2010-06-27 Weekly Twitter Update
June 27, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- . @JimMacMillan We need to teach media literacy much earlier in a child's education, many aren't producing until they get to college. #
- A streetview cam snapped my pic standing outside of Courtney HQ in 2008: http://bit.ly/9DgZIQ #
- I'll be on This Week in Media this afternoon at 3:15 p.m. EDT, talking about the cyber security bill and more. http://live.twit.tv #
- The power of viral distribution: RT @ABC: Fake Web Coupons May Cost Frito-Lay Millions http://bit.ly/actH3R #
- Multitasking Pandora on iOS4 – life is great! #
- Apple Announces Three Million iPads Sold in 80 Days http://j.mp/dhqJTV #
- Amazon has Beachtek boxes available for prime/super saver. Great way to connect an SM58 mic to consumer camera http://amzn.to/aGL6ws #
- RT @OmniFocus: OmniFocus 1.7 for iPhone is now available! New .. artwork, support for multitasking in iOS 4: http://bit.ly/ofip17rl #
- Alright, yes I am going to pick up an iPhone this morning. I dread having to be one of those 'line people' but it's the only time that works #
- RT @DalaiLama: Harmony among the major faiths has become an essential ingredient of peaceful coexistence in our world. #
- What other brands can attract two news crews for a product release? #iPhone http://yfrog.com/17gl0lj #
- Rations from steve jobs #iphone http://yfrog.com/0uujgyj #
- Should have come up later, this is nuts #
- More relief supplies. Thanks steve! #iphone http://yfrog.com/03cpqqj #
- This is the end of the preorder line, probably several hundred people here. Nuts. http://yfrog.com/5afqxij #
- People actually slept here last night.. Seriously? I thought getting up here for 7 was a little disfunctional. #iphone #
- Apple's latest device: iTrash. #iphone http://yfrog.com/j2s1tej #
- These poor souls didn't reserve a phone but have been camping out here since last night. http://yfrog.com/1f21hj #
- Odd iPhone line moving faster now that the morning tv news cycle is over
# - The new iPhone display is so good you'll never be able to look at others the same way again. #
- I can now see every pixel on my Macbook Pro's display thanks to the super sharp iPhone screen.. Seriously, it's that good. #
- Yikes look at this storm damage photo from @NewsBell: http://yfrog.com/2m44nuj #
- iPhone 4 reception is much worse than the 3GS in my home. #
- Iphone battery is drained over 10% this morning after only 30 mins of usage? Why? Poor reception driving the radio to work harder. #
- iPhone reception issue is 100% reproducible at my home, but doesn't happen at all at my office. Could software be part of the problem? #
- Brutal CNN iPhone headline: http://bit.ly/cl8XGs #
- The article headline was tamer than the front page one: http://yfrog.com/2pcw9p #
- World Cup twitterers: Pick a representative and simply RT that person shouting GOAL! Help Twitter out. #
- Analyst says Apple could give away bumpers with little financial impact: http://bit.ly/dbsXt5 – right because they're marked up 1200%! #
- I uploaded a YouTube video — iPhone 4 Test Footage http://youtu.be/iakIZRhxNYQ?a #
- Just did a FaceTime demo call with apple. Great idea! #
- Shot and edited some test footage on my new iPhone 4: http://j.mp/a7smrO #
- Raw footage of the Bridgeport tornado: http://bit.ly/bs9eM7 #
- Wow those vuvuzellas are annying #
- An entire tv station in a grocery bag. We live in the future. http://yfrog.com/mdhpxj #
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Review: iPhone 4 Arrives to Lousy Reception
June 25, 2010 by admin · View Comments
Thousands of Apple fans, myself included, lined up throughout the nation this week, eager to be among the first get their hands the latest iteration of the iPhone. And while the phone arrived to much fanfare Thursday morning, the reception (or lack thereof) it received when customers brought it home left much to be desired.
One of the key new features of the device is its new design, replacing the plastic shell of the previous model with glass and a stainless steel band that wraps around the device. The stainless steel component also doubles as an antenna, something Apple CEO Steve Jobs boasted as “brilliant engineering” in his June 7th keynote address to software developers.
And while audience members responded to the new antenna design with ooh’s and ahh’s, reality sunk in quickly on launch day as YouTube videos surfaced demonstrating the phone dramatically loses signal when a hand covers the bottom left side of the unit. Watch one of the first demonstrations of the issue below:
My own experiences mirror those findings of the video author. Holding the phone with my finger or hand on or near the bottom left of side of the unit is enough to quickly reduce a strong signal to a weak one. The phone dropped significantly more calls this evening in my home as compared to the previous model, the 3GS.
As early adopters flooded the Internet with complaints throughout the day, Apple acknowledged the flaw in a statement released to popular gadget blog Engadget:
Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.
Jobs, who of late is known for responding directly to customers who email him, advised a disappointed customer to “just avoid holding it in that way” according to the Engadget article.
A solution may only be an additional $29 away. Other iPhone 4 owners today reported that adding Apple’s new rubber “bumper” accessory was enough to prevent a user’s hand from interfering with the antenna. This of course adds some additional bulk to what Job’s describes as “the world’s thinnest smartphone” but should correct the interference issue.
That major gripe aside, the iPhone 4 is an impressive and well built product. Its new high resolution display is exceptional, and the phone’s ability to shoot and edit HD video complete with motion graphics is simply unmatched in the industry at the moment.
New AT&T customers and those eligible for an upgrade can purchase a 16 gigabyte iPhone 4 for $199, or a 32 gig version for $299. Supplies will be short for the next several weeks.
2010-06-20 Weekly Twitter Update
June 20, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Afghanistan believed to have substantial quantities of valuable minerals. Could be a game changer: http://nyti.ms/cttp1M #
- Looks like a lot of people are trying to pre-order iPhones right now, can't even get close to the order screen :-/ #
- RT @robdolin: New @microsoft @office 2010 is now available for public download (including free trials): http://bit.ly/tryoffice #
- . @kevinrose Can't get through.. Reservations through their new iPhone store app seem to work but I want mine delivered. in reply to kevinrose #
- RT @JimMacMillan: Guardian: Tiny hyperlocal news projects have grtr chance of success,but may find more kudos than cash http://bit.ly/b6jvSD #
- "please wait while we process your AT&T account information" zzzzzz…. #
- RT @andybeach: Google TV: A Video Tour http://wp.me/p2LJt-des from @newteevee #
- Mashable: YouTube Launches New Video Editor Tool http://bit.ly/dCnf3D #
- iFixit wastes no time with the new Mac Mini: http://bit.ly/a0LDeg #
- Ozzy might be the secret key to the fountain of youth.. http://bit.ly/dyWzlr #
- Dangerously tempting: RT @Five_Guys: Online ordering is LIVE & rolling out state by state to ALL locations in the US! #
- MacRumors – iPhone 4 has 512 megs of RAM – http://bit.ly/banXhp – my Apple IIe had 128k #
- . @zackluye Two tethering gotchyas: 1) Forces you into the new 2 gig cap. 2) Tethers only through bluetooth and usb, no wifi in reply to zackluye #
- RT @leolaporte: TWiT is looking for an experienced video producer/editor to work in our Petaluma California studio. http://bit.ly/9dxOPi #
- 6 of my apps claim to be iOS 4 compatible this a.m. Let the update flood begin! #
- Is there a translator? RT @kevinrose: digg dialog w/ozzy osbourne! http://bit.ly/dzd1rv #
- That's just nuts: http://j.mp/9J1Lux #
- Great profile on anonymous comment trolls: http://bit.ly/cdl3IA #
- RT @ebertchicago: The Muse visits while you are writing, not before. #
- RT @JohnStealey: We still calling it "taping". Haven't used tape in over a year. Carding? – Flashing? That's no good. What to call it? #
- RT @MelissaRyan: RT @nprpolitics: Pollsters Need Cell Phone Users More Than Ever http://n.pr/9HQo6v #
- Best Father's Day pic ever: http://twitpic.com/1s66ss #
- I wish iPad was more compatible with outdoor use: http://yfrog.com/4rv84j #
- Xbox kinect is uber cool, makes me wonder why Microsoft can't transfer the xbox magic to their other biz units. #
- RT @donttrythis: Umm… I think we can park here. http://twitpic.com/1y7fsi #
- Comprehensive list of new iOS 4 features, thanks for the great link @ClaytonMorris! http://tinyurl.com/27pk69v #
- Evernote among the first to take advantage of new iOS 4 features: http://j.mp/cCNEmr #
- Sophie and the neighborhood alpacas, they just had a haircut! http://yfrog.us/bgdllz #
- Microsoft's tech is way beyond the competitors, hands down. RT @ABC: Hands-Free Video Games: 3-Way War Begins http://bit.ly/bJst2a #
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2010-06-13 Weekly Twitter Update
June 13, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- Looks like Apple may have to pay Cisco another trademark licensing fee for iOS. #
- AT&T smart enough to not do what they did last year with iPhone upgrades. Everybody's eligible with six months eligibility. #
- Listening to @BrianReich at the West Hartford chamber. Great talk on social media. #
- Morning all, segmenting my tweets. CT news and politics will now be on my new Twitter account @lonpol – new media stuff stays here. #
- Hurt Locker IP holders release the first 700 IP addresses of alleged illegal downloaders: http://bit.ly/btOIEN #
- The fail whale floateth this morning. http://yfrog.com/6beu7p #
- Although I am often unhappy with them, Delta deserves some credit for their wifi rollout: http://bit.ly/bOM0L9 #
- Apple Design Awards Announced: http://bit.ly/9X5qbD #
- RT @seankovacs: Google plans on charging for Google Voice…? http://bit.ly/di1JsH #
- New iPhone OS multitasking feature that suspends and resumes apps doesn't work well on 3.x apps. They load from scratch as before. #
- Win the ultimate $10,000 Canon 5D Mk2 camera setup to celebrate the release of Camera+ for iPhone at WWDC http://tinyurl.com/camplus #
- . @alexlindsay Digital slate almost makes me want to go shoot a movie. Very cool. in reply to alexlindsay #
- Good. RT @TechCrunch: Google Kills Its Homepage Background Image Experiment Early – http://tcrn.ch/cXDJCi by @jasonkincaid #
- Just heard a brilliant insight: Foursquare is the equivalent of peeing on things to mark territory. Funny but true. #
- RT @robdolin: RT @JJtweets: A first-person account by that @AP reporter who dove into the gulf for an #OilSpill story: http://bit.ly/bQtTPW #
- Fascinating story on Saturn's moon Titan, maybe we can drill for oil there: http://bit.ly/9te881 #
- Way to go Delta, now you're losing kids as well as dogs.. http://bit.ly/bJeoh8 #
- It destroys families RT @thenote glad I don't live there. Q poll says 39% of CT fans root for Yankees, 38% are fans of Red Sox #
- Washington Post: iPad Required Gadget in Obama's Inner Circle http://bit.ly/apPUNt #
- I just ousted @shhdragon as the mayor of Cafe Routier on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/98YaNb #
- Behind Apple's Stunningly Crafted iPhone is a Patent http://j.mp/9QF65g #
- Cleaning up my desk! Sometimes rainy Saturdays can be productive. #
- I just recorded this video from my iPhone 3GS on Qik. Check it out! http://qik.ly/BaRJL #
- Happy Saturday! Don't forget I now have two twitter feeds, political/Connecticut stuff can now be found at @lonpol #
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2010-06-06 Weekly Twitter Update
June 6, 2010 by admin · View Comments
- I'm at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale (86 Boston Post Rd, Westbrook). http://4sq.com/bD5vLA #
- I'm seeing more and more talk about closing the gulf oil leak with a low yield nuclear explosive. http://bit.ly/cX3eMz #
- BP's live feed from the leaking well can be found on UStream here: http://bit.ly/coD1XW #
- My review of the Logitech Harmony 300 Remote Control http://amzn.to/bXFj5M #
- Today's project: connecting my Apple IIgs to my LAN. Picked up an ethernet card not too long ago. Anybody interested in learning more? #
- Wow this year is flying by.. June already. #
- Market punishes BP big time: http://bit.ly/d8LhpM #
- Popular Mechanics iPad version looks like the one to beat: http://bit.ly/9l69mq #
- Apple is proof positive that market share isn't the entire equation in the 21st century digital economy. #
- I just became the mayor of Aggies on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/a8VVlN #
- Let's Go Whalers!!! http://bit.ly/bDMYUO #
- Here's a great way to get thrown off comcast internet http://j.mp/bYdqKj #
- .@calmplexlocust It would be awesome for CT to have the first outdoor NHL venue in reply to calmplexlocust #
- Awesome. RT @TechCrunch: Reeder, The Best Feed Reader On The iPhone Is About To Launch On The iPad – http://tcrn.ch/b6Wa1f by @parislemon #
- Nate Silver lands a great gig at the New York Times: http://nyti.ms/bZ6WN3 #
- How long did this take him? RT @1timstreet: When a YouTube video is uploaded and ripped 1,000 times: http://bit.ly/9n6WQR via @mattsnod #
- Yet another 2008 Macbook in my fleet fell victim to bad Nvidia chips: http://bit.ly/18zazS #
- Congrats to #spacex on a successful launch today! Commercial spaceflight is another step closer to reality. #
- http://bit.ly/9LH0Uh Apple's HTML5 showcase only works in Safari. So much for open standards.. http://yfrog.com/0pr57p #
- All of Apple's HTML5 demos do work on the iPad. They are very cool, but why no Chrome support if it's open? http://bit.ly/9LH0Uh #
- Following @SGgrc 's advice and segmenting out my Twitter feed – follow @lonpol for all of my Connecticut and political musings. #
- iPad and Bluetooth keyboard make for a great writing platform. http://yfrog.com/fvza1j #
- Morning everyone, segmenting out my tweets. All CT / political stories commentary will now be on @lonpol – new media & me will stay here #
- At the Essex rotary Shad bake! #
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Remote Desktop Applications Add Missing Functionality to the iPad
June 4, 2010 by admin · View Comments
I contributed the following article to CTWatchdog.com:
Apple’s new iPad is taking the world by storm, selling over two million units in only its first two months on the market. Apple has smartly positioned their new product as a media consumption device, downplaying its ability to replace a full fledged PC.
iPad is mostly a faster and larger version of Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch – lacking much of the horsepower and functionality consumers have come to expect from a personal computer. Some tech pundits have wasted no time in panning the iPad, pointing out that less expensive “netbook” PC’s can do more given they run full versions of Linux and Windows.
Coming to the rescue are a number of new applications that “stream” a running PC or Mac to the device – allowing iPad users to take full control of their home or office computer from anywhere in the world. The iPad’s touch screen is certainly no replacement for a keyboard and mouse, but the apps work well enough to accomplish basic tasks.
Two Choices
LogMeIn’s “Ignition” ($29.99) and Antecea’s “Desktop Connect” ($11.99) work with both PC’s and Macs, and only require the installation of lightweight desktop applications to make the connection, no router configuration necessary.
It works like this: the screen display of a host desktop or laptop computer is transmitted over the Internet to the iPad. The host computer in turn accepts commands from the iPad’s screen, translating those screen taps into mouse movements and keyboard entries. The result is the ability to quickly interact with the host machine from an iPad connected to the Internet via wifi or 3G.
Nearly any application on the host computer can be run from the iPad. Email, word processors, accounting packages, and many other applications all function as expected. Games and other multimedia intensive applications are not recommended given bandwidth limitations.
Gotchyas
Both the LogMeIn and Antecea products work well for minimal tasks, but heavy usage gets a bit clunky. This is due in large part to the iPad’s touch-based interface design that requires both apps to simulate mouse movements. Clicking buttons and accessing menus are easy enough, but other controls requiring finer precision like clicking and dragging prove to be more difficult.
Using the onscreen keyboard in both applications adds additional challenges. Given that the keyboard can take up nearly half of the iPad’s screen in landscape mode, portions of the remote computer’s screen will be blocked. Both apps allow adjustment of the screen when the keyboard is pulled up, but it does severely limit functionality. Utilizing a bluetooth keyboard eliminates the problem, but of course also prevents handheld usage.
Polish vs. Value
If both apps do the same thing, why is the Antecea product more than half the price of the LogMeIn offering? The answer is largely in the polish. LogMeIn is a publicly traded company that has been offering remote access services for the last seven years, and the app’s overall design reflects that. Antecea is a smaller independent developer with far less overhead.
LogMeIn has two service levels, one free and one for an annual charge, but for the iPad software the free service will suffice. Antecea’s service is free, but requires a Google account in order to connect back to the desktop machine. Both apps can also be installed on your iPhone and iPod touch for no additional charge.
Unless you have an existing LogMeIn account, my suggestion would be to give Antecea’s offering a try. The $11.99 price is very reasonable for a product that functions largely the same as its more expensive competitor.
Stuff I find interesting- Roku XD and Netgear Roku XD Player hit the FCC September 3, 2010
- Does the iPhone 4 hate the AT&T MicroCell? August 8, 2010
- FCC calls off net neutrality negotiations August 5, 2010
- The Nightmare Scenario August 4, 2010
- Long lived new windows June 10, 2010
