techpoetry

I desperatly need an ipod / or just a shuffle?

I am actually saying I want an iPod. It actually feels good saying it out loud. Like my accepting it is some sort of therapy. When proposed to me as a possible gift I rationalized it to death! I really like the iPod but voted that I wouldn't use it to it's potential.

The conclusion seemed so relavant at the time. I decided that I would use it more as a glorified external hard drive than for music. It was my girlfriend that proposed the idea to me and we agreed on that point. Besides, I enjoy music but I really can just listen to CDs or the radio and be just fine. I am the type of guy who couldn't tell you who sings what. I never have been the music trivia type. I have numerous thumb drives and extenal usb drives that are cheaper and possibly more flexible than the iPod for the primary purpose I would use one for. So why all of a sudden do I want an iPod?

Podcasting! No I didn't just discover this wonder! I have some podcasts that I would really enjoy staying abreast on. TWITs and Dave Ramsey would top my list. But there are so much more out there if I could just find the simplicity, time, and convienence. I've tried all ways to listen to these gems but nothing seems to be the answer.

(1) Using my Dell Axim - too bulky for the gym / fragile / difficult to use
(2) Listening on my Laptop / Computer - difficult to concentrate on the podcast
(3) No I can't stay behind closed doors either!
(4) Burning to CD for porting to my car stereo? Too much work!
(5) Install a PC in my truck? I've wanted to do this. I will do this one day!
(6) Streaming it to my TiVo to listen to it as I would a television program.
Nothing works... really works...

If I had an iPod / Shuffle:
I can listen when I am driving
I can listen when I am excercising
I can listen when other things are going on...
I simply just dock it and all the work is done automagically
iTunes 4.9 includes podcast support - although interestingly no support for bittorrent. LOL
iPods and Shuffles are getting cheaper!
iPods are getting cooler and upgraded!

Who really listens to podcasts when on the treadmill? Thats the sort of thing I'd do. Now if they only had a water / heat proof iPod so I can take it in the dry sauna with me too.

I see a MAC in my "near" future

Yes I have wanted one for so many years! I havn't taken the plunge because my experience is so vast with PC compatibles and the major cost difference. However since the introduction of the Mac Mini and OSX I have salavated at the thought of owning one of these machines! OSX being based on BSD has impressed me as a ground breaking move by Apple. In addition the current release of OSX is code named "Tiger" and that is one of my 31 things. Nothing could save my PC only theory after I seen todays keynote speech at the WWDC 2005. It appears Apple is planning a 2 year transition from a Power PC processor to a Intel processor MAC! As if that isn't enough of a yet another ground breaking move, OSX has appearently been developed to be able to run on the Intel platform from its start. According to Steve Jobs "after a few tweaks and a re-compile" OSX will run on Intel!

So here is my roadmap for the next two years...

1. Get a Mac Mini with OSX Tiger
2. Learn the Mac platform
3. Use some of the "artsy people" type programs and have fun
4. Get a new PC for Longhorn / WinXP (I can't forgo my bread winning platform)
5. Make sure I know my networking of course
6. Get really geeky with it
7. I might even consider dipping into development if I can find resources?
8. Get a Intel Platform MAC running Lepord

Listen to the TWIT Episode 8 Podcast to find out what some of the industry experts thought about the rumor before it was proven true.

Watch the keynote for yourself.

Whats New?

Lately I've been experimenting with Google's personal page. I decieded that it now has earned the "homepage" award for me! Here are the features: Gmail, Google News, Weather, Movies, Slashdot, Wired News, BBC, Driving Directions, Stock Market, New York Times, Quote of the Day, and Word of the Day.

Here is what I think about it all. First it's great to have a preview of your "x" number of messages on your homepage! But no support for multiple Gmail accounts. Note, If you know a "google hack" that allow you to be logged into multiple gmail accounts at the same time let me know. Google seems to not want this? The weather is nice but I use Forecast Fox instead for that purpose. I am always wanting an easier way to know whats on at the movies! It's nice to stay on top of the headlines too of course. It is useful for service calls to use the Driving Directions. I really don't use anything else but I know its useful to some of you out there too.

Next I setup Google Alerts for a new company that I do service calls for. I really like this feature! I get an email when something about that company is said online. I do not think this is a very comprehensive result but for me that is a good thing. It was one of the things that I was afraid of. The theory of "information overload" has became prevailant and this may simplify my life!

Another feature I setup is Froogle. Currently I am disappointed because I thought you can send some one a link directly to your "WishList". The only link I've found sends them to the search page to enter a email address to find someone's wish list. When tested that actually didn't work!

Next I am checking out the Google Groups - I like these because they are like Yahoo but with more control over how you get email and hopefully no spam! Very useful for tech questions too!

I am also using the My Search History - This is really revolutionary for me. I like to be able to view my previous search results to find something that I forgot to bookmark or add to del.icio.us! I don't know how it effects privacy online so I wish there was an easier way to delete items than one at a time. My suggestion would be a simple link to turn this on and off at will on the fly while searching.

Also I really like a new feature I noticed after the del.icio.us server move tonight! Now I can collapse and expand my "tag bundles"! This makes browsing my links on the delicious page much easier!