Firefox 3 released
Firefox 3 is available from today, so what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Better yet, get it today and help them break the record for software downloads in a day.
Conversation with the Commonwealth Bank
I wanted to set up my credit card with a PIN so that I can use that instead of a signature, all part of the new ‘Pen or PIN‘ system. So I checked the Commonwealth Bank’s information site on the matter, which says to either visit a branch or call them to have one mailed out. It’s not easy getting to and waiting in a branch these days, so I decide to call and eventually get put through to ‘John’. The following conversation then ensues:
Me: Hi, I would like a PIN for my credit card mailed out please.
John: Sure, but it would be quicker to go into a branch.
Me: Ok, but I would prefer it to be mailed out.
John: Are you sure? Some of our branches are open on weekends now.
Me: I’m sure, please mail it out.
John: I’ll just check which weekend branches are near you (5 minutes while he finds list of these, discusses where I live and work and finds none which are particularly close to where I am).
John: How about X Shopping Center?
Me: No, that’s a way off.
John: Surely that’s only a few minutes drive?
Me: Not on public transport.
John: What about Y Shopping Center?
Me: No, that’s even further. Can you please mail out the PIN?
John: It really would be quicker to go into a branch.
Me: But I can’t get to a branch while I’m working or on the weekend. It really would be easier to have it mailed out.
John: Still it would only take 5 minutes to go into a branch, it’s up to 10 days to mail it out.
Me: That’s ok, I can wait, please mail it out.
John: What about Z branch near work?
Me, completely fed up: Just forget about it.
John: Ok, thanks for calling.
This doesn’t count as customer service. It should be a 2 minute call to have the thing sent out and 2 minutes for me to open the letter and read the PIN. Total of 4 minutes. This is more convenient for me than a 20 minute walk to the branch near work, god knows how long a wait in the queue (conservative estimate, 20 minutes), 10 minutes to explain what I want and get it and a 20 minute walk back. Total of 70 minutes. The 10 days to send it out doesn’t count, it’s the time out of my life that does.
Commonwealth Bank, you still repulse me and I continually wonder why I continue to keep money in you. This is the bank that gives a $0.03 interest payment on the same day it deducts a $2.00 ATM access fee. As soon as I find a decent alternative, my money and I are gone. I’m certainly not only on this one.
And John? You’re a tool.
Acrobat.com and Adobe looking good
Adobe has just launched their online platform, Acrobat.com, to beta and I’ve got to say it’s looking pretty good so far. The site combines Buzzwords, their online word processor with online storage (a respectable 5 gig) and online file sharing with limited PDF conversion ability as well. On top of this is one application that quite surprised me - Adobe ConnectNow. This is a virtual meeting organiser and features all the application sharing, whiteboards, chat etc you would expect, all in a nice new-Adobe-style black and grey. After being very disappointed with WebEx for the last couple of years while being forced to use it at work, I’d be willing to give anything a shot now and Adobe’s offering is looking pretty nice.
I’m a big fan of their overall new look. Ever since the first beta of Digital Editions, I’ve been hoping that they keep moving in the slick black and grey direction and it Connlooks like they have been. The great new apps being created for Adobe AIR, together with Windows Vista, the Fluency Admin for WordPress and Office 2007 in black, the desktop is starting to take on a whole new sophisticated and cool look, one that’s very much to my liking.
Go and check out Acrobat.com - it doesn’t cost anything and it could give you an insight on what to expect from Adobe in future, particularly with CS4, Acrobat 9 and more from them on the horizon. Adobe could just be the most improved of the 2008/2009 season, just quietly.
Twitter spam to get the treatment it deserves
It looks like the Twitter spam problem might be being taken seriously soon, with this article on News.com outlining Twitter’s intention to start shutting down spam-producing accounts.
Even with the problems of false-positives being accidentally shutdown, this is definitely the way to go. By making it frustrating for spammers to use the service, hopefully they’ll turn elsewhere. It shouldn’t be too hard to spot the spammers either, just look for the unbalanced ‘following’/'followers’ ratio and the trail of ‘blocks’ and that should point you in the right direction.
Here’s hoping for a cleaner Twitter!
