Brad Enslen’s: Everything Else

A blog for things on my mind and too long for Twitter.

New Keurig Coffee Maker

My first morning with a new Keurig coffee maker.  My initial impression is I like the machine.  Now it is just a matter of finding a coffee brand and blend that I like.  I am on the right track with the Extra Bold coffees, and I have a couple of sampler packs, so it is just a matter of time before I find one I really like.  

Finding a good, strong decaf will be harder.

I will post a more in-depth review in a few weeks.

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Good iPhone App: Read it Later

I really like the Read it Later (iTunes link) app for iPhone.

I come across a lot of articles that I want to save for later reading, but do not want to bookmark permanently.  Read it Later is sort of an in between space that lets you save web pages for reading later either on your computer or on your iPhone/iPod Touch.

The fact that Read it Later syncs between computer and iPhone is the big plus here: I can find and save articles on my laptop over morning coffee and read them - yes later, at lunch or on the go, on my iPhone.  Of course I can also do the reverse and save articles to be read from the iPhone for reading on a PC.

There is a little more too this than just downloading the app.  My one warning is that the process for installing the bookmarklet on Safari for iPhone is a little difficult but you will want to do it.  Fortunately detailed instructions are provided.  On my Macbook, I also installed the Read it Later bookmarklets on Opera browser with no problem.  Once the app is installed on iPhone, and the browser bookmarklets installed, you are ready to rock and roll.

AOL Mapquest App Review #iphone #blackberry

Here is a little more detail as to why I like the AOL Mapquest application for iPhone:

1. Google Maps has the streets of the subdivision where I live wrong.  When I bought my first iPhone Google maps did not even have my subdivision listed.  Yahoo did.  Ask did.  Over two years later Google maps now has my subdivision listed except the roads are wrong.  Way off.  Makes me wonder what else they have wrong too.  Mapquest has my entire subdivision mapped out pretty close to reality.  +1 Mapquest.

2. For some reason the maps on Mapquest are easier to see.  Higher contrast in the graphics.  May just be my eyes.

3. The "List" view for driving directions in Mapquest has nice big right and left turn arrows making it easier to read in the car. You know a left turn is coming up and you can see it at a glance and maneuver accordingly.

4. It is not Google.  Frankly, I think Google has too much market share of everything and is a monopoly.  I think the iPhone relies on too many Google Apps for crucial tasks.  Apple seems to have become aware of their peril too:

"Multiple sources at Google tell us that in informal discussions with Apple over the last few months Apple expressed dismay at the number of core iPhone apps that are powered by Google. Search, maps, YouTube, and other key popular apps are powered by Google. Other than the browser, Apple has little else to call its own other than the core phone, contacts and calendar features."

I think it is time Apple started looking to other providers for crucial apps and make those the default on the iPhone.  (I also think Apple needs to think about buying their own search engine for mobile search.)  

Anyway, Mapquest is available for both iPhone (see the iTunes App Store) and for Blackberry.  It is free and worth trying so you can judge for yourself.

eBooks on iPhone and iPod Touch

I have been reading ebooks on mobile devices for about 6 years.  Over that time I have tried a lot of devices, software and ebook stores so I can write with some experience about the subject.

 

Currently, I use my iPhone 3GS for reading and I find it very comfortable to read on.  Yes the iPhone is small but it is always with me, so it comes in handy in waiting rooms, hospitals, airports, train stations and trains, you do get used to reading on a small screen.

 

The Three Best eBook Applications on iPhone:

Personally I use three ebook apps on my iPhone.  All three are free.  Each one offers me a different mix of books, both free and for purchase, than the others.  There is some overlap but the differences are enough that I keep all three available.  Since the apps are free it costs me nothing extra to have multiple readers.

 

1. eReader App:  eReader connects to the Fictionwise bookstore which is still my favorite place to find small press ebooks to buy.  eReader also lets you download free public domain ebooks from Manybooks.net which is one of my favorite sources.  (I like classic mystery and detective novels from about 1890 - 1920.  Not much blood, gore or sex to clutter up these old books.)

 

2. Stanza: Offers free public domain ebooks from Feedbooks and several other sources and stores. Some of those sources specialize in romance novels so if you like mushy-stuff give it a try. This is a very good reader.  Stanza was recently bought by Amazon so I worry about how long they will offer books from other sources.  I keep this one for the free book sources.

 

3. Barnes & Noble eReader:  This ties into Barnes & Noble's new ebook store.  BN is using their retail clout with publishers to offer many current bestselling books as ebooks for $9.99 just like Amazon.  In addition, BN also offers several hundered thousand books scanned by Google Books as ebooks for free as part of the app store.  I am finding some titles by my favorite old time authors available here that are not available from other sources.  If you buy a lot of new books by current authors, this is the reader for you.

 

Why not Amazon and Kindle?

 

There is a free Kindle reader app for iPhone/iPod touch, my big worry with Kindle is that all their ebooks are in a proprietary encrypted format totally controlled by Amazon.  This locks you into being 100% dependent on Amazon.  The Kindle device is easy to use but it is way more expensive than an iPod Touch and again you are locked into buying books from Amazon only. 

If you already own an iPhone, there is no downside to having a couple of free ebook reader apps installed even if you think you won't like it. You never know when you are going to have to cool your heels waiting somewhere and need something to read.  I suggest you try the three above and see how you like them. Just search on the iTunes App Store for the application (above) and install the app for yourself.

Let me know what you think.

 

 

 

 

 

Friendfeed: First Impressions

I just signed up with Friendfeed.  Quick, first impressions:

1. Elegant layout.

2. No blog.

3. Limited services that it connects too for posting. Although it connects to Facebook and Twitter which will satisfy most people. Posterous has many more social networks and blog hosts.

4. Like that it has iPhone optimized interface.

5.  I don't see a compelling reason for me to use it, but for others it might fit their needs.  There is an advantage to using a web based aggregator over a client based one like Tweetdeck.

6. Very nice real time search engine.

 

Facebook just bought Friendfeed.  I can see why: the search feature is very good and is the basis for starting a first class real time search engine, also Facebook could use the option of offering a simpler interface and a social network aggregator.

Trying Posterous.com

So I'm going to try out Posterous.com for a personal blog and Twitter announcement service.  Sometimes a post is just too long for Twitter alone.

The other thing I like is Posterous makes it easy to post from my iPhone or anywhere via email.  I like that.  We will see if I still like it after a month.

So far I have gotten Posterous to integrate with Twitter and Blogger.  No joy on getting it to work with Facebook, but I suspect that is because I was using the Opera browser.  I might try later to get it working with a different browser.

Wow they Link Hacked me.

So one of my web sites (never mind which one) was hacked by somebody that wanted to put hidden links on my pages so they would get their sites to rank better in the search engines, mainly Google. At some point they pulled up stakes and that left an error message on my site.
404 Not Found The server can not find the requested page: linkr.m7y.de/getlinks.php?url=MYWEBSITE.COM/&charset=UTF-8 (port 80) Please forward this error screen to linkr.m7y.de's WebMaster. Apache/2.2.10 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.10 OpenSSL/0.9.8b mod_python/3.3.1 Python/2.4.4 mod_auth_passthrough/2.1 mod_bwlimited/1.4 FrontPage/5.0.2.2635 PHP/5.2.6 mod_perl/2.0.4 Perl/v5.8.8 Server at linkr.m7y.de Port 80
Note I changed my url to MYWEBSITE.COM. In looking around the web a few other sites were also hacked by this same outfit operating out of the domain: m7y.de. It also appears that somebody was using m7y.de to comment spam numerous blogs. Now I have no proof that the registered owner of m7y.de knew about or was involved with the hacking or comment spam but here is the ownership information for m7y.de:
Domaindaten Domain: m7y.de Letzte Aktualisierung: 24.11.2008 Domaininhaber Der Domaininhaber ist der Vertragspartner der DENIC und damit der an der Domain materiell Berechtigte. Domaininhaber: Berg Mark Adresse: Arbel 6 PLZ: 20100 Ort: Karmiel Land: IL Administrativer Ansprechpartner Der administrative Ansprechpartner (admin-c) ist die vom Domaininhaber benannte natürliche Person, die als sein Bevollmächtigter berechtigt und gegenüber DENIC auch verpflichtet ist, sämtliche die Domain m7y.de betreffenden Angelegenheiten verbindlich zu entscheiden. Name: Rechtsanwalt Harald J. Moench Adresse: Nussbaumstr. 12 PLZ: 80336 Ort: Muenchen Land: DE Technischer Ansprechpartner Der technische Ansprechpartner (tech-c) betreut die Domain m7y.de in technischer Hinsicht. Name: Domain24 Hostmaster Adresse: NetService24 GmbH Dietlindenstr. 15 PLZ: 80802 Ort: Muenchen Land: DE Telefon: +49 180 55552424 Telefax: +49 180 55552422 E-Mail: service@domain24.de Zonenverwalter Der Zonenverwalter (zone-c) betreut die Nameserver der Domain m7y.de. Name: Domain24 Hostmaster Adresse: NetService24 GmbH Dietlindenstr. 15 PLZ: 80802 Ort: Muenchen Land: DE Telefon: +49 180 55552424 Telefax: +49 180 55552422 E-Mail: service@domain24.de Technische Daten Nameserver: dns0.sigmos.de Nameserver: dns1.sigmos.de
Draw from that whatever conclusion you will.

New Duneland Directory

I have relaunched my local web directory at: Duneland Links I have made about 4 false starts on this directory: at one time planning an entire portal to go with it containing forums, blogs and reviews.  But an honest evaluation of my schedule told me I would not have the time to maintain all that. Therefore I made Duneland Links just a simple directory with the links arranged by towns.  Such a directory has to serve two audiences really: local residents who want a business guide and out of town visitors looking for entertainments and accommodations  I am hoping that the very clean, minimalist design will attract both computer and smartphone users. Although directory use has been declining I still think that a good local directory is relevant in spite of the search engines.  There is something very handy in searching through a human edited index where you know every single listing is either about or located within the geographic area. No search engine can do that. Try it: Duneland Links.

FISA: Why I will not donate money to Obama

The FISA sellout reform bill passed the Senate.  Obama voted for the bill which gives the government the power to wiretap Americans without a warrant.  It also gives retroactive immunity to the telecom companies for allowing illegal wiretaps prior to this law being passed.  This is the most cowardly congress in history. Before this vote, my intention was to not only vote for Obama but also to donate money towards Obama's campaign.  While I may have no choice but to still vote for Obama, I now doubt I will donate.  I'm beginning to doubt that a vote for Obama is a vote for change.  Same old same old.