Pythagoras Theory - Animated Explanation

Why didn't anyone show me this when I was taught Pythagoras Theory??

Pandigital Novel - Quick Review

Just picked up a Pandigital Novel last night, partly to use as a cheap ($170) e-reader.  Honestly, it was a cheap iPad alternative that I knew other people (smarter than me) had figured out how to install Android applications on.  The stock "reader" app (which still works after the hack) can buy books from Barnes & Noble, just like the Nook.  After hacking, I was also able to install Kindle for Android, which effectively makes this a "multi-platform" e-reader.  Again, for this price it's hard to resist.

Here's what it looks like "stock".  Not bad.

The real fun began when I followed a series of (relatively simple) steps I found online, and hacked it to run "regular" Android, complete with access to the "Android Market".  I can even justify this as a business expense, since it's the first Android device I've spent more than 2 minutes using, and knowing my way around Android will help when a client asks me to help them setup an Android phone.

The screen is RESISTIVE, which means it requires pressure, such as the tip of your finger or a stylus.  This is not a deal breaker, especially on a cheap device like this.  It's actually pretty sensitive and responsive - I wish my GPS had a screen this responsive.

The iPad (and iPhone) uses a CAPACITIVE screen, which requires that a conductive "pointer" (such as your bare finger) be used.  While a capacitive screen "feels" better, this screen feels good for what it is.

It has 1GB of on-board storage, but will accept SD/SDHC cards up to 32GB. 

Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with it.  If you don't already have an iPad, and don't want to spend $500, go to Bed Bath & Beyond right away and buy one of these.

PowerSupport - PRODUCT REVIEWS

PowerSupport USA (http://www.powersupportusa.com) makes two very interesting products for MacBooks.

First is the TrackPad Film for MacBook, which solves a common problem.  I've had my MacBook for over two years, and over that time, the trackpad surface has become unevenly glossy.  This makes using it inconsistent and even a little frustrating.  This simple solution is essentially a little sticker that you lay over the track pad, and like magic, it feels like new again.  Other than a little difficulty getting it lined up and bubble-free, I couldn't be happier.

The second item is the Anti-Glare Film for MacBook.  It is a matte-finish overlay for the MacBook screen.  Again, apart from the typical difficulties in lining it up and getting all bubbles out, it's a real winner.  No glossy screen anymore for me!

Between these two simple upgrades, plus previous upgrades to Snow Leopard, increased RAM and the (recently upgraded) Hard Disk, my MacBook is even better today than it was when it was new!

The one (minor) negative is that the instructions were entirely in Japanese.  Thankfully I've used similar products before and was able to "wing it".  I assume that others are able to do the same, but I never underestimate the ability of people to do something wrong...

Even better for me is that rather than ordering it and having to wait, they have a retail store within a mile of my home:

 

Google Maps' shot of the PowerSupport Retail Store in Burbank, CA

They also sell various iPod & iPhone cases and accessories, as well as miscellaneous items from Japan.  If you're nearby, you should really check it out.

http://www.powersupportusa.com/product/show/track-pad-film-for-macbook-13-black

http://www.powersupportusa.com/product/show/antiglare-film-for-macbook-white-or-black-13

Fun with X-Rays, Part 2

I had to do some more troubleshooting at the veterinary clinic today, and that meant I needed another x-ray image…

Yep, that’s my iPhone. ;)

Fun with X-Rays

I was at on a client appointment this morning at a veterinary clinic.  Their radiology system puts x-ray images on a server, and the workstations are supposed to be able to access the images.  For whatever reason, they were not.  So, I wanted to test the system and see if the workstations could see a "new" image.  Obviously, putting one of the animals under the radiation unnecessarily was out of the question, and no one (including me) wanted to expose themselves unnecessarily.  So, I came up with an idea - take an x-ray of my notebook !

And here it is - pretty cool. :)

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the 2009 CMA's

Three tech things today

1. Sorry, Linux... We won't be friends after all.
After extensive "playing around" with the new netbook, I've decided that Ubuntu (both 8.04 and 9.04) are not for me. Too many things didn't quite work, and too many things needed command line work (sudo judo) to function. It may be good for some, but not me.

2. Hello Hackintosh.
So once I decided that I didn't want Linux on the netbook, the question remained - what to install?
Rather than putting XP on the netbook, I decided to follow the 20 or so steps clearly documented on the web to install OSX 10.5.7 on the netbook. And yes, I stuck a small Apple sticker on it. I've gotten it working quite well, and faster than I'd ever imagined. I even got bluetooth working properly (took a little extra work), which leads me to...

3. BLUETOOTH INTERNET TETHERING

Now this is pretty damn cool. Basically, on either the "real" mac or the "hackintosh", I have gotten the iPhone 3GS's new "Internet Tethering" to work. This will allow me to "borrow" the phone's 3G connection via bluetooth and use it on either computer. And no, that's not a stock shot - that's my phone's home screen.

UPDATE - Apparently it also works on Windows machines connected via USB.

Just got my new iPhone 3GS!

It came in a day earlier than I expected. I had been tracking it via FedEx, and apparently it was shipped direct from China.

Just started syncing it.

Holy crap I'm excited.

Just got my netbook

I saw Dell advertising a netbook for $250, and bought it.

It just arrived. My intent is to bring it with me to appointments, so that I can use it to test clients' networks. Tyically I'd been lugging around a ThinkPad T60, but figured carrying the 8.9" Dell Vostro A90 would be a lot easier.

It's got 1GB RAM, and a 16GB SSD. I'll probably be upgrading both soon. It also has a built-in webcam and bluetooth.

It'll take some getting used to for a few reasons:
- It's got Ubuntu Linux 8.04 preinstalled, and I've never used ANY Linux distro before.
- It's VERY tiny. I thought I'd only have issues with the tiny keys, but the little screen is going to need adjusting to also...

I just spent about 20 minutes playing with it, before grabbing the MacBook to post this. Switching from the 8.9" screen to the MacBook's 13.3" screen suddenly made the "little" mac feel GIGANTIC. ;)

That being said, I'm really excited about it, and the size/price just can't be beat.

WHOO HOO!!! iPhone 3GS!!!

I wanted to buy the new iPhone 3GS, but initially AT&T wanted me to either pay $700 now, or wait until November to pay $300. Obviously, this cooled my enthusiasm.

A lot of people were bothered by AT&T's upgrade pricing. There were around 2,000 people who joined a complaint group on Twitter, and many news outlets covered the public outcry.

Long story short, AT&T caved.

I was able to order the iPhone 3GS online, and pay only $300. Even better, I won't have to go to the store and wait in any lines. It'll be delivered to my door within a week.

Blogging from 38,000 feet

As I write this, I'm on Alaska Airlines flight 520. Flying. At 38,000 feet. Going about 350 miles-per-hour. Pretty freakin' cool if you ask me...

Apparently this is the first time Alaska has offered such a service - as in this specific flight.

Since it's so new, it's free. I don't know what they'll charge for it, but I just wanted to mark the occasion. One day it (WiFi in flight) will be as commonplace as microwave ovens and cell phones...