The Geek
This user hasn't shared any biographical information
Homepage: http://www.geekologyblog.com
Posts by The Geek
Geek iPhone App Review: Headspace
Dec 7th
Name: Headspace
Company: Flat Black Films
Cost: $2.99
Headspace is one of those apps that shows just how cool the iPhone can be. Headspace is a unique iPhone (iPod Touch) app that allows you to do 3-dimensional “mind-mapping” of your ideas. You can create hierarchical lists; group them, link them, move them around, stack them, change their color and transparency. I use this app to bubble article ideas, brainstorm business ideas, layout software interfaces and user interface, or just play with its cool interface. It allows you to get ideas out of your head and on (virtual) paper. Giving you more space in your head ;o). The uses are endless.
Another great feature is the ability to export to a Freemind xml file format and email it to yourself. Freemind is a free (GNU General Public License) mind-mapping desktop application that has similar capabilities as Headspace (not three dimensional).
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
My first few weeks of Entrepreneurship
Dec 1st
It’s been three weeks since I changed my life. For those of you wondering what happens when a former software engineer leaves his job and comes home to start his own business (surrounded by his lovely wife and three charming daughters), here it is: fantastic and frustrating all at the same time.
The Wyf is a writer and works from home, and we just started homeschooling the geeklets. To say we have a full house most of the day is an understatement. The Wyf and I trade off during the day with homeschooling and activities with/for the kids so we can both get some work done The geeklets are pretty good about allowing the ‘off-duty’ parent to work (noise canceling headphones help). However, it does feel that there is not enough time in the day to get everything done that I want. I have come to the conclusion that even if I could work 24hrs every day, I would still not get it all done. Part of the challenge of working from home is that wherever you go, there work is.
The biggest struggle has been setting tasks and deadlines. I have a list of over 100 things that are all important, and probably a list 20-30 business pursuits I would like to tackle… and who am I to boss myself around. It’s hard enough for me to keep track of all these tasks, much less prioritize them. When I was an employee, someone else was in charge of the overall big picture and I just worked away at my smaller picture, my tasks defined by what was due next on the calendar that I didn’t set. As the business owner, my ability to prioritize will define whether or not I can make the mortgage payment in a few months. I am working with 15 years of employee skills, but my entrepreneur skills are improving every day. Now if I can just make enough to live on… :0).
I like to use the goal planning techniques of another fellow entrepreneur and dad, David Cheong . I also get great information from a fellow blogger and dad David Risley.
After three weeks I have to say I can’t imagine going back to a job. Our family loves being together. With both of us working from home now we have a great deal more flexibility. I have been able to spend more time with my beautiful bride and the geeklets–more then I have been able to in a long, long time. Such fantastic conversations and memories already. I am glad I made the decision to do this now and not when the kids were all grown up.
The future looks bright even if the in-between details seem unsure. Providence has been upon us from the beginning of this journey, so I am continuing my leap of faith. Now it’s time to just run.
For more about my journey of starting my own business click here.
The Geek
Solio Deo Gloria (The SDG Group Inc)
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Why is my Roomba beeping?
Nov 22nd
What do the roomba beeps mean?
I have recently had two instances of beeps from my iRobot Roomba (400 series) that I had not recognized before. It was the “uh-oh” and 3 beeps and then a couple of days later the “uh-oh” and 10 beeps (it takes a long time to beep that much). So I looked up all of the codes on the iRobot website for easy reference in the future. There are even video clips from iRobot so you can hear what the ‘beep’ messages sound like. If your error beep requires a new part your can click here to check for deals: iRobot Web Specials or click here for more information on the Roomba and iRobot products.
Roomba Discovery and 400 Series Beeps
| Roomba Says | What It Means | What You Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Plays 4-note song as Power button blinks RED Play sound | The battery is low and needs recharging | • Connect the robot to the charger or Home Base® and recharge the battery. |
| “Ehh” Play sound | The Cliff Sensors are dirty or malfunctioning | • Pick up your robot and turn it over.* |
| "Uh-oh" | A wheel is stuck or is not touching the ground | • Lift the robot and place it down again. • Press the Clean button to restart the cycle. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 1 beep
| The robot's main brushes are stalled | • Pick up your robot, turn it over* and remove the wire guard. • Look for something blocking the brushes; you may need to remove and reinstall the brushes to remove the obstruction. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 2 beeps | The robot's Side Brush is stalled | • Pick up your robot and turn it over* • Check to see if something is wrapped around the Side Brush. • Remove the Side Brush with a screw driver and check for string or hair wrapped under it. • Replace the Side Brush, place Roomba in the center of the room and press Clean to resume cleaning. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 3 beeps
| The robot's vacuum is stalled | • Remove and empty the Dirt Bin. • Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the grill at the back of the Dirt Bin. • Spin the Vacuum Impeller around, shaking out any debris that may be stuck. • Replace the grill and the Dirt Bin. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 4 beeps | The robot's Drive Wheels are stalled | • Your robot may be stuck, or something may be caught in a wheel. If this continues to happen every time you clean, you may need a software upgrade. Contact iRobot Customer Support. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 5 beeps | The robot's Cliff Sensors are obstructed | • Pick up your robot and turn it over.* • Check for any debris that might be caught underneath the front bumper, around the Cliff Sensors. • Wipe the Sensors with a lint-free cloth or use compressed air to clean them out. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 6 beeps
| The robot's Wheel Drop Sensors are overloaded (robot is stuck in a bumpy area) | • Pick up your robot, place it in the center of the room, then power it off and then on again. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 9 beeps
| The robot's Wheel Drop Sensors have failed at startup | • This failure requires you to contact iRobot Customer Support. Click here to send us an email. |
| “Uh-oh” plus 10 beeps
| The robot's bumper is not registering obstacles | • If the robot travels for a long distance without bumping into anything (which would be unusual), it might think it’s stuck and can’t move; press Clean again and it should resume cleaning. |
Note: iRobot and its figure, Roomba, Scooba and PackBot are all regisered trademarks of the iRobot corporation
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Toddler iPhone App Review: Sir Roly Poly
Nov 17th
Geek Review:
Another fantastic iPhone (or iPod Touch) app from Wee Little Gamer. This app incorporates a simple to use interface, a great game and one of kids’ favorite things–roly polies. I also love it when apps include ways for grown-ups to enjoy the game, in this case having multiple levels. “Easy”, “Medium”, “Hard” for adults, “For Kids” for age 4 and under. It’s a great game to build problem solving skills.
Object:
Solve the puzzle to get Sir Roly Poly through the maze. It starts off easy and gets trickier as you go though. At age 3.25 Lady Bug loves the ‘For Kids’ level and with a little bit of instruction she was off and running moving the blocks and getting her roly poly to the star.
More Info:
Click here for summary of other Geek iPhone (iPod Touch) Toddler app reviews
Click the icon to go to iTunes for more info on Sir Roly Poly:
Company: Wee Little Gamer
Level: Between intermediate and advanced
Cost: .99
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Did NASA ask anybody?
Nov 16th
So did NASA ask you (or anybody else out there) if it was ok to crash something into the moon? Doesn’t that seem like a bad idea? To crash something on purpose… not just once, but twice? What if they had broken the moon? Split it in half? Then what? Can’t put it back together. What if they had changed its orbit and sent it off into space and we were moonless? Then there would be no more surfing (not that I surf).
And while we are on the subject… Did they ever ask anyone if it was ok to create the 2nd brightest object in the night sky by adding all of those solar panels to the International Space Station (ISS)? Did they ever think how it might impact the sociology of the earth by knocking Venus to #3? Maybe I don’t want some marvel of modern science brighter than everything else floating over my house. Ever think of that Mr. Griffin or Mr. Bolden? (ok maybe I think its cool)
Well NASA lucked out this time. The moon didn’t crack or have it’s orbit changed, or float away (not yet anyway-could be awhile before we know for sure). And I guess they found water or something useful like that.
You can check it out on the LCROSS NASA mission on their website or on Fox News
Or get the cool NASA iPhone app here (free).
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
