Monthly Archives for May 2010

Conforming Culture

People want it there way. Businesses try to give it to them. Then, when people change what they want, businesses are left in the lurch, so to speak. This happens in tech all the time, and has happened in big ways recently for some top companies. Apple was popular with the invention of the iPhone. The iPhone, to date, is still a modern marvel. Yet, techies (I am among a minority of techies, it seems) chose to move on from the development of the iPhone to the latest device on the block with all too many assumptions; one big one being what’s newest is best.

This is not to say iPhones are unpopular. They just aren’t popular with many PC loving tech geeks (PCLTGs). PCLTGs want to feel free to use “open” standards and know their apps are “unhinged.” They want liberation from Apple’s standards of a good app and a bad app. They think freedom for great products comes with no boundaries. Continue reading →

Book Review: Inside Steve’s Brain

The book cover caught my eye one day at Barnes & Nobles, and I simply couldn’t put it down as I previewed the book there. I was compelled to read this work because, yes, I’m a Mac fan (if you haven’t noticed), but I think there is a lot to learn from Inside Steve’s Brain. Leander Kahney, the author, is perceptive and detailed on many a subject in the book that is important to the tech-geek global community, and unfolds the many layers to Steve Jobs’ and Apple’s philosophy of computer/life/hub experience and products. Continue reading →

Does Facebook Rules Live Up to Biblical Privacy Standards?

I have Christian friends that are concerned with the size and scope of Facebook. Facebook is viewed by these and other citizens as a menace waiting to unleash big brother tendencies. It is true that infringement on privacy is a concern, and one that people should uncover when organizations want to know your every move. Why does Facebook need to know where I live, where I hang out, what I do with my pictures, and…?

I’m not fond of my personal matter belonging to or being subject to such a large organization, either. It is counter-intuitive to let a massive organization dabble with my social and personal life. Still, some people are willing to get hot under the collar at Facebook. Why is it that we moralize the issue of privacy, as though privacy is a moral right? Is privacy a right, and if it is our right to do with it what we will, is it unlawful for others to overstep our privacy without our sanction? Continue reading →

iPad vs Kindle Review by Tim Challies

Tim Challies is a good Canadian. I genuinely appreciate the consistency of his blog [link to his web site/blog] and frequent his it. I trust that you will check out his link.

Tim recently broke into the multimedia (video) scene with this review of the book reading experience on the Kindle and iPad.

Unlike wordy written reviews of these devices, Tim’s video review is a fresh visual perspective of the devices that shows the viewing audience real pros and cons, and not to mention that since the review is in video it doesn’t leave the functions of the devices to your imagination like written reviews with pictures. You get to see first hand accounts of the devices, and you can make a great judgment of the devices for yourself from just watching Tim’s video.

Speaking of reviews on video, I think Tim’s here was superbly done in taping and editing. My high regards are to those that are responsible for this seemingly simple video review. It is well executed.

Exercising Creativity

I have studied creativity the greater portion of my life. I’ve always wanted to understand what makes man-made things great—what makes something remarkable. Recently, I gathered a little more insight into what creativity is. What I learned was plain as the nose on my face, yet, I’d never truly understood it until now. Creativity is, in many ways, so overlooked in modern culture that guys like myself are not encouraged to develop a creative mind. But I want one! So I’m trying….

So, creativity comes by considering how you do an old task from a “new perspective” (If you didn’t know that, I trust you are not a creative professional). Towards that end, to form the “new perspective,” creativity is taking two great concepts that previously exist and merging them. Creativity is taking an iPod and marrying it to a smartphone; you have creatively designed iPhone as a result. Continue reading →

An Alternative to Big (Bad) Search Engines

Not picking on any company in particular, I just dislike any business having an inordinate amount of information of my activity. I don’t want my search history available for total strangers to study. A little privacy, please?

So when I can I take advantage of researching topics on an alternative search engine site (something other than Google, Bing, or Ask.com or the like). I like a small operation (a select few) running a sophisticated search engine that isn’t out to take advantage of my personal history and data… and bombard me with ads. I simply want a… a great alternative. Continue reading →

Google’s Wonder Wheel

[Update 05/06/10: I thought about it later, and I cannot figure out why Google calls it a "Wonder Wheel." There really isn't a wheel in the feature to be found. Oh well.]

Google has finally recognized the need for more functionality and streamlining to their homepage search—Google.com. Besides giving their logo a facelift, the updates do serve many practical purposes that all users should take advantage of. The new side column has a few features that stood out to me. Some of these may have been around before, but they were not as apparent and so I and no one I know came across them.

The Wonder Wheel

This is a clever way to discover and explore the relationships between searchable content. Bear with me; if you are a visual person, this new feature is for you. Continue reading →