*ddileo

Apple Watch & Beyond

This started out being a movie review. And it’s not. Odd, I know. I recently went to see Ex Machina, which is undoubtedly one of the best films in long time. The movie deals with A.I. and the future of technology in a great, thought provoking way. I started really thinking about what does technology really mean? And what really could be the future. I appreciate films like Ex Machina because they usher in thoughts that I would usually never be intelligent enough to carve up in my head. And by the way, for my review on the film, 1 word: Yes.

A side note: If Apple would just send me my watch already, I probably wouldn’t be stammering out 1,000 word thought pieces like a lunatic, but I digress. Here we go:

“The Watch is here” touts Apple’s slogan for its wearable computer, implying that the one and only time-piece that really matters has arrived. So much for the Rolex Cosmograph and Seiko Astron when you can buy a stylish digital Apple Watch Sport, or even a booshy Apple Watch Edition crafted with 18-karat gold.

Of its many features and functions, the Apple Watch is a music player, fitness tracker, communications device, payment token and digital key. And it also tells the time. We were surprised that no one claimed that it will also help look after our kids. But not for long. There’s an app for that. So is there anything this device cannot do?

Who would have thought that the power of an internet-enabled laptop computer, mobile phone, iPod, fitness tracker, bank card and set of keys could be neatly packaged and strapped around your wrist?

And unlike other futuristic visions of hand-held communicators, the Apple Watch won’t leave you stranded in perilous situations because it’s dropped, stolen or falls out of range because it’s literally always connected to you.

Invisible ubiquity

This raises a key question: how will we change our behavior based on the fact that we are walking around with a fully-fledged computer – one that sits in contact with our bodies and communicates wirelessly with machines around us without us being explicitly aware of it?

According to the marketing spiel, we’ll have a lot more convenience at our fingertips. But, in actuality, we may find ourselves reaching for the mute button, longing to be disconnected, and fed up with all the notifications interrupting us. That’s when the novelty effect wears off.

We have probably witnessed people who cannot resist the urge of pulling out their mobile phone to interact with it at the most inopportune times or who pass their idle time simply looking down at a screen.

Most do not realize they are even interacting with their personal computer devices for hours each day. The repetitive behavior has almost become a type of tic disorder which is neurobehavioural.

We get a message, it makes us feel important. We reply and get a buzz the very next time it happens again. It’s kind of like digital ping pong. And the game can get tangible fast. The main reason this repetitive behavior remains hidden is that the majority of smartphone users suffer from this, so it looks normal.

You can see people in public spaces immersed in virtual places. These Wi-Fi-enabled mobile contraptions can also trigger a host of internet-related addictions, whether used for gaming, answering mail, web surfing, online transactions, social media, we-chatting, or taking a tonne of photographs.

According to experts, internet addiction disorder (IAD) can ruin lives by causing neurological complications, psychological disturbances and social problems. This is not to mention the potential for accidents when people are not looking where they are going or not paying attention to what they should be doing. In short, our need to be always online and connected has become a kind of cybernarcotic drug.

Little device, big data

Very few of us are immune to this yearning for “feedback loops”, so telecommunications operators and service providers pounce on this response. Information is money. And while we are busy interacting with our device, the companies are busy pocketing big money using our big data.

We are fast becoming a piece of digital information ourselves, sold to the highest bidder. And while we are busy rating ourselves and one another, the technology companies are not only using our ratings to learn more about our preferences and sentiments, but rating us as humans. In sociological terms it’s called social sorting, and in policing terms it’s called proactive profiling.

In days gone by, mobile communications could tell data collectors about our identity, location, even our condition. This is not new. But the real-time access and precision of this level of granularity of data gathered is something we should be all aware of as potentially impinging on our fundamental human rights.

Because they interface directly with the human body, watches have the capacity to tell a third party much more about you than just where you’ve been and where you are likely to be going. They can:

Detect physiological characteristics like your pulse rate, heart rate, temperature which can say a lot about your home/work/life habits
Determine time, distance, speed and altitude information derived from onboard sensors
Identify which apps you are using and how and why you are using them, minute by minute
Oversee the kinds of questions you are asking via search engines and text-based messages you are sending via social media.

Apple watcher

These watches will become integral to the fulfillment of the Internet of Things phenomenon: the ability to be connected to everyone and everything.

All in all, private corporations can glean what you are thinking, the problems you are facing, and they know your personal context. What is disturbing is that they can divulge some of your innermost personal thoughts, intentions and actions, and have evidence for the reasons we do things.

Many people immersed in the virtual world are too busy to be thinking about the very act of inputting information onto the internet. People value a life of convenience over privacy too much to be genuinely concerned what information is being logged by a company and shared with hundreds of other potential partners and affiliates.

And consumers are often oblivious to the fact that, even if they are doing nothing at all, the smart device they are carrying or wearing is creating a type of digital DNA about their uniqueness.

Today, we are asking to be monitored and are partying in the prison. We have fallen in love with the idea of being told about ourselves and don’t discern that we have become like prison inmates who are being tracked with electronic bracelets.

By the time we wake up to this technological trajectory, it may be all too late. Our health insurance provider might be Samsung, our telecoms provider may be Google, and our unique lifetime identifier could come from Apple. At present, these are the archetypal tech providers. But tomorrow, who knows?

There is no shortage of wearable devices these days that can track and log vast amounts of data about your activities.

And by that time, we will likely be heralding in the age of discontentment where we posit that cellphones and wristwatches are not enough, that the human-computer interface should go deeper, penetrating the skin and into the body.

The new slogan might read “The Mark is Here”, herald the iPlant, that which gives birth to life, the one and only passport to access your forever services.

“You can’t live without it”, may soon no longer be just figurative, but a reality. If you believe the bible, you’ve already known this.

Links

Great article by John Gruber over at Daring Fireball regarding Apple Watch. He compares the “need” for the Watch to the initial “need” of the iPad. Really well done stuff and in my opinion needed. So many people are tripping over themselves wondering “What do I need a Apple Watch for?” The answer is simple, you don’t.

The right question is simply “Do you want one?”

It’s about desire, not necessity. Convenience, fun, and style are not needs. They’re wants. And people will gladly pay for what they want. The iPad faced similar misguided criticism. How many times did you hear or read someone say of the iPad, “Why would anyone who already has a phone and a laptop need an iPad?” That was the wrong question, because almost no one needed an iPad. The right question was “Why would someone who has a phone and laptop also want an iPad?”

Read the rest of John’s thought here: http://daringfireball.net/2015/04/watch_apple_watch

Technology

Waiting for the Watch

Over the course of investigating the now announced Apple Watch, I’ve researched countless articles of people who have spent extended time with it.

First things first though. It must be said, Apple completely screwed up this launch date situation. Even now, there are commercials that point to a “launch” date of April 24, 2015. This is completely inaccurate for 99% of the world. The real story is Apple either didn’t know the demand for this would have been so immense, or this is all one big marketing ploy (judge for yourself.) Regardless you won’t even be able to walk into a store until June to buy one. Only the select few who preordered within 3 (yes 3) minutes will be eligible to receive theirs on launch date. Yikes.

Anyhow, I digress.

In my research I’ve found a bunch of interesting details, but by far the biggest recurring theme is how little you use your iPhone once you have one.

People that have worn the Watch say that they take their phones out of their pockets far, far less than they used to. A simple tap to reply or glance on the wrist or dictation is a massively different interaction model than pulling out an iPhone, unlocking it and being pulled into its merciless vortex of attention suck.

One user stated that they nearly “stopped” using their phone during the day; they used to have it out and now they don’t, period. That’s insane when you think about how much the blue glow of smartphone screens has dominated our social interactions over the past decade.

In my research, there are a few ways its clear Apple is making this happen.

The Watch will have more context about you than a phone alone ever could. For example, it takes your heart rate periodically, providing you with a last-checked time, which could offer major benefits to health applications and other contextual processes.

Here’s a tidbit you might not know — in order to receive notifications from apps, the Watch must be on your wrist and locked. The Watch requires contact with your skin to receive notifications. There will be no in-app dropdown notifications or constant pinging while it’s off your wrist. Push notifications also cease when the battery reaches 10 percent. Those decisions speak to the care with which Apple is handling notifications.

The notifications are also different at an elemental level than the ones on your phone — both on the developer and user side of things. These are seen right away rather than at some point. You act on them quickly and they don’t stack up like they do on the phone.

There is that added bit of context because you know exactly when they got it, which means that time-sensitive notifications like those that recommend a precise establishment or ping you during a live event become much more germane.

One user said they nearly “stopped” using their phone during the day; they used to have it out and no they don’t, period. If you’re a developer who deals with notifications you know how powerful that could be.

And, as a user, those notifications activate as part of the app right on the Watch home screen, allowing you to act on them without any sort of sliding, unlocking or other junk. These are immediate, actionable items that you can access without the obligations inherent in taking out your phone.

Because the screen of the Watch is so small, there has been a lot of talk about its use as a “notification window.” Yes, notifications are a powerful part of it, but the mechanics of the device actually support much, much more than that.

People that have used the Watch extensively say that the touch targets are actually very precise and sensitive. This means that you will be able to trigger smaller buttons and interactive elements fairly easily. (As a note, the unusual clustered home screen layout means that the “hot” spots for apps will be at the edges, rather than the center. This way you can jet out to the edge of a group in any direction and find an app. Your “bottom row” will become your “outer ring.”)

The digital crown is an important part of the navigation process and has been matched precisely to the scroll velocity. This should give a sense of context that helps when viewing on the smaller screen, as you’re not chasing the scroll with your finger. It’s also changed physically since the Watch was first shown off, and now has more friction for a weightier, higher-end feel.

Pressing and holding the crown activates Siri, which sources have said works incredibly well on the Watch. It can be used for labeling, directions, commands executed by the phone and more. If — and this is a big IF as Siri has been hit and miss over the years for me — if it is truly a “say it and forget it” experience, the confidence in using your wrist as a “commander” for your life is expansive.

Why Watch?

You’re not going to give up your smartphone. That bargain has already been struck. We get access to an entire universe of information and communication and we sacrifice our attention on its smooth glass altar.

But the Apple Watch can return some of that attention and, more importantly, time back to you.

If you argue the Watch isn’t going to sell or do well, it’s worth pointing out that there are very, very, very few products that allow you to hand someone cash and be given back TIME.

In my opinion, this will be the Apple Watch metric to track: time saved.

Think about it, really the only resource we all have exactly in common is time. Kings don’t have more of it than peasants. Not everyone will be able to afford an Apple Watch (or even an iPhone), but if they’re in an economic situation where that’s feasible then they’re also in the situation where they are probably willing to trade money for time.

And that is the target market of the Apple Watch. Not “rich people” (though there’s a model specially for them), not “tech geeks” and not “Apple fanatics.” It’s people who want more time, and that is a very large target.

This, for some reason, is the thing that Apple has had a hard time articulating. This is the primary use case of the Watch. It’s not just that it’s a “notification center”; it’s that it allows you to act without any additional distraction.

For now, the iPhone is a dominant business for Apple and the smartphone is a domineering force in our daily lives. But one day something will come along to destroy it. And, as Apple has expressed many times in the past, it is willing to be the one that finds that thing. With the Apple Watch, we could be seeing the beginnings of that process.

Perhaps someday, the Apple Watch could do the impossible: it could make you stop using your phone.

Personally, mine is set to be shipped in June. I’m looking forward to trying out some of these theories. I will update my thoughts as time passes!

Deep Thoughts, Memories of Nonni

A Walk in the Park

My early teen years were very difficult for me. My parents divorced and many things were changing. I don’t take well to alterations in my life for some reason and back then all I knew was constant change. I was consistently was on edge. I wanted to tell this story first and foremost because it paints a very clear picture of my Nonni and her kindness. Secondly and less important, someone once told me the way to really find out who you are is to be open and transparent and above all honest in aspects of life you are not proud of. The moment these acts played out, they were meant to be told, I just haven’t told anyone until now.

High School is a tough time for anyone I think. Maybe not by Junior/Senior year, but Freshman year for certain . I was going into high school with a large focus on sports. I didn’t know many people going to my school but I knew some members of my future basketball team because we were already practicing the summer prior to freshman year.

This story begins on one of the first Fridays of the school year. Everyone I knew at that point in school were talking about meeting up with girls and hanging out at an undisclosed location. I remember feeling uncomfortable and pressured so when it came time to say if I was in, I nervously backed out. It wasn’t that I didn’t like girls, but my self confidence level at this point in my life wasn’t very high. The last thing I wanted was to be put in a situation that people could make fun of me. I played it safe and backed out.

As I look back at that point in my life, I let a lot of people use me as a punching bag. They knew I wouldn’t hurt anyone, so they always took jabs at me, verbal jabs that is. I let it pass, quite honestly because I thought it made people feel good. And coming from a broken house, I would do just about anything to make someone feel good, unfortunately even at my own expense.

I wouldn’t be going to the “gathering.” Instead a perfectly good night was going to be spent working on a short film and re-watching Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. I remember being in a Vertigo funk. I had a theory that James Stewert’s character actually died in the first sequence and I needed to do some re-watching to fill some holes in that theory. Sounds riveting, doesn’t it? But that was me in early high school days, a film nerd who could tell you unhealthy amounts of film facts from decades before my birth. It wasn’t that I was unsociable, I just had my own little world that I felt comfortable in and when that space became hindered I always fell apart.

When I got home from school that Friday, my mom informed me that I wouldn’t be staying home that night. She told me my Nonni needed help moving some big furniture and asked if I could aid. As much as I loved and would do anything for my Nonni, I didn’t want my night of movie watching to be disturbed. It was one of those “I know this is wrong to not help and I just don’t care” moments. But my mom didn’t care and off I went being driven to Nonni’s house on a Friday night.

When I arrived Nonni always greeted me with a smile. To my shame this particular time, I didn’t give one back. Nonni didn’t care. Little stuff like that didn’t faze her in the least. She was just happy I was there.

I helped her move the furniture which was a small end table . I still remember thinking that she could have done all this on her own. I was upset because I felt like my time there wasn’t really needed and all the while I could have been home working on my short film and ultimately smoothing out some bumps from my Vertigo theory. I was selfish.

After the furniture got moved Nonni asked me if I wanted to go to the park for fresh air. A routine we did consistently since I was young. Reluctantly, I went. In an even worse mood that I had when I arrived.

She never took the direct route to the park. She was big on talking so Nonni didn’t mind taking a longer way to the park. When I was younger I really enjoyed this. But at this time it just added to my frustration.

The sun was just setting and the weather was exceptionally good for a walk. Nonni had a habit of picking up a flower and touching it during our walks. She did this while talking almost professionally. I couldn’t tell you what we talked about and I don’t remember much but unfortunately what came next is one of the more stark memories I can recall.

We were walking back to her car. The night was finally over. All I had to do was wait for my mom to pick me up at Nonni’s house. As we were about half way to her car a bunch of loud Honda civics and racing type cars pulled up to the park parking lot. I looked and sure enough these cars looked familiar. They were people from my High School. In some weird coincidence they picked the exact park to have make out sessions in that my Nonni and I were walking at.

It didn’t take long. They recognized me instantly and began belittling me. Making fun of the fact I was walking with my Nonni at sunset in a park. One of my most treasured memories as a kid was now being ripped apart by my new day to day life of school. I began getting nervous and anxious. The insults kept coming in and I just dropped my head and closed my eyes. It felt like I was being hunted and had a gun pointed at me. I was helpless and frozen.

Nonni sensed all this and she softly held my hand to try and comfort me. Almost immediately the laughter and insults grew. I quickly snatched my hand from her, angrily.

I don’t exactly remember how it all finished but, we ended up in her car. It was quiet and I was a combination of humiliated and ashamed. Nonni gathered and very gently asked:

“Whats wrong Danny? Are you ok?” And I said “No, I’m not ok!” almost shouting. And she’s like “whats wrong?” And I said “Don’t you understand Nonni? Im not who you think I am.” And Nonni innocently says “Well, what do you mean Danny?” I say “Nonni I’m a loser.” She says ” oh no your not, why do you think that?” I snap. And I say “I’m here with you on a Friday night, look at me, I’m a loser.” She just stared at me with a confusing look on her face.

We drive away in silence, I had never rose my voice before to anyone in my lifetime and that moment sort of cemented I would try my best to never again. Honestly speaking, I learned I’m the type of person who gets hurt more than the receiving end of me yelling at someone. This situation was all different for me and I remember crystal clear shaking as we drove home in silence.

We get back to her house and she quietly puts sauce on the stove and slowly but surely I start to smell it. Im just sitting there watching her do this. She’s not saying anything to me and this thick blanket of shame pours over me because I feel immensely bad for lashing out at her. I remember feeling I disappointed her. More devastating, I remember the familiar feeling of doing something to someone you love who didn’t deserve it. It hearkened to my parents divorce days, and this time I was the one on the ugly end.

A little time passes and things are still very silent. By the time the pasta has finished and Nonni makes me my bowl and places it in front of me. Her usual ritual would be to sit across and make small talk while she watched her “shows” out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t do that though. She just stayed behind me, standing. It seems odd and all I remembered thinking about at that point was she was going to yell at me at any second. The silence was so much. I had to break it. So I broke the air with “the pasta really is good, Nonni.” Nonni nodded her head and gently puts her hand through my hair and she says effortlessly “you got such a nice haircut, you look so handsome.” She paused and said: “I hope you know your the best boy Danny, I hope you know.”

The next Monday at school was bad to say the least. I heard it from everyone, asking if I was taking Nonni to the prom or if she was picking me up to walk home and hold hands. All stuff I expected I guess. But I was surprised it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. I just let it go. It went away after a while and basketball season started. And in an odd turn of events, I became uncomfortably popular throughout my High School career.

Nonni has been gone for years now and when I used to live in Connecticut I would make it a habit to revisit that route. I would drive to Nonni’s, wait there a bit. Then take her specialized directions to the park and walk around for a while in the same way we did. Drive back to her house and just sit in the parking lot and think of her. Think of how calm she handled that situation. A shameful young boy as insecure as the anyone who lashed out at a person who loved him with all her heart, yet she was loving. It was still important for her to make me feel good. To be supportive. She had an unwavering positive image of me that I don’t quite understand or know how to place.

In the time that Nonni has passed, I try to do everything I can to be the person Nonni saw me as. The truth is i’m not that person. I’m mostly selfish and always considering myself before others. I don’t have an inch of Nonni’s genuineness in me. I may try and trick myself from time to time, but its fails compared to Nonni’s meekness. She has set the bar so high for me that sometimes I stand amazed by her and she provides a good reminder for myself to always try and improve, if not for me, for others around me.

If she were here today I would do anything to take her to that park for a walk on a Friday evening. I wouldn’t care who saw me. Because she didn’t. All she cared about was being there with me. As look back, I wish I could have said the same.

Movies

Cinderella 8/10

The release of Cinderella marks a triumphant return for Disney in the non-animated world. Cinderella is not only a throwback of great tradition, it proves to be a refreshment of sorts in the movie world. Equipped with magic, fairy-god mothers and evil stepmothers, Cinderella brings all it should while adding an updated, positive spin on our current world.

Disney’s synopsis of Cinderella: “Kenneth Branagh directs Disney’s 2015, live-action take on the classic fairy tale Cinderella, which stars Lily James as the put-upon young women forced to endure a life of labor at the hands of her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) after her father dies unexpectedly. Forced to do every menial chore imaginable, Ella maintains her good spirits and eventually strikes up a friendship with a stranger in the woods who turns out to be the prince. When the royal court holds a gala ball, Cinderella wants nothing more to attend, and although her stepmother won’t allow it, she gets help from a surprising source.”

I like to applaud films that whole families can feel comfortable watching together. The joy of going to the movies was never meant to be experienced alone and all too often now, this is the case. Cinderella not only is a great movie, but excels as a family film tremendously. The theater I attended was mostly families and moms and daughters which was heartwarming to witness. Also, it speaks a lot about Disney that they didn’t try and mess with Cinderella’s original recipe. It is exactly the same as you expect it to be. Although there are “updates”; the Cinderella you know and love is alive and well.

At times heavy handed but well meant, the words “Love” and “Courage” show up a bunch in the film. 2015’s Cinderella is really pushing that in a world of darkness, all you need is to have these characteristics. In my estimation thats a great message to deliver to everyone, not only youth. At it’s core, Cinderella is a film of a young woman who unquestionably gets the rawest end of any deal ever. But through her persistence, confidence and convictions of her loving parents, she endures. This Cinderella isn’t afraid to be straightforward with this, a trait I admired greatly.

Another appreciative factor of Disney’s reboot of Cinderella is it doesn’t rest on it’s laurels one bit. Sure this is an easy money-maker for Disney, but they spare no expense in cast or production. The acting is completely top notch also. From Lily James playing as soft and kind Cinderella as can be to the marvelous Cate Blanchett portraying the evil stepmother like an cold, dark fashion aficionado. Across the board, the acting in Cinderella is believable and more importantly, true to form.

Handsomely done and uncommonly good-natured, Cinderella is well worth the price of admission and sustains Disney’s classic. Whether a family outing or just curiosity brings you to the theater, be reassured your trip will not be taken in vain. Cinderella is plain, old fashion Disney fairytale tailored with glitter from head to toe. Gorgeous to look at and refreshing to experience once again.

8/10

Links

Writing w/ Purpose

Mike Alford on writing:

So here I am, writing about the things that are interesting to me and neglecting the things that aren’t. If because of this, I never make it ‘big’ whatever that means, I have decided I’m ok with it.

I echo what Mike is saying. When you have a blog and (some) audience, I personally have felt a tug to start posting things that may be more relevant to the reader then to myself. But the truth, that was hindering me to write.

Check out Mike’s post here. I think he expressed many thoughts and concerns writer’s have. It’s very straight forward and honest. Like a great writer needs to be.

Links

From Cancer to iPhone

Great post by Federico Viticci from Mac Stories, on how the iPhone is helping him recover from stage 4 cancer and live a healthier life:

“It’s strange to think that three years ago I was stuck in a hospital bed and now part of my plan is to track the food I eat with an app. But such is life and I immensely appreciate the fact that I’m having fun getting back in shape and doing what I haven’t done in a long time. I find it profound that we can improve our lives using technology, and, no matter how much time I’ll end up having, I’ll try to make my journey about enjoying life.”

Well worth your time to read

Movies

Focus 6.5/10

After a few recent missteps, Will Smith reemerges as charismatic and slick as his former years defined him in ‘Focus’. A film written and directed elegantly by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

Warner Bros states ‘Focus’ as: A veteran con man (Will Smith) is thrown off his game when his former lover and protege (Margot Robbie) unexpectedly appears and interferes with his latest — and very dangerous scheme.

Although frustrating at times, ‘Focus’ is uncommonly good for a February release. Filled with suspense and turns, ‘Focus’ certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat and will keep audiences continually guessing, unfortunately in this case, that isn’t always a great thing.

The first half of ‘Focus’ is close to flawless as it slickly delivers laughs and tense set pieces that more than pay off. You become invested in the world and the characters. The issue that plagues ‘Focus’ though, is the follow-through. The second half of the film feels genuinely forced in many areas. While undeniably fun, Focus is a bit frustrating when you get the sense of what “could have been.”

In many ways, ‘Focus’ is a double edge sword. The qualities that makes it great are also the qualities that hurt in the end. Focus depends on it’s twists and turns and for the most part, they are extremely impressive as well as effective. But at some point in the film you start to realize that ‘Focus’ is too deceptive for its own good. The film never lets the audience actually trust the movie itself and usually that’s a great element but for some reason in ‘Focus’, it felt forced.

Truth is, ‘Focus’ is the con man version of Will Smith’s 2005 hit “Hitch” except with less fulfillment. It’s slick, sly and altogether a very stylish experience. The issue is Focus lacks the depth of meaning that ‘Hitch’ brought. As the movie prolonges, its clear we’re not really “learning” anything, we just are along for the ride which isn’t a bad thing, but we never get a chance to actually care about many of these characters. Smith and Robbie perform admirably with what they are given, but it’s clear the ‘Focus’ lacks some polishing on basic third act story elements. Which is a wonder considering its gets the hard stuff so right. And that’s what makes the movie watching experience so disheartening.

By the end of viewing ‘Focus’ it was clear to me there is a fantastic movie here somewhere. The problem is it’s not on the screen. Maybe somewhere on the editing room floor. I wouldn’t not recommend ‘Focus’ though. Although too deceptive for its own good, it gives cinema-goers an enjoyable 2 hours to say the least. A smart, witty con movie that gets a good grade for its memorable moments and genuine effort.

6.5/10

Deep Thoughts, Technology

Uncertainty & iDevices

From time to time, I reevaluate my tech devices and their place in my life. Anyone who knows me will tell you I actually obsess and take extravagant amounts of time to decide what devices I need. An exhaustive process that seems required research at this point in my life.

I genuinely enjoy researching the tech world and following its pulse. Im continually aware of much of the happenings and usually know whats coming to market before most people in the tech world do. So, on that note, Lets begin:

I have made some great purchases in the tech world. Purchases that improved my life, saved me time and enabled me to create some lasting memories. This post is not about those. It’s about the others, the messy ones and most importantly, the possible future.

Allow me to give you a little insight into my previous history in my travels of owning and purchasing 2 particular devices before we get to the subject matter:

IPHONE HISTORY
It took me until the iPhone 4 to be comfortable enough and deem the iPhone platform worthy of my full time usage. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t make the attempt previously. I owned every iPhone before the 4th (that’s 3 different models) and to be honest, during the “3GS” era I bought and returned 4 of them (for those counting that’s 6 iPhones). Just a merger of indecisiveness and not being able to fully use the device for my personal needs. When the iPhone 4 came out, I think what really sold me was the technology that it was boasting was too far ahead of what I was using, and seamlessly, a nice friendship ensued. I’ve owned a 4,5 and now a shiny 6.

IPAD HISTORY
I actually didn’t own the first generation iPad. Truth being told, I had doubts it was a going to succeed. BUT, the iPad 2 came around and all it’s shiny marketing, I gave Apple my money. Returned the iPad 2 and felt good about the decision. Almost a month later I started to want an iPad again and I couldn’t understand why. I just did, which is very unlike me. I decided I was going to wait until the iPad 3 came out and spring for that. They announced it a few months later,I preordered, received and a week later, returned. iPad 4 announcement, I purchased, I returned. iPad Air announced, I purchased and sold on eBay. Currently I don’t own an iPad, but it should come to no surprise, that the iPad Air 2 is constant bait hanging in front of me.

Hopefully by now you get the gist. Now give me some time to defend myself. You are probably asking why the uncertainty? Why the indecisiveness? Well, I have no clue. So you can stop reading if you thought I solved this equation. But I have thoughts….

Here are some of my needs to keep devices, or actually anything for that matter:

Need #1
Most importantly, I need to feel I can use the item to its full potential. The iPhone took some time because I lived my whole life without one. We all did, and then all of sudden it was there. I felt uneasy for the first 3 iterations. Like I mentioned, once the 4 came out it was time and it just clicked, It didn’t take work for me to want one. It was natural.

With the iPad, I am still in this ocean of uncertainty. I don’t think I can ever purchase one again unless I can fully use it as my laptop replacement. Having both the devices seems wasteful to me. I love my mac and it pretty much goes everywhere with me. I write on it, edit video, manipulate files, save great articles, index picture categories, work on the back end of my blog, so much. Until I can do all this as easy with an iPad I just cant see myself owning one.

Let me make one thing clear though, I desperately long for that day to come. As you can see from my purchase history, I have attempted many, many times to squeeze an iPad into my life. Ive heard all types of comments from many people:

1. “It’s a leisure device”
2. “You don’t have to use it for everything”
3. “Just use it to browse the web, etc”

While I completely admire and am infinitely jealous of people who can rationalize owning a device for a few select uses, I just cant. So these suggestions never have helped me much.

Need #2
The device needs to have some legs. What I mean by that is whatever device it is, it needs to last a long time. Physically it needs to hold up and so naturally, build quality is important but technology wise, the device needs to not be “sherlocked” 6 months later by newer, better tech.

This is why I usually spring for Apple products. Apple is not so paranoid about specs. They make their devices with the idea of the “whole” product. This seems to make for a long lasting, great experience with their product.

So I constantly ask myself why? Why do I want one if I know I don’t. I think at least half the issue is a philosophical element. When the iPad works, it does things extremely well. It’s not clunky like my Mac, It’s smooth. The limited tasks it does, it handles exceptionally well. Sure my mac can do everything, but it’s not an elegant experience anymore. iPad is a single purpose, streamlined convertible. My mac is a multi purpose, gas guzzling truck. Couple that with the fact the iPad is less than half the weight of my mac and the battery life is extremely efficient. It just gives off different vibes.

So why write this? Well, the future draws nigh:

Lets fast forward a little bit. In April I have it on good sources Apple will venture into to untraveled seas and start selling a new category. Enter Apple Watch. Disclaimer: I don’t wear watches. I’m not really a jewelry person and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a “flashy” individual. Yet Apple is slowly selling me on the idea of a Watch. The other day, I re-watched the Apple Watch keynote and more and more, I see it playing a big role in my future.

Part of the reason for this post is to try and work the demons out. I don’t want the watch to be another iPad incident, where I buy and return 5 of them. (eek, not proud) And i’m confidently sure my wife would appreciate an efficient transaction now and again. So I’m aiming for one or none actually.

So at this moment I plan on purchasing but I am puzzled. How can I be extremely excited about buying a watch when I don’t like wearing them? This is stunning to me! Nonetheless, here I am.

An all too familiar feeling.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my uncertainty of iDevices as thoughts on Apple Watch permeate and release nears!

Movies

And the Oscar goes to…..

The Oscars are upon us! Film buffs and casual movie goers alike can rest assured on the night of Feb 22, awards will be distributed to good looking people wearing overly expensive clothes. All in all, the Oscars are a fun night for hardcore movie lovers or people just interested in seeing the latest fashion.

I love film and a show that celebrates the art is enough for me to be hooked. Film itself has such a huge tie in with my childhood and the Oscars always played a significant role. As a child, I loved to make predictions and see what came to be realized. Who would win and more importantly who should win. 2014 has been such a fantastic year for film. The following our my picks:

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

WHO SHOULD WIN?
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
WHO WILL WIN?
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Robert Duval, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

WHO SHOULD WIN?
Edward Norton, Birdman
WHO WILL WIN?
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

BEST ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

WHO SHOULD WIN?
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
WHO WILL WIN?
Julianne Moore, Still Alice

BEST ACTOR
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

WHO SHOULD WIN?
Michael Keaton, Birdman
WHO WILL WIN?
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

BEST DIRECTOR
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

WHO SHOULD WIN?
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
WHO WILL WIN?
Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman

and the big one…..

BEST PICTURE

American Sniper
American Sniper does a superb job of shining a light on a soldier’s real battle. About the war every soldier fights, first to stay alive, then to reconcile their beliefs and illusions about their duty with the realities of war. But eventually, the soldiers fight to leave the war behind and live life again. The film continuously follows Kyle as he struggles mentally to keep himself sharp. Fellow soldiers chime in more than one occasion to voice their mental instability also, it’s a balancing beam that no regular civilian can understand yet hopefully American Sniper helps you appreciate and gain awareness of.

Birdman
A fading actor (Michael Keaton) best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected. Lindsay Duncan, Zach Galifianakis, and Edward Norton co-star in this black comedy from Biutiful director Alejandro González Iñárritu.

Boyhood
Richard Linklater’s Boyhood is a coming-of-age drama that the director spent twelve years making. He cast a young boy, Ellar Coltrane, and shot the film a few days at a time for over a decade so that he could capture how his leading actor, and the rest of his cast, aged. The film’s story simply follows a boy named Mason (Coltrane) as he progresses from age 6 to 18 and deals with the typical travails of childhood like his parents’ divorce, bad stepparents, falling in love, finding his artistic voice. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette co-star as Mason’s parents. Boyhood should be celebrated not only in regards to it’s great filmmaking but also it’s theatrical experience is a monumental, first time achievement in cinematic history.

Imitation Game
At its core, Imitation Game isn’t great because it portrays a genius and makes us envious of his wit and intelligence. Instead, Imitation Game wisely highlights a man struggling with his identity and communicating himself to the rest of the world. His achievements are nothing short of brilliant, but his issues are as ordinary as the anyone else’s. If nothing more, Imitation Game displays no matter how smart someone is, or how different somebody seems, he or she is not perfect. At the end of the day, Imitation Game is a deep character study that deserves to be watched not only for historical value but the inner struggles of self identity and self worth.

Selma
David Oyelowo stars as Martin Luther King Jr. in this historical drama set during the height of the American civil-rights movement, and depicting the marches from Selma, AL, to the state capital of Montgomery to secure voting rights for black people. Selma focuses purely on MLK’s doubt, and in that moment you start to realize how much of history is made up on the fly, even by its great men — how close to ordinary a great man can be and thus how close to greatness ordinary people always are. “Selma” knows we want the story of the icon, but it’s the crowd, and King’s place in it, that surges history forward and gives this movie it’s lasting power.

The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson heads to Europe for the first time with this Indian Paintbrush production starring Saoirse Ronan, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, and Jude Law. Gustav H., the famous concierge at a legendary hotel situated in the Alps during the 1930’s becomes the center of a farcical whirlwind of suspicion when one of his institution’s oldest and richest patrons turns up dead, and she suspiciously leaves him her most priceless work of art — a Renaissance painting of a boy with an apple. Infuriated that she left anything of value to anyone else, the woman’s greedy and nefarious heir uses all manner of underhanded and illegal tactics to pin her death on Gustav and to silence anyone who questions his objective of inheriting every penny of her estate, leaving Gustav’s trusted lobby boy Zero to clear Gustav’s name and prove that the grand lady’s killer is none other than her own son.

The Theory of Everything
James Marsh’s biopic of the scientist Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything, stars Eddie Redmayne as the famous figure. Enrolled as a graduate student at Cambridge, Hawking establishes himself as one of the leading minds of his generation, and begins to win the heart of Jane (Felicity Jones). After one of his earliest breakthroughs, Hawking is diagnosed with ALS, and he becomes less and less able to control his own body. With the loyal Jane at his side, he continues his work. However, as the years progress, Jane starts to feel more like a nurse than a wife, and Hawking begins to have feelings for a woman who is hired to care for him.

Whiplash
A talented young jazz drummer experiences a trial by fire when he’s recruited by a ferocious instructor whose unyielding search for perfection may lead to his undoing. For as far back as Andrew Neyman can remember, he’s been watching his father fail. Determined to make a name for himself no matter what it takes, Andrew enrolls in a prestigious east coast music conservatory where his talent quickly catches the attention of Terence Fletcher a esteemed music teacher who’s notorious for his caustic approach in the classroom. The leader of the school’s top jazz ensemble, Fletcher promptly transfers Neyman into his band, giving the ambitious young drummer a shot at true greatness. He may achieve it, too, if Neyman’s methods don’t drive him to madness first.

WHO SHOULD WIN?

Boyhood

WHO WILL WIN?

Boyhood

2014 was a fantastic year for film. We sang “everything is awesome” in The Lego movie and cried with compassion in The Fault in our Stars. We were shaken with shock in American Sniper and in awe of the reach of Interstellar. We were surprised by the heart Guardians of the Galaxy displayed and were amazed at the story telling achievements of Boyhood. We can only hope 2015 is equipped with half the art, craft and talent that 2014 has left us with.

Enjoy the Oscars!