Internet: Going All Net for Entertainment and Communications

 Installment 1 of 3 - Internet

Right now, our family is grappling with the questions and logistics of going all Internet.  That is, what if we got rid of phone and replaced it with Internet?  (That one's pretty easy because we already have digital phone service, but has nuances as you'll see.)  What if we got rid of our Cable TV service, can we watch our shows solely on the Internet?

We are looking to reduce our bills.  We are sick of the game where you pay $140 a month for all 3, and after a year it jumps up to $210 - unless you call and threaten to disconnect, in which case they are authorized to offer you this deal to keep you - for another year.  Here's what we have found, and I think you'll agree there are some eye-openers.  My mother once (yeah, once!) said, "If it sounds too good to be true, it is."

Internet

First of all, we are considering putting a lot more data through the Internet.  However, I have a sneaking suspicion (U-Verse) Cable TV services use the same wire, and thus have bandwidth restrictions anyhow.  The best Internet service available in our area is 18 Mbps for $62/month (all taxes and fees, unbundled, from AT&T), or comparable from Xfinity, etc.  Our experience the past year with streaming video shows us we should be fine doing all our stuff this way.

U-Verse gives us a nice, dedicated line to our house.  Comcast Xfinity was fast when we had it, but we had frequent outages, lots of service tech reliability problems, and the line is shared with the block, so if neighbors were using it heavily, our service degraded.

This is very important when looking at doing all things online.  Also, you have to look at download speeds vs. upload speeds.  Primarily you are interested in download speeds - although I do send a lot of files for work, so upload is also important to me.

Your Own Network

Don't forget, an important piece of the pie for how fast is your connection, is the equipment you rent, buy or own in your home.  I had an old Linksys wireless router that only did 802.11g, which is around 10Mbps.  This was replaced with a D-Link dual-band (that's important) 802.11n router, that does somewhere around 250Mbps - as you can see, a lot faster.  But be careful!  The network port on the router is Gigabit (1000Mbps).  The cheaper WiFi routers may have 100Mbps Ethernet ports.  All WiFi routers must plug into a wire at some point, so you don't want that to be a bottleneck.

Now I have switches on my network, and the U-Verse WiFi router that is the gateway to the Internet.  But I wanted to control my own network with better levels of control, plus N speeds, and dual-band.  The dual-band means it broadcasts on 2 frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so it actually has 2 wireless networks - plus optional Guest network.  I can put some devices on one, and some on the other, and thus segregate the WiFi traffic.  I put the Set Top Boxes (see the next installment of this article) on the 5 GHz, and mobile devices on the 2.4 GHz.  Some of this was hardware limitations, as the iPhones don't communicate WiFi on 5 GHz (probably to save power).

All of my computers are on Gigabit - the older ones I had to buy cards ($5-$10 each) to do this, but all the newer ones and the Intel Macs came with Gigabit network adapters. Gigabit switches with 8 ports, around $25-$30.  D-Link WiFi router, around $90.  Not expensive at all to get Gigabit network with fast WiFi.

Why Windows?

Tell me again - why Windows?  Today I was trying to do what I thought would be a basic, simple task.  Take a picture from the integrated camera.  Simple, right?  So, how do you do that in Windows?  Hmm, let's see.

• Paint - no, doesn't have anything to take a picture.
• I know, Start, then search for camera.  That shows the devices.
• How about search for webcam?  Devices.  Nothing to let me take the pic.
• My old friend Google produced this - a person who asks the same question.  Look at the answers he gets, I mean really, is it that hard to take a picture from the webcam in Windows?  One guy suggests a screen shot (snipping tool), doh!  One guy says "use the software that comes with your computer" - doh!  This is a Lenovo,  so let's go to Thinkpad Productivity Center.  Hmm, wireless, powering on and off radios, device configuration, help and support.  Nope.
• Oh, I know, Skype uses the camera.  And?  No tools to take a pic, just take a damned picture!  Really, guys?

So, fumbling around, and I guess I have to find some software, download and install it, just to take a *$%&#$ picture.  How do I do it?

1. Take a picture with my iPhone
2. E-mail it, or file in my Dropbox folder that is synched to my PC
3. Open from my PC

Pathetic.

If that were the only thing, it would be frustrating.  But that is indicative of everything in Windows, just about.  There are a few intuitive things, but overall - klunky.  And people call this multimedia, advanced?  I have been struggling the same for years with how to scan from the scanner.  You need some special software, hopefully provided by the scanner manufacturer.  I first tried to use the scanner on Windows at home about 3-4 years ago, never did figure out how to get my wife's HP laptop to scan from the Canon WiFi all-in-one.  So, I got her a Macbook Pro.  Problem solved.

With the Mac, you don't have to think about it.  Any software, you want to make a PDF?  Just print, and on the standard Print dialog is Save as PDF.  You want to scan?  Just run the built-in Preview app and import from scanner, or most graphical software provides scan functionality.  You want to take a pic?  Any graphics app you can just import from the scanner, camera, etc.  And people say a Mac costs a lot?  I'd rather have a used, 5-year-old Mac than a brand new Windows PC.  How's that for someone who's used Macs for 3.5 years, and Windows for 25 years?

Calling All Geeks - Submit your entries for Error Message Hall of Fame!

 Entry #1: CATIA / SmarTeam "Dead lock" error

Yes, I have finally done it.  I have finally decided to start an Error Hall of Fame (or Shame?).  Have you ever been scratching your head trying to figure out what that incomprehensible error message means?  Ever seen one that simply makes you laugh out loud (literally, not just "lol")?

(Apollo landing computer infamous for Error 1202 that almost aborted the landing mission)

I am soliciting your input - what criteria should we capture?  Do you have any nominees for Best and Worst Error Messages?  Here is what I am thinking about for data to capture:

• Software and version
• Title
• Content
• Cause
• Fixes (if known)
• Helpfulness - on a scale of 0 (total obfuscation) to 10 (totally clear)
• Narrative or commentary

Here are the Acceptance Criteria for a submission to be inducted:

1. The error must occur in software.
2. There must be a recorded component - spoken errors like on a phone system can be recorded as a digital sound file, screen video or screen grabs are best.
3. You must include all information, especially the software and version.  If it is very esoteric or obscure, perhaps the software manufacturer as well.
4. If the cause is not known, put Unknown.
5. If fixes are not known, put Unknown.
6. E-mail them to jimerman@gmail.com

Send me your suggestions - attach screen shots or recordings whenever possible.

Our first entry:

• Software:  CATIA V5R20 and SmarTeam V5R20
• Title:   CATIA / SmarTeam "Dead lock" error
• Content:  SmarTeam Error(4). Dead lock.
• Cause:  Unknown, thought to occur with frequent Connect and Disconnect from SmarTeam
• Fixes:  End Process on CNEXT and SMARTEAM, restart apps.
• Helpfulness:  1
• Commentary:  Because the term "deadlock" is meaningful in computer science, I don't rate this error as a 0 Helpfulness.  It does help that we know there is a deadlock.  Somewhat.  OK, not really, but it kind of tells us something better than other entries.

iPad vs. Leappad, who is better for the munchkins?

Over the holidays, my 3.5 year old got a Leappad for a gift. As a tech savvy guy he is already familiar with iPad and iPhone so this was no big stretch. However I have been struck by a few glaring differences.

• Market - As you may know, iPad has already sold over 100 million devices as of October 2012; I highly doubt Leap has even come close to 10% of that. Then, as they say, along came the iPad mini.  iPad is targeted at basically everyone, while Leappad is targeted at toddlers and young kids.
• Usability is comparable, with the Leap device dumbed down for the wee ones.Where my toddler has "issues" is in his random exploration of the interface - randomly launching apps, randomly tapping this and that.  The Leappad is tightened up so he can't change WiFi settings or something destructive like that.
• Price is quite disparate. The iPad options start at what, $250 and up? Leappad II was about $100. Definitely much better for ages 3-8.  While the target market demands a more rugged product, there was nothing we could do for our Leappad to protect it from a 3-year-old breaking its glass.  iPad at least has the availability (for more $$ of course) to purchase rugged cases that can withstand spills and impacts.
• Manageability - and by this I mean ability to back up, transfer apps, etc. iTunes is a premier complete package for managing your devices. Apple has a well known universe for their devices. Leap has an app you download on your computer that gives you an App Store, but here's how our experience went. The device came with coupons to download free apps. So we did, and bought a couple. Prices were a lot more than Apple apps, $15-20. Elliott broke his Leappad (it has a plastic body, and glass screen), so they replaced it under warranty. However, when we got the new one, the apps didn't transfer.  So the apps we downloaded as software were not usable on the new device.  Only the cartridges that you plug into the top were transferable.
• Tech Support - Apple is well-known for creating raving fans.  Leap - they need to go to Apple school.  We got the replacement unit (with the unbroken glass) and couldn't transfer the apps we had bought.  Their attitude was, sorry, that's how it works, when we called them and spent hours on the phone waiting on hold, explaining, and finally complaining that we spent the money and couldn't transfer the software apps we downloaded under our account.  It's like they mate you with a device for life, never expecting you to upgrade or replace it!
• Company - Leapfrog (NYSE: LF) has been around for almost 20 years precisely in the business of portable kid-friendly devices.  Stock is around $8/share, $574M market cap.  Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has been specifically in this business for 4 years, and is way down to $450/share, $424B market cap.  More than 50x share price, 1000x market cap.  20 years, 4 years (for tablets that is).
• Pudding - As in, the proof's in the.  Now that he has had the Leappad for 5 months, what have I seen?  He uses it very infrequently.  You have to find some special charger to charge it up, you can't just use a standard USB adapter.  The number, variety, and price of games means we just can't afford to constantly buy apps for it - while a bunch of free and less-than-$5 apps for iOS means we use it constantly.  Since his tastes vary, he sometimes plays with the Leappad, but primary prefers the iPad.  The Prince Has Spoken.
• Conclusion
• Admittedly LeapPad II is an inexpensive device.  If you are getting a device for a small child, perhaps that is a consideration.  However the quality, support, price and availability of apps, range of options and accessories, support, compatibility, support, transportability and wide-ranging use, resale value, support, long-term viability, and did I say support?  For all that, I think I'm going to recommend sticking with Apple.  Even over Android tablets, which are more competitive on the other features.

Searching Woes in Windows

Is it me?  Am I the only one?  For a long time, I used Google Desktop to index and search my PC.  It made me very productive - where was that e-mail or file or whatever with a person's name, a customer's name, and some function call in it?  Instant results, most information on my desktop indexed.  Yes, the index file was gigabytes.  Yes, when it got big, often the index got corrupted and I had to delete and reindex.  But it worked, and search results were fast.  They were integrated with Google website, so I can just do one search, and the results from my desktop or web based on what I choose.  Awesome.  Then, they discontinued it!  Why?  Because Microsoft included a new Windows Search.  But of course, like all things Microsoft, it is poorly implemented, and it sucks rotten eggs.

So, yes, you can download the last version of GD, but of course no improvements in the past few years or ever. I assume it will eventually stop working on later versions of Windows.  So what are the alternatives?  For a while, I used Exalead Desktop, who also mysteriously one day gave up the Desktop version.  Copernic didn't work at all for me, plus it is loaded with advertisements that take over your computer (so much for free).  Plus, Copernic search terms are very difficult to use, and not very flexible like Google searches.

So let's examine what exactly is wrong with the Windows Search feature:

• Doesn't index network drives
• It is folder-centric; that is to say, first, the search window only appears in the Windows Explorer window.  Second, when you do a search, it occurs within the folder.
• It is app-centric; on the Start menu, the search only searches for application names and document file names, not even document contents.
• Advanced searches with multiple and complex expressions? Fugghedaboudit. 
• It doesn't search everything. And I also use gmail, so it doesn't search the online as well as offline in the same query. 

Typically, how do users use a search?

• Why do you search?  Because you can't remember what folder you put it in, or what you called the file.  But you may remember when you did it, or some key words that are in it.
• How do you search?  By some word, phrase, name, or date, or combination thereof.
• Where do you search?  You may search your entire knowledge store (everything that is mine).  You may limit your search to a location - perhaps a drive, a folder, or even a computer on which you know it resides.  You may restrict by type of data (file type, e-mail message, text message, chat log, etc.).

Google Desktop is still the most fantastic search engine - it is Google for your desktop.  It searches across Outlook and GMail, as well as files.  However, it lacks a central repository for "all my info" across devices, across computers.  And, most importantly, it lacks the support of the developer.  I would suggest to an entrepreneur to raise capital and offer to buy Desktop from Google, and put it out as your own product.  I think there's a market, even on the Mac.  If you can integrate with Spotlight, or make a side-by-side product (pull-down in the menu bar like Spotlight, that replaces it), that would be the ultimate.

Is Microsoft Stealing Apple's Patents?

Over the years, we have watched Windows develop into what it is today.  Microsoft has added some really useful and nice features.  However, many of these features were already in the Macintosh OS X (or other operating systems) before they came out in Windows.  Of course, long-time readers of my blog know what I think of Windows.  Let's take a look:

• Show a "dock" of applications in a bar on the bottom, with a mixture of shortcuts and running apps.  This first appeared in Windows with Vista, where you can "pin" apps to the task bar, circa 2007.  It was always a part of Mac OS X, first released around 2001.
• Search feature on the Start menu first appeared also with Vista (2007), this allows you to type the name of the app to launch, and does a quick search on document file names as well.  Mac Spotlight first announced June 2004 and released in April 2005.  However, Spotlight is much more comprehensive than both the start menu, and the Windows search feature (really!?  12 steps to make it work kind of like the Mac!!??).  It is both rolled into one, and searches all forms of data on your system including e-mails, file contents, and more - in one, simple, global magnifying glass on your system bar.
• Windows Store is now in Windows 8 (2012), where users can go to an app to buy more apps from both Microsoft and other developers.  Apple introduced the Mac App Store with OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard in January 2011 (almost 2 years earlier); Ubuntu Software Centre was introduced with Ubuntu back in 2008 or earlier.
• Secure Installation - Secure software installation was introduced with Windows Vista (2007), where even though you were an administrator, you still had to accept software installation.  Problem is, the prompts are so frequent and annoying, and limited in scope only to software installations, that they are pretty much useless.  Mac has had secure system changes including installations since OS X introduction (2001), which more broadly cover securing the system from invalid changes, not just software installations.  With OS X 10.8 (Spring 2012), they now add the ability to restrict apps that are signed by Apple, for organizations who have obtained valid licenses to develop software, and passed the Apple App Store review for safety and security.

Just these few features show that Windows has been about last to adopt what the rest of the industry has already considered standard fare, while doing so in a haphazard and incomplete fashion.  But if you have followed Microsoft throughout its history, you would know it is not an innovator.  Products like SQL Server (its database engine) and Visual BASIC (and Visual Studio) were acquired through purchases of the innovating company who developed them, graphical features of Word, Excel, and others were ripped from competitors WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 at a time when WordPerfect and Lotus were not very litigious (and indeed software patents were not as prevalent as today).

Now, I would be the first to tell you that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is completely overwhelmed and over its head when it comes to software technology.  They haven't the slightest clue of how to police the patents.  An NPR story that first aired in 2011, When Patents Attack, exposes in great depth the shortcomings of the USPTO, and particular "patent trolls" who make money off of hoarding patents and suing others.  Their research has shown that about 33% of USPTO software patents granted, actually conformed to the "uniqueness" requirement.  2/3 of the software patents issued were non unique, public knowledge, and thus not patentable.  But that is besides the point.

It seems that most people are fooled into thinking that Microsoft is a big innovator.  In fact, I might be wrong, but I can't think of a single innovation throughout their history - unless you count the innovation of digital and distribution rights, and the innovative ways in which they have sued their competition.  Or, the innovative way in which they avoided complying with the US Department of Justice suit in which they had to provide customers with an alternative to Internet Explorer.

MailBox - is it worth the wait?

 

I read the buzz about DropBox buying MailBox, and was wondering is it really that good?  So I downloaded the free app - only to find out they don't activate it until they add the infrastructure to support the volume.  And, there were about 580,000 people ahead of me!  The numbers were going down about 1 a second, so I thought it shouldn't take too long.  Got slower as time went on, and it was 2 weeks before I could use the app I had downloaded.  So much for instant gratification!

Was it worth the wait?  YES!  (Spoilers...)  So what's so darned great?  I mean, the mail app that comes with iOS is pretty good, and offers some great features.  But, let's face it, it really hasn't been updated since what, iOS 2 or 3?  And we are on 6, on the cusp of 7.  So what's so great about this app?

First, the limitation - if you call it that.  It only works on GMail accounts.  I have been a GMail user for I don't know, perhaps 8 years or more?  GMail is certainly the most reliable, portable, and works with a variety of services like calendar, cloud storage, and more.  So for me it was a very easy choice.

Second, the results.  After years and thousands of messages, my Inbox is clean!  I always hung onto e-mails with the intention of reading them later, or keeping them for records.  Still, it was a losing struggle - until now.  How, you might ask?

We get into the features.

Features

• Easy yet powerful gestures for managing messages.  These gestures mean that you don't need buttons taking up room on the screen, and also that managing the messages are both intuitive and fast.
• With a simple swipe to the right, you archive your message.
• With a longer swipe to the right, you delete the message.
• Swipe left to file for later.
• Swipe longer left to put in a folder.
• Floating buttons appear when needed to reply or forward
• Very fast operation
• File for Later is very powerful - you can put e-mails off until tomorrow, next week, or specific dates.  They will be out of your Inbox until that date arrives.

• Clean, elegant, and productive interface for managing messages.
• Price is right.  ¥0.0
• Recognition of content elements within message, like phone numbers, addresses, and dates to create calendar entries.
• Integration of calendar entries with Fantastical, the best calendar app for iOS. 
• The Compose screen is simplified, elegant, and very useful.  Streamlined and minimalist.

• Absolutely LOVE the message reading functionality.  Because messages are grouped in threads, you are reading the thread.  When you tap an individual message, it pops up to the right (shifting the thread left and behind).  You can then swipe it off to the right to return to the thread.

Issues and Limitations

Without a doubt, they have nowhere to go but up.  Any app cannot be perfect (except perhaps Skyview), so I hope they do correct these limitations.

• For wider appeal, support of Exchange accounts, and perhaps even POP.  Although, I don't know if that would provide message thread grouping.  Right now, I use Apple mail app for my work address, and use this one for my personal.  (Unless I can convince my company to switch from Office 365 to Google mail...)
• No reporting of spam
• One of the things I love with GMail is the fantastic spam filters.  However, the problem with using it on non-Google mail clients like iPhone Mail App is the few messages that make it through the spam filter, you can't flag them as spam to improve the algorithm.  This means I have to jump to the mobile mail client (web browser), which is nowhere near as good for reading and managing the messages.
• No support of other browsers - especially Chrome for iOS.  When I hold down on a link, I want to see "Open in Chrome" if I have it installed.
• Improved handling of multiple messages
• Right now, you can do the same swipes on a bottom inbox count line to move all of the messages somewhere (archive, delete, later, tag folder).  However, I may not want to do the same on all, only some, and definitely it only works if there are a small number of messages in your Inbox.
• Instead, they should move to an Edit / Checkmark / Swipe storyboard, or perhaps a multi-finger swipe and all the messages under your fingers are swiped.
• No "reader" button for HTML messages
• Like Safari on iOS, it would render the message with larger font, remove extra columns (like the ones with ads), and just narrow down the important text, images, and links.
• No "print" function, especially using AirPrint.  I don't know if anyone is using Google Cloud Print, but that is really not as important as AirPrint.
• No "Save to PDF" function, if this supported Google Drive, DropBox - that would be the ultimate.