Technology

The Future Is Now- Tech Concepts for 2010

December 10, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Popular Mechanics has a list of 10 Tech Concepts You Need to Know for 2010. I love reading about this kind of stuff. I am very curious to see what sticks and what doesn’t. Is Skynet in the works? Will we see something come from this that revolutionizes an industry, changes our lives, who knows. I’ll be watching.

Here is a brief rundown:

Anthropomimetic Machines
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell
Metabolomics
DNA Origami
Piezoelectric Display
Osseointegration
Horizontal Drilling
Kinetic Hydropower
Nanoyarn
Ultracapacitors

The Bottom Is Approaching Awfully Quick

July 21, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

If you woke up to the sounds of screaming punctuated by smashing noises then you are probably one of my neighbors. That cursing wasn’t coming from some rap album but from me. The crashing noise was the sound of an external hard drive and a 27 inch television set flying through a window so that they could prove that gravity was still in effect.

Brief musical interlude:

If You Could Read My Mind– Gordon Lightfoot
It Was a Very Good Year– Frank Sintara (NSFW video- I miss the Sopranos)
Beer– Homer Simpson

Ok, let’s be clear about something I didn’t throw anything out of the window. For that matter I didn’t throw anything, but for a moment or two I sure thought about it.

A while back I hooked up a 500 Gig external hard drive to my computer to serve as a back up for my music, pictures, videos and a few other things. In addition I have a back up for the back up.

But because I have stolen fire from the Gods and am being punished for it, the external hard drive decided to go on strike and the back up for the back up walked off the job as well. So I have spent a not insignificant amount of time negotiating for the return of my files. Negotiations have been long, tedious and not without complications.

Now you may not know this about me, but I don’t always color inside the lines. I am known for being unconventional and someone who will use unorthodox methods. Maybe I have watched too many movies, but I found myself in need of additional information and so I sought it out. Unfortunately the guys who had it weren’t really interested in divulging it, so I had to get a bit rougher than I wanted.

Even the legendary Chuck Norris couldn’t stop me from reaching my destination.

Needless to say all of this fighting was exhausting which I suppose is part of the reason I found myself cursing that bleeding mother…board and all the siblings. Why, oh why must this happen. Ok, I know more or less why it happened, but it is the timing that set me off.

It is not like I don’t have 1,276,987 things going on already. Not to mention that of those on the list at least 2,876 are urgent. But this is what it is and how it is. That last line my friends comes from an old teacher of mine.

It is one of those lines that he would offer as words of wisdom but I always thought of it as being the sort of throwaway that belongs in a fortune cookie. Anyhoo, I think that after much aggravation I have gotten a handle on the crash, at least I hope so. I better go check.

But before I do I’ll leave you with some more music:

Mud on The Tires– Brad Paisley
I’m Gonna Miss her– Brad Paisley

Google takes on Windows with Chrome OS

July 8, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

This should be interesting. A little competition never hurts. In any case, I expect that we are going to see some relatively big changes within the next five years.

(CNN) — Google is jumping into Microsoft Windows territory — and threatening to change the way personal computers work — with its own version of a computer operating system.

But why should you care?

A trim and speedy Google operating system, which has been buzzed about online for some time, is interesting for several reasons — even if you think it could flop out of the gate

The first is that Chrome OS will be available as “open-source” technology. That means software developers will be able to mess with the code behind the system, allowing them to develop new applications for it.

In essence, it puts the users in control.

This wisdom-of-the-masses philosophy flies right in the face of Microsoft Windows, which keeps its code locked away.

The open-source nature of Chrome OS also has led to some speculation that the software will be free, as many open-source platforms are. Google Inc., based in Mountain View, California, hasn’t commented on price as of yet, although most of its services, such as Gmail and Picasa, are free.

Second, Google’s operating system supports another buzz term in the tech world: cloud computing. That phrase means a bunch of things to different people, but it essentially refers to the idea that a lot of computing can be done through Internet servers instead of on the computer that’s sitting in front of you.

Cloud computing, in part, is behind the rise in netbooks — small laptops that are essentially portals of entry into the much greater vat of information, storage space and computing power that exists “in the cloud.”

Google’s blog says its OS will be designed specifically to work with netbooks at first. Later versions are expected to target the larger desktop and laptop computer markets.

The OS also probably will partner well with Google’s Web browser, also called Chrome. Essentially, the operating system could become an Internet-based experience.

Michael Arrington, co-editor at TechCrunch, says that’s a big threat to Microsoft’s business, but it may help consumers.

Wrestling With Technology- BlackBerry, Vista…

March 31, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

Allow me to have a Ricky Henderson moment. Today Old Jack found himself feeling rather ornery and irritated. Blame some of it on the crazy women he had to deal with, but the majority can be attributed to ‘rasslin with technology.

It started mid morning when the ‘puter decided that it wasn’t going to cooperate with me. First me internet connection (when did I decide to go pirate arrrgh!) got a bad case of the hiccups. For a while it was in and out and in and out. That is a nice place to get a burger or a fine way to spend some free time but it is not the way to surf the net.

So I did what every civilized man does and I threatened the modem, the computer, the little guy inside the computer that puts the words on the screen and the hamsters that power it all. When that didn’t work I threatened to hit Ma Bell so hard she wouldn’t touch the ground until cleveland wins a championship.

Who knew that the old broad was a sports fan because just as soon as I mentioned that the connection magically repaired itself. The dame must have realized that the land of the burning river hasn’t won anything in eons.

Of course the relief I felt was shortlived as I encountered a number of other kinks. There is nothing like knowing how much more productive you are because of technology and how much less you are because of technology.

But old Jack the ornery cuss is a stubborn and determined man who doesn’t give up and eventually I found solutions to my computer issues. They weren’t perfect, but they got me over the hump.

And then just as I really began to feel like I could relax my %$&$&%(^ BlackBerry stopped working properly. Wrestling with the freaking thing I try to send a text message out. I manage to type the number and the following letters “FU” and the freaking thing flies off into the ether. Moments later an angry shmata queen wants to know why I am cursing at her.

Queenie, you should know better. If I was to send you a nasty text it would be clear. I don’t mess around like some teenager who relies upon some screwy short hand. Speaking of that I really dislike messages like c u l8tr from adults. Don’t care if that makes me sound like a curmudgeon, I am.

Anyhoo, went to Verizon and the fine folks there appeared to have fixed my BlackBerry. It worked properly for about 30 minutes and then decided to say “FU” to me. Isn’t that just dandy.

Addicted to The BlackBerry-Wireless but Still Tethered

February 4, 2009 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

I inherited my father’s love of gadgets. I take a lot of pleasure in learning about all sorts of devices that beep, whistle, whirr and honk. It is even more fun to play with them. So it was no surprise to anyone who knows me to see my interest in cellphones and portable technology grow into a need to pick up a few items here and there.

In truth it has been quite restrained. I have one of the first generation iPods and my laptop is one that I inherited from my dad. My house is not filled with the latest technology. The television in my living room is about ten years old. A simple 27″ Panasonic that works well enough.

That is not to say that I don’t want a big flat screen or that I am not interested in a newer iPod and all of the functionality that comes with it. I am, but I have been pretty good about not going hog wild and buying all that I want or see.

Anyway, all of that is really just a preface for the meat of the post which is about my love/hate relationship with my BlackBerry. I got it because it enables to me to have a mobile office and that really is something that I need for business purposes. Now I don’t have to be tethered to the computer all day. Now I can run around and do what I need to do and still get everything done.

At least that is what I told myself. It felt like a get out of Jail free card. But the reality is that even though is that though I am wireless, I am still tethered. Sometimes when I expect a call or email I find myself getting irritated that the familiar vibration that precedes the bell/ring isn’t going. Sometimes I pull it out of my pocket and stare at it. A steely eyed glare that you know intimidates the little man inside of it. He sees me glare and he knows that he better get back on that wheel and work on bringing me my messages.

Anyhoo, I am playing around with declaring a technology free vacation. I am seriously considering going cold turkey for an undefined period of time because I don’t really need to be connected constantly.

I have been working my way up to it. Many times when I am in the car I simply turn it off or place it where I can’t reach it. Around the house I am making an effort to just stick it inside a drawer. The hardest part is that I really do use it constantly for business and I don’t have standard hours. There are times when you can find me working at 3 A.M. It doesn’t happen all that often, but it does happen.

But I think that I need a new approach. It feels a bit too much like technology is controlling me instead of the reverse and that is unacceptable. I’d write more but the damn ‘Berry keeps ringing so I have got to run for now.

Goodbye Polaroid

December 8, 2008 by Jack Steiner Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I still think that Polaroid cameras are kind of cool. It is kind of sad to see them go by the wayside. My grandparents and my parents had them. Up until recently my kids school still used them.

I had a field day watching the picture develop. It always seemed so magical to me.

CNN has the story:

…Because the Polaroid Corp. announced it would stop making instant film. And without it her project, “Day by Day Polaroid,” would never be complete.

Sixty years after Polaroid introduced its first instant camera, the company’s iconic film is disappearing from stores.

Although Polaroid says the film should be available into 2009, this is the final month of its last production year.

Eclipsed by digital photography, Polaroid’s white-bordered prints — and the anticipation they created as their ghostly images gradually came into view — will soon be things of the past.

From David Hockney’s famous Polaroid art compositions, to the line, “Shake it like a Polaroid picture” from OutKast’s hit “Hey Ya!”, Polaroid instant film has embedded itself in popular culture.

The public’s reaction to Polaroid’s announcement reflects that. Blogs lament the loss. Polaroid-fan groups have formed on Facebook. On Amazon.com, a four-pack of 10 exposures is selling for $64 — nearly $1.60 per photo.