Lets BlogOff: Guilty pleasures: what’s your favorite show on television?

This is my first entry into the Lets BlogOff challenge:

I have never been a big fan of TV. I have an ever changing schedule, and I am never around when my favorite shows are on. About four years ago, I got rid of TV altogether. Instead, I watch shows online. I am going to be outing myself as such a “guy” here, but my list of shows is rather short. Family Guy, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report. Once or twice a week I will catch these shows, but sometimes weeks go by and I don’t even watch them.

I am a huge fan of cars, I always have been. In my opinion, there isn’t one good car show on American TV. Why? Advertising. When you have a car show and your biggest sponsor makes the car that you are testing, how can you say bad things about it?

Well, a few years ago, I was playing around on YouTube and I came across this video

After watching this clip about five times in a row, I realized something, I was laughing hysterically, yelling at the computer, and I was a bit informed. But most of all, I walked away from that video with an emotional response towards that car. Rather then some dry host regurgitating a fact sheet about this car, Jeremy Clarkson was able to make me emotionally attached to this incredible hunk of metal.

I needed more, like a junkie I opened every browser window on every computer I have (and if you read this blog, you’d know that’s a lot) and downloaded every Top Gear episode that I could find. For hours and hours I watched old episodes of Top Gear. I have never seen super cars driven this way before, tire smoke, sliding sideways, and hosted by three guys who are just “cocking about”. The chemistry between these guys is amazing. Jeremy Clarkson's loud and boisterous personality, James "Captain Slow" May, and Richard Hammond who whitens his teeth.  The challenges are hysterical too: Stuff like “Can a Lotus outrun a helicopter gunship?” “Can this Audi race up a mountain faster then a man?” Or one of my favorites: The Peel P50.

The show is biased, and completely unscientific. They think that anything British is a “scaled down version of God” and that anyone who drives an American Pickup wants to marry their sister. I love it though, and here’s why:

Any car guy, no matter what they say its all about the facts. Any argument between two car guys, before it deteriorates into comments about the other one's parents involves angrily spewing out horsepower facts.

I don’t own any “super cars” so when I look at them, I used to think “This one’s got 40 more horsepower then that one, it must be better” and so on... Until one day I got to ride in two supercars in one day. One was a Ferrari F430. This is an AMAZING car. As precise is a dentist drill, fast as anything, refined down to the smallest screw. The engine sounds like a perfectly tuned symphony. As a technical achievement, it’s a masterpiece. The next car I rode in was a Lamborghini Gallardo. In every measurable sense, this car is worse then the Ferrari. It’s loud, it shakes, it’s hot, small, hard to see out of, and the ride was brutal. But I loved it. Why? From the moment it started up, I was laughing like a little kid. The engine, once it starts just howls and shakes. It’s excessively loud. When you finally thread yourself in the interior, you can turn your head and right over your shoulder you can look at the engine behind a glass panel, shaking around as you drive. The noise this thing made was incredible. Despite the fact that it was shattering my spine as we drove, I was laughing so hard. There are even scoops on the engine cover that pop up like guns from a tank to cool the engine off, AND you can pop these up at the push of a button just to show them off. It’s kind of like flexing the muscles of your car!

Despite the Lambo being “worse” I walked away from that ride with a huge emotional attachment to that car. This was years ago I rode in it, and even now as I write this, I am grinning.

So why do I love Top Gear so much? Because they can convey really well this emotional attachment they have to cars. Every time I watch that show, I grin. Do I learn many facts? Probably not, but that’s not the point of super cars, and Top Gear seems to be the only show in the world that gets this. I love Top Gear, and it’s certainly one of my guilty pleasures.

iPad, Motorola Xoom, and the HP TouchPAD

I am currently the owner of an Apple iPad.  I really like it a lot.  I find it a very useful tool at work, and a great entertainment device at home.  Apple had a lot of impressing to do for me to actually say I like another iOS device, after they hobbled my old iPhone 3G.

Even though the app experience is quite wonderful on the iPad, I still think its an incomplete experience.  There isn't any support for Adobe Flash, and probably never will be.  There is also limited interoperability between apps. Files you create in an app on the iPad generally remain within that app, and the files aren't available to other apps on anything other then a very limited basis.  This is a very limiting experience.  We're used to being able to open a file on our computers in any number of apps.

I think that these shortcomings have been largely overlooked because Apple is so far ahead of any other tablet that is out on the market.  Shortly after the iPad burst onto the scene, countless manufacturers have tried to rush something to market.  Most of these tablets have been based on Android.  Google itself has said that Android isn't designed for anything larger then 7 inches.  Of all these 7 inch and smaller tablets the Galaxy Tab is the only one that seemed to have potential.  I used one, and I wasn't impressed.  I couldn't figure out if I was supposed to use it in my lap, or hold it against my face like a giant women repelling phone.

There are two tablets that have been recently announced that I think actually have potential to rock the iPad boat:

The Motorola Xoom

The Xoom is the first tablet to run Google's "Honeycomb" operating system.  This one is specifically designed to run on larger screens.  Incidentally, the screen on this gem is just about the same size as the iPad's, which I think is perfect.  This screamer of a tablet also packs front and rear cameras, and a 3G radio for all the road warriors.  Motorola says that you can upgrade it to 4G as well.

The HP TouchPad

The HP TouchPad looks very intriguing as well.  I thought the Palm Pre was one of the best mobile operating systems out there.  I believe it failed because Palm spent all of there money on this bizarre add campaign.  After they were out of money they couldn't market or develop it anymore.  With HP's deep pockets, and its "play nice attitude" with its sister devices, I think this one has real potential.  WebOS and the Pre were developed by someone who used to work for Apple on the iPod, and it really shows in WebOS devices.

So which one is the best?  As soon as I can get my hands on one and compare it to my iPad, I'll let you know.  If you follow this blog, you'll know that while I love my Apple products, I am not 100% loyal.

Happy trees with Sketchbook Pro for iPad

So I remember as a kid sometime after Sesame Street, Bob Ross would come on and show the world how to create "Happy little trees" using just a canvas, paint, and some soft spoken words.

As a recent new owner of an iPad, a device hailed by Steve Jobs as "Magical and Revolutionary" I have been rather obsessed with drawing apps for it.  There are many out there.  AutoDesk's Sketchbook Pro really stood out for me because it seems powerful enough for a real artist to use.  I say "seems" because I am about as much as real artist today I was at the age I was watching Bob Ross on TV.

I think this app has great potential for interior designers and artists who want to add that artistic touch to their drawings.  SketchBook Pro has the ability to allow the user to draw over existing photographs.  I could see a designer to use this to color in an elevation or perspective drawing...

So what do you think?  Is this app Bob Ross approved?

Droid Does Re-Run

I originally ran this post a few months ago.  I thought I'd repost it for those if you considering a smartphone for a holiday gift!

So after spending some quality time with my friend Paul Anater in Miami this past week, I have become inspired to expand what I write about on this blog.  I usually like to stick to strictly Sketchup topics.  I am a bit of a geek sometimes, and I'd like to share some experiences I have had switching smartphones.

I remember when the iPhone first came out in 2007.  I watched in envy as everyone was able to switch over to get what at the time was, the most advanced smartphone out there.

I jumped on the iPhone bandwagon on the day the iPhone 3G was released.  That was a great year to be an iPhone owner.  There were 10,000 ways to waste time on the app store, and limited 3G coverage.  The best part was, this was before AT&T was REALLY bad....

For two years I used my wonderful white iPhone.  I loved it.  It did everything I wanted it to.  When the 3GS came out, I didn't even really want to upgrade.  The 3GS was quite a bit faster, and I did feel myself wanting for a little more speed on my phone, but my 3G still ran great, and I never ended up trading up to the 3GS.

Then something happened, Apple released the new iPhone 4.  At the same time, they also released a huge software update, iPhone software 4.0 for all models except the original iPhone.  Apple has a nice habit of upgrading software on old devices, even as they release new hardware.  This is nice for current owners as they usually add some nice new features, and performance enhancements.  I think this is a really good move on Apple's part, it makes current customers happy, which generates good PR, and drives sales for new hardware.

I have been through three major software revisions with my iPhone.  Each time there is a major release, there is a slew of new features, and a few bugs.  Apple usually quickly fixes the bugs, so I always have felt really comfortable upgrading the day these new updates come out.

I upgraded to 4.0 the day it came out, and things were not as they usually are.  The software took forever to install on my 3G, and once it did, I immediately noticed a major performance hit.  Instead of feeling like I had all my apps, and the internet at my finger tips, it felt like I had to reach through a bowl of Jello-O to get to any of them.  Once I got them they were, sticky, and hard to handle.  I think that Apple put out a piece of software that was not well tested on the old iPhone.....

Check out my friend Paul Anater's blog post on the subject.  There's a great video embedded in that post as well.  If you're a current 3G owner, you will be able to relate.

I have a theory that this has something to do with their business model, but we'll keep theory and conjecture for another article.

My resolution was to switch phones, and carriers.  I was sick of getting dropped calls, and slow internet connectivity on my iPhone.  That software update did me in.  I walked into my local Verizon store and picked myself up a Droid Incredible.  I was a sucker for the original Droid ads.  As a geek, they really got me interested...  This was the first commercial.

Now, this commercial is a little dated already, as the new iPhone CAN do all of these things...  But there is so much more to Android then just side by side comparions of features.

Lets break the two platforms down.  You've got Apple, they want everything to be perfect.  They control the entire process, from the hardware, to the software.  I'll bet they'd even love to control the cell towers if they could afford to.  You can't do anything on your iPhone unless Steve says that you can.  Things are magical and perfect in iPhone land.

Then there is Google Android.  Its open, customizable, and available to anyone who's got a piece of hardware that they want to put it on.  This has its upsides, and downsides.  The upsides are that you can do ANYTHING you want on Android.  If you want to run 60 apps at the same time and drain you battery, go crazy.  If you want to have a different music player then the stock one, just go ahead and download one.  If you want to have apps that have full access to the phone, you can get them.  A great example of allowing devolopers access to the entire phone system is that you can create apps that work great with other apps.  For example, just about any piece of media on the phone can be shared.  If you have your favorite Twitter app on your phone and you want to post a photo, that app comes right up in the list of ways you can share a piece of media.  No longer to you have to launch the app, create the tweet, go to your camera roll, and search for the picture.

Perhaps you aren't happy with the dialer pad on the phone, simply download another one!  Smartphones are more and more becoming portals to the internet, and less and less about phones.  I think the internet should be open and free, and I also think that the device that you use to access it should be the same.  Remember how angry we all got when Microsoft blocked Netscape back in the day?  Its funny how we now tolerate that sort of Draconian control from Apple, just because they are "Hip" and "Cool".

Now for the really good stuff:  The speed of the Droid Incredible.  Between Verizon's speedy 3G network, and the Incredibles hi octane processor, this phone can go faster then you can think.  The internet operates at nearly broadband speeds.  You can even load Flash on it!  Then there is Google's system wide voice search.  Want to find something, anything on your phone or the internet?  Simply tap one button, and just ask it!

You can ask Droid anything.  Things like "Call Paul Anater" or "Navigate to Orlando Florida" will do exactly what you expect them to.  The voice recognition is uncannily good.

If you are thinking of making the switch, you should.  I use this phone more then I ever used my iPhone.  Now have at the disposal of my thumbs the ultimate connection to the world.  Its brilliantly fast, and rather then get in my way, it gets out of the way and just gets things done.  Droid definitely Does.

As an aside, I was able to take my now deactivated iPhone 3G and downgrade it to the old 3.13 software.  Its not as easy as upgrading, and you do have to wipe your phone and manually put everything back on it, but it does work perfectly now!

Reality Distortion Field

Ok, I've got to vent about Apple here. But before I tear into them, let's start with a brief history.

Apple has always been hip and innovative. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started selling computers in the mid-seventies out of a garage. The whole idea behind these computers was that they were completely open source. You built them yourself, and programmed them yourself.

As Apple grew and grew, they became the "Alternative" computer. PC's were for those in suits, and Mac's were supposed to be for the non-conformist, open-minded free thinkers.

Apple, for years, has been a niche market computer. I have always thought they were great. I am typing on a nice MacBook Pro right now. Since Apple's business model is a "vertical stack" meaning they develop the hardware and the software, they are quite nimble in terms of being able to innovate. This has resulted in some great products over the years. I am a huge fan of Macs because of their ease of use, and reliability.

Then in 2007 the iPhone came out. I don't have to tell you, but it was a pretty big deal. Apple was profitable before, and now because of the iPhone they have more cash then they know what to do with.

I think all of the success at Apple has gone to their CEO's head. Take a listen to Apple's latest earnings call. And then strap in for an angry rant.

Ok, so lets break down some of Steve's comments. First, he says that Google calling its platform "Open" is disengeniuos. This couldn't be further from the truth. Lets look at Apple's iOS operating system. It's a completely closed eco system. You can only use it on specific Apple devices. As a developer, you are only allowed to use certain features of the phone. Your only method of distribution is through Apple's App store. Your apps can only get on the App store if Apple says it's OK for them to be on there. If you've been paying any attention over the past three years, you know that Apple exercises its right to remove apps from its app store for a variety of unfair reasons. I don't know about you, but this seems like Draconian control to me. It's Apple's way or the highway. Apple used to lockdown their app developers in NDA's so that they couldn't even talk to other developers about their apps!

Then there is Google Android. Google gives its Android software away for free. Anyone can use it on any device they can shoehorn the software into. Google provides an app store, and also allows apps to be sold though other app stores, and even directly off of developers' websites. In a nutshell, you can sell an app to an Android device anyway you want, with or without Google's help.

As a devoloper, you also have access to the entire phone. Do you want to make an app that will replace features that the phone already has? No problem, just write it. Apple would smite you to hell for even thinking about that!

Google's Android is a lot like Windows. Anyone who can write software can do anything they want with it. The only real difference is that Android is free, and Windows costs money.

This is the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion field at its best.

Steve also goes on to say that Android is fragmented. He's a little right on this one, but it works well. HTC and Motorola sell phones with customized versions of Android on them. I have used both, and they are both very easy and pleasant to use. The user doesn't need to be a "Systems integrator". That is complete bullshit. These phones are just as easy to use as Apple's conveted iPhone.

Steve Jobs also called out the devoloper of TweetDeck, a Twitter app for iPhone and Android. He said that TweetDeck had to make only one version of its software for Apple, and 244 versions for Android. This is completely untrue. See this Tweet from the TweetDeck CEO

In fact, not only did he Tweet this, he was quoted as saying that it only took two people to create and deploy their app for Android. Does that sound like a nightmare? Two people create and deploy an app that will work on many more devices then its Apple varient will? And these developers don't have to worry about Google approving, or disapproving their app. Google lets the public do that.

Even Andy Rubin jumped into the fray. For those of you who don't know who he is, he is the "father" of Google Android. He responded with this tweet:

This is the command line used where any developer can build its own version of Android.

I think all the success and fame has gone to Apple's head. Steve Jobs has to get his head out of the clouds and look around. His company's arrogance and obsessiveness may work in their favor now, but with more and more "open" platforms being offered, I'm not sure how long it will last. Once I made the move to Android, I realized that open is the future. I like freedom of speech, and since most speech is electronic, I like an open platform to do it on. Apple has jaded me, and I don't think I am alone.

I'll continue to use my MacBook. Anyone can develop for Mac OS, and let's face it, Mac's are better than Windows machines in my opinion. As far as mobile devices go, I'll stick to the open ones, no matter what the OS is. Until Apple releases its grip on iOS, you can count me out.

I'll leave you with one last thing, back in 1984, when Mac was the "Alternative, Free thinkers" computer, they ran this incredible commercial. You can see that the runner represents the Apple user, and the "drones" are all PC users. It's funny looking at that commercial now and I can't help but think how the roles have reversed.

So what are your thoughts? Open, or closed?