carpeaqua is written by Justin Williams. Justin Williams is the crew chief of Second Gear, the creator of such fine Mac applications as Today and Check Off. He currently resides in southern Indiana.
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If you’d like to listen to the first episode of my radio show, Plugged In, you can download it directly from the Website or subscribe to the new podcast. I’ve submitted the podcast to iTunes, so if someone wants to fast track it over there, I’d appreciate it.
On the first episode I had on David Chartier of Ars Technica to talk about the Apple announcements from earlier in the week and Dr. W.R. Mack, a political science professor at the University of Southern Indiana, to discuss how the new media information we are posting today might affect the future political candidate.
How did the first show go? I think the content is interesting and close to where I want it to be. I still think I have a ways to go to be an interesting and engaging host. It’s not bad for being my first real show ever though. Radio really exposes what words you crutch on in the English language. I really need to work on that.
One of the projects that has been taking up a bit of my time over the summer was going down to the WNIN studios and fleshing out a new radio show. After several test shows, I’m pleased to announce that my new technoloy radio, Plugged In, will debut this Thursday at noon (replay Sunday at 6PM) on 88.3 FM WNIN. That would be the local public radio and NPR affiliate here in Evansville.
When I went down to WNIN to talk about doing a show, the first thing I told them was that I didn’t want to do the traditional call-in for support tech show that has been done time and time again. I tend to find stuff like that to be incredibly boring. The problem being discussed is usually only of interest to the caller.
Rather than focusing on when technology doesn’t work, Plugged In will focus on how we use technology in our daily lives. We’ll cover the latest tech news as well as cover a different subject in-depth each week. As an example, test shows have covered the iPhone 3G launch, buying a laptop for college and getting started with digital SLR photography. I’m building a stable of incredibly smart guests to help the show along. It’s a formula I think can really work for tech.
The radio show is a bit of an extension to my Courier column, but will allow me to expand a bit further than 500 words a week will allow. Plugged In isn’t where I want it to be just yet and will evolve over time. I hope you’ll tune in Thursday and give me some feedback on the show. I’m also working with WNIN to get a proper podcast setup as well so you can get it straight to your iPod each week.
If you have any topic suggestions you’d like me to cover on the show, let me know in the comments or email me.
I’ve been meaning to write up a piece about how I think the iPhone 2.0 software is the modern equivalent of winning the Super Bowl one year and then going 4-12 the next. I’ve never been so disappointed in a device after having such a wonderful experience with its predecessor.
By far my most annoying issue is with the GPS. There is a lovely bug where location services will stop running if 3G is enabled and you lock the phone. The only way to get the GPS to function again to go to the Settings application and toggle the Enable 3G button.
Wash, rinse, repeat as necessary until Apple fixes this stupid bug.
With my new camera gear I’m scoping out, I am wanting to get a bag that I can store it in as well as use as my primary travel bag when flying. I tend to leave the camera behind for my yearly treks to Macworld and WWDC due to the space constraints of my messenger bag, so I am looking for a backpack that can hold the following:
- MacBook Pro 15” + power adapter
- Small USB drive
- SLR body
- 2 lenses (most likely in the 50mm and 17-135mm range)
- Extra pockets for small accessories (Field Notes, pens, magazines, etc).
- Fits under an airplane seat (not essential but would be nice).
If you have any suggestions, let me know.
With all the news coverage of Hurricane Gustav over the past two days, I was reminded of the tornado that went through the Evansville/Newburgh area back in the fall of 2004. I was still up at Purdue, but always remember that after assuring me that everyone was OK, my dad let me know he spotted this guy who covered a gaping hole in his roof with this clever tarp.
