Hey Apple, how about you whine a little more... [edited]

Original Article: Here

First some disclosures; If you were to ask me who makes the best commercially available computers I would say Apple.  They make quality machines, no questions about it.  But by the same token, If you asked me who overcharges for the machines they make I would have a list of three companies Apple, Sony, Alienware (Dell).  I have owned several iPods and an iPhone.  I jail-broke my iPhone (I often void warranties), and feel no guilt or shame about it.  Lastly I own several Samsung products, not a phone or tablet, but I do own some items.

<Deep Breath>

Some of you may have noticed in the news recently, aside from the political kerfuffles, there has been a lot patent/IP litigation going on.  I'm not a IP lawyer (yet) but it really bothers me how companies have decided to use the patent system to wage market share micro-wars.  If I understand the system correctly the entire idea behind a patent is as follows - I create some really great way of making a new product, or I create a brand new way to make an old product better that is novel and non-obvious.  In exchange for full disclosure on how I made said product I am given a legal monopoly on my new product for x amount of years (I believe the time varies depending on the type of product).

For reasons not pertinent to this writing this is a great system when it works.

Now to Apple.

In the picture below (from Techrepublic) is the Compaq TC1105.  Looks familiar doesn't it?  Vaguely like a silver version of the original iPad?  So why isn't Apple suing Compaq for patent registered design infringement?  Probably because this piece of techno-history was developed about five years before the original iPad, was built on Windows XP and Apple had absolutely nothing to do with it.  Oh, it also came with a detachable keyboard.

Compaq TC1105

You can say that this product was a failure and none of  Windows' partners could figure out how to successfully market this beast (I personally owned a Toshiba version).  You would be correct.  You can also say that the Compaq/HP/Toshiba version had to use a stylus.  Again you would be correct.  However electrical-capacitance touch screens have existed for quite a while (the first paper I found is here.)  Solid State Drives (aka SSD) were developed in the 80's by IBM, Amdahl, Cray, and Sharp. The other various items included in the iPad were developed by all sorts of other companies.  My point is - At best Apple simply remixed a bunch of other peoples technology added their admittedly beautiful designs and found a amazingly powerful marketing strategy.  This doesn't deserve or warrant a patent, it wasn't new and it wasn't non-obvious.  So much so that before any of this technology was actual reality TV shows like StarTrek had touch pads all over the place... and it was named PADD...How lazy can Apple get?

Picard using the PADD... hmmmmm

Now Apple has sued everyone under the sun for infringing on a patent and registered designs that was just rejected by the US patent office and they are being a child about losing the cases in the UK (see above).  In conclusion could everybody please stop drinking Apples Kool-aid?  Or at least slow down?  They are just one step from being the little kid who stomps off and pouts when they don't get their way.  Grow up Apple.

[someone pointed out that the suit was in regards to a registered design not a patent, but I think the argument still stands, and there is a lot of patent suits going on as well] 

Graffiti # 1

So this is just a “working” version of an image.  I wanted to see if this looked as cool as I thought it would and just picked a random image in the series to try.  A finalized version is in the works.

Taken in Kansas City MO.

I used several different layers to achieve the effect including several drop shadows.

In adult news...

Original Image from Technabob

Original Article: Technabob

So.... well.... it's a vib-mouse...  I guess it was only a matter of time before you could double click the mouse while "double clicking the mouse."  With 10 intensities and two pulse patterns all I can hope is that it relieves some tension out there.

And remember people, be hygienic and clean up after yourself.

Gone Fishing.

Taken in a secret fly fishing spot with one of my best buds.

Burn TWC, Burn...

Google.com/Fiber main page (I redacted my email address from the top corner)

I think this is the original article: ars technica

Small related article: WSJ


I live in Kansas City, and yes my neighborhood qualified for the Google Gigabit fiber connections that are now being installed throughout the Metro area.  Up until recently I had the great pleasure of exactly 1 choice for high speed internet, Time Warner Cable.

I really really REALLY dislike TWC, with one exception.  That exception is the man who installed my cable, he was a freaking badass!  (if you are reading this installation guy, I went so far as to call your bosses boss and tell him that you were an excellent employee)  However the company as a whole has it's head so far in the sand that the only thing showing is its polished wingtips.  I have numerous examples of how TWC has intentionally screwed me but I have no interest in dealing with a liable suit.

The part that really makes me angry about this story is: Of course Time Warner and ATT want the same deal! They have been screwing customers for about a decade with the same shitty speeds and constant threat of a tiered structure.  Did you know that the United Sates, the country that created the internet, as the 13th fastest average access! 13th! Are you freaking kidding me! (source: Akamai based on Q4 2011).  Now TWC and ATT, the companies that have provided zero effort improving the infrastructure, have the balls to demand a equal playing field?   

Its time to get mad people!

How about we will make it equal when you provide speeds/services equal to Google.  How about we will make it equal when you provide free Gigabit connections to all of the public schools and libraries in the community.  How about you make it equal when you allow an open and free market for cable/internet services.

How about you recognize that your time is almost up and if you want to stay in existence its time to change your attitude toward your customer base.

I'm not a fan of consolidating power but I am firmly in the Google camp on this one.  With all due respect Mayor James please don't let those hypocrites push you around!

P.S. If you agree please comment so I know I'm not crazy, or at least we are crazy together.  And let Mayor James know, his twitter account is linked above.

Now if you will excuse me I'm going to go calm down.

It Goes Vrummmmm!

So Tesla is building a new car.... It looks freaking sweet.

"...zero to 60 in 5.6 seconds and tops out at 125 miles per hour, but it was the silent, near-instantaneous bursts from 35 to 65 along the Pacific on California Highway 1 that best demonstrated the S’s otherworldly quality."-NY Times

The part that seems great is that the overall range of this beast is 256 miles plus.  The NY times test drive apparently went 300+ miles on a charge.  I really see this as a step in the right direction.  I also can't wait to see how this mixed with a graphene battery and capacitor.