Google Maps 8-bit for NES
Google Maps is now available for 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment Systems (NES). Availability in Google Store is TBD but you can try it on your browser by going to http://maps.google.com and clicking “Quest” in the upper right hand corner of the map.
It’s Not a Priority
Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.” If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.
2012 Personal Goals – Create one Android application
Last year one of the goals that I ignored was to create one Android application. Android is an operating system for mobile devices like phones and tablets. This year I want to try again. I have no idea what the app will be but I just want to do something basic to get back into coding. It will hopefully stretch me some and lead to other apps and projects.
I have been using Android since I bought the Motorola Droid on the day it was released October 17, 2009. If the iPhone was available on Verizon originally instead of AT&T this story may have been different. I have been using “smartphones” since around 2004 I think. I have been doing some research on all the cell phones I have purchased over the years dating back to around 2002. The first cell phone I used was senior year of college that Kyli bought for me. I can’t find the model number but it was just a basic flip phone. I had a palm pilot around that time and saw the value of email, calendar, etc on the go. The funny thing was there was no internet on that device so what could I have done with it? Ha! When it came time to upgrade cell phones I decided it was time to stop carrying a palm pilot and a cell phone. So I purchased my first smartphone the Samsung SCH-i600 which ran windows mobile. This phone was expensive but it did have data.
I have had more smart phones than dumb phones. All but 1 of my phones had internet. I have always been an early adopter of technology and I have paid the price for it. Here is a summary of the phones I have owned.
First Cell Phone – unknown model but it was just a basic flip phone that had a small external screen and keypad/larger screen when opened. I can still picture it but after searching extensively I haven’t run across it yet.
Samsung SCH-i600 – Windows Mobile 2002, 200MHz processor, 2.2 inch 176×220-pixel screen, and weighed 5 ounces. The original price was $499. (pictured above)
UTStarcom XV-6700 – Windows Mobile 5.0 and has EV-DO, WiFi, Bluetooth, 64MB of RAM, 128MB of flash ROM, a miniSD memory card slot, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera, a 416MHz processor, a 2.8-inch, 320 x 240 LCD display, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for $299.
LG Voyager – 2.8-inch, 400-by-240-pixel touch screen, stereo speakers, 2 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, EV-DO, 3G, GPS, and 4.69 ounces for $299.
Motorola Droid – Android 2.0, Wi-Fi networking, 5-megapixel digital camera, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth, 3.7-inch 854×480 touchscreen display. It also includes microSDHC support with bundled 16 GB card, free turn-by-turn navigation from Google Maps, sliding QWERTY keyboard, and Texas Instruments OMAP 3430 processor running at 550 MHz. The original price was $199.
Samsung Galaxy Nexus – Android 4.0, 4.65-inch 1280×720-pixel HD Super AMOLED curved glass display, dual-core 1.2 GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 1.3 MP front camera and 5 MP rear camera, 4G; Wi-Fi a/b/g/n; Bluetooth; GPS, barometer, NFC, and 32 GB of internal storage. The original price was $299.
Well that was a fun tangent. I will work on a post just about my Galaxy Nexus with details about the software and configuration. All that to say I like Android and need to work on an app. Have any ideas? Let me know.
P.S. I was glad to see one of the biggest Apple fanboys has become a Google employee as of tomorrow.
Fax Free Friday
Today I am declaring Fax Free Friday. Instead of using your fax please send an email. Your IT person will thank you!
Picture via http://thedoghousediaries.com/1251
2012 Personal Goals – Rethink Food and Exercise
Over the last three years I have focused a great deal of effort on learning about money. I cleaned up all my debt except for my house (which I refinanced to a 15 year fixed) and started giving, saving and investing. This has been a monumental shift for me and will hopefully return great dividends in the future. I read a few books on the subject but Dave Ramsey spiked my interest initially.
This year I want to do the same except with nutrition. Since freshman year of college I have been gaining weight (sometimes on purpose but most of the time not). To compensate for this weight gain I was running on and off. I would gain some weight over months or years and then run everyday until I was back down to a “normal” weight. Over the course of one year (2006 I think) I lost 45 lbs running 12-15 miles a week and eating differently. I always thought that I would just eat whatever and run when I needed to lose some pounds.
This past summer/fall I was running again and really got tired of it. I replaced my running time (6am – 7am) with reading and don’t want to give up my morning reading time. I started thinking about what if I was just more careful with what I ate. Would I be able to eat healthier and not feel like I had to run every morning? Could I exercise less and enjoy it more? Could I enjoy less sugar and more whole foods?
I don’t know the answer but I am asking the questions. I have changed my diet around in January to include a lot more fruits and vegetables than before. Over the 2.5 months I have lost more weight than I expected and I am anxious to see what happens after twelve months. If you know of a great book on nutrition please let me know.
2012 Personal Goals – Read through the entire Bible in one year
This year I really want to spend more time reading books. One book I have never read cover to cover is the Bible. I confess to believe the Bible as the basis for my faith and this year I am going to read the entire thing. Some people probably think I am weird for wanting to read this old book about religion but whether you believe it or not you can’t argue with some of the wonderful stories and wisdom this book contains. If you don’t believe me check out one of my favorites… the story of Joseph. If you don’t know the story you can read it starting in Genesis 37.
Last year I read through the New Testament thanks to some help from LifeChurch.tv‘s YouVersion Bible App. All you need to do is download the app, choose a reading plan, and start reading. Each day you open up your reading plan there is a new section to read and complete. You can read it on your phone and some translations come with an audio Bible that you can listen to. The Bible app has helped completely change my outlook on reading the Bible.
This year I chose the One Year Bible reading plan and have only missed 2 days so far. I find that I can read best first thing in the morning and so I try and leave myself an hour each morning to read the Bible and to read from whatever other book I am working on.
Have you read the Bible cover to cover? If not join me.
http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/the-one-year-bible