I reported on December 31, 2008 that one of our XBOX 360s crashed hard, displaying the Red Ring of Death indication.  I am happy to report that the entire repair process went very well.  Microsoft has a special set of Web pages that allow you to ship your XBOX 360 off with minimum fuss.  Microsoft provides tracking and reports on the repair every step of the way.  It took several weeks to get our machine back and it is operating well.  Some of you may want faster gratification, but this seems like quick turnaround to me. 

Even though the extended warranty for RROD is three years, this XBOX 360 was purchased slightly over three years ago.  But there was no charge for any of this service.  I didn’t pay for shipping or repair, and Microsoft would have even supplied a shipping container to my home if I had requested it.

I think Microsoft deserves a great deal of credit for handling RROD repairs the right way.  I understand that some of the team that worked out this process has also contributed to Windows 7 self-diagnostic features.  If they can clear out some of the crud compared to the Vista help and support features they will do another great service for Microsoft customers.

-- Walter Lounsbery, 1-29-2009

I have to wonder at this point how deep their standards support is.  I see a lot of information on OpenSocial and developing widgets for their social networking service, perhaps someone with direct knowledge and experience can comment here.  I certainly hope that the Ning folks appreciate the difference between a standard API and a tool.

If you are wondering about the MetaWeblog API, you can check Wikipedia.  Or contact Dave Winer, who is not closely associated with Windows Live Writer.  It is a standard way to programmatically add blog posts to a Website.

As for Ning, I can only quote my recent exchange with their support desk:

“[The Ning Team - 01/13/2009 03:23 PM]

Hi there!

We don't currently support a way to integrate Live Writer into networks on Ning. This is an open feature request that our product team is considering and I'll certainly add your vote and comments to that request!

I hope this helps!

Cheers,

Susan

[Reporter - 01/12/2009 12:13 PM]

I'd like to use Windows Live Writer for blog posts. Live Writer uses the MetaWeblog API. Does Ning support that API?”

Their system calls me “Reporter” for some reason.  I do use my real name on Ning.

As a recent user of a Ning social network (the Entrepreneurs of Knoxville Website), I am impressed by the Ning mix of features for Web-organized clubs (pardon me, social networks!).  They have become extremely popular with their free service, which reportedly supports over 700,000 clubs.  There are several extensibility points for adding “OpenSocial applications” and styling pages.  I have to wonder how long the current business model will survive.  Especially since they’ve outlawed adult Websites.

As I’ve written this, I’ve made a really bad assumption.  I didn’t think it would be necessary to point out why the crappy Ning blogging interface (and lack of MetaWeblog support) would be a problem.  Well, I am posting this on two of my blogs (Live Spaces and Lounsbery Direct), plus the EOK Website.  As appropriate to a post like this, it’s just larded up with hyperlinks to more information.  I can write this very easily using Windows Live Writer.  I even get spell checking. 

Since Live Writer supports the MetaWeblog API, when I’m done writing I just click a couple of things and this post goes to both of my Websites formatted according to their CSS.  No muss, no fuss. 

On Ning I’ll have to copy and past this post into that little editor window, then reformat every hyperlink because they don’t copy properly.  If I had pictures, that would also create more work. Ning blogs are, therefore, seriously crippled and a major PITA.

-- Walter Lounsbery, 12-13-2008

Confession: I am a Twitter addict.  I write pithy notes about tech, the stock market, aviation, or whatever.  Follow me at http://twitter.com/waltal if you dare.

Previous to my Twitter addiction, I was a fairly regular blogger.  While blogging can be an addiction, those addicts requiring quick satisfaction and a more intimate relationship with their “audience” jumped to Twitter and like services long ago.  Some became video bloggers.

I’m not one of those early adopters.  In fact, I have the natural response of most native Missourians.  I am the skeptical, “show me” kind of guy.  If I’m told that something is the greatest new thing ever, they are going to have to prove it before I take a second look.  And it may take years for that second look.

Perhaps “pragmatic” is a better description of my approach to new things.  I’ve found that pragmatic cuts through a lot of smoke and mirrors kind of enthusiasm.  It gives you a better grounding when people are creating world-changing Web 2.0 thingies without a thought to real use or a business plan.  Twitter is one of those.  I saw an interview with Evan Williams (founder of Twitter), who says that "Twitter is way too hard".  Really?  His really vague statements about delivering common sense, “most requested features” is very enlightening.  Evan should check out some of the publications about how to use his own service (like the Twitter Survival Guide).  Evan, buddy, this stuff ain’t happenin’ unless you are on board and pushing it forward, right?

I try to subscribe to tech-leading people in blogs and on Twitter.  That way I don’t fall too far behind the tech savvy crowd.  Universally, there seems to be a lot of concern about “Friending” and “Following”, or basically building your network on some Internet service.  I especially appreciate Dare Obasanjo’s posts on social networks, among the many people I listen to.  And that is a key item for any of these networks.  Do you really want to listen to somebody?

Everyone has their own reasons for using a social network.  I think that diversity of motivation would be served by a few seconds of real introspection before jumping in the deep end of the pool.  First, understand how visible your postings are to the Internet at large, people signed up for the service, your followers or friends, and so on.  How much control do you have over those videos, pictures, music and book recommendations, text postings, and other stuff?  If you can’t understand the vendor’s explanation, your first mission is to identify someone on the network that understands it and connect with them.

Once you have an idea how deep the pool is, list out the reasons you’d like to go for a swim.  And I’ll drop the pool metaphor right here.  Are you making business connections?  Are you looking for authorities in important areas?  Are you looking to hook up?  Maybe you just want some entertainment streaming across your monitor while you’re slaving away on some thankless job like – sorry, I drifted off topic there. 

Take that list and rank your reasons to join the network.  Most of these networks have the potential for thousands of random connections.  If you think its frightening to speak to a few hundred random people (some who love you, some want to steal your money, some want to stalk you), then maybe you don’t want thousands of random connections.  Maybe you want every connection to be a quality connection, made for the right reasons.  Like the reasons on that list you just made.  If every connection is valuable to you and the other person, then it doesn’t matter how many you have.  If it is a dozen other people, or ten thousand other people, each is a priceless connection you probably wouldn’t have made some other way or on some other network.

Given this approach to social networking, nobody should be confused about following or friending.  Any random follower or friend is just that.  Most networks let you see their profile, some pictures, what they have written.  If they match some of the reasons that you joined the network, great.  You might make that connection.  Be discriminating.  If you can’t see a profile or anything they’ve done and you don’t otherwise know them, decline the invitation or don’t follow them.  You’re not missing anything there.

-- Walter Lounsbery, 2008-01-12