Traveler 2.0

Some cool things I learned about Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs' death was a shock, even though his recent resignation from Apple was obviously health related. Having absorbed the shock, I've spent a lot of time reading the stories about his life and impact. Here are some of the cool things about Jobs I didn't know: 

 * He and Steve Wozniak started Apple in 1976 with $1,300. The company's current market value: $351 billion. I'd say that was a wise investment.

* Jobs bought Pixar for $10 million. The Walt Disney Company later acquired it for $7.4 billion. Another wise investment. 

 * Ella Fitzgerald sang at his 30th birthday party, in 1985. Ella was still going strong at that time. I can say this becaise I was lucky enough to see her in concert in 1983. She tore the roof off, brought the house down, and smiled sweetly throughout.

 * Jobs told a reporter that taking LSD was one of the most important things he'd done in his life. Only a child of the 70s could say such a thing and get away with it.

 * No market research went into the iPad. Said Jobs: "It's not the consumers' job to know what they want." This is the equivalent of Henry Ford saying that if he had asked consumers what they wanted in transportation, they would have said "a faster horse." In this era of focus groups and market research, it takes enormous insight, a deep well of confidence, and I'll just say it: big cojones, to forge ahead with your vision.

 * Speaking of cojones: In the eighth grade, Jobs needed a particular part to finish the frequency counter he was making, so he called William Hewlett, the co-founder of HP. Hewlett had no idea who Jobs was but talked to him for 20 minutes, gathered the parts Jobs needed, and offered him a summer intern job. This is one of my favorite Steve Jobs stories, ever.

* Jobs and Wozniak built and sold blue boxes that made it possible for people to make free, and illegal, long-distance calls, back in the days of Ma Bell's monopoly. How ironic that, decades later, Apple's iPhone was so closely aligned with AT&T for what seemed like an eternity. 

* His motto came from "The Whole Earth Catalog," which was: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." 

* Many people quoted in the obits have compared Steve Jobs to Walt Disney. Taking that comparison to the extreme, can you imagine what a Jobs World or a Jobs Land might have looked like? Everything would be beautifully, tastefully designed and minimalist, like an Apple Store with rides, and everyone breaking out into dance routines in front of webcams. That's one theme park I'd gladly visit.  

 

Why I will (and won't) miss the Flip camcorder

Image via CrunchBase

When writing the headline for this post, I couldn't decide between "Why I'll miss the Flip camcorder" and "Why I won't miss the Flip camcorder." Clearly, I'm conflicted. Here's why.

* I was an early Flip adopter. I bought an early version of the Flip from CVS, back when it was marketed as a 'disposable' camcorder. You shot your footage, you took the camcorder to the drugstore for processing, and you got back in return a DVD with your video on it. The camcorder was presumably recycled. I've followed the camcorder through its trajectory since, so I feel a kind of connection to it. 

* The Flip was ultra easy. I've given my old Flip camcorders to friends, including a six-year-old, who started using it right away, no instructions necessary. At a time when technology continues to grow more complicated, it was refreshing to have a gadget that did one thing, and did it well.

* And yet, I haven't used a Flip in over a year. My iPhone 4 takes video that, as far as I can tell, is just as good as what a Flip can shoot. I always have my iPhone 4 with me; not the case with a Flip. 

I realize a lot of people don't own video-capable smartphones. And I think there was still some lifespan left for the Flip, especially if it offered features a smartphone can't, such as shooting video underwater. But clearly, Cisco didn't believe these were compelling reasons to keep going with the Flip.

The death of the Flip makes me wonder which single-function device is next. Are portable GPS units similarly doomed? Is the hard-drive iPod about to meet its maker? Will anyone care?

Related articles

• Flip's Web-Connected Camcorder Nixed Before Release (wired.com)
• Flip Was Supposed To Announce Live-Streaming Camcorder (gizmodo.com.au)
• Death of the Flip: Will anyone miss it? (zdnet.com)
• The Flip Is Dead, Long Live Portable Video (pcworld.com)

iPad 2 -- Which 3G network is better, AT&T or Verizon?

The iPad 2 is finding its way into trembling hands across the U.S. even as I type. And as prospective buyers rush into the Apple store, they're probably wondering which iPad 2 with 3G service to buy -- the one from AT&T or the one from Verizon?

I've come across two reports showing that AT&T's 3G network is faster than Verizon's. 

* Wired reported on Feb. 17 that in tests conducted by the creators of Speedtest.net, AT&T iPhone transfer rates were "roughly two times faster than the Verizon iPhone's." It's likely to assume that the iPad 2 will perform better on AT&T's 3G network, as well.

* PC World reported on Feb. 22 that in its 13-city tests, AT&T's 3G network was 67 percent faster on average than its competitor's networks, including Verizon. 

Still wondering whether you should get an iPad 2 with 3G? If you travel at all, I recommend it. Yes, Wi-Fi is becoming more widely available (and sometimes free) in airports and hotels. But you can't count on it. Also, if you attend trade shows or conferences, you can't always rely on the show's Wi-Fi signal, either. For example, this week I attended the Search Marketing Expo (SMX) conference in San Jose. The conference Wi-Fi signal was often painfully slow. So instead, I used my iPad's AT&T 3G service--which was actually faster.

Incidentally, SMX attendees were asked several times to turn off their MiFi portable routers, as they were interfering with the Wi-Fi.

 

Related articles

• Macworld's Guide to IPad 2 Launch Day (pcworld.com)
• Early iPad 2 Demand Outstrips Supply (pcworld.com)
• AT&T vs. Verizon iPad 2 Data Plans Comparison Graph (slashgear.com)

 

How to avoid leaving a charger behind in a hotel

The Wall Street Journal recently published a fascinating story about a common problem road warriors face: accidentally leaving behind chargers for smart phones and other devices in hotel rooms.

What's a gadget-laden road warrior to do? 

* Get into the habit of doing a visual sweep of your room before you check out. Look under the bed and check the wall sockets. An obvious tip--but I'm often surprised by how many people don't do this.

* Reduce the number of chargers you pack. I always travel with the Kensington Portable Power Outlet ($25) for a number of reasons. One reason is that it includes 2 USB ports, which I use to recharge my iPhone and Garmin GPS. I don't have to pack chargers for those devices, just their USB cables. Plus, the Kensington recharger is relatively big, so it would be harder to overlook (and thus leave behind) when doing a visual scan of my hotel room before checking out. 

* If you forget to bring a charger, ask your hotel if they've got an extra one for your device. According to the Journal, chances are your hotel will have several chargers for your BlackBerry that previous guests left behind. 

* Pack your chargers in one see-through, compartmentalized bag with labels. I've only just learned about the Kangaroom 2-sided cord pouch ($20), thanks to the Journal article. But it looks like an ideal solution (see image at right), so I bought one.   

Related articles

• Lost Gadget Chargers Are a Problem for You and the Hotel (online.wsj.com)

iPad + Gogo on Delta = the only way to fly

Image via Wikipedia

Just returned from a trip to North & South Carolina from my home in San Francisco. I'd debated taking my iPad and my MacBook Air, because having both seemed like overkill. And I hate overkill, don't you?

But I'm glad I did, and here's why.

All four Delta flights I traveled on offered inflight Wi-Fi via Gogo. Fanastic; love that. Unfortunately, none of the planes had power ports in coach. And my MacBook Air's battery is woefully anemic, especially when Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is on. 

I had hours of work to power through on the plane, much of which required surfing the web. So, the iPad saved the day, thanks to its long-lasting battery. I did my web surfing on the iPad inflight, then used the MacBook Air on the ground to work in Word and PowerPoint. I also used the iPad to watch a movie inflight--Hitchcock's North by Northwest, which I never seem to tire of.

I'm not quite ready yet to travel long distances with just an iPad. And I'm too addicted to the thing to leave it at home. So for the time being, I'll be taking both on trips when I have work to do.

Related articles

• Practical Traveler: Checking Out Wi-Fi Service Onboard Air Liners (travel.nytimes.com)
• Wi-Fi Available on 1 in 3 U.S. Planes (pcworld.com)
• Free Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi on Alaska Airlines this summer (gadling.com)
• The iPad on a Plane: Success! (technologizer.com)

Finally -- the Kindle iPad app lets you search

Image via Wikipedia

Lost among the new Amazon Kindle announcements this week is a feature I've been waiting ever so impatiently for: the ability to search within a Kindle book on the iPad.

I keep a handful of non-fiction Kindle books on my iPad and iPhone, such as Leonard Maltin's annual movie guide. The inability to search these books has been a serious limitation. To look up a movie in the Maltin guide, for instance, I have to use the scroll bar at the bottom of the Kindle app. The lack of search made it seem like Amazon didn't want to make its Kindle apps too appealing. All the more reason to get you to buy a Kindle, which does have built-in search.

Amazon added search to the iPhone app a while back, but only now has added it to the Kindle. It's a bit slow, unfortunately, but better than nothing.

Amazon has also added a dictionary to its Kindle app for iPhones and iPads.

By the way, Apple's iBooks and the Barnes & Noble eReader iPad apps offer searching. The new Borders e-book app for the iPad doesn't.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Amazon Updates Kindle App With Inline Dictionary, More (pcworld.com)
• Amazon updates Kindle app with inline dictionary, more (macworld.com)

First day of summer + Amazon Kindle price drop = great timing

Amazon just dropped the Kindle's price from $259 to $189, apparently in response to a recent drop in price for the Barnes & Noble Nook (now $199 for the 3G and Wi-Fi version). This is great news for anyone who would like an e-reader they can actually read outside, unlike the iPad.

Though I love the iPad, it's next to useless outdoors on a bright, warm day. First off, the screen has too much glare. Fingerprints show all too well on the screen--which might be appropriate when reading a Kay Scarpetta procedural, but otherwise irritating. 

And then there's the iPad's heat sensitivity. A few minutes spent reading on your iPad in the sun, and you're likely to see what I see on my screen (see screen shot to the right). 

Add all this to the discomfort of carrying a $500 or more gadget outside (which is what the iPad costs), and it's clear: If you plan to read a lot outdoors this summer, get a Kindle (or other inexpensive e-book reader with an e-ink screen). Or, imagine this: Take a paperback or a magazine.

One other thought: Amazon's Kindle price drop could be a precursor to a new Kindle, rumored to be coming later this summer.

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• Kindle 3 in July-August? 740K eReaders shipped in April-May? (ireaderreview.com)
• Barnes & Noble Price Cut Will Force Amazon To Cut Price Of Kindle (BOKS, AMZN, AAPL) (businessinsider.com)
• Nook Starts the Price War in E-Readers (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Kindle vs Nook WiFi - $149 Nook WiFi arrives June 23rd (ireaderreview.com)

Is the iPad a netbook killer? Doubtful

Image via Wikipedia

Like sex, conflict sells. Which helps explain recent stories in print and online posing the question, 'Is the iPad a netbook killer?,' and such.

Many bloggers and journalists love to pit one entity against another: Apple vs. Adobe, Google vs. Microsoft, Windows vs. Mac, and so on. Why? Because readers love conflict. They want to see who wins and how they win. Conflict creates friction, drama, intrigue.

But the iPad vs. the netbook? I don't think so.

Fortune and others have pointed out that netbook sales dipped as the iPad became available. 

But I'm with Renee Oricchio, who writes for Inc.: "Netbooks are here to stay. Clearly, so is the iPad. One will not supplant the other."

I own both an iPad and a Samsung netbook. And as much as I loves me some iPad, I have serious reservations about traveling with it in lieu of a netbook or laptop. The iPad is bound by too many limitations at this point. Working with Google Docs, for instance, is difficult at best, and I'm increasingly working in Google Docs with colleagues and clients. Plus, you can't prop an iPad and a Bluetooth keyboard in your lap to get some serious work done while waiting for a flight. And you probably can't get away using a Bluetooth keyboard connected to your iPad during a flight--most airlines won't allow you to use Bluetooth devices in the air.

The iPad would make a great vacation computer--giving you access to email, the Internet, and streaming Netflix movies, while making it difficult to be productive. But for those times when I need to work on the road, I'll continue to take a netbook.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Analyst: iPad Will Outsell Netbooks (cultofmac.com)
• iPad gouges netbook sales (go.theregister.com)
• Forrester Projects Tablet Sales Will Overtake Netbook and Desktop Sales (shoppingblog.com)
• Experts: iPad, tablet rivals will kill netbooks (macworld.com)

When reading outdoors -- take the Kindle, leave the overheating iPad

I was sitting out on our deck the other afternoon, enjoying the warm sun, and reading a book on the iPad.

Suddenly, the book vanished. In its place was a black screen with a yellow caution triangle. The iPad had overheated.  

I'd only been in the sun for about 10 minutes, tops. Apparently, I'm not the only one who's experienced the iPad overheating problem. PC Magazine editor Zach Honig tweeted about his overheated iPad, which he put in his refrigerator to cool off (see Zach's picture below).

In comparison, I've never had this problem with my Kindle. And the Kindle screen is way easier to read in bright sunlight than the iPad's. So if you plan to spend a lot of time in the sun this summer with an e-reader, consider yourself forewarned.

Of course, I'm not about to take my $600 iPad to the beach or a park. But it would be nice to at least use it on my deck. 

How to connect an iPad to a TV

Went to an Apple store yesterday in San Francisco. My goal was to buy whatever dock or cable I needed to connect my iPad to my Sony regular-definition TV set. Confusion ensued.

One sales person told me to do one thing, a second person told me to do something else, and the Apple.com site offered yet another take on the subject. So I'll net it out for you.

Basically, to connect your iPad to a standard-def TV, all you need is the Apple Composite AV Cable ($49). Even though the cables currently on sale in Apple stores don't list the iPad as a compatible device, trust me, it is. As long as the cable in the store has this part number -- MB129LL/B -- on the box, you're good to go.

For high-def TVs, you need the Apple Component AV Cable ($49). Check to make sure MB128LL/B is the part number on the box.

You don't need to buy the Apple iPad Dock ($29) to connect your iPad to a TV. However, if you have the dock, you can connect it to either the Composite or Component AV cable, which then connects the iPad to your TV.

Also, you can connect your iPad to a TV set that has a VGA port if you buy Apple's iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29). 

Unfortunately, as of this moment, you can't use the Apple Remote ($19) to control video on your iPad. Both the iPad and the iPad Dock lack infrared technology. But I suspect there are developers fiendishly devising accessories to solve this problem as we speak.

Oh, one more thing. The Netflix iPad app is superb for streaming video. But when the iPad was connected to my TV, the Netflix video only showed on my iPad screen and not the TV. That would have been amazing.