• Nintendo’s stock (PINK:NTDOY) is at a 10-year low, with a market cap now at only $13B (less than 10% of Apple’s available cash)
• USD is at a 2-year high as compared to the Japanese Yen.
• Nintendo lacks product innovation, but creates great games and characters.  Apple has no track record with successful games, but 300M+ people use Apple devices.
• AppleTV has no game functionality built-in, and the graphical simplicity of Nintendo games would likely allow them to run on existing AppleTV hardware.  Wii Sports and other family games would be a perfect fit for the AppleTV.
• Nintendo designs great controllers, and Apple knows that gaming on touch screens will always have limitation.  Imagine using a WiiMote with your Apple TV or iPhone?
• Apple’s ability to exclusively sell Nintendo games to the ~300M+ active iOS devices would have huge potential, especially if Apple was absorbing 100% of the app sales instead of their usual 30%  royalty on game sales.

Disclosure: This should not be construed as financial advice in any way, shape or form.  I currently own a position in AAPL.

Web API Documentation Tools

We are still exploring each solution, but I will update this post as we learn more about each option.

• Swagger - A specification and complete framework implementation for describing, producing, consuming, and visualizing RESTful web services. [Demo]
  • Note: We already use 3Scale.net for our API management solution, and they have an ActiveDocs feature based on Swagger.
• I/O Docs - By defining APIs at the resource, method and parameter levels in a JSON schema, I/O Docs will generate a JavaScript client interface [Demo].  I/O docs was created by the API management platform Mashery.
• apiary.io - Provides very quick way to get your documentation up and running, includes GitHub integration and I/O validation. – Suggested by Siyfion via Reddit.
• Docco - Docco is a quick-and-dirty, hundred-line-long, literate-programming-style documentation generator. It produces HTML that displays your comments alongside your code.
• Dexy - Flexible documentation tool that supports any language, for any API.
• Doxygen - Generate an on-line documentation browser (in HTML) and/or an off-line reference manual, and you can configure doxygen to extract the code structure from undocumented source files.  Seems more technical than the other options, but a powerful option nonetheless.  Suggested by gkumar007 via Reddit.
• TurnAPI – Paid service.  Intelligent WIKI-editor, markdown based standards, documentation branching, sync with Git, SVN, Mercurial, clean looking themes. [Features]
  • Note: As of writing I was unable to create an account at TurnAPI.

Key advantages of the Vamoose Gold Bus

• Very efficient iPad check-in system before boarding bus
• Water bottle at every seat
• Wood floors
• Classy bus driver
• Working wifi
• Electrical outlets at every seat
• One column of single seats, one column of double seats
• Tray table at each seat
• Smooth ride

Check it out: http://www.vamoosebus.com/pages/gold.aspx

iMessage uses data instead of SMS, and therefore works internationally to send free text messages (as long as you have an international data plan).

However, you must TURN OFF “Send As SMS” when you are traveling internationally, otherwise your phone may send an SMS message (green message) using international SMS rates.

Go to Settings >Messages to turn off “SEND As SMS”

1.  Open NotePad and paste the below VBScript code into it.

Note: The strFileURL variable is currently set to the URL that Chrome is at as of today.  That might change later.  Find latest Chrome EXE by going here. Click accept and install, then right-click copy the URL titled “Click here to retry.”

' This is the URL of the chrome EXE.
strFileURL="https://dl.google.com/tag/s/appguid%3D%7B8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96%7D%26iid%3D%7BA024641A-81C0-533A-53CB-AE9534821219%7D%26lang%3Den%26browser%3D4%26usagestats3D0%26appname%3DGoogle%2520Chrome%26needsadmin%3Dfalse%26installdataindex%3Ddefaultbrowser/update2/installers/ChromeStandaloneSetup.exe"
' This is where the file will download to.
strHDLocation = "c:\ChromeStandaloneSetup.exe"
' Fetch the file
Set objXMLHTTP = CreateObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP")
objXMLHTTP.open "GET", strFileURL, false
objXMLHTTP.send()
If objXMLHTTP.Status = 200 Then
Set objADOStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream")
objADOStream.Open
objADOStream.Type = 1 'adTypeBinary
objADOStream.Write objXMLHTTP.ResponseBody
objADOStream.Position = 0 'Set the stream position to the start
Set objFSO = Createobject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If objFSO.Fileexists(strHDLocation) Then objFSO.DeleteFile
strHDLocation
Set objFSO = Nothing
objADOStream.SaveToFile strHDLocation
objADOStream.Close
Set objADOStream = Nothing
End if
Set objXMLHTTP = Nothing

2. Save your notepad file to your desktop, and use quotes in the filename to overwrite saving as a .txt file:
“chrome.vbs”

3. Go to your Windows command prompt (Start > CMD)
4. Navigate to your desktop in the command prompt (cd desktop)
5. Run the command: cscript.exe downloadfile.vbs

6. Open Windows explorer, and right on your C drive you should see the chrome installer at c:\ChromeStandaloneSetup.exe

Attribution: This vbscript was adopted by Gareth’s method on SuperUser.com.

http://qpleple.com/how-to-make-people-login-into-your-website-with-their-google-account/

I encountered the following error:

Error: invalid_request
Error in parsing the OpenID auth request.

I believe this problem may be encountered because my testing server does not have SSL, and Google will not accept requests that do not come from a “https://” URL.  I am installing an SSL cert on my testing domain and will report back.

To delete these files safely in Windows 7, you must disable “Hibernate Support” in your power options in the control panel.

1.  Go to Start > Search, type in “powercfg.cpl” go to advanced power options, find the “Sleep” section and make sure sleep is set to “never”

2.  We also need to make sure virtual memory is not enabled.   (coming soon)

From the last few years of experience, below are my favorite vendors to use when launching a new business.  These methods are all very cost effective, yet still scalable for when your business hopefully takes off.  Good luck!

1. Get a Logo Designed – 99 Designs (~$400)

Vendor: 99Designs

• Post a logo project and give as much direction as possible to the prospective designers
• BE ACTIVE give feedback as often as possible on designer submissions, active projects get much more designer competition
• Don’t be afraid to give strong criticism to designers, and make sure to submit a rating for every design.

2. Register Your Domain and Hosting – Namecheap (~$6/mo)

Vendor: NameCheap

• Strongly .COM and not .ly, .net, etc
• Choose as short of a domain as possible
• Add Namecheap’s WhoisGuard to protect your domain registration info from spammers.  It’s only $3 per year.
• If you simply need an informational website, simply sign up for Namecheap’s $4/mo shared hosting plan.  If you have a database intensive website, you should seek consultation for a more powerful server solution.

3. Set up your business e-mail – Google Apps (free)

Vendor: Google

• Start with the standard plan, which is free
• Namecheap has a great help doc on how to link your domain to your Google Apps account.

4. Incorporate and Trademark your company – Trademarkia (~$700)

Vendor: Trademarkia

• You should consider trademarking both your company name, and separately trademarking your company logo, icon, or other marks.  Please seek legal advice on this.
• Seek legal/accounting advice on whether an LLC, C Corp, S Corp, or other type of incorporation method will be right for you.
• Seek legal advice on what state you should incorporate in.  Keep in mind that if you choose a state that you do not have active mailing address in, you will have to pay an annual fay for a registered agent service.
• Make sure to save and backup a PDF copy of your articles of incorporation, and any other formal documents.

5. Register your EIN (free)

Vendor: IRS

• Make sure to use your business address, or a permanent address when getting your EIN.  Most banks will require that your mailing address matches the address on your EIN document.
• Make sure to save an electronic copy (backed up!) of your official EIN document.  You will need this to open a bank account.

6. Get a Business Bank Account (free)

Vendor: Bank of America

• You can waive your monthly fee by using your business checking debit card once per month (Set it up as the payment method for your web hosting)
• Use the Bank of America iPhone app to deposit checks from your phone

7. Get a Website Design Template ($~50)

Vendor: Themeforest

No need to pay thousands of dollars for a custom website design if you are just starting out.  Use a theme database like ThemeForest and get an awesome WordPress design template for less then $50.

• Make sure you choose a WordPress template.
• Choose something simple.  Complex themes have a lot of content sections you will not use, and you will have to pay your freelance developer to remove or hide those unwanted sections
• Before buying a template, read the comments on the template and see if the author is responsive to questions.  This can come in handy later if you make a request for improvements.

8. Find a Freelancer to Launch your Website (~$400-$1000)

Vendor: Odesk

• Post a project on Odesk asking for a PHP programmer with WordPress experience
• Pay rates ranging from $10-$15 per hour are reasonable for a WordPress freelancer
• In the project posting, specifically ask developer to send a link to the best wordpress site they have developed (and to only ONE site, not a massive list).  Most developers won’t read your special request, so you can quickly hide their applications.
• Install WordPress on your Namecheap hosting account.  Instructions here.
• Send the developer your ThemeForest template files.
• Create a google doc with tasks, and share it with your developer
• When giving feedback to any developer, use a screenshot tool to effectively communicate changes you request.

9. Bookkeeping, Expense Tracking, and Invoicing (free to start)

Vendor: Freshbooks

• Get started with a basic account for free
• When tracking expenses, use the spreadsheet import function to save time
• Accept credit card payments for invoices.  Well worth the ~3% fees to save hours of time processing paper checks

Locate the Gmail “Settings” section at the Top Right

Enable keyboard shortcuts in the Gmail Settings section

• Tab+Enter – Send e-mail.
• “C” - Compose
• “E” – Archive message
• “#” – Delete message (Shift+3)
• “SHIFT‘- Open email in a new window when combined with any other action.  (Shift+C will open a new compose message in a new window)
• “?” Access the shortcuts cheat sheet (Shift + / )

2.  Explore Gmail Labs Features

Visit Settings > Labs to view the optional labs settings

Recommended Labs Features to Turn On:

• Background Send – Helps avoid the 1-2 second delay each time you send an e-mail.
• Undo-send – Gives you an extra 5 seconds to recall an e-mail if you hit send too quickly.
• Signature Tweaks – Places your e-mail signature directly after your reply message, and removes the pesky “–” symbols.

3.  Understand the “Archive” Function

The “archive” button

• In Gmail, you generally always “archive” instead of “delete”
• When you “archive” something, you are simply removing it from the inbox.
• You can always view your archived mail by either using the “search” or clicking “All Mail” on the left navigation

4.  Gmail Search is Crucial – Learn The 10 second rule

Why is Gmail better than Outlook, even on day one?  The search function is incredibly powerful, and saves time.

10 Second Rule: If you can’t find an e-mail after 10 seconds of browsing, search for it.

Search is not the slow, useless process you became accustomed to in Outlook.  In Gmail search, simply recall one unique keyword that might have been mentioned in an e-mail, and you instantly filter the number of e-mails you have to sift through to find your result.

Learn a few of the helpful shorthand codes you can enter in the search box to save time and narrow your results

• from:
  • Narrow search to e-mails send from a specific e-mail address
• to:
  • Narrow search to e-mails that has a specific e-mail address in the “TO” box
• has:attachment
  • Includes only e-mails with an attachment
• is:starred
  • Includes only starred e-mails (useful if you have certain emails you reference often)
• in:sent
  • Equivalent of searching your sent mail folder.

5.  Inbox Zero

If you are properly using the “Archive” functionality, your ultimate goal is to get your inbox down to as few e-mails as possible. 
Have any other essential Gmail tips?

Apple makes it extremely difficult to find this page, and after spending almost 10 minutes trying to locate it again, I decided to create this post as a reference.

Reasons to Bookmark your Apple Support Profile

• Easily submit an AppleCare request
• Keep track of your apple devices and serial numbers
• Determine if your device is still under warranty

Bookmark this link:

https://supportprofile.apple.com/MySupportProfile.do

Start using iOS Passbook in 5 Easy Steps

With  the launch of iOS 6 came the much anticipated Passbook app.  Despite passbook being out for over a month now, most people have no idea how to use it, so I decided to put together a painfully easy tutorial.  Let’s get to it.

Reasons to use passbook

• Thin out your wallet by carrying around less loyalty and gift cards
• Leave your wallet in your pocket, and pay with your phone in just a few taps
• Avoid printing things like concert tickets, boarding passes, train tickets, etc.

1.  Start with a Starbucks card

If you live anywhere near a Starbucks, I recommend you bite the bullet and experience Passbook as soon as possible.  The easiest way to get started is to purchase a gift card at your local Starbucks and ask the cashier to load it with $5.

2.  Download the Starbucks app

Visit the iOS app store and download the free Starbucks app.

3.  Link your card to the Starbucks App

3.1 Click the + Icon at the top Right of the Starbucks App

3.1 Type in the numbers from your physical Starbucks card

 4.  Add your Starbucks card to the Passbook App

Once your card is added to the Starbucks app, you will see a Reload and Manage button under the card.  Hit the “Manage” button.

4.1 After hitting “Manage” select the option that says “Add Card to Passbook

5.  Open the Passbook app

Go back to your home screen on the iPhone, and open the Passbook app.  You should see your Starbucks card appear.

Your Starbucks pass will look something like this.

Save Time and Earn Rewards

Earn your Starbucks gold status in no time, and don’t worry about fishing your plastic Starbucks card out of your wallet.  By simply flashing your Starbucks card against a barcode reader at the cashier station, you are able to instantly pay and earn your Starbucks rewards.
See some of my other posts regarding Passbook.

Breakfast Sausage Benedict from Five Points

Breakfast sausage, poached egg, and shrimp hollandaise on top of a cheddar scone.  It seriously does not get much better than this.  Highly recommend Five Points for brunch.

Five Points
31 Great Jones Street
New York, NY 10012
212.253.5700
MAP

Disappointing: Johnnycake Benedict at North End Grill

Johnnycake Benedict at North End Grill

Lamb Bacon, Poached Egg, and Chipotle Hollandaise.  This sounded much better than it was.  The johnnycake was too thick, and very dry.  The lamb bacon was was miniscule, and did not contribute to the dish.  The albeit delicious chipotle hollandaise could not not even pull the dish together.

North End Grill
104 North End, New York, NY 10282
646.747.1600
MAP

In the mood for Eggs Benedict for Brunch?  Circa delivered one of the best Eggs Benedict dishes I have ever had.  This post will be updated with some other contenders soon, so check back.

CIRCA at Foggy Bottom
2221 I St. NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20037
MAP

Also check out my post on the best eggs benedict in NYC.

Starting today, Amtrak released version 1.3 of the Amtrak iOS app, which now includes Passbook support.  Details of the update are shown below.

How to Add Your Amtrak Ticket to Passbook

1.  Install the Amtrak iOS app.

2.  Login to your Amtrak account on the app.

3.  Browse to view your e-ticket.  On the view e-ticket screen, hit the icon on the top-right and select “Add to Passbook.”  (see below)

Go indoors immediately and remain inside.  DO NOT DRIVE.  Call 9-1-1 for emergencies only.

These emergency alerts are a new feature of iOS 6, allowing government agencies to send out critical messages to the public.  The U.S. Government’s emergency alert system was launched in May 2012, and this was the first alert to be sent out in NYC since the system launched.

Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreens)

Earn rewards without having to carry around those pesky Duane Reade rewards cards. Download the Walgreens App to get started.

Starbucks

Earn rewards and pay your bill using the Starbucks passbook. Download the regular Starbucks app and link your Starbucks Card to it.

333 5th ave in Google Maps (btwn 32nd and 33rd street in MANHATTAN)

333 5th Ave in iOS 6 Maps (between 3rd and 4th street in BROOKLYN)

1. Download the raw version of this code below.

http://pastebin.com/embed_js.php?i=NSfwr6eF

2. Paste the file contents to NotePad

3. Save the file as “Recently Changed.search-ms” (keep the quotes so it makes that the correct file type)

4. Save the file to C:\Users\{YOUR NAME}\Searches

5. Drag the shortcut to your favorites bar (same place “Recent Places” appears)

Has Windows 7 EVER found a solution to the problem of a crashing application?  Probably not.  Since no one likes wasting time, I decided to figure out how to prevent Windows from doing this unnecessary search.

Step 1: Click on the Start button, type in “Choose how to report problems” (without quotes) and hit enter.

Step 2:  Select “Never check for solutions”

Problem solved!

Step 1 – Right click on any file in your Google Docs list, and select “Download”

Step 2 – Click on the “All Items” tab, and press the “Download” button

Step 3 – Select “Email when ready”

Step 4 – Wait until you receive the e-mail, then click download link.

After the file is downloaded, you are still not done.  It is necessary to extract the zip file, and open a few of the documents to make sure they are readable.  In my experience, the export has always worked very well, but it is imperative to check for yourself each time you save the backup.