Mr. Jobs
It’s surprising and comforting this emotional reaction I am having to the news about Steve Jobs. The creations of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak inspired me when I was very young, the Apple ][ and the first Macintosh. These amazing machines gave me my love of the possibilities of Computer and Technology that pushed me into my life in IT. Sadly in the world of corporate IT, I lost contact with Apple for many years, and the wonder of my childhood faded into a distance memory. But several ago Apple and Steve Job exploded back into my life with the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iTunes, and with them came all that wonder and magic that inspired my childhood. Twice this man has give me a special gift. Not the hardware or gadgetry that are the products of Apple, but he gave...
iOS iPhone 4 vs. Android Nexus S (Gingerbread)
I decided to write up a comparison between these two devices as a way of coming to terms with my own indecision. When comparing the two units, I have taken time to understand that some of the strengths and weakness of each are based on things that neither Apple nor Google can control, such as third party apps and accessories. There is also the “ecosystem” to consider; these devices are not used in a vacuum. They are meant to compliment existing hardware and software. In Apple’s case, the iPhone works best in an environment where the user also has an iMac and Apple TV, and also uses software such as iWork and Mobile Me. Android Phones compliment Google’s Online Services like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Apps, etc. While there can be crossover,...
AT&T war driving in Cookeville, mapping 3G, and Crossville Update
Kristen and I made a midnight run to Cookeville for the express purpose of doing some 3G mapping. Our Time was limited so we decided to map north of the Interstate. We did indeed get 3G single in Baxter and along 70N from Baxter east to Cookeville. Inside of Cookeville we received strong stigmal all the way north on 135 (Willow/Dodson Branch) till Bob Lynn Rd. We tacked east over to 136 (JeffersonHilham) and then further east on Paran. We lost 3G by 111, but picked it up again within a quart mile heading south. Algood is completely covered in strong 3G signal, as it 111 south to i40. We lost 3G heading east at Mile marker 295. Here’s a little speed test showing the data rates I was getting north of Algood on 111. These speeds are faster than some DSL...
AT&T 3G now in Cookeville Tennessee
Last week, without fan-fare, AT&T turned on 3G coverage in the City and surrounding areas of Cookeville, TN. I can confirm that the coverage along i40 stretched between mile marker 277 west of the city to 290 east of the city. There is also coverage in Downtown Cookeville, the Tennessee Tech Campus, and the business and residential areas south of downtown to i40. There is a strong indication that Baxter is also covered, but this is unconfirmed. The AT&T coverage maps do not as of yet show this, however a resent coverage update now shows 3G in the extreme east of Cumberland County, a fact reported here some weeks ago.
The Amazon Kindle
It’s amazing how much I learned from the experiences that start out like: “So I bought my wife a……” In this case the “….” is an Amazon Kindle. My wife is quite the Bibliophile. She not only works in a Library, she also binds books as a hobby, and in currently continuing her education for a masters degree in Library Science. It is the last endeavor that prompted me to investigate getting her a Kindle. Many of her required textbooks are available from Amazon in a digital form. While the cost of this digital texts is still outrageously high, they are still less than the cost of the physical edition. I rationalized that the cost savings between the physical and digital edition would justify getting her a Kindle. Before handing the...
