Hooked on Apple
At work I’ve become the Mac/Server Guy (along with the Type Guy, Web Guy, InDesign Guy, Know-it-All Guy, and a few other titles). As a result I’ve learned a lot about and become more comfortable working with Macs. As usual, this has affected my life at home and I’ve become more of a Mac Addict than before.
Since I got my shiny new, speedy iMac (Rotwang) I’ve been wondering what to do with my old, temperamental G4 (Fritz). Over the weekend I turned it into a media center. It’s hooked up to the stereo in my living room and mostly just runs iTunes. I have easy access to all of my music, can stream broadcasts from radio stations like WMFU (the only station I listen to), and listen to the few podcasts I subscribe to. I also have it hooked up to my TV so I can watch video podcasts, The YouTube, and stuff from those websites that have free movies and TV shows — I wish Netflix was available on Macs. I can do all of that from the comfort of my living room, where I can stretch out on the couch, lounge in the movie theatre seats, or roll around in my wheelchair.
The only downside – not really a downside, I’m just lazy – is I don’t have a wireless keyboard and mouse. If I want to change what I’m listening to or watching, I have to get off my skinny ass and walk (or roll) to it. Fortunately, I found a solution: my iPod Touch and a couple of free applications. The first one is Apple Remote, which lets you control iTunes on any computer on your Wi-Fi network. The second one is Mocha VNC Lite, which lets you view and control your computer as if you were sitting in front of it. It’s a bit clunky to use, but it’s amazing it can do this, and that it’s free.
I acquired my amazing iPod Touch when I bought my iMac – I’m in love with both of them and can’t imagine life without either of them. I was able to get it for more than half the price because of my good looks and winning personality. OK, that isn’t entirely true. Small Dog had a deal with any new iMac purchase. It was an online only deal that I found out about after I purchased my computer. I went to the store to ask anyway and they were nice enough to give me the deal. Perhaps it was because of my good looks and winning personality, but I doubt it since I have neither of those, just a snazzy iPod.
Anyway, It’s basically an iPhone without a phone, camera, and the exorbitant monthly fee. It’s like having a tiny computer that fits in my tiny pocket. I can sit in a café that has free Wi-Fi and browse the internet. I can do the same from my bed, bathroom, or broom closet. I can also watch movies on it, which will be great for traveling – if I’m ever allowed to leave the city of Burlington. And, of course, it plays music.
One thing that kind of creeps me out is when I open the Google Maps application it accurately determines my location within a few hundred feet. I don’t know how it can do that. It doesn’t have GPS. It must have something to do with Wi-Fi, but it even works when I don’t have a signal. Even if it was getting the location from a Wi-Fi router, they don’t have GPS either and… I just don’t know. It’s magic.
1 Comment
dbriz said 58 days ago:
good lord, man
can u use it to drive your wheelchair yet?
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