- post from Jan 10, 2010

Sweet little prediction I had.   Hung?  Well at least the last line.  Jump to the link.

[TUAW]

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About 18 months ago my 1st gen Slingbox took a dive, power supply I thought.  I tried reviving it with another power supply, but no luck.  So I just tossed the unit onto my growing pile of old, out dated, powered plastic.

This morning however my ears perked up.  Slingbox’s iPhone application has now been approved for 3g.  The original iPhone application on used Wifi.  Having 3G may have just changed my tune on watching live TV in my iPhone.  Maybe it’s time to invest in a new Slingbox?

[story via | image via]

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Not sure I need PocketInformant, but here some video coverage at MacWorld.

[via TUAW]

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Linux has fanboys?  I found this amusing

via < via

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A few friends from another Denver Handheld User Group is wanting to branch off and start a new group.  The current group has been dominated by a few individuals which is not going helping others.  The group use to help each other no matter what platform, Apple, Windows, Droid, Blackberry, Palm.   The group has suddenly turned into an instruction session by one of the members.  The “teaching” is very one-sided.  I understand we all have opinions, some very strong.  A social group that meets on a Saturday morning is not the place for name calling and device bashing.  Seriously it’s a phone, an operating system, an application.

The new group is in the process of forming.  I hope we can meet in the Denver Tech Center once a month.  The plan is to have format that we stick with every meeting.  Facilitators will be chosen by the group two months ahead of time.  That persons job is just to keep everyone on schedule and to keep the conversation from being dominated.  As for other info, that’s about it so far.  Please check out the forum that has been dedicated to this group.

I am also growing unhappy with the local Mobile User Group I have been attending.  A few members and I have been tossing around the idea of a starting a new group.  If you’re in Denver and would like to be apart post up in the comment section and I’ll make sure to get you the meeting information.

But wait, isn’t paper to be used as a medium for written communication, as a canvas for art, and a place to jot all those little notes on? When looking up the definition of paper in the dictionary nowhere does it say a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood, rags, or certain grasses to be used for making cute shapes and animal art.

Although origami finds use in paper for which it was not originally intended, most reasonable people accept with open arms the art form. In fact using paper for spit-wads, to start a fire, for building paper airplanes, or any of the other uses is generally supported by the human breathing community.

Within the past couple of years the digital world has brought us “digital paper”. This digital paper has been cleverly aliased as an e-book, an e-reader, an ePad, an eSlate, or some other derivative. Based on the physical form factors of these digital paper products not too many people uses their new devices to practice their origami.

Ok, so we are not going to destroy our new little electronic gadget just to make a crane or a frog, but what about using this “digital paper” for a use for which it was not intended? Should the manufacturers of these devices mandate how we should use our “digital paper”? If you answered, No, then please read on. If you answered, Yes, then you probably own an apple product and you just do not know any better.

Apple released its version of “digital paper” this week and have officially named it the iPad. It is of course, a “pretty” device, as are all of Apple’s iProducts. It should look very nice in your Feng shui, iOffice space. The problem with the iPad, well actually there are many but that is for another day, is that the iPad will only due what Apple says it can do. Imagine buying that ordinary piece of paper and being told that it can only be used for written communication; would you still buy it?

Not to be too critical of Apple, as many manufacturers practice the same rouge product dictatorship. Although, many companies, not including Apple, will give you the blue prints to their product so you are free to make the product your own. The manufacturers obviously can not offer support when you start using their product in a way it was not intended. Once you have “hacked” the product the product is officially yours and you own the support of that product.

Take for example, the NOOK, which is Barnes & Noble’s version of “digital paper”. The underlying operating system that makes this device tick is the open sourced OS developed by Google called Android. Although the NOOK, when purchased, is limited to functionality defined by Barnes & Noble and its partners, it can be “hacked” to open up endless new functionality.

The next time you are out buying your next little gadget ask your self if you want to buy an ordinary piece of paper that can only be used as a medium for written communication, or if you want to buy the paper that can magically be transformed into a wonderful piece of origami art.

Sound off with your opinion one how companies dictate that way in which you can user their products.

Some of you are asking yourselves why do I think Apple will stay with AT&T.  It’s very simple.  Almost everyone hates their mobile carrier.  Whether it’s Verizon, Spring, T-Mobile, AT&T, etc, we all hate them for some reason.  I also think this because Apple does not want to move away from SIM card based mobile devices.  Building a CDMA and GSM device is a waste of resources in Apple’s mind If you want our devices change carriers.

I’m ready to go out on a limb here, but I think in the near future Apple will buy AT&T’s wireless division.  I think Apple is very interested in keeping pace with Google.  A few years ago when the 700mghz network became available, and Google was bidding, I think Apple was very intrigued by this.  Asking themselves why would Google want that.  This got Apple thinking about mobile communications on a different level, not just hardware.

Apple is very tatical.  They start by releasing devices that cause AT&T to spend money and build their network.

Remember this is from someone who thinks Google will buy Verizon too.

According to me over a year ago

Finally one of my Apple product psychic moments is coming true.  Now if they’ll release a MacMini with Blu-Ray, I’ll be batting a thousand.  Oh wait…I also think they will soon turn the MacMini into a gaming console to run downloaded, full sized games from the app store.

link to my photo gallery

A few weeks ago I pre-ordered my new iPhone 3GS for delivery this Friday.  I was under the impression that I was going to pay $499.  I was an early adopter of the 3G version(launch day) and was only being offered a $200 cut form the $699 retail, no contract price.

Today I log in to AT&T and run through the upgrade process and it’s offering me the 3GS for $299 with 2 year contact.  A story broke yesterday on Gizmodo that AT&T was July/Sept/Aug 2008 upgraders a better deal, but the prices won;’t show up till today.

Bottom line is that AT&T just saved me $200 tomorrow.  My $349 sale of my 3G on Craiglists on Monday just got a little sweeter!

Google has recently released a video on YouTube describing a new iPhone app that allows you to dial out using your GV account.  Check out the video.

GV Mobile iPhone App

[again via Gizmodo]

I am skeptical of the image that has been going around. An earlier report from a Chinese manufacturer was that Apple was ordering touch screens. Why would this design need a tough screen?

I think the device will be a large version of the iPhone, running the iPhone OS. I also believe Apple and AT&T’s agreement was constructed on the promise that Apple will release a product every year that will use AT&Ts network.

It is entirely possible that July will bring two new devices. A 9-10″ sub-notebook with 3G(pictured) and a larger iPhone style device(NetTablet)

[image thanks to Gizmodo]

This software is very helpful for thos of us that don’t have 3G 100% of the time.  The maps are store on the device.  Unlike the Google maps that require an internet connection to load.  This really makes the application run quickly.

Well worth the $24.99 for the West where I live.

The interface is great and plugins are plentiful.  We’ll see how it works and feels long term.  If your in the Denver Metro area and want to help me start a Mac User group in Douglas County post up of at MacMingle.com

You can also follow the progress of the Group formation on Twitter, User ID MacMingle.

G-Map is an iPhone app that load all the maps in the West and or East, $20 a coast.  This is a great option for those of you traveling through areas where cell coverage is limited.  As most of you know the iPhone’s Google Map feature only works when the phone can reach the online maps.

I sure hope it’s not a faux pas to ask this question?  After all I rely on Google to rake up my tags and keywords.

How is Google doing.  I know everything on the surface looks fine.  Stock is down, but everyone’s is.  In this time of perception is huge is Google pulling in the reins?

Check out this story from CNET: Google’s free SMS gravy train dries up. Don’t get me wrong here.  One story does not a rumor make, but I also received the email below from Google.

We’re writing to let you know that on May 5, 2009, Google
Checkout’s transaction processing fees will be changing. We’ll be
transitioning from our 2.0% + $0.20 per transaction rate to a new
tiered fee structure, where the rates will vary depending on the
dollar amount of your monthly sales processed through Checkout.
The rate you’ll be charged beginning on May 5, 2009 will be based
on your sales processed through Checkout during the month of April
2009. Each month thereafter, we’ll continue to use the prior
month’s sales volume to determine your transaction processing
rate. For more details about the new rates, please visit
http://checkout.google.com/seller/fees.html

This announcement raises rates as much as 0.9% and +.10cts per transaction.  I understand these rate are still low when comparing them to other credit card processors.  To see such and increase from Google surprised me a bit.  The email also advised that Adwords transaction fees are no longer free.

We’ll also be discontinuing the AdWords free transaction
processing promotion on May 5, 2009. Any AdWords transaction
processing credits accrued during April 2009 will be applied
towards transactions that occur on May 1-4, 2009.

Why is Google making chnages like a normal business.  This is very unlike them.

[via CNET]

2) The Mini Display Port - DVI via a plug that is not thicker that USB is key to making a thin tablet style device. New devices with this plug are showing up all over Apples line.

3) No 4G iPhone rumors - With the lack of new iPhone rumors it a only makes sense with the rumored 3rd quarter release. A tablet could easily be outfitted to work on AT&T’s 3G Network.

4) Airport Extreme and Time Capsule now support separate tunnels - They support operating in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously.  Since the new device will be too thin to have a network jack, the new tablet will have 5ghz Wifi.  This will limit however limit the places the device can be used.  People will grip about this when it is released.  Apple will assume everyone has or should have 5ghz.    They will make the case that 3G should cover you when roaming outside 5ghz.  Apple will refuse again to dumb down a device to a corporate environment.