Why Rent a Router?

Okay, there are a couple of reasons and excuses that people come up with renting a router from a cable company, but after a year, you'd be paying for a reasonably great router that you could have owned.  You might be able to return it whenever it goes bad but that's a rarity.  In fact, I still have one of the original 802.11b routers from 2000 that I used alongside my Ti PowerBook G4 Gigabit Ethernet. So back to the topic at hand.  Once again, I'd have to recommend Apple's Airport Express for those that want something easy and sweet.  The setup is a dream, the wireless printing options and AirPlay option make it an easy go to for those invest within the Apple ecosystem.  If you feel like stepping it up a bit more for Time Capsule / backup capability, the Airport Extreme is another good best.  Just my two cents.

If you're the type to nerd out, install DD-WRT or other choice firmwares and tweak the router out to its max performance, the world is your oyster.  The Wirecutter recommends the ASUS RT-66u but it currently on a hold due to the onslaught of 802.11ac routers flooding the market.  The price will eventually come down too so hold up a bit if you're looking to pull the trigger.

I ended up Kickstarting one bad ass router and can't wait to get my hands on it.  It's called the Almond+ 802.11ac by Securifi who also hold the #1 spot on Amazon for their Almond.

Minimalism Doesn't Favor Nintendo

Jon Gruber of Daring Fireball brought up valuable points in his latest rebuttal in the ongoing Nintendo vs. RIM Blackberry saga. I'd like to highlight these two sentences where I agree heavily.

Today, though, someone deciding to buy a dedicated handheld game device is, more likely than not, deciding whether to buy something to carry in addition to the mobile device they already carry everywhere.

The App Store is, practically speaking, an infinite source of new games.

I bought Nintendo's Wii U out of impulse and somewhat regretfully so. I haven't powered up the system since the initial update and have yet to buy any games.  The last time I felt that way about a console was Playstation's PSP.  It was deemed "portable" but I found it bulky when it came to bringing more than a few games plus extra batteries. Fast forward just a few months later, I ended up only bringing a single game, no battery, then eventually only used it as a media device until I purchased Apple's iPhone 3G.  Prior to that, I was using both my Palm Treo 650 and PSP.  Chargers in tote, it was a lot to bring on my person especially when I would only access the PSP at the hotels or on the plane commuting back and forth.

I have yet to buy a Nintendo 3DS/3DSXL (I wouldn't actually consider the 2DS) only because, when it comes down to it, I don't want to carry anything more than I already do. I've been considering it for a while now but my current lifestyle of being an airline pilot who commutes from San Diego to Atlanta Dallas on a weekly basis is best when paired with minimalism.  Two bags; one for lunch the other for clothing.  To further establish the fact that I don't need one,  75% of my gaming is on an iOS device.  It's on me, it's with me wherever I go, and it's quick and dirty.  No power-up loading times or lag.  It's instant gratification.  I wish only the best for Nintendo and I truly am rooting for them.

Jumping thoughts, when it comes to consoles / dedicated gaming, I don't foresee any regret in the near future with Sony's latest Playstation 4. Heck, I might even get a Vita (not sure on the OLED version vs. the LCD one) if it means I can play remotely and have access to my PS4!  Yea, I reserved one and will be there at midnight at the local Best Buy.

Looking for an iPhone 5s in Store?

I just check not a few seconds ago and you can pick up in store / reserve your Apple iPhone 5s available at North County Fair and Fashion Valley in the 32GB Space Gray for AT&T!  The White 64GB AT&T is also available at NCF.  Are you upgrading? update: all three Space Gray models in the 32GB variant are available from all three carriers AT&T, Sprint or Verizon.  It is unknown why the unlocked / T-Mobile / contract-free version is listed as unavailable at the moment when using Apple's online reservation system.  Still no Golds available in any form or fashion.

update 2 @ 12:22am 24 Sept: looks like Apple has just stopped the "Personal Pickup" option on their website for the iPhone 5s but the iPhone 5c option is still available.

update 3 @ 15:56 27 Sept via 9to5mac:

Apple will restore the Personal Pickup option for the iPhone 5s as soon as this upcoming Monday, September 30th.

iPhone Are Selling... Duh

Setting a new record year after year and people still saying that Apple's not doing well?

Apple® today announced it has sold a record-breaking nine million new iPhone® 5s and iPhone 5c models, just three days after the launch of the new iPhones on September 20

via Apple

An "Easy" Way to Break Through Apple's TouchID

Someone who really wants to first steal your phone, then go through the following ordeal really needs the information that you protected. Also, still better than a four-digit pin. Of course, we are currently seeing other reasons to not use TouchID as some areas of jurisdictions can force you give up your fingerprint when you are arrested. Here's some advice, don't do anything stupid.

First, the fingerprint of the enroled user is photographed with 2400 dpi resolution. The resulting image is then cleaned up, inverted and laser printed with 1200 dpi onto transparent sheet with a thick toner setting. Finally, pink latex milk or white woodglue is smeared into the pattern created by the toner onto the transparent sheet. After it cures, the thin latex sheet is lifted from the sheet, breathed on to make it a tiny bit moist and then placed onto the sensor to unlock the phone. This process has been used with minor refinements and variations against the vast majority of fingerprint sensors on the market.

via Chaos Computer Club

Monty Python and the Holy Grail... Jerry Bruckheimer Style

Just in case your NFL team doesn't win today, peep this video! Now this is a movie that I'm sure everyone would love to see... again. http://youtu.be/hKNDml12Big

Who Knew Touching Matters?

Final proof on responsiveness. This doesn't event include Apple newest iPhone 5s loaded with the new A7 processor.

In its first TouchMarks benchmark test, the iPhone 5 responded to touches at an average time of 55 milliseconds, compared to 85 milliseconds for the iPhone 4. The closest Android device was the Samsung Galaxy S4 at 114 milliseconds.

via VentureBeat via Agawi Touchmarks

Ghost is a Go!

Today mark's the public release of Ghost: Just a Blogging Platform. After months of hard work, you can sign up and try it out for yourself. I'm excited to migrate and go full-time for this website.

Ghost 0.3 comes with the full, gorgeous Markdown editor which so many of you have been excited about using. It has a stunning post management interface, it has a simple set of settings which allow you to configure your blog, and it comes with a clean and simple personal blogging theme called Casper.

and from their Kickstarter:

Ghost is a platform dedicated to one thing: Publishing. It's beautifully designed, completely customizable and completely Open Source. Ghost allows you to write and publish your own blog, giving you the tools to make it easy and even (gasp) fun to do. It's simple, elegant, and designed so that you can spend less time messing with making your blog work - and more time blogging.

The Whole Package

Impressive.

Its hardware and software make it the best smartphone on the market.

via WSJ: All Things Digital

The iPhone 5S is, in some measures, computationally superior to the top-of-the-line MacBook Pro from just five years ago. In your fucking pocket.

via John Gruber's Daring Fireball

Anand on Apple's iPhone 5s

Just my two cents, don't buy the iPhone 5c.

As much as it pains me to use the word futureproof, if you are one of those people who likes to hold onto their device for a while - the 5s is as good a starting point as any.

via Anandtech

And then via Twitter:

I just spent the past week doing the best I can to understand Apple's A7 SoC. In short? It's insanely fast. http://t.co/AgWzGv1ljr

Stone Brewery at Liberty Station

My wife and I headed down to Liberty Station last Monday to pick up a few Nancy Tillman books at Yellow Book Road. Arriving just within minutes to close, we were politely greeted at the door by Ann and David with my inquires on hand. They knew we were coming because I called twice hoping that they'd wait for us and that they did. You don't find that customer service everywhere. Thanks again guys!

After walking just a few yards, we ran into the newest location for Stone Brewery (at Liberty Station). Come to find out that it's the largest restaurant in San Diego measuring at just over 23,000 square feet and it really is enormous. It's beautiful and since I had my camera handy, I couldn't miss the opportunity to take pictures. My wife was willing to make another Tastemade video but since we had our daughter with us, I hesitated. Don't worry though, we'll back again so stay tuned.

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Anyone Going to Los Santos with Me?

Say good bye to sleep.

In the past, GTA games have given you an exciting world to explore but little reason to push through the actual story. GTA V does both, offering a sprawling world coupled with an engaging narrative that keeps you moving. And the fact that I could see events unfold from all three perspectives made it all the more compelling. GTA V fulfills the promise of GTA IV, offering a sophisticated story and fully realized characters in addition to GTA's typical criminal antics. It doesn’t always gel together perfectly, but when it works, GTA V almost makes you want to be the bad guy.

via The Verge

I'm all about flying planes and this looks like it could be fun!

http://youtu.be/hvoD7ehZPcM

The Truth to Syria

Depressing insight to what the truths of a civil war can be like through the eyes of Italian journalist Domenico Quirico --held hostage for 150 days.

In this place, when the hostage weeps, everyone laughs at the spectacle of his pain and sees it as a sign of weakness. Syria has become the Country of Evil, the land where evil triumphs and thrives like grapes on the vine under a Middle Eastern sun, and where evil displays all its aspects: greed, hatred, fanaticism, the absence of mercy; where even children and the old rejoice in their malevolence. My captors prayed to their God standing next to me, the suffering prisoner. They prayed content, without remorse and attentive to their rituals. What were they saying to their God?

via The Guardian