Gravitational Pull: A blog about tech and other stuff.

  • Scary complaints mounting about Amazon Kindle’s DRM (Updated)

    I’m a big fan of Amazon’s electronic reader, the Kindle, but I have to admit that stories about the digital rights management software embedded in Kindle books are starting to make me very nervous. Digital rights management, or DRM, is the euphemism for restrictive software limits that copyright owners frequently require in digitally licensed versions…

  • Apple gives stage to overpriced ebook developer Scrollmotion

    Fans of electronic books got a little bit of exciting news today at Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference. Showing off how the new iPhone OS 3.0 will allow purchasing transactions from within apps, Apple brought out on stage an ebook app developer called Scrollmotion. The company’s co-founder, Josh Koppel, showed off how his Iceberg reader…

  • Interviewing myself and learning about CSS styles

    I’m not sure exactly how or why I got so obsessed with the hyper-cool interviews on the web site Waferbaby but I did. It just seems like the height of hip to offer a few quips about yourself and your online persona followed by a detailed treatise on what gear and software you use. For…

  • Amazon finally expanding and seeding Kindle ebook ecosystem

    Despite my unabashed enthusiasm for Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader, I’ve had my fair share of gripes. I’ve been particularly disappointed by Amazon’s failure to do more and get creative around this new platform. Back in January, I posted a list of Kindle ecosystem shortcomings including poor file management and inflexible pricing. I wasn’t alone. Joe…

  • Too many black boxes, too many power cords

    Heading off for the holiday weekend, I grabbed a bunch of gadgets and junk to stuff in my bag. Amazon Kindle reader – check. Multiple iPods and headphones for the kids – check. Blackberry – check. New Verizon Mifi to test in the boonies – check. Macbook Pro – check. Canon camera – check. They…

  • Verizon Mifi connects laptops, iPods, whatever to broadband

    After a couple of days wait, my new mobile hotspot, the Verizon Mifi 2200 made by Novatel, arrived today. Out of the box, the battery needed a charge but once the Mifi had sat plugged into the wall for a bit, it was ready to go. Simple as plugging into my Mac via the included…

  • Oh Verizon Mifi, why can you not delight like Apple?

    Ok, say you’re a big technology company and you have a hot new product. You put out a press release enumerating the many amazing features and announcing a release date several weeks hence. Even better, one of the most-read tech columnists on the planet, the New York Times‘ David Pogue, raves about your new product…

  • I’m Doomed, or the latest, greatest Fran’s Chocolates

    Remember back in December when I discovered those addictably delicious Fran’s Salted Caramels and promptly ate about a zillion dollars worth? Well, Fran is back. Among recent birthday presents, my fabulous wife found that Fran’s has extended their line to some kind of super-powered, dark chocolate-covered Snickers bar redux called the Almond Gold Bar. Let’s…

  • Changing themes at Buckingham Palace

    Well, I was getting a little tired of my WordPress theme, Mandigo. Not that it wasn’t great but I find myself in the mood for something different after just about two years of no change. I’ve opted for a much simpler, cleaner, and less busy look using a theme called SubtleFlux by an unknown author…

  • Civ IV: Beyond the Sword Arriving for Macs?

    (UPDATE2: July 31: Or YES, finally yes! Aspyr has released the Mac version of Beyond the Sword. See my blog post here.) (UPDATE May 17: Or not — As a commenter points out below, Aspyr has taken down the promo page and replaced it with the depressing text: Requested product does not exist. Alas…) Its…

Got any book recommendations?

Get In Touch