Michael Coates – Pragmatic Evangelist
September 25, 2011 1 Comment
Whoops. Note the system time (upper right-hand corner) versus the BIG display time (the one I actually use) .. fortunately, the alarms appear to be connected properly.
I think I’ll set my night stand alarm .. just on case.
HTC Aria on ATT with 2.1.
August 28, 2011 Leave a Comment
Possibly.
By now, you’ve heard that Google plunked down US$12.5 billion to purchase handset maker Motorola Mobility .. both boards have approved the purchase, and regulatory bodies aren’t far behind.
Now that this story has been echoed and re-echoed, one must ask: what does it mean?
So, except for service, the consumer should do well: better devices, better features .. I doubt we’ll get much love from the carriers .. remains to be seen.
Despite a public altruistic sheen, Google didn’t make the buy for the consumer. While the hardware and feature opportunity will likely make for a better device, Google had all the device manufacturers clamoring to provide devices, at ever-shrinking margins. What were they thinking?
In a word: patents. The purchase brings a portfolio of an additional 17,000 patents under the control of Google, significantly diversifying their IP and creating myriad opportunities for them to capitalize on others’ efforts.
The best article I found supporting this story was one of the first to be released. ExtremeTech: “Google buys Motorola Mobility, begins transformation into Apple” .. well worth a read.
August 15, 2011 Leave a Comment
Google made the news today, grabbing Motorola Mobility, an OEM of Android devices. This means Google may exert more control control over the device platform, driving features to further enhance the Android operating system.
But, what of the other OEMs? Per CRN, “Google: Motorola Mobility Acquisition Won’t Close Off Android”. That is, Android will remain an open-source platform, leveraging a growing community of software developers writing for the platform. Further, Andy Rubin (Google SVP, Mobile) pledges the same support to the current group of OEMs who build the hardware.
Android currently holds about 40% of the mobile market, per ComScore, leading iOS (26%), RIM (23%) and Windows Phone (just under 6%).
In the news:
Interesting (and exciting) times for the mobile market.
July 6, 2011 Leave a Comment
Pretty spiffy, actually; taking it for a test drive tonight.
While it supports text formats, like bold, italic and underline, getting to those enhancements is a little kludgy. They work nicely though, even in edit mode. Drafts can be saved locally and uploaded in a review state (online, but not public). Once approved on WordPress, review posts are visible to all.
Categories are supported, as well as text to voice. Media and images, too .. but I don’t see a way to do formatting on the device. Links are also supported as well, requiring a bit of fine fingering.
What about quotes? yes.
Uploading as review to finish online.
As expected, the image just positioned itself .. in this case, the top of the post at the center. I removed it, but I do see the ability to send the post to the blog as a draft that includes an image as a good thing; gives the author the opportunity to capture the image on the device and position it in the post on a PC later on.
Saving as online draft in the WordPress web client (WordPress calls this ‘pending’). Opening in Windows Live Writer to complete.
I was able to open the online draft, but it was slightly tricky: click the ‘Open Recent Post’ button, and when the ‘Open’ dialog appears, click on the blog on which the draft is saved .. this gives you a list of any ‘pending’ posts you’ve saved. Note: when opening a ‘pending’ post, the content comes down to the device in HTML format .. may make positioning images a bit easier (fine fingering challenges apply).
I’ll do another test when I’m off-offline and send up some text-only posts.
All in all, a very nice tool. Available on the Android Market, and the version I am using is free.
June 29, 2011 1 Comment
Most of us (in the 13-55 range) are carrying nifty little digital devices that keep us connected most everywhere we go. Of course exceptions occur: I go off the grid in August to hike in the weeds .. but the rest of the time, my mobile is a life device, keeping me in touch wherever I go.
I was blogging in my favorite sushi bar the other day. I noticed patrons occupying themselves with their toys .. oblivious to a severely impacted level of service during happy hour. Not a complaint, mind you (the kids take very good care of me). However, it raised this thought:
Is the service community (the great folks who handle our food and beverage requests) delighted or disturbed by the preponderance of smart phones .. are they a bane or a blessing? Let’s ponder:
We are now connected .. anywhere, everywhere, and wherever we may be .. what do you think?
June 2, 2011 Leave a Comment
Besides using a cell phone against your ear is illegal in Washington State:
Not just Washington .. most states around the country agree, per USA Today: “More states say cellphones and driving don’t mix”.
Note that these articles were from 2008 .. when the law was first enacted. At the time, it was a ‘secondary offense’ in Washington state .. that is, you could not be pulled over for using a cell phone without a hands-free device, but using one while committing another offense (speeding, moving violation) would result in a far stiffer fine.
As of March 26, 2010, using a device to text or talk is a primary offense, per the Driving Laws site: “Washington – 2010 Update – Governor Signs New Bill into Law”. The Hands-Free Info site reprints the restrictions for us in “Washington state: Cell phone laws, legislation”, summarized here:
So .. don’t do that stuff here, please and thank you.
Let’s pile on, shall we? The Washington Post reports lawmakers are pushing for federal review of cell phone usage .. seems it’s been ten years since the last review, and the radiation from the device is still at issue. Motivation includes the World Health Organization, statements from Motorola and citations taken from the Blackberry manual:
(devices) “SHOULD NOT be worn or carried on the body” without a BlackBerry-approved belt clip.”
.. this doesn’t sound like they’re trying to sell belt clips.
So, hang up and drive .. get yourself a hands-free device as soon as you can.
Read more from the Post: “Lawmakers urge federal review of cell phones”.
May 26, 2011 Leave a Comment
This is interesting .. to myself and my mates. Please ignore if your geekiness factor is < 42, but HTC posted on Facebook today (summarized): HTC to NOT lock Android bootloaders from here on out ..
Now this, I like ..
.. I’m guessing they want to see what the community will do.
:: rummages about for his cookbook ::
February 21, 2011 3 Comments
You probably do.
Simply put, composite applications assemble data from disparate sources and present the data in a single interface. An application that displays the system time is technically a composite application (although not a particularly interesting one).
You’ll find composite applications in consumer and business settings. They include:
Their most valuable use case for a composite application is presenting multiple sources of data to a user in an appropriate context.
In all cases, the ultimate recipient of the data is the user; we are the ultimate aggregators and consumers of the data that matters to us. A well-designed composite application will address our needs and use cases in context when gathering data to present to us.
I liken a composite application to a smart phone; in fact, I would argue that a smart phone is a composite application. If the smart phone has a robust enough operating system to permit user customizations (loading the content and the applications we deem most relevant), AND includes pillars like location and search, our aggregation and consumption of the data is second nature to us.
For example, a GPS-enabled phone can provide:
If you build a composite application (correctly), it will get used. Further, if you watch how they are used, you’ll learn how to improve your design to deliver what your customers need.
October 26, 2010 Leave a Comment
This one is obvious.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but the facts have been out there for some time, for those who wanted to look.
In some countries (and some areas in the United States .. have you ever read the details on the Universal Service Charge / Universal Connectivity Fee?), getting a telephone land line can be a challenge. It can take YEARS (and political connections) to get.
There is a technology that makes this a totally irrelevant discussion, and it’s right in the palm of your hand: your mobile phone. Wireless infrastructure can be built out at a tiny fraction of the cost of dragging cable. This technology creates market opportunities .. for the cost of a “few” antennas and repeaters (instead of miles and miles of wire), entire markets can be opened.
Costs can be defrayed too: a Washington Times editorial (from 02/2010) argues to “Kill the Universal Service Fund” as it tends to provide too much money to too few (and potentially inappropriate) recipients. From the editorial:
Rural phone companies see the greatest benefit. In 2008, the USF gave the Oregon Telephone Corporation $16,834 federal subsidy for each of the company’s subscribers in Beaver Creek, Wash. Such largess is especially absurd now that satellite phones can provide service anywhere in the country where one has a clear view of the sky at a fraction of the cost.
The evidence is clear: consider India, where pay-as-you-go mobile phone providers emerge on a moments’ notice .. but with the creative use of SIM cards, you can acquire PAYG coverage wherever you find yourself. If you found that sentence confusing, drop me a line and I’ll point you to resources that will help.
Let’s extend to broadband. There are unlimited providers who offer pay-as-you-go service in a number of countries. Take care with your credit card, though: there are a number of shady folks keen to balance their checkbooks with your cash.
There are heroes too: this chap keeps an eye out for potential villains: suggest you consult him before you consider an provider outside your country.
