Evernote on Android

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For those of you that know me, you know that I’ve been a long-time Evernote fan. I was really happy when they first launched their Android version. When it started, it was best for accessing notes on the go. But it also allowed me to take pictures and send them to Evernote with a description. This was giant for me.

The Android version has grown over time into a nice product. Sure, the rich text editing is a little quirky, but it’s still a nice product. It does much more than the original. I can create voice notes, text notes, images, etc. Evernote makes good use of the Android’s sharing functionality. Evernote shows up on the share list as a destination making it easy to put almost anything into a note. It also allows you to share notes with any other share target, this makes it really easy to send a note by email. And the new Skitch integration is fun.

Today, I’m leaving for San Francisco to attend a photography workshop lead by Eric Kim. I created my itinerary using Evernote and was preparing to print it for the trip. I like to have a printed copy because I can make notes if there are changes, stuff I forgot to bring, etc. So, I thought to myself…I could just access it on my phone and not have to print anything. Then I thought about navigating to the note I want and it started sounding like a lot of work.

Well, that changed when I discovered that I can create a note shortcut for a specific note. Now, with one tap on the home screen, I can access and edit my itinerary as I go. This is very cool. I will make used of this in my photography as well. Most of my event photography has a schedule, things happen at a specific time. I can keep the schedule on a desktop shortcut and have ready access to it at all times.

To create the shortcut, long press on your home screen, select “Shortcuts”, then scroll down to “Note Shortcut”. When you select “Note Shortcut” you will be launched into Evernote to select a note. Perty dang easy.

Thanks again, Evernote.

the null-coalescing operator

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So, I found something interesting the other day. I use C# at work and have used the ?: operator since I was a C programmer in the early ’90s. I have now found the Null Coalescing operator or ??.

The purpose is to provide a default value if an object is null.

In the old days I would use some like this:

newobj = oldobj != null ? oldobj : otherobj;

With the null coalescing operator I can do the following instead:

newobj = oldobj ?? otherobj;

Isn’t that fun? I’ve included a link to the MSDN page that describes it in full detail.

Scanning through the list of operators, I think there are a few others that need my attention as well.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms173224.aspx

Doing a little SEO Test

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I have a page at work that isn’t getting indexed. So, I thought I’d try posting here to see if I can get a little action going.

The company I’m talking about is Systems Express (Dan Anguiano) in Vista, San Marcos, Escondido, and San Diego. They offer on-site computer repair, networking, printer repair, data recovery and more.

Their SBN.com page can be found at here.

Fuji FinePix X100 – Be still my heart

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I have always had a little thing for retro cameras, particularly late 50′s and 60′s. Rangefinders have a special place in my heart.  In high school, I had a Leica IIIf and loved it.  I still like the idea of a rangefinder.  I would love to have a Leica M9.  But, that’s a major financial investment that I’m not ready to make, yet.  At this point in my life a DSLR is really the right tool for me, I’ll get an M9 (or M10, M11…) down the road.

Guess what happened last week?  Fuji came out with a really great looking camera, the FinePix X100 will be a new camera with a retro design and an interesting twist.

Fuji FinePix X100Let’s start with the basics, there’s a 12 megapixel APS-C sized sensor, 23mm f/2 lens (roughly a 35mm for a full-frame camera), magnesium alloy top deck, and so much more.  The X100 has full manual controls with a shutter speed dial and aperture ring, it also supports aperture priority, shutter priority and full automatic.  The view finder in this camera is where they put the real magic.  Like a rangefinder, it gives a true image, so it’s bright and easy to use.  There is also a bright-line frame that includes information similar to what a DSLR gives you.  You can also flip a lever and transform the viewfinder into an electronic viewfinder.  Very cool stuff.

X100 Viewfinder

Rumors on the blogs indicate this camera will be released in Q2, 2011 at a price of $1,199.

You can get more information at http://www.finepix-x100.com

P.S. – Wouldn’t it be cool if Canon came out with a retro-looking micro 4/3 camera…with L series lenses?

 

 

Group Me – Keep in touch

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Group Me message threadOne of my favorite blogs (Gizmodo) wrote an article about Group Me, a tool they used to stay in touch during CES.  The idea is simple.  Group Me gives you a phone number.  Each person in the group sends texts to this number and everyone in the group gets the message (with the sender identified).  No special apps are required, it’s just regular texting.  In addition, that same number can be used for conference calls.

You can learn more at http://GroupMe.com.

I can think of some applications near to my life.

  • It’s common to create cross-functional teams at work.  Each team could have a GroupMe number.
  • My wife has a study team at school where they are constantly sending messages.
  • Several members of my family live close, we frequently team up on a project.  This would help to coordinate efforts.
  • Committee members for a club or group could be in better communication.
  • A stables could create a Group Me number to communicate with horse owners…both general updates and emergency situations, like fires and floods (we have personal experience with both).
  • Create a new Group Me number for a project, then let it go at the end of the project.

I’m sure there are many more.

Got a group working towards a common cause?  This cold be a great tool for you too!

Comments?

It’s Friday

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I think an end-of-week summary would be appropriate for today.

Earlier this week I read an article from WordPress encouraging bloggers to create a new article every day (or every week). You can learn more at the Daily Post blog. I decided this would be a good idea and I posted an article stating my intentions.  That didn’t last long,  I announced my intentions on Tuesday, it’s now Friday…oops.

Last weekend I took pictures at the birthday party of a one-year-old.  Got some great pics and bunches of comments posted on Facebook.  Makes me feel good.  I have another photo shoot this weekend, taking engagement photos for a couple.

Yesterday was orientation at school.  Yes, that’s right.  At 46 years old, I’m starting school next week.  I will be working on a photography degree at the Arts Institute of California – Orange County.  Is that a mouth-full or what?  I’ve already talked with several instructors, advisors and the program director.  It should be a fun journey.

I found out recently that SmugMug (my favorite gallery site) can provide a gallery link for embedding into blogs.  After I finish editing my next shoot, I’ll post a gallery here.

As I prepare for school, we are also preparing for a big crunch at work.  Time management, that’s the key right?  Or, is Red Bull involved?  I’ve never tried Red Bull, but many of the students I met yesterday swear by it.  So, I ponder it’s value.

CES!!  What a week it’s been for CES!  I didn’t attend this year, but I’ve been following the bloggers very closely.  It appears that the only things at CES this year were 4G Android-based phones and Android tablets.  Oh, and fans (thanks Gizmodo).  I guess I did hear about a Windows tablet, but honestly, I can’t remember who makes it.

Also, my tablet maker of choice (Notion Ink) has not done well.  They have a very nice looking tablet that offers the Pixel Qi screen (the absolute “cat’s meow”), but they have decided to heavily customize Android and are not cleared to use the Android Market or any of the standard apps.  They have 3G support, although, they haven’t actually identified the supported carrier(s).  This leaves me wanting.

But, I found the Motorola Xoom.  This tablet has a full Honeycomb implementation and rocks a dual-core Tegra 2 processor with all the trimmings.  They have pictures up of certain accessories.  There are two different docks, a wireless keyboard and an awesome hard cover.  And, it’s on Verizon.  It’s supposed to be available in February.

 

 

Xoom hard cover (via Engadget)

Xoom hard cover (via Engadget)

 

Selecting a new phone is going to be a little more complicated.  I absolutely love the Motorola Atrix.  It has an associated display and keyboard where the phone docks.  Once docked, the larger display and keyboard are used to operate the phone.  The user interface changes to be more appropriate for the larger display and keyboard support.  The keyboard/display unit even has a large battery in it, combined with the phone battery, it’s supposed to be good for all-day use.  It’s a very slick package…but it’s only available on AT&T.  Come on Verizon, give me some love…

 

 

Motorola Atrix docked to the keyboard/display (via Motorola)

Motorola Atrix docked to the keyboard/display (via Motorola)

 

 

Samsung, LG, HTC, and Motorola have all announced 4G phones for release in the first half of the year.  The soonest appear to be arriving in about March.  This may just kill me having to wait that long.

I think that’s about it for today.  See you again tomorrow.

 

I’m Posting every day in 2011!

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I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011.

I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.

If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.

Damn! It’s the 4th already…I need to get rolling…

Michael

Jessica Claire Workshop

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Photography has taken a bit of a back seat for me over the last five years or so.  When SmugMug announced the SMUG meetings I started attending.  It was great, there were some really interesting photographers doing presentations.  One that I liked was Jessica Claire, so I started following her blog and ended up in one of her workshops.

Her workshop is centered around wedding photography, which didn’t really interest me that much, she was also talking about workflow, business, marketing, etc.  I also felt that the techniques needed to shoot a wedding aren’t that different from what I like to shoot.  So, it was a win-win for me.

Jessica talked about what works for her in dealing with clients, managing her part of the wedding, shooting style, image selection, etc.  I learned how she selects clients that like the way she shoots, this reduces friction.

“Business should fit into life, not the other way around…”

We talked about branding and self-promotion and different approaches to both.  It was very interesting.

Let’s see a few pictures…

And, I’d like to hand out a special “Thank You!” to the people that made this workshop, and the shoot, a great day: