Fasting From Mobile and Social Media

Yep. I knew I could do it. Although, it was tough the first week. No social media or non-public mobile news for three weeks. This included (unintentionally) anything that would typically trigger a notification to social media, like this blog. Sorry.

Of course, I have a generational advantage, which I think makes it easier for me. I clearly remember life before the World Wide Web. What I didn't expect was all the free "mental" space that fast would provide. It was as if someone turned down, to volume one, all the white noise in the state. I experienced better sleep, less tension, and (yes) more time. I was generally in a better mood.

Some things I'll keep: no more mobile news.

Yeah, the better sleep, less tension, and more time too.

The Problem With Social Media...For Some Folks

1. It's easy sending something to everyone on the Internet.

2. It's hard (to resist) to send nothing.

3. It's very hard to send something to just a couple of people

Double T Catering App (DTCcater) Now Available for Android

We are pleased to announce the Double T Catering app, DTCcater, for Android, is now available on Google Play.

What Do Heidi Klum and Tope Oluwole Have in Common?

name-list.net

According to Google, a lot. So, every once in a while, plus 'cause I'm a geek and I like search engine updates, I check out me on search engines. Don't look at me like that. People who haven't even met you are Google-ing you right now, and you're not even famous. That hiring manager, your boss, your date, your _____. The point isn't to be squeaky clean, but rather (as I tell folks) realize that once anything about you or your namesake is on the internet (regardless of how it got there), it can be data mined. So do your best to make sure you put out as much good vibes as you can. Tangent.

So instead of the typical Google web search, I went further and clicked on the images link. The first image was, big surprise, yours truly. The next several: my book covers, friends on Google+, Meetup.com acquaintances, Google-related stuff of mine, Linked In connection folks, my app, public postings, Nigeria-related stuff... Then it got interesting; a graph of Oluwoles and their location world-wide. Five are in Poland, and they are probably related to me.

Then it got weird: a couple of images of Heidi Klum. I attributed it to what I like to call Metadata Voodoo^TM (I define this as what happens at the long tail end of any search: leftovers). But then there were more images of Klum, and more. Now I was a bit embarrassed, which quickly shifted to concern. There were more than a dozen images, easily. This wasn't Metadata Voodoo. This was coming up this often because there were a considerable about metadata.

One of the first things I learned about debugging code is that when you get an error at a particular line of code, it's typical the result of something immediately before the error was raised. Most adults do this naturally already. If you see a new dent in your door at the shopping mall, the first place you typically investigate is the car next to you.

I also noticed amongst the Klum images, some of the movie that always comes up when I search me; The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. This movie stars my (much more attractive) namesake, and (drum roll please) Heidi Klum.

Google you, and let me know what interesting things about you pop-up.

Would You Buy, and Wear A Smart-watch Daily?

phonearena.com

I haven't worn a dumb-watch (reads much better than "non-smart-watch") since 2000. The use-cases for smart-watches in general haven't yet been clearly defined.

I carry and use multiple mobile devices and laptops, daily. I own five lovely dumb-watches; one which has served as my alarm clock for years. I still don't wear dumb-watches. I love dumb-watches. I always have. I always will. I just don't like wearing them.

Why? If you have a dumb-watch on your wrist, you're most likely to check the time way more often than you absolutely need to. You can't resist because a different time is always going to be presented to you whenever you check. There's no way to easily stop that habit with a dumb-watch, than to...not wear the dumb-watch. That's fine. That's what dumb-watches do best: present you something different every second of your life.

I will happily wear those rubber bracelets; the likes of which were pioneered by the Livestrong Foundation. The rubber bracelet currently on my wrist is about style and personal branding; a kind of removable tattoo. Still, I'm very interested in the iWatch. Although, any smart-watch would have to have at least these four characteristics, to compel me to wear it daily:

• A fashion accessory that is customizable to my personal style and branding. If the watch died, I'd still be compelled to wear it until I could get it fixed or could get a replacement
• A state-of-the-art, customizable, push-notification (alert) system that reduces my time on all other devices and apps I use, including the time and inconvenience of to pulling them out or/and loading them up and connecting to use them
• It doesn't constantly have to be paired to another device to be useful and enjoyable

You Know You're A Geek...

...when a co-worker sends you this over chat:

...and then you laugh your ass off.

"iOS 7 Is Like Getting A New Phone You Already Know How To Use"

iOS for the car - WWDC 2013

That's a quote from the iOS portion of Apple's 2013 Worldwide Developers Conference, I listening to this afternoon. This sums up why I believe Apple gets its customers in particular, and device users in general, in ways the pundits don't.

For the last couple of months, I've read articles about the demise of Apple (yes again)...if it doesn't release something phantasmagorical, tomorrow; like the iFaucet. Yes, a bit of hyperbole on my part. One of the things I've learned from Apple, but before that in the schoolyard, is that there will be folks in life that want to goad you into a fight, or push you do something before you are ready, able, or willing to. If peer-pressure doesn't work, the next steps involve taunts, jeers, and political spin. When this occurs, it's even more important to do you, as Russell Simmons would say. I'm glad Apple, is being Apple.

I'm neither an Apple, nor a Google, nor a Microsoft, nor a Blackberry fanboy. I own at least one of each type of device, but for different purposes. To me, that's one of the great rewards of competition in the marketplace. I get my ease and efficiency of use from Apple, navigation and ubiquitous cloud integration from Google, works-with-most-of-the-stuff-I-already-know from Microsoft, and no-frills effectiveness and durability from RIM (now Blackberry).

I still like my iPod Touch 4. It's considered antiquated to a lot of people, although it's only 21 months old. I still use it everyday; from listening to LL Cool J's, Rock The Bells, to app quality assurance testing. When I bought it, it ran iOS 4.x. I eventually updated it to iOS 5.1, and was an early (for me) adopter of iOS 6.0.1. I also picked up some nice features along the way, like iMessage with iOS 5.x and better integrated social media sharing with iOS 6.x. I was worried I may have to retire my iPod Touch to an expensive chess tutor for my daughter.  Now I'm curious to see how long I can keep bringing my iPod back into the future.

Blackberry Messenger Coming to Android and iOS Devices - This Is Not A Drill!

Yes, it's true. Blackberry Messenger (or BBM to those Blackberry lifers) will be coming to Android and iOS (Apple) mobile devices. This is a win-win for Blackberry and non-Blackberry customers alike, but a real double-edged sword for Blackberry (once RIM). My wife, a long time Blackberry user, is ecstatic. She can finally move from her ailing Blackberry Bold to an iPhone or Android device, while not losing her extensive BBM family.

For Blackberry, it a dicey bet. On one hand, non-Blackberry users will have an incentive to care about Blackberry. However, BBM was the single reason a lot of Blackberry users I know stuck with their Blackberry devices. This puts a lot more pressure on the Blackberry Z10 and Q10 to really meet or beat the value proposition of the iPhone (possibly) and Galaxy Samsung S4 (I'm not optimistic). In all fairness, I have had neither Z10 nor Q10 in hand to determine if they have the right stuff to be and remain competitive.

Still, if Blackberry can find a really easy way to really get the Z10 and Q10 into people hands (like they did at their recent developer's conference in Florida), they may get back in the game in a significant way.

Personally, I've always loved the old school Blackberry Curves with the scroll wheel, track ball, and WAP browser. Heck, I still use one (OS 4.x) as my mobile when I travel internationally. It's as durable as a tank, batteries last forever, and if you're not picky about condition, you can get them on eBay for less than $20 USD.

My falling out with Blackberry was the move to the sleeker, all-black looking, but less durable Curve and Bold models. User experience was lost along the way. Still, I'm excited about the direction Blackberry is moving in, and look forward to road testing the Z10 and Q10.

"Big companies swallow little ones every day."

This is the opening sentence of an Economist article featuring Nick d'Aloisio, who's start-up, Summly, got bought out by Yahoo. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? The swallowing part, I mean? I wonder if Master d'Aloisio will have to come into the office, or if Yahoo will cut him some slack; at least until he turns 18?

What I Wish We Could Experience In More Companies

I saw this list of team values taped to the wall of a conference room in an engineering department:

• Give and receive constructive feedback.
• Do what you say you will do.
• Be respectful: The delivery is as important as the message.
• The perfect is the enemy of the good, so just ship it!
• Stay interested and interesting.
• Lead through excellence.

Are You or Your Company Producing Abandonware?

A new word to add to my vocabulary. I knew the definition before I ever knew of the word.

A-ban-don-ware

Abandonware (per Wikipedia) "is a product, typically a software, ignored by its owner and manufacturer, and for which no product support is available. It is differentiated from a discontinued product because the manufacturer has not issued an official notice of discontinuance, instead, the manufacturer is simply ignoring the product."

Using The MBTA's Rapid Transit App

Having used the Massachusetts rapid transit system (a.k.a the "T"), run by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), for a very long time; I am still amazed and impressed at how quickly technology has come to the transit system. Especially within the last few years. This includes Wi-Fi in Commuter Rail cars, and as of the last couple of months, an app (code name mTicket) that lets Commuter Rail riders purchase electronic tickets. The MBTA plans on providing purchase functionality for other modes of transit in the future.

mTicket is an elegantly designed and simple-to-use app that allows commuters to purchase single, round-trip, or multiple trip commuter rail e-tickets via credit card in advance (or on-board, if you like to cut it close). Once a commuter purchases an e-ticket, the commuter can view the e-ticket and is prompted to activate the purchased e-ticket once on-board. The activated e-ticket shows the ticket zone, and has a button that once clicked, will display the e-ticket's bar code.

My biggest surprise (considering m-Ticket is in its infancy) was that the conductors were all very confortable with me flashing my iPod Touch with the e-ticket displayed. Plus, for those of us whose closest Commuter Rail station requires purchase on-board, you'll save money off the nominal fare.

mTicket is currently available for Apple iOS and Android mobile devices. A Blackberry version is in development.

Old School, New School, Microsoft Windows Battle-Install

Something old...

Something new...

Guess which took the most skills to install this week?

A Whiff of Microsoft's Developer Program

I heard folks for years criticize Microsoft for just waiting a bit, watching Apple, and then copying what Apple does. I've never had issue with Microsoft on that, insofar as no laws have been broken. It's like when my son asks for ice cream and his year-younger cousin, standing right next to him, exclaims, "Me too!"

So at my Windows 8 Meetup group last night, the moderator briefly showed (the app management portion of) Microsoft's equivalent of Apple's iTunes Connect. This was to give current and prospective Microsoft app developers a view into what tools are available to manage their app pre-, during, and post-development. Very much a meet too experience, but very well executed in design. Definitely not what would have been typically expected of Microsoft a few years ago.

I lost power half-way through this post. Thank God for the cloud :)

The caveat is that you do need to pay the $99 USD, for the Microsoft app developer program (same price as Apple), to get access to the tools. However you do get more in terms of basic analytics, in terms of how a published app is doing, including more detail on: who, how, and from where the traffic originates with multiple graphing layouts. An additional caveat is that these additional analytics are based on users opting-in to be tracked accordingly. The issue with that is that you're never guaranteed a complete picture of the additional details in terms of percentages, for example. Still, it's a starting point.

So, the next time someone's offering good ice cream, don't be bashful. Say, "Meet to!"
It's efficient. Plus, I think Steve Jobs would approve.

Windows Phone 8 or Windows 8 Phone?

Yes, I'm confused myself; and I started using Windows back when they were black and white, and not in color ;). But seriously, Microsoft has a unique opportunity with Windows 8. However, they may have taken the you-never-can-be-too-rich-or-too-thin saying a bit too far.

It's important to tweak one's brand when it's clearly dated. Even I had to eventually donate my Bill Cosby sweaters. However, I believe one should never screw with aspects of one's brand to the point that they are confusing (at best) or (worse) unrecognizable. Remember "Real Coke"?

When long-time Windows users start asking, "Where's the Start button?", that's not a good sign. Hopefully, Microsoft will quickly pivot to correct this.

As for me, I'm considering a Windows Mobile Phone, or a Windows Phone 8, or a Windows 8 Phone.... I don't even know what to call it now. Hold on, I'm heading to Microsoft, I'll be right back.

[BEAT] 

Okay, I'm back. Ahem. "Widows Phone" and "Windows Phone 8" are appropriate and accepted nomenclature. 

Anyway, I'd already seen the new tiled, user interface on the previous Windows Phone (see how easy that was for me to write) example, and it got my attention. However, I was awaiting Windows 8 with its significant changes, to decide on the operating system in general. So, my plan is to get my hands on one over this weekend for a test run. Stay tuned.

Apple App Submission Approved!

We are pleased to announce our first Apple App Store Submission, DTCcater, (for Double T Catering) has been approved. It will be available in the App Store, October 1, 2012. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

First App Store Submission

After a little over five months of blood, sweat, and tears, we've completed our first Apple App Store submission. Now we eagerly await rejection from Apple to propel us forward. Just kidding. I leave you with this scene from the movie The Matrix, to put it into perspective. To quote Eric Thomas, "Pain is temporary!"

Back From The Sao Paulo Cloud

My trip to the Cloud Computing World Forum Expo in Sao Paulo was a gentle reminder that different populations adopt technologies at different times and rates. Right now in Brazil, cloud computing is all the rage. During the workshops and speakers sessions at the Expo, I got the expression from the audience questions, that there are a significant amount of companies still in the information gathering to early-adoption stages.

The Expo vendors I spoke with fell into the camps of either, mid-sized companies looking to develop partnerships in Brazil as well as Latin America, and Latin American divisions of US-based companies such as Amazon, Accenture, and Level 3.

As for Zumbi Mobile Solutions, I think the best convergence of opportunities (in the near tearm) will be in the technical support end of things, for managing support services overflow. Although, attending the Expo reminded me I still have a lot of homework to do, to discern what the market needs and the best way to engage that market. 

A Cloud Grows in Sao Paulo

I'm preparing for the Cloud Computing World Forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil next week. Amazon was only known for books when last I was in Sao Paulo, and the only clouds I cared about were those about to release a deluge.

From everything I've read, watched, and listened to over the last several years, Brazil has become the economic powerhouse I suspected it would be during my last visit in 2004. Folks had encourage me to invest in Brazil in some manner back then, as I was travelling there almost annually at that point. I didn't know quite how to start, and so it never did quite come together. Well, with some encouragement from Jon Karlen at Flybridge Capital Partners, I return.

There Are Cat People and There Are Computer People

Once upon a time if someone had told me, so and so has eight cats, I would have reacted like, o_O (e.g. think Mr. Spock's raised-eyebrow expression on Star Trek).

Looking around my home office just now, I've counted one desktop computer, one net-book, three laptops, and four mobile devices. That's almost like having nine cats, except three of the aforementioned computers and mobile device are dead. o_O, big time.