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Thoughts
December 29, 2023
Favorites of 2023
It’s time for my 15th annual Favorites post. It’s always fun reviewing my old favorites, seeing how the picks have evolved, and realizing how much more verbose I’ve gotten in describing them.
One notable change — I’ve added “Video Game.” This might be ephemeral, as I don’t play video games SUPER often, but this year, there’s definitely one.
OK…let’s get to it!
Gear
March 29, 2019
Alternatives to Apple’s AirPower
I’m not gonna lie – I was really looking forward to AirPower. I was willing to pay entirely too much for it, because I’m all about wireless charging. As of today, Apple announced they’re cancelling AirPower. Since Apple announced it (all the way back in 2017), I’ve looked into AirPower alternatives, but never made a purchase. Here are the ones that look good to me.
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Links
November 29, 2013
The 2013 Gift Guide for Web People
Here’s a little secret: I love these lists. I love writing them, I love reading them, and I love buying stuff, so I love researching them. Plus, 2013 is a great year for web development and technology. Responsive Design is now in full swing as it’s pretty much standard practice to build a responsive site by default now. Great people like @wilto are pushing the standards fight forward for responsive images, there are great podcasts, and more. Shopping for web people shouldn’t be a difficult task, but I’d like to narrow it down for you. This list isn’t just going to be a list of books, or even a list of computer things. It’s going to be a list of stuff I like, and that I think other web people will also like.
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Gear
June 10, 2013
My Thoughts on the Galaxy SIV
Since the Samsung Galaxy SIV was announced, I was pretty much waiting on baited breath for its release for Verizon customers; I was so excited I went out and picked it up the day after it was released, the soonest I could (I had actually pre-ordered it on May 18th through Amazon, but due to some issues I cancelled the order and picked it up at my local Best Buy). I really liked the form factor, features, and of-course, the amazing 13MP camera it touted. So does the phone live up to my expectations? Let’s see.
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Links
March 27, 2011
Links Round Up for 03/28/11
- 2009 Called (xkcd): I will have to remember this one.
- .tel, .xxx, and .mobi are all pointless and idiotic: Agreed. There’s really no way to prevent sites that fall under these categories from purchasing the .comÂ equivalent, or vise-vera.
- The State of the Freelancer: I love me some nice infographics.Especially helpful ones.
- CBS will Remove some Showtime Shows from Netflix (bgr):Â Translation: People weren’t buying Californication or Dexter on DVD anymore. I guess I won’t become a Californication fan then…
- Friday by Rebecca Black- Cover by Matt Mulholland (youtube): Awesome. Thank you @joelmchale
- What we Have to See in iOS 5 (brg): He’s right on all account, especially that people are going to buy it anyway.
- Amazon.com lets you play with an Android virtual machine, try apps before you buy them (engadget): This is pure awesome. Couple that with the fact that they give an app away everyday, and you’ve got a really great Android Market competitor.
- 5 Things They Never Told You (cracked): This is by far the best cracked.com article I’ve ever read.
- 18 Million WordPress.com Websites Now Available in iPad Format (mashable): They are using a (free!) plugin called onswipe. It’s now being used on this site as well!
- The Path to Productivity: Short Hours, More Breaks (workawesome): I like to break my day down into tasks that I complete then follow with a quick break. However, if I am in a groove, do not disturb me!
Links
March 20, 2011
Links Round Up for 03/20/11
- Web Standards Sherpa: This website sets out to promote web standards through articles and feedback from the experts! If you’re a web developer, this is a no-brainer as far as must reads goes.
- Microsoft to Discontinue Zune (bgr):Â That is a damn shame, as the Zune is a MUCH better mp3 player than the iPod. Maybe if Microsoft ran an ad or two…
- Making Twitter More Secure: HTTPS: Twitter has now added an option to force all of your Twitter dealings to use secured browsing. I strongly recommend turning this setting on.
- You Have a Disease; Here’s the Cure (nettuts+): Just because the Internet is always on doesn’t mean we have to be too.
- Microsoft is More Ethical than Google, Apple, and Facebook: Take note, Fanboys (as a Google Fanboy, I am included)
- Android’s Browser is Way Faster than Safari on the iPhone (gizmodo): In the words of Steward Scott, booyahh.
- Over-the-Air iTunes Syncing now Free for Android (lifehacker): I’ve been testing Music WithMe- seemed shaky at first but it’s working now and is really awesome!
- Yanko Design: Some really inspiring & innovative product design here.
- Dabble.In: A new website that asks, “What do you Dabble?”
- 10 Tips for Working While on the Go (lifehacker): Pretty helpful stuff here- especially if you travel a lot.
- Why You Should Keep a Mileage Log (workawesome): This can save you quite a bit of money at tax time!
Links
March 6, 2011
Links Round Up for 03/6/11
- Android will Allow Screenshots without Painful Setup (lifehacker): Finally.
- How to Back Up Your Gmail the Easy and Cheap Way (lifehacker): After what happened a couple of weeks ago, I will definitely be doing this.
- RIM Preparing to Bring BBM to iOS and Android (engadget): This might be the only reason people still use Blackberrys. That being said, I’d probably pay a couple of bucks for this app.
- The New iPad (gizmodo): The iPad 2 was announced this week and I briefly took a look. I think I’d still go with a Motorola XOOM if I were to upgrade from the iPad.
- To Root or not to Root (android.appstorm): I’ve been considering this for a while, and I will probably root in the near future.
- How to Root an Android Device (android.appstorm): …and I’ll probably use this guide.
- Charlie Sheen’s Twitter: Charlie Sheen is obviously insane. Insane celebrities say funny things and Twitter let’s you post what you want to say. This will be awesome.
Links
February 27, 2011
Links Round Up for 02/27/11
- Anaheim school district handing out GPS trackers to chronically absent students (engadget): Having trouble with a student? Lojack them. I can’t see anything wrong with this.
- Know Your Way Around Facebook Privacy (web.appstorm): Web.Appstorm published an article of mine that serves as a pretty comprehensive guide to Facebook Privacy. You should check it out.
- MLB Dedicated to Educating on Tobacco Risks (mlb.com): My question is why are US Senators getting involved at all. Dear Representatives, it’s not your job to tell us what to do, or to prevent people from poorly influencing us, or to protect us from ourselves.
- 60 Beautiful Wallpapers for Your Android Phone (android.appstorm): Some really nice wallpapers here. I picked up a few myself!
- Apple to Announce iPad 2 March 2nd, WSJ Reports (bgr): Begin the tablet frenzy 2011. My money is on the Moto XOOM being a better device, but I’m a little jaded.
- 6 Bad Habits to Blame on Technology: Everyone should read this. Fact: It’s no OK to constantly text someone while you’re having a conversation with someone in real life. Get some damn manners.
- If Apple Made Bottled Water (image): “If you’ve been drinking the juice, you’re ready to drink the water.”
- The PHD Comics Guide to TA Office Hours (comic): That attendance graph is 100% true.
- The Likeability of Angry Birds (theoatmeal): Also True. I hate that green bird.
- How The Social Network Saved Mark Zuckerburg (wired): Really good read. I actually think the movie villainized the twins who sued him more.
- What Happens if Yahoo!Â AcquiresÂ You (37signals): This is the main difference between Google and other companies. It’s really a shame what Yahoo! does to great web apps.
- Visualized: Android activations mapped geographically, chronologically, breathtakingly (video, engadget): This, is a very cool video.
- Design and Develop a Complete Website, Part I (webdesigntuts): I think I’m going to do this just to try and change up my design process a little.
Also, I’ve created a Delicious account for Manifest Development. I’ll post tech/web dev/business related links there. Check it out. They also get automatically posted to @manifestdev on Twitter.
Gear
February 24, 2011
Android’s Web Based Market
A few weeks ago, the fine folks at Google announced the web based version ofÂ theirÂ Android Market. Much like the iPhone/iPad App Store in iTunes, the online Android Market let’s you browse from your computer and install apps on your phone. The main difference, and it’s a big one, is there is no sync required. Click install on the web, it gets installed on your phone.
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Links
February 13, 2011
Links Round Up for 02/13/11
- Poster: Mixed Reviews: These are some pretty sweet posters showcasing the great beverages of great movies. I may have to get 1 or 5.
- Minimalist Task Management with Todo.txt Touch (android.appstorm): I take a look at my new favorite Android app, Todo.txt Touch.
- Comic: The 6 Crappiest Interview Questions (the oatmeal): That’s about right. If there’s a better interview answer for “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” than “Here, working my away up the ranks,” I’ve yet to hear it.
- 10 Great Sites for Finding Great Deals (web.appstorm): Twice published by envato this week, I take a look at my 10 favorite sites for finding awesome deals.
- Comic: Unmatched Parenthesis (xkcd: This bothered me a lot. I wonder if it broke any automatic parsers.
- ‘Oopsies!’: Us Weekly apologizes to Sarah Palin over using fake quotes (foxnews): I heard US Weekly said, “Well, I read it on the Internet, so it must be true.”
- Rdio: I’ve been using this music streaming service for the last 5 or so days have I’ve been digging it.
- Image: Pyramid scheme (lamebook): HA!
- 20 Awesome Android Apps for Students (android.appstorm): Great list! Kinda makes me wish I was still a student, but I suspect I can try some of these out as a teacher.
- Watercooler: The Forecast for Mr. Sunshine (tvguide): I really liked the show- I’m also a big fan of Matthew Perry. PS- they use a quote from yours truly in the article!

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