Google Chrome Needs Advertising?

Maybe I am that much of a tech geek that I find silly the fact that Google NEEDS to advertise their Google Chrome browser. If you haven't downloaded it, you should. It's much quicker IMHO than any other browser. It also integrates very nicely with all the Google apps that I use - gmail, documents, reader, etc. Regardless, the commercial is classic Google - simple and to the point.

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The yearning begins: New Apple iPhone (concept?)

My interest is piqued to say the least:

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QIK: Focus Group for BB Storm and iPhone

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My first deep dive into the Wii

I am an early adopter when it comes to technology. I always have the latest mobile devices. I like testing out beta software. Friends, family and even co-workers often come to me when they need computer help (yea, I'm THAT guy).

The early adopter mentality has also taken me down the gamer path. We had one of the earliest video game systems - before ColecoVision. The earliest game system we has was actually a PC that loaded games up via cassette tape. I remember having to load the game up at least 20 or so minutes before you could play.

Then we migrated to atari, then Nintendo, then Sega Genesis, then Playstation and finally to Xbox. Then I got married, had kids and that was pretty much the end of my gaming tenure.

Then came yesterday.

My wife and I were sitting around contemplating what to do with our free weekend time. I had a long week at work and really just wanted to chill out. My wife turns to me and says, "why don't you go out and buy the Wii." I immediately hopped in the shower and was out the door in about 15 minutes. (subsequently, my wife did a pre-scouting call to Best Buy in Everett, MA to ensure that there were some in stock).

As I buzzed down Route 16 with excitement I thought to myself that I couldn't want to get back into gaming mode. I got to Best Buy, bought the unit, an extra controller and a handful of games - strategically buying a couple kids games and a couple that my wife could get into). And oh yea, I bought Call of Duty: World at War, Madden and NBA Live (almost bought NHL too).

With blue bags in hand, I jumped back into the CRV Dukes of Hazard style and raced down Route 16, successfully avoiding a speeding ticket.

Set up was extremely easy. A few plug-ins here, some on-board set-up stuff and we were off to the races.

I ended up pulling a 2am-er, that's how much I got into the "time suck" as one of my Twitter buddies said.

So after a good chunk of time playing a variety of games, here's a few things I noticed after my first deep dive on the Wii:

Everyone can truly play. Every game I bought, with the exception of Call of Duty, has settings that will allow even those tech challenged to join in on the fun. Take the sports games for example. All you need to master is a few movements with the Wii controller and you have it mastered.

It really is fun for the entire family. I had the best time playing bowling with my wife and oldest daughter (not to mention our friend Grace who ended up coming over for a wine/Wii fest).

You really don't need Wii fit to get a work out. After playing a few back to back boxing games, tennis, bowling, etc. your arm starts to feel like you've been carrying groceries up eight flights of stairs.

Sports games aren't as difficult to play as they are on other game systems. Since I'm a huge sports fan, I found the game play a bit amateurish yet still fun and engaging (really just an excuse to still get the XBox 360). I could see myself getting sports games for both systems at some point because the functionality and "feel" of the game play is entirely different.

The "other" stuff Wii brings to the table is very cool. For example, you can purchase an "Internet" channel, which is basically the Opera web browser. I was able to check Boston.com this morning and get my morning news fix. The speed over my wireless network is great. The browsing is very simple. The graphics look great on my 42 inch plasma. I was even able to reply to a couple Twitter messages.


So for those in the market for a gaming system and you have kids. I highly suggestion the Wii. It can not only satisfy your hardcore gaming needs, but it also will be fun for the entire family.

And oh yea, be sure to have some aspirin or sports creme handy because the next morning you're arms are gonna feel like you were power lifting for a week straight. Read more!

Blackberry Storm review

My passion for technology is well document on this blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. For those that read this blog, you know that I've been itching for the iPhone since it came out. I'm on VZW and my work email isn't supported by the iPhone so when the Blackberry Storm came out, I instantly wanted to get it.

However, I held out because first generation devices are typically buggy. A few people in the office got the Storm before I did and I took every opportunity I could to mess around with theirs - try and get a feel for it.

Here are my first reactions, likes, dislikes, etc. since being a Storm owner for three days now.

On first glance, the device is a sharp looking piece of equipment. It's sleek, cutting edge in terms of design. It's a little heavier than my Blackberry Curve, but that was ok because I don't like flimsy feeling-type gadgets.

Here are some other bulleted thoughts:

1. I was very hesitant at first about the keyboard. I have an iPod touch and it took me quite some time to get used to clicking a screen versus hitting buttons. I have big hands and clumsy thumbs. I mastered the Curve and was banging emails out in seconds. I read all the reviews on the Storm and that was the biggest issue with it. Hardcore BB users would not like it because it wasn't as easy to type with. However, after reading some real user reviews, the sense was that you had train your thumbs to manipulate the keyboard. After three days, I've become pretty fast in typing - not as quick as with the Curve, but getting better as the usage rolls along.
   
   
2. Another complaint about the Storm is the navigation. Users liked the track ball and said that you could get to whatever app you needed quickly. I agree that you have to take a couple more steps to get to what you want to open/use on the Storm. However, the customization is great on the Storm, giving you the opportunity to create folders and put frequently-used apps on the home screen. You could do this on the Curve, but in my experience, it's much easier to do on the Storm.
   
   
3. I love the idea of an application center on the Storm. I'm hoping that the volume of apps becomes as deep as what's available for the iPhone/iPod Touch. It's a great concept and one that has great potential.
   
   
4. Flipping back and forth to items on the Storm is as easy as holding down the menu key and switching via a Mac Dock-like function. Lots of folks complained that you can't get to what you need to use on the Storm without clicking a few times. That's not entirely true with the use of the switch app functionality (also available on other BB devices, but not has easy to trigger as it is on the Storm).
   
   
5. The screen is also a source for contention with some users. You see, the touch screen is actually one big button. You actually have to "click" the screen into order to type and select applications. There are two other functions to the screen. One is the moving, scrolling, zooming functions - all the stuff you need to read email and browse the web. Secondly, there's a mid-touch-type function that allows you to scroll through points of text. It's a half click or sorts that allows you to edit text and scroll side to side, top to bottom in emails and documents.
   
   
6. The camera on the phone is decent, not great, but does what it needs to do. The quality of the pictures, on a scale of one to 10, is about a six. It's good in situation when the light is ample. The flash, in dark situation, sometimes can be too powerful - a problem I experienced on the Curve as well.
   

Overall, I find the Storm to be exactly how I expected - a Blackberry at heart with cool functionality, great graphics capabilities, more multi-media options and the ability to view the web in full versus in a mobile version.

I'm glad I made the switch and am looking forward to the next generation of Blackberry's with touch screen capabilities, unless, of course, the iPhone comes to Verizon and it supports Lotus Notes.

;) Read more!

You know when you're getting old when...

...your five year old daughter is getting pretty good at playing on the "puter." She knows how to start Firefox (daddy, all I have to do is click on the firey world). She knows what the Playhouse Disney icon looks like on the tool bar and clicks it to get going.

I've been trying to show her new things from time to time. Today, I fired up Paint for her and let her use "daddy's puter pen" - basically the graphic pen that comes with my design tablet. She got the hang of it pretty quick and drew this (less the date):

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Obama Weekly Address, Dec. 6, 2008

I enjoying watching President Elect Obama's weekly address...on YouTube.

How strange is to say those two words in the same sentence - President-Elect and YouTube?

Obama's use of social media is a case study in the making. Twenty-five years from now when weekly addresses via web 10.0 are the norm, we'll be looking back at Obama's ground-breaking strategy to use every communication channel he can to get his message out there.

This week he hits on critical issues like the economy, technology in the classroom, infrastructure and healthcare - all issues that no matter what side of the isle you are on, you can resonate with.

He talks about the importance of upgrading all schools in this country so they are state-of-the-art. Now, I know that's a very tall task, but imagine an infusion in cash that rebuilds all schools in your city/town? There would no longer be a battle by parents to get their kids in to the best looking schools from a brick and mortar perspective (though what's happening inside is probably more important). However, Obama also talks about putting the best technology in the classroom possible. I couldn't agree more. He states that in order for our kids to be competitive in this global marketplace, they are going to be tech-saavy - and when I say they, I mean everyone - not just privileged kids.

Watch the video. It's short and to the point. Not that I want to fast forward time, but I am looking forward to seeing how this man will impact our country and, in turn, history.

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If you're using Facebook...

...you'd probably like Twitter. I won't get into the details here, but I've mentioned my use of it from time to time. It's another way to keep in touch with family, friends, business associates, high school buddies, etc. It has personal and businesses uses and is still a relatively "unknown" in terms of it's power.

In recent months, I've noticed more and more people migrating to Facebook from MySpace. The same will happen with Facebook to Twitter. Don't let me tell you I told you so. At the end of the day, social media is about connecting with people and while passing a drink to your buddy is fun, it really doesn't provide value to that relationship - the conversation does. That's what's happening on Twitter. There are a slew of competitors, but they will all face the wrath that one did earlier this week purely because Twitter has a stronghold on the micro-blogging market for sure.

Lots of people are using it: celebs, musicians, athletes, moms, social media experts, advertising personalities (the "I'm a PC" guy), actors (dude from Hero's) and brands that you might like, etc.

Thanks to @ecmsl for the plug on this story that basically gives you the Twitter 101. Read more!

Blackberry Storm reviews

If you're a gadget geek, you have to love Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. The guy gives it to you straight. No BS. No company marketing spin. The guy just understands who these devices work, what flaws they have, what's great about them and how they stack up against the competition.

All the rage today and tomorrow will be about the Blackberry Storm. My fawning over it has been documented here (just as much as my fawning over the iPhone).

Here's what Walt has to say about the BB Storm:


Two other reviews that should be checked out if you're in the market for this device is Hiawatha Bray's of the Boston Globe and the USA Today review. Read more!

Pt. 2 of VZW's BB Storm Commercial

Oh man...

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So maybe I won't get an iPhone

Cruising around the interwebs this morning and trolling through my RSS reader and I've been reading a lot of chatter about the Blackberry Storm 9530. If the iPhone does come to Verizon AND it can handle my Lotus Notes email, this might be a tough decision. Of course, this will be a self-funded item (non-work related) so I'm hoping that the costs are relatively decent so it doesn't kill the wallet. Rumors of the storm are in the $200 range without a new contract. We'll see about that.

November is the launch date so either I am an early adopter OR I wait to see what MacWorld brings to the Verizon line-up (read: potentially the iPhone).

In the meantime, check out this promo video.

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Jackin' webcams; oh zeez

What else will hackers come up with? These people should be hired as consultants for the federal government and fight the war on the digital front instead of trying to hack the machines of hard working consumers.

Details about the cross-platform browser exploitation technique known as "clickjacking" have started to emerge. Among the more alarming ways it can be used: covertly watching and listening to people who have microphones and Webcams attached to their computers.

Check out this story about jacking webcams.

[VIA: InformationWeek] Read more!

Future of Personal Computing

My brother and I were hanging out last night in what will be the future man-town in the Martelli house hold. During these polar beer sessions (what we call hanging out in the dark, no-light allowed basement, we cover a variety of topics that span from sports, family, technology, life in general, work, music, movies, beer, stogies, food, etc., etc. Last's night topic brought to light the future of personal computing. So when this happens, just remember that you read it here first.

We all know about the popularity of the iPhone and how it revolutionized the mobile platform. Eventually, all mobile devices will be an all-touch-type device with no or little navigation buttons (just enough to do certain short-cut things like trigger the voice activation, camera phone, etc.

Eventually, all mobile devices will be as powerful as macbook pros/high-end laptops/desktops. All one will have to do is take their 3 terabyte iphone into their living room/kitchen/bedroom/study, etc. and it'll automatically sync with your plasma/lcd screen. There, you will have an option of firing up the personal computer portion of your device or you can use it to control your television viewing (cable, tivo, other dvrs, surround sound, etc.) Once you are bored with what you are watching, you switch back to the personal computer mode and check email, surf the web. The device will have it's own touch keyboard and can also be used as a mouse just by moving it. You will have the option for the use of bluetooth keyboards and a mouse. If you're really on the cutting edge, your plasma will light up a virtual keyboard and touchpad area that will give you full a keyboard/mouse option.

Now that we've covered personal computing and television viewing, let's chat about how else your mobile device will chance your life.

Imagine going walking by the refrigerator, on your way to the bathroom. The fridge will send a message to your device that you are almost out of milk, eggs and butter. Those messages are stored in your device so every day, a list gets sent to your local grocery store who will deliver the products to your house the next day.

Yes, there is a huge big brother thing going on here, but that's where we are headed people. Folks are getting more and more comfortable with allowing others to see their location via GPS as well as share personal information over the internet.

This powerful device will eliminate the need to carry around cash, ID, membership cards, etc. Everything you need to manage your life will be accessible in your device. Worried about hacking? No way. Security on these devices are so tight that it's backed by the government. Worried about losing your device? No worries. The device is only useable by those authorized to do so...by finger print and eye scan.

So yea, I know this is some crazy, Jetsons thinking here, but after about a case and half of beer, my brother and I thought we were really on to something.

;) Read more!

Twitpic hacked?

To those of you who use Twitpic, please beware that your account might be hacked or at some point, might get hacked.

I posted something today and immediately after it showed up in my Twitter stream, another post appeared that said something like "my kids are impressed with my new job at the pet store." When I clicked on the link it brought me to my Twitpic stream and the picture that was shown was of two kittens doing the nasty.

I changed my pin on my Twitpic email address to see if that did the trick. I posted something and haven't seen any spam posts following it. Think that did the trick. My advice folks is to change you pin when you get a chance.

Why would people even bother trying to figure something like that out? It's stupid. Read more!

Simple explanation as to why the iPhone matters

Most of my readers, twitter followers, family members, people I work with, etc. all know that I'm itching to get an iPhone. I've covered the reasons. I know that the device has revolutionized mobile devices, but here's an explanation as to why the iPhone really matters. It's a technical reason, but explained in a consumer-ish way by Wall Street Journal columnist and media tech God, Walter Mossberg:

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Google Chat for iTouch as well?

Trolling through the old Google Reader this a.m. and saw this post about Google Chat being available for the iPhone.

Anyone have an indication that it's also available on the iPod Touch? Everything launched for the iPhone has typically worked on the iTouch.

My iPhone obsession continues. Read more!

Media players

Just trolling through my Google Reader and came across a post mentioning Real Networks. That got me thinking. What media player do you prefer? I use iTunes when I'm playing stuff off of my iPod Touch and use Windows Media Player when I'm playing stuff off of my hard drive.

As for Real Player...is anyone actually using it anymore?

I've rarely used it. When I did, I found the interface annoying. Additionally, it didn't provide any real value to my PC. Yea, it played proprietary RM files, but I could also grab a plugin for WMP. Lastly, I hated the constant pop-ups (until I learned I could kill 'em). IMHO Real Media will never break through the player market. It's smart that they latched on to a music service (Rhapsody), but even then, most folks who buy music tend to get stuff through iTunes (a gross assumption, I know, but it has some legs). Read more!

Baby Smash (my computer)

Check this out (thanks Lifehacker). It's a free application that you can download and then allow your kid to have at it with your computer WITHOUT killing your machine (not sure about the keyboard though)

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Blackberry Thunder or iPhone?

This sounds very intriguing.

The Thunder, exclusive to Verizon, sounds like a nice device, but for me, it's still all about the iPhone and having full work functionality. The issue I'm facing is the fact that I'm with Verizon AND work uses Lotus Notes.

For a self-proclaimed tech geek, this doesn't sit well. Read more!

More on the new Apple Store...features

Got my hands on the Apple press release regarding the new Apple story on Boylston Street. Here are some of the details of the new building.

- It's the largest Apple store in the US
- Has two floors of Macs, iPhones and iPods for customers to "experience hands-on"
- Third and top floor is dedicated to "innovative services including the Genius Bar and personal training through Apple's popular One to One program."
- The store also "introduces Pro Labs to Boston, offering free, in-depth training on Apple's industry leading pro applications including Final Cut Pro"

This isn't on the release, but apparently the building has some sort of rain catch-basin that can recycle water. It also has a number of "green" features apparently. I got this second hand, BTW.

Regardless, pretty cool to have an Apple store a block down the street from the office. This will help me in my quest to rid my household of PC's and go strictly Mac.


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