Android has made leaps and bounds over the months since my post.  The 2.2 Froyo release with Flash really sets up Android for success.  Most commonly used apps have Android versions released.  Yes even Words with Friends is coming to Android soon.  Today someone was showing off Flipboard on their new iPad.  My next move was to find a similar app for my Droidlet (Droid + Tablet).  A few Google’s later I found Pulse.  Pulse may not be as flashy or refined as Flipboard, but it has teeth.  That is to be expected as iOS has the developer advantage.

I have to admit I was pretty smug before, however, I’m not a fanboy so I can learn.  I’ve really enjoyed tinkering on Android over the last few weeks.  Hopefully the folks at Huawei will come out with a Froyo or Gingerbread ROM.  If not, I’m sure there will be a cooked ROM out at some point.  As I like to say, “I void warranties”.

Here’s a link to the flyer.

burgers for bucks flyer

2.5 lb Sausage – $6.50

3.5 lb Thick Bacon – $14.25

5 lb Tenderloin Chicken Strips – $17.50.

To order please send a DM to @oushadow or email carlfoster71 at gmail.com.  Money and orders are due no later than 11/19.  I have to turn both in on 11/22 to get the order in.

Okay so Sprint is rolling this out on the latest and greatest 4G network.  Big deal!  Yes AT&T has issues but I remember I switched to Southwestern Bell (SBC, Cingular, AT&T) years ago because I couldn’t get a signal on Sprint from anywhere indoors inside metro OKC.  Early reports say Sprint’s 4G network isn’t living up to expectations.

4G networks are more an evolution than a revolution.  Sprint will have you believe you can’t live without 4G.  It’s the best thing since sliced bread.  Sprint has no choice but to migrate to 4G.  Their 3G network is maxed out.

Verizon is rumored to be on track to release the iPhone in November.  A Verizon iPhone release would be a boon for AT&T iPhone users, if you believe that the iPhone is soley responsible for their network woes.

The Android platform is challenging the iPhone.  Really?  Venture Capitalists are never wrong.  What?  Perhaps there are a few apps out there that you can only get on Android phones.  What?  That’s not true either?  Maybe they have Words with Friends.  I’ll give that up too?  Any more questions about platform?

Geeks like me will agree the EVO 4G looks like a great phone.  How cool would it be to host a mini LAN party with your built in hotspot?  Wait, LAN parties aren’t cool?  Believe it or not I’ve only been to a couple LAN parties in my time.  Have you seen 40 Year Old Virgin?  Enough said.

All jokes (I know they are lame) aside, the Sprint HTC EVO 4G is going to spur more competition in the Smartphone arena.  Yes I’m an iPhone user but NOT a fanboy.  Some of the jabs the EVO gets in will at least make Apple stop and think.  I’m glad because they have already listened.

What a GREAT Way to help find a CURE for Type 1 DIABETES!!!!!

6:00-8:00 am we need 3 Volunteers for Set up

7:30-9:30 am we need 12 Volunteers for Greeters

7:00-10:00 am we need 4-5 Volunteers for Parking

7:00-11:00 am we need 20-25 Volunteers for Registration

7:30-11:00 we need 6 Volunteers for T-shirts

11:00-1:00 we need 3 Volunteers for T-shirts

9:30-12:30 we need 20 Volunteers for Lunch

11:00-2:30 we need 24-28 Volunteers for Accounting

Please Contact Shannon Clarke at the JDRF Central Oklahoma Chapter at (405) 810-0070 or at sclarke@jdrf.org.  A T-shirt and lunch will be provided.

I was so touched by what I saw.  Immediately I knew I wanted to get involved with Positive Tomorrows in some form or fashion.  Discussion with the staff led us to a great idea.  The 3^rd-5^th grade teacher (they combine grades where it makes sense) wanted to teach the class some computer skills.

This past Wednesday I was privileged with the opportunity to meet with the students on their level and share one of my gifts.  First I was introduced to each student.  One by one I shook their hands and looked them dead in the eye.  This is something their teachers encourage in class.  Umm yeah, they need to teach that in public schools too!  I learned each one of their names and something they like (dogs, basketball, reading, among other things).  I told them how glad I was to meet them and promised that I wouldn’t remember each of their names.  This turned out to be a lie.  Somehow I managed to remember every name but one.  I had to apologize to Tara for forgetting her name.  I also explained to the teacher that I’ve been trying to forget that name for a long time which she totally understood.  J

Next comes the really fun part!  I dismantled a Dell Latitude E6400.  One student asked “Why do you have to destroy something so beautiful?”  I said, “I’m not destroying it, I’m only taking it apart.  I promise when we are finished I will put it all back together.”  As I toredown (sounds destructive huh) the notebook I explained the functionality of each part.  They ooh’d and ahh’d and passed around the components.  I toredown the notebook all the way to the mobo and passed it around as well.

I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.  Time was just about up and they were due to go to recess.  The students started debating about watching me put the notebook back together.  The catch was it had to be unanimous because the teacher had to stay with the class.  After some heated discussion it was decided they would stay.  So now I’m under the gun.  I have to get this notebook back together and salvage some of their recess.  I’ve been doing this a long time.  I’ve worked on systems for senior managers, directors, and even some VP’s.  Now THIS was pressure.  I managed to get the system back together 15 minutes or so into their recess.  Not too bad considering I’m a little out of practice.

I thank the staff for the blessing I received by sharing my knowledge with the students at Positive Tomorrows.  Moving forward I plan to make regular visits to the school and teach.  I LOVE IT!!!

If you would like to visit the school and discover what a great program this is I encourage you to sign up for a Gold Star Tour.

Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, is a devastating, often deadly disease that affects millions of people–a large and growing percentage of them children.

Many people think type 1 diabetes can be controlled by insulin. While insulin does keep people with type 1 diabetes alive, it is NOT a cure. Aside from the daily challenges of living with type 1 diabetes, there are many severe, often fatal, complications caused by the disease.

That’s the bad news… and yes, it’s pretty bad.  Watch this video and tell me it doesn’t tug at your heart strings.  This is the face of Type I Diabetes.

The good news, though, is that a cure for type 1 diabetes is within reach. In fact, JDRF funding and leadership is associated with most major scientific breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes research to date. And JDRF funds a major portion of all type 1 diabetes research worldwide, more than any other charity.

Won’t you please give to JDRF as generously as you’re able?

Please visit my Walk Web page if you would like to donate online or see how close I am to reaching my personal goal:

http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87607667

Growl is available for Mac and Windows.  This app sends notifications from programs, system changes, network connections and the like to multiple locations.  For this post, I will concentrate on sending notifications to the iPhone.

Prowl is the Growl client for the iPhone and is well worth the $2.99 charge from the App Store.  After downloading/installing Prowl on your iPhone setup an account on Prowl.  Try sending a notification to your iPhone now.  Next retrieve your API key from the settings tab.

Now go back to Growl and enter the API key from Prowl.  Your computer is now ready to send notifications to the iPhone, however, you have to download plugins from Growl (Windows) or the original Growl (Mac).  I have four plugins installed on mine (Firefox, RSS, Growlbook, System Monitor).  When a USB device is plugged into my notebook, I get a notification on my iPhone.  There are a ton of other plugins too.

How’s that for some geeky fun?

Carl aka oushadow

In no particular order:

1. I don’t NEED an iPad.  Yes I said it.  I usually find a way to justify buying the latest and greatest gadgets.  Just ask my wife.
2. The iPad has no Flash support.  It has to be repeated over and over.  Surely Apple/Adobe can figure it out and make Flash work.  Srsly.
3. The silly thing has NO USB PORTS!!  You can’t tell me they couldn’t have splurged for at least one.  What?  I can’t transfer music work related documents to my iPad.
4. Did I say I don’t NEED an iPad?  One more device to lug around is not something I need.
5. I am NOT an Apple Fanboy.  While it is true I like their products, I will never blindly buy just because Mr. Jobs comes out with something new and shiny.  Besides that, the man doesn’t even Tweet.
6. It’s a GIANT iPhone.  I have an iPhone so why would I want an even bigger one?
7. Don’t tell me it’s the Apps.  I have a ton of apps on my iPhone and only use a select handful.

I’m not bashing the iPad or saying you shouldn’t run out and get one.  The iPad will probably be THE device of 2010, however, there aren’t enough compelling reasons to outweigh the 7 I have listed here.

Carl aka oushadow

EDIT:  How the heck did I forget the lack of multitasking?  Engadget’s Apple iPad review covers it very well.