Jamin http://pubcrawler.org Living life forward and understanding it backwards Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:15:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Subscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with Pageflakes A Review of the Nexus 7 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pubcrawler/org/~3/eg0mOn6HFy8/ http://pubcrawler.org/2012/08/06/a-review-of-the-nexus-7/#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:15:21 +0000 jamin http://pubcrawler.org/?p=653 I’ve had a couple weeks to play with my Nexus 7 so I thought I’d post a short review of my experience. I’ll start by saying right off the bat that it’s a fantastic device. If you’re on the fence about buying it, I’d recommend you go for it. That being said, here’s the pros and cons.

The Good:

  • The form factor hits a sweet spot. It’s not overly large and is quite comfortable to hold while at the same time having a large enough screen for watching HD videos and playing games. It’s a similar size to my Kindle with which I do most of my reading.
  • Good battery life. I typically go 2-4 days on a charge with occasional use. By comparison I have to charge my iPhone daily.
  • A wealth of apps, music, books, and other media available from Google Play.
  • The latest Android OS is well-designed, responsive, and intuitive, even to an iOS user

Of course it’s not perfect. Here are a few issues I’ve run across.

The Bad:

  • No SD card expansion slot. I bought the 16Gb version to mitigate that.
  • Currently the official case isn’t available. I found this case on Amazon and can safely recommend it after using it for a few days. All the necessary bits are exposed and it automatically puts the device to sleep and wakes it up when you close/open it.
  • A number of apps currently aren’t supported on the device currently including Amazon mobile. I’m sure this will change with time. Instagram recently released an update which fixed this, for example
  • The sound isn’t as loud as I would like when not using headphones. It’s okay if you’re in a quiet room but with a decent amount of ambient noise, I found it somewhat difficult to hear the audio while playing a video. A minor issue.
  • WiFi Only. A non-issue for me as I can tether it to my phone when mobile. Some users will want a tablet with 4G capabilities.

That’s about it. It’s easier to list the negatives since overall the device is fantastic. I would highly recommend it to someone looking for a tablet to surf the web, watch/listen to media, play some games, or as an eReader. It’s slim, light, has great battery life, and looks gorgeous.

]]> http://pubcrawler.org/2012/08/06/a-review-of-the-nexus-7/feed/ http://pubcrawler.org/2012/08/06/a-review-of-the-nexus-7/ Dress for Success Midwest 2012 Power Walk http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pubcrawler/org/~3/q_Vlytm4eSg/ http://pubcrawler.org/2012/05/08/dress-for-success-midwest-2012-power-walk/#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 17:19:25 +0000 jamin http://pubcrawler.org/?p=651 Join me in donating to Amie Bossi’s Dress for Success Power Walk team and help empower disadvantaged women achieve self-sufficiency! Make a tax-deductible gift today.

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]]> http://pubcrawler.org/2012/01/08/rp-was-right/feed/ http://pubcrawler.org/2012/01/08/rp-was-right/ Same Time Next Year http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pubcrawler/org/~3/AtL-l-9givY/ http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/19/same-time-next-year/#comments Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:03:49 +0000 jamin http://pubcrawler.org/?p=644 My girlfriend, Amie Bossi, is staring in a production of “Same Time Next Year.” This is the last weekend you can catch it, so if you’re in the St. Louis area, head to KurtainKall.org for details.

Here are some photos I took from opening night last weekend:

_MG_8008

]]> http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/19/same-time-next-year/feed/ http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/19/same-time-next-year/ Chicago and Oregon, IL 2011 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pubcrawler/org/~3/fPyOGx9iIwc/ http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/07/chicago-and-oregon-il-2011/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:18:06 +0000 jamin http://pubcrawler.org/?p=641 My girlfriend and I were invited to a family reunion of sorts in Oregon, IL. Really a birthday party for a special Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Great Aunt, Mother, Aunt. I didn’t know the woman but she patted me on the back as she walked past me and said, “I apologize if I can’t remember everyone here, I’m getting old.” She seemed like a sweet lady.

Before hitting up Oregon, IL for the party on a riverboat, Amie and I decided along with her sister and brother-in-law Angie and Matt to spend a couple days in Chicago.

It just so happened that we were able to catch the unbelievable games 6 and 7 of the World Series where the Cards defeated Texas in a long string of unlikely events.

At any rate, it was one of the most joyful and generally kick-ass weekends I’ve had in a long time.

Here are some of the photos we took.

IMG_6915

]]> http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/07/chicago-and-oregon-il-2011/feed/ http://pubcrawler.org/2011/11/07/chicago-and-oregon-il-2011/ Healthy Food http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pubcrawler/org/~3/yujvBRM3Nhs/ http://pubcrawler.org/2011/10/12/healthy-food/#comments Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:25:52 +0000 jamin http://pubcrawler.org/?p=639 If you have a moment and enjoy the looks of this recipe, please vote for it–it’s my mother’s and she’s a fabulous chef. I would love to see her get the recognition she deserves.

Thanks!

Sweet and Sour Rainbow Stuffed Peppers

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