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Rori has a blog!

By James Lockman on July 26, 2010 8:57 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
My wife, Rori, has begun a blog. I've been bugging her for years to write about her experiences as a mom, as an advocate for a child with autism, as a headache sufferer, and as a community leader. People consult her all the time on how to cope with their kids, how to deal with DHS, and how to endure their cluster and migraine headaches, and how to fit it all together. 

She has a lot to offer, and I am excited to see how it evolves. Read the blog and post some comments. 

Go Lockmom!
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iOS 4.01 gives me larger but FEWER bars

By James Lockman on July 15, 2010 5:19 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Once again, I am left scratching my head by an Apple update. First, we are told that the algorithm used to calculate how many bars to display for signal strength was flawed, and that the number of bars shown did not correspond properly to the signal strength. Then, we were told that in order to make signal strength clearer to the user, Apple would increase the size of the bars that the iPhone would display.

I installed iOS4 just now, and was struck by two things:
  • First, the bars are indeed a little bigger. Now, I won't be left wondering whether one bar (which looked like an underscore) was really zero bars.
  • Second, the number of bars my iPhone 3GS displays in my dining room is now LESS than it was prior to the update. 
So, I guess that for me, the phone was giving me an optimistic response to signal strength before the update, and now it's telling me truthfully how lousy my AT&T coverage is.
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Consumer Reports passes on iPhone 4; Apple should take a hint from Honda

By James Lockman on July 12, 2010 11:34 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Consumer Reports has decided to not recommend the iPhone 4 due to what it calls an antenna design flaw.


This is in direct conflict with Apple's unbelievable letter to the public that the phone's problems are with the software that displays how many bars you have, and not with the antenna design. Come on, Apple, fess up and fix the problem. It's a sign of a good company that makes exciting products and keeps the public energized about its brand. It a sign of a great company that owns up to its mistakes and fixes them before they become a public relations nightmare.

Look at Toyota. Their recall problems over the last year are legendary. However, have you heard that Honda has had similar recalls? Sure thing, my Honda Odyssey and a whole slew of other Honda cars were recalled for braking and transmission problems. Hmm, sound familiar? The thing is, though, that Honda reached out to us owners through the mail and through communication from the dealer to get us in to the dealer and get the problems solved. I didn't have to learn about it on the evening news, and I feel a lot better about my Honda.

I believe that Apple's customers would feel a lot better about their iPhone 4 purchase (and, of course, future technology purchases from Apple) if it would take steps now to fix the phones and get new ones into the hands of its customers.
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I am the New Economy (V)

By James Lockman on July 12, 2010 11:01 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Animated scheme of a four stroke internal comb...

Image via Wikipedia

The motor on the lawn tractor was having some serious problems, and I wasn't about to take it somewhere to be fixed. The motor was running as if the choke was on all the time, which I knew wasn't a good sign.

With my son, I did some tests to determine if we had the three elements of internal combustion: fuel, spark and compression. We had all three of these, so we turned to see which of the cylinders wasn't working properly. Pulling the ignition wires one at a time told us which cylinder wasn't firing, so we swapped the spark plugs to see if it was the plugs. The same cylinder wouldn't fire, and when the engine ran, it was backfiring. 

I pulled the cowling and found that our friendly mice had packed fiberglass insulation around the cylinder head on that side, which probably caused the cylinder to overheat and seize.  I took off the valve cover, and voila! There were the bent valve push rods. I removed them, straightened them, and put them back in the motor. I buttoned it all up again and it turned over like it was new.

The important question is: why did the push rods get bent? I believe that the mice and their insulation caused the cylinder head to overheat, and the cylinder must have seized there when we shut it off last. When the cylinder seizes at the top of the stroke, the valves will crash into it and the push rods will bend. My expectation is that the cast iron parts are much stronger than the push rods, so they failed as designed, protecting the innards of the cylinder.

I feel it is a good idea to put new push rods in there, so I got the part numbers from the manual and headed on over to Sears. Turns out that they closed their parts depot, and no longer carry parts. Customers must use the online parts service to get replacement parts. I tried to get them at a couple of local small engine shops, but they don't have the cross references to the Sears parts, even though it's a Briggs & Stratton engine.

So, I'm now at the mercy of Sears. It is sad that the once mighty and convenient Sears has been reduced to an online parts counter. I know where I won't spend my money when the time comes for my next tractor.
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iOS 4 first impressions part 6: MotionX GPS Drive 5.0 not quite a Garmin killer, but...

By James Lockman on June 25, 2010 9:16 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
I took a trip to Boston yesterday, and decided to let the Garmin StreetPilot C340 and my iPhone 3GS with iOS4 and MotionX GPS Drive 5.0 go head to head.

MotionX GPS Drive features spoken turn by turn directions, but you must pay a fee to access them. The $3 per month or $25 per year access charge from FullPower is quite reasonable, considering the $10 per month from AT&T (discounted to $6.99 recently). The cost of the app is also quite reasonable, at $2.99 for iPad and $.99 for iPhone.

My Garmin requires periodic map updates, and I had purchased the NüMaps Lifetime Maps package over a year ago. I strongly recommend that to anyone who has a Garmin device. I had updated my device a few weeks ago, so I am confident that its maps are as current as they can be.

MotionX GPS Drive pulls its maps from the air via 3G or WiFi (if it has a connection), so if you have a 2GB data plan, you might want to watch your data usage come the end of the month if you rely on MotionX GPS Drive. Relying on cloud-based maps, though, make its maps theoretically more accurate than the Garmin's, especially as you near the end of the quarterly update cycle for the Garmin.

Operationally, Drive's interface is reasonable if a bit crowded. It has more options than the Garmin, and it features walking as well as driving directions. Other Garmin devices feature walking directions, but the C340 is intended as a driving only device. Drive can operate in Portrait or Landscape mode, and I recommend a window mount for anyone who will use Drive as a daily GPS device. I propped the iPhone on the dashboard near the Garmin, which has a dedicated charging stand.
MotionX GPS Drive 1MotionX GPS Drive 2MotionX GPS Drive 3

The two systems began chatting at me almost simultaneously once I got moving, and provided similar instructions. While Drive gave me "get ready to turn" followed by "Turn now" instructions, the Garmin lets me know long in advance what's coming up, and then reminds me to "Turn right onto xxx Street" when it's time to turn. Since I was doing some in-town driving first, the "prepare to turn" messages from Drive got to be a little annoying, but they would be welcome in unfamiliar surroundings.

I intentionally left the programmed route to see how the devices would respond, and they both gave the same instructions to return to the desired route.

On the highway, I noticed that my iPhone battery was getting low. I had the iPhone plugged into my charger, and when I turned off Drive, the iPhone charged as expected. Hmm. This morning, I fired up Drive, set a route, and plugged the iPhone into my computer. Although I wasn't going anywhere, Drive gave me periodic reminders to get moving. While attached to the computer, however, the battery charged as expected. I will need to investigate this further, or get another charger. It could also be that the car 12V port can't push as much current as the computer can while charging, resulting in a net loss of charge in the battery in the car.

The position of the iPhone matters when driving. I put it in different positions on the dashboard and on the passenger's seat, and found that not all locations were favorable to GPS reception. While pulled over to take a call, for instance, the iPhone lost signal, but the Garmin kept right on tracking.

Background operation in iOS 4 is also nice. Rather than using the built-in iPod interface, you can use iPod to control your music. I am an audiobook listener, so I like having access to the chapter list in the built-in interface. Also, since Mail runs in the background, I was able to know when emails arrived that were pertinent to my trip.

Assuming that I can resolve the charging issue with the car, I believe that I could use Drive while traveling. The Garmin is certainly more battery-efficient, but toting two devices while traveling is a drag. I can't forget that I got the iPhone so I could combine my Palm T5 and my Motorola flip phone into one unit. I don't believe, however, that I'll toss the Garmin just yet. 

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The Associated Press: Adobe to post 2Q results; analyst says CS5 strong

By James Lockman on June 22, 2010 10:57 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Adobe is expected to post better than expected numbers for Q2 on the strength of strong CS5 sales. #AdobeCP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gS1sMma-MF0sB24LEgoId8zWO2vwD9GFRKTO0

The article states that "Creative Suite is used by small businesses such as design firms and advertising agencies." The analysts seem to miss the fact that Creative Suite is also used by giant media companies, global publishers, architectural firms, engineering companies, manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, film and television studios, web designers, desktop and mobile application developers and more. It is also used by Fortune 100 businesses to create portals and manage access to business critical data. I assume that savvy financial researchers look at these other verticals when making their predictions.

This will be welcome news, as CS4 results weren't as strong as Adobe had hoped. I know that I still see a lot of CS3 and CS2 out there, but new hardware and operating systems will require a software update for many, many people and companies. The CS2 and CS3 users who held off will now be able to take advantage of 64 bit versions of Photoshop and the video tools, for instance, which increase productivity substantially on large files. As video moves to very high resolution capture, it is essential to have 64 bit apps and tons of RAM, and CS5 makes those hardware investments pay off in short order.
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Avid advertisement in the Adobe After Effects Help

By James Lockman on June 20, 2010 9:24 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
As you might imagine, while searching for help on image stabilization, I was surprised to see this Avid ad in the Adobe Community Help for After Effects. 

Avid ad in After Effects Help.png
Of course, using the community model means that when content comes from sites other than adobe.com, you get advertisements from those sites. Perhaps there's a way to contextually replace competitor's ads in these sites with Adobe ads when they are viewed through the Community Help portal? Come on, Omniture, get right on that.
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Sports coaches need to take a hint from Doc Rivers

By James Lockman on June 16, 2010 11:47 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Watching the NBA Finals last night, we were treated to a couple of close-ups of Doc Rivers talking to the floundering Celtics. While unsuccessful at getting his team all fired up, he was able to speak to his team clearly, concisely, and without cursing.

Last fall, I attended a Yale football game and was close enough to the field to hear the coach's pep talk after the first half. I had my young sons with me at the time, and I was shocked at the language used by coach Tom Williams. Frankly, it made me and other parents of young kids nearby quite uncomfortable.

I asked my brother in law about this, as he was a football player, and he told me it was the nature of the game. The stress and intensity of the contest required base and degrading language.

How is it, then, that Doc Rivers can keep his team's attention without resorting to four-letter words? I think that we all could learn from Mr. RIvers' fine example.
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Adobe quietly rolls out Flash Player 10.1 and AIR2

By James Lockman on June 11, 2010 7:31 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Adobe announced the availability of Flash Player 10.1  and AIR2. #AdobeCP

While closing a recently revealed security hole in Flash Player, this release also paves the way for easier application development for multiple devices. Prior to 10.1, multiple screen development required multiple versions of applications to target different versions of Flash players. Flash Player 10.1 unifies the player across desktop and mobile platforms, making it possible to create one application that will work on desktop and mobile platforms.

This version of Flash Player will be the last version that will play on a PowerPC G3 with MacOSX 10.4. 

Wow. 

It amazes me that while Apple abandoned the G3 years ago, Adobe has continued to keep it in mind for its Flash Player. While it is amazing that the G3 remains on Adobe's radar, it is more amazing to me that there must be enough of them still operating in the world that Adobe has maintained support for it in the Flash Player. 

It's been 1999 since a G3 PowerMac was made by Apple, but it continued to use the G3 in the iMac and iBook line until 2003. Flash Player 10.1 requires a 500 MHz G3, so that excludes all of the PowerMac towers and desktops. Knowing that in my kids' schools, they were using G3 iBooks until a couple of years ago and also that the schools sell them at rock bottom prices, it's not surprising that there's still enough users out there for one more go at Flash Player.

The story for AIR2 isn't so far reaching, though. It requires at least an Intel Mac and MacOSX 10.5. Along the develop once, deploy anywhere model, there is also an AIR prerelease program for Android. With Android in the mix, developers can create AIR applications that will run on both desktop and mobile devices.

Flash Player and AIR represent a tremendous opportunity for companies to reduce development time and costs by removing complexity in the development process.
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Legislation in Chicago hopes to keep McCormick Place relevant

By James Lockman on June 7, 2010 10:40 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
The Illinois General Assembly broke the union death grip on McCormick Place, making the venue more competitive for conventions and trade shows #AdobeCP


One of the long standing complaints from vendors in venues like McCormick is the requirement that they use union staff to move booths in to and out of the arena, plug in electrical connections, move carpeting, supply food, and more. According to the press release,

The new law calls for:
  • New labor work rules that reduce crew sizes, require less overtime pay and eliminate hassles for customers.
  • Expanding exhibitor rights, allowing customers to do their own work, regardless of booth size.
  • The appointment of a Trustee, former MPEA CEO Jim Reilly, to oversee operations during an 18 month transition period and select a private manager for McCormick Place.
  • Restructuring capital debt to allow the MPEA to further lower costs to customers and put the MPEA on sound financial footing.  
  • Allowing shows to select outside electrical and food service contractors.
  • Auditing contracts to ensure savings are passed on to customers.
  • Make recommendations to whether Navy Pier should remain in control by the Authority or become an independent entity. 
No mention is made of how the unions feel about this, but I imagine they aren't happy. Under the law, though, the unions do continue to operate in McCormick Center, and to provide the default set of services for vendors. Vendors will be able to choose their own contractors, however, which is what makes this law so bold.

The law is aimed at retaining a specific longtime customer of McCormick Place, the Graphic Arts Show Company. It produces shows such as the venerable Graph Expo and Print. I have worked as a presenter at these shows for Adobe and others over the years, and have been shocked at the amounts of money vendors must spend to exhibit. Not to mention how expensive it is for staffers to feed themselves and travel to and from the hotels to the venue. I have watched the number of exhibitors dwindle in recent years (including Adobe, who hasn't exhibited at a major Print Industry show in the US for a couple of years now), and it comes as no surprise that GASC would lobby for concessions to make its show more affordable for vendors.

The value of trade shows and conventions is severely diluted when big name attendees don't show, citing booth costs. These booth costs are driven not so much by the convention organizers but rather by the venue. It was not uncommon for a large booth's costs to exceed $1 million for an extended show, and that amount doesn't include the cost of staffing the booth. Having worked at many of these events and watched as the vendor's teams sit idle while waiting for an electrical worker to show up and connect a twist-lock plug that's sitting right out on the open, I appreciate the bold steps that the Illinois legislature have taken.

Let's hope this precedent extends to other trade show cities like Las Vegas, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and others. Let's also hope that companies like Adobe will return to these events and boost the relevance of the convention overall.
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