Tony's Brain

An Android Geek's Move to the iPhone 4S

2012-04-26T22:21:08Z

About 2 weeks ago, I went full on into the iOS Universe. I have owned (and loved) my iPad 2 for over a year, but during that time, I had been using an Android smartphone. My Samsung Captivate served me very well, and even allowed me to learn alot about how the Android development community functions. I spent many late nights with threads open on XDA Developers, reading up on the latest ROMs and checking out all the cool tricks people were doing. I was very lucky to have a piece of hardware that was incredibly similar to the Nexus S, a Google Developer device, so I almost always had the latest software.

Image Credit to Redmond Pie

As many technology centric people will tell you, however, that couldn't go on forever. Eventually, my phone began to show signs of aging. It refused to charge the battery properly, required a restart every time it came off the charger, and some days refused to turn on for hours at a time. I tired all the tricks a good geek would have (power cycling, clean wiping and rebooting, restoring to stock and building back up, etc.) but only got more frustrated with the whole situation.

A Cord Cutter's Nightmare: Suddenlink Responds

2012-03-31T19:54:39Z

Source: istudioweb.com

Last Sunday, I wrote a post about my current situation regarding bandwidth caps on my internet service account. As I said there, we are a group of cord cutters around here, and we only watch content that is streaming, purchasable for streaming, or purchasable for download (thanks to our new Apple TV and my MacBook Pro). While that does save us a considerable amount of money each month by avoiding a Cable TV bill (something like $70 a month), these newly implemented caps are seriously scary because they could really ruin it.

In that post, I pointed out that I felt like I was being bullied into purchasing a cable subscription by Suddenlink Communications. While writing that post was one of my lines of defense against what is, I fell, anti consumer behavior, I also wrote an email to Pete Abel, Suddenlink's Senior VP of Consumer and Corporate Relations, and expressed my concerns regarding the bandwidth caps. My email was essentially the same information I share in my post last week, and here is his response.

A Cord Cutter's Nightmare: Bandwidth Caps

2012-03-25T17:03:34Z

We (the three of us who live in 1217) are pretty heavy internet users. Tori and I play Star Wars: The Old Republic, stream music on Spotify, and watch all our television through our Roku streaming box. Zac takes part in the second two, and we all use Steam to buy and download games for our computers. I buy all of my music on iTunes or Amazon these days, and we do all of our consumption through legal means. By all accounts, we do everything right.

As you can see from the above paragraph, we are cord cutters. When we moved in, the decision was made to not pay for cable that we wouldn't really use. We decided that we could get by with streaming media services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video. When there was a show we wanted to watch close to release, like Doctor Who, we bought it on iTunes. We have never pirated any content. Like I said, we were doing everything right.

SOPA/Protect-IP Scares the Pants Off Me

2011-11-18T03:25:42Z

I have spent the past few days mulling over the implications of the so-called 'Internet Blacklist Bills' making thier way through Congress. I have read multiple articles regarding the possible implications of those bills, reviewed abbreviated versions of the major points, and even researched the arguments of various supporters in the American Government. After all that, I have come to one conclusion: These things outright scare me.

I know that you may not have heard of the bills I am talking about, so let me try to help you out. Now, I could spend some time trying to explain what it says and what it could do, but there is a great video I found for that. Watch it below, and then continue reading.

PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Okay, now that you have seen that, I hope you understand what I'm afraid of. While the idea behind these bills isn't too bad, the poor wording of the bill means that the powers it established could easily be abused. That could mean the effective shut down of any website the government chooses. We cannot allow that to happen.

What I want all of you to do is to write/call your Congressperson. Let them know that you are a voter, and that you do not want this bill to pass. The folks over at AmericanCensorship.org have made a web form for shooting them an email. However, many believe that calling them is the most effective way to get yourself heard. You can find the numbers you need here.

I have written my letters and called my Congressperson, and I hope you will. This is too important for us to sit idely by and allow to pass unnoticed. Tell the Government that it isn't okay for them to censor the Internet.

30 Days to (Maybe) Save My Life

2011-10-26T17:46:09Z

I have come to a decision: I am causing most of my 'health issues.' It can't be that a 21 year-old college student is constantly fatigued, nauseated, congested, and full of aches and pains because he is just built that way. I feel like my diet of cheap, fast foods has to at least be contributing to my feelings of illness. I fear that if I don't do something, it may lead me down a road that I cannot allow myself to travel down.

I have been reading studies for my classes, as well as watching numerous documentaries surrounding diet, and I feel like I need to go as extreme as I can stand to go. While I can't afford to go on a pure juice diet, like some have done, I think I can afford to go on a slightly modified vegan diet. For the uninitiated, vegan means that I would avoid all animal products. That means no meat, eggs, butter, milk, etc. However, due to my own reasons, I will continue to drink skim (fat-free) milk.

I also feel that this can only have real effects if I also change my physical life style. That means that I will need to start a true exercise program. That probably means going to a gym with other people, which makes me nervous. I'm not extremely self conscious, but I am a little. I hope i don't embarrass myself.

Given that the holiday season is coming on quick, I think that this project/experiment will have to wait until after the new year. Luckily, my incredibly loving wife has agreed to participate. We will iron out all of our details and I'll post more in the next couple months. Current target date is Jan. 1 through Jan. 30.

Work, Work, Work...

2011-08-02T03:52:16Z

It seems like all I do sometimes is work. With money being tight right now, I am working long hours to try and keep Tori and I afloat. I know she is still trying to find a job, but that doesn't mean we can not pay the rent. Its okay tho, because I can honestly say that I love my job(s).

I am still working multiple, although a couple of them can be easily slumped together. News blogging is a never ending cycle, it seems. Just as one story gets finished, another is waiting to be written. That isn't a bad thing, tho. It means that I can continue to pass along the news to my readers, and that always makes me happy. Luckily, I am working a set of beats that is always full of things to write about.

Unfortunately, with blogging comes trolls. I know that every blogger has to deal with them, and thats unfortunate. Sometimes I deserve to be trolled, and I will be the first to admit that. I will write a post with a very one-sided opinion, and that's not always the most popular thing. However, I do think that my opinions are always valid and truthful, and that's all I can hope to be.

It just seems like working in the spheres I do, I attract a large number of trolls. I suppose I deserve it for being an odd use case for most technology. I work on a MacBook Pro that runs both OS X Lion and Windows 7, I use an iPad daily, and I carry an Android phone. I'm like the uber-geek of consumer grade electronics, and that makes me an easy target. I just wish more readers would understand that I can use and love many platforms all while defending each platform's position.

Overall, my work serves its purposes. Sometimes it can be a real grind to sit in front of a computer daily, but that comes with any job I think. On the whole, I can truly say I love getting to work the way I do. My hope is to get to a point where blogging pays well enough for me to leave my "day job". I'm not sure I am cut out to be an office drone. That being said, I will keep going there as long as I need to.

I also know that I am ready for a break from my classes. I have essentially gone non-stop since sometime in March, and its getting a little tiresome. There are only class sessions left for this summer, and then I get a short break. I think I will use that time to pursue some personal projects, and to just be with my wife.

We are eagerly awaiting the return of our roommate, Zac. almost all of our things are out of his room, and I can't wait to have him here. He gives me someone to bounce my ideas off of, someone to have conversations with, and someone to waste time with. Not that I can't do those things with Tori, it's just not the same.

New Pursuits and Opportunities

2011-07-11T01:07:19Z

So Tori and I are doing what we can to make it. We have both taken to the internet to find sources of income and relaxation. As I speak, we are both writing blog posts. While thats not out of the norm for me to do on a daily basis now, the fact that she wrote one yesterday and is doing it again today is a little surprising. I can't wait to read what she writes this time. I love her so much.

So about the title. I start my job on campus tomorrow afternoon. I will be working two afternoons a week for the next few weeks. It's possible that the schedule will change after this class session. AS far as I know, I am going to be working with a computer the entire time. While that doesn't bother me, I think I'm starting to become jaded. I need to find an outlet.

I think one of my outlets is going to involve a computer, but something with some creativity involved. I am going to try and teach myself iOS development. While that sounds daunting (and possibly boring,) I am excited to give it a shot. I have downloaded a couple lecture series from iTunes, and will start going through them on the weekends coming up soon.

I am also trying to do non-computer things as soon as well. I have been trying new recipes in the kitchen, watching new shows, and even reading for pleasure at night. My next step is to start an exercise regime. I think that physical fitness would help me burn more energy, helping me to be a better blogger.

At the end of the day, I just need to help make ends meet. I'm thankful for the opportunities I have found. Both of the blogs I write for professionally have been great so far. I am enjoying the work, its really great. I just want to thank them publicly. I also want to thank my wife, Tori, and my loving family. YOu guys are being great right now, and I hope I will make you all very proud.

Blogging is Exhausting.

2011-06-24T01:41:14Z

I have decided to again try my hand at blogging professionally. I have a couple good gigs going for me now, but I have to tell you that this is more tiring than I had imagined. I got up today and did my best to put in a full day at the keyboard, and after about the 4th straight hour, I was ready to scream.

I think that I need to find a better system for handling work days. I need to try and walk around more, or even get some sort of standing desk type thing. I'm not sure what I need to do, but I know that I can't keep just sitting all day. I know that it will change when I start my 'day job' in the next couple weeks, but thats still a little far off to be thinking about.

Classes are going well, all things considered. I am ready for my lab class to finish, and we are just about to do the longest lab sessions of the entire course. I keep telling myself that I can make it through the final two days. After that, its only lecture until Aufust sometime, and then I get a little break. I am certainly looking forward to that.

Making Money With My Mac

2011-06-18T00:02:55Z

In the past week or so, I have managed to find my way back into the sphere of freelancing. I am taking on two major projects over the next few months, and I feel like its important to note that I am doing all of this right after making the big jump to the Mac.

Design

The first of my projects is working with my University with the hope of first maintaining, and then later re-designing, the website for the School of Applied and Natural Sciences. I will be working under the Office of the Dean as a student worker, but my main duty will be content management and web design.

I am currently waiting on word to officially begin in the position. I know that I have a date to go for some simple training in their CMS (Content Management System) in the next couple weeks. I also know that I will officially begin work from within the office as of July 1.

Content Creation

Alongside my work with my university, I have also recently taken up my mantle as a freelance blogger. I have secured a position with Techie-Buzz.com, a computer technology site based in India. I will be working as a content author, with a focus area of web apps, web 2.0, design, and Mac.

After the Google Panda algorithm change, which effected a number of smaller content sites, I was relieved of my writing duties with Ampercent.com. I truly enjoyed my time with Amit and the gang, and now I look forward to working with more excellent bloggers.

A Search For Projects

As it stands now, I have two part-time projects laid out before me. However, even with the level of work, I will still need smaller projects to make the ends meet. If you have any internet-based commission work in the areas of content generation or web design, I would be willing to discuss my portfolio with you. Just shoot me an email at tony (at) tonysbrain (dot) com, or find me on Twitter as @tony_price.

A Life Update

2011-06-10T21:20:01Z

I feel like I need to let people know what's happening (call it my own need to over share), so here goes.

In the past month or so, I have taken a big step in my life as an adult. I have married the most amazing woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and her name is Tori. I have mentioned here in previous posts, but this is the first time that I have address her as my wife. I am still in some disbelief about being married, but we most certainly are.

We are currently renting a nice sized apartment in Ruston about a mile from Tech. We are both currently actively looking for work, not to much success however. I know that if we keep our heads down and keep hunting, we will make it work.

Any kind words of encouragement, job leads in the Ruston area, or gifts of the heart are welcome.