these are my words.
Posts tagged iphone
Why the iPhone 3GS is not a must-buy
Jun 8th
Apple launched the 2009 edition of the Worldwide Developers Conference with two big announcements – a launch date for the much-anticipated iPhone 3.0 operating system, and the new iPhone 3GS hardware. While the new OS is a must-have for any iPhone owner, the 3GS is more like a hardware version of a .1 release and not a must-buy.
The new 3GS is promised to have improved performance that will outpace the processing power of current-release iPhones, but the tangible hardware-exclusives are not worth the unsubsidized price-point current 3G owners will have to shell out.
3GS owners will have a built-in compass (ummm…), built-in video recording, editing and upload (something that admittedly has me drooling, but is also a first-gen release), and a new 3MP camera (again… for serious pics, I’m using my REAL digital camera and not a phone). That leaves improved performance of apps like Safari, Mail, etc. as selling points, and THAT is not enough to make me want to upgrade.
Come OS3.0 day, iPhone 3G owners will effectively end up with brand new phones – complete with landscape keyboard in key apps, push notifications, tethering, MMS, new APIs which will equal hot new apps, and more. For a guy like me who tweets, checks Facebook, ends the occasional e-mail and surfs the web a bit, OS3.0 will be all the upgrade I need… for now.
So – how long should one wait to upgrade hardware? I don’t know about you, but I’m waiting until:
- video editing gets a solid point revision
- I can’t run 3rd party killer apps on the 3G hardware
- iChat and iSight come to the iPhone
- a major OS overhaul which requires new hardware
- my current phone breaks (knock on wood, this won’t happen in the next 25 months)
In short – to all my iPhone 3G friends… wait! 3GS may be faster and have a couple of new bells and whistles… but I don’t believe it is necessary to change hardware just yet!
Sent from my iPhone 3G. 
+J
Bike blogging
Nov 17th
Well, it’s been a few days since I last wrote a blog entry while riding the bike at the gym.. and I figured today is as good of a day as any to do it.
Last week was spent behind the ‘Garlic Curtain’ (aka Yorkton) visiting the family. It has been a while since I travelled home, so this was a good catch up visit complete with rich, hearty, homestyle food. It was so tasty -yet bad for the waistline. That said, it’s home cooking and it is hard to beat.
While I was in Yorkton, I was relatively stranded from the social grid (save for my Macbook Pro) because my iPhone decided not to work. It simply wouldn’t detect the EDGE network, cutting me off from cell phone calls, text messages and the mobile web. It was amazing how quickly I got used to not having my phone handy at all times to do simple things like quickly looking something up on Google, or posting a witty – yet salient – quip to Twitter. By the time I hit the road on Friday, it was a total surprise to not only hear my phone ring, but to have stable service.
However, when my phone DID ring, I was dismayed that it was (yet again) for the folks who owned the number before I did. It seems they have a collection agency chasing them, and it’s the kind of one that uses a robocaller to make outbound calls. I tried calling in to the number once to tell them they have the wrong number, but after a 45 minute wait on hold, I said ’screw it’ and just started ignoring the calls. By the end of the week lady week, the calls were approaching two-a-day. That is when the straw broke the camel’s back. I called Rogers and got them to change the number. (They even did it at no charge!). Since then? No annoying calls. Hurrah!
Bike talk time is 15:10.
This weekend also saw me complete the purchase of all the gear I need to to and hurt myself in the mountains. I am quite proud to say I now own a snowboard jacket, pants, mitts, a new beanie, and wrist guards. Oh. And. A base layer. All I need to do now is rent a board and boots, and I’m set.
Going snowboarding is going to be one hell of a fun week. For the last three years, I’ve kept on saying I’d to and learn… And now I’m finally going. Whether I’d not I’m any good is beside the point. It’s all about having fun. And not breaking any limbs. And, if I yen turn out to be even half hood? I’ll have a new winter hobby.
The only thing left to do before heading off for the mountains is to get a haircut. Right now, I’m between three options. The least offensive (and probably most-worth-the-value) us to go to Angles and get the ol faux hawk. It is versatile, and wears well both for work and play. U could shave it all off again (which isn’t a bad thing since cold weather season is near and I get touque head somethig bad.) The other options I’m considering (and mom – because she reads this blog – cover your eyes) is to go for the shaved down mohawk landing strip… which could make me look particularily badass, and be easily converted to a plain ok shaved head upon my return to work.
Ahhhh. Decisions, decisions. What to to, what to do. (Your suggestions are welcome in the comments… )
Bike talk time is 27:20.
And with that, I’m going to wrap up yet another blog post from a stationary bike. It’s been a slice!
+J
Notes from all over…
Nov 12th
The new album from The Killers – “Day and Age” – drops November 24th. The two cuts I’ve heard from it so far — Human and Spaceman — are fantastic. Spaceman especially. For some reason, The Killers manage to create a sound that sends my head back to when I was little — you know, wearing pajamas, eating cereal, and watching Saturday morning cartoons cross-legged in the living room. Simpler times…
I’ve been watching much more TV in the last few days of holidays than I have in a long time. In the process, I’m playing catch-up on some things. Like — for example — this (which is awesome.)
With Christmas not far away now, TV is starting fill up with commericals for the season. And, in an effort to stand out from the crowd, advertisers are really working overtime to find obscure Christmas-like songs to provide the soundtrack for the season of shopping. My favourite use of music right now is on the Sears commercials — where the song of choice is Badly Drawn Boy’s Donna and Blitzen. Very very cool.
Finally, Engadget/TUAW is reporting this morning that iPhone 2.2 firmware will start being available for download on November 21st. The two big additions for me will be the addition of Street View to Google Maps (damn Google vans… drive through Canada once in a while!), and the ability to turn off auto-correct (a good thing when you’re trying to talk in a corporate language and not in normal people words.)
On that note… I’m off to play some Blockles. You should too.
+J