Living Life Without my Smartphone

Last week, my son and I were out for a walk around our neighborhood. He’s still sitting in a stroller, so I was in charge of pushing. About halfway through our normal trek, my wife called.

I reached into my pocket and answered my phone. We talked, we hung up and I put my phone inside the cup holder on the stroller.

She called back. I spazzed out and slapped the phone off of the stroller and onto the sidewalk. The three foot fall shattered the screen of my iPhone 4.

I found a way to blame my wife.

Hey, wait a minute…

If you’re a frequent reader of the site and you remember me writing a piece about switching away from my iPhone and towards Android with the Samsung Epic, rest assured that I enjoyed my time with Google’s OS. This point could be spread out into a full-on editorial, but I wound up leaving Android because of the OS’ strange separation. I bought a phone that released months ago, and yet I was being left behind on Android OS updates.

So, I left. Some will understand that decision, some won’t. That’s not what this is about.

This is about life without a smartphone; and, while I totally recognize this is a first world problem to the extreme, things have been awful.

Staying in touch…

When I sent my phone away for repair, the first thing I had to figure out was how to go about living life without a quick method of communication. Yes, the Internet works for talking to people actually plugged in, but my wife spends a good chunk of her day away from the computer. That means I needed a way for her to get a note to me so that I can call her.

We don’t have a land line in our home. I’ve been using Gmail and their call phone option because it’s free. So, my wife sends me an email from her phone and I call her.

It’s slow, it’s annoying, but it works. There’s your free pro-tip.

As for my phone and people calling it in hopes of actually reaching me, I decided to record a new voicemail. They call and receive instructions to drop me a message via email. Then, using the same Gmail phone call option, I call them back.

Again, super annoying for people trying to get a hold of me. I apologize on the voice mail message for this simple fact.

First world problems…

You want to know what’s so bad about not having a smartphone? Two things were extremely boring without my iPhone: going to the bathroom (truth) and waiting in the doctor’s office.

It may be a little gross, but let’s all own up to something here and now: we use our smartphones a lot on the toilet. Cruising Facebook, playing rounds of Bejeweled, browsing the Internet or checking sports scores, my bathroom sessions are packed with phone usage.

Before I had a phone? I read the back of shampoo bottles. Yes, seriously.

As for the doctor’s office… you try waiting more than an hour in order for the Ear Specialist to see your kid at a pediatric office. Good gravy, sitting there as the little tyke crams the same block into his mouth over and over with nothing to do was terrible.

The worst part? I asked the clerk why their waiting room was without magazines. Her response was that people have phones now, there’s been no need to maintain subscriptions to things people weren’t even reading.

Well, dangit. Talk about boring.

Actual problems…

This is me stating the complete obvious, but disconnecting in today’s world is genuinely difficult. Everywhere we go, especially as readers and participants in a tech community like this one, we’re hooked up to the Internet. We have a way to communicate and receive data constantly.

Without that portal, things are a lot smaller and constrained. Riding in the car, I had no way to check my calendar for appointments later in the day. I was late for something, but I didn’t know what it was or who to contact for it. All of that stuff is in my phone.

Disconnecting is tough. Being away from information is tough. The scary thing here is that I would never have felt this way 15 years ago.

I remember life with pay phones. It was easy.

Now? I’m spoiled rotten. I think we all are.

What did I learn?

Dear Apple: Use better glass. The tech is out there, we’ve seen it.

A three foot drop from a stroller shouldn’t result in shattered glass.

Dear self: be more careful with your phone.

Dear self part two: use your phone less.

Amazon Inflates Streaming Catalog, 17,000 Is Big Exaggeration

One of the biggest factors in choosing an entertainment streaming service is the size of its catalog of content. So it’s disappointing when one of the big players gets caught inflating its numbers.

According to Fast Company, Amazon’s pants are on fire when it boasted 17,000 movies and TV shows. Apparently the numbers are exaggerated by a factor of 10, as TV show episodes are counted individually. So a show like Lost doesn’t count as one, and not even six (for six seasons), but well over 100. For shows running longer, that could add a few to several hundreds of entries to the mix, just for one series.

So how much content does Amazon actually offer? FC pegs it at 1,745 flicks and 150 TV series.

Before you go Amazon-hatin’, the e-retailer’s not alone. The report also reveals that Netflix’s 60,000 Watch Instantly offerings actually boils down to about 13,000 titles — 9,500 movies and 3,500 television series.

Sort of explains how we browse these inventories, wondering why we can’t find something to watch amid these supposedly massive collections, doesn’t it?

Canon Introduces 4K-Capable C500 Series to Cinema Line

First we saw the video-focused Canon EOS-1D C DSLR, and now the Japanese company is offering up two even more enticing options for budding — and veteran — filmmakers. Announced last week, Canon’s new C500 and C500 PL look to build on everything that made its predecessors, the C300/C300 PL, great, while adding even more amazing features, including the ability to capture 4K video.

Geared towards more advanced moviemaking, the C500, which supports EF-mount lenses, and the C500 PL, which supports PL-mount lenses, are both capable of originating 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution with uncompressed RAW output for external recording, giving users Hollywood level picture quality. In addition, both iterations will support output of 4K-resolution video as 10-bit uncompressed RAW data with no de-Bayering.

Internally, both C500s are equipped with a new Super 35mm-quivalent 8.85-megapixel CMOS sensor that can record at 50 Mbps, with options to shoot at one to 60fps. The C500 series also support output of quad full-HD (3840 x 2160), 2K (2048 x 1080), full HD (1920 x 1080), along with other imaging options, Canon said in a press release.

The 4K imaging format has quickly emerged as the standard for high-quality Hollywood productions, becoming particularly important for action and CGI-heavy scenes. While 4K isn’t something that widely exists, if at all, in the average consumer market, adoption from manufacturers like Canon may eventually point to the tech becoming more widely available at cheap(ish) prices. Canon hasn’t set a price or availability for either C500, but preliminary plans suggest a launch price of $30,000 later this year.

Buffalo Gear: Scrabble Coasters, Moon Globe and Snapstagram

Scrabble Coasters

If you haven’t figured it out already, I’m a pretty big fan of Scrabble — I even highlighted the Typography Edition in a previous Buffalo Gear post. So why not encourage our inner-word nerds even more with this Scrabble coaster set? Styled after the iconic board game, the set of 54 recycled double-sided pulp-board coasters is the perfect way to show off your extensive vocabulary at any party, family gathering or barbecue. What does mom always say? “Use a coaster.” For just $18, you can make mom happy while getting a triple word score. [CoolMaterial via Vat19]

Sky & Telescope Moon Globe

No, this isn’t a replica of the Death Star — though that would be awesome; this is actually the “first entirely new globe of the Moon’s surface in over 40 years.” Measuring in at 12-inches in diameter, the Moon Globe comes with 850 labeled locations, meaning you’ll have a lot of memorizing to do once it’s on your desk. Sky and Telescope didn’t just settle, either, making for the most accurate representation of the Moon as possible. Rather than using the Air Force’s Lunar Astronautical Charts, this Moon Globe is instead comprised of over 15,000 pictures taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera. For $99.95, you’ll be an expert of the Moon’s surface in no time. [Technabob viaShopAtSky]

Snapstagram

There’s been a lot of hubbub over Instgram lately. On top of Facebook’s acquisition of the photo sharing program, folks are crying bloody murder over what it represents. “It’s not real art.” “Now everyone thinks they’re a professional photographer.” “The filters ruin the beauty of photography!” Personally, I enjoy using it, and it’s a fun way to share photos. Which is why I’m including Snapstagram’s awesome service. The online company offers an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to select batches of 12 photos from your Instagram account and have them printed out as 4″x4″ square prints. The best part is that it only costs $6, including shipping, for 12 prints. If you’re a fan of Instagram, I can’t think of a more perfect way to fill up that blank wall in your room. [via Kickstarter]

As unabashed gadget lovers, TechnoBuffalo is always on the look out for the latest innovations in design, function and user experience. Unfortunately, we just don’t have the capacity to cover every product out there and, as a result, many worthwhile products subsequently don’t get the coverage they deserve. That’s why we’re introducing a weekly roundup of Buffalo Gear: a visual collection of some of today’s most awesome gear and gadgets. From electronics, to toys, to stuff for the outdoors, these are products we wish we owned.

Former Co-CEO and Director Jim Balsillie Leaves RIM

RIM’s former co-CEO and current director of the board Jim Balsillie is leaving RIM. “As I complete my retirement from RIM, I’m grateful for this remarkable experience and for the opportunity to have worked with outstanding professionals who helped turn a Canadian idea into a global success,” Balsillie said in a statement. RIM’s chief technology officer of software and chief operations officer, David Yach and Jim Rowan, are also leaving the firm.

Office 15 will go out to the market at the beginning of 2013

One of the partners of Microsoft leaked information about the new package of the signature, and announced that the product will be ready for be made in November. In addition, it was confirmed that the images that circulated on the program were royal.

In spite of the efforts of Microsoft to keep extreme reservation low the innovations on near launches, one of the partners of the company stopped to guess that the new version of the package Office will come in 2013. 

According to the filtration the package Office 15 is in the final phase of his development for what it might be available to begin to sell during the first months of next year.

In addition, it came out that the navigating Internet Explorer 10 might appear to half of this year, probably coinciding with the arrival of the version of general availability (RTM) of Windows 8.

On the new version of the operating system there is no information, since as it looks like the company keeps the channels of news separated for Windows, for what only to the clients related directly to this product they are to whom the plans of the signature will come in the matter.

Businesses can learn from Google's Campus

Google’s Campus, the company’s first special hub for start-ups, has reimagined the office concept to fit 90 companies into one building. Businesses should take note, writes Emma Barnett.

In a week where headlines have been dominated by Facebook’s $1bn purchase of photo-sharing app Instagram, it’s always interesting to try and predict what the next big technology start-up will be.

A great place to begin such a journey is Campus – Google’s new tower block in East London - now filled to the brim with 90 start-ups.

The office, nestled in the heart of East London’s up and coming ‘Tech City’, is a stone’s throw away from the Old Street junction better known in tech circles as ‘Silicon Roundabout’.

The Chancellor, George Osborne, officially opened the search giant’s first special hub for start-up businesses just two weeks ago (an event recorded by a graffiti mural in Campus’s reception) and already it’s full – with a waiting list of more than 800 new technology companies clamouring for a desk or two.

In his speech, Mr Osborne also revealed that the neighbouring ‘Tech City’ had grown from 200 companies to 700 in just 18 months.

Ending his address to the great and good of the UK tech scene, the Chancellor concluded: “To borrow a phrase from Google – let’s fill this town, and this country, with start-ups.”

Described by Google’s European chief, Matt Brittin, as a “gift” from the search giant, the technology company is believed to have spent upwards of £5m securing Campus’s lease for the next 10 years and kitting out the spacious tower block in true start-up chic style.

Pool tables, a networking den with odd-shaped furniture, a garden with plants which “tweet” their water requirements and a café selling products created by start-up food companies, Campus is like a mini Google office for the next generation of tech hopefuls.

There are three ways for budding entrepreneurs to access Campus – which is a collaboration with other such incubators and co-working initiatives TechHub, Seedcamp, Springboard and Central Working. They can either register for free on the Campus London website for access to the basement café and networking space – which means they can drop in anytime between 9 to 6pm on week days to meet likeminded people. Or they can pay an annual membership for access to a desk a few times a week or opt for a monthly desk rental fee to always have a desk in the seven-storey block.

Eze Vidra, Google’s former business development and strategic partnering executive in Spain and a former start-up founder, has been anointed ‘Head of Campus’.

As a former Silicon Valley resident, Mr Vidra thinks Campus will offer entrepreneurs a much-needed community.

“I have seen what made Silicon Valley great and it all stems from density of network,” he said. “You need to have all the ingredients of the start up cake – easy access to talent, investors, advice and partners. Tech City here in East London is great – but it just needs more of everything in one place.

“We think Campus will bring serendipity into the mix. People can come here and meet others who will help them.”

Mr Vidra plans to bring structure to the network. He is creating an events programme and also thinking about doing ‘legal Tuesdays’ where lawyers come into the café and people can seek help and ‘investors Wednesdays’.

Google is also going to offer a mentoring programme. A quarter of the UK’s large workforce has volunteered their time to mentor in their areas of expertise – whether in marketing or coding.

What can other companies learn from the ethos of Campus to improve their own businesses – outside of the technology start-up scene?

Mr Vidra thinks there is plenty to take away.

Having a great working space, he believes, make employees want to be at work and flourish. “The psychology of people’s working environment is really important. It makes people want to be at work and have great meetings,” he said.

Although Google’s free food policy - a key feature at most other major start-ups in Silicon Valley - is sadly not available at Campus - it is a cost many UK businesses would not want to pick up in any case. It may allow hungry workers stay in the office a little longer but the rather more cynical claim it simply means workers never have to go home, or outside into the real world.

Beyond food, Mr Vidra says there are deeper business philosophies behind Campus. “People need to work in an environment which fosters collaboration with other colleagues and companies,” Mr Vidra says. “This will lead to any business improving their output. Most people will not have 90 companies under one roof – but the ethos of co-working is something to be learned from.”

Businesses who wish to tap into Campus’s members or provide their own services to them, can also become part of the community for free by registering as a partner on the site.

Campus, through a series of talks, mentoring and set-piece lessons (for example on how to code or the importance of a terms sheet) will educate its members. Mr Vidra believes it is important for companies to keep teaching their staff members new skills and improving their existing ones.

Mr Vidra ultimately describes Campus as a collaborative space at the heart of the start-up community – building a support system for fledgling companies.

All offices could learn from the idea of collaborative spaces and providing a support system for their employees and ideas.

The tech giants have nailed the cool office concept – making their spaces ones of creativity with comfy sofas, free food and pool tables easing the ‘pain’ of work. Most businesses’ offices will never look like that – but the ethos underpinning technology companies’ workspaces, such as Campus, should be emulated where possible. Employees will thank you for it.