Life in the Valley

Instagram vs. Streamzoo: It’s Not What You Think

2012-04-08T21:14:00.001-07:00

Instagram vs. Streamzoo: It’s Not What You Think

Random Android App Generator

2012-03-20T01:51:00.001-07:00

Adobe Photoshop Touch – Worth $9.99? | TalkAndroid.com

2012-03-18T19:48:00.002-07:00

Check out my review of Adobe Photoshop Touch for Android tablets on TalkAndroid.com!
Adobe Photoshop Touch – Worth $9.99? | TalkAndroid.com

Android Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Case from Zazzle.com

2011-09-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

Android Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Case from Zazzle.com

Fallout Shelter Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Case from Zazzle.com

2011-09-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

Fallout Shelter Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant Case from Zazzle.com

Stewie Loves Android

2011-04-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

Notion Ink Adam First Look

2011-02-22T23:06:00.000-08:00

These shots are of my co-worker's Notion Ink Adam Android tablet. He just got it over the weekend and I got a chance to play with it a bit. My first impression was that the tablet is not nearly as big as I expected from the pictures I've seen online. That's a good thing.

Unfortunately, the bezel is bigger than I expected, meaning there is a fairly thick black border around the whole thing, making the screen look smaller.

The version of the tablet my friend got was the one with the Pixel Qi display. Switching between plain LCD and Pixel Qi was simple...just hold down one of the capacitive buttons and it switches to a non-backlit greyscale e-ink type display. Not sure if it's true e-ink or something similar, but it is supposed to work well in direct sunlight. From what I could see indoors, it was ok. The contrast was definitely not as good as a Kindle, however.

Also, the screen was not as sensitive as I expected and would require a very firm press of my finger for it to respond. Now, this might be due to the screen protector it shipped with, which my buddy felt compelled to install, against my wishes :-)

Interestingly, and perhaps telling, is the fact that my friend almost immediately installed ADW Launcher to replace the Notion Ink home launcher. Why did he do this? Well, honestly, the biggest problem with the Adam, in my opinion, is the software. First, it comes with Android 2.1 (that's Eclair...not even Froyo). Not the latest, but that would be ok if it had been left stock. Notion Ink, however, added their own custom UI (called "Eden") which, frankly, is crap.

I'm a User Experience Designer, and in my professional opinion, the Eden UI is nearly the opposite of intuitive. I can see what they were trying to do, but it fails on so many levels that I suspect anyone who gets an Adam will want to root theirs and install a custom ROM as soon as possible. I'm not sure if there are any custom ROMs out yet that will work on the Adam, but seeing as it's already been rooted, it's just a matter of time.

The Adam will become infinitely more useful once Honeycomb becomes available. Since it's currently running Android 2.1, it must not be taking full advantage of the dual core chip it comes with. Honeycomb should wake this puppy up.

Conclusion
Interesting hardware, though not as durable feeling as it could be...very "plasticky". Crap software...install a new ROM as soon as possible. Will make a good dev tablet to play with.

I have been Androidified!

2011-02-14T08:00:00.001-08:00

Google just released the Androidify app and I just made my little Android self!

Android Tablets...which will rise to the top?

2011-02-13T23:44:00.001-08:00

The Motorola Xoom, the LG G-Slate, the Toshiba Tablet, and now the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. All have similar specs and all will run Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

So which one is the one to get? As far as I know, the Xoom and the Galaxy are both "pure" Google tablets (meaning no manufacturer installed UI skins like "Motoblur" or "Touchwiz"). That's a major plus since that would likely mean faster updates to Android. Beyond that, it almost seems like it's a style preference.

Still waiting on more tablet announcements to come (looking at you, HTC) but it sure looks like this will be the year of the "non-fruity" tablet. Guess I need to start saving :-)

"Tracks and Horizons" Now Available Through Google Books!

2011-02-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

With Google Books, now there are even MORE places to get Tracks and Horizons! Check out our Google Books ebook version, ripped straight from the paperback! And it's discounted to only $2.51!

Lazy

2011-02-08T00:41:00.001-08:00

This is Kramer being lazy on my lap.

"Tracks and Horizons" 99 cent Kindle deal!

2010-11-28T22:04:00.000-08:00

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Forty Four

2010-11-28T22:00:00.001-08:00

Lost 0.8 lbs last week, which is great right before Thanksgiving.

But now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, I'm not so sure about my next weigh in. We shall see on Tuesday!

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Forty Two and Forty Three

2010-11-16T22:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I lost 1.6 pounds (yay!).

But this week I gained 0.8 (boo!).

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Forty One

2010-11-06T22:41:00.001-07:00

Up 1.2. Tough week.

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Forty

2010-10-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Dang, up 1.2. Trying to reach a total of 50 pounds lost is proving to be a bit more difficult than I thought. About 3 pounds away from that goal. And Halloween certainly won't help ;-)

"Tracks and Horizons" Book Trailer

2010-10-17T20:09:00.000-07:00

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Thirty Nine

2010-10-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

Broke even last week. And this week is looking dicey especially since my treadmill at home broke.

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Thirty Eight

2010-09-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Down 2 pounds! Only 2.4 more to reach a total of 50 pounds lost! :-)

Cool book widget for "Tracks and Horizons"

2010-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

"Tracks and Horizons" paperback now available on Amazon!

2010-09-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

Tracks and Horizons: 26 Countries on a Motorcycle

From 1964 to 1966, Carlos Caggiani travelled to 26 countries on a 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle with hardly a penny to his name. At 24 years of age, he embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.

He spent time with everyone from poor natives in the Andes mountains, to rich families in the United States. He crossed rivers without bridges, suffered famine, intense heat and cold, guided his motorcycle through rain and snow storms, rode on dirt and cobblestone roads, was chased by the FBI, was shot at in Bolivia during a revolutionary war, and had a serious accident due to a mechanical failure in Panama that left him hospitalized for 17 days.

The experiences in this book demonstrate a human being's tenacity and triumph in the face of adversity, and shows that anything is possible. There is always something more just beyond the horizon...and as the horizon expands, our limits disappear.

Order your copy today!

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Thirty Seven

2010-09-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

Up 1.2 after the BBQ. I now have a new incentive...reach a total of 50 pounds lost by Thanksgiving. I'm about 5 pounds away from reaching that milestone so I need to just do it. Five pounds in nine weeks should be easy, right?

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Thirty Six

2010-09-15T18:53:00.001-07:00

Woo hoo! Down 2.4 pounds this week! Probably because I've been fighting a cold and my apetite has been slightly lower than normal. But still, I'll take it :-)

Of course Friday is our company picnic...Hawaiian BBQ. Gulp.

Jenny Craig: Year 2 - Week Thirty Five

2010-09-14T13:35:00.001-07:00

Up 0.6 pounds last week. But I go in tonight for this week's weigh in and I think i did ok. We'll see!

"Tracks and Horizons" now available on Kindle!

2010-09-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Kindle version of "Tracks and Horizons" is now available on Amazon.com! This is the true life story of my father's two-year motorcycle trip around the world in the early 1960's. Here's the description:

From 1964 to 1966, Carlos Caggiani travelled to 26 countries on a 1947 Indian Chief motorcycle with hardly a penny to his name. At 24 years of age, he embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. He spent time with everyone from poor natives in the Andes mountains, to rich families in the United States. He crossed rivers without bridges, suffered famine, intense heat and cold, guided his motorcycle through rain and snow storms, rode on dirt and cobblestone roads, was chased by the FBI, was shot at in Bolivia during a revolutionary war, and had a serious accident due to a mechanical failure in Panama that left him hospitalized for 17 days.

The experiences in this book demonstrate a human being's tenacity and triumph in the face of adversity, and shows that anything is possible. There is always something more just beyond the horizon...and as the horizon expands, so do the opportunities available to us.

Look for "Tracks and Horizons" to come out in paperback in the next few weeks!