James the Tech Guy

Air Computing: Beyond the Cloud – James Meléndez / Jams the Tech Guy

jamesthewineguy — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:22:58 +0000

Bridging the world of computing environments and realities from point of movement is essential to solving continuity in computing.

When I leave my house each day I have a phasic and stark shift in my computing environment. My data stranded in one device to another and the hope they are unified or synch properly are at best questionable.

The transport from office to home and in between is not a bridge but a figurative plane that we jump from one continent to the next. The only difference is that if we do this physically there is a high certainty of getting there. However jumping the data continents is highly risky and the unification of data file returning back to the way it was found requires a good memory and a manual update.

But for iPad—which looks promising from so many vantage points is poised to be successful of at least offering the possibility of being productive in the bridge time between work and home and vice versa.

While the computing is made richer and more portable—what it doesn’t seem to be solved in this computing go around is how do we lift, access, carry and synch what we have and how we continue to update, edit, copy, move and manipulate our files.

I do need my robust tools and base of knowledge—my computing base—all the time and I do need that help in place with access to data. The data continuity is essential and seems to be little solved either by device or network. Satisfaction has yet to be achieved. And right now few have articulated the need but over a course of time and more apps being developed; they are only so good as they are to use and access the data sitting down as it does on the run.

Data in the cloud is great but the software in combination with constant network connection and updating will make for a true revolution. It will be the quiet revolution.

Data does need to be stored in the cloud and device but the technology will need to do its part to stay connected to the data source wherever it may be. This is what I call air computing; the cloud is a good term but doesn’t fully explain what the air computing platform can and will do. And it will need to be by design and purpose.

James the Tech Guy is also James the Wine Guy. He is on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

James the Wine Guy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JamesTheWineGuy

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iPad – WiFi + 3G – Tablet Computing’s First Darling

jamesthewineguy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:30:54 +0000

iPad’s initial debut earlier this year was mixed at best. A considerable amount of disappointment with what iPad didn’t have—a phone, a camera or video cam were cited as chief complaints.

But those disappointments seemed to fade upon release of the iPad. I did go to an Apple store to see and experience this anticipated product and I was somewhat intrigued but not in love. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the device. I kept wondering did I need it and wasn’t my MacBookPro and iPod enough? Seems like they were symbiotic and complimented each other and wasn’t I getting enough of my computing completed? Wasn’t my Mac environments everything I needed?

But then I started to think of my travel plans and how disconnected I was from my machines and my computing obligation didn’t stop just because I was traveling or being away from my computer. Then it was working on a project that turned my attention to iPad. I didn’t want to take my MacBookPro everywhere—and it was also not easy for turning on or off on the fly. Time was more of the essence and my modern life of constant interruption I needed a device that was easily transported, robust, and richly integrated with my online portals and tools and content that I need to develop or needed some refinement.

It was my needs that warranted my buy of iPad. The in-store experience was good but I was not itching to have one. The games and curiosities just seemed to be it’s main sell point—at least with the people who were test driving iPad.

iPad has proven it’s worth to me; being on a trip where I was delayed by 4-hours at an airport feels like an eternity except when you have access or at least a connection to your non-airport / non-travel life. It makes a nuances of long and arduous travel time less disruptive. I was able to find a power source, stream a movie and work on my writing.

iPad itself is a slim and slightly weightier device then what one might expect. But it’s slim silhoutte is compelling and modern and certainly makes one say—why didn’t we have this several years ago. The 10-hour battery makes for something that is durable and I have never used more than 50% power levels. The initial use after it’s complete power up is robust and makes you appreciate the device even more. Just by using it you expect the power level to decrease markedly but it doesn’t.

The clarity of the backlit seems to be highly controllable and crisp. The outside controls of volume and on-off make for handy adjustments and if you have a remote on your headphone it operates well. The only disappointment is sound adjustment at the maximum level is disappointing—not that you want a uber loud setting but slightly north of where it is today would be appreciated.

There is no hiccup while operating music and viewing photos or using an app. But it would be nice to have a nicer more MacBook desktop—or at least some customizability. It seems to be only oriented to app icons—while looking for your docs is another question. I had to download several PDF apps but have not been absolutely sold on one. There are some very good apps but many apps have a long way to go—many need to match the high integrity level of the iPad. Many apps seem to be much less sophisticated and have so many drawbacks that make many computing operations less-than-robust or not possible. But the good news is that the apps will have to evolve in order to survive. I recommend updating your iPads OS when ever you can. I found that PDFs or other attachments have gotten stuck in Mail and I have at times have had to remove email accounts and re-enter.

The keyboard is light years ahead of the teeny time iPad keyboard. It does take time getting use to but input is what should have been developed several years ago. I have mine on the sounds turned off. Using iPad it becomes more apparent that iPhone and iPod are cute—toy-like. I use my smaller i-device less often because the input is just too small and the screen much too small to find enjoyable and the iPad is just right (as in the 3-bears).

Some basic app functionality is relatively flat. Pages is the word processing editor and is completely disappointment—a weak app which leaves one wondering why bother. The hope is on the horizon for a more robust offering of basic apps to come.

iPad is here to stay and tablet computing and we cannot go back—there is no reason to—and with that being said—I cannot give up my very robust MacBookPro. It is all good and this tablet computer promises to be a leader for years to come and we will all look up to the successive generations.

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James the Tech Guy is also James the Wine Guy. He is on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

James the Wine Guy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JamesTheWineGuy

See James the Wine Guy channel for videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy

Also available on Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42231382951

Other blogs:

jamesthefoodguy.wordpress.com
jamesthespiritsguy.wordpress.com
jamestherestaurantguy.wordpress.com
jamesthetravelguy.wordpress.com
jamesthedesignguy.wordpress.com
jamesthemusicguy.wordpress.com
jamesthetechguy.wordpress.com
jamesthebeerguy.wordpress.com

Apple’s Multi-touch Trackpad – Quiet Yet Powerful Feature – James Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:33:22 +0000

Apple’s Multi-touch Trackpad as featured on the MacBook and MacBookPro series is one of my favorite tools that has given immeasurable advantage of use in my daily computing. From my previous MacBooks sans Multi-touch Trackpad to my current configuration the experience has gone from good to very great.

While there are many great features that make a MacBook stand apart from any other non-Mac notebook and some of those are features that are so sleek and sexy that create plenty of crowd pleasing coos like the back-let keyboard, graphics capabilities, aluminum construction and an easy of use that makes initial impressions strong. While new software, think profile, better processors are also essential so are the inputs—each day we are painting content with our words—and that fundamental input is still with us today-that hasn’t changed too terribly much until now. The latest innovation of the Multi-touch Track Pad is not necessarily about inputting text but it is about a fundamental way of navigation.

Navigation is key and without a better technology we would be using a click pad and buttons to execute the most benign movements—loud click, simple movement. This Multi-Touch technology and it may seem to be a small feature is where computing should have been all along. I recently saw someone using their MacBookPro and they were clicking each function—it looked arduous and I pointed out some of the features and how it can make her computing experience a bit quicker and less distracting. For me it is elegant to use this Trackpad as I might a music instrument. The responsiveness is elegant.

Some features I find exceptional:

• I no longer need to click for web surfing or to view a drop down menu. It is an easy and sensitive response. I like that I can select text and do so without feeling like I am using an arcade game—it seemed to be a bigger task than it never needed to be. Beautiful responsivity—it is one of those things that you might ask—why wasn’t this done sooner?
• Two finger swipe scrolls up, down, left and right—works intuitively
• Three finger swipe helps to move from one action to the next or photo one to the next (wish there were more functionality with the three finger swipe)
• The four action is very handy and I use often. On the fourth finger usage each direction
o Four finger up – allows you to glance at desktop
o Four fingers down – allows you to see each window
o Four fingers left / right – go from one document to the next with ease.

Best of all the finger swiping function becomes part of your cognitive map—I no longer think about it but just complete it on the fly. The Multi-touch Trackpad is a quiet hero and it helps to build the brand identity that has made Apple so successful. Other notebook computer producers might have a check list of features and once complete their job is done; but Apple is a brand about a great and constant attention to detail—not just a check list item that when once complete is forgotten about. This one features rolls up into a succession of great features and functions. This has helped me to become even more productive. A great feature in my MacBookPro and Apple’s continuous and cumulative innovations leaves a great sense of satisfaction for the user. And this user is quite satisified.

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James the Tech Guy is also James the Wine Guy. He is on Facebook, Twitter and most major social medias.

James the Wine Guy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JamesTheWineGuy

See James the Wine Guy channel for videos on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy

Also available on Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42231382951

Other blogs:

Need Your Vote- Murphy-Goode Wine Country Lifestyle Correspondent – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:10:49 +0000

I want to ask if you haven’t done so already would you be so kind to vote for me in the Murphy Goode’s A Really Goode Job competition? I am sending this URL so that you can see my video submission and to vote:

http://www.areallygoodejob.com/video-view.aspx?vid=GHPaAkUXq1w

I appreciate your help in this quest – pass this to a friend.

Best, James the Wine Guy

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A plethora of wine reviews from wines regions from around the world. Read more of my wine reviews: jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com © 2009 James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez – All Rights Reserved – James the Wine Guy also on Facebook and Twitter.

In Spite of Social Media Site Limitations Connecting With Others Always Finds A Way – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:41:00 +0000

In Spite of Social Media Site Limitations Connecting With Others Always Finds A Way: Social Media’s Imposing Limitations Contradicting The True Nature Of Social Networking and Scale-free Networks

What is fascinating about social media sites is their immediate limitations on their participant. But after all without a participant there is no social media. Yet Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook all engage in controlling their participant’s behavior. But controlling the participant’s behavior is contrary to what it means to be social engaged and creating a social network and more importantly it goes against the nature of scale-free networks.

An easy answer from the social media perspective is that they are protecting us from all of the spammers and unwanted friends we might make or choose to pass. In Facebook’s case it might be that they want to keep us from being bombarded from people contacting us; instead we are bombarded with other requests (these are still awaiting me to do something):
• 1 Page suggestion
• 1 Farm town neighbor request
• 1 Fine wine request
• 1 Networkedblogs invitation
• 3 yoville crew requests
• 1 view tu hugs
• 1 which golden girl invitation
• 1 Eric’s sign invitation
• 3 kidnap requests!
• 2 sea garden requests
• 1 good karma
• 2 warlord requests
• 1 actual age test investigation
• 1 which 80s bands request
• 1 reef gift request
• 1 movie quiz request
• 1 80s song
• 2 heart requests
• 1 good karma
• 1 are you the ultimate request
• 3 (lil) green patch requests
• 2 plant gift requests
• 2 mafia wars requests
• 3 yoville gift requests
• 2 class mates requests
• 1 what’s your superpow request
• 46 farm town gift requests

Well I don’t have time to complete each request and it is not tied with my immediate connection with another person. This is an example where and you can see below “…may be considered annoying or abusive by other users” this is clearly that and yet when I am making friends I have received this message a few times. I have received this message in no particular order—seems to be so random and what more is the threat of a “permanently disabled account.” Well and in my case it was reaching out to logical friend choices—my choices were people that I felt a high probability and a common link. I did not go down a list and start requesting at random potential friends. Whatever the case is that this particular item is contradictory and more importantly grossly uneven. And to an even more important point is that there is no transparency on its treatment with its user. The user and myself included does not know if they will rule something to be worthy of a ‘permanent disabling.’? But the raison d’etre is not Facebook but us—the public who uses the site.

Warning! You are engaging in behaviour that may be considered annoying or abusive by other users.

Sometimes people get these warnings for simply misusing one of our features.

Which of the following links describes what you were trying to do? Clicking on a link will take you to more information on how to use Facebook’s features.

Using Applications
Networking/meeting new people
Connecting with Schoolmates/Friends
Promoting a business, product or service

Further misuse of site features may result in a temporary block or your account being permanently disabled.

Note the above is a warning that one gets in red ink and large font (my warning uses Queen’s English as that is part of my profile preferences–English UK but I switch to Italian and Spanish often).

There is a lot of brokering done with Linkedin and Facebook in their gate keeping or controlling whom we want to become friends or people to associate. But that is a strange place for them to be –though it is self-appointed and self-anointed it is a precarious and I contend an un-natural place for them to be in and even more un-natural for us to be in that constraint system. Looking at scale-free networks—many things in life follow this structure—a hierarchal structure with respect to networks is not natural. And if social media sites insist on hierarchy they circumvent their reason for being—it becomes a contradiction.

At some point, these top social media sites will have to understand the world of scale-free worlds to understand why people get together. If not they will risk their keys and kingdoms. Connecting to others always finds away—this connection is not an outright rebellion against hierarchy rather it is a natural expression of being. It is what social beings do.

Palm Pre Phone – Initial Thoughts – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:49:54 +0000

The Pre phone may have some good features; but think the iPhoneOS can easily catch up in the Pre phone’s features.

Fundamentally, there is a keyboard– I think the touch keyboard is here to stay. Also, the iPhone’s OS and app environments are still more engaging. I predict the #Pre will have some initial success but that will not be a long-lasting trend. I think that the iPhone’s OS can easily maneuver around the Pre Phone’s capabilities; ‘copy and paste’, simultaneous apps operating, etc. If the Pre Phone is based on it’s hardware I do think the physical keyboard is no more advantageous than the touch screen. The design might be smaller but the totality of offering is not a seat lifting device. Rare it be the iPhone user will trade in their handset for Palm’s. Seeing some of the Pre’s apps look stale and non-captivating. Apple’s iPhone will not be easy to outpace. This category is not just about OS only or hardware only it is totality of customer experience. I do think each experience on the Pre can and will be adapted to iPhone. If anyone thinks the iPhone is stuck has to realize that Apple doesn’t let that happen at least in a passive sense.

When Will the Kindle Catch On? – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:09:26 +0000

Is the Kindle catching on? While the Kindle DX is due to ship on June 10. The Kindle family is getting out there and now it is time for the public to open their wallets and get to shopping for their e-reader. Right? But I think the e-reader is getting a lot of press and the public is quite silent but talking a bit more about the Kindle and other e-readers. I am based in the Bay Area and either riding BART and other public transports I have only spotted one other Kindle reader. Just a few short years ago I saw a lot of newspapers and like the wind they have all nearly gone away. Instead I do see people with an occasional magazine or book but more commuters are sleeping in the morning and reading only slightly more in the evening commute—and a few scan their smaller computing devices where possible—certainly not possible in all underground and tunnel situations. Personally, and I know I am exception, I am a voracious reader and look for any opportunity to read—I can’t imagine at just staring straight ahead on a morning or evening commute. I see people do this even without headphones.
I was recently at a well-known technology company in the Bay Area and was in one of their nice cafeterias and I was surprised how no one had a Kindle. I thought there would have to be at least 3-4 in this room of 100 people eating their lunches. This is a fairly moneyed room or at least a room with expendable income and low probability of layoffs. I figured being in the company of bright individuals there would have to be a few people like me? But there was no one—I scanned the line and occasionally perused at fellow diners to see if someone was going to take out their Kindle out of their messenger bag. After 10 minutes, I stopped glancing and started to wonder—if in this room there are no Kindles would there ever be any? And then as I was nearing the finish of my lunch I had several people come up to me—my immediate thought was they wanted something from the table—a napkin or salt shaker? Instead they were asking how I liked it and asked for a demo—these people wanted to know what type of reading I do. I replied I like to read newspapers, books, blogs and my personal documents on my Kindle. Each person came up and intently listened to what I had to say. I asked them if they were going to get one and if they had any impediments to buying one—one person said it was due to price so making certain it was a device for them was essential, another person asked to see what it looked like. In each case a show and tell was helpful and getting their appetites even further whetted.
In some ways I wonder if there will be a big(ger) demand later—after this painfully long recession is over. I wonder if there are fundamentals to reading that continue to change what people do—are they reading less? Given most people I know are time starved are they going to pick up an e-reader at it’s current price point – $359.00?
I was in college and graduate school when I had to carry and oppressive load of books to class. What I would not have done for an e-reader to help me out physically. I know I had developed back pain and I thought it was the many heavy books I had to carry. I didn’t have time to go from class to car and any locker system was sparse to non-existent at my Alma Maters. How about those rare times I forgot a book for a class? It was always Murphy’s Law that worked so well—the book you forget is the one you need the most. I can see the benefit of not just having your current years of text books, journal articles and PDFs from your entire schooling carried with you everywhere. I do think at some point in the future school e-readers or at least large format e-readers like the Kindle DX will take off.
I do think e-readers are viable and will take longer to sink in. A few friends of mine said “Oh I can get a reader for my iPhone.” And I said I don’t think there are enough power reserves to do everything on your iPhone. Even if there were plenty of power reserves—I could not fathom reading on my phone. I do think that multiple devices is just a way of life and that for logical reasons e-readers will have a place.

Now, I pine for a Kindle DX but I must say that my Kindle 2 has been quite handy for traveling and commuting and I ask myself could I give this up and go back to paper? To which I easily answer “no.”

Neoneme Computing – James the Tech Guy – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:37:07 +0000

Near yOu Near Me (NeONeMe) computing is paradigm shift that we still have not seen in complete practice yet. This is a concept that does not necessarily imply that all software will run on remote networks. Maybe some day that all of our computing needs will be taken care by some unknown server or servers somewhere and everywhere at once. But what is clear is that a software that I have on my system that is not accessible to anyone I need to communicate is not only inconvenient it may be a hindrance and those days will be behind us.

More of a hindrance is not being able to compute more quickly; exchange ideas, give / get feedback in a real-time environment; not speeding things up as technology is usually accused of doing but a dialogue—a true communication, a clarifer.

We are still years away from a comprehensive Neoneme. The obstacles can and will be overcome; overcoming will be from a very different business and revenue model than we have today. And more interestingly will be a paradigmatic shift in terms of general population and their relationship to computing. Also, a more seamless productivity software that will talk to other systems, networks and applications and again add in Neoneme computing.

When you look at Microsoft it increasingly looks more out of touch than ever; and more out of touch with Neoneme computing; Microsoft’s business model is selling software per system or suite at a time. The Microsoft model requires each user to have purchased software that is truly limited and it is a far-fetched idea that is ironically the legacy we have today.

What is clear is that Google has understood there is a need for Neoneme computing; but with that being said it is not clear how they understand this need. Google’s mail, calendar and docs are having a practical way of being near you and near me; Google’s gMail is far more differentiated that other email products today; Google’s calendar is innovative and interesting and is markedly different and when compared to Outlook is outstanding.

Neoneme computing will look quite different than what we have to do; more accessible than what we have today; more robust and far more an equalizer than any product or approach today. Another interesting thing is that there is not assurance that Google will still retain it’s position in Neoneme or it’s current infancy today. Neoneme will arrive but in incremental ways and in some ways will be a greater extension of the social media movement to bind social things closer together; near you near me.

Kindle and Domasa – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:43:13 +0000

I like the Kindle 2 keyboard and it appears that there were lessons learned from the original. I do like the simplicity and ease of use. Navigation is good and you can see where and what will improve. The 5-way controller is the most powerful button on the keyboard. I would like to have to 5-way controllers—being left handed I am pining for the 5-way controller–on the left; after all there are two two ‘next page’ buttons.

Intuitively, most of the functionality works well but at times I reach for the ‘home’ button when I needed to press the ‘menu’ button. I sometimes reach for the ‘back’ button when I need to press the ‘prev’ page button. It would be helpful to map to common anticipated navigational moves. There are many opportunities to program the keyboard for more DoMaSa sensibilities. Do many with same (DoMaSa) – having multiple function for each button; do many things with same button, function or process.

DoMaSa = Domasa

Do
Many
with
Same

I would like a more rapid way to position the cursor to a specific word more rapidly. Until there is a touch screen option the need to move more rapidly on the current page will go a long way. Domasa will be a good approach for efficiency and increased ease of use for the Kindle to come.

My Other Blogs – James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez

jamesthewineguy — Fri, 01 May 2009 05:12:31 +0000

Visit my other blogs:

jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com

jamesthebeerguy.wordpress.com

jamesthefoodguy.wordpress.com

jamesthespiritsguy.wordpress.com

jamestherestaurantguy.wordpress.com

jamesthetravelguy.wordpress.com

jamesthetechguy.wordpress.com

jamesandthecity.wordpress.com

jamesthemusicguy.wordpress.com

jamestheretailguy.wordpress.com

jamesthecustomerserviceguy.wordpress.com

jamesthemarketingguy.wordpress.com

northamericanfoodproject.wordpress.com

James Meléndez / Jaime Patricio Meléndez