Belly dancing

Got to watch some amazing belly dancing last night at my friend's art opening. His name is James Frederick Rose and he's pretty cool.

More iPad thoughts

I've become more and more excited about the iPad the more I think about it and the more I read about it. Why? I think it's an entirely new paradigm and will change the way we read and the way we collaborate.

I want to address one thing. One of the loudest criticism of the device is that it's an overgrown iPhone. You people are missing the point entirely. That similarity is part of the business strategy.

Which platform has more developers and more users – Mac OS X or the iPhone? Which platform has more similarities to the iPad? There are far more iPhone developers than OS X developers and they already know how to create software that takes advantage of a touch interface.

Now onto why I think it's a new paradigm in reading and collaborating.

Reading first. It begins with a newsflash; I read more than just books. I read articles, presentations, transcripts, and even my own writing. I spend the majority of my time on my laptop reading. I love my Kindle but it has limited utility for me, which is why I find myself taking it fewer and fewer places. It's a form factor that begs for other types of content than just books but it's hard to use it that way. I used it to load it up with interview transcripts. I stopped because when you are dealing with 25 to 30 project interviews, it becomes laborious to manage. That means it's back to the laptop.

I hear complaints that it's hard to read on an LED screen. I don't know about you but I spend most of my workday reading on my laptop. I don't see how it's going to be all that different. Even when I read a lot of books, I rarely read all day. I read for a couple of hours and then I did something else. I don't think I'm all that unique in that behavior.

I know the iPad's lack of multitasking is getting panned but I think it's a good thing. It's hard to read on one's laptop without getting a barrage of stimuli – email, IM, and that 'oh I forgot I need to.' So I'm looking forward to interacting with all of my reading material in an easy to use, easy to annotate format with fewer distractions than my laptop.

Onto collaboration. Let's face it; the personal computer is personal and individual. Someone needs to own the keyboard and mouse/trackpad regardless of the screen size.

Imagine being about to work on a presentation or view a website and being able to have two people interact with it equally. There's no more 'click there... no there.' The other person can just point at what they really want to see. No more misunderstood directions or awkward passing the computer or keyboard back and forth. Working with other people becomes a lot more natural since the iPad will be more of a shared tool than the domain of one person. In the world of work and education, it will be huge.

The iPad is not an iPhone. Its' size means it will be something entirely different, even if it appears familiar. This device will revolutionize the way we interact with information. Nah-sayers just don't realize it yet. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

iPad. Jack of all devices.

I'm not sure why that came to mind. I've only now had the chance to really catch up with the iPad announcement.

Disappointed and excited. About the same way I felt about the iPhone 2.0.

I think it was impossible for Apple to really deliver everything on everyone's wish list and you can see that on the gadget blogs. Yes I am annoyed about the lack of multitasking, no camera and the weight — a tad heavier than I would like.

But I'm writing this post on my phone and I know how I would use the iPad. Sometimes I just don't want to use my laptop, usually when it comes to reading. Case in point, I get a lot of PDF's that I have no real way to read comfortably. On the iPhone it's too small and I get annoyed. Printing it out is fine for a few pages but it's not a true solution for a book. It's cumbersome to read on a laptop due to the page orientation. I've actually turned my laptop sideways a few times but that never lasts. For books, magazines and PDF's this thing is a blessing.

LOTS of people will say there are many solutions out there that would do this. That's true. But there's always a compromise. To me, Tablet PC's are too heavy and the battery life has really been awful. And the interface was never designed to be functional without a stylus or a keyboard. Both areas are getting better but they have a long way to go.

I have more thoughts but I want to think some more. I'm excited and frustrated. But that's a good thing with Apple. They make you think.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

GQ on the iPhone

Yes that's the front cover of the GQ app for the iPhone. Looks very much like Maxim.

So I'm testing it out. I must say it's interesting. To be honest, I think I prefer getting my magazine content this way. I find it easier to read on the go. When I travel around NY, I rarely bring books with me anymore. I just try to do as much on my phone as I can.

One thing I don't like is GQ is pushing their print subscription hard. I wonder why. I would easily purchase a subscription to the iPhone app and not have to worry about the paper. Plus it appears there is content that is not in the app and I am reminded of that fact constantly.

Otherwise it's a good app. Entertaining. Looking forward to traveling with it.

Baba and the current manufacturing model

Samsung recently came out with – or announced – Baba, an operating system that they will use to 'smarten' their devices and reduce their dependency on the likes of Microsoft and Google.

This made me think for a moment. Is the software/hardware model that Microsoft built and perfect irrevocably broken? Sure Windows 7 has redeemed Microsoft but other parts of the Windows platform has not done well. Windows Mobile/Embedded is being replaced with Androids in areas that Microsoft thought they had the right to win. Even Google has put their own skin in the game, albeit with a well-known hardware partner.

When it comes to mindshare and influence, isn't it better to own the entire ecosystem? What is the benefit of sharing the spotlight with others?

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

jkontherun.com is one of my favorite gadget sites not because it's a spec-a-thon like Gizmodo and Engadget can be but because it's written from a user perspective. He talks about gadgets that he actually uses in his day-to-day life and I find that perspective more credible than the 'we used it for a week and here's what we think.'

He has been in Vegas for CES this year and he had an interesting quote re: the iSlate or whatever Apple will announce.

It is clear that the months of rumors about the Apple tablet have gotten a lot of companies concerned. The conversations I had off the record with reps at several companies indicated that it is expected that Apple will bring something unexpected to market with its tablet, and that has many competitors concerned. Thus the race to get slates to market before Apple does is considered important.

I do think being first-to-market is not going to help them. The iPod wasn't the first MP3 device and actually had specs that appeared underpowered when compared to the competition. It was the total package that clinched its' success. I think the iSlate is going to be the same thing. It's not the form factor that people will be talking about; it's going to be the total package.

Apps, good for what ails ya?

iPhone, myPhone
Originally uploaded by JNad

CES news is out and I've never seen so many devices begging for developer love.

From large companies to rinky-dink ones, it appears every device moving forward will have applications, and by extension, app stores. It would be great if it weren't kinda silly.

It seems as though the dominant wisdom is that it is the App Store that made the iPhone. That's wrong-headed thinking.

Apple built the App Store on top of a very large iPhone/iPod Touch user base drawn to an outstanding product. There were millions of both devices in the hands of consumers before Apple released the SDK. When it was released, developers jumped on it. Who wouldn't want to write something for an installed base in the millions? The potential market was just too large to ignore.

So for companies hoping that an App Store/Apps will save your product, I think the question that needs to be answered first is – what makes this product so exciting that consumers chomp at the bit to get their hands on it? If the answer is 'very little' or if the answer contains reams of specs that the average consumer doesn't care about, no amount of app-age will help you.

Slates without prices

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you had a fun time. I did. Mostly.

CES is on and it seems as the the 'slate' is THE form factor. What I have found to be most interesting is everyone's making the announcement – knowing that Apple's slate is likely right around the corner – but no one has any firm release dates or even price tags. I find this interesting, to say the least.

I think it's also interesting that Apple is choosing to wait out the storm. Shrewd move on their part. There's just too much noise and a lot of it is very interesting, I must add.

Why the iPhone will fail

I've had a bit of a laugh today reading some of the posts about the breathlessly awaited iSlate or whatever the Apple Tablet will be named. I've noticed the tone eerily similar to the tidal wave of nah-sayers who dismissed the iPhone as a novelty.

Some of the common criticisms were –

1. What no keyboard?
2. Geared for consumers not business
3. Limited features – yes for 1G but now that we are at 3.5G, definitely not
4. It's a toy
5. No track record in this business
6. Too expensive
7. Battery life stinks

It's funny how most if not all of these objections/snarks were either invalidated, overcome or remarkably similar to deficits faced by other smartphones – e.g. battery life.

I recommend you do a search for 'why the iphone will fail' and check out any article in 2007. I'm sure many of these guys are eating their words. Delicious, huh?

insomnia

I didn't sleep that well last night. So annoying. New mattress and everything. Sometimes it's hard to just shut down. It was one of those nigts. Fortunately I only have them once a month.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Tablet fever

OMG I have never seen anything like it. Tablet fever is consuming the technology world. Everyone is looking for any sign – real or imagined – that indicates that Apple is going to unleash the legendary tablet/slate computer that will sell like hotcakes.

At least I think it will. I will buy one for sure.

AT&T **cked in San Francisco

The network is down. To be more specific, data and SMS is down for what could be two to three days, basically my time here before heading to Phoenix.

I love my iPhone but without a solid network, the thing is useless. I can barely talk for more than a few minutes before calls drop. Sometimes I can't even make calls at all.

Right now, I think my next step will be to get a cheap-o phone on Verizon and use the iPhone as a supped up Touch.

It's tragic that AT&T has basically ruined what is an amazing product. To say I'm angry is an understatement.

App Store blues

I've been really frustrated by the number of news stories focused on iPhone developers complaining about how they aren't making money and how their applications get lost on the App Store.

Newsflash: presence on the App store does not mean you no longer need to market your products

The App Store is like Amazon. No one complains that 'their products get lost' on Amazon. It's ridiculous to assume that a presence on Amazon means the seller is set for life. Amazon simply provides an efficient standardized distribution platform, just like the App Store.

What the store provides is a potential market of millions of people around the world. So if you do hit it, you'll hit it big, as we have seen. It's up to YOU to build applications with an audience in mind and market to that audience. If you don't, your app is doomed to failure because competition is fierce.

Stop complaining and start marketing. And if you don't know how to market your products, get help.

A plea for data detectors on the iPhone

It's one of those features that every iPhone user now uses, I'm sure of it.

It's the ability to recognize and use the email addresses, addresses and phone numbers that appear in the content you interact with you on phone. It's a feature that has saved my butt on many occasions. But I want it to recognize dates and certain action words to automate making appointments and other to-dos.

It's a function I'm familiar with as a Mac user. Right now such functionality is only available in Mail.app. I use data detectors and can chose things to create a 'to-do' within an email or note. It was something I used to really enjoy doing to keep me on target before the iPhone came out because – believe it or not – I had better task management on other phones but the small screen made it difficult to enter tasks on the go.

In the past, I chose phones that could iSync'd and tasks were part of the package. Why Apple has not implemented simple iSync task syncing is beyond me. I'm stuck using programs that are not really integrated into my workflow and crap falls through the cracks.

I hit one of those moments a short while ago when interacting with email on my iPhone. Having to leave a program to capture a task messes up the flow because you are constantly flipping in and out of programs and that's really annoying.

I want to be able to highlight a portion of text and have one of the options be /To Do/. Then I could add due dates, alarms, notes etc. Then move on to the next email.

Given the infrastructure exists, it's just a matter of implementing it. I hope they do so soon. Task management is the biggest weakness of the iPhone right now.

I've said so before. It's causing my eye to wander, Apple.

Marketing as a political campaign

I just finished watching the CEO of Vail Resorts talk about the impact social media marketing has had on the marketing cycle.

The talk – available for a limited time here at AdAge - highlighted that they have changed their marketing mix and reduced the number and frequency of magazines and other more expensive media. He articulated something quite different as to the reasons why. It's not simply that social media has more impact, which can be argued, but rather the lead time for traditional media is too long.

Committing to running a print ad is more than just running it in a publication. Space needs to be purchased, strategies agreed upon, and creative brainstormed and produced. This cycle can happen quickly but most of the time takes months.

By rotating the marketing spend to social media, Vail Resorts can change the marketing message at the drop of a hat. Do they need to juice up occupancy for a week? Run a special using search engine marketing or links to one's Facebook friends. Create an event out of coincidences.

He likened his marketing strategies akin to a political campaign. What's the message of the week? How do we support this message? What are the forces we need to fight?

Who would have thought that politics and business would be aligned so closely now?

Love this coat

Gallery Husky Quilted Peacoat

Staycation

Don't wake a Sleeping (White) Tiger
Originally uploaded by Maitreya 8

I've always hated that term but it's been what I've been doing.

I'm staying in and recharging.

I'm so thrilled at the chance to do it. Sure it's caused me to make a few mistakes but the benefit of sleep and feeling refreshed the next day is surely a cause for celebration.

Relief

Energy is a funny thing. You sustain it for as long as you can and then poof it's gone. I've been working almost non-stop for weeks on this presentation... well more than one. And in an instant, it's done. Poof.

I made myself a drink when I returned home and I was almost dizzy from exhaustion and the release of tension that's been bottled up inside of me for what seems like ages.

I'm thrilled to walk into the holiday season relaxed and calm. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know I will.

The power of the Apple Store

Seems as though Apple's Regent Street store in London has transformed what was a relatively boring shopping corridor – I remember lots of Scottish tweed and humdrum cashmere – and turned it into one of the most sought after commercial streets in the UK. It's also the most profitable retailer in London.

Similar news came in some time ago that the NY Fifth Avenue location was it's most profitable location and is probably the highest grossing retailer, pretty astonishing considering the company it keeps – Tiffany, Gucci, Calvin Klein etc. Over 38 million people visited the store last year.

It's so funny to see these figures because when they first opened their stores, so many people crapped all over the idea. 'Waste of money,' they said. 'No tech company has ever built a successful retail presence,' they said. Ironically, I am sure it has been the Mac loyal that has helped build this franchise – reinforcing the importance of brand loyalty.

For a long time, I grew frustrated at the Apple experience. Shoddy stores, poor displays, über geek helpers who were more interested in besting your knowledge than actually helping you. Now the Apple experience is one of the best retail experiences there is. So much so that Microsoft is ripping it off, which basically says all that needs to be said about Microsoft.

Return to the bad old days

Photo credit [NYT]

I read an article in the Washington Post via Huffington Post on the next wave of housing distress – renters. Landlords and management companies all over the country own mortgages that are under water and under pressure. What does one do when the building isn't making money? Cut back on maintenance.

I recall the bad old days of the 1970s and early 1980s in NYC when faced with poor tenants, housing violations and dilapidated buildings, landlords set their apartments on fire to collect insurance money. Alas this is on a national scale but I'm sure more so in the usual suspects – California, Arizona, and Florida being three of them.

This may get worse before it gets better.

Perfectionism - the silent killer

Perfectionism is a dangerous disease.

It spoils everything you touch.

It robs you of motivation.

If you can't meet your standard, you do nothing at all.

I've been trapped in the disease and I need to break free.

This blog has been trapped in that disease.

I tired of chronically what I enjoyed and decided to write it for other people.

I wanted to be clever and witty all of the time.

But that's just not possible.

I'm coming back.

It just took some time.

One year on

It's been almost a year since I started blogging. I haven't been able to devote much energy to it of late because I've been so insanely busy. But also I think I've been disillusioned with re-blogging, which is something I've commented about here.

What will become of this blog? I don't know. It was an interesting experiment in adding to the voice of the net and I really appreciate it. But for now, I'm pressing the more official 'pause' button. Till soon.

Le Bon Mot: Exhibitionistic

def: compulsively attracting attention to yourself especially by public exposure or exaggerated behavior

Heh. What a great word. I think it could lead to all sorts of directions but I guess I'll discuss social media. I find it fascinating that we've become so exhibitionistic a culture. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace all allow us to reveal ourselves to the world in a way that our parents would never have. I wonder if it's a smart thing sometimes. Is it really a good move to be so revealing? People have gotten busted for lies and crimes great and small because of it. That's a good thing. It's hard to cover up a web of lies on Facebook when the inclination is to be honest. Maybe that's the point. Honesty is usually the best policy.

I've become gradually more revealing over the years. This blog is a demonstration of that. It's been a lot less painful than I thought it would be.

MMS

So the big iPhone news this week was the rollout of MMS by AT&T. Finally! Of course it came with the appropriate law suit for not arriving soon enough and other grousing. But I had to think to myself – does it matter?

I've been emailing pictures more often than not. Most of my friends have email devices capable of handling it and MMS is really no faster. I can count on one hand the number of times I needed to log into that 'view my message' site that AT&T forced you to log into in order to view them.

Maybe it's a big deal for some but to me it's a non-event. We'll see if that changes in the coming weeks.

Font Joy – Siruca

This unique stencil font is being used in the Al Hamra business complex in Kuwait. I haven't seen a stencil font so contemporary. It was designed by Fabrizio Schiavi. I really like it.

Hat tip [Typography Served]

Le Bon Mot: Sampling

def.: the selection of a suitable sample for study

It was a total wash yesterday, brain wise. I pulled up a bunch of words and was not inspired by any of them. Thankfully this word came up today.

There's the statistical definition, mentioned above. I typically deal in sampling and samples as I am a market researcher at the moment. But there's also a non-stat application that I can discuss in relationship to blogging.

The number of articles I read in a given day would astound anyone. I'm truly a news junkie. I blog about a fraction of the number I read. The word 'sampling' incorporates 'suitable,' and therein lies the rub. It's hard to chose just the one or two articles that illustrate everything I want my blog to illustrate - my mood, the mood of the nation, the mood of the blogesphere, the mood of the various communities I follow.

It's the art of being an editor. A skill I am developing. It's harder than it looks.

Font Joy – St Transmission - Free Download

St Transmission - Free Download: ""

Nice font. Get it. May start using it.

Le Bon Mot: Learnedly

def: adv., with erudition; in an erudite manner

One ironic and irritating aspects of American politics is that the more learned one speaks, the less likely one is to get into office. We saw that in the decimation of John Kerry and there was a worry that Obama would fall to the same fate. The vast majority of voters in this country wants to know that the guy/gal at the top is someone they can drink a beer with at the bowling alley.

I've never quite understood this. Why would you not want someone smarter than you running government. After all, governing is a complex job. If it's all the same to you, I'd prefer someone with smarts doing it. At least there's a chance they will get it right.

P.S. This is the start for what I hope to be a recurring series, if not a separate blog - 'le bon mot' or the choice word, in French. This series serves two purposes – 1. to build my vocab and 2. to have something less bloggy to drive deep thought and reflection. I will be getting my word from the iPhone app Wordbook, which I believe gets their words from Wikidictionary. Sometimes the commentary will relate to current events. Other times it will just be musings from me. Look forward to the journey.

Evolution

What can I say about life that I haven't already said many times. We're all busy.

Lately I have been less interested in adding to the noise of the blogesphere. I read a lot of blogs and reposting can be fun. But at the end of the day, I want to contribute something more than just commentary on what other people say. That's why I haven't been as active on here, even though I think I contribute something noteworthy and meaningful.

I think what is happening is an evolution of this blog in a direction that is more focused on first-person content vs. third person re-blogging. More stories of my own. More pictures of my own.

We'll see. Blogging has been an interesting chronicle of where I am as a person. That alone has made it worthwhile.

Andrea: Naturally Purified Air Filter

Andrea: Naturally Purified Air Filter: "

Andrea is a plant-based air purifier. Looks nice and I like the organic side of things. Available in October for about $200.

Hat tip [Cool Hunting]

VMA's

I've never been a huge VMA person, mainly because the focus is pop music and I tend to listen to more obscure, or at least non-American, stuff. Last night illustrated I was not missing a whole lot but I enjoyed it well enough.

Janet's tribute number was pretty awesome. It was completely natural. I remember when that song/video came out and it was great to see the two together. They have always been connected in my mind and it was great to see them connected on stage for the last time. I'm looking forward to the rehearsal footage/movie.

Of course, everyone is talking about Kanye West's poor behavior in usurping Taylor Swift's moment. It was appalling and deplorable. There's a time and a place for everything and hijacking another artist's moment is beyond the pale. Beyoncé made up for some of it by sacrificing her own moment so that Taylor could have hers. I also think Beyoncé's music number was amazing. It was truly an extravaganza.

I contrast that with Lady GaGa's number, which I didn't get. I really like Lady GaGa; her frequent costume changes were entertainment in itself. There have been many claims to Madonna's throne and while Britney is definitely up there, I don't think Britney has the same imagination. Lady GaGa has that imagination without feeling derivative. I'm sure her career will be filled with ups and downs but it will be interesting to see where she goes.

Back to Taylor, her performance was fantastic. There's nothing more NY than the subway and for her to take over an entire car was awesome. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be one of the teens that sang with her in the car.

On a communication's note, I thought the Twitter trending was an interesting twist, particularly the 'OMG, Shakira and Pink are wearing the same dress.'

Around the country in 30 days

Today marks the start of JetBlue's All You Can Fly pass that they sold in August. I'm not sure why I didn't think of it but many people are using it as an opportunity to fly on behalf of a cause.

Which is why I'm annoyed I didn't think of it. I could have flown on behalf of Multiple Sclerosis, a condition from which my Mom suffers. Of course, I'd need to raise a lot of money to cover the cost of the ticket combined with hotels and the all important dog care. But it's something I can do. Next time.

End of Introversion and Extroversion

One of my many blog subscriptions is PR 2.0 where the author, Brian Solis, breathlessly calls the increasing 'socialization' of our society one reason for the end of the polar opposites of extroversion and introversion. And I quote:

I do believe that we are becoming an increasingly social society. It could very well be the era of introversion to extroversion. With this evolution and transformation, we’re concurrently subject to a greater set of distractions. And as such, we are sidetracked by choice and free will. But, as this is the dawn of the great attention economy, and new tools such as PeopleBrowsr, Seesmic, CoTweet, Facebook, and TweetDeck become our attention dashboards, those of us active in the real-time Web must experience an evaporation of attention span and our ability to digest and respond to everything that moves us.

The problem here is the definition of extroversion and introversion. The two relate to energy, not degree of socialization. Someone who is extroverted craves the energy of people. They need to be surrounded by people or else they feel 'off' in some way. An introverted person is the opposite; they need alone time to recharge their batteries. That doesn't mean they don't enjoy socializing; it's just that too much of that one thing makes them tired.

I'm an introvert. Although I have taught myself to be good in social situations, after a day of socializing I want quiet more than anything else. I don't see anything in 'social' media that rewrites that definition. I bet that most people who are extroverted never tire of telling the world everything. My most extroverted friends update their Facebook status constantly. Introverts are more likely to engage with social media more sporadically or in a more planned fashion.

Of course this is conjecture but it would be an interesting study to analyze the difference between the two personality traits and their engagement in social media.

Office observations from Stephen Fry

If the actor Stephen Fry's blog isn't on your reading list, I highly advise it. It's smart, funny and quite insightful. He's a tech geek like yours truly and I find his observations a breath of fresh air.

Below he compares the executive today vs. yesteryear, the main difference being staff. Any executive worth their salt had a secretary who managed all of the crap that we have to manage ourselves. There's much about the past I don't want to repeat but there are days when I wish I had a good right arm as support.

"When I watch an old TV sketch or drama set in an office it takes some time to spot What’s Wrong With This Picture. Most business people didn’t have computers on their desks until the mid-eighties. Desks had intercoms, pads of paper, an electronic calculator and executive toys like the Newton’s Cradle and the 8-Ball Decision maker. You look at a busy police incident room, a buzzing news room or any kind of office from the pre-digital age and you realise that there are no computers and you try and remember how work got done back then.

Well, there were people called secretaries. They would file documents, pay and send out invoices and arrange meetings and run diaries. They would type up and send letters that were dictated, sometimes personally, often into recording machines.

“Can I use your dictaphone?” “No, use your finger like everyone else”

The computer revolution that has set us all free has actually come close to enslaving us. Executives who once relied on secretaries to do their typing and their admin now have to do it all themselves. They even have to get their own coffee and pinch their own bottoms.

I suppose it’s good for the soul, but it doesn’t half give one pause."

Hat tip [Stephen Fry]

TSC Brand materials

TSC Brand materials: "paralleling a national rebrand of Tractor Supply Company, a rural supply chain, an internal campaign was also launched to get all employees on board with the concept of ' The Stuff You Need Out Here' and what it means to be a TSC employee. These are the materials that were handed out to all employees prior to launch"

This is nice solid typeface with a bit more character than the standard Arial.

Hat tip [Typography Served]

Nice office

Dinning room that's cool

I'm trying to decide on chairs for the dining room. This is not a bad idea.

dear blogger, I miss you

I miss Blogger.

Well it's not the interface that I miss but I miss my entries. I spent months building what is a chronicle of my life and thoughts and it is hard to just throw that away for a flashy new model. Blogger is like an old boyfriend or girlfriend that you still have feelings for even though both of you have moved on.

I don't know what to do.

Maybe I'll date both and see.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Moving house to Tumblr

I've spent some wonderful months on Blogger but I've decided to move my blog to Tumblr. It is an easier platform to share the random things that I read.

The only negative is that I can't import my old posts here so I'll be linking back often until I gain critical mass.

The new blog address is – gslashmitch.tumblr.com

See you there!

Summer is over and gone

Summer is over and gone
Originally uploaded by a2zumac

Well the title of the post is a little alarmist. It's mid-August and temperatures are going to hit 90 today.

But it won't be long before things start getting cooler, ushering in my favorite season in New York – autumn.

Sandy beach

Sandy beach
Originally uploaded by mitchsfo

I went to Fire Island this past weekend. Just for the day.

It's a long way for a day trip but you really do feel a world away. There are beaches that are closer to NYC but they tend to be more crowded. Next time I go I need to stay over. Until then, I have my FI memories.

It did expose how much I need a proper vacation. Hopefully soon.

Apple's Business Model in a Nutshell

Hat Tip [Gizmodo]

Facebook I vs. We

When one is in a relationship, one becomes accustomed to referring to oneself as part of a 'we.' "We are going to the mall." "We adopted the dog a few months ago." "We just got back from vacation."

One area where I do not understand the role of 'we' is Facebook. I would say about a third of my partnered friends use pictures of them and their partners in their profile pictures. Sometimes even the kids are included.

I don't get it.

To me, Facebook is fundamentally about the 'I.' What are YOU doing? What are YOU thinking about? Even if an activity is shared with people – from friends to kids – it's still experienced as on an individual level and it's that angle that is shared on Facebook.

It seems troubling to me that the only way that you can deal with others as an individual is to remind them that you are one of a unit.

Then again, I could just be grumpy single guy.

Cooking

I took a bit of a break from cooking these last few weeks. To be honest, I just haven't been inspired. I think I've mastered the dishes that have been staples and it's time for something new. I've also been in the mood for more varied cooking than in the past.

I read a NYT article from this Sunday's Magazine about the new Julie movie and what impact Julie Child had on cooking. I was a wee one when she was at the height of her popularity. The article talks – at length – about where we are as a country with regard to food. The popularity of the Food Network glosses over the fact that most of us rarely cook and that what defines 'cooking' nowadays is really more like assembly. Not much is prepared from scratch. The Food Network is more about the consumption of food than learning to prepare it.

I've come full circle on cooking. At the height of my cooking this winter, I put in some serious work – beating things by hand etc. That's so far removed from our food processors and bread makers, the former I recently acquired. Do those devices help us by taking away the 'I want X but I don't feel like doing A to get it' factor? Or are they a further abstraction, separating us from the work involved in putting a meal together?

Unfortunately our time starved lives necessitate that we get more from less. We don't have time to do the work it takes to prepare many of the dishes Julie cooked. Which is a shame. A good home cooked meal is like nothing else. I'm glad I know.

Time flies

I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post. What a crazy few weeks it has been. Two weeks ago got a nasty summer cold, which normally increases my post rate. Alas I was also in-field, which meant by the end of the day, I was toast. Heck by the end of the week. Then a couple friends from Boston were in town, adding to the exhaustion. Last week was pretty insane work wise. Before you know it, it's Tuesday and it's August. Wow.

In the background, I've been dealing with a few issues of a personal nature, mainly related to how I'll spend the next 10 years. No concrete answers just yet, although there are several pans on the fire.

There are a few 'rapid fire' posts that I'll make in the next few hours on topics I have been pondering.

United breaks guitars

The moral of the story is – don't treat your customers like crap.

It's a simple rule but one that gets violated ad nauseam by companies that think that no one is paying attention.

United learned this recently thanks to the simple – but probably commonplace – destruction of an expensive guitar owned by a musician on his way from Chicago to Nebraska. I'm not going to link to it since it seems as though everyone has seen it.

I am going to link the BrandWeek article about it, offering 'brand lessons' from this episode. Now I admire the article's premise – there are things that can be done to mitigate these backlashes. A company is only as strong as their employees and when employees screw up – and they do – amends must be made.

But people can tell the difference between employee screw-ups, such as the case of a baggage handler training for a javelin event, and company policy, which stonewalled this musician for nine months, leading him to record and post the first of three videos designed to slaughter the company and increase his band's exposure ten-fold.

One piece of advice from the article was that United should record an apology, donate to various charities, give him a new guitar, and do other things showing that United is 'sincere.' Problem is I don't believe any of these gestures show sincerity. United hasn't apologized for the policy that is at the root of his problem. So those gestures are just that – gestures. The average person believes that the only reason United is sorry is that they got caught. Which is why I believe there is so much momentum behind this video. He speaks for millions of people who have been left holding destroyed baggage with little recompense other than a contrite 'sorry but we're not responsible for something that is in our care.'

Running an airline is expensive, especially now when margins are thin and the economy is weak. There will always be those trying to game the system to their advantage, which is why the policy exists. But rigidity breeds contempt and the public's love for the 'glamor' of flying is at record low levels, thanks to the various cuts and cope-outs practiced by many airlines. No airline is operating from a groundswell of high public opinion.

Episodes like these illustrate the old adage that started this post – don't treat your customers like crap.

The Microsoft next door

So Microsoft is opening their own branded stores. In many cases, the stores will be opened in close proximity to the incredibly successful Apple Stores.

On the face of it, it's smart. Microsoft has not shied away from going after Apple from a price standpoint and I applaud them for being aggressive.

However the problem that Microsoft has may not be solved by sticking their products in a snazzy casing. Let's face it. It's a Windows World. The majority of computers sold today contain Microsoft technology. One could argue that Microsoft has stores on every corner since retailers big and small sell Microsoft products. It's not for lack of exposure that the Microsoft brand is in trouble. It's lack of trust – Microsoft products are robust but also seen as complicated and insecure. A retail presence doesn't negate the user's experience at home or in the office.

Before Apple Stores were created, Macintosh products were often sold in dirty dingy strip mall stores that had limited appeal. It was a horrible customer experience and a far cry from picking up a tower or a laptop at the nearest CompUSA, where there was a broad selection of both software and hardware. It must have annoyed Apple to have so much work go into the product/industrial design only to have it marginalized in retail.

Personally the only way that I think the Microsoft stores will be successful is if they take on the role of product support. It's no secret that the Apple Stores are now the primary touchpoint between the user and technical support. Being able to take your device in and talk to someone about your problem goes a long way to improving customer satisfaction, an issue in the tech space.

If Microsoft is willing to shoulder the responsibility of tech support, then I think it will be a successful endeavor. But if the sole purpose is to show up Apple and turn the Microsoft store into a product museum, then I wonder what the difference is between a Microsoft store and the beautiful but essentially useless Nokia store in Chicago.

What is the consumer problem that they are solving? I can think of several but I'm not sure they will be solved by a storefront. Time will tell.

I want to be a dolphin

For roughly $50,000, you can be a dolphin, thanks to the new craft called the Seabreacher. You need to check out the website, which has YouTube video of it in action. You can jump out of the water, spiral, submerge. Pretty much the closest thing to being a fish or water mammal available today. I imagine this will be popular with hotels in the Caribbean. I know I'd rent one.

Hat tip [Toxel]

Urban farm

One topic that seems to arise over and over again when discussing 'green' is self-sufficiency. Particularly urban self-sufficiency. This usually takes the form of agriculture integrated into the urban environment. In New York, this has been present for a while. I now live in the East Village and I'm amazed how many gardens and farms there are throughout this area.

This company, Plantagon, sees an entire building devoted to the production of food and other forms of plant life. This dome will have a circular internal layout to ensure that almost every plant will get direct sunlight. I think it's quite an interesting solution.

I am generally for this but it seems a little far fetched to me. These are all in the heart of the city and the land will cost a fortune to procure. I do like being able to add farmer/gardener to the list of professions that one can do in the city. Cities need a strong blue collar workforce.

Hat tip [ArchDaily]

Deposit via iPhone

A bank in West Virginia (!) is the first to offer iPhone bank deposits. Using the camera, one can take a picture of the check and voila. The bank uses one's mobile number as part of the authentication process. It's pretty amazing and I hope more will be on the way.

To be honest, remote deposits are still the stuff of dreams for most people. I figured scanner deposits would be here before the iPhone path would be taken.

Hat tip [Net Banker]

Love

Love is splendid

Love is cruel

Love is torture

Love plays the fool

Love hides in the bushes

Love is right in front of you

Love is inches from the sun

Love is quicksand

Love is simple

and complicated

and innocent

and evil

Falling in love

Falling out of love

C'est le même chose

Ma coeur est froid

Binnenstebuiten

Buitenstebinnen

Love's dying breath

Love has passed

On

Connections

I've been thinking a lot about connections lately. Why we have them and what happens when we don't. I think it would be cool to do an essay / white paper on connections.

I am feeling in a scholarly mood as I'm thinking of returning to get my Master's degree. Cultural anthropology. I've even considered Library/information science. I have a good friend that just finished her M.I.L.S. Both take my research career in different directions while staying grounded in the hunt for information.

By blogging about it maybe I'll get my ass in gear.

Font Joy - Hachura

It's been a while since I've posted a font. I really like this one, Hachura. I love that it looks hand drawn while still hewing to traditional letterforms. Quite handsome.

Hat tip [Typography Served]

#22975 - Electronic ruler. The idea behind this rules is...

I think it's an interesting idea. I like the combination of the tactile and visual with the digital.

Sent to you via Google Reader

#22975 - Electronic ruler. The idea behind this rules is...

Electronic ruler. The idea behind this rules is combining values of a traditional ruler, with advantages of a digital interface.

(Want more? See NOTCOT.org and NOTCOT.com)

Michael Jackson redux

There's an excellent synopsis on how the media is treating Michael Jackson's life and death. I advise you to read it if you can. It references nearly every angle, including "how I met Michael," "what Michael meant to me," "what Michael meant to pop music" and so forth.

There is a comment on there that basically called the synopsis 'navel gazing.' I took offense and wrote the following response.

I haven’t read your blog regularly but I am going to start doing so from now on. I very much appreciate the thorough investigation into how the media is painting Michael Jackson’s life and death. I will pay closer attention to how this site treats other topics.

I fail to see how one could be in the media and not study all facets of it. That includes celebrities. By nature, it’s a field that requires the observation of how we consume information and entertainment. The media writing about itself is part of the job as new people and new modes gain influence and popularity.

Michael Jackson’s death was a significant global communications event that says more about how people consume information than pretty much any study out there. This write up really helps paint a great picture of what’s going on and what’s being said.

Thanks for your work on this. I really appreciate it.

I blame Marketing!

There's an interesting article in Advertising Age that places some of the blame of today's economic conditions on marketing. Before that sounds too far fetched, I think Rance Crain has a point, certainly in the example of General Motors he used. I think many of us have made these points with all of our clients at some point in time only for them to fall on deaf ears.

The money quote:

Citigroup wanted consumers to buy as many of its financial services as possible. But from a marketing point of view, this was impossible. Consumers didn't associate any of those financial services with a "bank." The perception Citigroup tried to create in consumers' minds was at odds with what a consumer perceived a bank to be.

General Motors tried to create an auto supermarket in every Chevrolet dealership. Any kind of car or truck a consumer might want to buy, they could find in a Chevy showroom.

Even worse, every other GM brand tried the same strategy. Any kind of vehicle you might want, Pontiac had for sale. So did Olds. And Buick. And Cadillac.

Both of these two companies had fundamental disconnects between their product strategy and their marketing strategies. In GM's case, they needed to crank out millions of cars to help pay for their investments in things like engines and powertrains. But instead of creating unique vehicles for each division, they made a few tweaks here and there and shoved a new nameplate on them. Of course consumers are not morons and saw right through it.

In my mind a brand is a promise. What makes Pontiac's promise any different than Chevrolet if they essentially offer the same thing? How does one buying one's insurance from Citibank benefit the consumer?

Ironically I have a bad feeling about Toyota. I've always been surprised at how willing they have been to mimic the former Big Three. The brand's reliability has managed to keep it out of trouble. But it doesn't take anything more than one well-publicized incident to cause a problem.

RIP King of Pop

Yesterday was a very sad day as Michael Jackson passed away at the very young (and near) age of 50. He was one of the most innovative artists at a very unique time in history. His strange behavior will fade into the distance. What will remain is a body of work so outstanding, he can truly be called a Legend.

This design concept for Pepsi appeared on 'Dieline,' the packaging blog I frequent.

I hope Pepsi signs on. I want to buy one.

Barking Dog

Barking Dog
Originally uploaded by emilyanglerfish

I used to live on the 5th floor of a 6 floor walkup. One reason I was glad to see the back of my apartment was there was little 'passage' between my living room door and the hallway, meaning my dog was in the LR constantly growling and ruffing at strangers.

I thought moving to the new place would solve the problem, as there is far less 'traffic' in my new place than my old one.

Ah well. There may be less traffic but there's traffic nonetheless. He barks just as much. I guess a guard dog never rests.

Is the social networking bar really that low?

Dunkin Donuts released an iPhone app today. It makes it easier for 'runners' – otherwise known as interns – to capture orders for Dunkin Donuts.

Their press release calls it a 'social networking application.' Really? So does that mean every order taker is social networking?

Is the bar for social networking so low that any application that impacts more than one person is considered a social networking application?? Where is the exchange of information and ideas? "OMG you like jelly donuts too??" doesn't feel like its playing in the same park as Facebook. I could be wrong.

I'm all for being topical and relevant but this is a stretch to me. But I'm sure those iPhone wielding interns – I mean Runners – will appreciate fewer tantrums over an incorrect ratio of coffee and milk.

Hat tip [PC World]

Just desserts

I'm not a fan of Perez Hilton. In fact, while I used to think his site was cute, his tone became more and more aggressive and obnoxious in the last few months as his 'fame' increased. He is so rude and degrading that it's become difficult to read his blog.

After his little Will.I.am drama, I'm done. In fact, I've taken his blog off my blogroll, which is a big deal for me. It was a long time coming. People like him can dish it out but can't take it.

On TMZ, someone wrote what I think is the perfect description of him and others like him. Thanks Dani:

"Mario will never own up to it. He behaves like a narcissist and a sociopath, which means he doesn't admit wrongdoing, ever, does not apologize, doesn't take personal responsibility for his action or words, talks out of two sides of his mouth, feels that it's okay for him to do certain things but not others, (different standards of behavior) and in general doesn't feel remorse for anything that he does. There's something very empty and lacking within him. If you've ever seen him in interviews it's interesting to watch his face and hear his tone of voice when asked if he ever feels bad about what he does to people (and sometimes the children of celebs) on his blog - the look of surprised confusion on his face just about says it all. He can't compute what they're referring to because he can't feel what a normal personal feels. So when they ask that it's like he runs into a wall.

All his grandstanding (marches, protests, etc.) in the streets on behalf of gay rights is just a show, it's something for him to do so he can look good, like he was "on the front line battlefield" or something. Then he'll take credit for it later when gay rights finally happen, like, "I was there, I made it happen, it was me!" Narcissists take credit for things they really didn't have much (or any) involvement in, while refusing to take responsibility for the negative things they do actually do."

Look-alike products now in trouble?

asakusa photocopy
Originally uploaded by ۞ ehin

The European Court of Justice has rendered a pretty important decision. L'Oreal claimed that generics and private label 'rode on the coattails' of established manufacturers. The Court agreed.

I'm not sure if European consumers faced products that were duplicates in all but name as we do here in this country but it will be interesting to see its impact over here in North America. It's almost a given that the multinationals – L'Oreal included – will use this verdict to argue the same thing in US courts.

I think there is some merit to the argument. As someone who is brand-conscious, I find it repellant that someone rides on the coattails of what is a lot of hard work and effort of many many people, practitioners such as myself included. To see someone 'photocopy' it, undermines it.

Brand mimics are always going to happen but at least those who do it will need to make more conscious decisions before they do so.

Hat tip [WARC News]

Handmade

Above is an iPhone game called Parachute Panic [iTunes link]. It's hard to tell it's a game because the hand drawn graphics – from the grid paper background to the characters. Doodle Jump is another game that uses hand drawn characters for the game.

I love it this trend in gaming. And in living.

There's been much of the trend of handmade but I think it's a huge one, especially now. This economy is forcing everyone to go back to basics and use whatever skill one has to make a living or bolster reduced earnings. Games like these are the work of a few people who have the patience and autonomy to do what they want.

Similarly, I've been exploring Etsy, the online shop supporting individual crafters throughout the world. One can even search for local shops. There's little 'risk' because the prices are comparable to mass brands and in some cases much cheaper. I've already purchased a few things that I will spotlight if they perform well.

It's not lost on me the importance of the internet, computers, and phones. They have changed the course of human history in so many ways, I've lost count. I love how it empowers the small and keeps the big honest. Such a wonderful thing.

hat tip [whatsoniphone.com]

Shorter and squatter

Kelloggs is testing a new package – a shorter and squatter cereal box. It will take a while to educate the public about what has been a stable form factor for years. But it makes sense. That tall box wastes room in pantries. Very few boxes come filled with as much product as the box claims through its height. It may be a challenge to train consumers that smaller is better but as other manufacturers talk about saving money. Preferably with that savings passed on to consumers. Savings always makes for an easier conversation.

Hat tip – Courtesy of an excellent article on the shrinking of packaging by Ted Mininni at Dieline.

Excellent movement in a bottle

Now speaking of packaging, I LOVE this bottle by Russian designer Arthur Schreiber. The 'slash' in the bottle mimics a sword's blow, a master stroke of genius in my opinion.

Hat tip [Dieline]

Grumpy Grandpa moment – must everything be 'cute'

I love packaging. I think it's an underrated artform. Whenever anyone is doing something new and different, I enjoy seeing it. But I'm starting to tire of packaging like this. I won't share the name because it's unimportant to my point.

This graphical style has been around for almost 10 years now. When it's being applied to dog poop bags, it's time to move on.

I'm not asking for a return to clean sleek modernism. It's just that there are so many interesting materials and shapes out right now, which I think is leading to a new graphic sensibility. This package just looks tired and out-of-date.

I've become Edna Mode from the Incredibles: I never look back, dahling. It detracts from the now.

Great room

I haven't done an interiors post in a while. I'm working on decorating my new place right now so interiors are on my mind.

Check out the living room / photo studio in this Toronto ON home. I love the subtle baroque touch with the textured wall in what is a pretty minimalist room. There's not much in there other than the seating and the coffee table. I'm sure – or I hope – a lot is hidden inside closets in the wall but it's not visible. The floors are great planks of wood with a rich stain. Even the photographer lamp rocks.

Hat Tip [Arch Daily]

Gadgets soliloquy

I used to be a bit of a gadget freak. I'd always have something going, usually a few. I realize that behavior has changed because of the iPhone. I've spend thousands on a phone and equipment. I don't do that now. I probably buy a little more than $200 in apps and have spent that much on a new phone.

Those apps are increasingly encroaching upon devices I've purchased in the past. I have a digital voice recorder to capture face to face interviews for work. With the new Voice App, I don't need that anymore. The video camera will replace the need for a proper video camera for most of my needs – which have more to do with discreetness in an environment than anything else.

Now I know that many of these functions have been in phones in the past. Especially the more recent past. Sidekicks are everywhere. Those phones and many other phones out there can do as much if not more than the iPhone from a feature perspective. Yes this and that phone can capture higher res pictures or capture video at a higher frame rate and resolution. But the filters that the iPhone can apply pre and post image match most of what is done on a desktop and offer a level of on-the-spot creativity and flexibility previously impossible to date. I'm looking forward to the video filters that will no doubt be released in the coming months for the new 3GS video capture capability.

I've had many sophisticated phones – from Sony Ericsson and Nokia – in the past and found them annoying. Each one forced me to compromised in a way I didn't really want. I had a Nokia Series 60 3rd Edition phone last – Nokia E61. That phone drove me nuts. Sound quality excellent. Everything else was horrible, including that thumb busting joystick. The latest E71 generation is much better than the V1/E61 version I used but the iPhone still beats it in design and functionality. It was like using Windows. At least Sony Ericsson can produce things that don't feel like Windows.

The other point I wanted to make is that one of the biggest strengths of the iPhone is its' ability to shape shift. You can never do that with a physical keyboard. With a keyboard, a device will always looks like a phone or a labelmaker. When you put the iTwins into a dock, the screen can transform to become part of its' surroundings.

I'm so excited to see what will be released on the hardware front because I can't even imagine. My wildest dreams were exceeded with the 3G. The new 3.0 software and its' SDK will offer so much more.

I weakened

I'm sure no one is surprised to know that I weakened and picked up a 3GS this afternoon. *head bows in shame*

Now that the faux shame is done, I have to say it's awesome.

The speed increase is noticeable and much appreciated. The lag in the software – especially while typing – started to get to me. I think it was worse because I had a significant number of apps installed. I decided to take the plunge for three reasons, two of which as highlighted in this image – imaging, specifically video, and the compass. In my travels, there are many occasions where I have to find someone's home in a strange city. The iPhone's GPS saved my butt many times but sometimes it's difficult to figure out what direction to go until one has driven a few hundred yards. The compass takes the guesswork out of one's position.

Imaging is the other issue I've had. iPhone pictures are quite decent for a camera, more so thanks to apps, but the addition of autofocus and auto white balance can't be anything but good. And who can say no to video. As soon as MMS goes live, I'm sure I'll take full advantage.

So stay tuned. More observations to come. But it's a pretty awesome upgrade, in my opinion.

Private label capturing consumers' hearts

Cereal aisle
Originally uploaded by mitchsfo

There's a new study highlighted in WARC, an advertising research website based out of the UK. I love their reports and case studies but boy is it expensive.

90% of shoppers said that private label products were as good or better than their branded equivalent. Ninety percent! Over a third of shoppers in this study swapped named brand for private label merchandise in their carts.

These numbers are pretty significant and I bet worrying for manufacturers everywhere. Given my post on the increasing sophistication of private label packaging, I'm not surprised.

Hat tip [WARC]

It's official

iPhone 3.0 is out and crashing the iTunes Store everywhere. Including here. Fortunately I avoided the rush to download the software a few days ago by mysterious means.

Originally my plan was to avoid upgrading to the new 3GS for a few months. AT&T's pricing for existing iPhone 3G was just too high to justify it. Now it seems as though they will be offering those who bought the 3G in the first few months of its launch, which was pretty much every Apple geek out there, including your truly.

It's a significant enough discount to make it worth the additional features which I know I will use – specifically better picture quality through auto focus, the compass for GPS and video recording. I could also complain about the speed but honestly it's not that big of a deal breaker for me.

Kindle everywhere

There are reports today that Amazon's Bezos sees the Kindle devices as more of a means to an end – with that end being more electronic sales of books. That means that applications like the current iPhone Kindle app could very well compete with the company's dedicated Kindle devices.

I'm all for it. I use my Kindle app more than I use the 1st Gen Kindle, which suffers from enough industrial-design issues that I don't use it as often as I did in the past. Who am I kidding.... I just want the newer flatter one. I've even considered the larger DX version so that I can get native PDF support – something very important to me and my workflow.

The one major thing missing from the Kindle app is the ability to annote and add notes to certain passages in the book. I love this feature and really feel its absence in the app. Bookmarks just don't cut it. I hope the next version of the Kindle app adds it.

Hat tip [MacNN via Electronista]

Obama and DOMA

I'm going to be labeled an apologist here. And I generally avoid politics in this blog.

But I can see one reason for the over the top DOJ defense. None of the arguments are new; the LGBT has heard language contained in the DOJ brief many many times over the years. What if that's the point? What if the defense brought out the worst of the worst and these were invalidated by a judge. What if in light of these classic arguments, the ruling judges agree that these arguments should not be baked into the law of the land for whatever reason?

Time and time again, people have overreacted to something Obama has done, only to be quieted by what proved to be shrewd thinking on his part. For some reason I don't think this situation is any different.

iPhone 3.0

Somehow my iPhone has been mysteriously upgraded to the new 3.0 software. I have to say it has been a joy to use so far. Highlights include the horizontal keyboard, although writing this in Notes is proving a little annoying with the headphones on. Everything is more crisp, particularly the movement between programs.

I like the new search capability but it is one of those functions that will grow on me, just like Spotlight on the Mac. It took me a while to get into the habit of using it. Now I use it almost exclusively to find stuff. Part of the problem is I have so many apps that sometimes I flick through to know what options I have. As it is now, just grazing the screen triggers some sort of selection, which is distracting. Particularly when entering a lot of text.

So these are my initial impressions. Honestly I am more excited about the hardware connections, most of whicb I imagine will be released when the new software is officially released in a day or two.

Sent from my iPhone so please excuse the typos, odd words and brevity.

computer free

I am spending the day off the laptop. I am trying to see how much I can rely upon my iPhone for entertainment.

Well lately it has been for education. I have been taking advantage of the net to brush up on different educational pursuits. I'm nearing the end of my first pass on UC Berkeley's Social Psych class. I'm nearing the end of the semester but I have the textbook on order so that I have all the reading done when I go through it again.

I have been brushing up on my math skills using an app called Mathemagics or something like that.

I'm also testing out a bunch of flash card solutions. It's something that I have been keeping my eye on for a while and I need to knuckle down while I study for the GRE/GMATs. I will report back with my progress.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Embedded strategy

I finally watched the Keynote and what struck me was how different Microsoft and Apple are treating the embedded market.

Microsoft's embedded strategy is basically Windows everywhere. Except that developing for the different varieties of Windows is not always a straight forward task. And Windows isn't the most nimble of OS'. Add that to the reluctance many hardware manufacturers have had for Microsoft to own their space as they do the desktop world and you see why there have been problems with the Windows everywhere strategy.

With the latest software update, Apple is taking a completely different route. Instead of having hardware manufacturers tailor an OS for their hardware, the iPhone/iTouch duo acts as the brains for essentially dummy hardware. It's a lot easier to program and update an iPhone app vs. something that is more hardwired and can't be updated as easily if a product doesn't have a network connection handy.

I am so excited to see what is being developed. Just chomping at the bit.

Mac news cont'd

I was a bit unfair in my criticisms of Mac news in my previous post. I complained that I hadn't heard very much in light of what thought would have been a very busy news period in the Mac universe. I get the sense that there is a lot of news but it is under wraps until the official launch, based on some comment made on one of the geek blogs – Engagimodo. It's all very hush hush. Calm before the storm again.

Okay Engagimodo is not a real blog but rather the names of the two tech heavyweights combined. They would probably die to see the names combined as such. But I feel they are very similar and report on many of the same things. Their individual original reporting is fantastic but the spin isn't so different to prevent them from blurring together. I'll have to pay more attention to the writing to make sure.

What is happening now I do like and that's the deep dives into the material covered in the Keynote, particularly the new MacBook Pros recently introduced – and one that will be in this household sooner than later. I'm trying to decide between the always-with-me MacBook Air vs. the equivalent power of my iMac in the 13" MBP. What will it be – features or featherweight. It will be a difficult choice, especially since the purchase of a computer will negate the ability to upgrade to the next iPhone.

Speaking of the Keynote, I finally watched it all. Some exciting things coming this way.

Mac News is MIA

It's Wednesday and I've heard almost comparatively little out of the WWDC aside from Apple's own announcements.

Usually this week would be a steady stream of app – and what should also include device – announcements for the iPhone 3.0 software. Hardly anything.

Perhaps this is the calm before the storm.

It's T-minus 10 days.

I keep repeating to myself that I won't get the iPhone 3GS immediately.

Deep down I know it's a farce.

Maybe I'll wait a week.

Exciting iPhone news

Well the Pre's time in the spotlight was limited. The device is purely out classed by the iPhone, especially the new ones. I am beyond thrilled with the new iPhone 3GS. Even the software update excites me. I'm most looking forward to the cut/paste and the universal Spotlight search. I use Spotlight constantly on my Mac and know how easy it puts even the most obscure things. I haven't finished watching the keynote from yesterday so expect more thoughts in the next few days.

Not to be outdone is the announcement of updated laptops. I've been on the fence about the latest ones, especially since the executive decision to remove Firewire from the MacBook some time ago.

I have an old MacBook – first generation – and like having Firewire. It desperately needs updating as it's over three years old but I haven't been impressed with the current roster. Weight is important to me as it's my primary travel notebook and I've felt boxed in of late. I wanted the backlit keyboard, LED screen and power of the latest laptops but didn't want the 15" and thought the removal of Firewire from the 13" painted me into a corner. I'm glad that not only did they lower the price, but they also included a Firewire 800 port and an SD port. One less thing to carry with me in my travel wires kit.

I'm a happy camper!

Death of the Gap

This post qualifies as a rant. A rant against The Gap.

Back in the day, The Gap stood for quality that stood the test of time. It was safe to purchase pretty much anything from the store because you knew it would last.

No longer. Perfect case in point. I was on the road and ran out of clean undershirts, due to an accident with a glass of wine. I ran to The Gap to purchase a pair of grey crew neck undershirts.

The neck of the T-shirt started to fray after the first wear. After the first wash, BOTH shirts developed holes in the front where the collar band met the material. Both of them. I'm sorry but an undershirt should last at least one wash before falling apart.

If The Gap can't make basics such as underwear that last, there's no hope.

The big jump

The big jump
Originally uploaded by anthonyskelton

The early days of my blog were focused on small space living as I was living in a small space.

My how things have changed. It's almost like this picture – I jumped from a small pond to a big pond. And it's a different world.

The great thing about moving is the fun of making a space your own. The worst thing is realizing that you may need new stuff to fit your space. To be fair, I had an unusually small apartment and there is little that would have fit elsewhere. That doesn't make this transition any easier.

Not a bad problem to have in the grand scheme of things.

iPhone 3.0

Everyone's bonkers over what will be released next week, likely a new iPhone. Honestly I can't wait and I'm sure the new one will be in my hands within the next three months, as senseless as it sounds.

The more I use the device, the more it feels as though I'm carrying a computer everywhere. I'm astounded at the sophistication of the apps that are being released now. At first it seemed as thought it would be just 'small potatoes,' the kind of apps that were on the Palm. I found many Palm apps to be nice and useful but nothing that exciting.

To me, the proof of the iPhone's capabilities are in the pudding – how has my life changed since I purchased it. I can say without hyperbole that the iPhone was influential in my losing roughly 15 pounds in the last six months, thanks to programs such as Lose It, monitoring my caloric intake, and iFitness, which helps me track my workout routine. These tools have always been available via pen and paper or using a spreadsheet. But I've always run into problems with the manual methods. I always have my phone on me so I rarely forget to use either of those programs, which is a fantastic thing.

To me, the thing that will make it perfect is the upcoming hardware pairing – specifically a keyboard. I may never need to take my laptop anywhere again if I'm able to pair a keyboard with my phone and I'm able to use a good 'Office' document creator and viewer.

Interesting times ahead.

Contemplation

Contemplation
Originally uploaded by Abo - Julien Robitaille

As you know, I've moved into a new apartment and I'm noticing a change in my attitude and my thinking. The blog thing has been sporadic as I haven't quite figured out a rhythm. I'm not reading as many RSS's as I have in the past, which is usually my source material. I do have a few things on my mind which I will share this morning.

FiOS thoughts

With the new apartment came a new service – Verizon's FiOS. Overall I find the experience pretty awesome.

My previous cable provider was Time Warner Cable. I had several issues with the service. The picture quality ranged from fair to awful. Pixilation was a huge issue with animation suffering the most, often rendered jagged. Even HD football didn't quite look like HD sometimes. The other issue I had was the set-top box DVR – a user interface nightmare. I admit that I have been spoiled in the past. I owned a TiVO for many years and I consider that to be the ultimate in television UI. It is intuitive and attractive with many 'delightful' touches that make using it a joy. Time Warner's UI is poorly thought through. I often found myself still stumbling over basic functionality, even though I had owned it for over a year. Considering what I paid, I was unimpressed, which is why I jumped ship to FiOS when I had the chance.

FiOS has many things that I love. The picture quality is fantastic. I never feel as though there's a gap between the data and the display, which would appear as large disconnected pixels in Time Warner's service. The set-top experience is fantastically designed with many options available in an easy to understand fashion. It's the closest thing I've seen to TiVO without being TiVO. The data speed is fantastic; my systems are significantly faster.

The remote is the biggest issue I have with the service right now. I can't seem to pair it with my television, forcing me to use two remotes when I really should only have to use one. The remote also 'loses' it's connection with the set-top box, forcing me to reset it all the time. With channel numbers reaching into the 1800 and 1900, there should be easier ways for me to comb through all of the channels. Perhaps dividing them into subgroups – for example, music or kids, or sports – so I can surf certain channels more easily.

Overall though I'm happy with the service. It costs about the same as Time Warners but I feel as though I'm getting so much more. That's a great place to be.