Windows Live Writer

Apologies for the late post. Internet problems.

Another seldom heard of Windows program, Live Writer is a desktop blog-publishing application. In fact, it’s what I’m writing this post with.

Live Writer is a simplistic yet remarkably efficient and easy to use. Blog setup is very easy, and you can setup multiple blogs, from different sites. The editor is a very nice WYSIWYG one, with snappy graphics and easy editing and tweaking controls. You can easily insert links, photos, albums, tables, maps, tags, and videos from the sidebar, and change text styles from the toolbar. The view can be toggled between normal and source code.

Aside from other standard text-editing features (including spellcheck), Live Writer has a set of options for post windows, various auto corrections (hyphens, etc.), auto linking, and a few others.

At the bottom of the post window there are a few tabs for easy changes in view: Edit, Preview, and Source. The preview, unfortunately, does not keep the theme of your blog nor the recent posts, but the rest is what you’d expect.

And just underneath that are a few other essentials. Categories, tags, and even publishing date. The categories dropdown has got a handy option for creating new categories on the spot, without even opening a new window. It’s also got a refresh button in case you make changes online. The publishing date box has a popup calendar for choosing the date easily.

As you can tell, Live Writer is a simple but complete tool for writing blog posts without having to deal with crummy online editors. I think a lot of people aren’t aware of how much nicer it is to write something up on a fully furnished editor such as this one, so I heavily recommend checking Live Writer out.

Apples Announces iPad

At ten o’clock this morning Apple announced its release of the wildly anticipated tablet, the iPad. And while many people may have been screaming their lungs off in excitement (to quote several sites, “Never since Moses’ time has a tablet been more anticipated”), I had only one word to say: Really?

After watching a few videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIbCF-rxTu8) and reading Apple’s page, I was more than disappointed.

First off, it looks like Japanese fake, and a badly made one at that. It looks like an over sized iPhone and that appearance really doesn’t suit it (remember, this thing has a 9.5 inch screen).

Secondly, it has an on-screen keyboard. And the first thing I said when I heard that was “Again? Seriously?” One would have thought Apple would learn from the iPhone, but apparently not. This time though, they made it worse! Typing on an iPhone is bad enough, but on an iPad you’re already going to have a typing method! And however you type, one thing is for sure: you keep your hands on the keyboard. Well, guess what? Can’t do that with an on-screen keyboard! Nor will you get any tactile feedback. I’m not even going to go into the issues related.

I’m also not going to go into the plethora of other issues: not flash support, no multitasking, no cameras… etc.

Now, a lot of people are saying that this was released mainly with the goal of competing with the Kindle and other ebook readers. And I understand that. But if that’s all Apple wanted, then they should have focused on just that! Nothing more, nothing less. Make a really good ebook reader! Instead, they made some half-assed thing that looks like toy for 4 year olds. It’s better to do one thing well than a dozen poorly.

But nothing can be worse than Apple’s little titles for their descriptions.

“The best way to experience the web, email, photos and video. Hands down.” Other than, you know, on those things called computers, where you can type and watch comfortably. Seriously.

“It’s hard to believe we could fit so many great ideas into something so thin.” Yeah, quite remarkable. Well, you must have sacrificed something… Oh right! The great ideas.

If this is the future of tech, I’m really not looking forward to it. However, maybe someone can save me, reassure me that the iPad is not as bad as it seems.

Google SketchUp

I can only assume Google is reeling in money up to its nose, because it seems to never promote its lesser-known features or products. To name a few, Wave, Google Desktop, and SketchUp.

SketchUp is often the perfect tool for a guy like me, someone who likes to imagine. Someone like Oscar Shell, for those of you who can catch the plug. The best way to plan a concept is to draw it out, and the best way to do that is with SketchUp.

SketchUp is a program for designing 3D blueprints, if you can call them that. The software lets you draw on all three axes and allows you to form 3D shapes along them. It’s got several tools, among them: line, rectangle, circle, eraser, and push-pull. It’s been written ease of use in mind; when drawing, it will automatically align what you’re drawing with the axis or other lines. Also, middle-click-dragging will orbit, and middle-click-dragging-with-shift-held-down will pan. Google has done all possible to make it intuitive.

The only downside to SketchUp is that it’s one of those programs whose main purpose is too complex, and is therefore too hard to use. It’s very hard to pick it up and start drawing right away. It takes a lot of time to get used to it, and even then, nothing will be perfect (as evidenced by my desk diagram). However, should you need this kind of thing on a regular basis, you should definitely take a look as resources are plentiful and potential is abundant (who says tech talk can’t be poetic?).

SketchUp is an incredible program for designing items, and it’s a must have for everyone who likes to design, even if it’ll be seldom used. Check it out.

Paper Towns by John Green (a Review)

Few books can keep you up reading till midnight, but those that do are the ones to be saved and cherished.

Paper Towns is one of those books.

The novel is set in Orlando, Florida. It follows Quentin Jacobson, the main character in his attempt to find his long-time neighbour, friend, and crush, Margo Roth Spiegelman. She has disappeared, just when he thinks he is closer to her than ever, and feels he has to find her. Throughout the journey he discovers more about himself, her, and the connections between people.

John Green does a remarkable job of capturing adolescence and the feeling associated with it and writes an incredibly moving and gripping novel. The story, while an entertaining read, also provides food for thought on the matter of how we perceive others and ourselves.

Those of you who wish to find out more about John Green should check out youtube.com/vlogbrothers as well as www.sparksflyup.com. He has written two other novels, and maintains a very popular video blog with his brother Hank (linked to above).

Paper Towns is an incredible read, one that you’ll never forget. I heavily recommend it to anyone, teenage or not.

To those of you disappointed by the quality of this review, I apologize. I had an appointment with procrastination. Oh, and it’s my first review.

TouchPad – Interactive Mousepad

It occurs to me as I write this that a lot of my conceptual designs are reworkings, or modifications, if you will, of existing products and items. This time, the mousepad.

A lot of effort these day is being put into ergonomic and physically healthy products. There’s the chair-computer which I wrote about a while ago, not the mention the SafeType keyboard, among other things. Some people have actually been designing new mice, such as this one. I was looking into cool mice (thinking about getting a new one for my semi-new computer desk-space) when I found the marble mouse (linked above), and started thinking about similar concepts.

I decided to go with an ideology being implemented by many these days, that being controller-free (there’s no real term for it) usage. The idea of using less material, and more body (think Project NATAL. Google it if you don’t know).

It’s essentially a giant trackpad of sorts. I haven’t exactly ironed out the details, but would work sort of like this: you use your fingers to move the cursor around. With one finger on the surface, you can use another finger to tap and click. With the second finger held down, you can scroll by moving both fingers.

The only issue is this: how do you right click? At the moment, the whole thing actually sounds quite clumsy. I’m trying to figure out if it would be possible for the pad to detect which fingers were being used. If that could happen, then it would be much more convenient and easy to use.

This certainly isn’t a final draft. This concept needs thinking about, and I’m not entirely sure how good an idea it is. Either way, it makes you think about which items deserve changes, and which ones don’t. Is the mouse due for a revolution, a new look? I guess it all depends on what we do with it.

Tech in the Second Decade of the Millennium

What changes I’m expecting, aside from the invention of jetpacks and invisibility cloaks.

1. More tablets

The tech industry has, fortunately enough, realized that tablets are the way to go in terms of mobility. The easy to carry, but not too small that they’re inconvenient. Some people have actually already taken the tablet to a whole new level: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/04/lenovos-u1-is-a-netbook-with-removable-tablet/.

2. Fewer Smartphones

This being caused, of course, by the increase in the number of tablets. The smartphone was good a few years ago, but what with the increase in capabilities of smaller systems as well as people’s expectations, they just no longer do the job. They’re either too small or not good enough.

3. Simple is Better

A few years ago the tech trend or “buzzword” (a term I hate) was “convergence”. That is, cramming as many features as possible into one thing. This ideology brought us smartphones, as well as certain iPods (in particular the touch). But now I think we’re going to see a lot more single-purpose utilities; items that just do one thing. I think the tablet is the future of mobility, and possibly even computing (think of how the laptop has replaced the desktop; the cellphone is replacing the landline) and we will no longer need such excessively bloated devices.

4. More Integration of Tech in the World

I wrote a post a while ago about “Bringing tech into the world” specifically directed at cars. I think this is something we’re going to see a lot of in the next ten years. We already are seeing some of it; some cars are already being equipped with new technologies and features, such as infrared and more complex and intuitive safety devices. I think we’re going to see it apply to other fields as well. Technology is going to be more and more integrated into our lives.

So there they are. Those are my four predictions for what twists and turns the field of technology will take in the upcoming decade. I may add more later, but until then, have fun.

Titanium Mouse – intelligent-design.nl

Every geek loves things that are sleek and silver. Every geek.

I shared my love for the MILK Desk, a beautifully smooth, metal, computer desk a while ago. Now I’m here to introduce an excellent compliment to it. I present: the titanium mouse.

The mouse is made of “titanium, high quality resin plastic”, and has a “neodymium scroll wheel”. It’s wireless (dongle provided) and runs on 2 double A batteries (which are, unlike with other products, provided). One can buy either a white or black model, and it runs on all recent operating systems (excluding linux).

But here’s where I take it to the next level. It’s not being sold in stores yet, and they ask you to fill out a contact form, to which they will reply. And guess what? I did.

After only a couple days, they replied:

“Dear Jeremy R. George,

Thank you for your interest in our Titanium Mouse. The mouse is currently only for sale in The Netherlands. However, for abroad customers we offer the possibility to buy the mouse directly from us. The Titanium mouse costs 400 euro, this is 573.76 U.S. dollars. If you are interested in this offer, please reply to this email. I will then provide you with login details for our online shop.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

–
Met vriendelijke groeten / Kind regards,

Jelke Eerde Schippers”

Despite my including my name in the form, they seem to have… made a slight typo. In any case, the email says it all. $575 dollars is a lot of money, but I really want to try out this mouse. So here’s the deal: if we can raise the amount necessary to buy the mouse, I’ll buy it and make a video review. Just email me at talkingpyjamas@gmail.com. As soon as some interest is shown I’ll set up a paypal account. Think it can happen? As the hip young guy said to the African tribes: Phat chants!

Either way, please comment and, if possible, donate.

Surrounding Computer Desk

As was mentioned in my “The Perfect Computer Desk” post, I’ve always been fascinated with computer workspaces. The perfect area for computing, equipped with everything high-tech and modern needed.

I’ve always wanted to have a desk like this, and there’s nothing I like more than designing this sort of thing.

Those of you who read my original Perfect Desk post will be very impressed to see I’ve managed to master Google SketchUp, or at least the bare minimum. It’s surprisingly fun, once you get used to it.

The three new components are rather obvious: the glass whiteboard, the cheap projector, and the projecting screen. The glass whiteboard is an idea I got after seeing it first on LoadingReadyRun here. It’s a cool idea and it’s very sleek, but I’m not sure it’s actually convenient. I’ve heard people say that it’s hard to see the writing, and I imagine the translucency might be an issue, which is why I’m considering just a regular whiteboard. Either way, I love the idea of being able to just turn in my chair and take notes or brainstorm.

On top of it, I’d like to have a projector lying on a piece of wood (or something) attached to the wall. I could use it to watch movies which would be projected onto the screen (or white wall) across the room. And of course, all I have to do to watch them is swivel.

That’s all I’ve got so far; I’m trying to think of more cool stuff to add to this setup. Suggestions are appreciated.

Talking Pyjamas v2.0

In light of the new year (as well as certain other circumstances) I’ve decided, as I mentioned earlier, to make a few changes. So here they are.

New About Post:

I’ve modified the About page to include some more information about myself and the blog.

New Sidebar Items:

I’ve added a few sidebar tools (categories, subcrictions, and search) to help you browse the site and find posts.

New Slogan:

I’ve decided to change the taglline for the blog, seeing as the old one was intended for a blog about my life in general. I’ve been thinking about a new one. At the moment it’s “A blog of technology, literature, and social studies.” However, I’ll be working on a new one, and would appreciate suggestions.

New Banner:

The banner has been updated in lieu of the new changes.

New Update Schedule:

Due to the difficulty I’ve been having updating on a regular basis (thanks to school and other matters) I’ve decided to change the update days to Wednesday and Friday.

With that said, I wish you all a Happy New Year, and hope that this one will be better than the last.

See you on thursday,

~Zack