But there’s a dark side to this control. There’s a maniacally self-centered quality that requires me to take a second look. I mean, don’t get me wrong – I think Apple may have hit a home run for many, but just not for me. Remember Apple is a publicly traded entity and in being so, must protect their profitability Malcolm X style (by any means necessary). As much as we’d like to think of Apple as our all seeing, all knowing friend, sign of decency in an indecent world; unless you’re a shareholder/stakeholder we may be a little mistaken.

I think their massive jubilation over this product is because they’ve finally achieved a way to retain massive amounts of control over the entire creation, supply, and delivery of everything related to the iPad, its usefulness, and its media. The iPhone is another story. The mobile phone market isn’t one that I would tout for it’s democracy or openness so, for them to make me operate under a set of preconditions to use a mobile phone is nothing new to me. But, a computer like device I don’t feel should be held to the same reigns a mobile phone should be.

My concern relates to the iPad’s openness or, the lack thereof. Sure it’s got the ability to surf the web using THEIR blazingly fast Safari web browser and proprietary A4 chip. I understand I can buy movies using THEIR iTunes store, apps using THEIR appstore, and ebooks using THEIR ibookstore. Of course, the UI is gorgeous in every way. Sure the fit and finish of the product is what we’ve come to expect from the good wizards at Cupertino, but where do I fit into THEIR equation? Doesn’t sound like A?+A?= Me?

What if I want to use software that doesn’t want to get approved by the fabled gate-keeping elves that preside over the appstore. What if I wanted to manage multiple tasks and background processes while I say, listen to music as I compose an email? Or, lets just say I, heaven forbid, don’t want to buy a show from iTunes, but rather watch free content via Netflix streaming or Hulu. You mean to tell me I can’t do any of these things?

Those are real concerns I have about the iPad and don’t know if it’s positives will out weigh those definite pitfalls.

What do others think?

Taken while setting up for a shoot with the Mental Health Association of Franklin County.

Short North, Columbus, OH

Canon today announced an update to their line-up of tilt-shift lenses, giving more control to the existing 24mm f/3.5 TS lens, and more impressively introducing a 17mm f/4L, by far the widest tilt-shift lens made for the 35mm system. Tilt-shift lenses allow you to play with the focal plane in much the same way that you can do with most large format view cameras. Check out the Canon flickr group for some examples. The standard use for this is to create deep depth-of-field even wide open and to adjust for perspective distortion, getting all of your vertical lines straight. This is a big deal for architectural shooters and editorial shooters who know that photo editors and art buyers go crazy over that ‘view camera look.’

But the real uptick in recent tilt-shift users have been photographers ‘using it wrong’ — creating interesting fields of blur that are unrelated to a subject’s distance from the camera. It’s a big trend in artsy wedding photography, for instance, and although I’ve never gotten into it…..

(Via Amazon.)

You’ve got to love Google and their maaaad embrace of the iPhone platform. They’ve contributed a ton to the growth of the platform.

Crunch Network: CrunchBase the free database of technology companies, people, and investors

(Via Techcrunch.)

Bill Gates Releases Bugs At TED Conference: A Necessary Feature When Free Markets Don’t Deliver : TreeHugger: “”

(Via TreeHugger.)

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TED

ps- I solved a rubric cube fir the first time ever! Okay, so my iPhone solved it for me but still, kinda cool right?

pss- my sister made some super tasty rye bread this weekend. Here’s an image of a loaf. I would have taken an after shot, but it went so quick it was almost impossible.

Ever forward friends

 Jack Footes came out

 I’d never been before. Nick and I almost beat Time Crsis 4

 Solved

 Problem

This will break you!!!

A little over a week ago, Kyle Gabler, one half of the team responsible for the ridiculously fun Wiiware puzzler entitled World of Goo did all Goo fans a HUGE favor and released the World of Goo soundtrack to the public. Oh yeah, he did us an even bigger solid and released it all for free. That’s F-R-E-E, free!

I couldn’t have been happier as I found the musical score to provide the perfect backdrop to World of Goo’s moody and murky story line. The music was just as integral a component to the game as was the building of goo ball walls, bridges and towers. At least all that wrecking my brain in my feeble attempts to move throughout each level in hopes of guiding my precious goo balls to safety was done while listening to the euphonious sounds of Kyle’s cantilena.

I even loved the music so much I took it upon myself to compile some of my favorite Gooey songs into iPhone formatted ringtones. Don’t blame me if you’re missing calls because you simply don’t want to make the melodious music cease. Listen, share, enjoy!

Thank you 2Dboy

Currently playing in iTunes: A Tribute To The Beatminerz by J. Rawls

Technorati Tags:
World of Goo, iPhone ringtones

**Update May 13, 2010**
New link
I’ve rezipped the file for those still wanting the ringtone set. There’s a total of 12 tones in the set so grab, listen, and be merry