How I backup my computer

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View my backup diagram on Scribd

I can’t value backups enough. They’re the protection that just sits in the background, and like insurance, you essentially forget about it until that tragic point when you need it. I know many people that have been burned by their lack of backed-up content and I never want to go through that (knock on wood).

My biggest fear is the loss of my MacBook Air as it’s my only computer. Everything lives on it; both my personal and professional data are stored on it. So, instead of spending a lot of time describing exactly what I’ve come up with over the years, I’ve put together a diagram.

Some highlights:

  • Having two physical drives means I can lose both the computer and one backup drive. The odds of losing the machine are slim, luckily. The odds of losing the machine and two drives is catastrophic and very unlikely.
  • Having a snapshot (using SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner) means if my machine was lost, I could easily plug the bootable device into another machine and be right back up and running in no time. Time Machine, while providing helpful incremental backups (OMG did I really delete that file last week?!) takes a lot of downtime to restore.
  • Using the cloud (internet storage) is easy. I feel fairly safe putting my timeless items (like years and years of photos) up in the cloud as providers like Rackspace and Amazon allow for tons of cheap, easy data storage which they, too, are backing up (though no guarantees usually).

Do you have any suggestions or thoughts on backing up your personal and work data? Is this overkill? Not enough?

Create your own URL shortener, use it with Tweetie 2

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I hate URL shorteners, but that’s not the point

I really hate short URLs; on both the giving and receiving end, either way I feel like I’m handing or being handed a package of confusion and uncertainty. But, unfortunately, they’re useful if you:

  • Are trying to send a link to someone and have limited space (Twitter)
  • Want to provide a URL that is long with lots of unique variables in it (Google Maps)
  • Need a URL you can easily tell people or have them write-down (during a presentation)

The confusion comes in if nobody takes the time to tell you what they’re handing you. Take Twitter for example, people who post a link usually give little context (“this is so cool: link” or “wow, I wish I had this: link”). Screw you guys! At least give me a hint as to what you’re handing me (other than yet another bit.ly or tinyurl link). Luckily, there are some mitigating factors:

  • Custom contextual short URLs: Flickr’s awesome flic.kr domain is a great start. If WordPress turned wp.me into the same for user’s posts, awesome. Even Posterous autolinks with their own post.ly. I know what kind of content is behind this domain.
  • URL expanders: Tweetie for Mac has a expander service built in for known shortener endpoints (click the bit.ly link and a popup tells you what the actual URL is). LongURL can be used to determine where a URL will really take you.
  • Smarter friends: don’t follow people or ask them to stop giving you contextless links (not likely)

So, with all that said, I want to roll my own URL shortener to tell people: trust me, I took the time to create my own service and hand-pick this URL for you to look at. Since I wrote about this, I’ll be sure to go the extra mile and make sure I give context when a shortened URL is necessary.

How to create your own URL shortener using Lessn

Shaun Inman has created a handy script and guide to create your own shortener: Lessn

The installation steps are simple if you know your way around a web server:

  1. Pick a short domain or sub-directory: you need to first figure out what domain you want to use (I chose devinr.com), you have to own it so you may use an existing domain and stick the shortener at a sub-directory (devinr.com/x/)
  2. Install the Lessn package: follow the README, but basically you just drag and drop the files using a FTP client (make sure you include the top-level .htaccess file, which is hidden by default in Finder on Mac OS X), setup the config file, and you’re done.
So now I immediately have my own bookmarklet, shortener endpoint (via API), etc. Now I can take it with me to Tweetie 2 for iPhone.

Setup Tweetie 2 for iPhone to use a custom URL shortener

Loren Brichter has done an great thing for his latest Twitter client (iTunes link): he allows you to have a custom URL shortener endpoint defined for use. In other words, every URL you post can be shortened using whatever service you want (including your own).
  1. Go buy and install the latest Tweetie 2 for iPhone
  2. Browse to the settings page (bottom of the accounts screen)
  3. Select URL shortener > Custom…
  4. Insert your endpoint using your API (so that Lessn returns plaintext to Tweetie): http://example.com/-/?url=%@&api=[Lessn API here]
It’s as simple as that. Now all your URLs in Tweetie can be auto-shortened using your own service. Neat.

Initial observations on Google Android

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I’m a huge fan of Google, it’s no secret. I finally found the opportunity to play with an Android device. I’ve used a first-generation iPhone exclusively since March 2008. I like change so I’ve taken a HTC Dream for a spin (using Cupcake 1.5) for the last two days.

I have a few quick observations that may or may not have been covered elsewhere:

 

  • The hardware is awful: I don’t know why phone developers are so terrible. They have been for years. Apple shook up the scene with a top-of-the-line expensive device and now it’s mainstream. It’s been over a year, why does everything still fall short (design, speed)? Just copy everything and at least pretend like you’re trying.
  • The software is awesome: I’m jumping into the game mid-stride with Android so what I saw out-of-the-box is very impressive (push notifications, background processes, video recording, etc.). But it’s arguably right on-par with Apple at this stage. Things like the notifications bar (I can see I got an email and text message and missed a call) and widgets (I can see the weather or the score of the Rockies game on the home screen) are like a breath of fresh-air coming from the very tunnel-visioned iPhone.
  • Slow slow slow: I don’t know if it’s the device, the software, or some mixture of both but it seems memory and speed are lacking. I’ll sit and wait for 5 seconds at a time just to watch an application pop open. Perhaps the background processes need a way that help the user protect them from themselves (yeah, I should open up 10 things at once, sure).
  • Awkward clicking instead of tapping: as of the writing, no pinch to zoom makes weird zoom levels that require a lot more tapping than a simple pinch would. This is software and hopefully Google will decide it’s worth sticking it in. It’s important to keep in mind, not all Android devices will have touch screens (televisions?) so it’s understandable.
  • The browser is hard for users: zooming, changing windows, opening bookmarks: all things I do often and require at least two-too-many clicks.
  • Application offerings are so-so: I’ve found a lot of great applications (tools, games, widgets) and I’m really impressed with what’s out there. There is a lot to be desired and lots of empty space to fill. Now is probably a good time to become a big player in a growing space.
  • No good media sync off-the-shelf: you have an SD card (awesome, removable storage!) but you lack the ability to sync with something like iTunes. You are forced back to the drag-dropping of files onto a drive. But if you don’t use this as a media device, no worries
  • The applications are as bad as the developer makes them: a huge criticism is the lack of polish on Android phones and in the applications. Sure, Apple hands you everything you need with their SDK, thus, you get a lot of nice UI elements for free. But, you get stuck with a closed system, an application “review” process, and a bunch of hoops. Android says ‘do what you want’. Think Facebook and MySpace: that profile page on MySpace looks only as bad as someone chose to make it.
  • More buttons means more depth: a lot of people look at the iPhone/iPod touch and see two buttons: ‘power’ and ‘home’. Though it may seem cluttered, the additional buttons on most Android devices (‘menu’, ‘back’, ‘home’, scroll ball, etc.) means more application depth. I can quickly scroll around a list with the ball. I can click and hold the ball (or my finger) to bring up more actions. Each screen can respond to a ‘menu’ button which allows you to stick things like “Settings” and “Refresh” somewhere where the user isn’t always faced with it.
  • Virtual keyboard and touch-screen is so-so: the original Android device only offered a keyboard (arguably much nicer to type on, I forgot about mobile keyboards! The tactile response virtual (on screen) keyboard is nice but the overall size seems small and tight. Oh, and the way I use my thumb on Android seems to ‘hit’ right below where I always intend to. Apple must do some calculating to shift those touches upward. (Put your thumb against a flat surface, the curvature means the top usually hits first and is immediately recorded as opposed to the overall footprint of the finger)..
  • Integration with Google Voice is nearly perfect: it’s not seamless, but close enough. I can send text messages from either my cell or my Google Voice number. I can set my calls to do the same. Maybe this way I’ll get everyone ‘switched’ over to my new, preferred number.
  • Additional Google integration: I don’t even know where I would to go change which Google Account is associated with the device. All I know is my calendar, contacts, and GMail are all there. No settings page, no picking ports.

 

As of right now, with a mix between the hardware offerings and software, I’d give the overall experience a 7/10 (iPhone is an 8, Blackberry Pearl is a 5).

It wouldn’t take that much to knock Apple off it’s throne; in fact, it’d be better for everyone. I’m rooting for Android but likely sticking to Apple. We’ll see if the costs outweigh the benefits in the next few days.

 

Originally posted at posterous

Rethinking food and farms: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

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I finished reading an eye-opening book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I feel it's a must-read for every American. Barbara and her family moved to her farm and lived entirely on the local production for a full year.

You may not agree with them, you may not understand them, you may not appreciate them. I put myself in all three buckets before reading this book. But being exposed to the ideas presented is worth everyone's time. I'm a believer.

We've all heard about how farming has changed (moving to big corporations) and how they destroy the environment (gas emissions from farm animals, lack of crop rotation destroying soil). But what is less appreciated is how we can change things by eating and growing food closer to home.

Though awareness is growing, this book has helped make it clear why we should change our habits:

If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That’s not gallons, but barrels. Small changes in buying habits can make big difference

Also gaining awareness is the fact that we rely so much on just a handful of crops. Corn is in nearly every item we buy at the grocery store. From the sugar in soft drinks, to the feed that fattened up our chickens. History has shown this isn't a good way to live:

History has regularly proven it drastically unwise for a population to depend on just a few varieties for the majority of its sustenance. The Irish once depended on a single potato, until the potato famine rewrote history and truncated many family trees. We now depend similarly on a few corn and soybean strains for the majority of calories (both animal and vegetable) eaten by U.S. citizens.

I find it interesting that the more 'affluent' society becomes, the less good food we eat. We shift from water to soft drinks. We go from eating local fruit to munching on kiwi and banana year-round…

Because of this book I'm looking forward to trying new, local, organic fruits and vegetables. I'm excited about a shift in my diet and a new appreciation for food. Again, I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Some useful resources:

Posted via email from Devin Reams

Weird “meow” voicemail left for me

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From the “I can’t make this stuff up” file:

I received a call from what appears to be a shady telemarketing phone number (603-606-4912). I always Google a phone number area code when an unrecognizable number is calling me (“Do I know anyone in Georgia that would call me?”) and then Google the full phone number to see if it’s even worth worrying about.

Anyway, the funniest point was getting the voicemail. Have a listen:

(click through if you’re in an RSS reader)

I figured I’d write about this so when people search the web for “meow voicemail message” they’ll realize they’re not alone. Oh, and because embedding voicemail is the wave of the future.

Use Google Reader as a delicious.com alternative

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Google Reader has only recently added social features (following, liking, people searching) but I’ve found them to be amazingly powerful.

Consuming information

If you use Google Reader, you likely consume a lot of information through it via RSS feeds. Everything from news (BBC, NYTimes), sports, humor (ICHC, xkcd) to photos from your Flickr contacts, Twitter mentions and so on. Reader is one of my most important online web applications.

Consolidated contacts

And to pile on even more Google fanaticism (friends in college thought I worked for Google), all of my friends and family contact information are stored in Google Contacts. The best part about this is that my Gmail, Google Voice, iPhone and Address Book contacts are all pointing to the same place: Google. Some argue that’s a bad idea, but that’s another discussion. Point being: there’s no need for me to try and messily sync lots of contacts across multiple sites.

Google Shared items

Since Google now has public pages to display your ‘Shared’ items (through Google Reader, you can have one spot where you consume and share the cool content you find. In essence, you can help filter the signal from the noise for your contacts and friends.

Once you share an item, other people that ‘follow’ you will be notified of the new item. Awesome, I can read consume new cool things that my friends have filtered.

Replace delicious bookmarks altogether

If you visit your Shared settings page (Your stuff > Shared items > Sharing settings) and scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll notice:

Try the Note in Reader bookmarklet to share non-feed items from around the web.

Drag and drop the ‘Note in Reader’ link to your browser’s bookmarks toolbar and suddenly you can ‘share’ content from all over the web. Friend linked to something cool on Twitter? No problem, just ‘Note in Reader’ and everyone else knows about it. Tags and comment come standard. It’s that easy.

Most underrated iPhone applications

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I love the iPhone (on T-Mobile). It’s been an awesome phone slash iPod slash internet device for me for almost two years now. As I check out some of the other mobile phones out there I realize I may never leave the iPhone because of its applications.

It’s always fascinating to me to see what other people’s home screen looks like (what applications do you use the most? why is that one up there? why do you have two red icons next to each other? etc.) and I’ve found some of my favorite applications just by seeing what other people use.

iPhone home screen

In fact, word of mouth, like many other products, is the best way to find the best applications. Talking to a trusted source with similar interests and behaviors is a great way to find applications that match your lifestyle. Matt Galligan introduced me to Grocery IQ and it’s served as my grocery list ever since.

So, with that said, here are my favorite underrated apps for the iPhone:

Instapaper Pro ($5)

Instapaper is one of the greatest free services on the web. Marco has spent a lot of time building a site where you can flag web pages you want to read later (built in to Tweetie, bookmarklet available, etc.). Instapaper takes the page, saves it, and adds it to your very simple list of unread articles.

The iPhone application is perfect because it syncs with your Instapaper account, downloads the text-only (optional) version of the page, and allows you to read it on your phone. The fonts are customizable, the orientation can be swapped (portrait/landscape) and it even uses the accelerometer for tilt scrolling (look ma, no finger swiping). Even though I don’t need all of the ‘Pro’ functionality, I bought this app just to support an excellent product. Instapaper Pro (download) has changed the way I poop.

Mint (free)

If you use the web-based money management service Mint, then the iPhone app is the natural compliment to the site. The application shows your account balances, recent transactions, and budgets. Everything you need in your pocket to decide “should I really buy a burrito for lunch?” or “should I really be buying a round of shots tonight?”

You may not focus on finances that often but by having the application, you can check your money’s pulse in a few taps and start to understand important things like: where is my money going? Am I on track this month? Mint (download) has helped me cut costs and optimize my spending.

foursquare (free)

Hands down, foursquare is one of the best location based applications available. You simply ‘check-in’ to the various places you visit (socially) and start to gain points and badges based on where you’re at. But that’s not the point, you can see where your friends are this weekend, where they’ve been (“hey, what’s the scene like there? is it worth stopping by?”) and discover some cool places through to-dos and tips left by other players.

The iPhone app has push notifications so you can be alerted when your friends are out and about. Mayorship status (most check-ins at a location in the last 60 days) sometimes gets you a free drink. Foursquare (download) is an amazingly fun, social location game that makes me want to live a more interesting life.

But those are just a few…

What are your favorites? I’m sure there are tons out there that I’ve never even heard of. Leave a comment or start your own post and leave a pingback.

Note: GV Mobile had originally been on this list but has since been pulled from the app store.

Recent graduates: how to find work you love

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My friend Charlie Hoehn just released a free ebook: Recession-Proof Graduate and it encompasses a lot of ideals that I’ve learned over the last few years.

Rethinking the typical “job hunt”

Charlie has done a great job capturing a lot of the secrets to finding meaningful work out of college. They include:

  • Steer clear of the beaten path: don’t send resumes everywhere, don’t do what you think you should do. Go find the people and companies you want to work with. Do this even before you graduate from college.
  • Offer to do a project for free: it’s a scary notion, but doing a side project before working for someone is far better than sending a resume and interviewing with them. This is how you set yourself apart, learn along the way, and do things on your terms.
  • Forget about the money: expecting to earn a big salary out-of-the-gate is a silly way to filter the world around you. Be realistic and realize you don’t get a “trophy just for showing up.”

Is free work a good idea?

I want to expand on Charlie’s point about performing free work. From both the employee and employers perspectives (I’ve been on both sides) free work can be beneficial to everyone:

  1. The individual finds something to do. You pick what you want to do, you learn as you go, make mistakes, have more flexibility, take more risks. This is ideal for the self-starters, self-motivated individuals looking for great opportunities (ie: you create them).
  2. The company can learn about you. From my few experiences, it’s becoming clearer that interviews are mostly wasteful and hardly indicative of how a prospect will perform. But, if you someone offered to do work upfront, I’m at no loss, I can become comfortable with your results, and I can bring you on to do many more excellent projects. Note: this is not solicited spec work.

Useful advice for graduates

Charlie then dives into some great advice on how to create the lifestyle and find the work that you want (not the job that everyone else is aiming for). To paraphrase Tim Ferriss: it’s lonely at the top, aim high because the rest of the world is competing for mediocrity. Sidestep the familiar routes and try some of these different approaches:

  • Find the people and companies you want to work with, not the ones that match your college degree
  • Start to define your desired lifestyle and aim for jobs that are aligned with it
  • Cut your losses and realize everything up to now is a sunk cost, stop basing future decisions on your previously invested time
  • Go learn something and bring some real skills to the table (not ‘Microsoft Office’ and ‘Communication’ skills)

This is exactly what I did

I’ve been on both sides of the fence and Charlie is spot-on with this book. I went through college trying new opportunities, working remotely on fun projects like helping organize a conference, I even met with David Cohen to talk about TechStars. But, I watched what everyone else around me was doing and I left college with a job lined up at a Big 4 accounting firm (the job matched my degree). I wrote about my lessons as soon as I left to go work for Crowd Favorite and haven’t looked back.

I recommend you check out Recession-Proof Graduate and subscribe to Charlie’s blog.

PS: Charlie asked me to contribute to the book so I wrote about building momentum through your online presence. Find me on page 22.