Yesterday I canceled my Netflix account. It wasn’t because I didn’t like the service. I actually loved it. I think it is a great idea, and the best option out there. I just wasn’t using it enough to justify the expense. I looked at my queue a few times in the past few months and there never really was any really interesting I wanted to watch. I had cleared out the backlog of movies I had wanted to see. The amount of movies I do want to watch I can simply download on demand using my Apple TV. I think it will be cheaper. I tried this once before and after 3 weeks I was back on Netflix. This time I am not so sure. I really haven’t used it much in the last two months, and I hadn’t used their streaming service at all in months so that wasn’t even a selling point anymore.
T-Mobile Again
My frustration with AT&T has finally come to a head. I had another week of not really being able to use my iPhone at the office, so I finally broke down and went to the T-Mobile store. I signed up for an Even More Plus plan. I figured with no contract I had nothing to lose from trying it out. I am testing the service at home and work with an old Motorola Razr I have had since 2005. So far I am having signal issues in my apt, but I already knew that non-3g service would be spotty in my apt. Friends with T-Mobile have had problems there before.
To really test the system out I just bought a used G1 Android phone from Ebay. I will see if T-Mobile 3G is as good as their map says it is in my neighborhood. I also need to be happy with the G1’s Android OS. I am skeptical about that, but hopeful I will like it enough to give up my iphone. There is a lot of “if’s” but I am willing to give it a try since the iPhone may be nice and slick and a great all around device, but if it doesn’t work half the time I try to use it I don’t care how nice it is.
I really hope this works out. I really like the no contract concept even if the phones are more money (thanks ebay). I also like the fact that I can get unlimited voice for $50. I currently pay $59 for 900 minutes that I can’t use since the phone doesn’t work most of the places I need it to. I always liked T-Mobile. I only got rid of them when I gave up my own mobile to use the Partsearch issued one. After that I got AT&T because of phone selection and the iPhone.
Speaking of RTM
I last week I wrote about my current fixation with Remember The Milk (RTM). I just found a reason to like it (and other web apps) even more. I read a brief reference to a SSB (Site Specific Browser). I vaguely recall hearing about the concept before so I decided to read a bit more about it. Turned out I had used one before (Zimbra Desktop Client). The concept is pretty basic, but an interesting twist to using websites over native applications. I read up on Mozilla’s Prism, and then I found the Mac only Fluid. I have since installed both apps. I know that all these apps do is let me run a dedicated instance of a browser for a specific site. I like that it makes a site act like a dedicated program. With RTM there are even scripts to enhance the site to make it more like a real installed program.
For me I typically have at least 3 tabs open in my browser at all times. These are the sites / apps that I always use. I have my Zimbra mailbox, RTM, and Google Voice. I am experiencing a known bug with the Zimbra Desktop program so I have been using the site. Besides that issue, now with a SSB I can take two of those tabs away and make them act like stand alone programs. Thankfully I am not the first person to want to do this with RTM or Google Voice. I have installed some Greese Monkey scripts to make Google Voice look and feel like a real program on my Mac. The doc icon even throws up the number of unread SMS or Voice Mails I have. RTM’s tasks lists now look like a separate program. Both are very cool. I even have nice looking doc icons for both.
On my Mac I have decided to use Fluid. It appears to have a few more features over Prism. I am configuring Prism on my Windows 7 laptop so I can use it there also. So far I am impressed with the results, and I am thinking about what other sites I would want to give the SSB make over? Both apps Fluid and Prism are taking me one step closer to truly accessing my “stuff” from anywhere in a nicely presented way.
Why I Won’t Buy a Driod
Motorola, I have to hand it to you. The Droid looks like a great phone. If there was a GSM version I might just pick one up to try it. Unfortunately you only offer a CDMA version on Verizon. I will say that I honestly thought about switching to Verizon for a second. Thankfully Verizon got me to reconsider. Thanks Verizon. What do I mean? Well, I am amazed that Verizon has one of the best wireless networks out there but does everything possible to aggravate customers. I was interested in the Droid. Android 2.0 was intriguing. The generally fast and well covered Verizon network got me further interested in the Droid. Then I read that Verizon is charging a $350 cancelation fee on new contracts that have “advanced devices” aka something like the Droid (sorry I wont spell it DROID). I am frustrated as it is by being locked into the iPhone and it is GSM, so I am sure not going to switch to Verizon and be stuck into a phone and contract for two years that costs $175 to get out of.
I have never been a fan of Verizon’s customer service or the way they treat their customers, but this was the final straw for me. I am fine with having my parents use them since they don’t change phones very often but for me, no way. I am considering T-Mobile since they are going the opposite direction, cheaper rate plans and no contracts!
Task Management With Remember The Milk
I have been using Remember The Milk for several months now and I think I am hooked. Like many tools that I actually like I am never satisfied (well almsot never) so I have been on a trek for months to find a better solution than RTM. That is what is so funny to me. When I try to find something better than something I already have or use is usually when I realize it may not be perfect but it is the best thing out there. RTM is one of those things that is just the best out there but not perfect.
I have in the past year really liked applications or services that let me use them anywhere I am. For RTM that means I want to be able to use it at home and work, and while I am on my mobile phone. The RTM website is pretty easy to use and I have not really minded there is no native client for the Mac and Windows. I actually chose to use the web interface over syncing with Outlook. I used Google Gears for a while specifically for RTM, but have since unistalled it at work at least. It was taking forever to load lists sometimes with Gears on. Without Gears the site was much faster. Go figure since Gears was supposed to speed things up.
RTM’s recent call it scripting task entry is fantastic. It was exactly what I was waiting for. Now I can batch add tasks via email and have them tagged and put in the proper locations and lists without me having to edit manually. The only thing I am missing from the site right now is the ability to batch add notes. I need to do that a lot daily when updating tasks.
Using RTM on my iPhone is a breeze. Honestly having RTM on my iPhone makes the phone useful. I love my iPhone (another device I am always trying to replace but for almost a year and a half I have been unsuccessful), but without RTM’s app for task management I am not sure if I could keep it as my main phone. When I am anywhere (mainly commuting on the subway) I am updating my task lists or see what I need to be doing. RTM on my iPhone and updating my work email on my Blackberry are what I do while in transit that keeps me productive while on the move.
I hope the RTM people continue to update the service, but it has been hands down a fantastic task management system for me. I was big into task management before I used the service so it isn’t for everyone, but for me it is as close to perfect as I have been able to find. I am still looking but as the months go by I am looking less and less!
My New Media Center
I broke down and picked up a new Mac Mini last weekend. I have been tempted to build myself a full fledged Media Center computer again but haven’t wanted to make the investment. I also wasn’t sure if I would be able to setup the computer with my LCD TV to work right. In the past I have had issues with HDMI adapters and any computer fitting to the screen on my 40″ LCD. Even with Mac OS 10.6 set to 1080i (yes there is even an option for that now) the picture didn’t fit the entire screen.
With those questions I still went out and picked up a Mini. In the end I needed to connect my Drobo’s to an actual computer vs using them as network attached storage. The editing I was doing was taking too long over the network (802.11n to my desktop). The new Mini is plugged into the Drobo’s and my TV directly via VGA. The picture is good, but not HD. I still think the issue is with my TV and not any computer since this is about the 5th or 6th computer I have tried plugged into the TV with the same issue. Using VGA the picture works so I am keeping it setup like that. I am able to access the computer using VNC when I want to work on it, or I have a wireless mouse and keyboard plugged into it as well.
Even though the Mini is plugged into the TV i am serving up its content via iTunes so I can stream it to my Apple TV. At least the ATV works with HD so that is why I am doing that. The plus side of having the Mini plugged into the TV and not just use it headless as a server is that I can watch Hulu streaming full screen on my TV now. I can use the remote on my Mac and it is just like using a DVR. I found that very useful since I gave up on hacking the ATV with Boxee long ago.
Other plus to this new configuration is that I can watch DVD’s on the Mini. I don’t have a DVD player and using the Xbox 360 for DVD’s is ok but it is loud. I love the Droo’s, but the speed still isn’t what i expect, but it is better than when I was accessing them over the wireless LAN so I am so far very happy with this configuration.
Saturday Travel
I am on NJ Transit on my way to my sisters for the weekend. My parents are visiting every weekend this month since my brother in law is away at some training every weekend this month. I had a work event planned last weekeend so couldn’t make it. Turns out that got canceled at the last minute but that is a different story. I am on my way over there via train and then will get a ride back with my folks Sunday night.
It has been a few weeks since i have seen the kids so I am excited to spend some time with them.
Friday Work From Home Day
Today was a work from home day. I was thankful for that since I had a conference call at lunch time and then a 2 hour technical review right afterward. Lots of technical talk. it was interesting but a lot to take in. Thankfully my noon meeting ended early and I was able to make something for food. All the calls and the icky weather took its tole and I started to get a migraine in the afternoon. I was hoping to go out and meet up with Mike and probably a few other friends tonight but I wasn’t feeling up for it. Well there was that and the fact that Mike left early and couldn’t meet up either. We will reschedule for two weeks since he is out of town next week.
Overall I didn’t get a chance to get very many work tasks done since I was pre-occupied with calls. I am aiming to take Monday off so I am going to try to stay away from doing work this weekend. That means tons to catch up on Tuesday!
Places I Have Been USA Edition
visited 39 states (78%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
Is There Anything New That Is Good on TV?
I was having lunch with a friend and work and we started talking about new good things on TV. He couldn’t think of anything new this season that was any good. That got me thinking, is there? Good is extremely objective I know but I am thinking from my perspective. The answer so far is not really. I am Tivo’ing a bunch of new stuff, and several older shows that are still good, but most of what I am recording is actually not that great.
I think this season the only two shows that I say I actually like are Modern Family, and Stargate Universe. You have to like Ed Oneal as the grumpy grand dad on a well written show. For Stargate Universe I have always been a Stargate fan even when it wasn’t that good. This new version is a bitt gritty and interesting so far. I know the whole lost in space theme will bother me sooner or later, but for now I am enjoying it.
As for everything else that is new, I am still recording a few shows, but when they show up on my Tivo I won’t watch them unless there is nothing else out there. WIth seasons like this I am glad for the precious few returning shows that are funny and or interesting.