This image speaks volumes about Thomas. He made it using Disk Inventory and marked it up with Skitch. Code Monkeys, How I Met Your Mother and Doogie Howser are all television series. Click the image to see it full size.
What’s on Thomas’ Hard Drive?
Safe Eyes 3.0 for Macintosh
In all the hub-bub over my departure from CPS, I missed this press release announcing the update to Safe Eyes that I worked on last year. I wrote the code for all of the new features and really enjoyed working with the people at InternetSafety.com. It’s a great product and provided a welcome respite from the difficult political machinations that went on at CPS during that time.
UI Geeks Unite
One of the things I do in my profession is to design user interfaces for software. Most people probably don’t give much thought to how buttons, windows, menus and other elements come together to make your software experience understandable and enjoyable, but software professionals spend alot of time figuring those things out. Today a collegue sent me an excellent article called Visualizing Fitts’ Law, which describes a basic principle for deciding where user interface elements are placed on the screen and how big they should be. Although most of them probably don’t know it, one of the reasons that Mac people hate Windows is because the placement of menus doesn’t take advantage of infinite width.
Vital Statistics
Restaurants: Denny’s, Mel’s Drive-in, Thirsty Bear, Chevy’s, Hana Zen
Restaurants missed: Oola
Solicitations for money (estimated): 10
Solicitations for money involving singing: 2
Hands shaken (estimated): 12
Reported number of WWDC attendees: 5000+
Sessions attended: 9
Remaining sessions to attend (planned): 12
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 37
Aches & pains: lower back, both calves
Current reading: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, The STL Primer
Recent listening: “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (approximately 20 times)
Recent viewing: Stump the Experts 0x10
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade
Recently accomplished: Packed for WWDC, cleaned cat box, recycling
Imperative To Do: n/a
My son, the nerd
Me:
Hey Thomas!
you there?
Hey Thomas!
you there?
Thomas:
hey What?
Me:
how are you?
how are you?
Thomas:
good
Me:
Keynote was really cool this morning.
Keynote was really cool this morning.
Thomas:
cool
Me:
They made Safari work on Windows
They made Safari work on Windows
Thomas:
awww
Me:
and the new version is available – apple.com/safari
and the new version is available – apple.com/safari
Thomas:
Finally!
Me:
you can download it
you can download it
Thomas:
FINALLY!
I’m going to wait for the full version
Me:
you won’t be able to use it
you won’t be able to use it
Thomas:
oh
Me:
unless we can install Leopard
unless we can install Leopard
Thomas:
ok
Me:
we should install Tiger on your computer
I think you need it for safari
we should install Tiger on your computer
I think you need it for safari
Thomas:
The beta version?
Me:
Leopard doesn’t come out until October
yeah
it will say on the website
Leopard doesn’t come out until October
yeah
it will say on the website
Thomas:
I want Leopard
!
Me:
it’s still beta,
and will eat up your memory,
but I got a new disc of it,
it’s got a hologram on it
it’s still beta,
and will eat up your memory,
but I got a new disc of it,
it’s got a hologram on it
Attempting to connect to 69.64.229.153:4443.
Asking thomasjring to connect to us at 17.210.49.129:5190 for Direct IM.
Asking thomasjring to connect to us at 17.210.49.129:5190 for Direct IM.
Me:
are you sending something?
are you sending something?
Attempting to connect via proxy server.
Received invalid data on connection with remote user.
Direct IM disconnected
Received invalid data on connection with remote user.
Received invalid data on connection with remote user.
Direct IM disconnected
Received invalid data on connection with remote user.
Thomas:
a leopard
Me:
I don’t think it will work
I don’t think it will work
Thomas:
ok
Me:
I’m trying to remember what else they showed.
there’s a new Finder – it looks like iTunes.
I’m trying to remember what else they showed.
there’s a new Finder – it looks like iTunes.
Thomas:
aw
Me:
and the new dock is awesome – 3D
and the new dock is awesome – 3D
Thomas:
danget.
oooo.
wow.
Me:
hmmm, what else.
they demo’d the iPhone.
and told us a way to write software for it.
but it’s totally lame.
(writing software for it)
hmmm, what else.
they demo’d the iPhone.
and told us a way to write software for it.
but it’s totally lame.
(writing software for it)
Thomas:
lol
Me:
you have to do it on a web page.
I have one more session today in 20 minutes.
I always wish that I could bring you with me to WWDC.
I think you’d really like it.
you have to do it on a web page.
I have one more session today in 20 minutes.
I always wish that I could bring you with me to WWDC.
I think you’d really like it.
Thomas:
yeah.
I’m watching a video about the new desktop.
ooo
Thomas:
trasparent finder
Me:
transparent menus, yes.
I don’t like that much actualy.
I don’t like the new Finder, either.
Web Clip works a lot better now.
transparent menus, yes.
I don’t like that much actualy.
I don’t like the new Finder, either.
Web Clip works a lot better now.
Thomas:
I like the new dock
Me:
I do, too!
I do, too!
Thomas:
and stacks
Me:
oh and stacks!
oh and stacks!
Thomas:
lol
Me:
stacks are really cool
stacks are really cool
Thomas:
yeah
stacks!
stacks!
stacks!stacks!stacks!stacks!
Me:
haha
haha
Thomas:
stacks!stacks!stacks!stacks!stacks!stacks!stacks!crazy!
Me:
stacks
stacks
stacky stacks
did I tell you I started using something instead of iChat?
Thomas:
stacks!
Me:
Adium.
you can check it out if you want.
Google it, free download
Adium.
you can check it out if you want.
Google it, free download
Thomas:
What is it
Me:
I think it will work on Panther.
it’s like iChat
I think it will work on Panther.
it’s like iChat
Thomas:
yes!
Me:
only has more features
only has more features
Thomas:
and does it work like AIM?
Me:
sort of.
do you like AIM?
sort of.
do you like AIM?
Thomas:
well alot of people use it.
all my friends and basically everybody does.
Me:
yes, iChat works with AIM
yes, iChat works with AIM
Thomas:
hmm..
Me:
did you know that?
also, Adium works with AIM
did you know that?
also, Adium works with AIM
Thomas:
a green duck…
Me:
yeah, you can change that.
you can change a lot of things.
yeah, you can change that.
you can change a lot of things.
Thomas:
good
hiws….
hows
how’s
Me:
none of those is a word
none of those is a word
Thomas:
a purple ferret.
la
Me:
I use the yellow duck
I use the yellow duck
Thomas:
so many substitutes
Me:
“how is”
“how is”
Thomas:
Safari to Firefox (I hate and love firefox).
ok.
help me setup.
Add an instant messaging account.
Me:
yeah
yeah
Thomas:
tell me what to do
Me:
thomasjring.
and your password.
which I’m not sure of.
thomasjring.
and your password.
which I’m not sure of.
Thomas:
I don’t have a password…
Me:
but it might be “(redacted)”.
you do.
it’s required.
but it might be “(redacted)”.
you do.
it’s required.
Thomas:
ok.
AOL or Aim?
Me:
AOL.
they are the same.
I just logged in as you.
AOL.
they are the same.
I just logged in as you.
Thomas:
brb
Me:
password is “(redacted)”.
I gotta go
password is “(redacted)”.
I gotta go
Thomas:
oooo.
this is cool
Me:
I have to pee before next session.
enjoy
I have to pee before next session.
enjoy
Thomas:
ok.
bye.
Me:
I’ll ttyl
I’ll ttyl
WWDC Packing List
Personal bag
- Newton (with freshly charged batteries)
- Digital camera
- iPod and earphones
- Cash ($200)
- Credit cards & driver’s license
- Mini-wallet
- Letter from California Health Dept.
- Remove everything not needed for the trip
- Remove money clip and Leatherman
- Mocassins
- Envelope for receipts
Laptop bag
- Travel credentials
- MacBook Pro with power adaptor
- Long ethernet cable
- Firewire cable (get from Erik)
- Book (need to pick a new one)
- DVDs (pick three)
- Camera charger and USB cable
- iPod USB cable for charging
- OS install CDs/DVDs
- New business cards
Checked bag
- Underwear (5 pairs)
- Shorts (3 pair)
- Pants (2 pair)
- Shirts (2 long-sleeved, 4 short-sleeved)
- Sandals
- deodorant
- brush
- tweezers, nail file, nail clippers
- toothpaste, tooth brush and floss
- South Beach snacks
- Airport base station
- CPAP machine
Action items
- Verify Find travel credentials are correct
- Verify conference credentials and password
- Remove all banned items from carry-on items
- Laundry
- Charge Newton batteries
- Haircut
- Charge camera battery
- Clean catbox
- Pick a new book (small paperback)
- Get cash
- Verify all code is checked in and builds on laptop
- Copy rynosoft.com web pages to laptop
- Streamline handbag
- Pick some DVDs I haven’t seen
- Load new music on iPod
- Print health dept. letter
Good advice (for Mac users)
Unsanity has an excellent article about the pre-binding phase of software installation and how it can really cause you grief if you’re not careful. It’s required reading for any Mac OS X user.
WWDC, Day One
Today was the first day of WWDC. WWDC consists mostly of lecture sessions about the technologies in Mac OS X and how to use those technologies. The most exciting session of the week is the first: the legendary keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. This is when Steve unveils all the great new stuff that they’ll be doing during the next year. This year’s keynote was as good as any I’ve attended.
The most anticipated news was the introduction of the Mac Pro line of desktop computers. This was the final step towards an all-Intel line for Apple and all evidence indicates that they saved the best for last. These machines will feature:
- Two dual-core Xeon processors at 2.0, 2.66 or 3.0 Ghz
- Four hard drive bays with easy-to-install sleds
- Two optical drive bays
- $2500 base model with many build-to-order options
But this was just the start of the goodies that Apple introduced. Next spring they plan to ship the next version of Mac OS X, code-named Leopard, and it is packed full of great new features:
- Time Machine: Seamless backup for all of your files with greatest user interface ever put on top of backup software. The demo for this was incredible.
- Boot Camp: Boot into Windows on your Mac.
- Spaces: The virtual desktop idea done right.
- Improved Speech: Apple has been using the same speech technology for about 20 years it seems. Now they’ve got speech technology that sounds very human and is very, very close to natural.
- iChat Theater: Show someone a slide show, movie or presentation while chatting with them online. Totally awesome idea and I hope they don’t require the video conferencing as they showed it today.
Leopard is shipping next spring but we got a “Preview” copy for free today. Everyone was madly installing it on their laptops during lunch. Nerds are so funny!
Vital Statistics
Bike odometer: 5953 miles
Current reading: Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, 9-11 by Noam Chomsky
McCartney Trivia: Ringo “quit” the Beatles for two weeks during the making of the White Album. While Ringo mulled his future on Peter Sellers’ yacht, the other Beatles continued recording “Back in the USSR” and “Dear Prudence” with Paul on drums. When Ringo returned, he found his drum kit wreathed in flowers with a large “Welcome Back” sign.
Recent listening: Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Science Friday, NPR Story of the Day
Recent viewing: Suns vs. Clippers, Mean Girls, Saw, Final Four
Recent playing: Poker Room
Recently Accomplished: cleaned and lubed bike, vacuumed house, entertained the Bartons, started taxes
Imperative To Do: Buy lug nut wrench and jack for van, finish taxes, figure out what to do about the truck
Cool link: Boot Camp: Apple released beta software to let you boot Windows on your Intel Mac. It will be included in their next OS version which is code-named “Leopard”.
Vital Statistics
Did anybody else see the ice dancing fallathon the other night. I totally dug it when the Italians faced off at center ice and just stared each other down for 20 seconds. She was pissed! Unfortunately, the Canadian couple had to withdraw because her injury was too severe. You can read all about it in this search of Google News for “ice dancing”.
Bike odometer: 5772 miles
Current reading: Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles
Recent listening: New Roman Times/Camper Van Beethoven, Still Feel Gone/Uncle Tupelo, Coverville, Ebert & Roeper, DrugMusic
Recent viewing: Olympics: men’s speed skating, ice dancing
Imperative To Do: Pinewood Derby: Sand and repaint, rebates
Cool link: Explanation of the Mac OS X “virus” reported in the news recently