I stumbled across a command line task management program, that takes all the pain out of managing tasks.  Now, I realize that there are 100s if not 1000s of task management programs on the web and for the standard Windows/OSX environments, but I wanted something simple.  Something that I could just say, here is my list of tasks, here is what is complete and print out the list when needed.  This is where Taskwarrior comes in.

It is a simple command line based task manager that can be downloaded and installed on either Windows, OSX or Linux.  Once you have it loaded, it is as simple as opening up a terminal window and typing:

task add "Pick up Milk"
Created task 1.

Then to see a list of your tasks, once again, it is a simple list command such as:

task ls

ID Project Pri Description
 1             Pick up Milk

Once you are done with the task, it is a simple done command to tell Taskwarrior it is complete:

task 1 done
Completed 1 'Pick up Milk'.
Marked 1 task as done.

The program of course has a number of other features, but for the most part, you can get by in the program knowing about three commands, which makes it simple to use.   If you are like me and want something that is simple and straightforward, I recommend Taskwarrior for your task management needs.

Ever since getting my first Atari 600XL in fourth grade, I have been fascinated with the idea of interfacing computers into the real-world.  In college, majoring in Computer Science, my favorite and most enjoyable class was my Microprocessors class, where we interfaced simple computers with real-world applications. To me, this is where computers shine.  The ability to take real-world data and analyze it, is a powerful and to me fascinating concept.

Emily and Patrick start off the journey by assuming that the reader has purchased the Arduino and now want to do more with it.  There is a basic introduction to the capabilities of the tool, utilizing simple blinking LEDs to show how to interface and program the Arduino.  This helps a novice user become less afraid of the device and at the same time allows a more experienced programmer to get a feeling for how the hardware device functions.

Then the fun begins.  Each chapter is dedicated to a specific project, whether it be creating a meter utilizing a series of LED lights to signify an event to more complex projects that measure EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) to measuring water conductivity and weather related conditions (temperature and dew point).  In each case, no assumptions are made by the author and each step is outlined and explained in enough detail that the user understands what is going on.

While most of the projects are standalone, the authors do spend a whole chapter explaining through the use of an add-on Ethernet shield how to interface the project with external computers.  A simple web server and data logging device is demonstrated, which really shows off the ease of development and integration that can be accomplished with the Arduino tool.

I especially liked how the code for the projects is presented in each chapter along with explanation and challenges/suggestions on how to expand the project.  This helps the user understand the code behind the project, so that it becomes more of an idea book then just a cookbook of instructions.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Arduino tool and interfacing it with real-world applications.  The book is a quick read, the projects are simple enough to do and the possibilities that it introduces to the reader is limitless.

Read the story here at PC Magazine.

I remember being introduced to Slashdot around 1998 by other techies and have continued to read the stories posted since then, first by visiting the site religiously throughout the day and now by waiting for the updates in my RSS reader.

Thank you CmdrTaco for the last 14 years and good luck on your new adventures.

CNN reported that IBM is continuing to work on their SyNAPSE project, in which they want to develop a computer that mimics the way the brain handles data.  So instead of programming this computer, it would be fed a series of inputs and learn about those inputs and make decisions organically instead of just sending back output based on programs that we put in there.  A lot like the brain handles data today.  We take in millions of pieces of data on a daily basis and then process it based on what we have learned in the past and in regards to the situation/environment we are in.

It is an interesting concept, and while AI and Expert Systems are nothing new, this takes the approach of duplicating the world’s most complex computer in hardware form, instead of trying to write lines and lines of code that mimics the interactions in the human brain.  It will be interesting where this goes in the future.

There are a lot of things that can be read into this decision.

Is the PC market viable for large players anymore?  Dell seems to do okay, but it is a more lean and nimble company compared to HP.  Lenovo has taken off since its departure from IBM and has become more innovative in its approach to PC design.  Maybe HP was too big and this will help the HP line of computers in the long run.  The companies you hear in the tech news today on the PC side when it comes to innovation are the Asus type companies.  Much smaller and much less diversity, able to focus and innovate in the PC space.

WebOS was not killed, just the devices.  HP obviously still sees some sort of market for WebOS.  I am not sure I agree.  On the phone side, Android has taken lead and in the tablet space, Apple has a good handle there.  Is there room for WebOS.  I do not think so, there would be 5 major players in the mobile space with WebOS (Apple, Android, RIM and Microsoft), with an obvious lead by two of them at this point.  Can you survive at 3, let alone at  4 or 5.  I think Microsoft has a chance here to become the 3rd player, and unless RIM or HP/WebOS can all of a sudden become more innovative and get out of their own way, they should have no problem getting there.

HP is too diverse of a company to maintain status quo.  IBM learned this a number of years ago and stopped development and sold off a number of pieces to maintain a focus in certain areas and has shown it works and is profitable.  HP needs to do the same thing.

Evernote continues to improve and add functionality to a product I already use on a daily basis.  Can not wait to download and install Skitch to complement Evernote.