MediaMix

Apple Watch Gets Power to Go

2016-01-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Griffith Technology will be releasing a nifty accessory for Apple Watch (slated for Q2). Dubbed the "Travel Power Bank", this key chain backup charger allows you to rest your Apple Watch on it for a charge.

This is perfect for active Apple Watch users like myself. Depending on my activity level, app usage and forgetfulness - there is no telling when my watch will hit its reserve power mode request.

According to Griffith Technology, its 800 mAh battery is good for four charges of the Apple Watch. This small key chain accessory won't get in the way and it will be hard to forget, since its attached to my keys. At only $69.99, I'll be adding one to my accessory case. That is unless someone creates a solar-powered watch band.

Top 5 Excuses Why Your Email Address is on the Ashley Madison Leaked Data

2015-08-23T20:10:00.000-07:00

I found this on PrivateWealthNews.com. It is the best list of reasons I have heard. Hey since Letterman's gone here a top 5 list.

Use the following if responding to your spouse about whether your email address is on Ashley Madison

#5 – Yes, she organized the food drive at church
#4 – That’s the store where I bought you the dress for our anniversary
#3 – Maybe, when we were looking for a contractor
#2 – Only if you signed me up!
#1 – That’s the place we got our dinning room set from, Right!

Read More:
http://www.privatewealthnews.com/ashley-madison-responses-for-your-spouse/

A Six-Word Story About Your Technology Problems

2015-07-17T09:35:00.004-07:00

Just came across an interesting tech challenge on i09.
Tell Us a Six-Word Story About Your Technology Problems

Ria Misra has dropped the gauntlet - describe your technology "anxieties, hopes, oddities, and recurring problems" in just six-words. I will add a twist encouraging all to use whatever "language" they like.

My entry -
Technology is not always the problem

Tweets Can be Louder Than we Think

2015-07-14T07:28:00.002-07:00

I just came across an article about tweets made by David Frum, a former adviser to George W. Bush who is now the Senior Editor of The Atlantic, suggesting that based Serena Williams physical appearance that she was on steroids. Mr. Frum claims that he thought he was privately tweeting with a friend. I am going to leave the discussion about Serena to others.

I will focus on the power of social media and how in the wrong hands its a load weapon with the real potential of creating a self- inflicted wound .

For many experienced authors, who started their careers on IBM Selectric typewriters
or using ATEX , social media platforms appear to be an extension of their previous tools. But they are not. Social media tools are open and have the power to spread a message of hope in seconds to millions of people and it can also destroy careers in the same amount of time.

Offensive/questionable social media posts can prevent people from securing employment, it has caused people to lose their jobs, and in some cases has resulted in lawsuits.

Companies need protect themselves by training employees on how to use social media safely and make them aware of the dangers. Remember the world is listening, which is something that Mr. Frum now understands.

Some books that might help:

Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself

The Social Organization: How to Use Social Media to Tap the Collective Genius of Your Customers and Employees

or
See all available books

Apple Watch after 3 Weeks on my Wrist

2015-05-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

My Apple Watch Sport arrived a few weeks ago and so far I really like. I started to love when I received my first text message and didn't have to fish for my iPhone. Then came a call while I was in my car - and Yes, I held my wrist up near my mouth like Agent 86 on Get Smart. It was cool and other driver's noticed. ( Note:my eyes never left the road - we were at a red light).

My Apple Watch had a white band and as I mentioned in my earlier post I had ordered an alternative band. The original bands were going to take a month to arrival and I didn't what to wait. After a little homework I decide to take the do-it-yourself route.

Here is what I did:

I purchased the TKJETech® 42mm Genuine Leather Strap Wrist Band Replacement w/ Metal Clasp for Apple Watch All Models 42mm (Leather - Black) band for $26. This is a great band to get, because it it includes a set of Apple Watch band adapters. Once installed ( you'll need a precision screw driver set) you will have the ability to switch you watch band with just about any watch wrist band available. Make sure that you get a band between 18-22mm. Bigger bands are better.

The installation:

1) Disassembled the TKJETech® 42mm Genuine Leather Strap Wrist Band to get the wrist band adapter off.

All of my bands


Apple vs. Replacement

Disassemble

Modify the new band

Done!

2) The hardest part was selecting a band - now that you have choices. Take a look at some replacement bands.

So, for under $40 I gave my Apple Watch a makeover. I haven't ruled out purchasing a nicer premium watch band. But if you want a less expensive way of updating your watch here you go.

Apple Watch - I'm Pre-Ordered

2015-04-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I need one, but I am getting one. I've read all of the articles and heard each side of the many arguments. But I wrote a post almost two years ago, "iWatch Launch set for 2014".

"Apple's design reputation is second to none - but it is unusual to see them arrive late to the party --- they usually create the device category.As a sidebar, I really hope that I can get an iWatch from Rolex., yes an iRolex!"

I guess I was correct about the Rolex type model. Just take a look at the
38mm 18-Karat Yellow Gold Case with Bright Red Modern Buckle, which sells for $17,000.
Well my choice of which watch to choose was simple, I went with the Sport with the white band for $399. Why white? I noticed that Apple Watch bands were already available. So I have also pre-ordered a replacement black rubber band for $24 and a 42mm Milanese Loop Stainless Steel Mesh Replacement for only $74, which is a faction of of what Apple is charging. My thought is I'll have two sport versions and an evening version.

Admittedly, I wish at the Milan Salone Del Mobile Design Fair in Italy.

Should Your Children Learn How to Code?

2014-04-04T05:39:00.005-07:00

The answer for me is YES! I am a geek, so anyone who knows would expect me to say yes. But the simple fact is that any career your child decides to pursue as an adults will require them to have basic programming and logic skills. Doing anything from developing websites or creating complex financial algorithms to streamlining our daily lives.
A great example is Mark Zuckerburg (http://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/), who was a Psychology major at Harvard. His interest in coding has made him one of the youngest billionaires in the world, $26 billion as of yesterday. He used his coding skills to hack together a crowd sourced website for an art class at school.

“I emailed this to the class list and said, ‘Hey guys, I built this study tool.’” Grades on the class had never been so high, Zuckerberg says.

Our schools are trying, but they are falling short. Computer classes in the US are relegated to speed typing tutorials, spreadsheets and playing candy crush. This is further compounded by the lack of qualified teachers and the lack of action being taken by our educational system.
Last year, the UK set guidelines for teaching their students basic programming and computing skills. There are as follows,

The curriculum would see children aged between five and seven being taught what algorithms are and how they are implemented as programs.
And by age 14 children should have mastered a range of computing skills including:

designing computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world objects;
understanding at least two commonly used algorithms for sorting and searching;
using two or more programming languages, at least one of which should be a written programming language, to solve a variety of computational problems. They should be able to create data structures such as arrays and use functions to write modular programs;
understanding how simple Boolean logic, such as AND, OR and NOT, is used to determine which part of a program is executed;
understanding the hardware and software components that make up networked computer systems and how they interact;
understanding how various data types can be represented and manipulated in the form of binary digits.

So, how can you get your child started coding even if you aren't a programmer.

Visit the following resources:

Scratch - http://scratched.media.mit.edu/

Developed at MIT, Scratch is designed especially for ages 8 to 16, it allows you to program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share them. You can share this link which includes teaching resources with you school - http://scratched.media.mit.edu/

Code Academy - http://www.codecademy.com/

"Codecademy is an education company. But not one in the way you might think. We're committed to building the best learning experience inside and out, making Codecademy the best place for our team to learn, teach, and create the online learning experience of the future.
Education is old. The current public school system in the US dates back to the 19th century and wasn't designed to scale the way it has. Lots of companies are working to "disrupt" education by changing the way things work in the classroom and by bringing the classroom online."

Alice.org - http://www.alice.org/index.php

"Alice is an innovative 3D programming environment that makes it easy to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or a video to share on the web. Alice is a freely available teaching tool designed to be a student's first exposure to object-oriented programming. It allows students to learn fundamental programming concepts in the context of creating animated movies and simple video games. In Alice, 3-D objects (e.g., people, animals, and vehicles) populate a virtual world and students create a program to animate the objects."

Hackety.com - http://hackety.com/

"Hackety Hack will teach you the absolute basics of programming from the ground up. No previous programming experience is needed!

With Hackety Hack, you'll learn the Ruby programming language. Ruby is used for all kinds of programs, including desktop applications and websites."

Tesla's Stock Gets a Charge

2014-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Tesla's stock is on the move again as the company announced its plans to develop a state of the art battery plant coined by Elon Musk as a "gigafactory". On Tuesday, shares hit an all-time high trading price of $259.20 after Morgan Stanley raised its target price for the stock to $320 a share from $153. Enter Panasonic, who is interested in investing $ 1 Billion into the Tesla battery plant.
While many observers have focused on this as a car battery supplier plant, it may impact battery production in other segments. The lithium-ion batteries produced at this plant could be used in a wide-array of applications including - solar energy storage, military drones or kids toys. Based on what Elon has said, “We are talking about something that is comparable to all of the lithium-ion battery production in the world in one factory,” .

Google’s smart contact lens

2014-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

As more consumers become comfortable and adorn themselves with wearables ranging from smart watches, fit bands, and glasses. Now we are getting closer to inserting ourselves with technology.
Google has announced yesterday that it is testing a contact lens that can be used by diabetics to test their glucose levels - with the hope of reducing the amount of pain they have to go through daily.

smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second.

There are millions of people who can't wait for this product to be released.

The Best way to Track a Storm - Google Crisis Map

2013-11-21T06:42:00.000-08:00

Google Crisis Map has become my destination to having visibility into natural disasters around the world. In near real-time you can see Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Typhoons, High wind advisories, Flooding, Mud Slides, Forest Fires, Snow warnings, and Earthquakes.
For the recent Typhoon in the Philippines, Google Crisis provided details regarding

Evacuation Centers, Hospitals and Health Facilities, Command Posts and Vital Infra, Police Precinct/Station, Communication Centers, Relief Centers, Airports, and "Areas of calamity".

Google also offers the ability to search for people during a disaster using its People Finder and they provide links to organizations involved in the relief effort at http://www.google.org/crisisresponse/2013-yolanda/index.html.

I take a peek at Google Crisis a few times a week and I am amazed by the number of natural events that occur worldwide, which would go without notice. Here is a screen grab of what is going on in our back yard.

A really nice feature are the global cams, which allow you to take a live peek at the weather in different locations.

Who are the Most Followed Athletes on Twitter?

2013-10-30T06:27:00.001-07:00

Leveraging social to keep in touch with your fans is must for star athletes in all sports. Here is a breakdown and analysis of how athletes across sports stacked up when it comes to their popularity on twitter. It's pretty clear that soccer and basketball players dominate the top 100 positions.
But soccer is a true global passion - Ronaldo has more than twice the numbers of followers than Lebron James, and Kaka has 7 million more followers than him.
These ranks from Twittercounter.com don't tell the entire story - keep in mind that these are all-time totals, so recent popularity isn't factored into these ranks, which is why older athletes dominate this list.

15 Cristiano Ronaldo - 22,222,552 followers // 1,589 tweets

21 Kaka - 17,173,078 followers // 3,043 tweets

64 LeBron James @KingJames - 10,176,460 followers // 3,659 tweets

87 @NBA - 8,484,017 followers //54,646 tweets

94 SHAQ- 7,747,974 followers // 6,873 tweets

95 Ronaldinho Gaúcho - 7,730,954 followers // 1,590 tweets

102 Wayne Rooney - 7,438,271 followers // 1,363 tweets

109 Gerard Piqué - 7,192,888 followers // 1,556 Tweets

110 Andrés Iniesta - 7,302,216 followers // 618 tweet

Should Journalists Learn How to Code?

2013-10-29T07:00:00.002-07:00

I came across a piece on Niemanlab.org, where the question was being asked, as a result of other article discussions. Having been involved on the technology side of the media industry (most of it in journalism), I feel this is the wrong question to ask. It has been my experience that many young journalist lack basic computer skills, which I find absolutely amazing. So forget coding, I recommend learning how to use the basic editorial tools used to publish content (articles, blogs, videos) to the internet. Students should learn how advertising models work, they should understand web analytics , and how to develop a personal digital brand across many content types. These skills will only enhance a journalists value to a media organization.
The flip-side of this discuss is whether or not developers should learn business - to which I say YES! The best technologist understand the objectives of their organization and they leverage technology to help the organization succeed.
Begin well-rounded is something that needs to be encouraged and reinforced in college students. The simple fact is no matter what field of study you pursue, technology will be a significant part of your work life.

New iPad Set to Arrive Today

2013-10-22T08:03:00.001-07:00

While there are now a lot choices for consumers looking for a tablet - there is only one choice for Apple loyalists, whatever the new version of the iPad is. Rumor has it that Apple will be releasing remodeled versions of Apple's standard-sized iPad with a 10-inch display screen and the iPad Mini with a nearly 8-inch screen.Expect the new iPad's to come with the same biometric scanner as the iPhone 5s, which will allow users to use their thumb print as their password. I don't expect the product pricing to change, so $99 and $329 respectively.

New iPhones & iOS 7 Set to Arrive

2013-09-05T04:00:00.001-07:00

After months of speculating about a new iPhone, Apple sent invites to the media for a September 10 event to announce "something". Analyst suspect that Apple will unveil a new iPhone 5s and a low-cost model "c" - both sporting iOS 7.

I am always a bit skeptical - Apple may decide to hold separate events and use September 10 to unveil a new iPad or a retina MacBook.

The event begins at 10:00am Pacific time on September 10.

Can Google Eliminate Traffic?

2013-08-21T07:20:00.002-07:00

Probably not right now, but it can prevent you from sitting in traffic.

If you've never heard of Google Maps or Waze , you've probably spent a lot time asking for directions. Google has married the best of Waze and its maps to create the ultimate crowd sourced resource for traffic Information about car accidents, traffic. The information will come from the 50 million global users of Waze, the social-mapping app that Google bought in June for $1.1 billion. I have been a huge fan for a while and I use Waze over my cars builtin navigation. In my opinion Waze should be the standard. The police alerts are great and a usually spot on. If you don't have it - download it.

Tesla's Stock Electrifies Shareholders

2013-08-09T10:40:00.002-07:00

It's not a secret, I love the Tesla Model S. I have been seeing them pop up everywhere and I want one.
I wasn't surprised to hear the Tesla's stock soared 13% after reporting a profit. The company has sold 5,000 Models S's in Q3 and estimates 21,000 for the year. Analyst expect to see the numbers double in a year, as demand increases for the electric luxury vehicles. This will be assisted as better financing deals are provided and charging stations (w/ battery swap ) appear.
Next year, Tesla plans to introduced the falcon-winged Model X, an SUV with a 5.0 second zero to 60 time. Need I say more.

Also see: http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-top-10-list-for-2012-good-and-bad.html

Amazon Founder Acquires Washington Post

2013-08-05T14:08:00.001-07:00

I just saw the headline. And Yes I hear that this is a deal being made by Bezos and not on behalf of Amazon.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/washington-post-to-be-sold-to-jeff-bezos/2013/08/05/ca537c9e-fe0c-11e2-9711-3708310f6f4d_story.html

Jeff Bezos is said to be paying $250 Million in cash for the historic newspaper. Also included in the deal, El Tiempo Latino, Kaplan, Express newspaper, Southern Maryland Newspapers, Fairfax County Times, Greater Washington Publishing,Cable ONE , Slate magazine, ,The Gazette Newspapers, TheRoot.com, Foreign Policy, Post–Newsweek Stations - I think that's all of them.

Microsoft's Product Slide Continues

2013-07-31T06:07:00.001-07:00

Microsoft launched the Surface table in October of 2012 and it has been an uphill battle ever since. The company managed to almost spend $1bn in advertising expenses to promote Windows 8 and the Surface. This is amazing if you consider that they only generated $853m in Surface revenue for all of fiscal 2013.
In reviewing Microsoft's 10k, I found some interesting notes.

From Microsoft's 10k

We will continue to invest in new software and hardware products, services, and technologies, such as the Microsoft-designed and manufactured Surface launched in October 2012. Investments in new technology are speculative. Commercial success depends on many factors, including innovativeness, developer support, and effective distribution and marketing. If customers do not perceive our latest offerings as providing significant new functionality or other value, they may reduce their purchases of new software products or upgrades, unfavorably impacting revenue. We may not achieve significant revenue from new product, service, and distribution channel investments for a number of years, if at all. Moreover, new products and services may not be profitable, and even if they are profitable, operating margins for some new products and businesses will not be as high as the margins we have experienced historically.

And this sums it up. Launching new products to remain competitive in the consumer market can be costly, especially if you describe your approach as speculative.

iWatch Launch Set for 2014?

2013-07-15T06:55:00.001-07:00

According to the Financial Times, Apple is in the process of hiring “aggressively” for the iWatch project. Yes, all sign are pointing towards a wearable Apple device. Unfortunately, according to teh report it is more than a year away. I have been hearing about iWatch for at least 6-months. It seems strange that it would take Apple so long to produce a wearable device, especially because of the competition they face in other areas. Small companies like Pebble are selling wearable mobile phone companion watches - that sync with the iPhone or Andriod phones. The quick success of Pebble
illustrates that there is a market for wearable mobile devices. Apple's design reputation is second to none - but it is unusual to see them arrive late to the party --- they usually create the device category.
As a sidebar, I really hope that I can get an iWatch from Rolex., yes an iRolex!

Moto X May Make Motorola Relevant Again

2013-07-13T06:56:00.001-07:00

With an expected $500 Million dollar marketing campaign to announce its arrival and Eric Schmidt public unveiling - does Motorola have a contender to fight back Apple and Samsung?
The Moto X is expected to hit the street at $199 with a contract. According to the rumor mill, it will boast the latest version of Android (4.2.2) -NFC, 4G LTE MIMO dual antenna, Bluetooth 4.0 + EDR, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and a 720p OLED display.
Maybe Motorola is back and relevant again.

The Best Protective Cases for Your Kindle

2013-06-28T09:26:00.001-07:00

For Christmas I purchased a Kindle Fire for my 7-year-old. I knew that my first accessory was going to be a protective case and it had to be a good one. I wanted to make sure that the Kindle could survive a few tumbles, drops and falls. I purchased the Fisher Price Kid-Tough Apptivity Case for Kindle Fire, which has worked nicely. After 6 months of abuse it has held up, but it is starting to look worn. So its time to get a new protective case. The good news is that the selection of protective cases has improved and the prices have dropped. Here were my choices.

i-Blason ArmorBox Kido Series Light Weight Super Protection Convertible Stand Cover Case for Apple Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7 Inch Tablet Kids Friendly. This protector sports a sturdy case with a handle for easy carrying, especially for little hands. At $14.99, it's also inexpensive.

OtterBox Defender Series Protective Case for Kindle Fire HD 7", Pink/Papaya (with built-in screen protection). A good looking case, but it comes with a hefty price tag ($69.95)

Bobj Rugged Case for Kindle Fire HD 7 - BobjGear protective cover - Gotcha Green $21.95

Devicewear Station: Protective Drop Resistant Heavy Duty Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Black) -$26.95. This is the heavy-weight in the group and at a great price.

Gumdrop Cases Drop Tech Series Protective Case Cover for Kindle Fire, Blue - With Screen Protection (does not fit Kindle Fire HD) $49.95

Fintie (Blue) Casebot Kiddie Series Light Weight Shock Proof Handle Case for Kids Specially made for Kindle Fire HD 7 (will only fit Kindle Fire HD 7") - Multi Color Options $9.95. No sure how well this one may hold up, but at under $10 its worth a look.

After reviewing all of the contenders, I purchased the Devicewear Station: Protective Drop Resistant Heavy Duty Case for Kindle Fire HD 7" (Black) -$26.95.

iPhone 5 Release this Monday?

2013-06-07T10:09:00.004-07:00

Tim Cook will take center stage at the WWDC on Monday (1pm est) and the rumor mill suspects that he will unveil details about the next Apple iPhone and iOS 7. Don't hold your breath for a "cheap" iPhone - if there is anything folks should know is that Apple will not release a less expensive version - they will simply lower the price of the previous model. So expect to see the iPhone 5 on sale - or they maybe be given away for free.
Security is all of the buzz when it comes to the iPhone 5 - the will scan your finger print the allow access - so long 4-digit code. Other rumored features - larger screen - Gaze detection -better camera - larger storage options, but no SD slot - NFC - Smart bezel..

Concept

Patent

The Banning of Google Glass

2013-06-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

Casinos in Las Vegas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Conneticut and Ohio have banned the use of Google Glass in any of their casinos. Atlantic City was the latest to issue the ban on Monday based on a memo from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, which said,

"If these eyeglasses were worn during a poker game, they could be used to broadcast a patron's hand to a confederate or otherwise be used in a collusive manner"
"Even if the glasses had not been used for cheating ... their presence at a gaming table would lead to the perception that something untoward could be occurring, thereby undermining public confidence in the integrity of gaming," wrote David Rebuck, the division's director wrote in his memo to the NJ casinos.

As I wrote earlier, the ban on Google Glass may extend into other areas, like, Sporting events, office buildings, shops, meetings, concerts, airplanes, Malls/Dept. Stores, schools/universities, banks, airports, hospitals, government buildings, roller coasters (Hershey Park -Thing) - I am not sure how I missed casinos.

Read more on Google Glass:

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2013/04/your-glasses-have-arrived-now-check_24.html

Find Your Next Job in the Article Comments

2013-06-04T06:27:00.001-07:00

Zynga (NASDAQ: ZNGA - Jun 4 9:07am ET $2.99)
announced yesterday that it will be laying off 520 people, 18% of its workforce in an effort to save $70-80 million. Industry experts wonder how long the once popular can survive. But in reading articles about the layoffs I noticed an interesting thing in the comments section of each post. The comments are usually filled with comments from the terminated employees, and it can give you a closer glimpse into what is happening at that company. But stuck between the employee comments were job postings from other software companies.So a word to job seekers, read the article comments.

http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/03/zynga-global-layoffs/

More on Zynga:

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/06/social-media-bubble.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/07/zynga-files-for-ipo-of-up-to-1-billion.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2011/11/zynga-quick-rise-may-bring-about-its.html

http://mediamixmaster.blogspot.com/2012/04/zynga-stock-continues-to-slide.html

Is Bigger Really Better for Tablets?

2013-05-23T06:30:00.001-07:00

HP just announced the Rove 20, a 20-inch all-in one PC ( Windows 8) with a multi- touch display, which makes it more of a tablet. Not expected to be available until July, this $1,000 monster tablet may not appeal to many consumer who have come to enjoy a smaller form-factor. Don't be surprised if these monsters of the Midway find a niche home. Microsoft just signed a deal with the NFL - they may make excellent playbooks. The double duty device has the potential to satisfy a number of features on any geeks must have list.