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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010


By pecpig 

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Sunday, December 12, 2010

30 Seconds to Mars "Hurricane"



30 Seconds To Mars - New Music - More Music Videos



I found this today on MTV Video Premieres. It's nothing less than inspiring.
below is the youtube version. I doesn't fit the blog template but can be viewed on an idevice ie iphone/ pad.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

iPhone 4 (Part Two)

Iphone4 part 2
July28, 2010
(Youtube video: HTC EVO V iphone4)



So i'm standing on the mile long line that leads to the other mile long line @ the apple store and I'm wondering WTF am I doing here. Oh yes right iphone4, I must have the iphone4. Really i can't afford it and though I don't make it a habit of celebration birthdays, Ma Dukes was rather generous, so it's not on my dime. Waiting on this line however, is on my and someone else's time.

D8 dinner
Can't call other iphone3g battery is dead
But I'm kinda pissed and not really sure how that's going to work out so here I am on this fucking eternal cue trying to ensure I get Something good out of this day.

Who Knew, this would take so long the iPhone4 came out what 2 months ago 3. Whatever million sold "Antennagate" as a deterrent.
Finally 1.5 hours later I have it. My iPhone 4 is in my hands I've got no pics and no music but I've got juice, bars and HD Video a ridiculous screen 5MP camera rear and front facing!
The first thing I attempt is to make the bars disappear..... I can't. I try the so called death grip again and again as I walk from fifth toward lex. Nothing, kewl not like I'm complaining but now I know why the call it the death grip. You have to hold your phone like you're trying to strangle it for a while for the bars begin to drop. WTF Are you kidding me who the fuck holds their phone like that!

The second thing I do I'd try to get in touch with my D8..... Voice mail. WTF.


Birthday dick
I hit CP 4 cruising indulge in a few hot scenarios
My date calls
I scream @ him from 59th to 72
We peace it up and make plans to talk later.
Heading out I get a phone call.
David:    "Happy Birthday!"
Me:          Hey dude long time no speak!
David:     Thanks you're my first received call on my new iPhone 4!
Me:          Hello... David, hello?

(Youtube video: HTC EVO V iphone4)



Shit call dropped.
I call him back.

David "Am i your first call dropped on your new iphone4"

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Don't Drop The Soap



Don't Drop The Soap

Monday, June 7, 2010

iPhone 4(Part One)


iPhone4
(Part One)
June 07, 2010
Its june and and every one, in the know, knows 3 things. Schools out for summer, It's gay pride month and June is when Apple traditionally releases their new iphone. I barely even get a chance to blog, translation gloat about my beloved new 64GB 3G iPad when Apple today announced that in one week they will be accepting pre orders for the much awaited and most speculated about and scandalized iPhone, yet, iPhone4.

This is the iPhone that the iPhone was supposed to be.

If I'm gonna maintain my cool kid status At uni Im gonna have to get one! Now! That and the fact that I have an iPhone 3G which will not support one of the most important key features always lacking on the iphone, multi tasking. The crappy 2 megapixel camera that should never have been is less than inadequate is replaced with a 5mp one. Although ip4 sports a 5MP camera it falls behind the new Droid which offers an 8MP camera.

The Camera & FaceTime
The most notable update on this model is a front facing camera with apple's video chat (think ichat mobile) service called FaceTime which for now works over wi FI and only ip4 2 ip4. We can expect that to change soon as Droid phones are expected to do so without restriction very shortly. It's also likely apps from Skype AOL & Yahoo, possibly even google will surface. If the pass Apple's App vetting process which it may not allow these functions. And what will the carriers have to say?

Multitasking
Much like cut and paste, the ever elusive and long awaited multitasking has finally arrived to the ip4. Multitasking won't be available on iphone 3G only 3GS
iPhone OS4. All these features you can expect will eventually find their way to the iPad.

Retina Display
Striving to satisfy more than just our basic gripes, Apple has developed a new ultra vivid ultra sharp display dubbed the Retina Display. It boasts a 960x640 resolution and uses the same IPS technology in Apples Cinema Displays. The ipads vide out put is 1024x768. The ip4 has nearly the same amount of pixels squeezed into nearly 1/6 the screen size.
Doesn't it all just make you drool?
That's the idea.


[Update ATT Qualified Customers
New iphone customers are subject to credit check while Current ATT customers are subject to ATT's ambiguous qualified customers. Apparently Only if your contract ends in 2010 will AT&T allow you to upgrade your iPhone. When I learned of this, I immediately checked via their website and regardless of the fact my bill is prepaid and I've maintained a credit on my acc for the last 6 mos., I do not qualify for and iP4 upgrade. :( AT&T failed to give any explanation but simply offered an upgrade to iP3Gs.
I've refrained from writing the big bad brother AT&T article... But I feel several coming on. Im not a huge fan of AT&T, I was a happy Cingular client until well you know, and I bought my phone from Apple, so I payed them a visit. They told me I was good for an two upgrades at discounted rates. :) They'd be happy to sell me an ip4 & activate etc. if they weren't sold out. :( AT&T probably was just being compliant with Apple and hadn't updated their website; until several days after the announcement. Dozy Fuckers]

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Me Myself & iPad

Me Myself & iPad

May22 11:28pm

So I've succumb to the urge, mass marketing and copped an iPad. In fact I'm keying this blog on it now. It wasn't as easy as you may think to obtain this exquisitely fun little gadget. By the time i finally decided to make the purchase it was a month later and Apple had sold 1milion units. I swaggered out to the apple store knowing which model i was getting, 64GB 3G, with a complete list of peripherals in min. Only to find out that they were sold out. Not just the store I was in but all stores in NYC. I even tried calling Westchester (20-30
Miles outside NYC) but, it was a Sunday and they were already closed.
"would you like to put one on order"
"No that's ok", I replied letting my disappointment get the best of me.
I moseyed on down from 59th St tourist trap to the 14 St location to charge up.
I purchased a juice pack looks like i was going to be needing that extra battery life for sure after all. Later that night I stopped back at the uptown store and made that reservation.
A few days later I got the email " Congratulations your iPod is here".
Conveniently I had an appointment in the city that afternoon. I kicked the shit out of my psychopathology exam and headed in to the city. After my appointment I headed over to the Apple store to pick up the newest addition to my little Apple ifamily.
Thus far, I haven't seen one in the wild. Apparently no one I know has either. My mates seem to be more enamored than I. Its intuitive even for those who have never used an iPhone or iPod touch. Strangers stop me to ask what's that? I have to admit the attention is nice but I wonder how so many young people at a university have no idea what an iPad is.
I've only had it for barely 3 days, I haven't even set up the 3G yet so I haven't given it a full test run. However,
It really is all about the experience. My iPad is more fun to use than my iPhone which I adore and the 6x larger screen is a beauty to work with and viewing video YouTube et al. Is great.
[3G Update
I have to say I ran out of data after just 2 weeks and had to purchase another $15 plan. If you use streaming apps like Netflix or ABC the unlimited plan is definitely the way to go.
ABC promises an up date to improve quality and download speeds.]

Keyboard
Takes a little getting used to as it's a little smaller than a full size but is responsive and once you get the hang of it it's no problem at all. Either orientation works well; like the iPhone. I prefer landscape but portrait is also a nice option. I've written a few blogs emails etc. and I find i switch between the two depending on weather I need to type more quickly, landscape. To view more of the document layout in note pad or pages, portrait works best.

Internet
The Internet is lovely safari smoothy and pages load quickly.

Apps
My iPhone apps work just fine a little pixelated when full screen but fine enough not to be a bother. Some apps work just fine on both units with no loss of clarity like the 3D brain app others like qik, a camera app just crashes when launched. It's finals time at uni so I've been spending most of my time in the library. Apps like 3D Brain and good reader are awesome study tools and just as I did on my phones tiny screen use good reader to download and view lecture slides.
It's great that I can use my iphone apps but i was a little surprised at the meager offering on the app store. Clearly the selection will expand as the iPad becomes more popular and in the hands of more people. I will give formal reviews of individual iPad apps as the become available. That's the problem with arriving first at the party. No one to talk to.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Steve Jobs' "Thoughts on Flash"


Thoughts on Flash

Apple has a long relationship with Adobe. In fact, we met Adobe’s founders when they were in their proverbial garage. Apple was their first big customer, adopting their Postscript language for our new Laserwriter printer. Apple invested in Adobe and owned around 20% of the company for many years. The two companies worked closely together to pioneer desktop publishing and there were many good times. Since that golden era, the companies have grown apart. Apple went through its near death experience, and Adobe was drawn to the corporate market with their Acrobat products. Today the two companies still work together to serve their joint creative customers – Mac users buy around half of Adobe’s Creative Suite products – but beyond that there are few joint interests.
I wanted to jot down some of our thoughts on Adobe’s Flash products so that customers and critics may better understand why we do not allow Flash on iPhones, iPods and iPads. Adobe has characterized our decision as being primarily business driven – they say we want to protect our App Store – but in reality it is based on technology issues. Adobe claims that we are a closed system, and that Flash is open, but in fact the opposite is true. Let me explain.
First, there’s “Open”.
Adobe’s Flash products are 100% proprietary. They are only available from Adobe, and Adobe has sole authority as to their future enhancement, pricing, etc. While Adobe’s Flash products are widely available, this does not mean they are open, since they are controlled entirely by Adobe and available only from Adobe. By almost any definition, Flash is a closed system.
Apple has many proprietary products too. Though the operating system for the iPhone, iPod and iPad is proprietary, we strongly believe that all standards pertaining to the web should be open. Rather than use Flash, Apple has adopted HTML5, CSS and JavaScript – all open standards. Apple’s mobile devices all ship with high performance, low power implementations of these open standards. HTML5, the new web standard that has been adopted by Apple, Google and many others, lets web developers create advanced graphics, typography, animations and transitions without relying on third party browser plug-ins (like Flash). HTML5 is completely open and controlled by a standards committee, of which Apple is a member.
Apple even creates open standards for the web. For example, Apple began with a small open source project and created WebKit, a complete open-source HTML5 rendering engine that is the heart of the Safari web browser used in all our products. WebKit has been widely adopted. Google uses it for Android’s browser, Palm uses it, Nokia uses it, and RIM (Blackberry) has announced they will use it too. Almost every smartphone web browser other than Microsoft’s uses WebKit. By making its WebKit technology open, Apple has set the standard for mobile web browsers.
Second, there’s the “full web”.
Adobe has repeatedly said that Apple mobile devices cannot access “the full web” because 75% of video on the web is in Flash. What they don’t say is that almost all this video is also available in a more modern format, H.264, and viewable on iPhones, iPods and iPads. YouTube, with an estimated 40% of the web’s video, shines in an app bundled on all Apple mobile devices, with the iPad offering perhaps the best YouTube discovery and viewing experience ever. Add to this video from Vimeo, Netflix, Facebook, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, ESPN, NPR, Time, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, People, National Geographic, and many, many others. iPhone, iPod and iPad users aren’t missing much video.
Another Adobe claim is that Apple devices cannot play Flash games. This is true. Fortunately, there are over 50,000 games and entertainment titles on the App Store, and many of them are free. There are more games and entertainment titles available for iPhone, iPod and iPad than for any other platform in the world.
Third, there’s reliability, security and performance.
Symantec recently highlighted Flash for having one of the worst security records in 2009. We also know first hand that Flash is the number one reason Macs crash. We have been working with Adobe to fix these problems, but they have persisted for several years now. We don’t want to reduce the reliability and security of our iPhones, iPods and iPads by adding Flash.
In addition, Flash has not performed well on mobile devices. We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash performing well on a mobile device, any mobile device, for a few years now. We have never seen it. Adobe publicly said that Flash would ship on a smartphone in early 2009, then the second half of 2009, then the first half of 2010, and now they say the second half of 2010. We think it will eventually ship, but we’re glad we didn’t hold our breath. Who knows how it will perform?
Fourth, there’s battery life.
To achieve long battery life when playing video, mobile devices must decode the video in hardware; decoding it in software uses too much power. Many of the chips used in modern mobile devices contain a decoder called H.264 – an industry standard that is used in every Blu-ray DVD player and has been adopted by Apple, Google (YouTube), Vimeo, Netflix and many other companies.
Although Flash has recently added support for H.264, the video on almost all Flash websites currently requires an older generation decoder that is not implemented in mobile chips and must be run in software. The difference is striking: on an iPhone, for example, H.264 videos play for up to 10 hours, while videos decoded in software play for less than 5 hours before the battery is fully drained.
When websites re-encode their videos using H.264, they can offer them without using Flash at all. They play perfectly in browsers like Apple’s Safari and Google’s Chrome without any plugins whatsoever, and look great on iPhones, iPods and iPads.
Fifth, there’s Touch.
Flash was designed for PCs using mice, not for touch screens using fingers. For example, many Flash websites rely on “rollovers”, which pop up menus or other elements when the mouse arrow hovers over a specific spot. Apple’s revolutionary multi-touch interface doesn’t use a mouse, and there is no concept of a rollover. Most Flash websites will need to be rewritten to support touch-based devices. If developers need to rewrite their Flash websites, why not use modern technologies like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript?
Even if iPhones, iPods and iPads ran Flash, it would not solve the problem that most Flash websites need to be rewritten to support touch-based devices.
Sixth, the most important reason.
Besides the fact that Flash is closed and proprietary, has major technical drawbacks, and doesn’t support touch based devices, there is an even more important reason we do not allow Flash on iPhones, iPods and iPads. We have discussed the downsides of using Flash to play video and interactive content from websites, but Adobe also wants developers to adopt Flash to create apps that run on our mobile devices.
We know from painful experience that letting a third party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform. If developers grow dependent on third party development libraries and tools, they can only take advantage of platform enhancements if and when the third party chooses to adopt the new features. We cannot be at the mercy of a third party deciding if and when they will make our enhancements available to our developers.
This becomes even worse if the third party is supplying a cross platform development tool. The third party may not adopt enhancements from one platform unless they are available on all of their supported platforms. Hence developers only have access to the lowest common denominator set of features. Again, we cannot accept an outcome where developers are blocked from using our innovations and enhancements because they are not available on our competitor’s platforms.
Flash is a cross platform development tool. It is not Adobe’s goal to help developers write the best iPhone, iPod and iPad apps. It is their goal to help developers write cross platform apps. And Adobe has been painfully slow to adopt enhancements to Apple’s platforms. For example, although Mac OS X has been shipping for almost 10 years now, Adobe just adopted it fully (Cocoa) two weeks ago when they shipped CS5. Adobe was the last major third party developer to fully adopt Mac OS X.
Our motivation is simple – we want to provide the most advanced and innovative platform to our developers, and we want them to stand directly on the shoulders of this platform and create the best apps the world has ever seen. We want to continually enhance the platform so developers can create even more amazing, powerful, fun and useful applications. Everyone wins – we sell more devices because we have the best apps, developers reach a wider and wider audience and customer base, and users are continually delighted by the best and broadest selection of apps on any platform.
Conclusions.
Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.
The avalanche of media outlets offering their content for Apple’s mobile devices demonstrates that Flash is no longer necessary to watch video or consume any kind of web content. And the 200,000 apps on Apple’s App Store proves that Flash isn’t necessary for tens of thousands of developers to create graphically rich applications, including games.
New open standards created in the mobile era, such as HTML5, will win on mobile devices (and PCs too). Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind.
Steve Jobs
April, 2010
Original Text
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/   

Saturday, April 3, 2010

iPad?

I pad?
Feb 15,2010

ipad2.jpg

it seems that as of yesterday I was the only one in the world who didn't know what an ipad is.  Ok so I don't watch TV and I don't really get out much. But, I'm a multi level Mac user. I love my 27" imac and can't live with out my iphone which retired my ipods. I'm on the internet daily and I live in NYC yet still; Ipad ipad everyone's talking, blogging, texting, tweeting about it and I've not a clue. My best guess... oversized ipod? Or maybe a charger like this wireless charging pad that came out last fall.  I key in apple.com, it opens up with revealing the talk of the global town, an oversized iphone more specifically iPod touch.  

Immediately my mind is flooded with questions
Will it run OSX/ Jaguar or ipone OS3 some thing new?
Will it sync content with your ipod/phone vice versa?
Will I be able to email multiple photos?
What about my apps?
What about wi-fi and 3g? How much will it cost?
Will I be able to access and edit my notes on my Mac with out emailing back and forth
Am I gonna get more than an hour and a half of battery life?

In another tab a google search reveals  this quote:
"Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some conmmandments written on it."
- The Wall Street Journal

Still I wanted to hear it straight from the horses mouth. I click on the Keynote. Steve's back great good 4  him. Now about this ipad! Steve described the iPad as a 3Rd category product situated between a lap top and a smart phone. That is "far batter at doing some key tasks...otherwise has no reason for being" The key features he described: Browsing, email, Photos, Video, Music, Games and Ebooks .

GENERAL KEY NOTE SYNOPSIS:
HARDWARE: 
Specs
.5' thin 1.5lbs
16GB-32GB -64GB FLASH 
WIF 802.11n
Bluetooth 2.1
9.7"IPS COLOR DISPLAY 
MULTI TOUCH SENSOR 
1GHZ APPLE A4 CHIP
ACCELERMETER 
30 PIN CONNECTOR 
10 hr Battery life ex; video  from SF TO TOKYO  THE WHOLE WAY 
1 moth standby life
 and its green 

COST
The ipad will  retail for 
WiFi MODELS 
16GB $499  32GB $599  64GB $699
3g MODELS
16GB $629  32GB $729  64GB $829
Apple Care? My estimate is around $99

3G MODELS  (US To ship Late April)
 (ATT Service in the US)
250MG DATA/ MONTH $14.99
UNLIMITED PLAN $29.99
FREE USE OF WI FI HOTSPOTS
ACTIVATE ON iPAD
NO CONTRACTS 
Ipad arrives unlocked 
Uses new GSM micro SIMs so should work on any carrier.

SOFTWARE
iphone OS 3.2 ?
iPhone SDK will support iPad development complete with ipad simulator. 
While demoing his  "Brushes",  app Steve Sprang, stated " Brushes takes full advantage of the new interface elements available in the iPhone OS 3.2." My iphone runs 3.1.3 and as recently as Today itunes says "Your iPhone software is up to date. iTunes will automatically check for update again on 4/3/10." Ironically, this is the official release date for the ipad. It's my guess that apple will release the OS 3.2 on 4/3/10 along with the ipad. Will iphone users have to pay for this upgrade? We will have to wait and see I imagine not or is it just wishful thinking. 

IPad comes with revised versions of the standard pre-installed apps you'd expect to find on your iphone. Don't let the familiar app icons fool you all iPad apps sport new looks and interfaces.

Photos: Photos are shown as stacks and has built in slide shows new features include events, geo tagging  and new slide show features that take advantage of the new screen real estate. 
ipod- 
Calender- 
Contacts / Address book 
Maps- uses googles "back end"  street views 
Itunes Store with itunes U visually reflects the style of the itunes store on a mac. 
Youtube: including HD
Videos: also resemble  itunes menu with floating cover Icons & split screen chapter break downs as in DVD menus. 

What about my old apps?
Ipad also runs most iphone/ ipod touch apps unmodified right out of the box. Users have the option of running the app black boxed at the iphone screen size or use pixel doubler to run full screen. 

iBooks
iBooks Store built in to the app. You can  preview and purchase e-books stored on a book shelf in the ibooks app. also includes Ny Times Best Sellers list. 

i work 
Apple demoed completely redesigned versions of Keynote, Pages & Numbers  with a clever new interface for ipad. The Ipad versoin of Iwork looks great and is compatible with Mac versions, easily connects to projectors, heres a synopsis.

Keynote- Slides  runs in landscape and uses a media navigator to select images. Keynote features multi slide select,  guides, resizing, one touch match resizing, rotating masking, animations, transitions and more.

Pages-Use templates, Edit texts, Place images, auto text wrap around a graphic, format, create 

Numbers- Create spreadsheets, add photos link charts to tables save multiple spreadsheets in one document. Rearrange columns tables charts etc. Add data and do calculations. Numbers also sports multiple soft keyboards for ease of data entry. 

I work is available as individual programs or a suite. $10/ app  totaling $30 bucks for the whole suite.  i always get upset when manufactures make a product that is so advanced but then make you pay for basic features that should be included as part of the preinstalled package. Especially disappointing for this product considering its most likely potential users are students beautiful as is may be it's still a little pricy. Although we love our note pad a key feature missing from both iPad and the iPhone is a word processor.

Consumer market
Many have argued that there is no market for such a product. That may be so but I also recall the same argument about a little product called the ipod. I can think of a host of uses for such a product. 
Students- this product makes total sense for a student. 
I can access the internet my school's website & digital black board download assignments pdfs  and email my professors. 
For the last year I've been taking notes exclusively on my iphone and recording lectures. I've even written entire papers, later to be revised in an actual  The problem with that is the tiny keyboard and lack of battery life. My hands cramp from holding the phone and the battery is dead before the lecture is over. I always have to make sure my phone is fully charged then I leave and find a seat in the front of the lecture hall near an outlet. The ipad's slim design almost full sized keyboard and extended battery life would resolve those issues. 

Artists Photographers Models  I can think of thousands of applications for business surveyors and so on and so forth.
Other markets may not want to talk about at product launch are education and Health Care industry applications alone are endless. 


Reservations:
Keyboard lacks #s on the top row that still sucks.
Still no flash.
ipad, come on Really?

1st i-mpressions:
Steve is a great orator and I was easily excited by his keynote speech. As the demo went on I became less impressed. 

Personally for me this IS an in between product i'd love to have but, probably wouldn't purchase for my self unless i had a few extra bills lying around. I have greater demands for my mobile computing and the ipad doesn't seem to offer much more than a larger screen. Perhaps future apps and accessories will address this. Still as far as I can see there's no way to connect say USB device or camera.  When the iPod photo came out there was a peripheral that allowed you to transfer files from a card reader but it worked via the pin port and  took forever and killed the battery before large transfers were completed. Also you couldn't view the files and forget about raw files. Again maybe a software update could resolve that. I'm not optimistic.

 It's perfect for my mom who hasn't a clue how to use my iphone much less a computer. The computer is a bit daunting but the iPad icon based, visually familiar, less daunting and easier to learn how operate. In the end while a great product it leaves much to be desired  if you're a tech whore. As for the general public, I expect consumers will consume ravenously.

"It needs to do everything... better"
Experience, speed and a large screen are going to be the iPad's greatest features. Yes it browses the web faster and games and video look better duh the screen is bigger and it's the latest piece of technology, of course it will browse, launch and operate faster. Don't we all expect the next ipone to out match the first gen ipad? Further frustrating was the noticeable absence of flash. Yes as Steve showed us how beautiful the internet was,  the "REAL"  internet as promised with the original iphone: the ominous blue lego cube appeared more than a few times on the NY Times site especially designed for the ipad as well as Time Magazine. Beyond that I'm afraid my worst fears are confirmed. it's just a big ipod. Bigger and faster maybe even more fun to use but a big iPod none the less. Still is that such a bad thing

What's next?
Apple has been historically tight lipped about future projects so your guess is as good as mine. However, I'd put my money on a new iphone late June/ July 2010.  According to Apple history this is the time they typically introduce new products. Some say an iPhone redesign is past due. Let's face it phone 3g was not much of an upgrade.  I was mentioning this article to a friend of mine and he replied..

"What's an ipad?"

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Gap in Gay Apps, Apple & Censorship

Gap in Gay Apps Apple & Censorship

An iPhone or iPod Touch is one of the coolest most fashionable personal devices on the world. Millions of gays own them. But even in 2010 like much of the mass media, with the exception of the internet, there is a lack of gay content.

At the very least Apple did put the whole Internet in the palm of our hands. Almost. When the iphone launched Apple ads promised the internet the "real internet". A reference to the fact that at the time mobile devices accessed mobile versions of internet sites or watered down text based content. Via safari you can You can not however view any Internet content that requires flash. I did some research on Apples battle with adobe and it's more than I care to speak on in this article. Suffice to say, Apples promise falls just a little short.


Potential Unrealized:
I finally got my iPhone, arriving fashionably late to the iparty with the introduction of the iPhone 3g.
My 1st impression was, great potential.  A few key features were missing; cut and paste, video, and mms were later resolved. I kept waiting and waiting for my fave websites, magazines and comics to issue iPhone apps and digital issues. How awesome would it be to have an app that could access mail profiles and allow you to chat with your buddies.

These apps already existed for social networking giants like face book and Twitter I struggle to mention myspace. Aol and yahoo both have apps for chat. I can't even tell you the last time I used either.

Some sites now offer an iPhone version of their sites and some comics have issued digital issues, almost 2 years later I'm still waiting.

With the iPad coming out April 03 and claims of revolutionizing personal devices, a boom for developers publishing giants and self publishing, I find my self browsing the AppStore and Internet looking wondering where is the Queer Revolution?
Out... to lunch?
A search for Gay on the AppStore reveals a meager list of a handful of apps mostly "pictorial" subscriptions.

Where are the Queer apps?

The only area where these seem to thrive, I use the term loosely is social networking (SN) With SN being the buzz word of the neo digital era I anticipated an explosion of gay SN apps. Not so. This far the few that exist are barely worth mention save they are the only few that exist. There are two however few that stand out from the pack desrving marked praise.
*Since I began this article several new SN apps have appeared but still are lack luster leaving me disinterested. For more on those apps I'll be posting reviews in the Lewd Tech. section of this blog.

recon- fetish social networking site
I was happy to see this app as Im already a member of the Internet website. Secondly, I saw this as a sign of the times and Apple's comitment to diversity. Strangely enough there was no advertising about their app on their website which currently offers an iPod Touch for some promotion. May have something to do with their business model since recon relies on subscription for full access to their site. I suspect they will expand their app to include more features beyond the very limited capabilities of the current app which allows you to chat with people on your favorites list and view a simplified profile. If you guys are reading I have fantastic ideas for your site and app.
*Since I began writing this article, recon has updated their app to include "who's nearby" as well as a member redirect to a sign up page once you have reached your limit. Interestingly enough the description reads guy finder and all reference to fetish removed.

Grindr- a social network app that a buddy of mine mentioned this app to me and "what's that?", was my response. Once I did a search, I realized I'd seen it before but, it never jumpped out at me. My experience with Grindr was more bitter than sweet. I started off excited at the prospect of viewing profiles of pervs in and around my area down to a few feet! My elation lasted less than a day. I logged on to find my profile had been deleted for " breech of terms". This has happened several times and even as I key this article I'm awaiting a resons as to why my profile was actually deleted.
Reply received

"Damian,
Thanks for your reply. Your web link was being censored because it was advertising your photography...Hope this helps and let me know if I can help you further.
Regards,
--
(name CENSORED DL)
Grindr Support"

So I cut and pasted this into my profile text and entitled it so much for social "networking".
Several profile deletions, revisions, and another email to Grindr support I got this reply...

"Thanks for contacting us and I apologize if you feel your profile has been wrongly censored. Apple has issued new, more strict photo/text guidelines for social networking apps and we must censor anything that is considered overly sexual or in any way sexually suggestive. We must abide by these new rules in order to continue providing the Grindr app."
The irony of this...
To download this app you must be 17 blah blah blah so why rate  the app if your going to censor the fuck out of it so that my 6y/o nephew can used it. I thought this was an Adult app. Additionally the name   Grindr is very suggestive. Grind Her or Grin Dr.... come on....

Other than that it's a pretty good app with most of the basic featutres profiles chat buddy and beacon you can even send additional pics. One key missing feature is cut and paste. It makes for a clumsy transition if you meet someone and they send your number you can't dial direct or even copy paste to say your contacts. Grindr will soon be celebrating it's 1 yr anniversary. (See article Grindr Party @ Splash Bar NY)
*Since I began writing this article, Grindr has issued an update to include landscape typing.

Best for last:
Gage Diel- a social network for Gay Men. This app is so good I wrote a review on the app store and wrote to the developer. A first on both accounts. (see full review in article Perfecttly Gaged) Many other reviews made statements like this one, "this is what Grindr was supposed to be".
This only shows that we are here and we do want gay apps.

All content is not created equal:

Personally, I like to monitor the the App Store's content. As Queer man & artist with an interest in putting out a few apps of my own. I did some research and apps are EXPENSIVE to make. We're talking upwards of $1000 for the most basic app to $100,000 for a multifunction app. There are subscription sites popping up that offer basic apps and hosting for more reasonable fees but strangly provide little information no examples or previously created apps. All seems a bit dodgy to me. I'll sit this on out and wait and see.

With R rated Films like Saw et al and programs sold on iTunes from networks like HBO SHOWTIME inclusive Logo and off colour programs like South Park and Rick Steve ( all excellent programming ) one would think now is the time things are moving in the right direction.

I'm so tired of the excuse, the children.
I wouldn't want to be a parent but if you have these kinds of concerns can't monitor your children and their devices (which have parental settings and req a credit card to have an acct) then you shouldn't have kids and or they shouldn't have these devices. Or just use the fucking parental settings. Whatever the case it ain't my problem. Besides you can find far more sexually suggestive content on face book myspace et al. Censorship Isn't just a queer issue Apple's recent rash of censorship is not gender specific. Well not exactly.

The Blogosphere is ablaze with stories of Apple's interest in censorship.
Apple's claim that social networking profiles are getting out of hand and they're focusing on going after "bikini"mag type apps. (Has something to do with things that appear in yhe app store and how apps get listed according to # of downloads.) Yet if you type the word "magazine" in the search field and Playboy is a top app on the app stores list. No 5.

Clearly plolitics and money are the key factors in this equation like frenzied over reaction to Janet Jacksons wardrobe fiasco to Pot head Michael Phelps comes down to dollars and cents
Sponsors don't want to be associated with anything that middle America dens dirty. Face it we still have queer senators fighting against queer rights in America the great. Daunting but when has the status quo been surprising. Can you imagine backlash if an Apple product associated say a situation like the craigs list killer. I can the rss feeds and head lines now "TheQueer App killer" "Bad Apple" "forbidden fruit" Apple slasher strikes again. Just look at what it did for craigslist. Since then craigs list has added so much burracracy and censorship terms and conditions that it's not even worth using anymore.

Has Apple gone the way of MTV?
Remember that revolutionary little network that used to play 24 hr music videos but, sold out and now serves up more manufactured "reality" bullshit than all the other networks combined.

What's Erie about the whole censorship thing is this. Do you remember the 1984 Apple commercial introducing the mac? It was a take on the film 1984.



If your not familiar but, this seems familiar it's because. President Obama's campain ran a similar ad against Hiliary Clinton... Piggybacking on that ideal.



...but I digress.

When I think of Apple, I think America apple pie, natural, the little guy, recycling, energy saving, art friendly, media, great products and service. Progressive movements America has taken a few steps forward and a few hundred backward. I hope Apple's new policies are not a reflection of their falling in line.


- Posted from my iPhone

Monday, March 29, 2010

Ricky Martin Queer?

"I'm proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

Yes it's true kids, there's been nothing wrong with your gaydar all these years. You can now feel vindicated in all the heated arguements thrown drinks and fag drama. Ricky Martin is gay. We already knew that, the news is that he admits his sexual orientation as a homo. According to news & blog sources, Ricky came out Today in a statement posted to Twitter in which he referred to himself as a "fortunate homosexual".
Rick's coming out comes on the heels of beginning writing his memoirs. Martin cites this, his two children and conversations with loved ones for his decision.

Ricky has remained reservedly private, avoiding the topic of his sexuality. In a 2000 interview with Barbara Walters, Ricky was as reserved dispite her efforts to extricate an admission.

All I have to say is, each in his own time and Ricky, we welcome you to the Lewd Life.

A late night visit to rickymartin.com Monday night revealed a nearly empty web page. A blue bacground with white text.

"Thank you for visiting Ricky Martin We are currently updating Ricky Martin and will be back soon. Come back soon"

Don't worry we'll be watching.

- Posted from my iPhone

Friday, March 26, 2010

Markus































- Posted from my iPhone

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Black Party Blues

Original Photo: Joe Oppedisano NexT Mag (Mar 12, 2010 17.37)

March 22, 2010
Most of my peers are @ or on their way to the infamous Black Party. Likely rolling, grinding, sucking, fucking the night and day away. I however, have a 10 am Behavioral Neuro Science class to attend and I need my wits about me. You might day take the day off or leave early I really can't. Shame I've never been. There's always next year.

- Posted from my iPhone

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

China's Newest Fitness Sport: NY Times 03.10.03

WORLD

China's Newest Fitness Sport

A growing number of Chinese women are experimenting with the country's newest, and most controversial, fitness activity.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Confessions of An APP Addict 03.06.10

app_store_icon1.jpg
The problem with the iPhone is, 150,000 apps in the palm of your hand = 149,000 distrations to keep me from what I have to do. All the while keeping me feeling like Im still being productive but, Im not.
Like right now it's 11:58 on a sat night. I should be studying for a Behavioral neuro science exam but I'm watching lost on Hulu and writing my prescious blog.
I could just as easily be using the 3D Brain mapping App I downloaded or listening to lectures.
Pause while I roll one.
Back and burning and not believing I'm dong this to myself.
Logging off wish me luck on tomorrows exam.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


D.L. Chronicles
A Photographic Novel
A se r i al killer stalksthe city. As the police are unable apprehend thikiller who is also suspected IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF several high profile officials. a Psychiatrist and a Prieslisten to the darkest secrets of men. They look into the faces of demons, offering absolution but, each holds a dark secret and have yet to face their owndemons. the lead investigating detective also harbors secrets. seemingly loosing his battle with his demons, he becomeobsessed with solving a peculiar missing person casethat will take him closer to THE killer than he dared imagine!



Coming Soon...

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Lewd Profile: Damian Lewd

NYC Fetish Photographer Damian Lewd, Was born in Harlem, NY.
A self taught photgrapher, Damian, also has an Associates degree in Fine Arts, Photography. He is currently working on a dual Degree in Forensic Psychology and Visual Art & Design.

Damian's Fetish work has been featured in "Instigator Magazine", "HX", Art Exhibitions in NY, Fl & the UK.


I"m looking to meet models, actors & porn stars to participate in my art for my website www.lewdlife.com and blog www.lewdlife.blogspot.com.

I will be doing REGULAR SHOOTS for INSTIGATOR (www.instigatormagazine.com) & other MAGAZINE SUBMISSIONS.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010