Month: October 2007

The Magic Folder Version 2.0 is LIVE

David E. Craig25 Comments

It has been a long while since I updated The Magic Folder. I have made two really large additions to the Gadget:

  1. New folder graphics. You ca choose from 4 different folder graphics styles (see below).
  2. A "The Magic Folder" on your file system. This new folder appears in your C:\Users\<username> folder when you turn on the option. You can save file to this location and have them distributed by file extension wherever you want them.

NOTE: With option #2 you can also add to your right-click Send To folder option to now move files to this location and allow it to be a catchall for all your file types. smile_omg I will share more on this in an later blog posting – so stay tuned.

Here is a look at the new folder types:

bg-large-blue-magicbg-large-blue-default bg-large-blue-sideways bg-large-blue-skinny

These styles are (from left to right): Magic, Default, Sideway and Skinny.

I have a few other plans in store for this gadget, namely adding an option to allow you to specify your own default location for "The Magic Folder" on your file system. Also, I am probably going to clean up the new images a little, I just do not feel 100% good about them yet. Finally, and ability to add Internet Folder locations (HTTP and FTP folder locations).

IMPORTANT: As is usual, the update was placed on the site around 3:00PM CST. It takes anywhere from 6 to 48 hours for the gadget to be approved and posted. As soon as it is live you should get prompt from the Gadget itself that the update is available.

Let me know what you think about it. smile_nerd

First American Home Buyers Protection – Yeah, Right…

David E. Craig3 Comments

I know this is unrelated to gadgets, but it goes to my experiences in dealing with companies that care very little about the customer and more about their bottom line. Home Warrantee companies are notoriously cheap (and crooked). If they can they would allow a vendor to fix your A/C with bubble-gum and saran wrap – IMHO. smile_angry Well, recently, First American took the cake:

  • In early August our A/C started to leak. It is located in the attic above the kitchen, so you can imagine the mess it made of the ceiling, walls, floor, etc. So we had to turn the darn thing off in the hottest of Texas months to avoid more damage to the house.
  • We called First American to get a repair person out ASAP.
  • After a ton of headaches and a lot of calls, two days later we found they had a backlog and NEVER faxed our claim to a vendor. After talking with a manager they called one of their "side" people on a special "because the customer is pissed off list." smile_baringteeth
  • The vendor came out to our place 2 hours after the talk with the manager, walked up to our attic, looked at our A/C unit, got our description of the problem and then threw up his arms and said he was not going to do the work, and then even asked us for our $50 check for making a service call. I kicked him out the door… smile_baringteethsmile_angrysmile_sad
  • Calling back to First American, they refused to send out another vendor until the first vendor filled his report. WTF!!!! smile_angry
  •  I was livid by this time, 3 days of NO A/C in the hundred degree days of August!!! So after getting to another manager they scheduled us another visit in 2 days. But to make the "pain and suffering more bearable" and because we had a five year old in the house, the promised us a $150 refund to buy a portable A/C unit.
  • We promptly bought the portable A/C unit and set it up in the smallest room in the house – where we hunkered down for 2 days.
  • We followed the paperwork requirement to get the refund from First American – fax receipt and a special form confirming the purchase of the unit.
  • Two days later the A/C repair man came out and fixed the flooding problem with the A/C and everything was cool again. First American even waived the $50 fee usually associated with such work since it took so longer to get a competent vendor to our home. smile_regular
  • However, here is is over two months later and we sill have not received our $150 check. After five follow-up calls to managers we keep getting the same story:
    • The first manager approved the $150 which sent it to a special refunds department.
    • The refunds department then awaited our fax – they got it and confirmed everything was on the up and up. They then sent it to Accounting for approval.
    • Accounting received it and then forwarded it back to the approving manager for final verification – this is where it has been stuck for 6 weeks. smile_sad
    • Next, it goes back to accounting where they will validate the managers approval, sent it to a special processing department where they will then proceed to cut and mail the check.
    • From there it will take 7 to 10 business days for the check to arrive.
  • Ok, but we still cannot get a manager to approve our refund. Honestly, I think they wanted us to buy the portable unit to shut us up while we wait. The promise for the $150 is very likely a red herring. Because here is the real kicker:
    • In the last 8 weeks we have received three follow-up calls from First American verifying that our issue was resolved and that they were closing our ticket.
    • Problem is: not once did they ever mention our refund.
    • When notified of that fact they all say: "Oh, I see that in the notes here, let me get your request forwarded to the right department."
    • This implies that none of the above process has even taken place.

Anyway, I wanted to get my experience out there – maybe others have a similar experience. The important thing is that I will NEVER be choosing First American as a Home Warrantee company ever again and I strongly suggest if given the option to choose another – although I am of the opinion this entire industry is run by a bunch of crooks anyway.

Anyone know of a good warrantee company?

 

The Magic Folder Update

David E. Craig3 Comments

This project has been on the back burner for some time, but I am planning on releasing version 2.0 of The Magic Folder in the coming month. smile_nerd

I am trying to work out some technical difficulties with the updates, but as soon as I figure them out I will be posting the update. Here is what is planned new for the next release:

  • Watch Folder – a folder (c:\Users\<userName>\The Magic Folder) will be placed on your system where you can save files from applications or for downloading items from the web. Anything placed in this folder will cause The Magic Folder to jump into action and do its thing.

    NOTE: Unfortunately, this feature will only be available with the File Extensions option enabled.
    NOTE: In further updates I plan on possibly adding the option to place this folder in another location. I want to get feedback on the feature first, before I begin to customize the gadget further.

  • More folder icons to choose from (styles).
  • Small enhancements under the hood to make the experience faster/better.

The big change as you can see if the Watch Folder. This is actually a large technical change but I am getting close to completing it. smile_regular