Saturday, December 31, 2011

My Technology Predictions For 2012

Here are my tech predictions for the upcoming year.


1. iPad
The Wii and/or Xbox to put games on the iPad. I want Mario on my iPad without jail breaking.

2. RIM
They will not be sold. They will partner with Microsoft and put Windows Phone 7 OS on Blackberry phones. Just like Nokia did with Microsoft.

3.  Theaters
Movie theaters in 2011 had the worst attendance in 16 years. In 2012, movie theaters will have lower attendance than 2011.

4. Apple
iTunes will be getting an overhaul. Renaming, more simplified user interface across all their devices.

5. Wearable Tech
Wearable Tech will take off. It will be the hottest trend of the year. Eg. A Dick Tracey watch, running sneakers with built in GPS.

6. Computers
Hard drive demand will drop like a rock. This is the year solid state drives will take off. Apple will offer Solid State Drives in all their laptops. The other computer companies will follow suit.

7. TV Shows
Cable companies will start playing around with a la cart viewing. Only pay for what you watch.

8. TV Networks
TV networks will start offering online only content for a fee either through their website or mobile app.

9. Adobe
Adobe gave up on mobile flash. By the end of the year Adobe will be focusing on HTML5 and pulling back on flash for everything else.

10. This is a big one
There will be a world tech/icloud/internet crash of some type which will change the way the world communicates with each other. This will either be by man or a natural disaster.

Results For My Top 10 Technology Predictions For 2011

Here are my results For the 10 tech predictions I made for the past year. Lets see how I did.

1. iTunes will be in the cloud (music only)
They sure did and not just music. With the introduction of iOS5, they introduced us to iCloud. http://www.apple.com/iphone/icloud/

2. Xbox & Playstation; No game disks
Wrong on this one. I was thinking there would be talk about the next X-Box and how all your games would be in the cloud.

3. Blockbuster's doors will close for good
I'm going to say half correct. Blockbuster Canada brick and mortar stores are gone, but the US stores are still open. cbc.ca link

4. Google's gTunes
Yep. It's called Google Music, US only. Google keep your music in the cloud which works great with an Android phone. You also have the option to download music to your phone just in case your in an area where you won't get a signal. http://music.google.com

5. Apple TV won't be a hobby anymore
Still a hobby, but it's a really great hobby. Every TV in my house has an Apple TV connected to it.

6. Data only plans for smart phones
I was really hoping for this one to happen. I still don't use the phone part of my iPhone. Why can't I just get a data only plan like the iPad.

7. Flash will be non existent
Half True. Adobe will no longer pursue flash on mobile devices. http://money.cnn.com

8. Apple wireless sync
True. With the introduction of iOS5, your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch can do a wireless sync through your home network.

9. Xbox going mobile
Nope. Windows phone 7 is not what I was thinking. I wanted to be playing my Gears of War 2 in the car or on the bus on a portable Xbox like the PSP.

10. New Movie releases at home
I got this one right. Universal Studios tried it with the movie Tower heist with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy. They tested it in Atlanta. The movie was released in theaters and then available on demand a couple of weeks later while Tower Heist was still in theaters. http://bit.ly/vupCRX

Bonus: Crazy Ass prediction
 Apple did become the richest company in the world surpassing Exxon Mobil. http://www.nodeju.com

Monday, July 4, 2011

100 Things About Me, Part 2

Finally... This was a lot harder than I thought. Trying to come with 100 things about yourself isn't easy. So with out any delay, here is part 2 of 100 things about me.

51. A Wonder bar is my favorite chocolate bar.
52. I love Roast chicken chips.
53. I plan on getting more tattoos.
54. I wish I had long hair. Just above the shoulder length.
55. I don't like having neighbors.
56. I Enjoy the little things.
57. I want to be the hero.
58. One reason for getting in shape is incase of a natural disaster.
Run to the hills!
59. Another reason for getting in shape is incase of a zombie attack.
Zombieland rule #1 Cardio. The fatties always die first.
60. I have used a real gun.
61. One of my favorite TV shows: True Blood.
62. True fact: I cut my own hair. Have been for at least 12 years.
63. I shaved my head once.
64. Favorite Superhero: Batman because it's all skill, no actual powers.
65. I will own a motorbike within the next 5 years.
66. Want to own a house boat.
67. If I was rich, I would buy an island.
68. My favorite Frapachino is the Mocha Coconut.
69. I am not a rocket scientist... But I'm pretty close.
70. I'm still mad that Santa did not write me back.
71. I ran my first full marathon this year. Bluenose Marathon 2011.
72. I've been told I need to have a bucket list
73. I've been told to clean out my ears cause I don't hear a thing my wife says.
74. If I could have one power, it would be invincibility.
75. I've run over 100k in one week.
76. Cherry coke is my favorite pop flavor.
77. I have a high threshold for pain.
78. Love watching it rain especially if there's thunder and lighting.
79. Favorite ice cream is Hoof Prints.
80. Second favorite ice cream is Heavenly Hash.
81. I don't have a favorite number.
82. I don't have a favorite colour.
83. I don't like line-ups.
84. I don't stress. Life is too short.
85. If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend 6 hours
sharpening my ax.
86. I always say: Life is what you make it.
87. I do not know what my blood type is.
88. I am an organ donor.
89. I sat outside a Bestbuy all day to buy an iPad 2. It was worth it.
90. I focus on the big things in life. The little things will take
care of themselves.
91. Football is my favorite sport. Go Patriots.
92. When I die, I want to be cremated.
93. One of my favorite TV shows: Game of Thrones.
94. I like eating my lunch at the waterfront.
95. I own more running shirts than work shirts.
96. Most of my clothes come for Tommy Hilfiger.
97. My first job was at a gas station.
98. So far this year (2011), I have run 726k.
99. I have never been to Disney World.
100. Every car I've owned, I have christened it by driving the front
wheels into the harbor.

Monday, May 23, 2011

4 Hours 24 Minutes

4:24:53 is my chip time for the 2011 Blue Nose full marathon.

First, I would like to start by saying thanks to all the organizers and volunteers. They did a great job. A lot of work goes into planning an event this big. There were a couple of hiccups, but that is to be expected when your trying to organize over 10,000 runner plus thousands of people viewing the event. Congrats to the whole Blue Nose team.

5 months of training finally came to an end last Sunday when I ran my first full marathon. The morning started off cold, but it was nothing I wasn't use to. After all, this is Nova Scotia and the weather is unpredictable. I was very nervous on the way to the race but once there the butterflies were gone. I showed up about 20 minutes before my 9am start. Stretched, got the legs warmed up and just took in all that was around me. There was the radio station playing music and making announcements. Lots of Photographers taking pictures and news crews getting footage for the evening news. Within no time I was at the starting line. The full marathoners were up first and the crowd was counting down with the announcer the final seconds. We were off.

For me to reach my goal I knew I had to do the first half in 2 hrs. I wasn't expecting this to be an issue as 21k in under 2 hrs is pretty norm for me. Sure enough, I was at the 21k mark in 2 hrs flat. From here it was going to be tough. I wanted to hold the same pace for as long as I could. I did for about 6-8 more km then it was very noticeable to me that my pace was slowing. That was fine, all part of the plan. Continued to giv'er all I got, leave nothing behind. Around the 36-38k mark, every muscle in my body was hurting. 38k was the furthest I had ever gone. Crossed the bridge, made the final turn. I'm about 1.5k away from the finish line. The crowds were starting to pick up and I could hear the announcer and the music in the distance. Then there it was, the finish line. The crowd was cheering everyone on, the announcer was naming the runners as they cross the finish line. I saw my wife cheering me on (she ran the half), the announcer announced my name. I crossed the finish line and I was finished. 42.2k in 4:24:53 with a pace of 6:17.

What a great experience. I enjoyed every minute of it except for Maple Street in Dartmouth. That was one steep hill. This was my second marathon but first full and my 1 year anniversary since I started running. I can now officially call myself a marathon runner. All my hard work has paid off. Can't wait until next year.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Blue Nose Marathon Before Thoughts

One word, excited. I'm only 4 days away from my first full marathon. The 5 months of training and weightlifting will finally come to an end on Sunday. I have put so much of my life on hold for this, like the house renos. This Sunday is a big deal for me.

This Sunday marks the 1 year anniversary I started running. I started running to get healthy and in shape but something happened, I enjoyed running and now I'm hooked. I can't wait to get out there and run with everyone and have the people along the route with their signs, taking pictures and cheering us on.

I hope everyone that shows up to watch has a good time. To all the runners, go out there and leave it all on the course. Cross that finish line knowing you gave it your all.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

100 Things About Me, Part 1

100 hundred things about me is something that I saw started on Twitter. I liked reading other people's 100 things, so I decided to write my own. This was a lot harder than I thought and I'm currently at 55. So, I'm going to break this up into 2 parts. Today's post is part 1 of 2, enjoy.

1. Favorite colours are blue and green. 
2. I'm a marathon runner. 
3. Having Starbucks with my friends. 
4. I've been wearing glasses since I was 15 years old. 
5. I graduated from community college in 1999.
6. I have oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning. 
7. I am an Apple fanboy. 
8. I love my job (Architectural Technologist)
9. I don't like having my back to people. 
10. I don't like cooked broccoli or cauliflower. 
11. One of my favorite TV shows: Sons of Anarchy. 
12. I choose the XBox over the PS3.
13. Conan is my favorite night time talk show.
14. The name of my iPad 2 - Betty
15. Im pretty good with a yo-yo.
16. My favorite show of all time is LOST.
17. The first time I sat in front of windows computer was in 1998 when I went to college. I didn't know how to turn it on. 
18. Favorite movies of all time Is Lord of the Rings trilogy. 
19. I wish I could code (c++,ruby, etc...)
20. My favorite gadget is my iPhone. I don't leave home without it. 
21. I hate banks. 
22. I love to travel. 
23. When I was a kid I wanted to be a pilot.
24. I've only been to 1 concert in my life. Garth Brooks at the Halifax Metro Centre.
25. I am all about routine.
26. I have only been off Canada soil once in my life. 
27. I have been to 7 of the 10 Canadian Provinces and never to the 3 Territories.
28. I have 3 tattoos.
29. I smoked for 9yrs and one day just quit cold turkey. 
30. I hate hate hate, double hate, loth entirely mosquitoes.
31. I'm the worlds greatest dad and I'm the #1 dad. I have a shirt and mug to prove it. 
32. I love zombie movies
33. If I could have any super power, it would be immortality. 
34. I wish I didn't have to wear glasses. 
35. I want to go to New York for 2 weeks. 
36. One of my favorite TV shows: Breaking Bad. 
37. Favorite actor is Gary Oldman.
38. I don't like heights.
39. Love watching movies.
40. Love playing video games.
41. I believe in karma.
42. I believe that we are not alone. 
43. Favorite reality TV show is The Amazing Race. 
44. I would like to learn how to speak Spanish or Russian. 
45. I've never had to spend the night in the hospital. 
46. I've never had a broken bone.
47. My first Apple product was the 1st gen iPod touch. 
48. I don't have a favorite book. I don't like reading books. 
49. I do like reading comic books. 
50. One of my favorite TV shows: The Walking Dead

Thursday, April 7, 2011

One Year Later

This month marks the one year anniversary that I changed my life for the better. But first you need to know why I changed my life.

I'll make this part short and sweet. I was over weight, not eating healthy and the doc said I was one step away from being a diabetic and my son called me fat. From that point on and for the first time in my life, I went on a diet. I learned how to eat properly, how to read nutrition charts and I started counting my calories. From there I added daily exercise. Started with walking but quickly switched to running.

My goal was to loose 40lbs in 5 months. I reached my goal in 4 1/2 months. Went from a 42" waist to a 34" waist. Two months after that I ran my first official half marathon.

One year later, I have kept the weight off. I have added weightlifting to my exercise regiment and I'm 5 weeks away from competing my first full marathon.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My Most Used iPhone Apps From 2010

Here is my top 10 iphone apps that I used over the past year.

1. Tower Madness (iTunes Link)
A tower defense game where you have to stop the aliens from taking the sheep.

2. Angry Birds (iTunes Link)
The pigs have stolen the birds eggs. You have to slingshot different types of birds at the pigs to kill them. Very addictive.

3. Twitter (iTunes Link)
There's lots of different twitter apps out there, I just happen to like using this one.

4. Facebook (iTunes Link)
Pretty straight forward.

5. Mint.com (iTunes Link)
This is a great financing tool. Works with any bank in Canada or the US. Owned by Intuit which is a trusted name when it comes to financial software.

6. RBC Mobile (iTunes Link)
The Royal Bank of Canada were a little late making a iPhone app but they have given us a very good first pass. Just came out in November but I use it almost every day. Much easier to use than their mobile site.

7. Couch To 5K (iTunes Link)
This is probally my #1 app. This app got me off the couch and into running. For me 5K has turned into 32k.

8. Nike+ GPS (iTunes Link) RunKeeper Pro (iTunes Link)
If you run I recommend an app that uses GPS. Both of these are good ones.

9. Google (iTunes Link)
You don't really need the Google app, but it a nice way to keep everything Google offers all nicely packaged into one app.

10. Fruit Ninja (iTunes Link)
Fruit is thrown in the air and you have to chop it.

Bonus: Starbucks App (iTunes Link).
This app stops me from sounding like an idiot when ordering. You pick and customize your drink, then it shows you what to say.