I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 and these are the apps I've ended up with.
Maps
Hangouts
SMS Backup & Restore
Voice
YouTube
SportyPal
Facebook
Evernote
Mint.com
SoundHound
Drive
JuicePlotter
Speed Test
Brightest Flashlight (There may be better ones)
Astro File Manager
SG: DeadZone
Transit Tracks (For Chicago transit)
Instagram
Camera ICS (Takes pictures without a shutter sound. Sprint's default camera App always has a shutter sound... which is annoying.)
eBay
ASR (mp3 recording)
Pandora or Slacker Radio
EasyTether Pro
Google Keyboard (Autocorrect works better than Samsung's default keyboard, Dynamic Keyboard Free, Gingerbread Keyboard-(runner up), and Swype)
Angry Birds
QR Droid
GPS Test
Words Free-battery drainer, but can be fun
Banking app
Open Signal
Sensorly
Cut the Rope (and variations)
Documents to Go- (though Amazon and required me to sign onto Amazon each time I wanted to use it.)
Zillow
LivingSocial
WeatherBug
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Mattress and Bed Research
Many of the top mattress brands have standard prices at every store, but will throw in freebies on Memorial Day and Black Friday weekends.
One salesman said that Simmons and Beautyrest had the best, or most experience with, pocketed coils
I accidentally ended up with a 12" thick one of these beds off of Craigslist when it was wrongly listed at a Cloud Supreme Tempurpedic. I actually really like it. It has two densities of foam with a 4" low density layer on the top. It had body impressions after a year of use, but I find it comfortable.
Cons: If constant pressure is applied to a particular area over time, the foam will compress and not spring back as far or as firmly. This may end up being comfortable though, though probably shouldn't be used in a hotel where people may be picky about uniformity. It is not as good as memory foam as returning to the original position over time. The middle can sink in and two people can roll towards each other in the middle if it is low density foam.
Pros: I find it to be quite comfortable in my apartment with temperatures that range between 60 degrees to 80 degrees. The feel doesn't seem to change with the temperature fluctuation.
I tend to sleep more on one side of the bed than the other, as did the previous owner. While looking at the bed, it all looks flat, but the area my hips touch pushes down much more easily than other parts of the bed. Just constant use on that part of the bed made a body impression, which I find very comfortable. The other side of the bed is a more standard firmness and is fine, but it doesn't fit my body the way the worn way does. It is so thick and not very dense, so I can sleep on my side, back, or stomach, and I don't feel much and I sink into it so there is a constant light pressure on my entire body instead of only the parts that would normally touch something much more firm. It's a personal preference thing.
Pros: Can be quite comfortable. Remembers the shape it is supposed to be, so it springs back to place longer than polyurethane foam.
Cons: Can initially get hard in cold temperatures, maybe about 60 degrees. Your body heat will have to warm it up before it sleeps at the firmness you are used to. Can get gooey at higher temperatures, maybe about 85 degrees.
When you buy a mattress, there are durability warranties that say they will replace the mattress if there is a body impression more than a particular depth, maybe 1/4"-1/2". With the exception of TempurPedic, these warranties are void if there are any bodily fluids on the mattress due to bio-hazard. To prevent this, a waterproof mattress cover is recommended. Yes, these are plasticy and make the bed sleep warmer than it would without one, but this waterproof layer keeps dead skin cells from getting into your mattress, the food for unfriendly bugs. It also prevents blood sucking bed bugs from getting from your mattress to your skin.
There are fitted mattress protectors for about $40 on Amazon. They come in 12" think and 9" think versions. There are zippered ones for a little more. The ones made from pure plastic are the warmest and most noisy. The ones with a cotton terry cloth are less noisy and softer. The zippered ones are more of a hassle to get on or off, but prevent anything from getting in the entire mattress (except for when it is off to be washed). The fitted ones are easier to remove and have the primary barrier there, so they should be sufficient, especially if your bed is not brand new.
If you spent a lot on your mattress, and can deal with the way they feel under your sheets, you can put a full waterproof zippered cover on your mattress and then also put a fitted water resistant, and easily washable, fitted mattress protector on top of it.
You may also want to put a protector on your base to prevent it from collecting dust, especially if you have an allergy.
Be sure to check the warranty terms before buying. Some may cover motors that burn out for one year, and then have tiered repair plans after that, where you pay shipping, plus 10% of the value in year X, 20% of the value year Y... 80% of the value year Q. It seemed a little crazy for the ones I skimmed over, but they do feel quite comfortable.
Prices have dropped so they start at $600 on Amazon. The Queen Tempurpedic base is one option I got to use. While it raises hte dead and legs, has four presets you can create, and has vibrating motors in the center of the bed under your neck and feet. However, it does rattle if you shake the bed, which can be annoying... This is because it has rollers and the wheels can rock in the track. I would assume that adjustable bases without wheels inside tracks may make less noise if you move a lot.
The viscous memory foam was developed for NASA and is heat sensitive. It becomes more firm in cold temperatures and pliable and mooshie when it is warm. Conceptually, the areas of your body that are closest to the mattress will be warmest, like your butt and shoulders, so the foam will become pliable there, but more supportive around your back which isn't being pushed into the foam as hard because less weight/heat from less skin contact is put on it.
The Pros: These beds, in my opinion are among the most comfortable at the 70 degree stores I have tried them out. My personal favorite is the Cloud Supreme, though it is 13 inches thick, so sheets made for beds 10 inches thick can pop off.
The Cons: If your room temperature fluctuates, the feel of the bed can drastically change. They are super expensive. Some people have commented that they sleep warm. That is why other brands started using blue cooling gels to separate themselves from this perception. One counter to this claim is that the more you sink into a mattress, the more material you have surrounding your body. Also, many people are recommended to purchase a waterproof mattress cover, and as far as they have come in terms of comfort, having plastic on top of a mattress does make the bed sleep a little warmer. So people switching from a coiled mattress with no cover to a memory foam mattress with a cover may start saying the bed is warm.
As of late 2012/early 2013, for a price premium, there are upgraded versions of the Rhapsody and Cloud Supreme with supposedly better ventilation for sleeping cooler.
I currently am sleeping on a 9" Tempurpedic Cloud with Tempurpedic Ergo adjustable base because I got a really good deal on it. Though moving the queen base up my three flights of stairs required disassembly from the metal frame from the base, so a lot of time. I don't sleep on my side much anymore with it because it is so firm, unlike my last 12" think very soft polyurithane mattress. While comfortable, I did have more back cracking on the soft mattress in the morning. I dis sink in up to three inches at my hips though. With the more firm mattress, I sleep on my back with a small towel or a gel neck pillow. I often wake up sprawled out on my stomach though.I haven't had it long though.
Background
Traditional Metal coils
Typical older mattresses use metal coils tied together with wire to the coils next to them, so when one is compressed, the ones next to it also move. These are notorious for transferring motion on one side of the bed to the other, and not generally liked by couples that hate feeling every time their partner moves. The coils compress over time in the areas that have the most pressure and can sag in those areas. Typically the higher the coil count, the longer the bed will last the and more comfortable it will be. Different coils can be built to different pressure sensitivities though, so you have to find one that is soft or firm. The coils can be tied to the outside frame, and therefore cannot be used in an adjustable base that moves like an electronic hospital bed, something that is becoming more common post 2011.Pocketed/Individually sealed/Independent coils
One response to the annoying motion transfer of metal coils tied together is having the coils individually wrapped in a fabric. Because the coils are not tied together with wire and are not connected to the sides of the bed, they transfer less motion to the other side of the bed, and can be used on adjustable bases. Coil beds generally have a shorter lifespan than memory foam since the coils compress over time at generally a quicker rate than memory foam breaks down, but the beds can cost a few hundred dollars less. Coil beds do tend to have the same feel despite what the temperature of the room is, unlike memory foam.One salesman said that Simmons and Beautyrest had the best, or most experience with, pocketed coils
Polyurethane foam
This is an inexpensive foam found in sofa cushions and now beds. It may form body impressions within a year or two, but those can be comfortable for a while before breaking down, and have a lower cost. It doesn't transfer as much motion from one side of the bed to the other as the tied coils.I accidentally ended up with a 12" thick one of these beds off of Craigslist when it was wrongly listed at a Cloud Supreme Tempurpedic. I actually really like it. It has two densities of foam with a 4" low density layer on the top. It had body impressions after a year of use, but I find it comfortable.
Cons: If constant pressure is applied to a particular area over time, the foam will compress and not spring back as far or as firmly. This may end up being comfortable though, though probably shouldn't be used in a hotel where people may be picky about uniformity. It is not as good as memory foam as returning to the original position over time. The middle can sink in and two people can roll towards each other in the middle if it is low density foam.
Pros: I find it to be quite comfortable in my apartment with temperatures that range between 60 degrees to 80 degrees. The feel doesn't seem to change with the temperature fluctuation.
I tend to sleep more on one side of the bed than the other, as did the previous owner. While looking at the bed, it all looks flat, but the area my hips touch pushes down much more easily than other parts of the bed. Just constant use on that part of the bed made a body impression, which I find very comfortable. The other side of the bed is a more standard firmness and is fine, but it doesn't fit my body the way the worn way does. It is so thick and not very dense, so I can sleep on my side, back, or stomach, and I don't feel much and I sink into it so there is a constant light pressure on my entire body instead of only the parts that would normally touch something much more firm. It's a personal preference thing.
Memory foam
Memory foam is a foam that "remembers" its original rectangular shape and bounces back to that shape even after extended use. It breaks down slower than polyurethane foam, but you may pay a bit extra for it. It does not have the pressure points coil mattresses can and it also transfers less movementPros: Can be quite comfortable. Remembers the shape it is supposed to be, so it springs back to place longer than polyurethane foam.
Cons: Can initially get hard in cold temperatures, maybe about 60 degrees. Your body heat will have to warm it up before it sleeps at the firmness you are used to. Can get gooey at higher temperatures, maybe about 85 degrees.
Mattress covers
When you buy a mattress, there are durability warranties that say they will replace the mattress if there is a body impression more than a particular depth, maybe 1/4"-1/2". With the exception of TempurPedic, these warranties are void if there are any bodily fluids on the mattress due to bio-hazard. To prevent this, a waterproof mattress cover is recommended. Yes, these are plasticy and make the bed sleep warmer than it would without one, but this waterproof layer keeps dead skin cells from getting into your mattress, the food for unfriendly bugs. It also prevents blood sucking bed bugs from getting from your mattress to your skin.
There are fitted mattress protectors for about $40 on Amazon. They come in 12" think and 9" think versions. There are zippered ones for a little more. The ones made from pure plastic are the warmest and most noisy. The ones with a cotton terry cloth are less noisy and softer. The zippered ones are more of a hassle to get on or off, but prevent anything from getting in the entire mattress (except for when it is off to be washed). The fitted ones are easier to remove and have the primary barrier there, so they should be sufficient, especially if your bed is not brand new.
If you spent a lot on your mattress, and can deal with the way they feel under your sheets, you can put a full waterproof zippered cover on your mattress and then also put a fitted water resistant, and easily washable, fitted mattress protector on top of it.
You may also want to put a protector on your base to prevent it from collecting dust, especially if you have an allergy.
Adjustable Bases
Several manufacturers are now producing adjustable mattress bases to replace your stationary box spring. Many will let you recline, put your feet up, put you in a 'zero-gravity' position, and some will even vibrate. These are priced around $800-1,500.Be sure to check the warranty terms before buying. Some may cover motors that burn out for one year, and then have tiered repair plans after that, where you pay shipping, plus 10% of the value in year X, 20% of the value year Y... 80% of the value year Q. It seemed a little crazy for the ones I skimmed over, but they do feel quite comfortable.
Prices have dropped so they start at $600 on Amazon. The Queen Tempurpedic base is one option I got to use. While it raises hte dead and legs, has four presets you can create, and has vibrating motors in the center of the bed under your neck and feet. However, it does rattle if you shake the bed, which can be annoying... This is because it has rollers and the wheels can rock in the track. I would assume that adjustable bases without wheels inside tracks may make less noise if you move a lot.
Memory Foam Brands
According to one salesman, Tempurpedic makes its own memory foam. The rest of the manufacturers get their memory foam from two suppliers and put their own twist on it, such as amounts of blue gel for "sleeping cooler", something he claimed was all marketing, as well as making them in different densities.TempurPedic
This company puts a lot of money into advertising and has high consumer ratings.The viscous memory foam was developed for NASA and is heat sensitive. It becomes more firm in cold temperatures and pliable and mooshie when it is warm. Conceptually, the areas of your body that are closest to the mattress will be warmest, like your butt and shoulders, so the foam will become pliable there, but more supportive around your back which isn't being pushed into the foam as hard because less weight/heat from less skin contact is put on it.
The Pros: These beds, in my opinion are among the most comfortable at the 70 degree stores I have tried them out. My personal favorite is the Cloud Supreme, though it is 13 inches thick, so sheets made for beds 10 inches thick can pop off.
The Cons: If your room temperature fluctuates, the feel of the bed can drastically change. They are super expensive. Some people have commented that they sleep warm. That is why other brands started using blue cooling gels to separate themselves from this perception. One counter to this claim is that the more you sink into a mattress, the more material you have surrounding your body. Also, many people are recommended to purchase a waterproof mattress cover, and as far as they have come in terms of comfort, having plastic on top of a mattress does make the bed sleep a little warmer. So people switching from a coiled mattress with no cover to a memory foam mattress with a cover may start saying the bed is warm.
As of late 2012/early 2013, for a price premium, there are upgraded versions of the Rhapsody and Cloud Supreme with supposedly better ventilation for sleeping cooler.
I currently am sleeping on a 9" Tempurpedic Cloud with Tempurpedic Ergo adjustable base because I got a really good deal on it. Though moving the queen base up my three flights of stairs required disassembly from the metal frame from the base, so a lot of time. I don't sleep on my side much anymore with it because it is so firm, unlike my last 12" think very soft polyurithane mattress. While comfortable, I did have more back cracking on the soft mattress in the morning. I dis sink in up to three inches at my hips though. With the more firm mattress, I sleep on my back with a small towel or a gel neck pillow. I often wake up sprawled out on my stomach though.I haven't had it long though.
Sealy Optimum
I am partial to the Sealy Optimum Radiance ($1699 for a queen). To me, it feels like a TempurPedic Cloud Supreme but for quite a bit less.iComfort
As much as I'd like to like them, I personally didn't find them comfortable the two times I laid on them. Totally unscientific, but hey, try out the line for yourself. The concept behind them is a cooler, more budget friendly memory foam than Tempurpedic. They may have seemed too firm in the store, but in the long run, something a tad more firm than I initially like has proven to cause less back cracking in the morning. So maybe it's fine.Purple
At $999 for a queen, it incorporates the cool, springy feel of latex on the top layer with a honeycomb top, as well as inexpensive polyurethane for the rest of the mattress. I haven't tried it, but am curious.Saturday, June 1, 2013
Weekly things to do in Chicago
Monday
Stanley's Kitchen and Tap $5 burgers and an 8 pm comedy show
Swing Dancing Fizz Bar and Grill $7 9:30-12/1 am
Tuesday
Volleyball at Montrose Beach 4:30-7:30pm
$.25 wings at Racine Plumbing
Lucky's Bar Comedy show 9:30 pm
Squared Circle 2418 N Ashland Ave. $1 beer and good sounding food
Wednesday
Thursday
7-9 pm Cupcake Comedy Cabaret at 2020 N Oakley in Wicker Park/Bucktown
Friday
Saturday
Volleyball at Montrose Beach 9am-4pm
Sunday
Volleyball at North Ave Beach 10-4 pm Pirate flag
Friday, May 31, 2013
Some info about lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and string trimmers.
There are three types of mowers you may want to consider: gas, electric, and reel.
Here are some popular options you may want.
One option you may want is a rear wheel self propel feature. It is generally maybe $30-$50 more than a front wheel self propel, but after reading consumer reviews, most people with front wheel drive mowers said they would not recommend front wheel drive to someone else. I feel the same way. I use the self propel when the mower is hard to push, and rear wheel drive is much more effective at pushing the mower when the going is tough because most of the weight is on the rear wheels so they actually grip when the front wheels would slip.
Another nice option is a wash out port. This allows you to attach a water hose to your lawnmower and run the mower. The water and spinning blade then wash out any residual grass inside the mower and keep it clean.
A bagging option can be nice. Bagging looks nice, but requires more work and a lot of paper compost bags. Dead grass trimmings, as long as they are not in clumps, turn into soil and are a free fertilizer. Clumps of grass can prevent the sun from reaching the grass underneath them and kill that grass. Clumping tends to happen if you mow damp grass.
A mower rated highly at mulching will cut the grass into small enough pieces so you don't need to bag it. The grass can't be too long though and you may not be able to go super fast with the mower.
Also read reviews. Some mowers leave clumps of grass worse than other mowers. Some are hard to maneuver.
If you wanted to log into www.consumerreports.org you can use this login.
Username
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pmslmc
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Password
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portsmouth
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Gas Mowers
You can always pick a used basic model up pretty cheap. You may need to buy a circular grinder to attach to a drill to sharpen the blade, something that you have to do every year anyway for about 10 minutes, or pay someone $25 to do it for you. But you don't know the quality of the cut without looking up reviews of that model. Generally speaking, Honda, Toro, John Deere, and Lawn-Boy are the highest rated brands. Husquivarna from Sears isn't bad either. Just make sure the used model has the features you'd like.
While I could list a few $200-$280 push mowers with no special features, many do not cut as well, are hard to push, and/or may not bag or mulch very well. Mowers with push assist can be used by people who aren't very strong. Having one with a good cut and features you can choose to use is nice.
This is one of the better rear wheel mowers under $400 with several nice features.
- Troy-Bilt TB-320 12AVC35U $330
- It comes with a wash out port, rear wheel drive, multiple speeds, and consumer reports rated it "very good" in every category they tested. It looks like a good one to me.
You should be able to find this one at the Lowe's by your home.
Walmart has some basic non bagged gas lawnmowers for about $150, a bagged one at $199, but those would be hard to push. They have a front wheel self propel without a bag for $238, and front wheel drive with a bag at $298. These haven't been rated by Consumer Reports and may not last as long as the Troy. I have had wheels break off of cheaper lawnmowers.
Electric Mowers
Electric lawn mowers get about 30-55 minutes of mowing per charge. That may be enough time to mow your lawn, but if that isn't, you may have to spend one day mowing most of your lawn, recharge it overnight, and finish it the next day. I don't remember how much grass you had. I read they can mow about 1/3 of an acre.
People recommend against corded electric mowers because most people tend to run over the extension cable every month or so and it is annoying when going around obstacles. So battery powered electric ones are generally recommended. It may work for you since you don't have a lot of obstructions though.
Pros: Electric lawn mowers have lower maintenance and fuel cost at about $5 of electricity a summer. There are no spark plugs to buy, oil changes to do, or gas to buy. Quieter. Much less expensive to operate and maintain.
Cons: 30-55 minute run time. Not as powerful. Consumer reports only recommended one electric lawnmower, possibly meaning most other electric ones are not very good performers.
Here is an interesting page that shows that maintaining a gas mower will cost about $400 over 5 years, but maintenance on an electric mower will only cost about $100, making the electric mower the better buy cost-wise compared to a gas mower, though you do sacrifice power and run time. http://www.mowersdirect.com/stories/54-How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Electric-Lawn-Mower.html
One electric mower that did get good reviews was the $399 Black and Decker with self propel, something good because they are kind of heavy with the big battery.
BLACK & DECKER 36-Volt 19-in Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Push Lawn MowerItem #: 225855 | Model #: SPCM1936
You can also find this at the Lowes by your home.
Reel Mowers
The cheapest and most environmentally friendly lawn mowers are the old fashioned Reel style push mowers. http://www.mowersdirect.com/stories/55-How-to-Pick-the-Perfect-Reel-Lawn-Mower.html
These are a workout to push because they have no engine, but are super low maintenance. You just have to sharpen the blades once a year, like any lawnmower, but there are more blades to sharpen. Mowing your lawn would be a workout though.
These can be found at Walmart and www.Walmart.com online starting at $69.
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Generally speaking, Sears' lawn mowers were overpriced online and Lowe's had the models Consumer Reports talked about. I didn't see any sales going on right now at Lowe's, but you can ask.
Walmart has some inexpensive models, but none made the Consumer Reports recommended list.
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Leaf blowers
Get one with a metal impeller. It chops leaves better than nylon ones.
Consumer reports recommends a leaf blower one with a metal impeller, as opposed to a nylon one, that can chop the leaves and that does both leaf blowing and vacuuming.
For an electric leaf blower/vacuum, Consumer Reports recommends the Toro 51592. http://www.amazon.com/patio-lawn-garden/dp/B000O27BM4 It is the second highest scoring one on CM, the top scoring one got more negative reviews.
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If you want to go electric, which probably makes sense for a smaller yard without a lot of concrete, an electric edger, like the one you showed me, or a string trimmer like the $73 Greenworks 21142 would be good buys.
String trimmers can do more things, like trimming the grass your lawn mower misses around the sides of your house and around trees in addition to acting like an edger when you rotate it so the strings spin vertically instead of horizontally. In my experience, an edger is more consistent for edging the grass next to concrete, it can look a little better, and it is pretty easy to use because you just push it, though with some practice, you can get good results with a string trimmer and do more things with it, though it takes a little more effort to do edging because you have to hold it in a straight line and walk, which isn't a huge deal after you do it a few times.
Consumer Reports recommends a straight shaft string trimmer to a curved one for better detail work.
Most edgers use a metal blade whereas string trimmers use a nylon string.
Consumer reports didn't have anything on edgers. I would use an edger maybe once every two to three months for a nice clean look, and use the string trimmer/Weed Eater to once a month to get high grass and maintain any edging that had become slightly overgrown.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Things I'd like to have in a smartphone
Here is a list of things I value and would like to see in a smartphone.
Front facing speakers.
When using the video in Google Talk, cupping your hand around the back of the phone to bring some of the sound from the rear of the device to the front where you are viewing the video of the person you are talking to is annoying.
Loud speakers (maybe an enhanced volume boost)
I want to be able to hear quiet YouTube videos and quiet people I am video chatting with.
Waterproof
I have been caught in downpours without a jacket with my phone in my pants pocket. It gets damp. I will want to be able to use it while it is raining without worrying that it might not survive. If a manufacturer did something like a bulk deal with a company like Liquipel, it may help lower the price of a phone with this coating.
Liquipel is a waterproof coating letting you submerge and use your phone in water for $60 + $14.29 for 3-5 day shipping, 2 day for $31. 1 day priority is $68.11. http://www.liquipel.com/
I may do this when I am 95% happy with my phone. (My current S3 takes too long to charge, up to 5-10 hours. Longer than other S3s I think wich are closer to 2-3 hours. I don't like that the speakers are on the back and not the front. Not sure if I am happy with the white color because the white and clear cases keep getting dirty, etc.) Liquipel's facebook page has coupon codes every so often. The downside is that you are spending $75 on an upgrade that is not transferable to your next phone.
I thought I saw several months ago ratings about how well certain devices are covered by Liquipel, and the iPhone and GS2 were top rated and could be submerged, but the GS3 was a step down and could only be splashed on. I don't see that anymore. Just the disclaimer saying they don't recommend liquid ever come in contact with your device and that they are not liable for water damage. Reading up on things, I think that Liquipel 2.0 was released in January 2013, is claimed to be 100x better than the 2012 version (which is good because the original 2012 Liquipel had complaints of water damage on some devices), and is supposed to come with a warranty for accidental spills, but not intentional submersion. http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/09/ces-2013-liquipel-announces-2-0-watersafe-nanocoating-for-waterproofing-devices/
Motorola claims to have splash resistant smartphones, but didn't advertise it very well.
Removable battery
I can go through 2-5 2100 mAh batteries a day on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. I don't know if battery development is ready for a complete overhaul yet, and I don't see a 4x2100 capacity battery 8,400 mAh being thin, so let me have a removable battery.
A screen not likely to crack
I see a decent amount of iPhones and even some HTC phones with cracked screens on the CTA (Chicago's public bus and train service). My sister has cracked her screen probably twice on her HTC Evo, a plastic smartphone.
Great battery life
Kind of a relative statement. I am pro new battery technology.
Fast charge time per mAh
My Galaxy SIII takes 5 hours to charge 2100 mAh while turned on and with no major apps running. I think that should be down to 2 by now. Faster in the future.
Better call quality
Even with most of my signal bars active, some people are just hard to understand over the phone even though they are speaking clearly. Maybe this is a network thing, but fix it.
Don't fluctuate the cell signal from full bars to no service when I am not moving
I also will jump from full bars to no bars and then dropped call standing in the same position. Really?
Maybe it is just Sprint, but 10% of calls, I answer or make, I can hear nothing. No voice from the other person, no phone buzz, nothing. But I know they can hear me because when i call back and I can hear them, i ask if they could hear me talking and they said yes, they were talking but it didn't look like I could hear them. I don't like it.
Make the touch screen keypad ALWAYS work when dialing in conference codes or using the keypad in Google Voice to answer/record calls. I have had issues where I press 1 to aswer the call. I press 1, the screen says I pressed one, but Google voice repeats, Press 1 to answer the call. I press 1 again. Then it says the user was sent to voicemail. This occurred frequently with my 2010 HTC Evo 4G.
I would also somewhat value
A screen that won't scratch when put in a pocket, or purse, with keys and other sharp objects. It would be nice to move away from screen protectors, but a demo of the tough scratch resistant glass built into a friend's Samsung SIII where he scratched the screen with keys to show me that it didn't scratch the screen actually still left shallow scratches on the screen. They were minor, but there.
Start up time under 30 seconds
When switching batteries, I hate waiting for it to start up. Is the additional 5-10 second carrier splash screen really necessary?
Apps that open quickly.
Do what you gotta do to decrease app startup times.
Radiation protection
See if there is a way to generally decrease radiation without decreasing performance. Here is an interesting article about cell phone radiation.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/gold-plated-radiation-protection-stickers.htm
Front facing speakers.
When using the video in Google Talk, cupping your hand around the back of the phone to bring some of the sound from the rear of the device to the front where you are viewing the video of the person you are talking to is annoying.
Loud speakers (maybe an enhanced volume boost)
I want to be able to hear quiet YouTube videos and quiet people I am video chatting with.
Waterproof
I have been caught in downpours without a jacket with my phone in my pants pocket. It gets damp. I will want to be able to use it while it is raining without worrying that it might not survive. If a manufacturer did something like a bulk deal with a company like Liquipel, it may help lower the price of a phone with this coating.
Liquipel is a waterproof coating letting you submerge and use your phone in water for $60 + $14.29 for 3-5 day shipping, 2 day for $31. 1 day priority is $68.11. http://www.liquipel.com/
I may do this when I am 95% happy with my phone. (My current S3 takes too long to charge, up to 5-10 hours. Longer than other S3s I think wich are closer to 2-3 hours. I don't like that the speakers are on the back and not the front. Not sure if I am happy with the white color because the white and clear cases keep getting dirty, etc.) Liquipel's facebook page has coupon codes every so often. The downside is that you are spending $75 on an upgrade that is not transferable to your next phone.
I thought I saw several months ago ratings about how well certain devices are covered by Liquipel, and the iPhone and GS2 were top rated and could be submerged, but the GS3 was a step down and could only be splashed on. I don't see that anymore. Just the disclaimer saying they don't recommend liquid ever come in contact with your device and that they are not liable for water damage. Reading up on things, I think that Liquipel 2.0 was released in January 2013, is claimed to be 100x better than the 2012 version (which is good because the original 2012 Liquipel had complaints of water damage on some devices), and is supposed to come with a warranty for accidental spills, but not intentional submersion. http://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/09/ces-2013-liquipel-announces-2-0-watersafe-nanocoating-for-waterproofing-devices/
Motorola claims to have splash resistant smartphones, but didn't advertise it very well.
Removable battery
I can go through 2-5 2100 mAh batteries a day on my Samsung Galaxy SIII. I don't know if battery development is ready for a complete overhaul yet, and I don't see a 4x2100 capacity battery 8,400 mAh being thin, so let me have a removable battery.
A screen not likely to crack
I see a decent amount of iPhones and even some HTC phones with cracked screens on the CTA (Chicago's public bus and train service). My sister has cracked her screen probably twice on her HTC Evo, a plastic smartphone.
Great battery life
Kind of a relative statement. I am pro new battery technology.
Fast charge time per mAh
My Galaxy SIII takes 5 hours to charge 2100 mAh while turned on and with no major apps running. I think that should be down to 2 by now. Faster in the future.
Better call quality
Even with most of my signal bars active, some people are just hard to understand over the phone even though they are speaking clearly. Maybe this is a network thing, but fix it.
Don't fluctuate the cell signal from full bars to no service when I am not moving
I also will jump from full bars to no bars and then dropped call standing in the same position. Really?
Maybe it is just Sprint, but 10% of calls, I answer or make, I can hear nothing. No voice from the other person, no phone buzz, nothing. But I know they can hear me because when i call back and I can hear them, i ask if they could hear me talking and they said yes, they were talking but it didn't look like I could hear them. I don't like it.
Make the touch screen keypad ALWAYS work when dialing in conference codes or using the keypad in Google Voice to answer/record calls. I have had issues where I press 1 to aswer the call. I press 1, the screen says I pressed one, but Google voice repeats, Press 1 to answer the call. I press 1 again. Then it says the user was sent to voicemail. This occurred frequently with my 2010 HTC Evo 4G.
I would also somewhat value
A screen that won't scratch when put in a pocket, or purse, with keys and other sharp objects. It would be nice to move away from screen protectors, but a demo of the tough scratch resistant glass built into a friend's Samsung SIII where he scratched the screen with keys to show me that it didn't scratch the screen actually still left shallow scratches on the screen. They were minor, but there.
Start up time under 30 seconds
When switching batteries, I hate waiting for it to start up. Is the additional 5-10 second carrier splash screen really necessary?
Apps that open quickly.
Do what you gotta do to decrease app startup times.
Radiation protection
See if there is a way to generally decrease radiation without decreasing performance. Here is an interesting article about cell phone radiation.
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/gold-plated-radiation-protection-stickers.htm
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Triathlon bikes made easy
Triathlon bikes are a niche product with a frame designed for better aerodynamics, generally meaning a foil or airplane wing shaped downtube. On the upper end tri bikes, it also means the frame wraps around the back tire so there is no real disruptive airflow between the frame and back wheel which can shave a few seconds off each mile.
Time Trial (TT) bikes generally have the same frame as a Triathlon bike, the only real difference being where the seat is placed. Triathletes have their butt closer to the front of the bike than time trialists. While a bit more precarious, it works different leg muscles than the ones you use in the run. Sitting further back on the bike can make you use the same muscles biking as you do running and can hurt your running time. I felt very unstable, almost to the point of being scared and unsafe, on my tri bike the first time I got on. Just practicing on it for 10 minutes riding down an empty alley made me feel more comfortable. Now I really like it and don't know why distance riders don't use aero bars.
How can people look at a Triathlon bike and know what model it is? It's not as hard as you think. Most bike manufacturers have about three Time Trial (TT)/Triathlon bike set ups they sell. So if you look at the brand, and learn the difference between entry level, mid grade, and "Woah! You are rich/sponsored", you'll be at a good place. Some models are almost visually identical, except for the paint jobs and minor pedal or gear changes, for 3-6 years before the line is upgraded.
BH
Aerolights seem to all have the same carbon fiber frame with a rear wheel cover in the frame.
Aerolight 9.9 Deep carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.7 Deep carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.5 Medium carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.3 Medium carbon wheels
Kit Cuardo BH Aerolight
Aero 2 is carbon fiber frame but no rear wheel cover
GC Aero 2 8.9 meduim depth carbon wheels
GC Aero 2 8.7 Deep Carbon wheels
GC Aero 2 8.5 training wheels
Kit Global Aero
Cannondale
The Slice series have a carbon fiber frame, rear wheel cover, and a reputation for holding records in the Ironman Distance Triathlons.
The Slice RS frames have a flat top tube, all carbon, many straight bold lines, a vertical seat post, a think frame behind the fork, and rear wheel shielding. The back of the frame ends in a point.
Slice RS SRAM RED Black Inc. $11,000
Slice RS Hi-Mod Ultegra Di2 $7,200
Slice RS Hi-Mod Ultegra $5,550
The Slice RS frames have a little more curve to them in the frame behind the headset than the less expensive line. I know someone with the Slice 5 who likes it.
Slice Hi-MOD SRAM RED-$4,420
Slice 3 Ultegra-$3,100
Slice 5 105 $2,450
Cervelo 2013 lineup
http://www.cervelo.com/en/bikes/p-series.html
Cervelo is the most popular triathlon brand for racers. Cervelo has four lines. the R series is classic road. The S Series is aero road. The P series is TT/Triathlon. The T series is single speed track.
P2-no real wheel cover-frame was made in both aluminum and carbon until 2010 when they went full carbon. $2,600
P3-Most triathlon wins are on this bike model because the model has been around for so many years-carbon body/wheel cover. Carbon fiber frame with wheel cover. $3,600
P5-Better wheel cover and more aero brakes. Better wheels. Considered one of the best. $10,000
Felt 2013 lineup
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/TT-TRI/DA-Series/DA1.aspx
The D and B series do not have a gap above the back wheel, which is good for aerodynamics. The cheaper S series does which is less aerodynamic. The cheaper S series also is made of aluminum. The D series has a more prominent rear fork coming out of the seat post than the B series.
DA1-carbon fiber frame-$10,329
DA2-carbon fiber frame-$7,749
DA3-carbon fiber frame-$5,169
DA4 and DA4W-carbon fiber frame-$3,729
B2-carbon fiber frame-$6,199
B12-carbon fiber frame-$3,099
B16 and B16W-carbon fiber frame-$2,069 (A good friend has this and sees no reason to upgrade. I like it.)
S32-aluminum frame-$1,449
Giant
Trinity Advanced SL-Comes with deep carbon wheels, vertical seat with rear wheel cover $13,400
Trinity Composite-carbon fiber frame-rear wheel cover-entry level wheels- $5,100
Orbea-All nice looking carbon fiber bikes with rear wheel cover
Ordu SSJ- Entry level wheels. upward sloping top tube $2,299
Ordu GLT Deep carbon wheels, downward sloping top tube $4,499
Ordu GLI2 Same frame as GLT $5,499
Ordu GRD Same frame as GLT $5,999
Quintana Roo
http://www.quintanarootri.com/bike_lineup.asp#shiftseries
Shift Series-All look like they have the same carbon frame with wheel cover, front brake behind stem. The Illicito has some minor upgrades from the CD0.1. The CD0.1 looks good!
Illicito-higher carbon fiber construction, absence of left side seat stay, claims lowest drag coefficiant of any modern design. Mid depth Reynolds carbon wheels.
CD0.1 Di2-Electronic shifters (I think),Available Reynolds Strike wheelset
CD0.1 Dura Ace-Reynolds Wheelset. TriMax TT Carbon Crankset-flat bars
CD0.1 Race-Ultegra, includes Reynolds wheelset
CD01 Ultegra- Ultegra. available Reynolds wheelset ($3,199)
CD0.1 Camo-Ultegra. available Reynolds wheelset (just a different paint job?)
CD0.1 Team-frameset only
Fit series, (less aggressive)
This tier of bikes looks like they share a basic aluminum frame, different paint jobs though, with no wheel cover and entry level wheels.
Lucero-SRAM Red
Seduza-Ultegra
Dulce-105
Kilo C-SRAM Rival
Specialized
Third most popular Tri bike brand I think.
Shiv http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/shiv
S-Works Shiv TT Module (Frame and crank only) $6,100
S-Works Shiv Module (Frame and crank only) $5,800
Comp Rival Mid Compact $3,300 (All these look similar. Fat aero downtube with rear wheel shielding. Carbon fiber frame.)
Shiv Pro OSBB Frameset $2,800
Transition Apex - carbon frame-has rear wheel shielding. Less dramatically fat downtube. Top tube has a hump. $2,200
Shiv Elite Apex Mid-Compact $1,550 (Standard entry level. Aluminum frame, carbon fork. slight hint at rear wheel shielding.)
Trek
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/triathlon
Known more for road bikes than tri bikes, Trek still offers a nice tri product. It doesn't have complete rear wheel shielding, which I find odd. It claims it has wind tunnel tested all competitors and the only thing faster than the 7 series is the more expensive 9 series. These do have DuoTrap section built in to measure speed, distance, and cadence without adding drag.
Speed Concept 9 series $6,089.99-$11,549.99 (9.5, 9.8, 9.9 with women's versions for the 9.5 and 9.8) Has brakes built into the frame. Doesn't have exposed cables.
Speed Concept 7 Series (7.0, 7.5, 7.8 with women's versions for the 7.0) $2,729.99-$4,619 Full carbon. Has exposed front brake and brake cables and doesn't completely wrap the rear wheel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a list of tri bike manufacturers. http://www.trijuice.com/2006/12/triathlon_bike_manufacturers.htm
Time Trial (TT) bikes generally have the same frame as a Triathlon bike, the only real difference being where the seat is placed. Triathletes have their butt closer to the front of the bike than time trialists. While a bit more precarious, it works different leg muscles than the ones you use in the run. Sitting further back on the bike can make you use the same muscles biking as you do running and can hurt your running time. I felt very unstable, almost to the point of being scared and unsafe, on my tri bike the first time I got on. Just practicing on it for 10 minutes riding down an empty alley made me feel more comfortable. Now I really like it and don't know why distance riders don't use aero bars.
How can people look at a Triathlon bike and know what model it is? It's not as hard as you think. Most bike manufacturers have about three Time Trial (TT)/Triathlon bike set ups they sell. So if you look at the brand, and learn the difference between entry level, mid grade, and "Woah! You are rich/sponsored", you'll be at a good place. Some models are almost visually identical, except for the paint jobs and minor pedal or gear changes, for 3-6 years before the line is upgraded.
BH
Aerolights seem to all have the same carbon fiber frame with a rear wheel cover in the frame.
Aerolight 9.9 Deep carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.7 Deep carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.5 Medium carbon wheels
Aerolight 9.3 Medium carbon wheels
Kit Cuardo BH Aerolight
Aero 2 is carbon fiber frame but no rear wheel cover
GC Aero 2 8.9 meduim depth carbon wheels
GC Aero 2 8.7 Deep Carbon wheels
GC Aero 2 8.5 training wheels
Kit Global Aero
Cannondale
The Slice series have a carbon fiber frame, rear wheel cover, and a reputation for holding records in the Ironman Distance Triathlons.
The Slice RS frames have a flat top tube, all carbon, many straight bold lines, a vertical seat post, a think frame behind the fork, and rear wheel shielding. The back of the frame ends in a point.
Slice RS SRAM RED Black Inc. $11,000
Slice RS Hi-Mod Ultegra Di2 $7,200
Slice RS Hi-Mod Ultegra $5,550
The Slice RS frames have a little more curve to them in the frame behind the headset than the less expensive line. I know someone with the Slice 5 who likes it.
Slice Hi-MOD SRAM RED-$4,420
Slice 3 Ultegra-$3,100
Slice 5 105 $2,450
Cervelo 2013 lineup
http://www.cervelo.com/en/bikes/p-series.html
Cervelo is the most popular triathlon brand for racers. Cervelo has four lines. the R series is classic road. The S Series is aero road. The P series is TT/Triathlon. The T series is single speed track.
P2-no real wheel cover-frame was made in both aluminum and carbon until 2010 when they went full carbon. $2,600
P3-Most triathlon wins are on this bike model because the model has been around for so many years-carbon body/wheel cover. Carbon fiber frame with wheel cover. $3,600
P5-Better wheel cover and more aero brakes. Better wheels. Considered one of the best. $10,000
Felt 2013 lineup
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2013/TT-TRI/DA-Series/DA1.aspx
The D and B series do not have a gap above the back wheel, which is good for aerodynamics. The cheaper S series does which is less aerodynamic. The cheaper S series also is made of aluminum. The D series has a more prominent rear fork coming out of the seat post than the B series.
DA1-carbon fiber frame-$10,329
DA2-carbon fiber frame-$7,749
DA3-carbon fiber frame-$5,169
DA4 and DA4W-carbon fiber frame-$3,729
B2-carbon fiber frame-$6,199
B12-carbon fiber frame-$3,099
B16 and B16W-carbon fiber frame-$2,069 (A good friend has this and sees no reason to upgrade. I like it.)
S32-aluminum frame-$1,449
Giant
Trinity Advanced SL-Comes with deep carbon wheels, vertical seat with rear wheel cover $13,400
Trinity Composite-carbon fiber frame-rear wheel cover-entry level wheels- $5,100
Orbea-All nice looking carbon fiber bikes with rear wheel cover
Ordu SSJ- Entry level wheels. upward sloping top tube $2,299
Ordu GLT Deep carbon wheels, downward sloping top tube $4,499
Ordu GLI2 Same frame as GLT $5,499
Ordu GRD Same frame as GLT $5,999
Quintana Roo
http://www.quintanarootri.com/bike_lineup.asp#shiftseries
Shift Series-All look like they have the same carbon frame with wheel cover, front brake behind stem. The Illicito has some minor upgrades from the CD0.1. The CD0.1 looks good!
Illicito-higher carbon fiber construction, absence of left side seat stay, claims lowest drag coefficiant of any modern design. Mid depth Reynolds carbon wheels.
CD0.1 Di2-Electronic shifters (I think),Available Reynolds Strike wheelset
CD0.1 Dura Ace-Reynolds Wheelset. TriMax TT Carbon Crankset-flat bars
CD0.1 Race-Ultegra, includes Reynolds wheelset
CD01 Ultegra- Ultegra. available Reynolds wheelset ($3,199)
CD0.1 Camo-Ultegra. available Reynolds wheelset (just a different paint job?)
CD0.1 Team-frameset only
Fit series, (less aggressive)
This tier of bikes looks like they share a basic aluminum frame, different paint jobs though, with no wheel cover and entry level wheels.
Lucero-SRAM Red
Seduza-Ultegra
Dulce-105
Kilo C-SRAM Rival
Specialized
Third most popular Tri bike brand I think.
Shiv http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/shiv
S-Works Shiv TT Module (Frame and crank only) $6,100
S-Works Shiv Module (Frame and crank only) $5,800
Comp Rival Mid Compact $3,300 (All these look similar. Fat aero downtube with rear wheel shielding. Carbon fiber frame.)
Shiv Pro OSBB Frameset $2,800
Transition Apex - carbon frame-has rear wheel shielding. Less dramatically fat downtube. Top tube has a hump. $2,200
Shiv Elite Apex Mid-Compact $1,550 (Standard entry level. Aluminum frame, carbon fork. slight hint at rear wheel shielding.)
Trek
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/triathlon
Known more for road bikes than tri bikes, Trek still offers a nice tri product. It doesn't have complete rear wheel shielding, which I find odd. It claims it has wind tunnel tested all competitors and the only thing faster than the 7 series is the more expensive 9 series. These do have DuoTrap section built in to measure speed, distance, and cadence without adding drag.
Speed Concept 9 series $6,089.99-$11,549.99 (9.5, 9.8, 9.9 with women's versions for the 9.5 and 9.8) Has brakes built into the frame. Doesn't have exposed cables.
Speed Concept 7 Series (7.0, 7.5, 7.8 with women's versions for the 7.0) $2,729.99-$4,619 Full carbon. Has exposed front brake and brake cables and doesn't completely wrap the rear wheel.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a list of tri bike manufacturers. http://www.trijuice.com/2006/12/triathlon_bike_manufacturers.htm
Thursday, March 21, 2013
PowerPoint can be used to create clickable wireframes
PowerPoint can be used to create a working visual representation of an application with links that are clickable and which then take you to the resulting screen (another slide).
If you took a screen shot of the Google search page with a query for "space", you could put that on one slide. Then you could take a screen shot of what the google results are for 'space' after you clicked "Search". Then on the first screen, you could use the following process to make the area around the "Search" button clickable and take you to the next slide with the search results, so it feels like you are actually performing the search.
Have something you want to click on, like a link or a 'Confirm' button.
Insert a shape from the toolbar (probably a rectangle or circle/oval).
Make sure it is filled (otherwise it won't be clickable).
Set it to transparent.
Then move the transparent shape over the button or word you want to click.
With the transparent shape selected, click on 'Insert' then 'Action'. You can then choose what you want clicking on it to do.
You can select another PowerPoint slide from the list of things, like playing a sound, etc.
So clicking on the 'Confirm' button you created, will then advance the PowerPoint slideshow to another slide that has the resulting confirmation screen.
During a presentation, the cursur will turn into a finger and allow you to click on this.
You can then have the invisible shape clicked on,
Office also has dropdowns and stuff you can add to make it look like an application. It's recommended that you use the Active X ones so you can move them around more easily. You will have to add the 'Developer' tab to see them. See the link below to see how to turn that on.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/bb608625.aspx
If you took a screen shot of the Google search page with a query for "space", you could put that on one slide. Then you could take a screen shot of what the google results are for 'space' after you clicked "Search". Then on the first screen, you could use the following process to make the area around the "Search" button clickable and take you to the next slide with the search results, so it feels like you are actually performing the search.
Have something you want to click on, like a link or a 'Confirm' button.
Insert a shape from the toolbar (probably a rectangle or circle/oval).
Make sure it is filled (otherwise it won't be clickable).
Set it to transparent.
Then move the transparent shape over the button or word you want to click.
With the transparent shape selected, click on 'Insert' then 'Action'. You can then choose what you want clicking on it to do.
You can select another PowerPoint slide from the list of things, like playing a sound, etc.
So clicking on the 'Confirm' button you created, will then advance the PowerPoint slideshow to another slide that has the resulting confirmation screen.
During a presentation, the cursur will turn into a finger and allow you to click on this.
You can then have the invisible shape clicked on,
Office also has dropdowns and stuff you can add to make it look like an application. It's recommended that you use the Active X ones so you can move them around more easily. You will have to add the 'Developer' tab to see them. See the link below to see how to turn that on.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/bb608625.aspx
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