Our plan now is to record a more traditional workflow show with Rob to be published sometime in the next month or two once we can coordinate our schedules.

Yet another reason to come to these conferences and see our live shows in person, you never know what is going to happen!

Since being turned on to the idea in a recent Workflows episode with Alex Lindsay, I’ve started using the Cocoon Grid System to organize my tech accessories. The Cocoon comes in various shapes and sizes, but I picked the model that is the same size as my laptop so they’ll always fit together in the same bag. With the Cocoon packed I now only have to grab two things for my various travel bags and I’m to go for most any situation, my MacBook Air and my Cocoon.

So, here’s a look at my travel bag with explanations:

1. Apple USB Ethernet Adapter: This may seem like a silly addition in a world of ubiquitous Wi-Fi, but there are still times when you just need to plug in and the MacBook Air does not have an Ethernet port. Wi-Fi at hotels can be iffy at best and when speaking at conferences, especially tech conferences, there are generally Ethernet ports available for guests and speakers to connect and access content. In fact, at WWDC, the only way you can download the gigantic developer released at the show is via wired connection. For $29, this is a small adapter to throw in your bag and priceless if you need it. The only downside is this adapter does not support Gigabit, but it still is much faster than most Wi-Fi.
2. 3-Grounded Outlet Adapter: There are all kinds of travel adapters, including those that have built in surge protectors. However when space is at a premium I wanted something small and mobile. This 3-outlet adapter is very small and will allow three grounded (or not) cables to plug in to a single outlet. This is great for airports or conferences when power outlets are at a minimum. When the power plugs are already taken, it’s a lot easier to ask to jump in when you have an adapter that will allow you to share the power with your new friends.
3. Callpod: This is one of the ultimate travel accessories. The Callpod allows you to charge up to six mobile devices at the same time. You can purchase specific adapters to match your devices. In my case I have 2 30-pin dock adapters for my iPad and iPhone, 1 mini-USB adapter for my Richard|Solo backup battery and 2 mini-USB adapters for my Mophie Juicepack and other accessories. Item 3a in the photo is the Callpod body while item 3b are the adapters that power my devices. When all connected together it looks like a giant octopus of tech.
4. Logitech Wireless Presenter: I tend to give a lot of presentations both at my local Mac Users Groups and when I’m traveling for work and at various conferences. I previously traveled with an Apple wireless remote (great because it doubled as a remote for the AppleTV) but since the MacBook Air doesn’t have an IR port, I’ve found this inexpensive presenter works well for me. This presenter isn’t the fanciest, but it gets the job done and also includes a laser pointer.
5. Apple Airport Express: This is another devices that is great for travel. These days I travel with multiple network connected devices including MacBook Air, an iPhone, an iPad and sometimes an AppleTV. If I’m traveling with someone else, they probably have their own host of Internet connected devices. For optimal results, these devices all need to be connected to the same network and be able to talk to the other. Some hotels will provide a wired connection in the room (always preferred to Wi-Fi) but that’s only good for connecting one device at a time and not always in a convenient spot. Plugging in the Airport Express allows me to create my own sub-network with an additional level of security to connect all my devices. Even if the hotel doesn’t have a wired port, I still travel with the Airport Express as I frequently travel with an AppleTV and in order to stream content from my computer, iPad or iPhone, they need to be on the same network which I use the Airport express to create.
6. Griffin Mini-Cable Kit: When out and about the last thing I want to do is deal with a tangle of various cables. Griffin offers a pack of mini-cables that are around 3” long. The set includes a 30-pin dock connector a mini-USB cable and a micro-USB cable. That combination of 3 cables covers just about everything I need. The cables do support charging and syncing so I find no need to carry the longer cables when on the road. Less mess, less fuss.
7. Twelve South PlugBug: This is the newest addition to my travel kit but one that I can already tell will make the greatest difference. The PlugBug attaches to the top of the standard Apple MacBook Power Adapter and adds a 10 Watt USB power port. This is good enough to charge an iPhone or an iPad on the road, but used when in conjunction with the Callpod (see item 3) I can now power my Macbook Air and all my mobile devices off a single plug. Of course, the more items you add to the chain, the slower they’re all going to charge, but I’ve found it more than adequate to charge up all my devices overnight. The PlugBug does add a little more bulk to my MacBook Air power adapter, but not too much and it keeps me from having to bring a separate power adapter for the Callpod so saves me space overall.
8. Apple Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter – Nothing fancy here – but if you give presentations and connect your Mac to a projector this is a necessity.
9. Richard|Solo 1800: This is the all purpose battery charger I like to take on the road with me for extra juice. the Richard|Solo will fully charge my iPhone and then some. It will charge just about any device with a 30-pin dock connector and while it doesn’t officially support the iPad because of its increased power requirements, it will work to trickle charge in a pinch. While the Richard|Solo is always in my gear bag, I do carry a Mophie JuicePack Air on my iPhone whenever traveling for more than a day trip or when I expect to be away from power for an extended period of time.

iPhone:
We can expect the iPhone will be upgraded to the much-anticipated iPhone 5 in the Fall of 2012. The new iPhone 5 will bring a re-designed form factor, true 4G data connection and overall improvements to Siri, speed and battery life. I’m not confident the iPhone 5 will be a quad core device, but it’s a very strong possibility if the chips are available that won’t eat too much battery life.

iPad:
The iPad 3 will be released in the spring of 2012 and no surprise will bring improved cameras, a higher resolution display and perhaps a jump to a quad-core processor. If the iPad three goes quad-core I think it’s all but certain the iPhone 5 will follow. Contrary to current rumors, do not think we will see the release of an iPad 3 and the release of an iPad 4 in the same year. I believe Apple will stick to a once a year, or possibly even extended release cycles in the future for the iPad. The iPad 3 will gain Siri support along with 4G networking capabilities. I see a low-end iPad 2 remaining at a lower price point to try to recoup some of the market that may be interested in devices like the Kindle Fire. An 8GB version of the iPad 2 may make sense now, especially given Apple’s growing dependence on Cloud storage. I very rarely come close to filling my 16GB iPad to capacity.

iPods:
I anticipate fairly minimal changes again to the iPod line this year with the possible exception of the iPod Touch. We may see the re-introduction of a camera into the iPod Nano, but no Wi-Fi given the small form factor. I think this will be the year the iPod touch will finally get bumped to 64GB and the Classic iPod will disappear, especially given the emphasis on the Cloud and a $25 subscription to iTunes Match. The iPod Touch will likely see improvements to the screen and camera this year and I will even go out on a limb and say this may be the year we see the option for a an a la carte 3G data plan (similar to the plans offered on the iPad) for the iPod Touch. Though it wouldn’t surprise me if the iPod touch kept with a slower processor and data capabilities to keep overall cost down.

Macs:
This will be an evolutionary year for Macs. We will continue to see the development of the Thunderbolt. There will be the obligatory upgrades across the Mac line with faster processors, graphics cards and a push towards SSDs. I would hope to see Apple make the move to USB 3.0 this year. The major change to the Mac line will be that the 15” MacBook Pro will take on the Air form factor but the 17” will remain for those who refuse to give up the additional peripheral support. The Mac Pro will see a major update in specifications, but I’m afraid it will likely be the last. We may continue to see some increases in overall screen resolution, but I doubt we’ll see any true “retina display” yet in the Mac line due to cost.

Software:
I expect we’ll see updated iLife and iWork suites fairly early in 2012 with more emphasis on Cloud support and sharing. I do not expect an OS upgrade or even a preview in 2012. There will be a new version of iOS previewed and released later this year with continued emphasis on Siri and the cloud. I also expect to see across the line upgrades to Apple’s professional program similar to the changes made to Final Cut in 2011. I expect FaceTime will gain multi-party support and hopefully be updated to incorporate iMessages, IM and video rather than having separate applications across multiple devices. Apple will continue to push their respective App Stores as the distribution point for software.

TV
So far I think my predictions for 2012 have been fairly realistic. The mythical “Apple TV” is an area where I have the most skepticism and concern. I do think that Apple is planning on making its next major move into the area of video entertainment; I’m just not sure whether the time is right to do so in 2012. I also very concerned that this is the area where if not handled correctly, Apple could have its first major flop in many years.

While I think Apple will release an upgraded Apple TV, I’m not convinced that Apple wants its product in this market to be a $1000+ ultra high-end television. While I have no doubts that Apple could produce one heck of a television in terms of quality and experience, how many consumers would spend that kind of money on an all-in-one TV that Apple updates every couple of years with new features when we live in a world of $49 Roku boxes? Everyone I know already has a newish HD television in their living room with no plans to upgrade in the near future.

I think the better move here is to stick with a sub-$200 box, preferably a sub $100 box that will work with all modern TVs currently on the market today and has all the functionality of a truly next-generation Apple TV packed inside. This does put Apple in a bit of a catch-22 here because everyone expecting a “true Apple TV” so anything less may be seen as a disappointment. For those ultra-high end consumers perhaps sell a separate display that incorporates with the next generation Apple TV for the ultimate Apple living room experience.

I had an opportunity to share these predictions along with Ken Ray of Mac OSKen and Victor Agreda, Jr., Editor-in-Chief of The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Episode 133 of the MacTech Live Podcast. You can find a direct link to the show here.

I still use my local cable provider for high speed Internet access and telephone service. Unfortunately, the cable company is the only game in town for the high speed access I need. The DSL options offered by the phone company have slower speeds and less competitive prices. I have struggled with the decision to keep a landline telephone service since most people I know have long since given up their landline phone. I’ve kept my landline around for three major reasons:

1. Poor cell phone reception at my home. Although I do use a Microcell and it allows me to use my cell phone where I otherwise would not have service, the experience is less than stellar and the device has its own set of problems that have caused me to want a landline as a backup. The Microcell will regularly drop calls, have problems with echoes and occasionally take extended periods of time to connect a call.
2. I have a home alarm system that uses a phone line to contact the monitoring station. I’m not a fan of contracts – but at the time I built my home given a number of factors and promotions at the time it was significantly less expensive to have the alarm installed with a long-term contract for monitoring than to pay for the system outright. I have about 50 months remaining on that contract.
3. Convenience. Because of the poor cell phone reception at my home and the problems with the Microcell it’s easier just to grab the landline and chat when I’m at home, especially for longer calls.

As I was gathering information together for my CPA at the end of the year it struck me just how much I was paying for my home phone service that I really didn’t use all that often. I started having the same questions I did about my cable TV service – is it worth the price? I had the bare-bones telephone line from the cable company. Local calling only, no extra features. The advertised price was $12.99 but after taxes the total bill for the phone service was $25.20. Some quick math told me that over the 50 months remaining on my alarm monitoring contract I would spend $1,260 alone on the cost of the home phone line, and that’s assuming no price increases. I started thinking there had to be a better way and started investigating.

A call to my alarm company confirmed they had a “radio monitoring option” that could be added to my system for an additional $8 a month to lease the radio equipment. (No option to purchase the equipment outright). While that does add another $8 to my alarm bill, if I an cut my phone bill, I would be saving $17 overall. That takes care of the alarm – but what about the other reasons I wanted a landline phone? Poor cell phone service and convenience. It would be nice to still have the option to have a landline phone. What options are there for inexpensive home phone service?

I’ve used Vonage in the past, and while I was pleased with their service and features, there would be little or no price savings compared to my cable company’s solution. I’ve also heard very good things about Ooma. People who have used the service swear by it and it has overwhelmingly positive reviews from my research. Their VOIP model is pay once for the box (about $200), and the basic level of service is free, you only pay the taxes which users say are currently around $4 per month. I dismissed the highly advertised MagicJack because the reviews indicated the voice quality was spotty though some reviewers have been very pleased with their experience. I also dismissed options like Skype because I wanted a service that would be plug and play with my current phone system and not require a computer to be running any software.

The solution I’m most intrigued by was recommended by @q1n on twitter who recommended OBiTalk. They have a very different model from any of the other VOIP providers in that they have the ability to connect with a GoogleVoice account using the OBi Device as a bridge to GoogleVoice allowing you to use your GoogleVoice number with a regular landline phone. While there are instructions on the Obihai website explaining this process, I found this review from CNET to be helpful in explaining how the service works.

I haven’t had an opportunity to use the OBiTalk device myself, the reviews on Amazon are overwhelmingly positive and for a $50 investment, the cost of entry is fairly low. As a bonus, I get to use my GoogleVoice number exclusively as my home phone number, which would be my preference since I love the GoogleVoice service and have been effectively using the Google number as my home phone number for years anyway.

One important thing to note, the ObiTalk Device depends on the GoogleVoice service, and the GoogleVoice service only connects to the Analog phone through the Obihani service. GoogleVoice has announced their service will remain free for calls to the US and Canada through 2012 but no information on the costs thereafter. Of course, if the Obihai service is discontinued, this whole system breaks down. There aremore risks associated with this compared to a more traditional provider, but I’m hopeful that the days of needing a landline phone are numbered and within a year or two cell phone service will be more reliable and the whole situation will be moot.

I’ve ordered the OBi Device from Amazon and hope to install and test it in the next week or so. I’ll report back with the results. I’d be curious to know how others are handling this situation, whether you have any experience, good or bad, with ObiTalk or alternative VOIP providers.

The session is on Friday, January 27th at 11:am as part of the Tech Talk series at Macworld. As of this writing, you can buy a $75 pass that will get you access to all the Tech Talks, but act fast because prices go up after December 5th.

In addition to the Mac Power Users Episode, David is also presenting a session called “40 Tips in 40 Minutes” with Merlin and Brett Terpstra where they will be rapid firing off as many tips as they can in the time provided.  This session is also part of the Tech Talk series so this one pass gets you access to both talks and more.

In addition to my presentations I’ll be around various booths and the show floor with more information to be announced as the time draws near. Attending Macworld is the highlight of my year and I always appreciate the opportunity to meet people in person, so please feel free to say hi.