Feb 04
Heard about this self-deferential URL + pic of Christina Warren during the 5 by 5 Studios broadcast today of The Conversation. Really funny anti-vanity site that she is able to laugh about.
Via The Conversation
Feb 03
This new product from Luma Labs is going to be my next gear purchase for my new Canon EOS 7D. I’m still getting used to using a DSLR but one thing that is for certain - I hate the weight hanging from my neck and across my chest when the camera is not in use. But dangling a $1000+ rig off just your shoulder by the strap alone is even less comfortable. (Though I did get the breakage insurance so perhaps I should just relax!)
The Luma Loop is a new camera sling system that solves this problem by letting you sling the camera along your hip. And if you only have a point and shoot they have an adapter for smaller cameras called the PodMount.
Price:
- Luma Loop - $60 MSRP
- Luma Loop + PodMount - $70 MSRP
Video Introduction:
Feb 03
Brilliant graphic and post abut feature bloat by Ignore the Code. Would love a t-shrit with this graphic on it.
Via Kungfugrippe > Ignore the Code
Feb 03
On MacBreak Weekly #178, Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Merlin Mann and Chris Breen discuss the iPad, Apple versus Google, FLASH, Amazon, and their picks of he week.
Via TWIT
Feb 03
According to this CNN article by Stephen Shankland, Google released their own ideas of the Google Chrome tablet a few days before the Apple iPad special event.
While some may view this as a sublte yet direct attack on Apple I think they have bigger targets in mind - mainly dominating the whole OS market from desktops to phones. Clearly they are going after eyeballs, having billions and billions in online ad and search revenue offers them a market changing advantage of not having to make money on all of their projects directly.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the long run. It is the classic battle of open versus closed, free versus pay, economy versus luxury.
On the positive side, Apple doens’t have to win over everyone to keep winning. They can keep amassing billions in profits off a tiny but growing group of dedicated customers who love what they do.
Via Pablo > CNN
Feb 03
It isn’t often that you see a company give away a free repalcment for some of itst products.
Logitech did just that with a free app for Apple touch products (iPhone, iPod Touch, and presumably the iPad) call TouchMouse.
The app pairs with your Apple touch device and a free Logitech program you install on your Mac or PC to create a wireless touch mouse/keyboard. A very creative and attention grabbing app. I’m glad I didn’t try to develop a similar product as this idea is on my list of too hard to create/too easy to duplicate app ideas.
Long term I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple turn the touch area on their laptops into an iPhone like are with virtual buttons and gestures that you can configure.
Via Bruiser > Stephen Sande (Tuaw)
Feb 01
The Onion weighs in on the IPad. Here are my 3 favorite bullets from their funny piece:
- Awkward name enables Twitter users to make the same joke over and over and over again
- Super slick design makes it impossible to hold, pick up, or stop from sliding down the street
- Softly whimpers if left alone for too long
Via The Onion
Jan 30
For some reason I had not tried the voice dialing feature of my iPhone 3 GS. The multiple matches confused it a bit but it handled dialing numbers very well. Super handy when your hands are full.
Essentially, you hold down the home button until the voice dialing prompt comes up and start speaking:
Examples:
- Dial Five one two etc…
- Dial James at home
To see a complete how to, visit the link to voice dialing on Apple’s website.
Via Apple
Jan 30
Kevin Rose made a concise case for owning an iPad.
First start with the $489 Kindle DX and in $1 for all the amazing things it does that the Kindle can’t. Color, video, movies, etc. Makes the $499 entry price seem very reasonable. You could do a similar thing with most netbooks, high-eend portable DVDs, or picture frames.
I’d ready come to a similar conclusion but want to check to be sure the accessibility features that are int he iPhone OS are still active (Zooming/Voiceover). I have trouble with small fonts and just want to make sure the device doesn’t take a step backward first.
Via Kevin Rose
Jan 30
Accoridng to this post on Gizmodo the new iPhone OS 3.2 may support multi-tasking.