This Blog Kicks My Blog's Ass!

Found a comment from the genius behind this blog after I released my comments from hold-http://www.barczok.de.

Not only is it a handwritten blog composed on a Tablet PC with ink and text entries. It is also set-up to toggle between ink and text. Take a look at it through Google's translator and switch to "no handwriting". It is spectacular. I really need to turn text back on.

Lost Comments

Okay, apparently at some point, I turned on comment moderation and forgot about it. I apologize to everyone who left comments and thought I ignored you. I'm not a jerk, just a dumbass.

Pimp My Blog

Starting to get bored with my blog again. Jazzing up the appearance helped, but the content and publishing process are getting stale. Thinking about doing more photos now that I have more digital imaging options at my disposal. The sketches will keep on coming. Also considering audio but I sense that would simply make the blog more boring for everyone else.

Cat Sketch: Patty

Cat Sketch: Spooky

Webcam that mounts at USB port

Way back when, I wrote this on Warner Crocker's blog:
[However, I would love a camera that mounts at the USB port so it acts practically like an integrated component while still being removable.]
Well, I found one at Radio Shack today. Pretty cheap but it mounts where it plugs in and faces away from the screen. Still need to set it up but I am very excited to get it going.

Sleepin' With the Phishes

Been getting bombarded with phishing emails lately. What's worse is they're getting better. Typically these emails are full of misspellings and obvious giveaways. But the last few look very slick. Be wary!

ArtRage 2.0...

Download it now!
Via Life on the Wicked Stage

iPad on MadTV

Well, looks like the future Mac tablet will not be named "iPad", as I had envisioned. Mad TV just opened with a sketch about a product with the same name, except theirs dealt less with mobile computing and more with feminine hygiene.

My New Wireless Presenter

As much as CompUSA irks me at times, they are the only guys around who carry uncommon accessories, such as flexible all-weather keyboards, and this little wireless presenter. Unlike most presenters, this baby not only provides navigation for common music, video and presentation apps, it also has a pad and buttons for mouse navigation, so it is compatible with nearly every app to some extent, The top three buttons can be preset to call up apps. The remote itself is designed to fit in the PC card slot for storage (not for charging like the PC card mouse). And it's only $35. Pretty good for a wireless presenter with mouse control.

Needed More Pieces of Flare

Okay, the stark black and white made sense at the start, and the white borderless design had its place too. But now that the concept has been established, it's time to liven the place up a bit. Still doing the borderless ink entries, but I figure a little color won't detract and I have the cat theme going on anyway. Besides, the cats need to earn their keep in some way.

iPods Need Bluetooth

After tooling around with my wife's iPod and setting it up for use in her car, I have determined that wireless connectivity is a must-have for the next iPod. There is just no way around it, and Bluetooth is the way to go.

First, there are too many wires involved when using an iPod. The only way around this is by using a device with a docking station, which still requires "plugging in". Maybe being able to walk around with my computer has spoiled me, but the perpetual "tethering" of this so-called mobile device really irks me.

Second, Bluetooth is the ideal protocol. Apple already incorporates it into their computers. It is versatile enough to work with the full range of audio accessories and there are already plenty out there waiting for iPod- compatibility.

Third, stopping at audio accessories would be a shame. Headphones, car audio equipment, and wireless synching with the computer are obvious choices. But how about using your iPod as a remote control for iTunes? Skip through songs, adjust volume, watch videos, all on the computer, all through the iPod dial. Apple could sell a lot of iMacs with that option.

Even if you look only at the audio options, how cool would it be to walk around with music running through your Bluetooth headset, get in the car and switch the music to your car system without pausing your playlist, then drive home and transmit to your home stereo? That's mobility!

Bottom line: the iPod is excellent, but I'm not going to call it the killer mobile music player (or stand in line to get one) until I can cut the cords.

Unpredictable Point

Okay, I did manage to foresee the basic ending, but the twist in the plot of Match Point really is one heck of a twist. On one hand, there is no way to see it coming. On the other, it makes perfect sense. The movie starts out slow, but the pace is necessary to establish some essential elements and once the pace picks up, it gets really intense. Great film, but not for middle class tastes.

Microsoft Drags Down the Industry

All the chatter about running Windows on the new Intel Macs has made it very clear that Microsoft has been a real dragging force in the computer industry lately. Allow me to explain.

EFI: Apparently Intel has been pursuing PC makers to adopt their next-gen replacement for BIOS for some time now. No one has because Windows does not yet support it. However, Apple is not constrained by the limits of Windows, which means Macs can support the newest tech while everyone else has to wait for Windows Vista.

64-bit processing: There was anticipation that the new Macs would be equipped with Intel's new 64-bit processors. Only problem is that Intel doesn't have 64-bit processors yet. No point in making them because Windows does not yet support them. However, Mac OS does, which means if Intel does roll out 64-bit before Vista is released, we will only see them in Macs.

So that's two advancements hindered by lack of Windows support that have been opened for pursuit thanks to Apple. I would bet Apple's next desktop will pack 64-bit power from Intel. The only question is whether or not Intel will let the wait for Windows support continue to hold them back.

check out my new profile photo

Temporary Promotion

It's not every day I get promoted at a temp job, so today is fairly noteworthy, as I am now the top temp on the project where I work. It is a promotion by attrition (my specialty) but it is an honor nonetheless. Actually, it just means I have to put up with more stupid crap and care enough to fix it, but at least the pay is better.

iTab Update

Looks like the original post on eBay borrowed too liberally from the Apple website, potentially leading to false perception that the iTabs might be official Apple products. The eBay offer now features plain text. One new thing I notice (might have missed it previously) is that the units will be numbered and signed by the maker. Classy.

iTabs on eBay

In another example of how my life runs along lines of coincidence, not long after I raved about the new Intel Apple notebook and ranted about how they could turn it into a tablet, these guys offer their own custom iTabs on eBay. Built from iBooks by removing the keyboard, installing a digitizer in its place, and laying the screen on top of it. No ink capabilities, nor mention of what type of digitizer is used.
Via: Life on the Wicked Stage -> The Register -> TabletPCReviewSpot

Intel Inside Macs

Say what you will about Apple, there's no question they know how to design killer computers. Still no tablet form factor, but the unveiling of their new ultra-powerful yet very compact MacBook Pro and the Intel iMac give me hope for the future. The MacBook Pro design is amazing: Intel Core Duo processor, 256 MB Radeon graphics with DVI output, and a built-in super drive give it the power of a desktop replacement, but it remains under six pounds, is an inch thick, and sports new design elements that enhance its portability. If they simply replace the keyboard with a digitizer and lay the screen on it, Apple would have the most powerful mobile computer ever built.

And the iMac is just begging for pen input. Why destroy that compact footprint with a keyboard and mouse? Put a digitizer behind that screen and let me really interface with that multimedia center.

Of course, this is all just wishful thinking on my part. I have no doubt we will eventually see an Apple tablet (aka iPad) but I think it will grow from the iPod, rather than evolve from their notebooks; mobile devices that offer more computing rather than computers that offer more mobility.

As if I didn't have enough PCMCIA devices...

...someone makes a Bluetooth mouse that charges and stores in the PC card slot! Definitely need to keep an eye on this
Via: Minimage -> Marc Orchant.

Save Money, Buy Obsolete

Well, not really obsolete, but obsolete to the lay person. For example, on Sunday I stopped by Staples and found a pack of iPod accessories at half price and an iPAQ cradle for $6.50. The cradle is legitimately outdated since the spare battery dock is for an out-of-production model, but the device connector fits and works just fine. Good deal.

The iPod kit was even better since all the accessories work and fit just fine. $30 got me a USB dock connector, Firewire connector, cassette adapter, car lighter adapter, headphones, headphone splitter, and zipper case. And all the wired items have retractable cords.

Since I was looking for headphones with a retractable cord and a FireWire connector for my wife's iPod, this turned out great for me. As far as I can tell, it was on clearance because it was labeled for 4G iPods, giving it the appearance of obsolescence, even though the phone and dock connections are the same on the new iPods. Perfectly good product + old packaging = half price.

Doodle in TEO

 

How to Blog with TEO

Well, due largely to the limits of Blogger, Tablet Enhancements for Outlook will not be replacing my normal blogging methods However, the ability to easily email short entries to my blog is too convenient to ignore. Here's how it works.

First, I got a clue and remembered I have POP3 email through Verizon. After setting that up in Outlook, I use TEO to compose a Journal entry in Outlook. Because Blogger limits. emailed images to 320 pixels, width or height, I must write brief notes to avoid compression. No more than six lines and width is between the left margin and the end of the ink color button.

To submit, I tap "Send via Email". Then I double-tap the attached Journal entry and drag the GIF of the ink into the email body. With that attached, I remove the Journal attachment and email to Blogger. Simple.

For Real This time

 

Six Line Limit

 

New Approach

 

One More Try With TEO

 

TEO Blogging

 

Testing TEO to Blogger

 

I Miss My Pen

Working with a keyboard and mouse all day the past few weeks, I've come to realize that I really like pen input. I can't count the number of times I've wanted to pick up a stylus and manipulate some of this data. Mouse input sucks.

USB Car Audio

Always on the cutting edge of last year, car stereo makers have announced they will be producing decks with USB ports that can play audio files stored on flash drives. Prices start at $199, or $149 for an adapter. For a fraction of that price, you can buy an FM transmitter with a USB port and a plug-in for an iPod or other MP3 player. Obviously not CD-quality, but neither are MP3s. Great for podcasts (which I listen to in the car) and oldies, like the "portable oldies station" I assembled for my dad, consisting of a USB FM transmitter and flash drive loaded with music.

New Year's Resolution

I've never been big on making resolutions for the new year, but I do need to work out a little more this year. And by "a little more" I mean "at all". My routine of carrying my groceries in a basket isn't quite cutting it. So I'm going to schedule some time for that with my new calendar apps. Plus, I need to plan out my holiday activities earlier so things will get done on time (also goes well with the calendar apps). Also, I need to scan and shred my mail regularly.