I should mention before I installed any applications I setup my email accounts which did take some time (but I blame this on my server). It wasn’t fun typing in my 16 character cryptic passwords multiple times. I also added my CalDAV account so I could have my calendars on my iPad. All very simple processes, pretty much the same as how it’s done on the iPhone.

One I had my calendar account and email accounts setup I setup my iPad with some of my applications and games. Again, same as how it’s done on the iPhone through iTunes.

After getting some applications installed I checked out the mail application. In portrait mode I found it not very fun to use, however in landscape mode I found it to be much more manageable. I do however miss the combined Inbox which my iPhone has since it’s on iOS 4.0. I still find the Mail application to be easy to navigate and use. I’ve even sent out a few emails. The keyboard on the iPad may take a bit of getting used to for me. I find myself making mistakes often and it does get to be a bit frustrating. Sometimes I find that I can’t hold the iPad and type which also gets a bit on my nerves. I find I have to set the iPad on the desk on on my lap and then type.

My next gripe is that 95% of my applications look terrible on the iPad, because they’re not specifically built for the iPad. I basically removed all the games I had installed, as well as most applications. I do have a couple iPad ready applications like Dropbox and Twitterrific which look beautiful. I think my wish list for applications would be:

1. Facebook
2. TouchTerm
3. Mirai Clock 2
4. Flickr
5. iKana
6. Doodle Jump
7. FML

I would love to see iPad-friendly versions of these apps (preferably without paying too much). I don’t like how some of the apps I have require me to purchase an HD or iPad version for 5x what I already paid. However, if that’s what it’ll be then I guess I’ll just have to buy them.

Overall I am pleased with my iPad. Had I not traded my MacBook, I definitely wouldn’t have purchased the iPad. It’s still too pricey. I do think this will make for a great companion and is a lot easier to bring around then a netbook or laptop.

One could even consider this a to-do list of sorts. The goal may be too cross off items while others areas may just be to make sure I have focus on the item, not to necessarily complete it.

1. Concentrate on Japanese language studies. Ever since I started learning Japanese a couple years ago, I haven’t made much progress at all. In fact I’ve probably forgotten a lot of what I’ve learned. I need to re-focus on learning the Hiragana characters. I think by the end of summer (September 2010) I would like to know how to write the basic set of characters along with some phrases (such as greetings, some basic questions and goodbyes).

Tools to accomplish this: iKana (for OS X and iPhone), Japanese dictionary for iPhone, Rosetta Stone Japanese, Japanese for Busy People (Kana and Romanized versions), An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I. Also watching Japanese movies, TV shows and anime helps (I’m starting to understand some of the basic phrases being used).

2. Continue kicking ass at HostGator. This job is basically my life. I’ve figured out I spend more waking hours at this job then anywhere else. Some people may find that to be sad or silly, but when you love a job as much as I do, you’ll understand. I can finally admit to myself that I really love my job. I don’t wake up and dread having to go into work. I don’t find it to be a pain in the ass. However, as with any job, you have your off days and crappy days, but the awesome days far out-weigh the bad ones! I think by the end of the summer I would like to seriously start looking into what it takes to be a Shift Lead and to get the ball rolling on that.

Tools to accomplish this: Basically just continue working hard on what I have now, ask my supervisor what else I can work on to be a Shift Lead.

3. Locate a new apartment/house so I can get a dog. Since we’re not allowed to have any pets at my current apartment complex I will need to locate a new place to live as soon as possible. I want a dog more then anything. I’ve already put multiple hours into finding a new place to live, however 100% of my apartment requests have been turned down. These apartment complexes which do allow dogs do not allow German Shepherds. It is my goal to either find a nice complex which does allow them or a house. I’d actually almost rather a house especially if it has it’s own back yard.

Tools to accomplish this: There’s multiple websites which I’ve been using to research and locate possibilities.

http://www.har.com , http://www.apartments.com and http://www.apartmentratings.com

Also word of mouth and friends from work and such. I am hoping to have something nailed down by September or so.

4. Complete more video games on my list. Currently my list is actually growing and not shrinking. I do try to put in an hour or so per day or every other day, but it’s not enough. I need to kick more ass. I love video games, but I’ve got games on there from like pre-2000. It doesn’t help that new video games come out all the time ha.

Tools to accomplish this: My video game consoles, some pizzas and some long weekends. Honestly there’s not much I can do right now, but to keep plugging away at the list. I’d like to have say 15-20 more of those crossed off by the end of the summer though.

5. Run a mile in 7 minutes or less. I really need to get back into shape. Not only for myself, but when I get a dog, I want to be able to go running as part of our exercise routine, and a dog like that has a much higher limit then I would. I want to be able to keep up with my dog. I also want to be much more fit and in shape. Sitting around and playing World of Warcraft for 2-3 years definitely didn’t help my cause but now I really have no excuse.

Tools to accomplish this: I have access to a pool and 24/7 access to a gym. Currently I visit the gym every other day. We also have a gym at work. I need to keep up with this, no excuses. Also I have access to the dogs at the Houston SPCA for which I can jog/run with if I wish. I would like to be able to hit 1 mile in 7 minutes or less by the end of August 2010. Pics or it didn’t happen. :)

6. Weigh in at 150lbs or less. This one is basically the same as above. I’ve got a bunch of weight which can certainly be shed. This one is also for my own well-being. I need to be healthier.

Tools to accomplish this: I have access to a pool and 24/7 access to a gym. Currently I visit the gym every other day. We also have a gym at work. I need to keep up with this, no excuses. Also I have access to the dogs at the Houston SPCA for which I can jog/run with if I wish. I would like to be able to hit 150lbs or less by the end of August 2010. Pics or it didn’t happen. :)

7. Get a German Shepherd. This is pretty much one of my biggest focuses over any of the others. I need a buddy to hang out with. Of course before this happens, I do need to find a new place to live. I’ve also decided that I would not be able to get a puppy, at least not right now at this point in my life. I just don’t have the time to be around to let him/her out every hour or couple of hours. I would like to get a German Shepherd which is already house-trained and would be okay with being left alone for 8-9 hours at a time.

Tools to accomplish this: I’ve been researching the heck out of the breed, I’ve been having as much hands-on time with the breed as possible, I’ve been researching new home (for us) and I’ve been looking all over for ones that are up for adoption. I’ve looked into the SPCA and local rescue groups as well. I think the main goal here is really start getting serious about it and by the end of September I’d like to be in a new home and to really have either have gotten a dog or be ready to say yes, and to be able to come home with one. While I might not have one, I want to be 100% ready to get one at a moments notice.

I think that pretty much covers what I want to focus on this summer. I really hope putting this together and being able to look at it whenever need be will help me focus on these items this summer. Of course I want to have fun doing them, but they are things I am serious about doing. Here’s to completing at least half of them! :)

After putting some careful thought in what I would like, I’ve come to the conclusion that I would really like to own and train a dog. Of course not just any dog, but a German Shepherd Dog. I’ve put together a small blog which I plan to use to track my or rather our progress. So far it’s just a couple postings and a video or two, but it’ll definitely pick up when I actually get the dog! Check it out at jimmyhasadog.com!

1. Enjoy life as if it was your last day.
2. Appreciate and be thankful of your friends, family and co-workers.
3. Consider each day you learn something a good day.
4. Continue paying your current bills on time and do not create unnecessary bills.
5. Use any extra money to pay off credit cards or other debts.
6. Go to the gym as often as possible – results will likely be favorable!
7. Live and keep a clean environment.
8. Eat healthy often (or as frequently as possible).
9. Work towards getting the dog you want.
10. Don’t mindlessly sit in front of the computer or surf the web. Use the computer for a purpose.
11. Always, if not most importantly, have fun. Or else what’s the point?!

I would like to try living by these rules as often as possible. I think if I focus on these I can live happily and successfully. You could even consider some of them goals. Does anyone else have little things they try or do live by?

About a week ago, Apple finally released the product into the hands of the public and I’ve seen most if not all positive reviews for the device. I believe the only negative talk about the unit is that some of devices are having issues connecting to WiFi access points. Apple has already submitted a support article on this.

I’ve also been hearing various numbers on the sales of the iPad, and they do seem quite impressive. The same goes with the sales of the iBooks and iPad-specific applications. While I don’t intend to get one within the next 6 months or even 1 year I think I may continue keeping my eye on it, and hopefully my hands soon. I would love to see the second generation iPad be wide-screen and have the ability to run a more fully-featured operating system. At present I feel anything that could be done on the current iPad can also be done on my phone. It seems silly to drop a minimum of $500 on the current iPad.

If the pricing had been a bit better, I would almost say this would be great entry-level Mac product for people new to the world of Apple, but at $500, and without being fully-featured, it seems like going the route of the Mac mini would be a wiser choice. This is definitely not to say one should be using an iPad as a main computing device, but if they had taken the extra steps to put an OS X tablet variant on here, I for one would certainly start considering it. I would much rather carry around this sized device over my MacBook.

The Apple iPad in its current state is not for me. It definitely seems like many people are enjoying it though. I do feel quite let down by this release, but there’s always future revisions which may catch my attention. For now, I’ll stick with my iPhone and MacBook in terms of my portable Apple devices.

For a while now, I’ve been noticing more and more articles which have red strike-through text in them. I thought it was done on the article by the publishers, but then I checked out the actual article itself in a web browser and the red text wasn’t there. So after a quick Google I came across a MacWorld article which states:

Among my favorites of NetNewsWire’s myriad other features is the ability to track changes when articles are updated: If a site republishes a new version of an article, any deletions are displayed in red strikethrough type, while additions are displayed in green type.

At least now I understand what it all means…