Dave Caolo

Shawn Blanc applies his exhausitve reivew technique to Things for the Mac and the iPhone. I’m almost ashamed to say that I still haven’t decided between Things and The Hit List. Perhaps Shawn will convince me.

Nick Summers of Newsweek.com contacted yours truly for a response to a post I wrote for TUAW this afernoon, questioning my subscription to MobileMe. Here’s a part of my response:

“It’s easy to see why you’d dismiss the service outright when a fanboy like me starts complaining. The truth is, I don’t outright dislike MobileMe. Instead, I’m disappointed that it’s not what it could be.”

You can read the full post here.

Grant Hutchinson:

“Less work. More family. Less commuting. More walking the dog. Less time spent cooped up in windowless meeting rooms. More time sipping dark roast on the patio with my wife.

So, what’s next?

I have no idea. Ask me again in a few months.”

Amen, Grant. I’ve also decided not to watch the best years of my life pass by through an office window. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was one of the best I’ve made.

I started reading Splorp many years ago. In fact, that’s where I first saw the word “blog” and was inspired to search (pre-Google) its meaning. I credit Grant with introducing me to blogging, in a roundabout way.

Guy Kawasaki has posted some fantastic photos from the 25th Anniversary Reunion of the original Macintosh team. I still remember how thrilled I was to meet Bill Atkinson and Jef Raskin at Macworld Expo Boston a few years ago.

[Via Daring Fireball]

iPhone software update 2.2.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch is now available, and seems to be a bug-squasher. To get yours, simply connect your iPhone/touch to iTunes and click “Check for updates.”

In his book The 4 Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss promotes his notion of mini retirements. Basically, for every couple of months he works, he spends a few weeks relaxing outside the country. While this routine isn’t within my grasp (yet), I’ve started taking mini vacations and the results have been wonderful.

In December, my wife and I packed the kids into the car and drove to my sister’s house in Pennsylvania. We rented a small apartment and spent four days walking around the state park, visiting my extended family and eating awesome pizza. The cost was very low – the apartment was only $100/night for four people, which we split with my other sister and her husband. That’s a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a full kitchen for 4 people at $50/night. No hotel can touch that. We also got a small grocery order instead of hitting a restaurant 3 times per day and did mostly “free” activities, like the park, etc.

This past weekend we spent at an Coco Key, an indoor water park in Fitchburg, MA. The only reason we did that was because the price was so great. They just opened about a month ago, so they’re looking to lure initial guests to try things out and generate a little word-of-mouth marketing. For $140, we got two full days in the park and a hotel room for four people plus breakfast. That’s insane.

The benefits are many. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed by work lately. Today, I’m absolutely raring to go. My wife and I had an actual date to the mall and a dinner without kids (parents with toddlers will recognize how even the mall +  a hamburger with your spouse can be wonderful) and that was tremendous. Plus, we got some awesome bonding time with the kids that didn’t include rushing to the bus stop, gymnastics or the dinner table.

While I can’t yet jet off to Argentina for a month, I can find a bargain, take advantage of it and fully recharge my batteries. Sure, the economy sucks right now, but the places you’d like to visit are feeling it, too, so prices are low.

Finally, why spend all of your two weeks at once in the summer? Do two days here, three days there. Find something local and fun, support an area business and “depressurize the cabin” a bit. You’ll be glad you did.

When Elisabeth Kübler-Ross released her book On Death and Dying in 1969, she described what’s come to be called the Kübler-Ross Model, also known as The Five Stages of Grief. Specifically:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Elizabeth originally applied these stages to catastrophic personal loss (for example, the death of a loved one), but others have noticed that any significant personal change can elicit these stages. I think some conservative members of the Republican party are going through the process.

I want you to understand that I’m not attacking conservatives. Just stating my observations. Take a look at these comments written on a blog post describing a recent television appearance by Rush Limbaugh*:

• “I want Obama to fail in his stated purpose.”
• “I want Obama to fail to implement his domestic policies.”
• “I want the U.S. to succeed under the Obama Presidency, but that does not necessarily mean that I want the Obama Presidency to be successful.”
• “I want him to be successful in national defense and fail miserably on all social/fiscal policy.”

I understand that you’re angry that your guy lost. I understand that you ideas for the country don’t align perfectly with all of President Obama’s. You’re allowed to be angry. For a while. Because there’s work to do, and we can’t afford to bicker amongst ourselves for a minute more.

Haven’t we endured enough in-fighting over the last eight years? I look out my window and see Republicans and Democrats who actually hate each other. Talk radio shows are designed to bait people into on-air shouting matches. Why are we yelling at each other? “I disagree with your opinion, therefore you deserve to be screamed at.” When did that happen?

This type of divisiveness is not the American way. Worse, it’s counter productive. The economy is in very serious trouble among a laundry list of other things. The time to fight over “why” is later. The time to fix it is now.

When you’re on the sinking Titanic, you don’t stop to yell at the iceberg.

Our differences aren’t a hindrence. They’re our strengh. This country was founded and built by immigrants. It’s the varying opinions, insights, background and ideas that will get us through our troubles more quickly and creatively than a single mindset ever would.

President Obama called for A National Day of Renewal and Reconciliation. I’ve said some mean things. So have conservatives.  Let’s admit that we were wrong and put down the sticks and stones.

I’m done fighting with you. You are my brothers and sisters. I want to know where we meet and how we can collaborate. So does President Obama. Tell him. Shaking your fist in the air accomplishes nothing (aside from some mild exercise). Let’s talk.

*I realize that what Rush does is theatre, not actual political commentary, but some people take him seriously.

One of the new features of iPhoto ‘09 is Facebook integration. With “just a few clicks” as they say, you can export your pictures to Facebook with tagging, face recognition and other data intact. It’s all quite simple and easy from what I’ve observed in the demos. Those of you with iPhoto ‘08 who’d like to have this functionality now can check out the iPhoto-to-Facebook plugin.

I installed it on my MacBook pro earlier today (I’m running iPhoto 7.1.5), and it worked perfectly. To use it, first select the photos you want to send to Facebook. Next, choose “Export” from the File Menu.

The Export Window appears, complete with new Facebook tab. From here it’s rather self-explanatory. First, log into Facebook by clicking the “Login” button, which opens a browser window. Once that’s done, return to iPhoto. Next, you can add captions and choose the album you want to receive your photos, or create a new one.

The face recognition is the cool part. Just click on your subject’s face, and a drop-down menu appears listing all of your Facebok friends. A click adds the appropriate tag to a given photo. Neat.

Of course, this is a one trick pony and not a substitute for iPhoto ‘09, but if Facebook export is a feature you’re just itching to get your hands on, try this plugin.

Check out the gallery below for setup and use of this plugin.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

In October of 2008, my employer of 15 years shut its doors for good. After a mild freakout, I decided to make a go of working for myself.

I had been working as the IT director for a residental school in rural Massachusetts. I had also been blogging on my own for about five years, and professionally with The Unofficial Apple Weblog and Parenting Magazine for about 2 years each. In that time, I realized how much I love writing and blogging. I’ll admit that I spent the last year with my employer thinking more and more about blogging full time. “I wonder if I could do this for a living?” I thought. That was the dream.

To make a long story short, I’ve been doing it since October. I’ve also helped some small business owners develop blogs of their own. Of course, what I know about writing and blogging is eclipsed by what I don’t. It’s time for some professional development.

It’s January, which is when people resolve to improve themselves. I’m doing the same, but I want to make it fun. Here’s professional development, World of Warcraft style.

Click here to read more about this project.

Earlier today, Apple published a letter from Steve Jobs, announcing his medical leave of absence, effective immediately until June of this year:

“Team,

I am sure all of you saw my letter last week sharing something very personal with the Apple community. Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.

In order to take myself out of the limelight and focus on my health, and to allow everyone at Apple to focus on delivering extraordinary products, I have decided to take a medical leave of absence until the end of June.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for Apple’s day to day operations, and I know he and the rest of the executive management team will do a great job. As CEO, I plan to remain involved in major strategic decisions while I am out. Our board of directors fully supports this plan.

I look forward to seeing all of you this summer.

Steve”

This letter is a sharp contrast from the one he published through Apple only nine days ago:

“…The remedy for [my newly diagnosed] nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.”

Over the next few weeks, you’ll hear pundits and other tech writers say things like, “Steve owes me/stockholders/you an update/explanation.” That’s BS. He’s the CEO of an influential, international tech company. But Steve Jobs is not Apple and Apple is not Steve Jobs. While the market might not see this distinction right away, it will eventually.

Steve is also a human being. I wish him and his family all that they need over the next few months. Good luck, Steve. I hope we see you soon.