Friday, July 30, 2010
AT&T 3G!!!
Just a quick one tonight, but I just wanted to let the people of Aberdeen know that AT&T 3G coverage is now available. So all you iPhone and iPad owners out there should be rejoicing! You now have full functionality. And for those of you not feeling Apple love, you can still be excited if you have a 3G capable phone through AT&T. My phone even celebrated with the display of a little 'G' over my status bars.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Trouble With iPhones
Being someone who really does enjoy his service from AT&T, and is pleased with the functionality of his simple Sony Ericsson W518a, I have noticed something of a saddening trend: how many people have switched over to AT&T over iPhone envy.
Now, if you really do like your iPhone, this article is not for you. But for those of you that made the change in carrier just because you had to keep up with the Joneses, I would like to speak with you for just a moment.
Why? Why do people switch over to a new carrier just to get a phone they may or may not like? Why do some people have to make a big deal over their purchase of something as simple as a phone (and yes, I do realize that the iphone is in no way simple, but it is still just a phone)?
Its because we desire things that seem exclusive. Heck, just look at Apple itself, they've made an empire out of being elusive and elite. And people continue to eat it up. It isn't because Mac are better, or because they're more functional, but because they are shiny. Every thing about them is sleek and stylish, and people buy into that.
Which brings me to the conclusion of this discussion. Having looked at the numbers of Digital Fruit's annual cell phone survey, I've noticed a shift, slowly creeping away from the local Verizon population to other cell phone services. The largest of which has been to AT&T. Almost all of those new phones and plans are the iPhones people have been buying. Can one phone really bring that many people? It can if its shiny.
Now, if you really do like your iPhone, this article is not for you. But for those of you that made the change in carrier just because you had to keep up with the Joneses, I would like to speak with you for just a moment.
Why? Why do people switch over to a new carrier just to get a phone they may or may not like? Why do some people have to make a big deal over their purchase of something as simple as a phone (and yes, I do realize that the iphone is in no way simple, but it is still just a phone)?
Its because we desire things that seem exclusive. Heck, just look at Apple itself, they've made an empire out of being elusive and elite. And people continue to eat it up. It isn't because Mac are better, or because they're more functional, but because they are shiny. Every thing about them is sleek and stylish, and people buy into that.
Which brings me to the conclusion of this discussion. Having looked at the numbers of Digital Fruit's annual cell phone survey, I've noticed a shift, slowly creeping away from the local Verizon population to other cell phone services. The largest of which has been to AT&T. Almost all of those new phones and plans are the iPhones people have been buying. Can one phone really bring that many people? It can if its shiny.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
Am I the Only One?
So, I was just reading through some blog posts, and I found one on MacDailyNews about Mary Jo Foley, a Microsoft blogger that just recently purchased an iPad. I was shocked. Not by the article, which was the usual, computer-politics driven garbage, all about how one system is far superior to another because we worship it (and yes, you Linux and Windows people do it too). No, what shocked me was the comments.
People seem so zealous over something so trivial. The business-driven geeks of the world have striven for so long to make your operating system irrelevant, and content available on whichever system you chose, that trash-talk about how one OS outweighs another seems like sad sales pitches.
Now if these people making comments had had valid concerns with the ease-of-use or the security and usability of Windows, I would have taken them seriously, but I found none after roughly twenty posted comments. Not once did I see a comparison of features, or how things really are better on the other side. This whole damn world of computer consumers seems obsessed with the religious cult of (insert Operating System Here). Its stupid. The people posting on Mac Daily News need to get over their buyers remorse, realize that they're computer is not a god, but a piece of machinery intended to entertain or make productive, and get over brand labeling. So do the people on ZDnet (all of you Verizon addicts). And the people on any of the other thousands of blogging and news sites out there who get so sure that their chosen system is the center of the computing universe.
I can guarantee that if its a system out there, I can find a way to program in C++ on it, so in the end, they all end up the same lumps of hardware. (Though that is another school of contention, but I won't rag on them here.)
So, to the whole world of zealous, cultist computer users, grow up and get over yourselves. I'm out.
People seem so zealous over something so trivial. The business-driven geeks of the world have striven for so long to make your operating system irrelevant, and content available on whichever system you chose, that trash-talk about how one OS outweighs another seems like sad sales pitches.
Now if these people making comments had had valid concerns with the ease-of-use or the security and usability of Windows, I would have taken them seriously, but I found none after roughly twenty posted comments. Not once did I see a comparison of features, or how things really are better on the other side. This whole damn world of computer consumers seems obsessed with the religious cult of (insert Operating System Here). Its stupid. The people posting on Mac Daily News need to get over their buyers remorse, realize that they're computer is not a god, but a piece of machinery intended to entertain or make productive, and get over brand labeling. So do the people on ZDnet (all of you Verizon addicts). And the people on any of the other thousands of blogging and news sites out there who get so sure that their chosen system is the center of the computing universe.
I can guarantee that if its a system out there, I can find a way to program in C++ on it, so in the end, they all end up the same lumps of hardware. (Though that is another school of contention, but I won't rag on them here.)
So, to the whole world of zealous, cultist computer users, grow up and get over yourselves. I'm out.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Death of Another Phone
As the trend seems to deepen, more damage seems to be happening to major cellphone companies. With what seems to be a disbanding of Motorola, and problems with HTC, its disheartening to hear that Google has ended the Nexus One phone.
As I read today in this blog post from ZDnet, Google is now ending the Nexus One, and the web store that goes with it.
I'm disappointed, because this means that one more of the iPhone's competitors has gone down. I'm not against the iPhone or anything like that, but competition is the driving force behind innovation, and if no one competes with the iPhone, more problems like those plaguing the iPhone 4 will crop up. And that isn't something anyone but their competitors should want.
As I read today in this blog post from ZDnet, Google is now ending the Nexus One, and the web store that goes with it.
I'm disappointed, because this means that one more of the iPhone's competitors has gone down. I'm not against the iPhone or anything like that, but competition is the driving force behind innovation, and if no one competes with the iPhone, more problems like those plaguing the iPhone 4 will crop up. And that isn't something anyone but their competitors should want.
Vending Troubles
So, today I spent some time walking around the Tacoma mall, and I marveled at just how much you can get out of vending machines these days. Its a tech geeks dream. Anything from a new PSP Go, to an iPod touch, to USB thumb drives of Star Wars and Hello Kitty. it was crazy.
And then there was the methods of payment. Not only did most of these machines accept the usual bills and coins, but I finally saw some of those credit and debit readers that I saw so many years ago in California. Some even had interactive touch screens for selecting my choices.
Though there was a sobering reminder that just because something is new and technologically advanced, does it mean that it will work better. When I slid my debit card to get a nice cold Coca-Cola, what I got was a charge one dollar more than what the machine had displayed for the price of the coke, and no coke. Yep, that is correct, the vending machine digitally ate my change. I was furious. I then cursed the machine to suffer in the lowest circle of Hades, and vowed to contact my bank later to block the charge.
So, with my new-found experience with the wonders of modern technology, I'm happy to say that we have a long way to go before we get to the utopian world of trouble free shopping that always gets advertised. I think we're closer to the mad-cap mayhem that was often seen on the Jetsons, with the wonderful trappings of society constantly failing, and the same old complaints issuing from consumers lips. I'm happy because this means there is still a place for something like Digital Fruit, because problems are what we fix.
Till next time, I'll catch you on the flip side.
And then there was the methods of payment. Not only did most of these machines accept the usual bills and coins, but I finally saw some of those credit and debit readers that I saw so many years ago in California. Some even had interactive touch screens for selecting my choices.
Though there was a sobering reminder that just because something is new and technologically advanced, does it mean that it will work better. When I slid my debit card to get a nice cold Coca-Cola, what I got was a charge one dollar more than what the machine had displayed for the price of the coke, and no coke. Yep, that is correct, the vending machine digitally ate my change. I was furious. I then cursed the machine to suffer in the lowest circle of Hades, and vowed to contact my bank later to block the charge.
So, with my new-found experience with the wonders of modern technology, I'm happy to say that we have a long way to go before we get to the utopian world of trouble free shopping that always gets advertised. I think we're closer to the mad-cap mayhem that was often seen on the Jetsons, with the wonderful trappings of society constantly failing, and the same old complaints issuing from consumers lips. I'm happy because this means there is still a place for something like Digital Fruit, because problems are what we fix.
Till next time, I'll catch you on the flip side.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Ubuntu 10.4 Update
So, now that it has been about two months, I decided it would be a good idea to revisit Ubuntu 10.4 after all the glitter and glamor have worn off, and I've really had a chance to get to know the rogue operating system. And I still stand by my previous review.
I'm still learning the ins and outs, but over all, my experience with Ubuntu 10.4 is solid, and I find myself actually wanting to use it over Windows and Mac. At least casually. Which is where I find myself in a strange predicament. I still use Windows for my web development, and for programming, and for gaming, and for video encoding, and for... well, you get the picture. But when I want to go and just surf the net, or check my e-mail, or update my blog, or listen to music, or do just about anything the casual computer user really does(even time-waster gaming), I find myself using Ubuntu instead.
So, I'm not sure if I'm alone in this, but I seem to have become a closet-casual Linux user. And I'm happy about this.
So, along with this change, I'm now testing out software that is compatible across at least Windows and Ubuntu, with easy .exe and .deb installers that people with no background in computers can use. I want to really explore and find out if this casual Linux use can really change the way I use computers, and, at least personally, if the penguin can win me over.
I'm still learning the ins and outs, but over all, my experience with Ubuntu 10.4 is solid, and I find myself actually wanting to use it over Windows and Mac. At least casually. Which is where I find myself in a strange predicament. I still use Windows for my web development, and for programming, and for gaming, and for video encoding, and for... well, you get the picture. But when I want to go and just surf the net, or check my e-mail, or update my blog, or listen to music, or do just about anything the casual computer user really does(even time-waster gaming), I find myself using Ubuntu instead.
So, I'm not sure if I'm alone in this, but I seem to have become a closet-casual Linux user. And I'm happy about this.
So, along with this change, I'm now testing out software that is compatible across at least Windows and Ubuntu, with easy .exe and .deb installers that people with no background in computers can use. I want to really explore and find out if this casual Linux use can really change the way I use computers, and, at least personally, if the penguin can win me over.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Power Outage Opportunity
So, we had a power outage here the other day, something about a car hitting a pole, and it left me with some time to work on alternative power methods. I've really enjoyed tinkering with the different components that I'm learning about, and that power outage was the first test. Sadly, I was only able to work with candles, so the amount of energy I was producing was minimal, but I was able to produce 1.89V of power stably, and was using that to charge a 1.5V battery. It was fun, but I've learned that my knowledge of power production has a long way to go before I can apply any of it to the business of Digital Fruit.
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