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[hack] In Which Matt Reviews the iPad

Matt Tharp — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:21:20 +0000

Ah… the much talked about, super-hyped device from Apple is now available (although in limited supply). There were less than 50 available in Wichita on launch day, so for those of you who haven’t pre-ordered, I thought I would provide my sixty-two cents about the tablet that is hailed (by Apple) as “Magical”.

First, it’s beautiful. In other obvious news, the sky is blue. This is one of the most beautiful devices ever – inside and out. Great user interface, sexy screen, fast and fluid transitions – everything about it is beyond supermodel hot. The question was never “Will Apple make the tablet more attractive than it’s PC brethren?” but rather was it just going to be pretty and cool.

The real question is, is the iPad necessary? Is it a “must have” device? That’s what I spent my weekend trying to answer. And my feeling so far is – it will be. I think, like the iPod before it, this is going to redefine how we interact with media. The iPad is not going to replace the PC, it’s not going to replace the TV, it’s not going to replace magazines or comic books – it’s going to replace 90% of our interactions with ALL of them. What I realized after using the iPad is how the laptop and desktop PC are really clunky devices for interacting with media.

The iPad is the first device that really integrates all types of media in a way that feels natural. It doesn’t redefine how a user will interact with print media the way the internet did, but it consolidates all the different types of printed media into one user interface in a way that feels natural. Maybe even supernatural. Reading GQ felt similar to reading a normal issue, minus the ability to flip pages quickly. Reading a comic book was the same. Then I watched a movie, which was fantastic. I streamed a television show through the Netflix app, then surfed the web. I played a game, then surfed the web some more.

Do I need an iPad to do all this? No. I have a tv, Netflix can send me a DVD, I can buy an issue of GQ or Iron Man and I can watch or read all of them from my bed. What I can’t do without an iPad is BUY all of them from my bed, and interact with all of them on one device (except my iPhone, which alwasy felt too small for reading or watching movies.) For the first time, my iPhone didn’t feel like my primary device for keeping up to date – it felt optional. Like, if I’m REALLY on the go, the iPhone keeps me connected to everything I need easily through all the same apps I run on the iPad. But for most of what I do that isn’t work, the iPad feels like the proper device for it.

I don’t need a PC to surf the web, it’s just been my only option. I don’t need a TV to watch shows, nor is a large laptop the best second option, but until the iPad it’s been my ONLY real second option. The iPad is a revolutionary device that we won’t fully experience for months as app developers catch up with the new capabilities. So for now, the iPad is a cool thing to have for early adopters, Apple gadget lovers, app developers, and people who like to digest a wide variety of media without the need for a full size keyboard all the time. If you are creating content, you still need a computer. If you are interacting with media though, the iPad is really all you need.

Sorry netbooks, you’ve just been replaced.

[hack] Share Your Wichita Location with Foursquare & Gowalla

Shea Sylvia — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:35:53 +0000

On Saturday, I became the mayor of Larry Bud’s.

This was a big moment for me. After weeks of visiting the popular sports bar (it’s located in the same strip mall as my day job – don’t judge), I finally ousted the current mayor.

No, I wasn’t voted into office by election. There wasn’t a huge political coup or even a duel between the former mayor and me. I managed to kick him out by the power of my Blackberry and a little app called Foursquare.

Welcome to the stalker-friendly, over-sharing world of location based social networks.

The concept is quite simple; mix microblogging with maps and turn it into a game. Using services like Foursquare and Gowalla, users can “check in” from their smartphone when they arrive at a restaurant, bar, store or even their workplace or homes (although those two are kind of nerdy and should generally be avoided). Check-ins can be broadcast across other social networks like Twitter and Facebook to let your friends know where you are and what you’re up to.

With each check in, you can also see if other users are at your location. Maybe a friend is sitting at a table across the restaurant and you didn’t even realize it. An even more useful component is the list of tips and recommendations left by those who have checked in before you. These can range from great drink specials to can’t-miss dishes to secret menu items and more.

I know what you’re thinking: “This is lame. Why do I want anyone to know where I am and why would they care?”

To be honest, this location stuff is not for everyone (probably the same individuals who don’t “get” Twitter). But there is a compelling twist; both Foursquare and Gowalla have points systems and offer rewards. With each check in, you earn points which can turn into badges. You can also earn badges for specific things like checking in after 3 am on a “school night” or going out for multiple nights in a week.

But the ultimate reward? Free stuff. For example, some bars and restaurants in large cities offer specials to the Foursquare “mayor” of their location (and one can only hope Wichita business owners will jump on that bandwagon). Who is the mayor? The user who has checked in more times than anyone else at a specific location.

It may seem dangerous to broadcast your location to the rest of the internet, but that’s where you need to be smart. Only add people as friends on location based social networks if you actually know them. Don’t link your Fourquare or Gowalla account with Twitter or Facebook if you want to keep your location a bit more private (this will also prevent you from spamming your followers and friends). Don’t check in someplace if you don’t want people to know you’re there. Basically, use common sense and be careful.

Like all social networking tools, Foursquare and Gowalla are about connecting you with other people and having fun. So if you’re curious, give it a try. Just don’t try to take over my mayorship of Larry Bud’s. I worked hard for that one.

Now I just need to figure out how I can oust the current mayor of The Anchor…

[help] Low-Cost Health Care in Wichita

Veronica Hill — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:18:17 +0000

Most of us don’t have time to get sick. Taking time away from work and family responsibilities isn’t an option for many. And while Groundhog Day may tell us winter is on the way out, being a target for both seasonal and non-seasonal illnesses never lets up.

Everyone knows that getting sick sucks. Worse, everyone knows that paying for getting sick sucks. Yes, there are assistance programs out there, but many of them seem to be open to only a certain income bracket or only available to single-parent families or individuals with special needs. Fortunately, there are many options for low-cost medical and dental care in Wichita.

Project Access: Via Christi offers this patient assistance program to help uninsured or underinsured patients get donated services for a condition until that condition is resolved. Basically, they donate all testing (lab, X-ray) and hospital services, and then they coordinate care until the patient is healed.

Community Clinics: The Sedgwick County Health Department website provides comprehensive lists of community health clinics (such as Healthy Options and GraceMed), H1N1 vaccine clinics and dates, and Health Access and Health Equity information. They also have resources on education, how to quit smoking, and even some healthy recipes.

See to Learn: This website lists optometrists who offer free or reduced-cost vision checks. The website infers that this is for kids; however, adults are often able to find success as well. Always ask when you call the office.

Kansas Dental Association: A directory of providers that offer financial assistance or reduced-cost care.

WSU Student Health Services: If you’re a student, I recommend the walk-in clinic for minor issues like sinus infections or the flu. A nurse-practitioner will generally see you, but you can schedule time with a doctor too. The Dental Hygiene department also offers free teeth cleanings and is also open to the public.

I hope this list helps you find a service you may have not known about before, but if you’ve got a local health care secret – let me know!

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[think] What’s Cool Now: The Future

Matt Tharp — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:00:12 +0000

When verb [ICT] asked me to write a weekly column about trends, I thought it would be important to establish a few things up front:

I like gadgets
I like the interwebs
I am into clothes
I like to make things
I’m obsessed with well-designed anything

So to kick off 2010 properly, here’s what I think is cool for the whole damn year: The Future. For the first time in 21st century, I feel like we finally have some futuristic shit to enjoy. Sure, we don’t have teleportation or flying cars, we can’t push a button on the wall and have food instantly appear, and I don’t have an astrodroid (R2D2 style) or a lightsaber. However…

I get to watch live streaming games of my team, the Los Angeles Lakers, on my phone – anywhere. Electric cars are a reality and we’ll be able to buy them soon. Boeing had a successful test of a plane mounted laser device for shooting down missles, so at least in theory, we’re close to laser warfare (also a long way from lightsabers… thank god.) But the really exciting thing for me about 2010 is the impending transition of traditional media to web-based or digital media.

I’m not talking about blogs, Twitter, etc. I’m talking about the Apple tablet (and the subsequent copycats from Microsoft and Google) and how it will impact print media and television media over the next couple years. In the same way music went digital a few years ago with the iPod and iTunes, we’re about to witness a wholesale change in the way we consume media. Which is all that much cooler and more futurey because of the new touch-based devices like the iPhone and Apple tablet.

As a member of Generation X, I’m the last of the vinyl LP generation. I’m the last generation to remember owning a TV with knobs. I was one of the last groups of teenagers to get through high school without a cellphone. I owned a Palm Pilot that had a black/green screen, no backlight, and required a pen to do anything. It wasn’t much except a calendar and contact book. And now I carry around a phone that has better graphics than my first four video game consoles, has faster internet than my first four laptops, and also has most of my current music collection, favorite movies and some cool tv shows. And did I mention I can watch the Lakers play on it… live.

As a child of the seventies and eighties, I am so excited for 2010 to finally get closer to the future I was promised as a child watching 80’s sci-fi and Jetsons cartoons. Mister Spacely won’t be yelling at me from my wall this year (though he probably will this decade), but there is a high likelihood that he will from my digital magazine/newspaper/TV/internet/iChat device by June.

Hello future. Happy new year.

[hack] No, I Don’t Want to Join Your Mafia

Aimee Brock — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:23:36 +0000

Oh, look. My friend sent me a cow. And then another cow. And then an olive tree. And then a hay bale. And then 100 Farkle chips. And then a bumper sticker. And then threw a sheep at me. And then fought me on YoVille. And NO AND THEN! NO AND THEN!

If you’ve ever spent a weekend away from Facebook, you’ve probably experienced the aforementioned scenario. Friends bombarding you with application invitations until you seriously weigh just de-friending them. The notifications. The gifts. The “Hey! Can you send me a horse?” messages. It seems like some applications were developed specifically for testing the limits of one’s friendships: “If you can endure my FarmVille usage, you can endure anything.”

On the list of worst ideas of the past 100 years, Facebook applications falls between filling the Hindenburg with hydrogen and Pauly Shore’s acting career. While some apps enhance the user experience, most are just fall into dumb and/or annoying categories.

Apart from the annoyance factor, Facebook applications present a security risk. Unless you specifically tell it not to, Facebook will share all of the information you put on your profile with outside affiliate websites and applications. It’s all to better target marketing efforts, but it’s an invasion of privacy. So here are a few ways to reclaim your Facebook sanity and security.

First, disable Beacon and Facebook Connect. Beacon allows third party websites to send stories about your actions to Facebook. And Connect sends your profile information from Facebook to outside applications. Without sounding too paranoid, both are essentially information-harvesting tools. By going to Settings > Privacy Settings > Applications > Settings > Select “Don’t allow friends to view my memberships on other websites through Facebook Connect” and “Don’t allow Beacon websites to post stories to my profile.” This minimizes the security risk associated with applications.

Second, block all annoying applications. When you have 50+ pending requests, clicking “ignore” for each of them gets a bit tedious. By blocking an application before it starts pissing you off, you’re saving yourself a lot of time that would otherwise be spent cursing at your monitor while ignoring requests. To block an application, visit the app’s page. Confirm your action. Then go back to the original request and ignore it.

Finally, minimize irrelevant content. Facebook has this rad little feature that makes the visibility of application boxes global. So if you minimize a box on one friend’s page, it’s minimized on all friends’ pages. So no more scrolling down for 15 minutes to post “Hey, how about you get a real hobby that doesn’t involve sending a stupid Facebook gift requests?” on your friend’s wall.

So what are your thoughts on Facebook applications? Love them? Hate them? Bane or blessing?

Image Credit

[shop] Holiday Gift Guide: Electronics

Matt Tharp — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:10:39 +0000

If you haven’t noticed, our country survives when we buy stuff. We buy houses and the economy booms. Black Friday is the new Fourth of July in America. Love it or hate it, it’s reality. If you missed out on waiting in line at 4 am last Friday, here are some shopping tips for helping get our country back into the black.

HDTVs

TVs are this year’s game system. Last year, people were choking their neighbors for a Wii. This year, folks will be braving the swine flu for a new HDTV. LCD or Plasma? 1080p or 720p? What does it mean if it has a 120hz refresh rate?

The knock on Plasma used to be it’s lifespan. Specifically, it was shorter than an LCD. Modern manufacturing has changed this and now they have roughly the same lifespan, which is to say neither will last nearly as long as your old tube television, just like my fancy washer and dryer will never last as long as the one my parents had for 18 years. In fact, my jeans will outlive both. Yay for disposable appliances. 120hz refresh rate is, as far as I can tell, not important. Even the geeks at CNET can’t tell a 60HZ refresh rate from a 120hz refresh rate, so don’t believe for a minute that the helpful little goof at Best Buy can tell the difference. As long as it’s 1080p, you’ll be happy. And the difference between 1080p and 720p is really obvious as soon as you try to play a Blu-ray or Xbox 360 or PS3 games.

E-book Readers

This was supposed to be the new iPod. Which is totally true if you are comparing it to the first iPod that was 5GB, had a black and white LCD screen, and was about the size of a deck of cards. I’m sorry Sony and Amazon, but you are manufacturing technology that will be completely obsolete sometime next year when Apple releases the tablet. It’s going to happen. I’m not just a delusional fanboy. If you buy an e-book reader for a loved one this christmas, include a sweet little note that says “Don’t invest in accessories. This gift is only good for a few months at best. Love, Johnny.” Then ask your friend to slap you for wasting $200.

GPS

I’m embarrassed to say it, but I need one of these. Sorta. My iPhone has awesome Google Maps integration which almost does the same thing. It doesn’t tell me in a snobby english accent that I missed my turn and now it’s recalculating. Again. But if I quickly glance down at my phone it will confirm that i’m not quite at my destination yet. I should really have a GPS. If you leave Wichita once a year, it’s probably worth it. You can also buy one for the family member you don’t like and program the “Home” location somewhere in Nebraska. Eventually your sister-in-law will get the hint. Hint: for extra fun, definitely find the snottiest British voice on the GPS. After each time it has to recalculate, the voice gets more and more irritated.

DSLR Cameras

Nikon must be feeling crushed by Canon because it seems everyone has a great deal on Nikon DSLRs this year. I’ve been shopping DSLRs for a couple years and, if you aren’t buying for a professional photographer, you can get a great consumer DSLR with an extra lens at no less than 3 different retailers this season. If you’re spending real money on someone this year, a DSLR makes a great gift (and can mark the beginning of a serious hobby).

Computers

I always think these are the biggest scam each year. Here is my recommendation: if it has a Celeron processor, run away as fast as you can. If it’s pre-loaded with Windows XP, it’s because it’s underpowered – otherwise it would have Vista or Windows 7. And while Atom processors are great for 10 inch netbooks, they’ll probably be obselete by February in a 15″ laptop. Buyer beware.

What am I asking for this Christmas?

Well, I’m pretty blessed. Really, I haven’t even thought about a wish list. I’m going to be looking for an opportunity to donate some time and money to help some of the many families who are struggling this year and encouraging my kids to do the same.

And I’m totally holding out for the Apple Tablet next year.

Image Credit

[hack] Why the Apple Tablet?

Matt Tharp — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:30:27 +0000

Tablet PCs have been around for a while. HP made a touchscreen interface for a desktop PC a few yearrs ago and no one cared. We already have ebook readers from Sony, Amazon, and more on the way this holiday season. So why does an Apple tablet spark such curiosity and desire? I think there are clues to be found in other consumer products that help us understand the demand for an Apple tablet.

First, the existing tablets. Take a laptop, then spin the monitor and lay it flat and you have the existing tablet PC. It’s large, it’s bulky, it makes no sacrifices for the sake of size, comfort, weight. In fact, like much about the Windows-based PC market, these tablet notebooks have everything. – which, I believe, is the problem. If you look at the PC market as a whole, there is a definite trend towards simplification and beautification. (Thanks, Apple.) While there has always been a demand for these computers, it’s been small, and the realities of a “non-touch”-based OS create complications for users that make this experience exactly like their work computers. People want different.

Next, the netbook market. Finally, people started to realize two facts about their computer usage – that they mostly used it for the Internet, and that portability was more important than 15 USB ports, jacks for every imaginable monitor type, five audio ports, slots for every memory card type, and the PCI card slot. Seriously, who uses the PCI card slot? For daily use, we need it to be small, light, have built in Wi-Fi and possibly 3G, and be capable of occasionally playing a game.

Now, have you ever seen someone with an iPhone? How many times during your conversation did they check their phone? Did they get an e-mail? Text message? Facebook or Twitter alert? Did they Google what you were discussing to see who was right? While I am an iPhone user, I also tend to find the average iPhone user dreadfully dependant on their device. Why does this matter? Of the iPhone users I know, the only reason they use a traditional computer for personal use is the convenience of more screen real estate.

With blogs, online magazines, feed readers, social media, iTunes, Hulu, and more, we are less tethered by our devices and becoming more accustomed to having all our media tethered to us. Think about never needing to carry another magazine, newspaper, book, iPod, or… dare I say… laptop for general travel again? With the App Store and touch interface of the iPhone, and the potential for a device up to 10″, it seems that the holy grail of portable media may finally be here. If you don’t believe it’s coming, remember the last time a device from Apple was rumored for this long and with this many detail leaks, we ended up with the iPhone. It’s not a matter of if, but rather when, and I’m downright giddy with anticipation.

(image source)