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More on life with the Nexus 7
I have been trying really hard to use my Nexus 7 as my tablet and media consumption device. In general, it is a worthy competitor to the iOS based iPad’s, but there are some notable differences. 1) The built in Safari “Reader” function is something I use heavily. If you are unfamiliar with it, it…
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Is the music collection headed for the dustbin of history?
When I first started making money (delivering the San Jose Mercury News), I put together a hifi system (old components, amplifier, and turntable) and started buying music. I was addicted to the extension of my collection, which ran to hundreds of LPs, including some rarities, and bootlegs. I remember the thrill when I first got…
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I make contact with Windows 8
A week or so ago, my wife and I were shopping (at a local office supply store), and they had the two Microsoft Surfaces. The RT which is ARM powered, and the other one (pro?) with a Core i5 and full windows compatibility. I was expecting to be underwhelmed, but the Metro interface, and the…
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The downside of out of doors exercise
Not really a secret, I prefer to do my exercise out of doors. Whether it is hiking, or cycling, or even jogging, I vastly prefer to get out and pound the pavement (or trail). But it can be challenging when summer happens here in Arizona. When the thermometer goes past 100F by 10:00AM, and at…
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Oh crap. I think I am in trouble… (GarageBand edition)
I was cleaning up some programs that I am not likely to use on my new MacBook Air (iPhoto, iMovie), and I figured I would also blow away Garage Band. Before I deleted it, I thought I would open it up and see what it was all about. Then I found the Lessons part. Damn,…
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First impressions: the 2013 MacBook Air – 13″
I took a plunge and went for one of the new MBA’s that were announced this month. (I am claiming that my boys got it for me as a Father’s day gift. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone). Of course, the design, the fit and the finish are outstanding. I got the 13” version, and I opted…
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Product Review: Canon G12 camera
I have long been a photographer. I began back in high school with my grandfather’s old Canon from the ’60’s. I shot a lot of B&W film in high school (it was super cheap, and we learned how to process it ourselves, so it was a no brainer. I have stayed true to Canon over…
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Writer’s Block – groan
In my job, I often must write long, boring, detailed technical specifications for products under development. A full set of requirements includes the up front market justification that is needed to “sell” the proposal, an accounting of the types of customers who will buy (buyer personas, user personas) and the actual requirements in excruciating detail.…
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What I am reading: Stranger in a Strange Land
(Well, re-reading really) My memory is foggy, but I think this is the book that someone tossed at me in my sophomore year of high school. Written by Robert Heinlein, and originally published in 1961, it is one of the “must reads” in the SciFi genre. The premise is fairly simple. A manned expedition to…
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Our furkids: Tate Edition
Our family is complete with two furkids. We have adopted retired racing greyhounds, and made them completely spoiled. Greyhounds are some of the sweetest, laziest, dogs you will ever know. Both of ours are couch potatoes, and are often ridiculed for being the slowest walkers. We don’t mind. However, there are some downsides to the…