Year: 2022

This week, I ended up in a conversation that referenced Tantek Çelik’s article on People-Focused Mobile Communication circa 2014. I had followed up with my thought at the time on Unified Communication.

My version of the idea didn’t just focus on the mobile experience, but wanted to embrace the idea overall. Which means I’d want it to work on the desktop also. Also, Tantek is an iOS user, but I’m a dedicated Android user, so there is also a different approach there.

The focus was that instead of finding people on service X, you’d find people, then find where they are.

On Android, it has sort of moved in this direction to a degree. Communication apps, if installed, have the opportunity to link directly from the contacts app and add extra information there. So, I can, from a contact in my Contact App, go directly to message someone.

But that is the provider doing that, not necessary the person. Just because I have an account on Message Service A, does not mean I want to be contacted there. It does however mean, if these apps can link in, a theoretical app like this could as well.

So, this means we need something on our websites, under our control, that provides this information. And theoretically, you can visit that page on mobile, as Tantek proposed, or go even further and have an app that presents it for multiple people as a Contact list…either integrated into the built-in system or separately.

So, that means we need two things to start:

• An HTML presentation of this contact list
• Some way for others to discover and parse it in order to integrate it into other things, with or without some sort of identity component(making you log in to see some more info).

The first part, the presentation, is where I was back to initially. Tantek had written a list of URLs for People Focused Mobile Communication.

When it came up recently, I wanted to revisit the concept of looking at how protocol handlers were still being used, and their limited desktop use. So I revisited his list, and some others that weren’t really a thing in 2014. I also am leaning toward URLs over custom protocols where possible. Mobile will generally redirect these to the app anyway…

The other depressing thing since 2014 is the increased reliance on phone numbers. This was already starting at that time, but now, it is everywhere. Name a messaging service that isn’t based on your phone number, which is something I generally don’t want to give out.

• Phone Call – tel:phone number – Call someone using a telephone number.
• Text Message – sms:phone number – This should activate a text messaging service. Variations include smsto, mms, and mmsto. On Apple, I believe, based on research, you can use an Apple ID address in lieu of a phone number, but again, not universal.
• Facebook Messenger – fb-messenger://user-thread/username or http//m.me/username – Username or UserID will work. UserID isn’t always easy to find. (More info)
• Twitter Direct Message – https://twitter.com/messages/compose?recipient_id=3805104374&text=Hello%20world – You would have to find your recipient ID, which is considered preferable as the handle could change.
• Skype Chat – skype:username?chat – You can see the full API including call or group chat here.
• Microsoft Teams Chat – msteams://l/chat/0/0?users=Joe@Example.com or https://teams.microsoft.com/l/chat/0/0?users=Joe@Example.com (Deep Linking Reference)
• WhatsApp – whatsapp://15551234567/send?text=Hello%2C%20World! or https://wa.me/15551234567?text=I’m%20interested%20in%20your%20car%20for%20sale . Without the phone number, it will pop up a selector box on who to send the text to. (Reference)
• Telegram – https://t.me/username?text=Hello%2C%20World! A phone number would only work if they are in your contacts.
• Signal – https://signal.me/#p/15551234567 or sgnl://signal.me/#p/15551234567

For some services, you can create a room/group/etc and get a webhook to have people post in there. So it could be a room just for this purpose.

But, let’s say you solve the problem of actually linking to these services. IndieAuth solves the problem of different presentations by allowing authentication. The final problem is a fairly simple one…how do you mark it up to show your priority/preferences?

I’m not sure yet, but I think I will add an updated contact page to my site with more ways to find me.

In 2019, I was challenged to write a list of tools I use when traveling. I have not really traveled much since the start of the pandemic, but I have upgraded my gear in preparation for that day, so why not write an updated list?

• Computer
  • Dell Inspiron 7370 – This is a 13.3″ laptop running Linux  which I bought open-box. As I spent more time away from home, I needed something that wouldn’t slow down under load.
  • USB-C to Dell laptop charging cable – So I could plug an older laptop into a USB-C charger. I also got a USB-C to laptop charging cable for my work laptop.
  • Eleduino 13.3 Inch 2K HDMI Portable Gaming Monitor – There are a variety of these available on Amazon and other sites. I use this as a second monitor for trips.
    
  • Replaced the Eleduino monitor with a Sansonic EVOPIX 15.6 Multi-Touch Portable Monitor I got in a Woot sale. So I continue to operate a dual monitor setup everywhere, with this as the primary monitor, and the laptop as the secondary.
  • Kabcon Quality Tablet Stand – This is a bit more stable then the tiny stand that came with the gaming monitor. It is designed to hold larger tablets. However, the Sansonic also stands up by itself, so I don’t always use this.
  • Nexstand Laptop Stand – This brings the laptop high enough to handle a keyboard.
  • Royal Kludge RK61 Wired/Wireless Keyboard – Mechanical keyboard that doubles as a bluetooth keyboard.
  • Dierya 60% Keyboard – I still have the RK61 as a backup, but I switched to this because I kept setting off the multi-device mode by accident and the ? and the arrow key were shared on the RK61, but separate on here, and I kept tripping up when typing.
• Travel Gear
  • Lectrofan Mini – I use the full sized version of this at home, and used to carry it around. This is a miniature noise generator that doubles as a bluetooth speaker. There is a new version of this now.
  • Aukey USB-C PD Dual 18W Wall Charger – When I bring my USB-C Chromebook and my phone, this allows me to charge both at the same time.
  • Replaced the dual wall charger with a triple. An INVZI 100w GaN 3 USB-C and 1 USB-A port charger.  I also bought the international adapters for it, as well as an extension cord.
  • A GL.iNet GL-AR750S Gigabit Travel AC Router with a microSD card full of movies and music
  • A Roku Stick. Carry this for watching video in hotel rooms.
  • An Onn Android TV 4K Dongle – I spent 2 months in a hotel in Sophia, Bulgaria in 2020, and I used an Amazon Fire Stick with a microUSB hub to add ethernet and USB ports. I switched that over the Roku because the Roku couldn’t support a VPN which I needed to access my home network remotely. I’ve switched again to an Android TV device because I wanted to use the Android app for my home DVR, which I sideloaded onto it. I have a few of these now as they are reasonably cheap, although Google launched a $29.99 Chromecast with Google TV which would challenge the Onn pricing. The hub allows me to plug a USB device with videos and music directly into it instead of into the router.
  • Monoprice Fast Wireless Charging Pad/Stand – A collapsible wireless charging stand that uses USB-C if needed
  • Collapsible Fast Wireless Charger – Only tested this at home, but got it on sale and it worked well in my testing.
  • Monoprice Mobile Series USB-C 3-port USB3.0, RJ45 Gigabit Adapter
  • Since I need the USB-C port on my laptop for the USB-C monitor, I added an inexpensive USB-A port with a network adapter. However, I’m not sure if there is a USB-C hub that would allow me to use my monitor and get the ethernet and extra ports I need.
  • Wired In-Ear Monitors – DCMEKA Dynamic Hybrid Wired Earbuds, Dual Driver in-Ear Earphones Musicians in Ear Headphones with MMCX Detachable Cables, Noise-Isolating Earbuds – These inexpensive in-ear monitors are what I use when I have to record something on the go….also, if my bluetooth earbuds run out of batteries. they are useful. I separately acquired a USB-C to MMCX cable to allow them to be wired into USB-C supporting devices as well.
  • GoDuo Buds Dual-Dynamic Driver True Wireless Earbuds with Qi Wireless Charging Case, Charge via USB-C or Wireless – I also have become fond of wireless earbuds, so I bought some inexpensive pairs of these, which I can put on my wireless charger or charge using USB.
  • Invzi 100W multiport charger – 3 USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, and you can get an extension cord, or plug it directly into the wall. Got the extension cord and international adapters separately. There were some negative reviews about some bad units, but I’ve never had any issues yet, although I haven’t maxed out the three ports.
  • Power Strip with 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, supports 110-240V – I also use this to address the issue of insufficient outlets in hotel rooms.
• Camera Equipment
  • Acer 4K Holo 360 Camera – I still have this thing, but now it is running a rather old version of Android, and I still don’t take many 360 degree images.
  • Smatree Q3 Telescoping Selfie Stick with Tripod Stand – I used this for the 360 camera, but also to position my webcam when I was in that hotel in Bulgaria.

As I did in previous years, took a trip yesterday(October 12), to complete my trips visiting all of the NYC Reservoirs in the Catskill/Delaware Watershed. These are the reservoirs that provide 90% of the water supply for New York City, despite being many miles from it.

The goal of these trips, which I started during the pandemic, was to enjoy the scenery of upstate New York.

The trip began on Route 55, to the Neversink Reservoir, which I’d covered in previous trips, then diverting off on Grahamsville to head toward the goal of the day…the Schoharie Reservoir…the final one I had not visited.

The trip also took us through Catskill Park, which is 700,000 acres, stretching from the Hudson River near Kingston to the East Branch of the Delaware River in Hancock. The northern limit is Windham, NY, and the Southern near the Roundout Reservoir. So, many of these trips have covered that area.

This includes the Slide Mountain Wilderness Area, which I passed through on a previous trip, but different route, which is 47,500 acres, as well as the 33,500-acre Big Indian Wilderness Area.

From there, passing into Shandaken, New York, past Halcott Mountain, we entered Lexington, which is on the border of Ulster and Greene Counties, proceeding there to the Schoharie Reservoir.

The Schoharie was put into service in 1926 to serve the growing water needs of New York City, and is the northernmost of the reservoirs. The water flows through a the 16 mile long Shandaken Tunnel to Shandaken New York, then empties into the Esopus Creek, and then 11 miles down to the Ashokan Reservoir, which we visited previously.

We did a loop around the reservoir on 996V, which begins northwest of the reservoir in Gilboa at the junction with Route 30, crossing near the Gilboa Dam, then parallels the eastern edge of the reservoir then looping back to Route 30 to continue.

Heading into the town of Roxbury, the birthplace of Jay Gould, the railroad financier, we paralleled the tracks of the Delaware and Ulster tourist railroad, which has been closed since 2020 due COVID, and later need for track repairs before reopening. It runs from Arkville to Roxbury and it is a not-for-profit endeavor.

Passing into Margaretville, we diverted along the Pepacton Reservoir, then through the Middle Mountain Wild Forest, and the Willowemoc Wild Forest down to Route 17, and back to origin along that.