Blog ~ (Random sparks of goodness)

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Staying power.

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.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Off the grid.

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. 

Thursday, September 13, 2007

So many firsts…

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.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

The bleeding edge.

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.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Breaking the mold.

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?