Too Much Time On Your Hands?

How 'bout creating a water show?

iPhone as Modem for a Laptop? Sign Me Up

Supposedly, AT&T is going to be sanctioning the iPhone as a modem for the laptop, "soon," according to an interview by Michael Arrington of AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph De La Vega. Of course, if AT&T has their fingers in the pie on this they'll monetize on it. The pricing information was undisclosed so it should be interesting to see what the plans offer. Wouldn't it just be peachy to tether the phone for free? Ya right!

CNN's 'Hologram' Rebuttal by CNET Makes Sense

OK, I may have categorized myself as idiotic and premature in sounding off about the hologram CNN showcased during election night. According to CNET's blogger, I must be "drinking Wolf Blitzer's Kool-Aid" if I believe that the technology took news reporting to a new height.

The blogger made some good points though:

• We receive value in seeing the environment of a reporter
• Elimination of the environment may make the setting more intimate but it obscures the true report
• The hologram was a bit poor as the rendering was somewhat jagged

All that said, it was cool for a major network to try out the technology. Maybe this will spark additional technologies and give us more empowerment in the future.

Star Wars Style Hologram on CNN's Election Lineup

For those of you that missed it (myself included), CNN developed and ran a hologram rendering, real-time, of a correspondent in a remote location and merged it with a newsroom rendering during the election night broadcast.

What's cool about this is we've been watching this technology in the movies since, oh, 1977 with EP IV, A New Hope. But to actually implement it and during the election night broadcast of all times to unveil it is pretty cool. Next thing you know Apple will develop the iChat into iHolo and we'll have mobile holograms. Hmm, iHolo. Maybe I should register that trademark and domain ;)

I'm a PC Ads Getting All Up in Apple's Bizness

Is anyone else out there turned off by Microsoft's lame "I'm a PC" ad campaign? Not only are the video clips less than funny, they're grainy and certainly not of the same quality as the iChat video.

Now get this. According to cnet, Microsoft has set up a kiosk out side of a Birmingham, England Apple store where PC pundits can video their lame ads in an attempt at landing a TV spot. Right outside the store? Can anyone say tacky!

Now, I'm not a Mac fanboy and admittedly only have a few gadgets and freely admit using a PC for the majority of my work and home computing, but I think this attempt and winning back lost customers is a sink hole. Not only does it confirm MS's lack of creativity, but it displays their lack of innovation and "play catch up" attitude that has prevailed in their history.

Thoughts?

Google Gets Cheeky For Halloween: Wards Off Zombies in Geek Speak

If you understand the following, you'll know it comes from the robots.txt file and Google has entered the cheeky world of Halloween tech fun. Enjoy!

User-agent: zombies<br />Disallow: /brains<br /><br />User-agent: *<br />Allow: /searchhistory/<br />Disallow: /news?output=xhtml&<br />Allow: /news?output=xhtml<br />Disallow: /search<br />

Virtual Crime Punishable in Real World?

With many people in the gaming world engaging in virtual relationships, it comes as no surprise that crimes do exist in the virtual world. Many platforms also enforce certain levels of decorum from their gamers. But can a crime in the virtual world be punishable in the real world?

In Japan, a woman recently found herself in jail from "virtually killing off" her husband's online character. When she found her character divorced, she used her husband's ID/password to log into the game and she whacked off the character. Somehow police in the real world got wind of this and hauled her off to jail, 620 miles from her home. If convicted, she could face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5K.

Moral of the story, mind your P's and Q's, even in the virtual world.

Impulse Over Restraint Warrants Restrictive Mobile Access While Driving?

Do you find yourself in the category of impulsively, almost involuntarily, picking up your mobile when an incoming call shocks you out of your existing focus? Even when you're driving? If you're that obsessive, here's the application for you; but it's gonna cost ya. According to TechDirt, the application senses you're driving, through movement, and routes the call directly to voicemail.

What TechDirt also picks apart is the fact that the app could be flawed in that in the same proverbial moving car you could merely be a passenger, or you could be on a bus. More importantly, why not just "not pick up the phone?" Obviously they've never experience compulsive behaviors ;) But honestly, if you're that obsessive, would you be willing to pay for the solution? Why not just turn your phone off?

Worth it? Chime in.

Tech Mimics Art: Isn't that How it Goes?

YouTube has implemented a feature that seemingly was first published by XKCD where comments on YouTube may be audibly repeated back to the end user prior to submitting to check for the idiocy of the content. Good feature but the ones that probably need it the most are too blind too see the button.

Google Shares Drop $200 (But not Reall)

Youch, can you imagine your stock sinking $200 in the last few minutes of trading? Can you imaging losing $62 billion in market cap? Well, based on the beta version of some software, it was reported that Google did just that. But to everyone's relief, it's still trading at $404 and seems to be doing just fine. Click here to read more.

Is Free Really Free?

I just love free. Who doesn't? I mean, if a friend walks up to you and offers to shovel your walks during a freak snow storm, would you really turn down the offer?

That being said, is free always free or are there obligations associated with the "freeness?" In the above example, would the friend require anything for his service (i.e. hot chocolate, or return of the favor some day) or is it just that, service?

In the business world, free is a term that is used liberally to mean upfront no catches but we'll get you eventually. Do you remember the days of NetZero and free dial-up? One could argue that the service was free, with the annoying ad banners. But in the long haul, especially when we got a taste for speedier services, we longed for bigger pipes and were willing to pay just a little more. So free amounted to long term connection addiction and eventually an adulterous affair (or at a minimum cohabitation) with the Internet.

Today's example of something that is marketed as free but really isn't was a deal I scored that originated on slickdeals.net (yes, R, you can sigh now). The offer was from GoDaddy.com and IndyCar. If you subscribe to the newsletter (not sure what all that entails just yet) you are awarded with a free domain purchase. Free!!!

The catch? Spam from IndyCar newsletter. And possibly they sell off your e-mail and your spam filter goes into overdrive.

But come on, a free domain? That's how I scored my first domain, grecca.com (which is currently offline and has been for 1.5 yrs do to a domain transfer to godaddy.com). I like free and if it means having to put gmail to work to filter out the newsletter and any other sluff that may creep into my precious 7 GB email account then so be it.

Remote for iPhone

Wow, I just got a cool little free app working on my iPhone. This is the best thing I've seen since upgrading to iPhone 2.0. The premise is that any iTunes that is on the same LAN as the iPhone can be remotely controlled through the iPhone. And sure enough, the little bugger works like a charm.
The interface is decent for the iPhone and the response is immediate. The only caveat is for device that are on the LAN but connected to a VPN. Those devices are offlimits. Should be fun later to remotely start a song while my kids are upstairs, then ask them why they're playing iTunes and get that "Who me?" look from them :)

iPhone Back, Mostly

So just after I posted my ugly review of the iBrick, the iPhone decided it was time to get out the queue and actually finish the restoration. Mostly.

The phone became active again but all of my bookmarks, wall papers, music, video, pictures, txt histories, contacts, everything was still missing. Trying now to restore those as well. Hopefully not all is lost.

iPhone 2.0 Firmware Update Bricked Me

Uggggh! While I've sung the praises of the device that beats all other smart phones for firmware upgrades at no cost, I have to publicly admit I'm highly disappointed with Apple's preparedness today and my now useless iBrick. Yep, upon upgrading my iPhone 1st Gen to 2.0 status, the complete process failed and my iPhone is currently useless.

But to my relief, I'm not alone. Others have flooded the Internet, especially Twitter, with posts of their grief and dismay. All seem to have the same issue: all seems to go well (backup, upgrade, restore) then when accessing the iTunes Store for activation and the last step in the restoration process you get an error and a device that only allows for "emergency calls" with no signal to actually make the call.

Some have stated that the devices are in queue. I highly doubt this as the events to activate are user driven, not asynchronous queued events. The reality is 1st gen owners are competing with bandwidth and server issues with 2nd gen owners and Apple just simplied messed up. Will they be forgiven. Off course, as long as there are Apple Fanboys out there. Will the blogosphere forget this punishing day? Hopefully not.

As for me, I will not forget this day and will likely be a bit more hestitant to upgrade my firmware without waiting a few weeks. After hearing positive reviews from yesterday's successes, I thought, "sure, I'll chance it." Never again. Thanks Apple for a very stressful day. May it end well for both of us.

Like Tech Freebie Online Software?

If you're like me, you like a good deal, especially when it's free. There are several sources available online that offer just that, monetizing on ads or upselling users for more premium services.

Click this link to explore a few common services available. Also, don't forget FotoFlexer in the list of cool apps for photo editing. The image below was modified using FotoFlexer. You can also Crank it by clicking on the icon on the image and add your own text or image on top. Give it a try and have fun!

FlexPlay: disposable DVD in era of enviro-sensitivity?

There is a new service in town (well, the tried 5 years ago and failed), that is offering dispoable DVD. Yep, you read that right. Kind of mission impossible isn't it? They use an oxygen reacting glue on the surface of the disc that makes the DVD laser misread the contents of the disc and renders it useless. Ok, not quite as cool as melting down but still has an element of coolness to it. Once the disc is unsealed from its package, the DVD is only good for 48 hrs. Unsealed its good for up to a year. Sounds like a great deal, right?

In a period of environmental lobbying at its peak and prices for services on the rise, I don't see how this company can sustain a lasting business model. While the technology behind the business is certainly intriguing, one must question its sustainability. The following are my doubts on this product that time will give us a proper view of how successful or otherwise the product will be.

IS THE PRODUCT ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE? I guess that depends upon how you define safe. Impactful? Certainly. Detrimental? Depends on volume and success. As the discs are render useless, one questions how the product will de disposed. FlexPlay does have a recycling program but the details are a bit sketchy. The only reuse I read of was in display stands which if there is a significant volume, maybe this will help spurn the new eco-techno-art I've been thinking of pushing.

IS THE PRICE WORTH THE CONVENIENCE OF NON-RETURN OPTION? This question for me holds the most weight and I'll be key to the success of the product. Currently priced at 4.99 per purchase, it would seem a bit exorbanent for merely trashing a discs for those in anger management, maybe breaking apart a DVD after use is cost effective, but for the majority this is certainly questionable. By comparison, other services exist where a rental downloaded to a computer, good for 24 hrs, is $3.99 and seems appropo for the target business traveler, especially those with iPhones. Netflix and Blockbuster also offer zero shipping fee services for their millions of titles and a very low service fee with no pressure on returns. Even RedBox (who by the way gave my family a free rental last night) is priced at $1.00 per rental and has kiosks placed generously in supermarkets where for many are frequented daily. So the price point on this just doesn't make sense to me.

WHAT RELATIONSHIP DOES THE SERVICE RETAIN WITH THE CONSUMER? This is an easy one to answer. NONE! This, to me, is one of the most damaging points of this offering. The relationship is between the distribution companies, the physical space owners (i.e. walmart, 7-11, bookstores) but not the end consumer. FlexPlay has no direct way of marketing to the consumer. There are no demographical statistics on consumer choices and therefore no good metrics for altering the business model based on sound business intelligence. Seems like an obvious dead end to me.

All this being said, new services have a way of shaping the landscape and bewildering logic. Netflix did it when Blockbuster and Hollywood video were in their hayday and its approach shifted how we consume digital video (and this is morphing once again from physical to merely digital). Will FlexPlay have the ability to yet again change the landscape?

What do you think?

Splunk: Cool Post-Log Tool

Check out my mobile review of a "Splunk" demo I was treated to during a brown bag lunch.

Wii Balance Board Controls Robot: How About Space Station?

OK, so maybe the title is a bit sensational and obviously, who would really allow the thrusts of the ISS to be controlled by a Wii Balance Board? But in the following video a man shows how he made a robot move according to his hack. What cool things will come of this innovation?

Is it Legal for the Gov to Spy on You Through Your Mobile?

Well, if you're talking about WMD, then according to new legislation, yes. According to the bill, companies and the government can legally spy on your conversations if you drop words like Weapons of Mass Destruction and talk of "incendiary explosives," "poison," or "toxins" that may ave the intent to incur "significant number" of injuries or death. The definition of a WMD has been updated under Title VII section 110 of the Thomas government database.

The article from wired that outlines these definitions makes the point that "significant number" of injuries or deaths is still a fairly ambiguous term and is not defined within the legislation but remains to be defined. The UN in 1948 defined a WMD to be on the "scale of an atomic bomb." But according to the legislation a few grams of "ricin or a cylinder of chlorine" can be considered WMD "if someone threatens to use it against the public."

Is this legislation just a smoke screen to increase the government's ability to spy? Does it get companies like AT&T out of the doghouse for snooping on conversations (can somebody say corporate lobbying?)?

What do you think?

If you like the photo above, give 'er a Crank :)

Web 2.0 Neat, But Can Be Frustrating

Ever have that, "oh, if i could only do that," moment and you set about googling for the right approach, at times ready to give up? That was me for the last two days. I stumbled upon PhotoCrank, a nifty little mashup that allows content to be blast, or "Crank'd", on a layer above an original image on a website, and I knew this would be a great addition to my main site and mobile site. Since most of what I blog on my mobile site is on the run and mostly images captured from my iPhone, having others Crank the images would draw people to the site and keep them there as well as promote the blog as they may want to share their cranks.

I started out by installing the requisite javascript code on both sites and voila, the main HansonHarmony site worked just great on a couple of existing images. But the mobile site's post images were not "crankable." I uninstalled and reinstalled the javascript to no avail.

About this time, Hup, the self proclaimed "Crank'r Evangelist Numero Uno", sent me an e-mail welcoming me to the CrankTown posse and to send him some feedback. I did just that and he offered some suggestions which I tried. To no avail.

The main problem was the image size of the mobile image posts were too small to be crankable. But blogger's Mail-To-Blogger feature doesn't allow for the customization of the image size being posted. It always formats the thumbnail according to it's liking and not according to the will of the blogger. Bad bad bad Web 2.0 design. Don't they know the user is in control?

The solution? Flickr

Something that Hup mentioned in an e-mail made me think I could yet again make the blog do something else than what was it's original intention. With a little investigative research on Flickr, I found out they have an e-mail option as well but their integration with blogger is good enough to post directly to a designated blog with customizations. Bingo! Not only could I e-mail, but I could customize the post, add body text and tags for the post. Mother load!

So in order to achieve the desired Web 2.0 effect with PhotoCrank, I had to integrate Flickr with Blogger. Ah, the joys of Web 2.0 :)

Scaling a Hyper-Growing Super App

Considering I'm a light user of Facebook, I know very little about how much some users actually utilize the application. But reading that 250K new users sign up for the a FB account per day, it would seem that scaling the application is a mammoth challenge.

How do you actually manage 10K servers, and thousands of DB instances? How do you synchronize the DB instances?

How you manage all of those sessions?

Nice problem to have. FB is more than a viral app; it's an epidemic of gynormous proportions.

Btw, if ya wanna connect, here's your invitation :)

Ringtones for Dogs?

So I saw this come through the Twitter wire and found the concept just preposterous enough to actually click on the link. A Japanese company is actually marketing ringtones that are out of the audible range of humans and are catered to our canine friends. Obviously one would question how useful such a technology could be. If I can't hear it, why buy it.

Here are some uses for such a technology:

• You are upset with your significant other and need a distraction. Issue the "bark incessantly" ringtone command and you're free to give way to the canine distraction.
• You want to impress your house guests and secretly activate the "Beat It" ringtone to which your friend with paws is taught to moon walk and possibly lick his unmentionables in tribute of the gloved one.
• Your book group is over discussing the latest Grisham novel "Appeal" and with every mention of the word "lawyer" you activate the ringtone that commands your furry friend to flatulate.
• Finally, and for no good reason, you just want to laugh and activate the "Chicken Dance" ringtone to which Rover decidely performs this timeless polka.

OK, so my ideas aren't terribly hillarious but you get the point.

What ringtone-dependent ideas can you come up with that could be useful for man's best friend?

Geek Squad City Staffers Compared to Mormon Missionaries

How appropriate for the writer of CNET's Geek Gestalt (Dan Terdiman) to compare Geek Squad City's employees to Mormon Missionaries. He describes the "well-groomed young people in dark pants, white shirts, and narrow black ties" as "stylized kind-of-Mormon-missionary, kind-of-G-Men" appearing staffers. I find this to be a very descriptive and complimentary comment on the good grooming of the LDS missionaries. And having served as a missionary for 2 years I would consider this to be a positive nod to our young people serving the Lord today.

What does this have to do with technology? Well, not a lot, other than to say that the technology behind the city is quite sophisticated, efficient and provides a meaningful service to the likes of Best Buy which employs the "Geek Squad" in house (you can sometimes catch a Geek Squad patrol VW Beetle roaming around our neighborhood).

So for the techie geek that may happen to be just returning home from the LDS mission, don't worry about readjusting to the world around you. Just head on over to St. Louis and hire on at Geek Squad City: no adjustment necessary :)

YouTube for 6month olds?

Have you ever been on YouTube and had to abruptly either close down the browser make your kids close their eyes. Admittedly it has happened to me before, much to my embarrassment. The reason was not any insidious attempt to watch inappropriate material on my part but merely a "gotcha" that was unexpected and completely out of place with the context of what was being watched.

The solution (or at least a communal attempt)? Totlol.com. For a newsworthy perspective on this service click here.

Flash for iPhone?

I must admit that it has been a little frustrating to go to flash embedded websites to see a "won't work" icon on the Safari browser from within my iPhone. I do realize that only about 10% of sites actually use Flash, but it's a cool technology and used a lot for embedded video, not just website wizbang. So content on Facebook or other communual sites are rendered useless on the iPhone.

Well, the boys at Adobe claim to have a working product in the lab but the Apple powers are complaining that the mobile version of Flash may not be powerful enough for the elegant iPhone. Sounds like Apple is power-playing and may either have something cooked up for a more thick client or just stalling until it's mature enough and they can take over Adobe.

Who knows. But in the meantime, I'd like to have a little more content on the iPhone via Flash and let the power plays fight it out behind the scenes.

Thoughts?

Web 2.0: Providers Wake Up!

Dr. Windley on his Technometria blog shares some insight from David Friedman of Avenue A | Razorfish. The gist is providers of e-commerce either need to be in the Web 2.0 space or they're dead. Consumers want to not just be talked to, but want to play with services in order to be satisfied. But that's only part of the equation. Your services should be portable and useful contextually outside of your own offering.

I would agree and pretty much everything I'm thinking about right now is centered around services, SOA, how to consume and how to provide. What's more, I'm thinking in terms of my everyday interactions and how this same model impacts real world experiences. Maybe I'm approaching a breakthrough? Hope so!

What is the best 2.0 site you've experienced?

Grumblings on Tech World

This is merely a template entry to hold a place for tech grumblings.