21 Jul 2010

Phones, phones, phones!!!

We had two big classes at work today to talk about iPhones, now that all our crews in the field have them. Meanwhile, I spent some time playing with a new camera app.

             
Click here to download:
Phones_phones_phones.zip (639 KB)

12 Jul 2010

Maybe I don't need that DSLR after all...

I took this picture with my iPhone!

7 Jul 2010

Gabe (finally) gets his coffee maker

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5 Jul 2010

I Am Legend: Wal-mart edition

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Am I the last human on earth?
26 Jun 2010

As seen on the way home from the store...

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26 Jun 2010

Waiting for my car to be serviced...

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26 Jun 2010

"You've done it."

That, more or less, was Jimmy Fallon's reaction to playing a Nintendo 3DS for the first time during Friday night's episode of Late Night.

It capped off what has been a week that, for me, has been one spent concentrating on technology, as "You've done it," meant I was able to get my hands on the new iPhone 4.

I am of the opinion that the iPhone splits people into two camps.  The first camp loves the phone.  The second doesn't 'get it,' and likely never will.  It's not my place to judge either, but since I own the phone, you can guess where I come down.

As someone who upgraded from an iPhone 3G, the difference is staggering.  But since you can find iPhone 4 reviews everywhere, I'll just talk about improvements I've noticed this week during normal use:

1. Fast processor = a better user experience.  I think the increasingly demanding software was really starting to bog down the iPhone 3G.  One of the main things I use the phone for is Bluetooth audio in my car.  On the 3G, it was not uncommon for the audio to cut off at random intervals, usually no more than a second.  It wasn't bad enough to stop listening, but definitely annoying.  With the iPhone 4, thanks to the faster processor, Bluetooth operations have been flawless. (I would add that Bluetooth operations were also great with my second phone, a BlackBerry Curve).

2. The camera.  I haven't used it much, but the cameras in the phone are great.  But what I am really excited about is the ability to edit HD video within the phone, using the $4.99 iMovie app.  Sure, it should have been free, but I'm fine paying 5 bucks for something I'll share with my wife on her phone.

3. The display.  The display is amazing.  You literally can't see the pixels.

4. The design.  A lot has been said about the design.  It's an incredible looking phone.  It's also made of steel and glass, and looks a bit fragile.  I was planning on using the phone "naked," but last night I gave in and bought a low profile cover at Best Buy.  It comes off easily, so if I'm heading to a place where I want to be pretentious, I'll take the case off.  Otherwise, I'll run with this case and be happy.

In the end, the real question is, do you like the iPhone?  If you do, this phone is a no-brainer.  If you don't, there's nothing here that is going to change your mind. 

I'm kind of a weird person, in that the iPhone is the only Apple product I'm really interested in.  I don't ever plan on buying or using a Mac.  Or an iPad (ok, maybe someday). But I love the iPhone.  Because it just works.  So, I say, if you've never used one, come to the dark side.

But don't wait eight hours in line for one.  Because that's just dumb.

16 Jun 2010

I could care less about holding down the fort...

I love it:
 
3 Jun 2010

It will never happen, but it would be damn cool if it did...

I'm not a big fan of IndyCar racing, but I am very intrigued by the DeltaWing Racing car.
 
 
The DeltaWing is one of four concepts under review by the Indy Racing League for their main series, which is similar to NASCAR's Sprint Cup.  The IRL hopes to debut a new car design in 2012.  The new design must be lighter, cheaper, and more fuel efficient than current IndyCars, while maintaining (or improving) safety and speed.
 
Of the four designs, the DeltaWing is by far the more radical.
 
 
I love this design, and in my uneducated opinion, this is exactly the direction the IRL should go.  This radical concept is like no other race car in the world, and would clearly differentiate the IndyCar series from Formula 1 and NASCAR.  More importantly, it would bring some real innovation (and perhaps usable real-world concepts) to the larger automotive industry.
 
And, one only needs to look back to the 1998 U.S. 500, and the deaths of three spectators, to realize how dangerous open-wheel racing can be.
 
 
I know it's a long shot, but I'd love to see a DeltaWing on the track someday.
3 Jun 2010

Acid reflux? Try this...

From the bowels of unfortunately named products comes this...

Jason Plank's Posterous

I'm a web guy for a television station in Memphis, Tennessee who likes likes to dabble with various nerdy things. More importantly, I'm a dad.