It has happened. It started back in April, and I have to admit that I haven't looked back.
I got a MacBook Pro.
It's the most amazing laptop I've ever had. Beautiful, powerful, and just plain pleasurable to use. I can go on and on about how "it just works," but I'll sound like a fanboy. One thing I've learned since tossing my prejudice and putting aside my disdain for Apple's business practices is that you don't really understand how awesome Apple products are to use and own until you use and own them. Seriously. Looking in from the outside, it's easy to toss aside Apple products as over-priced over-marketed hype, but once you actually use them, you learn that the products are designed to just work without too much effort. I know, the hacker in me (and in you) likes to be able to fix things. Well, with OSX you can. It's called Terminal, and anyone with UNIX or Linux experience will find themselves unbelievably at home in Terminal. Talk about hacking ability!
Back to the MacBook Pro. Aside from OSX, I find that the experience I have using the MBP is superior to any laptop I've ever owned before. I have lots and lots of laptops including a brand-new HP laptop, and while the Envy comes close, it's just not quite there. I don't know how close the Ultrabooks can/will get to the ergonomics and just solid feel of Apple products, but so far, nothing compares.
Finally, and most importantly, I've also started buying into the Apple ecosystem. I have an Airport Extreme (router that you can attach USB drives/printers to) and as of yesterday, an iPhone 5. I'm finding more and more ways that the products work together, and while it's annoying that I have to spend nickels and dimes here and there for connectors and apps to make things share with each other that I think should have been able to share with each other in the first place(Bluetooth file sharing? Not on the iPhone!), everything just works better. I won't even go into little things like the TiVo app working on the iPhone vs my Galaxy SII.
So, I'm going down a dark path that appears to have disco lights at the end of the tunnel. I'm embracing these products more and more, which of course sullies my status as a geek to many of my friends and my wife. That's okay. That's why I'm the worst kind of geek.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
For The Love of Gadgets
The last gadget I got was the Kindle Fire. I got it on the day they were released, having pre-ordered it months earlier. When I purchased it (or pre-ordered it), I wasn't sure what role the Fire would play in my gadget lineup. I use a netbook, desktop computer, notebook computer (including the old PowerBook I'm writing this on) as well as my 10' gTablet Android tablet. I wasn't sure if a 7' tablet would fill a need I didn't know I had, but fill that need it did. And then some.
I find that I read a lot more now than I have been, even since getting the Kindle e-ink devices. It's not because the screen is easier to read; to the contrary, I still prefer reading on e-ink vs LCD. What it comes down to is the breadth of information I have access to on the Fire in a form factor that is so much easier to wield and handle than a larger tablet, whether it's an Android tablet, or iPad. The form factor just makes sense.
What do I find myself reading besides books? EVERYTHING!!! I read more magazines now, more news, Reddit (via Baconreader), and many more forums using Tapatalk (an Android app). I also find myself watching movies as I sit the Fire on my desk in it's elegant Marware cover. It's a great device that is primarily made for consuming media, and consume media I do!!!
I find that I read a lot more now than I have been, even since getting the Kindle e-ink devices. It's not because the screen is easier to read; to the contrary, I still prefer reading on e-ink vs LCD. What it comes down to is the breadth of information I have access to on the Fire in a form factor that is so much easier to wield and handle than a larger tablet, whether it's an Android tablet, or iPad. The form factor just makes sense.
What do I find myself reading besides books? EVERYTHING!!! I read more magazines now, more news, Reddit (via Baconreader), and many more forums using Tapatalk (an Android app). I also find myself watching movies as I sit the Fire on my desk in it's elegant Marware cover. It's a great device that is primarily made for consuming media, and consume media I do!!!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Steve Jobs
It's no secret that I'm not a fan of Apple's business practices, but Steve Jobs was a man who created an atmosphere of invention and innovation that has rarely been seen outside of Apple. Microsoft was such a place until the 90's when things seemed to slow down a bit before really picking up within the past two-three years, but Apple under Jobs' leadership was a place of wonder, creating products no-one knew they needed until being told so, and innovating in areas others had so miserably failed in or had neglected. Jobs had vision that allowed him to focus on something that was being done in a mediocre way and transform it into something magical. His leadership brought out the best in people and allowed them to flourish not only technically, but creatively. Engineers were allowed and encouraged to be creative, and the creative folks were encouraged to use engineering processes. Jobs didn't invent everything Apple did, but he gave the nudges in the right direction when needed and provided the guidance that the company needed to become a world leader in technology.
I had the opportunity to visit the Apple campus a few times, and the people there are all very excited all the time. Yeah, all the time. They really love what they're doing, and they put their hearts and souls into it. It's one of the things Jobs believed in most, and it's a quality that the people of Apple share. I believe that we spend so much time at work (more than we do at home!) that we should love what we do. I was not surprised to know that Jobs felt the same way. That makes me happy for him, in that he was not trudging along every day. He was doing something he loved, and that is a life well-lived.
Jobs was Apple. I hope they're able to continue with his vision of always innovating and thinking differently. It's good for the entire industry, and for consumers.
I had the opportunity to visit the Apple campus a few times, and the people there are all very excited all the time. Yeah, all the time. They really love what they're doing, and they put their hearts and souls into it. It's one of the things Jobs believed in most, and it's a quality that the people of Apple share. I believe that we spend so much time at work (more than we do at home!) that we should love what we do. I was not surprised to know that Jobs felt the same way. That makes me happy for him, in that he was not trudging along every day. He was doing something he loved, and that is a life well-lived.
Jobs was Apple. I hope they're able to continue with his vision of always innovating and thinking differently. It's good for the entire industry, and for consumers.
Not so fast...
I said in my last entry that I didn't need a new phone and that I was happy with the Evo. That was well and true until I got my hands on the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch on Sprint (WHO thinks up these long names?!?!). I guess what I didn't know didn't hurt me until I knew it.
I now have a new phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (hereafter known as the GS2) is an amazing phone with incredible speed, beautiful screen, and great battery life (in my experience; I'm getting over 24 hours with normal use).
I thought the Evo 4G was all I needed. I still believe that. It is still a great phone with great features and can still do pretty much everything I needed it to do. So why get the new phone? Well, I guess it's because it does everything the Evo does, but better. The biggest kicker for me was the screen. Super AMOLED is AMAZING as compared to the Evo's backlit screen. Especially in daylight. Everything else is just smoother, prettier, or faster.
Oh, and there's the fact that it's pretty much the coolest phone on the market right now. That's a big one that a worst kind of geek would place high value on.
I now have a new phone.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (hereafter known as the GS2) is an amazing phone with incredible speed, beautiful screen, and great battery life (in my experience; I'm getting over 24 hours with normal use).
I thought the Evo 4G was all I needed. I still believe that. It is still a great phone with great features and can still do pretty much everything I needed it to do. So why get the new phone? Well, I guess it's because it does everything the Evo does, but better. The biggest kicker for me was the screen. Super AMOLED is AMAZING as compared to the Evo's backlit screen. Especially in daylight. Everything else is just smoother, prettier, or faster.
Oh, and there's the fact that it's pretty much the coolest phone on the market right now. That's a big one that a worst kind of geek would place high value on.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Over a Year with the Same Phone
I'm slipping.
One area in which I'm not the worst kind of geek is that of the cellular, or mobile phone. In this area, I typically do what most other true geeks do: I get a new phone every year (or sometimes sooner). Fortunately, we have enough phones on our account to facilitate this early changing, and I've taken advantage of that over the past seven or eight years annually. This has changed with my last phone purchase.
Now, when it comes to cell phones, I'm once again the worst kind of geek.
On June 6th last year, I waited at the counter of Best Buy for nearly four hours while they struggled with their failing system to activate my Sprint Evo 4G. Fortunately I had an appointment and a nice, padded seat to sit on through the process. However, it didn't negate the fact that I waited and waited and waited.
Once the process was complete, however, it became apparent to me very quickly that the Evo 4G was a different smartphone than the others I had before it. This phone was actually SMART. It worked the way I expected it to. It was fast. It had a big app market. It made great phone calls. It had a beautiful screen. In short, it was everything I ever wanted in a phone.
And it still is all those things and more.
With Cyanogen Mod, the Evo 4G is even faster, smoother, and more responsive than ever. A year later, the phone still feels fresh and new, something no other phone I've had has been able to do. It still satisfies.
So, while there are new phones coming out all the time to include the Evo Shift and Evo 3D, none of them have been able to draw me away from the Evo 4G. It really is the perfect phone. For me, at least.
One area in which I'm not the worst kind of geek is that of the cellular, or mobile phone. In this area, I typically do what most other true geeks do: I get a new phone every year (or sometimes sooner). Fortunately, we have enough phones on our account to facilitate this early changing, and I've taken advantage of that over the past seven or eight years annually. This has changed with my last phone purchase.
Now, when it comes to cell phones, I'm once again the worst kind of geek.
On June 6th last year, I waited at the counter of Best Buy for nearly four hours while they struggled with their failing system to activate my Sprint Evo 4G. Fortunately I had an appointment and a nice, padded seat to sit on through the process. However, it didn't negate the fact that I waited and waited and waited.
Once the process was complete, however, it became apparent to me very quickly that the Evo 4G was a different smartphone than the others I had before it. This phone was actually SMART. It worked the way I expected it to. It was fast. It had a big app market. It made great phone calls. It had a beautiful screen. In short, it was everything I ever wanted in a phone.
And it still is all those things and more.
With Cyanogen Mod, the Evo 4G is even faster, smoother, and more responsive than ever. A year later, the phone still feels fresh and new, something no other phone I've had has been able to do. It still satisfies.
So, while there are new phones coming out all the time to include the Evo Shift and Evo 3D, none of them have been able to draw me away from the Evo 4G. It really is the perfect phone. For me, at least.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Spotify = Love
I love music. A lot. Seriously, it's my drug, religion, and the fuel that energizes me daily. Anyone who knows me knows that music is a big deal to me.
I've used everything from Winamp to Zune desktop software, all with varying degrees of love and hate. Since I love my ZuneHD and use it frequently, I have been using the Zune desktop software for the past three or four years. That was, I did until a few weeks ago when Spotify arrived in the US.
I immediately purchased a premium subscription because I wanted to try out all that Spotify had to offer. I wanted to freeze it, ice skate on it, then thaw it out, swim in it, and then drink it in all it's yummy goodness. I'm glad I did.
Spotify has a ginormous library. 15 million songs is what they boast. That's a heck of a lot of songs! I have almost 130GB of music on my home NAS, the vast majority of it either ripped from CD's I own or purchased through Zune, Amazon, or even iTunes (back in the day; I quit using iTunes a LONG time ago!). It used to be that I had to either purchase a CD or music online to be able to listen to it or get a subscription to Zunepass (which was a great deal, btw!). Of course, Zune didn't always have everything I wanted, so I ended up having to purchase from many different sources. That was, until Spotify.
With few exceptions, I've been able to augment my own ample collection with lots and lots of music. I've been able to revisit music from my youth, and from various stages in my life. I'm in the process of putting together a late 80's playlist as well as some 90's playlists, and with Spotify, it's super-easy! Better yet, I can share those playlists with friends who have Spotify, and they can even subscribe to my playlists or I can subscribe to theirs!
The one major downside to Spotify is its ability to play genres or music based on a certain band. Let's say I'm a huge fan of Metric (and I am!) and I would like to hear music that sounds like them. In a service like Pandora or Grooveshark, you can do that. Spotify? Not so much. But for me, that's really the only downside.
Sound quality on Spotify is amazing, and for me, the Android app works quite well. I never was a big fan of listening to music with my smartphone, but Spotify has made me throw that old notion of bringing an mp3 player along with my smartphone since I can literally look up just about any song I can think of and play it on my phone now.
So, if you're looking for an amazing music service and you know what you want to listen to, give Spotify a try. Seriously; it's a great deal.
Note: There are three flavors of Spotify. Free (limits the user to 20 hours of ad-supported music), $5 a month, and $10 a month premium service which allows you to listen on an Android, Logitech, Sonos, or iDevice.
I've used everything from Winamp to Zune desktop software, all with varying degrees of love and hate. Since I love my ZuneHD and use it frequently, I have been using the Zune desktop software for the past three or four years. That was, I did until a few weeks ago when Spotify arrived in the US.
I immediately purchased a premium subscription because I wanted to try out all that Spotify had to offer. I wanted to freeze it, ice skate on it, then thaw it out, swim in it, and then drink it in all it's yummy goodness. I'm glad I did.
Spotify has a ginormous library. 15 million songs is what they boast. That's a heck of a lot of songs! I have almost 130GB of music on my home NAS, the vast majority of it either ripped from CD's I own or purchased through Zune, Amazon, or even iTunes (back in the day; I quit using iTunes a LONG time ago!). It used to be that I had to either purchase a CD or music online to be able to listen to it or get a subscription to Zunepass (which was a great deal, btw!). Of course, Zune didn't always have everything I wanted, so I ended up having to purchase from many different sources. That was, until Spotify.
With few exceptions, I've been able to augment my own ample collection with lots and lots of music. I've been able to revisit music from my youth, and from various stages in my life. I'm in the process of putting together a late 80's playlist as well as some 90's playlists, and with Spotify, it's super-easy! Better yet, I can share those playlists with friends who have Spotify, and they can even subscribe to my playlists or I can subscribe to theirs!
The one major downside to Spotify is its ability to play genres or music based on a certain band. Let's say I'm a huge fan of Metric (and I am!) and I would like to hear music that sounds like them. In a service like Pandora or Grooveshark, you can do that. Spotify? Not so much. But for me, that's really the only downside.
Sound quality on Spotify is amazing, and for me, the Android app works quite well. I never was a big fan of listening to music with my smartphone, but Spotify has made me throw that old notion of bringing an mp3 player along with my smartphone since I can literally look up just about any song I can think of and play it on my phone now.
So, if you're looking for an amazing music service and you know what you want to listen to, give Spotify a try. Seriously; it's a great deal.
Note: There are three flavors of Spotify. Free (limits the user to 20 hours of ad-supported music), $5 a month, and $10 a month premium service which allows you to listen on an Android, Logitech, Sonos, or iDevice.
It's the little things
I have an old Linksys WPS11 v3.1 parallel port print server. It's been sitting in a box in my closet for years. And when I say years, I mean close to 10 years. I bought it back when we lived in my dad's house and I wanted to have a printer that was centrally located in the house for everyone to print to. Back then, it was more a novelty than a real need, and I even got it to work for a while, but it was a bit buggy with the craptastic (sorry Linksys) software that you had to install on your desktops to get it to work. Eventually, we moved to our first new home on Spring Lilac and the parallel port print server was once again put to work, but again, the craptastic (apologies again, Linksys) software limited its true effectiveness. It was so buggy that I eventually replaced it with a Kodak printer that had built-in wireless. I then retired the WPS11 and stuck it in a box. I figured, you never know when you might be able to put something to work again.
Fast forward to last night. I became the owner of a Laserjet 2100TN printer. It's pretty nice, and even came with a spare toner cartridge for the awesome price of FREE. I decided to go ahead and put it to work for me in my home office, but I didn't want to run a hella-long parallel cable across the room. Since the 2100TN is a networkable printer equipped with a JetDirect card, I could have just wired it with some CAT-5, but again, I didn't want to run a cable across the room. Enter the WPN11.
I sent my son up into the attic to retrieve the WPN11. Coincidentally, I literally just had him move a box from my office's closet into the attic the day before, and having inventoried the box, I knew the WPN11 was in it.
My son brought the WPN11 down and I connected the printer to it. The good news: it immediately recognized the printer. The bad news: there was no software that would run on my 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium desktop computer. Try as I might, there was no way to get the program to install.
Trying to discover the server on the network was fruitless. I searched the Internet for instructions on how to make the WPN11 work with Windows 7, but all I found was statements like, "Won't work without the client software" and "Can't use it with an OS past WinXP." I was about to give up when I figured there'd be no harm in trying to make it work somehow by just trying some custom settings.
I went about trying some different things, and by luck, on my third attempt, I got the printer to work. Wanting to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I set it up on a second, then third, and eventually even a fourth machine here in the house. All of them printed perfectly to the WPN11.
I decided to make a little video for others who may have the WPN11 and Windows 7 and I posted it onto Youtube. I don't expect it to be a smash hit or very highly viewed video, but I'm sure there are just a few folks out there who could use the instructions.
Hopefully, it saves some WPN11's from being sent to landfills.
Fast forward to last night. I became the owner of a Laserjet 2100TN printer. It's pretty nice, and even came with a spare toner cartridge for the awesome price of FREE. I decided to go ahead and put it to work for me in my home office, but I didn't want to run a hella-long parallel cable across the room. Since the 2100TN is a networkable printer equipped with a JetDirect card, I could have just wired it with some CAT-5, but again, I didn't want to run a cable across the room. Enter the WPN11.
I sent my son up into the attic to retrieve the WPN11. Coincidentally, I literally just had him move a box from my office's closet into the attic the day before, and having inventoried the box, I knew the WPN11 was in it.
My son brought the WPN11 down and I connected the printer to it. The good news: it immediately recognized the printer. The bad news: there was no software that would run on my 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium desktop computer. Try as I might, there was no way to get the program to install.
Trying to discover the server on the network was fruitless. I searched the Internet for instructions on how to make the WPN11 work with Windows 7, but all I found was statements like, "Won't work without the client software" and "Can't use it with an OS past WinXP." I was about to give up when I figured there'd be no harm in trying to make it work somehow by just trying some custom settings.
I went about trying some different things, and by luck, on my third attempt, I got the printer to work. Wanting to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I set it up on a second, then third, and eventually even a fourth machine here in the house. All of them printed perfectly to the WPN11.
I decided to make a little video for others who may have the WPN11 and Windows 7 and I posted it onto Youtube. I don't expect it to be a smash hit or very highly viewed video, but I'm sure there are just a few folks out there who could use the instructions.
Hopefully, it saves some WPN11's from being sent to landfills.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
News Aggregators, et al
Again, more evidence toward proving my guilt as the worst kind of geek: I don't use a news reader, aggregator, or anything that takes posts from blogs I read and puts them all in one place.
Why? I feel that the people who write and design the blogs do so with the visitor or reader in mind. The colors they choose, the layout they designed are all part of the experience of visiting their site. There are some really beautiful sites out there, and there are some really crappy ones too, but I tend to not visit the crappy ones. Why? Crappy design. Duh.
Some argue that it's all about the content. If it's news about the debt ceiling, Egyptian revolution, or protesters being shot in Syria, then I agree. But when it's about cell phones, operating systems, gadgets, radio controlled airplanes, or cars, then I think that the visuals are just as important. "But Edge, there are readers that bring in the post photos as well." Yes, that's true, but somehow, they never quite do it as well as the presentation on the websites themselves.
I have an Android tablet (the Viewsonic gTablet for those of you who are interested) that I use quite a bit (more often than I would have ever expected, btw). I have Pulse installed, and while I used it quite a bit when I first got the tablet, I find myself just reading the usual sites in the web browser more often than not. That's not to say I don't use Pulse; if there were a single site aggregator that I would use if I were forced to only use an aggregator, then it would be Pulse. However, such is not the case, and I continue to use my browser.
Would I consider an aggregator on the PC in the future? Perhaps, but the one I would use daily and even before I would consider going to the site itself for the content hasn't been developed yet.
Some would say this makes me some kind of late-adopter or someone who is against change, because surely reading sites via an aggregator is superior. To those, I would reply that I vehemently disagree, and that we all have choices in how we consume our literary content. We also have our personal preferences, and mine is to visit the site for the content and experience it the way the writer/developer intended for me to do so in the first place.
Why? I feel that the people who write and design the blogs do so with the visitor or reader in mind. The colors they choose, the layout they designed are all part of the experience of visiting their site. There are some really beautiful sites out there, and there are some really crappy ones too, but I tend to not visit the crappy ones. Why? Crappy design. Duh.
Some argue that it's all about the content. If it's news about the debt ceiling, Egyptian revolution, or protesters being shot in Syria, then I agree. But when it's about cell phones, operating systems, gadgets, radio controlled airplanes, or cars, then I think that the visuals are just as important. "But Edge, there are readers that bring in the post photos as well." Yes, that's true, but somehow, they never quite do it as well as the presentation on the websites themselves.
I have an Android tablet (the Viewsonic gTablet for those of you who are interested) that I use quite a bit (more often than I would have ever expected, btw). I have Pulse installed, and while I used it quite a bit when I first got the tablet, I find myself just reading the usual sites in the web browser more often than not. That's not to say I don't use Pulse; if there were a single site aggregator that I would use if I were forced to only use an aggregator, then it would be Pulse. However, such is not the case, and I continue to use my browser.
Would I consider an aggregator on the PC in the future? Perhaps, but the one I would use daily and even before I would consider going to the site itself for the content hasn't been developed yet.
Some would say this makes me some kind of late-adopter or someone who is against change, because surely reading sites via an aggregator is superior. To those, I would reply that I vehemently disagree, and that we all have choices in how we consume our literary content. We also have our personal preferences, and mine is to visit the site for the content and experience it the way the writer/developer intended for me to do so in the first place.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
We held our Christmas celebrations yesterday and I received a watch that I've been wanting for years: the Seiko SNAB65 which is based on the 7T62 movement.
It's a pretty watch, and functional too. It's also the first watch I've had in probably 20 years that has an alarm.
I'm really excited and happy to have such an elegant and handsome watch to augment my old Citizen. I love my old watch, but after wearing the same watch for over 15 years, I figured it was time for a change. Get it; time for a change?
Monday, December 13, 2010
Why do I make the videos?
Here's a message I got just a few minutes ago:
And then there's this one I got earlier today:
I get many messages every day, and I enjoy them all. I even had an Apple troll assail the G-Tablet and everyone who uses Windows and Android within two comments.
Anyway, that's why I do it. And also because I absolutely adore the G-Tablet with Tnt or VEGAn-TAB firmware.
Thank you so much.
You are the reason why I bought the Viewsonic and I'm in love. I swore myself to never ever buy an Apple product again but I honestly considered the iPad before I saw your videos.
Thank you so much,
And then there's this one I got earlier today:
I wanted to also say thanks, your videos definitely helped out many here set their tablets with these great roms.
I get many messages every day, and I enjoy them all. I even had an Apple troll assail the G-Tablet and everyone who uses Windows and Android within two comments.
Anyway, that's why I do it. And also because I absolutely adore the G-Tablet with Tnt or VEGAn-TAB firmware.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Viewsonic G-Tablet
I will be posting a lot of content about my new-found love; the Viewsonic G-Tablet. This device is phenomenal. I can't come up with a better word to describe this device. Running Nvidia's Tegra 2 processor with 512 MB RAM (PERFECT for running Flash, btw) and 16GB built-in memory along with a Micro-SD slot, full-size USB port for thumb drives/mice/keyboards/etc, Mini-USB for file transfer and connection to the computer, and a proprietary port for HDMI out.
I have been posting a number of videos on Youtube regarding this tablet, so I'll post one of those videos here now. I will likely post them all here as well, but for now, here's the latest video.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Goodbye, Walkman
Last week, Sony announced the death of the Walkman. As someone over 40, I remember the birth of it quite well.
The early 80's were a time of fun. They were also a time for great music. New Wave and Punk took off in the late 70's and reached their potential in the 80's. Rock music was yielding to Hair bands and metal, and soul was moving into rap. The cassette tape was quickly becoming the medium of choice for high school kids wanting their own soundtrack, and the boom boxes were born.
There were a few problems with the boom boxes, though. First, was the size. They really were pretty darned big (and some got HUGE). Then there was the cost; they weren't cheap. Then, to add to it, they took huge D-cell batteries which were expensive and didn't last all that long. I remember a kid in high school who carried his boom box with him everywhere he went. He always had it in class with him, obediently keeping it off to keep from having it seized and sent to the office. Oddly enough, the kid never got it taken away, and only played it (at a low volume) at lunch and before/after school.
The utility of having your own music with you was not lost on us kids. We all wanted that, but what we didn't want was to have to carry a suitcase-sized device with us everywhere we went. Then came the Walkman.
The Walkman was the first viable portable music device. Batteries were still not nearly as good as they are today, so keeping a Walkman working was quite expensive, but to have your own music, on cassette, with you at all times? Why, that was priceless!
I got my first SONY Walkman when I graduated from Marine Boot Camp in 1987. I bought it at the exchange within hours of graduating. I had made a point of making it the first thing I purchased with my first official paycheck. It cost me around $150, but I didn't care. It was cool, it was small, and it was mine.
That SONY Walkman lasted me at least 15 years. The last time I saw it, it was in my daughter's bedroom, and she was using it (this was about 7 years ago). I'm sure it's still around somewhere, buried in some closet or at the bottom of some box.
When the iPod was released nine years ago, the second-to-last nail was placed in the Walkman's coffin. It wasn't until last week that it was truly nailed shut, thrown into a hole in ground, and covered up with six feet of dirt. Regardless, the Walkman will always hold a special place in my music-loving heart as the first truly portable music player.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Apple as Big Brother
There's an excellent post on Gizmodo about how Apple has turned into the very thing they advertised against 25 years ago in their iconic "Big Brother" commercials. Back in the 80's, the commercials were aimed at IBM, then the world's largest PC and computer maker. Today, IBM is bigger in point-of-sale machines and business servers than in PC's, and companies like HP, Dell, and Gateway are leaders in the PC market. Apple, however, is making up for lost time through their iPhone, iPad, and Mac notebooks.
Their latest step into making more money, the Mac App Store, feels more and more like big brother and less like the company Apple wanted to be way back when. They are closed, rife with censorship, and more tightly controlling than any other company on the planet (save for some defense contractors, but I think Apple gives them a run for their money).
I won't go into everything that the article on Gizmodo goes into, but suffice it to say, I'm still shying away from any future Apple purchases, and the latest step by Apple with their Mac App Store more firmly cements my distaste for their business practices.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sharpie Liquid Pencils: Yes, they get permanent (after a while!)
I bought a box of these the moment I read on Engadget that they were available. I started using them on August 17th, and while they were not permanent within three days as advertised, I would go back and test erasing week by week. I keep a journal for work of all calls made, meetings attended, and I also keep a task list in my Moleskine planner, so it's perfect for just this type of unscientific testing.
Finally, this week, as I went back to erase marks made on August 17th, they appear to be permanent. What is interesting to me is that when you write with the Sharpie Liquid Pencil, it's very erasable, and after a few days, it's still mostly erasable, but after a month and a half, it's permanent, as if written by pen.
My conclusion: it appears that the Sharpie Liquid Pencils are permanent after about a month and a half.
Friday, August 6, 2010
All Things Android
I've been enjoying all things Android for the past two months with the HTC Evo 4G on Sprint. Having been a smartphone user since WinMo 3, and having skipped the iPhone hype due to a severe distaste for all things arrogant, moving into Android has been quite an experience, indeed.
I will say that being a computer/gadget geek definitely helps with the transition into Android, but it's not necessary. I could see the average user moving into Android with little or no problem. Used a computer before? Then Android will make sense. Never used a computer? That's okay too. It'll still make sense, only there'll be a tiny bot of a learning curve as you would with any smartphone. These are SMARTphones, afterall.
The phone I had prior to the Evo was the beautiful and under-appreciated Palm Pre with WebOS. I absolutely loved that phone, but the lack of development for WebOS (it's all about getting apps, right?) and the uncertain future (this was prior to HP's purchase of Palm) led me to flee the platform and move onto what I felt was the best hope for openness, free-market capitalism, and altogether awesomeness. That led me to Android.
It appears that I wasn't the only one. Year to date, Android has grown over 800% in the number of people buying Android phones. Apparently ,by 2012, Android will overtake Apple in total number of smartphones. The big loser here: RIM. The big winner here: Consumers. Android is available on all kinds of phones, from legitimate phones made by companies like Motorola and HTC and even companies in China who make cheap (and sometimes actually decent) knock-off's of popular mainstream phones. What this does is make Android available no matter where you look, no matter what hardware manufacturer you prefer, or regardless of your carrier. It also makes moving things from one Android phone to another at upgrade/change time more convenient. Epic win.
Have you made the change to an Android phone? If so, how do you like it?
Monday, January 11, 2010
As the title says...
I AM the worst kind of geek. I play with my geek toys, buy new notebook computers and other neat and fun gadgets, and then I don't write about them.
The reasons for my lack of posting are many, and include things like new job/promotion, buying a new house, selling old house, kids getting cars (and requiring me to service said cars), and holidays. Are these excuses? Yes, but they are also the reasons for my lack of posting (which is okay, since I have at the time of this writing ONE follower, and she lives with me, so she pretty much knows what's going on anyway).
So, back to Geekdom.
I am the worst kind of geek. Reason #34: I only recently (well, in November) discovered the joy and beauty that is Firefly. Yes, dear reader (hi Sherry!), as a true geek, I was not whole until I embraced the Whedonverse and plunged hook, line, and sinker into the abyss that is Firefly. To make matters worse, I didn't plunge alone; I took my son and later my wife with me (both of whom both love and hate me for getting them hooked on the doomed show). With each passing episode, my son and I would look at each other and exclaim, "That was AWESOME! I can't believe they canceled this!" and then we would count down how many more were left for us to watch.
Interestingly, I saw Serenity (the movie) first. I thought it was a good movie, but not a great movie. I had no context, and to me, the characters were just characters I didn't care too much about. The story was pretty decent, but again, nothing to write home about. BUT... oh my good Lord... then it happened. I watched all 14 episodes of Firefly and then re-watched Serenity. Now I understand COMPLETELY what the reviewers and critics all said; it's an okay movie if you haven't seen Firefly, but a GREAT movie if you've seen the TV series. Sure, it's no Dostoevsky, but it is most definitely entertaining and a fitting albeit somewhat premature finale to the series (or is it?)
I've now seen every episode twice, and I'm working on my third viewing, having started last night with the Pilot and The Train Job. Of course, if you watched these episodes with the DVD commentary, you'd know that the Pilot aired last, and that The Train Job had to act as a sort of impromptu pilot, so there's a lot of exposition in The Train Job that seems redundant in a second episode, but given that Firefly was never really given a fighting chance to begin with, in postscript, it only makes sense in a sick way.
I could go on and on about the characters, the acting, the writing, the sets, the costumes, the universe, etc, but it's all been said before. As a matter of fact, I'm reading a book where people write about Firefly and Serenity and how important, ground-breaking, earth-shattering, genre-bending, etc Firefly was.
I know from reading around the Interwebs that everyone on the cast is up for more Firefly when and if it ever happens. I know that there's a campaign afoot to send blue gloves to (Fox, Paramount, or Universal; I forget which) in an effort to show that there are loyal Browncoats out there who would watch more episodes. Personally, I'd LOVE to see more, and I'd watch them like a kid watches Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at Christmas, but I'd like to see it on Syfy (the network formerly known a SciFi Channel). I think that Syfy would allow more creative license and would allow for Nathan Fillion to continue his full-time gig as Richard Castle on ABC's new hit dramedy "Castle" while allowing him to then do the off-season revival of Firefly. Of course, this assumes that Nathan (and other members of the cast already gainfully employed) have nothing better to do in their off-season time than make Firefly for my viewing pleasure, but hey, can't a geek dream here? This also assumes that there are enough Browncoats out there who will actually send in the gloves (as if that could work... who knows?). I think DVD sales of Firefly and Serenity have a better chance of convincing anyone with money to invest in putting it back on the air, but that's just the wannabe business-minor in me talking (or writing... you know).
Which brings me to a few final points.
First, watch Firefly if you haven't done so already. Download it and after you've watched it (and fell in love with it), go and buy it. Nothing speaks louder to Hollywood than dollars.
Second, if you become a Browncoat (fan of Firefly), send the gloves. It's fun. It's activism. It's being a part of something bigger than yourself. And it just might help tip the scales.
Third, and this is a big one for me, evangelize Firefly. It's too good of a series to let die. The actors and writers are still young enough to pick it up and carry it onward. The more people who get into the show creates a bigger audience, and then, well, refer to my first final point. Then, I think, you'll get the picture.
Postscript. What tipped me over the edge from liking Firefly to loving Firefly? The fact that it made me want to be a Browncoat. Not in the literal sense, but in the sense that I wanted to be someone who would be like Mal. As a kid, when I watched Star Wars, I thought that he was a troublemaker and a terrorist. He and his band of misfits took down the government for some utopian love-fest (okay, I didn't really get to thinking that way until I was well into my 30's, but let a geek ramble here). When I played Star Wars Galaxies (an immensely entertaining and fulfilling MMO that was also changed and in my opinion, killed off for the mindless gameplay style of WoW), I played as an Imperial, a member of the Empire. I could empathize more with the Empire than I could with the Rebels. In Firefly, there's no way you can empathize with the Alliance. They are everything that's wrong and bad. The Empire in Star Wars? They were "evil" according to Luke and Leia, but it turns out that it wasn't the government that was evil so much as it was just Darth Vader and the Emperor. And even then, they were just frustrated and disfigured old men who couldn't get laid. I could be a member of the Empire; I could never be a member of the Alliance.
Browncoats unite!
Browncoats forever!
Disclaimer: this post in no way implies that I've lost my mind, became obsessed with Firefly, or have a man-crush on Nathan Fillion. I think Nathan does a fine job as an actor, but that's as far as I like him. Yes, only as an actor. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
The reasons for my lack of posting are many, and include things like new job/promotion, buying a new house, selling old house, kids getting cars (and requiring me to service said cars), and holidays. Are these excuses? Yes, but they are also the reasons for my lack of posting (which is okay, since I have at the time of this writing ONE follower, and she lives with me, so she pretty much knows what's going on anyway).
So, back to Geekdom.
I am the worst kind of geek. Reason #34: I only recently (well, in November) discovered the joy and beauty that is Firefly. Yes, dear reader (hi Sherry!), as a true geek, I was not whole until I embraced the Whedonverse and plunged hook, line, and sinker into the abyss that is Firefly. To make matters worse, I didn't plunge alone; I took my son and later my wife with me (both of whom both love and hate me for getting them hooked on the doomed show). With each passing episode, my son and I would look at each other and exclaim, "That was AWESOME! I can't believe they canceled this!" and then we would count down how many more were left for us to watch.Interestingly, I saw Serenity (the movie) first. I thought it was a good movie, but not a great movie. I had no context, and to me, the characters were just characters I didn't care too much about. The story was pretty decent, but again, nothing to write home about. BUT... oh my good Lord... then it happened. I watched all 14 episodes of Firefly and then re-watched Serenity. Now I understand COMPLETELY what the reviewers and critics all said; it's an okay movie if you haven't seen Firefly, but a GREAT movie if you've seen the TV series. Sure, it's no Dostoevsky, but it is most definitely entertaining and a fitting albeit somewhat premature finale to the series (or is it?)
I've now seen every episode twice, and I'm working on my third viewing, having started last night with the Pilot and The Train Job. Of course, if you watched these episodes with the DVD commentary, you'd know that the Pilot aired last, and that The Train Job had to act as a sort of impromptu pilot, so there's a lot of exposition in The Train Job that seems redundant in a second episode, but given that Firefly was never really given a fighting chance to begin with, in postscript, it only makes sense in a sick way.
I could go on and on about the characters, the acting, the writing, the sets, the costumes, the universe, etc, but it's all been said before. As a matter of fact, I'm reading a book where people write about Firefly and Serenity and how important, ground-breaking, earth-shattering, genre-bending, etc Firefly was.
I know from reading around the Interwebs that everyone on the cast is up for more Firefly when and if it ever happens. I know that there's a campaign afoot to send blue gloves to (Fox, Paramount, or Universal; I forget which) in an effort to show that there are loyal Browncoats out there who would watch more episodes. Personally, I'd LOVE to see more, and I'd watch them like a kid watches Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer at Christmas, but I'd like to see it on Syfy (the network formerly known a SciFi Channel). I think that Syfy would allow more creative license and would allow for Nathan Fillion to continue his full-time gig as Richard Castle on ABC's new hit dramedy "Castle" while allowing him to then do the off-season revival of Firefly. Of course, this assumes that Nathan (and other members of the cast already gainfully employed) have nothing better to do in their off-season time than make Firefly for my viewing pleasure, but hey, can't a geek dream here? This also assumes that there are enough Browncoats out there who will actually send in the gloves (as if that could work... who knows?). I think DVD sales of Firefly and Serenity have a better chance of convincing anyone with money to invest in putting it back on the air, but that's just the wannabe business-minor in me talking (or writing... you know).
Which brings me to a few final points.
First, watch Firefly if you haven't done so already. Download it and after you've watched it (and fell in love with it), go and buy it. Nothing speaks louder to Hollywood than dollars.
Second, if you become a Browncoat (fan of Firefly), send the gloves. It's fun. It's activism. It's being a part of something bigger than yourself. And it just might help tip the scales.
Third, and this is a big one for me, evangelize Firefly. It's too good of a series to let die. The actors and writers are still young enough to pick it up and carry it onward. The more people who get into the show creates a bigger audience, and then, well, refer to my first final point. Then, I think, you'll get the picture.
Postscript. What tipped me over the edge from liking Firefly to loving Firefly? The fact that it made me want to be a Browncoat. Not in the literal sense, but in the sense that I wanted to be someone who would be like Mal. As a kid, when I watched Star Wars, I thought that he was a troublemaker and a terrorist. He and his band of misfits took down the government for some utopian love-fest (okay, I didn't really get to thinking that way until I was well into my 30's, but let a geek ramble here). When I played Star Wars Galaxies (an immensely entertaining and fulfilling MMO that was also changed and in my opinion, killed off for the mindless gameplay style of WoW), I played as an Imperial, a member of the Empire. I could empathize more with the Empire than I could with the Rebels. In Firefly, there's no way you can empathize with the Alliance. They are everything that's wrong and bad. The Empire in Star Wars? They were "evil" according to Luke and Leia, but it turns out that it wasn't the government that was evil so much as it was just Darth Vader and the Emperor. And even then, they were just frustrated and disfigured old men who couldn't get laid. I could be a member of the Empire; I could never be a member of the Alliance.
Browncoats unite!
Browncoats forever!
Disclaimer: this post in no way implies that I've lost my mind, became obsessed with Firefly, or have a man-crush on Nathan Fillion. I think Nathan does a fine job as an actor, but that's as far as I like him. Yes, only as an actor. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tonido Plug
The wait is over; I finally got my Tonido Plug yesterday, courtesy of the UPS.
I plugged it in and was impressed by how easy it was to get running. I didn't have to hunt around my network (which consists of over 16 devices already) for the Plug; I just went to the url contained in the documentation and was able to get it up on my network and all preliminary setup info set in just a few short minutes.
The biggest surprise for me was the fact that I was able to move a USB drive from my PC to the Plug by just plugging it in. It recognized the NTFS file system and all the folders/files, and served it up in no time. I have a 1TB drive on its way (due to arrive on Thursday) but I wanted to start "playing" with the Plug today. I backed up the data from the USB drive expecting the Plug to format/delete it when I connected it. Imagine my surprise when not only did it not ask to format the new drive, but it found everything on the USB drive and served it right up! I was able to set up a share from my PC to the USB drive in a few short moments, and now it's as if the USB drive is still attached to my system.
Speed is impressive. The Plug and all of the apps on it are very responsive and fast. I am most impressed with the torrent app. It is very fast, very easy to use, and very efficient. I tested it today with a few torrents, and the results have been stellar.
I have Tonido App installed onto two PC's in the house and have yet to attach them to the Plug via a group. I don't know what the benefit of that would be, yet, but I am learning.
I highly recommend getting a Plug. It's incredibly fast, easy to configure and use, and will use a lot less power than my PC did staying on 24/7 (serving up shares for the family). I connected a spare powered USB hub to it and connected two external USB HD's to it. Once I get a 1TB drive, that will give me nearly 1.5TB of storage capability. That's enough to make a geekboy hum with glee!
Check out Tonido Plug at www.tonidoplug.com.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Worst Kind of Laziness
I always thought I was lazy an had a hard time getting things done. I talked to my grandmother about this, and she had some wise things to say to me (aka Wisdom) on the subject of laziness.
She said she enjoys sitting on the couch and doing crossword puzzles, but there are things that always need to be done around the house. So, she wakes up early, gets all those things done as quickly as possible, and then she can kick back and enjoy her days doing nothing.
I argued with her at first saying that she isn't doing nothing "all day" if she worked hard in the morning, but she said that she would gladly work hard in the morning for a day of lazing on the couch.
I always knew she was smart, but this was brilliant.
I thought about it for a long time and I came to the conclusion that I was practicing a certain level of laziness in how I do things. I always try to get projects done quickly to allow me time to kick back and relax.
Bringing my geekiness into play allows me to be especially lazy. Because geeks understand levels of efficiency that sometimes escapes mere mortals (aka Sheeple), we work harder and faster to allow us to waste loads of time doing things others would consider boring or useless: building robots, soldering circuit boards, modding netbooks, playing MMO's, or otherwise finding other "experiments" or "projects" to do.
Some would argue that working hard and fast is not the trait of the lazy person, but I disagree. There are those who are ultimately lazy and don't do anything and rely on others. I call those people bums. I could never be a bum.
However, I hate to do work.
In fact, I hate work so much that I get tasks done as quickly as possible. The way I look at it, I need money to pay for things like cars, mortgages, food, gadgets, Internet access, etc. I would much rather be playing with my gadgets, my car, or doing other things rather than work. I'd rather browse the Internet than work (like most people), but I understand that in order for me to do these things, I have to work. I also understand that if I get my job done quickly, that leaves me more time to do the things that I want to do. I want to be lazy. I want to be able to put things off if I have to.
Ultimately, I want to play all day.
Being a lazy person at the core, it does prove to be difficult to work hard sometimes. Many days, the last thing I want to do is work. However, the first thing I want to do is kick back and be lazy. Knowing I have to pay the bills for the things that make me happy while being lazy, I am motivated to do my work and to do it right the first time and in the least amount of time possible.
Some people call this motivation or drive. I call it being ultimately lazy.
I try not to put off anything at all if possible; I prefer to get things done ASAP. There are lots of experiments and projects out there waiting for me to do.
There are many tools out there to assist us geeks in keeping ourselves organized to allow us to be ultimately lazy. Google Calendar comes to mind (I use it myself) as a good one. Many geekfriends of mine also use Outlook or other software packages. Either way, there are many things we can do to help us be lazy.
An afternoon on the couch with the Kindle is better than any amount of working, and this worst kind of geek would have it no other way.
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She said she enjoys sitting on the couch and doing crossword puzzles, but there are things that always need to be done around the house. So, she wakes up early, gets all those things done as quickly as possible, and then she can kick back and enjoy her days doing nothing.
I argued with her at first saying that she isn't doing nothing "all day" if she worked hard in the morning, but she said that she would gladly work hard in the morning for a day of lazing on the couch.
I always knew she was smart, but this was brilliant.
I thought about it for a long time and I came to the conclusion that I was practicing a certain level of laziness in how I do things. I always try to get projects done quickly to allow me time to kick back and relax.
Bringing my geekiness into play allows me to be especially lazy. Because geeks understand levels of efficiency that sometimes escapes mere mortals (aka Sheeple), we work harder and faster to allow us to waste loads of time doing things others would consider boring or useless: building robots, soldering circuit boards, modding netbooks, playing MMO's, or otherwise finding other "experiments" or "projects" to do.
Some would argue that working hard and fast is not the trait of the lazy person, but I disagree. There are those who are ultimately lazy and don't do anything and rely on others. I call those people bums. I could never be a bum.
However, I hate to do work.
In fact, I hate work so much that I get tasks done as quickly as possible. The way I look at it, I need money to pay for things like cars, mortgages, food, gadgets, Internet access, etc. I would much rather be playing with my gadgets, my car, or doing other things rather than work. I'd rather browse the Internet than work (like most people), but I understand that in order for me to do these things, I have to work. I also understand that if I get my job done quickly, that leaves me more time to do the things that I want to do. I want to be lazy. I want to be able to put things off if I have to.
Ultimately, I want to play all day.
Being a lazy person at the core, it does prove to be difficult to work hard sometimes. Many days, the last thing I want to do is work. However, the first thing I want to do is kick back and be lazy. Knowing I have to pay the bills for the things that make me happy while being lazy, I am motivated to do my work and to do it right the first time and in the least amount of time possible.
Some people call this motivation or drive. I call it being ultimately lazy.
I try not to put off anything at all if possible; I prefer to get things done ASAP. There are lots of experiments and projects out there waiting for me to do.
There are many tools out there to assist us geeks in keeping ourselves organized to allow us to be ultimately lazy. Google Calendar comes to mind (I use it myself) as a good one. Many geekfriends of mine also use Outlook or other software packages. Either way, there are many things we can do to help us be lazy.
An afternoon on the couch with the Kindle is better than any amount of working, and this worst kind of geek would have it no other way.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Empirical Evidence, Gaming, and Random Bits
There you have it; more evidence to support the statement that I am the worst kind of geek. I haven't posted in two weeks. I would say that I've been really busy, and I would be telling the truth, but that's a cop out. I could have posted on the weekends, and in the evenings. The truth of the matter is that I've been reading (like a good geek) some bad sci-fi (also like a good geek) and have shunned things like posting online (bad geek) and my online gaming time (worst kind of geek).
I used to play about 4-8 hours a day. It really didn't matter what it was: an MMO, flight sim, first-person shooter, The Sims 2, etc. I loved it all. I'm fairly certain that I still love it all. I just don't want to take time out of what little spare time I have to play games right now. It's all about time management and choices.
I used to be home all day, working from home. I would be there, working at my desk in my home office at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon when the girls got home from school. I would de-brief them on their day. Then, an hour later, my son would get home from school, and the process would repeat with him. Another hour and a half later, my wife would get home from work, and the process would again repeat. Then, we'd eat dinner, spend some time together, and everyone would go to sleep at around 10:00 p.m. or so. Then it would be MY time to play.
And play I did.
I could easily stay up until 1 or 2:00 a.m. and still get up by 8:30 a.m. for work. Since I didn't have to shave, shower, dress, or drive to work, I could literally get up at 8:29 a.m. and get to work by 8:30 a.m. Since I worked through lunch (eating at home at my desk took away my need to eat elsewhere), I could be done with work by 4:30 p.m. and start on dinner.
Do I miss gaming? Absolutely. But I am not going to sacrifice the time I have each night with my family now for it. I get home at around 6:15 p.m. and I'm in bed by 9:00 p.m. That's less than three hours a night I have to spend with my family. They are more important to me than any game.
As for reading, I won't get into what I'm reading (because I called it bad sci-fi), but I will say that it's enjoyable and that it's pleasant. I look forward to it every day, and I am glad to be reading sci-fi again. I didn't realize how much I've missed it.
Finally, a random bit. If you have a Kindle (1 or 2), you should take a look at kindlefeeder.com. It allows you to specify RSS feeds, and it will automatically grab the RSS content, turn it into a nice document, and send it to your Kindle via whispernet. It's pretty sweet and works really well. I am using it, and I enjoy it. It's nice to get content from the websites I like to visit in digest form versus having to use the browser on the Kindle.
I used to play about 4-8 hours a day. It really didn't matter what it was: an MMO, flight sim, first-person shooter, The Sims 2, etc. I loved it all. I'm fairly certain that I still love it all. I just don't want to take time out of what little spare time I have to play games right now. It's all about time management and choices.
I used to be home all day, working from home. I would be there, working at my desk in my home office at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon when the girls got home from school. I would de-brief them on their day. Then, an hour later, my son would get home from school, and the process would repeat with him. Another hour and a half later, my wife would get home from work, and the process would again repeat. Then, we'd eat dinner, spend some time together, and everyone would go to sleep at around 10:00 p.m. or so. Then it would be MY time to play.
And play I did.
I could easily stay up until 1 or 2:00 a.m. and still get up by 8:30 a.m. for work. Since I didn't have to shave, shower, dress, or drive to work, I could literally get up at 8:29 a.m. and get to work by 8:30 a.m. Since I worked through lunch (eating at home at my desk took away my need to eat elsewhere), I could be done with work by 4:30 p.m. and start on dinner.
Do I miss gaming? Absolutely. But I am not going to sacrifice the time I have each night with my family now for it. I get home at around 6:15 p.m. and I'm in bed by 9:00 p.m. That's less than three hours a night I have to spend with my family. They are more important to me than any game.
As for reading, I won't get into what I'm reading (because I called it bad sci-fi), but I will say that it's enjoyable and that it's pleasant. I look forward to it every day, and I am glad to be reading sci-fi again. I didn't realize how much I've missed it.
Finally, a random bit. If you have a Kindle (1 or 2), you should take a look at kindlefeeder.com. It allows you to specify RSS feeds, and it will automatically grab the RSS content, turn it into a nice document, and send it to your Kindle via whispernet. It's pretty sweet and works really well. I am using it, and I enjoy it. It's nice to get content from the websites I like to visit in digest form versus having to use the browser on the Kindle.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Automatic windshield wiper sensors
As we were driving through France, there was a steady misty-rain (much like today's weather in Houston, TX), and my father was driving. I noticed him turn a lever on stalk extending from the steering column, and the windshield wipers turned on for a moment and then sat silently. I watched as rain accumulated on the windshield to a point where it was almost difficult to see, and then without any intervention on my father's part, the wipers came to life and wiped the water off. This process repeated itself for most of the day, and I put my mind to work trying to figure out what technology was in place to make it work.
When we got to Austria, we visited with my father's surrogate parents; a kindly couple who sort of adopted my dad and his friends when they were refugees living in Vienna in the mid-50's. We would visit them every time we went to Europe, and they were like another set of grandparents to me. Azsi Bacsi, as he was known to me, was a former ship captain on the Danube before he defected with his family (who were in a cargo crate on his ship) in Austria after the Soviet invasion of Hungary. He spoke beautiful English aside from his native Hungarian and German. He would always take great interest in conversations with me, and I began to explain to him about the technological marvel I had only recently been made aware of: the automatic windshield wiper that used sensor technology to measure the amount of water on the windshield. He seemed quite impressed and amazed as well until my father started laughing and explained that there was no sensor; it was a delay timer.
I was crushed. I was angry. I was hurt.
Not only did he make me look silly in front of Azsi Bacsi, but I over-thought the problem, coming up with far too complex a solution. I forgot to consider the simplest implementation of a windshield wiper that didn't wipe steadily: a timer. I was also mad at my dad for letting me believe that the car had sensors as part of its windshield wiper system. That put my belief in the whole concept of "cruise control" into a tailspin of doubt. If there were no windshield wiper sensors, how could I believe there was a "cruise control?"
Fast-forward to 2008. I am reading the manual for my 2008 VW Passat when I come across the section for the windshield wipers. I read it, since I have always had an interest in windshield wiper technology ever since that fateful trip to Europe when I read to my amazement that my car's windshield wiper system had a rain sensor! I thought to myself, "Self, we are now driving the car of the future. It's finally here."
I did some searching to find out about the technology behind the sensors, and found this bit on Wikipedia:
When light crosses a boundary between materials with different refractive indices, the light beam will be partially refracted at the boundary surface, and partially reflected. However, if the angle of incidence is greater (i.e. the ray is closer to being parallel to the boundary) than the critical angle — the angle of incidence at which light is refracted such that it travels along the boundary — then the light will stop crossing the boundary altogether and instead be totally reflected back internally. This can only occur where light travels from a medium with a higher refractive index to one with a lower refractive index. For example, it will occur when passing from glass to air, but not when passing from air to glass.
So, someone finally did it; they figured out how to make the windshield wiper sensor work! This was something I wanted to invent myself, and I would often think about how such a system would work. Of course, the solution now used is far more elegant than those I came up with, so kudos to the engineer(s) who came up with total internal reflection.
Now, I enjoy driving in the rain. Knowing that there's all this cool technology going on to make the windshield wipers wipe only when they need to makes me smile.
Really. Ask GeekWife.
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