December, Slow Tech, Huge Comedy Month

Here we are at the last month of 2008. It has been an interesting year for the tech industry. Google has finally released its first operating system; for mobile phone. Apple is going full speed ahead with the iPhone 3G, and the rest of industry trying to match it up. Microsoft is finally responding to Apple’s “Get A Mac” ads, by admitting that all that Apple has been poking fun at are true. Yahoo! is looking down a barrel of a gun playing Russian Roullette, “Buy me still, buy me not.”

Let’s see what else went on in 2008 so far. Obama successfully utilized the Technology (read: Internet) in the Presidential Campaign. The Stock Market took a nose-dive. Metallica released “Death Magnetic” in September. Axl’s Guns N’ Roses “Chinese Democracy” is actually released. Wall-E is AWESOME! BlackBerry Storm is unlike any other BlackBerries, it is more iPhone-like with a twist. AVCHD camcorders are gaining ground. Apple ditched FireWire on its new Unibody Aluminum MacBook. Futurama goes High-Def with “Bender’s Game” Blu-Ray.

OK, I’ll add whatever above later.

The point is that that December is usually a slow month for Technology. So I’m focusing on some other things such as the Holiday and Comedy.

The three comedians I’m working with will be having some big shows in December.

Jill-Michele Meleán is having her JillyOnline.com show at the Hollywood Improv on December 9th, 2008.

Darren Carter will be performing in Sacaramento, California and Milwaukee, Wisconsin this December. Check his Web-Site or Blog for dates.

Carlos Alazraqui will be storming Cobbs Comedy Club December 12th and 13th. The week before Christmas, Carlos will be doing huge shows at Hollywood Improv. Mark your Calendar, December 19th and 20th, 2008.

Troubleshooting WordPress Instalations

I upgraded WordPress installation to version 2.6.5 shortly after it was released. Thanks to “WordPress Auto Upgrade” plugin, the process couldn’t get any easier.

All was well until I found out that I have lost the “visual editor” somewhere along the upgrade. I found the solutions in WordPress.org forums. I finally got the visual editor working again.

In addition to that I found out another solution to a different problem. I have initially installed a WordPress blog using Yahoo! Web-Hosting control panel. After an upgrade to version 2.5, I still couldn’t log on to the blog isn’t WordPress iPhone App. It turns out that some extra blank lines in one of Yahoo!-provided plugins caused the error. So if you’re using a Yahoo!- installed WordPress blog, you might want to edit out the blank lines at the end of “Customizable Permanent Link” plugin. Check other plugins too if necessary for the blank lines at the end of the file.

iPhone OS 2.2 Gallery

A few screenshots from iPhone OS 2.2 features.

Turning Auto-Correction On/Off

Podcasts Support in iTunes

Updates to Safari

iPhone Safari still fails Acid3 Tests

Gmail database in Safari

Maps Applications with Google Street View

iPhone Software 2.2 is Now Available

Apple releases iPhone Software 2.2 late Thursday night, following iTunes 8.0.2 release. Apple also updated the iPhone User Manual that includes the direction on how to use the Google Street Views.

iphone_street_view_how_to

iPhone 3G Software 2.2
iPhone1,2_2.2_5G77_Restore.ipsw | 246.4MB

iPhone Software 2.2
iPhone1,1_2.2_5G77_Restore.ipsw | 245.7MB

What’s included in OS 2.2

  • Enhancements to Maps
    – Google Street View*
    – Public transit and walking directions
    – Display address of dropped pins
    – Share location via email
  • Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
  • Enhancements to Mail
    – Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
    – Improved formatting of wide HTML email
  • Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
  • Improved stability and performance of Safari
  • Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
  • Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
  • Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

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Security Updates included in iPhone OS 2.2 and iPod OS 2.2
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3318