512 Pixels

Bill Chappell at NPR:

There’s a new DeLorean DMC–12 coming out — or rather, there’s a new version of the same stainless steel wedge of a sportscar that became an icon (and perhaps the lone representative) of ’80s cool. But it won’t run on gas — it’ll be electric.

The prototype has a range of 70–100 miles, but the company plans on re-working the iconic car’s structure to get weight down, according to David Arnouts at Autoweek:

With access to the original underbody molds, DMC is using modern technology to create an underbody that is 50 percent lighter and four times stronger than the original steel component. In fact, DMC claims version two is currently on target to weigh less than a stock DeLorean.

The prototypes are being built to gauge interest in the car. Gasoline-powered DeLoreans¹ can be converted within about a week.

If the company moves forward, electric-powered DMC–12s will run about $90,000 and will be availble in 2013.

You did know the Internet browser started its life on a NeXT box, right?

MG Siegler:

I think that mobile devices offer such a personal form of computing that experience is of the utmost importance. The only way to truly emphasize experience is to be in command of both the hardware and software. They absolutely must be symbiotic in order to create the best device possible.

Further, while “control” often has a negative connotation, it’s important for quality. When you “open” your device and/or software, shit always finds a way in.

Apple is winning with this model right now because they’ve proven that have great taste when it comes to consumer electronics and the relationship of hardware and software.

Via my mom, of all people.

The ability to have reminders sync via iCloud to iCal on the Mac is a welcome addition to iOS 5. However, this system isn’t nearly as good as it could be.

I set out to try to replicate the core functions of OmniFocus I use. They are:

• Tasks arranged into groups
• Due dates and times
• Alerts on my iPhone

Here are some notes on things I’ve come across that I like:

• Sync is very fast
• “Date” view in the iOS app is much like OmniFocus’ forecast mode
• Sharing a Reminders list with other iCloud users

…and some things I don’t:

• Repeating tasks can only be set up from the iOS app. This cannot be done via iCal or the iCloud website.
• Separate due and alert dates can be set from iOS app. iCloud/iCal just see due time.
• Entering info into the iPhone app — and iCal — is tedious
• The notifications are really dumb. There are no badges for overdue items. In Notification Center, the app shows whatever it feels like, it seems.

Reminders seems like a great little app for little tasks. But I don’t think it can replace OmniFocus, even for someone like me, who doesn’t use lots of the app’s features.

To be honest, this is a little disappointing. I like the idea of using fewer apps. Sadly, there’s still too much friction with Apple’s programs for me to be able to move to them.

Shadoe Huard and Ben Brooks have danced around one vital point in their back-and-forth on iMessage:

iMessage brings SMS-like functionality to the iPod touch and the iPad. That’s huge.

Update: It seems I can’t read.

Dave has re-launched his site, and it looks great. The whole thing feels like a cozy sweater.

Thanks for the tip, Josh!

Here’s the Might One, on his Supersite for Windows, [discussing the iPhone 4S](http://www.winsupersite.com/article/ s-wininfo/apple-sells-4-million-iphone-4s-phones-launch-140916):

There’s a long-running joke that Apple’s fans would buy anything the company sold, no matter the quality. But this past weekend, the joke became reality when the Cupertino consumer electronics giant sold 4 million units of a smart phone, the iPhone 4S, which even its most charitable supporters have described as an evolutionary update over its predecessor.

On Friday, my wife and I closed on our first house. It’s a nice place in a great neighborhood here in Memphis. We’re super pumped, and a little scared.¹

As most people do who buy 56-year-old houses, we set to work immediately on our new property. One of the biggest tasks on our list is to re-build a shed in our backyard that is currently in pretty bad shape. We hadn’t spent a lot of time in the shed before closing due to the large amounts of stuff in it.

Oh, and the moldy smell in the air.

Friday afternoon, I set out to help clean out the shed with some construction guys.² We quickly discovered what all that stuff actually was — the makings of an upholstery shop.

The musty room was full of all sorts of equipment. Dozens of rolls of fabric were lined up, side-by-side, sitting on the joists overhead. There were boxes full of yarn and threads of different kinds in nearly-collapsing stacks. Zippers, buttons and velcro were all organized by size. Loads of patterns and books were stacked on a large work station, hand built out of plywood and two-by-fours. The building has loads of power outlets, and its own compressed air delivery system, consisting of pipes overhead.

I don’t know the man’s name who worked in this workshop. I know he had a record player, and several Bible study books on a shelf nailed to the wall. I know he put care in to his work, based on the notebook full of photos, littered with notes and hand-written feedback.

The calendar on the wall hadn’t been turned since October 1985.

Sadly, years of neglect have taken their toll on the building, and just about all of this stuff had to be tossed. Years of someone’s life, someone’s work all gone. The physical things are in a pile in my driveway, but the memories and stories are gone in a far more permanent way.

It makes me wonder how my work — mostly stored as ones and zeros on hard drives — will ever last until I’m gone, let alone after I’m gone.

It’s all sobering as hell.

Joy of Tech has figured our how Siri really works.

Gulp.

This is something to be aware of if you use this great little app.