Due Date

Jeromey Balderrama

Well after nearly 10 months, it’s finally here – or at least it’s supposed to be.  Ever since we’ve announced that we’re expecting our first child, I’ve been a little mum about the subject on my blog, for two main reasons: we’ve been a little unsure and uncomfortable sharing some of the information (as in we *think* we’re having a girl), and I also have been hypersensitive about using my blog to share pretty typical pregnancy things (especially since I’m not the one personally experiencing them).

Today is the official due date for the baby, although as we’re approaching 10pm, the likelihood of Baby Balderrama arriving today is pretty slim.  It’s funny, it seems like those 40 weeks have breezed by (especially as things got really busy in the spring), but these last few days have felt excruciatingly long.  We’re extremely hesitant to make any plans that take us too far away from home, and we can’t help but think ahead and get excited about the baby arriving.

It’s funny, you realize people are being curious and caring by asking questions, but it starts getting old providing the same answers: No, she’s not here yet.  Yes, we’re still pregnant.  Yes, we want her to get here too.  Yes we’re doing <Insert wives tale to induce labor>, but it hasn’t worked yet.  Not to be crass, but trust us: when our baby arrives we’ll make sure that you know!  Hopefully it’s going to be soon!

Tom Petty did say it best: waiting is hard.

Paula Deen’s new opportunity

Jeromey Balderrama

You’ve probably heard the news that Paula Deen was fired from her Food Network show.  I don’t think I have enough of the full story to warrant an opinion on whether her firing was the most appropriate result (although I do think there’s more below the surface).  Truth be told, I’ve never really watched one of her shows, although I may have enjoyed a recipe or two.  However I think it’s safe to say that Deen’s career in traditional broadcast media is essentially over – but while one door closes, another one opens for old media outcasts: New Media.

I realize that Paula’s first foray into YouTube wasn’t that successful, her future lies with the video service.   Deen needs to create a channel, put a camera in her kitchen and create bite-sized (no pun intended) cooking videos for her audience.  With the proliferation of mobile devices, YouTube is the first place people go to get instructions.   The ability to have someone demonstrate to me in the environment (like in the kitchen, for example) and go at your own pace by pausing is transcendent. YouTube has been invaluable with helping me re-grout my shower, patch our bathtub, and fix my lawn mower.  The recipe books we have in our kitchen go unopened because any time we’re craving to cook something new, we go straight to the Internet.  Paula can produce the same content she’s done on the Foot Network for years, at a fraction of the cost. Not only will she go where her audience is at, but she will give it to them in a format that would be more valuable to them.

Deen just needs to look to people like Adam Carolla and Leo Laporte when it comes to finding success in new media, which goes back to why podcasts are so great. You can find niche content, in a long format that isn’t convoluted with commercials.  Hearing Bill Simmons lament the NBA Pre-Game Show format assures me that in terms of quality of content: new media guys understand what makes this format better than the traditional broadcast format.  It’s only a matter of time before more traditional media folks embrace this, in one way or another.

Friday Tech Roundup, June 21

Jeromey Balderrama

I’m going to try something new here, and do a little recap of tech news, developments and my take on various tech news stories for the week.

Facebook announces video for Instagram

Normally I detest Facebook’s propensity to blatantly copy features from their competitors, but in the case of of InstaVine and in the interests of having a good video sharing product on Android: good on them!   I may hold a lot of unfair hostility towards Vine, but I can’t get past the terrible first impression they made upon Android users. If you’re going to make users wait for months later than your iOS users, you better make a pretty good first impression – but between the very limited functionality (like not being able to search), the problems with capturing and playing video (audio out of synch) and the lack of worthwhile options (like muting your videos by default): all you did was give me all the more incentive to look forward to something else.

If Twitter seems unwilling or unable to quickly improve their app, I’m more than happy to spend time with an app that can.  Instagram is giving me most of what I’m looking for, with a bigger user base. I’m more than happy to put my video eggs in that basket.  That said, I hope this is a wake up call for Vine and Twitter, as great products come from competition.

 

Feedly updated with Cloud sync and app support ahead of Google Reader shutdown

When Google announced they were shuttering Reader, I remember freaking out as I drove home.  In terms of getting my information: Reader was where I got the majority of my news.  Given that I consume it on multiple computers, my phone and tablet, I was concerned about how I was going to be able to sync my feeds.  I began my quest looking for the replacement, and am happy to be living in the Feedly space.  They’ve really stepped up and have done a great job welcoming Google Reader refugees, and have been very open about their roadmap and where they want their product to go.  They don’t deliver the exact same functionality of Reader (yet), but they are a great alternative that will soon get there.  I previously thought I was going to be counting down the days until Reader was shutdown, but I’ve been so happy with Feedly that I’ve all but forgotten.

 

Falcon Pro removed from Google Play Store

I don’t use Falcon Pro (I’m more of a Twicca man), but this news is distressing nonetheless.  The way Twitter has turned the table against the developers – on whose backs they built their service on – irritates me to no end.  While Twitter’s app has greatly improved, it still lacks a ton of features that their advanced users – who also have used Twitter the longest – count on every day.  By relying on these apps early on, people like me learned how to use Twitter reading from oldest-to-newest, and have come to rely on Twicca for this continued experience.  This back & forth between developers and their apps need to stop. Just be satisfied that 80% of your mobile users are using your app, you don’t want to piss off the other 20% with stupid stuff like this.

Listening to your customers–what a concept!

Jeromey Balderrama

Reacting To:  Microsoft reverses Xbox One online check and used games policies following backlash

Thank you, Microsoft, for actually listening to your customers.  After so many of them complained about your draconian online policy, they finally saw the light and realized they need to rethink their decision.  Microsoft could have easily kept their arrogance, telling their customers to just deal with the decision.  They didn’t make it in a vacuum – there were definitely new features and benefits this policy would introduce (like their family-sharing feature, full hard drive installations of the games), but the price was too much for many (including soldiers stationed in areas without pervasive internet).

Some companies – like Apple – can get away with the “just deal with it” attitude, but not Microsoft, not when Sony is looking to eat your lunch with a console going in a different direction.  I’m glad they were smart enough to realize this before it’s too late.

Now if only someone at the NFL would take a lesson in this and reconsider their stupid bag policy.  Come on NFL, Microsoft demonstrated that no company is beyond reproach, just come to your senses and follow suit.  There difference here, unfortunately is that the NFL doesn’t feel the pressure of competitors.  They can be as arrogant as they want. Just remember NFL, the MLB had the same level of arrogance about their sport, and gave up their superiority in the process.

That’s my boat!

Jeromey Balderrama

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As I’m approaching what’s likely my last week before parenthood, no one ever said that I’d have to go quietly.  I fell in love with kayaking back in 2004 during a visit to my Aunt & Uncle’s summer cabin at Lake Champlain in New York, where I would spend hours on end paddling along the shoreline.  At that point I went home dreaming of having a watercraft that I could take up to the various lakes on weekends.  Practicality put that daydream on hold, but with our house being a sanded path away from a beautiful Windsor lake, the seeds of that dream were returning.  It didn’t take much convincing for Bethany and the next thing you know, it was slated as an early birthday present.  Last weekend we found a deal we couldn’t refuse.

I took the kayak out for its maiden voyage on Monday, and was surprised how quickly it came back to me – just like riding a bike. I was going up and down the shoreline in no time.  Bethany encouraged me to take it for a spin around the island, and no sooner than after turning turning the corner, the wind kicked up the current.  A brief arm workout later, I made it back to the shore.  I went out again on Wednesday, this time with a canoe dolly to see if we can transport the kayak by ourselves – mission accomplished.

I’m excited for the opportunities the kayak will give us. Even with the baby, hopefully we’ll each be able to sneak out for a quick spin around the lake during naps.  Next time you come visit us, come out and take a spin!