Woody's Things

Ramblings and Opinons of an old man!

Simple site to log thoughts on current events and activity. Please feel free to give your comments.

Filtering by Category: "tech"

Lets Get Naked!

Caseless… who is with me? I have paid hundreds of dollars, possibly thousands, to protect various devices over the years - why?

  • Do we really need them?
  • Do we really use them?

The devices were designed without a case in mind & many times we buy these devices based on these designs - Did you buy that half inch phone thinking "gee that will look really good with a one inch piece of rubber around it"? I think not! Though I purchase cases I almost always end up taking these cases off!

So why do we spend $299 for a phone and $50 or more to protected -

  • Are we letting the OEM(s) off the hook?
  • Shouldn't we expect the OEM to make a dutiable device?
  • Have we been conditioned that "we need protection", say like "safe sex"?

Or have we been hoodwinked? Do the OEM(s) make good devices yet the case manufactures have done a great job publicizing damaged device and convincing us to hide these device we purchased, in part, for their looks?

I say - Let's take 'em off, go naked - Shame on the OEM(s) if they are not proud of their designs and build them to be displayed (shown off)!

Switching to Apple, a Year Later

I have been using Apple products for just over a year now… November 2011, after nearly two decades of Windows/PC/Palm/Android use.

How has it been? Enjoyable!

So long before trying, why?

Well my first exposure to desktop computing was with a PC and windows and I took to it… I enjoyed it and excelled at teaching myself. If it wasn't working just the way I wanted it, I wiped the machine and build it back up - Sometimes up for more than 24-36 hours.

Second, as Apple started to reemerge as a player those that used them were arrogant… the same reason I did not like cats, I never have had cats only dogs; however, I dislike them - why? The owners, they allowed their animals to roam free as did the laws, and cat owners thought they were above dog owners:-) … so fair or not I didn't like cats. The same was true about Apple, the owners/users I met were jerks, almost rabid, so Apple products never got a chance with me.

In fact, in 2010 when I attempted to purchase an iPad for my niece from an Apple Store, "owners" in the store started in on me when they saw my Android phone "Why are you even here if you don't use Apple?"… I explained my niece was an Apple user but not me and got "well at least she is intelligent"; in fact, the Genius became a Jerkius so I left! I bought the iPad from Best Buy, where they didn't care what I used!

Why did I finally try Apple products?

Really, when you get down to it… from my want to have the newest device I could. I changed jobs and for the first time I was unable to provide my own phone and just be reimbursed for the expense… the choice they gave me were the brand new iPhone, a 6 or 8 month old Android device, or a years old Blackberry bold - I choose the iPhone.

Well having time between old and new jobs and having zero experience with iOS and since one of the reasons for changing jobs was more money - I decided to get an iPad to learn iOS after all I could sell my Android tablet or give it to my wife.

Was iOS "better" than Android?

Actually, I wouldn't say either OS was worse or better than the other - I would say the apps for iOS were much more refined! Also, I would say the apps worked better with iOS than many apps worked with Android, not as many quirks… Made sense, iOS was created by the same company/team that created the hardware so it would be expected the OS would get every ounce of performance from the hardware and since they also tightly controlled the app, well you get the point. So I saw less requirement to clear memory, to restart the device, etc.

HEY, one would think it would work that way with iMac etc… and since there was more money involved - Well!

I replaced my personal laptop with an iMac! Smooth, no restarts, "it worked"… I replaced my WiFi with airport extreme and after getting the company iPhone why not an Apple TV.

I recently bought a personal MacBook Pro - So am I happy a year later?

Yes, I am am - Not saying a PC or Android are bad… in fact, I loved them - I loved playing around with them, modifying them, and I learned a lot! I believe as I am older I don't feel like "playing around" or "modifying", instead I want the devices to work when I turn them on and not be quirking - I don't have the time, the patients, or the desire to play/learn… I just want to do what I need to do and get on with my life - so I am an Apple user, wonder if I appear to be an arrogant jerk to non Apple users now :-)

Hero? Really?

Just curious if these are the goals you set for your children?
Taking LSD was a profound experience, one of the most important things in my life. LSD shows you that there's another side to the coin, and you can't remember it when it wears off, but you know it. It reinforced my sense of what was important--creating great things instead of making money, putting things back into the stream of history and of human consciousness as much as I could.
The suscess of Jobs is clear, but do you think he couldn't have done it without LSD? Really? ...I believe that without the drug it could have been done and possibly better and faster! I KNOW, the drug wasn't the reason for his success, and hope others realize that!

'Steve Jobs' biography: A wealth of detail | Deep Tech - CNET News

Don't want to Wait till January

This is good news for those of us you have these devices, but I don't want to wait till January - I love the device, but Palm where is the love for those of us who rose early one Saturday in June to be "on board" with your adventure?

Palm Promises WebOS Update, Lots More Apps at CES - Reviews by PC Magazine
Palm's developer program is going fully public at the CES trade show in January, and Pre and Pixi owners will learn about an important WebOS update for their phones, Palm chief executive Jon Rubenstein said on an earnings call Thursday afternoon.


Well they announced - What do you think??? Not exactly what I was looking for; however, I will not condemn it. I DO hope they keep support their current units for some time since I am still doing more than my coworkers with my poor little palm device then they can do or know how to do with their Iphone or RIM devices.


If anyone out there is interested - Me I am ready for a new Palm OS, since I prefer palm to either MS or Apple, at least for mobile devices...there simplicity has always been a welcome change.

Exclusive: New Palm phone to have slide-down keyboard, large touchscreen
We have information from a trusted source that the latest Palm smartphone running the Nova operating system will be launched Thursday.


Some Hobbyist Software titles I would recommend are Reset Doctor, great for finding what app could be causing crashes and to stop random crashes.
Butler is a great addition to any Palm Device - Multiple alarms, an attention grabber, enhanced speed, etc.
Power Hero is an essential addition to extend time between charges - Take care of what is on and when it is on.

Phone Technician allows you multi-task with your Palm OS smart phone... Try all of these, but if you keep them please ensure you pay the developer...so he can continue to maintain these products and introduce better one.

Palm Release Update for Sprint Centro

If you have a Palm Centro from Sprint this will interest you - I have installed it and the phone's performance has improved significantly... I was happy with the phone before but now, well I am happier. The update takes about 15 - 20 minutes then you will need to repair all bluetooth device and reestablish your IM login - All in all it took about an hour out of the day, well worth it.

Centro Update for Sprint

  • Improved Gmail IMAP compatibility and an updated setup wizard with the new Gmail settings
  • Updated compatibility for Google Mobile Maps My Location feature to approximate your current location – great for directions, finding nearby restaurants or business, or checking local traffic.
  • Improved ongoing delivery of email sent to VersaMail accounts using Microsoft's Direct Push Technology via Exchange ActiveSync
  • Bluetooth usability enhancements and updates
  • Sprint TV performance enhancements
  • Enhanced AOL Instant Messenger performance
  • Improved performance when adding a contact using Mobile Voice Control
  • Improved email attachment handling
  • Changed default camera shutter sound to “ON.” Audible shutter “click” will be heard when taking photos
  • Allows Preferred Roaming List updates over the air

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