Looks like Apple may be getting ready to expand beyond the AT&T network. Evidently Verizon has been in talks with them about creating TWO new devices to be run on their network. What a coup this would be for Verizon, but there's still a ways to go.

According to the article at Information Week, Apple already has prototypes of the two devices. One is described as an "iPhone lite" and the other is some sort of media pad. This is interesting because there would be no direct competitor to the iPhone 3G currently sold on the AT&T network.

Verizon and Apple have been in talks in the past when the original iPhone was being pushed, but Verizon did not like the terms of the deal. I'll bet they have changed their tune now, with the wild success the iPhone has had. It could be argued that this is all just a ploy by Apple to get better terms out of AT&T, but why would there be prototypes of the devices already crated? I believe they are serious about deploying.

New Gear from Apple and Verizon Wireless?

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What an absolute dream come true for the folks at Lexcycle. To spend a year working on a company and watch it become a hot enough commodity to be scooped up by one of the big guys on the block would be very exciting...and profitable to boot. The best quote: "Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed."

I have used the Stanza iPhone application for a while now, and it is high quality. Connected up to several e-book providers there was no shortage of content. While the article claims that no changes to the application are planned, we all know how that eventually turns out. Especially since Amazon has a close cousin in the Kindle application.

I hope the app stays free and gets even better than it currently is. Congrats to the folks at Lexcycle!

Amazon Buys Maker of iPhone E-Book Reader Stanza

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It's so easy. We've all had to deal with it. I've had to deal with it while writing this post with the TV on in the room. Some call it laziness, others claim it's just a lack of motivation. These descriptions diminish just how sinister it truly is. It is procrastination, and it must be avoided at all costs.

Completely discounting personal projects, if you have ever had a job with a deadline you've probably dealt with procrastination. Staring at that deadline that is seemingly far in the future, before you know it you've allowed an hour or two to slip by with no productivity. This tends to build upon itself, and eventually you look at the tasks ahead of you and there is no way to complete them on time.

Part of the problem seems to be accountability. This is offered by default in a team environment, but if you are starting up on your own you'll quickly find that no one is there to push you. You must set deadlines for yourself and HOLD to them. Can you impose a punishment on yourself for missing a deadline? Will you just let your tasks slip and have nothing to show for your initial drive?

A lack of motivation could also cause you to procrastinate. Even if you are doing something you feel passionate about, you'll have days where you simply don't feel like doing the work. Most of the time this is something you should tackle head-on...just make yourself get right to work. Start with something that is an easy win and go for it, promising yourself a small break once it is complete. I have found that this can spur my drive in unexpected ways and I may even cut my promised break a bit short.

Finally, disorganization or a general lack of direction could cause the problem. You find yourself meandering all over the place, not really focused on any single task. In this case begin a task list. Just write down everything you think of that needs to be done and prioritize. If you are working on a project for yourself this could be the toughest problem to tackle. You may not even know what needs to be done next. In this case you should make it a priority to find a mentor, or at least someone who has been where you are and can answer some questions to get you on track.

Unrealistic expectations can destroy your motivation, so avoid them at all costs. Manage those expectations from the very beginning, whether they are internal or external. Discipline yourself and try to develop a rhythm to your work, and you'll find the accomplishments begin to pile up. Otherwise the worst thing possible will happen: nothing.

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Lately we've had some breathless reporting of the swine flu that is apparently making the rounds. Around 160 dead in Mexico and the number is rising, with around 1200 infections. Here's something you can use to put your mind at ease, or if you are in one of the marked areas, incite panic within yourself.

H1N1 Swine Flu - Google Maps
Here we see one of the many uses of Google maps. Different color markers are displayed where there are suspected, confirmed, and negative cases. Deaths from the disease are also marked. Surprisingly, there are quite a few markers displayed in Europe.

We've been lucky here in the US so far, as there have been no fatalities. Hopefully this virus will wind down quickly and the infections will be brought under control.

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Well, my old trusty HP laptop finally bit the dust. Evidently something went wrong with the on-board video and now it no longer boots into a graphical interface properly. There are artifacts displayed even while in text mode...I've never seen anything like it. Output to an external monitor contains the same artifacting.

This was the strangest thing, one minute everything is working fine. I place the laptop down and go do some laundry, have some lunch, and when I come back the thing has locked up. The power button is still responsive so I do a hard shutdown and the first thing I notice is the vertical green artifacts on the HP splash screen...not good. When in text mode there are vertical pipes (|) scattered all over the screen. Could this be memory that has gone bad? The video controller itself (nVidia 7600 Go)? I have no idea. I allowed the laptop to cool to no avail, when starting any graphical OS the mouse cursor looks fine but the rest of the screen is completely garbled and unusable.

The good thing is that large parts of the laptop are salvageable. The 17" screen should make a nice item to be placed on eBay. I haven't decided how I'm going to try selling it off just yet, but if you would like part or all of it please send me an email at mbs@techbustr.com. I will consider offers. The specs are as follows:

• Intel Core Duo (1.73GHz I believe)
• 1GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
• nVidia 7600 Go (with aforementioned issues)
• 17" glossy LCD
• The model number is dv8300
• I'll add more info later

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Microsoft is set to release the Release Candidate of Windows 7 by April 30 on their MSDN and TechNet sites and to a broader audience on May 5. If you haven't had the opportunity to use Windows 7 just yet, you don't know what you're missing. It is what Vista should have been.

The most obvious addition to this version of Windows is the new superbar. When I first saw it I wanted it GONE. Where is my quick launch toolbar? It's what I've used for years! I didn't know what I was missing until I read about it...now there's no need for any other launcher.


While it appears very similar to the OS X launcher at first glance, more functionality is readily available. All windows spawned by an application on the superbar are available by clicking and dragging up on the icon. Mouseover an icon with open windows and you'll be treated to a clickable preview popup that shows a thumbnail image of each open application window. The right click menu offers loads of extra functionality.

For a full overview of the Windows 7 superbar, check this Neowin post.

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I don't know what it is about these videos, but they may well be the funniest thing I've ever seen. I would try and pick individual ones to share as the best but all of them are absolute gems. If you are a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation you owe it to yourself to give these a view.

Some of these may not be work safe, depending on your place of employment.

TNG episode 15 - "That Jean-Luc Picard"


Here's the link to them all.

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Recently I've found out I'm not alone in my troubles in dealing with the open working environment where I am currently employed. Being in a position which requires a large amount of focused concentration, I find it extraordinarily difficult to be productive and happy with numerous distractions. Attempting to complete tasks that would normally take a few hours becomes a tedious chore, especially when it takes several minutes to get back into whatever problem you're currently trying to solve after an interruption.
I must admit, I don't understand the latest infatuation with an open working environment. Sure, the level of communication among employees rises significantly, but I would argue that the quality of that communication suffers. Bystanders hearing bits and pieces of conversations can interject immediately, and while occasionally helpful this sometimes leads to a tangent in the conversation that is completely unproductive. On top of this, the total lack of privacy and personal space make for a very sterile and stress filled workspace.

I have worked in several different environments, from a private office with servers in the closet to an almost completely open setting. I feel the most exhausted at the end of the day after fighting distractions in the open environment. While private offices are not going to be available to everyone in a company anytime soon there should be a happy medium that's not to difficult to reach. In addition, why continue with the harsh overhead lighting when everyone in the room is staring at a backlit computer screen? Wouldn't things be much more serene with desk lamps and a bit of space you could call your own?

For more information, here is an interesting article about how the design of the space you are in can affect your work and mood. Happy reading (hopefully in comfortable surroundings).

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The latest version of Ubuntu Linux is now available. The only review I've seen so far is at eweek. I did notice they now have a Netbook version, so grab that and give it a shot if you have one.

Download from Ubuntu directly.

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I've been intrigued by the iPhone ever since I bought mine. I have to admit, part of my interest in purchasing a Mac comes from my desire to begin writing applications for the device. I come from a purely web and Windows based application development background, so coding for the iPhone is going to be an interesting change of pace for me.

The biggest issue I've had in the past has been ideas for applications to develop. What would people be interested in, and could I make it worth my while? I've decided since I started this site that there is simply no way to tell without giving it a shot. I've made myself much more open to my own ideas and I believe I'm ready to begin working toward making something new.

Here's an interesting post about an app called Whiteboard Capture. It's an update from the author about how things have progressed 3 months beyond the launch of the application. Notably, the app appears to be generating a very modest but steady return which is simply fascinating to me. Develop a few high quality, useful applications and who knows!

What are some good resources for information regarding app development for the platform? How difficult overall is development for the iPhone for someone familiar with object oriented programming?

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