Home Automation 101

Ok, so for pretty much the entire fall, my tape measure & I were attached at the hip (& quite literally too).

"Will this fit here? How much room do I need there?" - I imagine all new homeowners probably remember the drill well. 

But now that the furniture buying, moving & assembly is done, I've been busy upgrading my home with all sorts of residential tech toys.

Yunno, completely unnecessary sh!t like a wifi thermostat, smart controlled entertainment hub, room-to-room audio, remote home security services, security webcam network, wireless lighting system, smartphone commanded garage door controller, remotely operated deadbolt, so-on & so fourth.

Hmmm... ok, perhaps it's not all so unnecessary after-all. For the sake of argument in this post, let's just call 'em all pieces convenience tech, yea - we'll go with that for now, lol.

Simply put, I've now become obsessed with controlling even the most mundane of activities even when I'm miles away from home - all in an attempt to make my new spot a smarter one. 

So while I no longer need to pull-out the hammer or paint brush nearly as often, I now live in front of my computer & pretty much know my 16-character wireless network WEP key by heart after performing so many initial setups to get my smart devices & components to play with one another. But I'd say the optional upgrades have all been well worth it thus far.

Admittedly, it was a bit of a challenge, trying to limit my purchases to pieces of tech that I thought were likely to catch-on, or would soon become the standard versus those trendy fly-by-night tech ideas that simply aren't practical in real-world application.

But I think I managed to make a lot of right choices in that regard & I've even been saving a few coins when it comes to my monthly utility payments, as a result, so I'm most definitely glad I decided to make the place a more efficient one.

For the spring, I've got my eye on a remote controlled window shading system for the living room (who's got time to get off their ass just to open & draw-back window shades, lol). But seriously, as with my previous tech investments, it's just a matter of researching my options before settling on the right manufacturer & product.

By next winter, I'd really like to get my hands on some sexier, newer & (most importantly) more energy efficient appliances for the home. Help me Lord, I've clearly got myself a bit of a problem here.

Boy & Their Toys...

Last week I broke down & bought a smartwatch. I've been waiting for Apple to release a smartwatch since 2010, when 3rd party cases started showing up for the Nano - allowing you to wear your iPod on your wrist as a watch. 

But the Smartwatch 2 (Sony) & Galaxy Gear (Samsung) swooped-in to land the 1st major smartwatch punches with early fall releases this year. So I went with a 3rd party company in Pebble to satisfy my immediate new tech craving.

It's a pretty good watch & should do just fine for the time being. There's a wide range of cell phone app notifications & alerts that sync seamlessly with the watch in real-time. I once wondered about the practicability of a smartwatch, clearly many simply aren't ready for this particular piece of tech.

But it's pretty convenient not having to pull my phone out of my pocket to change my music, read an alert, text message, or email so often. If the industry manages to continue successful development of the smartwatch functionality & services that people can actually use, they could be the next big thing.

Again, the Pebble smartwatch I have is just a stop-gap until The Big A gets their shit together in 2014. Color graphics, swipe gestures, a camera & voice assistance are some of the things the Samsung & Sony smart watches are respectively capable of, so I expect similar features, at minimum, for Apple's rendition - especially, since they are so damned late to the party. But I'm pleased with the overall functionality of the Pebble smart watch.

The ball is in your court Apple, we're waiting...

Journal 2.0

I've been using a new app on my iPad & iPhone to record & track my individual journal entries (it's called - Day One). 

I've been using it for about a week now, but I've also been transferring my previously written entries into the new app at the same time. 

It's been absolutely amazing to look back at the various thoughts I once had of people & the direction my life was heading.

As I've been transferring the old entries, I've also been applying the various tagging features to sort the entries into categories like people, events, places & etc. So far I've found the feature to be pretty helpful, especially when trying to pin-point a particular journal entry or experience.

My old journals date back to September of 2004, so that's almost 10 years of fuckery I'll get to chuckle at as I bring my new journal to date. It should be a pretty entertaining experience since I very rarely re-read my entries after writing them. Already I've come across experiences that I have no recollection of, lol.

The app allows for the import of previously typed entries & also the export of app data to another medium should I so desire in the future. Based upon individual settings, the app records GPS data, weather conditions - even the song currently playing on the device you're posting from.

It's a pretty cool app, if nothing else, it's already rejuvenated my interest in keeping a regular journal - so it's totally worth the $5 I paid for it.

Okay, Let's Try This Again...

Last year I took a shot at quitting tobacco products, but fell off horse at some point. Shortly after the new year, I again made the pledge & decided to take another serious crack at cutting-back on my use of tobacco products. With the help of an iPhone application I downloaded (MyQuit Coach - LiveStrong.com) I track every smoke I take - I can even track each craving where I didn't smoke. The app allows me to set my own custom quit plan. Each week, the app gradually decreases the number smokes I'm allowed to take in a given day.

I chose a 40-day plan starting with a limit of 7 smokes per day & currently. I'm currently on day 19 of the plan, at 4 smokes a day - so I'm just about half-way home! I'll admit that I'm a bit concerned about the next reduction in number of smokes allowed tho. In just a days time, I'll only be allowed 3 smokes per day (less than half the amount of what I'd been used to smoking in a day. I'm hoping I have the strength to remain disciplined. I will say; however, that I'm very pleased with the restraint I've shown thus far.

The app calculates other related stats like the amount of money I've saved by smoking less & there's a companion website where others can follow my progress. The app & website awards various badges based upon personal achievements like not smoking during peak daytime hours or smoking less than the daily limit allows, there's even a support community where I can interact with other people currently fighting the same battle - all & all, I'd say it's a pretty useful app for anyone serious about kicking the habit.

In addition, I've been experimenting with electronic cigarettes over the past few months & I think that's a viable option for me if the daily limit dwindles down to zero but I find myself still having cravings. Since e-cigarettes don't burn, smell, or contain any tar/carbon monoxide, it makes them a completely logical/practical quitting tool for me. That coupled with the fact that I really am committed to a healthier me (& also the support of a really good sponsor) makes me feel good about my chances moving forward...

Jobless (1955-2011)...

As a frequent user of Apple products, I'd be a bit remiss not to post about the death of someone who many might describe as a technological visionary. On October 5, 2011, former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs would succumb to pancreatic cancer at the relatively young age of 56... but in his passing, he left us with so much. Whether you're an Apple supporter or hater, you've got to realize the genius in the man, coupled with his unrivaled presentation skills & ability to create anticipation among loyal consumers.

It's funny, I'm heading home from work on the train, composing this post from my iPad & will later use the data signal from my tethered iPhone for upload to Internet (all before I even get to my car). I never imagined we'd be using cell phones & mobile computers this way - now look at us! It's also pretty fitting that I purchased my very 1st Apple computer on the very day of his death. An obvious example of how, even in death, his ideas, concepts & standards will influence the way we operate & think for some time.

Apple has made life much easier for me over the years. 1st there was my very 1st 1gb, black & white display iPod (graduation present from my aunt). By the end of that summer I'd fallen in love with idea of mp3 music file playback, pitched my CDs, & upgraded to a 30gb iPod Video. Then I figured, why not consolidate the devices I lug around & get an iPhone? I was was tired of losing oPods anyway - no brainer. Then I added an Apple TV to the mix & was introduced to the visual world of Apple. Then finally the concept of mobile tablet computing exploded with the success of Apple's iPad.

So now that I finally have a Mac to tie everything together seamlessly, I'm completely in-sync! Whether I'm in the home, the car, at work, or on the go, I'm never without any of my emails/messages, tv shows/movies, music, important documents, magazines/books, social networks, photo galleries, so on, & so fourth. Apple's newest iPhone (4S) hits the streets in less than a week, but I 'think' I can hold out for the iPhone 5 (which I expect to drop in 2012) since there will be an iOS update for all devices as well in the coming days.

It really just depends on how many new features software updates are unique to the new handset only & whether or not I feel I can go without 'em until the release of iPhone 5. In either instance, my next phone will most definitely be an Apple product, & thats a credit to a great company that a certain 2-time CEO left fingerprints all over. For that, I'm so very thankful Steve - scratch that... iThankful.

Just Thought this was Pretty Cool...

The Baltimore Ravens (my favorite football team) now distribute iPads to it's players, rather than the old-fashioned playbooks & to me, that seems like an excellent idea.

Players now have the convenience reviewing game film, studying plays & game plans all in one device. The only other team that seems to use iPads for playbooks are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it appears the Ravens are on the cutting edge in this regard.

According to the blog I read on the teams website, Ravens offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron (pictured above) wondered if the team's several-hundred page playbook could somehow be transferred to some sort of tablet device. Less than a year later - the notion is a reality. The teams says the responses by players & coaches alike, have been rather positive so far -- well duhhh! Lol.

"There are things it’s good for & things that the paper is better for. You can put video on it, which is very convenient. It’s nice to not have to carry around a giant playbook all week. “I do print some things out so I can mark down the route progressions & things like that, but in all, it’s been an easy transition", said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

The team purchased 110 iPads & even purchased 10 more when the NFL expanded training camp rosters to 90 players this year. According to Nick Fusee, the Ravens' Director of Information Technology, several tablets were tested before settling on Apple's 64 gb iPad 2. Fusee expects the new playbook distribution method to save the considerable printing costs over the new few years.

“Our video staff has already got the game loaded on their laptop, so all they have to do is plug in through iTunes & load it up on the plane. It only takes a minute, & the guys like that,” Fusee added.

Another huge benefit of going the iPad route is that the Ravens cam always remotely wipe data from any stolen or missing iPad ensuring that playbook & scouting info doesn't 'conveniently' fall into the hand of another team. Additional security measures include automatic wiping of the device after 3 incorrect password entries.

The Atlanta Falcons also flirted with iPads this year. They used the tablet to conduct pre-draft interviews. In my opinion this is yet another example of how tablets are taking over & I, for 1, love it...

Stinkin' Lincoln...

I got a bit impatient & bought a new car this weekend. Initially, my plan was get a new computer & 3D television before taking-on a new car note, but my previous vehicle registration was set to expire on August 31st & I was NOT about fork over $128 to the State of MD to renew my old registration for a minimum of 2 years when I'd only have the car for another 1-2 months, tops - that's just stupid, or at least I thought so, lol.

So I got my lazy ass up early Saturday morning & took a trip to Annapolis, I'd already been researching several vehicles over the past year so I knew exactly what I was looking for. It was just a matter of which dealership gave me the best deal & since July marks the end of the model year, I took advantage of some unexpected savings as well.

After spending much of the day on dealership row, I chose the Lincoln MKZ (the front runner among my list of cars to consider - the others I considered were the Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Buick Lacrosse & Dodge Challenger). After my research & test drives, I felt the MKZ gave me the best combination of luxury, sport & TECHNOLOGY :-D

I decided I wanted to buy American, making the TL a long-shot unless they threw some kind of crazy deal my way (they didn't). I'm too used to the convenience of sedans, so the 2-door Challenger was the next car I eliminated. The G37 cost far too
much after including certain options I couldn't live without & even though the Lacrosse was close to being my selection - Buicks still just screams 'old person' to me, so I passed, lol.

After a weekend of driving, I'm rather pleased with my decision. It looks nice, performs well on the road & has all the necessary (ok, maybe not so necessary, but desired) bells & whistles. It's actually my 1st new car, all of my previous vehicles have been used, so this purchase was long overdue, glad I took the initiative Saturday morning. Right now I'm calling her 'my cougar' - as a Lincoln, she's seasoned with a well-established reputation & definitely into younger men, lol...

Relax, it's Just Sext...

They were talking about sexting on the radio this morn... ever send sexually suggestive text messages or naked photos of yourself to significant others or 'buddies? Well why-the-fuck-not??? Personally, I'm not so huge on the dirty text messages myself (that's a little too much work), but I'll definitely admit I'm guilty of sending a nude pic here & there :-D

Generally such messages have been reserved for girlfriends I've had in the past, but there have been more than a few times when that wasn't necessarily a prerequisite, lol. I really enjoy receiving sext messages/nude photos - always a blast whenever the fun is reciprocated on the other end.

Now that I think about it, I haven't gotten 1 in a while - soooo... if you've got my number............. lol. It's a no-brainer that you've gotta be careful with these kinds of messages & photos. It's seems everyday we learn of a prominent figure who goofed & sent compromising photos or messages that are later shared with the world.

But fuckit, I'm not running for office, nor am I ashamed of my body, so even if revealing photos of myself were somehow leaked to the public - big fucking deal. I actually think I'd be far more embarrassed by a sext message I'd composed than any nude photo of myself.

If you're a card carrying member of the 'Fun Police' & you remain completely uncomfortable with trusting your naked flicks with ANYone ever, the most obvious suggestion for you would be to keep your face out of the photo (if you want to be a punk about it, lol), that way if it's ever shared, folks can't be certain it's you.

Still everything aint for everybody & some people will continue to live like it's the 19th century forever, so to you folks I say... do you. Besides, I guess the last thing you want to do is offend someone who isn't quite as in touch with their sexuality (or yours).

I can only recall maybe 1 time that I actually managed to offend someone with a suggestive photo & it wasn't even nude, lol. As I recall, she never responded to the pic, she flat-out ignored it, rather. I'd soon come to find this women to be a bit of a prude - God bless her in each & every 1 of her future endeavors, but.... next!

To make a long blog short, I fully support sexting and/or nude photos of all kinds. It keeps things interesting & fun, whether you are or aren't involved a relationships. So yea, I've done it before & I'll certainly do it again - now c'mon, live a little & send him or her a little eye-candy right now! You scared?

The Day DVD Died...

A few days back I (slowly) began converting the DVDs I currently own into specific file formats needed for future storage & playback on various external drives, computers & portable devices. Due to the slow-ass data ripping speed of my current laptop's DVD/CD drive, the process takes about 3-4 hours for most feature length films or performances.

Given the fact that I've accumulated more than 300 DVDs over the years (& that's not even counting pirated films), it's clear this process will take quite some time to complete. So I guess I'll get into the habit of ripping a DVD or 2 per day to expedite the process. On the flip-side, I've already noticed the many convenient advantages of having the few DVDs I've uploaded available in my iTunes library.

I'm not yet so sure what to do about the 30 or so BluRay discs just yet, but it's not of much concern at this point, since it's the newer disc format. Most of my BluRays included digital copies for media storage purposes anyway. In the years to come, I'll need to master preserving BluRay and/or 3D quality during the conversion process, but for now, I'm good with the standard format - I'm just tryna get all these damn DVDs out of my face!

Eventually, with all of the DVDs/BluRays uploaded, I'll be able to enjoy all of my media (coupled with iTunes & Apple TV) from almost any TV in the house with just the simple touch of a button, further eliminating the need for me to get off my lazy ass - such a spoiled society we've become, lol.

The way I see it, the day digital video disc manufacturers feared will soon be upon us & BluRay discs aren't where it's at either. It's not that there's anything wrong with BluRay technology, in fact it's the best right now. The problem lies in the delivery format. In this world of increasing portability, people are simply moving away from any disc format - whether they realize it or not.

You need only to look at how the sales of portable DVD/CD players have plummeted over the past 5-7 years. Folks are primarily watching & listening to media that has either been uploaded or streamed to their cell phones, car stereos, satellite radios, net books, e-book readers, PC tablets, so on & so 4th. There just isn't the need to have a physical disc in-hand unless of course, you're 1 of those unfortunate creatures technological of habit, lol.

When Netflix rolled out their instant streaming video (to video game consoles, Internet tv/media consoles & mobile devices) last year, the end of a storied era in technology ended. So much that the idea of a disc as the standard for the portability of video & audio media already sounds archaic. Ironically, the last time such a shift in technology took place must have been when DVD/CDs replaced cassettes tapes & VHS. Remember how resistant folks were of that change?

I think what's made Netflix so successful, in such a short time, is the fact that it seems to satisfy those who remain on the cutting edge of technology, people who consider themselves to be somewhat tech savvy & also folks who simply don't have (nor desire) a clue. If you're not so hot on streaming for your video needs, or maybe you just don't want to wait a week or so for a new release to become available for instant streaming - just have the DVD/BluRay(s) sent to your home in 2 business days, piece of cake!

With Netflix providing the 1st highly successful model of how profitable & efficient video streaming can be, production companies are sure to notice the trend & will likely devote far more resources into (I promise no pun was intended here) streamlining the end user's consumer experience in terms of ease of use & overall practicability.

Apple, Roku, Google, Logitech, Nintendo, Sony & Microsoft are just some of the primetime players that gave rise to video streaming last year by incorporating services like Netflix & Hulu among others, into their own flagship devices & platforms while boosting the usefulness each respective device at the same time. In addition, it's no longer uncommon to see mobile phone applications with video modules built within the app, allowing for viewing of streamed or stored content.

Folks, I'm not saying go throw away your DVDs tomorrow, lol. I'm just pointing out that this slight shift in mediums is something you might want to keep in mind, especially in regard to any electronics you buy from this point forward. Already companies like Amazon have announced plans develop a vehicles similar to the current Netflix beast (Amazon expects to offer the same services at an even cheaper monthly rate).

I don't expect companies like redbox to go the way of Blockbuster, my guess is that they'll morph their company into a model not unlike what Netflix has put together in order to survive & provide more of that all-important element of competition that any free-market economy needs to thrive. That & the fact that there will always be be the need for same day service. In what now seems like a contingency plan, Redbox encroached upon Gamefly's top billing as kings of video game rental by beginning to offer similar services last year.

Still, models that rely too heavily upon disc-based formats will take an even bigger hit once the video streaming kings lay claim to a stake of that piece of the market as well. My suggestion, buy stock in all of em! As time passes, it'll be interesting to watch which implementation model, medium & format ends up standing above the others as the recognized standard - at least for a little while anyway, lol.

As far as my project, I've got just 1 little-big problem - file storage! It was much easier when I went this route, dumped my CDs & started using .mp3/.mp4 files exclusively. Even in 2004, most notebook computers had more than enough hard drive & RAM space to handle the typical iTunes library; however, taking the same approach with more than 300 DVDs is NOT an option unless I suddenly develop an affinity for severely decreased computer performance.

For the time being, I'm storing all my tv shows, movies, music videos & concerts (basically all large file types) in a 1 terabyte Time Capsule external drive which until now, it was dedicated for backing-up me & my brother's computer hard drives wirelessly. Now it doubles as the storage tank for all video files until I decide what I want to do long-term. That is all...

Back to School?

Well... maybe. I'm considering enrolling in a program that will allow me to earn some sort of an IT degree. I was thinking something along the lines of a Master of Information Technology degree (with a special emphasis placed on homeland security management).

I swore years back, when I got my undergraduate degree from Howard, that I was done with school & always ran (full-speed) in the opposite direction whenever anything of the scholastic nature was proposed. But now I'm having second thoughts about that.

It's not that I feel I've hit some sort of glass ceiling or anything with regard to my current career as a policy writer, I'm just a little bored with what I do & quite tired of the bureaucratic red tape that slows the progress of many assigned duties. I guess I need something more interesting to bicker with appointed officials about, lol.

My background in both civil service & law enforcement appears to fall in line with the programs I've checked out thus far, so this is definitely the general area I want to focus on at this point. I'm interested in Mobile Telecommunications as well, but my experience in that arena is more hobby/investment related, so I'm hardly classically trained outside of the standard industry telecom speak.

Given the fact that I have no current student loans (nor have I ever had any), I figure it would be relatively easy to obtain financial aid, should I indeed decide to enroll. No clue if I'd be primarily interested in online courses or traditional classroom settings, but it's definitely something I'll be researching over the next few months.

There's also the question of which grad school I'd want to attend. Mainly my background has been in journalism, so I'm not very well-versed in the knowledge of which institutions turn heads with regard to IT/managent positions, so I'd obviously be rolling that into my research as well.

At any rate, hopefully the act of getting these thoughts out of my head & documented will spawn the additional motivation needed to get off my ass & look into my future options. Hell, nobody's gonna do it for me, right?

VZW's iPhone Takes Flight - well, sort of...

Perhaps a better title for this post might've been 'Off & Running' as I've got a few reservations about switching to Verizon just yet. This past Tuesday Verizon announced it's (official) plans to carry the Apple iPhone, a move long awaited by current iPhone users, previously hand-cuffed to AT&T for wireless service over the past 5 years.

What this means for iPhone users is that there's finally competition in the marketplace, surely benefitting longtime users of the device.

Verizon is beginning to stock it's stores & warehouses with a newly developed CDMA network version of Apple's iPhone 4 (GSM-based network versions of iPhone 4 have been available via AT&T since early 2010) & are expected to release the smartphone in early February - at least that's the word we all got in Tuesday's press event.

I was certainly among the masses longing for the eventual announcement (& subsequent release details) by Verizon, I think the feature I most looked forward to was the ability to maintain a data signal while below street level in underground subway tunnels. Even still, I think I'm content to remain with AT&T for my wireless service for the time being for 2 major (& 1 minor) reasons.

#1 Verizon's version of iPhone 4 WILL NOT be a 4G device: With all the advertising Verizon has thrown our way, touting it's 4G devices in the works, I was hoping their version of the iPhone 4 would be among those, wishful thinking I soon discovered. It appears Verizon's big push was solely to get an iPhone in their lineup. Nonetheless, I'm super glad they managed to do so.

#2 Apple's special development of the device as a CDMA-based network device (for use on Verizon's wireless network): Though in essence a stronger network in many regards, it tends to restrict/reduce data usage on mobile handsets when calls are in progess: This means no surfing the net, receiving notifications, or undergoing any task requiring use of a wireless data signal until completing a call (a pretty major flaw for anyone who's grown accustomed to doing so for years with AT&T's GSM-based network version of the device).

The same would apply towards what would have been one of the VZW version's best features over AT&T's - the internal mobile hotspot allowing for internet connection for up to 5 devices. Because of network lmitations, you wouldn't be able to get a call while transmitting a data signal. I wonder how long this will be a drawback of the current Verizon/CDMA network technology, hopefully the issue will be resolved by the next model. Speaking of which...

#3 ...iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple decides to call it *this is the minor reason*) We all know it's coming, the question is when???: The spring is approaching & that's generally the time that Apple likes to announce their upcoming releases for the summer & early fall & they're clearly not shy about releasing 2 successive models of a device in less than 2 years time, especially with Verizon's Droid series of phones (running Google's Android OS) closing-in on their market, fast! I don't think it would real ly smart to get a VZW iPhone now only to be clamoring for yet another new phone if the 5 drops this summer...

Aside from those flaws, it appears that Verizon's version of the smartphone will for the most part operate pretty much the same as AT&T's iPhone 4 & will essentially be a carbon copy (as far as it features operating system is concerned). With that in mind, it looks as though the table is set for the 1st 4G iPhone (iPhone 5) to be released simultaneously on both carriers (& who knows? Maybe even more).

So I'll be waiting on that particular series of events to unfold & will once again compare the up/downside of switching my wireless service provider to Verizon at that point. Though Verizon's version isn't quite the device I was hoping for from Apple, I remain ecstatic that AT&T's long-standing exclusivity rights have since lapsed & now, the world has far greater access to this genius of a device. Long live the Apple, lol...

Gift ideas

Still trying to come up with a few gift ideas for that special tech loving guy & don't wanna resorting to the standard gift card as result? Here are a some ideas that might give you some thoughts on how to jump-start your holiday shopping:

This 1st one is probably the most common idea, so I’ll get it out of the way with right now… it’s of course, the all important Apple iPod. There are several versions of iPods available, so the 1 you’d want to target would certainly depend on the intended use of the device. But for any tech geek in training such as myself – the iPod Touch ($230 - $400), is the best option as it boasts the most features of any current iPod model. The iPod Nano starts as $140.

If “Mr. Man already has an mp3 player/iPod or mobile phone that he uses or music playback, a set of BT Headphones (which is NOT to be confused for a standard BT earpiece) is a relatively cheap gift for your favorite tech lover at $50, but can get as expensive as $300 depending upon how high-end the model/manufacturer is. A docking station is never a bad gift for any iPod/iPhone owner either.

If he reads or has the desire to do more of it, Amazon's Kindle e-book reader would be another great solution for such. The Kindle 3G retails for about $190, & there’s a non-3G (Wi-Fi only) version that starts at about $140.

Nowadays BluRay players are cheaper than ever before, I’ve seen many priced in the $120 range recently, so that’s another gift idea if he’s a movie watcher, especially if premium sound & graphics are at the forefront of his desired movie watching experience.

Playstation 3 video gaming consoles feature BluRay playback as an embedded option, so this too is a decent, albeit pricier idea ($250 - $400) if you have any thoughts of killing 2 birds with one stone.

Has he been super-good this year? If so, he might really enjoy the use of an Apple iPad. iPads feature a wide range of media, gaming, application & web browsing capabilities which are perfect for occasional or frequent use. Wi-Fi only iPads start at about $499, Wi-Fi + 3G iPads starts at about $629.

***Note: Anyone weary about buying an iPad 3G for use with AT&T’s data plan (in anticipation of the iPhone’s unveiling on Verizon in 2011) should keep in mind that Verizon already offers iPads with 3G data services & they’ve been available in their stores since about the 18th of this month, so you could always grab an iPad now & get an iPhone at some point in 2011.

If he’s an Apple product ‘head’ like myself, or simply uses his iPod or iPhone ALOT for music in the home, viewing videos, photos or YouTube, AppleTV is wonderful media extending device that combines the functionality of each of Apple’s device capabilities to create the perfect audio-visual multimedia experience & it keeps getting better with each update. Quite simply, it remains the best media extender on the market. AppleTV syncs with the iTunes library to stream media to any given TV/entertainment system.

Some of the many conveniences of AppleTV includes access to your iTunes library, the iTunes Music Store – for HD (& standard definition) tv show/movie rentals/purchases, song/music video purchases & more. It can be used to view sites like YouTube, Flickr & will even allow access to you individual account. It flawlessly handles online or streamed photos/video including internet radio & of course allow you to listen to/watch video & music from your own iTunes library. It’s not an expensive device either these days, as it’s priced at just $99 on Apple’s website. I bought one 2 years ago for $250 in comparison.

Lastly, does he have a billion components connected to the TV/entertainment sytem, complete with a remote for each device? A universal remote might be another good gift idea then, that way he can get rid of all but one remote. I use the Harmony 1100 Universal Remote Control which controls everything from my laptop to my PS3, to electric window shading (If I had those kind of shades, of course – lol).

The rechargeable remote (& included docking station) features a colorful, touch-screen & fully customizable design that can be used to display wallpapers, favorite channels & activity power-up/down sequences with the push of just one button. Updates to the remote (essential when new devices hit the market) can be found online using the included software & installed by syncing with any computer. It’s a pricey device, but he won’t need another one for 10 years - it can be found online or in major electronic stores in the range of $250 to $400, so shop around.

iOS 4.2.1

Earlier in the week the most recent OS update to Apple's iPod & iPhone (& most importantly the 1st significant update for the iPad's operating system), iOS 4.2.1 was officially released & after a few days of playing around with the various new features, I'm pretty impressed with the direction in which the devices are heading. The iPad has essentially replaced my laptop as far as everyday use & each week it seems I find a new reason to use it even more.

I absolutely love the convenience that this device has given me since the spring of this year when the 1st shipments finally started rolling out. I carry it with me during my daily commute to/from work & at this point I'd be lost without it. Anyone who doesn't see the need for such a device clearly has no clue of all that it does. Between it's audio/video media playback & management, file storage, data & word processing, web browsing & advanced email capabilities, it does everything I need it to do as far as my day to day needs are concerned.

I'd highly recommend it to anyone considering the purchase of a conventional note or net book for similar uses. In conjunction with the use of any desktop or stationary computer in the home or office, most would be hard-pressed to find limitations to the overall functionality of this wonderfully designed tablet computer.

The following are the 3 are the upgrades to the OS I looked forward to the most (on the iPad specifically):

- Multitasking is now supported on the iPad & folders have finally been introduced as well (so no more swiping through page upon page of apps on the iPad).

- AirPrint is a pretty useful new feature to the iPad (allowing for printing to a wireless printer operating on the same network as the device).

- Far better mail & calendar support (including improved syncing between MobileMe & Google have also been implemented with the introduction of the update).

-Interestingly in a very uncommon move for apple, The OS update was used to make a slight change to the hardware itself. The page orientation lock swith now serves as the mute sound switch, the page orientation lock toggle is now found by swiping left within the multitasking dock (just like the on the iPhone after previous updates).

For the most part, all of the new iPad features unlocked by the new OS are available on the iPod & iPhone respectively, but most had already been implemented in previous updates to those devices a month or so back, so there aren't many brand new features that come to mind in that regard.

I did however notice that the iPhones now have the native ability to have newly added sms/mms alerts assigned to specific contact entries, so u know exactly who is texting you by the sound of the alert alone (17 new sounds I believe), but I won't get much mileage out of this feature myself since my iPhone is jailbroken & I have my own custom alerts sounds anyway, but many non-jailbroken iPhone users should find a practical use of the new capability.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Earlier last week I finished playing the 7th installment of the Call of Duty video game series, Black Ops, for the Playstation 3 platform & I'm pleased to announce that the overall gameplay did not disappoint this particular gamer in the least bit.

Publishers of Call of Duty, Activision decided to use different developers than those of it's very successful & most recent predecessors, COD: Modern Warfare 1 & 2 to assist with the creation COD: Black Ops. While I did notice differences in the two gameplay experiences, that had more to do with the the fact that I'm comparing vastly different titles (in terms of storyline). Black Ops (developed by Treyarch) is NOT a sequel to Modern Warfare 1 nor 2 (developed by Infinity Ward).

Yet with Black Ops it didn't seem to me that there was any noticeable drop-off. My guess as to why they used another company would be that Activision wanted to ensure that there wouldn't be too long of a lag-time between the respective release dates of their various COD titles, so it makes sense to use more than 1 company for logistical purposes - that & the old adage of 'never putting all of your eggs into 1 basket,' of course — word is... there is a continuing beef among Activision & Infinity Ward.

In further comparison, the Modern Warfare titles featured a better variety of distinctly different battlefields & missions across the globe, while Black Ops seems to concern itself with fewer world-wide locales & focuses on the Cold War, so it seemed like I was fighting many battles in similar locations for much of the gameplay experience.

But again, to be completely fair, both Modern Warfare 1 & 2 were fruits far different from other releases in the COD series. Black Ops & most older COD titles involved more of a historical representation of World War II events, whereas Modern Warfare 1 & 2 had no such restriction during creation, so the sky was very much the limit. Modern Warfare 1 & 2 focused on more recent aspects of war during present time, so this isn't a criticism, but more of an observation rather.

I was slightly disappointed to with the rather short single-player campaign mode (much like Modern Warfare 1 & 2) & resulting ho-hum final battle, but giving rise to the extreme attention to detail required to produce such titles, I guess I can accept the somewhat flat ending of it all.

There are; however, other gameplay modes that become available upon the successful completion of a single-player campaign in addition to what has become customary for the COD series, a multiplayer mode which opens a new world of additional gaming to compensate for the shorter storyline of the single-player campaign.

Above all, I'm certainly glad I bothered to wait in line with at least a couple hundred other idots at midnight on November 9th, to pick-up my copy of the popular game. Initially, I planned to simply wait until getting off-work the following afternoon to grab my reserved copy (like the rest of the world, lol), but the closer it got to midnight, the more my anticipation grew...

It was worth the anticipation & any previous fan of this particular series of military based, role playing games should again, come away with a well-rounded (albeit virtual) sense of the battlefield experience & have tons of fun achieving each & every mission's objective. I eagerly await the release of the next Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare 3 in 2011...

Jay-Z.... (still encoded for now)

I was all primed & ready to order the new Jay-Z book, "Decoded" tomorrow but was fairly disappointed to find that while the Hardcover version of the book comes available tomorrow, I won't be able to download the e-book via Amazon's Kindle app for another 3 weeks on Dec. 7th.

Upon reading my 1st e-book, I decided I could never go back to hauling around an actual book ever again. I absolutely love the way the Kindle apps on my iPhone and iPad both sync with one another so that regardless of which device I choose to read from, my most recent stopping point & notes are saved (& synced over-the-air) in both apps.

I've also read e-books via the Kobo app as well the iBook reader designed specifically for Apple devices. After trying each at some point, the Kindle app remains my favorite e-book interface to navigate.

But I guess it's just as well that the e-book won't come out til December since I won't even have finished the Bush book by then - but still, I really wanted it on-deck in the archive.

I'm finding that I've been far more willing to read since the increased popularity & sales of e-book downloads for Kindles, iPads & other similar devices. Initially (though fully aware of the technology), I ignored the concept realizing that only the most popular titles were offered as e-books.

It appears the trend has finally begun to swing in the opposite direction as many more titles are available for immediate download the same day that their hard copy counterparts are. So it seems (at least until the next generation of reading technology comes along) e-books are here to stay. If you 've never before read from a e-book reader of some sort, give it a spin. Who knows? You just might re-discover the world of literature just like I did...

Looks like the iPhone on Verizon is Finally a Reality...

It appears Apple and Verizon are finally geared up & ready to play nicely with one another in early 2011 (as confirmed by Fortune magazine). AT&T's death-grip on the exclusivity of the iPhone has long been rumored to be dead in the water, but Apple, AT&T & Verizon have been much more willing to talk about the issue in recent weeks & it appears officially no longer a pipe-dream.

Personally, this iPhone user is ecstatic that Verizon will be joining the game. But not for the reasons that most iPhone owners are. I've always preferred Verizon phones for the simple fact that they were for many years the only carrier's whose cell phones worked underground in subway tunnels and such. Though other companies now offer a similar convenience, Verizon still maintains the most reliability in that regard. Probably a pretty trivial reason to prefer one carrier over another, but hey - we live in a trivial world, lol.

But I think most iPhone owners will probably tell you that they're looking forward to the increased call quality & network that Verizon will offer. Many current iPhone owners have often dogged AT&T's network and customer service during the years since they gained initial rights & exclusivity of the device, but honestly I've never encountered much of an issue, if any with AT&T. I've always thought any of the big 3 or 4 major carriers was about the same, so while AT&T may not be the best - they certainly aren't the worst either.

I'll admit; however, that I'm not a huge talker on the phone, so the calling aspect of any smartphone I own is probably the least used feature, so it's very possible that I'm not so picky about call quality for that reason - all I know is that it makes and receives calls whenever I need it to. I'm a huge user of data so as log as I getting a 3G data signal (at minimum), I'm happy!

In general, I get rather close to obtaining the maximum potential from my iPhone as I use it ALOT for everything from emailing, texting, my iTunes music library, & banking to social networking, watching video, film/photography, news/weather, shopping & much, much more! So the future development of this phone (& corresponding carriers) remain only radar.

I can recall some point in early 2008, when I got my 1st iPhone. After losing my 3rd iPod, I said fuck it, switched carriers & made the iPhone thing happen - best move I could've made & I'm STILL pissed that I didn't get on-board back in 2007 when iPhones debuted. It's been the most practical & user-friendly device I've ever owned.

I actually still have my old Verizon account active & in good standing, so I'm sure to make switch shortly after we're given the green-light. Perhaps Verizon finally being in the mix is what the rest of you guys (who refuse to admit the superiority of the iPhone) need to finally jump on-board and see what you've been missing. Or maybe not, either way, you'll definitely see more iPhones - whether you like em or not, lol. All I need now is my Apple desktop computer & I'll be all set!

With that being said, I own stock in Apple, AT&T and Verizon - so I'm also excited from a financial standpoint & really couldn't care less about which carrier has the most success with iPhone sales. Clearly, the additional iPhone sales for Verizon are sure to give any Apple & Verizon stock a boost, so I'm looking forward to the upswing that's sure to take place within my portfolio when it all goes down.

As you can see, I could go on & on about the iPhone, but it's midnight & I've gotta go pick-up the new Call of Duty: Black Ops game - I'm such a child - why can't I just wait until I get off of work tomorrow? Lol...