tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309969072024-03-23T11:03:49.138-07:00More Ideas Than Time<a href="http://moreideasthantime.blogspot.com/2006/07/its-not-my-idea.html">Become a Regular Contributor!</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-91043981719734215902007-11-04T12:31:00.000-08:002007-11-04T12:48:51.510-08:00Leopard users: Make you own audiobooks from any text file..Leopard makes it really easy to create some useful scripts. In just a minute or two, I cobbled together this script. When you run it, it gives you a box to paste any amount of text into. Hit "OK" and "Alex" will read and record the text, place it into a new playlist in iTunes and add a numbered extension to the file. Do this for each chapter in a book then upload it to your iPod.<br /><br />It's a simple automator script you can get <a href="http://www.box.net/shared/mjz6b5k3f1">Here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-11946758432662683322007-06-18T08:53:00.000-07:002007-06-18T09:07:56.775-07:00Why All the Coverflow?Designers and the rest of us mere mortals have been clamoring about the incorporation of coverflow into everything apple. iTunes has now made full use of it, it will be a major part of the iPhone interface, and in Leopard the finder seems to be all about it. <br /><br />But what is the big deal? Why has Apple based so much of its UI around it? I mean, it's pretty and all, but it really is a very difficult way to find something. Horizontal scrolling with a mouse is just difficult and slow. So why has Apple invested so much in it? I believe the answer gives us some insight into future Apple products.<br /><br />Take a second look at the iPhone. OK, you've probably looked at it more than once by now, anyway. Take yet another look. This interface is the future of the mac platform. If Apple can get people used to typing on a screen, and they can use iPhone early adopters as beta testers for on-screen typing to really tweak it until it's good, then you can expect to see the iPhones's touch screen on your next macbook. What, did you think they could only make it 3.5 inches? Your next macbook will have no external buttons. Just a screen and a home/sleep/wake sensor.<br /><br />So how does coverflow prove this? When you're looking again at the iPhone, notice how anyone interacts with coverflow. Flicking left and right with your fingers is extremely natural. It's even more natural than vertical scrolling. Think of it like reading a book and flipping pages. It's a very natural wrist movement. Apple introduced coverflow to iTunes way back when, but the iPhone was already in design at that point.<br /><br />Face it, we are being primed for touch-sensitive tablet macs, and coverflow will be the center of the new mac OS UI.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-61245417487727189882007-06-14T07:41:00.000-07:002007-06-14T07:42:09.700-07:00The Definitive Reason for Buying an iPhone<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDKeZmEeIpI"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kDKeZmEeIpI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-58674379365983601652007-06-11T12:36:00.000-07:002007-06-11T13:33:49.112-07:00iPhone's Not-So-Hidden FeaturesMany people have said "I don't want my phone to be several things, I just want it to be a phone." What they haven't realized is that the convergence of devices opens many new features to each individual device. Here's a list of things that convergence will allow you to do... if not upon immediate release, then only a software or firmware update away.<br /><br />1. Wi-fi iPod<br />People have been clamoring for a wi-fi enabled iPod for some time now. We want to be able to sync our iPod without the wires. We want to download songs from the iTunes music store wirelessly. We want to share songs with other iPod users. Now you have it. Every iPhone (and thus iPod) has wi-fi and Edge, so all of the above is completely possible. It won't be long until you see the iPhone version of iTunes, so you can download songs, TV shows and movies over wi-fi or even edge. Sharing songs between iPhone users ala zune? It will be here before you know it.<br /><br />2. An iPod with a built-in speaker.<br />Wouldn't it be nice to lay at the beach and listen to your music without earphones and without lugging around extra speakers? The iPhone has a built in speaker phone, so listening to your music and movies through the speaker is right around the corner, if not already possible.<br /><br />3. An iPod with a built in mic.<br />No more line in mics. Record lectures, meeting notes... long format memos directly to iPod using the built in phone mic.<br /><br />4. An iPod with built in bluetooth.<br />Expect many bluetooth earphone accessories very soon. EXTRA NUGGET: Go to Apples new iPhone section <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/technology/wireless.html">here</a> and notice under "bluetooth" it reads "instantly connect to the iPhone Wireless Headset and other bluetooth enabled devices". Looks like we can expect Apple branded bluetooth headsets... no doubt with music listening support.<br /><br />5. Email your voice mail.<br />Your voice mail will be treated as individual audio files, meaning you will be able to attach them to email on your phone and send them to others to be played on their computer.<br /><br />6. Call the internet.<br />It's a wi-fi phone, people. Why hasn't this been said before? How long until skype builds a web app that let's you make free wi-fi calls from your iPhone? If you can pull up skype and use your built in mic and speakers on your computer, you better believe people will be racing to create this for the iPhone.<br /><br />7. Add your phone to your organizational system.<br />When developers start creating online apps for safari on iPhone, expect communications to be at many of their cores. Access basecamp from your iPhone, and touch a contact to call them immediately, then record the conversation and save it in basecamp. Think of it this way... you can organize every communication but phone calls, until now.<br /><br />8. Wi-fi camera<br />2 mega-pixels is nothing to sneeze at. Take a picture, it automatically is uploaded to flickr. Share pictures with other iPhone users wirelessly.<br /><br />As you can see, convergence brings many new possibilities. These are simply a few, there are many more. Hopefully this list will get you thinking. Why not leave your ideas in the comments for all to see?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-463672028060272162007-05-05T22:18:00.000-07:002007-05-05T22:29:58.250-07:00Music and FoodThey go together so well, why has no one made a symphony of it?<br /><br />Match a meal with a symphony. 5 course meal, 5 movement symphony. Match the flavors with the feeling of music. Heavy, light, playful, serious. Music and food both have distinct emotions connected with them. Have a conductor choose a symphony that has 5 movements with different feels for each movement. He then explains the music to the chwf, who prepares a five corse meal to match.<br /><br />You could probably only monetize this by using a few pieces... strings, horns, etc. Place them on a platform. Prepare one 5 course tasting menu. Everyone gets the same thing... no menu. Everyone arrives at the same time. The conductor and chef greet the audience and explain what they will be hearing, what they will be eating, and why the two pieces pair well. The first course is delivered as the first movement is played. As they end, the plates are taken away and the second course is brought out... until it is finished.<br /><br />One night, one performance, one group. Repeat 3 times each weekend for a month, then change the menu and music. I haven't run numbers to see if this could be profitable, I just know that I have longed to experience food paired with music for several years now and would love to see it happen. If this were happening in chicago or new york I would fly in just for it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-61551290323967783482007-05-03T23:59:00.000-07:002007-05-04T00:37:38.576-07:00Spiderman 3 - First ReviewThe movie of the summer is here, and here's your first look... no spoilers, I promise!<br /><br />In a word: letdown. I hate to say it, but the movie just wasn't that good. It was very reminiscent of the latest Superman movie. Lot's of hype, lots of expectations, but in the end it just didn't live up.<br /><br />To begin, well, it didn't. It literally took about a half hour just to get moving. Lots of setup. Lots of melodrama. Little action. I kept wondering when the action would start. Back-story. Foreshadowing. Love scenes. Drama. No action. I could have stood for about 10-15 minutes of setup, but it took twice that.<br /><br />"This is an intricate story," you say. "It needs detailed setup." I'll give you that. However, I think what made it so unbearable was the fact that the lines were awful and the acting was worse. Comic book movies are supposed to be a little cheesy, I know, but the audience was literally groaning from the cheese factor.<br /><br />After the action did begin, it didn't last. There were long, excruciating bouts of drama. Poorly written, terribly acted drama. A friendship between two main characters was so sappily acted that the audience was shouting gay jokes. The writers try to force some kind of drama between Peter and MJ and the plot is very weak. Think daytime soap opera. A good action scene would ensue, only to be followed by 10-20 minutes of "Days of Our Lives."<br /><br />Speaking of the plot, the writers make a failed attempt at twists, only to end up weaving a weak web that is not believable, even for a comic book movie. Characters are connected by weak threads and driven by shallow, predictable motives. "You killed my Dad, you killed my uncle, you kissed my girl, blah blah blah."<br /><br />Let's move on. Everyone wants to see black spiderman. How did he turn out? Bad. Very bad. At one point, the guy next to me called him "Emo Spiderman." There is a scene with Emo-man that is so cheesy it rivals Jim Carey's "The Mask." At one point it felt like I was watching the blooper reel, or deleted scenes instead of the actual film. Like the editors just finally gave up and left everything in. Remember that easter egg in the Star Wars DVD where Yoda dances with the Storm Troopers? Yes. That's exactly what you'll see. I'm not kidding. It's that bad.<br /><br />But what about the action scenes? In the beginning, they were very enjoyable. But after the first two, it got old. It was almost as if they had no new ideas. They kept using the same fights over and over. Not to mention that there comes a point when the "camera" is moving so fast that all you can make out is a blur for the entire scene.<br /><br />Without giving anything away, I'll also say that there a many things left unexplained. And not in a "we'll explain them next time" kind of way. There are just things that happen that are only there because they had happen for the movie to move forward. No connection at all.<br /><br />Is there anything good to say about this film? Yes. I am amazed what they are doing with special effects. The first time you see Sandman, you will be impressed. Incredible detail, excellent effects.<br /><br />It's just too bad it seems they spend all their time on the FX, and no time on the acting, writing, or plot.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-1153365155466508122006-07-19T19:49:00.000-07:002006-07-19T20:13:46.930-07:00The Big Tea IdeaA commenter mentioned an old idea I had about tea, so I figure I'll lay it out.<br /><br />Starbucks is massive. People have totally gotten used to paying $2-$6 for a beverage. However, coffee is bad for you. And hot on the heels of the coffee trend is something diamtrically opposed to it: The all-natural-home-grown-organically-farmed-over-priced-but-we'll-still-buy-it-<br />because-it's-supposed-to-be-good-for-you trend.<br /><br />Also hot right now is anything Asian. Japanese to be exact. So what's my point?<br /><br />Mix Starbucks, health food, and asia, and what do you get?<br /><br />Tea.<br /><br />"Wait just a minute," you say, "Starubucks already has tea". My answer? No they don't. If they treated coffee like they treat tea they wouldn't be in business. All they do now is give you a cup of microwaved water and a crusty old tea bag.<br /><br />Think of this. You go into a starbucks-like cafe. On the board are several choices that are there all the time. Call them "neccesiTEAS". Basic white tea, black tea, oolong tea, green tea, and such.<br /><br />Move on to more exotic leaves. Call them "varieTEAS".<br /><br />Move on to the most expensive teas you can find. Those, of course, are the "RariTEAS".<br /><br />Then, there are the special mixed tea drinks. "DiversiTEAS"<br /><br />But this idea is not about cute names. When you pick your tea, the employee opens a vacuum sealed tin with fresh loose leaves in it. He lets you smell the leaves. Makes you feel like a connoisseur sampling the fragrance of a wine cork. He then places the right amount of leaves in an individual infuser, sets the timer (built into the infuser) and sets it on the "tea bar" next to all the other teas that are steeping.<br /><br />You then wait two minutes, and when it beeps (or pulsates, of course), you set the infuser on the cup next to it, it strains your tea into the cup, and you go on your merry way.<br /><br />Just think of it. A completely organic store. No microwaves or other machinery. Just a very natural looking bar that is about chest high with several different teas beautifully infusing with the leaves blossoming and falling inside, the soothing music and lights, the hip chatter from like-minded customers watching the magic.<br /><br />In England, tea is just too huge to imagine. It's actually quite amazing that America hasn't caught on yet. But we can't do it the English way with milk and crumpets. It must be my way. The American way. The Starbucks way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-1153261331075613882006-07-18T14:55:00.000-07:002006-07-18T15:22:11.126-07:00It's not my idea.Reading through the comments on my first post, someone other than me had a really good idea. I know, it really shocked me, too.<br /><br />Joining forces.<br /><br />A few people said, "Hey, I did this same thing". So this got me thinking. What if we did join forces? What if everyone who is hounded by good ideas became a contributor to this site?<br />You wouldn't have just one voice to hear from, but many, all on the same subject. Kind of like, well, a magazine. Seems like a few other people have thought of this brilliant thing before, after all.<br /><br />However, I'm not aware of any blogs that joined forces to become one blog. So, what the heck, let's do it. If anyone is interested in contributing to this site purely as a creative outlet for pent up ideas, comment on THIS POST ONLY with your email address, and I'll send you an invite to be a member. Then you'll be able to post just like me. I guess at this point I should lay down some ground rules.<br /><br />1. I'm a Christian, so no bad language or questionable subjects. If you're not sure, just don't post it. Just make sure this whole blog is something you would be happy to let your 8 year old niece read.<br /><br />2. Keep it on subject. Only post ideas, mainly for business, mostly for new businesses, and maybe some ideas for businesses already established. If you feel the need to post about your weekend in Disneyworld, do that on your own blog.<br /><br />3. I reserve the right to censor you or kill your membership at any time and for no good reason. Just think of me as the editor. Hey, somebody's gotta do it.<br /><br />4. I can add or remove or change rules whenever I want.<br /><br />5. Anything else I forgot.<br /><br />This should be fun. Collaboration is the new black. We should all benefit from each other's writing. None of us is as smart as all of us, and all that.<br /><br />So, welcome to the new and improved blog. Or should I say, blob.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-1152669665895144042006-07-11T18:34:00.000-07:002006-07-11T19:01:05.906-07:00The Future of .Mac - Free?.Mac is the online services suite from Apple Computer.<br /><br />It began as a free web services suite called iTools and then Steve Jobs changed the name to .Mac and started charging 99 bucks a year for it. But hey, it had email and web storage and syncing between Macs and virus software, as well as some other interesting things, so, fair enough.<br /><br />However, since they started charging for it a few years ago, it hasn't really improved noticeably. To make matters worse, a whole host of free services from great companies like google and 37signals and flickr have popped up. This left many people wondering why they should pay for a bunch of services that they could sort of get for free elsewhere.<br /><br />Well, Apple has quietly added a service to .Mac called "Groups". It's a place where you can share all of your info with people in your "group" and they can share it with you. Not too big a deal, though, since the people in your group really need a Mac and the .Mac service in order make the most of it. Without that, they can basically just read you info. Big Deal.<br /><br />However, Apple is not finished. What would .Mac be if everyone that owned a Mac had .Mac for free, included with iLife? Well, I'll tell you what it would be. It would be the myspace of Macs and a whole lot more. Groups would be huge. All of your friends would be in your group, and when they had a calendar change, everyone would know about it. When you had new photos to share, every one of your friends would get them automatically via photocasting. All of your friends would have access to each others public files automatically. Your group of friends would have their own private message board. Sync all your contacts and bookmarks, not just between macs you own, but with friends of your choice as well.<br /><br />You see, the smallest change can make a huge difference in something like this. Group sharing of stuff is all but useless unless everyone you cared about was in the group. Really, think about it. Who cares about sharing your calendar if only one or two out of 10 friends gets the update? Who cares about easy photocasting to two people if you still have to email the other 8. How will things change whenever you never have to email another photo, call around to change plans, or when you're online and you notice that 3 of your friends are chatting in a private room together.<br /><br />Yes, I know we all have IM, but one friend has AOL, another has iChat, another uses MSN, another uses Yahoo! or whatever, so you can never get together unless you plan it and jump through a bunch of hoops. Example: Have you ever called someone to tell them to turn their IM on? What a joke.<br /><br />Free .Mac for everyone. It's the loss leader that will have people buying Macs like never before.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30996907.post-1152666996326306622006-07-11T18:16:00.000-07:002006-07-11T18:34:17.800-07:00Why Hello!I'm not a writer. I'm cursed. I have ideas for things. I have lots and lots of ideas, all the time. Most of them for new business, some for things that current business need to do.<br /><br />I'm 25 years old and I've started a couple successful businesses of my own.<br />The first business I started was a great idea, but since I was only 19 at the time, I failed to understand that every good idea eventually degenerates into work, and, well, I really don't like to work. So after the first failure I worked at my second idea and now it works for me. The third as well.<br /><br />The problem is, I really do have more ideas than time. It drives my wife crazy. And I'm not talking about the idiotic, pie-in-the-sky ideas. These things will work if you work them. Well, most of them. I had one idea to start a company that gives people ideas for businesses. That was a dumb idea. Plenty of people have ideas and no money, but very little have money and no ideas.<br /><br />So I decided to start this website as a creative outlet for my non-stop ideas. As far as I know, everything I post will be original (although there really is nothing that is truly original). Sometimes it is not original, but there will be room in the market for competition with a fresh angle. There's plenty of money to be made there. Also, I may have gotten a good idea off of someone else's not-as-good one. But that leads me to the next point.<br /><br />Pay close attention. If you want to use my ideas, just ask, and I probably won't mind (but please do ask). However, if you use one of my ideas, pay close attention to the details. Many times the only thing separating a profitable business and a flop is a small detail that you otherwise wouldn't think is important.<br /><br />Anyway, have fun, excuse the bad grammar and spelling errors and maybe you'll make a million bucks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4