OS X 10.9 Mavericks, Hands on Opinions

This past tuesday, Apple released the newest version of their Desktop / Laptop Operating system OS X 10.9 aka Mavericks, and right out of the launch pad (pun intended) they opened with a pleasent surprise.  Unlike OS x 10.8, which cost users $20 to upgrade, Mavericks was released for FREE!

With that welcome sigh of relief from the wallet, we moved on to Downloading (a process that took about 90 minutes, even with the large number of pings to Apples’s server, this really was not a bad time to download a 5.3 GB install file). Moving to  the install stage (Another 45 minutes process) was, as expected a smooth process.

So, we’re downloaded AND installed, now comes the important part. How does Mavericks run? Well first let Me say that I am not running the top of the line machine. Working with a Late 2009 Mac Mini and 2 GB’s of Ram, things have, so far, ran fairly smoothly. 

In fact as I’m writing this Blog, I also have an update to Garageband downloading/installing , 3 Tabs in Google Chrome, Have the Mail app open, running a couple messengers and watching an episode of Twit’s Tech News Today in iTunes (also updated, as iTunes, the iLife and iWorks suites have all been upgraded and for new Mac owners, or those that have used it in the past-though it seems this has to have been App Store purchased and not the disk versions, iLife and iWorks are now also Free).  The test will be when I fire up Photoshop, and get working with graphics work, but keep in mind so far this is all on a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 Gigs of ram.

Apple has promoted that there is over 200 new features to Mavericks, including bringing Apple Maps and iBooks to the user’s screen.  Apple has also extended the hardware range that this new version can run, effectively making it able to be run on any Apple machine that has been released in the last 6 years.  

Initial impressions, I’m very pleased with this, with the exception of things for those who picked up iLife / iWork appearing to be excluded from the Free upgrades, at least on launch day, hopefully Apple will be able to catch up with this detail in the near future.

Tablet Typing: Could we use a re-evaluation of how to teach this?

It's been a standard for the ages, and I'm sure we have all heard it "Home row, ASDF JKL; " but maybe it's time to re-evaluate teaching Typing a bit.

No I'm not talking changing the basics here, just more how they are applied as we shift from the days of having physical keys under our fingers to virtual keyboards.  Think about it, Not even 5 years ago, there was no such thing as the iPad, Microsoft had no such thing as the Surface and Android, well…

gone are the days where we keep our eyes off the keyboard and on the screen, modern devices have seen to it that our screen IS Our keyboard, so why should the way typing is taught not change along with it

Tablets have required the user to change how they think about typing. In a hand held, portrait position, Many users are taking to working around their virtual keyboard by holding the tablet in one hand and using three to four fingers of their other hand to navigate the keys.  This is especially true when working with 5 inch to 7inch tablets and phones.

Some users prefer, as an option, the use of a Stylus when working with the keyboard on a tablet or phone. The other thing that has to be looked at over time is the possibility of the virtual keyboard eventually being replaced with voice dictation, rendering excessive typing a thing of the past.

What are your thoughts on the future of typing as we move from traditional computers into the tablet and wearable computer era? Leave your comments below.

Article Comments, the battle zone carries some valuable information…no really it's true

I've let my feelings about the combat zone of Technology fandom be known in the past, Others I have talked to and articles I've read have all made the statement that they cant be bothered to read the comments sections of posted articles now a days because it is just too much back and forth between respective camps (XBOX is better than Playstation, Apple users are Sheep and Android is better…and back and forth both ways)

I say some of the best information you can get, valuable information that might just help your company present better products and services, is actually to dive in there (with protection and a strong backbone) and READ IT!

Why, you might ask?  While a lot of these type of articles are commented on by people who have their own preferences, and perhaps a "My way or nothing" mentality. every so often, you can actually get comments left by people who have valuable input, or questions pertaining to your Products / Services.  Maybe you can find that there is a new way for your product to be used, like what happened with one company I interacted with, let me tell you a brief story

Here in Canada, it's a known fact that Hockey is a major part of our world, and with the change from Wooden to Composite Hockey sticks a company called Blade Tape created a new product that replaced traditional Hockey tape.  Since the Leg Brace I wear is made of the same material as modern Hockey Sticks, I keep an eye on these worlds to  think outside the box when it comes to repairs and wearability.  

Blade Tape, through their Website and Social Media wanted to know how people were putting their product to use. So I commented my use of it.  It was not 24 hours later that the company was contacting Me for more detail, detail that potentially gave them a new market for their product, and all because they read the comments on a posting.

Keep this in mind with your Social Networking setup, You never know, through all that "My side is better than your side" back and forth of the Technology Fanatic battles, you just might find the nugget of information that lets you improve your business.

First Unlimited Text, Then Unlimited Voice, What's charged for when Data goes Unlimited?

So far, there has been a trend I've been noticing in Mobile plan offerings.  First companies charged for Both Minutes and Text Messaging. Overtime Text Messaging because something that they eventually offered in a Free Unlimited Bucket.

Then, as phones really became pocket carried Computers, Text Messages and Voice minute buckets both became part of your Base Rate Package, with the charging item not being Data, but that lead me to wonder about something.

What's left for Mobile Carrier's to charge for? With Both SMS and Voice Minutes pretty much only having the cost of System Access being charged, and phones having the ability to access more and more Wifi based services. What do you, the users, think will be the next thing Carriers can charge for, Please leave your comments.

Prince George Hacks-Hackathon: A unique Experience

So what do you get when you bring about 20 of a city's Most Technical minds together in one place for a 6 hour day?

The Answer, Four new projects that can bring to the public information about Environmental info, compare City Spending Habits, collect data from Park visits and hooks fans up with info for the Canada 2015 Games.

Four teams, members of each team ranging from Web Designers to even one Rocket Scientist , started the day out with brainstorming. From there a group vote took a collection of around 12 ideas was narrowed down to four and work began. Pulling out the MacBooks, the Window's machines, and even a small platoon  of Blackberry Playbook's, the Teams accessed things like the BC Government's Environmental data, Google Maps API's and other tools all in the name of creating a marriage of Technological knowledge and presentation.

By 4pm the results were known, and the teams collective efforts produced presentable proofs of concept that can be expanded on, all in the name of bringing Data to the Masses.

Saturday Oct. 19th goes down as a first for the City of Prince George, and proved just what a Technological Think Tank can produce when working for a common goal.  It was my honour to be able to be a part of this first ever event and look forward to future events.

if you happen to be around Prince George BC and want to sign up with a future event check out the Startup Prince George Website and join us for the next one

Passwords

A little something different today as I'm sharing up a Vlog from the lovely and talented Nixie Pixel explaining a bit about creating a strong password

Nixie Pixel on Passwords

Social Media and job searching.

(This I wrote up a couple years ago, and share with you readers, please feel free to share )

We all know how addictive sites like Facebook can be, what with the games, applications and ability to catch up with family, former classmates and friends.

Social Media has give the public ways to interact personally, be it via web browser, Iphone or any number of devices. We can tell our friends with the push of a button “Hey I'm a Starbucks come join me for a coffee” just as easy as we can share photos from that House party at “Jason's” over the weekend.

However there is a side to Social Media many forget to take into account, and that can be the impact it can have on a persons search into finding work.

When someone who is searching for employment decides to start with a Social Media Networking site they should ask themselves the following questions:

1. Do I trust my friends to not post anything that could paint me in a negative light in the eyes of a potential employer?
2. Is it wise to use the same email account for accessing a social media site that I publish on my resume?
3. Can I be diligent enough to routinely log into my account on a daily basis and make sure that I have not been tagged in a photo that would give the an impression of being unreliable in the eyes of a Human Resources department?

If you can honestly ask yourself these questions and feel confident with answering yes, then its time to move on to your next step, deciding which Social Media websites websites will benefit your job searching best. For blanket networking a site like Facebook is a good starting point, but remember, your trying to target your skills to the marketplace your looking to get into.

providing you are ready to take into account a few basic protocols.

1. Language can kill you in the eyes of an employer.
   This not only means your personal use of wording but how others post to your profile's wall . Employers are looking at your social media page as an extension of yourself, but they want to be able to also see that you have the poise and diplomatic skills to be viewed as part of the public face of their company. Items like slang phrases picked up from shows like Jersey shore, or fowl language can instantly turn the opinion of an employer from one of interest to disgust

one way to make sure your profile page passes muster, is to get a list of terms that you know would be frowned upon by broadcast standards (Comedian George Carlin would have referred to them as the 7 words you cant say on TV) . Now with that list in hand bring up your profile page in a internet browser and then on a PC press your CTRL key and tap the letter F. This will bring up the find feature and allow you to scan your page for each of the words on your list. From there its a matter of self censorship for the betterment of your chances career wise.

Try to use the same judgment you would with inappropriate words as with photos, especially your profile photos, while there is noting wrong with a humorous profile photo, ask yourself , would this risk offending someone if this picture was being passed around a group that included all age ranges?

Think of photos in this manor. Does the image your uploading rate as G, PG, PG-13, M, or NC-17. While anything up to PG-13 may be allowed depending on how formal the office is, its best to not push your profile past PG, and preferable to try to keep it G rated as you never know when the company your applying to is looking for someone who they can feel confident will represent them with any age range.

2. Be aware of the groups pages and forms you decide to follow on your page.
   1. This becomes important when you realize that Human Resource managers are not going to stop their social media research of you at your personal front page. If your applying with a company like Telus, don't forget the fact that as a company Telus is going to most likely monitor all groups and pages related to telecommunications.
      In other words, it doesn't matter if you accept that “I hate Telus” invite your friend Betty sent you or you comment on the Rogers page that their “a million times better that that (Explicative deleted) customer service provided by Telus. The odds are that Human resources is going to direct your resume to the “not the right fit for our company” file.

3. Consistency
   1. Nothing is more harmful than a lack of consistency in between your social media page and the information on your resume. Basics can be covered making sure that the segments related to past job history and education match up. In other words try to make sure that if you worked at ABC sprockets as an entry level customer service agent that the information for both your social media page, your resume and your references all show consistent details.

4. Promotable Skills
   1. This is where you have the change to truly shine with a social media page. Do not hesitate to link to skill related projects. If your a Website Designer, put links to the sites you have worked on in your About Me section. For those who work Graphics design, video editing or music creation a social media page becomes your portable portfolio. With things like QR codes.
      
      
      
      
      interested Human Resource managers can quickly be linked to different aspects of your creative talents, and if your talents fall more towards hands on projects like woodcraft, welding, carpentry etc. The social media page still can benefit you immensely as it gives you a place where you can display images of projects in their different stages of development through to completion
5. Networking!
   1. This is MAJOR when it comes to putting social media sites to play in the quest for career advancement. A good example when it comes to myself is the fact I design and sell my own line of clothing, as such it helps to have an ear to the ground of the market trends and practices of different companies. Social media and networking sites like Linkedin allow me to connect with companies like Affliction Clothing, giving me a insight into the general size of their company, business practices and policies. It also permits someone with the creative talent to have a line of communication where they can sell a company on a design should it be something that doesn't fit with your own creative spark.

In the case of using social media and networking to your job search advantage, Google (or Bing or Yahoo etc) becomes your best friend, search for social networking and media sites that match what you are looking to get into. Find the Twitter feeds for companies you know are in your field and follow them, don't hesitate to make it an interactive usage of these services. For example, if your looking into wanting to work at a sawmill search out a company like West Fraser , follow them and if they post being awarded a kudos for attention to staff safety do not be afraid to click “re-tweet” to share the news with others, or even respond and offer a quick (140 characters or less) note of congratulations. It'll be remembered should an interview comes up and the response to “how did you hear about us” is Via Twitter

The suggestions in this document are only the tip of the iceberg, but as more and more companies branch out into the digital world, sites like Facebook, Linkedin and others are going to become factors that influence the decisions of human resource managers, who are on the look out to right fit a successful candidate into their company's day to day operations.