A New Day - Views of Today’s Tech

GPS is old school. Sure, it can pinpoint your exact location on the earth and then calculate your distance to the nearest McDonald’s - but how lame is that?

What we need is our car to be able to communicate real time to other cars say … via the Internet. “Talking” to me is the next big deal in car GPS. You know - connected, wired, online, plugged in.

Think of what this would mean.

You could then also get real time traffic data streamed to the GPS + device and know if your route is a bad move.

You could also then know how long it took other motorists to get from 1 place to another as they would all be updating their movement and their traffic issues - all in real time.

The Dash is doing just this. This $400 device to me is what is coming next. GPS becomes so lame once you think about a connected device and all that would bring to the equation. The key to this technology is good data which would only come at some critical mass stage.

I can see it know - GPS standards of communication so competing products can all chat the same way. Think of if as the IRC of GPS car communication.

Yeah I want a talking car but not the Pixar kind. When my car is not telling me where to turn why doesn’t she get to work and download some stats for me from the Internet? What else does she have going on?

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

With a major birthday on the horizon, it would typically be that time when you look back over your life and recount all the things you should have done. For some reason, that’s not me. I did some of that when I turned 30 - now that seems like a lifetime ago.

Instead, I want to list the stuff I want. Now mind you, this is a totally superficial list. You won’t find world peace on the list even though that would be nice. This list is not intended to reveal the real me or anything deep like that - just stuff I want. OK - get it now? Don’t call me materialistic or superficial - I came clean first.

• I want a 3G iPhone with a 5 megapixel camera. Furthermore, I want this phone to cost the same or less than the current iPhone model and cost no more per month than the current plan costs. The thing is - I think I just might actually get this. With the rumor mill like it is, I really think Apple wants to kick up sales a notch and what better way to do it than with better features for no more money.
• I want a $99 Blu-Ray player. People say that consumers don’t care, but I disagree. I think everyone with an HDTV wants a BR player and I am one.
• I want HDTV in every room. Once you go HD you want this - I know you do.
• I want more time. That’s not a gadget, but does there ever seem to be enough time? The answer is no so I want more of it.
• I want cake everyday. No explanation needed here. Fresh baked cookies would be nice too.
• I want the latest version of every software package I use. The upgrade thing is getting old - I think if you buy something you should get the newest version from that point forward. I realize the world does not work this way but it’s my freakin’ birthday alright?
• I want the Apple Air. I promise not to keep it in an envelope.
• I want a full breed Chihuahua with big bulging eyes that shivers when I enter the room out of total respect because I am the pack leader
• I like Hot Tamales candy. I like the extra hot version too. You see, everything is niche these days. There are even versions of candy. Read the Long Tail - I did.
• I want to travel. Sounds cliche doesn’t it. Thought so.
• Cake - did I mention the cake?

As you can see, there are many things I want so I think it only fair that you know.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

I’m not sure where to start or how to compose my thoughts - but if you want to get mad at computers or computer companies you need only use one.

I had a weekend project to reformat a laptop for a relative. Windows XP - nothing out of the ordinary. This took about 3-4 hours. Amazing. I am not exaggerating when I say I downloaded and installed about 200 updates. One round led to a new round which of course led to another round. It was sad. I can’t imagine this process being something the average user would go through.

It is things like this that gives computers a bad name.

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On a totally unrelated note - did you read that Apple is considering a version of iTunes or maybe it’s an iPod where you can basically have access to the entire iTunes catalog. A buffet of sorts. This to me sounds like renting music. This is the very thing Apple blasted Microsoft for in years past. I remember the pompous Steve Jobs standing in his mock turtleneck saying “Consumers want to own their music - not rent it”. I guess that is true until he decides they do now.

While ranting on Apple I also saw they are forcing the Safari browser to Windows users with iTunes - which is like all of them. I am sure you can say no to the prompt, but the sheep will surely say yes and download it. The Firefox people are very upset at this. Could this be browser wars 2.0? I believe it was the browser issue that started the debate that got Microsoft in Federal Court. Funny how things happen.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

Simple things crack me up.  I guess you could say I’m a simple man with simple pleasures.  Enjoy.

Does anyone find it ironic that American Idol does 2 weeks of Beatles music all the while pushing iTunes at every turn yet iTunes does not carry any of the Beatles catalog?  I find that funny.  I realize they sell the contestant versions, but what I find myself wanting while watching Idol is the original version of some of these songs.  In fact, a few weeks ago I noticed that one of the originals was at #1 on iTunes for like 2 weeks.  Not the artist version mind you, the original recording.  My thinking is, you lay low on the iTunes talk during Beatles week - or better yet only have 1 week not 2.  It makes me chuckle.

I was watching a show the other day about the rise of the Internet - a history of sorts.  Yes, that probably makes me a loser in some circles, but I was watching.  Anyways, during one segment they were interviewing the lawyer who prosecuted Bill Gates and Microsoft during the infamous lawsuits.  They were showing Gates in a distressed deposition all the while the lawyer was smiling like - “yeah we got him”.  In the background of this lawyer’s office was a computer running Windows.  It made me chuckle.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

First, I need to say I’m sorry. The dark ages of no posts is over - I’m back.

Is the dividing line still there? Are there still Mac haters or PC haters out there? I think so. I tend to think that it’s not as bad as it once was - but still there none the less.

What I am finding as I jump worlds is each side still thinks they are the only ones out there.

PC users think no one uses a Mac - and if they do they are a very small minority.

The Mac users think that only the uninformed use a PC - and don’t even bring up Vista or your day will be shot by the time they will take blasting it.

PC users don’t want to admit that Mac is a viable option (it really is you know).

Mac users don’t want to admit they still have very very small market share (they don’t  - look it up).

I find that each world - is blind to the other side - if there is such a thing as the other side.

The truth is - as I have said many times before - the truth is often in the middle. I happened to read something online the other day about some product (I forget now what it was). I saw a comment posted about how the product really stunk due to it not having a Linux version. That is one thing “both sides” can agree on - Linux is joke.

I am asked all the time - Mac or PC? I often reply - sure. You see, it’s less about the platform or the type as is about the applications. That’s really what it all boils down to really - what are you going to do with it usually determines how you should go.  But then again, the answer  based on application often times changes too.  You can’t win.

I say - just pick one already and go with it!  After you do, then don’t take crap off anybody for your choice.

Does Vista suck? Maybe. Are Macs expensive? Maybe. Has my PC ever crashed? Yes. Has a Mac? Yes. Has my PC or Mac ever been so screwed up I just had to reboot and start over - you know the answer.

I think it’s time we take off the blinders and stop looking at the other side with contempt. They are computers people. Go take a walk already or better yet, watch HDTV.

Plasma or LCD?

I give up.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

Yes I did it - I got a LCD HDTV. I think every geek wants or has one - it took me a while but now I am member of the club.

Before I get to the meat of this post, I must make a few introductory comments. I went into HDTV a believer - but not totally sold that the experience would be as different as “they say”. I was wrong. From the time I turned the set on after my HD programming was active - my mouth has remained open and with spit running down my chin.

Here is my problem - I want everything in HD. It’s not fair that Leave it to Beaver is not in HD. I kid. Seriously, why aren’t ALL the prime time shows in HD? Take one of my favorite shows - Survivor - it is NOT in HD. WHY NOT I ASK? It’s not like HD just came out and adoption is slow - these things are flying off the shelves. I can understand that some shows would not be in HD yet - but the major networks have no excuse.

Take football - some regional coverage is still not in HD. Football is MADE for HD. This experience alone is worth the price of admission. I just don’t get why ABC can’t get their act together and do everything on the planet in HD. Get with the program people.

Yes, I do find myself watching shows I don’t even care about because they are in HD. I am watching the sun come up in some foreign land because I can - and it looks fantastic. The Discovery HD Theater is good stuff. Who cares about Leopards? I do - because they are in HD.
NOW I get plastic surgery. I now know why the stars do this - because HD does not hide anything. It shows it all. Some look very old in HD - they really need to get some work done.

HD is better than real life. If I walked up to these people on the street - they would not look this good in person. Lifelike you say? No - I say it is better than life. I want to look as good as I would look on HD.

One last point - let’s settle this Blue Ray versus HD-DVD war already. As soon as this is settled, the players can drop in price. I want my HDTV - for everything.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

Back in the day, my dad would wear headphones to a football game.  I think the main reason was to hear the radio broadcast of the game he was watching.  Now as I recall, the headphones were quite large as this was way before the ear bud days.  Today you will still see some old timers wearing headphones - much smaller but headphones none the less.

At college games you will still see many headphones.  I go to an occasional OU game and I do see many with them.  I assume some are listening to Big Bob Barry (don’t ask me why) while others are keeping up with scores of other games in progress.

Going out on a limb, most of the headphones are worn by folks over 30 - maybe even over 40.  Any headphones in the student section are iPod and have nothing to do with the game.  This current multi-tasking generation had to have tunes.

I witnessed something a few weeks ago pretty amazing.  While at an OU game they would flash up scores of other games during our game.  This was the week that LSU lost - which by the way all good OU fans love.  Not just that it helps our national championship chances - but also due to the Les Miles hatred that all OU fans share.

As the LSU game progressed, you could sense an anticipation for that final score.  As the stadium saw the score go into triple overtime - all eyes seemed to be focused more on the score board than the game on the field.

Then out of no where I heard a mass yell come from the student section.  It was not due to the play on the field as the play had not started yet.  A few minutes later they flashed the final LSU score on the scoreboard - and it was then I figured it out.  The student section knew INSTANTLY the final score and they had reacted to it.

The student section was connected in real time to the game and they did this without FM radio or AM radio or the stadium scoreboard.  They did this via the Internet.  Via cell phones, PDAs, and smart phones - they all in unison knew the outcome first.

You see, to today’s young person the Internet is not a tool they use or a thing they utilize to look up information.  To them, the Internet is a part of their lives.  It is so much of who they are and how they operate they don’t even think about what they are doing.  Keeping up in real time to a football game is  - well, what they do.

Being connected is not a fad - it is as common as having electricity in the home.  And think, they did this without large globe shaped headphones.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

Ah the iPhone – just when we thought the madness had toned down it heats up again.  This time it is due to the price dropping – and the early adopters are ticked.

Apple will issue a $100 credit to those poor suckers who bought the iPhone early.  Wait – there is a catch – for those who purchased in the last 14 days.  Those who stood in line (I was there) are out of luck.

Now as you know from my previous posts, I did not buy one – I went to the release to be a part of the experience.  I wanted to see the madness.  I am not sure how much madness

The spin on this price drop is out of control.  We have “This is life in the technology lane” by Jobs.  We have others saying “It’s the equivalent of having that season’s handbag”.  The $100 credit is a gesture I guess – but many are reporting that those who bought early really don’t care.

I would be ticked.  I also think Apple messed up here – at least to this consumer.   When I went to the launch event as I said earlier, I did it for only one reason – to be there.  I also got a free t-shirt which was also a small part.  I never had an intention to buy one.

When I got in line and started seeing the people and hearing the yelling I began to think – maybe it’s really cool – maybe I should get one?  As I approached the entrance to the store I remember thinking about the price.  I remember trying to justify the $600 in my mind.  I could not do it.  I must admit, if that price had been $400 I may have done an impulse buy on the spot without even knowing it.  I wonder how many others would be like me.

I do agree somewhat with the argument about the price of technology.  Waiting is always a better financial decision.  At some point you just have to get what you want or need and forget about the sale the next week.  It happens – but on this scale this soon – has gotten everyone up in arms.

I still content this is all good for the industry.  I am just not yet ready to compare this to the designer watch.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

Confessions of a PC guy.

For over 15 years I have been a PC guy.  I have worked in the area of PC support, I have built PC networks, and I have owned my fair share of PCs. 

I really never got caught up in the anti-Mac wars that raged between the PC people and the Mac people.  Now don’t get me wrong, I did my fair share of Mac bashing but it was light as compared to many of my friends.

My main beef with Apple through the years has been their leadership, their advertising campaigns, and their “closed” nature.  I was really annoyed at the way all of their keynotes seemed to focus more on “we’re better than Microsoft” and less on “we do this very well”.  Their recent ad campaign of the PC versus Mac really fired me up.  The claims they made were always spun in a way that in some cases were downright wrong.

I understand that marketing is positioning a product in a certain light.  They are trying to say their machines are easy to use and always work and PCs are hard to use and always break down.  I get that.  My main problem has been they do this by bringing others down – just stand on your own merit and let me decide.

I watched the iPhone keynote and you would have thought this thing could cure cancer.  Come on guys – it is a smart phone – no one is going to the gain sight by using one.  To me it was over the top and that turned me off at times.

Having said all of that – here is where I am going.

About a year or 2 ago I had to get involved in using a Mac at work due to the project I was working on.  Up until that point, I had supported a few from time to time on a limited basis but this project was a lot more hands on.  I found it to be a very pleasant experience and not very hard to get used to at all.

Then a month ago I took a new job and my primary machine was a MacBook Pro.  So I had to quickly get used to this new world after 15 plus years of being “the PC guy”.

So what do I think?  The bottom line is this – it is much to do about nothing.  There are some subtle differences between the 2 platforms but I guess my biggest surprise was how similar they really are.

The concepts are the same and it really did not take me very long to get over the hump.  I would say in like 3 days I was over it.  Now, I don’t know it under the covers like I do a PC, but that took me 15 years to develop so this too will take time.  The haters on both sides should just get over it – because the 2 are very much the same. 

So the big question is this – if I were buying a new system for the house today what would I buy?  For me – I would buy a Mac.  I don’t have a lot of investment in home software so to me that is not an issue, but then again if it were I could run Parallels or dual boot into Windows and be fine.  THAT is the best move Apple ever made – the Intel platform change in my opinion saved Apple.  It may indeed prove to be the move responsible for getting them some decent market share long term.

Don’t misquote me I am not “converted” or a “PC guy gone wild” – I simply respect both systems and I like the product I see from Apple – the product to me is key.  On the same hand if I had a Vista system I am sure I would be happy with it.  I am using Windows XP right now and I have no issues with that either – it’s a computer folks – don’t lose sight of that.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com

My kids love junk toys. You what I mean, the ones you see in like Dollar General or some drug store. They are the cheap knock-off of some super hero or a ninja. My kids go nuts for that stuff. The best part about these types of toys is – the price is right. Hours of entertainment for a dollar – you can’t beat that.

Tonight I was in line at a local drug store picking up last minute school supplies. There was a bit of a line so I began to look at the junk lined up next to the cashier.

You have the normal fair – the Carmex and the other various lip balms. Next to that are the breath mints, the gum, and a few toys that dance when you press a button. I believe Billy the wide-mouth singing bass made his start here. You know, “come on get happy”.

Then I saw something that made me take a double take. It was a bowl of multi-colored 64 meg USB flash drives for $5.99. There was hot pink, lime green, purple, and a lot of other bright colors. The bowl was plastic – like something you would sell gum from. There were about 8 or 10 of them left. $5.99. All I could think was “wow”.

Flash memory has come a long way. I know the next big thing will be flash-based mass storage devices. I think I read that those are already out – or coming out soon. This is a good move forward – the whole no moving parts thing is good for everyone. The novelty business of hiding a USB flash drive in everything from a watch to underwear has already sailed but now the cheap disposable flash drive is here.

So, next time you need to run and pick up some NightQuil at the drugstore at 2 in the morning, don’t forget your nail clippers and your flash drive.

By Aaron Kimbrough - AaronKimbrough.com