Christopher Welle's Blog

iPhone Developer Question -

2009-07-30T10:17:00.001-07:00

RiverTurn company that developed the VoiceCentral iPhone app was notified that their app was taken off iPhone’s App Store.

There’s No App for That - “As has been widely reported at this point, we are very sorry to announce that Apple removed our VoiceCentral app from the App Store. This happened suddenly, swiftly and with virtually no advance notice from Apple.

Repeated emails yesterday to Apple have still been ignored at this point. We did receive a voicemail at our main office from the same Richard who called our competitor. Unfortunately it wasn’t until today that we were able to connect for our “conversation”. The word conversation really doesn’t cover it because what transpired was not informative by design and felt like theater of the absurd.”

With Apple being indiscriminate on who can and can't develop for the iPhone and even if they let you develop for it, they pull the app after 4 months without cause or explanation, does this make you less inclined to develop for the iPhone? If so what other mobile devices would you develop for? Windows Mobile? Android? Palm Pre?

Pandora One Review

2009-05-25T01:53:00.001-07:00

I’ve been a paid Pandora.com subscriber for a couple of months. Well before Pandora One came out. I did this because the value of the services I got was more then worth the small yearly fee that I was asked to pay for.

I was surprised to login one day last week to find a new menu called Pandora One.

So lets get down to the new options that come with this service.

1. Custom Skins – You can now change the background of your Pandora account to a few select tasteful graphics. Nice to be able to put in a Kiosk type window for parties.

2. Pandora Mini Window – This will create a small Web window of the Pandora site so you don’t need to take up so much space. Its again nice, but this still uses the web browser that can crash at times like all other web browsers.

3. Audio Quality – Now you can update your stream quality to 128kbits.

4. Pandora’s Air application – This is a really nice feature that I am enjoying a lot. Unlike the web browser that takes up a bit more memory then it should, the Air App runs nice and small and still allows for the great features of Pandora in one small window. When the music changes a short timed display comes up in the upper right hand corner giving some information about the new song.

So is Pandora One worth it? Yes. Not only is the above options good add ons but the paid solution of no Advertisements and the ability to skip songs 6 times per channel in 1 hour.

Personal Business Cards – Moo Printing Company

2009-04-12T23:47:00.001-07:00

I decided I need some personal business cards for when I go out and meet other people. I have been just emailing them or using a web service called My Drop Card. Essentially you txt a number the email address you want your business info sent to and it then emails them. This would be fine and all for getting them the contact info via the email but it still leaves you with not having something to hand to the people your meeting.

So I decided to print up a small batch of cards for myself.

Moo.com is perfect for this solution. You can add the pictures you want and the text you need on the cards. They sell the cards in packs of 50 so you don’t have to have so many hanging around that you don’t need or no longer correct. Moo also has a Green Paper that is Eco friendly for those that are interested.

This is my card that I designed on the website. I have cut out some of the info that is not needed publicized here. It was really simple. I paid with a credit card, but tried to pay with my PayPal account but ran into a error every time. So I just used PayPal’s Virtual Card Firefox plug in that creates a virtual CC for just this purpose.

So if your interested in getting some new cards, check out www.moo.com.

BumpTop FTL - Poor Customer Support Techniques

2009-04-09T19:34:00.001-07:00

I truly don’t remember when I applied to get a Beta Invite for the BumpTop desktop application, but I finally received the accepting email on April 7th.

I was very happy to try out this cool desktop app that claims to change the boring graveyard that is full of lost and forgotten files to something the suits your needs and style. I followed the link provided to download the software and try it out. The web pages states to copy the beta code which will be asked for when installing the application.

I down load the application and go through the install process.

The application starts up and asks for the BumpTop Pro Key, the one that was listed in the webpage.

I enter the key and click OK only to get a message that the “Beta invite codes are no longer supported.”

WHOA! FAIL! WTH??? I try the manual way and it takes me to another webpage that has me cut and paste a code to the entry box but it fails too.

I decided to email the company about this and see what is up. I sent off the email that same night stating the issue I was running into. I received a reply that was a little concerning on my part.

When a canned support ticket reply starts off with “Respect Yo,” you really need to ask “What the hell software did I install on my machine that this company responds this way?”

Two days later I receive a response in email from Mike Jurka of Bump Top. It states:

Hi,

We invited the last of our beta users shortly before launch, but then launched to the public; for users that didn’t open their email in time we could see how it’s confusing. Sorry about that.

The good news is that your beta invite code entitiles you to a discount! Just visit: http://bumptop.com/buy/ExistingUsersDiscount.php

Mike Jurka

WOW… so its not the fault of BumpTop’s that they sent out several Beta invites, but then decided to go launch publicly canceling out those Beta invites they just sent out. Then only to say that its the Beta users fault for not opening up their email in time?

WTF!

Well I guess the time it took from when I received the email for the invite (Tue, April 7th, 2009 at 12:26am) when I downloaded the software and went through the whole thing that I listed above to the time I emailed them at 10:58pm that night is enough time to Launch and invalidate my beta invite.

You can see the emails below with date and time stamps. I’ve even capture the header information for the original email for all you.

As for my thoughts on the actual software, I believe this is a pretty desktop overlay that makes working on the same old desktop more interesting, but until it can replace the Explorer of the Windows system and change how the way the applications look to match the rest of the desktop, its just another application that eats away memory and processor time that could be put towards running the many applications that you would be using. Eye candy, nothing more. I’ve removed it from machine.

Prediction for IT Services in 2009

2008-12-30T11:11:00.001-08:00

I am going to go out on a limb here and make a couple of predictions as to the key things I see in IT Services in the next year.

Lower payments to keep and gain more customers that are tightening their wallets.

Many companies are going to cut their budgets this year if not already. One place they always look at first is things they consider overhead, which is IT services. No need to get new servers, upgrade software or upgrade the network this year. Best to try to keep status quo or look at alternative Applications like Open Source.
IT Companies will need to lower their prices to keep these customers or the customers will go else where. There is a large pool of IT Talent out there that will freelance to small/medium size businesses for less then regular IT Service Company.

Micro Work will become more popular.

Services like OnForce.com will become more popular. Being able to put out work orders for bidding by local IT Talent is a great option.
Small projects will be the way to go.

Customer Service is going to add much needed value to IT Services.

IT Service Providers need to work more on their Customer Service technique and not charge more for it.
Techs that can be kind, courteous, and do what’s needed for the customers will be hired over and over.
This provides word of mouth and generated leads to other jobs.

Open Source apps and OS’s will become more important.

Experience with Linux, Open Office and other Open source apps will be more needed in this next year.

Blogging and providing free services to those that are able to follow directions.

Providing tips and tricks on a regular basis on a blog for customers to follow.
News on applications and hardware that users might be interested in.
Show that you are up to date on new technology and can provide step by step services for users to follow are going to be highlights in this next year.

Questions as to how important they will be in the next year:

Certifications vs. Experience??

Will certifications make you more employable?
Which certificates will be the key skills in the next year?
Will customers see more need for Experience over certification?

I will try to touch on this again at the end of the 2nd Quarter.

How to Carve a Turkey with Walter Roach

2008-11-27T11:56:00.001-08:00

Thought I’d do a little Thanksgiving Video using the Qik.com Phone Streaming to show you How to Carve a Turkey for large groups.

This is my father in law who is an expert at cooking for large groups. Today he is cooking for a dinner of 50.

This was taken with a Sprint Touch Pro on the EVDO Network.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Current status of the test

2008-11-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

*sigh*

Test post from my Sprint Touch Pro

2008-11-19T14:20:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to test creating a post using the email function on blogger frommy cell phone.

Currently my Lenovo X61t is not booting and I'm running a full system test on it. Its taking forever.

I just realized how lost I feel without it. I cant work, cant play, cant communicate with others. Not a good thing.

After the test is over im going home to built another backup laptop for just this reason. I have a couple that should do the minor work.

Yuck. Not a good day.

History in the Making.

2008-11-04T20:37:00.001-08:00

Sprint “Android not good enough?”

2008-10-29T14:31:00.001-07:00

If the Android that was released last week by T-Mobile is not good enough for Sprint then I’m done with Sprint.

Sprint: Android not good enough yet

Sprint may be having a lot of problems marketing its own brand in the last few years, but according to Chief Executive Dan Hesse, Google’s Android mobile operating system isn’t perfect either.

He told the National Press Club in Washington that he didn’t think Android in its current form is ”good enough to put the Sprint brand on it.”

I’m tired of all the crappy phones I get from them. I spend over $100-$200 a month with Sprint between my wife's Cell, my cell and my Cellular Modem.

I currently have the HTC Touch that Sprint upgraded when they couldn’t fix my HTC Mogul and I’ve had nothing but trouble with it and with the company. Whenever I call them up I end up with a problem with my account. I then have to go into a store for the reps there to fix the issue.

I’ve been patient with the iPhone and I was going to be patient with the Android as well for Sprint to get it, but with all their problems in the past year, they are deciding to wait for the Android then I’m not going to wait for them.

Hello T-Mobile?? Ya interested in my business? Lets talk.

I swear I voted!!!

2008-10-23T00:07:00.001-07:00

Guess what….

2008-10-21T23:58:00.001-07:00

IT Skills needed in the next year

2008-10-02T17:51:00.001-07:00

I’ve been interviewing with different companies in the past month. These are some skills they are looking for.

VMware ESX is the highest need I’ve seen. If you have experience with VMware ESX in a production environment then you pretty much have your foot in the door.

Network skills are still a top need. Router, network traffic manipulations, and the experience with more then one Network Router OS’s.

Project Management skills. The ability to manage your own projects are a big factor in IT skills right now.

Microsoft Enterprise Domain experience. The ability or experience to design a Enterprise Microsoft Domain over several sites. I think this will change as Open Source is more and more adopted by corporate America.

What are some other skills you are seeing needed in IT right now?

Financial cuts in IT, will it effect Software License decisions?

2008-10-02T17:08:00.001-07:00

With the current financial issues going on in the ~~USA~~ World, how will IT be effected?

Will companies think again about Microsoft Licenses? Maybe invest in Virtual Server technology to cut hardware costs?

Will open source become a main focus to companies?

If so then people with experience with Open Source Software need to start advertising their skills.

Everything you need to know about being President, is what you learned in Kindergarten.

2008-09-26T20:32:00.001-07:00

Presidential Candidates need to go back to Kindergarten. My wife is a Kindergarten teacher and she has said many times that if the president wanted to know how to deal with an issue he should think back to kindergarten and what their teacher taught them.

Sharing is a must. Be kind.
Name calling is uncalled for.
Tattling won't be tolerated.
There is a time for snacks and play.
If someone hits you, you don't need to hit back.
Your more likely to make friends from being kind then mean.
Helping your neighbor is good. They may help you in the future.
Can't make peace you have to build it.
Alternative energy sources means fruit vegetables and healthy things.
Cut back on Sugar.
Even hurts that are not seen are cured by a kind word and a colorful Band-Aid.
Isolating bad children doesn't help.
Punishing a child is not as effective as providing incentives for them to behave.
Give up put downs.
Seek wise people.
To notice and speak about hurts that I caused.
Listen to your teacher.

Chrome: Copy settings between other computers

2008-09-02T14:43:00.001-07:00

I have a Lenovo X61T and a Asus EeePC 901. On the Lenovo I have Vista Business and on the Asus I have XP Pro. I installed Chrome on both machines. I setup all my information and bookmarks on the Lenovo but wanted the same settings on the Asus. So I had to copy the data over, but there is no Export option in the Chrome application.

To copy the settings over you need to copy the User Data folder to the other computer.

On Vista the User Data is located at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome.

I zipped up the User Data folder and then copied it over to the Asus.

I extracted the folder to C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\local settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome

Once I opened Chrome on the Asus, all the tabs that were open on the Lenovo opened up as if I just closed it.

Chrome: No RSS reader or option to add to Google Reader?

2008-09-02T13:09:00.001-07:00

I tried to subscribe to the Chrome Blog while in Chrome. Found out its not yet available.

Google Chrome: Tabs outside the browser

2008-09-02T12:55:00.001-07:00

Click on the Tab in the browser and drag it out to the desktop outside of the Chrome Browser.

The website tabe is then is separate from the Chrome Application.

Playing with Google’s Chrome

2008-09-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Looks like Google’s Cache Servers are default set with this Browser. Certain sites come up faster then other sites that are on the same network.

Otherwise first impressions is I like the simplicity of it and the ease of use. I need to play with it some more before I can say I like it or not.

What is your monthly bandwidth?

2008-08-31T16:10:00.001-07:00

I'm a computer consultant and hence live on the Internet. I use it at least 10 to 20 hours a day. I access the Internet from Home, Work, Coffee Shops and like now using my Sprint Cellular Modem.

With the cap being announced for Comcast users I was wondering how much bandwidth I use on a monthly basis.

At my home I have a Sonicwall firewall that is my gateway to the world. It has a reporting function that has captured how much bandwidth is used per IP on the network.

Added up what my home uses and came up with about 30Gb of Bandwidth a month. This used to be more when I had my Web Hosting company servers out of my home before I moved them to GoDaddy.

I'm now interested in what I use total in a month for home, work, cellular, etc.

I plan on using one of the application suggested at GigaOm 250Gb Challenge capture all my bandwidth usage in a month. I'll report it back here in one month.

If you know how to get the information, What is your monthly Bandwidth usage?

If only all of IT’s woes were this explainable.

2008-08-28T13:22:00.001-07:00

Great Comic! Highly Suggest reading. Click on the image and it’ll take you to the site.

Desktops from Microsoft

2008-08-26T11:34:00.001-07:00

I don’t know about you but I’m always in need of more desktop space. No matter how many external monitors I have connected I seem to always fill them up with various windows, big and large. Now this is probably due to my aging eyes of sitting in front of a screen for the past many years or its just I’m a computer real estate hog.

I found this little application last night in my bucket of rss feeds that is proving to be able to help with this issue. It’s called Desktops from Microsoft. Single app that doesn’t need to be installed at all and can be set to run at startup.

This little app provides you with multiple desktops at a hit of a command key or alternative amount of key strokes that you configure in the application.

Desktops application will add up to 4 other alternative desktops. I’ve used other applications that do the same but this is the cleanest and smallest. Too many other application would eat up processor and memory.

I’m really liking this application and look forward to many more versions.
I just hope they keep it small and light and maybe it will be a future add on for new Microsoft OS’s.

Where? Oh Where is my Mac Tablet Gone?

2008-08-25T23:34:00.001-07:00

I'm the person that would buy a Mac Tablet in a heart beat. W

There's no telling what Apple has up its sleeve in the coming weeks and although speculation abounds, there's no way to know if a new Mac will even hit store shelves. But if Apple finally does release a new Mac, it should harness the power of touch-screen technology.It may be expensive and it may not appeal to everyone. But that's the same thing that was said about the iPhone and I think we all know how well that went for Apple.

Why Apple should release a touch-screen Mac | The Digital Home - Don Reisinger's take on the tech closest to home - CNET News.com

Did U G3t D Txt Msg?

2008-08-25T23:10:00.001-07:00

Yup. C4Chaos has it right.

Text messaging is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe and Asia. But the Obama campaign understand the power of this technology to mobilize people. For instance, it was through the power of text messaging that the People Power in the Philippines had toppled the Estrada administration. The Obama campaign is now banking on the viral nature of text messages to mobilize people. I can already imagine text messages like this spreading like wildfire during election day: “C u @ d polls. wear ur Obama shirt, k?!”Obama and McCain’s big generational gap is reflected in the style of their campaign. McCain’s campaign is more traditional (e.g. town hall meetings, attack ads) while Obama’s is more tech-savvy (e.g. Twitter, Youtube, social networks, killer website, text messaging; see Obama’s Wide Web). If and when Obama wins the presidential race (which I believe he will), then a crucial factor could be credited to Obama’s embrace of millennial marketing–the same grassroots movement that won him the Democratic primary.

*Fist Bump* for Biden! And Why the Obama “Be the First to Know” Campaign is Pure Marketing Genius < ~C4Chaos

C4Chaos also linked to the post below which is the info as to why its genius.

In 2006, Mobile Commons’ platform was used in a study conducted by the New Voter’s Project, Princeton, and the University of Michigan. The results of the study were a wonderful surprise to us. In the table below, you can see cost per vote compared between various media:

Tactic	Mobilization Effect	Cost / Vote Generated
Text/SMS Messages	4-5%	$1.56
“Quality” Phone Calls	4-5%	$20
Door-to-Door Canvassing	7-9%	~$30
Leafletting	1.2%	$32
Direct Mail	~0.6%	$67

Elections pivot on turnout and voter engagement. The main conclusion to be drawn from the table above: the more personal the communication, the more effective. The most personal form of communication, face to face interaction, has the highest mobilization effect. Text messaging is something mainly done with friends and—terse as it is—highly personal. For campaigns, mobile messaging provides one the most cost effective ways of engaging constituents with highly personal and interactive messaging. The Obama Campaign realized this and constructed the VP announcement to help them build critical mass with their mobile list.

Obama Mobile is Going to Get Out the Vote

jkOnTheRun:BlueAnt V1 headset- your iPhone's new best friend

2008-08-25T22:14:00.001-07:00

jkOnTheRun:BlueAnt V1 headset- your iPhone's new best friend

I have a co-worker that has a previous version of the BlueAnt. He swears by it. The ability to do a firmware upgrade on these is really appealing.

Hmmm JawBone.... BlueAnt????

I'll have to think about this. Maybe I'll have to go somewhere I can try both of them out.