VelociPeek

Song Of The Day: Keep Hope Alive - Artist: The Crystal Method

One hobby I enjoy is running. I even went as far as running the Marine Corps Marathon in 2002 with a time just under 5 hours–not a “blow-out” time but I was happy with it (see mugshot for running man “portrait”). :) During my runs there are typically two essentials: my iPod nano and a pair of Mizuno WaveRider running shoes. After this past week, and a few trial runs, I have a couple of new essentials: a pair of Nike+ (plus) shoes and a Nike + iPod Sport Kit.

I have to say I was a bit leery over the new Nike+ shoes. I have never preferred them for long-distance running. During my ‘02 marathon I used a great pair of Asics shoes and, as mentioned, I like my current Mizuno’s. My wife, who has three marathons under her belt in the past few years, swears by Saucony. However, after both of us tried on a pair of Nike+ shoes and after being lured by the iPod nano Sport Kit, we both decided to give the setup a try. As a note, I bought the Nike Zoom Plus shoes and my wife bought the Nike Shox Navina+ shoes. The Air Zoom Moire+ shoes are in all the current advertisements.

The Sport Kit uses a small device that fits within the sole of any Nike+ shoe. Furthermore, there is a “receiver” that connects to the bottom of the iPod nano (i.e., about the size of a stamp). Although most will be ready to go within a couple of minutes, my nano required the 1.2 version of the software from the iPod Software Updater. Afterwards, I was calibrating my iPod nano receiver with my shoes and was ready to go. I’ve clocked 15 miles in the past three days and the device does a great job of tracking speed, pace, distance, calories, and total time during the use of treadmills and during outdoor runs. Moreover, it allows one to integrate songs within the workout. For example, one may designate a “power song” that can be played during times when an extra boost may be needed. Also, there is a voice, male or female, that provides “feedback” for distance updates, etc. For example, during one run the female voice announced mile marks and proclaimed at the end, “Congratulations. You’ve completed your goal of 5 miles.” Also, there are voice recordings of Paula Radcliffe and Lance Armstrong (i.e., they were both a part of the marketing) that congratulate you for beating your personal bests for the mile, distance, etc. They introduce themselves after the workout has ended; the summary concludes with: “This is [so and so]. Congratulations. You’ve…”

Upon synching with iTunes the device updates workout information on the Nike site: nikeplus.com. Although the site is still in progress, it allows exercisers to compare results with others and to create challenges and goals.

I don’t have any major complaints, but I did notice that the calculated run-distance was different between the iPod and the treadmill by about a 10th of a mile. The iPod indicated that the distance had been accomplished sooner. This may be good or bad depending upon how one is feeling at the time :). Also, I hope in the future there are more options for the “voice feedback.” I didn’t mind the milestone announcements, but at the end of a distance the “400 meters left, 300 meters left” can get in the way of a good sprint and a rockin’ song. The only other option for now is to disable the voice feedback to avoid this. Perhaps in the future there will be even more features incorporating other feedback (e.g., water or “energy goo” recommendations, etc.). Concerning the long-term life expectancy, there isn’t a rechargeable battery for the shoe broadcaster, which could cause problems later. For now, I guess one could hit the sleep button on the device in an attempt to conserve battery life. Lastly, I wasn’t ecstatic about having to buy a new iPod arm-band (approximately $30) because the nano and new receiver would not fit in the one I had, not earth shattering but the cost does start to add up.

I’m not sure if I’ll continue to use the Nike shoes during all runs yet, but the new combo definitely adds a nice, new dimension to the workout routine. If you have an iPod nano and are in the market for a new pair of exercise shoes, then you may want to consider them. BTW the shoes aren’t necessarily required, but it makes carrying the device convenient. For another review check out CNET: CNET Review. If you do and you want a virtual running partner give me a holler. Also, if you’re running the Marine Corps Marathon this year let me know. I’m currently registered. Maybe we can start the “it’s a marathon not a sprint” campaign. :)

Tags: Eric O’Laughlen, Marathon, Nike + Sport Kit

Song Of The Day: A Girl Like You - Artist: Smithereens

I’ve read a few articles lately about applications coming, or trying to come, to market that allow folks to share and synch between multiple points of interest (aka desktops, laptops, devices). The most notable one today is sharpcast.com, reviewed today by Walt Mossberg in the WSJ. However, there are other initiatives and technologies: Microsoft and FolderShare, Yahoo! and VerdiSoft (i.e., now Yahoo!’s Go), Apple and .mac (SDK too, not just the service).

This is quite an interesting space for technology and business. Technology-wise, connecting heterogeneous systems can be quite a challenge. Of course one can use open standards and protocols; however, weaving one’s sharing/synching app seamlessly into other—more utilized—applications can be tricky. Folks are starting to crack the nut on this problem, but I expect more in the future. Business-wise, where does the money-trail lead? The real meat may be in sharing and selling of “licensed” assets, or in certain premium services. I have a few ideas, but we’ll see where it goes….

Tags: Eric O’Laughlen, Sharing, Social

Song Of The Day: She Blinded Me With Science - Artist: Thomas Dolby

A while back I was editing this blog and discovered how annoying it was to update it with things like a “song, photo, video, or quote” of the day! I’ve been meaning to fix that with some nifty AJAX/XML wizardry on a personal level, but this type of problem is kind-of at the heart of the evolving Web at a macro level. The desire and drive for folks to “feel” connected and to be “expressive” has fueled a lot of the Web’s transformation of late. People want to connect and express daily, thus my moniker of “du jour programming.” Perhaps the phrase should be “du peuple” for “of the people” programming, but that doesn’t roll as well for me :). Regardless, those entities that are solving the most complicated issues prohibiting or inhibiting customer expressiveness and connectedness are moving forward at an accelerated pace.

As examples, if you’re reading this blog, then you likely already know about how Myspace.com is now the #1 visited website (hit-wise). Furthermore, Business 2.0 named “you” as the #1 person who mattered on the future of business (and the Web) out of names like “Brin, Page, and Jobs.” The more services that do “du jour” for “you,” I have a feeling, those will be the ones that survive.

Tags: Eric O’Laughlen, DuJour Programming

Song Of The Day: Pushin’ On (Instrumental) - Artist: Dent





Although I took a brief hiatus from blogging, I have been busy on a couple of other initiatives.

For one I’m in a new group at AOL focused on strategic technologies and operations. Since I’ve only been a part, officially, for a couple of weeks, there isn’t much more I can add about the move at this point :).

Two, I’ve been helping folks on streaming initiatives. Cannot say much more about that either, sorry.

Third, on a more unambiguous note, AOL has allowed me to jumpstart an open source, network monitoring initiative, which I’ve called dent. I picked the name “dent” because those involved with network analysis and remediation usually want to make a “dent” in those problems quickly and easily. Both of which aren’t typically the case. Furthermore, I thought the name contained a clever dual meaning along the lines of the character Arthur Dent in the Douglas Adams’ books. When analyzing and optimizing, don’t panic!

The plan is to develop a network modeling and analysis tool based upon browser technologies and the packet capture library (pcap) with three major components: a browser extension, a local daemon and shell, and a relational database for data aggregation, modeling, and analysis. My vision is for folks, engineering types, to be able to fire up a browser with an extension, select a performance model, start a trace, and, afterwards, see graphed analysis and recommendations rendered within the browser. Moreover, with automation and grid capabilities tests could be more algorithmic in nature. The current prototype incorporates Mozilla/Firefox, SpiderMonkey, NSPR, NSS, sqlite, and pcap, to name a few technologies.

Concerning the background behind dent, I’m just interested in building an easy-to-use application that I always wanted but never could quite find in other tools entirely. Also, I want to complement centralized “QA or performance group or department” trouble-shooting and analysis with decentralized aids and utilities for individual developers. In some ways web application performance and optimization tools lag quite-a-bit behind other engineering debugging tools and methods. Could an engineer imagine a world where there was no gdb or gprof and that crash reports had to go to a centralized company or person before getting visibility into problems? Too many times in web application circles implementers do just that–wait on “expert groups or people” for feedback–creating prolonged development cycles.

I do realize that there are good tools out there: livehttpheaders, JavaScript consoles, Web Developer Toolbars, windump, etc (i.e., to name a few). However, I think more effort is needed to bring together the best trouble-shooting mechanisms into easy-to-use applications. Perhaps “dent” can help fill part of that gap.

There is more to implement before dent will be ready for general release, but I am truckin’ away and if something in this blog entry peaks your interest, and you’d like to help, please let me know. Look to my blog or the sourceforge project page for periodic updates.

600) )4j

Tags: Eric O’Laughlen, Network-monitoring

Song of The Day: People of the Sun - Artist: Rage Against The Machine

Okay, okay. I took another prolonged hiatus from blogging. Why? Well, that’s almost like trying to explain why one would switch to listening to metal from listening to classical or instrumental music one day. Mood swings? Bipolar tendencies? Addictive personalities? Synapse overload? Hell, I don’t know, I just decided to take a break! :)

Okay. With that out of the way, back to serious business. My first entry, after a brief hiatus, will be about something that will definitely stir up the technology industry, a real disruptive approach to ponder, a whopper of an epiphany, a battle with a striped burrfish?

That’s right. While in the OBX about a week or so ago (that’s Outer Banks of NC savvy – in my best Jack Sparrow accent), I caught a striped burrfish. I thought it was a puffer fish at first–similar but a little different—until I hit an NC Aquarium the next day. Seems like they make good pets; however, my fish tank is fresh water, too small (55G), and that’s quite a distance to keep a little fish like that alive. So…I let the bugger go shortly after the “great struggle” to bring it ashore.

The other picture, perhaps macabre by some standards, has another story. Although I would like to write that I conquered the estimated 75 lb. fish from the shore, it actualy appeared to be a half eaten–“fairly big”–black drum (I think) that washed ashore close to where I was battling my striped burrfish. A policeman on one of those 4×4 ATVs stopped by and pointed it out. Maybe a shark got a hold of it? Perhaps it was torn somehow…dunno. It was interesting enough that I snapped a picture by a 2 1/2 ft. shovel I had. Perhaps someone will appreciate my efforts!

Tags: Eric O’Laughlen, Burrfish