My Blog

My First iPhone Application “Alien Farts” is for sale

Thu, 7 May 2009 16:38:54 -0400

Check out my application Alien Farts. You can try it before you buy here: http://www.bobseverns.com/alienfarts.html

It is only $.99 on Itunes here. Please buy and help me to write more fun applications.

These Apps Coming Soon!

1950’s Sci-Fi Movie (Soundboard) Old Time Radio Show(Soundboard)

Check out my demo video for Napkin Studio

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:09:18 -0400

Here is a 7-minute video that I made for Napkin Studio. Most of the video is a software demo that I did with the iPhone emulator software and I captured the video with iShowU on an all green background. Then, I ripped the background out with Chromakey in Final Cut. The web site video in the background was recorded with iShowU. Then I traveled around the site and zoomed with After Effects CS4. Finally, I recorded the live video with my Panasonic HDC-SD9 in front of a green screen with some soft torchiere lamps in front. The lower thirds were done in Final Cut and leave a little to be desired.

Click THIS LINK for the video on YouTube

Updating Your Picture Frame with Automator

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:22:22 -0400

Read my post in context here
http://forums.macworld.com/thread/101377?start=0&tstart=0

Step # negative 1 (buy the "i-Mate Momento Live" picture frame) This allows you to e-mail pictures from anywhere and they will update your web-connected picture frame.

1. start iCal 2. From the View menu, hide To Do List and Calendar List 3. Additionally, you could hide the dock with opt-command-D 4. Maximize the iCal window, command-M 5. Close iCal 6. Open Automator 7. Create a new workflow with these actions  a. Launch Application (iCal)  b. Take Screenshot (Fullscreen,Wait 10 seconds, Save To:new variable {call it anything you want})  c. New Mail Message (enter the i-Mate account email address in the To: field) 8. Add the Send Outgoing messages action
9. Save this automator workflow to an application to the desktop

To run:
1. Make sure iCal is closed 2. double-click the application 

The Apple Software Update Slowdown

Tue, 27 May 2008 14:10:23 -0400

I usually expect to have at least one piece of Apple software (either something from the iLife suite, the iWork suite, Logic Studio, etc. to be upgraded on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and the only update that I have received in the past month is one to Logic Studio (mainly bug fixes). I am hoping that this may mean that Apple’s developers are busy with working on 10.5.3 (and hopefully gesture support for all), some killer iPhone apps, or with adding additional camera support to iMovie. I bought a Panasonic SDC-HD9 last month and I have not yet been able to import the movie files without iMovie crashing.

What would make WWDC great for Bob:

1. Updating iMovie (give us the effects back and more audio control) Also, please support the true HD camera I just bought.
1. Updating DotMac - I really would love to see some more iPhone push-type syncing capabilitie and media server options here.
2. New Macbook Pro - I may be in the market soon. I am really taxing the Core Solo 1.83 Ghz processor in this 1st Gen Macbook and I would love to double the RAM for live audio applications.

Hopefully this temporary slowdown is gearing us for some exciting announcements at WWDC, and not due to the lack of good programmers.

What Apple Will Announce at WWDC 2008

Tue, 13 May 2008 12:49:36 -0400

Let me first preface this writing with the fact that I DO NOT know anyone at Apple and I DO NOT have any inside information. I wanted to let you know that because before WWDC you will read this article and might see some interesting ideas, but after WWDC you might be accusing me of getting some sort of access to insider trade secrets or processes because of how dead-on I will be.

I first started following Apple technology news, release cycles, announcements, etc. when I bought my first Mac--an Intel Macbook in June 2006. Since then, I have closely followed Apple’s special announcements and events extremely closely. I think that I have come up with some compelling information regarding past trends that may help predict future announcements.

Trend #1

Apple is on a two year design cycle.

Whether it is the iPod, the iMac, the notebook computer line or now the iPhone, Apple makes a significant change to the overall design of their hardware at two year intervals. Sure they bump of storage and RAM over this period, but no major deign changes or new products for 2 years. This means that the current iPhone is not due for revision that is available for purchase today. Sorry Guys!

Trend #2

Apple ultimately delivers the message that makes uber-techs a little sad that they did not get all of the technical features, but still create a compelling argument for us to part with our money. Apple slowly shows you how “their way is best.”

Even customers waiting for 3G iPhone will be compelled to by a current model and opt to resell or gift in favor of the 3G version available in ’09. You will see why in my announcements section below.

1. Apple full well could have added a TV Tuner to Apple TV and given us a TiVo-like experience. Heck, they could make the Apple TV a slingbox, DVR and media extender all in one, but they chose to lower the price and make the interface better. And this made the fence-sitters opt for the device now instead of waiting for a more feature-rich version. $229 price point is right. They make a market where there is none.
2. Apple could have allowed bluetooth or WiFi syncing of the iPod touch and the iPhone, but left the hardware in for future expansion and chose to deliver a polished set of apps including iPod with cover-flow, great web browser, great maps, pictures, etc. I forgot that I used to be able to watch any media type and rename and delete files, and copy/paste for that matter. I do things the “Apple Way” and find I am not “that” inconvenienced.

Based on just these two observations and some gut instinct, here are my predictions for WWDC 2008:

The major announcements:

1. 3G iPhone to ship in January, OLED display, two-way iChat over network. $399 Price tag for 16GB, $499 for 32GB models.
2. Huge Enhancements to Dot Mac including, over-the-air syncing with iPhone, mobile iDisk, larger capacity, almost roaming profiles over the internet.
3. Mobile iWork, Apple iPhone app that reads all MS Office formats and writes Word and Excel files.
4. Limited supply of 8GB Phones to be sold at $99 with 2/year contract
5. 16GB version available today at subsidized price of $199 with two-year AT&T contract. Multiple colors available (pastel and light colors, akin to Ipod Nano)
6. 32 GB version of iPhone available today at subsidized price of $299 with two-year AT&T contract.
7. New Macbooks, faster processors, better graphics, higher HD capacity, DVD burners across the board, rounded edges a la Macbook Air.
8. New Macbook Pro, new processors, rounded edges, bigger HD capacity, black keys, more graphics options, more in tune with iMac design, optional Bluray drive
9. Multi-touch available to ALL Leopard customers with new mouse pad -like device (external trackpad, Bluetooth or corded USB) and new Leopard 10.5.3 release to support this.
10. New SDK for multi-touch features and demonstration with Quicktime VR stuff, games and picture manipulation.
11. Twitter/Location based social network announced for iPhone that will revolutionize advertising and networking opportunities.

Stock prices will go over $330 per share before coming back down within next 6 months.

I know this are bold predictions, and I do not suggest anyone making financial decisions based on this information. But, if I am right, I expect to have my phone ringing off the hook come mid-June. Can’t wait to find out what pans out.

Give and It Will Come Back to You

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:07:13 -0400

Over the past several weeks, I have been studying success and achievement from many different sources. I have been immersing myself in all sorts of self-help and motivational materials including Brian Tracy’s series on achievement, the movie “The Secret”, Zig Ziglar’s Inspiring Words of Encouragement Podcast, Steve Pavlina’s blog and podcast, and the Holy Bible. I have found that there is one common thread in all of these materials--one phrase that sums up the secret to success and happiness in life.

That phrase is “Give, and it will come back to you.” Now each of these materials approaches this universal law in a different way. The Secret movie urges us to give our thoughts and emotions to the things that we want and they will come back to us through the “law of attraction.” Zig Ziglar approaches the subject by reminding us what to be grateful for and to project a kind and good attitude, the Holy Bible reminds us in many ways to: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” “as a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” and “draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.” All of these philosophies, whether tied to religious works or not, tell us that our universe, environment, destiny, whatever-you-want-to-call-it, is built solely on what we put out there. We will reap what we sow, etc.

Now any of these sentiments taken at face value could prompt the rebuttal, “easier said than done.” But I want to reason with you that it is easier “done than said.” I have heard these idea and concepts preached from the pulpit, given on audio books about increasing interpersonal relationships, etc. but there always seems to be a focus on removing the negatives in our lives. We are told to “deny our lusts” and to “give up sin” and on and on and on. What this actually does is focus on the negative in the situation. It does not give hope for change, it does not tell someone how to do this. It just bombards our minds with fear--fear that it is too much, fear that we will lack something or miss something, fear of foregoing what is easy in favor of what is right.

But I submit that we need to preach positive messages from the pulpits and platforms across the US. The secret behind the secret is that as you fill your heart with positive messages and encouragement, the other bad things (sin, fear, regret, slothfulness, etc.) all seem to fade away because they are replaced with better, more palpable feelings.

It is still early in my development of this secret in my life, but expect more great things to come from these pages.

Give Me Mac or Give Me Death!

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 12:54:23 -0400

I hear this all the time, “It is just a computer, what is the big deal?” And I feel sorry for the person who asks. Their expectation of what a computer is and what it “should” or “could” be has been lowered to come in line with the type of machine that they have owned in the past or what is currently being offered on the Dell bargain pages. They have lost that twinkle in their eye, the one that something as simple as running a 10-line basic program on an old Atari computer once brought. They have become jaded, apathetic and complacent with the current state of technology and user experience on their Windows or Linux boxes. Some have even become fixed on the idea that a secure operating system is the most important thing. Shouldn’t security be a side benefit to a well designed OS? Isn’t it more important to have an OS that is intuitive, powerful and fun to use but also secure?

I used to think that my love for computers was because I have an interest in technology. I have recently discovered that that could not be farther from the truth. I am excited about computers when they aid in getting the creativity that is bottled inside of me out into the world. It is not the tinkering and tweaking and learning the ins and outs of the operating system on an expert level, it is the joy I get when I can easily create content on the computer and when I can just as easily share it with others. How many so-called security experts out there are not really passionate about security, but think they are? I equate them to the John McCain supporters in 2000 who were convinced that campaign finance reform is the most important issue. People get blinded by the most publicized issues and forget that it is more important to have a machine that is intuitive, helps you be productive and is fun to use. Oh yeah, added security is a side benefit of the Mac OS.

Since June 2006, I have done more creative things with my Mac in the than I have done with any Windows or Linux box in the last 10 years. I have written over 100 songs, created 2 dozen podcast episodes, redid all of my web pages in iWeb and redefined the way I interact with the computer to be more fun and informative. Hooray for a computer that “just works” right at the point where creative inspiration hits.

But I cannot ignore the “What’s the big deal?” sentiment. It is usually in response to me going on incessantly about the “almost religious” experience that I have had with my Macs. But I can’t help it. Like the new convert that has found Jesus--found liberation and salvation from the mundane and hopeless life that they have once led--I burst with excitement and fervor for Apple products and try to convert everyone I come in contact with. I am like a Macvangelist. But unlike the Jesus experience, which is free, Macs have a high price tag. I am finally finding out that it is really unfair to compare the Macintosh with any other user experience out there right now because not everyone has access to a Mac or can appreciate the experience. Now, I honestly believe that Macs win hands down on a cost/price comparison, but this is fodder for another story. The truth is that not everyone can afford to make the initial investment, and there is no try-before-you-buy like a test drive of a car.

So I suggest a new idea for other Mac fanboys out there. If you really are looking for a higher conversion rate--if you can handle it, lend your Mac out for a few weeks to a friend who is on the fence. Once they drive the Mercedes-like Mac, a good many of them will not be able to get the feeling out of their blood. But you have to remember and accept that not everyone ends up driving Mercedes. Some guys want a cheaper car like the reliable Honda Accord that they can sup-up and enter in local drag races. These are like the guys that mod their PCs with LEDs and crazy cases. Some folks want a budget car that gets then from point A to B and works for a long time, and the Mac Mercedes is not for them. Maybe the reliable eMachines or Gateway is for them. This is perfectly okay. Accept it, personal taste and intuitiveness of an operating system are not the primary concerns of some people. And we need to realize that Steve Jobs’ idea on how something works is not “always” the best. Remember he is still keen on the one-button mouse when we have 5 fingers on each hand.

Even if everyone could afford Mac, demand would drove sky-high for this computer Mercedes, the company may make compromises to cut costs and meet demand. The custom, high quality experience becomes cheapened by normal processes of mass-production. Saturation and adoption in the business market causes Apple to be a huge target to virus writers and hackers. So, God bless Apple, but keep the Mac exclusive. May we Mac owners become less glib about our experiences and more humble. And may we all understand that personal taste and preference are huge when we select devices that help us become more productive and entertain us. Amen.