Photo by Henry Domke (Prisma filter)
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Face ID
From day-one I was happy with the iPhone’s Touch ID. So I was skeptical when Apple eliminated the home button (and Touch ID) and replaced it with Face ID. But works as advertised. It works so well I forget it’s working. And I guess I don’t care that much how it works. From iMore.com:
Face ID uses multiple neural networks that are built into the dual-core A11 bionic neural engine to process the facial recognition data. It takes a mathematical model of your face and checks it against the original scan of your face that you first registered.
The information is stored on the A11 chip on your iPhone X and not sent to Apple’s servers, so your facial identity is kept private.
It uses a Require Attention feature in order to work. That means you have to be looking at your iPhone for it to scan, You can’t be asleep or looking away for it to unlock your iPhone. […] It doesn’t work with photographs. It doesn’t work while you’re asleep. It doesn’t even work with detailed silicon masks that look just like you.
I tried to think of a way to make some sort of screencast to show how well this feature works but… there’s almost nothing to show. When my phone ‘sees’ my face — and only my face — it unlocks.
Screen Time
I’m fascinated by this new iPhone feature. Here are some of my stats for last 7 days:
- 1 hr 14 min per day ‘on’ phone
- Messages – 48 min/day
- Gmail – 39 min/day
- Google – 20 min/day
- Phone – 20 min/day
- YouTube – 19 min/day
- Picked up my phone 268 times (avg 38 per day)
I think I’m probably a very light user. I’ll bet a lot of people would be shocked to see how much time they spend.
Google+ going away
It’s that scene where all the seniors are gathered at the high school hangout, just before everyone heads off to college or the Army or a full-time job at Wal Mart. Everyone promises to keep in touch but knows they won’t. I’ll miss the friends I’ve made on Google+. I got in the car or on a plane to go meet some of you f2f.
But like everyone else, I could see this coming. I’m guessing a lot of folks will swing over to FB and reassemble there. Not an option for me. In fact, this was my last little toe-in-the-social media-water. I’ve been spending time one a Land Rover forum and feel comfortable with the focused/moderated environment. No politics, no ranting… just guys talking about their trucks.
I guess I’m still a little surprised nobody has figured out a way to do a paid social media platform. Sure seems like there would be a lot (okay, enough) people willing to pay, say, twenty bucks a year for an ad-free site. But no such thing exists as far as I know.
New iPhone camera flatters
When I look back at photos of my father, they tend to fall into two categories: solemn and goofy. His smiles often looked more like a grimace. The best photos of him are the the serious poses. Like pop, I’ve tended to mug for the camera for most of my adult life. I’m not one of those people who hate having their photo taken and readily concede that every one of them was “me” at that moment.
At 70, the camera shows me an old man that cannot possibly be me. The imaginary me that looks out of these eyes is a young guy. Who is that geezer in the mirror?! But maybe that will pass and the inner me will get comfortable with the guy walking around in this skin. Barb took this photo (with her iPhone X).
Stickers
I had some folks in China make me some stickers. I wasn’t sure what I’d do with them when I placed the order but I’ve found a couple of spots. I put one on the back of my phone case with the thought that if I misplaced the phone, a finder wouldn’t have anyway of contacting me (assuming they wanted to return the phone). I could have put an email address on the case but I figured I’d just give the website a plug.
I stuck another one on the “Smoker’s Friend” on the sidewalk outside my local coffee shop. Inevitably I’m sitting down wind of the smokers taking those last few desperate tokes before ditching their smoke. Sort of a 21st century Kilroy Was Here.
iPhone portrait mode
Of all the things my iPhone does, taking great pictures is always at the top of the list. I continue to be impressed by the camera’s portrait mode. My friends Taisir Yanis (bottom) and Dennis Kackley (top).
1954 GM Motor Coach
What’s better than being an interesting person? Knowing interesting people. Like my friend George who is all tingly about finding and buying this 1954 GM Motor Coach. He plans to restore it and — if I understand correctly — live in it. I don’t know the full history of the bus but I think the interior had a factory conversion but is no long in good shape. Looks like a big project but George wouldn’t want it any other way. The bus had been sitting (Sedalia, MO?) for a long time but George managed to get it running and drove it back to Jefferson City. To be continued.
Professional wrestling is returning to Kennett
In the hierarchy of professional sports, professional wrestling is just below shooting rats at the town dump. But for some reason it was extremely popular where/when I grew up in the 50’s. Live coverage every Saturday morning by one of the Memphis TV stations. And these guys would take the show on the road, performing before packed houses. (I wrote about this ten years ago) And they’re back!
“Professional wrestling is returning to Kennett. Fall Brawl presented by American Hostile Championship Wrestling is slated to take place at the American Legion Building in Kennett Oct. 6. American Hostile Championship Wrestling owner Mark Manley said wrestlers scheduled to be on the six-fight card include: WWE Hall of Famer Koko B. Ware, Memphis Wrestling icon Superstar Bill Dundee, young up-comer Marko Stunt, the Missouri Bad Boys, Austin Lane, Meklakov, Naughty by Nature Rude and Kennett native J.T. Ice.”
Please note that Bill Dundee is now 74 years old.
UPDATE 10/9/18: Here’s the follow-up story on the “Fall Brawl” with accompanying photos. And just who are these small town fans of professional wrestling?
iPhone XS
Broke down and bought a new iPhone yesterday. My 6SE was two years old and the battery was fading noticebly. I loved the smaller form-factor of the SE and was hoping Apple would keep it around but, alas, the smaller phone is no more. The clincher was the camera on the new models (Barb’s photos from her Yellowstone trip were breathtaking).
Took a couple of photos this morning of Terry Bledsoe, a coffee shop regular. The portrait modes is impressive.