iGoogle - What are you doing ?

I have been using the iGoogle functionality for a few years now and love it. I have my "personalised" homepage instantly ready with my news feeds to keep my techie "l33t"ness status well L33t :) Upon procuring a net book recently, I duly set my iGoogle interface up, only to notice this little "home" tab appearing on the left side .. OK, no worries, I'll just go into my settings and turn it.....OH .. wait .. where is the "turn off this annoying fucking tab" button .. its not there.

I have always liked the way Google have operated in the past .. Allowing us to "turn off" certain features of their software etc .. but there now seems to be a new tactic. Its called STFU you will like it !!! Searching about I cannot find any decent way to make this annoying space stealer go away .. I want my 3 Cm's of screen back please Google and I want it NOW and I don't want to have to "hack my registry" or DL some bloatware tool to do it .. An enable/disable button will do nicely.

Want it Want it now - Google Chrome OS

"Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve."

I think the key will be light weight.

If you could place it on a boot able USB, you could turn any PC into a GCPC,And its also not so much of a leap to get it installed on TV's

is 2010 too long to w8?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html

Digital Distribution WTF !!!

Most of us are by now familiar with "Digital Downloads" ( henceforth DD for the purposes of this blog) For those uninitiated in the art its very simple. Rather than go to a shop you now have the option to buy the product ( for this purpose Game and or Music Album) and DD it to your PC . The idea being that you save on some costs and ( depending on the size of the file and speed of the Internet in your area) have instant access to your purchased product . Sounds great doesn't it . My problem is however that I am not seeing any savings at all when purchasing the DD version versus the retail package version.

Case in point.. A new album was released by a band I like to listen to.
I went to a specific site to DD said album. Now before I make my purchase, I decide to check out the retail price which includes free shipping. I am shocked at what I see.. The retail version ( including a DVD of the band ) is the same price as the DD version. Ok .. so I lie .. its actually 4p more expensive . My point however stands that for 4p more, I get the CD/DVD edition with all the covers and bumpf etc .. and free delivery. My DD version which has the same tracks as the CD part of the retail is only 4p cheaper .

Can anyone else see the problem with this ???!?!??! I thought the whole point of DD was to save some monies, but I feel like I am being ripped off here. While its true I might NOT watch the DVD and read through the CD Inlay, the fact is I can choose to if I buy the retail ( FOR 4pence extra) The DD version however, gives me the Songs and that's it . True that's the meat and potatoes of what I want, but I just don't see the benefit of embracing DD's if I don't see some decent savings. I am not asking for half price here, but a quarter or third off would be nice to see and justify the DD reasons. As it stands, I will probably now go and buy the retail, rip the CD so I can listen to it on my "Jesus" Phone and know that if I can be arsed, watch the DVD and read the inlay.

I could continue my argument by going down the same road for DD's of games, but I think you get the point. I would really like to see the pricing model for DD's with certain sites.. see exactly where my monies are going.. You can be damn sure the artists or games designers dont see any of those extra monies saved from DD's over retail.