Today is going to be a hard day for my family and myself.  My mother in law, Charlotte, passed away on November 24th after a long battle with Breast Cancer.  I lead off my Thanksgiving Day post with this as it is a reason I am thankful to God.  Why?  Because he took her in his arms and relieved her of the pain.  Relieved her of the needles.  Relieved her of the visits to the hospital and healed her.  She is in heaven with God and is very happy.  While I miss her and I always liked spending time with her on holidays such as Thanksgiving, it would be very selfish of me to want to keep her in this world.   Thank you God for taking Charlotte to be one of your Angels.

Next, I am thankful for my wonderful family.  My wife and my son are the two most important individuals to me after God.  I love them both.  While we may have struggles and Luke may decide he’s going to be a pain in the neck, I still love him and thankful God has let me be his Dad.

I am thankful to all of the members of Grace Ministries man council.  Rob, Brian, Mike Fleming, Mike Musser, Justin, Josh and Pete.  These are all men of God who aren’t perfect but definitely try to be.  They are all guys I enjoy hanging out with.

I am thankful for all of my friends I work with on the web.  Judie Lipsett, Dan Cohen, Amy Zunk, Carly Z, Jessica Fritsche, Travis Ehrlich, Jeff Frants, Larry Greenburg, Douglas Moran, Jason Reese, Michael Anderson and all of the writers and contributers of Gear Diary are all awesome.  Past writers like Doug Goldring  and others are also some of the best people I have ever worked with.

I can’t forget, Pat Davila, Linc Fessenden, Allan Metzler, Dann Washko and Dave Yates and all of the co hosts and guests of the Linux Link Tech Show.  Since joining the Tech Show, I have been able to be a part of something that has been a great gift to the Linux community.  These guys will do almost anything for you and for Open Source software.  I am thankful I am friends with them.

I am thankful for all of the Open Source Developers out there that make the software I use.  I am thankful for these guys and gals who work so tirelessly to make things better for Open Source Software end users.  I wish I had half the energy of just ONE of these developers.

Lastly, I need to make a special thank you to all of those who read this little blog.  I know there’s probably not many of you, but thank you anyway.

Ever since I activated my G1, I was in love.  I loved the Android operating system and the Google syncing and everything.  However, I quickly had to do all sorts of memory management because Google/HTC in their infinite wisdom decided you could not write and run applications on the SD card.  So I searched and then came across the CyanogenMod.

Cyanogen and the previous hacker JesusFreke came up with some awesome work.  They conquered installing apps to the SD card and made using my G1 infinitely more usable since now I can put apps on the SD card where there is more room.  Plus they also figured out ways to make the OS more usable and faster.  Life is good and now I should be able to make it until the end of my contract.  Well that ends now.

Cyanogen received a C&D letter from Google.  The CyanogenMod website was pulled down and now you can’t download any of the images.  The reason they say is that Cyanogen was redistributing Google’s apps.  This is true, however he was not altering their apps in his image nor was he building images for phones that did not already include the Google experience apps.  IE, we’d still run these apps if we stuck with the stock firmware and we technically own a license.

Message to Google: HIRE cyanogen.  Have him help you figure out how to make Android better like he has been doing.  Also, don’t squish the the reason most of us went for the Android platform: it’s openness.  We liked Android and our G1’s because we weren’t locked down like we would be if we bought the iPhone.  We could install more apps make our phones do what we wanted.  You were more open than Apple and Microsoft.  Let the community make Android shine!  There are already huge proponents of the G1 that are saying it will be their first….and last Android phone if you keep this is not resolved.

I love Open Source.  I also don’t like Apple or Microsoft too much but I do not bash them.  Yeah it’s fun to chide them when they have issues, but I have always prided myself that the FOSS community generally will compete on the fact that they are better than Apple or Microsoft.  I guess I was wrong.

What brought this up is my search for a theme for my hacked G1.  I have seen several screens that have the Android either peeing on a Apple that looks like the Apple logo or the Android tossing a Apple into the trash.  While they are kind of funny, they are exactly what the Linux and Android world do not need.  This kind of behaviour can tick off people who may be considering a phone running Android.  The reasons they may be looking at them is the fact that the iPhone may just not be on their carrier of choice so they may be looking at Android phones as a option.  Then they may look at the themes out there or the wallpapers out there and see this kind of stuff.

There’s more.  The recent 7 sins campaign seems to fight FUD with FUD.  I won’t say that they don’t have some valid points because they do.  However, going negative makes us, the FOSS community as bad as Steve Ballmer stomping on a iPhone on stage.

How do we compete with Microsoft and Apple?  By being better than them both technically and in our actions.  We should be above reproach in our marketing campaigns and our actions.  We should never resort to the same things that Microsoft or Apple do.

Plus, we should also look at both Apple and Microsoft and see what they do that is better than what we do.  FOSS isn’t perfect.  Microsoft does do some things better.  We should try to improve Linux and Android to make sure that they are better then their closes counterparts in both the technical and graphical level.  That means we should never include these humorous things in say a boot screen.  If you want to have a Android peeing on a apple on your wallpaper, that’s cool but don’t put it in a theme that you apply to your phone.

I also must note….Android’s don’t pee.

Alot of nashing of teeth has been happening on the web regarding the rejection of Google Voice from the Apple App Store.  FCC is investigating it as many know.  AT&T also said they had nothing to do with it.  That means Apple knows why.  Apple is also acting like  they had not rejected the app.  How come Google Voice, GV and many others never made it either?  Apple has even denied a dictionary because it may contain the definition of bad words.  The fact is Apple has been very inconsistent with what it will allow and not allow.  The fact that Apple even maintains that control is obscene to me.  That’s why I won’t buy an iPhone.

Some might say Apple maintaining control isn’t evil.  I say it is.  Apple says you must not sync with anything but iTunes.  You may not install apps from anyone but Apple’s store.  With so many restrictions it’s hard to believe that the sheep are still lining up for the iPhone.  They don’t know how it can be better.  They don’t enjoy things like live video streaming on Qik.com that I can get even on a unrooted Android phone.  They lived with out basic functionality like copy and paste.  Apple control’s your phone’s destiny.  Not you.

The Better Way

With Android, you can be free to install whatever apps you come across even if they aren’t in the store.  You are not beholden to a specific program to sync your phone up.  Even better is the price for developing programs for Android is lower.  You don’t even have to have it listed in the Android Marketplace to be installable.  You hold all the cards in what you can do.  While Apple users are stuck.

The iPhone may be popular now but it won’t stay that way.  Just ask Palm!  If they keep doing what they are doing now, then the iPhone will start to loose it’s lustre.  Android can be there to take it’s place.  The Android OS is as easy to use as the iPhone and as powerful as the iPhone.   The Android Marketplace has tons of applications.  While there aren’t as many as the iPhone, there are many apps that let you do things on Android that Apple won’t let you do.

I have heard many refer to the iPhone as a computer.  This is true, but it’s the world’s most locked down computer in my opinion.  A Android phone could also be used as a computer.  In fact, Android may also be loaded on computers plus Android is probably going to have Flash plugins before the iPhone.

The iPhone may have been first and may still be better now, but they can’t do what they did with the iPod and sit idle with the iPhone.  The cell phone market is too fickle.  It was only 2-5 years ago that Palm Treo’s were the best.  Now what happend to Palm?  They are an also ran who is trying to come back with the Pre.

Before long, many iPhone people will get sick of the things the iPhone can’t do and they will hop off the iPhone like a bad habit because that’s what they did with the Treo when Palm had not updated it in years.

I just ran into a situation that reminded me what some people want to do with Linux.  My example is cars.  Recently, we’ve begun to have trouble with our 6 year old van.  The Power Steering seems to be cutting in and out as is the AC.  I think this is a serpentine belt going out, but while driving back from Church, the scary thing happened and the check engine and the oil light came on simultaneously for a second or two then went out.  Everything was running ok except the aforementioned steering issue.  As I went home, the temp shot up to H after sitting at a light which I theorize could possibly be related to issue with the belt.  However, when I did get home and checked the oil, the dipstick was WAY low.  So, I went and got some oil and put it in and that made me think…why ISN’T there a gage to warn us before the red light goes on?  This is what users want from their computers whether it runs Linux or not.

Windows users, like my wife, want everything to be automatic.  Linux users after they are acclimated, generally accept what they have to do to run a Linux system.  However, thanks to Ubuntu making great strides in usability, now the Linux world is being invaded by people like my wife who want the computer to be an appliance.  They want it to do what they want it to do when they want to do it and they don’t care about the details that it takes to do it.

Windows and Mac OS X have been exposed to this for a while now.  Linux has only recently been open to this kind of an audience.  In fact, Linux already gets some things right by default, but not all.  Somethings are already better than the way Windows handles things.  Alot of things are not (Linux zealots hold your thoughts).

What I want to say is this a right kind of opinion?

Mechanics tell you you must do a oil change and must check the belts and transmission fluid and all sorts of things and still there are people who don’t do this and they get zapped.  This happened to us today.  How much would a car cost with all the intelligence it needs to tell us when to put new oil in or when it’s low?  How about when your shocks need changed before they fail?  What about a digitized indicator for brake wear??  What about all of these?  Cars would cost much higher than they do now.  Car companies are already having problems largely of their own doing, but I can’t discount all of the carbon emission stuff that’s being bandied about.  All of this emission control does cost car companies something.

On a computer running Windows, you must install antivirus programs and malware scanners at a minimum, but what if they had a process that would automatically copy from a CD to your cellphone and tag the songs correctly for each and every cell phone model and playing software out there.  Can’t do it and even if you did hit a majority 0f the phones, someone make end up liking some obscure peace of crap from 5 years ago and still want to use it with their PC.  Event then, there is more obscure stuff out there that isn’t supported because it’s old.

With Linux, it’s even worse because some manufacturers won’t provide a drawing or schematic or whatever details the developer may need to write a driver.  This makes supporting every single piece of hardware a impossibility and also makes this kind of “appliance software” a impossibility

A car has certain maintenance.  A computer, Windows or Linux based have thier own idiosyncratic things.  Until we realize this at some point, we will have unexpected behaviors.

What do you think?  Should cars or computers be more complicated by being less complicated to use?  Should Ubuntu keep putting effort into making it easier to use?

Wow.  I am extremely LAX at posting over here.  Let me explain a little bit of where I have been.

First, my son Luke has had many issues in the past year that we are still battling.  None of these are physical health issues.  He’s been diagnosed with ADHD and Aspergers.  This lays special challenges to my wife and I and has definitely put a strain on things at home.  God and my family both come before everything else….and I mean EVERYTHING.

Second, I am a senior team member over at Gear Diary writing reviews, news and views in my spare time.  I love writing with the team at Gear Diary and intend to do this for as long as I can!   Judie is a incredible person and I thank her for all she does for the team.

Thirdly, and most recent is I am also now a part time host of the Linux Link Tech Show, although it seems like it’s been every week lately!   The hosts of the Tech Show are my friends and I love being in the asterisk channel EVERY week I can be.  These guys are some of the best people I have ever met in the Linux community.

Lastly, I do the Life in Ohio Podcast when I get the spare chance.  I still like sharing my life and talking abouit Ohio, it’s just taken a back seat to more important things.

Oh and I forgot…I volunteer with the scouts and my church as well.  So, as you can see, this leaves little time for blogging over here, but I hope things settle out soon!  I will always maintain this blog for things that don’t fit Gear Diary, TLLTS or Life in Ohio podcast.

Ahh I can post from my phone. Too cool!

Was listening to this week’s FLOSS Weekly and Aaron Newcomb of the_source video podcast is going to be on FLOSS  Weekly on February 25th to discuss ZFS.  The file system that is going to be used in Apple’s Snow Leopard and is used in Solaris.

I’ve met Aaron and he’s a incredibly nice guy and fun to hang out with.  Looking forward to OLF 2009 and dinner at BD’s again!

So moosh wants to know how I would share it….here goes:  My mom in law needs a new computer.  I intend on taking it with me to her house before I go to my Mom’s for Christmas and bring with it my installation expertise, training and a copy of Kung Fu Panda.  I also want to take her to a place with free wifi and have the whole family surfing while we have a small pre holiday dinner.  Help me share the magic with a 10+ year cancer survivor/warrior.

I think I deserve to with the prize in the HP Magic for many reasons.  First, I am as deserving as anyone and I am also not shy about telling people about what I am going to do with it.  Some  including some of the 50 site owners are making us, the winners, be a little more generous some even giving you extra points if you promise to give the entire thing away.  While I DO think you should help someone else out  with your prize, I don’t think you should have to dedicate any part of it to a charity.  I think sharing it with your friends and family is better.  So here’s what I am going to do if I win the prize, Techie Diva: First, my short story….my wife and I declared bankruptcy a few years ago and early in 2008, we arose out of it! Finally I get my whole paycheck after having part of it taken from me to pay my debt off.  So, I still don’t have any credit at all now.  Needless to say, most of my machines are either dead, heading that way or are extremely old.  So, here’s what I will be doing….the Touchsmart is going to my dear wife.  She’s currently using a Gatway 2.4 GHz P4 that is about 5 years old.  It’s already had a graphics card blow up in it and I replaced tjat.  So she really needs a new desktop.  Next, since I ma a utter notebook feind and a big believer in netbooks, I am going to keep the HDX 18 and the Mini 1000 for myself.  These will both get the Ubuntu or my favorite Linux of the Day treatment.  Since I already have an Eee (my only new machine in 5 years), the Eee will go to my Son.  He has a decrepit desktop that actually still works well, but he could use this little machine.  Lastly, the dv4 would go to my awesome mother in law, Charlotte.  Every Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter we spend with her is a blessing as we never know when cancer will take her. Her PC she currently has works, but is also quite old.  So, on that reason alone, I think I should win the prize, Techie Diva and while I know the drawing is random, I hope I win the prize.  Alos, if I do, I will promise to enter the next race/walk for the cure and wear/design a T-shirt with the Pink ribbon on it, a picture of her using the dv4 and a Techie Diva logo.