Following the recent changes and hype regarding Facebook, I’ve decided to delete my account.
I’ve focused a lot of my energy back into this website and Google Plus.
Technology
Clean Slate
Ever feel like taking the pages out of your notebook and ripping them out to start over?
Yeah, me too. Since you are reading this you are involved in the process as well.
The Facebook accounts are “scheduled” for deletion, the GReader inbox has been thinned out.
People on Twitter that I am following has been reduced.
The website is being streamlined into something more manageable and readable.
Possessions that might have been useful or meaningful are neither and are being sold or given away.
The ideas I want to post here should be relevant, not random. They also need to be mine, not someone else’s idea. My media content should be posted here, not theirs. I can save that for Twitter or Google Plus.
I suppose I just want this website to be a reflection of me and you are seeing these ideas and changes evolve as I am evolving.
The first, overreactive response I had to this feeling was to export the content, archive it and restore the database with a fresh install.
I’ve done this many times with a computer’s hard drive, why not this website? Heck, I may still do it.
I want to be intentional, focused and fresh. I need a blank page to start this whole thing over.
Leaner, Faster
I took some time last night to make the website’s design more responsive and streamlined. There may be a few glitches and interface changes.
Never Satisfied
I’m doing it again. As the website’s current byline claims: “Never satisfied”, I am reorganizing and streamlining.
Project 1: Adding Daphne’s images to her web gallery which is tied into this website http://chrisdenbow.website/dvd
Project 2: Migrating all of my images off of both Flickr accounts (6 years worth). My Flickr Pro account will expire this month and I am not anxious to renew it after all these years. Lack of innovation and customer support has me looking to my own server. I tried SmugMug but can’t get into it.
Project 3: Uploading a majority of these to a photo gallery attached to my personal photography site
This is My Space
This website was created about the same time MySpace was coming online back in 2000 and I’ve always said this is my main outlet. Sure, I’ve been lured by social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and now Google+, but always managed to find my way back here.
This website is the only place where I own the content. My thoughts, my images, the followers and even the privacy controls.
Version 11.2
Yes, the website is going under another massive redesign. Yes, I am never satisfied. No, I am not too concerned with you lagging behind. Do try to keep, won’t you? Oh, and thank you for your patience and continued reading!
Changes
Thanks to GoDaddy.com and its support of SOPA, I am in the process of transferring my domain name (chrisdenbow.website) to NameCheap. The website should NOT have any down time during the process but I’ll be monitoring it. If you need me, join me on Google Plus since my email address chris AT chrisdenbow.website will be unavailable.
Top 13 Android Apps So Far
After almost a month with my new HTC Evo mobile device, I have had opportunities to discover useful applications that I wanted to share. A lot of these utilities are cross-platform (Android, iPhone, desktop) and the rest are Android specific.
- Chomp SMS: Got text? Go with this visual texting utility.
- QuickOffice ($10): mobile office productivity that is compatible with MS Office, pdf reader and syncs with cloud storage like GDocs, Dropbox & Box.net.
- Vignette ($3): a camera application with 62 built-in camera and film effects and 20 frame styles.
- ebuddy: MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Google Talk and Facebook chat!
- Geocaching ($10): go treasure hunting
- Kindle: the best reading experience available on your Android phone. No Kindle required.
- Lookout: Protect your investment from viruses, hackers and theft
- Winamp: This classic media player still whips the llama’s ass
- Tweetdeck: Twitter/Facebook/Buzz, LinkedIn, Myspace & Foursquare client = awesome
- Square: Accept debit/credit card payments on the go with this free app & attachment
- Reqall: Best. To. Do. List. Ever.
- Evernote: Web clips, photos, voice, reminders…anything you need to remind yourself or save.
- AngryBirds: A bunch of punk pigs take the bird’s eggs. Payback time.
All of these apps are located in the Android market and waiting on you! What did I leave out?
EVO-lved
So I changed my mobile phone and carrier last week. After ten years I switched from Cingular/AT&T to the Sprint network. ATT’s mediocre performance in the 4th largest city in America offered expensive rate plans and a lot of dropped calls. For $50 a month, I received 450 minutes of talk time with AT&T on their sometimes 3G network. Add another $5 and I got to send text messages too! AT&T is a big stinking pile of fail. With Sprint, I am enjoying 4G speeds in Houston/Katy and 3G in some surrounding areas. For $55 a month I have unlimited EVERYTHING. Voice, internet data, messaging are all included.
I lusted after the Apple iPhone for years. I watched as people went crazy over them and I not so secretly envied them. This eased up after acquiring an iPod Touch which has everything an iPhone does except the phone…and a camera…and no wireless mobility but anyway I digress.
After much consideration of networks, my experience and phone capabilities, I decided to purchase the HTC Evo with the open source Android operating system. This phone, partnered with Sprint’s services makes it unbeatable (until the next big thing).
The one thing currently lacking is the amount of applications available in the Android Market compared to Apple’s iTunes store. However, this is changing since developers realize the full money making potential with Android.
After a week of putting the Evo through it’s paces, I can honestly say I made the best decision with out regrets.
Teach Your Children Well
With the latest update and release of the open source operating system Edubuntu, little Daphne now has a computer of her very own. Edubuntu is built on the Linux Ubuntu system and is designed for educational functions. Used by students (pre-k through 12) and teachers alike, it really is the best open source educational suite out there.
Included are educational games that will help Daphne learn how to work a mouse, how to type, solve problems and even entertain. She’ll have limited access to the internet and a few more online games.
The kid cannot wait to get home from preschool and try it out in full!
The laptop was formerly WonderWife’s brand new machine but was pushed off the table accidentally by the little one. The computer is functional except for the huge crack/no display in the screen. However, we can still see what’s going on by adding an external monitor. The laptop lid will be closed and the monitor rest on top. A wired keyboard and mouse will be attached so they won’t go missing.