A new Direction
This last month I have been wondering what I should be doing with my career and what direction I should take. I have been struggling with going into management or pursuing a security cert direction [CISSP]. Part of my problem is that my company is not really into paying for Boot Camps or the week long training courses with the certification test at the end.
As I have been going through this process I started listening to Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk. In this book he focuses on pursuing what you love and doing that one thing. I took the initiative and started to write down the things that I love to do. One of those things is my religion which I dedicated to … the other is my job and hobby. Computers! So, I started to write about the things that I like about computers and what drives me and what things I really like about computers.
While these things were rolling around in my head; I remembered that my boss told me he didn’t want to lose me since I am his resident Apple expert … then it hit me, Apple Certifications. The group I am working for right now will create a need for more Apple hardware and those who know how to use and monitor and SysAdmin those machines.
Thanks Gary for getting me to think about what I am doing and where I need to move my career.
iron wil
A Busy Month
This last month and change has been very busy and I have seen several interesting links and information. Nothing that has been riveting or exciting. I could just blame the commute or Angry Birds, but that has not been a deterrent before.
I did find a new place to grab some interesting NetCasts. Learn Out Loud. I have picked up several new NetCasts and have included them in my regular feed. I suggest you check it out if you have an interest in Biographies, History, Literature, Philosophy, Politics, and Technology [among several other subjects]. They report they have over 25,000 audiobooks, MP3 downloads, and videos.
iron wil
Apple told the Future in the Past!
UPDATE!!!
I was listening to a recent netcast, probably MacBreak Weekly #214 or Windows Weekly #176, and they were discussing the USB port on the back of the Apple TV. I really started to think about that port and and the iTunes software. I also felt that my iTunes Server could be met with Apple activating that port for external hard drives. This could make the Apple TV an iTunes Server IF they add the ability to manage Accounts, Purchase Content, and allow iTunes to act as the intermediary. Personal Profiles would allow one iTunes Account to manage multiple users (or device profiles) with Bonjour running Apple could enable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Syncing. This would solve the iTunes Server issue mentioned below.
I have noticed that a few videos and articles have surfaced over the last [thinking] 3 years and they are all pointing to the future of where Apple said it was going in the 80′s. The Newton was their first attempt at a mobile product that would fill the space of the ‘hand-held communicator’ or Dynabook that was talked about by Alan Kay. In my recent post, the video shared by TUAW, talks about being able to stream media on the fly. To have total access to your books, music, movies, and documents no matter where an individual is located … they only need access to the internet.
Today we have 2 ubiquitous internet devices from Apple, the iPad and iPhone. These two devices deliver the majority of the internet to you on the go. We know that we can buy, rent, listen, and watch content as long as we are connected to the internet. Yeah for 3G and GSM!!! We now know that Apple is working on “The Orchard” a large data center in North Carolina. Apple has now released the updated Apple TV that delivers all of your iTunes content to your TV plus NetFlix and hopefully much more as they continue to work on this platform. I have heard some discussion for the Apple TV where we can push Hulu, MLB, or even games to our living room or bedroom TVs via AirPlay (or Apps).
With Apple rolling Apple TV and AirPlay out to their 160 million registered iTunes customers they have an instant [upon purchase] test bed. To play with and work through all the bugs and legal issues. They have a willing audience of “Fan Boys” that have already ordered their new Apple TV‘s. They have users like me that will be purchasing one after they start shipping.
Now, what is missing? One huge thing I think is missing is an iTunes server. Yeah, I know that HP’s MediaSmart running Windows Home Server with the plug-in will act in this fashion. What I am looking for is … think a Mac Mini Server form factor that we can add external hard drives to for increased capacity! [The one extra cool feature would be that we could add more iTunes Servers and they would span the network. I am thinking of a Drobo + AirPort Wireless Network Extender + SAN.] We could stream right from that instead of from the family iMac. It would function as the iTunes back-up for the whole family, accounts for each user. This would then be coupled with “The Orchard” so that we have 3 copies of our media and we can then stream anything we own to anywhere! Now hold on and don’t forget that Apple purchased Lala.com and they had a really good balance of being able to push music that you already own for 10¢ each track and the ability to buy new music.
So, if I have a DVD or digital copy of a movie, then I have to pay the 30¢ licensing fee and Apple drops a copy in my Orchard account. Then if something happens to our Mac we have a copy of everything in the “Cloud”. The way I see this service really being delivered is via MobileMe. I am not sure if it would be 99$ still or if it would be free. I think that free would ‘force’ people to move their content there because there is no barrier to entry. I know that I would start right away. I know that it would cost me; but if I could have the guarantee … I would be compelled to do it right away. We have 2 Macs and 2 iPhones and it would be a no brainer for my wife and I to jump on that right away.
It is very clear to my mind what this will look like and how it will work. Unfortunately, I don’t actually know and if I did, I wouldn’t be able to write this.
iron wil
Project 2000 featured AirPlay!
In my regular purusal of my favorite websites, I came across a post on TUAW. Found Footage: Project 2000 from 1988 on the direction of computing.
After watching this video and seeing the September iPod announcements and the new Apple TV; it really solidifies even more the direction that I think Apple is headed. If they get there watch out, it will be amazing!! Think of ubiquitous computing to the next level. Your TV is connected to your network and you can push video or anything else to it.
I can use my iPad to push a Keynote that I am working on to the TV to check the scale and get an idea of how it will look. I will be able to put up a spreadsheet and a website I am working from and other resources. Using the Apple TV and the iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone. It allows for a family or coworkers to share and collaborate in the office. It moves us closer to the Star Trek interface. Where the screen changes and we can use voice commands to navigate, work, and interact with the computers that will surround us.
What really surprised me was that the TUAW writer didn’t even get to these points. He missed the kid pushing his project to the ‘chalk board’ from his hand-held device.
The future is coming and Apple is bringing it!!!
iron wil
Leadership Now!
I came across a new website today that deals with leadership and becoming a leader.
iron wil
Books I read recently
I just finished “Where Have All the Leaders Gone?” – Lee Iacocca, “The Last Lecture” – Randy Pausch, and “The Course of Human Events” – David McCullough.
“The Course of Human Events”:
I really liked this lecture from Mr. McCullough, because it seems to me that his main point is the Founding Fathers were men with vices and problems of their own. He also points out that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States need to be looked at and understood from that context. I agree that if we as nation looked at they documents in the context of when they were written and could understand these brilliant men, we as a nation would do a much better job of choosing those that are to govern and lead our nation.
“The Last Lecture”:
This book written by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow does a really good job of expressing why it is important to not only follow your dreams; but living a good life … a life of principles and values. I related to Mr. Pausch and his story quite well. It was also heartening to learn that there are so many more people that try to live the best they can. I just wish that it was more evident in and to our society. American’s are primarily viewed as Ugly Americans; rude, vulgar, brash, spiteful, and uncaring. We are a better people than what others realize of know.
“Where Have All the Leaders Gone?”:
I was not really sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book. I had heard of Mr. Iacocca, but knew very little about him. I learned enough about his life and career to understand where Mr. Iacocca is coming from. I admit that I agree with much of what he has written, I also really like his 9 C’s of leadership:
- Curiosity
- Creative
- Communicate
- Character
- Courage
- Conviction
- Charisma
- Competent
- Common Sense
I agree that we have become a nation of ‘what’s in it for me’ and ‘special interest’ and ‘entitlement minded’. We need to be a better people, we need to have great mentors and follow great leaders. We need to become a nation of leaders.
iron wil
The Apple TV Rev
I am currently listening to MacBreak Weekly 210: Apple’s Fall Announcement and considering the pronostication for the Apple TV from the September 1st Apple Event.
I love this device. I really like the 802.11n and I really like the Price Point! I can afford the 99$ and that makes this an easy buy. Having access to NetFlix and my iTunes Library in the same place really makes me love this. I see 3 things that will happen to the device over the next year or two:
- The Orchard will hold and deliver personal content to any iPhone, iTouch, iPad, and Apple TV.
- Apple will develop a home iTunes server that will allow for several accounts and multiple account access. Think HP’s Windows Home Server with the iTunes plug-in.
- Apple will allow for App development which will bring in more content and some games. This may require a new Apple TV to handle multiple iPhones, iTouchs, and iPads … to act as game controllers.
Once, Apple puts these pieces into place, it defines the paradigm and concept of what that device in the living room is that handles TV Shows, Movies, Music, and Gaming!
I need to pre-order mine.
iron wil
P.S.
Others Thoughts
- Wired’s Epicenter, How Apple Just Disrupted the Cable Guys.
- Ars Technica, No longer a hobby? $99 Apple TV drops storage, integrates Netflix.
- Fortune Tech, Apple TV swings hard but misses.
I have to disagree with Fortune, I think that they are wanting a solution to a problem that everyone is searching for. Wired & Ars, I think are on the same train of thought as I am and Apple. It isn’t the answer yet … another step or iteration on the path to getting it right. I look forward to seeing what comes next. I hope they see and realize that this can’t be a stand alone box; it has to have a robust back-end of content.
