Wow, Sherry arranged a surprise birthday party for me with many (but not all) of my dearest friends. Thanks!! What a special evening.
Houston’s Next Apple
This two story black-shrouded cube, located on the corner of Westheimer and Drexel in the Highland Village Shopping Center, is Houston’s next Apple Store.
The cloaking reveals little during the day but at night, when interior work lights are on, some areas of the draping become translucent. They reveal a huge interior space encased in looming glass walls. This is going to be a very large store, probably twice the size of the three other Houston stores combined.
Quick Jaunt to Dallas
Just a quick biz trip to Big D for a couple of meetings with L and some video shooting for H. The photo above shows the TSA line at Hobby Airport. Glad it moved quickly.
Steve Jobs – Lost and Found
I saw the Robert Kringley documentary tonight at the River Oaks Theater in Houston. It was made from a recently found VHS copy of his 1996 interview with Steve Jobs.
iPhone Case/Stand
My buddy gave me this cool iPhone case for my birthday. It has a nice folding kickstand. Here is the case and here is the free alarm clock app if you’re interested.
Shred-it Card
While on a recent trip to Miami my credit card was compromised, apparently at the hotel. The thief used my account to purchase pizzas and Halloween costumes (Doctor and Nurse outfits with stethoscopes.) Beware of Floridian physician smelling of pepperoni.
At least it gave me an opportunity to play with the shredder.
Willie Nelson and Family – Nov 2011
As required by a little known Texas law, state residents are required to pay homage to Willie Nelson once every two years minimum. Tonight I happily fulfilled my obligation.
Haley’s Last Halftime for 2011
The Dulles Dolls and Dulles Viking Band completed the 2011 marching season today. Check out their award-winning halftime show on YouTube below.
Time-bomb Nano
Six years later, Apple has determined my iPod nano is a safety risk. They are sending me a replacement.
Dear iPod nano owner,
Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.
I did not join the class-action suit a few years ago about scratches, so I forfeited my $37 settlement.
I will miss this little guy. It was my favorite iPod. It will be interesting to see what they send to replace this classic gadget.
Nov 17 UPDATE:
Apple is replacing the 6-year old Nanos with 6-year young Nanos according to Mac Rumors.
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/17/replacements-for-first-gen-ipod-nano-models-at-risk-of-overheating-now-arriving/
The Meaning of Like
As the web becomes more Facebookified, does it change the meaning and function of the seemingly simple Like button? How could it not?
An emerging Facebook fad is to require a Like in exchange for viewing content or filling out a form to receive a “free” item. A few lines of code added to your app is all it takes to create a Like Wall. As this trend becomes more widespread, it transforms what was previously a friendly recommendation into something more akin to a financial transaction. Is Like the new currency of the web?
The Facebook developers page explains that a Like button “lets a user share your content with friends on Facebook.” The network effect has quickly taken over, increasing the value of Like. It is becoming the Google Juice of the 2010’s.
Placing content behind a Like Wall creates a content provider/viewer transaction. Recommend this content to your friends and I will let you experience it. The odd part is that in many cases the user must recommend the content before they see it. It is like writing a restaurant review from the parking lot. This diminishes the original intent of a Like, as it transforms it into cold, hard web cash.
Or does it? The viewer does have recourse. Just like the old street corner gag of tying string to a dropped dollar bill, then yanking it away as an unwitting passerby reaches for it, the viewer also holds a string. The Unlike button.
“Sure I will pay for your content. I have an unlimited wallet of Zuck-bucks, so I’ll throw you a Like. Now give me the content. Nope, sorry, I did not really like it, so I am reaching into your virtual cash register and unpaying.” Does this create a mini-moral dilemma for the viewer, or is it just analogous to sending back the food at that previously mentioned restaurant – after eating it?
As usual, emerging web trends raise more questions than they answer. Time will tell us the answers, but in the mean time, tell me what you think in the comments below.
Faux Abbey Road – Live
The Fab Faux perform the second side of Abbey Road. This live, in-studio staging is a spot-on quality performance of an ambitious project.
Interactive Exhibit on Alternative Energy
This is a quick demonstration of a recently completed Interactive Exhibit for a Visitors Center in Washington DC. Sorry about the shaky video. I shot it with my iPhone 3G.
