Tag Archives: internet

TerreStar-1 Launch Success

We don’t need to spend a lot of time on this, but I wanted to bring it to your attention that a new, potentially super-cool, satellite was successfully launched (probably into space?) July 1st from the Guiana Space Center.  The fact that it took off at all is interesting, but not the reason we’re gathering here today.  No.  The interesting thing is what this new satellite could mean for mobile broadband.  Terre Star is proposing an integrated satellite/terrestrial system with an IP infrastructure with a focus on smaller devices (smart phones) and Internet access for rural areas that have no real Internet broadband option.  (TerreStar-1 claims it will support speeds around 600 kbs, equivalent to what many DSL users experience.)

We’re talking about a new breed of mobile handheld options.  As if to imply you didn’t already have too many options.  Well, it’s not the handheld itself that really matters, it’s that there’s another infrastructure coming along that can prove competitive to our existing carriers like big V and ATT.  (No one really likes either of these groups, mainly because they knowingly cripple our hardware to suit their wants, but also because we don’t really have any other choice.)

I guess the part that really excites me is, we’re getting ready for some new technology.  Something we can hold in our hands and use for downloading crap we don’t need.  But at the very least, folks in desolate parts of North America will no longer be excluded from our status updates.  You dig what I’m sayin’?

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FriendFeed Your Facebook, Or Eat People

Before we get to getting on, let’s be clear that I’m in no way condoning cannibalism, but I’m also not condemning it.  Folks gotta do what they were programmed to do, and if that involves physically dining on people, then, let’s just hope it’s not you or me.  Either way, I’m not here to judge the eating habits of my web browsing brethren and, umm…what’s the female version of the word ‘brethren’?

Getting to the point.  I’m no stranger to Facebook connections telling me in real-time (real life?) that I either A) have a unique way of using the service, or B) that I update all the time, so I must C) always be logged in.  At least one or two of those three things is/are technically true.  And we’ll order it as so, to keep things simple:  I am not always logged into Facebook in the sense that folks are implying when they ask the question.  I do update frequently, or often, depending on your use of the English language.  And, I do have a semi-unique way of interacting with Facebook relative to those connections I’ve gained via the service, only in the sense that most of the connections I have are not, how do you say, early adopters?

Introduce friendfeed, the quote-unquote easiest way to share online.  The service that "enables you to discover and discuss the interesting stuff your friends find on the web."  (The major problem I have with that, is that none of my real-time friends, as far as I know, use the service.)  Done so through the simple process of signing up for and creating a friendfeed account and then connecting it to any and all other online services you choose to interact with.  Friendfeed keeps a steady stream of all your online activity, in one place, and feeds it to all your supposed cohorts, if you’re willing to call them that.

But I don’t use friendfeed for the friending feature; although, I do have folks that I follow, and some that have followed me.  No.  I use the service specifically to load up my Facebook, uh…wall?  I guess you would call it, to update my connected world about things I’ve found interesting on the web.  Well, mostly interesting.  I’ve also connected my friendfeed to these various accounts for a variety of reasons: picasaweb, flickkr, twitter, brightkite, my blog’s RSS, and, most importantly (also the reason I appear to be so active on Farcebook), my googleReader shares.

There you have it.  Once a Facebook eats a friendfeed, a Facebook user never really has to log in again.  The friendfeed maintains a constant connection while continually monitoring a user’s activity around the InterWeb and makes updates accordingly.  The one caveat being that you’ll have to access your FB account to find new connections.  If those connections find you, they can be confirmed via a mobile application on a cellphone.  (Very handy.)

The flip-side being, of course, that most users of Facebook require constant attention and if you don’t routinely post publicly to address their narcissism, then they will more than likely refrain from attending to your feed.  Hardly a concern, if you know what I mean.

Enjoy!

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Adam Carolla Podcast Stealing Babies

I only found out last Tuesday that Adam Carolla would no longer be on FM radio with his radio show, which is a bummer for anyone who enjoyed listening (regularly or irregularly.)

Turns out it may not be the end of the world for those of us who have been following Carolla for years through his various shows.  The Ace Man has decided to get with it and go Podcast style.  The upside being there are no program directors screwing with the content so Adam and his guests are free to talk about and say whatever they like.  Which, based on the second show, really gives the feeling of being right there hanging out with the fellas over a couple beers and a pool table.  It’s a good time.

It’s brand new, being that he only went off FM on Friday, but the show has a lot of potential.  The initial response was strong and positive — a very good sign — so Carolla sounded much more enthusiastic in the second show.  (Helped also by the fact that he had Dr. Drew to chat with, as opposed to the first show where Adam was going it alone.)

While I’m not a fan of pre-recorded shows, it’s only a matter of time before the show takes full advantage of all the Internet has to offer, including: Skype, Twitter, and some sort of instant messaging, all making the show more interactive and giving its host more to talk/rant about.  The exact reason we all tune in.

So stop in, check it out, and load The Adam Carolla Podcast into your favorite feedreader (if you’re like me) or use a trusty mobile MP3 listening device (if you’re less like me).  However you choose to consume it, get your daily dose of the Ace Man and company!  You won’t be disappointed.