1. After hitting play I have 24 hours to finish the rental (is a problem)
2. I have 30 days from the date of rental to watch (unlikely problem)

Digital rentals should be leisurely. The most unusual of renters should be able watch 10 minutes of a film every other day if they wanted. Once it’s finished, done. No more access to the rental. But that’s rentals and I will rarely if ever go down that path again.

My rant is about movies downloaded from the iTunes Store. Earlier this month I was packing up for a trip to Whistler, BC for a weekend of snowboarding. Last minute I decided I’d download some epic snowboard / ski films for downtime at the lodge. I opened the iTunes Store and purchased The Art of Flight, All.I.Can and One for the Road. Easy. The weekend happens and I capture lots of GoPro Hero2 footage. I’m running out of disk space on my MacBook Air so I start deleting previously viewed movies from iTunes.

Once home, I sift through the GoPro footage – deleting a good portion of the files and recovering some disk space. After reviewing my homemade clips, I decide I want to watch The Art of Flight again. I had grown so accustomed to how the iTunes Store treated app, music and television purchases that I assumed the same applied to movies.

1. Purchase and download [iPhone / iPad app, music or TV show]
2. Use app, listen to music or watch TV show
3. Grow tired of app, music or TV show
4. Delete
5. Months later decide to use, listen to or watch show
6. Re-download free of charge

Who hasn’t done that?

You can re-download songs, apps and TV shows from the iTunes Store however you will not be able to re-download the movies.

Lesson learned. Digital movie purchases aren’t really yours to keep unless you really do keep them in your possession. I guess if I plan on keeping my Air as a main machine, I’ll have to consider carrying an external drive with me to hold my iTunes Library. So continue enjoying the freedom of re-downloading purchases from iTunes free of charge – just don’t forget movies are not re-downloadable.

P.S. If it’s a bandwidth thing, Apple can start saving some immediately if high-def (HD) and standard-def (SD) variants of videos were not bundled. If I want to purchase the HD version, don’t force the SD download as well. Note: even if you pause and delete a SD variant during download, the iTunes Store will continually attempt to serve the file until you accept.

P.P.S. If you’re contemplating picking-up the GoPro Hero2 and want to send some referral love use this link. I’m enjoying mine – Early powder morning at Stevens Pass.

UPDATE: On March 6th, 2012 Apple announced the ability to re-download movies via iCloud – the same feature previously extended to apps, books and music.

I probably would have given up on the product and returned it. From what I’ve gathered, longterm users are experiencing bricked devices, poor battery life, an unpolished iPhone app and generally poor experience. Here’s a good one the Up:

Here’s the TL/DR version: Don’t buy this piece of shit. It doesn’t work, it will fail, and the software is terrible. Jawbone is still selling them even though they know they’re all future bricks.

Ouch. Read the entire post if you’re on the fence with the idea of purchasing the Jawbone Up.

UPDATE: Jawbone CEO issues a public apology and offers full refund and the option to keep the band – no questions asked.

I can honestly say that any experience I had with [the previous] iPhone 4 Voice Commands were purely accidental. Comparing iPhone 4 Voice Commands to Voice Actions for Android? Android wins no contest. Compare Voice Actions (Android) to Siri (iPhone 4S)?

Let’s just say that the moment an iPhone user triggers Siri, they need only speak while Android requires certain keywords in order to perform an action like “send text to” or “send email to”. Interacting with Siri comes naturally.

As Siri continues to mature and grow through the initial beta period, I can’t even begin to imagine how much the system will improve.

I had convinced myself that the MacBook Air had a purpose. The problem was that I was looking for a niche that needed filling. As hard as I tried, there really wasn’t a place for an ultraportable like the Air in my workflow. Maybe if I was a writer, the Air would still be around…

Work and play are spread out between three core pieces of hardware:

• 15″ MacBook Pro + 27″ Cinema Display
• 16GB iPad 3G
• 16GB iPhone 4

I thought that my productivity could be improved had I replaced an iOS powered iPad with a full OS X notebook. Surprisingly, I reached for the iPad 9 times out of 10 when I stepped away from the MacBook Pro. The iPad – in my eyes – is the ultimate go-to device. Instantly on whenever you need it, access to a huge collection of useful applications, able to capture crude or refined sketches and equally capable as an entertainment device.

iPad 2 anyone? I can’t wait…

UPDATE: I just setup and moved my apps to my new white iPad 2. Initial impression: this thing is awesome and has a new peppiness to it.

When AT&T announced their signal boosting femtocell a.k.a. the 3G MicroCell, I knew it was the answer to our coverage woes. Essentially, the MicroCell is a miniature cellphone tower which increases indoor coverage by utilizing your existing internet (Cable or DSL) connection. The idea sounds awesome until you start to digest the monetary details.

So the current situation looks like this:

• $150 – One MicroCell plus taxes so that I can enjoy an iPhone.
• $180 / mo. – Two iPhones sharing minutes, unlimited data and unlimited messaging on AT&T’s Family Talk plan.
• $60 / mo. – Comcast internet connection which AT&T is going to use to improve our cellphone coverage.

Ok, that’s a decent chunk of money going towards communicating on a cellphone via AT&T Wireless. But it’s hard to let go of the iPhone. I’ve tried.

I’m tired of having poor service. I’m even more tired of friends who come over with their non-AT&T service who are able to use their devices without fuming. I actually walked into an AT&T Wireless Store on the way home from work today with the intention of purchasing a 3G MicroCell. I was so close to pulling the trigger until I asked the sales rep:

What do you think about a customer having to pay $150 for a piece of hardware that piggybacks on a home internet connection to fill AT&T service holes?

The answer that convinced me that today was not a day to give AT&T more money:

We’re actually doing you a huge favor by subsidizing the MicroCell. The actual price of the device is $500. $150 for reliable home service is a great deal.

No AT&T, I would be doing you a favor by staying on as a contract customer and reducing your wireless network load in the area. Wouldn’t it be great if AT&T has some kind of system in place that would provide 3G MicroCell towers to customers in order to maintain quality service?

I experimented with LogMeIn but really wanted to leave the web browser for browsing and remote control of a computer to a VNC client. Having previously setup my computers for VNC access / control on the local network, the changes for remote access were minimal. In short, setting up remote VNC access requires:

1. VNC server running on the host (home) computer
2. Your home router forwarding required ports to the host computer
3. Helpful: Easy to remember dynamic hostname instead of memorizing an IP
4. VNC viewer (client) for your remote computer or iPhone

I wanted to document the process here for Mac OS X 10.5+ users with along with some helpful screenshots for curious minds.

First, enable Screen Sharing on your Mac. Open System Preferences > Sharing and tick the ‘Screen Sharing’ option. In the screenshot above I’ve added the password requirement for controlling the screen (Computer Settings…).

In order to access your home computer remotely, you’ll need to forward the necessary ports appropriately. To do this, log into your Airport Extreme. Select Manual Setup. Inside the Advanced tab, select the Advanced tab then Port Mapping. Inside of this dialog, select the small ‘+’ (plus) button. The port mapping setup assistant will slide into view. Select Remote Login – SSH & Apple Remote Desktop. Each selection will automatically fill the correct ports. Select Continue after specifying each service.

You Port Mapping window should now look like the image above. Ensure that both checkboxes are checked then proceed to update the new settings to your router.

DynDNS to save you from remembering your IP

To keep the entire process of accessing your computer remotely easy, setup a free account at DynDNS (create account). Once the account has been properly setup, return to the main dashboard and look for My Services.

What you want to setup is a new Host Service > Dynamic DNS Hosts.

Select Add New Host on the following screen. DynDNS will request some basic info related to your home Mac.

The first field – Hostname – will be your "memorable" URL to access your computer remotely from outside of your home network (select from alternate domains using the dropdown). Select Service Type: Host with IP address. DynDNS can automatically fill-in your location IP address (click on the link). The rest of the settings can be ignored.

Chances are your location IP will change every so often (without you knowledge). Unless you’re paying your service provider for a static IP, you’ll want to install the DynDNS Updater (free). This handy daemon runs in the background and updates DynDNS with your current IP.

Connecting to your home Mac with a VNC client

Now that VNC is enabled on the home Mac, the appropriate ports forwarded and DynDNS setup, it’s time to connect remotely. The first option is to use a VNC client like Chicken of the VNC. The alternative (my preference) is to use the built-in VNC client provided by Apple as of 10.5 Leopard – the same client use for Back to my Mac. To access the client, go to Finder > Go > Connect to Server or CMD +K.

Upon successfully connecting, you will be prompted to enter the previously setup credentials to control your remote Mac. The beauty of Apple’s integrated VNC client is the fact that larger remote screens are automatically resized to fit. For MacBook / MacBook Pro users, the iMac or Apple Cinema display at home will be resized to fit (with the option to view at full resolution).

Do you use VNC? What method to you use to manage / control your computer at home?

The Apple tablet for the masses is here and it’s called the Apple iPad. I’m sure Apple conducted hours of user research & feedback to decide on the name iPad. Right? I really liked the idea of the tablet being called Canvas though. So what are my initial thoughts?

When will the iPad Pro be announced? You know, the grown up version capable of running professional software like Photoshop?

The truth of the matter is that I will somehow convince myself to buy one. An ideal device for the coffee table, beside your bed, on the toilet (having the iPhone has changed the way I poop), or while travelling. What do you think, will you buy one? Will the first iPad usher in a new era of power tablets to be released by Apple over the next 10 years? Or will Apple keep the iPad line focused on entertainment with no real plans to offer a full OS version?

To find out more about the iPad, check out this exhaustive post on Gizmodo: Apple iPad: Everything you need to know.

Not submerged, but any water is bad enough

Although the phone was not completely submerged, enough water had gotten into the handset to cause damage. The screen was dark and the camera lens was fogged along with half of the screen. An Apple Genius wouldn’t need to check the water damage sensors to come to a conclusion – water damage + voided warranty.

Later that day, the Apple Genius Bar rep informed me that I could purchase a refurbished handset for $199. Tempting. But so was the Google Nexus One announced the very same day. Call it coincidence, fate, or maybe a test… I recalled reading success stories of water damaged electronics. I walked out of the store 10 minutes later with plans to bring my out of warranty iPhone back to life.

BHEESTIE Bag brings my iPhone back to life

Bummed, I started spreading the word to contacts via email that I would be unreachable via phone. Within minutes I received a link to the BHEESTIE Bag. A few minutes later, I found this review by CNET who willingly tossed a working MP3 player into a fountain for testing. I was sold and immediately went out to purchase a bag.

Our company started because of a need – we were tired of replacing many a wet cellphone, iPod®, camera, etc. Now we bring this innovation to you.

BHEESTIE Bag® is the original product used to remove moisture from personal electronics. Our company’s goal is to bring you a product to help maintain & maybe even revive your wet cellphone, iPod®, camera, etc. Which saves you money and decreases wasteful dumping of electronics.

So did BHEESTIE work? Yes. 24 hours later my iPhone is back in my pocket. The little fish food looking pellets did their work absorbing moisture. The fogged camera lens and screens are completely dry and the phone hasn’t shut off without warning. Unfortunately, the water sensors are triggered and the phone is now out of warranty but the phone is fully functional saving me from having to spend $200 for a refurbished iPhone.

I learned my lesson from this whole ordeal. Waterproof ski pants are not completely waterproof if water can get through zippers and the iPhone is going in a Ziploc. Have you had any accidents involving your favorite electronics with any types of liquid? Were you able to salvage / save the electronic or lose it completely?

The Mighty Mouse was the sole reason I discovered and subsequently moved to all Logitech peripherals – MX Revolution (excellent) & VX Nano (mobile awesomeness). Logitech offers multifunction mice that just work without looking terrible e.g. OOMouse. Impressed by ergonomics and the super fast "hyper scrolling", I thought I had found the last physical mouse I would ever need.

Then the Magic Mouse was announced. Leaps and bounds above what was offered by the Mighty Mouse, the Magic Mouse was created with Multi Touch at its core – the same feature found in the iPhone, iPod Touch, and recent MacBook hardware.

Spend a few days with the Magic Mouse then switch back to a typical left / right click + scroll wheel mouse. You’ll notice a difference. Spend any time in Photoshop, Illustrator, or any other creative software where zooming in and scrolling is a regular necessity and you’ll love the Magic Mouse even more. Accelerated 360 degree scrolling to move quickly through files is perfect.

Ergonomics

With its super slim profile, you have to question the negative long term effects (if any) which may result from prolonged use. I admit that the first few days of use felt awkward. Coming from the [now chunky] MX Revolution, the low profile design worried me a bit. The palm of my hand rested on air as I tried to accustom myself to the flat mouse. Over the course of a week I trained myself to lay my hand directly on top of the mouse as though I were palming the desktop beneath. One month later, I can honestly say that I have not experienced any soreness.

Are you using a Magic Mouse? Have you experienced any soreness or discomfort using the mouse on a daily basis? Purchase the Magic Mouse directly from Apple or Amazon.com.

Extras for your Magic Mouse

The single recommendation I will make for first time users is to open System Preferences > Mouse to change the tracking speed. Just in case you’re convinced that the Magic Mouse feature set is incomplete, check out these utilities for adding middle click and mapping custom touch gestures:

• MagicPrefs – Improves the overall functionality of the Magic Mouse. Customize finger clicks, taps, swipe gestures, and more.
• MouseZoom – Cocoa preference pane which speeds up your mouse cursor movement.
• BetterTouchTool – Magic Mouse tool based on the trackpad MultiClutch utility.

1. If the iPhone is running an official OS build from Apple, I jailbreak it citing reasons of (a) flexibility, (b) customization, and (c) access to enhancements Apple either blocks from the App Store or blocks developers from offering users.
2. If the iPhone is running an unofficial build (jailbroken), I restore it citing reasons of (a) poor battery life, (b) application incompatibility, (c) instability, or (d) having to wait for the green light to upgrade safely.

Three weeks ago I restarted the cycle, downloaded a copy of PwnageTool, and 15 minutes later found some real gems inside Cydia (the App Store for jailbroken iPhones). For those who have returned to the non-jailbroken side since the early iPhone OS releases, Cydia has matured considerably now offering free and paid for apps which I believe has lead to quality releases. Great developers should be rewarded right?

It didn’t take long for me to find some really useful iPhone OS add-ons. Enhancements which I know I would miss when I return to an official iPhone OS build.

01. Move over Apple copy ‘n paste for Action Menu Plus

Expanding on the copy ‘n paste functionality baked into iPhone OS, Action Menu Plus Pack ($2.99 in Cydia) by Ryan Petrich offers a handful of new actions to the popup tooltip menu. Highlighted features include:

• History: Action Menu maintains a history of items copied to your clipboard.
• Lookup: Highlight a word or phrase in an email, note, or web page and lookup definitions, similar words, Wikipedia entry, or translations.
• Tweet: Copies selected text for Tweeting in your native Twitter client – Tweetie, Tweedeck, and more supported.
• Favorites: Maintain a custom list of frequently pasted clips accessible from any application. Customized inside the Settings.app.

Although having access to clipboard history is incredibly useful, the best feature is the ability to create and maintain a list of clipboard Favorites – great for saving frequently used signatures or other longer chunks of text.

02. SpotSMS, Spotlight extension for SMS / MMS

The iPhone Spotlight search offers quick access to applications, emails, calendar events, contacts, media, and notes. Thanks to SpotSMS (free in Cydia), you can add text messages to the list of indexed items. You can tweak SpotSMS settings to search both sent and / or received messages, specify after which character to begin searching, and the ordering of search results.

This Spotlight extension adds much needed functionality – especially for those who send and receive hundreds, if not thousands of messages in a single month.

03. QuickReply to messages without leaving your current screen

I’ve tried a few applications which promised quick replies to text messages but none performed reliability like QuickReply for SMS ($2.99 in Cydia) by Gaurav Khanna. No matter what application you’re running, QuickReply offers four options inside of the new message notification:

1. Close: Standard behavior which closes the message notification.
2. View: Standard behavior which opens the messaging app.
3. Call: Optional action to replace the View button. Upon receiving a new message, you now have the option to immediately dial the number associated with the message.
4. Reply: Overlays the screen (or the application you are currently using) with a messaging dialog + keyboard. Compose your reply, press send, and resume without ever leaving your current app or opening the messaging application.

Stable and incredibly useful. QuickReply settings also offers the option to double tap message notifications on the lock screen for replies without unlocking or opening the messaging app.

Extra: Teehan+Lax Lock Screen coming soon



Recently announced lock screen project by Teehan+Lax and Jay Freeman (man behind Cydia App Store). More reason to consider jailbreaking your iPhone.

Running a Jailbroken handset?

What are some of your favorite apps or utilities? Have you ever had a bad experience with Jailbreaking software? Did you notice decreased performance or instability after jailbreaking your handset?

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