I’m a “2nd-generation” Mac user raised on Apple computers from their birth, so you can imagine the pride I felt when my wife returned from a recent trip and reported that even though she saw the Apple store in a Texas mall, she couldn’t physically allow herself to go in. She explained, “I knew if I went in I would do something foolish and buy a laptop on your credit card.” You see, Apple released some sexy new laptops, and our house is really feeling the urge for an upgrade. All I can say is: Honey, I’m proud of you, and I admire your discipline!
Category Archives: Apple
iPhone Development
I’m assembling an iPhone development team to build applications for this next great platform. If you have a application or idea for the iPhone that you would like to see come into fruition please submit your ideas here.
Leopard Installed
Yesterday I installed a copy of Leopard OS X from Apple Inc. After an initial hiccup caused by my installation of third-party hack it is up and running beautifully. My initial impressions are mainly appreciative:
1) The graphical consistency across application windows is pleasing
2) Quick look feature in the finder is very useful.
3) Coverflow is useful for certain things.
4) I think I’m going to enjoy spaces but it will take some getting used to
5) Time machine will help me feel more secure
6) I like the Dock. There has been way to much complaining about the subtle changes.
7) I’m neutral on the translucent menubar. It certainly gives no advantage
The new screensavers are pretty cool
9) Spotlight is far more useful
10) I’m disappointed Mail has no three pane option
11) I absolutely love the iChat screen sharing feature. I’m looking forward to trying doing a presentation over iChat via keynote.
I’ll be writing some more impressions in a few weeks after some more usage.
What I want more then the iPhone
Four more days till the iphone hits the United States and mass euphoria sweeps the nation. I confess openly that I want one. Badly. So badly that I have even considered having my brother, Conor, buy one for me without the ability to use the phone portion of the triple threat device—at least until Apple and Rogers work out a deal. If you don’t have to buy a plan to use the device I just might.
But I want something even more badly than the iPhone.
I want to know what life-altering course Conor (my brother) is going to be pursuing. So I’ll start with this simple request, even plea, to be brought into the inner sanctum of family support. If this doesn’t work, however, I am prepared to resort to other ‘methods’.
Safari 3
If you are a windows user please, with all the desperation I can muster in behalf of a piece of software, download Safari 3, the amazing cross platform browser. This is the browser that runs on Macs, the new iPhone and now Windows XP and Vista. Trust me a superior internet experience awaits you.
Today
I made $50 bucks today for about 1.5 hours of work signing people in and out of a dental conference. To offset that increase we bought another mic for Daria’s podcasting along with some headphones. We traped on over to Wal-Mart too, to replace our toilet-drenched cordless phone with a new model. We ended up getting a two-phone package (backup!) with the ability to two-way radio between the two units. Doubt we will use that feature too much but having a second cordless phone will be a nice addition around here since the cordless is inevitably on the floor your not come ring time.
I’m weighing the purchase of a computer. The demos always go on sale at my local campus computer store with every Apple hardware update and this particularly computer is the last of the PowerPC powered Macs, which could come in handy for running the software I currently own. Then again our current computer is getting the job done but slower I imagine. So tempting…
Brewing and Podcasts
I’ve got a few entries brewing right now but I’m not ready to post just yet. In the mean time I’ll just mention how much I’m enjoying the new phenom Podcasting. Bjørn, if your reading, podcasting is for you—it’s cutting edge but still left of center. Apple describes podcasting as:
Radio-style shows — some from major media, others from passionate individuals — delivered over the Internet to your computer. Unlike streaming audio, which requires you to listen in real time, podcasting lets you control how and when you hear your favorite shows…Choose the time. Choose the place. Choose the show. Save for later or listen now. Podcasting makes it possible. iTunes makes it easy.
Take CBC Radio 3’s podcast for example (playing as I type) featuring unique independent Canadian Music. This is music you thrill to hear; it engages, without forcing itself upon you, in a way that mainstream radio falls hopelessly short of. This isn’t your “Incomplete” by the Backstreet Boys (which I cannot understand why anybody would pay to download from iTMS). After listening to the CBC 3’s debut “cast” I’m hooked, I’ve relistened to this cast 3 times already. Another podcast I’m interested in is LDS Voices , featuring words of wisdom both past and present. The compiler of this podcast is presumably presenting the best of LDS speech, firesides and talks, updated at the rate of one new cast a day. I also subscribed to Mommycast, two moms who comment on motherhood, being a modern woman, music and technology. I love this podcasting thing-it is the best of a new and old idea—listening to the ideas and expressions of others on radio. I can picture my grandparents of yesteryear gathered around listening to old radioshows, and it makes me smile to realize I’m doing the same thing in a new-fangled way.
So check it out, let me know what great podcasts you find. I’m thinking about starting my own podcast someday, its surprisingly easy to do. Apple has made it incredibly easy, see for yourself.
Wireless freedom
We just got an airport express base station today, and the installation was seamless. From opening the plastic to first website viewed was about 5 minutes tops (I had to stop and admire the slick packaging). Now I can surf check email from anywhere on my password protected network, from the laptop or handheld. Hopefully this leads to more blogging, studying and learning! 
