“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss

Twelve years ago today, when I made my very first post on Pocket PC Thoughts, I couldn’t possibly predict the journey I was taking the first step on. What an amazing, fulfilling, character-defining dozen years it’s been! I’m so deeply indebted to all the people along this journey I’ve befriended, talked with in our forums, and yes, even gotten into rip-roaring arguments with. It all brought me here. So where is “here” exactly?

Back in September of 2011, I shared that I had taken a job with HTC, was moving from Canada to the USA, and was selling the Thoughts Media Network. Over the past year, I’ve had a truly amazing time working at HTC. It’s a wonderful job – it’s really amazing the things you learn/realize working on “the other side” of the blogger/OEM equation – but it’s also all-consuming. My attempts to sell this network all fell through, partially due to my lack of time to really follow through. I won’t bore you with the details, but let me give some advice to any business owners: when someone offers you a nice chunk of money for your business, and you’re ready to sell, don’t drag your feet on the paperwork – you never know when that offer will vanish! Oh, and sell when your revenue and momentum are at their peak; don’t hold on too long. Evidently these are lessons I needed to learn the hard way. Lessons to teach my son I guess.

So where are things at now? This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched what has happened to most of the sites in our network over the past year: all six sites across the Thoughts Media Network will go into a permanent state of hibernation effective tonight. This is the final post you’ll see on all of them. I care deeply about all of the amazing content the Thoughts Media Team collectively created over the past dozen years, so my plans are to keep the sites online for as long as possible. One week from now, I’ll shut down the forums so no new posts can be made.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give one final thank you to the amazing team of people I had the honour of working with over the past twelve years. I don’t want to list names, because I’ll doubtless forget someone. Suffice it to say though that I’ve been humbled and blessed by the generosity and amazing time people put into these sites.

If you’d like to keep in touch with me, please reach out on Twitter (@jasondunn) or check in on my personal blog now and then.

Since the days of Palms and Pocket PCs, I followed a number of mobile technology sites, and one of them was Pocket PC Thoughts. As the network of sites grew, I read those as well. I remember when Jason announced Digital Home Thoughts (as Digital Media Thoughts back then), I made a not-very-encouraging comment about the new site’s ability to cover digital photography stories. Naturally Jason wasn’t pleased, but over time he decided I could cover the photography section, and after much persuasion on his part, I came on-board.

It has been a great time: Writing reviews, putting up news posts, and following the latest releases, all with the special Thoughts feel. I have learnt quite a bit, and I have to thank Jason for being such an encouraging person. They weren’t kidding when they said Canadians are the friendliest people around!

As the site shuts down and I take my leave, it’s not quite the end for me – recently two friends and I have started a new photography blog. Come check us out at Three Guys With Cameras! I look forward to seeing you on there.

http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/18/mi…ve-recycle-bin/

“Microsoft just announced a few small but interesting updates to its cloud storage service SkyDrive. Just like your desktop, SkyDrive will now offer a recycle bin that allows you to recover files you may have accidentally deleted.”

If you are using Microsoft’s Skydrive cloud storage service you may have noticed a change of late. Their new recycle bin feature allows you to delete and restore files with a few simple clicks. They have also announced that a new Excel-based web survey tool will be included in their Skydrive offering. More details are available by clicking on the Read link.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/aq-sm…le-Audio_review

“At first glance the AQ Audio SmartSpeaker may seem like a smart but somewhat unremarkable portable wireless/AirPlay speaker in the vein of the JawBone Jambox or Audyssey Lower East Coast.”

If you own any iDevices or like to wirelessly stream music from iTunes, the AQ’s SmartSpeaker is a great modern looking unit you may want to take a good look at. Unlike the JamBox, the SmartSpeaker eschews bluetooth for AirPlay. This change allows the SmartSpeaker to not only stream music from iPod Touches, iPads or iPhones but from iTunes as well.

For those of you who do not want to use a device made by Apple, connection to the speaker is also available via the 3.5mm port. Android and DLNA support are in the works in addition to direct connect. No word if this capability will require a purchase of new speaker or will the hardware be capable of supporting the new firmware.

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-6d/

Phew, it is going to be a busy day around here for me! Let’s start with the main event: Canon has announced the EOS 6D, a cheaper 35mm-sized sensor camera aimed at the Canon crowd. It has a 20 megapixel sensor, but unlike the Nikon D600, Canon has done its old trick of using a lesser AF system: In this case, it is a new 11 point system with just one cross sensor. Canon claims it will be able to focus in darker environments, so maybe it will make up for the single cross point. Or maybe it won’t. The rest of the specifications mostly matches up to its status as the kid brother to the 5D-series: 63 zone metering system, 4.5 frame continuous advance, a 3.2″ VGA LCD display, a 97% viewfinder, a 1/180 flash sync speed. Video is available, and it is pretty much like any EOS DSLR: 1080p at 24, 25, and 30 FPS. There is also WiFi and GPS built-in, and with the right app on a smartphone (Android and iOS are supported), the phone can be used as a remote viewfinder. Ships in December for US$2100 for the camera alone, or US$2900 with the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. See the read link for a preview by DPReview.com!