Quick hacker interview - The FBI sure seems worthless when it comes to computer related crimes - I hope they can get up to speed or at least outsource some experts.

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Apple upcoming product speculation is mind-numbingly boring. Why am I interested, then, you ask? I am a perfectionist, and Apples are made by perfectionists. The fit and finish of the cases combined with the rendering of the text on the screen (literally 50% more readable than Windows XP’s text), is enough to sell the machines (for me). It is obvious that Apple is a company guided by people with ridiculously high expectations for the Apple Computer experience.

So, I present to you my first speculation about an Apple Media Event. Possibly because I’m just a media tool of their genius marketing scheme. Oh well.

Here’s my idea: Apple is going with eInk for an upcoming product. Just as they “created the market” for MP3 players by setting a standard in mobile audio for other companies to strive for, Apple is in a perfect position to “create” another market by employing eInk display technology and setting the standard in mobile electronic reading. Some more details on eInk:

Superior Look — Because it’s made from the same basic materials as regular ink and paper, electronic ink retains the superior viewing characteristics of paper, including high contrast, wide viewing angle, and bright paper-white background.

Versatile — Electronic ink can be printed on almost any surface, from plastic to metal to paper. And it can be coated over large areas cheaply.

Low Power — Electronic ink is a real power miser. It displays an image even when the power is turned off and it’s even legible in low light reducing the need for a backlight. This can significantly extend battery life for portable devices.

So what? Well. First, Apple licenses electronic versions of books (anybody think the Harry Potter iPod was a little random?) just as it licensed electronic music. Second, Apple delivers the perfect device on which to read this material. Finally, this device sells well, and companies scramble after Apple to pick up the technology.

This all fits in. The potential of miniature hard drives was widely recognized before the iPod and a few devices using the tech preceded the iPod … but the iPod was the simplicity people were searching for. So … a couple of devices are already out with eInk (notably, the Sony Librie), but they don’t provide that simple experience. Historically, this would be the prime time for Apple to jump out and say (brimming with marketing hyperbole, as always) “we invented this!” They haven’t invented it by any stretch, but Apple is the company that can make eInk truly useful. Bonus similarity: iPod and eInk both have initial lower case letters. Of course.

Who knows, maybe this prediction will be another Shuffle Phones.

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Invsible Shield - The first gadget protection I’ve seen that carries products for my cell phone (Moto V551), MP3 player (iPod 4g 20 gig), and my camera (Canon Digital Rebel EOS 300). I’d have bought this for my camera had I known about it. That’s ok, the current protector on there gets the job done.

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Cleaning out the email.

Alex,

I was dead but then I got better. Dying kind of sucked. It hurt a little and then it was just dark. You would think dark would be cool, but this dark just stayed and stayed and didn’t go away. I am really glad I got better, because being dead was really lame. I will be alive and in Amsterdam from tomorrow until mid-next week. When I get back, I will pack up and move back to Madison, so we NEED TO HANG OUT VERY VERY VERY VERY SOON, or else it won’t happen. I was hanging out with Yalda yesterday, and she mentioned that there was planning for a sort of end-of-the-summer type thing. She said I would need to come back on a weekend for this before classes start. Plan away, if you indeed are planning at all, and keep me informed. Talk to you later, have a good one.

Nils “Alive and Well” Espe

——- Original Message ——-
From: “Micek, Alexander J.” <*******@stthomas.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 4:49 pm
Subject: RE: HEYYYYY

NILS HAVE YOU DIED PLEASE WRITE BACK IF DEATH HAS NOT VISITED YOU.

SINCERELY,
CONCERNED IN WOODBURY

——-Original Message——-
From: NILS ESPE [mailto:******@wisc.edu]
Sent: Sun 8/7/2005 8:35 PM
To: Micek, Alexander J.
Subject: HEYYYYY

Being alive is awesome.

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Haunted Portraits - These portraits (I think they are holographic) change from normal vintage picture to creepy creepy demonized versions of that same picture. Great for Halloween!

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These macro shots are always cool.

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People are usually a little more talkative and relaxed in the weight room on Fridays, taking their workouts a little slower and shooting the breeze for a while. Some actually do not work out at all, but simply stand with their hand on a machine and talk nonsense. I looked like I was doing nothing, but I was actually between sets, and a guy walked up to me.

“Hey, what did you think of that test?”

“Yeah … I didn’t do as well as I wanted to on it.”

Funny thing was, I had no idea who this kid was. Furthermore, the fact that I hadn’t the foggiest notion of which one of my classes he was in didn’t matter, because that response applies to all three of the tests I have taken or gotten back this week. But I learned a lesson! Poor slash undesirable test performance greases the wheels of potentially embarassing social mechanics (the mechanism of this is unclear and the sample size is 1 … so take my conclusion lightly).

Thank you.

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Conan O’Brien ‘Interview’ - He’ll take over from Jay Leno in something like 2009 … this article asks the question ‘how will he do?’

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Mykala didn’t really want me to take pictures. I’m happy I did (just a few).

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The Complete Calvin and Hobbes - I’ve been waiting for this for a long long time. I just may purchase. This is the most beautiful comic strip (taking beauty in many ways) that I have ever had the privilege of seeing.

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