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Google’s April Fools (2012)
Google has some of the best April Fools jokes. This one made me laugh a number of times…
Google Tap replaces your 26-character keyboard with Morse Code. My favorite part is L.L. Cool J a the end 
Twitterbot
Tapbots has released a wonderful upgrade of Tweetbot for the iPhone (bringing it to version 2.0). When version 1.0 came out I quickly jumped on this app for the iPhone. It was and still is the go-to app for Twitter in my mind. Sure, Twitter has their own app and it works just fine. If you are running iOS 5, you can download it easily and quickly and integrate it into your phone, BUT I enjoy using Tweetbot, it works really well and does so much more than the plain vanilla twitter app.
In my opinion, $3 for this app is a bargin! Now for even more fun.. Version 1.0 has been released for the iPad! With the same benefits of the iPhone and the additional real estate, it again is well worth the $3 price tag. This is my go-to app for ALL twitter interactions. If you use twitter regularly, give Tweetbot a go…
Roku goes even SMALLER
Roku announced a new form factor to their already small HD streaming boxes – a stick (about the size of the a thumb drive). The current boxes are about the size of the current generation AppleTV though they are a bit cheaper ($50-100 four models vs. Apple’s $99 price point for one unit). The XD provides 1080p video (the AppleTV maxes out at 720p). For those interested a high quality HD experience the Roku has Apple beat on this statistic (at this time).
Apple has been improving the offering for their Apple TV (through software updates) with Netflix and some sport channels (MLB and NBA). It works great with iTunes and streaming libraries from a device on the network but is limited to the Apple ecosystem, Wall Street Journal live, YouTube and Vimeo as well as tight iCloud and AirPlay (which works great with other Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads). That being said, it is missing things like Hulu, Pandora, Amazon, and HBO Go (which are all bundled into the Roku).
I’m looking forward to testing a Roku shortly so will see how it works, not just how the ad’s display it. Apple continues to create and provide an exceptional tight solution but the Roku fills in some gaps the AppleTV is still not getting (though I hope they will soon). Have any experience with the Roku or AppleTV, share them with us.
UPDATE: Having played with the Roku a little, this is a nice, powerful LITTLE (and I mean little) device. The system is robust enough to stream video from the usual places (Hulu, Netflix and Amazon) with little setup (though for the setup there is some running back and forth between Roku and computer to enter codes etc). Once that is done, the system works smoothly, the video quality is fantastic (especially at 1080p) and solid. One note (maybe I just have not found this yet) but I do not know the quality I am getting while the system starts streaming something. The video quality improves over the first 15-30 seconds, but would be nice to know (as with the desktop clients) that you are seeing “one bar to HD” quality.
Christmas Tech (2011)
With just hours to go before Christmas 2011, there will be the exciting moments of opening gifts, playing with new “toys” and the expected technology quandaries about how and where to sync that new iPad or iPhone, how to get the AppleTV working with that flat panel or which account do I configure on the new Kindle for best use and access.
A few things to consider:
As always, check your battery needs (how many AA or D cells do you actually have in the house). Would be tough to open that long-awaited gift to find out “batteries are NOT included”!To connect this together, look into rechargeable batteries. We have a small stock of AA’s that are used for everything from Light Sabers to XBox controllers to the wireless Apple keyboard I’m typing this on.
If you purchased a device like an iPad or Kindle, it may be a good idea to just power it up and confirm it works. Connect it to your home wireless network and maybe spend some time charging the devices so the system can be used right away.
If you get an iPad or iPhone outside your home, set up on the device, but hold off on connecting it to a computer until you are back to your home to be sure to sync it to the appropriate computer – this will keep you from having to set it up all over again when you connect it to the home computer.
Getting a new Blu Ray player, AppleTV or Roku? Did you grab that ever elusive HDMI cable? It is a wonderful time of the year and one of those times when I’m sure many of the big-box stores love since people come back time and time again to grab batteries, cables or something else…
Merry Christmas to all and a wonderful and Blessed 2012!
Upgrade to an iPhone 4S
With the announcement and pre-order of the iPhone 4S available, I’m wondering about how many people are considering moving to the new phone?
The new phone is once again an improvement to the iPhone 4, but not huge – the party line has been if you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, this upgrade is a no-brainer. You should qualify for a subsidized phone upgrade and the speed, features and quality of the device are worth the cost of the upgrade. Those owners of iPhone 4′s have less compelling upgrade options. The quick run-down on the iPhone 4 to iPhone 4s differences are;
- Faster Processor
- More memory and storage
- Better camera
- Siri “voice assistant”
- iOS 5 (which will be available for the public on 10/12/2011)