iPhone 2nd Impressions

broderic on July 1, 2007

CapitolSwell has a really thoughtful post on his new iPhone.

With the iPhone there is a conscienciousness [sic] which slows ones actions so you see the whole picture. Seeing the whole picture gives one clarity beyond clarity. the iPhone is the Kwisatz Haderach from Dune, the sleeper has awaken.

This is a good stepping point for my second impression of the iPhone. I remember complaining to whoever would listen that I wouldn’t get an iPhone because I didn’t use my cellphone in that manner. I hardly had the need for using mobile internet. It cost too much already and was slow. Yet, I did buy the iPhone for use as a mobile internet device. If it had phone capabilities then more power to it.

So I primarily was drooling over the need for mobile internet. At a cost of $20, I get unlimited EDGE network data transfers. Will I be using it as much? Well, the iPhone comes with WiFi. I got it working after some fiddling with settings, resetting the iPhone, and rebooting a couple of times. I haven’t noticed if the WiFi is faster, but at times it can be slower.

Safari on this thing rocks. The user interface has just been fun to learn. Plus when I am not using it, I am starting to make gestures on the trackpad of my TiBook. I tried to page up by flicking my finger. Weird! The fonts screen are too small though. I think I may need to start wearing my glasses. Or go for a checkup.

I have crashed several apps already. You’re working in one and then, swoosh, you’re back at the main screen. When you reconnect with your computer, iTunes will ask to send the crash reports to Apple. I looked at the logs and they’re pretty interesting.

Syncing is something strange. You have to use iTunes. I wish they had a standalone app to do this. It’s awkward to use. If you uncheck items that you had previously checked, then synced, those items are deleted from the phone which, to me, was unexpected. Syncing is one way — from your computer to the iPhone. I wanted to update some of my contacts on my computer, but it wanted to erase the changes.

Google maps rocks. It’s got a traffic report on it which I have to wait until monday to test out. That iPhone commercial is true. You can find the nearest seafood restaurant near you and call it or get directions.

Mail is fun and frustrating. I have it syncing with my yahoo email account, but can also do it with my Mindspring accounts as well. There’s no spam filter so you better get used to sorting by hand. It’s also doesn’t have the check box thing to do batch operations on. If you want to move a file to a folder, you have to open up each one and do it by hand. I am thinking about a new yahoo mail address, so I can get a fresh start on it.

I have been texting more. Mainly with Margaux. My plan has 200 free text messages. The way the iPnone displays them similar to an iChat session seems to me to make it more easier to use all 200 in a month. Hilarious.

The iPhone forces you do become more digital. Before, I barely cared about my mac addressbook, ical and others, but now with the ability to take it on the road with me I think I have to update those things better. It is truly a convergence device.

Live Free Or Die Hard

broderic on June 30, 2007

Hmm. I’ll take what’s behind door number two, Alex.

The summer of ponderous sequels continues with the latest Bruce Willis Die Hard, Live Free or Die Hard. In it, we have a simple everyday beat cop trying to stop the next terrorist threat, but only finding that it was a bank heist. In this version, the terrorist is the former counter-cyberterrorist computing czar and the bank he heists is all of them. With so much problems in the world, why does it end up being a smash and grab?

As I sat through this movie, I couldn’t help feeling that it didn’t matter if this was a Bruce Willis Die Hard film, because the story and situation was too generic that even Steven Seagal’s Casey Ryback could’ve handled this one. And now that I remember it, he was in the exact same situation in Under Siege 2! It’s a rip off. I would’ve liked to have seen Seagal snap that dude’s knee backwards, though.

The stunts were spectacular. The CGI was barely noticeable, and the explosions were pretty good. At least you knew Bruce Willis was getting pummeled and getting hurt. The only thing phony is that the east coast namely DC doesn’t have elevated highways that spiral to nowhere. And Baltimore doesn’t look anything like DC.

2 of 5 stars.

iPhone Impressions

broderic on June 30, 2007

Woke up early considering I went to bed late just to try and fiddle with the iPhone. Officially, it’s named Thorin. Here’s some impressions I am getting with it.

The screen is gorgeous. It’s bright and everything is readable even without my need of glasses.

Wi-fi sucks. It seems to not want to connect and use my wireless network at home. I also seem to have to turn off every other device for it to connect with the router. I wonder if I should just get the new Airport basestation. This is the most maddening.

The AT&T network is being dropped. I can’t tell if this is residual from the wireless issue. Currently, I have no connection when I should be connected just fine.

USB2.0 to USB1.0 sucks. The worst experience ever. Apple should’ve really pushed their firewire. It would’ve been much, much better. I am waiting on perhaps an hour for it to sync.

I have too much junk now. I have to get rid of some things.

iPhone Madness

broderic on June 30, 2007

Unlike CapitolSwell, I am currently an owner of the iPhone. I have no idea why. Mostly, it is because my current phone sucks. Its screen is busted. The vibrate doesn’t work. And that was the last straw.

I bought the hype. Now I just need to sync it up, and connect.

Best Buy

broderic on June 29, 2007

Stopped by Best Buy on the way home, because I wanted to burn the gift cards I had received from WaterLili for the last two Christmases. This is my third time in the new Best Buy just down the street from me, but it’s my first time walking away with some product.

Of course, I looked at the DVDs. Bought a three. Went to pay for it. Find out that I had a total of $45.00, so that I have some money still left on it.

Dang!

I hate getting DVDs at Best Buy. It’s only good when you know exactly what you want, and what you want is a very popular release like Dumb and Dumber the Dumbest edition or Ants in your Plants of 2006. If you want something off the beaten path, you’re SOL (for the kids!).

Plus browsing is plain hideous. Perhaps, I am used to web where I can follow any path through Amazon. I can start at one link and take another link upon my choosing. I am not boxed in by categories. I can easily search for something that pops into my head. If an idea develops, I can follow it until I find the movie that I know will compliment my DVD collection.

Best Buy is so analog.

At Amazon I can find almost any DVD.

Buying it from there is another blog post

On the Road. Rain, Rain, Go Away

broderic on June 28, 2007

I’ve ridden so many times at home that I am sick and tired of it. So I hit the road for the BWI trail. I rack the bike this morning in order to ride after work. It’s a dicey proposition as the summer brings thunder storms. That worries me as I don’t want to have my bike soaked. But it happens and my bike gets soaked in an afternoon thunder storm.

Coming Soon

broderic on June 27, 2007

I usually don’t like watching a show at The Charles because it’s so far away and antiquated. Except they have a couple of movies playing that I really would like to watch, Paris, je t’aime and Once. They may be only playing for a limited time so I think I need to hurry up.

Also, The Charles is having a film noir retrospective until the end of summer. There’s some films there I want to see. In particular, Double Indemnity on the big screen would be rather cool. You know why.

Of course, also this upcoming week is a big movie one. Die Hard 4 is opening up today, Ratatouille for the weekend, and Transformers for July 4. That’s a lot to see in the theatres.

I hope to get to some of these.

1408

broderic on June 26, 2007

You may wonder if 1408 is Steven King revisiting his seminal work, The Shining. In a ways it is. Creepy hotel. Creepy hotel workers. A writer loosing his mind or is he? All themes and signs that King has worked into his writing throughout his career. If I told you that 1408 was nothing more than a cheap imitation of The Shining, would it surprise you when I told you it isn’t? Perhaps not, but you can still guess all the plot threads in this film.

John Cusack is an unheralded writer in the throes of finishing out his career as the go to guy for ghost hunter guides. He debunks supposedly haunted places. Out of the blue, he receives a card not to spend a night in the titular room of the Dolphin Hotel in New York. After researching it, he has to find out why he shouldn’t and visits anyway. He spends the night in the hotel room. Does he get scared out of his mind? He goes crazy for the hour. And the ghosts and the room get to him.

I read a lot of ghost stories in my time. I can imagine this one as a story rather than a movie. It would seem to have fit in with the later day stories. Not the Victorian ghost stories that I dearly love. They all have a sceptic who falls into a frightening place, and eventually comes to believe in the supernatural.

This movie had some scares. I am glad for it. Because of the prevalence of the new wave of slasher/torture pics coming, the horror genre didn’t seem to be for fun. The movies have been given to being about the violence. Like pulling the wings off a fly for the sake of being sadistic. 1408 was a throw back to just plain atmospheric creeps. No cutting throats or half-sawn faces. Just trying to say, “BOO.”

BOO!

It won’t scare you, but it will on occasion make you have goosebumps. And that’s good enough for me.

3 of 5 stars.

E = MC^2

broderic on June 26, 2007

80% Geek

Those questions were kind of lame. They asked when did I start playing computer games, but didn’t even have the 70s. That would’ve shot me up at least an extra 5%!

From Margeaux.