‘You’ve got to find what you love’

 

Innovator. Inspiration. Idol. Icon.

“Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died”

This was the message that greeted me when I checked Twitter as I came out of the shower. The day we all dreaded had come. Although everyone who know about Apple and Steve Jobs know about the lingering illness that has limited his actions this past year, it still came as a shock.

What can one say about a man who single-handedly changed the way we think, work, play and communicate? I am so grateful for his creations — beautiful machines that really work and make things easier to do.

I first came into contact with an Apple computer back in 1989, when a friend of mine showed me an Apple II that his Dad just brought home from the U.S. We started playing this video game, similar to air hockey, but depicted via a green and black monochrome graphic. I forgot the name of that game but I was hooked since then.

Fast-forward a couple of years later in 1992. I was stuck for a day at an Aunt’s house in San Jose, CA, at the tail-end of my US visit, waiting for me to decide whether to stay and try my luck in America, or come back home to the Philippines. I found an Apple computer in the den, and powered it up. Then I took the Apple tour, where you’re taught to drag and drop, open files and get oriented with the GUI. Well, I got hooked again and I’ve had many chances to get my hands on an Apple, and then later, Mac, machine since that time.

Over time, we’ve seen his creations: the MacBooks, iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. I’m so glad that I’m using a MacBook Air, a wonderful device that frees me up to do the things I love, yet still keep me in tune with the world.

Steve Jobs’ influence on my life has been huge, especially this year, when I had been faced with a life-changing decision. Most of us have already read and seen the commencement address he gave to the graduating class at Stanford University in 2005. We’ve all taken his words to heart. But what I found really applicable for me this year was this bit:

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

So, that’s what I did. I decided to quit my job at a telco, packed up, and headed to a different direction. Now I love what I do. Thank you, Steve Jobs.

We truly will miss you.

 *****

Some links:

One Thing We Owe To Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs

The Spritual Side of Steve Jobs

‘The Steve Jobs I knew’ by Walt Mossberg

Less and More

I’ve been thinking of what significant thing I wanted to do in 2011, it being a year with two number 1s in it. Something akin to a resolution, although I know its a bit late for that.

Each year, we keep promising ourselves to do something challenging, something we know is the right thing to do but can’t seem to follow through. Sometimes we slide back to old habits that die hard.

Now I guess its time I make a firm commitment, a sort of mission statement now that mid-life has set in (at least biologically), and these are times when one needs to take stock, recompute and then implement some new tweaks to one’s own system. Sort of like “clearing the mechanism” to fuel one’s personal and intellectual growth for the years ahead.

So here are my eleven “resolutions” for the year, staring March, hehe.

It’s going to be tough, I know, but let me just say that this needs to be done.

11 RESOLUTIONS FOR 2011

1. Tweet less, think more.

2. Facebook less, read books more.

3. Speak less, do more.

4. Eat less, run more.

5. Text less, call more.

6. Spend less, earn more.

7. Say less, ask more.

8. Work less, sleep more.

9. Seek less, find more.

10. Hate less, love more.

11. Stress less, enjoy more.

N8 no iPhone

I’m currently test-driving an N8 unit as a way of gauging if I really like this device enough for me to buy one.

From the start, what attracted me to the N8 was its look. I especially like the silver version, kinda sleek and futuristic looking in an old-school way.

At first I didn’t really pay much attention on how the phone performed. But after the initial infatuation, one has to go beyond the aesthetic values and really delve into how the device will be beneficial to my day to day requirements.

Initial observations are:

1. Short battery life. Everything the others have said about the limited power is true. I charged it last night and used it normally today (a couple of hours on 3G mobile internet; one or two voice call; several SMS; about 7 shots with the camera). Now the battery is down to one bar!

Great-looking touchscreen

The following day, a friend advised me to set the network to purely GSM and not Dual Mode to help reduce power consumption. Apparently, constantly being on 3G mode drains the battery faster. Makes sense.

True enough, the next couple of days saw a markedly increased battery life for the N8. I would still set the average consumption to be one day, for standby time, moderate voice calls, and several SMS functions, and the occasional picture taking. Once you start using the mobile internet, either 3G/HSPA or WiFi, the thing gets hot and drains up its juice easily.

2. Difficulty in syncing. I’ve got the correct iSync app, as well as the Nokia Multimedia transfer. But I can’t transfer fotos to the Mac via Bluetooth. Tried downloading the plugin from Nokia, but nothing happens when I click on the link.

After some tweaking here and there, restarting the device as well as my MBP, lo and behold, the thing synced my appointments calendar! WTF?

3. The camera is great, though! You can twiddle with the settings if you want better sensitivity for low-light situations, if you don’t want to use the flash, or if you want better contrast in outdoor scenes.

I’ll jot down add’l observations throughout the test period and let you guys now.

Right now, the N8 is growing on me, but hopefully not like a big pimple on my back.

Suddenly not 100% convinced to get one at this point. But I’m not quite ready to write it off. Something’s got to give soon.

I’d doing this exercise to help totally discourage me from getting the iPhone4. Is it an exercise in futility? We’ll see.

UPDATE:
3/9/2011

Seems like I forgot to post my final judgement for this device.

After a couple of weeks playing and using the N8, I had to let it go. It was a good camera, took great pictures and played videos very well. It was a good phone coz voice quality was crisp and clear. Overall, though, the whole system did not delight me as much.

I mean, its a Nokia phone, there’s no going around that fact, but somehow, I found that it took its own sweet time switching from different applications and features. It just didn’t make me into a more efficient smartphone user. For a smartphone, the N8 wasn’t that quick.

the "home" button

I guess I’m also just biased for QWERTY smartphones, and it really pained me when I realized the N8 touchscreen keyboard wasn’t in QWERTY configuration like the iPhone.

On the upside, apart from the neat camera, the screen size worked well when you use the GPS for tracing your location on a map. I used it when we got lost driving around Batangas City after Christmas and was able to figure out how to get to the main road that leads to the STAR Tollway by checking my location on the GPS map.

The aforementioned screen size also augurs well for surfing the web, checking email and updating my FaceBook status and posting on Twitter. Its a mobile web device that’s just the right size.

All in all, if I wasn’t looking for a full-on, everyday smartphone to use, I’d get the N8 as a back-up phone. What it can replace is a point-and-shoot camera, but then you’d have to ask yourself, “why get a phone to replace your camera?”

Ironically, when Nokia decided to go this route in making a smartphone, it ended up with a really good camera that doubles as a mobile communication device.

So, I decided not to get an N8. It also helped me decide not to get the iPhone4 as well. I’ll just stick to my E71 for a little while longer.

Cheers!

What the Tech?!

“I increasingly feel like technology is more about distraction than actually productivity or creation or innovation. It’s all just a bunch of shiny crap.” – Leo Laporte, TWiT 270, Oct. 17

This statement came about during the TWiT netcast where the topic was the iPad and what it meant for Leo and some of his guests, like Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle, who said he’s using the iPad now more for amusment: for consuming media content and reading. But not for surfing the web nor for email.

I find that ironic since the iPad, as most people here in Manila use it, seem to be the de facto device for people on the go who still want to check their email, Twitter feeds and Facebook updates. I guess Pinoys have a different way of handling their hardware. Most probably, locals feel the iPad as a status symbol; a must-have device if you want to be counted as “in” or part of the rich and famous.

I see people carry em around in the malls, in the office, and coffeeshops. Somehow, it looked like the modern version of the old clutchbag that old guys used to carry around. While the clutchbag carried “essential” personal stuff like money, a comb, keys, a checkbook perhaps, the iPad carries the “essential” digital stuff, like your Facebook account, passwords, addressbook, photo album, videos, etc.

When I was in Singapore, I didn’t see that many people with iPads. But almost everyone had an iPhone. I guess the iPhone is still the most efficient mobile Internet device one could carry around easily.

Leo Laporte also noted that in the airport, “it’s almost weird if you don’t have an iPad or an iPhone.” That’s how it is in the U.S., where its not surprising to see even parents in Middle America use them to check sports scores, the news, and other such mundane things. Then, John Dvorak quipped that people laugh when they see him with a laptop! To which Leo adds, “he must be an old curmudgeon.”

Right now, how do we use our devices? Our phones have hi-res camera lenses embedded in them, and you can get broadband access on the go, too. The iPad has a GPS app that shows you maps and routes to locations you need to go. You can place video calls to friends who have the same iPhone 4. I mean, to what extent do we depend on these gadgets for really simple tasks?

Am I the only one who doesn’t want to have one fully converged device? It’s a matter of priorities, of whether you can bear carrying multiple devices (digital camera, MP3 player, mobile phone) or bring just one device that delivers all of that.

Some have said that the best camera is the one that you have with you. And for most, that would be a mobilephone. I agree, to the extent that you have to be willing to sacrifice a bit of quality in exchange for capturing the moment. Unless you normally carry a DSLR with you wherever you go, I’m sure you’d agree with this, too.

I really think having a mobile phone that has everything will just distract you from its main primary use — to make calls or SMS. I’m always worried that a call will come in while I’m taking a photo with it. Or that an SMS will suddenly flash on screen while I’m watching a video.

In any case, these “distractions” can lead to a lot of wasted time. Like when shopping in malls that have free Wi-Fi. Sometimes I find myself spending more time trying to go online than actually shopping. This is also similar to the case of someone going to a beach resort for the weekend but instead of enjoying the sun, sea and sand, he ends up going online using the free Wi-Fi access at the resort. Isn’t that pushing it too far?

So now I’ve tried to limit my online time especially when I’m out with my family, on vacation or social gatherings. It helps to make that decision early on, and not succumb to the allure of being connected 24 x 7.

I thought I’d get a liking for the iPad when it first came out. The initial attraction of a touch-screen tablet device, with ample screen real estate for watching videos, didn’t last long for me.

But I felt like I needed to have a keyboard under my hands, and a mouse or trackpad to take care of scrolling every which way.

So instead of pining for an iPad, I’ll just focus my thoughts on the best shiny crap that recently came out — the new MacBook Air.

I guess I’m just an old curmudgeon.

Back On Track

It’s the first day of November 2010. Time for me to start putting entries into this blog.

Unlike my other blogsites, this one will try to be a bit more professional and serious.

Yeah, right.

More next time.

Tech Dependent

A conversation with a friend over YM swerved toward a brief discourse on technology and how we have become quite dependent on it.

These past few years, we have seen the rise of new ways to work while on the go (Wi-Fi), keep tabs of our loved ones who are miles away (Skype videocalls/YM), bring our entertainment with us (iPhone), and get in touch with long-lost friends (FaceBook).

But what if you can’t get online just when you need to? What do you do?

In times like these, I say close the lid of your laptop, stand up from your desk, go out and take a walk, or get a bite to eat.

Because no matter how much you gripe or call the helpdesk, or click on the refresh button of your browser or powercycle your electronic device, if the Internet is down, there’s not much you can do about it.

From Chewing the Fat to Cracked Rear View

Had to change my blog name coz I got a comment from Andrew asking if he and his pals can use “Chewing The Fat” for a culinary blog they’re putting up. I said, sure, no problem, go right ahead. Since I’ve not been actively updating the old blog for the past two years, I guess its good that someone else will put the title to good use, altho I have another blog of the same name, but not dedicated purely to culinary pursuits.

Good luck to Andrew! Let us know once your blog is up and running!