The big G has been busy

Google was someone's dream. In time that dream has become a grand reality. Woorkup.com has visualized the 102 companies that were acquired over time by Google and it is an amazing list. Check it out here.

My IPAD 2 fun with a Pogo Stylus and Note Taker HD

I have had my IPAD 2 for several months now. I have less than 10GB left out of 32GB already having filled it with apps for productivity, entertainment, and leisure, you need a few minutes of down time at work and can sneak in a fun app. The best thing I have that simply enhances my use of the IPAD is a pogo sketch stylus. It has helped me write, draw, annotate, sketch and play better in several apps. Of the apps that I have used the stylus successfully more often, Note Taker HD is one of them. Note Taker HD is a note taking app the allows typed notes in addition to hand written notes. You can use your finger to create notes but it is much easier with the stylus. I was able to take a picture of a follow me trail from a book one of my kids have with the IPADs built in camera. It's one of those grids that you have to find the right path to get out. I imported the picture into Note Taker HD, and then my daughter could try it over and over on the IPAD, no pencil or eraser mess. They loved taking turns using the stylus instead of their fingers. When the were done I output there done trail to a PDF file for them to print later.
There are several stylus on the market but I found the pogo sketch to be better than others. It has a soft fuzzy tip that glides over the screen whereas others are rubber and tend to drag on the screen. The IPAD display also stayed cleaner and had much less smudges as well, that is a bonus. Check out the stylus yourself and let me now what you think.

Pogo Sketch by Tenone Design

I bought my Pogo from Microcenter. You can see their product link here. The Note Taker HD app was purchases through the Apple app store. You can check that out here.

The Illusive ASUS Transformer and Apple IPAD 2

I have been trying to decide for some time to purchase a tablet to go along with my Dell net-book. I was considering the ACER ICONIA Tablet or the IPAD 2. I went a few times to Best Buy to take a look an no where could an ACER be found, although there were plenty of Motorola XOOM tablets at each store. I was able to see an IPAD 2 behind protective glass but no ACER tablets. Then I saw a commercial for an ASUS Transformer. After seeing what it could do, I really really wanted one. I waited for the day that they were announced and thought they will be in stores soon and I will be able to make a final decision. To this day, I have yet to see one in the store. They are in demand and the supply is so short that it will be sometime in August before one even makes it into a Best Buy, or so I have heard from a few people. I even tried ordering one from KMART only to be told at the last step, OUT OF STOCK. Doesn't look like KMART likes to update their on hand stock often.  So off I went with a friend to the Apple store.

I had looked at the IPad2 before but with the idea of it being a cool gadget. Now I had the chance to actually use it and run it through some steps and I loved it. The apps on it were easy to use, the screen was responsive and it was really light. I asked if they had one in stock but they did not. With this experience in mind I headed to Target and Best Buy. I tried the XOOM and the ACER ICONIA there. I did not like the glare from the ACER's screen nor did I like the wierd response from the XOOM. After about an hour, I decided... I want an IPAD2.

For several days I called Best Buy and I finally got one. I could have ordered it online but it was the thrill of getting it at a store and having it in your hand. I have been using it for days now and there is no turning back. I will post more on my experience with it in the new future..

The Gift of Sound.. Priceless

Imagine what it could be like not hearing a sound, not being able to communicate with your new born baby. It is hard enough not to understand what a new born wants and I could not imagine adding the complication of not being able to hear. Here is an article of an 8month old that has Cochlear Implants and they were turned on for the first time. Just look at the expression on Mom and Baby, you can feel the love and excitement from both of them....

Check here for the full article..

Get a fan, a camera and a good story.. now you have a mini Movie

Fans most often have higher standards of what they would like to see in a movie. Take IRONMAN for instance. We want to see IRONMAN and Tony Stark do his thing his way, not so much the directors take on it. I think they did that with the first movie well. ( I have yet to see IRONMAN 2 but I hear it is good. ) Lets look at the HULK, the first big screen movie of it did not hit the mark. There were too many faults with the CG of the HULK and the story line was pretty bad. All they could do to try and save the HULK was a reboot in the follow up film.

Now check out a short fan film for Street Fighter below. It was done by fans with a low budget but with really good intentions. It looks like it has the makings of a potentially good movie or even a TV series. Maybe.. just maybe..