HN user
Web Developer in the UK
> 37signals has people from such distinct tech hubs as Fenwick (Canada)...
I hate strong statements that have the out of being tongue-in-cheek. Fenwick is not any type of tech hub. It's a high rural area with the closest mid-sized city (St. Catharines) about 50 km away.
Also, there are a handful of VIP theatres. And when I've utilized them, they've always been packed. I'd welcome the price increase if it didn't feel like I was just trading a problem for another.
Says who?
The market.
People who love Apple products understand the logic of having a gate-keeper. I've had an Android and an iPhone and one crashed more than the other. I don't need to tell you which one, because you already know. Not only do you know which device it is I am talking about, but you know exactly why that particular device needs to be rebooted more often than the other.
Now, broaden the conversation into user services.
You look at Apple and you see similar things, difference being, Apple mostly gets away with it because their fan-base sees the reasoning behind it; i.e., killing an app for an instant snap feature using the volume buttons, but then releasing the same feature themselves.
Google's fanbase (or fanboys of Apple's) won't tolerate this kind of bait and switch. In this case it's "you said you were about freedom and here you go censoring us".
The truth is, Apple does what it does for good reasons and most people are on-board with that logic. So companies like Google will try and mimic Apple's policies and how they stand behind them. You can see that some levels of censorship increase the overall quality of content and relationships to that content. To that end, Google hopes to create a higher-quality atmosphere like the one observed on the App Store.
Google hasn't made the case, for better or worse, as to why G+ has a different approach to the way the service is used by us. Or why these terms ripple down to other services, like Gmail and search.
Apple has had that conversation with it's customers many, many times and did so unapologetically. Google wants to do no evil, but on paper it shows that they must.
It's funny that this is a thing now. In the early days of the web, being a Designineer was a necessity to get anything done in most web-type companies.
Some will say, "well, you probably aren't on level with a rockstar coder." This is probably true, although my clients are very happy. I can wireframe, design and code a large-scale web app without having to consult a single person (other than the client, of course).
I am starting my own web company now and I am finding that the Designineer badge helps me in great ways. For example, I wanted to quickly create a prototype to show a potential client a better way to go with their website. Normally, in a web company of 5-10 people, this would require consulting a coder, designer and whomever else is involved in the drafting of a project. This could potentially tie up 2/3rds of the company for the possibility of landing a new client. For me, this was all handled inside of a few hours and it makes the company appear more staffed than it actually is.
TonidoPlug ($99) + External USB Harddrive
From my understanding, setting wmode to transparent creates harsh performance detriments.
The contents of the SWF are drawn over top of the elements on the page, once per interval. In essence, it is running outside of the browser.
I've had experiences where wmode="transparent" would effect the SWF if I were CTRL+TABing through Firefox's tabs. The SWF would not engage as no official focus had been set because it seems that it is actually "floating" over the page, rather than residing in it.
FlashHeed is probably a bad idea.
I'm actually conceptually working on something similar to this. A part of me wants to congratulate you, because I do truly think you are on to something. The concept of not paying for the service if your company is willing to transcend into a democratic process - superb. I sense that you got some of these ideas from working in a crippled work environment, as I.
My advice to you: push the democratic side, leverage the idea of selling to the employees rather than the employers through engagement and fandom, simplify your motions process and dashboard. If possible, have a "democratic functions" toggle somewhere in settings.
The other side of me wants to be upset that I can't post a link...yet.
Good luck.