October 30, 2008 by phillip.

I’m gearing up for the SCALE 7 conference so I was listening to some friends of mine Gareth Greenway and Shyam Kapadia on FLOSS Weekly episode 46.  Make sure to give that a listen.

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April 25, 2008 by phillip.

In a previous post about “Communist design” I got a weird thought about taking the opposite into consideration but in the real world. Open source vehicles, buildings, spaceships, boats, etc. People combining their thoughts for a better solutions. I found that these ideas already exist.

My first I’d already heard of was the Joint Strike Fighter aka JSF F-35 jet fighter. This jet fighter is a collaboration of a couple companies and countries. It’s actually a working plane that will be the next major fighter. It has stealth, virtical lift off, supersonic speed, massive firepower, and advanced computer and camera integration. In a word… COOL.

The next on our list… The OScar. Right now this car is strictly conceptual. The concept started in 1999 but became fully open to everyone in 2006. According to an article posted at Autoblog the Open source car actually debuted last March (2007) with it’s first concept vehicle. Looks pretty sleek and not totally the spec that is posted on the OScar website but there’s a lot of room to really make this something that could change the world.

Watching a video on TED I also was very intrigued by the open source textbook publishing company. Imagine, books that evolve quickly and are cheaper because the book can be printed and bound on demand. Our kids wouldn’t be left behind with old information because new books are in print, etc. This really would have helped out when Pluto was ruled out as real planet.

How about a music synthesizer? this video is from South by Southwest in 2006. A lady namd Limor Fried talks about her open source synthesizer and open source in the real world.

Why not collaborate on food? Yes it’s true. There is an open source cookbook and open source beer project.

So, there you have it. Those are some of the great real world applications for open source. I’m sure there are more and I would be very happy to know about them. If you are technically minded though, I also love to mention cool sites like: Makezine, Hack a Day, and Hackszine. It’s pretty much open source to me because the comments allow you to combine your ideas for a better final project.

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April 10, 2008 by phillip.

Like the Pied Piper leading the mice from the village so in turn does blogging go. Everyone has the new opportunity to be able to follow the lives of other people. My life has always been an open book to most anyone that I meet, however, now it’s becoming that way to many that I don’t meet. This blog gives away my thoughts on my field to all that ask. Now, it can do the same with Twitter, blogging, microblogging, photosharing sites, and your social networking sites (i.e. Facebook and Myspace). Follow my everyday adventures and interact with me on what you think. I’ve recently forwarded my Twitter account to my instant messager so you I’m going to get more involved with my personal thoughts on Twitter. Follow me there too. Here’s my info:

Twitter: banksps

GTalk IM: banksps

AOL IM banksps1

Facebook: Look for phillip@banksnetworking.com aka my email address.

I love to hear from all my new friend on the internet and hopefully make more.

Posted in Cool Net Tricks, Announcements | 1 Comment »

February 7, 2008 by phillip.

Come one come all!

If for any reason you should find yourself in the Los Angeles please feel free to come to the Southern California Linux Expo (SCALE). It will be going on from February 8th-10th, 2008 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel (just blocks from LAX).

I’ve been helping out there since it’s creation 6 years ago and I can’t that if you’re into Linux and open source you’ll enjoy yourself. I could tell you all about it but I’m sure I’d miss something. Instead, go to this link and the official website will tell you everything.

Posted in Linux, Announcements | 1 Comment »

January 31, 2008 by phillip.

Usually this blog is to everyone but today it is a response to a kind response to a blog post I got yesterday from Randal Schwartz (the co-host of FLOSS Weekly. You can find the response and the post here. My response was too long for a comment so here it is:

I don’t usually down people for what they do because I do realize that there may be unknown factors. FLOSS is no different. If I’m wrong in my opinion I love to be shown but here’s my constructive take on this.

I definitely understand some of the problems that go into this because Leo has brought up a lot about having to edit TWIT shows and I do go to the Podcast and Portable media convention every year to talk to podcasters, and some I talk to regularly. I also spent 5 years as IT director for one of the country’s biggest audio post production companies doing audio post production for every big name media company there is. So I do understand the time it takes to edit audio as I’ve stood in for a couple editors before and edited commercials long ago. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in My humble opinion, Announcements | 8 Comments »

September 28, 2007 by phillip.

While at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo this year I’ve got to give a quick shout out to some real class acts. First and foremost I’ve got to give my friend Roxanne Darling a hand for a great seminar today on how she makes video production easy (these pictures are from last year but I’ll take new ones tomorrow).

Then to Leo Leporte and Steve Gibson for “Security Now” getting Podcast of the year (Leo couldn’t come this year).

Also, I’ve got to give a quick applause to a very good video podcast for the children and the curious about animals. A guy named Joel Mark, of the Maryland Zoo, started a video podcast that’s 5 minutes long and about a different animal each time. It’s definitely something to look forward to as the upcoming video about camels is cute for the kids, funny, and educational. Find him at www.marylandzoo.tv. He was worried about his job because he started this without approval. However, I notice now that his link is redirected to the zoo’s site and embedded there. That must mean he’s safe.

Posted in Cool Net Tricks, Announcements | 2 Comments »

September 14, 2007 by phillip.

I’m definitely not an iPod fanboy. As you have probably read in a previous blog I wasn’t a big fan of the iPhone just before it came out but this is different. It’s beautiful like Apple’s other products but at a size of 4.5″ x 2.4″ x .46″ and 4.6 ounces, this one actually fits my need… Almost.

I say almost because right now I’m using an HP Ipaq as my PDA. I’ve loved it for about 5 years now. Now it’s time to move onward and upward. I’d love one that Linux ran on so I could use the small size of Linux apps on it for everything I need. Also, I’d love GPS. Seems like I’m talking about the Nokia N800 but Apple I’m giving you a chance here.

The N800 is really nice too. The form factor is 5.7″ x 3.0″ x 0.5″ and weighs 7.3 ounces. However, at 5.7″ long it’s quite a bit longer than the standard 4″ wallet but justifiable in the standard inside coat pocket. Although the 4.1″ touch display that has a 800×480 resolution is really nice.

Let’s talk about GPS people? In this day and age where GPS is in so many things why isn’t it in either of these devices? You can get the GPS for the Nokia for about $250 more. Why? You could just get a Tomtom device or something for about that price?

Ok, my needs are simple hackers. Hack the iPod touch so I can install linux on it and have it function like an N800. That way I can use all that storage on it plus have the cooler look and smaller form factor. Plus, I want to run Thunderbird for email, VLC for video, rdesktop and VNC to manage other computers, and a couple other apps. Thunderbird does not run on the N800 I’ve heard. Email, contacts, syncing, and calendaring is the most important to me.

All right.  There’s your marching orders.  Help make me and everybody else happy.  Combine all these things into the iPod touch and I’ll be one extremely happy camper even though the iPod screen is 3.5″ and the N800 is 4.1″.  Some sacrifices can be made.

Posted in Mac, Linux, Announcements | 1 Comment »

August 28, 2007 by phillip.

Just a quick appeal to my readers.  Maybe someone can cut the six degrees of seperation between me and a good speaking gig.  I’m looking to start doing speaking appearances to the joys of getting more for less.  My seminar is, “Running a business and your life for free (or close to it).”

I’m sure some venues might want me to work in a little something promoting them as well and that might not be a problem.  Just let me know.

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June 30, 2007 by phillip.

I am not one to quickly jump on the bandwagon for many trends.  However, I do love new techy hardware.  That’s why I love the concept of the iPhone.  When I say concept, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not against the iPhone it’s just that not that many people have actually used it.  I’ve got too recent a memory of a product I really loved.  I bought a Canon MP830 printer that could scan multiple pages, fax, print in beautiful color, had a color display on the printer… It’s pure beauty and just so I wouldn’t jump into something I’d hate later I did my research.  However, its flaws didn’t become apparent for weeks to months later.  It started answering every call that rang. People that had distinctive ring on their phones had me looking at their printer because the feature just all of a sudden wasn’t there any more.  I looked on my printer as well and the display had it disabled and had to go back to Canon for repairs to the motherboard of the printer.

Why the history?  Well, all that glitters (even in reviews) isn’t gold.  The iPhone has many beautiful looking features but the first problem is that all that was on TV.  In reality, iPhone works on the AT&T network with is notoriously slow and in my personal experience, here in Los Angeles and in the San Francisco Bay area, had horrible coverage.  I really think they should have gone to Verizon Wireless which I do love.  Secondly, they decided to go with a glass face and a metal body.
These two things together equal pure eye candy however, so does dripping honey until you notice the bee hive.  Glass, ummm… CRACKS.  It does that very well as you may know.  Also, metal (unlike plastic) doesn’t absorb shock at all.  The combination will have more than a few people buying the plastic coverings for their iPhone.  Problem is, you paid a premium for pretty which you’re now covering.  So, in essense, you’ve bought the most beautiful outfit in the world but have on a full length burlap trench coat.

Also, I have been fighting it but I really don’t think the touch screen idea will work but I don’t take myself too seriously there because I would have told the guy who created Starbuck’s, “Really? A coffee shop? Maybe you should go back to the drawing board.”  This could actually work.  Actually, I do want it to.  I’m just not a believer in the hype.

Show me how well it supports video codecs and really plays back video.  Show me that sticky finger marks won’t make it ugly every day.  Show me that email clients can sync with it easy as a Blackberry.  Show me that and I’m sold.

Posted in Mac, Something to know, Announcements | 1 Comment »

June 17, 2007 by phillip.

To all you men out there that love your technology. You know you probably didn’t get the gift you wanted because you’re the only one that knows the tech you want. Go buy yourself something nice online. Nobody will have to know. Well, unless your big screen plasma is a little too big to not notice.

Posted in Announcements, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »