INL has created something I used to ponder as a kid. Star Trek was one of my favorite shows growing up, but I always wondered how some of that high-tech gear could work if it was real. I used to imagine some type of layer that would collect the heat generated within a fusion reactor and convert it directly into electrical power. This, I thought is how it would be done in the future rather than some clunky mechanical solution like a turbine. (of course we’re still trying to make fusion self-sustaining, but that’s beside the point…) It may not be designed for use in a fusion reactor, but INL’s device does exactly what I envisioned. There are some technical hurdles for the new device, (namely converting the high-frequency AC it produces into DC) but once those are solved, there are all sorts of applications for this technology.
iPhone/iPod 2.0.1 firmware may corrupt 3rd party apps
So, I was out at the Apple store in Ralleigh, NC this weekend while my brother got his iPhone. (yea, a little jealous) While there, I thought I’d check my facebook account on their WiFi. The facebook app came up blank for a couple of seconds and then went away. Seemed strange, so I tried it again and then tried 3 other apps which all failed as well.
A little background: Before leaving for the weekend I’d updated to the 2.0.1 firmware released the night before. As it turns out this corrupted my downloaded apps and rendered them useless. The blue shirts (specialists) at the Apple store took a look, but didn’t know what to do and suggested I try to restore it from the last backup. Not satisfied with that answer, I messed around with it while my brother was getting his phone activated. The quick solution I found was to delete the apps and download them again from the app store.
Apple keeps track of what you’ve purchased, so if you’re worried about having to pay for it again, don’t. (I wasn’t concerned as all the apps I have so far have been freebies…) The app store states that you’ve already purchased the app and asks you if you really want to download it again. This was a minor inconvenience, but much better than the restore that I wouldn’t have been able to do for a few days. (being away from home and all…)
So how do you delete the apps you ask? Simple: just touch an app icon and hold until it shakes. Then tap the (X) on each app you’d like to delete. (only works on 3rd party apps…) I also asked a blue shirt about the possibility of Apple releasing a Tasks app that syncs like the other included apps (ActiveSync) and was told that Apple doesn’t make apps for the app store, only 3rd parties. Since I had an Apple branded app from the app store on my iPod at that very moment, I was no longer inclined to ask the blue shirts anything. Apple obviously doesn’t keep them very well informed. (not too excited about the “geniuses” either…) Don’t worry Steve, I still love you’re gear…
Apple’s iPhone/iPod 2.0 OS rocks…
Ok, I’m probably going to sound like a bit of a fanboy for writing this, but who cares. I love my new iPod Touch, particularly the new 2.0 OS. I personally didn’t need the phone and camera of the 3G iPhone. (already have a nice new cameraphone and I’m not a big fan of AT&T) I was buying a Macbook anyway and Apple was running their free iPod with a new Mac deal so it was a win-win. A lot of people seem to think it stinks that Apple is charging for the 2.0 OS, but it really is worth it. (C’mon, it’s only $10 people!) Before 2.0, you got the stock apps and that was it. The 2.0 OS brings features like WPA/WPA2 Enterprise support, the same ActiveSync integration as the iPhone and access to applications from the iPhone app store. In fact the only glaring item missing from the device is a tasks application that ties into ActiveSync. Hopefully that will be something that appears on the app store. (preferably for free…) The iPod is also an excellent social networking tool, perfect for twitter tweets and quick checks of facebook. There are even blogging clients for some of the more popular platforms like WordPress. Apple has worked hard to unify the look and feel of the included apps, but there are still inconsistencies. One thing I found strange is that some apps rotate, while others don’t. I personally prefer the landscape view because it’s easier to type accurately on the virtual keyboard. It’s not hard the other way, but I find it makes me type slower. Still the interface design is very good; exactly what I would expect from Apple. The iPod Touch is a great all around gadget; useful for both work and entertainment. While it’s certainly geared more towards entertainment, it is quite useful as well.