Category: General

Mobile Internet and the Modern Family Road Trip

I’m currently typing away on my MacBook, connected to the Internet via a mobile EVDO connection that’s allowing me to surf the web at 65 miles per hour on the I-75 highway through Kentucky.

It’s kind of surreal to think about just how much has changed from the road trips of my youth, where our time spent in the family station wagon consisted of coloring books and games of calling out the states of license plates. I recall fondly trying to re-fold state highway maps before you miss your exit.

Now, however, I’m able to amuse myself by watching streamed television courtesy of Hulu, while the GPS automatically calls out directions to attactions, hotels and fuel stations.

I don’t even have to wait until I get home to have the film from my camera developed, as now I can take snapshots of interesting things I see along the way, then upload them to a photo hosting site like flickr or even just email them to friends and family directly.

Times have certainly changed, and I for one am enjoying it one digitally mobile mile at a time.

Text Messages are the Printer Ink of the Cell Phone Industry

DSLReports has an entry up where they do the math on just how much you’re really paying for those cell phone text messages, now that T-Mobile has joined other providers in charging 20 cents per message.

According to the math done by others, those 140 byte messages being sent at 20 cents each add up to $1,310 per megabyte. Considering that the average $20 USB flash drive these days is measure in gigabytes, and the average broadband Internet connection is measured in megabits per second, it’s amazing how much we pay per text message.

As for the reference in the title, it comes from articles on the idea that for the price you pay for the average inkjet printer cartridge, a gallon of printer ink would cost you over $5000.

OS X 10.5.4 is Out and My Macbook is Fine

As soon as I read that Apple had released the OS X 10.5.4 update, I immediately threw caution to the wind and fired up Software Update. Fortunately, so far, my Macbook seems to be doing fine, though I haven’t really done much since the update.

My biggest interest in the list of fixes has to do with reliability and performance in regards to 5GHz networks, as I’m currently using an Airport Extreme Basestation as a wireless access point for my Macbook.

Fly the iPod-Friendly Skies

A recent announcement from United Airlines that it will be the first US-based airline to make iPod & iPhone connectivity available highlights how far our personal entertainment possibilities have come.

According to the World Airline Entertainment Association, the first in-flight movie was HOWDY CHICAGO, shown in 1921 on flights by Aeromarine Airways.

In 2008, however, United Airline passengers will start to see transatlantic flights providing the ability to connect their iPods and iPhones to their in-flight entertainment system and listen to their own music or watch their own movies on the seat-back televisions, while charging the unit as well.

In a world where air transportation seems to be out of our control, with $15 fees on checked bags and $5 snack boxes, the ability to control what you watch or listen to becomes very attractive.

Although the rollout will take place over a few years, and will likely be limited to select seats on transatlantic flights, it’s just another sign that the world is starting to embrace the idea of being able to make your entertainment available in whatever form, where ever you choose.