Oceanside, Nevada

Wordpress native app for iPhone, woot! Not like this will make me a more productive blogger, but it does give me a new way to goof off.

Tags:   blog · iPhone · mobile · testNo Comments.

So, iPhone 3G comes this Friday and, yeah, I’m thinking about it quite a bit. Looks like the latest plan is for me to meet up Saturday morning with a good friend who will be purchasing his first iPhone. Feeling a little anxious about that plan, though, since I wants me some 16 gb goodness and I’m starting to worry that they’ll sell out of “the big iPhone” before I get there.

TJ has informed me that I may purchase an iPhone 3G for her since she is now officially not content to merely have Esme handed down. This, of course, causes some additional turmoil: to whom shall Esme go? Flip wants her, to be sure, but Pooh is the older (if not larger child). I’m tempted to make the two of them fight over it. Pooh, of course works out and plays hockey so she’s no stranger to aggression. Flip, on the other hand, is very skinny and everyone knows skinny chicks fight till they’re burger.

But that’s not what I’m thinking about!

No, I’ve been pondering over some of the things about iPhone that continue to irritate me and that I would like to see remedied. First let’s get out of the way:

• No tasks.

• No notes syncing.

Sigh. In the meantime I’ve tried all kinds of alternatives and there’s just no clear winner in the tasks space. I’m hopeful, though, that the 2.0 software update will fix this. As for notes, I’ve been using Evernote and it is pretty damned good. Looking forward to a native client that allows me to have critical notes on the iPhone for those times when I can’t get a net connection—which has been, unfortunately, often lately.

I’m looking for .Mac MobileMe to work more… hell, just more with the iPhone. Mail has been a good thing and I’m really looking forward to all the push stuff coming down the pike but what about iDisk, or, Bob forbid, Back to My Mac? Those would both be simply awesome features. There are numerous services that offer storage in the cloud that’re iPhone accessible (box.com, if I’m not mistaken, even does conversions on the fly to let you see your files). Since I’m already paying for .Mac (Note: MobileMe is a dumb fucking name for a service and I’m just going to continue to call it .Mac, mmm bokay?), I’m really reluctant to pay for an alternative that does something .Mac should already do. It simply boggles the mind that Apple has not put something forth here.

But then, these are the guys who figured we didn’t really need to be able to read and edit notes on our desktops. Again, sigh.

Moving on, I’m gratified to see that iPhone 2.0 will bring iWork compatibility to the iPhone. Hooray! And, just like with Office documents, that support is read-only. Damn.

Look, I understand my phone is not the most desirable way to write up, say, a contract, but I’m not looking to do that. I’m looking at, say, revising a price or correcting a typo, is that so much? Does that mean iWork for iPhone? I’m guessing no, what with all the news and speculation surrounding SproutCore. I’m guessing that Apple will either transition iWork to the cloud or will create a cloud version of iWork. With the rumored web app support coming in a future version of Safari, a cloud version of iWork sounds plausible, particularly if you could work offline. Offline usability has been a big deterrent for me when it comes to considering cloud-based apps.

Uh, what else? I’ve heard some interesting speculation regarding location aware apps. One of the ideas I’ve heard that I find really intriguing will be implemented in the iPhone version of OmniFocus: location aware contexts. I’ve tried GTD and, while I find it appealing, I never seem to be able to look at the tasks I have pending when I’m in a particular context. If OmniFocus could slap me upside the head to remind me to do something because it notices I’m, say, at the Stratosphere, that would be pretty cool and arguably useful.

Specific iPhone native apps I’m looking forward to include: Twitter, Evernote, any chat client that makes it possible for me to save the $20 unlimited SMS fee, 1Password, NetNewsWire, a WP compatible blogging client, a good mileage tracker, and, of course, something that will sync tasks with iCal.

Tags:   Apple · fanboy · gadgets · geek · iPhone · Mac · OS XNo Comments.

A meme I got from Rachie:

Here are the rules:

1. Put iTunes/your music player on “Shuffle”
2. For each question, press the “Next” button to get your answer
3. You MUST write down the name of THAT SONG no matter what. (aka NO CHEATING!)

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Sweet Dreams Vs. Without Me (Bootleg Mix): a mashup of Eurythmics and Eminem

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
The Call of Sadbh: Fiona Davidson

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Halo: Abigail Washburn

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
I Am Not Afraid: Majek Fashek

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Cum on Feel the Noize: Slade (NOT Quiet Riot)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Down by the River: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
All Along the Watchtower: Bob Dylan

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Session: Linkin Park

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Southern Cross: Crosby, Stills & Nash

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
The Parting: Fiona Davidson

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
A Boy Named Sue: Johnny Cash

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? The Ould Orange Flute: Unknown Artist

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Screaming Infidelities: Dashboard Confessional

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Forever Broke-Fila Brazillia: Yoko Kanno

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Enjoy the Silence: Lacuna Coil

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Your Song: Elton John (there was no dancing at my wedding. We played Scrabble)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Piece for Solo Flute: Dead Can Dance

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?Vertigo: U2

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Remember (Walking in the Sand): Hillbilly Moon Explosion

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Never Tear Us Apart: INXS

WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry: Hank Williams

Like all memes of this type there’s more than a bit of paredolia involved which is why it appeals to some, I guess.

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One of the great things about giving up my Treo was no longer having to deal with application UI like this:

I’m really hoping for a capable mileage tracking app when the App Store debuts. This one is automatically an also ran.

Via Daring Fireball

Tags:   Apple · disappointment · gadgets · iPhone · MacNo Comments.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Where The Hell is Matt, via BoingBoing

Tags:   funny · inspirational · interestingNo Comments.

So I’m reading my feeds in NetNewsWire and I come across this really nifty picture that I want to send to my beloved TJ (who, despite the weekend we’ve been having, is still my beloved). I use the handy “Mail Contents of This News Item” menu item and I get this:

Then, somehow, I don’t know how, I accidentally clicked on the block of text that’s headed by “Descriptive Words” and this happened:

Whoa! I apologize if this is old news, but I’ve never seen it mentioned anywhere. The widget style close box works exactly as you expect it to: click on it and that particular element is deleted and the next element is chosen, like so:

So, is this a Mail thing? A Webkit thing? Or what?

Tags:   Apple · computers · cool · fanboy · geek · interesting · Mac · OS XNo Comments.

So I’m sitting here with The Boy in 100 degree heat (no degree symbol on the iPhone keyboard. Huh. ) because that’s what we do. It’s about as exciting as it sounds which is why I’m here.

The Wordpress iPhone plugin has improved mightily since I last tried it. It looks as if I can do pretty much anything I could want, which is a heady thought. The only thing that could be better would be a native client so I could do this without a net connection. Ecto for iPhone would be perfect.

Which brings me to next month. I’m as big an Apple fanboy as you’re likely to find and I have to say, I am thoroughly sick of all the iPhone hype surrounding WWDC. As each day counts down, the thing gets ever more mythical in proportion such that I worry that whatever Steve actually demos (if he demos anything at all) will end up being a huge disappointment. “WHAT?! No nightvision? No wireless DVI? No HD content over Edge? This iPhone sucks!”

Me, all I really want are the App Store and 3G.

Tags:   hype · iPhone · Personal1 Comment

This time starring Esme!

A day or so ago, I started having problems with placing calls. Every time I tried to make a call, the first attempt would immediately fail. Second attempts would work though. It was annoying but survivable.

Until I found out that folks trying to call me were going straight to voicemail without ringing the phone. And I wasn’t able to access my voicemail. For someone who lives on his cell phone, this is not good.

So I called AT&T and they put me through to Apple iPhone tech support. After verifying that, yes, I had already done all the recommended basic troubleshooting (restoring the phone, reseating the SIM card), Apple handed me back to AT&T. The AT&T CSR ran through her list of troubleshooting things to do with much clacking of keys and turning off and back on of the phone. She called to verify that, yes, indeed, calls to me were failing straight to voicemail.

Then it was time to talk to the Apple folks again, after which, the consensus was that I needed a new phone. They were kind enough to set up an appointment at the Apple Store for me and away I went. One short wait later, I had a new iPhone that seemed to work. Of course this new phone had not been restored from my backup, so…

I got home and did the aforementioned restore from backup and…. same. damn. thing. Even restored the iPhone without restoring from backup, in effect returning the iPhone to a fresh, out of the box, but activated state. No improvement.

Well, crap.

Another call to AT&T, explain the entire situation again. Talk to Apple again. “Yep, well, there are no network issues reported so the only thing left for it to be is your SIM card. You’ll have to change out the SIM.” So a trip to the AT&T store nets me a new SIM. I get home and throw it in and…

I’m STILL not receiving calls. By this point AT&T customer service is closed for the day so I’m SOL for any further resolution, but really, what else could it be? New phone, new SIM, problem occurs whether my data is synced or not. Esme certainly hasn’t been hacked or jailbroken. I’m no cellphone guru, but, at this point, it’s got to be the network, right?

Wake up this morning and it seems to work just fine.

Argh.

Update: Calls work fine now. Mobile Internet, A.K.A. EDGE connections, are stubbornly not working. Argh again.

Tags:   disappointment · gadgets · geek · iPhoneNo Comments.

No. Not yurs.

That’s what it feels like lately, anyway (as ecto pops up the “HEY! NEW SHIT! DOWNLOAD NOW?” dialog in the midst of my typing, making every keypress a futile “BONG…BONG BONG” until my typing catches up to my eyes and realizes, “Oh, hey, maybe I should stop and do something about that dialog.” Developers: It’s totally awesome that you build mechanisms into your software that let us users know when something new and cool is available but when it actually interferes with using the software, well, that’s just annoying. I’m looking at you Speed Download, Remote Buddy and, yes, Apple. Because I just LOVE walking across the house to my print server which has refused to print anything because Software Update wants to inform me that the latest “unspecified bugs” download of Garageband is available for my print server. Because I need to be able to craft thumping beats on my print server), as I find myself stuck in a mode where I’m doing lots of reacting and very little acting.

Last week we decided to keep The Boy home to hopefully get ahead of the nasty cold he’s had for, oh, EVER (seriously, is there some sort of mutant super cold going around? Seems like everyone I know—including me—spent like three days being really, truly miserable and then the rest of their life just being kinda stuffy). The doctor gave him an antibiotic for an ear infection and a new tube of acne medicine so progress was being made until TJ left for the pharmacy to pick up said medications. Whilst in the care of my lovely 17 year old daughter, an otherwise responsible and sober child, The Boy decided it would be a good idea to pour scalding hot water over his head.

You know how sometimes you know why something happened but you don’t know why something happened? The Boy, like many autistic persons, has several obsessive self stimulatory behaviors (or “stims”) that range from very simple stereotypical behaviors (hand flapping) to relatively complex ritualistic behaviors. The stereotypical behaviors don’t change over time (and are fairly common across the autism spectrum, hence the name) but the ritual behaviors can evolve and change over time. Two prominent rituals are the “wet head” ritual which evolved from “wet hand.” In the wet head ritual, The Boy fills a cup in one of the sinks in the house and pours it quickly over his head, like a splash. Then he finds an authority figure in the house and makes a big point of showing them his wet head while saying “No more wet head.” I don’t know why he does this or what it does for him internally but it seems to be a response to stress or frustration.

His other big ritual revolves around the coffee maker. Until very recently we had a Keurig single cup coffee maker—a truly wonderful invention. Like any similar device, the coffee maker, when not actually making coffee, will also make plain old hot water. The Boy has developed a ritual around making a cup of hot water and immediately splashing it violently into the kitchen sink. This, of course, is not good and he’s splashed family members from time to time doing this. This is called the “Making Tea” ritual because when we tell him to stop it he responds, “No more tea!” We found that we had to remove the reservoir from the machine at times to keep him from draining it by making obsessive cup after cup. Again, I have no idea why he does this. Of course, being the basically undisciplined slaves to convenience we are, eventually the coffee maker gets put back together because a coffee maker that can’t make coffee has no purpose. Or coffee.

So on the day of the pharmacy trip, Flip was in the other room when she heard The Boy “making tea” (keep in mind, this is a single cup machine and brews a cup in about thirty seconds. If you’re in the room you might not actually hear it until it’s almost done brewing). Before she could say anything she heard a splash and The Boy started making very upset noises. By the time she had gone the less than ten steps to the kitchen sink The Boy’s scalp and forehead were an angry red blistered mass. She put cold water on it immediately and called TJ who had her put ice on the burn.

So I know why The Boy did this, in that I know that, for some reason, he decided to conflate these two rituals but I don’t know why because I don’t have any insight into his inner world to tell me why he does these things in the first place. FWIW, he’s okay. We managed to soothe the burn and we’ve kept it pretty well slathered in antibiotic ointment so that, a week later, his head looks sort of like a pink peeling alligator golf shoe. I think he’ll heal without scars, thankfully.

Aside from The Boy’s pain and suffering, the downside is the Keurig went immediately into the trash and, with it, all ability to make that dark, bitter, elixir of life that I now pay $2 for in a popular nationwide coffee conglomerate several times a day. So, for the last week, as we go through the morning routine to get ready for the day, I’ve had “Englishman in New York” playing in my head. Specifically the line in the song where Sting sings “I don’t drink coffee, I drink tea, my dear…” Only, in my version, it goes “I can’t stand tea, get me some fucking coffee, preferably in a freshly scooped out human skull, NOW BITCH!”

It’s been a challenge.

But wait, there’s more! The rest of the week was filled with TJ’s time of the month when she’s moody, quick to anger and just generally difficult. I won’t go into detail out of respect for my lovely wife whom I adore and who will read this at some point, but, well… anyway. TJ left to visit her sister in Albuquerque over the weekend and the news broke that a local endoscopy clinic, by engaging in practices that any first year nursing student knows are of a malpractice-type nature, potentially 4 exposed 0,000 patients to hepatitis and HIV. I’m one of those 40,000. Which made for a lovely weekend and I’ll have my test results later this week, thank you.

Heap on top of that an explosively growing business, pain in the ass customers (some of them apparently batshit crazy) and a partner with enough drive and energy to power small towns and you see why I haven’t had the time to replace my blog’s generic banner with my daughter’s lovely artwork.

Speaking of which, I need to tend to the aforementioned business. Happy day, folks.

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Haven’t seen this reported yet: when looking up directions on iPhone, Google Maps fills in where you are with “current location” and routes to your destination from there without requiring you to tell where you are. . I’m guessing its using the iPhone’s faux GPS to accomplish the trick. Pretty sweet.

Tags:   Google · iPhone · maps · tipsNo Comments.