Sometimes I find myself complaining about things that frustrate me. Well, it’s actually pretty easy to find things that suck, but I decided to take some time to talk about a few things that have been making me particularly happy lately.
2009 Was OK, But Things Can Get ALOT Better
2009 is almost over and I’m making my technology wish list for 2010. Being that it’s a “WISH” list, I decided to shoot for the stars. in order fro 2010 to be the best year ever in tech, here’s what I want.
The iPhone plays a huge role in my IT infrastructure. It bridge the gap between the VitaminCM global headquarters and the vast wastelands that lie outside my door. Sometimes I actually have to go out and mingle with the great unwashed hordes. Gasp! While there are so many things to love about my trusty companion, here is what I desperately wish for:
As 2009 draws to a close I decided to do a quick look back on the top posts of 2009. The list is based solely on the amount of visits that each article received, however I threw in a few of my less appreciated favorites. Without further ado, here’s the list.
10 – You can Create the Web Operating System Today (My Personal Favorite)
OVERVIEW: This video tutorial shows how to use Google Voice to convert your speech to text that can be used in other applications. Use the feature that converts voicemail audio to text.
Once you see the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail, you realize how cool it is. Well, Google Voice has actually one-upped them by adding the new voice transcription feature to what is already an incredible voicemail system. The audio for all of your messages is saved in an inbox that works just like an email inbox. This alone is pretty cool, but then they convert the message to text and put it in your inbox too. When you click the play button to hear the voicemail, the transcribed text is highlighted in sync with the audio. The words that are in black text are usually perfect, while the ones in gray are 50/50. They also send the text to your email, so that you can read the message without having to play it. This cuts hours and hours of blah, blah, blah time out of your life.
I have been using this feature when I come up with "good" ideas while I’m on the go. I just call my Google Voice number from my mobile phone and leave my idea as a message. Then, when I get home, I just copy and paste the transcribed text into Word, an Email, or whatever other application are applicable.
Just log in to your Google Voice account and go to the Inbox.
Once you call your Google Voice number and leave a voicemail, it will be saved in your inbox as an audio file. Google’s severs will also convert the audio in the voicemail to text.
The length of the voicemail will be displayed next to the Play button. The words that are in gray text (not black) are ones whose accuracy is "questionable". You should double-check them for accuracy.
When you click the play button, the text gets highlighted in green along with the audio. (This is actually pretty cool.)
Now that your voicemail has been converted to text, you can copy and paste it into any application that you want.
The following video tutorial shows how to use the Google Voice audio transcription feature to use your messages as text.
While this is a cool feature, it is FAR from perfect. I’m sure that there will be tweaks and upgrades down the road, but I’m really impressed with its humble beginnings. I would love to see some vocal training or learning features added, sort of like Dragon Naturally Speaking has had for years.
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Overview: This list will help you find the right gifts for the technology buff in your life based on price range.
Let’s face it, we’re all on some sort of budget. That still doesn’t mean that you can’t find great gifts. This list groups my favorite electronics and gadgets into the following price ranges:
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock lately, you must have heard about Google Voice. Google Voice (formerly GrandCentral) is a cool new phone service that gives you the power of a sophisticated corporate phone service for free. Here are some of the great things that you can do with a Google Voice account:
If you have ever taken pictures on your iPhone, you realize that they seldom turn out just right. A little off center, too dark, not vivid enough, whatever. Sure, you can sync them to your computer and edit them, then sync them back to your phone. If you have like 4,000 hours to kill. Well, Photoshop.com Mobile’s iPhone application is just what you need. You can take any picture on your iPhone and make quick, simple, effective edits in seconds just using your pointer finger.
Photoshop on your computer has millions of filters, effects, and features that are great for pros, but the Photoshop iPhone application has just what you need to clean up your phone pictures. Did I mention the price? That’s right, FREE!
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Miscellaneous Ramblings, Podcast, Product Reviews, Technology
One of my favorite desktop applications of all time is Dropbox. Dropbox allows you to sync important files between multiple computers. You just install the software on your computers and set up a dropbox (folder) and place files in it. The files will instantly appear on all of your other computers.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Miscellaneous Ramblings, Podcast, Product Reviews, Technology
I recently wired up my whole house with full gigabit ethernet ports in all of the rooms. The only problem is that my router, a five year old Belkin Wireless G router does not support gigabit networking or fast wi-fi speeds. To compound things my router has been dropping my internet connection a lot lately, so I decided to upgrade the heart of my home network.
What I needed from a router
I had a few big requirements from my new router:
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Gadgets, Miscellaneous Ramblings, Podcast, Product Reviews, Technology
Today, Google finally announced on their blog that it will be going to war with Microsoft, Apple, and Linux by releasing their own Operating System. There have been rumors and speculation about Google building their own Operating System for years now, so this in not really any big news.
What actually is news (to me any way) is that they are basing this new Windows/Mac killer on their Chrome browser. This had to make the folks in Redmond and Palo Alto breath a sigh of relief.
What exactly is the selling point of this new OS?
Thanks, but no thanks. Have you seen the Chrome browser? What does it do that’s any good? It doesn’t any of the cool features that Firefox fanboys brag about. None of the cool ideas that Opera features right out of the box. It doesn’t have the polish or flair of Safari on a Mac. Before you say, “At least it’s better than Internet Explorer”, that’s almost a moot point. First of all, I’m not convinced of that (I.E. 8 any way). Second, anyone who is either too lazy, in the dark, or boring to still use Internet Explorer will NEVER switch to some bleeding edge operating system.
What is the hallmark “feature” of a the Chrome browser? Simplicity, cleanliness, speed? What does all of that crap even mean? It doesn’t have extensions. I know, I know it sort of has some jive-ass extenstions that are a headache to hack together. I mean real extensions that just install in a few clicks and provide “real” gamechanging enhancements.
Is this what their operating system is going to be like. None of the ubiquity of Windows and none of the polish of MacIntosh. Buying and renaming a rabble of applications (Picasa and Google Earth), and services (Blogger, YouTube, and Voice) is not the same as building an integrated, useful operating system. Microsoft, Apple, and Linux have been at this thing for decades and there are a million annoying things about each of their offerings. How exactly is Google’s product going to be a usable computing experience?
First of all, I use and love a ton of Google’s products, so I do think that they can build, buy, and/or steal some great stuff. Second, I can see a way in which they can possibly make a thin client that floats on top of a linux kernal. They could bundle some of their existing and future desktop applications with the build. Then, they could embed heavy hooks into their own (and other people’s) web applications and services. If anyone can tie this all together into a usable, if not minimalist package it just might be Google. But I would bet against it.
The previous scenario that I just mentioned already exists. It’s called an iPhone. If Apple get’s a hint of any possible success for this type of thing, they’ll slap a keyboard and bigger screen on an iPod touch in about 10 seconds.
In summation, starting from scratch with a small toolbox and trying to take down three goliaths who have decades of experience, millions of hours of code, and about a TRILLION dollars of a warchest does not seem like a recipe for success.
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