If you loose your fob, the workaround is re-programming via the OBDII or other diagnostic ports. Yes, that has a backdoor. But typically there is no remote backdoor.
I find I sometimes need to right click my title bar on Linux, to do things like move my window to another workspace. And other window functions, I have to have it on with Chrome.
I'd actually rather there was a simple meta key in each application, that you could use to just show you the vital data about a page. Meta data in webpages can be human readable - title, author, summary etc. How about an overlay? And how about have this for every app? Looking at an image - activate meta key, to see copyright info etc, listening to a tune, activate meta key to see tag info etc. Far better than hiding it under some menu item and distant properties tab.
Opera has an info bar, but it's not that user friendly.
That doesn't particulary address whether the title is necessary, it's great for window management, using windows instead of tabs. But you'll need a good window manager. I'd rather windows than tabs - though I fear that Opera introduced tabs as they were cheap windows more than anything else.
If you get tab happy, tabs are really difficult to navigate in Firefox without and extension, and I've tried most of the popular tab extensions - and have yet to find anything I like (that works without some bug).
Chrome and Opera squeeze the tabs, but list them all, whereas Firefox forces a scroll after so many, which feels horrible. Also Opera has let's you list and switch open tabs with CTRL+TAB, or lets you reposition your tabs.
Really though managing tabs should be left to the window manager. Otherwise you just get inconsistant behaviour between applications.
> Chrome and Opera squeeze the tabs, but list them all, whereas Firefox forces a scroll after so many, which feels horrible. Also Opera has let's you list and switch open tabs with CTRL+TAB, or lets you reposition your tabs.
It makes Firefox have the Chrome behavior of making tabs shrink infinitely. All it does it tweak one minor setting in the UI, so it's pretty bulletproof.
One rough edge is that it totally ignores my keyboard layout for keyboard shortcuts. It appears to use the Qwerty layout for shortcuts, even under a different layout.
Pick any of the main browsers, the main advance in the UI is the slimming down of controls. Even Opera went from a g'zillion toolbars down to a slim default interface. The rendering engines receive loads of attention while the basic browser UI is just plain boring and out dated. Camino doesn't really look that out of place even today.
Has Firefox gone completely native then on OSX? From what I can tell on Linux is that Firefox and Opera stand out (and even Chrome that shuns your system title bar..) These three apps are out of place on my desktop. At least Camino blended in.
Funny you say that. A lot of retail chains in the UK, ask for your postcode as you make a purchase, and basically identify you. I'm never comfortable with that arrangement, but hand out the data anyway, basically because I don't want to make a scene in public.
I like the way you've phrased it: not a conscious choice. I wouldn't say that ignorance is an active part in choice making. But it certainly feels less complicated.
Make up a fake code, or memorize a couple of random postcodes which aren't yours? Grocery stores in the USA routinely ask for your phone number for their "rewards program", and I just punch in one of any number of commonly-known numbers, which other people have conveniently registered for me. This occasionally leads to hilarity - Safeway's database shows that (206)555-1212 belongs to one "Hardman Dick"...
This practice is relatively common in the US as well, and it's never turned into scene if I refused. I've also been asked for (and refused without making a scene) my phone number and email address. I just say I'd prefer not to give it out, and they go on with the process. Obviously can't vouch for the UK, but I'd say at least try it once.
You are right of course, I doubt there would be a scene, only me embarrassing myself by probably dragging out some kind of justification of not wanting to hand over my details. Perhaps it's down to being schooled in implicit compliance, and it feels a little weird!
It drags you down though. Every supermarket you go to asks for your loyalty card - which I refused to opt-in to for years, but you still are confronted with the question everytime - it gets tiresome.
I do my shopping by proxy, through a partners' loyalty card, and I've been pretty surprised at how sophisticated these systems have become.
There's a desperate battle between outlets now for custom. Loyalty cards now lead to offers (coupons) on items from the weekly shop, and our shopping basket is quite anormal I'd say. We are actually recouping some worthwhile savings, for once. Rather than being offered some promotional discount on something I have no interest in. I feel a little wrong about it, but I no longer can resist the enticement.
> "I doubt there would be a scene, only me embarrassing myself by probably dragging out some kind of justification of not wanting to hand over my details. Perhaps it's down to being schooled in implicit compliance, and it feels a little weird!"
I've been asked and politely declined probably hundreds of times by now. It's never led to any further interaction beyond my simply smiling and saying "no thank you".
The cashiers don't question it, or stare, or even miss a beat. (sometimes a 'new' person will hesitate for a second; thrown off their muscle memory pattern). But surely they hear it from more people than just me.
And I find making a shopping list beforehand, based on what I've actually used since the last trip, is more effective than coupons or loyalty cards. The coupons did start getting more properly-targeted, but they also entice purchases I hadn't previously had on my list. Which calls into question the notion of having 'saved' any money.
Similarly when I would be 'saving' money on things that are only useful when I purchase its non-special-/non-coupon-priced complements (e.g. a coupon for hotdogs leading to a purchase of regular priced buns; or a coupon for peanut butter leading to a purchase of regular-priced jelly).
Not to single you out specifically, but you guys sound like a bunch of pansies. Make up a few fake people with names and addresses and use those. It's more fun to do so on the spot.
Ted Billson. There...use that. His email address is ted@bill.com if you get asked. ;)
His email address should really be ted.billson@example.com.
Another 'fuck you money' project: a set of domains with an open SMTP server that does nothing but flip the headers around and re-send the message back to the sender.
Be careful when doing this. Some systems require an email address and employees will make one up to get to the next screen. If that address is valid (or not bounced), someone can get control of your account with something as simple as a password reset.
I was going to suggest it could have been something as simple as a name. Posterous is a proposterous name. It's horrible. Tumblr is an equally shitty Web2.0 crap name, in the same vain as the ghastly i prefix. iYahoor!
I think using an email address (and/or a uniquely generated username), as an identifier is the best comprimise. Then a generic 'credentials invalid' => retrieve your account: 'enter email' page to reset passwords. And require a confirmation click from your email for two step sign up.
You could always sniff out if someone has an email address on a lot of systems by visiting the 'forgot your password' page. So perhaps on the account rescue page, just ask for a valid email address, then give a generic thank you message. If the email address exists, send out an email, if not don't bother - but don't give feedback of the sort 'that email address does not exist on the system' etc.
I'd suggest that your last point is providing a bad user experience in the interests of privacy. Many people (myself included) use these forms because we've forgotten our password or at worst forgotten the email we used to sign up. I have about 5 different email addresses I use for various things so I'd be quite disappointed to see a thank you message if it wasn't the email I had actually used to register. There's also the use-case where people mistype their email address.
If you are worried about email mistypes then you could always provide a confirmation. However I'd have thought we'd be pretty good at getting our email address right, and the browsers a lot of the time provide a magic autocomplete for email addresses. I guess it just sees a form input name attribute of 'email' and goes by that.
Multiple email addresses are a pain I'll grant you that. But no worse that a multitude of user names.
Perhaps a better message might be:
'If your email address is registered, then we will attempt to send out an email containing a reset code. Please check your inbox.
If you do not receive an email to your given address, then you may not have registered with given email.
Allow time for the arrival of email, and please check your spam folder.'
But it gets a little long winded... I'd almost rather not have a password, and be sent a new code each time (albeit transparently).
I invariably forget passwords and logins frequently. So go through this process like you as a matter of routine.
Bad times potentially though for when your email service is down or when your email address has expired. Or your email account has been exploited.
What happens in the event that you loose your fob?