LocateMe! Windows Mobile GPS Program...

So, I have found a new (to me) bit of Windows Mobile software for my Samsung Omnia i910... It is called "LocateMe" and it is a great and very simple piece of software. What I like most is the capability it brings to my Omnia.

The concept is simple. You are out and about, and for whatever reason you want to txt or email your exact location to someone. Out on a hike. Heading home... As long as you have a data connection you are able to do this. You are able to send a simple text to whomever you want with your exact GPS location on it. Additionally, it includes a link in Google Maps so that they are able to find you.

All of this may sound either simplistic or silly. But wait let me tell you why I love this software so much. I have no idea why or how, but I can now get a GPS signal inside my house or office. Yep. That's right. I also seem to connect to the satellites much quicker. So, I will use it to connect and then go to Google Maps or whatever to use other GPS features on my Omnia. This has really made using the GPS on my phone fun again.

So what does this software cost? Well it will set you back a whopping $2.99. That's right. $2.99! To good to pass up! Enjoy!!!

eBooks...

This is a fairly broad topic, but that's fine. Mainly what I would like to talk about is the success or failure of eBooks. I have been reading ebooks for years starting on my first Palm Pilot. I have watched with interest as various companies have tried and failed (and succeeded) in this market.

Several companies have been around for a while as they sold eBooks. eReader (one of my favorites) has been around for a long time in the market. They have been bought and sold several times. Another site that I consistently buy through is Fictionwise. They have tons of books, and they sell for my favorite eBook software MobiPocket. Now would be the time (I guess) to point out that both are now owned by Barnes & Noble. Which brings me to my point(s)...

Why in the world would you make eBooks sales any different than a regular physical book's sale? I would think you certainly wouldn't want to make it more difficult for a consumer! Recently, I read that a person that was given a Barnes & Noble gift-card from family members, couldn't use the card on their eBooks! REALLY?!? And how is this a good business decision?

I recently needed to buy a textbook for a class that I had for my MBA. Because of the timing, I ended up buying an eTextbook rather than buying a physical copy. It was so heavily DRM'ed and then I lost the rights to the book after 180 days!!! What? The other textbooks I buy don't mysterious disappear after the class is over! I'm not sure why the eTextbook version should... Needless to say, that was the LAST eTextbook I will buy!

Finally, one of the Readers that I had on my early Pocket PC was Microsoft's Reader. I bought several books for the Reader, and enjoyed the software. Unfortunately, the DRM was linked to a passport. At some point this seemed to go south... An update to the software, or something caused the DRM to block my ability to read all the books I previously bought. Guess what. I don't buy books for Microsoft Reader any more! I recently saw they updated the program (after several years) and the problem still exists.

The moral of the story is:

1. DRM is fine if it is simple and doesn't get in the consumer's way.
2. Don't cause the DRM to timeout and make a book unreadable. I have books that are VERY old. None of them have disappeared.
3. Physical books are loanable... Barnes & Noble may have something with the Nook. If I have a good book that I like and loan it to a friend, they may later BUY said book.

I hate to say this, but one thing that may help will be to agree on a common format for eBooks (like the MP3). I have multiple readers for all the different versions of books that I have purchased over the years. I don't want to loose them now, but if I could convert them to a "common" format, it would be nice.

With all the hardware options coming out for eBooks it is certainly an interesting time. Look for readers that give you the option to read several formats... AND, is fair-handed with the DRM!

Happy reading!

Test

Just curious if this will work and what it will look like...

Posted from moBlog – mobile blogging tool for Windows Mobile

Book Review: I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Michael Franzese

I just finished the book I'll Make You An Offer You Can't Refuse: Insider Business Tips From A Former Mob Boss by Michael Franzese last night. I have to admit, it was a very good book. Now if you happen to be a Harvard Business School grad, this may not be for you. And, if you are looking for some in-depth business concepts discussed, then you should probably move along. If you are looking for an interesting read about someone who has lived on both sides of the law, was successful on both, and genuinely wants you to succeed within the boundaries of the law, this book is for you.

What you will get with this book: A comprehensive compare-and-contrast of the Machiavellian (mobster) way of conducting business vs. the wisdom of Solomon (fm the book of Proverbs). The author, Michael Franzese, discusses how he got ahead as a made man by following the way Machiavelli proposed in his works The Prince and other books. He contrasts this with the teachings of Solomon from the book of Proverbs, and shows how a legitimate business person can succeed. At the end of each chapter, the author summarizes his main points in tidy packages he called “Get the Message” which I appreciated.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Franzese’s book. It was entertaining, and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of their interest in the world of business. It also made me curious to read his previous book about his life and how he was able to extricate himself from the mob…

Free Bibles fm Laridian

All of my friends and family know that I have carried Pocket PCs since the days of the iPaq. Today I carry an integrated Pocket PC/Cell phone from Verizon Wireless called the Samsung Omnia (i910). What they may not know is that for just as long I have carried the Bible and many biblical study books from a company called Laridian Electronic Publishing...

Today I found out that the great folks over at Laridian have added several free books to their extensive list of study books and bibles. If you have not already looked at what they have to offer, I suggest you go to their site quickly and download the books for your Windows Mobile device. I am confident you will enjoy their products!

Thank you to the generous folks at Laridian Electronic Publishing!!! I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the ESV Study Bible next...

Blog Spring Cleaning

Hello All,

I have been doing a little Spring cleaning on my day off. I deleted a lot of the last few posts here. Mainly because we lost the baby and I didn't want to get into all that here. I am going to be doing a lot of different stuff here. Going to look at what I am doing (blog-wise) and focus more on this space.

Kevin

New posts to the "ol" blog...

Hello to anyone that is looking... ;)

I haven't posted anything to this blog in a while. I have messed around with another blog and thought that I would get this one back up and running. Mainly because I am not interested in a lot of attention to the other blog.

Keep watching this blog. I promise to keep it up to date with more randomness from the Wallace family...

KJW

Posted from moBlog – mobile blogging tool for Windows Mobile

Sailing on the Patuxent

Here is my beautiful wife doing what I love to do... Sail. She has been putting up with me since we have gotten to Maryland. I have been sailing with her Uncle on his boat. On this day Erin and I went out with her cousin Patrick and one of his friends. We all had a great time. Although, in the end the weather ended up getting a little rougher than I was comfortable with. All in all, it was a good day though.

I haven't been able to blog at all of late. My computer crashed and I just got a new hard drive put in it. I think that Erin wasn't expecting me to be able to fix it. It ended up being a pretty easy fix though.

Hope all is going well for you!

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Kevin s 

From the i730

Just wanted to make sure that this would work. This is such a lazy weekend... I wanted to make sure I could post like this.

Kevin

Wait, another one?

Yes, I know. What am I doing... Another blog?

I had a blog here awhile ago, but wasn't posting here much. When I saw that I could from my i730 I thought that I would give it a try again. I wish that Yahoo would get with it and realize that people use Pocket PC's and other mobile devise's to post to their blogs. Anyway, I will use this to try and post more regularly. Maybe I will cheat and copy over the blogs to my Yahoo account periodically. ;)

Regards,

Kevin