Our good friends over at CNET recently had the misfortune of having the screen on their gorgeous Nexus One review unit crack for no apparent reason. The phone was sent to the folks at HTC Support to be tested and looked at. The result was a flippant “We’re as mystified as you are”. The support personnel contend that there is no way the screen could crack in the manner it did while it wasn’t being handled. They were also quick to point out that the device isn’t meant to slip into someone’s pants pockets, as that would surely damage it.

How many of you throw your phone in your pocket or handbag? I am willing to bet about 90% of you have your hand up right now. Do these companies really expect we’re going to gently hold our phone in our hand at all times, babying it as though it were a living being? That is just absurd. We put it in our pocket! Women stuff them in their purses or bags or whatever the heck that contraption is that they carry at all times.

Is it just me, or should a phone be made well enough that it can stand up to being carried in my jeans pocket?! Who’s with me??

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• What are your thoughts on the Activision and Infinity Ward ordeal?
• Is Windows Live Essentials a good fit for everyone?
• Chatroulette is more than just a random success.
• Google Earth cannot locate America.
• Atheists on a Texas college campus want people to turn over their Bibles in exchange for adult content.
• Do you agree with the sentiment that Microsoft is no longer a leader?
• Disaster recovery by Google – just how good is it, anyway?
• Do you think you could fully utilize a SuperComputer?
• MacHeist is adding more Apps!
• You can easily control multiple PCs with Multiplicity Pro.
• Smaller web browsers want more attention from Microsoft.
• Teenagers text WAY too much!
• A new smoking cessation tool is proving to be very effective.
• Bluetooth 3.0, we barely got to know you!
• Not exactly: in praise of vagueness.
• Roger Ebert needs YOUR help.
• What ideas do you have for someone having connectivity issues on their iPhone 3GS?

Don’t forget to check out all of the new software deals we’ve posted for you today!

• Windows 7 Bible
• Windows Live Essentials and Services: Using Free Microsoft Applications for Windows 7
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V: Insiders Guide to Microsoft’s Hypervisor

• What is the Nicest Thing You’ve Ever Done?
• Social Media Updates for 2010-03-21
• Listen to Facebook and Twitter With Aha Radio
• Are Compact Discs Dead?
• Social Media Questions and Answers
• Should School be Taught in the Cloud?
• Twitter eBook
• Twitter Announces the @Anywhere Platform
• Social Media Updates for 2010-03-14
• Did You Order Your iPad Today?

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When you look at the paper I’m holding, what do you see? Can you tell it’s the Statue of Liberty? Even when I move the paper all around you cannot tell what it is.. until I drop it in front of my Macbook. You like how that Augmented Reality works?

ARSights allows users to download models from their site and experience them using Augemtned Reality Technology. All you need is an Internet connection, a web cam, the Google Earth plugin and ARSights. It’s so easy to do!

Download and install ARSights. Then, print a pattern called a Marker. Browse the network and pick up the 3D model you prefer. Download the 3D model and run the application… and poof! You’ll be amazed at what you see!

Print your pattern on any normal piece of computer paper. You can make it look like you’re holding the Statue of Liberty in the palm of your hand like I did! Turn it any which way you want. Heck, you can even grab the Eiffle Tower and hold that, as well!

Explore the World right on your desk – with free, cross-platform software! It couldn’t get any better than this.

• Augmented Reality, Arian Cerddor, Terkjam & Inzekt.. [Vinyl 12'']
• The End of Hardware, 3rd Edition: Augmented Reality and Beyond
• Augmented Reality: A Practical Guide
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• Don’t Put Your Phone in Your Pocket!
• Second Life Ate My Balls
• New Google Earth Beta

It’s out, but I’m very sad to report that the new version of Google Earth is still calling on Arial as the default Window UI font (not the internal 3D mapping font, which is fine). Why do developers insist on using this instead of Tahoma (or Segoe UI, in the case of Windows Vista)?! Sorry, Google – if this is your first beta of v4.0, you’re already failing miserably in my book.

I posted more about this in tonight’s report, You Live on Google Earth – including stating that this really is a tremendous app that has amazing potential, but I just refuse to look past something as simple as using Arial as the default font in the non-3D experience. At least Google Talk allows you to change the font throughout the entire app!

I am sick and tired of playing the UI heavy around here. Would someone smack the appropriate person over at Google and tell ‘em to get their app act together? It’s great that they’re acquiring great software left-and-right, but it’s not great that they’re not conforming to a single user experience. I’ve given Microsoft hell for this – but they certainly don’t have a monopoly on inconsistent software experiences. I catch hell for stating that Google Earth is still calling on Arial throughout their entire Windows UI (non-nav) – but I’m not going to sit here and say that their software is amazing just because it’s free and it comes from them (Google). It doesn’t look like Google Talk, it doesn’t look like the Google Toolbar, it doesn’t look like Google SketchUp, it doesn’t look like Google Picasa… none of these freakin’ apps look like the other!!! I’d accept that from a startup company, but Google rakes in big bucks and can afford to spend some time on spit and polish. They’re not, and I find that beyond forgivable. I expect better from Google.

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