This is big

January 11, 2005

The new Mac mini is going to be huge. You heard it here first, but it will be simply quite huge. For years auto customizers have been finding ways to put small computers in their cars and do cool things with them. It is a matter of time (weeks or months) until a good shock mount comes out for mounting this sub-7-inch wonder in all kinds of places. Then a small touch screen and you're almost set. Have your iTunes download overnight. Think your Audi A8's sound system is great. Wait till you have this baby driving your in-car entertainment.

But it will do so much more. Are you a business person traveling a lot on the road? Pull up to your local Mc Donald drive-up and upload your sales reports while you're waiting for your Big Mac. Maybe the name of podcasting will have to change to MiniCasting, think about it these things are going to be in your car, download your latest hits (or latest podcasts) and be ready to hit the road for the commute in the morning. Hook up your GPS and your bluetooth phone and you've got the trip log for the IRS built every day as you go down the road. Best of all when you get to Grandma's house you can pull it out and use it in the guest bedroom.

This little thing is going to be big.

1980's Podcasting

January 10, 2005

An article on iLoveRadio.org suggests the origins of podcasting may date back to the 1980's. The article describes a TIVO-like cassette device for time-shifting NPR using special audio queues. Last evening while waiting for a show on NPR to end, while sitting at the gas pump, this would have been greatly appreciated. What will happen to podcasting if you can get a TIVO deck for your car. Not for TV but radio. Imagine if you could easily skip ahead through commercials as you can on your iPod. It is possible today but way too much work to be common. Put a 2.5" drive in the head unit of the car and it becomes a whole new ballgame.

CNN Does RSS

January 10, 2005

Dan Gillmor links to the new RSS feeds on CNN. It's a great site. It's ironic that some have called them out on the My Yahoo links when those doing the complaining also have their own product linked from the very page where the criticism is posted.

Communications is key

January 10, 2005

A positive meeting this meeting with our Vice-Provost for Information Technology reminds me about my basic philosophy of business. Communications is key. First off, my bias, I have a degree in communications and have worked in several professional roles doing communications. That said, there is little that can't be accomplished if you learn to communicate well. Sometimes the most critical piece of communicating is learning when to say nothing at all and learning how to say something succinctly and clearly.

Communicating to the audience is also key. In an instance this weekend I sent a broadcast communication without thinking enough about the audience. There was at least one person, Sam, who got the message and was concerned about what I had to say. The issue did not affect Sam, but my message was ambiguous, putting it kindly, to the point of implying that Sam would be impacted. A better choice of words and clearer communication with more forethought about the entire audience would have prevented the confusion and prevented Sam from being converted.

Making an impression

January 7, 2005

I haven't written about the disastrous tsunami in the Indian Ocean. What could I possibly add that would help bring any meaning to the situation? Evidently there are others who aren't so concerned. An AP story today quotes Bill Frist, majority leader of the U.S. Senate talking to a photographer taking his picture, "Get some devastation in the back." And we wonder how we Americans get a reputation for being self centered.

The End is in Sight

January 7, 2005

Today was "Day Zero" of the Aviation Officer Basic Course." It consisted of a PT test followed by a series of briefings.

The PT test went better than expected considering my recent excesses in Miami. I scored above ninety percent in each event. My run was slower than usual but, considering that my past times were excellent, my slower run was still a ninety-two percent. I am going to try and get back into better shape over the next six weeks so that I can get back to a perfect score on the run.

The briefings were boring but contained some useful information. Most importantly, we received a full schedule for the next six weeks. That is a change from the usual "need to know" type of schedule we have gotten in the past.

********* I will be graduating from flight school on February 24, 2005 at 1000. ********* This is a Thursday. You are all invited to attend. The Aviation Officer's ball will be the evening of the 23rd.

I am thrilled to be in the last phase of training and to have the end in sight. I am also getting just a little bit anxious about the future. I will continue to keep you all up to date.

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