Steve Norris - The Best in AI and Tech

I had a Google Nest Display on my work desk for a while. Leveraging iPhone with ios 17 to do the same job. Apple recently unveiled iOS 17, the latest version of its mobile operating system, at its annual WWDC event. One of the most exciting new features in iOS 17 is StandBy mode, which essentially turns your iPhone into a smart speaker when it's charging. Here's how StandBy mode works: When you place your iPhone on a charger and your phone is locked, StandBy mode is activated. This turns on the microphone and allows Siri to listen for voice commands at all times, even when the screen is off. StandBy mode allows you to issue voice commands to Siri just like you would with a HomePod or Amazon Echo. You can ask Siri to set timers, create calendar events, control smart home devices, play music, podcasts or audiobooks, ask questions, and more. Siri's voice responses in StandBy mode will play through your iPhone's speakers, so you don't need any additional hard...

Welcome to my re-launched blog, where we delve into the captivating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as seen through the eyes of a working IT Manager that is leverging the latest AI tools. In this era of rapid technological advancements, AI has emerged as a transformative force, revolutionizing industries and redefining the way we live. Join us as we explore the wonders, potential, and ethical considerations of AI, bringing you friendly and knowledgeable insights. Artificial Intelligence is an awe-inspiring domain that continues to shape our world. As an AI student (and hopefully soon an expert), I am thrilled by its potential to solve complex problems, improve decision-making, and augment human capabilities. However, we must approach AI with responsibility, addressing ethical concerns and striving for a fair and inclusive society. Join us on this journey into the realm of AI, where we explore its fascinating intricacies and provide valuable insights. Stay tuned for mor...

Yesterday I saw a post on Twitter from Wade Kwon that referenced the front page of the local paper, The Birmingham News. I clicked on the first link and was shocked to see a beautiful, full color image of todays front page on my iPad! I could pinch to zoom and read all the text and it looked really great. I immediately started searching the newspapers website to find a digital subscription so I could read the whole paper... Sadly, there is (as of this writing) no such thing. I really want the whole paper, but, enjoyed the front page on my iPad too much to walk away :) I decided to write a PHP script to email me the front page every day. Here is the Tweet that was the Genesis of this project, click on the first link. This displays great on any iDevice, but, won't display on others (I have tested Android, and Outlook) the reason is the Front Page is in PDF format and Safari has a built in viewer for PDF that will allow it to display in email. At this point I am going to switc...

There are a lot of Android tablets out this Holiday season and some of them are very cheap (just over $100 bucks for one I saw). These super cheap ones are just that, a cheap plastic shell with a cheap blurry screen. One that caught my eye that was not cheaply made, but still only $250, was the Nook Color. It has the same type of screen as the iPad but even a higher dots per inch (to be fair, it's screen is much smaller than the iPad). Also to be fair, the Nook is not considered a full tablet, but, rather just an e-reader with a few extra apps thrown in. Those apps include a web browser, Pandora radio (a favorite) and a few others thrown into an "extras" folder. The way it ships allows it to be just fine out of the box, however, there was an intriguing twist last week when it was revealed that with just a moderately simple hack you can install other Android apps (allowing the device to become a full tablet not just a single use reader)... This sealed the deal for me! ...

I switched from Blackberry to iPhone a while back. One thing the Blackberry Bold (and Storm) have on the iPhone is the great "Night Stand" alarm clock feature. While there is a free built in alarm in the iPhone it is sadly lacking in features. That is where "Alarm Clock Nightstand" comes in, for only .99 cents you get the same great Nightstand digital display as featured on the Blackberry as well as many new features. You can set any song on your iPhone as your wake up tune as well as pick from the many different alarm sounds that ship with the app (My favorite is "Baby Crying", a brilliant alarm sound choice that only a monster could sleep through). Other cool features include "Verify" that makes it so you have to type in a word to verify that you REALLY want to turn off the alarm (eliminating accidently turning off the alarm). Pick up your copy by clicking HERE (iTunes will Launch) Full Disclosure: This app was created by "appsolulte...

It was my first CES trip and I had a blast. I made this video (with lousy audio) but I think the pics are kinda cool, so enjoy!

Switching from the Blackberry to the iPhone can be a tough choice. After all the Blackberry has the super fast “Push” email system for Gmail, right? Wrong… Blackberry users get a simulated Push client for Gmail because the carriers (in my case At&t) provide a server that you use to put in your Gmail credentials then *THAT SERVER* continually checks your Gmail and then pushes a notification to you in what seems like real time. I am in no way disparaging this service, since; it works great and saves your phones battery. You see, without the service you have to set your phone to check your email (for example) every 15 minutes. This is an elaborate, and lengthy login and authentication process that eats battery life. This is the same way you have to check your email with the iPhone client UNTIL Gpush came along. Gpush is a 99 cent app that gives you that same “my server is doing that” battery savings to check your email account that you get with a Blackberry. Besides the batte...