JaysonSchultz.com

So I was minding my own business having a pretty enjoyable evening last night when the news promo came on during Community's epic season finale: Joe Rickets (Father of Cubs owner Tom Rickets) is behind a new Super PAC ad to tie President Obama to Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This is tied to Ricketts' proposal called "The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama: The Ricketts Plan to End His Spending for Good."

For those right wingers not keeping score, let's review...

1. This is coming from a Super PAC which thanks to a right leaning SCOTUS recognizes corporations as citizens and permits said corporations to poor unlimited funds into these Super PACs. That ensures equal ad time to, you know "we, the people" right?
   
2. Obama distanced himself from Wright in 2008. Let's be honest, if any of us were elected president, there would be someone in our life that might not agree with our current point of view. We've all encountered that person and just because we did so, doesn't mean we agree... But still 2008. That's about as relevant as questioning his place of birth. Yes Obama attended Wright's church. Yes Wright has expressed some extreme views. But how can a line be connected to those two points?
3. The Cubs, owned by son Tom, are seeking public funds in terms of tax dollars for the City of Chicago to renovate the ballpark. Remember this is fine. But when we start discussing universal healthcare or even healthcare reform, it's socialism. Moreover, let's go back and look at the title of his doc: "The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama: The Ricketts Plan to End His Spending for Good". So Joe's upset about his spending, but it's OK as long as that spending on your son's ballpark.
4. The title of this plan yet again invoke's Obama's middle name. You know when I've hear his full name be used? In a legal setting (i.e: oath of office) or when the Right is trying to elecit a negative reaction from the public by conjuring up images of the late dictator of Iraq. Yes Saddam was a bad man. Can we all agree on that? Nobody wishes that kind of oppression on anyone. But to imply that because Obama shares his name, he's equally a bad man... Really?

Cult of Mac just ran an article about OpenDNS actively blocking the "phone home" of the Flashback malware that's affecting Macs worldwide.  This is very noble of OpenDNS and gives makes me want to switch back to them for my personal DNS usage.  But this got me to thinking...  Where the hell are the ISP's?  Why wasn't this article mentioning something that Comcast, Verizon, Cox, or AT&T were doing in DNS to protect their customers?  Are all their resources really being spent on making sure that I don't exceed my 250GB montly cap?  Or that god forbid I'm somehow violating DMCA?  Sure I might not have the "Lamborgini" plan but why can't THEY put this block in place?  Does the $90 I pay for my internet/TV service a month not incent them enough?  Or do I not have the needed $10 a month "we'll give a damn about you" add-on option?

Can someone please tell me what policy makers think when they enact some of the stupid crap that they do? Consider three recent real world scenarios that I encountered in just the past day...

1. Orlando International does not sell gum anywhere in the airport due to a maintenance policy that's "been in place for years". Huh?!? No gum at the airport? "What about those that bring it into the airport from, you know, other airports," I asked the cashier. Her response, "well from the number of times I've been asked, I'd say not many do.". I'm not faulting her. It's not really her job to assess the policy. Though she is in prime position to provide feedback, read customer demand, to those that are.

2. TSA and the security theater that is the cancer causing, privacy invading full body scanners and the "all liquids are evil" policy. Yes, this list can go on...

3. The recent partisan SCOTUS decision to make strip searches legal for even for the most minor offense. Get pulled over because your tail light is out? You can now be strip searched.

What do all these have in common? They come woefully far from solving the real problem. Orlando Intl should maybe have more garbage cans in closer vicinity to each other. While they're doing that, an equal number of recycling bins would we welcome as well. TSA should, oh I don't know... Maybe hire more people to conduct accurate risk profiles of their travelers to stop real threats. The SCOTUS should realize the impact to our allegedly unalienable rights by subjecting us to "unnecessary search and seizure" "without probable cause".

As I write this, I'm coming back from Infosec World 2012. There are two key take aways I have from this excellent conference...

1. When trying to solve Security problems, we too quickly jump to doing something stupid without having a true understanding of who the bad guy is! To paraphrase Marcus Ranum, we want a $30k 1U rack mount box that we can "set it and forget it". Then let's ignore the fact that the attacker will find some way around it...

2. Technology is not the only answer and if you think so, you'll get pwned. We must have smart people, sound processes, and well constructed/documented procedures.

This may have been from an IT Security conference but it applies so much to virtually ANYTHING! Step 1 of problem resolution isn't "hey let's craft a policy" or "hey let's drop in some tech". It's identifying the problem.  Until this has been successfully done than any of our other action we do will either go too far or not far enough.

Now can we please slow down and start thinking a bit about what problem we're trying to solve?

I figured I'd toss my hat into the ring and offer up my guess at what Apple will announce in a little over 12 hrs from now...

• New iPad
  • Name:  iPad HD
  • Processor:  Dual Core A5X
  • RAM:  1GB
  • Display:  Retina
  • Cellular:  LTE
  • Camera:  8MP
  • Battery:  12 hrs
  • Thickness:  Sligthly thicker than iPad 2 (.34")
  • Back:  Glass
  • Apps:  iPhoto for iPad
• Apple TV
  • Revamped with 1080P
  • Bluetooth 4.0 Remote

Will it be a disappointment if they don't deliver exactly this?  No.  They'll still be the #1 tablet and will sell millions.

I'll check back tomorrow and see how well I did.

Update:  Well, I should have stopped on the name thing with that first line, "New iPad".  So how'd I do...

• New iPad
  • Name:  iPad HD
    • Nope.
  • Processor:  Dual Core A5X
    • Kind of...  It is the A5X but Apple announced this with quad core graphics.  General purpose processor is still dual core, but graphics is where you want this performance.  I count this at +1 for me.
  • RAM:  1GB
    • Correct on this, I think.  You see, this isn't 1995 anymore.  This isn't a spec that really matters to the end user.  Apple doesn't even deem this worth of a section on the spec page.  So I'm not really sure what's in there but I recall reading it was 1GB.  I'm sure the iFixit folks will have the real answers after March 16.
  • Display:  Retina
    • You better believe it.  And best of luck to Samsung trying to copy this. :-)
  • Cellular:  LTE
    • Yup!
  • Camera:  8MP
    • No, only 5MP.  But that makes it good enough for those that want a camera in their iPad, IMHO.
  • Battery:  12 hrs
    • Still 10 hrs.  But that in itself is an achievement.  The battery went from 25 mAH to 45 mAH.  9 to 5 Mac had a really interesting look on this last night.
  • Thickness:  Sligthly thicker than iPad 2 (.34")
    • Correct
  • Back:  Glass
    • No.  Still aluminum.
  • Apps:  iPhoto for iPad
    • Oh yes!  I haven't used this in the iPad yet, but have on the iPhone and it's just shy of amazing.  Photo editing, album creation, and the ease of use make play to it's strengths but there is no integration with iPhoto between iOS devices or iPhoto on the Mac.  In other words, an iPhoto album on the iPad stays on the iPad.  No way for it to sync to the Mac.  Until Apple fixes this, I won't be quite in the "Post PC" era.  But this is a great step forward.  With this, all of iLife and iWork is now on the iPad.  Amazing!
• Apple TV
  • Revamped with 1080P
    • You bet!
  • Bluetooth 4.0 Remote
    • Missed on that one...

I count 7/12 on the above.  Wish I was a little more accurate, but not bad!  Even the President thinks so!

After reading the press release and the various commentaries on the press release, I've got to give credit to Apple for fixing what's been wrong with computing for SOOO long.  The found a way to fix give users that want to give the average user a secure desktop computing environment without having to have them to remember to update their virus definitions or having to install 20 layers of crap.  

With the launch of Mountain Lion this summer, all of that will happen automatically thanks to good old fashioned code signing, a technology that's existed longer than Windows XP...  There I said it.  Apple is yet again succeeding where Microsoft has failed so many.  What's really great about this is that if you WANT to run unsigned code, you still can.  Those apps will still function and the developers won't be losing money.  But by running signed code only (the default now), Apple now posseses a kill switch that can completely disable apps that they believe are malware.  And knowing Apple, this is going to be implemented in a way that's clear to the user and doesn't require them to posses a CISSP to be able to discern.  In Apple fashion, it will yet again be the intersection of Technology and Liberal Arts.

I'm willing to be bet that if Microsoft would have previously released something similar, Kelihos (ok, ok, not Kelhios, but a variant) wouldn't be roaring back to life...

In fairness code signing will not stop all attacks or exploits.  See exhbit A, Path.  But haivng a centrally managed kill switch will do SO much for user security that's not before been seen on desktop devices.  As far as I'm concerned, this now makes Mac's and OS X not a "nice to have" but a "must have" for everyone that cares about their security.

Oh and there were a few other good nuggets coming out in Mountain Lion (10.8) as well.  I'm super exicted for Airplay Mirroring from my Mac!  And Messages looks slick too especially if Apple can resolved the Caller ID issue by then.

Is it summer yet? :-)

I was saddened when I heard today that Steve Jobs had passed. This man was so much more than just the creator of the iPhone.  He was a visionary.  He was someone who on countless ocaisions dared to stare down the norm and think different.  And as a result he transformed a failing company into the most profitable company in the world.  And boy did he create some great products!

If there's one thing that we all can learn from his life, it's to Think Different.  Don't accept the norms. Just becuase something has been done in a certain way or exists in a certain state doesn't mean that's the way it has to be!  Sure there will be resistance.  People are naturally adverse to change.  But anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I can only dream to have as much of an impact on people's live's as Steve had.  But I believe that each moment spent thinking outside the box contributes directly to my personal impact.  We must live for each moment, because in the end, we're all mortal.  So it goes.

So we're flying right now from O'hare to San Fran onboard Virgin America on their recently added direct flights and I've got to say that I'm in love with this airline.  What do I get for the price of admission?  

• A really sweet looking interior that Jody commented "looks like I'm going to a disco party".
• LCD screens in the back of each seat that feature many things for FREE including...
  • A realtime Google Maps view of the plane (and did you know that it's -31F at 32,000 feet over Iowa?
  • Satellite TV including many variants of ESPN, Disney, Nickolodean, MSNBC, etc.
  • Virgin music statiions
  • Games!  I was just playing Doom using an included controller!  For FREE!
  • And for a fee, on demand TV and movies!
• And most importantly, legroom!  Even though I'm in cattle class, I for once don't feel crammed in like a sardine (actually sardines have more room on other airlines...)

And the LCD screens are more than just entertainment, it's how your order your beverages, food, skymall purchases, everything.  They even have a built in credit card reader.  If Virgin adds more service in the future from O'Hare I really might skip Kayak and just book whatever Virgin has available.  It really is that nice!

Also another nice bonus, I'm test driving a Samsung Chromebook right now that I picked up at the Gate in Chicago.  I get to keep it for the flight and return it to San Francisco when I get off the plane.  And yes that's free too, but only for a limited time (so ACT NOW!!!).  What's even better still, is that for using this free Chromebook, I get access to free Gogo Internet in flight!  Honestly, even if the other airlines gave me free in flight internet, I'd be much more content.

As for the Chromebook itself, it's really lightweight, decent battery life (by Apple standards, that's 7 hrs), and quite honestly just works.  It even has a large touchpad like my Macbook complete with two finger scrollling (though OS X Lion has now taught me that the scrolling is backwards!).  I was even thinking that this would be great for folks that didn't need much in a computer besides a browser and basic office apps (Google Docs).  So I headed to Best Buy's website.  500 bones.  And as far as I know, that wasn't Canadian currency.  I really think this is a great laptop, but not for $500.  Really I'd say the sweet spot would be at $300.  Yes, that's on par with budget PC laptops but I think it has a number of selling points where it could do really well against them.  But at $500, the Google Chromebook is going to end up the same way as Google Buzz, not Google+.

So next time you're flying check and see if Virgin is servicing your route or perhaps consider going on a route that they do service.  It will be one of the best decisions you've ever made!  But stay away from buying a Chromebook at least until the prices come down.  But one and it will be one of the worst decisions you've ever made!

[Update]  One more strike against the Chromebook, Netflix streaming is not supported.  I guess there'll be no Trouble with Tribbles on this flight or anywhere for a Chromebook user.

In a letter to shareholders today, Netflix called DVD's a "fading differentiator" (Source via Read Write Web).  I'll admit, their streaming product is pretty solid and they've managed to garner support from almost every platform.  Apple TV has support for it.  So does the XBox 360 (and the new Kinect app is phenomenal!), Nintendo Wii, iPad, iPhone, of course any web browser, and several TV's and Blue Ray players.  Basically any device these days it seems has Netflix support.  The problem is that while they have a large library of content available to be streamed instantly, good luck trying to find the latest hit content.  Or for that matter, good luck trying to find hit content of any age.  A few recent examples:

• Old Star Trek movies:  Used to be available via streaming but now are mysteriously only available through disc
• Star Wars:  Only ever disc only
• Back to the Future:  Only ever disc only
• Indiana Jones:  Only ever disc only
• Avatar:  A semi new movie.  Also only disc only.

Are you seeing a trend here?  Having informally studied these cable killers for a while, I know part of the problem is the windowing system of the entertainment industry.  Netflix is aware of this and is working on partnerships to bring big name content to their offering such as Mad Men, Glee, and Star Trek TV series.  They're also working on original content by the way of House of Cards.  These are all great and fine, but until they're able to offer popular picks via Netflix Instant, they had better not be heralding the death of the DVD.

Also, while they're working on adding new content.  Perhaps they can work on better content discovery tools.  Ever look at what's "new" on Netflix?  Didn't know "Gangs of New York" was new...

I was perusing the Book of Face recently, I found my sister, reacting to Time's announcement of Mark Zuckerburg as the person of the year, posted the following:

With iOS devices selling like hotcakes these days and having had the fortune of being an owner of iOS devices for almost 2 years now, I figured it was fitting to share some of my recommendations for apps.  I started a few weeks ago trying to make a list of my favorite apps and their App Store entries but became tired of that tedious process by about the third app.  Then I came across a service called AppsFire that would do all the hard work for me of linking the app name with it's app store entry.  AppsFire is a startup that launched in March that at the time only had a client for Windows to inventory all of your apps.  Today, they have a Mac client as well!

According to the scan of my system, Appsfire found 258 apps including 120 paid apps totaling $333 USD if you bought them all today!  Since it occurred to me that several of these apps I'd get rid of in an instant if I could get my money back, I wanted to share my pics with you all so you don't end up dropping your hard earned coin on bad apps.  As of right now, I created three profiles on the Appsfire site and will continue to update those as my tastes change.  Please note that these apps may not fit everyone's use cases.  They simply are what I find myself using the most.

Are you an Appsfire user?  Add me so I can see what you're using.  After 258 apps, one things clear:  I love me some apps!

Appsfire Lists