The Machets’ Blog

Name: Google Calendar Price: Free

Google has released its much anticipated calendar. On first inspection, this new service is brilliant. From this clean, fast interface, you can add events by typing in a short sentence such as, “Dinner with John tomorrow 6pm.” You’re able to view your agenda very easily, and print out the day/week/month’s plan.

Google Calendar offers excellent integration with Gmail; however you don’t need a Gmail account. If you are using Gmail, you’ll be able to click a link if there is an event listed in from the sender. To make things a little clearer, if someone sends you an email, asking you to come to a meeting this Tuesday, Gmail will be able to recognise the date and event. You’ll then be able to add it to your calendar.

One of the greatest features of Google Calendar is that you can share and view other peoples’ calendars. What are the Australian Public Holidays? It’ll tell you. You could create a calendar that others can view, and another that was your own. This would be very useful in the businesses.

Another excellent idea integrated into GCal is the way you can manage invitations for an event; see who’s coming, and how many aren’t. Even better, Google Calendar doesn’t require the invitee to have a calendar with the company. You can let the guests invite others and let them view who’s coming as well. You can also deny them of those privileges.

Google Calendar is one of the best calendar solutions available. To get started, you’ll need an email address linked to a Google Account.

Edit 3/11/06: Post title changed for clarity.

To view this video at its actual page, please go to video.google.com

Name: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Price: Free

Windows Vista is the successor to Windows XP, from Microsoft. It is due to be released within the next 6 - 9 months, and has some great features. I will be writing a proper review when my beta copy arrives (hopefully soon!), but from what I have seen and played with, we are looking into an excellent future.

Microsoft has recently released the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, for those thinking about upgrading. It’s a simple program that allows you to check whether your computer would be able to run Vista. Additionally, you can choose what features you’d like, and the program will tell you what version is most suitable for you.

There will be five versions of Windows Vista; three of them being aimed at the home user. Windows Vista Home Basic will not carry many superior features, and what it will offer would not give many a reason to upgrade. Home Premium and Vista Ultimate will include the best features, such as Flip 3D, the Aero Glass effects and live search. Again, a proper review will be published as soon as we get to properly try it out.

You can download the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft.

Jen’s dishwasher stopped working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.”

“Oh, by the way, don’t worry about my bulldog. He won’t bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!” “I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!”

When the repairman arrived at Jen’s apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he had ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.

The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name calling.

Finally, the repairman couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled, “Shut up, you stupid, ugly bird!”

To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”

Google Maps has come to Australian shores! This excellent service now has maps for the whole country, as well as New Zealand. Unfortunately, however, it still needs some settling in. First of all, you are unable to search for specific locations, you have to manually find them. Secondly, they have not recently updated the satellite images, and many parts within an hour away from major cities cannot be seen properly. Finally, some names of roads are incorrect, such as “North Road” being “N Road.” Some roads are also not properly aligned in the ‘hybrid’ (street maps over satellite maps) maps.

It’s still worth taking a look; try and find your house!

Sue and Bob, a pair of tight wads, lived in the mid west, and had been married years. Bob had always want to go flying. The desire deepen each time a barn stormer flew into town to offer rides.

Bob would ask, and Sue would say, “No way, ten dollars is ten dollars.

The years went by, and Bob figured he didn’t have much longer, so he got Sue out to the show, explaining, it’s free to watch, let’s at least watch.

And once he got there the feeling become real strong. Sue and Bob started an arguement.

A Pilot, between flights, overheard, listened to they problem, and said, “I’ll tell you what, I’ll take you up flying, and if you don’t say a word the ride is on me, but if you back one sound, you pay ten dollars.

So off they flew. The Pilot doing as many rolls, and dives as he could. Heading to the ground as fast as the plane could go, and pulling out of the dive at just the very last second. Not a word. Finally he admited defeat and went back the air port.

“I’m surprised, why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well I almost said something when Sue fell out, but ten dollars is ten dollars.”