AT&T iPhone Unlimited Plan throttling...

Snap.

I finally had to give in. I gave up my iPhone unlimited data plan, which I kept since 2009, for a 3GB plan. As people were saying, the unlimited plan was not unlimited any more. I experienced a throttling in download speed, once I hit the 3GB threshold. It went down to around 150 Kbps level, while the upload speed didn't seem to change. It is not even enough for downloading an email nowadays.

I thought it was their cheap strategy, but I decided it would be better buying additional 10GB for $10 than coping with the throttled downloads for one more week. AT&T seemed to be pleased with my move. The speed immediately went back to normal once I completed changing the plan.

My Maps Editor issue

An iOS app named My Maps Editor by NextBusinessSystem is experiencing an issue that gives a message, "Error Code400: Request Quota Exceeded." It is related to Google Fusion Table. If you still have POI's, etc. loaded in the app, there is a workaround.

1. Create a new map by selecting Google Maps in the app.


2. Copy them from your old Fusion Table map to the new Google Maps map by using the app's copy function.


3. Do above steps for all of your Fusion Table maps.


4. Go to Settings in your iOS device. Go to My Maps and turn off the Fusion Table.

Using this method, I could regain the control of most of my maps. And what is causing the issue can be found here.

This app hasn't been updated since Oct 2012. I hope it will work in iOS 7. I have not found a viable replacement yet.

My Bike!

By the way, my bike is amazing... The 2011 Specialized Epic aluminum frame with 2011 Fox TerraLogic 100mm fork. They together react to terrain so naturally that I feel like it's on a cruise control. And they occasionally bail out my mistakes too. I recently had a chance to ride my old Trek hardtail, because the Epic's middle ring had worn out and had to be replaced. I can't tell exactly what it is, but the differences are surely there between the two bikes. The Epic gives me more smiles while riding. I'm so happy I made the impulse buy last Spring...

Santos, Ross Prairie, FL

Nayl's Trail East & West ... XC riders' dream? It was my dream trail. Super flowy and put it on the top ring and pedal! kind of trail. But occasionally come hairpin turns with roots, pump tracks, bumps... It's just fun clearing all of those. It may not challenge a lot to expert riders. But for me, it's something I can ride all day long and learn from it.

Ern'n'Burn Trail ... It's a twisting pump track feels like endless. Good practice to keep the momentum. I was a little tired after riding Nayl's, and losing a bit of focus. I didn't clear some sections in the way I liked.

http://omba.org/ross-prairie-trailhead.html

Foster's Hammock, FL

Interesting trail. Although it is well marked, you can lose the track. I felt like orienteering rather than mountain biking. It's bumpy but once you know the direction, you should be able to ride fast. It was built just last fall, October, 2011.

http://www.suwanneebike.org/trails.htm

San Felasco Hammock Preserve, FL

It's a trail system similar to Brown County in Indiana, just not as spectacular. But still I rode about 30 mi and had a good workout. Adequitely winding with small to medium up downs. You need to keep pedaling. Occasionally bumpy and full suspension should help.

http://www.sanfelasco.net/trails_bike.shtml
http://www.floridastateparks.org/sanfelascohammock/activities.cfm

The Rock, FL

Good weekday after-work trail. Except for those jump platforms and a drop, it's just an ordinary winding single track. Once you learn the course, you can ride it very fast.

Fort Benning, GA

Another fun trail I want to come back. Well flowing, adequately but not overly hilly, rooty, bumpy, and twisty. Not too technical but gave me occasional challenges and good workout. I only found less than 8 mi but felt longer than that.

MTBR Trail Review — Fort Benning, GR

Test from nexPal

Testing. I just want to see how the picture is shown on the page.

How the paragraph will be presented?

The tire is Conti ExtremeContact DWS. It has a good reputation.

Year's Ending...

I got a day off tomorrow and today was the last day at work before the year end break. The project is very close to its conclusion and I have to admit I proud of myself finally reaching this far. It was such an epoch making year for me. But it's not the goal. I just finally brought myself at the starting line. My battle starts right here, right now, and my quest continues.

Manning, a rookie and ?

Polian: Colts can't look to rookie QB for quick fix in 2012

So let's suppose Colts would take a rookie quarterback. As Polian says Colts MUST keep Peyton. (He said "a veteran" but I don't think he meant Kerry Collins.) And the rookie would be good enough to be the second string. And then, who would be the third slinger? Just two QB's like those good old days? Keep one of two current QB's? Or bring one from elsewhere? I just wonder.

By the way, the current team should use both Painter and Orlovsky in every game. That might disrupt opponent defenders. And their coaches had to prepare for both, so it might distract them as well. The season is lost anyway, the team should entertain us in some unusual way.

“Fashion is what seems beautiful now but looks ugly later; art can be ugly at first but it becomes beautiful later.” – Steve Jobs quoted by Mona Simpson

The sun is setting. But it will be more than five years from now. When the time comes, we will have a long cold winter, because none is even trying to replace it now. By mimicking, you will never shine as bright as the sun giving us a warmth.

2012 Toyota Camry

I had a chance to see a couple of 2012 Toyota Camry's in person the other day at an undisclosed location. And I didn't like them.

The new model looks like a boring car from 90's. The exterior doesn't have any flair any close to those of 2011 Ford Focus, Hyundai Sonata or Elantra, which I consider as the new direction in automotive exterior design, which ironically the retiring Camry started back in 2006. It is destined to flop. I am never a kind who buys any mid-sized sedans, but I would never drive this Camry, even if I were given for free. Only if it came with a life-time supply of free gas, I would think about it. All in all, I can see Toyota will lose its ground in this segment in the US, which apparently is not too good for my friends and myself.

Client-side Web

CNET: The great JavaScript debate: Improve it or kill it?

All in all I enjoyed the article. There's no doubt that the current JavaScript needs to evolve or be replaced. I can't really choose which option now, but maybe more towards a replacement?

I use more jQuery than pure JavaScript nowadays. I love its way of DOM object accessing. And I consider it's more of a new language than an extension. So, I don't care learning a new language for a JavaScript replacement or two. Because most of the JavaScript usage is DOM manipulation, the way jQuery is structured makes a lot of sense. And I even wish there would be a native jQuery engine instead of background JavaScript translation.

Speaking of the article, I have a bit of opinion on the last two paragraph on the third page, though. -- It is not about the "platforms [...] closed, vertically integrated, and proprietary" vs. "the open, standards-based Web." As the author suggested, apps in the former is "purpose-built". Depending on the purpose of each project, the client-side technology should be picked. Write-once-and-run-anywhere is too much to wish for at this moment, considering the current clients vary in their processing power and power consumption. Developers should be flexible and not to be afraid of writing in multiple platforms. Besides, it would be a key for your job security.

Social Sites

CNET: Facebook time is tops abroad, with Singapore No. 1

I still don't like socializing at sites like Facebook. To me, it seems cold and emotionless. It seems to reveal another sides of people, which is good in a sense, because some people may feel a relief from the real-world activities. But that is the biggest reason I don't like to be at those social sites. I just prefer to be the same me anywhere. I don't want to act differently between in the real world and on the Net. I don't want "friends" on the Net who I never see and talk to in the real life. I prefer one-on-one connection rather than friends of friends of friends of... are all friends. And I don't want to see a lot of people doing any of these I don't like.

To some I may look old school. To another I may look anti-social. I don't care. I just want to care more about the closest friends, when it really matters.

Yes, zip line is dangerous, people! (And so are any other sports.)

USA Today: Hawaii zip line deaths raise concerns in unregulated industry

Yeah, that thing can potentially kill you. (I just broke my ankle.) But I don't know how some regulations can safeguard those. Dangerous sports are dangerous. And that's the reason we do them. And it's fun. I've been lucky so far. But I'm guessing my death will be a painful one, or maybe it will happen in an instant. I prefer the latter. I hope the one died in the accident had the latter too. RIP.

Blogger iPhone app

An official Blogger app for iPhone and iPod Touch has arrived. This post is written in the app. While I like the overall design and responsiveness, I do not see myself switching from Blogger+ so soon. That is because the 'plus' has some convenient functions like link maker, paragraph-by-paragraph editing, etc. Nevertheless, it's a very good start and I hope it will get better.

I don't get some of them

10 Things Apple Could Change Now That Steve is Gone [Mac|Life]

I disagree some of those. No budget Mac. I agree there will be some price drop. But the thing is because of tablets and smartphones a lot of people will no longer need "full-fledged" computers like PC and Mac. Those will remain only at work places to create something or for people creates something at home. So, what you will have is either mobile devices only or mobile devices + computers.

And no BluRay and no Flash. This could be just me, but you don't have to watch anything if something only available in those formats. There are way too many things available out there paid or free. If you desperately want to watch BluRay, get a player and a TV. If you want to watch Flash, do it in a PC/Mac. One device shouldn't be able to do too many things.

HP! You Do It Again!

HP kills tablets, confirms PC spin-off plans [Computerworld] -- Ha! I knew you would do that, HP! It is not the first time. You raped and murdered iPAQ. And now webOS. You are like a sexual serial killer. Did you enjoy that? You must have. You were on probation on my list. I was hoping you would redeem yourself. And you miserably failed in the second chance. As I promised, I will never, ever buy your products. And it doesn't hurt at all, because your iPAQ was the only thing I have ever purchased. And I don't need a PC either. Ah! You are dumping PC too!