I’ll admit it: Google Reader is the one app that got me into feed reading (rather, checking) again.
I used to dedicate large chunks of my ‘free’ online time to check feeds into NetNewsWire. The latest version was nice, but something didn’t click eventually. I stopped using it and started getting some things done instead.
Then the need for me arose: I needed my feeds, everywhere. To check something or to gather info for upcoming articles. The obvious solution: Google Reader.
I first was kinda taken aback with the whole exporting-importing procedure (which was kinda hideous), but when I had my feeds all neatly categorized, I was up and rolling. I actually found out that I checked feeds much more efficiently in Google Reader, while being natively in the browser, I could check out particular blog posts and blogs in a breeze.
So I’ve found the equilibrium between effective time and casual feed reading, all because of it.
I have a pet peeve though. A particularly annoying one.
I use to star all interesting articles, to write about them later. So when I’m browsing the starred posts and decide to remove one post from the list, I check on the star and it vanishes. But why doesn’t the post vanish too from the list?
Ok, there’s no star, why is this in ‘Starred’ list?
I actually have to hit refresh to get it off my screen. Which is kinda annoying.
I guess they did it to avoid ‘losing’ posts accidentally in all the heap. But why can’t this be done with an undo technique, like in Google Mail?
Sigh.
google, google reader, greader, gmail
What’s the best way to avoid writing anything of importance in your blog in such a stressed day like this?
A meme!
Days ago, John invited me into a meme I saw just recently. I’m supposed to showoff my desktop, so here it is:
I obviously dislike clutter, and I obviously call my Windows Bootcamp partition ‘Untitled’.
I use Desktoptopia for my ever-changing wallpapers, but I loved that one so I hit pause.
meme, desktoptopia, desktop
Recently, on Twitter, me and some friends had an interesting argument over translating tech terminology in greek, whenever possible. The discussion was based on my ranting, since I think that the greek word for blog, ιστολόγιο (istologhio), feels all kinds of ridiculous and fake to me. Reminds me of people (bloggers) that get themselves as too important creatures, bloggers that think highly of themselves.
And there are few things in this world that piss me off more than arrogant bloggers.
Anyway, back to topic. Back then, I did not have a real proof of why I despise this kind of holistic translation. These days, I re-found one:
For those Greeks out there, Blogger.com translates Dashboard as Πανόπτης (Panoptis). RSS as Ροή δικτυακού τόπου (Roi diktiakou topou). Posts as αναρτήσεις (anartisis).
This is ridiculous. I don’t consider myself a british citizen, but I surely understand the english terms more than their greek translation. It’s so farfetched! It should be done with simpler words, in the first place.
Not to mention that most greek translations in web or offline apps are littered with grammatical and syntax errors.
And this is not rare; more than once, users have contacted us for support and we couldn’t get a clue of what they were saying, because they had (mis)learned the terms in greek.
I don’t say that we should all become Americans or British, but this is getting old. I understand why people who don’t speak english cling to this notion, but I cannot possibly see how RSS is more difficult than Ροή δικτυακού τόπου for a tech guy or gal.
english, greek, blogging, translation
