e-Textbooks… just WOW!

It was inevitable that Apple would get into the textbook space.  For a while now I’ve seen ePublishers try to make interactive magazines and some are a little more successful than others but basically it has been a flat experience for me.  I’ve be waiting, or better said anticipating, someone to come out and really shake the tree and build a better mousetrap.  Apple is headed in the right direction and I’m excited to see what lays ahead.  While launching in the high school market might seem to some as a wrong tactical move I don’t think it is far off the mark.  The college universe is too huge to make a first step. And the k-12 market has issues with funding.  What I mean is that parents will hesitate to drop $600 on their 7 year old.  Sure I see plenty that do but more often JR is using mommy’s iPad.  Teens are already great consumers for tech gadgets, smartphones, game systems, personal HDD storage and so they are the right base.

The HS student is in that pivotal stage of development, intellectually, emotional, physically, where the advantage that the iTextbooks could really make an impact.  The subject mater for HS is also complex enough that it can take full advantage of the technology.  The free sample on biology illustrates that perfectly with the 3D DNA renderings.

BTW Apple sold more than 350,000 e-Textbooks in three days

So, just wanted to add my voice to this topic and say e-Textbooks just… WOW!

USB Snowbot

It’s almost Christmas and I am searching for adorkable gift for my geek friends.  I sound this one at my firned at ThinkGeek.com and I think it’s terrific.  Take a look for yourself.

Powered by a simple USB port, the Snowbot has a scanning light just like the robots from the future. You can change the speed of the scan, turn on/off the scanning noise, and (for future protection) change the scan color (red or blue). Good luck and happy holidays.

Watching Movies Just Got Easier…

What an absolutely simple idea!  I like simple ideas that work.  If you have been on a plane and wanted to watch a movie on your iPod or iPhone you have experienced one of the challenges of viewing.  You just can’t hold the device in your hand for the length of the movie.  I’ve tried propping the device up against peanut bags, books, cups, snack trays etc.  But it always ends up sliding down.  Yes, I do love gadgets and it must be my inner geek but this thing looks great to me.  It’s called the Movie Wedge just take 30 secs and go check it out.  It’s $9.95

Adorkable Thumbdrives

Star Wars Mimibot

In my daily life I find that I am using several different gadgets and most of them are not adorkable. I use my laptop, mobile phone, and iPod the most. I thought about getting a skin for my laptop but it is usually just tucked away on my desk sitting in it’s dock. If I am in a meeting there is a certain image that a skin would project that would not be appropriate at times so I nixed that idea. My iPod classic does have a skin and I love it. It gives my iPod a unique look and the benefit of protection. My iPod does not have a skin but it has two cases and an adorkable pouch I picked up while traveling in Japan. the Japanese ‘get’ adorkable. Mobile phone is just a workhorse so no personalization for me there. But then there are thumb-drives which I tend to lose and if it has a cap it lasts a month at best. So I have opted to only have thumb-drives that have a retractable feature.

Then I came across this site of thumb-drives and was hooked. I had seen some really adorkable thumb-drives in Harajuku but they were just not geek enough for me. The Mimobot thumb-drives have something for everyone.

Make sure you check them out and the entire collection of designer thumb-drives.

 

U2: No Line On The Horizon

The New U2 Album, No Line On The Horizon, is due out soon and I can’t wait!  I am listening to it right now on MySpace Music.  Hope you check it out too.  You can listen right here.

Tracklisting:
01. No Line On The Horizon
02. Magnificent
03. Moment of Surrender
04. Unknown Caller
05. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
06. Get On Your Boots
07. Stand Up Comedy
08. Fez – Being Born
09. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

Track 1 is great  I listened to the next 3 tracks and then MySpace music timed out.  It’s okay though because I still got a preview of what I will be buying in just a few days.  I wasn’t interested in the pre-order though.

 

Twestival T-Shirt Contest Voting Now Open

I made it to the finals in a design contest.  I need your vote.   Voting is open…and closes tomorrow night.  My shirt is top right corner (Tweet.Meet. Give.)  http://desiredhearts.com/twestival/

If my design wins it will be the official shirt sold in over 200+ sites around the world. Help —vote for me. tell your friends.  1 vote per IP Address spread the word

Twestival T-Shirt Contest

On February 12,  2009 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

There is an open call for tshirt designs and my entry is pictured here.  I hope you vote for my entry.  The voting begins February 6th.

The NYC Twestival 2009 is like a charity event 2.0 and I hope you decide to go.  It is being held at M:2 Ultralounge and there will be an open bar from 7:30 to 9, a short presentation from charity:water, live music by Eclectic Method, and some special guests.

There are already 485 tickets sold and they are going fast! Click here to purchase your ticket(s) now.

Hope to see you all next week.

UPDATE: 02-06-2009 The voting for the Twestival T-Shirt Contest should begin any moment.  I Hope you vote for my design.  But being involved and casting your vote is what truly counts.

 

NYCTwestival 2009 Part II

Have you ever been to a “tweetup”?  That’s a networking get together that is organized by users on Twitter that brings adorkable geeks, like you, together for drinks and camaraderie.

As I’ve share on my last post there is a global charity event that is harnessing the power of Twitter and tweetups for a great cause.  The NYCTwestival – scheduled for Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at West Side bar M:2 – is just one of more than 100 events scheduled around the world to support charity:water, an organization dedicated to providing developing nations with access to clean drinking water.

The first Twestival was held September 2008 in London and now it has grown to this present event that’s now Global.

I have my ticket… do you?  You should.  The NYCTwestival features an open bar at M:2 until 9 p.m. and there will be live music too.  The first 400 tickets are available for $20 right here. After that, ticket prices increase to $40 and $60. VIP tickets are $100. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to charity:water.

Right now, 1.1 billion people on the planet don’t have access to safe, clean drinking water. That’s one in six of us.  I have plenty of water and I bet you do too.  Make a difference and help!

 

Tweet. Meet. Give. Twestival 2009- NYC

Tweet. Meet. Give.

On February12,  2009 100+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

NYC Twestival 2009 is just under three weeks away!

If you’ve been a Twitter user for a while, you’ve probably heard about “tweetups,” real-life meetups organized through Twitter’s community platform. The NYC Twestival 2009 is like a tweetup with the aim of social change and fundraising.

The NYC Twestival 2009 is like a charity event 2.0.  There’s no three-digit ticket price, no black-tie dress code ( I might wear my tux because I look adorkable in it).  Tickets will be for sale (at an incredibly reasonable price!) very shortly and I’ll post an update as soon as I have more information and you can always follow me on twitter @AdorkableGeek or use he link below.

Hope to see you on Feb 12, 2009!

UPDATE: 1/26/2009 — When NYC Twestival was in its first planning phases a few weeks ago, the organizers were thinking about finding a venue for about 300 people. Now it’s starting to push closer to 1,000. Very soon there will be details available about tickets, a venue, sponsors, and entertainment.

UPDATE: 1/27/2009 — Venue for NYC Twestival announced!

M:2
530 West 28th St. (between 10th and 11th Avenues)
New York, NY 10001

open bar from 7:30 to 9, a short presentation from charity:water, live music, and some special guests.

The cost: We’re offering the first 400 tickets at $20. This price will go up incrementally to $40 and then $60, so get in early! NYC Twestival, like all other Twestival events, is completely supported by sponsors and volunteer efforts. 100 percent of all proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity:water.

Click here to purchase your early bird ticket now.

 

Ustream.tv available on Apple App Store

I was one of over 100k people that downloaded the Ustream application form Apple’s App Store the day it was available.  I wanted to see if I could  watch some of the inauguration and I also wanted to just test out the technology.  I had read about the application on some blogs I follow.

My plan was to use the application on an iPod Touch to watch a live stream from Ustream.tv and guess what?  It was perfect.  There are reviews in the app store about the app crashing and complaints that the app only works over wi-fi and that it doesn’t work over 3G or slower EDGE networks.

Remember folks it’s free and it was just released, so wait for the updates and it will steadily improve.

UPDATE: 1/23/09 11:15 pm EST — I just went to the App Store and guess what? I have a new update from Ustream.  Various bug fixes and Full Screen Support.