Julio Ojeda-Zapata: Tech writer. Nerd. Boricua.

To warn about the danger of texting and driving, AT&T set up...

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:41:00 -0400

To warn about the danger of texting and driving, AT&T set up a simulator for virtual-reality drives in St. Paul today.

The simulator lets you you navigate a computer-generated road, much as you would a real one, while also using your phone.

I’m shown here trying the simulator (which includes VR goggles) with my iPhone in hand. I totaled my VR car twice.

I got (a look at) Glass! This is Google’s much-ballyhooed...

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:25:00 -0400

I got (a look at) Glass!

This is Google’s much-ballyhooed computerized eyewear, and I was surprised how well it worked over my glasses.

Here’s a related story I wrote.

I will have more to say about my Google Glass experiences (courtesy of space150) soon.

We had measurable snow two weeks ago. Crazy.

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:51:10 -0400

We had measurable snow two weeks ago. Crazy.

The tech world is abuzz about Glass, Google’s futuristic...

Sat, 11 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The tech world is abuzz about Glass, Google’s futuristic eyewear. WCCO-AM’s Esme Murphy and I discussed this and other tech topics.

Mark Reilly, managing editor of the Minneapolis / St. Paul...

Fri, 03 May 2013 20:19:00 -0400

Mark Reilly, managing editor of the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal, made my day with his “Julio Ojeda-Zapata’s Apple-fu is pretty strong” line in the article shown above (click to enlarge). Thanks.

(He was referring to this.)

Last week, one of my wackiest stories in recent memory...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:10:00 -0400

Last week, one of my wackiest stories in recent memory appeared on the Pioneer Press’ front page.

The article is about PetChatz, a soon-to-be-released home webcam for pets (primarily dogs). This device, installed over a wall outlet, allows the pets’ owners to communicate with the animals via their computers or phones while away from home.

The PetChatz device has a couple of pet-friendly features: It dispenses yummy treats via a touch of the owners’ computer keyboards or phone touchscreens, and it emits odors that are pleasing to the pooches.

Over the weekend, my friends Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott, Graeme Thickins and Phil Wilson discussed PetChatz on their fine Minnov8 podcast. They debated the products’ commercial viability and generally offered insightful analysis.

The gang’s blog-post artwork is always good, too.

More and more people want to cut the (cable-television) cord...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

More and more people want to cut the (cable-television) cord because of exorbitant monthly fees. What are the alternatives?

I discussed this with WCCO-AM’s Jordana Green.

Apple today reopened its Southdale retail store, which it...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Apple today reopened its Southdale retail store, which it relocated from a much smaller space.

I talked about this and other tech topics with Allison Kaplan (my former Pioneer Press colleague) and Alexis Walsko, the Shop Girls on MyTalk 107.1.

Here I am at the opening of Apple’s relocated, larger...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Here I am at the opening of Apple’s relocated, larger Southdale retail store.

In the top two photos, I am streaming in with other customers who queued up early in order to claim t-shirts (hey, it’s tradition).

To maintain some semblance of dignity, however, I did not high-five a store employee.

I used to live in Chicago, a city with a vibrant Latino...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

I used to live in Chicago, a city with a vibrant Latino community. So I was delighted to be guest #3 on the fledgling Intersections, one of several fine podcasts on the Windy City’s Latino-focused Gozamos.com.

The episode description:

Abraham Vélaquez Tello talks to Julio Ojeda-Zapata, tech writer for St. Paul Pioneer Press. He tells us about his background and his current work as a journalist, his workflow for writing for the web, print and books. We also discuss the intersections of new media, technology and how mobile/social platforms are affecting the digital divide in low income communities.

As a journalist, I love ProfNet. This PR Newswire service lets...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:02:00 -0400

As a journalist, I love ProfNet.

This PR Newswire service lets journalists seek sources for their stories via a clearinghouse of public-relations people, experts in a range of fields, and others with information of potential value.

I file ProfNet ‘queries’ regularly.

ProfNet periodically profiles journalists via a Web-published Q&A. I was the ‘Spotlight’ subject today. Thanks.

I appeared on TWiT’s ‘This Week in Google’...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:17:49 -0400

I appeared on TWiT’s ‘This Week in Google’ … ever so fleetingly.

This morning I joined the Minnov8 Gang (minus Steve Borsch) once...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:43:00 -0400

This morning I joined the Minnov8 Gang (minus Steve Borsch) once again on their weekly podcast, which is always an honor.

Discussion included phone-related topics (BlackBerry Z10, Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, Qi wireless charging) and the sad demise of Google Reader.

My love for the AeroPress is well documented on this blog. So I...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:27:00 -0400

My love for the AeroPress is well documented on this blog.

So I was fascinated to discover the AeroPress Timer iOS app, which guides AeroPress users through a variety of AeroPress coffee-making recipes.

I suspect this Beloved Robot app is not for me (I like to AeroPress my coffee in my own particular way), but I’m certainly going to give it a try.

Other AeroPress fanatics should, as well. Hey, it’s only two bucks.

Get it here.

Facebook recently revamped its News Feed and made other changes...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:36:00 -0400

Facebook recently revamped its News Feed and made other changes to make the service more streamlined and attractive. Some say it looks like Google+ now.

I discussed this with Kim Insley on KARE 11 Sunrise.

Smartphone unlocking has become a hot topic. The practice...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:34:35 -0500

Smartphone unlocking has become a hot topic. The practice recently was made illegal, but the Obama administration has signaled its willingness to rethink that approach.

I discussed this with Jeff Passolt on Fox 9 News.

It’s an app world. And we may soon be able to run them on...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:34:00 -0500

It’s an app world. And we may soon be able to run them on an iWatch (not to mention Google Glass eyepieces).

I discussed both tech topics with WCCO-AM’s John Hines.

I recently was on a social-media panel with WCCO-TV’s Jason...

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:29:00 -0500

I recently was on a social-media panel with WCCO-TV’s Jason DeRusha, MinnPost’s David Brauer, Minnesota Public Radio’s Julia Schrenkler, and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s John Vomhof Jr. (who moderated and took the photo).

See video of the event here.

Thanks, Minnesota chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), for inviting.

Thanks, @Minnov8, for having me on the podcast. (That’s,...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:39:00 -0500

Thanks, @Minnov8, for having me on the podcast. (That’s, um, creative photoshopping, @sborsch :)

From the episode’s blog post:

On this podcast we talk about today’s Polaroid and lament (a bit) the passing of what one of us described as “the Apple of the 1970s.” But since we have on Julio Ojeda-Zapata, the show is quite upbeat as we talk about the latest-and-greatest technologies.

I appear briefly, providing a bit of nuance, in a Fox 9 News...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:52:00 -0500

I appear briefly, providing a bit of nuance, in a Fox 9 News story about a Bloomberg Businessweek cover being dubbed ‘racist’ because of how it depicts people of color.

More info here.