This is obviously totally unrelated to my usual posts, but I wanted to say something about Apple's newest product.

First of all, I have to say that for me personally the unveiling of the iPad was a huge deal. I love all aspects of Macs: their security, power, design, etc. Furthermore, I have been a fan of the iPod in all of its forms ever since Day 1. Needless to say I was incredibly excited by the prospect of an Apple-made tablet.

As today loomed, I became ever more excited about it, and launched into daydreams about it instead of paying attention in my lectures.

And then came the time of the announcement. I was (as always) in a lecture, but afterward I was able to take a look at this great new thing.

I can't deny that it is a marvelous piece of hardware. The LED screen is beautiful, and the expanded multitouch screen is definitely the next step up from the iPod. And you can't forget the fact that the screen is fingerprint resistant. That is truly special.

The design was, though no longer original, quite attractive. The fact that the multiple orientation concept had been expanded upon, was worthy of applause. And of course the $499 price tag was quite appetizing.

I was ready to buy this thing the moment I could get my hands on it, when I took a closer look at the software and features of this baby.

That's when I saw that this beautiful thing, this incredible piece of hardware... was actually just what it looked like: a gigantic iPod. The retooled software that Apple execs laud in their video is... well... Safari, iPhoto, a calendar, email, and uhhhhhh... the capability to use apps from the App Store? Can't I do that on my iPod? Well, the big guys certainly think that you can't. Look at how nice the internet looks on the big screen. Touch it! Look how we organized your photos in a pretty manner. Touch them! You can flip through the calendar. Touch it! Touch it! Sorry guys, I love touchscreens, but does the fact that you can touch it make email any more groundbreaking? And who even uses iPhoto aside from their main computer? Most importantly, does a larger internet browser justify releasing an enormous iPod touch at 2+ times the price?

I was expecting the capability to hook this up to a computer and use it as a tablet. You know, the thing I thought this would be? But when you get past the beautiful outer appearance of the iPad, it is a piece of hardware that is sorely lacking in functionality. It does nothing the iPod Touch can't do, when you really take a hard look past the Apple guys' excited, puppy dog faces. Sure things look better, but they really aren't that much different. At least you can carry the iPod around in your pocket. I'm sad to say that the iPad truly disappointing creation.

Day 29

Well its been another long break, but this time I have a good excuse. My computer was fried this week, and I had no ability to type anything on it. And now that I have fixed it, I still don't have a decent word processor reinstalled, so it may be a couple more days before I get anything new up. Many apologies!

Day 21

Some math has helped me in discovering today's number. Also, incredibly enough, I'm writing this BEFORE three in the morning. Anyway, I'm going to hit you with part deux of the introduction now. It's a bit longer than the previous stories that I linked, and includes the return of a lovely character from the past.

Also, I think that when I combine all the parts of the intro I'm going to drop the little introductory part in the first portion, because there's a bit of a time gap here, which breaks the whole "I remembered everything perfectly" type of flow in my opinion.

And of course this still needs major editing, but for now I'm just happy to be moving on and getting stuff done. See? I promised it wouldn't be another week, and I even threw in a couple hundred extra words this time!

Anyway, here's the link: http://storywrite.com/story/386534

Oooooh and I've also gone back and converted all my URLs into actual links! Huzzah, no more copypasta for archive browsers!

Day Something

Well! It's been a week now since I last posted, which is completely unacceptable. It will never happen again. That's my promise to you, my reader(s?). Anyway, as painful as it is to say, the actual intro is still not completed, so here's another short backstory piece, which ties in with the Engle story.

In fact, it also ties in with the next part of the intro, which makes me think that perhaps I'll edit these pieces and incorporate them into the intro.

And now, good news and bad news. The good news is that I finally figured out how to actually link things in the blog so here ya go! http://storywrite.com/story/384972
The bad news is that this is probably the worst segment I've written so far. I'm really unhappy with it and am planning on editing it a TON if I decide to put it in the book.

Day 10

Today I found out that I had an excessive amount of commas in my latest segment. However, that's ok, because I personally like commas and enjoy their company very much.

Anyway, writing-wise, I have continued work on the introduction. I'm struggling a bit in deciding some minute details in relation to plot continuity and how wild I want to get with tech advances, but other than that things seem to be going swimmingly. Really starting to flesh out Mr. Wells. However, I will still refrain from posting that part up. If you're looking for something to read, take a look at some fresh minor edits of the previous part at http://storywrite.com/story/381384 and give me some more constructive feedback.

Things are going slow at the moment, but don't worry. I'll pick up speed as I go, and I'll have more to put here as well.

Day 10

Well I already had a Day 9, but it should have been Day 8, so here's Day 9, the rerun. I think I'm going to use the fact that it is the same day as before to not post a story piece (it's actually because I don't have the next part written up yet).

EDIT: I think my math is off because now that I look at this again, it really wasn't day 9 but was actually the same day as the next post. Oh the confusion.

Day 9

So the first part of the segment introducing my novel's main character is complete. There will probably be two more. This one still doesn't really do much to build him up, but is more for establishing the fact that, hey! it's the future here!

Anyway the story is up right here: http://storywrite.com/story/381384

Enjoy and good night!

Day 8

Did I promise you another story today? Did I? Well I lied! After all I'm writing about criminals, and should really get into the mindset.

I have, however, encountered an interesting dilemma. That is the question of how close I want to be to the character. My previous two stories have been in the third person, but I have been writing this one in the first, so I'm now wondering what I should go with, or if I could do some sort of combination of both. A combination would entail something like chapters from the main's POV in the first person, interspersed with segments about other characters which would be in the third person.

Well, it's something to think about anyway. Good Night!

EDIT: I had thought I'd posted this, but it turns out I'd just hit Save Now, but, since I promised a post per day, I'll still put this up.

Day 7

It's been a week! 51 more to go! Yet today was a day of procrastination. And now that I'm tired, I can't even be bothered to write something up right now.

However, expect something main character or introduction related tomorrow!

Day 6

I am tired, so all that I'll say today is, read this: http://storywrite.com/story/379794

OK I'll add a bit more. That's a bit of back/sidestory on the setting. Namely, the privatization of planetary colonization. Not really directly related to the novel, but Engle may make an appearance or two.

Day 5

Well, Day 5 has come and gone and here I am, posting at a ridiculous time again. Good stuff.

Anyway, today during the New Year's Eve dinner, I had a thought as to the introduction to the book. I'm thinking it can start with a big celebratory dinner in honor of something or other. Maybe somebody pulls out a guitar, because you know how it is. Anyway, it might be a good way to introduce the characters and set up a nice mellow tone.

Which would then be smashed by the craziness of the following chapters. Or so I hope. I guess it's a thing to think about. Check out the last post for a link to a short story pertaining to the novel. It ain't too bad.

Yeah I'm talking to you, invisible person who I'm pretending is reading all this.

EDIT: Also, my flash fic idea has really gone to hell, but at least I got something done. I'll make sure to write something up tomorrow... err, today... too.