Thursday, July 31, 2008
7-31-08 Week in Review
Hey all,
A few exciting things this week. First off on the 29th my truck celebrated it's 10 year anniversary of being with me. I dropped $1200 on it a few weeks back for new ball joints, and some routine maintenance to celebrate. The next day I locked my keys in it...hopefully that's not a sign of how the next 10 years will go!
I've been thinking lately about what makes me me...not so much as skills but more like those thinks that make me tick that are applicable in any situation. Here's what I've come up with so far...feel free to let me know if you think of anything else.
1. I like a challenge, if something isn't a challenge I'd probably rather not do it (contributed by my in-laws)
2. I like to make change, I'm never satisfied with the status quo
3. I've very interested in forging new ground or creating new things
4. I like to have control over something and prefer to be in control of situations
5. I see the big picture, I start there and work down to the details (if I ever get there) - contributed by Jodi
6. I have natural leadership abilities - contributed by my boss
7. I'm quite honest and direct
8. I'm very analytical
9. I like things to be of high quality but I'm not a perfectionist
The iphone continues to be 'my little friend'. It's incredibly useful...either looking up data on the spot or contacting my knight in shining armor when I lock keys in my truck! :)
Finally, last weekend I we celebrated 'Bix Weekend' here in the Quad Cities. Some friends of ours held a party and I picked up a sweet Barman tatoo there! Bat Power!
PS I just figured out how to check the spelling on this thing so I hope to improve that!
Friday, July 25, 2008
iphone first impressions
There is quite a bit to report here and I'll plan on posting several time.
Let me start off by saying that this is one of those life changing sorts of technolgies. I think nothing these days of making a phone call at home, jumping in the truck and finishing the call somewhere else. Remember when 'cordless' phones were all the rage...you could even go out on the front porch and use it. Now think about wi-fi...you could even use it on the front porch...now think about walking out of the local arena, chatting with a friend, deciding on a place to meet, looking it up on the internet (while walking to your car), having directions by the time you got there and then deciding what you were going to order on your way to meet up...welcome to iphone. Now imagine waiting for an appointment, getting a call to schedule another apointment, jumping on your calandar, and scheduling the appointment during the call. Welcome to life changing technology.
Cool: everyone looks to see what you have and impressed that this is the 'new' iphone...I'm sure that effect will wear off in about 4 minutes
Physical: The phone is surprisingly heavy. It makes the other phones I have feel like cheap plastic junk. The drawback to the wieght (1 oz) heaveier than my other phones is making a long call with no headset...amazing how buff I'll be in a few weeks holding that extra oz up to my ear! The thing is feaksihly thing. The switch to turn the ringer on and off is really nice.
Phone: The phone is adequate but not stellar. If you want the world's best cell phone get something else, if you want the best little techno-mate I've seen get an iphone. The volume of the ringer, the speaker phone and the handset could all be louder however they all seem to sound good (especially the ringers...to bad my phone is on vibrate 99% of the time). The bluetooth sync is easy and iphone is really smart when it comes to letting your select the source for a call. Integration with contact and websites is awesome and the visual voicemail is really nice...makes total sence.
Ipod: still learning how to do that...any help on the best way to sync music? I can't seem to get mannual mode to work. It was really neat to be at the gym jamming on some tunes and just have them fade away so I could take a call.
Safari: WOW...sure it could support flash but seriously, find me something better. I was on a walk and could almost instantly find that we were under a thunderstorm warning when I saw the lightning in the distance. I can check mail, surf, and have all sorts of information at my fingertips almost instantly. We don't have 3G yet but edge isn't too bad. I still can't wait for 3G.
Mail: really the only problem I have here is that I don't think my cable account will sync when not on the cable network...I was thinking about switching to a more portable email address already so I guess now is a good time to do it. Works great with our Yahoo junk mail account (just incase I want to keep up on the spam).
Calandar: I remember now how great it was to have a PDA...I love love love having an electronic calandar back. I'm having some sync issues (until I get it on the enterprise account) and Jodi's won't sync at all...I still need to do more work there
Camera: probably better that other phones I've had but disappointing seeing how nice everything else is
Interface: mindblowing
virtual keyboard: I've not used a little bitty plastic keyboard much but this one seems just fine
Unlock: I still get a smirk on my face everytime I slide that little bar
Missing:
- tasks list (hello)
- the absence of the ability to use a stylus and the ability to recognize handwritting really hold the iphone back as a computer replacement
- GPS seems like it could work lots better
- cut and paste functionality
- microsoft pocket word and excel
- a cradle
- a windshild wiper and fluid so that it can continually clean the screen as you put your greasy little fingers all over it
- the sync sofware doesn't seem to be very configurable or let me really move files like I'd like
Issues:
- when trying to down load a high resolution picture the phone crashed...yes, it is ridiculous to try to download a high resolution picture to view on a little sceen
- smudges and smears front and back
- I'm sure at some point (like when a larger model comes out) I'll wish I had more memory that 16 GB (I can still remember when the first gig hard drives hit the market about 1995)
Let me start off by saying that this is one of those life changing sorts of technolgies. I think nothing these days of making a phone call at home, jumping in the truck and finishing the call somewhere else. Remember when 'cordless' phones were all the rage...you could even go out on the front porch and use it. Now think about wi-fi...you could even use it on the front porch...now think about walking out of the local arena, chatting with a friend, deciding on a place to meet, looking it up on the internet (while walking to your car), having directions by the time you got there and then deciding what you were going to order on your way to meet up...welcome to iphone. Now imagine waiting for an appointment, getting a call to schedule another apointment, jumping on your calandar, and scheduling the appointment during the call. Welcome to life changing technology.
Cool: everyone looks to see what you have and impressed that this is the 'new' iphone...I'm sure that effect will wear off in about 4 minutes
Physical: The phone is surprisingly heavy. It makes the other phones I have feel like cheap plastic junk. The drawback to the wieght (1 oz) heaveier than my other phones is making a long call with no headset...amazing how buff I'll be in a few weeks holding that extra oz up to my ear! The thing is feaksihly thing. The switch to turn the ringer on and off is really nice.
Phone: The phone is adequate but not stellar. If you want the world's best cell phone get something else, if you want the best little techno-mate I've seen get an iphone. The volume of the ringer, the speaker phone and the handset could all be louder however they all seem to sound good (especially the ringers...to bad my phone is on vibrate 99% of the time). The bluetooth sync is easy and iphone is really smart when it comes to letting your select the source for a call. Integration with contact and websites is awesome and the visual voicemail is really nice...makes total sence.
Ipod: still learning how to do that...any help on the best way to sync music? I can't seem to get mannual mode to work. It was really neat to be at the gym jamming on some tunes and just have them fade away so I could take a call.
Safari: WOW...sure it could support flash but seriously, find me something better. I was on a walk and could almost instantly find that we were under a thunderstorm warning when I saw the lightning in the distance. I can check mail, surf, and have all sorts of information at my fingertips almost instantly. We don't have 3G yet but edge isn't too bad. I still can't wait for 3G.
Mail: really the only problem I have here is that I don't think my cable account will sync when not on the cable network...I was thinking about switching to a more portable email address already so I guess now is a good time to do it. Works great with our Yahoo junk mail account (just incase I want to keep up on the spam).
Calandar: I remember now how great it was to have a PDA...I love love love having an electronic calandar back. I'm having some sync issues (until I get it on the enterprise account) and Jodi's won't sync at all...I still need to do more work there
Camera: probably better that other phones I've had but disappointing seeing how nice everything else is
Interface: mindblowing
virtual keyboard: I've not used a little bitty plastic keyboard much but this one seems just fine
Unlock: I still get a smirk on my face everytime I slide that little bar
Missing:
- tasks list (hello)
- the absence of the ability to use a stylus and the ability to recognize handwritting really hold the iphone back as a computer replacement
- GPS seems like it could work lots better
- cut and paste functionality
- microsoft pocket word and excel
- a cradle
- a windshild wiper and fluid so that it can continually clean the screen as you put your greasy little fingers all over it
- the sync sofware doesn't seem to be very configurable or let me really move files like I'd like
Issues:
- when trying to down load a high resolution picture the phone crashed...yes, it is ridiculous to try to download a high resolution picture to view on a little sceen
- smudges and smears front and back
- I'm sure at some point (like when a larger model comes out) I'll wish I had more memory that 16 GB (I can still remember when the first gig hard drives hit the market about 1995)
7-25-08 Week in Review
This week seemed particularly productive at work. Not that anything was accomplished, just that a lot of progress was made and people seemed to be in generally good spirits. Most evenings this week were spent preparing for the outdoor concert. Things seems to be coming together and it should be a great event.
Other than that I've spent time trying to get up to speed on my iphone. I'll post a seperate not on my first impressions.
Other than that I've spent time trying to get up to speed on my iphone. I'll post a seperate not on my first impressions.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Jawbone 2 vs. Blue Ant Z9
A couple weeks ago Jodi and I decided to get new bluetooth headsets. I was dreading the task becasue I had so many issued finding one I liked the first time. From my first experience I concluded that Motorolla should give up, that none were great and that the best one for me was one we happened to pick up at Staples on Black Friday for $15 (a Plantronics).
Knowing all these issues, this time around we went straight for the top hoping to find something good. The two that rose to the top were the Jawbone 2 and the Blue Ant Z9.
Comparison
Jawbone:
Price: ~ $140 - we got a nice deal at Best Buy and at Amazon
Style: Kinda stuffy, not too big, rather professional
Fit: not too bad, it works for me - you need to keep a little knub against your cheek for it to work
Sound Output: not too bad, seems like it gets loud enough even when riding in my truck
Sound Input: Incredible...jaw droppingly so. Thier 'military grade' noise assassin really works. I could put my head right infront of blasting speakers and talk on the phone. I could open the garage while talking on the phone and that killed people on the other end with my old headset. I didn't even get a comment about it.
Blue Ant:
Price: ~$100
Stlye: a bit more fun, perhaps a little too fun if you are trying to be professional
Fit: not too ba, it worked for me
Sound Output: seemed to be ok
Sound Input: the dual mic technology worked ok but not as well as the Jawbone...it was effective but not like the Jawbone
Conclusion:
I guess you get what you pay for. The Jawbone might cost a bit more but I couldn't give up the performance. It's great. Additonally the Jawbone can associate with more that one phone. While it's not really convienent two switch, at least it can be done where my old head set couldn't...important since I have a seperate work and home cell.
Knowing all these issues, this time around we went straight for the top hoping to find something good. The two that rose to the top were the Jawbone 2 and the Blue Ant Z9.
Comparison
Jawbone:
Price: ~ $140 - we got a nice deal at Best Buy and at Amazon
Style: Kinda stuffy, not too big, rather professional
Fit: not too bad, it works for me - you need to keep a little knub against your cheek for it to work
Sound Output: not too bad, seems like it gets loud enough even when riding in my truck
Sound Input: Incredible...jaw droppingly so. Thier 'military grade' noise assassin really works. I could put my head right infront of blasting speakers and talk on the phone. I could open the garage while talking on the phone and that killed people on the other end with my old headset. I didn't even get a comment about it.
Blue Ant:
Price: ~$100
Stlye: a bit more fun, perhaps a little too fun if you are trying to be professional
Fit: not too ba, it worked for me
Sound Output: seemed to be ok
Sound Input: the dual mic technology worked ok but not as well as the Jawbone...it was effective but not like the Jawbone
Conclusion:
I guess you get what you pay for. The Jawbone might cost a bit more but I couldn't give up the performance. It's great. Additonally the Jawbone can associate with more that one phone. While it's not really convienent two switch, at least it can be done where my old head set couldn't...important since I have a seperate work and home cell.
7-18-08 Week in Review
I was thinking that maybe each week I could post a wrap up of sorts. Since my life is fairly routine, perhaps that will be more exciting? People I haven't seen in a while alwas ask what's going on and I just say same ol' same ol'. Well, if I haven't seen you in a year things probably have changed but they just change slow enough that they aren't terribly noticable. So here goes.
The big news this week is that we switched mobile phone carriers. We've been with Sprint since 2000. The actual serice was great. Sprint's ability to actually charge me the correct amount was pitiful and there phones were so so (the utilitarian Sanyo's were by far the best). I probably took about 3 years off my life arguing with thier customer service department in my life. They had the ability to frustrate me to no end.
We swapped to AT&T with some snazzy new iPhones. I got a black one and Jodi a white one (like a cute his and her's thing). They are supper sweet. I just got mine so I'll post more on it later.
Other than that we continue to prepare for the outdoor concert. We got some really swell flyers made up this year.
Finally, back at work full time after a couple of weeks of shutdown. I had a team building event for my team today that everyone seemed to enjoy.
The big news this week is that we switched mobile phone carriers. We've been with Sprint since 2000. The actual serice was great. Sprint's ability to actually charge me the correct amount was pitiful and there phones were so so (the utilitarian Sanyo's were by far the best). I probably took about 3 years off my life arguing with thier customer service department in my life. They had the ability to frustrate me to no end.
We swapped to AT&T with some snazzy new iPhones. I got a black one and Jodi a white one (like a cute his and her's thing). They are supper sweet. I just got mine so I'll post more on it later.
Other than that we continue to prepare for the outdoor concert. We got some really swell flyers made up this year.
Finally, back at work full time after a couple of weeks of shutdown. I had a team building event for my team today that everyone seemed to enjoy.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
My first blog
Just seeing how this thing works...hopefully the posts will get more exciting from here on out!
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