American Joe's

We had been toiling to eat well during business travel, initiating ante-holiday dietary responsibility. It is challenging, but together we can do it! One of our tools, secondary to the iron will of Stalin, is, of course, an iPhone app. We are using My Fitness Pal. The logo is so gay, that coupled with the act of dieting, my testosterone has plunged to mere He-Man levels.

This restaurant is based in Boston, our visit
was in an upscale Jersey mall. It was packed at lunch, as it seems to be most of the time.

My hamburger, a house speciality, was perfectly cooked, tasty fresh beef, but a bit underseasoned. The bun was nice, and condiments thankfully restrained. This burger should be noticed. The fries are fresh cut and perfectly cooked.

Service was as good as it gets. Knowledgeable, attentive, quick and informative. Just the right balance of informality and professionalism, a real treat in itself.

The pictures show that the concept designer did a good job making this an upscale pub with strong northeast roots. The bathroom decor continued the theme, with rich stone finishes. Maintenance however, made a mockery of the effort. The bin was overflowing with paper towels, the sinks had water everywhere, the faucet was the wrong size, so there were rubber plugs in the granite counter where the original fixture was. The soap? Pink pump hand soap. Completely incongruous. Sound level at lunch was 70 to 90 db, a bit more than comfortable but OK.

- Exechobo

iPhone and iPad- Small Consulting Adventure

We are an Apple company, with Macbook Pros and iPhones.  Soon we will add an iPad to our tool kit, and I am searching for how to use these tools to improve our work-life.  There will be a set of posts on this subject, and perhaps the launch of a new Exechobo related blog.  For more detail, go to the new blogsite, dedicated to traveling with technology:  ExecHobo Mobile

iPhone App- Camera+ Review

My iPhone is my primary blogging tool, as well as my primary camera, among all the other functions it fulfills so well.  Because my blog is as visual as it is verbal, the pictures are important.  Camera+ is one of several tools I use to make it visually interesting.

Camera+ is feature rich, and as a free lite version of Camera+Pro, it is a powerful, feature rich package that can replace the native camera and most post processing apps.  In fact, its slight shutter speed lag and its understandable lack of HDR functionality are the only reasons I went back to the native iPhone camera.  

(edit, Nov 21, thanks to Jimmy) Tap Tap Tap  is the developer, and as of now this fantastic app is no longer in the App Store.  I have no issues with the quality of this app, and they issue updates often enough to keep it clean and bug free for the most part.  Why did Apple pull it? Because it provides for the use of the volume button to activate the "shutter", a clear violation of terms for developers.  No using hardware buttons! Oddly, I have never used this feature, so habitualized am I to using the screen button.

If I had one space on my iPhone for an imaging app, this would be the one.

I first read about Camera+ on Lisa Bettany's blog, via a link from I forget where.  But it what intrigued me was that Tap Tap Tap was using a professional photographer to create the easy to use workflow and photo treatments.  

One of the best things about Camera+ is that all the photos you take with it are saved to a "lightbox", where you can decide what to do with them before saving to your Camera Roll.  At first I thought this was a hokey way to make you think you were a big time Life photographer (a good angle in Heller's Catch 22), but I came to appreciate that it was cleaner and forced me to deal with photos rather than accumulating them for work "later".  

This photo, of a cafe in Manhattan was treated with "Magic Hour", to make it warmer and more inviting than the native light.  

And inside the cafe I used So Emo just because it can be fun to do so.  This is a whimsical look that can make straightforward portrayals more dramatic and evocative.  

This old modem in our local airport was treated with Hipster, kinda period appropriate I thought.

This salad was post processed using the Food filter, which increased the sharpness and contrast, and warmed it up a touch.  It is really sensational when used on french fries.









In all, there are 27 of these FX treatments, including one called HDR, which is fun, but should not be confused with the serious HDR function of the iPhone's native software, nor apps like TrueHDR.  

Additionally, Camera+ has cropping and 11 "scenes" that you would find on any point n shoot camera, like Flash for increasing shadow exposure, Backlight, Scenery, Text and Food.

In all, Camera+ is the imaging app I find most essential to my iPhotog style.  Thank you Tap Tap Tap and Lisa Bettany!  How lucky we are to enjoy such good work at such little cost!

iPhone Apps- Seesmic vs. Tweetdeck

These two iPhone Twitter clients bring similar functionality, that make them head to head competitors.  But they have some distinct features that have me puzzled.

I am late to Twitter.  I only "got it" when someone explained to me that it is a very abbreviated blog, only more spontaneous.  With that, I got into it.  You really should follow me.

Of course, I started on my Macbook Pro, using Twitter's native interface online.  Not very spontaneous for someone who doesn't spend the day at a desk.  So it was completely normal that I would use my Blackberry to tweet.  It worked well, and my tweet count mounted.  It was functional.

The advent of the iPhone (for me), made tweeting even more of a pleasure, and I saw my counts go over 1,000 soon.  It became important to maximize the pleasure of the iPhone experience with a multitasking, Retina interface and full use of the touchscreen.

Both these apps use a set of pages to organize not only Tweets, but multiple Twitter lists, mentions, searches, messages, and Facebook.  Additionally on Seesmic you can add a page for Ping, if anyone uses Ping.  I currently have several of these columns/pages: All Friends Tweets, Facebook, 2-4 lists, a search for all mentions of @Exechobo, Direct Messages.  These vary as my needs change.

TWEETDECK

Tweetdeck is also a desktop/laptop client, and in that venue, is very powerful, indeed.  You set up columns for anything you want to track on Twitter,  trending, searches for specific terms and users, the handy and powerful RSS substitute lists, etc, etc.  Then, Tweetdeck syncs all this with your other computers and iOS, Android and presumably, Windows Mobile (whatever they are calling it), devices.  Very powerful for those who use Twitter professionally.

The black theme of Tweetdeck is crisp and eye grabbing, and the white of Seesmic really makes the text pop.   

Further, Tweetdeck is stellar at using the touch on the touchscreen.  A small swipe sends pages or columns skittering across the iPhone's screen, and a flick scrolls like a native app.  The management of columns is easy and quick.  I really like that when I open Tweetdeck all the columns are largish thumbnails but readable, and I can slide along them to see what is new (new items are light grey), and then tap a column to bring it to full size and use the column.

You can see tweets locations, and with a simple touch initiate a "Qucikfollow" of anyone you see on Twitter.

When you write a message, you can choose which accounts it will be posted to, including Facebook.  Convenient.  When creating a post in Tweetdeck, you have other options.  Like take or attach a photo, or a video, shorten a link, geo locate a post, add an address for any recent Twitter addresses, or insert a hashtag for the terms most popular, and finally, you can rotate the screen if it helps typing.  All very handy!  To search for a topic, just start a new column and it will update regularly.

What bugs me about Tweetdeck?  First, a minor one, that when I return to it, it always goes back to the start.  I have to wait to get it going, during which time all my tweets are updated, a good thing, but then the app doesn't go back to where it was.  Kinda like it doesn't get multitasking. And one more thing- How the hell do you do a simple search on Twitter for people?  You can't. That's it, you can't.


SEESMIC

Seesmic looks simpler than it is.  I haven't found a missing function yet.  I like that my tweets are highlighted.  I really like that a searchbar sits at the top of the page.

I like that I can send tweets to Evernote, an app I use alot.  This is good for saving items from my lists for action later.

The menu at the bottom of the page is relevant for Facebook and Twitter, but is absent from lists pages.

Seesmic lets you choose to which account you are posting.  As well, when posting the option to take or attach a picture, shorten a link, and geo-locate that post is easy to select.

I like that when I select "Retweets" on the menu, at the top of the next screen I can select "by others", "by me" or "of me".

When you add a page to Seesmic you get options to add certain types of pages, including Searches, Trending Topics, and Lists.

One curiosity, why add a page of a single trending topic? Now if it was all trending topics were included, that would be somethin, wouldn't it?

What bugs me about Seesmic?  They can't seem to make the touchscreen work.  This is aggravating.  Flicking from page to page is frustratingly hit and miss.  Almost always miss unless you are at the top of the page.  Now who thought that requirement up?  The pull down to refresh is expected in many iPhone apps, but in this one it bugs me.  And the ads, well they bug me too.




SUMMARY

Both of these apps are very powerful and satisfying to use.  I have a hard time deciding which is best, so I keep both handy and switch between them when the mood strikes.  Twitter's native client, Ecofon and Tweetbird are all good, but not as powerful, and don't make be admire their power with each use.  One cannot go wrong with either Seesmic nor Tweetdeck.  What a wonder that this much elegant development work can be had for no charge!

iPhone Apps

Apps reviews and lists are ubiquitous, so why add my opinions?  Because I have not seen a collection of apps on a single list that seem to be "general purpose", to address users going about all of life's varied activities.

I use my iPhone all the time.  First thing in the morning, while still in bed, to last thing at night, the iPhone is a tool and toy that serves many purposes.  Here is just a list and explanation of my apps, order of utilization, sort of:

The iPhone camera is my favorite tool.  Any review will tell you how good it is.  Because I use it so much, I also use other imaging apps.  Adobe PS Express, TiltShift Gen, Camera+, Iris and Genius Scan all let me do specific post processing that makes the camera more fun, and my pictures more entertaining, I hope.

Mail, the native iPhone app, followed closely by the Gmail app.  Mail handles all 5 of my inboxes well, but Gmail lets my use its label system to organize.

Beejive is the way to use chat apps like Gtalk on the iPhone.  I also use WhatsApp for the same thing, to suit another person with whom I like to be in continual Gtalk contact.  This is messy, but works, though if iPhone worked better to keep Gtalk running at all times, I would not use it.

Pulse RSS reader. There are three redundant ones I use, Pulse, Mobile RSS, and Google Reader.  That is the order of my preference, based on how enjoyable they are to use, and the ability to link news stories in Twitter, Email, etc.

I use a few Twitter clients, including Twitter's.  I like Seesmic best, only because it is easy to do searches.  I haven't figured out how to easily search on Tweetdeck, though it is a smooth interface.

I use the native Calendar, Phone, Messaging apps all the time.

I use Blogpress every day to make blog entries offline and publish them when I want.  I can draft several posts ongoing, and stage them to keep my blog updated once a day.

Docs to Go is essential for Excel spreadsheets that I use as data bases and to track expenses in my budget file.

Evernote replaces the native notes app, and is cloud based so I can use it from my laptop.  This is where my lists, projects and more involved notes reside.

Remember the Milk is what I use as a basic To-Do list.  It is more powerful than that, but I like it better than others I have tried.  Most are really hard to use.  That Apple has no native app for this requires all kinds of weird work arounds using Notes and Calendar, and is appalling.

The use of my iPhone for mapping is one of its most remarkable features.  Beside the native mapping program, which is quite handy to find things locally, I added Motion X's GPS Lite and GPS Drive, fantastic apps that amaze me every time I use them.  Also, the Starbucks app, and Free WiFi.  I also use Around Me, and the native compass.  A cooler compass is Commander Compass Lite, it makes me feel like a commando in a video game when I use it.

The native calculator works fine, but I like RPN calculators and more power, so use PCalc Lite.

I have Facebook and Linkedin, but use them infrequently.  They are really nice apps.

I use tideApp whenever I go fishing.

For aural entertainment, it is Pandora and TuneIn Radio to go with the iPod.

The YouTube app works well, and I marvel at it when I use it.

Kindle is the reader for me, and I am reading the memoirs of US Grant now.

There is a handy app from Columbia called WHatKnot.  I like and use knots.  What can I say?

For football, I like College FB and Football Live!  The are great.

Bing is something I use occasionally and try to like.

LightOMatic lets me use my LED as a flashlight.  Cool and useful.

Also, Box.net, Dropbox for big file access in the cloud.

Games? I actually use the iPhone for games daily.  WordPops, AC-130, Gun Range, Moxie, Word Shaker, Words Free, Sudoku, Solitaire, Word Warp, and my faves, FS5 Hockey and Osmos.  You gotta try Osmos.

Thats it, a long list of apps that really make the iPhone more fun and functional.

Going Dark!

Jack Bauer used to proclaim "I'm going dark!" when he left a cell coverage area. I will be writing posts, but unable to rely on getting them online for sometime. The trusted iPhone will become a dumb phone, like an iPod Touch. Look for some cool posts n pics soon.

How I Use iPhone for Work

I am the "CIO" of a small Time Study consulting firm. (NOT a small-time consulting firm!) My boss, known as "The Man", and the other 50% of our firm, constantly challenges my suggestions for costly technological upgrades. After moving to iPhones though, I am the god of tech.

We use the normal iPhone/anyphone suite of phone, email, calendar. These all work as the communicating, scheduling appliances they are. Blah, blah, blah. Unless you want to invite people to a meeting. Steve!

Then there are the tools that help us figure out whether we are heading back to the hotel or deep into Iowa. Getting around on location requires maps. Without good navigation, getting around new territories can challenge our professional relationship. Navigation tools like Around Me, and GPS Drive, which I have reviewed separately, make finding our way and good meals child's play. Trust me, we use these apps to positive effect.


On jobsites we use GTalk clients like Beejive and Ebuddy on our iPhones to keep a chat going when radios don't make sense. This channel of communication is ideal for our work, where discretion is important.

We do time studies and have to count the number of times a process occurs, or number of customers, or items. A counter is more efficacious than hash marks


Of course a stop watch is necessary and the iPhone version is easy to see.


During a study I want to be reminded when certain time periods pass so my work is grouped in segments. The timer does a good job at this.

An additional tool the iPhone provides is the use of Excel spreadsheets to keep my expense tracking up to date daily, so invoicing clients is never a hassle at the end of the engagement.


Receipts are sent along with the invoice as a .pdf because I use the camera and a nice app called GeniusScan. It is effective for cropping pictures of text like receipts, enhancing photos of them so they are clear, and converting them to .pdf format.


All this is helpful. One issue is the battery drain. I think the running timer and having the display always on is sucking enough juice that my battery needs a little pick-me-up at cocktail time to make it through the evening.

I really look forward to the day when Excel runs on iPad so I can input ditlrectly into data bases and skip the use of notebooks. I may give numbers a try for this, but the utter lack of power and compatibility has me frustrated.

- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

iPhone in NYC II

Ongoing update to the iPhone "issue" in the Big Apple.  I can't find it.  Not the phone, it is right here.  The issue.  I can't seem to lose coverage.  But I know I could at any time.  I worry about it.  You should too.

A Note on Exechobo Photos, or ExecPhobos

All of the images on Exechobo now are made with my iPhone 4, sometimes processed with iPhone apps, like Camera +, Tilt Shift Generator, Iris or Photo Shop Express.  They are wonderful images, technologically speaking.  Click on them to look at the full sized images.  Due to the limitations of blogging from the iPhone I can't size them up to fill my blog column.

iPhone in NYC

The worst thing that a human can endure I am told, is to have an iPhone in New York. Your intrepid reporter is about to enter the arena and, if possible, to keep this blog informed of the trials and trepidation he endures.

First observation. As if to make a statement, when we landed at LaGuardia and I turned on my iPhone, it reduced to connect to a network until I shut it off and restarted it. Petulance?


- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

iPhone Otterbox Defender

Things, including your truly, were being tossed about the cabin of the boat in swells up to nine feet every 4 seconds.  It was then that I thought I maybe should have the new iPhone in a decent protective case for these situations.  The best? Otterbox Defender.

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I find it to be the kind of overkill I like.  It makes the sleek, thin Beverly Hills model iPhone into a mammoth, rugged, thick comms device.  Protection all around, sticky silicone and hard ABS plastic.  It really protects, like a hi-tech football helmet.  GRRRRR!!!  It snaps into its belt holster authoritatively, like a magazine into a 1911.  Bam!  Red Team Go! Blue Team Go!  I like belt holsters a lot of the time.  

Today I took it out of the case to clean it all up after a rainy day at the beach.  Not to worry.  The phone sighed in relief, like a warrior unbuckling armor.  It again made me smile with how thin and svelte it is.  

It must be an Amazon.  

GPS Drive

Motion X software manages to sell a GPS program that rivals Garmin or Magellan or Tom Tom for a measly .99! Really? Yes. Even with turn by turn voice directions- of course after month you will have to pay about $20 a year for this.

GPS Drive uses Bing maps, but I think it renders them much faster than Bing does. Likely Motion X buffers them, as there is a feature to load maps when cell coverage is poor.

Back to the voice. I eschewed this feature till one night when I had to negotiate LA by myself. I was impressed. First, the warnings and instructions at 70 MPH were on time. The coolness though, was listening to my iPod via my handsfree headset, and having the instructions fade in and out of my ear while the music volume went down to just the right level. Magic!

So far the map accuracy has been fine. The routing has been adequate. Sometimes I quibble with choices in neighborhoods. It is very easy to read at a glance, as good as most dedicated devices. Before I used GPS Drive I wondered if I needed another map app, since the native Maps on the iPhone is so good. I have been convinced completely.



So how can Motion X provide a Garmin competitive app so inexpensively? They say it is because they are selling it for a true cost, not the cost of having to defend a hardware base and historic pricing. Ineffectual they are simply putting a software front end on Bing maps. Considering the price Garmin and others charge for maps, I feel no sympathy. It seems their business model was short term from the start.

I am a happy customer. Good software that does a good job fillings need. Poor GPS hardware providers.

- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Gmail

I have used Gmail since the days when you really needed an invitation. Back before the dawn of the millennium. In the dark 90's. You get the idea.



But when I moved to Mac in 2001, I started using Mail and only went to Gmail when necessary.

Recently for some reason I started rediscovering Gmail. The features they have built in have taken it beyond email clients so that it has advantages. I really like the labels feature. You can better organize mail with them, and the nested labels under test.

Now that I have an iPhone I wish there were a Gmail app, but really the nature of Gmail I that you have to. Access it through a browser, it's one major disadvantage. I installed. Desktop bookmark to get there fast. The unified inbox of iPhone's Mail and the fact that my mail resides on the phone make it more efficacious, but Gmail is there for better searching and organization of my primary account.
- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

iPhone Task Manager

We have assurances that "If you see a task manager, they've failed." But, in fact if you run your iPhone 4 along for a while, eventually you will find you can't see emails when you open them. The solution? Open the dock by two taps on the big round button, then hold down an icon till they all start to shake, then tap the "x" on each one in the dock till they all have disappeared. You have just used the nonexistent task manager to quit them all and free up the memory to make your iPhone on iOS run right again.


- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Aliph Icon

This tiny Bluetooth headset is reputed to be one of the best. On my BB it was. Then the iPhone 4 degraded the little bugger till I put it in the drawer. Yesterday I updated the Aliph software and gave it another try. Voilla! It is once again working. Now with my 24 ringtone, I am once again, Jack Bauer.


- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

iPhone Photography

The camera on the new iPhone 4 is it's best feature.  At least I think so for now.  Of course, the camera performance is coupled to the screen resolution, so maybe it is a set of two features that make this a superior toy/tool/device.

I am taking almost all of the photos that appear in this blog on the iPhone, and have been impressed with how well they turn out when viewed in full resolution.  The lens is a limitation that makes me a bit sad, but is offset by the portability of having a camera all the time.

Aftermarket apps like Camera+ and Iris Phone Suite and PS Mobile let me play with the snapshots and turn them into bits of fun, images that transcend the phone camera platform.  So inspired have I been, that I opened a Flickr account, since Google for some crazy reason limits storage in Picasa.  So be it.

Blackberry Remorse?

Six Weeks With an iPhone
Now past the point of no return, does the move from BB to Apple hold up?

I have been avidly reading about the upcoming 6.0 OS, and studied to August 3 event. The new BB has addressed the issues I had to a significant degree.

Most important was Internet access. Every item in a newsreader, whether Twitter, Viigo, Pulse or Google, contained a link. On the BB I was a headline browser. Now I read articles. The same with emails. Who doesn't send links to items they think the recipient may be enjoy or need? Same for Tweets. And so on...

Now, I open the link. I read the item. I doubletap and go back to where I was.

What else on the iPhone makes me glad to leave BB behind?
-memory management that works
• the camera is superb rendering it a light point and shoot unnecessary
• typing is actually better
• a screen that is so good I can see my photos and use it to read books comfortably
• apps that give me access to more of what I want-
- tides
- Blogpress
- photo editors
- silly tools like the compass and level that I use
- entertainment like YouTube and Pandora and games that work
• ability to install links on my homescreen to any site, like my favorite weather site
• a responsive touchscreen and OS that are actually intuitive

So what is there of the BB that I still find lacking in the iPhone?
• iPhone can't accept appointment invitations
• keyboard shortcuts to launch programs
• Bluetooth headset that works

And now we have the BB 9800. Blackberry's slider touchscreen/ hard keyboard, 5mp camera, OS6 totin' wonder. Does that make me a teensy bit remorseful?

No. I have made the leap from a communications tool with entertainment attributes that are just OK to an entertainment device with good communication functions, and I like it.

The overwhelming positives of the iPhone, camera, screen, web access are the things that matter most to me.


- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Cool Cover Contra-Cancer

I bought this for M. It is a Livestrong donation thing that is uber cool. Real carbon finer so now the iPhone will be higher tech.


Seriously, we have so many cancer affected people in our families and Livestrong does so much good this is one small way to help.
- Paul/ BlogPress/ iPhone

Steinheil Skin Guard Review

Among Apple users there is a struggle regarding the use of skins and cases to protect the appearance of their prized possessions.   I have done a few things to protect iPods and my MacBook Pro. For the iPhone I wavered for days.  But being well acquainted with regret- the "I wish I had..." syndrome, I chose to protect it in the end.

First, I bought the bumper.  It is a good bumper.  Nice fit and quality.  The rubbery edge gives good grip and addresses the concern about setting it on a marble counter over a piece of grit.  Next the screen.  I have a couple of watches with mineral glass crystals, and can attest to their ability to survive shock and rough use.  But while those crystals have survived amazing abuse, they also scratched when addressed by sand and such.  So, I sought screen protectors, front and back.

I settled on Steinheil, based on not very much good internet information, but was intrigued by the opportunity to use a solid, faux leather cover for the back.  Like a Blackberry Bold. improved in-pocket indexing, cover the verbiage on the bottom of the back, and semi-uniquity.  There seems to be some agreement that these are tough and clear.

Application instructions don't come with the package, but are available on the company website.  Installation went as it should, and turned out well.  The only issue, the die cuts are designed to be "Bumper Compatible".  This seems to mean they are a few microns too small to go to the edge of the glass on front and back.  The bumper actually fits flush to the edge of the screen protectors, not over them.  OK, with a bumper installed, great.  Without, there is a bothersome edge I can feel just inside the edge of the iPhone screen.

The clarity is as clear as it can be, I think,  I can't perceive any difference in the Retina Display.  The faux leather back is just right.  Not too sticky but with some texture to make it a more sure grip.  But... the front screen is slightly grippy feeling, it is not as slick as the glass.  This may be a problem.  It is not enough to impact the scrolling or function in any way, but it does not feel as good.  Maybe this will "break in".

Is it worth $19 (including shipping)?  That is completely relative.  It does what it says, and does it well so far.

Update: the screen saver is a fingerprint magnet compared to the fanstastic oleophobic coating Apple uses on the glass, and the whole thing looks rather, oh, downmarket.  Like the BB Bold.  

Thrilling iPhone Phail!

I experienced a lost call due to how I hold my iPhone 4 the other day!  I was so excited to be able to suffer with my fellow iPhone Owners.  I was in Costco, where my wife's 3Gs has never worked, and I made a call on my phone.  It worked, but lets not focus on the positive.  I put my hand over the antenna to see if with this marginal signal inside the warehouse I could make the phone fail. It did.  I was so excited to have this happen, so if I can join the class action and get compensated for my unspeakable suffering and anxiety I will be able to.