Category Archives: ipod touch

WordPress app for the iPhone and iPod Touch

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I’m lucky to own an iPod Touch but I can’t help longing for an iPhone 3G too :-) The main difference between them, for me, is that the iPhone 3G can truly be an “always on” device in terms of Internet access because of its dual wifi/cell capabilities. The iPod Touch can only connect via wifi, and I find that aspect of its functionality too limiting. On the other hand, I don’t want the additional service costs that an iPhone would require.

Just about every iPhone application also works on an iPod Touch, but with sometimes significant limitations. For instance, all of that cool location-based functionality that iPhone users get to have isn’t available for the iPod Touch since it is wifi only. When I’m at work, for example, there is no wifi access that I can use. Well, there is wifi access but I’m prohibited from using it. (Oh how I wish for ubiquitous, free wifi wherever I go!)

I’ve tried quite a few of the free apps in the Apple App store and like most of them, but I was particularly excited to read this a.m. of the availability of a WordPress app. This app is free and it works quite well from what I can tell so far. If you are an iPhone or iPod Touch owner and also manage a WordPress blog then this software is a must-have.

Other apps that I particularly like so far include the Facebook app, Twitterific, WeatherBug, and Stanza (a free ebook reader that I think is quite functional). Another free app that I think is really cool but is more of a geeky showpiece than something practical and useful at this point, is PangeaVR.

Some other library bloggers have pointed out the lack of library-oriented applications for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform. I agree that this is unfortunate and I look forward to reading about new developments in this space soon. I wish I was smart enough to develop something myself, but I’m not.

I’m awake but wish I wasn’t

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I’ve been awake since about 5 am. I wish I was still fast asleep but our golden retriever, Champ, had an upset stomach and desperately needed to go out. I am enjoying the solitude though but hope eventually I can get some more sleep.
As is the case almost every Saturday the question is, what will we do today? Something fun or something necessary like cleaning or doing laundry or getting groceries? We’ll see.

Have I mentioned that I recently got a refurbished iPod touch? And have I stated how much I love this little computer? Because that is really what it is. It is aptly named because that is what it’s all about: touch. Amazing.

And the possibilities for using it just keep expanding. I was quite impressed — unexpectedly — by Apple’s presentation earlier this week of their work on the iPhone and iPod Touch SDK as well as enterprise features. Some of the apps that people came up with in just two week’s time blew me away. I am a Blackberry fan and owner and I know there are a lot of people who scoff at Apple’s work to compete with RIM. Let me just state that if RIM isn’t worried about this new competition then they are fools. I don’t care how many corporate CIOs are quoted making snarky comments about how Apple isn’t serious about the enterprise. What that simply translates into for me is that such people are just miffed that Apple isn’t kowtowing to them. I have little respect for corporate IT organizations.

What’s been happening

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I haven’t posted anything in a great while and that’s a good thing.  I just haven’t felt like writing anything.  Now that it’s January 1, 2008, I felt I should write the first post of the new year.

So, what’s been happening in my life?  Well, I’ve been enjoying the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  I had to work last week, which was dull.  But I’m thankful to have had some time off anyway.  We hosted Christmas Eve (which is when my family gives presents and does the usual Christmas-y things).  It required a tremendous amount of work to make our house somewhat presentable given that it usually looks like a bomb has exploded.  But we managed to pull it all together and we had a good time.  Michele made a lovely meal, there was plenty of yummy things to munch on, and even some Bailey’s Irish Cream was on hand to enjoy.  Christmas day was quiet and relaxed.  We had a nice meal then, too, and sat around watching movies at my brother-in-law’s house.

This past few days were spent with my side of the family in east central Illinois.  We hadn’t been there in several months — quite a long time.  It was great to see everyone, including little Russel, my niece’s baby boy.  My nephew Ben was with his cousins in Canada so we didn’t see him, and my brother, Dan, wasn’t feeling well so we missed seeing him, too.  But everyone else was there.  One of the fun things we did was to go on our first geocaching adventure using the GPS unit my brother-in-law gave me for Christmas.  I looked up three geocaches in the area and we were able to find two out of the three.  The children enjoyed it and in the process we were able to spend some healthy time tramping around in the outdoors finding lots of interesting things like a cecropia moth’s cocoon, and seeing a flock of pheasants (something the little kids had never seen before).

Of course we enjoyed giving and receiving lots of presents.  The little kids each got some special things such as kiddie digital cameras, MP3 players, cute big fluffy animal slippers, and much more.  Michele got an iPod nano — cool!

We are thankful for many blessings, including the opportunity to spend time with both sides of our families.