Just finished reading All Star Superman again. What a fantastic story. One of my all time favorites.

Just finished reading All Star Superman again. What a fantastic story. One of my all time favorites.

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Pebble and Pebble Time Watches

I gave up on the new Pebble Time this past weekend. Although I really love the Pebble watches, two frustrations with the new Time model have pushed me back to the original Pebble. The main issue is that I can’t control MapMyFitness from the watch. The original Pebble shows my mileage, time and lets me start and stop my workout with a touch of a button. I use that feature more than any other on the watch and that includes the nice SMS voice response on the Time. The other issue is a minor quibble, even though the color e-ink screen is pretty, it is slightly smaller and can be more difficult to read without my glasses. Both still have the 4-7 day battery life that I consider the minimum edge for me, any less and I would find myself with a dead watch at the most inopportune times. I guess I will just keep checking the forums to see if Under Armor adds support for the Time…  until then, back to the drawing board.

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I’ve been odd…

I’ve been odd…

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petitetimidgay: stop asking Good post.

This was a reblog from Tumblr which doesn't make much sense without a link: http://petitetimidgay.tumblr.com/post/129677168096/stop-asking

What Do I Miss About My iPhone?

I know I definitely have a love/hate relationship with Apple.  Apple does so many things right, their products are generally easy to use and for the most part they are well made.  It is the things they do wrong that infuriate me.  The iOS walled garden makes it tough to exchange data between apps, also apps never “crash,” they just occasionally exit with no explanation :-(, over priced hardware with limited storage, planned obsolescence… and finally the bloated mess that is iTunes.  There are two things I do miss however, Android Cut and Paste is not quite as easy as on iOS and I really miss the ability of double tapping on the top of the screen to go to the top of web pages!  In general, I really don’t like the iPhone keyboard, it is not very user friendly.  Multiple tapping to get keys and weird shifting, Swype is so much easier to use!  Who knows, the next new Apple shiny might lure me back… for now though, Android is my daily driver.

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Using Cryptsync with Android

One way you can use Cryptsync file with Android is with a combination of FolderSync and ZArchiver Pro. You can set the .cryptsync to automatically open ZArchiver and then just use the encryption password you have set. With FolderSync, you can sync specific folders over to your Android device from a variety of sources such as, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, or even a SFTP site. Then you extract the file wherever you want. All of this keeps your files more secure and in your control.

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The iPad as a Comic Book Reader

In short, reading comics on the iPad is great except for the weight.  Using the Comics app to read just a single comic, I found myself wishing that pad was not so heavy!  Moving through the comic and the reading experience itself was wonderful, the screen is a good size, moving from page to page is seamless.  I am still not convinced the Comics app is entirely stable as it has crashed on me more than once.  It would not even run on my 2nd gen Touch with the latest version.  But most of the crashes and sluggishness happens when selecting or downloading comics, not while viewing.  A color tablet about the size of my nook is about the ideal weight for an ereader.  I guess I'll wait for B&N to open up the nook color to the Marketplace...

:-)

nook 1.5

The nook Firmware update 1.5 came out today!  First impressions, I like it, much faster page turning.  I also like the bookmark syncing across devices although that means I need to keep the WiFi on.  The Bookshelf idea is a step in the right direction, but it would be nice if the shelf showed all of the documents in one place not B&N purchases separate from side-loaded documents.  It would be nice to password protect individual books in addition to password options for the unit itself.  The Web Browser lost the "beta" tag but I haven't played with it enough to notice anything different.  Supposedly the battery life has been improved as well.

A side note:   The Android app is nice but huge, I think it may be the largest app I have on my Droid.  It was updated as well.  Since they both sync bookmarks, I may use it more often.

Android Keyboads

As much as I like Swiftkey and Better Keyboard, both for different reasons, Swype is still number one.  It is just plain fast, pure and simple.  As good as Swiftkey is at predicting keys, I still find myself keying in whole words or slowing down to get alternate keys.  Swype just flys and this last beta added the button for voice which is a welcome addition.  One thing I would like to see is an option to let you use the alternate symbol/number keyboard for the default SYM keyboard.  (It is not a huge deal because you can still get to it by Syping from SYM to 5.)  Now if they would only take it out of Beta and stick it in the Market...

3M MPro120 Projector - Quick Glance

[Pros]

Very Small and Portable

Good battery life

Good colors

You can get them fairly cheap

Quiet (You can hear the fan from time to time though)

[Cons]

Only usable in darker settings - (dimly lit or dark rooms)

No Keystone Correction - This makes the location of the projector very important to the quality of the picture

An inclusion of a single iPod cable would have been nice

Poorly documented

It is good for what it does but don't expect it to replace a flat screen :-)

eReaders - The Nook

Just wanted to give a quick Pros and Cons entry about the Barnes & Noble Nook.  So far for the most part I really like my Nook.

[Pros]

ePub format support is very good

reasonable price for the WiFi version

very readable screen, even in sunlight

expandable storage

user replaceable battery!

clients on Android, iWhatever, PC (soon to sync bookmarks)

nice big page turn buttons

lend-able books

[Cons]

Battery life could be better - It is not bad, just average

Sometimes a little sluggish

Poor Web Browser

Can't read Kindle format

Movement around wide documents can be difficult (and sometime impossible!)

I really like the nook but I wish I would have waited for the Color version which can do more than just read books.  It would be even better if we could do away with all of the DRM nonsense!  When coupled with the excellent Calibre software the nook really shines.  I use Calibre and store my books in Dropbox, so I can get them easily from any device.  I am looking forward to the new firmware (1.5) which is coming this month and is supposed to make things snappier.  The only other reader I would consider is the slim new Kindle, it looks very nice and the cost is now reasonable.

Note Taking System

Here is a little insight into my current Note-taking system.

[My Requirements]
simple no-frills note taking
system independent
flexible
No-hassle backups

[My Current Setup]
Web: Simplenote (free account)
PC: ResophNotes (free) coupled with Dropbox (free)
Droid: AndroNoter (free)
iPod Touch: Dropbox or Simplenote client (I really don't use this much but it is an option)

Using Resoph, you can set up your Simplenote account sync and tell the software to store the notes in a folder as text files.  I use a folder in Dropbox for this purpose so everything is synced with ease to both Dropbox and SimpleNote accounts.  Resoph can be a little quirky but it is very good at what it is designed for, dead simple sync of text notes to Simplenote.  It also supports Markdown, a text to HTML conversion utility which uses certain text markers to do some basic text formatting.

In addition to this I use Evernote, which lets me take Notes is other formats like pictures or Web Pages.  Evernote has clients on PC, iPhone, Web, and Android.  It is very easy to take a picture or screenshot and zip it off to my Evernote folder.  The basic service is free but you can get more storage and features for a fee.

I rarely use the web based versions of these solutions but it is nice to know they are there if I need them.  There are certainly many other combinations of software to accomplish the same thing but so far this setup has been the easiest and most reliable.

Blog Resurrection

On the resurrection of my blog.  I have decided that I would like to attempt to write more often, so I think it would be beneficial if I had some sort of goal in mind.  Even though no one may ever read this blog, I am going to try to get at least one to two paragraphs published every other day. Starting today. No really, today. I mean it...

AAUA

Does anyone else have Apple App Update Addiction? I find myself
checking the App Store all the time in hopes of seeing that nice
little red number flag on its icon. Then I cackle with glee as I
faithfully flick through the descriptions of what has changed. It's
kind of like a mini Christmas...

Newest games

The latest three games for the Touch are all very good games.

Uniwar - Awesome! I can't seem to stop playing this game. I have run
the battery down several times already in an effort to "play just one
more round." I can't wait to try the online multi-player. This game
is basically turn based Starcraft. Seems well balanced so far.
Graphics are crisp and control is excellent. [Rating: A-]

Azkend - Fun tile based puzzle game with achievements and enough
diversity to keep my interest. [Rating: B]

FlightControl - Fun quick little game that I seem to be horrible at.
(But I keep playing?) Use your finger to control planes fight paths.
Land them without hitting other planes. Simple, right? Sure :)
[Rating: B-]

More to come...

Little Brother

I just finished reading "Little Brother" by Cory Doctorow. It was a
thoroughly enjoyable book which I found it difficult to put down.
Doctorow crafts a fully belivable modern Orwellian America with
realistic characters. I read the book for free on the iPod Touch using
Stanza and as soon as I finished, I ordered a hard cover from Amazon.
I plan on lending it to several of my friends. Rating: A+

--
Sent from my mobile device

More iPod Touch Games

Hidden Expedition Everest - A nice seek and find game. Not a lot of
strategy buy good to pass the time.

Wurdle - A fun variation of Boggle. It lets you play the same layout
for multi-player games. (one person after the other)

Word Jong - Majohng tiles removed to make words. Fun and can be quite
challenging. Chicktionary is still my favorite!

iDracula - A side scrolling shooter? Yes, and it is ok, the controls
frustrated me so I haven't played much of this one.

LightBike - 3D Tron. Fun for a bit. Lets you play 2 player on the
same screen or 4 player with WiFi.

Blocked - This is Traffic on the Palm, get the object to the exit by
moving the other objects out of the way. Simple and fun, good for
short bursts.

Primrose - Reminds me of life crossed with Merlin. A fun and very
challenging puzzle game.

Puzzle Quest (Chapters 1&2) - Saved this for last, because I have this
game on PSP and DS as well. I really like this game, it makes
Bejeweled type game play fun. The iPod version falls in between the
PSP and the DS as far as playability. For a few reasons the PSP works
better, due in most part to a larger screen and more accurate
controls. The control on the Touch is very good for the most part, I
just think the Analog stick on the PSP is quicker and better suited to
the game play. Personally, I think this game is better that Aurora
Feint.

More to come...

Blackberry

Ok, I'm digging my new Blackberry Curve. :) So far I am using it for email, Twittering, maps, web, contacts and calendars. Using Google to sync my schedule and address book has worked very well so far. It sort of lacks in the game department. Using it, in comparison to the Palm, is a toss up. I do absolutely love having a full keyboard and no reboots so far is an added bonus.
Sent while mobile -joe-

ITouch Games Review

This is a short commentary on using the iTouch as a portable game
system, it is not comprehensive. Keep in mind that I have only had the
system since Christmas :) This is based on what I have played, your
mileage may vary. One problem the Touch has, is that the battery life
is fairly short. I usually have to charge at least once a day. In
comparison, the PSP and DS would make it through much longer gaming
stretches. On the upside, many of the games for the Touch are more
casual and are meant to be played in small bursts rather than marathon
sessions. Also, for good or bad, the Touch has basically one control,
the touchscreen. Yes, I know it has an accelerometer, usually using
this in a game just annoys me and feels like a gimmick. Fortunately
the touchscreen is very responsive and works well for many games.

On to the games:

TapDefense (Free) - A decent Tower Defense Game.

Topple (Free) - It is a game kind of like Jenga with different shaped
blocks that you try to balance. Fun.

Labyrinth LT (Free) - Try to get a marble from one point to another
without falling in holes along the way. Control the marble by tilting
the Touch. I got bored pretty quickly with this one.

CrystalDef Lite (Free) - Tower Defense Game, I haven't played much but
it looks pretty good.

Frotz (Free) - Play text adventures like Zork where all interaction is
through typed commands. Comes with a selection of good games and I
found it fun. You can download more games from within the game.

FieldRunners - Tower Defense Game. Pretty Basic but a lot of fun.
Good graphics and sound. Good controls.

Reign - RPG/Strategy. I want to like this one, but every time I play
it, I get frustrated with the controls.

Enigmo - Weird Game, but fun. Reminds me of Rube Goldburg type
machines. You need to get dripping water into an flask by using
various tools.

Dr. Awesome - Remember Qix? Fun and cheap. Has some pretty nice
graphics but the game play gets a little repetitive. Basically you are
a surgeon closing off portions of the infection without getting hit by
the nastiness.

7Cites TD - A Very Fun Tower Defense Game. Adds a little variety to
tower defense with tower upgrades and experience points for new tower
abilities. Well thought out controls.

Tiki Towers - World of Goo Clone. Build structures to get your
monkeys to safety. Fun so far but WoG is better! :)

Aurora Feint II (Arena) - Puzzle Quest/Bejeweled type game.
Interesting game but a little hard to get into. Does not quite capture
the fun I experienced with Puzzle Quest.

Chicktionary $1.99 - Fun Word Game. Find different word in the 7
letters you are given. Lots of nice little touches like,
achievements, good graphics, and quick gameplay.

Drop7 $0.99 - Fun Bejeweled game with numbers. This game is so simple
but very hard to put down!!! Well worth the buck.

More to come as the days go by...

iTouch Apps

Random musings about the Apple iTouch:

iTouch apps I have so far: (* denotes free)

General
*eReader - Excellent eBook reader (the Touch is a great ebook reader)
*Stanza - Very good eBook Reader
*Twitterrific - Manage Twitter account, it was free. They have a
version without ads for pay.
*Flickster - Movie Showtimes (might get rid of this, I think it duplicates i.TV)
*Remote - Control iTunes on your PC (haven't tried it yet)
*Shazam - Record and identify songs (you might get more use out of
this since you have a built-in mic)
*Google Earth - nifty
*i.TV - TV/Movie Guide - does NetFlix, Tivo (ad supported, I like it so far)
*PhoneFlix - mange Netflix Queue (might be replaced by i.TV)
*Ping Lite - useful for network diagnostics
*Watchmen - Loads of info & trailers for the movie
*SaiSuke Free - Calendar replacement that syncs with Google (free
version does 7 days)
*1337pwn - XBox Live friend list (slow but kind of fun)
*IGN - Game reviews
*Wathchmen - Info and clips of the movie
SplashID - Password Database Program (syncs to a desktop version)
Wikipanion - Reformats and allows offline viewing of Wikipedia articles
Photogene - Crop and simple photo editing
Converter - Measurement conversion (nice and simple)
HanDbase - Database Program (syncs to a desktop version, supports CSV/PDB files)
Brushes - Basic drawing program (sometimes tough to adjust the sliders
but it is a nice and simple app)
Take A Note - Text/Draw/Record notes and lets you share them with a PC
(I used this to get my Palm Memos copied over)
Air Sharing - Lets you view a variety of files and use your Touch like
a Flash Drive
Score - Keep scores for up to six players in any type of game
iSSH - SSH client
Toodledo - Task Manager (web sync)

Games:
*TapDefense - Tower Defense Game
*Topple - Game like Jenga
*Labyrinth Lite - Marble Moving Game
*CrystalDef Lite - Tower Defense Game
*Frotz - Text adventures like Zork
*Labryinth LE - Marble rolling
FieldRunners - Tower Defense Game
Reign - RPG/Strategy
Enigmo - Weird Game, but fun
Dr. Awesome - Remember Qix? Fun and cheap.
7Cites TD - Very Fun Tower Defense Game
Tiki Towers - World of Goo Clone?
Aurora Feint II (Arena) - Puzzle Quest/Bejeweled type game

Diversions:
*Lightsaber - Motion active lightsaber
*Flashlight - White Screen
*Backgrounds - Good background downloader (ad supported)
*PktSounds - A variety of sounds (sounds are soft when playing through
the speaker)
iFart - Gotta have fart sounds
MachDice - Die roller

I Want to look closer at these things:

Apps:
Pocket Informant - calendar replacement & google sync
Orb?
VNC?/Remote Desktop
MazeFinger (free)
Spore Origins
Pandora Radio
Fring - (trying today!)
Line Rider iRide
Manifesto (free?)
omz:software Newsstand
LateNiteSoft Sketches
FileMagnet
Tap Tap Revenge (free)

Accessories:
AirCurve - (Interesting speaker enhancement gizmo?)
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 $125-220 (Headphones)

More to come as I continue to explore this great little device!