CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-01-25 18:34:38 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Hey, would you look at that? I wrote something for Macworld about dreading trips to the Apple Store.

I'm not surprised about the people who think I'm crazy/stupid... but I was shocked by the number of people who agree with me!

2013-01-17 15:14:35 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I still think I'd use Google+ more if it had a native Mac client.

2012-10-24 20:51:47 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Since no one reads these updates anyway, I'll tell you folks. I'm totally doing NaNoWriMo this year. 

I never thought I could write 50,000 words in a month, but since I pretty much did that already this month I figure I can write a crappy first novel. And with the crappy first novel out for the way I can write a slightly less crappy 2nd novel!

2012-10-23 14:15:47 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Have a Kindle Paperwhite? Want to take screenshots of each page of an ebook so you can print them out, bind them, and then read it on paper the way God intended? This post is for you.

Also for you? Paper books.

2012-10-23 14:01:27 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Why isn't there a Google+ native Mac (or PC) client yet? I would totally use this more if I didn't have to check the website.

Sure, I could use one of the final mobile apps, but I'm on my Mac far more than my iPad or iPhone (I'm starting to feel like a dinosaur in that regard).

2012-09-27 17:44:21 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Bestselling British science fiction authors Iain M. Banks, Alastair Reynolds and Peter Hamilton have come together for a unique Science Fiction Hangout on Air.  They will be hanging out live on +Google Play on Thursday, September 27th at 6:00pm (London Time) to discuss their latest books and science fiction in general. To join Iain, Alastair and Peter in the live hangout, submit your best question for the panel in the comments below and let us know how we can contact you here: http://goo.gl/052bq and +Google Play will reach out to you if you’ve been selected.

Don't forget to check out their books on Google Play:

Peter F.Hamilton: http://goo.gl/42YHI
Iain M. Banks: http://goo.gl/xHp18
Alastair Reynolds: http://goo.gl/6NI54

2012-08-22 14:30:32 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

When I suggested a 4 day work week many years ago it didn't go over well.

2012-08-20 17:14:44 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I have never felt this way. EVER. Also, the Strand Tumblr is pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.

2012-08-20 17:12:12 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I have no idea what is going on in this picture, but I approve.

2012-08-20 17:10:09 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Big fan of BioShock, and now I'm a big fan of this song.

2012-08-15 14:32:22 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Disposable forums? Neat idea.

2012-08-13 15:00:43 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

A great achievement for George, but to be honest... I'm ready for the Song of Ice and Fire to end.

2012-08-13 14:56:35 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Book of Joe is speaking +Marisa McClellan's language.

2012-08-06 17:59:02 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I think I need to buy a new SSD for my Mac Pro. What are your favorites? Looking for 256 GB or so.

2012-08-04 14:52:18 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

People, you need to use strong unique passwords, especially with services that can either erase your data, or give access to sensitive data to evil doers.

Also, for the love of God (and I'm an Atheist!), back up your computer.

2012-08-04 05:23:00 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Sweating in the gym, yo.

2012-08-03 14:37:05 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Hey, Google+ is still a thing! You know what I wish were available? A native Google+ app for my Mac. For some reason I just don't keep Google+ open in my browser, but I would check it like a mofo if there was an app in my Dock shaming me and judging me.

2012-07-31 14:15:53 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Looks like the reality of Google Fiber doesn't match the imaginations of all the tech writers who conjured up a magical land of unlimited bandwidth and free TV for all (though it is still speedy).

2012-07-26 04:21:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The Kindle version of the Ars Technica Mountain Lion review is now up:

2012-07-23 14:42:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

5 or 6 new Kindle Fires? Where will I put them all? I imagine there will be 3 models with 2 variants: wifi and wifi + 3/4G (at least I hope that's the way it'll be!).

2012-07-17 15:34:28 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

What great timing!

2012-07-09 04:33:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

As always, a well considered and written review from Ars. Makes me glad I preordered one!

2012-07-06 03:21:17 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Light pollution ain't cool, people.

2012-07-06 03:04:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Kindle Flame? Spark? Matchstick?

2012-07-05 16:24:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

2012-07-05 16:15:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Looking forward to Adam Roberts' latest: Jack Glass. What a lovely cover! Available July 19th.

2012-07-05 15:13:09 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 3 +1s)

Tonight, from POV -- the documentary "The City Dark." Here's an extended preview:

Is darkness becoming extinct? When filmmaker Ian Cheney moves from rural Maine to New York City and discovers streets awash in light and skies devoid of stars, he embarks on a journey to America's brightest and darkest corners, asking astronomers, cancer researchers and ecologists what is lost in the glare of city lights. Blending a humorous, searching narrative with poetic footage of the night sky, "The City Dark" provides a fascinating introduction to the science of the dark and an exploration of our relationship to the stars.

2012-07-05 03:53:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I have a couple of problems with this review of Deadline and Blackout (I haven't read Blackout, so I have no opinion about it):

1. Deadline SUCKED. It is poorly written, the characters are forgettable, and it negates the one interesting choice that the writer made in the first volume of the series (and Mira Grant totally repeats the same phrases over and over again... a big pet peeve of mine. A BIG pet peeve of mine. Like, it is totally a pet peeve of mine [annoying, right?]).

2. The reviewer is a long time friend of the author. Even though we all strive to be impartial I think Tor.com could have found someone who isn't the author's friend to review the books. And if they couldn't perhaps that says something about the books.

2012-07-03 17:14:56 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Germans know how to party. "Let's have a crane lift a crane that is lifting another crane!"

2012-07-03 17:06:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Book deals!  Now is a good time to get these books, if you're interested.

2012-07-03 14:59:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

The Strand has a Tumblr, who knew?

2012-07-02 14:15:55 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

People, of course, should be allowed to renovate their homes in any manner they see fit. That being said, I find it hard to believe anyone could find these "improvements" to be better than the grand old Victorian house that was there before. But that's just me.

2012-07-01 23:41:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I love pancakes, so why not put 'em a on a stick?

2012-07-01 15:35:36 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Get ready to have an entire genre irrevocably spoiled.

2012-06-29 15:15:21 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Nexus 7 review http://bit.ly/MFdBUK

2012-06-29 01:06:12 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

An MMO based on minifigs... interesting.

2012-06-28 20:14:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

John makes an interesting point, of course Google isn't actually manufacturing the Nexus 7, ASUS is.

2012-06-28 16:21:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I'm a big Iain M. Banks fan. I can hardly wait!

2012-06-28 14:35:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Robot and Frank looks like a fun movie (and can you tell I've decided to use Google+ more?).

2012-06-28 14:34:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I hate squats, but they are effective (I did 200 the other day and then I couldn't walk for a few days. Fun!).

2012-06-28 14:20:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Did I mention that I did a great interview with geek idol LeVar Burton? It wasn't the same "oh here's a Reading Rainbow iPad app!" coverage you've been seeing all week, either. We talked about deeper issues, like whether kids are still reading like they used to, whether it matters if kids read electronically or on paper, and where the Reading Rainbow brand is going now that it's in the digital world. 

Please check it out when you get a chance, especially if you spend time thinking about the education of young people!

2012-06-28 14:12:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Good to see that the top books on the Google Play Store are no better than the ones that Apple or Amazon sell...

2012-06-28 14:10:49 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Finally getting around to reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I'm about 350 pages in, and I'm enjoying it. Though it has been a bit of a slow read for me, and I'm not quite sure why. There's a good amount of action, but he does spent a lot of time setting up the magic system (for non-nerds out there, some fantasy novelists invest large amounts of time coming up with unique rules and reasons why magic works in their imagined worlds. This is known as a "magic system."). 

2012-05-03 14:32:42 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Read any good books lately?

2012-04-11 14:32:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Toward a simpler, more beautiful Google

We've just begun the worldwide rollout of a more functional and flexible version of Google+. We think you’ll find it easier to use and nicer to look at, but most importantly, it accelerates our efforts to create a simpler, more beautiful Google.

You can read more about it here:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/toward-simpler-more-beautiful-google.html

2012-04-11 14:21:31 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

I just created a page for my Google+ book (which I should have done a while ago!).

2012-04-11 14:06:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I'm currently reading Leviathan Wakes. On page 240, or so, and it is pretty enjoyable.

2012-03-06 15:53:03 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Tap, tap, tap. This thing still on?