Christer Edwards, one of our instructors, recently shared his secret for creating and deploying his content.  He uses a wiki.  Now, I’ve heard of wikis, and I’ve played around with some in the past, but I’ve never really gotten into it.  The markup is different, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to take the time to learn it if I found I didn’t like it.  So, I waited.

Then Christer showed me the S5 plugin for his DokuWiki page. For those of you who are not familiar with S5, is it an implementation of presentation software, but is run from the web using XHTML, Javascript, and CSS.  And it looks great.  It’s simple and easy to use to create a quick presentation, and you can display it from anywhere you have Internet access.   That is what got me thinking. 

See, I really want to simplify the way I show my presentations.  I want to have them easy to get to, easy to deploy, and simple to set up.  I don’t want to worry about plugins, software versions, or anything like that.  Just a quick and easy way to get information on the screen.  and S5 makes that possible.  And, as it is essentially a website, you can embed video, audio, just about anything in the page, and it works. 

Does it take the place of just about everything in a presentation?  Not really.  It doesn’t have some of the cool animations, the ability to make presenterless presentations, etc.  But that’s not really that important for classroom slides.  It’s all about the content, the discussion, and getting the information out there. 

So, I gave it a try.  I first installed DokuWiki on my website (a very easy install, I might add), and installed the S5 plugin.  I’m currently transferring the content in my SEO slides to the wiki, and the presentation looks great.  I still need to settle on a template for the slides, but that’s something that can be done at any time, after the presentation has been made.  That’s what I like about this plugin, it breaks things up.

But, you can’t just use a Wiki for slide shows, it would be kind of a waste, right?  The wiki needs to be so much more, providing tools that will help with development.  This is where it gets interesting. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about project management, as course development for new content seems to drag.  I wanted something to help me break the project into pieces.  I’ve been told that Agile Project Management is a great way to work if it’s implemented well, and a very good friend of mine, Joseph Hall of powerwhisk.com told me how he has implemented it with a wiki.  Eager to give it a try, I started looking for plugins for various wikis to find one I like. 

Well, as luck would have it, DokuWiki has a plugin called AV Task Box.  Basically it’s a text box that will add task information like the Title of the task, the priority, the estimated time it would take to complete the task, the amount of progress one has made on the task, to whom the task is assigned, and a description of the task for usage.  The syntax is easy to use, and if you keep all tasks on a main Task page, everyone can see which task is for whom, how far along they are, and when they can expect a task to be completed. 

I love it, and use it already for my course development (as of yesterday).  It helps me gauge the time I need to dedicate to a task, and I can keep myself on task easier with the box sitting there waiting to be updated. 

So, for the past couple of days I have been teaching myself how to use the wiki format.  A couple of other plugins I got were the Note plugin and the ODT plugin.  Note puts in a cool formatted note within the text that does not show in the slides (very handy).  The ODT plugin let me put a button on the bottom of the page to export that page to an Open Document file.

And one more thing..  I want to be able to edit this on the fly.  It is the web, after all.  I should be able to edit it from any web-enabled device, like my iPhone or iPad.  And I can, unlike other Wiki software I’ve looked at in the past.  I can access the Wiki from both my iOS devices and edit pages without a problem. The only thing left is to get the slide show working with gestures on the iPad, and it will be perfect.  I’m currently looking into that now. 

So that’s my experience with Wikis, and why I’ve started using it for just about everything from note taking to project management.  I can definitely see why they were so popular. 

I hadn’t upgraded to iOS 3.2.2, so I used jailbreakme.com to start the jailbreaking process.  It went flawlessly, and within a few minutes I was able to use the Cydia to start installing apps.  That went great, and I can understand why so many people find it so easy to jailbreak their iOS device.

So what worked well?  WinterBoard, which allows for some awesome visual effects.  Particularly I liked the ability to wash out the app icons, so while they were still there, they were not so distracting from the wallpaper.  That was awesome, and I would love to see a feature like that added to the iOS sometime in the future natively. 

Categories worked well too, as the iPad does not yet have the love of iOS 4.0, and lacks this ability.  You can also add more then 12 items to a folder, which is nice.  Of course, for it to actually work in shrinking the apps displayed, you need to reboot the device.  I’m not sure I like that, as it feels yet again like a Windows machine, and not anything like the Mac or Linux computers with which I generally work. 

Now comes the clunky bits: installing apps from Cydia.  Finding them was slightly frustrating, as searches were limited to the name of the app, and not what the app does.  And for all the intents of the developers to have cool and sexy names for their apps, they just don’t readily explain what the app actually does.  So, I had to resort to either scrolling through apps by category (which becomes unwieldy the more apps that get developed), or use the Internet. 

Once I find the app and choose to install it, It takes me to a "terminal" display, where it shows the installation, and then I generally have to restart either SpringBoard, or the device itself.  Man, it was like working on a Windows machine all over again, which is what moving to a Mac was all about. 

Then there was the instability of some of the apps, crucial apps that I wanted to have running but couldn’t, because they crashed my iPad.  I’ve NEVER crashed my iPad before, and yet jailbreaking managed to do it. 

So, are there benefits to jailbreaking an iOS device?  Sure!  Categories and Winterboard were great.  You can also install Google Voice, and a number of other apps that you can’t get in the App Store through Apple.  But is it worth it?  I found the device less reliable once it was jailbroken, and while I’m sure a little more tweaking could have fixed the reliability, I don’t have the time (or rather, I’m unwilling to devote the time to something that should just work). 

So, I reverted my iPad back and upgraded to iOS 3.2.2, losing all the jailbreak changes I made.  For me, at least, I’m OK using the standard Apple release of the iOS.  For those of you who jailbreak, I salute you for your tenacity and devotion to tinkering, but it’s just not for me.  For those of you who are perhaps less technically inclined or have more important things on your plate than trying to tweak a hack, it may not be for you. 

The story was pretty clear in and of itself, and the principles were quickly identified. Guy Mannering, while traveling in Scotland, chances to arrive at a Laird’s house, one of the last of the great and ancient names in Scotland. The Laird just had a son, and Guy Mannering, being then schooled in the "science" of astrology, promptly worked out the son’s fate. He wasn’t happy about it, and as he left, he vowed to give it up. The son was then lost 5 years later, and taken away by smugglers from Holland. The story is about his return, connections to the family, and more importantly to now Colonel Guy Mannering, late of His Majesty’s Royal Army in India.

The story was compelling, and only seemed slow because I wanted to see if my conjectures as to the relationships between characters were correct. It was written much like the old serial method, each chapter being a story in and of itself, though building upon each other.

Sir Walter Scott was instrumental in restoring the Tartan to the Highland clans, their rights and their culture. It was he, though his writing, that restored the valor, pride, and spirit of Scotland to her natives, and such stories as Guy Mannering are a testament to his work.

And as a side note, this book was the cause of a special breed of terrier being called Dainty Dinmonts, after one of the principle characters in the book. It also mentions one Duncan Robb in passing, of which I am very proud.

There was no doubt that I would get an iPhone.  I’ve used an Android phone before, and find the overall experience rather clunky in comparison to the iOS experience.  Perhaps it’s because I started with an iPod Touch, moved to the iPad, and have invested quite a bit in iOS apps.  More likely it’s because there are at last count only three apps (that’s 3, only 3) that cater to Autistic children, while for iOS devices, there are over 250. 

At any rate, I was happy to say I waited until the iPhone 4 was announced, and finally ordered one.  Please note, I did wait until the "Antennagate" issue was addressed by Apple, though it doesn’t matter that much to me (I’m not left handed).  The free case, which is currently ordered, was definitely a bonus. 

So, what are my impressions of the iPhone 4?  Well, it’s just what I would expect having use iOS devices before.  I have never cared for Flash much, as most of my Flash experience has been with ads on news sites, so I don’t miss it at all.  What I do like are the new features, many of which I find very wanting on the iPad.  As such I am looking forward to the iOS 4 update, rumored to be due in November (sooner would be nice, Apple!  Just saying!). 

1.  Folders:  I love folders.  I love being able to combine all my 5 pages of apps to one screen.  It’s fabulous to have that kind of consolidation for my apps.  I was also interested to learn that of all the "games" on my iPhone, my kids games out number my own. 

2.  Multitasking:  I have to admit, this was one of the reasons I was holding back on another 2 year contract with AT&T and the expense of an iPhone over that time.  I wanted to be able to use Skype while not having to have it open all the time.  Ideal for an iPod Touch, it’s great on the iPhone.  That, and I can listen to Pandora while surfing the web.  Bring it to the iPad, and i’ll be one happy mobile computing professional.  ^_^

3.  Augmented Reality Browers:  I just discovered it this week, and I’m already intrigued.  There are several free browers available in the iTunes Store, along with some that come with paid subscriptions or others that charge for the browser.  At any rate, it’s a pretty cool thing, and I’m looking forward to playing with it more. 

4.  720p Video Recording:  This was what sold me.  Not only did I want to consolidate my cell phone with my iPod, but I wanted to add in a decent video recorder.  The video capabilities on this thing is great, and I didn’t even need to purchase the iMovie app.

5.  Retina Display:  I do a lot of reading on the go, mostly on my iPad.  But reading on the iPhone 4 is a new experience entirely.  The clarity of the words is astounding, particularly when in small text.  My eyes don’t tire when I read on the Retina Display, and I hope to see it in future iPad releases as they come (and I’m sure they will). 

Those are my likes, things I have enjoyed about the iPhone 4.  Now let’s talk about the minor disappointments.

1.  Bluetooth Headset Woes For Voyager 510:  Yes, I finally have an iOS device that will allow the Voyager 510 headset I have owned for over 5 years to work.  The problem?  It can only be used for calls, and will not work with the iPod app.  It seems this poor little trooper is just had it’s day, and I’ll need to spring for a stereo bluetooth headset. 

Yep, that’s it.  Everything else I was either expecting, aware of, or surprised that it doesn’t happen at all (i.e., Antennagate). 

So, there is my first impressions.  Some have called me an Apple fanboy.  Honestly, I think I like Apple because they take all the frustration out of compiling on UNIX.  It works when I want it to, and doesn’t feel clunky when I work it.

So, I suppose with the last bastion of browsers moving to HTML 5 and H.264, what would be the future of Flash?  I think it’s pretty obvious, Adobe will probably work in support for H.264, so current Flash developers will be able to use the same skills they have now to publish to the Web for all platforms.  Additionally, they will probably use Flash to develop apps for platforms other than the iPhone/iPad, meaning for WebOS (if HP keeps it), Android, and Windows Phone 7.  So Flash isn’t going away, even in the long term, though it’s use as the only video codec is rapidly becoming highly competitive.  So the politics of technology marches on, and without the help of the Democratic or Republican parties.  Go figure. 

For those of you who do develop for Flash, how are your projects working on mobile platforms?  Let me know, I’d love to get a survey and see where mobile app development is moving for Flash!

And the Chicago Sun-Times reports that President Obama will not have to testify in defense of former Governor Blagojevich.  I’m almost sad about that, because I wanted to see how the Administration and the Judicial would take such a request.  I love constitutional issues like that, it makes for good reading.  There is still a chance for it to come up in court of course, assuming it get’s appealed to the Supreme Court.  Something to look forward to in a couple of years, I suppose.

It’s much smaller than I thought it would be, with the surrounding bezel smaller than I thought I remembered seeing on the device Steve Jobs showed in January.  It is also very hefty, feeling very solid.  I thought I might have needed a hard external case for the iPad, but it the device is solid enough I don’t worry about it now.  The only thing I would be concerned with is scratching the glass, which can be fixed with a good screen cover. 

So what was the purpose for purchasing one?  Well, I had a laptop that was a G4 Powerbook, and it was starting to show it’s age.  The battery didn’t run long enough for me to be able to do anything while going to work.  And mostly I just wanted to write or play games while listening to music.  I could play games and listen to music with my iPod Touch, but I couldn’t for the life of me get any writing done.  The screen was too small to type well, and so many ideas would be lost in the frustration of trying to type it out with my thumbs (I am not a texter, and therefore I have no aptitude for texting).  I wanted something larger that could take the place of my Powerbook and fulfill those needs. 

Well, I did look at a Netbook for a long time, thinking I could use one, but they have one problem:  their clamshell design.  Not that huge of an issue, unless you are sitting in a cramped seat on the bus and want to type,  The clamshell monitor cannot open far enough for me to see what I’m typing, and while I can touch-type pretty well, I would rather not guess at what I am writing.  So that idea was thrown out.  I wanted a tablet like the iPod Touch, but with more space. 

Finally, I got the iPad.  My first impression using the Notes app was that it was amazingly easy to type on, as long as I didn’t used my pinkies.  That’s because the Shift key isn’t quite where it should be for a normal sized keyboard.  But, as I only need it for some punctuation and capitals (which Apple’s spell check often fixes), I don’t worry about it too much.  And if I really need a full-sized keyboard while on a long trip (like on Vacation), I can use a bluetooth keyboard paired with it.  And I like the fact that I don’t need to worry about the hard drive failing, keys being picked off by my son, or any other such nonsense that comes with moving parts.  A capacitive multitouch screen is perfect for traveling.

But the real thing that makes the iPad, or any new device, is the software.  I tried running native iPhone apps on the iPad, but most were very pixelated, looking terrible in general.  So I limited them down to those that looked the best from what I had, and started looking for iPad specific apps. 

ForScore

I sing in a choir, and often I have trouble turning pages on music.  Ever since I first saw the iPad, I thought how great it would be to be able to have it display music for me.  Of course, I would need to have a way to scan in my music and use it, preferably as a PDF.  But it should be much more than a PDF viewer, because I need to be able to make annotations directly on the iPad while I’m practicing.  ForScore does all that, and gives me a metronome that is silent (visual outline that blinks to the time) so I can keep on beat.  All in all, it’s a great app.

Pocket Legends

Some games are pretty basic on the iPhone and iPad.  Some have fantastic graphics and 3D effects.  And still many say that an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game would be too restrictive on the iPad.  Well, as a proof of concept, I present Pocket Legends.  This is everything I have wanted in an MMO, including the option to quest alone (you start your own quest, password protect it, then continue from there).  It’s great because it shows just what the iPad is capable of doing with the right hardware in place.  Honestly, I see the possibility of a true 3D Second Life or WOW client being made for the iPad…  if someone makes the effort, that is.

Cloud Readers

This is a great PDF reader app, and solves a problem I have with iBooks:  it will only read ePub files, and I have some PDF eBooks.  And while I can’t read encrypted PDF’s with the Adobe DRM in this app, I can read all my other PDF’s just fine.  It’s a great little app, and I’m glad to have it. 

eBook Readers

I love to read, when I have the time, and so I tend to collect large libraries of books.  The problem is, I want to have them with me wherever I go, and so far I don’t have the backpack big enough to fulfill this need.  So I have been downloading and purchasing eBooks for many of my reading needs.  I started on my iPod, and it worked great, though I couldn’t see a lot of the book at once.  I really wanted to have more of a view of each book, and so the iPad makes eBook reading nice.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved reading on the iPod, I just like being able to use the full real estate on the iPad for reading as well. 

Of my eBook readers, I think I like iBooks the most for the experience, Kobo for the night reading option (black background with white text seems to be easier to read for me), and I like the Kindle for overall device compatibility (syncing).  Kobo offers that as well in it’s fashion, as will iBooks when iPhone 4.0 comes to market.  I would love to see a Stanza iPad-native app come soon, though, as Stanza was my favorite eBook reader on the iPod Touch. 

So that’s a quick outline of some of the many iPad Apps I’ve found useful in their full real estate glory.  I’m looking forward to seeing quite a few new apps in various areas replace the iPod apps I currently use because they do not have a satisfactory replacement. 

But needless to say, I see tablets like the iPad quickly taking over much of our mobile experience, relegating the Notebook to either replace the Desktop, or breathing new life into the Desktop platform. And I like my iPad.  ^_^

If you have been following my posts for a while, you know that I have a different definition of what a Trainer is, or rather what a trainer should be.  Trainers are those who not only know their subjects, but know how to convey the subject to the student without exceeding their cognitive load.  There are a lot of tricks to doing this that anyone can learn, but the real instructor can recognize and adjust to their student’s cognitive capabilities. 

At the heart here is the cognitive load.  That is, the level a student can reach before they feel overwhelmed.  Some do so quickly, either because they are new to the subject or they have inhibited their learning somehow (no breakfast, poorly hydrated, medicated, distracted, etc.).  A great instructor can adjust the environment, terminology, and teaching methods to appeal to the student’s learning ability. 

So where does the SME fit into this?  A poor SME can be easily identified by how they react to a question to which they do not know the answer:  they lie through their teeth.  They make something up that sounds plausible, and then teach it as though it were fact.

A good SME will do the research, though usually they do it during the training when they should be moving on in the lecture.  This means they keep the students on hold, often bored, while he tries to find the answer.  A bad instructor will do this as well.  Also, it’s well worth noting that a good SME can become a good Instructor, with proper experience or training.

A good Instructor will place the question on hold (often after polling the students present to see if anyone has had a similar experience), and then will do the research after the lecture and while students are going through exercises.  He will then immediately come back when he has the answer to let everyone know what the answer was, and as a bonus point, tell them where the answer was found. 

There are a lot of other clues to telling a good instructor from a good SME, but this one is the one that came up in our discussions.  Does anyone else have a similar experience, or one they would like to share?

First, Apple Training.  I taught the Mac OS X 10.6 Server Essentials course this week, and had two students.  Both were sharp, but one, Aaron Hix, works with Apple.  It was fun to talk with him, learn some things from his experiences, and talk about people we know.  I also got to see him at work (three laptops, an iPad, and an iPhone all running).  It was great fun, and we got a lot accomplished, and quickly!  It was the first time the Server Essentials class finished in 3 days instead of 4 (though we did skip exercises that both students were not anxious to go through). 

Second, I ordered an iPad from the Campus bookstore.  They had a sale where sales tax was not included in the price of all Apple merchandise, so I thought I would go for it.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have any iPads in stock (none!  Not even the 32GB which is supposed to be the unpopular one).  So, I placed the order and paid for it anyway, and I’m still waiting for it to show up (it could be in as late as next week).  In the mean time, I’m getting my apps ready, my pictures put together, and other fun things that come with getting a new device. 

Third, I became a Master Trainer for Apple IT classes, which means that we at the University of Utah can offer T3 courses.  It’s pretty exciting, and I’m looking forward to some being scheduled.  I also found out that we are unique among Apple Authorized Training Centers because we are able to run classes with just two students.  Other AATC’s usually need to have 5 to 8 to run a class.  We are hoping this means we get more students coming to our site, knowing we won’t cancel on them. 

Now for the Politics.  Apparently former Illinois Governor Blagojavich wants to have President Obama testify in his corruption trial, as part of the defense.  It will be interesting to see if a federal judge will try to subpoena the President in this matter.  My guess is he will not find reason to do so, though it’s always possible.  Even if it doesn’t happen here in Federal Court, it may be taken to the Supreme Court where the President will be asked again to testify.  And if asked, will the President make a personal appearance, or will he participate in some other way?  I’m keeping my eye on this one, just because it’s an interesting situation for the Judicial and the Executive branches. 

Apple vs. Adobe:  An interesting game of attacks, primarily from Adobe.  All over Flash..  Sure, Flash is a big part of the web (advertising, at least for my part), and it’s quite popular.  But Apple doesn’t want it on their iPhone or iPad.  So, Adobe tried to work around it by using Flash to develop apps for the iPhone and iPad, which Apple killed with the 4.0 user agreement (which also killed Titanium from Appcelerator).  Rumors were flying about Adobe suing Apple, but today they attacked Apple by saying they would rather work with Open platforms with their proprietary platform than with Apple’s closed ecosystem that supports open standards.  Apple fired back, the first time the Company has said anything publicly, while Adobe as a company and as individuals have been spewing forth hatred and ire at Apple. 

Now, I really like Apple.  I teach about their technologies, and I’m developing for the iPhone using their tools (mostly because I can’t use Titanium for my class I’m developing).  I like Adobe.  Photoshop is great, as are many of their other products.  But, much like fanbois for any technology that attack others for their choices, Adobe as a company has been very, well, surprisingly unprofessional.  So has Steve Jobs in his remarks, though they were never made publicly (I don’t consider a company meeting public, as it’s within the private company). 

I come away from this liking the experience I have with Apple’s tools, not having stupid Flash ads pop up over websites I’m trying to read, and enjoying the idea of having open standards grow faster on the Internet.  I also come away from this with a bad taste in my mouth for Adobe.  Perhaps I should start to look at the GIMP a bit more.  Also, I come away with having less respect for Steve Jobs as a person, though he seems to be doing very well as a CEO. 

Anyway, that’s the week in review.  Hopefully there will be some new news on the iPad soon, as in tomorrow.  But if not, I’ll be talking about it when I finally get my hands on it.

Well, I haven’t purchased one yet, but I have played with one at the Apple Store, and at the University of Utah’s bookstore.  Here are my impressions:

The Keyboard
Unlike a lot of other people out there, I like the keyboard.  It’s big enough in landscape mode to type with, and I was pretty proficient with it when typing.  I can also type well without looking at the keyboard, which is a bonus.  The only thing is the shift keys don’t seem to be in the same place, so I would need some practice with it.

The Real Estate
I love the large screen.  It’s actually smaller than I thought it would be, though it’s about the same size as my 12" Powerbook G4 I purchased years ago.  While I can’t yet replace a laptop with it, I can definitely replace what I’ve been using my laptop for, and leave all the heavy lifting up to my iMac at home, or my Mac Pro at work.  I can’t wait to see all the awesome Autism apps that will be coming to the iPad. 

The Need
Yes, I think I need one.  Why?  Because I want a "computer" that is easy to use and gets out of the way when I use it.  I need something bigger than my iPod Touch to type on while on the go while still fitting within my seat space while commuting on the bus and TRAX train (those seats are not very clamshell-laptop friendly, let me tell you!). 

So, all in all, I am a happy camper, and look forward to the day I get one (which will be soon, I hope).  Do I think it will be the best tablet out there?  I think it will be for me, but I’m also excited to see how the HP Slate and various Android devices will act when they are released in the future.  The tablet format has finally found the technology and the uses that it needed to be useful.

As far as I can decipher the arguments online, it comes down to two different points:

1. Apple is crazy because they have an underpowered Netbook that doesn’t even have a full OS on it, and they are going to lose a lot of money.  This is the worst idea in the history of computing, so don’t even think about buying one.
2. Apple is light years head of the rest of the computing world, and everyone just needs to accept that the future is here.  If you can’t accept that, you should hide under your rock of old technology and let the new light of reason shine.

The problem I have with both arguments is that neither have been really objective in their assessment.  Both approached the release based on high hopes, and their own colored glasses.  They have generally based their reviews on past computer experiences, management, and tools, and as such their expectations were colored.  And I freely admit, I was one of them. 

Then I read this article on PC World (of all places) about how the iPad isn’t a third device, but a new way of simplifying the computing experience.  It put things in perspective for me, things that I have been thinking about, and trying to formulate.

The main complaints I have heard is that there isn’t enough hardware to "do the job".  What job is it you need to do in a mobile environment that requires so much hardware?  Are you editing video?  Can you do that accurately with a netbook, and render it?  I don’t think there is enough power there, so you would need a Laptop, am I right?  Even then, often times a desktop would give you the best experience, because that is where real power and speed comes. 

Another argument I hear is that it doesn’t have a full OS, so you can’t multitask.  There is some room for argument here, but how much multitasking do you really do while on the go?  Those of you who have Android phones, do you really run more than app at a time?  I know you can, but how often do you?  I’m not asking to be mean, I’m really interested in what the numbers would be.  I know there are times I would like to have Skype running in the background while I run another app on my iPod Touch. 

But an interesting answer to the Multitasking argument, and the underpowered OS, etc, is this article on 9to5Mac about a Citrix client available for the iPad.  That’s right, they were able to easily turn the iPad into a thin client.  And the resolution is high enough that it will work, unlike a Netbook. 

Another argument I hear is the lack of applications that people want.  What is it you want to accomplish?  Have you searched through the App store to see if there is an App that will let you accomplish your goal?  What about a free app that will work?  I’m impressed with the huge breath of content there, and I’m looking forward to the many iPad specific apps that will show. 

So what is the iPad to me?  It’s hard to describe, because each app makes it something else.  In that case, it is a real computer, because it will do what I want it to do, and with a simplicity that will keep me coming back to it, and relegating my desktop for more intense computing needs.  I can write code in a text editor if necessary, access a secure shell client to get into a larger server (like my desktop at home), copy the files there, and run the code.  I have, essentially, a true client computer that becomes a portal to any number of more powerful computers for more intensive tasks. 

I can easily see the iPad becoming a part of my life as a computing portal, instead of just an eBook reader, or just an Email reader, or just a Web browser.  With VNC, Citrix clients, and other such apps being made for the device, I see real potential here.  And I’m still waiting to hear if Blizzard will make a Warcraft app.  ^_^