Free stuff

Hardware and software companies gives away lots of free stuff at Macworld. Mostly big bags with their company names on them. I've noticed a direct co-relation between how popular a bag design is, and the gender/age demographic of the bag-givers. This particular bag seemed especially popular with men who didn't have their wives with them. The fireman couldn't take his eyes off those bags.

Getting to the Promised Land known as The Moscone Convention Center

Sitting in the Albuquerque "Sunport." Trying to connect to the Sunport Wi-Fi network. Full strength signal, but no connection. Hmmm. The Wi-Fi seems to be working because in the Finder. sidebar, under the "Shared" item, I see "Pamela's Powerbook." Tip #1: When you're using a public Wi-Fi spot, you might want to turn File Sharing off. And disable the Guest account (if you're running Leopard). Robin walks around the gate area, spotted a woman with a PowerBook. "Is your name Pamela?" she asked. Pamela seems surprised, and even fatalistic that her PowerBook is being shared with anyone on the public wireless network. Robin offers Tip #1, and Pamela, being smart like most Mac users, jumps into System Prefs and turns off File Sharing.

Now we're in the air and I'm listening to the soundtrack of Walk Hard: The Story of Dewey Cox. Tip #2: Get a pair of Bose Noise Canceling Headphones. The difference in ambient engine noise is not just nice, it's awesome. If you buy from the Bose web site you can set up payments (they're not cheap, but they're superior to the less expensive models).

Between the Oakland Airport and our hotel, we have an interesting conversation with our cab driver, a nice guy from Kabul, Afghanistan. He and most of his family left Afghanistan during the Russian invasion period (1980s). Mostly we talked about the movie, Charlie Wilson's War. Charlie seems to pretty popular with Afghani types, having boosted the CIA budget to covertly fight the Russians there from $1 million to $100 million. We hope to hook up with our cab driver next year at Macworld Kabul.

Before meeting Robin's sister for dinner at the Hayes Street Grill we hook up with friends from Santa Fe -- Joey, Linda, and Corey -- at The View Bar on the 39th floor of the Marriott Hotel. Joey Wilson and Linda Pedelty are long-time Mac mavens. Joey, Linda, and Corey are going to get in line for the keynote at about 4 am. If I can't sleep I'll go visit them in line (ha!).

Our hotel's Wi-Fi connection is not bad -- it's hideous. Totally unusable. Thankfully I brought my Verizon Wireless Broadband EVDO card with me. Tip #3: Pack a wireless broadband card when you stay at the Westin in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Verizon's EVDO service doesn't allow you to watch or do video. You can do it, but they might cancel your service if you do. It's always sumthin'.

Better stuff tomorrow after the Expo keynote.
jt

The fun starts tomorrow

Tomorrow (Monday) Robin and I will spend most of the day traveling between Santa Fe and San Francisco, so this is probably the last entry until tomorrow night, after we've launched some analog-docking procedures with a few friends and family units (hugging, shaking hands, talking, eating, drinking). Digital-docking, on the other hand, is the kind of interaction we're having right now. It's not important, but I picked up this terminology from Kai Krause (we miss you Kai), and I've been waiting 10 years to use it somewhere. So there.

Since I'm not there yet, I can't post a fun Macworld photo. But I was able to grab a shot of the excitement and anticipation that's rampant around here.

This blog will also appear at…

Our friends at MacInstruct.com will have several bloggers at Macworld Expo, San Francisco, offering their view of the biggest Mac gathering in the world. Robin and I have been invited to submit our thoughts, so this blog will also be available at MacInstruct.com.

Matthew Cone, the founder of MacInstruct, so impressed us that we hornswaggled -- er, convinced him to co-author our book-in-progress, Cool Mac Apps, Third Edition (available soon).

If you have a Mac, visit MacInstruct. It's a beautifully designed and lovingly produced web site that offers all sorts of Mac knowledge, insights, tips, and tricks, categorized by levels (Simple, Moderate, and Challenging).

Digital regards,
jt

There's something in the air

That's what the new Macworld Expo banners hanging inside the Mosconi Convention Center say, according to photos being published on Mac rumor sites. What could it mean? 

We'll know by noon next Tuesday. Meanwhile I'm guessing that Apple, Inc. will announce Apple Airlines—Direct service to all major cities from Cupertino, Wi-Fi Internet access in mid-flight, with stewardesses selling Mac applications and hardware along with fruit smoothies and .Mac memberships. Maybe not, but come on now, what else could it mean? 

Whatever. Robin and I are anxious to get there and start a weeklong family rendezvous (both Mac family and genetics-based family—lots of overlap there, now that I think about it). 

For those of you who have an iPhone, and are attending the Expo, check out i.zami.com for a Macworld Expo directory site optimized for the iPhone. The directory includes a listing of exhibitors' information and booth numbers. Click an exhibitors booth number and its location is highlighted on a map of Moscone South or West exhibit halls. It's a cool way to find the booths you want to see on such a large exhibit floor.

Stay tuned. 

jt

Back in the USA

We entered the Ft. Lauderdale harbor around 6:30 am, Wednesday.

Once again, four photos merged together, using the Photomerge command in Photoshop CS3.

I love this stuff! 

Last Day At Sea

Robin gives one of her presentations in the ship's theater

I attended Robin's presentation this morning (Why Is The Nightingale In The Pomegranate Tree?). Great name, eh? A packed room of new Robin devotees listened intently. It's amazing how many Shakespeare attendees have taken the time to heap praise on her and credit her with learning so much and how they have new eyes (to put it Shakespeariously) to look at the plays. Now when she walks through the ship, everyone bows and chants "We're not worthy, we're not worthy." Just kidding again!

One of the OSF people told me that this group has given her the "credentials" that she claims she doesn't have. It could not have been a more successful event for her. I've heard more than a few tell her she was the highlight of the trip. And others express how much they learned from her. And these are people that eat-live-breath Shakespeare and live in Ashland so they can be involved in the OSF. One woman told me that Robin had raised the bar for what they expect from the OSF educational programs. I could go on and on, but she's coming this way and everyone is getting ready to bow and chant.

OK, she's gone now.

I attended two great talks today. Jason Snell, an editor at Macworld Magazine, gave a very good talk on Video for Mac. It made me wish I hadn't missed his other presentation earlier in the week.

After lunch I went to Sal Soghian's talk about his early days at Apple. He's the guy behind AppleScript and Automator. An amazing guy with great true stories of life at Apple. Although his particular life at Apple might not be a typical example. Brilliant guy, inspiring, and very interesting.

We spent the afternoon relaxing on our balcony. We saw flying fish and as soon as Robin went inside I saw 5 or 6 dolphins.

There's a Shakespeare Party in the Crow's Nest later tonight. We have to pack and put our bags in the hallway by 11:30 pm. And fill out evaluation forms. And maybe some other disembarkation forms. I'm going to put my people on it right after dinner.