Tomorrow husband, son, and I are traveling to go see my in-laws and friends for Thanksgiving weekend. There's still tons of packing to do, but my iPhone is synced and ready to go. As I was choosing what music to sync to my iPhone, I was debating on whether or not I should shut my iMac down before we head out tomorrow. We'll be gone for four days, so it seems logical to turn off everything to save power. However, I have two reasons why I would rather leave my machine on: Simplify Media and email.
First Simplify Media is a must have for any iPhone owner. I love my iPhone, but my 8 GB version makes picking and choosing music a pain. I have a very large collection of music in my iTunes Library and I want to take it all with me. Simplify Media does that for me. It allows me to stream my entire music library from home and listen to it on my iPhone. The one catch is my iMac must be on and it has to be set to never go into sleep mode.
Now about email. I have a MobileMe account that I've had and loved since the beginning of .Mac back in 2002. I use Leopard's Mail App to check my email on my iMac, and of course I check my email regularly on my iPhone. Problem is, the iPhone doesn't filter junk mail, so I need the mail app to work it's magic to keep spam out of my inbox. This wouldn't be a problem if MobileMe's server side junk mail filtering was as sophisticated as say GMail, but that's another topic. It is what it is, and I can deal with it by setting my own junk mail rules locally. But again, the catch is I have to leave my iMac on all the time to filter my mail, and I have to set my iPhone to fetch email instead of push, otherwise it pushes me all the junk too.
So now I'm curious how many carbon credits I'm burning by leaving my iMac on for the next four days while I'm out of town, or is it nothing to worry about to have access to my home machine while on the road? To turn off or not to turn off? That is the question.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/26/08 - 12/3/08
Do you turn your desktop off when you're out of town?
33% Leave it on
33% Shut it down
33% Sleep mode
00% No desktop
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Safety & Location-Based Social Networking Sites
I recently signed up for a BrightKite account. For those unfamiliar with BrightKite, it's a location-based social networking site that allows users to see where their friends are in real time, and users also have the opportunity to meet new people that are nearby. Users "check-in" to post their current location to BrightKite. This can be an exact location such as an address or name of a restaurant, store, etc., or the location can be more obscure such as just a city and state depending on how the user feels about privacy. There is also a toggle switch to flip back and forth between public and private modes. After checking-in, the user can post photos or notes associated with that location for others to see.
I use the BrightKite app on my iPhone, and the iPhone's location-based services makes checking-in a snap. I've only been using BrightKite for about a month now. Mostly, I keep my location set to my city and state unless I go out to eat or shopping and have something interesting to post. Today, I've been playing around in BrightKite to set placemarks and set privacy settings for each location to get more use out of the service. I start with the two places I'm at the most: home and work. Setting these two locations to private was a no brainer for me personally. Whatever others feel about giving out their home and work addresses online is their business, but I like to keep them private except to a very select group of trusted friends. Then, I turn my attention to other places I take my son to regularly like the park. I debate over whether the park should be public or private when I check-in there. I think, maybe there might be another cool mom there, BrightKite would alert us, and I might make a new friend. But then I feared, publicly giving out the location I was at with my son might lead to some creep stalking us. Risking my son's safety is something I'm not willing to do, so I set the park to private.
Location-based social networking is a very cool thing, but I think a certain amount of caution has to be used. I know BrightKite is just one of the many sites taking on this new frontier, and they have a fastly growing popularity. So, I'm curious who else fancies location-based social networking and who is opposed? What privacy settings do you feel most comfortable with? Any success stories meeting cool new people? Or just stalkers? Please share your stories.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/18/08 - 11/25/08
Do you use any location-based social networking sites?
66% Yes
00% No
00% Thinking about it
34% Meh
I use the BrightKite app on my iPhone, and the iPhone's location-based services makes checking-in a snap. I've only been using BrightKite for about a month now. Mostly, I keep my location set to my city and state unless I go out to eat or shopping and have something interesting to post. Today, I've been playing around in BrightKite to set placemarks and set privacy settings for each location to get more use out of the service. I start with the two places I'm at the most: home and work. Setting these two locations to private was a no brainer for me personally. Whatever others feel about giving out their home and work addresses online is their business, but I like to keep them private except to a very select group of trusted friends. Then, I turn my attention to other places I take my son to regularly like the park. I debate over whether the park should be public or private when I check-in there. I think, maybe there might be another cool mom there, BrightKite would alert us, and I might make a new friend. But then I feared, publicly giving out the location I was at with my son might lead to some creep stalking us. Risking my son's safety is something I'm not willing to do, so I set the park to private.
Location-based social networking is a very cool thing, but I think a certain amount of caution has to be used. I know BrightKite is just one of the many sites taking on this new frontier, and they have a fastly growing popularity. So, I'm curious who else fancies location-based social networking and who is opposed? What privacy settings do you feel most comfortable with? Any success stories meeting cool new people? Or just stalkers? Please share your stories.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/18/08 - 11/25/08
Do you use any location-based social networking sites?
66% Yes
00% No
00% Thinking about it
34% Meh
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Simple Finder Solution
Recently, I wrote a blog post entitled Geeks In Training - How Young is Too Yonng? where I discussed my three year old son using my iMac and how much I disliked Leopard's Simple Finder solution for very young users.
For the past couple of months, I had not enabled Simple Finder. Instead, I set up parental controls to only limit access to certain applications on Cruz's account. However, I caught him numerous times clicking on the Finder in the Dock, changing the open window from icon view to columns view, and navigating back to the hard drives and getting into places I didn't want him messing with. When I found Bluetooth File Exchange on his desktop, I knew I had to find a new way to further limit his account without resorting to Simple Finder.
After a lot of searching the internet, I found a Simple Finder solution. I found a Terminal command that turns on the Finder's simplified interface while still allowing applications to be present in the Dock.
Log into the account and arrange the Dock the way you want. Next, open Applications > Utilities > Terminal and enter the commands below. Then log out and back in.
Parental controls can still be used to limit the account even further. This is a solution everyone is happy with. Cruz can use the computer and I can relax knowing that he won't accidentally delete any of my important data.
On a side note, Cruz has really enjoyed his iPod Touch he got for his birthday. There are numerous educational applications in the App Store which make this the perfect gift. However, he has already gone into the settings and set a passcode lock on the device and then couldn't remember the number combination to unlock the it. I had to restore his iPod and start over. I'm sure it won't be the last time I have to restore his iPod Touch, but there should be better parental control settings on a gadget such as this. As of now, I can only limit access to Safari, YouTube, iTunes WiFi Store, and App Store. I feel if I enable parental controls, I should also be able to set a parental password to restrict access to the settings on the iPod Touch. He shouldn't even be able to get in there to set a passcode lock in the first place. For now, I just discuss with him why he shouldn't change any important settings on his iPod and hope he will listen and not do that again. Other than that one incident, he has taken remarkable care of his iPod Touch.
I'm proud of my little geek in training. With a little bit a parental supervision and the use of parental controls, he can have a very enjoyable time using my computer and his iPod Touch. I can also feel confident that he is learning some important skills he can use throughout his life such as computer knowledge and how to take care of expensive items. I hope my experience will help anyone else who has a little geek in the house find harmony between their electronics and those little hands.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/13/08 - 11/20/08
What do you feel is most important when your kids use the computer?
(More than one answer allowed)
50% Communication
50% Parental supervision
50% Parental controls
50% I don't have kids
For the past couple of months, I had not enabled Simple Finder. Instead, I set up parental controls to only limit access to certain applications on Cruz's account. However, I caught him numerous times clicking on the Finder in the Dock, changing the open window from icon view to columns view, and navigating back to the hard drives and getting into places I didn't want him messing with. When I found Bluetooth File Exchange on his desktop, I knew I had to find a new way to further limit his account without resorting to Simple Finder.
After a lot of searching the internet, I found a Simple Finder solution. I found a Terminal command that turns on the Finder's simplified interface while still allowing applications to be present in the Dock.
Log into the account and arrange the Dock the way you want. Next, open Applications > Utilities > Terminal and enter the commands below. Then log out and back in.
defaults write com.apple.finder InterfaceLevel simple
defaults write com.apple.dock contents-immutable -bool true
Parental controls can still be used to limit the account even further. This is a solution everyone is happy with. Cruz can use the computer and I can relax knowing that he won't accidentally delete any of my important data.
On a side note, Cruz has really enjoyed his iPod Touch he got for his birthday. There are numerous educational applications in the App Store which make this the perfect gift. However, he has already gone into the settings and set a passcode lock on the device and then couldn't remember the number combination to unlock the it. I had to restore his iPod and start over. I'm sure it won't be the last time I have to restore his iPod Touch, but there should be better parental control settings on a gadget such as this. As of now, I can only limit access to Safari, YouTube, iTunes WiFi Store, and App Store. I feel if I enable parental controls, I should also be able to set a parental password to restrict access to the settings on the iPod Touch. He shouldn't even be able to get in there to set a passcode lock in the first place. For now, I just discuss with him why he shouldn't change any important settings on his iPod and hope he will listen and not do that again. Other than that one incident, he has taken remarkable care of his iPod Touch.
I'm proud of my little geek in training. With a little bit a parental supervision and the use of parental controls, he can have a very enjoyable time using my computer and his iPod Touch. I can also feel confident that he is learning some important skills he can use throughout his life such as computer knowledge and how to take care of expensive items. I hope my experience will help anyone else who has a little geek in the house find harmony between their electronics and those little hands.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/13/08 - 11/20/08
What do you feel is most important when your kids use the computer?
(More than one answer allowed)
50% Communication
50% Parental supervision
50% Parental controls
50% I don't have kids
Friday, November 7, 2008
iPhone Predictive Text Fail
I love my iPhone and my iPhone loves me. But sometimes my iPhone likes to get a laugh by correcting what I type in my SMS messages into some strange statement right as I tap send.
For the most part, my iPhone predictive text is my best friend and we get along just fine. Over the past year and a half, the iPhone has learned my touch typing habits and done it's best to make the appropriate corrections. However, the predictive text system has the occasional slip-up. For example, the other day when I typed "nah" iPhone changed it to "bag". Yes, I can sorta see why as the corresponding letters are next to each other on the keypad. None the less, the recipient of my message was confused and I had to apologize for my iPhone, and we then both enjoyed a good laugh.
The predictive text corrections that surprise me the most are the ones that are known words. One such recent example is my iPhone changed "limes" to "lines". In fact, it just did it again as I painstakingly type this blog post out on my iPhone.
So I'm curious about iPhone predictive text fails others have encountered. How often do they happen and what is the strangest correction the iPhone has ever made to your text. Please share your experiences.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/8/08 - 11/15/05
How do you feel about the iPhone's predictive text?
50% It's a nice feature
00% It's an annoying feature
50% I don't have an iPhone
00% Meh
For the most part, my iPhone predictive text is my best friend and we get along just fine. Over the past year and a half, the iPhone has learned my touch typing habits and done it's best to make the appropriate corrections. However, the predictive text system has the occasional slip-up. For example, the other day when I typed "nah" iPhone changed it to "bag". Yes, I can sorta see why as the corresponding letters are next to each other on the keypad. None the less, the recipient of my message was confused and I had to apologize for my iPhone, and we then both enjoyed a good laugh.
The predictive text corrections that surprise me the most are the ones that are known words. One such recent example is my iPhone changed "limes" to "lines". In fact, it just did it again as I painstakingly type this blog post out on my iPhone.
So I'm curious about iPhone predictive text fails others have encountered. How often do they happen and what is the strangest correction the iPhone has ever made to your text. Please share your experiences.
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/8/08 - 11/15/05
How do you feel about the iPhone's predictive text?
50% It's a nice feature
00% It's an annoying feature
50% I don't have an iPhone
00% Meh
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Speaking Of Cheap Drinks...
Last weekend, I stopped in the liquor isle at my local Ralphs to buy some rum, and this is what I saw:
That is a 1 liter bottle of Barcardi on the left and a 1.75 liter bottle on the right. The sales price doesn't really make sense, but who cares - I got a great deal on a 1.75 liter bottle of rum!
That is a 1 liter bottle of Barcardi on the left and a 1.75 liter bottle on the right. The sales price doesn't really make sense, but who cares - I got a great deal on a 1.75 liter bottle of rum!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Curious About Cheap Drinks
I among many others are hunkering down during the economic downturn. At home, we have turned off all premium movie channels, except Showtime because we can't miss Dexter. We eat out less, and I spend a couple hours prior to grocery shopping looking through the weekly circulars and clipping coupons. We have had to make sacrifices during this economic uncertainty, but we are staying positive about the future.
While trying to spend as little as possible, I still like to enjoy the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, but I don't want to break the bank to get my drink on. When it comes to spirits, I strongly believe you don't want to go too cheap because the quality degrades dramatically. I might be a penny-pincher but I still have standards. I'm a big fan of Grey Goose, but when it's not on sale, it can be rather pricey ranging between $29 to $33 for a 750 ml bottle at my local Ralphs grocery store. I took a step down to Kettle One, but that is still a fine tasty vodka at around $22 to $26 a bottle. Then, John C. Dvorak posted a tweet on Twitter recommending Svedka as a lower priced good quality vodka:
I took his advice and I have to agree. And at around $10 to $13 a bottle, that's a deal too good to pass up.
As for wine, I like trying new kinds but the price range of wines varies greatly. Especially now days, I personally stick to wines costing under $10 a bottle. I discovered a brand that is just as excellent in taste as it is in price. Barefoot, which is normally priced around $8 to $10 a bottle depending on the type of wine, is an award winning brand that I highly recommend. Especially the Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc and White Zinfandel which are my two favorites. I found Barefoot wines on sale at Ralphs for $4 to $5 a bottle and with a purchase of six bottles of wine, Ralphs takes an additional 10% off. Talk about a great deal and a terrific way to have many different flavors of wine to pair with various foods.
These are just a few ways I save money while still leaving room in the budget for some drinking. I'm curious and would love to hear from any readers who have money saving tips or good buys when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Please feel free to post comments and share advice. During times like these, it is important to help each other so we can still get our buzz on ;-)
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/5/08 - 11/12/08
Has the current economy caused you to change
your drinking habits?
25% I drink cheaper booze
25% I drink less booze
00% I drink the same
00% I drink more
25% I drink whatever
25% I don't drink
While trying to spend as little as possible, I still like to enjoy the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, but I don't want to break the bank to get my drink on. When it comes to spirits, I strongly believe you don't want to go too cheap because the quality degrades dramatically. I might be a penny-pincher but I still have standards. I'm a big fan of Grey Goose, but when it's not on sale, it can be rather pricey ranging between $29 to $33 for a 750 ml bottle at my local Ralphs grocery store. I took a step down to Kettle One, but that is still a fine tasty vodka at around $22 to $26 a bottle. Then, John C. Dvorak posted a tweet on Twitter recommending Svedka as a lower priced good quality vodka:
Wine & spirits tip. No Kidding. Svedka Vodka from Sweden. Astonishing product for the price. Kicks butt in competitions. Clean and perfect.
I took his advice and I have to agree. And at around $10 to $13 a bottle, that's a deal too good to pass up.
As for wine, I like trying new kinds but the price range of wines varies greatly. Especially now days, I personally stick to wines costing under $10 a bottle. I discovered a brand that is just as excellent in taste as it is in price. Barefoot, which is normally priced around $8 to $10 a bottle depending on the type of wine, is an award winning brand that I highly recommend. Especially the Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc and White Zinfandel which are my two favorites. I found Barefoot wines on sale at Ralphs for $4 to $5 a bottle and with a purchase of six bottles of wine, Ralphs takes an additional 10% off. Talk about a great deal and a terrific way to have many different flavors of wine to pair with various foods.
These are just a few ways I save money while still leaving room in the budget for some drinking. I'm curious and would love to hear from any readers who have money saving tips or good buys when it comes to alcoholic drinks. Please feel free to post comments and share advice. During times like these, it is important to help each other so we can still get our buzz on ;-)
UPDATE: Poll Results 11/5/08 - 11/12/08
Has the current economy caused you to change
your drinking habits?
25% I drink cheaper booze
25% I drink less booze
00% I drink the same
00% I drink more
25% I drink whatever
25% I don't drink
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