatic, but I don't like people that tell me that I have to worry about offending someone who doesn't even read these forums. It is an empty argument and serves only to stifle the free exchange of ideas.
I register my approval by participating in the conversation, I register my disapproval by not participating. It really is that simple.
migrax

I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.

findmike said:
I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.
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As if to emphasize.
migrax

findmike said:
I'M SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY PUT UP A THREAD ABOUT THIS. I'VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A SIMILAR CONCERN OFF MY CHEST FOR A LONG WHILE... COULD WE ALL STOP USING THE WORD NOOB? I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE JUST TOSS IT AROUND LIKE IT'S NOTHING WHEN IN FACT, BASED ON A THROUGH READING OF SEVERAL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES, IT TURNS OUT ITS SOME SORT OF DEROGATORY SLANG USED TO DESCRIBE A PERSON OF LIMITED COMPUTING SKILLS. SURE, I MIGHT NOT BE A COMputer genius, but i am far from a noob. i've helped people with all sorts of computer problems, even stuff that geek squad couldn't fix (turns out it wasn't a wireless mouse until after the cat got to it). so yeAH IF WE COULD JUST PUT AN END TO ALL OF THAT NAME CA LLING THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO IMPORTANT STUFF AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY NOOK WONT TURN ON AFTER A CLEAN FORMAT OF THE BOOT PARTITION.
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Dear findmike,
If you locate the caps lock key on your keyboard, and disengage it, people might be less inclined to say things like that.
And yes, it is a shortened term for "newbie" to refer to someone new to something. If you are a newb, it means you are new and learning. It's not a derogatory term. If you are a n00b or noob, it means you don't pay attention to existing information given, and ask questions in a demanding manner.

So to summarise no-one means any disrespect to mentally handicapped individuals, most of us can understand and respect the sentiment presented in the OP, and tbh it's not even one of the more useful or important words in our vocabularies. It can stop right there. There's no need to insist on other people growing thicker skins or to ask them to not complain. That's how antisocial people maintain their power, by bullying others into conforming to their wishes and preferences eg. by portraying other positions as being unmanly, cowardly, over-sensitive; by casting other's feelings as being illegitimate; by treating other's wishes as being terrible and unreasonable impositions; etc. No-one here is truly antisocial. Everyone here should be able to appreciate the value of us being able to speak out about things that bother us without fearing summary dismissal or or outright disrespect. It's crucial to a healthy and working group environment.
peace

Now HERE is something disrespectful
comedy gold though.
also see here

rckymtnrfc said:
I don't see the point. I have never and will never call a person with special needs a retard. Therefore, calling stupid people retard is not the same. In my head, when I use the word retard, I don't picture a mentally challenged person...I picture some dumbass who just tried to jump a bike onto a apartment building roof or tried to light his farts on fire but instead lit up their pants.
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Example:
Sarah Palin is a retard.
Trig is a beautiful child of God with special needs.

dsf3g said:
Example:
Sarah Palin is a retard.
Trig is a beautiful child of God with special needs.
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I happen to like Sarah Palin for the most part. But this really made me lol.
The PC thing is causing a nation of wimps. My sister in-law is a 34yr old special needs woman. This does not keep my wife and I from calling each other retards as a term of endearment. We also call each other and the kids dufusses. So maybe when you are called a retard, they are really saying they love you.

painter_ said:
[flame suit on][rant]
In 2011, why do people use the word “retard” to describe to describe stupidity? It is very offensive to people that have children with special needs. I have seen it more times in the Nook forum then all of the other areas on XDA. Try to remember that many people have loved ones with mental disabilities and it is very insulting to see the insensitive use of the slang term retard or retarded.
[/flame suit on][/rant]
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Oh god, we all have to go to sensitivity classes now. This is nonsense.

Advice needed: starting an IT career

Hi Folks,
Going through a time in my life when I want to change directions. With all the brilliant folks on XDA who are honest and experienced and most importantly not going to get kickbacks from doling out good advice, I wanted to ask what you think is the best way to begin an IT career.
Some background about me: I am, for worse or better, in my late 30s which is well older than the average for this kind of thing I'm sure.
My jobs background is mostly in office admin but the emphasis has shifted more and more to the technological. That is I have found myself in the e-business world over the past decade almost exclusively, so I have been in the middle of working with other types of IT employee who are more like I want to become: the architects of apps and systems.
I'm very intelligent, a quick and open-minded learner. The strange thing is when I was young I programmed BASIC with great ability on Apple IIe's and Atari PCs, but "grew away" from that and now of course want it back.
I find myself with definite ideas of apps I want to develop and knowledge I want to absorb but need the know-how and a chance to prove myself. Particular strengths I think I have that others don't is a strong sense of design, better "people skills" than the average geek and maturity (a nice way of saying "I'm freaking old, dude," heheh).
Anyway, narrowing it down the career paths that sound good to me they include Computer Applications Software Engineering and/or Computer Systems Analyst. At least for now.
What I'm trying to avoid is the often scummy education industry from soaking up thousands or tens of thousands of dollars from me to learn what's mostly unnecessary. I've been through that once. While some certifications, degrees etc. are good and necessary I know I also know that nothing beats real-world experience.
So please, any ideas from the people who have lived it and been "in the trenches" about how to begin the path would be much appreciated. Maybe this thread could even be helpful for others who are going through the same process.

DroidApprentice said:
Hi Folks,
Going through a time in my life when I want to change directions. With all the brilliant folks on XDA who are honest and experienced and most importantly not going to get kickbacks from doling out good advice, I wanted to ask what you think is the best way to begin an IT career.
Some background about me: I am, for worse or better, in my late 30s which is well older than the average for this kind of thing I'm sure.
My jobs background is mostly in office admin but the emphasis has shifted more and more to the technological. That is I have found myself in the e-business world over the past decade almost exclusively, so I have been in the middle of working with other types of IT employee who are more like I want to become: the architects of apps and systems.
I'm very intelligent, a quick and open-minded learner. The strange thing is when I was young I programmed BASIC with great ability on Apple IIe's and Atari PCs, but "grew away" from that and now of course want it back.
I find myself with definite ideas of apps I want to develop and knowledge I want to absorb but need the know-how and a chance to prove myself. Particular strengths I think I have that others don't is a strong sense of design, better "people skills" than the average geek and maturity (a nice way of saying "I'm freaking old, dude," heheh).
Anyway, narrowing it down the career paths that sound good to me they include Computer Applications Software Engineering and/or Computer Systems Analyst. At least for now.
What I'm trying to avoid is the often scummy education industry from soaking up thousands or tens of thousands of dollars from me to learn what's mostly unnecessary. I've been through that once. While some certifications, degrees etc. are good and necessary I know I also know that nothing beats real-world experience.
So please, any ideas from the people who have lived it and been "in the trenches" about how to begin the path would be much appreciated. Maybe this thread could even be helpful for others who are going through the same process.
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The way I see it, you have 2 major options.
1. Get a degree and learn to code
2. Learn to code on your own, and screw the degree
If you're more interested in the 2nd option. Check out this link. The prof is great, it's basically a Java class for beginners. But at AcademicEarth, you'll also find other more advanced courses. It really is a terrific resource.
http://www.academicearth.org/courses/programming-methodology
Best of luck!

Thanks! I know many people are self-taught and some of the best may even come from that background. I'll check out that resource and try to absorb as much as I can. It might help me clarify for myself what help I need.

Don't forget good old fashioned Mathematics.
If you think you left all that behind in High School, think again, and brushing some of the rust off it will never go amiss. In fact, stuffing as much of it into your brain as it will stand, is not such a bad thing.
Sometimes it lets you see a much better/faster way of doing something.
Books out of the library, or even articles on Wikipedia are a start, and gratis, and you can go at your own pace until it sinks in.
Good Luck!

stephj said:
Don't forget good old fashioned Maths.
If you think you left all that behind in High School, think again, and brushing some of the rust off it will never go amiss. Stuffing as much of it into your brain as it will stand, is not such a bad thing.
Sometimes it lets you see a much better/faster way of doing something.
Books out of the library, or even wikipedia are a start, and gratis, and you can go at your own pace until it sinks in.
Good Luck!
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Excellent point! Binary/Octal number systems. Matrix math. Boolean logic and decision trees...all built on basic concepts that too many have long forgotten.

I think of myself as a predominantly "right brained" person (and am a southpaw to boot) but math and me get along OK and in some ways better than we used to. Higher math is actually in some ways better than lower since I can tend to the abstract. Thanks again.

Who wants to be in podcast/video show?

Attention Mods/XDA staff. We have permission from svetius to post this here. I wasn't sure about doing this either, so I made sure to ask first. We will not directly link to our site so that we do not leech traffic from XDA. We aren't trying to compete with XDA either. We are looking for interns/unpaid staff interested in tech and mobile news, so the job board doesn't fit us.
Alright guys, here's the deal. I'm looking for video/podcast personalities for a website I'm involved in. The site is Install or Not dot com. I'm not linking to it directly so we don't get in trouble with XDA by leeching their traffic.
If you are interested in becoming a personality and can commit to several hours a week in recording audio and/or video, please post a reply here, and we'll talk about it.
There are three unpaid positions available at the moment. We're looking for video personalities, podcast personalities, and media editors. Requirements for the positions are listed below. You may be able to do more than one thing if you want to and are good enough.
All positions must adhere to the following rules:
- You MUST be able to commit at least five hours per week to recording and researching the shows.
- Media editors may need to commit ten or so hours, depending on skill if they are doing shows as well. You need to be available during the week and on weekends.
- You must be able to work within the site guidelines that we set.
- You must be able to be fair and unbias in your discussions. I don't care if you hate Windows Phone, iOS, or Android. You have to be a fair reporter.
To apply for a spot, please prepare a sample of your ability for me to preview.
Podcast sample should feature you talking about two different articles of your choosing for a minimum of ten minutes. Podcasts are meant for spinning out the news and discussing it with others. Try to put your own spin on the news. Make it entertaining. It doesn't need to be funny, it just needs to hold my attention. Feel free to work on submissions as a team if you know other people who want to be involved.
Video samples should follow the same guidelines as the podcast. I'd prefer to see a ten minute video of you talking about a few articles or topics that interest you. Videos are more generally targeted than podcasts. Again, this needs to be interesting and entertaining. it does not need to be funny, it just needs to hold the viewer's attention. Videos are solo pieces.
Editors should either team up with others who are submitting clips, or make a work on their own from the podcast and video guidelines. If you have prior experience in editing, you may submit any prior work as well, so long as it is appropriate. (no porn )

FYI: The positions are unpaid internships.
Site guidelines are set by myself and the owner. They may change from time to time, but you will always know in advance. Generally, just use common sense. It's not MTV or Cinemax; it's a tech news blog.
We don't want excessive profanity in any media on the site. A few bad words throughout the media is fine, but nothing excessive, and nothing horrible. If you can't say it on cable TV, you can't say it on our site either.
Be open to new ideas and other operating systems or OEMs. I don't care how much iOS pisses you off, or how bad Samsung screwed you over on a phone. You will report on the news in a fair and balanced manner. This includes reporting on iOS, Apple, Motorola, RIM, webOS, Symbian, and anything else you can think of that might make you cringe. If you can't wrap your head around being fair to everyone, do not apply.

I too being involved in the site can say, this may look like not such an appealing postition for now, as it's unpaid - but we will surely value your contribution, which can in future but you on our regular team.
Some of the incentives of doing the job are:
Attend tech events
Gadgets to review
Meet big shots of the tech arena
Make a name and get fame for yourself
Adds value to your CV, which employer would not like a person who is popular on the internet ? This might become your full time job, who knows ?
A business card with a fancy position
An identity which can never be erased, yes that's the beauty of the internet - you might be gone and forgotten in the world, but on the internet your name and work will always stay !
And some other perks too, which I'd rather not mention on a public domain.
Besides, I would also like to tell you, you don't need to be a pro at anything to do this job, just be enthusiastic, dedicated and responsible - though you should know tech and shall be able to speak english !
Age, Nationality, Location, Occupation or Gener all of those do not matter as far as you can do the job !
So hit us up if you think you are in for it !
PS: If you think, audio or video is a bit too steep you can even write for us

Bump to the top.

Okay guys. I would like to participate in it. As you previously said that we can even write articles for you, I might be interested
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using xda premium

Back to the top.
If you guys know anyone who might be interested in doing this, please send them here as well.

Bump to the top, for the interested lot ! Send those PMs right away

Bumpity bump bump

boborone said:
Bumpity bump bump
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Interested, or just sending to the top?
We're looking for news writers as well.

cajunflavoredbob said:
Interested, or just sending to the top?
We're looking for news writers as well.
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Too ugly for on air but yes I am interested in a writer position. Unpaid is completely fine with me. Plus a bump for old xda'er buds.

If you think the entire world turns around you, you are crazy. It turns around me and my very huge modesty. ROTFLMAO

Well, let us begin.....if you may pass around, the virgin's blood, the black candles and the tongue of a dead man whom killed himself.....Woopsy doopsy! Another forum...sorry, my bad.
;-)
I don't like to talk much about myself, least of all in an internet forum.
But fair is fair, and I am asked to introduce myself.
So I'll make an effort, without guaranteeing any results.
I'm in my middle forties.
I'm sitting on my bed while I write this.
Be right back: nature calls, and she's a batch.
Back, and I seem to weigh a little less now.
I feel light as Trump's head.
So, coming back to me, myself and I: I always loved computers, although I never quite understood them very much. Some claim that I know a lot about computers.....but this opinion is only shared by those who know absolutely nothing about them, and see them as entities which could eat them alive if they pressed the "wrong button". I know better: I have a limited knowledge regarding computers, but I do possess an endless curiosity, and I always seem to find somebody whom is kind enough as to give me her/his time to teach me, or help me out of deep shi-t when I, very rarely!, take a path that I know nothing about and "boldly go seeking where no one has sought before"......
As you already know by now, I love Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thrillers and Terror; this in all medias: movies, series, graphic novels, comics, mangas, animations, books.....
I love to row, ski, practice volleyball and rugby, ride a bike and a horse, run, go rollerskating and ice skating, swimming and climbing.
I also write a lot, but nothing's been published so far. I happen to read way more than I write though.
I spent seven years in a wheelchair/using crutches, and now I am riding bikes again....it feels like the first time I rode one, when I was a child.
Let us simply say I come a long way to where, and when, I stand today.
I may not be of a lot of help to you, because my knowledge is really limited. Now. But, with your kind help, it will come a day when I will be able to give my helping hand to others in these matters as well as some others.
Looking forward to keep in touch with you all.
Live long and prosper, from Geneva, Switzerland.
(To your questions: YES, I love chocolate; YES, I love cheese; YES, I love watches and have half a dozen of them, several of which I repaired myself (and one I broke on my own too, for being an arrogant moron); YES, I love mountains: so, if you leave aside that I don't love banks, the swiss stereotype is fully fulfilled--well, I could love a bank if I owned one, but that not being the case.......)
PS: "Aexis" is not a typo error nor a choice because other names (Alexis, for instance) were already taken: it is my real name. And Tenax is my last name, after I chose to change the one I was sadly born with: for those of you whom don't know Latin, "Tenax" means "Tenacious" (as in "Tenacious D", the movies and the music). Modesty is not one of my defects, neither is arrogance.
Ah, my sense of humour is not shared by many: I am absolutely crazy about Monty Python, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Three Stooges, the animated original series of the Pink Panther (and I bought the entire DVD collection), Mr Bean, Not the Nine o'Clock News, Fry and Laurie, Red Dwarf and sooooooooooooooo many others. I even have a t-shirt that says: "I speak fluent sarcasm", to make things clearier for those with an impaired or atrophied sense of humour.
If you read until here, thanks for your time, and hope to "see" you soon!

Hi Tenacious Alexis!
Ahh, madness: the best way to make friends. Allow me to shamelessly pull this out of context:
aexistenax said:
I am absolutely crazy
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It's been a pleasure to read your introduction. I have a T-shirt that has "I have six words for you" on it, what a blissful moment when they ask me what they are. Yes, T-shirts truly mark our sense of humour. Honest feedback: "it will come a day" may be the reason you haven't been published yet Great to read about your recovery, must've been quite the rocky road. Let's try not to circumvent the swear filters, it's a nice place here Oh and let's not make things political because there's no end to that and this place is all about our universal love for tech. Hey, I also have a Swiss watch, a MyKronoz ZeTime. Its quality is indeed quite remarkable! Anyway, I'll keep it short. Pleased to meet you.

Timmmmaaahh! said:
Hi Tenacious Alexis!
Ahh, madness: the best way to make friends. Allow me to shamelessly pull this out of context:
It's been a pleasure to read your introduction. I have a T-shirt that has "I have six words for you" on it, what a blissful moment when they ask me what they are. Yes, T-shirts truly mark our sense of humour. Honest feedback: "it will come a day" may be the reason you haven't been published yet Great to read about your recovery, must've been quite the rocky road. Let's try not to circumvent the swear filters, it's a nice place here Oh and let's not make things political because there's no end to that and this place is all about our universal love for tech. Hey, I also have a Swiss watch, a MyKronoz ZeTime. Its quality is indeed quite remarkable! Anyway, I'll keep it short. Pleased to meet you.
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Thanks for the warm welcome, and my apologies for "breaking the rules" regarding politics and"swearing". I was, as you realized, kind of testing the limits.....but I'll fall inline from now on.
Well, most of the time at least.
Ok, many times.
Alright, make it a few times.
Or two.
Or one.
;-)
Ok. I'll try my best (not) to misbehave.
You can quote me on that last line out of context as well......
Silly though, I'd have loved to know what your answer is to those asking naively "which are the six words you have for me?". I bet my soul that the censorship for the swearing would not let you write that answer here.....Nope, scratch that: I already sold my soul, so I can't bet on it anymore.....
;-)

aexistenax said:
I'll misbehave.
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Gotcha! Oh don't worry about it, you were merely bending them a bit. We appreciate some passion in the conversatios around here.
As for how I respond to that question: I just stare at them in silence for a bit, they usually figure it out. If they really don't get there I start tapping the words one by one.