Dr. Thomas Ho's blog @ Windows Live Spaces

London Calling » Carnival of the Mobilists 130 is here

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:19:36 GMT

Last week, I read Carnival of the Mobilists for the first time and I was INSPIRED to contribute...I made it!

I was encouraged earlier when Kevin Tofel, one of my favorite mobile commentators, "liked" my blog posting on FriendFeed.

Look for more postings from me about mobility!

Link to London Calling » Carnival of the Mobilists 130 is here

Indy as a high-tech city?

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:09:43 GMT

For several years, enrollment in my academic program Computer and Information Technology at IUPUI has suffered and we have largely attributed this trend to the MISconception that there are fewer jobs in information technology. Whether or not national trends support this view, it is evident from this article that Indianapolis is a bright spot on the national scene. Since most of our graduates remain in central Indiana, this is especially good news so we must do a better job of getting this good news out! Could this be an opportunity to apply social media?

Link to

A reality check on mobility?

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:11:41 GMT

There probably aren't many who are more enthusiastic about mobility than I am! I own a Sprint Mogul with EVDO, rev. A and UNlimited SMS as well as an HP Pavilion tx2000 Tablet PC which I found via one of my favorite mobility blogs from James Kendrick. I even bought my 12-year old daughter a Palm Centro instead of any old phone. After all, I wanted to get my money's worth from all of those Palm OS apps that I STILL have after I migrated to Windows Mobile a few years ago! :-)

Recently, I got a Starbucks Card in order to use WiFI after I gave up my AT&T WiFi when I switched from AT&T Yahoo! DSL to Comcast High-Speed Internet which will be the topic of another post someday after the "dust has settled" on that decision. My start page on my Internet Explorer Mobile browser is my .mobi home page under the .mobi category of my online identity.

Being an avid Web 2.0 fan, I use BrightKite, Twitter, and FriendFeed a lot (I'd like to be able to use them even more :^) and I use the mobile versions of those services more than I do their desktop counterparts. Actually, I use BrightKite via SMS and sometimes I use Twitter via SMS, but that's a problem when you follow as many people as I do.

I share all of these "qualifications" in order to provide some perspective on my comments. I started this posting before Nokia's announcement of its purchase of Symbian which will become open-source software. In light of that announcement, I am even more motivated to finish this posting. I started this posting because I wanted to share about how I have been using my Windows Mobile device in a very different way lately. I had realized that my feelings were certainly favoring Apple's approach to mobility as demonstrated by the iPhone. Since I had last performed a hard reset on my Sprint Mogul, I have installed very few third-party applications compared to the number of Windows Mobile applications for which I own licenses in order to 'add value' to the limitations of Windows Mobile! As a matter of fact, about the only application that I have been using is Spb Mobile Shell which improves navigation on Windows Mobile. That reveals a major flaw of Windows Mobile's poor user interface which (of course) is where the iPhone happens to shine!

Because I have installed few third-party applications, I have depended on Web-based services to take up the slack. That explains my earlier comment about Brightkite and especially Twitter and Friendfeed although lately I have become quite fond of Tiny Twitter which IS a third-party application that i DID INSTALL after I found myself using Twitter more since its performance has improved (somewhat) of late. Of course, I'm ONLY able to use Web-based services that have mobile-friendly sites such as (mobile) Twitter and fftogo.com for FriendFeed. That's because Windows Mobile doesn't have any browser comparable to the iPhone's Mobile Safari browser. Earlier in the spring, I tried the Mobile Safari browser on my University's Learning Management System and I was impressed by how well it rendered the site.

So, WHY don't I have an iPhone? Of course, the "easy" answer is that the first-generation iPhone didn't have 3G data service so my dependence on Web-based services would have suffered from either EDGE speed or the unavailability of WiFi which is still a significant problem in most places. So, will I get a second-generation iPhone? I thought about upgrading to the Samsung Instinct, but that's not an option because it's not available with the discounted SERO plan that I have with Sprint. Anyway, I doubt that I would have been happy with the Instinct as this article asserts.

What's the big deal of this post anyway? After all, I haven't said anything that hasn't already been said by many commentators. What is notable is MY (early-adopter) willingness to admit it! To me, it doesn't matter whether or not Steve Jobs is "right" or whether Microsoft is going in the right direction with Windows Mobile or whether Nokia's recent move is "too little, too late" BUT what does matter to me is my willingness to keep an open mind and to be willing to adapt! After all, I never thought that I would abandon the Palm OS for Windows Mobile because I had such a significant investment in Palm applications (ironic, isn't it?)

Whether I "wait" for Google's Android while I "stay the course" with Windows Mobile, I am convinced that mobility is where the action is!

Microsoft says proxy battle not worth it | Beyond Binary - A blog by Ina Fried - CNET News.com

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:31:36 GMT

I guess that I read Ballmer well.

I agree with him that Yahoo! shareholders are the big losers!

I can't wait to hear what Jerry Yang has to say! :-)

Link to Microsoft says proxy battle not worth it | Beyond Binary - A blog by Ina Fried - CNET News.com

Link to Breaking: Microsoft Withdraws Yahoo Bid; Walks Away From Deal (Updated) - TechCrunch

Microsoft pulls its Yahoo offer | Beyond Binary - A blog by Ina Fried - CNET News.com

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:10:28 GMT

IF I were a Yahoo! shareholder, I think that I'd be upset! How about you?

I suppose that I give Steve Ballmer credit for walking away from a deal which probably was going to be a disaster. Microsoft had better have an alternative strategy to compete with Google!

Jerry Yang of Yahoo! is now going to be under a great deal of pressure to find a better deal because I'm worried that Yahoo! might not make it on its own! The problem is that I can't think of a better prospective partner than Microsoft. Can you?

Link to Microsoft pulls its Yahoo offer | Beyond Binary - A blog by Ina Fried - CNET News.com

Comcast’s quarter shows the ebb and flow in telecom vs. cable war | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

Thu, 01 May 2008 14:15:00 GMT

I certainly have contributed to the turmoil as I recently dropped AT&T Yahoo! DSL in favor of Comcast High-speed Internet which I used previously until AT&T made its price just "too attractive" to pass up. The irony is that I also upgraded from analog to digital cable when AT&T U-verse finally became available in my neighborhood.

Since I had asked AT&T to notify me when U-verse became available, it really was AT&I's "business to lose" BUT I was "impressed" by Comcast's willingness to compete to get my business while AT&T had NOT YET notified me. Furthermore, my DSL service seemed to require "reboots" after dropping the connection on a 'regular' basis. AT&T offered me a new DSL modem when I called to disconnect... why didn't they do that when I was still willing to give them a chance?

I've been wanting to see how shared bandwidth was faring in my neighborhood since my "early adopter" days on Comcast and @Home (remember them?) Finally, I've been intrigued by Comcast's efforts to engage its customers via Twitter.

Anyway, Comcast almost blew it too with its flawed installation and followup, but they made it right so for the time being, they have a chance to keep my business.

Watch for a future post about that installation as well as some of my thoughts on cable-telco competition. Let's see if I have any reason (good or bad) to talk about my Comcast service.

Link to Comcast’s quarter shows the ebb and flow in telecom vs. cable war | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

0ne of our newest American citizens!

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:24:21 GMT

My wife Laura was recently sworn in as a naturalized American citizen! Today she registered to vote since Indiana has an upcoming primary in May.

Here's her photograph from the swearing-in ceremony which was held at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.

Link to DSC_0211 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

WinExtra » Times are a changin’

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:21:21 GMT

Steven Hodson is one of my favorite bloggers so I always "jump" at a chance to agree with him!

I just started using a Tablet PC which I have been wanting to do for a long time. So, when I was finally able to get a well-configured one for "only" $1000, I jumped at the chance. i configured it with 4GB of RAM!

I've been using it for about a day (composing this posting on it) and I love it! I may never buy another desktop and I certainly wouldn't want to use one anyway!

Link to WinExtra » Times are a changin’

Windows Live Writer Portable 2.0 Now with U3

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:44:41 GMT

Windows Live Writer has been my favorite tool for creating posts so I'm now thrilled to learn that there is a U3-compatible portable version of this app which I have used to create this post!

Link to Windows Live Writer Portable 2.0 Now with U3

Moblogging in Schools

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:04:00 GMT

Here's a good reason to allow kids to use their cellphones in school. We ought to encourage them to reflect on their learning experiences as they learn rather than to ask them to recall it later. This could also be a good case for devices such as the iPod Touch (IF your school has WiFi) rather than "unwieldy" laptops that have a much larger footprint.

BarCamp Indy 2008

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:55:21 GMT

Well, BarCamp Indy 2008 is now history and I'm glad that I participated! It's getting pretty good reviews and I'm sure that you'll be hearing more about it over time.

I must admit that when Scott Wilder first proposed this last fall, I was skeptical especially after he picked a date that was only a few months away without yet having a venue, sponsors, and with only a little planning at that point in time. Well, he pulled it off with the help of a few friends and I wish that I had helped more. I intend to make up for that by being more active in organizing subsequent BarCamp Indy events.

I hope that you will join us by helping to organize as well as by participating in future BarCamps in Indianapolis. In the meantime, I hope that you'll check out my BarCamp Indy 2008 "presentation" about "Creating an online identity"

Mobile Web at BarCamp Indy

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:40:01 GMT

At BarCamp Indy, Brad Williams spoke about the mobile Web and shared statistics about the expected growth of the market.

He said that you always take these things with you leave the house:

Keys
Wallet or purse
Cell phone

I shared that I have forgotten my wallet, BUT I don't forget my cellphone. IF I had been in Asia, I would have been able to pay with my cellphone.

He also demo'ed the moblog site SnapFoo which he launched with Mark Fleig. It's in private beta so ask him for an invite code.

I sure hope that Sprint survives!

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:56:07 GMT

As you might have seen in my comment to my earlier posting about HTC, I got a Sprint Mogul (HTC Titan) so I'm now a Sprint subscriber because I got 'tired of waiting' for T-Mobile to upgrade to 3G.

With EVDO, I doubt that I'll need WiFi very much because my SlingPlayer Mobile even works with EVDO.

I am a happy camper! :-)

live from the Unleavened Bread Cafe

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:20:44 GMT

[where:3001 N. central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46205]

Today is the launch of AskAnythingSaturday.tv so I'll be placeblogging from the Unleavened Bread Café. We're getting a bit of late start, but we're on the air now. Be sure to tune in every Saturday at 1500 GMT.

Pastor David Scott is hosting and Sister (or Mother?) Elease Womack who started the café just gave the history. Neil Cox who started AskAnythingSaturday.com just gave its history. Stand by for more because I'm going on the air soon.

Out with the Old...In with the New!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:17:50 GMT

As 2007 comes to an end and as 2008 beckons, I thought that it's "now or never" to reflect on the tech scene during 2007 and to look ahead on what 2008 MIGHT bring.

For me, 2007's tech scene was characterized by social networking and software as a service. I was "converted" to Facebook when the Facebook Platform launched in the spring, BUT I am much more bullish about the torrent of services that characterized the year. Most notable among these was Twitter, of course. Like the Facebook Platform, Twitter is notable because it is an "ecosystem" that cultivates innovation. I am so impressed by the wave of innovation that has propelled phenomena such as Twittervision as well as emerging services such as #hashtags and Hoosgot. I'm sure that 2008 will bring even more!

On a personal note, I have been trying to focus my personal blogging efforts on placeblogging as illustrated by the Indianapolis placeblog and my neighbor page at outside.in. I hope to do more in 2008 and to get others involved as well.

Where I really hope to get more involvement is our nascent Indy Christian Geeks which has the potential to accomplish much for Jesus in Indianapolis as well as to serve as a role model for similar groups that I hope to see emerge in other locales. Please join us if you share our vision!

For 2008, I'll have my eye on two areas where I expect to see a lot of energy: mobility and identity. To launch the new year with a "worthy" mobile device and data service, I just ordered a Sprint Mogul in order to get EVDO :-(got "tired" of "waiting" for T-Mobile)

I also am "kicking off" the new year with my digital identity "branded" by my i-name =thomas.ho so check out this blog by clicking on http://xri.net/=thomas.ho/+blog and look for other instances of my life online. In the meantime, you can find my "online identity" at http://DrThomasHo.info under my personal "brand" DrThomasHo.

Oh yeah, I "forgot" about attention so I guess that it didn't get my "attention" so it just shows how important the concept really will be as we deal with information overload.

So, you can see that 2008 looks to be even more exciting than 2007 as I continue to be amazed at the creativity and innovation that the Internet has fueled. Come along for the ride!

Google adds "street view" maps of Indy | IndyStar.com

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:29:18 GMT

[where:46268]

I had been waiting for Google to "get around" to adding Indianapolis, BUT now that it's finally happened, I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I recall feeling that it was "spooky" when I first saw a satellite view of my house from the forerunner of Microsoft's Live Search Maps. Since I've had time to "get over it", you'd think that I'd just "take it in stride" BUT it does "hit home" when it comes to my neighborhood!

Web site adds close-up view of Indy | IndyStar.com

I like HTC devices so I'm NOT surprised

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:43:01 GMT

I can understand why the iPhone got so much hype so it is gratifying to note that others respect HTC as much as I do!

The iPhone and HTC devices were the most discussed and most popular of 2007 by ZDNet's Matthew Miller -- The news slows down during the holiday season before the big rush of CES and it gives us some time to reflect on the past year. I'll be posting a year in review for mobile devices shortly, but wanted to first post lists of the most popular and most discussed posts here on the ZDNet Mobile Gadgeteer blog. As you can see, the iPhone was the subject of 4 of the top 10 most discussed posts with HTC devices also capturing 4 of the most popular posts. The other two covered Windows Mobile 6 and Google Calendar syncing. It was interesting to see that one of my older posts from 2006 (HTC TyTN review) was in the top 10 for 2007. I believe that shows how popular this high-powered touch-screen Windows Mobile device was in 2006 and 2007.

kwout | A brilliant way to quote

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:58:10 GMT

This is a very cool tool that allows you to capture part of any Web page as an image for posting to the Web. I can't figure out how to get the HTML of an image of this page here so I have posted it to my public Flickr photostream.

kwout | A brilliant way to quote

Altec Lansing M604 Powered Audio System for Microsoft Zune is great, BUT...

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:18:02 GMT

I bought one of these for Tabby for Christmas and it REALLY is true that you have to connect the Zune in the sequence just as this Amazon reviewer described. When I tried it on Christmas, I thought that I did it just as he warned because the user's guide DID warn to plug in the Zune BEFORE plugging in the speakers, BUT I guess that I didn't get it quite right so be careful and do it just as T. Burbey explained!

By the way, I bought mine at Woot.com for ONLY $45 :-)

Amazon.com: T. Burbey's review of Altec Lansing M604 Powered Audio System fo...

Lafayette Road Ethnic Food Corridor - Indianapolis

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:32:28 GMT

[where:Lafayette Square] [where:46254]

It's good to know that Terry Kirts, the former culinary writer for NUVO and currently the restaurant critic for Indianapolis Monthly, shares my passion for the Lafayette Road Ethnic Food Corridor.

Where Indy’s going, where it’s been - NUVO.net

Photo Album: Indianapolis TweetUp 3/14/2008

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:21:59 GMT

Indianapolis TweetUp 3/14/2008

Mark Fleig

Alex Conner

Doug Karr

Gregor Morrill

Stephen James

Thomas Ho

Isha

rest of the TweetUp gang at Indianapolis

Sean

Matthew Flett

More Photos...

Photo Album: Blog Images

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 03:06:58 GMT

Blog Images

Photo Album: Family photo

Sun, 30 Jan 2005 05:39:51 GMT

Family photo

Untitled Photo

Custom List: Find me

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:41:28 GMT

Find me

driving directions to my office
just enter your starting location courtesy of blipstar.com, thestore locator mapping service
CIT@IUPUI.edu
My "mobile-friendly" start page
My lifestream
aka Digital Life Aggregator
my online identity
my personal brand
aka http://ThomasHo.me