At Home with Tech

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March 12, 2012

It Got Cloudy

I had everything just the way I liked it.
But the clock is ticking down to June.
I could sync between devices.  I shared my photos.  I could post my videos.  I could create a little website.  And it was elegant and easy.
I had it all.  MobileMe was great.  I paid for it.  A win-win for everyone.
I thought.

OK.  I know.  So MobileMe is dead and the coffin closes officially in June.  That’s yesterday’s news.

iCloud is up and running, and I know I have no choice but to switch in the next few months.  But I haven’t yet, because I’m trying to figure out how to put all the pieces of my little online media gallery back together.

So I went to the new Apple store in Grand Central Terminal a month ago and asked a bunch of the Apple Geniuses.  I’ve always found it useful to poll different geniuses on my tech questions, because there is rarely just one answer to a tech riddle.  In this one circumstance, I actually had a problem pushing past ‘the PR talk,’ but I quickly found the guy who was willing to give it me straight.

He told me if you want to share your photos online, use a service like Flickr.  If you want to share your videos, use YouTube or Vimeo.  If you want to share files, then go with Dropbox.  Want someone to host your simple website?  There are lots of choices out there like Go Daddy.   Yes, iWeb still works as a web-building tool… for now.  (I get the hint.)

And that’s it.   Apple is focusing on other stuff.  (and being wildly successful at it)

I’m suddenly feeling very Borg-like.  I will comply.

So far, I’ve got the Flickr account activated.  Looks like I’ll need their Pro account.  ($24.95/yr or $44.95/2 years) Yes, putting this all back together is going to cost something.  But the Genius added it would be less than MobileMe did.    So what’s there to complain about?

I need to get my head in the iCloud.
Let’s check back on this in May…

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March 12, 2012

What’s Your Backup Plan?

I embrace technology.  It’s everywhere in my life.  Work.  Family.  Personal time.  And I’ve always been good with technology ever since I could figure out how to program my first digital Casio watch as a kid.

  • Got my first digital camera in 2000.  (strangely also a Casio)
  • Sony Mini DV camcorder in 2002.  Magic.  My wife called it a little dove.
  • Canon DSLR- bought and charged for my son’s birth two years ago.   Whoah!  Extreme close up!
  • All things Apple- I’m a believer.
  • Facebook, LinkedIn- All good.
  • Wireless Eye-Fi card photo uploads of my son’s daily adventures to my iPhone- Roger that.

I am fully integrated and plugged in.  My wife thinks I’m a tech god.
(Occasionally)

The Genesis of this Blog
But I have a confession to make.  At best, I am a mere mortal.  And I’m not a tech wizard by most standards.  I can just get it to work, usually.
In fact, I worry about technology.   A lot.

Sure, I’ve got the tech in my household humming.  Today.
But the next software update may not be the next best thing.  And compatibility issues between tech is always a fragile truce.

Technology is a tool that can turn on you.
They say it makes your life easier, but it is not your friend.
That T-800 with your name is never far away.
Technology is charging forward, and it cannot be stopped.  It is a fact.
Your only hope is to stay one step ahead of it.
Or the all-you-can-eat buffet of our digital paradise will abruptly shut down.

The battle has already begun.  And it’s secretly raging right now on the home front.
I know you know it’s there.

We all fear the day when that “on” button gets pressed and nothing happens.
If we want to preserve our digitally connected lives, we’ll need to keep on top of it.

Are You At Home with Tech?
I’ll share what I know, but I also need your help.
It won’t be easy.  Life is messy… digital or not.

Let’s begin…

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