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Holo for all Android 4.x devices

2012-01-03T21:03:00.001-06:00

In this post( http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2012/01/holo-everywhere.html?m=0 ) by Adam Powell, a Google engineer, it is explained that all Android 4.x devices will have to have the Holo UI and widget files on board to have access to the Android market.

Whoa! Now, everyone rein in a little, no where in the post did he say that they had to be used in the manufacturer's UI. That post can be whittled down to this.

The manufacturer can and will still be able to skin the crap out of the Android UI. However, the Holo widgets (buttons, color styles, and other UI elements) have to be available on the device for developers to use.

This means quite a lot in the long run, if your HTC or Samsung the developer now has direct and easy access to the stock Android UI styles thus encouraging said developer to use those styles,instead of the manufacturer's, so his/her app will be consistent across all devices.

Will this put an end to manufacturer skins? No. Is it a move by Google to start to unify the look of Android? Yes.

Kindle Fire (Random Thoughts)

2012-01-03T18:37:00.001-06:00

I have put off giving any assessment of the Kindle Fire for some time now. Not because of laziness or thinking that all the tech sites had already nailed the reviews, but because I really wanted to see where the device fit into our lives. Would it be another piece of tech that's simply forgotten in a few weeks or would it be an essential piece of gear?

The good news is that the Fire has become , maybe not essential, but a device that my wife and I both make sure is charged and ready. For me it has become a great book reader, as anything with the Kindle name on it should, an almost too easy way to shop Amazon and EBay, and an occasional portal to Amazon VOD or Netflix. For my wife it is a game machine. She would probably use it for other things but, even though I intended the device to be for her use, it's generally in my bag. She hasn't complained too much.

The big question is, is it really worth $200. For me the answer is yes. For that amount I get a back lit e-reader, that last a long while on a charge. Along with that, the video and easy shopping is a bonus that's worth some extra scratch.

The added bonus is the games. Every long trip taken over the holidays means that cell phone batteries get drained and one car simply can't keep up with the charging requirements of four smart phones . Toss in a Kindle Fire or two and you might have enough juice left in one of those phones to call a tow truck if need be.

The one question that begs to be answered about the Fire is, will Amazon keep the underlying Android OS up to date? This poses no problem now, but as time moves on developers are not going to want to write their app for the current version and the have to rewrite to accommodate the Kindle Fire because its 2+ versions behind. Having purchased a Galaxy Nexus I already see this. Several apps that worked great on my android 2.3.4 device don't work worth a darn on 4.0.2.

As many have already pointed out, the lack of a hardware volume rocker is a flaw and Amazon should address this in the next version of the device. It's quite s pain to turn the volume down quickly when need be. The past should have thrown up a warning sign to Amazon on this one. For those that remember, the first generation iPod touch was also without a volume rocker. Every model since has had one. Some hardware buttons are simply essential.

The last gripe is all about polish. Amazon should have the most polished reading app available bar none. Apple should be trying to emulate the Kindle. Unfortunately the Kindle app, while very functional and easy to use, is lacking in the simple features that turn heads and get nods of approval. Once you choose a book to read it opens to the first page, very nice, however if the book has chapters and you swipe back a screen or two, you are presented with a chapter and part list that looks like it belongs in a terminal window, unacceptable. Page swiping while very fluid is also alarming. I fully expected a nice page turning animation. I know it's a little thing but with a device that works so well at its intended purposes it feels like a major flaw with each page I turn.

For now the Fire is a steal at $200 and if the past is an indicator, Amazon will keep the development and update steam roller moving forward and it will be for some time to come.

Grandma's Tech Christmas

2011-12-29T20:16:00.001-06:00

For several years now my brother and I have been supplying our Mom and Grandma with their tech toys each Christmas. Mom has been through Windows and Mac PC's , several different types of phones and for the most part its been all for naught. Grandma has mostly been cool little things like LCD TVs and LED rechargeable flashlights. Both of them are more technologically adept than they believe but, the PC's are really just glorified typewriters or DVD players, though they did pick up the idea of Netflix and online video quickly. A PC hooked to a huge LCD TV seems to do that to people.

This year we conferred about things and nervously went out on a shaky limb. Since they reside in the same house we got them a Keurig coffee maker, it was well received and put to use quickly, so that they would have the extra edge to play with their newest toys an iPad and a Kindle. We were both a little unsure of how it would go, with the devices, but as it ended up Grandma took the Kindle and after a quick intro to navigating the device she shooed us away and set to reading. While we were giving Grandma her Kindle overview Mom was already deep in her favorite iOS app, no intro to iPad needed. (She already owns an iPhone.)

To be transparent, we did take the liberty of setting up the devices loading them with the appropriate books and apps prior to Mom and Grandma receiving them. Still it's a testament to how easy these devices are to use. And for the first time a tech Christmas was had with no necessary tech support.

Oh, and a big thank you to my Awesome Wife who averted Christmas disaster by running quickly home and grabbing the gifts that her loving husband left in the bedroom floor.

Getting Set for the Kindle Fire.

2011-11-14T21:56:00.001-06:00

Earlier today, like many, I received an email from Amazon informing me that my Kindle Fire had Shipped. In light of this I think it's time to set my expectations for this device. Considering the price tag they are not extremely high but here they are.

Quick, easy and well laid out connection to all of Amazon's services, Music, Books, video and Amazon's entire store.
At least a handfull of games, it doesn't have to be 3D titles, in fact, I'm hoping for more of the simple things Such as Words with friends and Spectrum puzzles.
Netflix that works well.
Decent web browsing.
Good, mostly smooth UI

If I get more I'm ecstatic, less, I know how Amazon's return system works.

I'll report back on my experience with the divice as soon as I feel Like I have put it though it's paces.

UltraBooks Lose, MacBook Air still selling like hotcakes.

2011-11-10T23:41:00.001-06:00

This Article over at Boy Genius Report, really tells us nothing that we should not of foreseen. High end devices from the likes of Asus and Acer are not expected and therefore will not be bought in big numbers right away. The MacBook Air has sold well, because it comes from Apple, you know, those people over in Cupertino that we trust to give us a product that will last for years. We trust Apple, like we used to trust HP, Chevrolet and the IBM Selectric(Bonus points if you know what that is). As it stands in the consumer PC space HP Acer, Asus, Sony, Dell, Gateway, Samsung, Lenovo and all the rest of the PC makers have been feeding us crap that won't even live out the warranty period.

Now they want to throw around some $1000 thin laptops and expect us to buy them? Fat chance.

There is a market for the devices and there are people that will purchase them, I know a few myself that would fall all over a quality Windows based laptop with a thin and sexy MacBook Air like design. However, as stated above they are not going to spend a grand on a device from one of the 'PC' makers, theses guys have burnt our butts a few too many times over the past few years with shoddy parts, crappy support and just a general lack of quality.

With that said, I do want to mention that most if not all the mass market PC makers do make some very nice machines. The problem is, these machines rarely show up in your local retail outlet, so most people don't even know they exist. In contrast there are no "Budget" Macs. If you want a MacBook, you have to pony up the cash. In exchange for that cash you get a machine that is capable of being with you for many years.

Something I like to Show my PC wielding friends, that think its fun to Joke around about the $2900 I gave for my Late 2007 MacBook Pro or the $1200 I gave for my 2007 MacBook.

Machine	Monthly Cost	Current status
2007 MacBook Pro	$60.41	Still In use
2007 MacBook	$21.42	Still in use
2008 Dell Insprion	$40.00	Dead after 20 Months (mother board solder)
2008 Dell Insprion	$31.81	Dead after 23 months (Screen died)
2007 HP (it tick me off so badly I don’t remember the model)	$53.84	Dead after 13 months. ( switch for the lid)

Simple Math ( cost of device/months of service life= monthly cost)

That little chart is approximate within a couple bucks on each device, thus showing that at least in my case it’s more cost effective to purchase a Mac. Not because of OS X or they supposed Sexiness of the device, but because the monthly TCO is cheaper. Note that the MacBook Pro was a personal indulgence and the only true performance machine in the list. The rest are run of the mill Core2 duo or slower machines, one of the Dells was a small business model and the other a consumer model, the HP was a rather expensive, at the time, 14” model. Notice that the MacBook, which is still in use, will forever be the least expensive laptop, even if it dies tomorrow.

Back to Asus and Acer, until they can shed the consumer assumption that a new PC has to be cheap these “UltraBooks” won’t be a success. The race to the lowest price needs to be over and quality need to return to the PC industry and we as consumers need to be prepared to support this, but we won’t. I don’t know what the answer is but, someone needs to challenge Apple in the Quality PC business. For the foreseable future though, I and many others will be buying MacBook Airs.

The Great Patent Battle - random thoughts

2011-11-09T10:13:00.000-06:00

As I was reading an article about Barnes and Noble and their Patent issues with Microsoft on The Verge this morning, I started thinking.(It happens on occasion) With all the patents that are out there over the various functions of a current smart phone, I would guess that each and every company using Android, iOS BlackBerry, Windows Phone and all the the other touch enabled OSes on phones and tablets are infringing on patents that are owned by their competitors. Only Microsoft seems inclined to litigate.

Each of these companies are sitting on a treasure trove of Intellectual Property (IP) that could be sued over, Hell, I believe that Motorola has a patent for the cell phone itself! Which begs the question, Why is it only Microsoft who is so litigation happy? The simple answer is they have no physical product that makes them tons of money. They make their money from software licenses. So the more licenses they have out there the more money they make and it seems as if their mindset is to use their IP to make money just like selling a license for Windows or Office.

I'm rather split of this, I realize that if Microsoft really does have the patents, then licensing deals are in order and should be made. However, looking in from the outside, I have yet to see any information of which patents they are trying to license and it looks like more of a 'Bully Tactic' to encourage handset makers to license and use Windows Phone. Not knowing the patents in question, and it seems no one does, it would look like Microsoft is targeting Android. The thing that urks me is, if Android if violating these patents are the other OSes not? I find that hard to believe.

Random Thought - eBook and App Store Gift Cards

2011-11-09T08:30:00.001-06:00

What is the one nicety that iTunes has over all the other services? Gift Cards. Easily accessible at any retail outlet, you can even get an iTunes card at many gas stations.

For adults without kids this may sound a little silly, but in the past year I have made several purchases based on this simple fact. My kids use Kindles because the older ones can have an Amazon account without attaching a credit card, when they need money I can quickly and easily email them a gift card. Barnes and Noble requires a credit card be attached to the account for your eBook reader. My kids use iPod Touches and iPhones, much to their dismay, (They had both picked out an Android device) because they can use gift cards with iTunes and Google has no such thing for the Android Market.

It comes down to the simple fact that Apple (through a little trickery) and Amazon do not require you to have a credit card on file with your account. To go along with this each make getting a gift card relatively easy, you can email one from either service and for iTunes you can get a card about anywhere. Thus, protecting my credit cards from being used to buy "Smurf Berries".

Random Thoughts on Googarola

2011-11-04T16:05:00.002-05:00

The Google takeover of Motorola and all that it could mean has been rolling around in my head since the first announcement. Initially the consensus was that google just wanted the patents, then it was made know that google would still run the handset making business, but at arms length. I think there is another completely viable way to run Motorola as a division of Google where everyone, including the consumer and other hardware manufacturers wins.

The simple answer is to run Motorola in the style of Apple. Pick two or three phone styles and stick to them. Release and update about once a year to coincide with the release of a new version of the Android software. To keep the other manufacturers from feeling left out, Google may need to continue the "Nexus" program and release at least one new phone from a manufacturer other than Motorola. alternatively they could also simply hold a second yearly Android event for the non-Moto manufacturers midway between Motorola refreshes. As long as Google-Motorola conceded the holiday shopping season, this would probably work well.

The key to the whole thing would be to only release hardware once a year, this does two desirable things. Most importantly it provides stability in the system for the consumer and the non-Motorola manufacturers. With the expectation of only one hardware release the customer is assured that they have the latest and greatest from Google/Motorola for at least a year and in turn it allows the other manufacturers a ~12 month window to create better, spec wise, phones and tablets than Motorola. In essence make Motorola a once a year deal, similar to Apple, thus leaving the spec race, catering to niche markets and the like to the other manufactures.

In my opinion the most important things that Google has to do with Motorola, is to run them as a confident business, set goals and get a hardware release cycle down. Motorola's current release cycle is a mess. Take the Droid X for instance, we have seen four iterations of this design in less than 16 months (Droid X, X2, Bionic and Razr) Get the portfolio of devices straight as well, currently Motorola shows 15 android handsets on their site and several of them are the same device, with a slightly altered exterior or simply a different name. This needs to be fixed, if it's a Razr on one network, it should be a Razr on all the other networks. Google should take Motorola back to a power position in the cell phone manufacturing business. Remember the original Razr? It didn't have a dozen different names for different carriers.

The last thing that comes to mind is the need for Google to wrestle some of the power away from the carriers. I don't expect them to do this in an Apple sort of way though. In this Google should play a little nicer. Carrier branded and preinstalled apps for instance should not go away. However they should be uninstallable for the user. Boot loader locks should only exist for those corporate users who need them and the OEM software needs to be available for users who choose to put custom roms on their device. Something similar to the BlackBerry desktop suite that allows for a user to restore their device to a stock state. Rooting is another matter that bugs me, we should be allowed full control over our devices without having to resort to arcane methods to achieve it.

Google with Motorola has the ability to achieve these simple goals, with Google building the software and the ability of Motorola to build good hardware it should be a snap, but I figure they'll bugger it up.

Why My Kids Have iPhones

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

With my two oldest daughters now 16 and 14, we decided that, if they could keep up with their chores, they could have smart phones. Initially were going to get them Android models. With a little thought, we nixed that idea because of some simple things that Google has yet to remedy on the platform.

1. Bugs- There always seems to be some bug present on an Android handset and I do not want to have to play tech support for any more devices.

2. Music- The kids are into their Music and to date there are no elegant and easy way to transfer, buy or manage music without going third party. Thus more hassle.

3. Gift Cards- This is a no brainer, I can set up an iTunes account without having to have a credit card attached and the kids can use iTunes cards for their purchases. ( No parent wants to have a kid with a device that has a credit card attached.)

4. Cool Factor- With android there's a new model every week and kids of course, always want the new and cool. With the iPhone they will never be more than one model behind even if they serve their entire contract with the same device.

5. Data Caps- 2gb of data may be enough for most but, I don't really want to trust that my kids will stay under it. My experience shows that Android devices consistently consume more data than iPhones.

So for my kids, iPhones it is. Put it in an OtterBox, pay the insurance, and with their experience with the iPod touch, I will probably never have to do more than pay the bill.

The Ghost of Steve Jobs

2011-11-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

I stepped into the world of Apple in 2005, not by choice. I spent considerable effort to stay away from Apple, but after experimenting with and returning all of the available options, I purchased an iPod. The device simply worked, no fuss, no arcane methods required to load or listen to my music. I started to trust, not Apple, but Steve Jobs.

Push the clock to 2007, I found myself with a new Windows Vista laptop. Unfortunately, it was one that was plagued by problems, the manufacturer was in no way helping to get it fixed. It failed me during a rather important event, blue screening several times, I was infuriated. So Pissed in fact, that I went directly to the local Apple retailer and purchased a white MacBook with nary a question for the salesman except, “Do you have one in stock?” This Mac served my needs and did not fail me, further bolstering my trust in Steve.

Later that year I purchased a MacBook Pro, and then a first generation 32gb iPod touch the next year. with each of these devices I learned to trust in Steve a little more. In time it felt like Steve was there with me every time I used one of these devices, with a reassuring hand on my shoulder, just to let me know that my Apple devices would be there for me. Thus, the Ghost of Steve Jobs went everywhere with me.

I wonder and worry about the future. Will Apple maintain the insanely high QA standards that he insisted on? Can I trust that the next Apple product that I Purchase will be as good as the ones I own now? Is it safe to trust Tim Cook or John Ives? I suppose, only time will answer these questions.

With Steve’s Passing, I feel a loss. I never knew the man, but he was always with me, with that reassuring hand on my shoulder.

Now to list the things about Google+ that I find confusing.

2011-07-13T14:15:00.002-05:00

After using Google+ for a few days, I really like the service. However there have been some things crop up that are either just missing, counter intuitive, bad or just plain silly. Here I plan to keep a list, add too it as needed and hopefully post resolutions as the service moves forward.

1. Using Chrome (the web browser) if I sign into any other google acount except the one that I have Google+ attached to, I get booted. Same happens if I log into Google+ while using another Google service. This needs an intuitive fix and quick, there are many of us with multiple Google accounts.

*for now the bandaid fix for me is to use Firefox for one service and Chrome for the other. This is not a good fix.

2. How in the heck does the chat function work? I set it up for the appropriate "circles" yet only the people that I have in my gmail address book show up. Hence my cousin and I had to move to Facebook to exchange some quick info, this is not good.

3. PMs, see above. So far there seems to be no way to PM someone or chat with them directly through the service. very annoying.

4. No online indicator for anyone except in the chat box, which as I outlined above is of little help.

5, Need finer control over which circles show up in the "Main" stream.

This is my short list for the afternoon. When I see more I'll add them.

In Response to Don Reisiner's: Google+ Can Never Vanquish Facebook: 10 Reasons Why

2011-07-13T12:31:00.002-05:00

Earlier today, Don Reisinger wrote, stating 10 reasons that Google+ can't vanquish Facebook here. We could discuss each point Mr. Reisinger makes and of course turn them any way we want but, we won't. Instead we'll try to look at things objectively and not through a set of Multicolored (google) or Blue (facebook) glasses. So here we go, point by point.

1. 750 Million users (and counting)

That is an impressive number of users, however I would really like to know the number of active users, and by active I mean users that do more than just skim their profile a few times a day or have the Facebook app running on their mobile device.

Aside from the numbers Mr Reisinger is discounting the fact that people on the internet are usually mobile and have very little allegiance to any one provider of anything. It wasn't too many years ago that the majority of conversations went on either on CompuServe or AOL, then came ICQ and the other messaging programs, Yahoo groups, then Myspace came along, which was eaten alive by Facebook. (there where may other more technical way of communicating.)

Each time a better or new service came along, many of us moved along to try it, same will happen with Google+, if Google doesn't stumble somewhere the network will grow. The current user base is already impressive.

2. Don't forget the enterprise

Mr. Reisinger says that the cooperate world might be Facebook's ace in the hole. This is an unknown at this point. Google claims that they have something in the works for businesses here. If Google puts in the work and adds verification, this would be great. We'll have to wait and see.

It will be no ace in the hole for either service. I for one hate it when I have to go to a business's Facebook page for anything and I doubt I'll want to go to their Google+ page either.

3. Google's Past problems

This point is laughable, yes Google has had privacy problems, so has Facebook. As much as the media wants to make a big stink out of privacy, the truth of the matter is, the public is getting thick skinned and for the most part, just accepting that nothing they put online is private. This is the right attitude for the public to have, yet both services need to do their best to deliver on the privacy front.

4. Facebook isn't Myspace

Very true, Facebook isn't Myspace. And to go along with that, Google+ isn't Facebook. Facebook was built for kids, by (at the time) a kid. Google+ is built by geeks and has been initially populated by geeks. It's yet to be seen how this will work out, Facebook in my world grew by peer pressure, with friends always asking whether you have a Facebook page. Will Google+ get the same? We don't know yet. Will the model of the geeks pushing their family and friends onto the network, work? Does Google have something else up their sleeve? If Google's intent is to bulldoze Facebook, they have much work to do and on this point Mr. Reisinger and I agree.

5. Mobility is an essential feature

I really don't get where Mr. Reisinger is going with this, as far as I can tell, there is already an Andriod App for Google+ and an iOS app is soon to appear, Google has a chart here. Along with that, the mobile browser version of Google+ is really good for only being available for a few weeks.

6. Think about the revenue

This is another odd one, sure Facebook does very well with their ad network. However, this is Google we are talking about, they own a sizable chunk of internet advertising themselves and will, most likely, be turning it on in Google+ soon. This will cause a small, to start with, disruption in add revenue for all of the other social sites as companies spread a little of their advertising budget Google+'s way. After the initial disruption, it will depend on performance of the ads which we cannot fairly judge at this point.

7. The groups issue

In some ways I agree with Mr. Reisinger here, circles in Google+ are extremely useful, if you get it. To go along with this, if a person has been trained in the Facebook way, the idea of simply putting someone in a Circle and that user not having to "friend" you back could and probably will be confusing. Google needs to do a better job of explaining this feature, especially because it's required to use the service. We'll have to wait and see when Google opens the floodgates for the public.

8. People are loath to switch their entire social effort

Mr Reisinger claims that people won't switch from Facebook to Google+, again I don't disagree, however first see my thoughts on number 1. We have moved from network to network leaving the previous one as a ghost town through several networks. The question is, is Google+ going to be the one we move to, or is this a splitting of the water, where some will use one service or the other and some will use both? I don't think we can make a good prediction here Google+ is only a few weeks old, yet it has a massive number of users already. Are these numbers telling of the future? We can only guess.

9. Core competencies need to be considered

Ok, Mr Reisigner I get your point. Facebook grew as a social network, therefore they must be social networking Gods. Google on the other hand grew as a search company and therefore are search Gods but, not social networking people. We'll have to wait and see.

10. Early growth isn't the full story

No it isn't, and we'll all have to wait and see what happens, Google+'s growth is impressive, but it in no way shows what will happen in the future.

To sum things up, Google+ is positioning it's self pretty well to become a solid social offering. They have watched and learned from what Facebook and others have done and are implementing things in what are arguably better ways. will they make Facebook a ghost town? Who knows, the potential is there, but it's up to Google to continue to smooth out the rough edges of the service ( some of which are very rough). On the other side of the fence, it depends on how Facebook responds, can they straighten out the many annoyances of Facebook? Can they add features without marring up the interface any more that it already is? Can they clean up the UI without upsetting to many users?

The thing that many are not talking about is how Google+ might impact Twitter, It's my opinion that once the service goes public and adds profiles for business, Twitter could be the first to feel the impact of Google+.

The Number of Apps Argument is Invalid.

2011-02-28T03:11:00.003-06:00

Why iPad is untouchable while iPhones were beaten by Android - was written yesterday by an Apple fanboy that I respect greatly, Robert Scoble. After I read it Mr. Scoble and I exchanged a couple of tweets because his assertion that apps drive sales is off base.
There needs to be no lengthy article to explan the whole "Apps" thing anymore, nor do we need to quote the number of apps in an app store. When it comes to iOS and Android, the consumer expects the apps to be there, whether they are or not. It’s as simple as that, which means there will be some disappointed Xoom owners when they realize that the app selection is relatively small.
The real reason that the Xoom doesn’t have a chance to even scuff the iPad is PRICE AND AVAILABILITY. To use a Scoble line; “Let’s keep repeating that until you get it.” Price and Availiability.
Right now the iPad is cheap $500 gets you the 16GB version, and for most people that is enough. Secondly the iPad is not tethered to any cellular carrier. (I am aware that AT&T sells them.) In the nearest city, Springfield, Mo, I can get one with no hassle from Best Buy or Database systems. I hand them my cash and they hand me an iPad. No contract, no hassle.
In the case of the Xoom it is currently tied to Verizon even if you give the $800 for it. As far as I can tell all, for sale, versions of the tablet have the Verizon logo on them and the only places to get one locally, is Best Buy and the Verizon stores. Either way you get hit up with the sales pitch for Verizon service with the device.
Right now and for the foreseeable future the iPad is the cheap device ( Yes, I just said an Apple device was cheap) and not only that, it has the better distribution model, with Best Buy, a handful of small shops that are Apple authorized resellers, the Apple stores/Apple online and if you must, the AT&T store. It will take some time for Android to change this and by the time it does the Apps that Scoble is so passionate about will be there and hopefully Google will take that time to fix the hot mess that is the android market.
To finish this up, the argument that it doesn’t have enough apps is now invalid when we speak of iOS or Andriod. The consumer expects them to be there for these OS’s, whether they are or not.
The real driver for the average joe is, PRICE & AVAILABILITY.

Note: I am quite aware that I did not include all the ways you can purchase either of these tablets,I only listed the most obvious for the average person. If you are reading this, you are not the average person.

The iPhone radio chipset; a passing thought

2011-02-16T01:44:00.001-06:00

We all know that the iPhone and AT&T have not gotten along well as far as actually making calls or receiving data. The talking (and typing) heads have continually blamed this on AT&T's network. And while this may be partly to blame it doesn't explain why users of blackberries, windows phone7, Android and other devices are not complaining. It seems that there is a possibility we could blame the phone and its hardware.

My hypothesis is that the Infineon chipset could partly to blame. Its the only thing that makes sense.

I live in SW Missouri and my iphone wielding friends have problems with dropped calls quite frequently and another friend lives in suburban Houston where he also experiences the dreaded dropped calls. Its so bad for him that he carries a Sprint device all the time.

Remember you read this here first; I predict that when the iPhone, summer 2011 edition, hits it will be packing a Qualcom radio chipset, just as the Verizon iPhone 4 does, and we sill start to hear less and less about the dropped calls on AT&T and of course the Verizon version willl continue to work well.

Damn Stock Market (Risti)

2011-02-07T01:17:00.001-06:00

And I Flip for Tablets

2011-02-05T02:22:00.001-06:00

In my last post I made the case for considering the iPhone as my next phone based on being able to expect (and get) certain things from Apple.

When it comes to tablets I am probably going to flip on that and go with something other than an iPad. I'll do this for a couple of reasons.

1. Hope that the tablet makers realize that a tablet is more than a 1 year device.

2. Flash, yup that nasty old Adobe thing that Apple loves to rail on. You see, as far as I'm concerned about tablet is for media playback and for the immediate future that means flash is still king.

I do have my fears about choosing an Android tablet, say I get a Motorola Xoom which, for now looks like it will come with a stock version of Android 3.0. Will its successor be stock Android as well? Or will it be like the Droid, where the successor gains a locked bootloader and a Motor blur skin?

Who know, all I can be sure of is that I want my flash, for now.

The Apple/Android Conundrum

2011-02-05T00:21:00.001-06:00

In a few days, as we all know, the l iPhone will be added to Verizon's cell phone arsenal. Many have already voted and are moving to the iPhone by pre ordering and many more will move to Verizon in the next several weeks to escape AT&T. Once that group is done it will be back to business as usual.

I'll make my own decision later this fall after we see what Apple has in store this summer and more importantly see how Motorola and HTC handle things. (no reason to watch Samsung, we already know the are the worst at rolling out udates. )

With the iphone we will probably get a new model like every summer before and that is good, new/updated hardware and a new version of the OS (that will be available for the last couple versions of the iPhone).

On the Android side of things there are sure to be some great hardware such as the upcoming Atrix, Bionic and many more. The interesting thing to watch will be how the manufactures handle updates, as it is the track record is not so good. Android 2.3 has been out for a few weeks now and only one phone is running it, the Nexus S. Most devices are running 2.2 with some still lagging with 2.1 and a few devices still on version 1.6. What I plan to watch is how the manufactures handle updates as they move to new versions of say the EVO and the Droid X. Will these current super phones get left in the dust less than a year after release? I hate to say it but I believe they will.

As of now the only company that we know for sure supports their hardware with software updates past the 12th month window is Apple. This in itself may be enough to win me over.

And #snowpocalypse in missouri continues...

2011-02-04T22:34:00.001-06:00

Taken with picplz at Sparta, MO in Sparta, MO.

#snowpocalypse in missouri!

2011-02-02T06:18:00.001-06:00

Taken with picplz at Price Cutter in Cassidy, MO.

Ty the, macho dog of the house.

2011-01-29T04:42:00.001-06:00

Taken with picplz.

Cinch For Mac OS X (10)

2011-01-29T04:28:00.001-06:00

Earlier today while perusing the Mac App store I happened on Cinch. It's a handy little app that simply makes most windows on your Mac desktop act like the "Snap" feature of Windows 7. Put simply if you drag the window to the top of the screen it goes full screen, to the left it and it snaps to fill half the screen, to the right and it snaps to fill the right half of the screen. Most will say this is not worth the 6.99 that Irradiated Software is asking. I was happy to pony up the 7 bucks to get my Mac to act right. Yes I said right, After using Windows 7 at the desk for quite a while now, I just expect the "Snap" effects to happen and it's disheartening when I would drag a window to one of the edges and nothing would happen on my Macbooks.

Will Cinch be worth $6.99 to you? If like me you move from Windows 7 to Mac OS X frequently and have come to like the Windows Snap gestures then yes this is well worth 7 bucks. If your a Mac only user it could open up a whole new way of working, such as quickly having full screen or things side by side to compare. If your a Mac elitist, don't bother your wouldn't want anything that makes your machine more Windows like. It's ok, we understand, and promise not to giggle at you behind your back as we Snap, err Cinch our way around the desktop.

Cinch can be found on the Mac app store and at Irradiated Software's site.

AppBrain Has Spoiled Me

2010-11-06T04:54:00.000-05:00

Just now I was listening to MacBreak Weekly while sitting behind my windows 7 PC, sacrilegious I know, and was reminded about Scrivner, a program I want to give a whirl. Literature and Latte's site is down at the moment but, I was able to find it on Apple's website. The first though that went through my head was to just click the download button assuming it would end up on my MacBook Pro. You know, just like when I click install in AppBrain it Magically ends up on my Droid X.

This may be because it's 4:44am, but more likely it's because AppBrain has made searching through, finding and installing apps extremely easy for my Android device and I just want it to be that easy for my other portable devices as well. Apple's incoming app store may make this easier when I'm using my laptop but, I doubt it will allow me to choose apps and instantly install them to my MacBooks from one of the windows desktops here in the bunker. Oh well, a slip of the mind early in the morning, wishing that all my equipment worked in harmony. I'll just keep dreaming.

All about Pencil Lead

2010-11-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

If your like me, I haven't put much interest in the actual type of lead that goes in my mechanical pencils. I just pick up some of what ever they have at Walmart or the local office supply store, simple enough.

A couple of days ago my wonderful wife, knowing that I like very fine point pens and pencils picked me up a new pencil, it's a Pentel Forte Pro II model that uses 0.3mm lead. No problem, I though, make a quick trip to Amazon.com and pick up some lead. I did so and was suddenly offered several choices on lead hardness. I had no idea what I was looking at and so this pencil lead became a bit of a research project to find out what those H & B's on the lead container really mean. I could try to explain here but Wikipedia of course has an excellent article on the subject with pictures ( I always like pictures)

I have decided to stick with the standard HB lead but have a look here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil and make your own decision.

Wikipedia article on Pencils

Facebook vs Twitter In My Mind.

2010-10-29T05:14:00.000-05:00

When it comes to Facebook, I dislike it. I don't like the barrage of useless stuff that passes through my profile and I don't feel like there is any privacy whatsoever. Now I am not stupid and I understand that anything we put on the internet is public no matter what the implied privacy is. I also understand that Facebook does a pretty good job of not revealing the info you don't want out there. I think my real problem with Facebook is simply that it's a closed system that forces you to not only network with people but also manage those people with the "friend request" and "groups".

I am completely the opposite in my opinion of Twitter and the other services that are intertwined with it. I have been using twitter for quite a while and converse with people all over the world. The difference in my mind, is simply this, Twitter never gave me any indication that anything I did or said using the service would be private. I took this understanding from the beginning and knowing this I monitor my own Tweets and the pics that I attach.

If you are so inclined you can follow me @Zelrick on Twitter if you want and catch what's on my mind and most likely I'll follow you back. However, if you go to Facebook I have my profile locked it's here. Will I approve you as a Facebook friend? Well maybe, if I happen to log in to check on my girls or see what pics my wife has put on the service, but probably not.

It's my opinion that each and everyone of us should have a Facebook account simply so you can monitor what is out there with your picture or name attached to it. And believe me it happens, there are people that dig up all those high school pics or pics from that party last weekend and name every person in them. In this Facebook age, if you are social at all or were at anytime in the past you can not escape having your face put up somewhere and usually it's Facebook where it ends up.

Maybe in time I will come around and use Facebook, but the complexity of the system when you compare it to Twitter is a deterrent, it's kind of like Google's Buzz, I have an account but have rarely used it because I don't want to take the time to figure it out. For now Twitter is my social network of choice, see you in the twitterverse.

Thinking about the Mac OS App Store

2010-10-25T04:33:00.001-05:00

At Apple’s recent “Back to The Mac” event, one of the more interesting things announced was the Mac OS App Store. This instantly caught my attention, I have been wondering since Stardock started delivering software through their Impulse system, why we don’t have a more of these stores? Thinks about it, Steam does it for games, Impulse for games and Objects Desktop, why not one for Windows as a whole? Even Linux, that Desktop OS that just won’t catch on with the main stream has repositories for the different distros. The Mac App Store does not surprise me, in fact, I wonder what has taken so long.

The Mac App store won’t be all roses and kisses though, that pesky Apple is going to do just as it does with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad app stores and take 30% of the purchase price per item sold from the developer. Most of the smaller shops are used to this and it won’t be a big deal for them. The problem comes in with the likes of Microsoft, Adobe and other large corporate software publishers. The are not going to want apple to take 30% of their pie. But as I’ll illustrate they will have to play.

Take Adobe and their Photoshop Elements suite right, now it costs $99.99. take 30% of that away and we have ~$70 profit per unit for Adobe and ~$30 per unit for Apple, however once the development cost are recouped that $70 is pure profit for Adobe for Apple the ~$30 minus the datacenter and bandwidth to get it to you is constant. It really looks like apple is getting a good deal, and yes they are however, Adobe is getting a pretty good deal to. Right now, I would guess, most people purchase Adobe’s products off the shelf at the local Best Buy or other retailer and that costs Adobe. Exactly how much I don’t know but I’m sure it’s not cheap. With Apple’s app store the distribution channel becomes all digital, eliminates the box, CD or DVD and the printed guides and other things that come with it. Also removing the necessity to download the trial or full version from Adobe’s servers, thus eliminating that cost as well.

Sounds all well and good right? Not so fast, as it is Adobe has to only compete with iPhoto and we all know that they are two completely different products. iPhoto for quick edits and organizing, Photoshop Elements for more serious editing, working with raw files and the like. If Adobe Plays along and puts a version of Photoshop Elements on the App store in as soon as it opens the software will probably sell quite well. Over time though there will be competitors, the app store environment breeds competition. Right now there are 3004 apps in the photography section for the iPhone and Adobe’s Photoshop Express is not in the top downloads list. This means the old standard of release once every couple year is out. On the current app stores you have to continue to improve to stay relevant. This evens out over time and the best rise to the top, like PicSay Pro for Android. I have Photoshop Express on my Droid X but PicSay is my go to app for quick photo edits, it’s easier and more fun. The same happens in every store, competition will force everyone to play along for the consumer dollars in the app store, even Microsoft and Adobe.

For the consumer this is all roses and kisses as long as you have a high speed connection or can occasionally jump on one at the local coffee shop or where ever Wi-Fi is served in your area ( I saw a free Wi-Fi sticker in the window of a local Wal-Mart?). The ease of use, creation of competition and one stop shopping will be the first thing that attracts people. The the ability to have your apps move with you from Mac to Mac when upgrading hardware and install them on each of your Macs will make it the method of choice for most to get their apps.

Roses do have thorns though, that bunch of thorns is the app approval process, there will be apps that won’t make the cut. Most likely they will be ones we all want, such as Flash, Adobe Air, Microsoft Silverlight, Chrome, Firefox, you get the idea. As cool and nice as the app store will be it will also be a way for Apple to continue its control of their platforms. For new Mac users the app store will be prominently displayed on a new Mac and many won’t install apps outside of it, even though Apple has said that it won’t keep you from it. Thus extending the control Apple has over the Mac/iOS platforms.

The other little thorn will be the fact that Microsoft Office Professional, Adobe’s Creative Suites and the like, won’t be on the app store, you’ll still need to take yourself to the brick and mortar office store to buy them or order them. I doubt that Apple really wants them on the Mac App Store and the Distribution methods for these and other products like them won’t agree with the app store model anyhow.

In the end though, next spring when I hopefully get my new 13.3 inch MacBook Air, I’ll download Microsoft Word, Photoshop Elements and of course Angry Birds from the Mac App Store.