Happy Howl-o-ween
Published: October 30, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Tomorrow is Halloween and to get into the spirit of things I decided to carve a pumpkin. Up until now, the extent of my pumpkin carving experience has been under the supervision of a parent. Yep, it's been that long. Being a pumpkin carving novice, I decided to pick up one of those pumpkin carving kits that comes with everything you need to get started, including the carving and gutting tools as well as a booklet of templates. I figured that with the templates I could create something intricate and forgo the usual boring, old triangles.
Apparently, during the time I left to buy the kit, my neighbors complained that my dogs had been barking the entire day. Considering I had only been out of the house for the two hours it took me to run out to get the carving kit, I thought this was a bit odd. So it should be no surprise that I found it amusingly appropriate to use the template with the pack of howling wolves. I quickly learned that cutting a tough-skinned gourd with a saw that looks like it came out of a munchkin carpenter's tool shed isn't as easy as I thought it would be, even with a pattern to follow. The end result isn't precisely what the template looked like, but it's close enough. Besides I'm sure my neighbors will appreciate it every time they glance at doorstep. I took a photo of my disasterpiece in all its glory with my T-Mobile G1, which considering the circumstances, i.e. lighting conditions, produced a surprisingly good quality photo.
My First Week with the T-Mobile G1
Published: October 28, 2008 at 6:04 PM
I’ve been at it for one week with my Android-based, T-Mobile G1. I admit that every time I get a new cell phone I either get a tinge of buyer’s remorse or end up comparing it to my previous phone more than I should. The G1 is no exception. When I pulled the G1 out of the box, my initial impression was that it was a bit clunky, bulky and even heavy. I know comparing the G1’s size to a Motorola RAZR (which it’s replacing) isn’t exactly fair considering what the G1 is capable of, but a precedence had been set.
What the G1 lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up for in functionality. Sure I would love the G1 to be the same size as the RAZR, but my concerns that the G1 would be a brick in my pocket subsided as I familiarized myself with the Android interface and started making use of the features that I cursed my RAZR for not having. I also felt better when I had a chance to compare the G1’s vitals to a friend’s iPhone. The weight of the two devices is very similar and though the G1 is thicker, the QWERTY keyboard that adds to the extra thickness is totally worth it.
Once I got over the dimension shock, the only real issue I had with the G1 is battery life. If you’ll be using your G1 heavily throughout the day, you’ll need to keep a charger handy. Even with recommended settings to extend the battery life (GPS, brightness, WiFi and auto sync settings turned down or off) the phone eats up the charge quickly. I would imagine that if you took the phone on a trip to use as a reference guide and were out of the hotel all day sightseeing, you wouldn’t make it into the evening without needing a charge. I’m not sure how this compares to the battery life on an iPhone, but I could definitely see it being an issue at some point.
What I don’t see being an issue is the Android Market. There have been dozens of new applications added since theG1 launched on the 22nd and every time I check the Android Market, the application and game libraries seems to be growing. Obviously some of the applications are more useful than others, but it’s nice to know there’s no shortage of developers working on the Android platform. I’ll blog a more detailed account of some of my favorite applications later in the week, but want to include a quick real world example of how the G1 is making a difference in my life.
I downloaded one of the first applications available in the Android Market, named QuickList, to create a running grocery list throughout the week. If you’re wondering why I don’t just write a list out, I’ve tried and since my list isn’t at my hip at all times—like my phone—I always seem to forget something. As I navigated the aisles of my local Publix this weekend, checking off the list items as I add them to my cart, I didn’t have that usual “I’m forgetting something” feeling that comes over me right before I check out. When I cleared those automatic doors I not only felt confident that I got everything I needed, I also realized that for once, I didn’t forget the garbage bags!
In the end, my week with the G1 was as much of a learning experience as a realization that the device has the ability to change the way people live their lives. It’s not that the G1 can make you a better shopper, a healthier eater, an accurate tipper or even more productive, but it gives you the tools that put you on the right track.
Macro Photos of a Micro Card
Published: October 20, 2008 at 8:28 PM
If you follow me on Twitter, about a month ago I tweeted about a 16GB microSDHC card by SanDisk. The card just hit the market in the UK and at the time was available for around $80 shipped to the U.S. I decided to buy one of these cards since I pre-ordered the T-Mobile G1 and it only comes with a measly 1GB microSD card, but supports microSDHC. My order was shipped (dispatched if you're in the U.K.) quickly and arrived with plenty of time to spare for the G1, so I snapped a few photos.
For those of you unfamiliar with SDHC, it's a flash memory card format that supports capacities of 4GB and beyond. Chances are you're most likely using an SD (under 4GB) or SDHC (over 4GB) card in your digital camera. microSD—used mostly for cell phones—is a teeny-tiny version of SD memory. So a microSDHC card is basically a mini SDHC card that supports high capacity memory. Not to make matters any more confusing, but you can use an adapter and plug a microSDHC card into an SDHC fitting to create an SDHC card and there are USB adapters that allow you to plug an SDHC card into them, creating what equates to a flash memory stick. The last photo in the set will help differentiate between the types and gives you a size comparison so you have a better idea of what's what. Now that I've got my memory, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that UPS gets my G1 to me in one piece.
Pulling the Plug on Cable
Published: October 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM
I've pulled the plug on cable television. I called to cancel my television service on Thursday and dropped off my HD-DVR this morning to make it official. I decided to stop paying for cable for because it was costing me about a $100 a month and I only watched a few stations that weren't the major networks. Now that most television content and shows are available online—be it on the networks' Web sites, Hulu.com or marketplaces like Xbox Live, Zune and iTunes—I shouldn't miss much of anything, if anything at all. As a trade off, I decided to pay an extra $10 a month to increase the speed of my Internet connection, since I'll be doing a lot of downloading. I think the hardest part will be the ESPN and Fox Soccer Channel withdraws, but I figure I can always drop into a bar and catch a game. This reminds me of when I dumped my land-line phone several years back and used my cell phone as my primary phone. It took a bit of adjustment getting used to monitoring my minutes, just as I imagine downloading shows will takes some getting used to, but in the end it was a good decision that felt quite liberating.
Making Sense of the Bailout
Published: October 7, 2008 at 7:36 AM
After a 777 point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, businesses, citizens and politicians alike begged the U.S. Congress to pass a $700 billion bailout package bill, late last week. Congress responded by tossing Wall Street the $700 billion life preserver because a lack of liquidity in the credit markets would suffocate consumer and business lending, bringing the economy to a grinding halt.
What does the bailout mean for someone on Main Street? If you as a consumer can't borrow money because the banks have no money to lend, you can't buy the services or products a business has to offer. As a result, businesses can't cover their operating expenses—which include payroll—since there is a lack of commerce (no consumer spending) and no available credit (no bank loans). Businesses are then forced to cut costs, which in many instances result in employee layoffs, and the entire episode comes full circle.
Why are we in this mess? Credit. We as a country have stopped dealing in liquidities (cash) and are subscribed to the I.O.U. honor system we call credit. Statistics show that more Americans are in debt than ever before and it's a direct result of credit. Credit has made it easy for people to live beyond their means and financial institutions are taking advantage of this. By extending credit cards, auto loans and home loans to individuals who wouldn't normally qualify for them, financial institutions are looking to turn a quick profit through enticing introductory rates, no-interest grace periods and other tactics with back-loaded, high-interest. When these high-interest rates eventually set in, like the ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages) in the housing market, people can't afford the payments and the loans go sour.
History has shown that government intervention in financial issues in not the solution in a free market society. Take Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal for example. The New Deal was created to help America get out of the Great Depression and though some credit it with doing so, the truth of the matter is that the industrial revolution spurred by WWII was the true catalyst for the rise from depression. Even those who believe it was solely the New Deal that helped America out of depression can't deny that over 70 years later government still can't get a grip on some of the New Deal's "bailout" programs such as social security and welfare. Government intervention is a temporary solution that has unforeseen repercussions that can last generations as with the New Deal.
So how does giving $700 billion in cash to the financial institutions, who will put the cash right back into the credit system that caused this mess in the first place, solve the financial crisis? It doesn't; it only continues the viscous cycle, which will inevitably require additional bailouts in other sectors of the economy. Congress has set a dangerous precedent in bailing out Wall Street and it's only a matter of time before the government is forced to buy off sour mortgages and other bad debt. The truth of the matter is that American society has been living beyond its means and a correction in the form of a recession, depression, whatever the terminology is inevitable even with a government bailout.
Beaglemania Arrives in the U.S.
Published: October 6, 2008 at 10:38 AM
If you watched the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show you'll recognize Uno, the 15-inch Beagle, who won best in show. Being a Beagle owner myself (Brodie, whom I sometimes refer to as Ono for reasons I'll explain), I was amused to see Uno strut his stuff around the show floor and demand attention with his obsessing bays. Uno's victory has not only raised awareness of the Beagle breed, it increased the number homes choosing a Beagle as their family pet. If the baying didn't deter them, chances are most of these new Beagle owners are just learning about the kind of trouble an unsupervised Beagle can get into. The YouTube video above is evidence of Beagle mischief (and ingenuity). Don't get me wrong, Beagles have the friendliest temperament and I highly recommend them to anyone considering a dog, but don't let their cuteness fool you because they'll have you shouting "Oh, no" in no time!
T-Mobile G1: The 7 Haves
Published: September 25, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Yesterday I touched on some of the disappointing aspects of the T-Mobile G1. Though the G1 isn't flawless, it does have several key features that will make it a viable competitor in the mobile market. And so I give you the 7 haves of the T-Mobile G1.
- Android: The reason for all the buzz. Because Android is open source, it gives developers unlimited possibilities. This means that, hardware permitting, there really isn't anything the software can't conceivably do.
- Android Market: Yes, the iPhone has its own App Store, but the Cupertino-clan clamps down on the content. T-Mobile and Google have pledged a no-policing policy for the Android Market, so if you want to flash your status by blowing a grand on a real gem of an application, go for it!
- micoSDHC: Equipped with only 1 GB out of the box, the G1's memory is easily upgraded by swapping in a higher capacity microSDHC card. Currently, most 8 GB microSDHC cards run for under $30
, 16 GB cards are starting to hit the market at around $70, and higher capacity cards are in the works.
- QWERTY Keyboard: The inclusion of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard frees up on-screen real estate and maximizes the application viewing area. It's also a nice addition for those who prefer the feel of buttons when keying in text.
- Service: When the G1's 1GB, monthly, data-transfer limit raised customer concerns, T-Mobile quickly lifted the cap. When asked about tethering capabilities, T-Mobile CTO Cole Brodman didn't encourage the practice, but acknowledged the possibility existed through potential third-party applications. T-Mobile has a track record of great customer service, but they actually seem to understand and embrace the Pandora's Box they're opening with Andriod.
- Accelerometer: The G1's built-in accelerometer gives you more control of your device, literally. In addition to powering the Compass tool in Google Maps' Street View mode by panning the on-screen view of a city street with your physical movements (up, down, right and left), the accelerometer helped Google co-founder Sergey Brin develop an application clocking the time it took him to catch his G1 after tossing it in the air. Laughingly, Brin didn't think throwing the application up on Android Marketplace was a good idea.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Having to rely on Wi-Fi for your broadband connectivity negates the mobility of the G1, but T-Mobile's fledgling 3G network isn't available in all areas. In those instances, Wi-Fi broadband connectivity is better than no connectivity. The real benefit of Wi-Fi on the G1 is that it opens the possibility of cross-network communication between itself and other devices, third-party software permitting.