Category Archives: Journalism
The Technology of Democratic Elections
Technology, 2012!
It wasn’t long ago that elections were decided by decades-old technologies – newspaper, television and radio were the major outlets for those campaigning. Like most industries, the internet has ushered in new methods for spreading information and awareness. This past election is no exception.
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
Yes, There are Lies on the Internet
You might have read recently about the fate of hundreds of thousands of computers that are infected with something being called “DNSChanger.” This infection isn’t a virus but a spyware infection. As the stories go (yes, I am choosing that word carefully) these computers will stop working on July 9th, 2012, when the FBI shuts off the control system that these infected computers are communicating through.
Disaster Pictures from Vermont Storm May 2011
Vermont Storm Disaster Pictures – May 20, 2011
It was a horrendous day that we all wanted to forget in many places in Vermont. Who new that just a few months later we would when the disaster of Hurricane Irene came through and made much of the May damage look like a comparative cakewalk. I wasn’t able to work this day as so many of my clients suffered damage or without power. I lost power at home so I decided to drive around and see what I could do to help. Fortunately I brought my camera. Here are the best of the disaster pictures.
HipGeo Write Up Live at A New Domain
If you like social apps, or travel apps, check out my write up at A New Domain on HipGeo.
HipGeo Main Screen
Twitter Has Taught Me Much
Twitter Education in 140 Characters
I sent my first tweet in April of 2009. In nearly three years I’ve learned a lot about the web, humanity and marketing, all from Twitter. I expect the first thing I learned from Twitter was the first thing everyone learns – efficiency. In life I have a tendency to ramble, which clearly has no place in Twitter.
Fairsearch Piece is up at Groovypost
Fairsearch Piece is up at Groovypost
BYTE never wanted this, but it’s already causing some havoc. Two of the people quoting it have seen it – one referenced it on his blog and the other sent me a grumpy email. 
So, here it is – my piece on Fairsearch and their approach to Google’s market dominance.
http://www.groovypost.com/news/fairsearch-ironic-name-google-haters/
I did my best to stay fair and balanced. My opinion is probably pretty clear from the piece, but I followed journalistic standards as best I could. I even talked to some journalists to make sure I was following proper procedure. This piece is on the up and up.
ZeroPC Review at BYTE
My review of the ZeroPC web based desktop went live this morning over at byte.com. Click here if you want to read it.
Steve Jobs Had Technology in His Blood
The Day We Were All a Mac, Goodbye Steve Jobs
There is no more polarizing question you can ask of a passionate computer user than “Mac or PC?” I’ve seen loud arguments arise from this question… with some of them nearly turning physical. Really. Yet, on October 5th, we were all “Macs” as we learned of the death of Steve Jobs.
The Winds of Change are Upon Us
Lately I’m having this feeling I just can’t shake – that tech, as I have known and loved it, is dead.
The rapid rise of hacking groups, the rampant malware infections and the desperate maneuvers to monetize using the personal data of users has reached a critical mass. These efforts used to be offset by substantial technological advancements and the passion of hobbyists and professionals alike. This is no longer the case.
I love tech, don’t get me wrong, but it has changed and it will never go back. As part of the BYTE relaunch team, I have been able to work closely with some amazing people who have been in the industry a very long time. They are brilliant, respected and have wonderful perspective. I see the change even in some of them and their writing. I don’t say this to be disrespectful, but the awe in tech as a whole, not just in writing, has disappeared.
I feel it myself. After all, how can you be excited about a new Android phone when there are 7 new units released per week? Laptops, desktops and operating systems don’t have much to differentiate themselves from previous models or even their competition. THIS is what Apple has figured out – they could release updates more often, but they don’t. In part, this is because they need to differentiate so people will buy the new units. They’ve found a way to get people passionate about their products, and it has little (not nothing) to do with their quality, features, or anything else. It’s the marketing. It’s the way you feel about your device. That feeling has been carefully crafted in a way that is nothing short of brilliant.
I don’t know what the solution is. I know we’ll never go back, but maybe tech has become too ingrained in our lives. Maybe we take it for granted – I know I do. When I take a step back and look at my desktop computer… with all of the parts and the software… even though I built it by hand… it still overwhelms me. The fact that it even works is amazing. I guess I need to re-open my eyes and see the world as I did as a child, when my TI-99-4/A was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.
Maybe we all need to do that.
Honored to be Part of TeamBYTE
Unlike a good number of my colleagues here at BYTE, I’m not a writer. Sure, I’ve written. In fact, my job requires a lot of writing, but I’ve never done it on so large a stage or for something like BYTE. Sometimes I think back to the emails I received from Gina – the early ones where she was telling me I was part of the team and what I needed to do next. It’s almost surreal to think about this journey over the last few months. I’ve already improved my writing and I’ve made some friends. I count myself lucky to be amongst company such as this. If this wasn’t sappy enough already, I’m honored that you, the reader, would actually spend the time to read this. For all I know, this could be a complete reboot of my career, and I am excited for the possibilities that BYTE may bring.
