theEsco

Macworld 2009 Keynote Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Macworld 2009 is just around the corner. And in Mac fanboy tradition everybody likes to gossip and share rumors about what will be announced. And since Apple making your week-old iPod obsolete, I am predicting they go ahead and make every apple product you own now old and moldy.

This years device killer: The iMacBook Pro Mini iPhonePod... Nano.
A basic outline of the functionality is listed below:

OS X Leopard
64GB and 120GB SSD
3G
Turn by Turn GPS
7" TouchScreen
Wifi Syncing
App Store
iSight for video conference and .h264 recording
MiniDisplay Port
Media Server Streaming
COPY AND PASTE

Sadly, Apple has decided to opt out of including firewire on this device.
Voice and Data plans have not yet been revealed.

Maybe this will be the long awaited Mac Tablet.

Other Rumors for this years Macworld can be found here:
Macworld 2009 Rumors

What do you think apple will announce this year?

Apple Packaging

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:39:00 +0000

I was reminded today as I was about to put away my new iPhone box, how much I love apple's packaging. Its not just a box, its a piece of art on its own. I can't just throw this box into another box buried away somewhere at the top of my closet. It almost deserves to be on display.

It is this kind of attention to detail that apple takes that make their products stand out above the rest. Not many other companies do this with their packaging. It seems to be an afterthought.

And so it appears that its not just kids can find enjoyment in an empty box.

Being Different vs. Being Original

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:10:00 +0000

I thought of this example the other day. And something came up which reminded me of it. It almost frustrates me, because of people who choose to be different, and then claim it makes them unique, or original. The example is this:
A set of twins, are out shopping with their parents.
They are going to be getting the same shirt, but there is only 2 colors.
One child, the one wishing to be different, waits to find out which color the sibling will pick, and then chooses the other color, thinking that this somehow makes him different.

The problem with the example is this. The choice is not an original choice. It is reactionary. This doesn't make the child unique, or original. This is common; people go against the grain of society, or against what the current craze is. Its just a rebellion reaction to the bandwagon. I really don't like when people go against the bandwagon just for the sake of it. Just cuz they want to be different. It just puts them in the other bandwagon labeled "Bandwagon haters"

What is more important is that people live from the heart.
For example, the child choosing the color shirt, should choose the color he likes most, no matter what anybody else says or does. If he chooses the color that is different of his own accord, not simply as a reaction to everybody else, then he is really being original.

I would much rather people just be real and honest. If u like something that is different, then live it, and don't be ashamed. And if u like something that happens to be a trend, thats fine too. Just don't live as a reaction to what everybody else does. Simply rebelling against the popular, is just as bad as going along with the popular. It doesn't say anything about who you are, other than you make your decisions based on whats cool or not cool. That includes those who choose to be 'not cool' because they think 'trying to be cool' is uncool.

Frankly being cool in my opinion is being yourself. Unfortunately even that phrase "being yourself" has become something that is cool, and now people claim to be themselves even though most of their decisions are still a reaction to whats current.

I hope all that makes sense.

NBC vs. Apple.

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:40:00 +0000

This is just getting silly. The war between NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker and apple. Honestly, I just don't think he gets the digital media revolution. I guess maybe he is trying to embrace it, but really. Apple was actually trying to help the industry get into the digital distribution. And Personally I think apple is doing a great job.

Jeff doesn't seem to think so. His claim is that Apple and iTunes is destroying the business pricing and fear the same will happen to video if they don't take control. Personally, I think hes got it backwards. The big music companies lost control a long time ago, when they didn't jump on the digital music industry when it started. Frankly, the war isn't even between Apple and NBC U, its between the Major Entertainment Labels, and the consumer. If they haven't realized, people don't want to spend 15$ on a CD for 3 tracks that they like, when they can easily get those tracks for free (via bit torrent). While they probably don't mind paying $1 for the track on iTunes, they certainly don't want to be limited to where they can play the music that they paid for. Thats why Apple is trying to get on the DRM free list. While Apple is not the really a good supporter of Open Source, they are doing a way better job then the entertainment industry.

Its like the cold war. The Entertainment industry tries to protect their content, and then the hackers find new ways to break it, then they try more secure ways to protect it again, and then it gets cracked again. When will it end? Personally, I am not an advocate of torrenting at all, but I can see why so many people revert to that. I think many people don't mind paying for the music or videos they like. And I especially like to make sure the artist makes some coin off of it. But when the industry tries to control everything, it gets super annoying, and totally not where the mass consumer wants to take technology.

Onto video. Another article I read talks about this new digital distribution service NBC is working on called HULU. Ive not fully done my research, but it sounds completely bogus. Looks like you need the HULU player, which is way more restrictive than even iTunes. "You mean, I can't take my videos with me? I can only watch them on my computer with your silly player? No thanks."

So that is my rant. The consumer is mostly on the go these days, and they want to take their entertainment with them. The industry, is making is very hard to do that. And although Apple doesn't have it completely right, they are getting pretty close.

Related Blogs:
CE-Oh no he didn't! Part XLVII: NBC Universal chief says Apple "destroyed" music pricing

NBC exec slams iTunes revenues/business model

Engadget Apple vs. NBC history

Apple Keyboard! Woot! Woot!

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:41:00 +0000

Yeah Yeah.
So the new Apple keyboard arrived while I was at work today — in a Massive box. I didn't even think it was the keyboard at first. Then under all the useless packaging paper there was a smaller cardboard box. Inside that box was the actual keyboard box.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how incredibly small it was. Much smaller than it looks in photos. I eagerly hooked it up to the QuadCore MacPro at work and tested it out. The keys are very smooth. It does feel alot like typing on a laptop keyboard. At first it was a little awkward. The keys are so flat that your not sure if you're gonna press the right one. But after a while it begins to get more comfortable and you just love using the keyboard.
Next I intstalled the keyboard update that apple provided for the new Multimedia keys across the top. After a quick reboot the keys were working very nicely and I had shifted through a few tracks in itunes rather quickly. These keys are very nice, although it did make the iTunes Triggers in Quicksilver a little redundant. I rather enjoyed that part about quicksilver.
This keyboard will be an excellent replacement to the clunky logitech keyboard I was using.
Check out some other apple keyboard photos on flickr.

Adobe CS3 Arrives. Whoo!

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:02:00 +0000

I was very excited to find my copy of Adobe CS3 when I got home from work on friday. I was not expecting it so soon. It is a major upgrade for me. I only had Photoshop 6 and Illustrator 9 before. (PC Version) I was forced to keep an 8 yr old PC kicking around just to run them. Finally I can get rid of that hunk of junk.
I haven't had much time to play around with it yet, But i did manage to change the default Icon set to a more visually appealing Replacment Set that Adam Betts has developed.

The new features are amazing, although I haven't had time to try them. But since Ive been using very old versions, I have a lot of catching up to do.

MissionFest Youth Poster

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 06:19:00 +0000

I've decided to use my Blog to keep track of my portfolio updates. Here is one of the More Recent Posters I did for Mission Fest Toronto. Check the Design Page

Keep Running

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:26:00 +0000

I heard an excellent quote from the movie Amazing Grace Last week. I don't know the exact wording, but basically, after the two lead characters are sprinting barefoot in a field, they stop, and one of them asks, "How come you only feel the thorns in your feet when you stop running?" Which leads to the conclusion: Don't stop running.

This went tightly with something I believe God has been speaking to me about walking through personal healing, and overcoming some our our weaknesses and struggles, which is that the healing process begins, when we start doing those things we cannot do. You know, we've all heard that to overcome our fears, we must begin to face them. I think it is the same with any area of life. We learn best by doing, not be reading it in a book, or being taught in a lecture theater. We will find ourselves changed, when we finally start stepping out, and believe that when we do, God will give us the ability to walk on water. By the way, this goes hand in hand with the message Pastor Brendan preached tonight.

Im sure this is very inspirational, and will give us all some courage, for the next day or so. I know what it is like to actually walk this process out, and most of the time it is just that: A Process. We need to constantly be in prayer, asking Jesus to give us the strength and will power to do it every day. Remember that he power works best in our weakness.

Lets at least be aware of this, and begin asking for his help. And when we feel the thorns in our feet, let that be a reminder to start running again.

Patience in Design and Creativity

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 04:54:00 +0000

In design, I have learned how key patience is. Many times the thought of spending many hours on a project, and knowing that its gonna require me to be up all night, becomes very discouraging. That is one of the reasons we procrastinate, because we associate the start of another project with a grueling process that takes many long hard hours of work. And then we get thinking, "let me just get it done quickly." I have found that whenever I take this approach, the process of being creative becomes very un-fulfilling. However, when I decide to be patient, and choose to really take some quality time to build up a design, using many layers of elements, shapes, textures, etc. the process becomes rewarding, and I find myself looking at my artwork with a sense of accomplishment.

My Life is a Story

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 21:01:00 +0000

Our lives are lived as stories, not systems of ideas, and we should not try to force life into a system of ideas. We should allow it to be story.
— Mark Virkler, Wading Deeper into the presence of God, p.89

Really I just wanted to make sure I wrote down that thought. It is so often that we are trying to “Make Life Happen”, rather than letting it happen. We try to force it into a box of what we think our life should be like. Usually what we think it should be like, is based on other people's opinions, comparison with other people, social standards, and sometimes even biblical law. Letting life happen grants us freedom to live from the inside of us—our spirit man—or by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.(Romans 8) The life that takes place on the inside comes from God, where nobody else can see it. We must allow the Holy Spirit be our inspiration for life, rather than our outside circumstances.

Scheduling vs. Spontaneity

noreply@blogger.com (theEsco) — Wed, 24 May 2006 21:07:00 +0000

Now this is Ironic. And a perfect example of embracing ambiguity where oxymoron are concerned.

I noticed the other day that Scheduling is a very import part of life and of getting stuff. I find it very difficult because I much prefer spontaneous living to a restricted schedule. It took some time to realize that keeping a schedule will actually not restrict me, but help me to get stuff done and free up more time to do those things I love. It becomes an oxymoron when you are supposed to be scheduled and spontaneous at the same time. Without flow and spontaneity it will be very difficult for me to enjoy communion with God. However without a schedule I will probably never really find the time to spend time with him.

Look at it this way. Keep a spontaneous schedule. It almost doesn't make any sense, or Schedule time to be unscheduled. Interesting approach.

—Esco