BDK’s Random Thoughts » 2008 » June
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Jun 13

Some cool changes popped up on the iPhone-specific version of Google Reader the other night.  I logged in late afternoon and did my normal reading.  When I went back just a couple hours later, I noticed all the coolness.

The best change is a relatively recent change to Google Reader itself.  Instead of just the normal Shared button on the bottom of each story, you now have the choice to Share with Note.  That allows you add your comments or ideas to the items that you share.  This is perfect for the way that I use Google Reader to share stories with coworkers via our company’s internal website.  I simply Share (or now, Share with Note) an item and it gets picked up via RSS on that website.

Another - almost as useful, and arguably more so - feature is the Email link.  You can send an article to those “special” friends that refuse to use the awesomeness that is Google Reader.  Like all of my coworkers.

There are a couple of other changes - the ability to visit the author’s website via a link, for example.  I’m thoroughly impressed with Google Reader for both my PC and my iPhone.  It’s a great way to get information quickly and have your readings synced across multiple devices and platforms.

Seriously, you should try it out.  Now.  =)

Date June 13th, 2008 Filed in Computers, Cool web site No Comments »
Jun 12

Why is it so difficult to blog from the iPhone?  I have tried numerous plugins and nothing seems to work with the latest version of WordPress (2.5.1).  I just want a simple screen that allows me to title, write, and publish the post directly from the phone.

A new app?  A plugin?  Anyone???

Date June 12th, 2008 Filed in General No Comments »
Jun 10

June 27th is Firefox 3.0 release date?

As far as I’ve been able to figure out, there is no official release date for Firefox 3.0 yet.  However, when I used Firefox 3.0 RC2 to check out the online website creation tool Weebly, it gave me the above warning.

Date June 10th, 2008 Filed in General No Comments »
Jun 10

With the news that O2, one of Europe’s largest cell phone carriers, will be offering the new iPhone for FREE with some plans, the magical “10 million sold by the end of 2008″ sounds pretty easy to hit.

In yesterday’s WWDC keynote, Steve Jobs confirmed that Apple has sold 6 million already.  While some have been grumbling on the blogs that the current pace doesn’t allow Apple to reach its goal, I have always contended that the new version will give them a shot in the arm.  With the new lower pricing, along with news like O2’s, AND the fact that it will be sold in over 70 countries, that shot is beginning to look like a flood.

My prediction is one million iPhone 3G units sold in the first week.  Yes, one million in one week.  The pace will undoubtedly slow after the initial rush, but I believe that we’re looking at 12 million or more by the end of the year.

Date June 10th, 2008 Filed in General No Comments »
Jun 10

Apple has changed the iPhone 3G website already since it was unleashed yesterday.  Among the changes are the refined Where To Buy locations - it no longer lists the Apple Online Store.

As soon as the keynote ended yesterday, I began hitting “refresh” on store.apple.com (it was down all morning).  It came up within minutes with the new iPhone all over the place.  But it also included a link to http://store.apple.com and information about the Online Store when you clicked on Where To Buy.  Now, it only mentions Apple and AT&T retail locations.

I know this to be correct as I tried to preorder the phone via the website.  I pretty much knew you couldn’t be I didn’t want to be the one that didn’t try only to find out later that I could have.

I really don’t find the change odd.  But I DO find the fact that it listed the Online Store yesterday as VERY odd.  Do they plan on offering it there in the future?  Was there a last minute change?  Or was it simply a mistake?

Date June 10th, 2008 Filed in General No Comments »
Jun 10

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has an article suggesting that the new iPhone WILL be sold unsubsidized as well.  The pricing has not been confirmed (or even set) yet, though.

This is great news to those of us that enjoy using an iPhone but do not have access to AT&T service.  They simply do not offer local numbers and, therefore, won’t allow you to sign up for their service in Southeast Iowa.  (To be honest, I wouldn’t sign up with them if I could - since we carry i wireless at Backslash.)

Let’s hope they don’t try to gouge us on the unsubsidized price.  I think that $399 for the 8GB version and $499 for the 16GB are the top end of reasonable….

Date June 10th, 2008 Filed in iPhone No Comments »
Jun 9

I tried out the new Release Candidate 2 version of Firefox 3.0 beta the other day and I’m hooked.  I love listening to Buzz Out Load from CNET and have been intrigued for quite some time with all the talk about Firefox and its “add-ons”.

Wow.  There are add-ons that do all sorts of cool things for Firefox.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you can find programs that do the same or similar things in Internet Explorer or Safari.  But the way that the add-ons are presented and actually ENCOURAGED in Firefox makes them very easy to try out and use.

And I really like the interface on the Mac. It’s clean looking with a smart layout that is very intuitive.  The largest button on the toolbar, for example, is the most often used one - the back button.  You can use a Google-Reader-like star to record the current page as a favorite instantly.  A double-click on that same star will allow you file it away in a folder for all you weird people that actually organize things.  In addition, the browser seems to be quick to load and use.

Unfortunately, the Windows version I immediately put on my Vista laptop left a lot to be desired.  The interface, while it attempts to imitate the Mac version, is clunky in comparison.  And it seems to be quite a bit slower than Internet Explorer.

For now, I’ll stick with Internet Explorer on the Vista machine, but Firefox has replaced Safari on my Mac’s dock.

Date June 9th, 2008 Filed in Computers, Kevin's thoughts, Mac No Comments »
Jun 9

I thought that sounded too good to be true.  It looks like the pricing of the new iPhone given at the WWDC announcement was for a new two-year contract with AT&T only.  Those of us with no ability to use AT&T (they don’t have local phone numbers or dealers in Southeast Iowa) will most likely have to pay an unsubsidized price.  I would guess that price will be around the current $400.  And that’s for the 8GB version.

I’m still interested because of all the cool new features.  But I hope I’ll be able to get a few bucks out of my current phone to help pay for this!

UPDATE:  It looks as though there is some confusion about the pricing.  iPhoneFreak.com is reporting that the $199 price is UNSUBSIDIZED, meaning that the iPhone 3G will be $100 LESS than the 8GB iPod touch!  Personally, I think they’re wrong, but you can check out the story at http://tinyurl.com/5b8tn8.

Date June 9th, 2008 Filed in iPhone No Comments »

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