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Ubiquity

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  • Hmm I'm using OpenID and for some reason Ubiquity isn't working with the SufficetoSay command. It gives me a "status not updated" error
  • Hmm I'm using OpenID and for some reason Ubiquity isn't working with the SufficetoSay command. It gives me a "status not updated" error
    Yeah, I noticed that too. The Ubiquity command uses its very own authentication through JavaScript. It doesn't respect the fact that you have an existing authentication to the site already. I'm sure there's a solution to that.
  • If I were you, I would go and get an external hard drive ASAP. Laptop hard drives are completely unreliable, and should never be trusted. If it has "very little space" left on it, you must be keeping stuff on there you care about. Don't! Back that stuff up ASAP.
    Most of that space is taken up by music, podcasts, some videos, and project files for podcasts and videos I'm currently working on. That stuff is all backed up on an external drive as well for safety's sake (and the drive also holds a bunch of other stuff I don't keep on the lappy at all, such as anime episodes), but I like to keep it on the lappy for convenience's sake as well. It's kind of a weak reason, but that's just the way I've found that I like to do things.

    Also, Tyashki: Yes, I was using Quicksilver up until I replaced my previous laptop. I just keep forgetting to re-install it. I probably should pretty soon. XD;;
    I basically had an external hard drive taped to the back of my monitor. it worked pretty well acutally. then for work I got a computer to work at so switching the harddrive around is kind of awkward
  • I basically had an external hard drive taped to the back of my monitor. it worked pretty well acutally. then for work I got a computer to work at so switching the harddrive around is kind of awkward
    lol, I think mine's a bit heavy to pull that off. XD
  • Hmm I'm using OpenID and for some reason Ubiquity isn't working with the SufficetoSay command. It gives me a "status not updated" error
    Yeah, I noticed that too. The Ubiquity command uses its very own authentication through JavaScript. It doesn't respect the fact that you have an existing authentication to the site already. I'm sure there's a solution to that.
    I didn't really write the code, I just grabbed it from the Mozilla Dev thing and modified it to work with our SufficetoSay. I think it's up to someone that knows more than HTML and a bit of C++ to figure this out. ;D
  • Only when text editing. Why?
    If you use tab completion on the command line, it's basically ubiquity.
    To be honest, when you posted this I couldn't work out what you were getting at. But after thinking for a while I think I understand. You say that with tab complete, as you type it looks at what you type and brings up autocomplete options. Fair enough.

    What I was getting at was that in Ubiquity, if I type map new york, without hitting enter it brings up a map of new york beneath where I am typing. If I continue and add central park it shows a map of that instead. The same with "def black" it brings up the dictionary definition of black, and if I keep typing until it says "blackboard" it brings up that definition instead.

    I've not seen this kind of web mashup access before... but I like it!
  • Anyone used this in a while? I just installed the addon again to play with it.
  • Anyone used this in a while? I just installed the addon again to play with it.
    I use it every few minutes. Every time I use Google or IMDb or Amazon or Wikipedia I go through Ubiquity. Also any time I need to check a definition or spelling.
  • edited March 2009
    Anyone used this in a while? I just installed the addon again to play with it.
    I use it every few minutes. Every time I use Google or IMDb or Amazon or Wikipedia I go through Ubiquity. Also any time I need to check a definition or spelling.
    Hmmm, seems like you've gotten into the habit then. I'm still tying to get into the habit of using Launchy/Executor.
    Post edited by Vhdblood on
  • Anyone used this in a while? I just installed the addon again to play with it.
    I use it every few minutes. Every time I use Google or IMDb or Amazon or Wikipedia I go through Ubiquity. Also any time I need to check a definition or spelling.
    Hmmm, seems like you've gotten into the habit then. I'm still tying to get into the habit of using Launchy/Executor.
    If something works for me it takes no time to get into the habit. Cmd-space lets me search my laptop via Spotlight, Alt-Space give the same functionality, and much more, for the rest of the world. It's like learning clicking the scrollwheel on a link opens it in a new tab; that isn't a habit, it's just the way to open links in new tabs. Or how I mentioned Alt-clicking a link downloads the target file.

    I've no idea about Launchy/Executor though. Although, without even taking my fingers off the keyboard and using Ubiquity, I see Launchy is Spotlight for Windows (or maybe the other way round). I guess if you are already a Spotlight user, Ubiquity comes more naturally.
  • edited March 2009
    Anyone used this in a while? I just installed the addon again to play with it.
    I use it every few minutes. Every time I use Google or IMDb or Amazon or Wikipedia I go through Ubiquity. Also any time I need to check a definition or spelling.
    Hmmm, seems like you've gotten into the habit then. I'm still tying to get into the habit of using Launchy/Executor.
    If something works for me it takes no time to get into the habit. Cmd-space lets me search my laptop via Spotlight, Alt-Space give the same functionality, and much more, for the rest of the world. It's like learning clicking the scrollwheel on a link opens it in a new tab; that isn't a habit, it's just the way to open links in new tabs. Or how I mentioned Alt-clicking a link downloads the target file.

    I've no idea about Launchy/Executor though. Although, without even taking my fingers off the keyboard and using Ubiquity, I see Launchy is Spotlight for Windows (or maybe the other way round). I guess if you are already a Spotlight user, Ubiquity comes more naturally.
    Okay, I totally get you there, I couldn't imagine not using the middle mouse button for tabs now, it's second nature. I guess I'll get used to it.

    I just have this problem with having to move the right hand back and forth. I know that sounds lazy, but with all the advancements in programs and hardware that have been made, I'm amazed we're still using two separate pieces of hardware. Right now, I have to go back to the mouse to click links, which is a huge part of the internet.

    I was thinking that a lot of my problems could be solved with some form of pie menu, so that I could hold a key or mouse button and just follow through a menu to do what I need. Pie menus seem nice because you learn the gestures and directions and the movement of the mouse seems to be easier to learn as a natural process than key combinations, especially when my right hand seems to stay on the mouse.
    Post edited by Vhdblood on
  • I never thought I'd get to this point, but I only ever use a mouse now for video editing and music software. The rest of the time I use the trackpad. I used to hate trackpads, but now the technology and usability has caught up with my desires I need nothing else. Except the keyboard. I think now if I went back to a desktop computer (though I really think I've been converted to laptops for everything) I'd want some kind of keyboard/trackpad combination. I don't need the "mouse" button or buttons below the trackpad, as the two finger clicking is good enough, but being able to move the mouse around with one thumb tip while the rest of my fingers are on the keys is a key part of my navigation and functionality now.
  • I never thought I'd get to this point, but I only ever use a mouse now for video editing and music software. The rest of the time I use the trackpad. I used to hate trackpads, but now the technology and usability has caught up with my desires I need nothing else. Except the keyboard. I think now if I went back to a desktop computer (though I really think I've been converted to laptops for everything) I'd want some kind of keyboard/trackpad combination. I don't need the "mouse" button or buttons below the trackpad, as the two finger clicking is good enough, but being able to move the mouse around with one thumb tip while the rest of my fingers are on the keys is a key part of my navigation and functionality now.
    That makes sense, I just don't have anything other than a keyboard, mouse, and a Wacom Intuos3 9x12, which is wayyy too big to even think about doing that with, even if I could figure out how to make it work like a trackpad (by that I mean making it so that it moves relative to current mouse position, not the screen, like it normally does).
  • The upshot of this is that after using my iPod Touch I start pawing at my laptop screen to select icons in iTunes and stuff like that.
  • The upshot of this is that after using my iPod Touch I start pawing at my laptop screen to select icons in iTunes and stuff like that.
    Do you think the next evolution of computer use is just going to be touch screens on everything? I can see it moving there.

    Also, do you use any specific ubiquity commands that might be handy?
  • I have one problem with Ubiquity. If I want to visit wikipedia, I automatically type "wiki" however, a lot of the time this selects the link-to-wikipedia option instead.

    Besides that, it's great!
  • Hm, that's weird that it would do that for you. Whenever I want to search Wikipedia, I type "wiki" into Ubiquity and it always selects the search option, never the link-to option. I'm using OS X, though, if that makes a difference.

    Anyway, yes, I'm like Luke as well. Most of the time, I do my searches of various sites through Ubiquity now (Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Urban Dictionary are my most frequently used sites), I use the "define" and Merriam-Webster searches quite frequently, and I use the "weather" and "translate" functions with some decent frequency as well.
  • I forgot about map. It's much quicker than going to Google Maps or launching Earth. And it displays better maps as you type the country then city then district then street then number. Give it a go.
  • Oh yeah, map! Sometimes I use that too, though I hadn't quite gotten the more efficient location order yet. Thanks for that!
  • I understand that ubiquity is very powerful. However, all the things you guys are doing with it, I do with the Firefox location and search bars and some bookmarks with keywords. I've been using them with keyboard shortcuts for so long, that it's just as fast, perhaps faster, than Ubiquity.
  • I understand that ubiquity is very powerful. However, all the things you guys are doing with it, I do with the Firefox location and search bars and some bookmarks with keywords. I've been using them with keyboard shortcuts for so long, that it's just as fast, perhaps faster, than Ubiquity.
    I use the awesome bar and search bar too, it's just that Ubiquity brings so many things to the same place, and for the vast majority of things you don't even have to make a new tab, or change tab, press enter or anything.
  • I use the awesome bar and search bar too, it's just that Ubiquity brings so many things to the same place, and for the vast majority of things you don't even have to make a new tab, or change tab, press enter or anything.
    Well, making a new tab, changing a tab, etc. are not extra actions for me, because I use keyboard shortcuts.

    Let's take the example of searching on wikipedia. Let's say I want to go to the wikipedia article about dig dug.

    I press ctrl+l to go to the location bar
    I type in dig dug
    I press alt+enter
    The wikipedia page on dig dug opens in a new tab

    If I want to use ubiquity

    I press the command to open Ubiquity
    I type in dig dug
    I press enter?

    Ubiquity definitely has the potential to do things the location and search bars can not do. In fact, it might be possible to eliminate the location and search bars complete, and just have a permanent ubiquity bar. It's just that because I have been using Firefox/Firebird/Phoenix since the beta, I have a complete master of all the keyboard shortcuts. Thus, Ubiquity needs a lot of improvement for it to beat the efficiency of usage that I already have.
  • edited March 2009
    It's just that because I have been using Firefox/Firebird/Phoenix since the beta, I have a complete master of all the keyboard shortcuts.
    Where do you keep him/her?
    Post edited by lackofcheese on
  • It's just that because I have been using Firefox/Firebird/Phoenix since the beta, I have a complete master of all the keyboard shortcuts.
    Where do you keep him/her?
    On the Internets!
  • Thus, Ubiquity needs a lot of improvement for it to beat the efficiency of usage that I already have.
    Ever bothered using Vimperator? Even without mastering all its commands you can improve your browsing efficiency a lot with it.

    I also no longer use Ubiquity. It provided too little, as I already had bookmarked keywords.
  • Scott, if you don't want to use Ubiquity... don't! Nobody is forcing you to. If I wanted to I could also write out all the steps I take when searching for a wikipedia page:

    Cmd-T opens a new tab.
    I type "dig dug wiki"
    I hit enter.

    Ubiquity comes into its own in other situations. I'm not sure how to duplicate those capabilities with bookmarked keywords, but maybe you have a way. But until you've used Ubiquity, you'll find it very helpful in ways that are more efficient than always opening new tabs. Also, and I've written about this before in this very thread, the way it brings up lots of info about your search term WITHOUT pressing enter is a key strength.

    Here's an example:

    I want to know if Dig Dug had a sequel.
    I hit Alt-space
    I type "wi dig dug"
    I am shown the summary of the wikipedia page. Also I'm shown the summary of the wiki page for Dig Dug II, Microsoft Arcade, Namco Museum 64, Dig Dug: Museum Strike and more. Already I know there were all kind of releases, and yes, there was a Dig Dug 2. How about a second sequel?
    I keep typing two extra characters until I get "wi dig dug 3"
    The search results change, and the second result is an extract from Dig Dug Deeper, and I find there was a 3D version in 2001.
    I delete a few characters and add "III" ... still no hits for Dig Dug 3
    I delete and type "three"... I find a childrens' TV show in Wales.
    By this time I'm pretty sure there was no Dig Dug 3, even though I have quite a good idea about the range of Dig Dug title there were.
    I hit esc and get back to writing this post.

    Of course, I couldn't remember all that from one session, so I did it in stages. But each time I hit esc then alt-space again, the previous text and search results are already there. Of course, this isn't a perfect example, as I could just go to the Dig Dug wiki page and scroll to the bottom, check out the list of sequels there. And then close the tab, and then get back to your previous tab.

    I guess the best thing to do is refer you to something I copied from another thread before I looked at this one, because I thought it might come in handy. The cool thing is that it was still in my clipboard as I did all the above functions without having to copy or paste anything, which I really like. I mean, you can select text by shift-cursoring, hit alt-tab and Ubiquity knows that's what you want already, so you can type even less... anyway, the quote for you:
    I'm saying that you are unfit to judge its usefulness because you don't understand it.
    I look forward to your future nitpicking.
  • I look forward to your future nitpicking.
    But I have used Ubiquity. I understand it very well. It provided no efficiency bonus over what I already have with keyboard shortcuts and keyword bookmarklets. Even though it lets you see information without pressing enter and opening a tab, that also deprives you of the browser history, which I use frequently. I actually want to always open a new tab, and lots of them.
  • Then go for it. Different people like different things. But there's no point in denying it has more and different uses than tab browsing and other shortcuts.
  • Then go for it. Different people like different things. But there's no point in denying it has more and different uses than tab browsing and other shortcuts.
    I haven't denied it. In fact, I'm saying that it does. I even said that in the future it could replace the location and search boxes entirely. All I'm saying is that as of right now, it is unable to increase my browsing efficiency.
  • I haven't denied it. In fact, I'm saying that it does. ... All I'm saying is that as of right now, it is unable to increase my browsing efficiency.
    Bullshit! You said this just a few posts ago:
    However, all the things you guys are doing with it, I do with the Firefox location and search bars and some bookmarks with keywords.
    Seriously, Scott, I don't mind you NOT using Ubiquity. I also don't mind you sticking with the browsing methods you use at the moment. But really? You can do everything that I do with Firefox location and search bars with bookmarked keywords? Utter, utter, bullshit. And that you now claim you never stated this is, equally, utter, utter bullshit. You've done a complete 180 in less than 10 posts.
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