DarylMcMullen.com

Yahoo! to Buy Tumblr?

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:53:39 -0400

Please tell me this isn’t true! Yahoo! wants to buy Tumblr?

I may be looking for a new micro-blogging platform soon…

Thank You CW!

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:47:00 -0400

Finally! A television station is getting with the program and offering its content the way people are consuming it. This article explains how CW programming is coming to an AppleTV in your living room.

I’ve seen new iOS Apps popping up for major content providers (like NBC, CBS, ABC, etc.) This is good - offering people the ability to watch recent shows on demand on small devices - but this is the first I’ve seen where one is making it simple to view the way people typically view this content - on their TV!!!

Thank you CW for taking the time to listen and respond to what the public is screaming for!

Soon we’ll all be able to get rid of cable and pick and choose the content we really want access to! At least that’s the dream…

Come on NBC - how about making this happen for sporting events too?

After Posting:

Just realized CW also has an App for the XBOX360! So cool that they are leading the charge in embracing newer technology.

Don't Leave College Without These 10 Digital Skills

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:20:02 -0400

Don't Leave College Without These 10 Digital Skills:

Graduation season is upon us, and soon college graduates everywhere will have to face the “real world.” These digital skills can help the transition.

Good stuff. Can you do these 10 things yourself?

Really Home Depot?

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:45:52 -0400

And that would be your first mistake :)

Here They Go Again...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:23:00 -0400

When I first signed up for Netflix I had the ability to stream on multiple devices at the same time. There were no limits.

Then Netflix attempted to limit accounts to one simultaneous stream at a time. People flipped out and Netflix quickly relented.

In today’s culture people aren’t going to wait for someone else in the family to finish a movie before they have the opportunity to watch theirs. I have three kids and if they all want to watch a different show at the same time they should be able to.

This is why I no longer subscribe to Spotify Premium. They only allow one person to be using the account at the same time.

And here we go again…

Now Netflix is spinning the entire thing by promoting the fact that they will be coming out with this cool new thing called the “Family Plan” for around $12/month.

Just so you know Netflix - this isn’t new. I already have a family plan for $7.99/month.

Supposedly I can only stream to two devices at once, but that’s not true. I can have 5 going at once right now and nothing happens.

Wake up Netflix - you aren’t fooling anyone.

You want more money.

Period.

So why don’t you just come out and say it like that?

Sources:

Probably one of my favorite commercials right now. Great job...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:24:59 -0400

Probably one of my favorite commercials right now.

Great job DSG!

Oh. My. Word. Taking extreme sport to the next level. Not...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:51:17 -0400

Oh. My. Word.

Taking extreme sport to the next level.

Not afraid to die? You might be a candidate for trying this…

How to Ditch Cable

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:33:21 -0400

A year or so ago we tried giving up cable all together.

As of today we still have it.

But as summer nears we’re again trying to decide if it would be worth canceling our cable tv through Comcast - or is it Xfinity now?

Who knows…

Why would we do such a thing?

Cost: The truth of the matter is that cable is expensive. Especially if you want good channels. We’re paying what we’re comfortable with (Digital Starter) and yet have numerous channels blocked. Much of the sports channels and even family channels like National Geographic and the Science Channel.
It’s Summer: The kids need to be outside. Plus we’re often at the lake so we’re paying for something we’re not using.
TV Rots Your Brain: OK - that was a little harsh… But I do watch more TV than I should.
Boxes & Wires: I’m really tired of having to have boxes and multiple wires hooked up to each television in the house - just so I can get the same sub-par programming on each. And that’s just SD channels. If I want HD I need a new, bigger box that is an added monthly fee.
Support/Service: Have you tried getting support? An hour later and the answer is still “no.”
Other Options: At this point, an HD Antenna, Apps for the main channels using AirPlay to AppleTV, Netflix and Movies on disk should keep us going.
Google Fiber: But what I’m really waiting for is Google Fiber. Don’t get me wrong - it’ll be expensive too ($120/mo) but we’re paying that now for Comcast! With Google you would have 100x the Internet speed and a full channel list where they don’t keep a couple of the big ones out so you’ll have to upgrade to the full package… I have no idea how long it will take to get it in our area - but can’t be soon enough…

Anyone else have success stories with moving away from the cable company?

Times Are a Changing

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:15:00 -0400

I read an article over at Social Media Today by Fraser Robinson that basically sums it all up for me.

Microblogging is quickly taking over. And not just microblogging, but those platforms like Instagram and Pinterest that are highly visual with images and associated captions/content.

I started out as a fairly regular blogger, writing 250-700 word posts with incredibly useful and life-changing content. :) These posts were typically work related on topics I felt my readers would be interested in. And I’d throw in the occasional personal post just to keep it real.

But about a year ago I made the switch from blogger to microblogger.

I was already microblogging - just decided to let go of the large, bloated blogging thing.

I moved to Tumblr so I would still have the ability to do a wide range of things - but quickly realized my values had changed as well.

I think I came to the realization that I wasn’t reading peoples personal blogs any more for technical information. I have my 10-20 favorite blogs I follow and trust (things like Engadget, Mashable, etc.) and that’s where I go for my tech fix. So why would I keep putting content out there that the professionals already have available?

And that’s where microblogging filled the gap.

I can still do a post every now and then about a topic other tech geeks would find useful. But for the most part I post about life, experiences, things I like, and things that I find wrong with the world.

Basically, today I live here:

Tumblr
Instagram
Pheed
Facebook (mobile)

Don't Get Discouraged

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:33:52 -0400

If you’re like me it’s hard at times to see friends/acquaintances leaving the country on a regular basis to vacation for a week or so in postcard locations like the one above.

Right now I’d give just about anything to visit:

Maldives
Belize
St. Lucia
Or just about anywhere with warm sun and diving…
Check out pheed.com/destinations to see great pix of amazing places to visit.

The problem is - this slight frustration has the ability to become anger and often resentment.

In fact, if I had no religious upbringing, no spiritual compass or no belief in anything beyond death; there is a chance I would literally live for this. I’d work more jobs, go into serious debt and do whatever it took to live life to the fullest. See everything I wanted to see. And leave no stone unturned in my attempt to NOT miss out on anything.

But luckily there is a spiritual compass. I do have a belief that there is life after death. And that is the only reason I don’t get discouraged.

Heaven is going to be SO much better than any week-long trip I could take on Earth. And when this Earth is made new - I can’t help but believe that I’ll get to see it all anyway - and in a condition of complete perfection.

Until that day - I can dream.

Absolutely love this commercial. Don’t know that I’m...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:53:21 -0400

Absolutely love this commercial. Don’t know that I’m in love with the Nexus 10 - but they do a great job of promoting it!

Patrick Kane (88) perfects the slow motion shootout goal. This...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:53:16 -0400

Patrick Kane (88) perfects the slow motion shootout goal. This has to drive goalies insane!

Hilarious… Just trying to figure out what stage I’m...

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:20:59 -0500

Hilarious…

Just trying to figure out what stage I’m in!

More here: loldwell.com

Apple & Google's Headquarters = Their Personalities

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:10:13 -0500

Apple & Google's Headquarters = Their Personalities:

Interesting article on how the design of the headquarters for Apple and Google are indicative of the way they conduct business.

Youth Hockey coach jailed for tripping player. Sad stuff. Who is...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:15:29 -0500

Youth Hockey coach jailed for tripping player.

Sad stuff. Who is the adult here?

9 New Ways We Sit, Thanks to Tech

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:41:00 -0500

Hilarious…

But so true. Due to the various technology/devices we own and use on a daily basis - these positions are widely seen.

Read full article here

The RIM/Blackberry Hail Mary

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:36:00 -0500

Recent news about Blackberry10 OS and a couple new phones (one that looks like every other smart phone out there - finally) doesn’t really interest me other than the fact that I’m surprised they are still a viable company.

Years of riding on top must have brought on a sense of complacency - leading to a recent decline in market share and an overall lack of relevance.

Now, similar to Palm’s undoing in the release of the Palm Pre and Palm OS, Blackberry finds itself throwing the “Hail Mary” pass. The question is, will there be anyone in the end zone waiting for the pass?

On the Today Show this morning people were interviewed about Blackberry and two things became obvious:

There is a lot of misinformation out there. One guy said, “I have to use Blackberry - it’s the only phone that can handle the high volume of email I get.” Really? Because other smart phones don’t do email - right?
People still love the physical keyboard. My guess is that the best selling phone for Blackberry won’t be the slick new Z10 candybar phone with virtual keyboard - it will be the older looking brother with small screen and physical keyboard they say is coming!

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Unlike Palm (which was bought out by HP and then basically dissolved…) Blackberry has a bit more going for them. Somehow they’re still able to convince large companies (and the U.S. Government) that they are the only “secure” solution.

Time will tell…

The 2012 Internet by the numbers. Are you a numbers person? If...

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:34:51 -0500

The 2012 Internet by the numbers. Are you a numbers person? If so - check out the crazy stats from last year’s use of the Internet on the Royal Pingdom blog. Amazing stuff…

Full Story

Oh my… Potty training just got taken to a whole new...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:56:02 -0500

Oh my… Potty training just got taken to a whole new level…

Hope you don’t mind little potty smudges on the screen :)

Full Story

The "Twitter Effect"

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:55:00 -0500

It occurred to me a while back that my mind just isn’t what it used to be. It’s not as fast, not as coherent and definitely not as cohesive.

But unlike everything else - I don’t believe it has to do with age.

Instead I’m going to call it the “Twitter Effect.” No, I can’t blame Twitter - but will use the name to represent the many available social media outlets that I (we) use every day.

My theory: Using social media has made me ADD.

Remember the days when you could sit down and read an entire book in one sitting? Okay - me either, but at least a couple chapters in a row without falling asleep?!
Then came the blogs. Shorter and easier to “browse” so you only read the good stuff.
And don’t get me started on email - some short, some long - all important and urgent! Hundreds of little tasks you forgot you had to accomplish…
Then Facebook came along with it’s short bursts of information. Of course you had to read it all because they were your friends - right?
Next Twitter took the paragraph and shortened it to 140 characters.
And now I live on Instagram. Pictures tell stories and you technically don’t have to read anything if you don’t want to.

So what has all this “technological advancement” done to me? To my brain?

I think it’s made me ADD!

I find more and more that my mind moves 100mph - but with no real destination. I wasn’t that way 10 years ago. I could focus for long periods of time - even on boring topics!

Now it’s like my mind is constantly surfing my Twitter feed - 30 different topics in 30 different tweets.

I try to pray, but 20 seconds in and I’m having to bring myself back from 5 different mental tangents…

Is it just me?