Dan Wilson’s Blog

I created a game tape for Ryan, but thought I would share it with everyone here.

If you have no idea why this is funny, watch the video below the jump. (continue reading…)

There is much hubbub coming out of Google I/O from its big bet on HTML5. Techcrunch weighs in heavily, and there is a general consensus that Google is pushing forward with HTML5, trying to shame Redmond into adoption. Unfortunately, shame will not motivate Microsoft, especially since it believes Silverlight is the future, despite the loss of high profile contracts.

Now if shame will not bring Redmond into submission, a shot to Internet Explorer’s marketshare will. So how does Google do this? Google is not in the content business except for a little property it bought back in 2006, YouTube. Google could release the following statement:

Beginning in 2010, YouTube will no longer support Flash, and will require a browser that supports HTML5′s video tag.

Now maybe that is a game of chicken that Google is not willing to play, what with all the monetization lost from those YouTubing eyeballs. But if it does, that does put Redmond in quite the pickle. Does Microsoft conform, giving more functionality to all of Google’s competing services like email, docs, and chat? Or does it stay out of the HTML5 fold, and risk losing tremendous browser market share to every visitor of YouTube.

And lose they will. A visitor to YouTube already at one point had to install Flash, so being told to install another browser isn’t much of a stretch. Google has already been peddling Chrome to visitors of YouTube. Choosing between YouTube and Internet Explorer is a pretty obvious choice, as no one is a fan of IE, they usually just don’t know any better.

This is the first step in a major turning point. I came to the realization a few years back that everything I use a desktop application for now I will eventually be using a web app for in the future. I gave up Thunderbird for webmail once Yahoo updated it to Ajaxian goodness.  I find myself using Google Docs more and more and MS Word less and less, because Google Docs are available on every computer I use, all the time. Back in the 90s we even had Encarta installed on the family computer, which seems like a quaint antiquity now. Think about this. Four years ago these things were toys, a technological mix of html, javascript, Flash, and other plugins and extensions. Now is when Google, Mozilla, Palm, and Apple plant the flag and say, “The next generation of the web begins now, it is HTML5, and we won’t wait for Microsoft’s blessing”.

There was an pretty graphic included in the above linked stories.

Now I think this is misleading. Showing that Google Chrome had more impact on UI experience than Ajax is a huge stretch (Google Spreadsheets on Google Chrome often crashes for me). I find the following tables I created a little more telling:

You can see what I am getting at here. By the time IE9 hits the market, Firefox and Chrome will be around version 5, and will be supported on Windows, Linux, Mac, and a widening array of the mobile operating systems. By that time, IE9 will have caught up to where browsers are right now (on Windows only), and will likely be behind where all the other browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera) will be by the end of this year.

So why this long rant? I, like many others, make my career because of what people do in the browser. When doing so and pushing the envelope of what is possible (in small and big ways), you often hit the impossible or impractical. Now that ceiling is about to be raised, with only Microsoft resisting for greedy reasons, the very company that set the gold standard in greed. Internet Explorer does have 67% of the market share, and with that plurality, does still have the ability to dictate what the web is and is not. For now.

Google is now in the unique position to dictate what the web will be. All it has to do is march YouTube up Mount Moriah.

“Cougars” on the prowl in Colo. clubs – The Denver Post.

Cougars have jumped the shark. Front page on denverpost.com.

Ha!

GEARFUSE » Mario Loves Those Shrooms.

[via Gizmodo]

NBA playoffs: Denver Nuggets looking “Lost” against Los Angeles Lakers – ESPN.

Very timely, especially for a fan of both like myself.

Confluence Park, 5:30pm Monday

– Post From My iPhone

TheStar.com | Sports | Best sport city contest draws fans worldwide.

This article ranks cities for their professional team’s success since 2000. I wonder how much higher or lower Denver would have been if the 90s were included. Or if a city needed three teams instead of two (which would drop out Indianapolis, Vancouver, Montreal, Nashville, Anaheim (kinda), and Edmonton potentially). I have a good blog post cookin’ about Denver sports teams and numbers, so stay tuned.

[via Andrew Sullivan via The Toronto Star]

Robber leaves suspicious package at credit union – The Denver Post.

So a bank robber leaves a backpack, makes the Denver Post, and this is the image they include, with my added fail:

I just have to know: was that sign put up before, during, or after the bank robbery?

The season ends with a close loss.

L 4-6

Viet tallied all four goals. Chris was out with an injury, and will likely miss all of next season. There will be a one week bye before the next season starts.

I know it is a little early for my birthday, but I spotted this at the local King Sooper’s and thought it would make a great addition to my backyard:

What better place to plant your flowers?

I got my iPhone last December, leaving Verizon for ATT taking a small pro-rated contract cancellation fee. Word on the street is that there will be a new iPhone coming out in June. Now upgrading my iPhone in June would be costly, and it got me thinking what compelling hardware upgrades would possibly push me over the edge. Most of these are pie-in-the-sky:

• Higher megapixel camera, with zoom, auto-focus and shake reduction
• Video calling, implying front facing camera
• IR, for universal remote control
• 1080p pico projector
• Bluetooth headset dock. Think SD slot but for a small headset.
• Laser keyboard. This could be done with software alone assuming pico projector and well placed camera.
• Flashing red light a la Blackberry for new email notification
• A dedicated pause button, like a physical button not on the headphone wires.
• A thermometer, always nice to know the temperature inside/outside
• A laser pointer, pico projector could accomplish this.

I will try to make a software wish list post some time in the future.

So if Chrysler goes bankrupt, the US Government will guarantee warranties on cars purchased from Chrysler. But what about other companies? I propose a similar fund for burritos, as I am personally affected by this:

That’s right. What you see above is a punch card that is three punches away from a free burrito, for a restaurant that is now closed. Juan’s is yet another casualty from the down economy. I am now left with 70% of a free burrito that I will never realize.

I must say I am sad to see Juan’s closed. Ironically, I lived in the building two and a half years and never ate there, but visited regularly once I started working again in the CBD. The characters working there were one of a kind (the twins, the older gentleman assumed to be Juan), the green chile was nice and spicy, the indoor patio that tried to be like outside, all will be missed.

Hopefully the space won’t be sold and turned into another check cashing place, because there are way too many of those there already.

Scored our first win of the season while matched up against another 0-fer team.

W 7-3

No idea on assists, and this is just the best guess for goals:

Viet(3), John(2), Heidi(2)

If anyone has a better guess drop it in the comments. The video I have for this game isn’t very highlighty, but I can share if anyone insists.