RRoD: Another 4 Letter Word

So this weekend my roommates and I had some people over. We’re having a good time and streaming music via my Xbox 360. At some point someone asked “what happened to the music?”. I go instead to check and the xbox is frozen. No music is being played and the xbox is unresponsive to controller commands.

Now, I work in the computer industry so I know that sometimes ish happens and you just have to reboot the offending piece of technology. On rebooting my xbox I get a quaint little error message written in about 13 different languages and I look down and *GASP* I have the infamous Red Ring of Death.

I’m not sure what it is, but I want a Chumby

Passing time in the SeaTac airport on my way down to the Intel Developer Forum, I picked up my favorite rag – WIRED.

I lied. I know what a Chumby us and I’ve toted with the idea of getting one, but this cemented it.

The things are ultra- useful and I have to admit, they give dynamo gymnast Shawn Johnson a run for her well-earned money in the cute department.

Check it – www.chumby.com

Left That Report on Your Vaio at Home? Intel says “No Problemo…”

People around the world who use their beefy home computers to do what their pared-down ThinkPads won’t can rejoice. No longer will PowerPoint presos sit on a laptop at home next to that questionable bit of downloaded material (DRM anyone?).

Computerworld dropped a bit of knowledge about a new(ish since it’s been alive in the server world for a while) Intel Technology dubbed “Remote Wake Technology.”

The technology allows remote users to ping a computer via motherboard-embedded technologies and retrieve files.

I’d sure like to do this rather than sign into our wonky VPN to retrieve files. Believe that.

A Call To Arms: How to Manage Your Digital Life ~ part 1

I don’t consider myself to necessarily be a fanboy or an early-adopter of anything. I also have very little brand loyalty with regards to most things. Very few items in my life (other than beer/alcohol) are purchased on a whim. In fact most purchases, especially electronics, go through a strong research and vetting period which typically involves memorizing reviews and tech specs on cnet, consumer reports, newegg, etc. My iPhone was purchased 6+ months into release and I knew EXACTLY what its shortcomings were. 

VMWare Bringing Clouds to Sunny E. Washington Town?

In a bit of news that hits close to home (literally, I’m from the fertile V of the Wenatchee Valley), Palo Alto-based VMWare has apparently made plans to 125,000 of 189,000 available sq. feet of yet to be constructed datacenter in the Wenatchee Valley.

Is this a play at broadening their steps into cloud-based computing or simply a land grab in an are known for cheap power, land and friendly lawmakers willing to kick a few ducketts back to large companies bringing “business” (and I use that term loosely, since many of them don’t know these datacenters won’t create many jobs in the area beyond the inital construction jobs) to the area.

Other companies said to be shopping for (and taking) space in the Greater Wenatchee area: TMobile, Yahoo, Microsoft. That’s just word around the local watering holes.

Read more about it at TechTarget, via the Wenatchee World.

Are you a geek? Put your mana where your mouth is… Ultimate Geek 2K8

I know, I know… maybe I’m prematurely throwing the G-word around, but seriously minions, who can actually say they were crowned the Ultimate Geek?

Apparently, anyone who enters Intel’s Ultimate Geek contest and walks away with their grand prize and the Ultimate Geek monniker can clearly make a case that they are the master of microprocessors, the Prince of Perl, the Sultan of… OK, that’s enough.

If you’re going to be in SFO for Intel’s Developer Forum in Aug., do yourself a favor and throw your hat in the ring.

Hit the link for more info.

Ultimate Geek

iPhone, you phone, Steve says buy an iPhone

I’m getting back in the swing if things. Almost two weeks without an iPhone or any phone really (with the exception of my bberry from work that should be in the smithsonian) has really been rough. But, I’m the proud new parent of a 16gig white iPhone and the process was definitely smoother than you’d think given all the fanboy bitching that’s been going on.

I have to say, so far things are great.

We’ll see how things turn out.

Welcome to the jungle…

A few years ago I fell in love with blogging. A few years before that I fell in love with all kinds of technolgy. Funny how those things happen…

In 2008 the world is becoming increasinlgy more in tune with the technical as the digital divide gets smaller and smaller. People who can’t boot their computers are walking around with iPhones and kids know what Ubuntu is.

This blog is meant to sit at the crossroads of the absolute technophiles and the everyday Joes with an iPhone and a dream. This is… One Finite Loop.

We’ll be joined by my cohort Jon who actually works on the hardware side of the tech industry so he can offer insights that go beyond my “hey, look something shiny” marketing perspective. We’ll even try to bring in some guest bloggers along the way.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.