How to use email
11 October 2011
I’ve had an email account since 1996. Through the years, I’ve used folders, archive mail accounts and labels to sort my email, clever search and “advanced search” tools to find my way through my accumulating heap of mail. I’ve used “productivity” plugins and extensions to mail clients. But I didn’t find email productivity epiphany till about two weeks ago.
I’ve moved *all* email in my Inbox to the Archive folder. Every single email. Now, each time I sign into my email account, I archive all email from my account that I haven’t replied to, marked as spam or otherwise acted upon.
In some sense, I use my Inbox as a ToDo list. This also means that I no longer need a separate GTD/ToDo list app and I no longer have to worry about keeping them in sync.
I’ve had an email account since 1996. Through the years, I’ve used folders, archive mail accounts and labels to sort my email, clever search and “advanced search” tools to find my way through my accumulating heap of mail. I’ve used “productivity” plugins and extensions to mail clients. But I didn’t find email productivity epiphany till about two weeks ago.
I’ve moved *all* email in my Inbox to the Archive folder. Every single email. Now, each time I sign into my email account, I archive all email from my account that I haven’t replied to, marked as spam or otherwise acted upon.
In some sense, I use my Inbox as a ToDo list. This also means that I no longer need a separate GTD/ToDo list app and I no longer have to worry about keeping them in sync.
The next iPhone and iPad
15 February 2011
Okay, so I’ll play the prediction game as well.
iPhone gen 5:
- Retina Display stays, but features an edge-to-edge display
- Near Field Communication — I suspect this will have Enterprise authentication support as well
- Apple A5 SoC based platform
- Another 10% improvement in battery life
- A new design that makes the structure shock-proof and less likely to break
iPad gen 2:
- Display resolution stays, but display itself is improved — either by contrast ratio or power usage
- Dual cameras and FaceTime
- SIM slot
- RAM and processor upgrade
- About 20% thinner and 10% more battery life
- Same new shockproof material as iPhone gen 5
- Gyroscope
Okay, so I’ll play the prediction game as well.
iPhone gen 5:
- Retina Display stays, but features an edge-to-edge display
- Near Field Communication — I suspect this will have Enterprise authentication support as well
- Apple A5 SoC based platform
- Another 10% improvement in battery life
- A new design that makes the structure shock-proof and less likely to break
iPad gen 2:
- Display resolution stays, but display itself is improved — either by contrast ratio or power usage
- Dual cameras and FaceTime
- SIM slot
- RAM and processor upgrade
- About 20% thinner and 10% more battery life
- Same new shockproof material as iPhone gen 5
- Gyroscope
Connecting your Apple Tv with your home theater with your Tv
13 February 2011
I’ve finally found the magic combination of cabling and connections and the right configuration incantation to set up my Apple Tv, Bravia home theater and my Panasonic Viera tv. Here’s what you need:
1. 2 HDMI cables (I strongly recommend the Fanatic HDMI cable at Amazon. About $4.50 with Prime shipping as well
2. 1 Optical audio cable (anything will do)
And here’s the connection spell:
Apple Tv to the Panasonic Viera tv -> HDMI only
Bravia to the Panasonic Viera Tv -> HDMI *and* Optical cable
This way, I can use the TV’s remote to control my home theater using the HDMI control link (Panasonic calls this Viera link). The Apple TV works as expected too, since the TV does a HDMI audio-passthrough from the incoming HDMI cable to the outgoing optical audio cable (Warning, your TV might only do a 2.1 audio pass through)
I’ve finally found the magic combination of cabling and connections and the right configuration incantation to set up my Apple Tv, Bravia home theater and my Panasonic Viera tv. Here’s what you need:
1. 2 HDMI cables (I strongly recommend the Fanatic HDMI cable at Amazon. About $4.50 with Prime shipping as well
2. 1 Optical audio cable (anything will do)
And here’s the connection spell:
Apple Tv to the Panasonic Viera tv -> HDMI only
Bravia to the Panasonic Viera Tv -> HDMI *and* Optical cable
This way, I can use the TV’s remote to control my home theater using the HDMI control link (Panasonic calls this Viera link). The Apple TV works as expected too, since the TV does a HDMI audio-passthrough from the incoming HDMI cable to the outgoing optical audio cable (Warning, your TV might only do a 2.1 audio pass through)
How to make a non-apology
5 February 2011
However, I deeply regret the choice of words I used in relation to business decisions Apple must grapple with in the future in relation to open vs. closed systems, which have been construed by some to be references to Steve Jobs’ health and which was never my intention. I sincerely apologize that what I said was interpreted this way, and I wish Steve only the very best.
Netgear CEO Patrick Lo’s non-apology for his mis-statement on Steve Jobs ‘going away’. Lo here isn’t really apologizing for what he said. He’s apologizing for others interpreting his sentence the way he said it. His original quote was:
And I think as long as Steve jobs lives, there’s no way they’re going to open it up. But once Steve Jobs goes away, then Apple probably would have to make a very strategic decision to open up their platform.
Apparently ‘lives’ and ‘goes away’ have no connection to Jobs’ health. None at all.
What a jerk.
However, I deeply regret the choice of words I used in relation to business decisions Apple must grapple with in the future in relation to open vs. closed systems, which have been construed by some to be references to Steve Jobs’ health and which was never my intention. I sincerely apologize that what I said was interpreted this way, and I wish Steve only the very best.
Netgear CEO Patrick Lo’s non-apology for his mis-statement on Steve Jobs ‘going away’. Lo here isn’t really apologizing for what he said. He’s apologizing for others interpreting his sentence the way he said it. His original quote was:
And I think as long as Steve jobs lives, there’s no way they’re going to open it up. But once Steve Jobs goes away, then Apple probably would have to make a very strategic decision to open up their platform.
Apparently ‘lives’ and ‘goes away’ have no connection to Jobs’ health. None at all.
What a jerk.
Upgrading cameras
23 October 2010
Early next week, I will be finally upgrading my good old Nikon D60 to the more mid-level D90. I initially pre-ordered the recently announced Nikon D7000, for all of its whiz-bang features, 1080p continuous AF video, Magnesium alloy body, low-light ISO performance, dual SD cards and 39-AF points. Fortunately, Nikon decided to delay its D7000 body-only shipments, which gave me a chance to think about what I really wanted. Turns out, I really wanted something that would do/have:
- Screw type AF drive for AF-D lenses
- > 3 AF points
- Usable ISO support > 800
- > 3 FPS
- External controls for switching exposure modes/shutter advance modes and other stuff
- Support a battery grip
- Preferably a full frame (FX) sensor
Turns out, the D90 does well on all my requirements except the FX sensor. Of course the D7000 also has only a DX sensor, making it a moot point. So I’ve chosen an upgrade path through the D90 for now; possibly upgrading to a full-frame camera in a few years time.
Unfortunately, the D90’s lens compatibility means that my two pre-AI lenses (Nikkor 50mm F2 and Soligor 90-230 F4.5) won’t cut it anymore. So I’m selling the entire D60 with kit and caboodle to its newest owner: Jayanth .
Early next week, I will be finally upgrading my good old Nikon D60 to the more mid-level D90. I initially pre-ordered the recently announced Nikon D7000, for all of its whiz-bang features, 1080p continuous AF video, Magnesium alloy body, low-light ISO performance, dual SD cards and 39-AF points. Fortunately, Nikon decided to delay its D7000 body-only shipments, which gave me a chance to think about what I really wanted. Turns out, I really wanted something that would do/have:
- Screw type AF drive for AF-D lenses
- > 3 AF points
- Usable ISO support > 800
- > 3 FPS
- External controls for switching exposure modes/shutter advance modes and other stuff
- Support a battery grip
- Preferably a full frame (FX) sensor
Turns out, the D90 does well on all my requirements except the FX sensor. Of course the D7000 also has only a DX sensor, making it a moot point. So I’ve chosen an upgrade path through the D90 for now; possibly upgrading to a full-frame camera in a few years time.
Unfortunately, the D90’s lens compatibility means that my two pre-AI lenses (Nikkor 50mm F2 and Soligor 90-230 F4.5) won’t cut it anymore. So I’m selling the entire D60 with kit and caboodle to its newest owner: Jayanth .
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