Category: Information Technology

I’ve been wading thru massive amounts of email for far too long. Time for action! Now, as a geek with several domains, it was easy to create a special email for all my news and newsletters. As I’m going through and porting them all over, I’m seeing how many of these aren’t relevant any more. I’m an information junkie. But is really time to draw back. I’m digging thru tons of news searching for stuff I need to attend to. Silly.

Just read a few of the stories about the Xbox. I’m pretty jazzed at what the ‘Soft is up to. I’m wondering about a few things:

After I upgraded my iPhone 4S to iOS 6, one of the big issues I was faced with was flagging emails in my personal domain (which is hosted by google apps). This is set-up via Exchange. Turns out the problem is manically simple: the optional domain setting. Under Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > “account name” > Account, after “Email” (which is how you name this guy) & “Server” is “Domain”. After changing this from blank to “google”, the ability to flag in this account came right back.

iPhone on good health! I’ll add more about my iOS 6 update journey soon.

This week’s news about the Kindle updates has me wondering about MSFT. Something not talked about much, but strikes me as critical:  Amazon’s line-up and array of price-points. Allow people of “lesser means” get into this ecosystem. People will iterate up.

Google Android and Kindle understand this. Get us in, get us great content (which we happily (?) buy), let folks iteratively (I guess that is a word) upgrade; long-term, sustainable growth. Looking back at Microsoft, I worry they won’t get this. They didn’t with the Zune. Every Zune came with premium pricing. Perhaps now with tablets?

Plenty of MSFT devices are coming down the pike (here’s a big run-down of different MSFT Windows 8 tablets & the Surface) and that gives me some hope. Right now, though, there are several Android-eque tablets out there for < $100…(really) and even more for < $200. Without something in this price range, I worry that MSFT will not even be close to relevant.

Well, reckoning time comes soon. Apple’s announcement next week might well add to this. Answers arrive soon, ready or not.

Watched the Amazon press conference today. Well, more apt, I watched the CNet life coverage. The CNet crew are awfully fun. Most importantly, I came away longing for a new Kindle Fire. I don’t need or really want the HD features, and $150 is a comfortable price point for me.

But them I wonder: is the main attraction price point? Trying to cheap-out has always backfired on me. Well, perhaps price is what makes the Kindle attractive. I still like the Nexus. And, really, the iPad. If I was rolling in dough, I’d have one of each! I guess cash is a significant consideration.

So i should really start by considering my wants & needs. Primarily comes Google integration. Mostly email & calendar, but I’m pretty invested in Google stuff; so the more the better. But I’m also an Apple guy. Thus I have music, some video, and several apps from iTunes/iOS. However, not too much. Much of that came free, and/or with Android versions. I also need a solid web browser and Evernote. With those tools in place, I’m able to work with a device. Would I have all that with a Kindle Fire? The only piece I’m not sure about is the web browser. Would I be able to access key sites I use for work? I think I can check out Kindles at Staples, etc. Easy enough question to answer.

Beyond all that, I have a major concern with the whole ereader thing: my corner bookshop. Ereaders have their various ecosystems, and many are available on multiple platforms. However, there’s no place in that world for the local bookseller. Is this shop doomed? Or is there someplace for the printed page? And does resisting ereaders help prevent, or even slow this coming change?

So, I’m sure to make the tablet leap soon. Exactly which device isn’t exactly clear. Several good choices now, a few more coming (iPad mini next week? I’m disappointed there’s no low-cost Windows tablet right now). I guess I will see shortly.

I love some things about this age. I like sitting in bed working. Getting some calm family time, yet also arranging my day, answering email and the like. And making a much delayed blog update without too much effort.

Another “like” is being able to utilize wasted time better. Things like standing in line, waiting for the doctor. I don’t sit reading months old magazines; I get work done.

Crazy side bar: I’ve spent the later half of this year working for a real estate company. Same sort of work, whole new sector. I never would’ve guessed just how tech dependent real estate is. Or can be. Perhaps a piece of this tech utilization is related to locale. We are in a major tech hub. My team lives and breathes via Dropbox and Gmail. Acrobat is additionally critical. Most communication with our sellers is via email, or via website.

Thinking of websites and real estate, one thing I spend time researching are Home Owners Associations, water associations and such. People, in today’s age, there is NO EXCUSE to not have a website with key information. At least post contact information. You must make some effort to be found if you want to be paid.

I’m a Mac guy. This was typed on a Macbook Pro, which is my second Macbook. Before that was an iBook, and before that was a Powerbook. And (yes, AND…) before that was, well, another Powerbook. And that’s just my laptops. I’ve owned a Mac LC, iMac, eMac and a Mini. I just upgraded my iPhone from the 3gs to the 4s. I’ve been using .Mac since it was free, upgraded to MobileMe and now am on iCloud.

So, that said, I’ve been annoyed with iCloud. My main beef has been with calendaring. My wife and I use invites to keep track of each our commitments. Once I upgraded to iCloud, my invites to my wife stopped going through. For us, that’s a huge minus. Fortunately, Apple has resolved this. But big problem. But this break down reflects poor execution.

Part ii of my MobileMe/iCloud beef is with the website. The web tool for this, well, stinks. It’s slow and clunky. If any Apple hardware had the same design “afterthought” effect, it would be scrapped. Comparing Gmail with iCloud really reflects this. Gmail is world class and way, WAY outdoes iCloud.

Thanks for accepting my brief rant. I still love Apple stuff. What I want is for Apple to point their energies towards iCloud and make it a world-class product that it should be.

So, you an Apple fan bothered by their webtools? What would you like to see done? Or is Gmail so superior that I’m an idiot for sticking with iCloud? Add a comment, let me know.