Entries For: August 2008
2008-08-26
iPhone Therefore iConnect
When the iPhone 3G launched, I wasn't terribly excited about the new phone. Faster? Yes. Built in GPS? Yes. Whoopee. What good was more speed and more accurate tracking without a reason to put it to use?
The more important aspect of Apple's release of the 3G iPhone was the 2.0 version of the software, which has now been updated twice. (Bug fixes are nice... and yes, there are evidently a few more kinks to be worked out.) The new rev of the software allowed for 3rd party apps to be written and then sold or given away for free via the iTunes store. So when the early adopter storm calmed down and you could get the software update and add apps to your iPhone, I was tickled pink to peruse the available apps and utilities. And games.
Yes, the fun stuff was plentiful from the get go. Etch-a-Sketch? Cute. Othello and other tried and true games? Check. Motion sickness inducing games that take advantage of the accelerometer and touch screen. They are in spades.
What were missing, however, were useful geek utilities. Oh, what's a geek to do when they can't ssh into their server and rename files while avoiding eye contact with people out in public?
Well, they may not have been there at the outset, but they're streaming in at full speed now. SSH. VNC. Telnet. FTP. Ping. Ah, now geeks everywhere can rest easy knowing that if they're within reach of a phone call, they're within range of their servers and fixing whatever problem arises. Out dancing? At dinner? Playing with the kids at the park? No problem! Pull out your iPhone and let your loved ones know you'll get right back to them, just as soon as you've restored services to your web site.
Somebody will figure out the associated quality of life issues that go along with being able to work 24/7, right? This kind of always on, always plugged in kind of connectivity does raise boundary issues that we've been dealing with for a long time now. It will exacerbate them, of course, but if you're running your own enterprise and have a flexible schedule, it's up to you to balance those issues for yourself and for your staff.
And yes, there are iPhone apps to help you out here as well. Project Management. Time keeping. Outlining. Enterprise level contact management. The pieces of the mobile office puzzle are falling into place. The nicest part of this evolution of the iPhone as a mobile platform is not that you'll be able to work on things whenever and wherever you want or need to, but that you will be able to get your work done however you need to, whenever and wherever you are.
The more important aspect of Apple's release of the 3G iPhone was the 2.0 version of the software, which has now been updated twice. (Bug fixes are nice... and yes, there are evidently a few more kinks to be worked out.) The new rev of the software allowed for 3rd party apps to be written and then sold or given away for free via the iTunes store. So when the early adopter storm calmed down and you could get the software update and add apps to your iPhone, I was tickled pink to peruse the available apps and utilities. And games.
Yes, the fun stuff was plentiful from the get go. Etch-a-Sketch? Cute. Othello and other tried and true games? Check. Motion sickness inducing games that take advantage of the accelerometer and touch screen. They are in spades.
What were missing, however, were useful geek utilities. Oh, what's a geek to do when they can't ssh into their server and rename files while avoiding eye contact with people out in public?
Well, they may not have been there at the outset, but they're streaming in at full speed now. SSH. VNC. Telnet. FTP. Ping. Ah, now geeks everywhere can rest easy knowing that if they're within reach of a phone call, they're within range of their servers and fixing whatever problem arises. Out dancing? At dinner? Playing with the kids at the park? No problem! Pull out your iPhone and let your loved ones know you'll get right back to them, just as soon as you've restored services to your web site.
Somebody will figure out the associated quality of life issues that go along with being able to work 24/7, right? This kind of always on, always plugged in kind of connectivity does raise boundary issues that we've been dealing with for a long time now. It will exacerbate them, of course, but if you're running your own enterprise and have a flexible schedule, it's up to you to balance those issues for yourself and for your staff.
And yes, there are iPhone apps to help you out here as well. Project Management. Time keeping. Outlining. Enterprise level contact management. The pieces of the mobile office puzzle are falling into place. The nicest part of this evolution of the iPhone as a mobile platform is not that you'll be able to work on things whenever and wherever you want or need to, but that you will be able to get your work done however you need to, whenever and wherever you are.
2008-08-12
When To Make A Change
Filed Under:
Change is inevitable, as the cliché goes. Sometimes though, change can be painful:
The most painful part of that video, of course, is that I know every word of that song.
When it comes to your infrastructure, you generally have to either initiate the change, or react to a failing, obsolete artifact. The latter is inevitable while the former is proactive. To complicate matters further, if you make an unnecessary change you run the risk of causing inefficiencies - or worse.
So how do you decide when to make a change?
Of course, telling your CIO that you are following the advice of someone who thinks it's a good idea to include not one but two Brady Bunch music videos in a post may not be the best way to get your point across. Let's keep that between you and me, okay?
The most painful part of that video, of course, is that I know every word of that song.
When it comes to your infrastructure, you generally have to either initiate the change, or react to a failing, obsolete artifact. The latter is inevitable while the former is proactive. To complicate matters further, if you make an unnecessary change you run the risk of causing inefficiencies - or worse.
So how do you decide when to make a change?
- Plan ahead. Don't wait for a crisis, or even for an indication that a crisis is coming. Include maintenance and obsolescence as part of your initial project scope. You may not be around when your forethought bears fruit, but whoever is will be appreciative.
- Avoid complacency. Good enough generally isn't. If you're not ecstatic with how your systems are performing, look into the costs and benefits of having them replaced. Don't settle.
- Be open. It's easy to get locked into a repetitive cycle of less than desirable results by always choosing solutions that are the preferred choice of the general consensus. What's good for the masses is rarely the best choice. Be open to implementing unusual or even radically different solutions. Innovation is change with a purpose, which is what you should always be striving for when replacing hardware and systems.
Of course, telling your CIO that you are following the advice of someone who thinks it's a good idea to include not one but two Brady Bunch music videos in a post may not be the best way to get your point across. Let's keep that between you and me, okay?
