Idiotarod 2009

IMG_9057.JPG, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

Damn! it's late and it's cold so I am not going to write a clever story about the Idiotarod tonight, maybe tomorrow.

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Multimedia message, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

learning to draw chinese characters at the Brooklyn Children's Museum after lion dancing

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Multimedia message, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

On the mall at inauguration listening to American Pie

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Multimedia message, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

On the train going to the inauguration

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Multimedia message, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

Winter of Swan Lake in Prospect Park

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Multimedia message, originally uploaded by tarafireball.

Mulch Fest

Mobile Publishing

The quest continues, I am still looking for a proper cell phone. I am researching various "smart phone" type tools that are being used for mobile publishing which is what I'd like to use the phone for as well as the basics such as talking on it and the calendar. I do want an iphone but the picture taking on it is so weak. I was looking at the Nokia N85 which supposed to be an upgrade from the N95. It has yet to come out in the states. The camera is so much better on it and it has an external mircrophone feature that could be really helpful for what I'd like to do. I am hoping I can use somehow synch it with google calendars. I looked at the Fuze too but it seems like it might be too much about windows for a MAC lover like myself. Oh how I wish the iphone had a better camera and video.

Below are notes I have made during my phone search that I am going to publish for all to see as it might help someone else out and will open the door for suggestions.

Note to myself for the phone search

Nokia N85 - Fuze - iphone

writes about Nokia N82 mojo phone for Reuters mojo mobile journalist project. Reuters picked the phone because it has a high-quality camera and operates at high speed."was able to use it to broadcast live to the internet using Qik.com"

issues with microphone
#comment

I’m glad Reuters found a decent microphone to use with the N82 as I couldn’t so far. Could you maybe tell what they use and how does it connect to the phone (guess it’s Bluetooth)?
# Jeff Jarvis Says:
February 11th, 2008 at 11:12 am

The mic remains a problem; there’s a kludged plug and I”m not sure how that’s done.

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# Anna Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm

> I was able to use it to broadcast live to the internet using Qik.com.

fyi for the curious, from Qik’s FAQ:

“What do I need to run Qik?
Currently, we support video streaming on Nokia S60 phones: N71, N73, N75, N76, N77, N80, N91, N92, N93i, N95, E50, E51, E61i, E65, E70m E90 Communicator, 3250, 5500, 5700 Xpress Music, 6110 Navigator, 6120 Classic, 6121 Classic, and 6290. You also need a Data Plan and it is also advisable to have an Unlimited Data Plan from your service provider as video streaming can consume considerable amount of bandwidth.

How can I participate in Qik’s Alpha release?

Currently, registration is only through invitations…“
----

http://www.buzzmachine.com/2008/02/11/every-journalist-a-mojo/
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/exhaustve N85 vs N95/96
http://smape.com/en/reviews/nokia/Nokia_N85_N96-comp.html
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Thinking Machine - Using Mobile Phones to Learn
great links & info but annoying font

http://thinkingmachine.pbwiki.com/Think%20Mobile%20Phones%20for%20Learning

Moblogging - term for Mobile Blogging
This article is about Moblogging in Japan 2003

http://www.ojr.org/ojr/technology/1058998393.php

New Article
http://blog.masslive.com/linkfarm/2008/08/is_the_cell_phone_the_ultimate.html

Citizen Journalism 2006
http://mobileactive.org/every-cell-phone-media-outlet-citizen-journalism-and-inthefieldonline-net

Phone Search Continues

I have eye strain from all the research seeking the phone or smartphone that works for me. I realize I need to make a list a the features I would like and do not so much care about to assist me and others in such a search. There are so many options out there and is not easy to sort through the reviews. I so wanted the iPhone to be the "one" but after research I am finding that it may not be. I am a big MAC Apple fan and think I would love it but I don't listen to music on my phone and have no interest in doing so. My intension is to use the phone a bit like a journalistic tool and have found some articles on line that are helpful that I will share.

What I need:
-AT&T Provider
-Call quality is important
-long battery life
-ability to use google calendars
-take & send decent quality photos to the web
-take & send decent quality video to the web
-blog to web
-record sound
-maybe a few things I don't think I need now but might once I discover them

What I don't so much care about
-Playing music on the phone


What would annoy me:
-short battery life
-bad voice sound quality

iphone vs blackberry vs G1 vs ?

I dropped my sturdy and much loved, two year old, little old Motorola phone a couple of weeks ago and it died. Luckily my husband had an extra that he was going to switch to that I am temporarily using while I determine which phone is the best for me.

I am on the hunt and looking at all the options out there. I am wondering if I should replace it with another simple cell phone or one of these new fangled "smart phones". I have to judge the cost, the necessity, the fun and the addiction factors. There are so many options. I have recently started using more of the features on my phone such as texting for twittering and would love to be able to post pictures from where ever I am. I am also wondering what will stand up to abuse and work nicely for me. My family has also begun using mixed calendars on google with success and I would like to have a phone with which I can use these calendars.

I am going to researching and thought I would blog about my search. I know there are other moms out there who would like to enter this geeky world of organizational tools. I'll give you what I got.


and here's a joke smart phone
http://www.pomegranatephone.com/

and the iphone comes out on November 7th, 2008

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp#0faqSection0
http://www.pomegranatephone.com/novascotia.html


iphone vs blackberry vs G1 vs Moto Q vs Treo

iphone :
downers: intn'l rates are said to very high so BB is best for a lot of intn'l travel


J.D. Power Ranks Apple iPhone Highest
BlackBerry manufacturer RIM (703) and Samsung (701) follow Apple in the rankings.
http://iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=2191

here is another article on Smart Phone from Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110603457.html

the new BlackBerry Review
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-techreview_07bus.ART.State.Edition1.4adf393.html

G1 from T-Mobile Review from PC (Google Android Phone)
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2331003,00.asp

CNET iPhone vs T-Mobile G1
http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-10081814-85.html

The iPhone 3G beats the G1 in the CNET Prizefight:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6454_7-644-101.html?tag=centerColumnArea1.2


One of my main desires is to be able to use my google calendar on my some to be new smartphone and am looking on the web to try and see if this is possible These guys have the same desire:

http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-233590.html
http://carymillsap.blogspot.com/2008/05/syncing-ical-feeds-with-my-iphone-not.html
http://digivation.net/2008/08/03/sync-google-calendar-and-the-iphone-calendar-ota-for-free

and it looks like this is the answer:
http://www.nuevasync.com/apple_info.html

another approach but looks more complicated
http://weldon.whipple.org/2008/09/how-i-sync-my-google-calendar-to-my.html

iPhone G3 - latest info from Apple
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/specials/iphone-info.jsp#0faqSection0

Motherhood - "a revolution for the brain,"

The many advantages of Motherhood

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/opinion/08ellison.html