Geek Talk: Gmail, iPod, and WordPress
What do you get when you have three web standards enthusiasts a.k.a. standardistas a.k.a. geeks in a YM conference room?
Disaster.
People should know that I’m not much of a talkative person, both online and offline. When someone sends me a message, I normally respond with, “Hey,” then go on with my pathetic life, all traces of the so-called conversation forgotten. There are times, however, when I feel the need to be makulit. Naughty, naughty, naughty - but not in the way you’re thinking, if that’s what you’re thinking. Coz, you know, I might have left an impression with my previous entry. 
I was supposed to post here a part of our mind-boggling geeky talk, but I think that would spoil the surprise. 
On to the more interesting tidbits.
I got my Gmail account on May of the year 2004. A lot of people were going rah-rah about and nuts over it because it offered a gigabyte worth of mail space, and to make things more twisted, it was by invitation only. Drool, people, drool! I didn’t know what the fuss was about, so when someone offered to give me an invitation, I gladly accepted.
If you haven’t already heard about Gmail, it’s a new search-based webmail service that offers:
- 1,000 megabytes (one gigabyte) of free storage
- Built-in Google search that instantly finds any message you want
- Automatic arrangement of messages and related replies into “conversations”
- Text ads and related pages that are relevant to the content of your messagesGmail is still in an early stage of development. If you set up an account, you’ll be able to keep it even after we make Gmail more widely available and as one of the system’s early testers, you will be helping us improve the service through your feedback. We might ask for your comments and suggestions periodically and we appreciate your help in making Gmail even better.
Thanks,
The Gmail Team
It sounded awesome. Awesome enough that some people were willing to pay quite a handsome amount of money just to get an invite. I could’ve been a hundred thousand bucks richer if I gave in to temptation, but of course, I was too much of an honest netizen (sarcasm) to do that. I almost did. But I didn’t. But I wanted to. But still I didn’t. Yeah, I didn’t. Really. And I’m not being defensive. Just look at my bank account. I’m such a loser.
And now it almost breaks my heart to know that Gmail has become more widely available as it now offers its service in some countries without its invitation-only restrictions, and “very soon” will become available for all users worldwide. *sniffs* My favorite email service provider is growing up. *sniffs sniffs*
And here we are…From banning sex on Valentine’s Day as a solution to overpopulation, to banning the use of iPods while crossing the streets as a solution to stupidity. Don’t you just hate it when you see people with iPods glued to their ears (or is it the other way around?), oblivious to everything else going on around them? It’s no wonder people actually get killed because of it1. Granted, iPods can be helpful when you choose not to hear your girlfriend whenever she asks you to buy her *insert item here* (and, as Darwin says, it brings decent attendance to parteehs hehe). But at the expense of someone losing his or her life? Get real.
I’m getting too serious.
Anyway, not many people know that I don’t use the Visual Editor of WordPress. I’m more comfortable in hardcore hand-coding all my entries. WYSIWYG editors just confuse my brain cells2 and make me cranky. But I’ve tried it just this once to experiment on the hidden editor buttons in WP 2.1. Pretty spiffy, if you ask me, but sadly, it doesn’t work in Opera.
Basic Visual Editor Options
Advanced Visual Editor Options
To unlock the hidden feature, you’ve got to press Shift+Alt+V in Firefox/Flock, or Alt+V in IE, or Shift+Esc+V in Opera (Thanks, Aja! I forgot about the function to call for accesskeys so I wasn’t able to try it out haha). Neat! But still I’m no fan of WYSIWYG.
And finally! A spellchecker3! I guess the WP developers have noticed that not many people know how to spell necessity correctly. But since spell checker is built-in in Firefox 2.0 series, I don’t really need this certain WP feature. But I guess many people do. 
Just hit Shift+Alt+N in Firefox/Flock, or Alt+N in IE. Do it before you publish your posts, or else!
Cripes! This Visual Editor is giving me a headache!
I am not good in having a conversation too.Kinda same like what you do in a conversation heh…It takes like 15 minutes and the conversation ended hah…I wonder how can some people just go on and on.Ohh well yea when gmail started,everyone was talking about how great it was and stuff.I was crazy over them too and I kept asking my friend to send me an invite.How sad LOL…No doubt its growing so its kinda normal nowadays.
I always have my iPOD stuck in my ears whenever I was walking on the streets.I feel bored walking alone without any music.So yea I have used to it.
I also don’t use the visual editor! It makes my code a bit messy. And oh, I was able to read that hidden editor buttons. I tried them either but still, I don’t want to use the visual editor.
Hmm… I agree to have that law. I usually see people have their iPODs on… even in the library.
No sex on Valentine’s day? That is such a lame propaganda. Why not try to encourage people of using a condom or other birth control methods instead. It sounds more reasonable and actual than the former.
I always have my mp3 on while walking or travelling. The thing here is just to be careful and watch out on the road.It goes as well with people who are driving coz here we have a strict discipline on it. Cars always stop when they see people trying to cross the street no matter what unless you are on area with traffic signal obviously
GMAIL, it’s so exclusive these days. I mean, I don’t see the point of making something so exclusive since it’s obvious it won’t be so soon. I previously signed up for an account, but NOOO, my cellphone doesn’t accept text messages anymore. So I’ll never have hands-on experience on this “GMAIL’ that you speak of =P
Aha, the classic reason of car accidents in the world: THE IPOD. Whether glued on your ear or not, it’s a matter of time until Ipods cause some kind of death.
I really do need to experiment with my Wordpress features
and find some hacks and tricks as well =]
LOL, yeah, I hard-code my entries also…
Heheh about Gmail. I don’t remember when I got mine’s, but I do remember how big of a deal it was! Now everybody I know has a Gmail account… LOL, even though I don’t even use it, only just to go on Google Talk… LOL.
hello there ate shari! nako yang ipods? totoo binand na? while walking.. ehehe dami pala namamatay dahil jan? nako po, ayy nako dito din daming tao ang palaging may ipod sa tenga!! haha, nice naman ung Advance thing ng WP and its great deal tlaga pag firefox no? coz it check your spelling and stuff anyway take care ate shari.. mwah
hi shari, still remember me? :]
honga yung gmail hindi na by invitation. kelangan nalang ng mobile #. hehe.
yung tungkol sa ipod. naku, nakakainis na minsan. parang nakapasak nalang yun sa mga tenga nila just to look cool. parang “hey, i have an ipod. cant you see it? im rich and cool, yeah”. haha.
I love Gmail! I can’t give it up. Also, pareho tayo regarding sa WP. I don’t like WYSIWYG editors. My first experience was in making layouts in FrontPage, sobrang hassle.
Losing the exclusivity makes gmail a lot less fun.. selfish ko..tsk tsk.
haha.
That is actually a sensible law. When my mp3 player was given to me, I was explicitly told never to use it while crossing the street.
And I miss being a techy kind of geek.
I’ve never liked visual editors. They just make things more complicated for me.
Haha, I remember the whole Gmail hype! Everyone was making invite posts everywhere and comments would just pour in. I got my invite from Blogger. :-3
How sad for everyone else on Valentine’s Day. Me, I haven’t even made any plans…
i used my phone to register to gmail. it’s either you got invited or you register your phone. saka dati, you can only invite 15 people yata, unlike now 50 people na pwedeng i-invite.
i love gmail. it’s the best email provider ever.
about wordpress, medyo nakakainis nga yung visual editor nila. ang kulit kasi. siya ang nasusunod, hindi ikaw XD
take care!
xoxo
I still have gmail invites. haha. pwede na rin magkaroon ng gmail invite pag ni-enter mo yung mobile number mo.
alright whatever. :P
Response to 2779:
invite pa rin. meron pa ako eh. invite din kasi yung sa mobile.
I think I had my first ever gmail account when the “enter your email and I’ll send an invite to you” thing was famous. Oh and I remember–I sent you an IM and all you said was “Hey.”
:P
Hello ate Shari
Wow! I never knew WP had that! :P Thanks!
Aww. That sucks. I hope GMail will not do it! *laughs* I enjoy having those invites. Haha!
Take care
[No sex on Valentine's! HAHA!!]
When Gmail’s starting din, I was so excited to get my own account. Lol. I even sent my Yahoo eadd to a friend just to send me an invite for gmail. Lol. Pathetic eh noh. haha.
I wonder why a lot of people listen to ipod when they’re out. It’s too risky.
watever people would say ako gusto ko pdin ng gmaiL weee! hehehe nice ksi e
Hey you forgot something, iPod also brings decent attendance to parties! hehe.
BTW, I haven’t upgraded to 2.1 yet. Too lazy to back-up.
i use my ipod whenevr i’m with my mom in order for me to escape her sermons…
Advanced Visual Editor options can be accessed in Opera using Shift+Esc+V.
But, I don’t use the visual editor as well. I just leave it on so the visual and code tab would be available for a quick preview, but I still edit my entries on the code tab.
Hi there!thanx for th comment
this is a huge info regarding net and codes and everything
nice post
WYSIWYGs are always irritating when you use it. Hard coding is always best. =3
Speaking of web standards. I’m halfway in my massive old entry editing just ti fit that web standard that I wanted most for years? O.o
hi Shari! I am also using the plain text editor of Wordpress, and with the same reason, Visual editor confuses me instead of helping me! Haha! But I also tried the hidden buttons (read it from somewhere, forgot where). Really cool.. but I still prefer WP’s text editor over Visual Editor, hehe
I’m not too crazy about the WYSIWYG editor either. It messes up my coding - especially when dealing with the exec and php.
I remember the good old Gmail days - everyone has them now a days and some people have a bunch of them. In the beginning you were strictly limited only to sign up for one… Maybe you still are? Gmail is the only “free” email I have ever had with such a great spam filter!
Gmail is now available without the invite?? I don’t feel special anymore! Waaah! 0.o
I haven’t updated my WP to 2.1, I am too lazy..
The Queer Chef pimped me here and I’m glad since you really have a readable blog.
Hello from Norway wishing you a wonderful end to your week:-)
recently lang ako nag g-mail. kinailangan ko kasi. nagswiswitch pa ako sa html mode pag nagpopost XD gumugulo lang kasi pag buttons ginagamit. bout ipod, mas marami pa ata negative kaysa pakinabang.
I received an invitation to Gmail and signed up for it a year ago. I’m just accustomed to my yahoo account that I eventually forgot about my Gmail account.