I realize I haven’t cross-posted many of our shows lately, but I wanted to let my readers know that we are up to Episode 111 at Real Tech, and I will be cross posting the past few episodes to help catch you up! If you haven’t been listening, you can find all our episodes over at Tony’s site GetTheNext.com (or simply get there through RTFRP.com)
Episode 109 (Scroll to the bottom of the post after the break to listen): Read the rest of this entry »
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Who are the consumers of textbooks? And how do you define a consumer? We had this discussion recently on the podcast Real Tech for Real People episode 97. We were discussing the increasing use of tablets, and specifically iPads, in primary and secondary education. Of course, this led to a discussion of the use of tablets in higher education. The conversation was wide ranging in a couple key points emerged that I wish to write about here.
The primary and secondary schools systems are selecting a specific device and the books are content to go on that device. In this case, the system purchases the devices and the content and then delivers that to the student. So who is the consumer in this case? Setting aside for the moment the argument that the taxpayer is always the consumer, let’s focus on whether the consumer is the school district or the student. We can all agree that there are many stakeholders in this arrangement: the school board, parents, teachers, students, taxpayers, and I’m sure many others. But when I consider the consumer, I am considering their role in consumer plays in shaping the marketplace. In this case, while the students consumed the content, the school board by virtue of the purse string is the consumer. We can hope they are making wise decisions as they select the best combination of hardware, software, and support infrastructure.
Given this scenario the selection of a specific hardware platform makes sense. As a consumer the school district is selecting an all encompassing solution for all to use. This approach will undoubtedly balance the educational needs with the technological abilities, and of course the fiscal reality is the school board faces. The district will be able to leverage their scarce taxpayer dollars to get the best benefit possible. Are there limitations to this approach? Perhaps. There might be better solutions that only run on a different platform. But those are the tradeoffs one makes when one selects a technological platform on which to base decisions. We must satisfice.
Not consider the higher education model. As professors and students alike start to look towards digital textbooks as a valuable and viable alternative to the costly new-used-new book cycle we find a new challenge. Read the rest of this entry »
Must content and delivery be inextricably entwined?
For centuries our ability to gather content and disseminated wirh tide is not just to the content but to the media and the physical media that was used for delivery. If you wanted to read a book you would buy both the content and the delivery media simultaneously. The words in the paper on which they were printed or written were forever enmeshed. Even in recent decades with books on CD or tape you were still purchasing both the delivery media and the content as an inseparable unit.
We have an opportunity to day with the development of digital content and robust data exchange standards to forever separate the content from the media, or at least that will we use to receive the content. We’re at a crossroads. We can choose to follow the path of standards allowing users to decide on the delivery mechanism they prefer, or we can continue to develop content for delivery in specific devices and tools.
We’re currently entering a world where we have a wide variety of choices for the personal technology we use to access media. For instance, we have both been nearly ubiquitous iPad and now more and more android tablets on the market. We’re also seeing the early stages of windows eight tablets being previewed. If we take a device centric approach content will be developed and delivered as operating system specific applications. This will enable content creators to leverage the unique creative aspects of each of the operating systems and the devices. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s TAX TIME again, and now is the time we often think about making Charitable donations (to help with NEXT year.) It’s funny how that works, right?
You might think about donating your computer to a school, or other charity. And when you do, you know the conventional advice, right? “Be sure to completely wipe your hard drive.”
(More after the break!) Read the rest of this entry »
In this video for Real Tech for Real People I review, and demonstrate, Password Safe. This is a great program for creating, storing, and accessing secure, random passwords. When used with DropBox it creates a very portable yet secure way of accessing all your accounts.
Be sure to visit our Real Tech for Real People Facebook page and listen to our podcasts every week! You can find the podcasts over at RTFRP.com or subscribe via iTunes.
And don’t forget–you can save 20% on any order from ZAGG.com simply by using the discount code RTFRP at checkout! (Good until the end of 2010.)
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Much of this episode is about charging. No not for the podcast, but charging batteries! Those things we use every day! Imagine a battery on paper! It’s in this episode!
That said, we don’t charge for our podcasts, but we would love it if you would show your love of Real Tech for Real People, through purchasing yourself, or your loved one, a Real Tech for Real People gift. A mug, a T-Shirt, a Mousepad… they are all available over at
http://cafepress.com/rtfrp
Take advantage of 15% off on orders over 60%
And if you do, send us your photo with the item, and we will post it here, and over at http://RTFRP.com!
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This episode is a first for us. You can download either the audio, or a VIDEO version of the podcast.
Select YOUR version of Real Tech for Real People!
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Free Phone Fridays at Best Buy! For the month of October! Each week they will include at least one smart phone.
Flexibility is the key to air power, AND ereaders. The F-15C gets a new set of eyes and Sony debuts a bendable e-screen!
AND Flexibility making it’s move to batteries. LiIon battery made on paper by Stanford researchers. Probably won’t be in phones, but could make for “active” RFID technology, among other thin uses.
Speaking of Batteries, Panasonic is finally creating rechargable AA batteries that recharge through frustration! (er, shaking…) Great they say for remote controls, and other hand held devices. About time, *I* say.
We discuss an article that challenges the notion thatAndroid is Open:
Android Is As Open As The Clenched Fist I’d Like To Punch The Carriers With
MG Siegler
Sep 9, 2010
This past weekend, I wrote a post wondering if Android was surging in the U.S. market because Apple was letting it? The main thought was that by remaining exclusively tied to AT&T, Apple was driving some users to choose Android, which is available on all the U.S. carriers. In the post, I posed a question: if it’s not the iPhone/AT&T deal, why do you choose Android? Nearly 1,000 people responded, and a large percentage focused on the same idea: the idea of “openness.”
You’ll forgive me, but I have to say it: what a load of crap.
Old News, but worth mentioning: Gorilla Glass is also in the Samsung Galaxy S displays (and it is transparent aluminum. Sort of.)
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I have now had my Android phone (The Samsung Captivate
K-9 Email. Scan QR with camera to install
I wanted to switch email programs. I don’t like the email program that comes “stock” on the android phone and, after trying a few, decided that I really liked the K-9 email application.review of it here. It is quick, customizable, and quick. Did I mention quick?
So once I decided that this was the “One App to rule them all” (well, rule the email apps) I saw no use having the stock email icon cluttering up the dock on the bottom of the screen (that’s the row at the bottom that presents the four most commonly used icons: phone, email, browser, and applications.)
But how do you do that? It isn’t as obvious as “hold the icon until it selects and drag to the trash” (the way you delete other icons from the home screen-but not the applications themselves). Luckily I found the instructions on the Android Forums website. Here it is:
It looks like you can customize the dock on the bottom of the screen,
but only the two icons in the middle.(ed.–not true) To do this, you much (sic) go into your app launcher, and make sure the View Type is on Customizable Grid, which you can change by hitting Menu > View Type > Customizable Grid. While still in the Application launcher, hit Menu > Edit to change the two middle dock icons.
Note though that it turns out (at least on my Captivate) you can swap out, or delete, the icons for all 4 items in the Dock. Not sure I want to–but nice to know I can!
I am slowly working to catch up on posting some of our recent “Real Tech for Real People” podcasts. Episode 51 was where I revealed that I had made the switch to an Android phone, having decided to purchase the Samsung Captivate. This of course, also meant that I was staying with AT&T. I will have a review on the website here soon with my thoughts about the phone and the OS, but my initial thoughts were in the podcast.
Chris: iPad Twitter App
Tony: eCamm Skype Recorder
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It’s been a while since I linked to Real Tech for Real People, but as we wrap up our first year of doing the tech podcast I wanted to make the latest episodes available to those of you that are not necessarily regular listeners, but perhaps regulars to my blog.
Real Tech for Real People was started by Tony Pittman and me to talk about tech issues that everyone has–not just those issues that are of interest to the tech elite, or the “technorati.” Many that do podcasts lose sight of the fact that not everyone has extremely fast broadband into their homes (cable or FiOS), and those there are people that use computers but don’t want to spend time every day working and tweaking.
We try to answer the every day questions that every person has. What should you consider when buying a notebook computer? Are there differences in monitors? What are the differences between all these new phones?
And if you like our podcast, and want to show your support, please do it while giving yourself a little something as well. We are selling coffee mugs, t-shirts, and mousepads (along with other great gifts) through CafePress. Just visit http://cafepress.com/rtfrp and order your item today. Show everyone that YOU are a real person!
REAL TECH FOR REAL PEOPLE: For people with tech in their lives, that don’t live for the tech
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We review the first year of Real Tech
Click here to subscribe via iTunes
NEWS
BCS NEWS: Graham Spanier to be next BCS Chair. (okay, football news…)
Google lets you make phone calls from GMAIL. Check the story at their blog.
Apple TV Rumor. More Disintermediation?
Sun Attacks Earth! (in 2012, maybe, according to scientists…) The news from India.
USAF C-5 gets “Makeover” — emerges at C-5M (from the “News from Last Year” category…)
Disney and Time Warner duke it out. Why I have issues with Cable!
ESPN 360 is great for online sports–*IF* you can get access
Commodore…. it’s BACK
APP CORNER: The Daily App Show with Adam Curry. (search for the iPhone App)
TIP of the WEEK: Google GMail LABS. Adds all sorts of cool tools, including the option to “undo send”, send and receive SMS “text” messages in chat, and a wealth of other items.
PICKS of the WEEK:
Steve: nextup.com TextAloud
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Steve’s info: [blog] http://theprofessornotes.com [twitter] @scmprofessor
Tony’s info: [blog] http://getthenext.com [twitter] @tonypittman
Chris’ info: [blog] http://targuman.org/blog [twitter] @targuman
Josh’s info: [twitter] @joshfink
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Many have asked, so let me tell you: I am a professor. BA, Political Science MPA (Master’s of Public Administration) MS Logistics Management PhD Business Administration (Business Logistics, supporting field Industrial Engineering) I have a strong professional interest in Collaborative Supply Chain Management, RFID in the Supply Chain (EPC), and Research Methods. I have a strong personal interest in political issues, and military affairs having retired from the US Air Force after 20 years.
