Kindle2 - initial review
I'm a big fan of the Kindle1 and decided to splurge for the second generation of the device. Thus far, I've got to say I am happy with my purchase, but here's my twenty-four hour review.
Software interface - The software interface is significantly improved in a few key areas. The most drastic change is the fact that the menu can now be navigated via the four way joystick which makes it a bit more intuitive. I also like the fact that the screen refreshes quicker making the menus a little less cumbersome to work with.
The reading process is the same with faster refreshes and now includes a handy report of how far you are into the book (offered up as a percentage).
I also like the addition of the archive as a way to park my read books in the cloud with the ability to re-download them at any time. This is a nice way to reduce clutter, but allows you to re-download without visiting the Amazon web site.
Graphics a crisper and noticeably improved
The most significant improvement for me is the fact that periodicals (like newspapers) are only kept for seven days unless your choose to save them. My biggest gripe with the earlier Kindle ws the fact that papers had to be manual deleted and it was a very labor intensive and time consuming process. At one point, I was subscribed to the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Mecury News, and Investors Business Daily. I cancelled them all simply because I got sick on manually managing the content. Given I submitted a feature request to Amazon on this issue, I am pleased to see it got addressed.
The hardware is sexier and has the coveted "Apple" look. Honestly, while I like the new look, I think the first Kindle felt better in my hands. I would not want to use the Kindle2 without some sort of case as it is too slick to comfortably hold. Also, while the old Next Page button was a pain, I got used to it and got in the habit of locking the screen as I put it away. The new Next Page button requires just a little too much effort. I am sure I will get used to it as well, but right now I'd have to admit to liking the old next page button better. Sure if I handed it to someone, they would advance the page, but how often are you passing your Kindle around unless you are Robert Scoble at a SV party?
As mentioned above, the joystick is a great improvement and I like the addition of a big and easy to locate home button. I'd have loved to have a dedicated screen lock button, but I am sure I will get in the habit of hitting the power switch to put the device in screensaver mode.
The loss of the SD slot does not concern me. I never used the old one and with the ability to archive to the Amazon cloud, I don't think I will ever be concerned about storage space.
The text to speech capability is nice, but I don't see myself ever using it. If I wanted to listen to the book, I'd get it on Audible. I suppose it would do in a pinch and for those times when I don't want to stop reading, but need to get in the car, but so far I see a very limited use case for it.
All the other features are comparable to what I had with the Kindle 1. Store still works great, etc. Not much improvement there, but none was expected.
If your new to the Kindle, this is a great device as far as I am concerned. If you already have a Kindle, I'm not sure the improvements justify an upgrade.
Social media science fiction book recommendations
Saw this interesting list and decided to come up with four additional books to add to it.
The first four SF books you should read if you’re working in social media
My additions:
Eastern Standard Tribe - Cory Doctorow
Great story with a backdrop of feeling connected via what time zone you are online.
Global Frequency - Warren Ellis
What happens with average citizens try to change the world as part of a real-time reactive global network that can handle any challenge. This is a graphic novel, but exceptionally done. You can also find a pilot for the failed TV project if you search in the right places.
Interface - Neal Stephenson
What if our political candidates reacted to our Twitter feeds? I'm Cool enough to have a copy of this published under the name Stephen Bury, the pen name Stephenson originally used until he was outed.
Gridlinked - Neal Asher
Trying to save a civilization with extreme grid withdrawal.
If you enjoy them or have any additional recommendations, comment below.
Free Scott Albert Johnson song - Magnolia Road live
My favorite independent musician and friend Scott Albert Johnson has given me permission to release this live track on my blog for free. The track is for sale at Scott's site along with his debut album which is highly recommended.
Scott is a very talented musician who, along the lines of Jonathan Coultan and Geoff Smith, is working to make his music passion a full-time endeavor. I've written about his debut album here on my blog in the past (Umbrella Man review). I'm a big fan and happy to hear that Scott is working on a follow-up album (which I've already pre-ordered). I've seen Scott perform live a few times in DC and the shows are always excellent. I love Scott's original portfolio of songs and I'm a huge fan of his cover of Peter Gabriel's "I don't remember", which exceeds the original on so many levels. I was pleased to hear from Scott that, based on my feedback, he'll be including that cover track on his forthcoming album!
Magnolia Road is off Scott's debut album. It is not my favorite song on the album but it is a crowd favorite and will give you a good exposure to his vocal and harmonica talents. If you can find someone that is better on harmonica than Scott (excluding John Popper of Blues Traveller), please let me know!
If you like the track, please go and buy the album. If you aren't happy with your purchase, I'll buy you a drink the next time I see you. If you want to sample a few more tracks visit Scott's MySpace page.
In the meantime, enjoy your free download of Magnolia Road live:
DOWNLOAD MAGNOLIA ROAD (via Amazon S3)
Pretty clever
For some reason, this attack made me laugh. An interesting blending of meatspace and cyberspace.
Hackers in Grand Forks, North Dakota of all places have hit on a clever Trojan Horse: using a fraudulent parking ticket to direct unsuspecting motorists to their virus laden websites.
The scam works like this: You come back to your parked car and there's a parking ticket under the windshield wiper. Everything looks official so you go home, and, being a law abiding citizen you visit the website on the ticket as directed. In order to make sure it was your car, you have to flip through a gallery of evidence and find your car. In order to do this, you have to download a toolbar and that's how they get you. The toolbar is loaded up with an executable file. When the computer restarts is when the fun begins. Your computer becomes a nightmare of pop-up windows talking about downloadable antivirus software and all hell breaks loose from there. (Jalopnik)
Threats in the Age of Obama
I'm a contributor to this impressive new book that examines what threats we face in the coming years. An excellent compilation of contributors and expertise which is highly recommended.
You can purchase the book at Amazon today
Mac mini as video distribution platform
When I had my house built, I went to the trouble of trying to create a video distribution system that would allow one Tivo/DirectTV receiver to be controlled and broadcast throughout the house.
While the system worked in theory, it was plagued with problems, mostly relating to the IR repeaters being eternally flawed. Eventually, I gave up on the system and put DirectTV boxes with all the essential TVs.
Over the weekend, I was able to revisit the video distribution system using the following components:
-Mac Mini - This is the hub of the whole system with SlingPlayer, VLC, iTunes, DVD player, and Firefox.
-Video modulator - sends a video source over channel 35 to every TV in the house.
-iPod Touch, iPhone, and laptop (for remote control of the Mac Mini over wifi. No more IR repeaters)
-Slingbox - This is already installed in my home office and connected to my home office DirectTV receiver.
With the Mac Mini, I am able to tune into my slingbox and watch DirectTV content, use VLC to watch content stored on network attached storage devices, use iTunes to stream content from my iTunes library, play DVDs with the built in DVD player, and use the web to hit content sources like Hulu and Joost.
Whatever the Mac Mini is playing is set to channel 35 throughout the house, which is perfect for TV's that I have connected to DirectTV service.
Change.gov to become whitehouse.gov
This is an interesting approach. I'll be curious to see how they make this work. Talk about signal to noise ratios....(AFP)
iPhone News Network
An interesting scenario developed on my drive home, that is a perfect demonstration of emerging technology.
First, I read a Twitter message (while stopped at a red light!) that there was major Steve Jobs news and AAPL stock was tanking.
I then saw a Twitter message from Leo Laporte that he was covering it live.
I tuned my iPhone into the Twit.am stream and listened to the coverage over the 3G network. No skipping, pauses or rebuffering at all.
The amount of time from seeing the alert to hearing the full-story was about 3 minutes. Talk about redefining "breaking news".
Good quote
Going to be thinking about this one going into the new year.
There is no such thing as information overload, there’s only filter failure. - Clay Shirkey
A little out of context, but still appropriate for 2009.
Feds consider searches of terrorism blogs
The Homeland Security Department may soon start scouring the Internet to find blogs and message boards that terrorists use to plan attacks in the USA.
The effort comes as researchers are seeing terrorists increasingly use the Internet to plan bombings, recruit members and spread propaganda. "Blogging and message boards have played a substantial role in allowing communication among those who would do the United States harm," the department said in a recent notice.
Homeland Security officials are looking for companies to search the Internet for postings "in near to real-time which precede" an attack, particularly a bombing. Bombings are "of great concern" because terrorists can easily get materials and make an improvised-explosive device (IED), the department said.
"There is a lot of IED information generated by terrorists everywhere — websites, forums, people telling you where to buy fertilizer and how to plant IEDs," said Hsinchun Chen, director of the University of Arizona's Artificial Intelligence Lab. Chen's "Dark Web" research project has found 500,000,000 terrorist pages and postings, including tens of thousands that discuss IEDs.
Chen and others aren't sure how helpful blogs and message boards will be in uncovering planned attacks.
"I just can't envision a scenario where somebody posts to a message board, 'I'm getting ready to launch an IED at this location,' and the government will find that," said terrorism analyst Matt Devost. A lot of postings about attacks are "fantasy, almost role-playing," Devost said.
Internet searches are used routinely by government agencies, such as the Defense Department, in gathering intelligence, said Chip Ellis of the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism.
The searches use methods similar to a Google query and can be helpful in uncovering the latest IED technology, Ellis said.
Steven Aftergood, an intelligence expert at the Federation of American Scientists, praised Homeland Security for "trying to develop innovative approaches" and said its effort would not jeopardize privacy because the department would be scanning public websites.
The department, which declined comment, has made no decision about using Internet searches and is reviewing statements that companies submitted last month describing their ability to do the searches.
By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY