Category Archives: Popular culture

Getting More Social

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It goes against my recluse nature but there are a couple of other social networks I have been toying with recently that are pretty exciting.

One site is tumblr, which just got some huge publicity in a recent New York Times article. What I enjoy about tumblr is how effortless it is to share text, links, photos or other media. It feels far more content-driven than Facebook with less visual noise than Twitter. The iPhone app is outstanding and makes posting very easy. I’m not quite sure what to do with it yet, but if you are bored you can check out my tumblr page.

Scribd is a platform geared toward writers who wish to share their content. A few components still feel buggy, but overall I like the concept. Since it is geared toward longer content the updating occurs through uploading documents. While this is a bit cumbersome for sharing blog posts, it really lends itself to stories and articles. Google Docs integration is there so one can easily port those over. My latest Scribd posts can be found here.

If there are other social networks you are excited about, feel free to share in the comments.

A Declaration

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Continue reading →

The iPhone has a Compass – Do We?

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Gizmodo’s now infamous expose of the next-gen iPhone is one of the hottest and most controversial tech stories to hit in a while. Some even cheered Gizmodo for landing the ultimate scoop – getting their hands on an iPhone prototype from the ultra-secret Apple.

But then reality hit. We learn that Gizmodo paid $5,000 for the phone from someone who found it at a Silicon Valley bar. Its unfortunate owner apparently left it behind. Instead of giving it to the police or making a more concerted effort to give it back to Apple, it was sold to the highest bidder. This was after the Apple employee was identified through a Facebook app and the phone was remotely wiped by Apple. All clear evidence that the phone was property that should have been returned.

So this is what we have come to. If something comes into your hands that isn’t yours, resort to the playground ethics of “finder’s keepers.”

This is why when someone returns money that is not theirs or engages in some other act of unforeseen honesty people are shocked. Too many share the view that if the world is ruthless and cutthroat, then we should be too.

There is an old saying about how each of us needs to have a moral compass to serve as a guide when we face such situations. Unfortunately we have another case where it just didn’t work. Maybe there’s an app for that.

The iPad Verdict

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This is me padding my web site analytics from the Apple Store.

Being a thinking person means I am not an ideal Apple customer. I couldn’t accept at face value the iPad was as “magical” as advertised, so I went over to an Apple Store today to try it out. Just like many, I have very mixed feelings about it, and much to think about before deciding to buy one. There’s a gazillion reviews on the web already, so I will not be writing one. I’m offering a few impressions from a tech enthusiast who is pondering whether to purchase an iPad.

Pros

Apple’s hype over the iPad comes closest to its grand hyperbole with Safari’s web browsing capabilities. It really is a joy to peruse the web by tapping, pinching and swiping. And the display is just gorgeous – so much so that looking at a MacBook Pro screen afterwards was a disappointment. I could easily see myself lounging on the couch, patio, or bed with an iPad.

My biggest surprise was how pleasant the iBooks app was. I wasn’t necessarily in the market for an eReader, but I could see myself buying books, especially to have with me while travelling. The app is just gorgeous, and the page-turning animation is quite cool, even though it is just for show.

Some of the preloaded apps were amazing, and really show the potential that developers will have with the iPad. Plenty of specifics and app reviews are out there, so I will just say that I expect that there will be plenty of amazing apps to come, given that there are already over 1,000 on day one. (This also may mean I’ll be plenty busy at AppCraver.)

Probably the iPad’s biggest compliment was that I just didn’t want to put it down. It really is a fun device to use.

Cons

I think the iPad’s criticisms hinge on the word “fun.” Once you get past the fun, there are gaping holes and crippling weaknesses that kept me from walking out of the Apple Store with one (and yes, they still had some in stock).

I have been surprised at how much the lack of Flash support and multitasking are downplayed in other reviews. Yes, HTML5 will probably eclipse Flash eventually, but it will be a while. I don’t really miss Flash on my iPhone, because it’s a phone. But on what is supposed to be a different kind of computer, there are plenty of places on the web where videos have gone missing. For example, on a Nexus One you could watch the NCAA Tournament from the browser, yet would need to pay $10 for the iPhone/iPad add for the same privilege. This artificial pay wall created by Apple is quite irritating. Continue reading →

What Tiger Didn’t Say

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Tiger’s scripted mea culpa hasn’t exactly received rave reviews. But most commentators haven’t talked about a glaring omission from Friday’s statement.

In no part of the speech did Tiger give any kind of declaration of love for his wife. Given that all indications are that she is slipping away, it is a bit curious. He talked plenty about marriage, selfish behavior, irresponsible actions, and tons of apologies.

Sure, Tiger is super private, doesn’t want to discuss his marriage and probably is not comfortable with getting all touchy feely in public. That is perfectly understandable. But given that he has more mistresses than major championships one would think he could give just a tiny shout out to how much he loves his wife and hopes to stay with her.

Unless he doesn’t. In that case, it indicates at least one potential factor to all the bad behavior.

Most of this is really not our business and has received entirely too much press coverage. But Tiger’s handlers are not serving him well if they want to keep him scripted and in control of all access. If Tiger wants the public to trust him again, he needs to do a lot better job of convincing the public what he means.

Apple iPad: Cupertino is in control

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The device you didn’t know you need: a ginormous iPod touch.

Apple’s unveiling of its unfortunately-named iPad this week was a major letdown for mostly one reason: openness. By opting for the iPhone operating system on the iPad, Apple maintains an iron-like grip on the device. Applications must go through the App Store. Want to get work done? You are stuck with iWork. Steve Jobs’ hatred of flash means lots of Lego icons when surfing the web.

Probably the most crippling limitation is that in its current form the iPad can only handle one app at a time. While this is moderately annoying on the iPhone, it is ridiculous on a computer with a 1 Ghz processor.

In fact, the iPad unveiling probably leaves more questions than answers. Will developers start making more in-depth applications specifically for the iPad? (For example, imagine a full-blown version of Office or more detailed magazine and newspaper apps) How well will applications sync between your iPhone and iPad? Will AT&T’s network be able to handle even more connected devices?

It would be unwise to call the iPad a flop. Even with some quirky restrictions, you can never count out a device that comes from One Infinite Loop. The Apple fanboys and geeks will line up to get one of these. The question is if the masses will follow.

One eReader to rule them all?

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Apple tablet rumors will finally cease and desist Wednesday when the The Turtle Necked One saunters on stage with Apple’s “latest creation.”

When these rumors began (somewhere in the middle of the Bush administration) I thought I would never have use for such a device. I’m already happy with my laptop (a Toshiba tablet running Windows 7), iPhone 3GS, and a brilliant 23-inch Samsung monitor attached to my desktop. Seems like another gadget is the last thing I need.

But it looks like this Apple tablet thing is less a replacement for these other devices than what may turn out to be an excellent companion device. We didn’t know we “needed” an MP3 player until Apple made the iPod franchise a hit. My suspicion is that this device will be an eReader/music/video/Internet device on steroids that could over time change how we engage with multiple types of content.  Continue reading →

Ten Wishes for 2010

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The year 2010 is almost here and instead of the trite exercise of New Year resolutions, I am instead blogging about a few ways the new year could be better than 2009. In no particular order:

10. People will stop calling the iPod touch an iTouch.

9. I will never again hear a voicemail from Tiger Woods.

8. Sarah Palin will stop speaking. Not lose her ability to speak, but just realize most of what she has to say is not that bright.

7. The Episcopal Church will brush up on 1 Corinthians and stop suing churches that have left this apostate mess. For an organization that is always shouting about inclusiveness and accepting others, it sure is quick to bring out the lawyers and make threats and intimidation against those who do not follow their beliefs. Here is hoping to a successful 2010 for the Anglican Province in North America. Continue reading →

Oh Google, You Own My Soul

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An industry has grown up around  fearing intrusion into our lives. The unease is that Big Brother and his all-seeing eye shall invade our movements and personal information.

So should we fear the same from Google? For example, depending on how extensively you use Google services, our overlords from Mountain View may have all of your e-mail, documents, photos, credit card information, voice mail transcripts, and a street view of your house stored on their servers. I am a pretty heavy user myself. I am typing this post from Google Chrome, with tabs open to my Google Docs, Wave account, and Gmail.

I suppose this should frighten me. It certainly does for some. And when you consider the totality of data the company may have on each of us, not to mention stored search information, it could unhinge anybody. Continue reading →

Get the Facts, Mr. President

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It was inexcusable for the President of the United States in one breath to acknowledge he had “not seen all the facts” then in another to accuse the Cambridge Police of “acting stupidly.”  I hope this casual doublespeak is not becoming a hallmark of Obama’s presidency, as it was on full display at last night’s press conference.

So Obama wasn’t there, but he can conclude the police were stupid? Even given the police report indicating that Gates was angry, belligerent, and throwing out racial barbs and profanities? And what Obama and other opportunistic commentators like Michael Eric Dyson forget is that Gates was not wrongly arrested for breaking and entering. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. This tends to happen when you are pugnacious towards the police and refuse their instructions. Also calling them racist and insulting their mother doesn’t help. You would expect a Harvard professor to know better. Continue reading →