I just got an email from Apple that the second coming is March 11, 2011.  It is not THE second coming but in my book it is close enough.  The Ipad 2 will arrive in just 9 days.  I was truly shocked because there was no big to do about it like when the first Ipad,or shall it be rechristened Ipad 1 was announced in January 2010.  Ipad 2 is supposed to be slimmer, lighter and cooler than its predecessor.  What is most appealing to me is that it is going to have Facetime just like the current Iphone and Ipod touch devices do.  Well I have had my Ipad 1 since early May 2010 when it first came out.  I am still cradling it in my arms just like it is my baby. For those Of you not currently on the Ipad bandwagon you should give either Ipad 1 or Ipad 2 a shot you will not regret.  Go to Apple’s website for more information.

Tech books published by O’Reilly Media and Microsoft Press are now available for purchase at Apple’s iBookstore.  O’Reilly has over 600 titles available through the iBookstore.  Some of these titles are Cooking for Geeks by Jeff Potter, Iphone: The Missing Manual by David Progue, Ipad: The Missing Manual by J.D. Biersdorfer and HTML 5: Up and Running by Mark Pilgrim.

Microsoft Press has almost 150 titles available.  These titles include Code Complete, Second Edition by Steve McConnell, Microsoft Office 2010 Inside Out by Ed Bott and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant by William Stanek. 

The O’Reilly Media and Microsoft Press iBook titles can be purchased from the Apple Store. They are compatible with the Iphone, Ipad and the Ipod Touch.  The free iBooks app can be downloaded from Itunes.

The website LinkUp (not to be confused with the social media site LinkedIn) is a job listings search engine.  It has just been announced that they now have Federal Government job listings from agencies like the IRS and the Veteran’s Administration.  The LinkUp url is www.linkup.com.

Today the classic cartoon The Flintstones turns 50.  Google has created the Google Doodle to honor the half century old cartoon.  The Flintstones was the brainchild of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.  The hilarious cartoon features the misadventures of Fred Flintstone, a quarry worker with a hot temper and big heart.  Fred’s sidekick Barney Rubble, a fellow quarry worker who was Fred’s friend and willing accomplice to whatever hair brained scheme Fred was devising. Wilma Flintstone, Fred’s sensible and often exasperated wife.  Betty Rubble, Barney’s wife who is also Wilma’s friend and confidant.  Pebbles Flintstone is the daughter of Fred and Wilma.  Bam Bam Rubble is the ultra strong club carrying adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble.  Dino is the faithful dinosaur of the Flintstones.

The Flintstones is long rumored to be based on the 1950’s sitcom The Honeymooners.  William Hanna admitted that he was influenced by the sitcom when The Flintstones was being created.  However, Joseph Barbera reputedly denies The Honeymooners influence.  His claim was that he did not recall mentioning The Honeymooners when pitching the idea.

In spite of Joseph Barbera’s claim Fred Flintstone resembles Ralph by his physical appearance and his voice.  Wilma Flintstone resembles Ralph Kramden’s wife Alice, with her red hair, intelligence, and smart aleck attitude.  Barney Rubble sounds and behaves like Ralph Kramden’s best friend Ed Norton and Betty Rubble is like Trixie Norton in the way that she is the friend and confidant to Alice.

Actor, comedian, and creator of The Honeymooners Jackie Gleason believed that the cartoon resembled his sitcom.  He believed this so much that he once stated in an interview that actor Alan Reed, the voice of Fred Flintstone used to do Jackie Gleason voiceovers early in his career.  Gleason thought about suing Hanna-Barbera Productions for copying The Honeymooners but he let it go.

The Flintstones is a classic cartoon that was The Simpsons of its day.  I am sure that Fred and Barney are at the Water Buffalo Lodge celebrating their 50^th anniversary.  

Happy Anniversary and Yabba Dabba Do!!!

The Flintstones Complete Seasons 1, 2 and 3 DVDs  are available at amazon.com

When the Ipad was first announced January 27, 2010, I rolled my eyes because I thought I had no use for it.  I was already the owner of a desktop computer, a laptop, a netbook and an Ipod Classic.  Where could a device that no one knew what to do with fit in my tech toy arsenal? Refusing to fall into the hype that Apple so brilliantly generates with each new product, I put the Ipad out of my mind.

April 3, 2010 arrives. It was a Saturday so I am at home watching all of the throngs of ecstatic people standing outside of Apple stores on the national news.  The people were giddy because they had gotten their pre-ordered Ipads.   After watching the news broadcasts, I was minimally intrigued.  However, the cynic in me said it is just an overhyped toy.  Then Newsweek magazine devoted the front cover of its April 5, 2010 issue to the Ipad.  Newsweek has the Ipad on its cover?  Continue reading »

I am experimenting with posting to my blog using an Ipad.

The Academy Awards of Web Design is honoring the best and the brightest of websites. There are a wide array of websites in various categories that you can vote for.
Cast your vote for your favorite website at http://webby.aol.com/. Voting ends tonight at 11:59pm.

Adobe Systems Incorporated has announced the new Iphone app Photoshop.com Mobile™ for the Iphone. The idea behind the new app is to provide consumers with easy image editing on the go. Photoshop.com Mobile™ for the Iphone will allow consumers to edit photos, apply effects and share images instantly directly from the Iphone.

With The Photoshop.com Mobile™ Iphone consumers can crop, rotate, flip, color correct, enhance photo exposure, and convert to black and white. The app also provides the ability for consumers to apply special effects liked Sketch, Soft Focus, Warm Vintage, Vignette and Pop.

The Photoshop.com Mobile™ for the Iphone is available as a free download at http://mobile.photoshop.com/iphone/.

Warner Bros. and YouTube have finally kissed and made up with one another. Warner Bros. will allow their videos back on YouTube by the end of 2009. YouTube, the world’s most popular video portal, had to pull Warner Bros. videos off of its website due to failed negotiations earlier this year. YouTube and Warner Bros. will now share in advertising revenue.

The co-founders of Adobe Systems Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke will be awarded the 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Dr. Warnock and Dr. Geschke are being recognized for their pioneering contributions that spurred the desktop revolution and for changing the way people create and engage with information and entertainment across multiple mediums including print, Web and video. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the nation’s highest honor for technological and scientific achievement. President Obama will present the medals at a White House ceremony on October 7.