Alex Luft http://alexluft.com Everything and anything about me. posterous.com Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:29:00 -0700 Why Android will remain a terrible user experience unless... http://alexluft.com/why-android-will-remain-a-terrible-user-exper http://alexluft.com/why-android-will-remain-a-terrible-user-exper

Having used the Motorola Atrix and Cliq 2 for a week, I finally understand the fundamental flaw with Android: the fact that device makers need (and are allowed) to differentiate between their devices in software (Motorolla, HTC, Samsung etc.). This "faux-differentiation" leads to fragmentation and -- ultimately -- the worst user experience possible. For instance, what in the world is MotoBlur and why is it on Motorola Android devices and not on those from HTC or Samsung? The answer, obviously, is because Motorola wants to have a competitive advantage over the other two... ultimately leading to a huge fragmentation of the Android ecosystem.

Until Google institutes some guidelines as to what manufacturers can and can not do with their devices, Android will remain a crappy, unintuitive, and fragmented OS... unless you're using a Google-sanctioned devices like a Nexus.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:44:00 -0700 My predictions for WWDC 2011 http://alexluft.com/my-predictions-for-wwdc-2011 http://alexluft.com/my-predictions-for-wwdc-2011

We're less than 20 minutes away from Steve's WWDC 2011 keynote! Here are my predictions for what Apple will announce:
1. iOS 5
- revamped notifications
- improved multitasking
- built-in navigation component (with voice navigation)
- system-wide social integration (address book/contacts)

2. Lion availability, features overview, price

3. iCloud (this is the killer app):
- replaces MobileMe as the calendar, contacts, bookmarks, mail, and file storage (and maybe even sharing ala Dropbox) hub in the cloud. Syncs PIM across all devices
- iWork moves to the cloud, allows anyone and everyone to use, share, collaborate
- iTunes becomes part of iCloud - stream your songs (initially), photos and movies (eventually). Not sure whether each user would need to upload their own copy or the songs would become available based on what is in the user's library
- subscription music service
- eventually provides an API for developers to write iCloud apps
- eliminates the need for local iTunes activation of iOS devices: simply log in using iCloud account to activate, sync, restore

4. New iOS-based AirPort and Time Capsule base stations that cache updates to Mac and iOS devices. Significantly improves iCloud streaming

That's all I've got. I don't think we'll see any iOS hardware today.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Sat, 28 May 2011 13:39:00 -0700 Do Schools Kill Creativity? http://alexluft.com/do-schools-kill-creativity http://alexluft.com/do-schools-kill-creativity

A very inspiring and thought-provoking presentation by Sir Ken Robinson. When I was in school and college, I always wondered about the sheer importance placed on mathematics and science... and art was always a "joke" class. Looks like there are some big changes to be made to the education system!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:06:00 -0700 OptiBay = MacBook With A Lot Of Storage! http://alexluft.com/optibay-macbook-with-a-lot-of-storage http://alexluft.com/optibay-macbook-with-a-lot-of-storage

1000000774 1000000775 1000000776 1000000777 1000000779 1000000780 1000000781
See the full gallery on Posterous

Just finished installing the OptiBay -- a carriage for the MacBook pro that gives you the ability to replace the optical drive with another hard drive (or SSD). Since I already had a screamin-fast 80GB SSD to run OS X and all of myapps, I needed a big hard disk for all my data - photos, videos, music, and audio and video production. So I bought the Seagate Momentus 750GB drive that spins at 7200 RPM... and here are the photos of operation OptiBay.

Update: not a day after installing the Samsung drive into the OptiBay, I began experiencing beachballs of death. After running SMART utility, it turns out that the Seagate drive was beginning to fail (8 bad sectors). I believe that the OptiBay contributed to this...

You see, unlike the standard hard drive area in the MacBook Pro that has rubber bumbers and molded rubber inserts to seat the drive, the OptiBay doesn't. This means that if you have a spinning drive sitting in the OptiBay, it's metal-to-metal all the way. So after going through one hard disk, I've learned my lesson and placed the SSD (which doesn't need much cushion since it doesn't contain any physically moving parts) into the OptiBay, and gave the traditinoal shielded/cushioned (spinning) hard drive spot to the Samsung replacement. I recommend you do the same if you're in the same kind of setup. Good thing I had a backup!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:21:57 -0700 Are we living in the time of the accelerated curve? http://alexluft.com/are-we-living-in-the-time-of-the-accelerated http://alexluft.com/are-we-living-in-the-time-of-the-accelerated Here's my theory of the day: as high tech becomes an increasingly prevalent part of our lives, two things are bound to occur:
1. Consumers adopt new technology faster than before, and
2. Prices of high tech items drop faster (again, than before).

I call this the accelerated curve. Anyone have any research about this?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:30:52 -0700 The SSD is in... We're back up and running! http://alexluft.com/the-ssd-is-in-were-back-up-and-running http://alexluft.com/the-ssd-is-in-were-back-up-and-running

P76 P78 P80 P82 P84
See the full gallery on Posterous

Just installed the SSD, dusted the fans, formatted, and installed OS X. Guess what? It took the MacBook a total of 12 minutes and 23 seconds to go from the install screen (pictured) to the post-install boot cycle. Now that's fast!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:49:00 -0700 This is a world-changer! http://alexluft.com/this-is-a-world-changer http://alexluft.com/this-is-a-world-changer

P71

This magical breathtaking and revolutionary device will change who you are, bring world peace & eliminate hunger. It will bring you an exuberant amount of joy! To be honest and completely pragmatic, it probably won't do any of those... but it will make meeee very happy! Time to open up the MacBook and install this sucker!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:25:00 -0800 2010 Korea RC Street Drift Challenge http://alexluft.com/2010-korea-rc-street-drift-challenge http://alexluft.com/2010-korea-rc-street-drift-challenge
via youtube.com

This is sick! Notice that this is all miniature -- made with remote-controlled cars.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:32:00 -0800 Mobile Me 2.0 Wish List http://alexluft.com/mobile-me-20-wish-list http://alexluft.com/mobile-me-20-wish-list
  • A free and paid verison
  • The free version should automatically backup contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and photos/videos
  • The paid verison should add synchronization to Mac/PC (photos sync to iPhoto, etc.)
  • Cloud-based music/video/photo access/streaming (maybe this is more of an iTunes thing)

Did I miss anything?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:46:39 -0800 A bully finds a pulpit on the web -- NY Times http://alexluft.com/a-bully-finds-a-pulpit-on-the-web-ny-times http://alexluft.com/a-bully-finds-a-pulpit-on-the-web-ny-times A great read of how to be an idiot, die young, and live an unfruitful and meaningless life... Also makes for a good lesson as to what NOT to do in ecommerce (or any kind of business for that matter).

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/business/28borker.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:28:53 -0800 You Can't Predict How You'll Feel in the Future, So Stop Trying http://alexluft.com/you-cant-predict-how-youll-feel-in-the-future http://alexluft.com/you-cant-predict-how-youll-feel-in-the-future We make many decisions based on how we think we'll feel in the future, but often those predictions are wrong. Studies are showing we can't accurately predict how we'll feel and so it may be best to just stop trying.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:05:00 -0800 Autotrader should be paying me http://alexluft.com/autotrader-should-be-paying-me http://alexluft.com/autotrader-should-be-paying-me
Interesting take; but the only way it would work is if EVERY SINGLE dealer adopted the mind set and cancelled with Autotrader, Cars.com, etc... which -- to say the least -- is a paramount task.

Read the full article here.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:06:00 -0800 What's wrong with this picture? http://alexluft.com/37639730 http://alexluft.com/37639730

Alexander_rybak
Mad kudos to anyone who can tell what's wrong with the character in this picture

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:02:25 -0800 Safari on iPhone & iPad 4.2: Accelerometer, WebSockets & better HTML5 support http://alexluft.com/safari-on-iphone-ipad-42-accelerometer-websoc http://alexluft.com/safari-on-iphone-ipad-42-accelerometer-websoc Awesome news for everyone out there developing mobile web apps! Safari 4.2 includes support for:

Accelerometer & gyroscope
WebSockets API (HTML5)
Updated HTML5 Form Support
Partial XHR-2 Support
Print Support
New JavaScript data types
New DOM events
Enhanced SVG and Canvas support

More details here:
http://www.mobilexweb.com/blog/safari-ios-accelerometer-websockets-html5

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Wed, 22 Dec 2010 17:11:23 -0800 Upper-class people have trouble recognizing others' emotions http://alexluft.com/upper-class-people-have-trouble-recognizing-o http://alexluft.com/upper-class-people-have-trouble-recognizing-o http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101122172008.htm?utm_source=feed...

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:20:00 -0800 Why UPS trucks never turn left http://alexluft.com/why-ups-trucks-never-turn-left http://alexluft.com/why-ups-trucks-never-turn-left
via money.cnn.com

Many have heard about this but don't know the details. Here are some of the finer characteristics behind the move.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:48:00 -0800 Ever wonder how the Prius name came about? http://alexluft.com/ever-wonder-how-did-the-prius-name-came-about http://alexluft.com/ever-wonder-how-did-the-prius-name-came-about
Media_httpimgbootcomi_nhlaa
via downrightaverage.com

One word: Exactly!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:33:00 -0800 Ok, I admit it... iPhone is starting to look outdated http://alexluft.com/ok-i-admit-it-iphone-is-starting-to-look-outd http://alexluft.com/ok-i-admit-it-iphone-is-starting-to-look-outd

You heard that right. I may be the biggest iPhone fanboy that's ever lived... but the Apple stuff is starting to look a bit long in the tooth right about now. Here's why:

1. Social integration

Android and Windows Phone 7 allow for very deep social integration. For example: I don't want to fire up a separate Facebook or Twitter app just to stay in touch with my friends and family. A better solution is Win Phone's People app - integrates your contacts, as well as the updates of your friends on Facebook and Windows Live all in one app. That way, I can see what someone is up to (by way of recent status updates) immediately before calling them.

But this doesn't end with contacts; it also extends to photos. Again, Win Phone 7 and - to a certain degree - Android - take the cake over the iPhone here. I want my pics to automatically sync with social services right as I take them... This provides an irreplaceable backup strategy while allowing for instantaneous sharing on the go. For the privacy obsessed, this feature should be an option.

But social photo integration goes both ways. Not only do I want to upload my pictures, I also want to pull pics in from friends and family via social networks. Imagine seeing Facebook, Flickr, or SmugMug pics from friends or your own account inside the iOS Photos app!

Unfortunately, iPhone's Contacts and Photos apps are locked silos that aren't capable of doing either...

2. Widgets

Icons are nice. But what I really like about Android OS and Win Phone 7 is the ability to get quick information without having to launch an app. App icons are beginning to seem so 2008...

3. Documents

This is where the iPhone utterly fails right now. There needs to be built in Office Live and/or Google Docs support, with basic productivity apps bundled with the OS. If Apple doesn't do this soon, the biz client will simply look elsewhere, as all current documents solutions on iOS suck!!! (there, I said it).

What prompted this midnight rant? I had the opportunity to recently experience Windows Phone 7... while it's not as good, feature-rich or polished as iOS devices, I see its promise - and trust me when i say its a big threat to Apple going forward.

Irony... This was all written on an iPhone.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Tue, 30 Nov 2010 02:13:10 -0800 Sprint CEO: The iPad Has Been Good to Us: Tech News « http://alexluft.com/sprint-ceo-the-ipad-has-been-good-to-us-tech http://alexluft.com/sprint-ceo-the-ipad-has-been-good-to-us-tech Finally, a writer wrote “Sprint is offering WiMAX-based service it calls 4G” -rather than saying Sprint is offering truly 4G service. Technically, WiMax is still very much a 3G service. Just because it’s WiMax does not make it 4G... ITU’s standards for 4G makes a service 4G. Neither LTE nor WiMax meets those standards. And probably won't.

But I have to wonder... What will happen to Sprint's market dominance when competing carriers catch up and roll out their own respective 4G-like services? What will be Sprint's value proposition then?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft Sun, 28 Nov 2010 11:43:00 -0800 Who's the Boss? Sorry, Kids. It Isn't You. http://alexluft.com/whos-the-boss-sorry-kids-it-isnt-you http://alexluft.com/whos-the-boss-sorry-kids-it-isnt-you
Media_httpsiwsjnetpub_gpfwf
via online.wsj.com

Interesting article. Don't think I was brought up this way and I'm glad this was the case.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/38931/Alex_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/QavLN48q09 Alex Luft alex Alex Luft