Tim Gluth

Admiration and loss

2008-06-23T12:04:00Z

After reading about the death of George Carlin, a man that without doubt burned the candle at both ends, I’ve given thought to all of the people that I’ve drawn inspiration from. George was on that list. When I was either 15 or 16, I found “Class Clown” in my parents basement. Not knowing much about him, I did what any adolescent would have done. I put the record on and cranked it up. As the needle reached the outer rings, I knew I was a different person than when the ride had started. A change for the better. Going forward, I pocketed his words, along with words of others and traveled forward on my journey.

Words

To quote George “All we have are words, really”. Our lives are filled with words coming in from so many directions that it’s easy to lose track of who said what. The words that stick with us the most, the ones that we pass along in the forms of advice and guidance, those are the ones that can be traced back to their original sources. Parents, grandparents, friends, spouses, children and the occasional celebrity. All of these sources define and shape us with their words, for they are all we have. As a parent, I’ve realized the power that words have, and I work to wield them with caution and skill.

As life moves on, as it tends to do, I will use these words, learned from various sources, to help me along the way. Thanks to those who’ve made their words worth remembering.

In The Attic

2008-06-21T04:41:00Z

A recent conversation with a co-worker regarding the iPhone 3G got me thinking about the Home Screen layout. As I was telling her about the new iPhone calling plan prices and it’s (supposed) lack of built-in SMS it made me realize, the SMS button, as well as others, are somewhat in the way.

With the ability to move home screen icons around as you wish, there is one missing component (in my opinion). What if there are standard iPhone icons that you don’t use or need? Sure, you could move them to another screen, creating an island of misfits, but is that the best use of your nine precious Home screen iterations? That’s when it hit me. The attic.

Pack it up and put it away.

Pack it up and put it away.
Boxes seem to be the main object that fill peoples attics and more often than note, they’re filled with things that we don’t use often. After looking at the home screen of the iPhone, some people may see just that; tiny boxes filled with things they don’t use or need. You could throw them away, but who would want toss out such treasured memories as stocks, SMS, or that whiz-bang calculator? Why not put them in a location that doesn’t cause them to get in the way.

Movin’ on up.

When you make your home screen icons dance, you’ll notice that you can drag them from side-to-side, creating a new screen, or down into the “dock” area. As they say, the only direction to go is up. Why not create an attic for icons? If they are needed in the future, let the user pull them back down and if not, leave them to collect dust. Now where did I put those photos...?

Designed for speed.

2008-02-11T05:06:00Z

It has been two months since the rumble of NASCAR has been heard through my television speakers and every February, that sound roars to life once more. Along with the pageantry, the speculation about who’s got the fastest ride for the “Great American Race”, and the latest garage banter, each new season also brings a fresh crop of paint schemes.

In years past, the pattern among most of the cars in the field seemed to be flash and flames, and I’m not being figurative either. This year brings a new era to the sport. The “Car of Tomorrow”, a NASCAR designed machine that increases driver safety and hopefully improves competition on race day, will be run full-time in 2008. Gone are the bullet-sharp speedsters that used to tear up the track. This year’s car is...well...a box (with a wing). Taking that into concideration, the liveries for the 2008 Sprint Cup competitors have taken a more toned-down and dare-I-say ”old school” approach.

The objective for a “successful” paint scheme has many avenues. First, it must appeal to the sponsor, and reflect their branding and marketing feel. It also has to be quickly identifiable by the cameras covering the action. Secondly, it must be attractive to the fans. These cars are not only seen on the racetrack, but also are also reproduced in the form of die-cast replicas, t-shirts, and anything else that the average NASCAR fan would want. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how the designs on this year’s cars compliment the shape of the new racer.

Justification for communication.

2007-12-13T01:26:00Z

After taking inventory of the various communication-outlets that I’ve signed up for in the past 12 months, I feel it’s time for to justify their existance. If not for my own sanity, for the good of all mankind. Starting at the bottom and working our way up…

Twitter ~ This is at the bottom of my communication food chain (and it shows).

Tumblr~ After forgetting that I’d signed up for an account, I plan on using this as my intermediate forum. One step below thoughtful and one inch above mindless drivel.

This blog ~ For the publishing of well-formed thought and inquiries that deserve the limelight.

Look before you crop.

2007-10-26T01:22:00Z

I always look forward to receiving Deliver Magazine as I find their articles to be filled with great tips and information. When I looked at their most-recent issue today, I noticed an image in their table of contents that looked rather odd. (Not that the cow looks a little “too” happy, just that he looks a little too happy to be doing a certain activity that I shall not name here.)

After a good laugh, I turned to page 10 to find out what the hell they were trying to preview in the TOC. When I reached the page I gazed, in total astonishment, at the image of a cow riding on the back of a flower. At first glance, it looked like the cow was doing something completely different, but after my eyes were able to absorb the entire image, I understood (kind of) the overall idea.

After showing the images to our marketing department (and enjoying a good laugh again) the following question came up. “Doesn’t anyone with a slightly warped sense of humor proofread/review images?” If not, they should. This has been the second item in a week that has triggered my “that’s just not right” sensor.

So here’s a little tip for all image editors. Look before you crop.

Staying power.

2007-10-12T00:42:00Z

Over the past two years there have been a flurry of “Web 2.0” and
social networking site’s that have come and gone. Some stick around
longer than others, but seem to be replaced by the next flavor of the
week.

This is nothing more than thinking out loud, but will any of these
site’s have any true staying power? Myspace gave way to Facebook
(which is still hanging on) which then shared the spotlight with
Virb. Did I mention this all occurred this year?

If a site does have staying power, will it thrive and grow or will it
become complacent? Will the site’s community allow it to grow stale, or will they push for changes? Then again, who’s not to say that we all won’t flock to something new when it comes up.

Off the grid.

2007-09-28T04:18:00Z

I’m a geek. I love technology and relish the fact that i can get to any bit of information and be in touch with anyone at any time. For that reason, I’m looking forward to going off the grid, if only for three days.

For the third time this year, my wife and son are going “camping” (used as loosely as possible since the camper has satellite TV, air conditioning and all of the other amenities of home). While the style of camping that we’re going to participate in doesn’t hold true “off the grid” status, it’s close enough for me. My iPhone loses service as soon as we enter the campground.

At first, I wasn’t thrilled about this lack of connectivity, but I’ve grown to appreciate it. It gives me the chance to relax and recharge myself by disconnecting from that ever-present communication stream. At the end of three days, I’m ready to delve back into the flow, albeit sometimes I can be a bit too eager.

I wholeheartedly suggest that everyone take time to “unplug and re-connect” with themselves. The messages and voicemail will still be there when you get back.

So many firsts…

2007-09-14T01:03:00Z

Watching my son begin to walk and become more mobile has made me take note of the many “firsts” in his life that he will experience. His first steps, first words, first ballgame, first crush, first heartbreak...the list goes on. As “grown-ups”, we encounter “firsts” every day, but we don’t react to them as we once did.

The wonder and awe in which he approaches new challenges, that sparkle in his eyes as he wanders into a new world, taking in every little detail and soaking up every experience. That’s what life is about. When is that last time that we were amazed by something so seemingly simple as walking?

Since he was born, I’ve tried to appreciate the finer details in life and look at everything from a different perspective. It takes some getting used to, and some self-reminding, but it’s a great feeling. Explore young man, explore. I’m right along there with you.

The bleeding edge.

2007-09-06T04:07:01Z

To be an early adopter of technology can be a great experience. To have the first of something special is a great feeling and can be fun to show off. Then there are days like today.

At their media event today at the Moscone Center, Apple announced new iTunes features, a new iPod lineup, and a change to the iPhone. The new features and iPods are great but what really has folks talking are the iPhone changes.

Gone is the 4GB model and the 8GB model received a $200 price decrease. When I first learned of this change, I was ticked (edited for family-friendlyness). Why the hell did I stand in line to get the iPhone when it came out? That’s an easy one, to stay on the bleeding edge...and for the experience. There are few things that cause such a public stir like the introduction of the iPhone. To be part of that first crowd was a great experience. To be one of the first to own an iPhone was a great experience. Part of paying a premium was paying for...the experience.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, having this price reduction come so soon after the initial release, but due to the enjoyment that I’ve gotten out of the device, and the ease in which I’ve been able to integrate it into my daily life, I’ll choke this one down.

Breaking the mold.

2007-08-24T00:13:00Z

As an avid user of Apple’s iMovie, I met the iLife ‘08 announcement with both awe and trepidation. The newest version of iMovie is more than an upgrade. It’s a rebuild. From the ground up, top to bottom, brand-spankin’ new. What has changed is the way that people will edit movies with this software. Gone is the timeline. Say hello to snippets and “skimming” (which is a cool feature, regardless of how new the interface is).

The question is, did Apple make a mistake with this redesign. If you frequent Apple fan sites, you might think so. After reading and listening to much debate, I’d have to disagree. This is not their top-level professional program. That distinction is left to Final Cut. It’s designed for the consumer, the average consumer, the one that wants to quickly throw together a video or two and show their friends and family (or the whole world if they upload it to YouTube). This is what I mainly use it for as well, although from time to time, I’ll get a little crazy with the Cheez Whiz.

After looking at the time it takes me to set up a normal clip in iMovie HD versus what it could take me to set one up in ‘08, I think I’ll take the plunge, letting the pieces fall where they may. If nothing else, it’s taking a fresh look at an “old” process and possibly making it a better one. Ain’t progress grand?

iPhone Review #68,998

2007-08-08T00:43:00Z

A little more than a month ago I purchased my “dream phone”, a 4GB iPhone and have been impressed on a daily basis by what I am able to do with it. When the iPhone was first announced in January of this year, I began to salivate over the possibility of a phone that I might actually like, let alone one that would be easy to use. Before I get into the review, I’d like to take a brief trip down memory lane…

I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was one of the few that stood in line on launch day to get their hands, or at least lay their eyes upon this mythical device. After an hour in line, I walked out of my local AT&T store clutching my loot like it was pure gold. From the moment I opened the box, I was amazed.

Apple always seems to nail the little things, the small details that most take for granted. I however, seem to relish these miniscule items and am in awe of them with each product I buy. After lifting up the iPhone boxes cover I sat, dazed looking at the shiny jewel that laid before me.

Nestled in it’s acrylic tray, like a Rolex or fine piece of jewelry, the iPhone was ready to be activated. Underneath the phone and tray, Apple had neatly packed a slimmed-down AC adapter, USB/20-pin connector, and a mounting dock. Oh yeah, I seem to remember an instruction pamphlet in there as well.

After pressing the sleep/wake button, I placed the phone into it’s dock and began the activation process. Again, a wave of awe as I enjoyed activation from the comfort of my desk chair as opposed to standing around in a wireless store waiting for the dots to be connected.

Once the activation had been taken care of it was time to sync and customize the phone, again a seamless process. After talking to a friend that had recently activated a phone with Sprint, I found out that it took him almost a half an hour to format an image correctly so it could be used with the caller id. I told him that it had taken me a minute to do the same thing with the iPhone. That was almost the end of our conversation.

Day-to-day use. How does it stack up.
The iPhone is the first smartphone that I’ve owned so I can’t compare it to anything else on the market. I will say that before I bought it, I did look at offerings from Palm and Blackberry, but just didn’t like the way that they worked. I also didn’t like the interface setup, which is a huge selling point for me.

I can say without hesitation that having a device that allows me to stay connected to the people that I need to be connected to at all times is a great feeling, especially when trying to get a business off the ground. I have sent many e-mails from the passenger seat of our car as my wife, son, and I drive down the interstate. As a phone, it rocks. As an e-mail device, it rocks. As an iPod, it rocks.

Shortcomings and glaring issues.
As much as a “fanboy” that I am, I do have a few items that I’d like to see improved on the iPhone, preferrably by a software update or two. The first item is the calendar application. I have waited a long time to be able to sync iCal with a device as seamlessly as I can sync with the iPhone, however not all of iCal’s features show through on the phone. I wish there would be the ability to have multiple calendars on the phone as there are within iCal. Also, the ability to add meeting attendees and integrate contact information and address mapping would be a great benefit.

The other main item that I wish was different is the e-mail application. A bulk delete/move feature would be well-used as would the ability to add new folders to an IMAP account (such as Archive and Action Items). The camera could use some improvement to, but just having a camera on me at all times is a benefit that I didn’t have before.

Does it live up to the hype?
From someone who didn’t think that Apple would make a phone in the first place, this device suites my needs to a “T”. I look forward to getting many years of use out of it and hope Apple is able to continue to innovate with other products similar to the iPhone.

One coat or two

2007-07-24T17:49:01Z

Part of the fun in buying a new house is deciding what color(s) to paint each room. It’s even more enjoyable if you don’t have to do the painting yourself.

From the samples that we’ve picked out, our new home should be a melting pot of color. Although you do need to be careful as to pick the right color that will enhance not only the aspects of the room, but also the mood of those who will enter it. It’s no different than choosing the color palette for a Web site.

Our kitchen is especially appealing toe based on the two schemes that we have already looked at. One uses many light, crisp shades of green while the other blends browns and tan into a warm, calming space.

While my office-area won’t be painted for some time, I already have a vision of what it will look like to make the work I do in it even more enjoyable. One look at my logo should give you a good idea of what I’m planning.

Thoughts on the iPhone, prior to launch.

2007-06-08T01:19:00Z

In less than a month, Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone will be made available to the public. Many, including myself, have been clamoring over this device since it was announced in January. After reading many articles and listening to many podcasts discussing this device, I am wondering what effect it will have on not only the mobile phone market, but the technology market as a whole. It remains to be seen how well the multi-touch interface will work and how the lack of tactile feedback will affect the phone’s functionality, but I remain optimistic as to what it may do.

* It could force a change, or at least open up a new avenue of thinking about interface design.
* It should force other cell phone manufacturers, as well as other technology-makers to re-think their menu systems, and how people navigate through them.
* Should third-party applications be written for it, it could be a powerful, portable, yet manageable tool for personal and business use.
* It could bomb.

No matter what it does, I can’t wait to get my hands on one and try it out for myself. Hopefully it’s critics are silenced…until they start talking on their own iPhones.

Finally…a new site.

2007-05-10T04:13:00Z

Last weekend I was finally able to launch my updated personal site, and I am very pleased with the result. I won’t say how long it took to create the logo and the new site look, but for the moment, I’m happy with things.

That being said, one of my next projects will be to update the look of this place…and maybe post more often.

Change…

2007-03-26T01:25:00Z

Not what’s in your pocket. I’ve kicked the year off with a flurry of new project and side-job ideas and I’m enjoying every minute of it. One of the things that has been neglected is my personal/portfolio site. It had gone three years without a single update since 2002 but now, after creating a logo that I actually like, the site will get a much-needed facelift.