Jason Unger

Is Internet TV Ready for the Living Room?

Posted by junger - 07/31/08 at 10:07:06 pm

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of watching video podcasts on my computer. It just doesn't make sense.

Even though I've got two screens running — one of which I use for "passive" applications (like IM, Twitter and podcasts) — having a video running while I'm working is awfully distracting (DUH).

This content needs to be on my TV. I didn't spend $2,500 on my Pioneer plasma to neglect it.

Of course, this is what Internet TV really is — using the Internet pipes to deliver video to your TV. It's NOT watching video on your computer.

We're starting to get there. Now that Netflix is coming via the Xbox 360 and LG's new Blu-ray player (called here first), the pipes are starting to get used to deliver content to the living room.

When any of those devices gets access to Hulu content, that'll be another big step forward.

In order to make the move into the living room, I've been thinking a lot about getting an Apple TV. I'm already locked into the iTunes universe. It's just one more step to my Apple-fication.

TV content is meant to be enjoyed in a passive setting, not when you're leaning over the keyboard.

WordPress for iPhone in Action

Posted by junger - 07/25/08 at 04:07:30 pm

Two of my favorite tech tools have come together in holy matrimony — iPhone, meet WordPress.

Thanks to the new app, you can now access both wordpress.com and self-hosted installs through the iPhone. Welcome to my first post using the app — so far, it's pretty sweet.

What I like about this is that it's a lot easier to just write whenever and wherever — it's less sitting down to write a story and more 'let me share what's going on right now.'

I haven't figured out all the tools yet, but I'm getting there. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

In the meantime, enjoy a picture of my desk, taken, yes, with my iPhone.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Selective Ignorance

Posted by junger - 07/21/08 at 08:07:10 am

How does a member of the media, self-proclaimed online junkie and non-stop Web surfer learn to tune out most of the Internet?

It's not easy, but I did it, and you can do it, too.

In his best-seller The Four-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss advocates 'selective ignorance' and fighting information overload.

When I read the book, I pulled a this-doesn't-apply-to-me, since, well, I work in the media. I have to be overloaded with information — that's my job … right?

Wrong. Here's how I conquered my information overload and learned to love selective ignorance.

Remove Your Distractions

RSS feeds are a great way to get information, but you've likely subscribed to way more than you can handle. Stop checking Google Reader every morning — you're already starting your day off on the wrong foot.

While I love podcasts as much as the next guy, they're just something else to pay attention to and are likely to distract you from the task at hand. Try music instead. Since I started using Pandora instead of iTunes, I'm doing a lot more in a lot less time.

If you need to communicate by IM or email, don't make your self available 24/7. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Check your email at specific times during the day (once on the hour is a good place to start) and only hop on IM after you've gotten through your most immediate tasks.

Surf Smarter

Online, every story is seemingly about the details. The smallest things — or pretty much anything about the iPhone — are unlikely to affect you.

I know, it's difficult to admit that. But it's true. Don't fret if you don't know the details — the big picture is what matters.

When you are getting your information, only go to a few sources. Three of my favorites are Techmeme, Drudge Report, and Google News. Each is a great aggregator of what I'm interested in: technology, politics and mainstream news.

When you do surf smarter, do it at specific times of the day or after you complete a specific task. The worst possible thing you could do is open up a new tab while you're in the middle of something else. You're asking for trouble.

Let Information Come to You

Don't be the town crier — there are plenty of other people doing the work. Let them worry about keeping themselves in the know.

Unless you're actually breaking a news story (which you've presumably acquired in a different way), there's no immediacy to 99.9% of the information online. You don't need to know everything that's happening the moment it happens.

You'll find out what's going on through your network of contacts. If you want to find out more, then you can go look for it.

Ever since I stopped worrying and learned to love selective ignorance, I've mapped out a new project, took on a freelance gig, and found time to play my Wii. It's all about time — what are you spending yours doing?

For a look at what I'm doing with my newfound time, follow me on Twitter.

Gmail Says Google Calendar is Phishing, Spams It

Posted by junger - 07/09/08 at 02:07:30 pm

Check out what happened to a recent Google Calendar reminder I got for an upcoming meeting:

Because Gmail thinks that these automated reminders (from calendar-notification@google.com) are phishing emails, it removes the ability to click on any of the links. This prevents you from unsubscribing to the notifications and checking out more event details.

Gmail also throws these messages into your spam folder, making it pretty useless as a reminder.

Google: left hand, meet right hand.

iPhone Mixed Family Plan Pricing Revealed

Posted by junger - 07/01/08 at 02:07:24 pm

Got a first-gen iPhone you want to mix with a new, 3G unit in an AT&T family plan?

Here's how it's going to be priced, according to an AT&T CSR I spoke to today (this is assuming you go with the lowest, 450/700 minute plan):

- The phones share a voice plan ($69.99 for 2 units)
- The 3G model pays a monthly $30 data fee
- The EDGE model pays its normal $20 data fee
- The EDGE model still gets its 200 text messages built in
- The 3G model can add text messages at the indidividual rate ($5/month for 200, $15 for 1500, $20 for unlimited)

Total that up — for a 2 person family with one 3G iPhone and one EDGE iPhone, both at the lowest plan:

$69.99 (voice)
$30 (3G data)
$20 (2G data)
$5 (200 text messages for 3G)
=
$124.99

Presumably, you will pay the data rate for each additional iPhone added and $9.99 more for voice, so another EDGE phone would be $29.99 more and another 3G phone would be $39.99 more.

Compare that to the 2 line, 3G-only FamilyTalk plan.

At first, it seems reasonable — but consider that two individual plans would cost you only $10 more and you'd get 200 more voice minutes.

When I spoke to the CSR today, she had to go to a higher-up to find out this info — so hopefully AT&T gets their act together and distributes it to store reps soon.

Now that Debbie has an iPhone, this is most likely the route we're going (especially since she gets to keep her text messages).

iPhone 3G: What you need to know (AT&T)