In Support of the Mobile SDK

There may be a few "iPhone Killers" coming out, but I believe that the only one with a shot at triggering the demise of Apple's cute little two-hundred-dollar-bill is the "Google Phone." I don't call it a Google Phone, but I'm trying to use it in a general sense. By "Google Phone" I mean any phone running the Android operating system. There are many touch-screen phones coming out, and they all look great, don't they? None will kill Apple's iPhone or the Android platform.

The Nokia 5800 is a fantastic device from what I have read. It has all the features the iPhone does, and Nokia is even launching an audio store. The Blackberry Storm is the world's first touchscreen from RIM, and it seems to be getting rave reviews for its functionality. You can watch videos, listen to music, check e-mail, update Facebook, and all those cool things you always wanted to do with what the mobile phone has become.

I have one reason that the iPhone and the Android platform will survive: the SDK. That Nokia 5800 is great, but what if there's just one more thing you want to do with it, and Nokia never provided that function? What if you decided your Blackberry Storm couldn't do enough?

As a (budding) developer, I feel that the openness of the platforms (the ability to create your own software for any purpose to make a device even more useful) is the driving force behind the iPhone, and what will eventually be Android's success (even moreso now that it's free to develop for Android and fantastically cheap to submit to the Android market).

Tell me: Could you do this with your 5800 or Storm? I didn't think so.

Coming Right Up...

They came around today. I had the same problem today as yesterday installing Java, and finally a message popped up with a solution.

I followed these instructions (please don't ask me to explain the registry key we deleted, because I can't), and Java installed perfectly. Office 2007 went smoothly just now as well. Enterprise Architect is on its way to my system, and I think I might have a fully-functional machine now. Isn't that weird? I wonder if Microsoft reads this blog (they don't) because it seems to be an eerie coincidence that I write about something and they fix it. Also, they don't allow me to write anything to go along with the crash reports like Apple does.

Let's try NetBeans now.

Uh-Oh. Installer Problems in Windows 7

I'm having problems installing software on Windows 7. I'm not going to freak out and blast Microsoft for this; it's a beta system, and the same error has occurred with two different software packages: Sun's JDK 6 and Microsoft Office 2007. I have found some search results that lead me to believe that someone has succeeded in installing Office '07 on Windows 7, but I can't find out a whole lot about it.

One thought is that this is the 64-bit edition of Windows, and not much has been tested on it. XP x64 brought some pain to the compatibility area, and I don't think I've ever installed Vista x64. So I can't say that I have a lot of experience, and I don't know what to do to find the culprit. I do know that I get the same two dialog boxes when installing either the JDK or Office 2007.

Another thought is that Microsoft might have changed something in their installer (or did they even have it before Win7?), or it's a combination of the two. Whatever the case, today the computer is simply a radio.
I guess I'll have to use my laptop for the rest of the day; I need to do a White Box Test Plan for my Software Testing class, and draw several UML diagrams for my capstone. I can't install NetBeans because I can't install the JDK, and I can't install Office 2007 to do the report. I'm not mad, but I really wanted the desktop to do all this design work instead of cramming it all on the laptop.

Gloomy Times

Just when I'm about to finish college again, the economy and all the job markets take a shit. It was the same way in 2004 (we were just coming out of the dot-com bust and Enron), and in 2009 I'll be stuck with an undergraduate degree without the new job that is supposed to come along with it.

And no one can escape this one, it seems. Not even Google.

On another note, I am still pursuing Army/Air Force Officer candidacy.

Video Driver Update Without Restart in Windows 7

Does anyone remember not having to restart after the simplest Windows Update? I think there was one last year...

Something happened today that blew my mind. I started Windows Update on my Vista laptop and saw there were 4 important updates. "What updates are necessary today for Windows 7?," I asked myself. I opened Windows Update (herein referred to as WU because I am tired of typing it) and there were no critical updates, but two optional ones.

One was for the monitor I'm using, an Acer V193W (who knows why?) and for my video card, a GeForce 6600. I told WU to go ahead with both updates and went about whatever it was I wanted to do. I was reading e-mail when it happened, and swore I'd experienced the first hiccup with the beta OS.

The screen went black and I saw a blinking cursor at top left, as if the machine had restarted as a result of a hard crash. "WTF just happened?," I said. Then the desktop came back and the browser window resituated itself in the maximized position where I had it previously. A little pop-up at bottom right told me that my video driver had been installed successfully.

This tells me something wonderful - that things in Windows 7 are so modular that restarting the GUI with a new graphics driver doesn't even bother any other part of the system. Isn't that great? Vista promised fewer restarts and I believed them. They lied. Windows 7 just surprised the crap out of me with the <blink> "Okay, done" -style of updating this morning.

Just for reference, I've been running Windows 7 since Friday, January 10, 2009 and I have not been forced to restart yet.

Windows 7 First Impression

I have been testing Windows 7 for two days now on the only computer I could spare. It's an aging AMD Athlon 64 3200+ running at 2.01GHz (that's a single-core CPU for the young folks here) with 2GB RAM. Internet Explorer 8 is all I've used, and things seem to be much better than Vista's first days. It hasn't broken yet, and I like some of the new visual features - one of which I've been waiting on since Windows 2000.

The system is not slow. At idle, it's only using about 43% of the RAM. Things really do work. I'm blogging this from the beta system now.

The biggest UI change that Windows 7 brings is the behavior of the taskbar. The quick launch is gone, folks. For the three people on Earth who have studied my desktop, the quick launch toolbar is a staple for me.

I think that's one reason I got to liking my MacBook so much - I put every program I use in the Dock.

So when I gained the experience of the Windows 7 taskbar, I couldn't help but feel that I was between the two.

By default, programs aren't there if they're not open, with the exception of the left three (IE8, Explorer, and Windows Media Player). One can, however, leave a program icon in the taskbar by right-clicking it and choosing "Pin this program to taskbar" from the context menu. This is not at all unlike the same dialog in OS X that says "Keep in Dock."

But that's not what I was waiting on. I knew they could fix my one pet peeve, and they finally did. I use a lot of USB-interface storage devices, and I tend to use them simultaneously. I also use good computing practices when I want to disconnect the drive. However, the only piece of information provided to me when I want to release a drive is the drive letter. To figure out which one it is, I have to go to Computer and look. Only then will I know for sure which drive to release. Windows 7 actually puts the drive label in the release menu, so I don't have to change my train of thought or spend two extra clicks. For that I am proud of Microsoft's development team for listening and making sense of something.

So far, I am pleased with Windows 7, but haven't had the opportunity to really put it to use. I have had Windows Media Player playing a solo piano channel from Lucky 7 Radio for nearly the entire uptime of the system and have crunched some movies, but I haven't done any programming, YouTube watching, schoolwork, or much else on it. I will try to use it as if it were my only computer for as long as I can and will tell you all about it if something goes wrong. If I don't write, just assume that everything is okay with Windows 7 and go ahead and dive in when they release it. The only thing that people won't like is the once-again drastic UX change. Maybe more on that later.

AC/DC

I went to the gym this morning - something I should do every morning but don't. Anyway, my gym has XM radio, and they change the channel every day to cycle through maybe five channels to break the monotony. Since I don't go every day, I must go every time they have the damn AC/DC channel on. Why is there an AC/DC channel anyway? It's 24 hours with the same damn nine songs, one of which always stays in my head the rest of the day.

I have vowed now to find the model of XM radio they have and get a remote from eBay for it. They can put it behind a glass door, but they can't keep me from having my way.

On Caller ID

I got a call today from a number in the 789 area code. I ignored it because unknown numbers are usually cold calls or recordings, and I wasn't interested in learning anything new. But I was curious.

So I looked up the 789 area code to see where the caller might be dialing from - that's usually interesting and I can sometimes guess what comany it might have been. Not this time. See - the 789 area code isn't used. Anyone with some skillz and access to a PRI can change what is shown on the caller ID display. My question now is why they were calling me and what the scam was. There is no way I can tell who it was or call them back. The only thing I'll do now is post the number:

789-999-6966

On Dedication

Some kid missed the bus, so he took his mom's car to school. It wouldn't be that bad if the kid wasn't six years old. He almost made it, then crashed about a quarter-mile from school. The cops checked him out, and then he started walking to campus. "Where are you going?," the cops asked. "To school. I'm late," he replied.

If only I was that dedicated in 1984.

On Bach

We went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Saturday night, and there I saw a preview of The Soloist. It looks really good. The thing that got me was the music in the trailer, and I had to search a bit for it. Luckily, the IMDB site had an FAQ and the only question on it was "What's that music playing in the trailer?" Someone answered it to be J.S. Bach's Suite for Cello No. 1 in G Major. I have confirmed this by buying Yo-Yo Ma's Bach: The Cello Suites from iTunes.

I'm writing about it just in case someone else is wondering. Also because I can't quit listening to it.

On Happiness

Happiness is relative. Much in life is. My dad always said "You must choose to be happy." I never knew what he meant by that, or how that could happen. I know now - and it has a lot to do with optimism. I saw a nice quote this morning, which inspired me to write this morning:

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.
- Robertson Davies

The fact that I can't be happy more often I think stems from my overwhelming desire to do and learn everything under the sun while participating heavily in the family I've built with my wife and working a full-time job to pay for it all.

Besides being busy, I love everything. And I can't decide what it is I want to do. Lately I have streamlined a bit and have left myself with only a few hobbies, none of which have much priority in my every day. I have a family, a job, and school. Anything else is lower on my list.

Whatever my case, in May I will have a choice to make, and another one in December. I want to start pushing my company and get out of the consumer market. I need some solid goals to chase so I can quit changing my mind. Maybe finishing college will bring a calm to it all.

Hold On

They're adding a second to 2008. You'll have to postpone the celebration for the specified time period. Of course, you won't know unless you have one of these.

I do. Are you ready?

Prone to Wander

Males Dominated 'Out-of-Africa' Migration - Discovery.com

I have always wanted to move, no matter where I was. I didn't like it anywhere, and I still don't. Today I read that it might just be that I'm a man, and men want to go. Maybe I'm not alone.

There's a lot I want to do in this life that I have not done. I'm rather upset that I haven't gotten around to doing it, and the frustration sometimes consumes me. And then I'm lost again - I give up and want to sell all my books and throw everything away. Streamline life and live simply. Pick just a couple of things that I say that I do, and forget everything else.

But I can't. Every time I think about shedding my interests I find it impossible to do so. I am the guy with too many hobbies. Can we count?

1. Education - I love to learn. This is the catalyst of my affliction.
2. Family. It's growing.
   
3. Home brewing. I love beer.
4. Computers. My living. Could be broken down into many smaller categories.
   
5. Motorcycling.
6. Business.
7. Pleasure reading.
8. Periodicals (deserves its own listing).
9. Movies.
10. Gardening.
11. Model airplanes.
12. Flying (one of those things I haven't gotten 'round to).
13. Music. This is big.
14. Writing.
15. Traveling.
16. Language.
17. War.

That last one is something new. I have recently become interested in joining the military once more as an officer, and if one were to choose the Army as a career, an officer in the Army would need to know about strategies and history related to war. Also about weapons and how to use them. So I want to study war.

But I won't get around to all of this and it is very frustrating. I have so many interests and I am forced to choose. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what I can do?


Cross-posted at the WordPress blog.

Starbucks is Lame

I’m amazed at the uncharacteristic way that Starbucks contributes to its community. The coffee is good (I will not deny), but the fact that everything is expensive really detracts from the homeliness of it. How does Starbucks let Internet providers charge for access? Shouldn’t the damn place just offer it for free? Does it not want a crowd?

I’m writing this in Starbucks tonight (not online) and as I write I wonder why I decided to stop in and have a coffee. I really wanted to get an assignment done. My school is online and the thought occurs to me now that I might have been more productive at Wendy’s.

I had a plan last year to gain Internet access from Starbucks. I offered Fazoli’s next door a great deal on a WiFi hotspot, which I could simply enhance so that I could reach it from Starbucks. I hate Fazoli’s. The owner, after months of deliberation, decided against it at the time but reserved his right to call back if he changed his mind.

I just spilled coffee on the notebook I carry every day. Gives it character.

So why did I stop here tonight? I guess it’s the fact that I could have sworn that AT&T was offering free WiFi at Starbucks. Turns out that $3.99 is not the same. $3.99 for two hours of use. That’s worse than T-Mobile’s $9.99 per day. The subscription is the same at $19.99 per month, but who wants to pay monthly for two Internet connections? I’d rather pay $60/month for a WWAN card and not have to search for an AT&T hotspot everywhere I go.

I remember when I got my first printer. It was an all-in-one from Compaq that eventually turned to shit, but it was a printer. And I remember after a few months wondering what I did with a computer when I didn’t have a printer. “What good is it,” I asked, “if I can’t print anything?” I now have nixed that idea and replaced it with “What good is a computer without the Internet? What is it for?”

But somehow I’ve managed to keep this MacBook open at Starbucks without hitting the ‘net. Wait a minute… Wendy’s is close… Nevermind.

I’m typing in Word, and I don’t have a printer or a connection to the Internet. Disconnection is great! But how do I play Mob Wars on Facebook or update my status?

That’s it – I’m opening my notebook.

Crossroads

I can't seem to have enough drama in my life. I'm always moving and changing my mind and even now that I have decided to do something, I can't decide which way to go about doing it.

For those who don't know, I have decided to try to enter the military again as an officer. I thought I wanted to join the Air Force (and some part of me does), but then upon finding my old company commander for a recommendation I was spun toward the Army. Beth would like to see me join the Air Force if I just have to go, but there's a sense of pride about being an Army officer that I cannot explain. I am torn at the moment.

My friend Ken said I should do a trade-off analysis. I'm sure he was talking about the trades between civilian life and being a soldier, but I can compare and contrast the two branches too. I can even do some of that right now:

The Air Force is more technical, hands down. I belong in information systems and everyone knows it. There are nicer things, I've heard, in the Air Force. I think the physical fitness tests are taken on stationary bicycles or something. I love aircraft. But there's no guarantee that I would work with computers as a career.

The Army is more... well, military-like. Officers lead soldiers and make strategic decisions. It's not really fun work but it is something to be proud of. There is a higher chance of losing a limb in the desert if I choose to go to the Army. It is more physically demanding and I was never any good at running. Not that I can't be, but I wasn't. But like the Air Force, there is no guarantee that I would get near a computer. I believe the chances are even smaller here.

Ken would like to see me as an Army officer and I respect his opinions. He also told me that I wouldn't get the opportunity to lead in the Air Force. I should confirm that. Beth hates the Army and thinks the Air Force is better for the family. After everyone says everything, it's really my decision and it should be made based on what I want to do for myself, my interests, and my family. It's just a big storm in my head and it may be a long time.

I started writing the letter required for the packet that states why I want to be an officer in the Air Force/Army. I haven't finished, and the letter may be different for each branch. I know that I want to serve this country and use my skills for something good. I know I can make decisions based on facts. I know I can lead. I just don't know if the green pill will take me down a better trip than the blue one.

This is one of those rare times I wish I could pray.

This Blog is Going TDY

I am moving - at least temporarily - to a new blog at WordPress. I doubt it's a permanent move, but I want to see how different the free WordPress is from the free Blogger. I have already found out that I cannot publish the WordPress blog here at benrehberg.com without paying a premium, so that's already a detractor.

But the theme is great and I want to find a better one for this site. And I like the interface at WordPress. So if this post gets old, check over there to see if I'm still writing.

RAGBRAI 2010

I was thinking about my future today, and I have come to the conclusion that I can't switch jobs for another two years. Here's why:

I have said I'd go to RAGBRAI in 2010 with Scott (and he better still be on board), so I can't start a new job because then I won't have the vacation time saved up.

And that's all. That is the sole reason I can't move or change jobs. Things like that can really screw up some plans.

Oh, and I just thought of this - after five years at this job, I'll be vested in the retirement plan. Not that it's worth anything, but I might get some more out of it than I would by leaving early. I don't think I've ever stayed at a job for more than four years. Next October will be four years at this one, so we'll see. I hope it gets a little more interesting. But that's for another post.

Can't Say I Didn't Think About It

I've spent some time with my neighbor recently, and discovered that I am slightly envious of him. He lives alone, and is a senior NCO in the Air Force. He is two years older than I am, and he has six years to go to retirement from the military. He seems to have everything going for him and all is in order. Oh, to be like that.

I have battled for several months now about joining the military once more. Sixteen years won't last that long, especially if I choose to enjoy my time. The four years I spent in the Army were very long because I resisted liking anything about where I was or what I did. I want to change that and retire in sixteen years, and then go get a job so I can retire again.

But some things make me not want to. First: the pay. I think I make more now than I would if I went back in, and raises would not come so frequently. Second: I'd have to travel some, for extended periods of time. I have become comfortable being home, especially now that we have a child. When I am gone, I can at least call and be called by the family.

But how else can I get a chance to live in Germany? To have free health care for my family? To go to the gym for absolutely free, and probably find someone to play racquetball with? To have a structured daily life? To not wonder what to wear? To get real-world experience with computers, a security clearance, and probably a $100K-plus job after retirement?

So I'm stuck. It's stability versus comfort. I don't think I'll ever stop wanting my life to be different.

Really Beta.

I got an e-mail from Apple yesterday about joining the new iPhone/iPod developers' forum, now in beta. As an iPhone developer, I have access.

The system runs on Apple servers, running Java, serving JSPs. I had an error setting up my account this morning, and it looks like the whole thing broke. Maybe they should set up a forum to discuss forum issues.

Business Unusual

I got a call today from a woman who works in an office I support. She wanted to buy a laptop tonight. And then she showed up and bought one.

After all the boredom and worry about that little computer store, someone manages to come in and buy something every month. Maybe I will actually make it.