The Stand-up Philosopher

Why I ’ m (Rationalizing) Enduring AT & T

I’ve been complaining a lot lately about AT&T. I’m sorry. I tend to talk to my wife in the evenings while I’m sitting on my laptop and it’s easy to open Twitter and complain while I’m trying to reconnect the call. I guess I should stop. I’ve always had a problem when I get frustrated and have easy access to Twitter. You have no idea how hard it was not to rant on Twitter while I was working as a Realtor. I had other people’s businesses at stake, so I forced myself to keep my digital mouth shut.

I have no love for AT&T. I’ve endured them for a long time. I’ve been with “The New AT&T” since 2005, but before that I kept bouncing between Cingular and AT&T Wireless for 5 years prior to that as I’d leave one for the other only to be bought back by the one I left.

I used to be a Windows Mobile user. Microsoft rebuilt the platform from scratch and calls it Windows Phone now. I still see the same problems that have plagued it all along, except that none of the Windows Mobile applications I’ve bought over the years will work with Windows Phone, and most of the developers of applications I like to use have no plans to develop for it. You can’t even get Kindle for it, and Amazon has written a Kindle app for just about every other platform with more than 20 users.

People helpfully recommend that I switch to Verizon. I’m sure it’s a much better carrier, especially considering Consumer Reports rates AT&T as the worst U.S. Cell Phone carrier. My experience validates that. It’s nice to have some objective data to back experience. And it’s not like I live in the sticks. The majority of our time is spent in the Washington D.C. and Philadelphia metropolitan areas, where all cell providers should have a full and reliable network established.

So why don’t I just switch to Verizon and get a Droid of some kind? No doubt, there are some nice android devices. A coworker of mine just got an Incredible. They sure are nice.

I heard somewhere that we never make an objective decision. We mostly make decisions based on emotion THEN look for objective reasons to justify those decisions. Yes, my wife and I bought a timeshare once.

These are the rationalizations I’ve chosen for continuing to endure AT&T, even though it sucks and I can’t talk to my wife for 10 minutes without the call dropping 5 times:

1: I really do like the iPhone- Yes, I’m a true believer. I like the iPhone. I just got my iPhone 4 a few weeks ago, and I’m really happy with it. It’s far from perfect, but it does what I need it to do. I’ve long since integrated iTunes into my workflow for music, podcasts, and audiobooks. That’s probably what I use the iPhone for the most. In the dark days of Windows Mobile, I had to manually transfer podcasts to the device each and every day, and delete those that I listened to. It just happens on the iPhone. It’s beautiful. It works for me.

Also, I already had to rebuy some of the apps I used on Windows Mobile for the iPhone. I don’t want to have to buy them again for a droid device, and again if I switch droid devices.

2: I’m afraid a droid device will end up with some of the same problems I had on Windows Mobile- I agree, droids are wonderful, but hear me out. I know Apple is a “closed” platform. Steve jobs calls it integrated. Rather than “open”, he refers to Android as a fragmented system.

This is one of the biggest problems I had with Windows Mobile (beside the fact that it sucked). I would go out and buy a new Windows Mobile phone. Then Microsoft released a new version of the OS. Microsoft made the OS, then released it to the hardware manufacturers. The hardware manufacturers would then integrate it into their devices. They’d often add extra software. They also wrote the drivers. But they often had many different models of phones, and I’m not convinced they tested them well enough. They’d release a buggy phone to the market and not support it. Even if support was provided, it took months to come out, leaving the paying customer with a buggy product. Then, when Microsoft releases a new version of the OS, it’s up to the manufacturer to provide an update for the device. Most manufacturers had the attitude of “You want a new OS, buy a new phone”. Even if the last one was under 6 months old. I went through that when I bought an HP 68xx not too long before Windows Mobile 6 came out. HP had no plans to provide an upgrade for the device.

I’m afraid of that happening with Android, because I’ve lived through it on Windows Mobile. Then, with all the different versions of the OS floating around on different devices, it becomes a nightmare for developers to support. They often discontinue support for older devices, leaving you unable to use some good apps.

Don’t' forget, Verizon was originally offered the iPhone. They turned it down, because they wouldn’t bend to Apple’s demands. As much as I don’t like AT&T, I’m happy not to have an iPhone full of stupid icons and apps like “AT&T Music”, “AT&T Navigator”, and all that other pointless junk that never gets used. Can you imagine how much crap Verizon would install on the iPhone? Don’t forget, Verizon neuters Bluetooth and other capabilities on phones that run on their network. Even though AT&T objectively sucks in the service they deliver, at least they were willing to bend on those issues.

If I could only delete “Stocks” and “Game Zone” from my iPhone. But thanks to iOS 4, I have them grouped in a folder “Undeletable BS”.

So that’s why I’m making the choice to endure AT&T’s crappy network and lack of service until I can get the iPhone on a real network.

My Comment On A Blog Post About Windows Phone 7

A colleague at work pointed out a blog post about Windows Phone 7. The writer of the post bought a new phone with Windows Phone 7 installed on it. He took it back within 4 hours and had to pay a restocking fee.

I would have simply left a comment on the blog post itself, but it’s hosted on InfoWorld, and I would have to register for an account. In a day and age when a 10 year old could easily code a site to allow me to log in with an existing account (like FaceBook, Twitter, or Wordpress), InfoWorld, a site that apparently markets itself to IT professionals, requires me to create yet another account on their site. I’m tired of having to keep track of logins and passwords. I can’t tell you have many sites and blogs and forums I’ve had to create an account on just to leave a comment or view information and NEVER GO BACK AGAIN. I’m tired of it.

So I’ll just use my existing blog to share my thoughts. You can find the original post here. My colleague and I both saw the post as totally unprofessional. Ooh, a supposed professional IT journalist sees an advertisement about how cool Windows Phone 7 is, runs out, buys one, and finds it totally unworkable in real life. How the heck is that news?

I’ve paid my dues with Windows Mobile, which is now called Windows Phone. Yeah, renaming it is sure to change things. I know, they supposed rebuilt the code from scratch. That, of course, means none of the programs I’ve bought for Windows Mobile over the years will work on the new platform. I have to buy them all over again IF THE DEVELOPER EVEN DECIDES TO PURSUE THE PLATFORM. Of course, the programs I’m used to on the iPhone aren’t likely to port over quickly or easily. Most developers of programs I use are waiting to see if the darn thing actually sells before spending time developing for it. Talk about a catch-22.

I’ve had 8 devices with Windows Mobile on them, from Pocket PC’s to touchscreen phones to Smart Phones. I’ve used every version of Windows Mobile from 2002 to 6.1. Each had the same problems. In some cases, new problems were introduced. Windows Mobile 6 and 6.1 had a deliberate smtp bug BUILT INTO THE CODE which caused you to have to delete and recreate your email account after sending 2 or 3 email messages.

I finally jumped ship to the iPhone after the Samsung Epix. It was my last straw. For the most part, I like the iPhone. It’s not perfect, but it does what I want it to do well enough. I still have the iPhone 3G, which is slow and functionally obsolete even though it’s still under warranty. Yeah, I know. You have to accept that with Apple products. I’m looking forward to getting an iPhone 4 soon. I’ll probably get one just in time for the iPhone 5 to come out.

I thought the blog post was childish and whiny, even though it was correct. The commercials made Windows Phone 7 sound really cool. But in real life, it doesn’t work. The commercials say something about “take the office with you”, but you can’t. It won’t work with an encrypted Exchange server (a Microsoft product, come on, Microsoft, really?) and Pocket Office doesn’t work any better than it did on Windows Mobile 2005 when it was first rolled out. Pocket Word and Pocket Excel existed previously, but required files to be in a special mobile format. It stripped formatting out of any documents synced to the device, like resumes.

Windows Phone 7 won’t support static IP addresses for those paranoid freaks (like the blogger on InfoWorld) who can’t use DHCP because hackers are targeting THEIR HOME NETWORK for special hacking. The iPhone will!

I already have long since decided that I won’t be getting a Windows Phone 7 phone. This InfoWorld blog post was mostly a waste of my time to read (and comment on), but it validated my decision.

Did Microsoft Actually Do Something Right?

After years of reading Lifehacker posts about tweaks to make Windows more like Mac OS X, here’s a post about a way to add some Windows functionality to Mac’s OS. Apparently, Windows 7’s Aero Peek is a coveted feature.

I like Aero Peek. If I ever get a Mac, I’ll install this program on it.

BlackBerry Blog: The First 5 Things I Do When I Get a New BlackBerry

It’s amazing how different the main smartphone platforms are. I came across a post on the BlackBerry Blog about the first 5 things the writer does when setting up a new BlackBerry.

I’m a dedicated iPhone user by this point. I’m not saying iPhone is the best out there, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s the best for me.

I almost laughed at the first thing this person does: Check to see if the device runs the latest software. When Christina and I got BlackJack II’s in 2008, they were running Windows Mobile 6.0. I learned that Windows Mobile 6.1 was out, so I spent most of that evening updating our new phones to the newest operating system.

I couldn’t even imagine Apple doing that. If you buy ANY iPhone from Apple, it will come out of the box with the newest version of the operating system. That makes me want to laugh at the other smartphone platforms. I’m pretty sure any new Mac comes with the latest software, although I don’t have much experience with buying new macs. I know I’ve never gotten a new Windows PC that didn’t have to download buttloads of updates right away. I’ve also never installed Linux without having to install tons of updates either.

That’s one of the things I like about the iPhone. I can get a new one, plug it into my laptop, and tell it to restore from my last backup. Then I have essentially the same phone without skipping a beat.

What It ’ s Like To Own An Apple Product

I came across this cartoon. I think it’s accurate enough.

Apple has got to be the only company on Earth to have a product that is barely 2 years old and still under warranty (my iPhone 3G), but is 2 generations behind and functionally obsolete.

Rumors About the iPhone on Verizon Annoy Me

Ever since the day the iPhone came out, tech blogs have been whining about how it should be released on Verizon. Every time a new iPhone or software update comes out, rumors start flying about how the iPhone will be on Verizon soon.

I want to reach through my screen and ask the tech bloggers or reporters if they remember 2 basic facts:

1. Apple originally approached Verizon with the iPhone. Verizon would not bend it's will far enough to allow the iPhone to be what it is on AT&T's network.
2. Apple has a 5 year contract with AT&T. Let's see, the first iPhone came out in 2007.

2007+5=2012.

That means the exclusive agreement will be over about in time for the end of the world. Unless you follow Harold Camping, in which case the world will end a few weeks before the iPhone 5 announcement...

None of the “iPhone on Verizon” rumors contain any statements like “AT&T is releasing Apple from it’s agreement” or “Verizon is relaxing it’s dictatorial grip on smartphone capabilities”. The last time I had a Verizon phone, I still couldn’t transfer ringtones to it over Bluetooth.

Most of these rumors operate on the assumption that the day after the iPhone came out, Verizon got on it’s knees in repentance to Steve Jobs and said “We are most sorry. We will allow you to do whatever you want on our network regardless of our existing policy. Have your way with us, oh great Steve.”

So today The Unofficial Apple Weblog ran its 48,031st rumor that a Verizon ready iPhone has been in existence at Apple, and is being developed alongside it’s cousin until the day it can be released.

My prediction? IF the iPhone EVER is released on Verizon, it will be after June of 2012. If it’s EVER released. Show me some evidence that Verizon will actually allow the iPhone to run at it’s AT&T capacity or better on their network, and I’ll believe it.

MobileMe May Soon Be Free?

This is interesting: according to TUAW, MobileMe might be free very soon. I took a 60 day trial of MobileMe last year, during October and November. It was decent, but other than the 20 GB of "cloud" storage, it didn't offer me anything Google didn't. At least, as a Windows user. I knew a couple of Mac users who got a lot out of it. 

I ended up cancelling the trial before it ran out. I figured I'd go back someday, if I buy a Mac.

Would you try MobileMe if it went free? 

iPhone OS 4 Multitasking

Here’s a video I came across featuring the multi-tasking in iPhone OS4.  It would be far more impressive if it showed more than Notes, Settings, and Clock.

And of course, it won’t work on my 3G. I’d have to jailbreak for that. Apple won’t support it.

So, What Do YOU Think of the iPad?

Today Apple announced the iPad,which has been referred to by fans as the Tablet for a while. I was getting sick of hearing about the Tablet. I was kind of hoping that it would turn out to be a figment of fans’ imaginations.

I watched the Gizmodo liveblog of the event this afternoon at work. I wasn’t interested in the Tablet, but I did want to know if the iPhone will see a software update anytime soon.

The name is cheesy. I saw Jason Dunn mention on Twitter that Apple must be moving into the feminine hygiene market now. I wanted to laugh, but there was too much activity around my cubicle again.

Through most of the event, I just couldn’t find anything to be impressed about. The iPad looks like an oversized iPhone. I already have an iPhone. But when they mentioned iWork, that got me interested. I do like the idea of being able to surf the Internet, check email, update Twitter, look at pictures, read books, and watch movies or listen to music on the go. That’s why I have an iPhone in the first place. I couldn’t make the intellectual leap as to why an iPhone that wouldn’t fit in my pocket would be a good idea.

Until I heard that you can actually work on the thing. I don’t do a lot of presentations. I’m hoping I can start doing some freelance writing soon, and the mobility and battery life are fairly attractive to me. It got me interested, anyway. I still think a MacBook Pro would be better for me.

As a technology blogger, I would be falling asleep at the switch if I didn’t offer a prediction. Here’s my prediction: this will be the last time Apple designs a product just because its fans and critics wouldn’t shut up about building a product.

That or it will be insanely successful and will revolutionize mobile computing.

Or a third option that I lack the imagination to see.

All I can say is I’m not that excited by it yet.

Fake Steve: Conference Call with Randall Stephenson at AT&T

Fake Steve nails it. Here is a post on the Fake Steve Jobs blog about a fictional conference call with Randall Stephenson of AT&T about how iPhone users are using too much bandwidth and AT&T wants to find a way to give them (us) an incentive to use less.

For those of you concerned about such things, the language is a little raw so be warned. Overall, I thought it was hilarious. I wish the real Steve Jobs would tell AT&T the same thing.

And now here we are. Right here in your own backyard, an American company creates a brilliant phone, and that company hands it to you, and gives you an exclusive deal to carry it — and all you guys can do is complain about how much people want to use it. You, Randall Stephenson, and your lazy stupid company — you are the problem. You are what’s wrong with this country.

UPDATE: It has come to my attention that Randall Stephenson is also a fictional personality. Sorry, though I've been an AT&T customer for years, I honestly never cared enough to find out who AT&T's executives are. Fictional executive aside, I'd still say Fake Steve (Dan Lyons) is dead on.

iPhone Annoyances

I still love my iPhone. I just wanted to spend a minute ranting about an iPhone behavior that I can’t understand the logic for.

Sometimes, when reading email, I’ll get to the bottom and find a dotted line with “This message is partially downloaded” and “Download remaining xx.xk”. I have trouble understanding why those last few kilobytes didn’t just download in the first place. Usually it’s just the message footer, but sometimes there is still part of the message left in there.

Why didn’t Apple just design the iPhone to download the whole message, unless it was really large? I’ve seen some of them with a footer that was less than 2k that did not download fully.

iPhone Podcast Playlist Issue Update

OK, I followed Apple's instructions. I uninstalled iTunes, Quicktime, etc. Then I rebooted. Then I went to reinstall iTunes. Then iTunes generated an error and wouldn't install.

I called Apple back. Guess what? Windows 7 is not supported yet.

I calmly asked the support specialist if there was a good reason why. I remember when Windows Vista first came out, Apple made a big deal out of how they didn't yet support it. I think Vista was out for about 6 months before iTunes supported it. I think that's ridiculous. It's not like Microsoft develops Windows in a vacuum. The last two versions of Windows were heavily tested in open beta. Microsoft does every thing it can to make sure that it's easy to develop applications for Windows.

How stupid do you think Apple would look if they'd released Snow Leopard and said "Oh, yeah, we don't support iTunes on Snow Leopard yet. They'd look like idiots. Seeing how more of Apple's iPod and iPhone customers run Windows, why can't we expect support when a new version comes out?

UPDATE: I am seriously pissed off at Apple right now. I've spent more than 2 hours working on the problem this Saturday morning. I followed Apple's instructions and uninstalled iTunes from my netbook. I copied my library over to my desktop, but my podcasts weren't showing up. It was driving me totally nuts. I can't get iTunes to reintsall. I played around with the compatibility settings, and I was able to get the installer to run in compatibility mode for Vista SP2. However, for whatever reason, even though the intsaller is called "iTunes + Quicktime", Quicktime won't install at all. When I try to run iTunes, I get the message that "Quicktime is not installed on this computer". It doesn't matter how many times I try to reinstall "iTunes + Quicktime", Quicktime will not take.

After two hours of screwing around on my desktop, I finally figured out how to get my podcasts back into my library: File -> Add folder. That's a first. In all the years I've been using iTunes as a podcatcher, it always autodetects them. Maybe iTunes 9 really is a total piece of crap.

Somebody Ought To Call Apple About That…

I wrote a few times about the iPhone podcast playlist syncing issue. I went back to The iPhone Blog this morning to see if any new comments shed some light on the problem or on fixes for it.

I saw a few comments about how people should tell Apple about this problem.

Well, I did.

Apparently, Apple did know about this issue, but I’m apparently the first person to actually call them about it.

I spent some time on hold while the representative who worked with me first spoke to her supervisor, then to the product department. The answer I got back was to uninstall iTunes, and the other Apple programs along with it (Quicktime, Apple Software Update, etc). Then reinstall and sync the iPhone. That should correct the issue. If it doesn’t, I just call back with my case number and we can pick up where we left off.

More to come. I’ll do the uninstall and reinstall by tomorrow night or Saturday morning, and I’ll post back about how it went.

Everything I’ve heard about Apple support is true. She was very helpful.

Apple Thoughts: Average iPhone User Downloads 9 Games

Apple Thoughts has an interesting discussion about how the average iPhone user downloads 9 games.

Are you an average iPhone user? Above average? ...below average?

I probably have more than 9 games. All were free. Mostly, I put the games on for my kids, but I don't let them play with my iPhone much anyway. They do all kinds of kooky things to my wife's iPhone. I let them play with my iPod Touch, with the wireless disabled. Somehow they deleted one of their favorite games. Occasionally I'll get a call from my wife to find only background noise, leading me to assume that the kids butt-dialed me.

The story Apple Thoughts links to says that games are the cheapest apps, most of which are free.

TUAW: iPhone 30% Profit Share of Apps, 30% Dropped Calls

According to The Unoffical Apple Weblog, AT&T's dropped call rate for iPhones in New York City are the exact same percentage as Apple gets in profit sharing from apps sold in the App Store: 30%. I'm not sure what AT&T's overall percentage of dropped calls is in New York City, but for the iPhone it's 30%. Wow. Not surprising though.

Ever since I got my iPhone, I've always said that AT&T is the weak link in the iPhone chain. I guess you can't say that I have any objective evidence from which to back that up. My previous few phones were Windows Mobile. You can read my rants on Windows Mobile in my archives. Windows Mobile is such a piece of crap that my phones never really ran well enough to notice whether or not I was having problems with AT&T. Once I got my iPhone, and I finally had a phone that ran stable enough, I noticed all kinds of problems. My work-issued Verizon BlackBerry didn't seem to have the same problems, although "the network" isn't without it's issues.

iTunes 9.0.1 Is Out, Supposedly Fixes Podcast Playlist Issue

I woke up this morning, went through the usual routine, took my iPhone upstairs to sync, and saw that iTunes 9.0.1 was ready to download. I didn't have time to download and install it before I left, so I told the prompt "Not right now" and synced my iPhone.

According to The Unofficial Apple Weblog, iTunes 9.0.1 contains the following fixes. The ones I have experienced and thus care about are in bold:

• Resolves issues browsing the iTunes Store.
• Addresses a performance issue where iTunes may become unresponsive.
• Fixes a problem where iTunes may unexpectedly quit.
• Fixes a problem syncing Podcasts in playlists to iPod or iPhone.
• Fixes a problem sorting albums with multiple discs.
• Addresses an issue with the Zoom button not switching to Mini Player.
• Improves application syncing for iPod touch and iPhone.
• Genius is now automatically updated to show Genius Mixes.

After I synced my iPhone, I tried to install the update, but I got a message that iTunes had an invalid signature and would not be installed. I'll have to download it from Apple.com later today.

Hopefully I can get back the several minutes a morning I have to spend creating on-the-go playlists for my podcasts. I like it when things work like they're supposed to.

This iPod Shuffle Knockoff Actually Fooled Me

This weekend was Fireman’s convention in Wildwood, NJ. My father in law is a lifetime member of the fire company, and the family has gone down every year for longer than anybody can remember. I’ve been going down since 2003. Normally we go down on Thursday and stay until Sunday.

The last couple of years I’ve gone down on Friday because of work, or because my wife’s sister worked. This year we didn’t want to burn my meager vacation balance, so I stayed home. I ended up going down on Saturday for the day, then coming home at night. It was fun.

Typical activities in Wildwood during Fireman’s convention involve going to “the tents” and walking on the boardwalk. Wildwood is known for games. Gateway 26 Casino is my wife’s favorite place to go to play games on the boardwalk. She learned to master the crane games there as a little girl. I always thought those crane games were rigged until I saw my wife and her sister empty one once. They’re good at it.

Gateway 26 is a casino, but it’s family friendly. You win tokens, which are redemable for merchandise. I figure it would probably be cheaper to just buy the merchandise outright, but I guess that’s half the fun.

Joshua wanted an iPod Shuffle like device, and they redeemed some tokens for him. Believe it or not, I actually thought it was a shuffle. When I was down there on Saturday, none of the iPhone or iPod Touch knockoffs fooled me, but somehow this did.

Figure 1- iPod Shuffle Knockoff that I fell for

Somehow I didn’t notice at first that nowhere on this device was the apple with a bite out of it. I also didn’t realize that Apple is way too trendy and pretentious to call their products “MP3 Player”. (Yes, we love them for it). It wasn’t until I asked where the data cable was and saw the box that I realized Apple had nothing to do with this fake.

Oh, well. I put some music on it for Joshua to listen to and turned him loose with it. Actually, I wish I was a shuffle. It would have been a lot simpler to just create a playlist in iTunes and sync it.

Apple Brainwashing: How It's Done

Another winner from Fake Steve Jobs. Wow, I suddenly feel better about the podcast sorting issue on my iPhone. "It's so easy". Oh, yeah, I also feel good about the slowness issue, and the battery-life-is-shorter issue, and, I-Can't-Sync-New-Playlists-From-iTunes issue, and, aw heck, just watch the darn thing, drink the cool-aid, and go buy an Apple product.

Looks Like I’m Not the Only One With the iPhone Podcast Sorting Issue

Last week, I blogged about an experience I was having with podcast sorting on my iPhone. I was thrilled this morning to see that I’m not alone. The iPhone Blog is reporting that most iPhone 3.1 users are having the problem.

I’ve also noticed (and added to the comment I left on TiPB’s post) that I can’t create new podcasts in iTunes and sync them to the iPhone. I hope Apple gets around to fixing this soon. This is so unlike Apple. 

(Screenshot copied from The iPhone Blog)

Ready for some amusement? Hitler Dismayed By Lack of Camera in the iPod Touch

This is creative and hilarious. For those who follow Apple's product announcements, especially those who speculate, the actual announcements may be disappointing. Several people were upset that the iPod Touch did not get a camera. I don't care personally; my iPhone has a camera. My iPod Touch has become a device to keep my kids occupied.

I have no idea where this footage is actually from, but it's a very creative mixing of concepts. I got a good laugh out of it, especially at the end. (WARNING: there is some language in this, for those who may not appreciate the language as much.) I found this on Fake Steve Jobs' blog.

I Should Not Have Upgraded to iPhone 3.1

In this post, I'm not going to complain about the iPhone. I still enjoy my iPhone and have no desire to jump platform. One of my heaviest uses for my iPhone is listening to podcasts. The functionality that I've gotten used to somehow broke in iTunes 9/iPhone 3.1.

I download several podcasts. I probably listen to too many. On some, I've barely caught up to the end of May. I keep 2 smart playlists for my podcasts. One I cal Daily, which automatically adds the podcasts that I listen to on a daily basis. The other I only call Podcast, and it includes every file in my library with the genre of podcast. I don't sync every podcast to my iPhone because it's only 16 GB and doesn't have room.

Here's where my problem comes in. One of the podcasts I listen to daily has a huge backlog. I added it to my Daily playlist, but I can't separate the current file from the backlog files, so all of them show up. I sync the current file as well as about a week of the oldest, and until now that hasn't been a problem. Now with iPhone 3.1, for some reason my podcast playlists don't sort on the iPhone in any logical order. Now my daily is jumbled with the older files of the one podcast scattered through the playlist in no logical order. My podcast playlist is just as jumbled, which makes it useless to me. Some of the podcasts in my backlog are series and I want to listen to them in order. My playlists show up in the correct order in iTunes, but not on my iPhone.

I've tried a few workarounds. I tried to create a manual playlist, but no matter what I try it won't sync to the iPhone. I tried to restore my iPhone to 3.0.1, but apparently that's not possible. The only thing I've found so far is to create an on-the-go playlist on the iPhone with the podcasts I the order that I want to listen to them each time I sync.

Has anybody else had the same problem?Do you have a better work around?

The Most Useless Windows Notification

I know the title of this blog entry is not unique. I've seen several variations. I'd like to submit my vote for the Windows dialogue that needs to be yanked from Windows IMMEDIATELY. When did I start using Windows Vista as a beta? 2006? Let's say it was 2006. For three years, programs on Windows computers that I've used have been crashing, and I get this dialogue that is absolutely useless. Note: programs on Windows computers I've used have been crashing all along, but this "feature" wasn't introduced until Vista. I can't remember (OK, one exception, which I'll get to later) this dialogue window ever doing anything. Here it is:

Figure 1. Pointless Windows Dialogue

I have no idea what VSCore announcer is. This is from one of my work laptops. For all I know it's some domain policy BS. Though I have administrative rights on this laptop, there are some funky policies running on the domain. Maybe I'll Google VSCore Announcer when I post this. It doesn't matter what VSCore is. I was working on my laptop this afternoon, and this window popped up, which is what Windows Vista and Windows 7 give you when a program crashes. Now, I do applaud that Windows Vista is more stable than previous Windows versions. Remember Windows ME (Malfunction Edition)? That's two years of my life I'd like to get back.

So I'm working, and this window pops up as it always does when a program crashes. The only difference is this time, I'm in the mood to rant about it on my blog. When I started using Windows Vista, I'd go for the "Check online for a solution (recommended)", and I'd get a Microsoft page that basically says

"We don't know what the heck the problem is. Did you find this information useful?"

I've gotten into the habit of just clicking "Close" and wondering why Microsoft built this useless functionality into Windows in the first place, unless it's part of some mind-conditioning program to prepare us for future versions of Windows, or to make us all convert to Apple so we can buy Office for Mac. I honestly don't think Microsoft cares if we use PCs or Macs. They're a SOFTWARE company. Many people who use Macs still run Windows and Office and other Microsoft software. SIDE RANT: I get annoyed when I see a headline stating something like "Another business switches to Mac!" Then I read the article, and find that yes, they did buy a bunch of Macs, but they use custom software that requires Windows. They're still running Windows either through Boot Camp or Parallels. That's not "switching to Mac". You're still a Windows user. You just switched your hardware OEM. Instead of buying your physical computer from Dell or HP, you're buying it from Apple, but you're still a Windows user. Yes, when I finally get my MacBook Pro, I'll probably still run Windows on it for certain purposes. Why buy another Office license, for instance? Why get a new license for Mind Manager?

I promised I'd tell you what happened the one time "Check online for a solution (recommended)" actually returned some potentially useful information. I got a page saying "This problem was caused by Windows Vista. Did you find this information useful?" Being one of the few people who actually LIKES Windows Vista, I sort of wish the results had been as useless as usual.

This time, since I planned to write a blog post ranting about this feature, I clicked "Check online for a solution (recommended)". Guess what happened? Nothing. Seriously, nothing happened. I was expecting Internet Exploder, the slowest, most annoying web browser ever, to launch and slowly connect to a site that then tells me "we have no idea what the problem is. Did you find this information useful?"

Microsoft, seriously, ditch this useless prompt.

Microsoft Can't Even Code a Web Page, Anybody Trust Office 2010?

I found out about an interesting new program by Microsoft. Apparently, they'll send you a loaner laptop with Office 2010 installed. You use the laptop, report on it, and they use you in their media and advertising. I thought it would be an interesting idea, and maybe just once they could get some real feedback about their office suite.

I spent the time filling out the form, including answering the questions as to why I want to participate and why I should be included. I submitted the survey, and guess what I got?

 

What does this mean? "Your response cannot be recorded because the survey has been changed by another user?" To me, it means that Microsoft can't code a web page.

I'm seriously ready to get a Mac. The only thing standing between me and a MacBook is the money. I'm getting tired of going with the lowest common denominator just because the price is lower.  I think the iPhone is like a gateway drug. I sit there getting frustrated at my Windows PCs, then I look at my iPhone and wonder "What if the whole computer was like this?"

The biggest reason I still use Microsoft office is because I was a heavy Outlook user, but since I stopped using Windows Mobile, I've mostly been using Gmail's web client. I hardly use Outlook at all anymore. Maybe it's time to look at OpenOffice again.

iPhone 3.0 Bug Report #1

I still really like my iPhone and I'm never going back to Windows Mobile (well, maybe not never, but only under a long chain of favorable events that probably won't happen). I upgraded to the 3.0 software last night. Obviously, whenever software changes, sometimes bugs surface, or features change.

One thing I use my iPhone for the heaviest is to listen to podcasts. Some of those podcasts have sponsors or commercials. I've taken to, in the interest of time, fast-forwarding through those commercials. Yes, I know that's how they make their money, but most run the same commercials over and over and over again. I'll stop and listen to new ones in the interest of fairness. Yes, I actually do that. But I fast-forward through the ones I've heard 100 or more times.

When the iPhone is in standby, and a podcast runs commercials, I pick it up, double-tap the home button to bring up the iPod controls, and hold down the fast forward button.

That's where the bug comes in.

I notice in 3.0, the iPod countrols time out even when I'm holding down the fast-forward button. Yeah, it's a minor annoyance, but still, it worked in 2.2.1.

Anyone know how to submit a bug report to Apple, or do I hope they catch it themselves and fix it in 3.0.1 or whatever comes out next?

Wow, a Samsung Epix Update! If Only I Hadn't Switched to the iPhone...

If you're a Samsung Epix owner who can still tolerate the buggy and non-reliable behavior of the device, there is a new update available for it. You can learn details at My Samsung Epix, a great site. It looks like among the software fixes, the Epix will now notify you of new email when asleep (like it was supposed to, and like my iPhone does properly), it will sync Outlook notes (like it was supposed to), and the ascending ring is gone. Honestly, the ascending ring didn't bother me that much, but I guess a lot of users had problems with it.

If you're a Samsung Epix owner, follow the directions to call AT&T and ask for the update. Then be prepared to hard reset. I don't miss that at all. I could wipe my iPhone just for fun and restore it through the default iTunes to how it is now, unlike Windows Mobile which needs special 3rd party backup software. Seriously, after 6 years and 8 devices and I don't know how much money, I now hate Windows Mobile.

My Epix now sits in the kitchen drawer waiting for the next time my wife's BlackJack II craps out. She's on her third unit. Actually, that's my 3rd Epix. It's my wife's "Battle Spare" now.

Baby Shaker: App Store Mistake of the Week

I've been an iPhone owner for 2 1/2 weeks. I love it, and I don't even miss my Samsung Epix, which sits on my desk with the battery removed. Prior to my iPhone, I had an iPod Touch for over a year. My wife now has the iPod Touch. I spent the $10 to upgrade to the 2.0 firmware last summer, and joined the ranks of the App Store. I've written my own criticism over what I consider the silliness of other platforms jumping on the app store concept, especially when those other platforms have always had a more open development model.

I don't mind the Apple App Store. It has some difficulties, for sure, but for the most part it works as intended. That said, there are some flaws built into the system. Every now and again, something slips through, while perfectly legitimate applications sit in limbo. Remember "I Am Rich" last year? I honestly had no problem with I Am Rich. I happily downloaded the freeware Windows Mobile port when it was available.

Recently, a fairly disturbing game slipped through called "Baby Shaker". I'm not going to comment on the game. I'll just say it's not in any of the application genres that I would be likely to use. It's an interesting use of the iPhone's accelerometer, but still disturbing. The game was pulled within hours of release, and the developer apparently has no other apps listed in the App Store.

The thing is, it leaves us wondering, how does Baby Shaker slip through with apparent ease, when a bug fix to Pocket Informant takes weeks to get through, or when other applications get kicked back for obscure reasons? Other applications, like Sling Player and Hulu languish in the approval process.

I'd like to give Apple the benefit of the doubt here. The App Store is a fairly new concept, and maybe they're just fleshing it out. I don't think the concept is fundamentally flawed, at least, no more flawed than any process with people making decisions can be.

Still, I have to wonder again, why Baby Shaker gets through and a bug fix to Pocket Informant doesn't.

I'm Going to Become a Windows Mobile "Hater"

I’ve decided that I”m going to become a Windows Mobile “Hater”. That will probably seem unreasonable and illogical to many, but so be it.

That does not mean I am going to become a Microsoft “Hater”. I won’t become a mobile device “hater". I won’t become a Windows “Hater”. My “hating” is going to be specifically directed at Windows Mobile. That includes Microsoft’s Windows Mobile team, their “partners”, and the telcos, at least in regards to Windows Mobile.

I am going to become overly critical of the platform to the point where I do NOT recommend it. If you’re considering a Windows Mobile device, please, to preserve your sanity, don’t get one. Get a BlackBerry or an iPhone instead, or just get a plain old dumbphone.

I’ve had several Windows Mobile devices over the years. I’m tired of the same annoyances and performance issues that are common to every device I’ve had. Here is my device history:

Some Interesting Developments in eBooks Today

Today brought some very interesting developments in the world of eBooks. The information also came to me in interesting ways. My wife was sick, so I stayed home from work to take care of the boys. I was using my mobile devices heavily. First, because the iPhone and iPod Touch have Exchange server support, I was able to keep up with a few things at work because of my Touch, which is set up for my company's Exchange server. I have a work issued BlackBerry, but I was carrying my Touch around with me anyway to listen to my podcasts rather than let a bunch build up. I was also using my Samsung Epix heavily today. I'd let a bunch of email pile up lately, so I was bouncing back and forth between the two devices to get through my personal account. I like the larger screen on the iPod Touch, but some of my html mail reads better in FlexMail 4 on the Epix. Also, the Epix's keyboard is slightly easier to use than the touch keypad on the iPod Touch.

I was catching up on some Twitter traffic on my Epix in Twobile when I saw that Michael Hyatt had downloaded something called "Kindle for iPhone". I switched over to my Touch, brought up the App Store, and searched for Kindle. I found it and downloaded it. From what I've read so far, using this application, I can purchase Kindle formatted books WITHOUT having to buy the $359 Kindle, but if I buy the Kindle, my books will sync between the devices.

Did Anything Interesting Come Out of MacWorld and CES This Year?

The past week two of the biggest tech tradeshows of the year went on, it at least from my perspective, both seemed like non-events. Did anything actually happen? Oh, Apple released iLife and iWork 09. OK, that was exciting. Oh, there’s a newer, more expensive MacBook Pro with a non-serviceable battery. Yawn. I’m not quite in the market for a $2800 computer right now, removable battery or not. I’d like a review unit though if Apple wants to send me one. Some tech journalists suspect that Apple has run out of steam. I’m not sure that’s true, but it’s plausible.

As for CES, about all I’ve heard is that nothing happened.

Obviously, with the economy supposedly on a downturn (you still can’t get a parking spot at the mall), I guess businesses will enter a period of spending less on trade shows. I’m sure they’ll be back though.

iPhone/iPod Touch 2.0.2 update “fixes bugs”

http://www.jkontherun.com/2008/08/iphone-firmware.html

Apple released the 2.0.2 update for the iPhone/iPod Touch yesterday. I updated my Touch. I wish Apple would publish a Software Version Description (SVD) or some other documentation when they publish updates. This is two “bug fix” updates released under the 2.0 version firmware, and my Touch still has the same bugs it’s had since I upgraded. These releases are more than 240MB each, which makes me wonder what is actually being fixed.

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch with the 2.0 firmware? Have either of these “bug fixes” fixed any bugs?

Technorati Tags: iPhone,iPod Touch,Firmware,2.0 iPhone,iPhone 2.0,bug fix

When Open Source Sucks

I was real quick to jump on the "Hate Microsoft" bandwagon back in the Windows 95 days. Everybody hated Windows. I used to read PC Magazine and PC World magazines, and I read article after article and editorial after editorial about how horrible Windows is and how much better Linux is than Windows. I actually bought it for a while, although my experiences with Linux usually ran into some show-stopping limitation that drives me back to Windows.

I "hated" Microsoft until about 2006 when I was trying to get through my IT degree and some attempts to "switch" to Linux stopped me dead in my tracks. I couldn't get Linux to work with my wireless chipset, for instance.

I read and recited all of the reasons why Open Source is better than closed source software, but I finally reached the point of wondering if I really care anymore. There's very little that I need to do with a computer that I can't do on Windows. I have easy access to Microsoft Office 2007, leaving the need for OpenOffice and Google Documents out of my concern.

iPhone Complaint, from the “Windows Mobile Has Done This for Years Department”

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/17/a-quick-rant-about-notes/

The Unofficial Apple Weblog has a complaint about the iPhone’s notes program. I have notes on my iPod Touch, but I don’t use it for much more than to show people the SIP keyboard and predictive typing. I can say I’m somewhat disappointed that Apple decided that notes don’t need to be synced between device and computer. Once again, Windows Mobile has done this all along. I do routinely use the notes function on my Pocket PC.

Technorati Tags: iPhone,Windows Mobile,Notes

Top Five iPhone Gripes

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has a post about the top five iPhone gripes. Part of me is falling under the spell of the “Reality Distortion Field” while another part of my looks at the iPhone and realizes that my Pocket PC phone can already do most of what the iPhone does, in many cases better.

After years of Apple fans bashing Microsoft foul-ups, I’m intrigued to see Apple running into problems with a major release.

I’ve heard many times over the last year since the original iPhone was released that “AT&T will always be the iPhone’s Achilles Heal.” I think I agree with that statement, outside of the iPhone’s own limitations. I’ve been with AT&T for a long time, and to be honest, the only thing that has kept me with them is the fear that no other carrier is any better. My phone signal goes in an out like the tides. No kidding, I can be sitting in the same spot and go from five bars to no signal and back to five bars again several times within a few minutes. Call quality isn’t that great. My wife frequently doesn’t get calls from people, and voice mails will show up suddenly two weeks or more after they were left. We’ve complained about this many times in the last three years, and she’s been through five phones with the exact same problem. The problem seems to have eased the last time they replaced her phone, but it’s still there. Once again, I doubt any other carrier is any better. I hear T-Mobile’s coverage isn’t good, but everybody loves their customer service. I’ve never met anybody who complained about T-mobile’s customer service. Even Consumer Reports reflected this in their phone issue approx October 2007.

One AT&T flaw I expected was overwhelmed activation servers. I can’t tell you how many times I try to log into AT&T to check my minutes or how much data I’ve used, only to find the entire website or even a small portion of it (like data usage) unavailable. For a world class telecommunications company, AT&T really doesn’t impress me.

TWIT 24 Hours of iPhone Coverage

TWIT Live.TV

Leo LaPorte is apparently going to broadcast around the clock as the iPhone goes on sale around the world, starting in New Zealand and concluding 24 hours later in Honolulu. I have his feed running right now. I wouldn’t have known about this had I not checked my Google Reader feeds. I’ll probably only listen in for a few minutes, but I heard him say “Alex Lindsey will be stopping by around 4 in the morning," which will be 7AM here, by which time I should be settled into work and finished with my first cup of coffee. I doubt I can get his site at work through the proxy though.

In any case, if you’re interested in such ambitious coverage of what may be exciting but will eventually go down in history as a fairly trivial event, tune into the link.

Technorati Tags: iPhone,24 hour iPhone coverage,TWIT,Leo LaPorte,TWIT Live

Why Yesterday's iPhone Announcement Wasn't As Mindblowing as the Last One

I was thinking about my last post. I wondered if I'm being too critical of the iPhone, which is still a wonder of consumer electronics. Then I came across Michael Hyatt's recent blog post, which sums up what I was thinking in the background. Apple, rather than blow people away with the new iPhone, merely met their expectations. The iPhone, by any other standard, is still an amazing device, and yet compared to the original iPhone announcement, iPhone 2.0 seems bland. This also goes to show you why for some reason, Apple does best when they don't listen to anybody but Steve Jobs. This methodology would not work for any other company, but for some reason, it does for Apple.

iPhone Announcement Day After Thoughts

I’m going through my RSS feeds on Google Reader, and obviously most are about the iPhone. Even some of the Christian life and theology blogs that I follow are about the iPhone. I have my choice of which article to link for the purposes of this blog post, and for now, I’m going to go with Lifehacker. My reaction to iPhone features, new, improved, and unexpected, run the gamut from “Wow, that's cool!" to "I've been able to do that on Windows Mobile for years" to "Who cares?"

• Price- $199 for 8GB, $299 for 16GB- "Wow, that's cool!"
• 3G- "Wow, that's cool!" and "Windows Mobile phones (with the exception of mine) have had that for years."
• Integrated GPS "Mine can already do that." My iPaq 6945 came out of the box with the ability to geotag photos. When I'm using the camera application, I can activate the GPS, and with the GPS running all the pictures I take with have GPS information embedded in them. Welcome, iPhone users to the useful (but not often used) feature. One thing I have to warn about though is that a device with an internal GPS antenna doesn't always work that well.
• Headphone jack- sort of all three. The original iPhone had a recessed headphone jack. I forget the design logic for this, but I never understood the point, unless it was some kind of planned obsolescence plot. Apple releases a phone with such a stupid design, fixes it in the next release, and Apple fans bow down and worship. Oh, yeah, all of the Windows Mobile devices I've had did not have a recessed headphone jack, although my iPaq 6945 has a 2.5mm jack, but it came with headphones that fit. In this case, I have to say "who cares?" because the original iPhone should have been designed with a proper headphone jack.
• Camera- again, all three. It's a 2.0 Megapixel camera, which is better than the 1.3 Megapixel camera on my phone. Of course, I can zoom and shoot video on mine. I haven't seen if Apple integrated software allowing iPhone users to zoom and film video on the iPhone yet. I know that jailbroken iPhone can download a program that will take video from the camera.
• Mobile Me- "Wow, that's cool!" and "Who cares?" Mobile Me has a font that looks a lot like Windows ME. It's supposed to allow you to sync your mail, calendar, and contacts across PCs, Macs, and the iPhone. Basically it's Apple's .Mac service, rebranded, with PCs in mind and the same price. Let's see, I can already sync my email across multiple clients with gmail. I think Plaxo allows syncing of contacts. It would be nice to sync my calendar more easily though. Microsoft ActiveSuck likes to duplicate my Outlook tasks when I try to sync across multiple computers, and of course only allows syncing with two computers in the first place. Mobile Me doesn't sync Outlook tasks, or notes, so I don't have much use for it, especially at $99.
• Notes- "Who cares?" and "Windows Mobile has done this better all along." I haven't seen any indication that Apple improved the notes function on the iPhone. The iPhone/iPod Touch have a client that allows the user to take notes, but the only way to get the notes off the device is to email them. All along, I've had the ability to create notes in either Outlook or my device and synchronize them.

I'm not trying to pick apart the iPhone. I think it's an amazing device and the coolness factor makes up for any limitations it may have. I enjoy my 32 GB iPod Touch, and I probably will pay the $10 to upgrade the firmware next month. In the words of Fake Steve Jobs, it restores a childlike sense of wonder to my life. This also isn't a comprehensive list, just what stood out to me the most.

Interesting Transcript of Apple Keynote

Paul Thurrott posted an interesting rendition of Apple’s Keynote speech today. I followed a little through live blogging as my workload permitted. The new iPhone, while still impressive, isn’t quite as overwhelming as I expected. Apple has no new products, not that I would have it in my budget to buy any. Of course, the lack of product announcements means nothing. Apple could just as easily drop a press release next week that an entire new line of MacBooks and iPod Touches are coming out.

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/06/09/apple-bores-at-microsoft-esque-wwdc-keynote.aspx

New iPhone

I’ve been following some of the live blogging of Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference, hoping for word of the new iPhone. I’m finding Mac Rumors and Gizmodo are the best liveblogs of the event. I’m still torn on whether I want an iPhone or not. I recently heard that the iPhone will have integrated GPS. My iPaq 6945 has had it all along. The iPhone has 3G data, and mine only had EDGE, which is the speed of the current iPhone’s data. Talk time is good, and seven hours of browsing. That’s one serious weakness of my phone: battery life. I’ve heard rumors that the new iPhone will be subsidized, so prices will only be $199 with a 2 year contract. I already have AT&T, and although my wife hates them she seems to have no solution.

I did come up with a way to talk my wife into the iPhone. She never seems to remember to bring the charger for her phone. I charge all of my gadgets every night whether they need it or not, but we often leave the house and find her phone almost dead. If we both had iPhones, obviously I’d always have a compatible charger on me… I doubt it will work, but I’ll try anyway.

The Location Aware iPhone: My Pocket PC Already Does It

Lifehacker has a post today filled with speculation about the new iPhone, which is expected to be announced at the World Wide Developer Conference next week. Of course, Apple is a highly secretive company, so there is not telling, but Steve Jobs is known for his showmanship so we can only speculate about what will actually be announced.

The new iPhone is expected to have AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband rather than the EDGE network the current model has. It is also supposed to an integrated GPS. The GPS should allow for geotagging of pictures, or stamping a GPS location on them so you can later find what or where you took a picture.

Of course, my iPaq 6945 already does that. The iPhone is still cool though. About the only thing the new iPhone has (besides coolness) that my Windows Mobile device didn’t already have is 3G.

Fake Steve Jobs Link- Apple Needs To License Blackberry or Windows Mobile?

I recently went through a "soul searching" period with two coworkers selling used iPhones for $250. One was an 8 Gig, the other a 16 Gig. A 16 GB iPhone for $250 was worth having my wife angry at me for the next six months. I could have done plenty of surfing on the iPhone while she was yelling at me. I decided to stick with my iPaq 6945 Pocket PC phone for the time being though. I had a few reasons, but probably the biggest is that I finally figured out how to easily get eBooks onto my Pocket PC. For now, that can't be done with an iPhone. I also decided it's not worth having my wife that mad at me.
I've said before that I like Fake Steve Jobs. He has his off days, but generally he's hilarious and insightful. He linked to a video of Gary Krakaw of MSNBC saying that Apple needs to license Blackberry or Windows Mobile for the iPhone to succeed in the business world. I can't help but laugh when journalists start pontificating as to what tech companies "need" to do in order to be "successful." While journalists perform a very vital function, we need to remember that there is a huge difference between stating fact and expressing opinion. Of course, I guess most people turn to certain periodicals for the editorial positions of those news organs. I like John C. Dvorak for that very reason. I don't agree with him on a few things, but so what? I like his attitude and his analysis.
I seem to recall back in around, like, 1997, journalists were talking about how Apple would need to license Windows in order to survive. I think Apple has done just fine.
Just remember when reading journalism to differentiate between reported fact and stated opinion. In some cases, the difference is very, very subtle.Active reading is required to find the difference.

iPods and Rental Cars

Because I travel a lot in my current job, I've come across a minor complication: I hate the radio. Ever since I got my first Pocket PC and discovered that I could copy MP3 audio files onto it to listen to, I've done all I can to avoid listening to the radio. I got a cassette adapter and somehow every car I've had has had a cassette player. But now that I'm renting cars, I'm finding that nobody makes a car with a cassette player anymore. All rental cars have CD player. That does me no good. As I said, I hate the radio.

Why do I hate the radio? Sure, there are some decent songs and talk programs, but for the most part, listening to the radio for me is painful. I may hear a good song, maybe I'll hear a helpful talk program, but in between are the horrible songs, the mindless DJ chatter, and the pointless at best and annoying at worst commercials. Thanks to Steve Jobs and Apple (and my Dad's generosity,) I'm on my second iPod, the 32 GB iPod Touch. I love it. I have hundreds of podcasts that I can listen to, anything from This Week in Tech to Theology Unplugged, from Chuck Missler to John C. Dvorak, I can listen to what I want just about whenever I want considering the mood I'm in. That is unless I'm in a rental car. In a rental car, I'm stuck with the radio. The radio is painful considering the podcasts I could be listening to.

When my family went with me on a week long trip to the Virginia Beach area, I stopped and bought an FM modulator, as I expect to have lots of rental cars in this job. I found that it didn't work very well. Even driving around the block I couldn't keep a decent signal on any given station. Then, leaving the area, leaves you constantly tuning the radio and the modulator. That's no good. I returned the modulator to Circuit City today.

On my last trip, since I rented a car and drove 5 hours rather than deal with another butter knife issue with Homeland Security (I'll write on that later), I solved the problem by bringing my own speakers. But that really only works if I'm driving from New Jersey to my business location. If I'm flying, the speakers might take up too much room in my luggage.

Why can't rental cars just include an iPod dock? I don't know about the rest of you, but it would make my life so much easier. Does anybody really listen to CDs in a rental car? I guess I have one case of circumstantial evidence. One car I rented for a business trip in 2005 had a Steven Curtis Chapman CD left in it.

Technorati Tags: CDs,Rental cars,business travel,radio

Minor iPod Touch Issue

I genuinely love my iPod Touch (32 Gig model). In the words of Fake Steve Jobs, it "restores a childlike sense of wonder to my life." One minor problem I've found is that every once in a while, the battery starts eating itself and requires a reboot. I normally like to listen to podcasts during the day while I'm at work, but when the battery starts dropping like a rock, I have to stop. I can easily get a full day out of it just listening to audio then checking email and surfing when I get home. At first I thought the battery eating was Ziphone, but I didn't use the installer at all yesterday. I also disabled the wireless, which I should do when I get to work anyway.
At least this time my podcasts didn't go back and mark themselves as unread like the last few times. When I got home I had to figure out what I listened to. I should just bring the charging cable to work with me, but I rarely need it.

April Fools? Microsoft Abandons Windows Mobile, Endorses iPhone

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/88388/microsoft-ditches-windows-mobile-goes-iphone.html

If this isn't an April Fool's joke, I don't know what is. I know what I would like to see though: a Pocket PC that actually gets better over time. Seriously, I've been using Windows Mobile since I got an iPaq 3765 in 2003, and the devices have not really improved since then. I've had 4 Pocket PC's, including one as a phone, and have not seen much real improvement. OK, from my first iPaq, adding wi-fi and BlueTooth were major improvements, but I've had 3 units with those.

Technorati Tags: April Fools,Windows Mobile,iPhone

The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs: Crazy Ron Paul has stolen our ad

The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs: Crazy Ron Paul has stolen our ad

I'm really getting a lot of mileage out of Windows Live Writer's "Blog This" extension for Firefox.

Fake Steve Jobs points out that Ron Paul is using one of Apple's advertisements. I'd say it fits. I'll let you get the link to the video from FSJ. If you end up here, I'll give him some "link love".

Technorati tags: Ron Paul, politics, Apple Advertisements, Fake Steve Jobs

Labels: Apple, Media, Socio/Political

Humor- The Macbook Air Wins a Product Comparison

From http://regmedia.co.uk/2008/01/19/macbookcommodorecompare.jpg

If you've been following tech news lately, you may have heard that Apple, at the recent MacWorld conference, announced the Macbook Air. This is probably a great leap forward in technology, yet as many other bloggers have noted, the price leaves out the casual user and the lack of features leaves out the business user, so who other than tech journalists will actually buy this thing? I make a habit of not laughing at or scorning products though. I'll be happy to see what innovations the Macbook Air, a first of it's kind product, brings to the industry. Heck, the iPhone has already spurred several Windows Mobile developers to provide touch and drag interfaces to their applications. Unlike the iPhone, which *may* have an SDK (Software Development Kit) announced next month, Windows Mobile has always been open to third party developers.

Technorati tags: Macbook Air, Apple, Windows Mobile, Humor

Labels: Apple, Hardware, News

After This, I want An iPhone

New York Time Columnist David Pogue posted a YouTube video about his experience with the iPhone. After watching this video, I suddenly find myself wanting one. There are several drawbacks to the iPhone, but most of them I can overcome.

1) It's AT&T only

No sweat, I've been trapped contracted with AT&T for years.

2) It's not expandable

Well, I've had 3 Windows Mobile Pocket PCs over the last four years, and considering the iPhone offers a full-featured operating system with 4 or 8 Gigs of memory, I think I can live with that. I have a 1 Gig SD card in my Pocket PC, and I'm still limited to Windows Mobile 2005 capabilities.

3) Ah, who cares I still want one.

Enjoy the video.

 

Technorati tags: iPhone, YouTube, New York Times, David Pogue

Labels: Apple, Mac OSX, Telecommunications, Windows Mobile

The Lock Switch: Every Consumer Device Should Have This Piece of Engineering

My last cell phone was a Sony Ericsson z500a. I must have liked that phone, because when I was able to upgrade, I took a newer model, the z525a. The z500a, for all it's usefulness, had a very annoying feature: a dedicated camera button on the side of the phone that could be pressed by other objects in my pocket. I can't tell you how many times I took my phone out of my pocket to make a call only to discover that the camera was on and the battery was very low. I've also shot many pictures of the inside of my pocket.

My Pocket PC has a similar nagging problem. The hardware buttons get pressed while moving around in my pocket and strange things happen, appointments get created, I get audio recordings of my pocket, but above all else my battery drains.

My video iPod, by contrast, does not have this problem. Why? Because Apple, which above all else is great at design, included a lock switch that prevents accidental turn on and operation while being carried around in a man's overcrowded pockets. This lock switch is at the top of the device opposite the headphone jack and is firm enough that it isn't likely to toggle when brought into contact with a Swiss Army Knife or change or other pocket sized consumer electronic device.

What I wouldn't give for a simple lock switch on my phone and Pocket PC...

Technorati tags: Video iPod, consumer electronics, design

Labels: Apple, Hardware, Media

Do Mac Apps Really Suck on Windows?

Some of you may have heard that Apple Inc. (Formerly Apple Computer, Inc.) released the Apple Safari web browser for Windows last week. Many of you may not care. I'm not sure exactly where I fit in. CNET's Rafe Needleman wrote a blog entry titled "Mac Apps On Windows Suck. Here's Why". I'm not sure that I agree with all of his conclusions.

With the Apple iPhone due for release soon, the announcement of Safari for Windows shocked a lot of people. Many developers and gadget geeks salivating over the iPhone had been hoping for an SDK (Software Development Kit) in order to produce applications for the iPhone. If you've ever used a Pocket PC, you know that third party applications are practically salvation. Pocket Outlook is minimally useful, but Pocket Informant is a wonderful excursion into the world of mobile productivity. WebIS Flexmail 2007 is also a wonderful replacement for Pocket Outlook's email functionality. I don't know many Apple people, but I do know that like Windows, sooner or later you'll need a third party application to get things done. As the iPhone runs Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, I'm sure it will need more applications. However, Steve Jobs (and I'm sure others, but Steve is the public figure) have decided to make the iPhone a closed platform. As I understand things, there will be ways to write applets through Safari, but that is the extent of development capability on this platform.

And so, millions of geeks are upset. I was sort of apathetic to this announcement. I don't intend to buy an iPhone right now. The announcement of Safari for Windows excited me about as much as, say, Outlook Express for the Mac. Oh, wait, my Macs do have Outlook Express. At least, my iMac does. I downloaded Safari on my work computer just to test it out, but for the most part I'm sticking with Firefox for the time being because the available extensions allow a great deal of customizability. Opera is nice, but Firefox meets my needs so I see little reason to use Opera, and IE7 needs a session manager for me to take it more seriously. I am spoiled with Firefox because when my system crashes, I can pick up exactly where I left off. If I have 50 tabs open and half of them are partway through a long article, I won't miss a beat. If IE7 crashes with two tabs open, I'm hosed.

However, I don't see the platforms through eyes of zeal. I have settled on Windows XP as my main OS for the time being because of all the tools available, Windows XP does what I need it to do the best. The programs that I use run best on Windows XP, I don't have to buy any new hardware, and of course it is well supported and established.

As far as tools go, I differ in my opinion of iTunes from Rafe Needleman. I actually think that iTunes is a fairly decent media manager. Actually, my favorite feature is the podcatcher. I really don't care for Microsoft's digital media implementation. I believe that their target market is the gyrating silhouettes from the iPod commercials a few years ago. Windows Media Player 11 is decent, but has no podcasting capability. I download several podcasts, and iTunes does a wonderful job of managing them. Ever since I got my video iPod, I've come to appreciate iTunes even more and I've digitized the better songs from my CD collection to sync with the iPod to listen to when my wife is in the car with me. Now, if a better iPod sync/media utility comes along, I'll happily try it out. For now, I'm content with iTunes.

Linux is a fine platform, but I have written it off for the time being. The software that I use and have come to depend on runs on Windows, and finding replacements or figuring out a new workflow just takes too much time on the two other platforms. Actually, I would love to play with Mac OS X more, but the hard drive on my iBook apparently crashed, and I don't have the time to take the thing apart again, swap the hard drive into a PC laptop, and use a Windows XP disk to check the hard drive. Mac OS X Tiger doesn't ship with much in the way of hard drive utilities.

In any case, if you're into Safari, check it out for Windows. If you're not, don't sweat it. Firefox will probably remain the undisputed champ of Windows browsers (and Mac and Linux) for a while.

 

Technorati tags: Firefox, Safari, Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Apple, iTunes, iPod, Browser

Labels: Apple, Linux, Mac OSX, Media, Microsoft Windows, Windows Mobile

CNET's Top 5 Crapware

I haven't written about computers or technology for a while, but CNET gave me the perfect opportunity for a quick entry. Recently, CNET TV had a 2 + minute show about the Top 5 Crapware products. Over the years, many terms have sprung up to differentiate between the categories of software. Freeware is self-explanatory, being software that is free. Wares or warez are pirated or cracked full versions of programs such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop. A lot of software DRM (Digital Rights Management) has been produced to stop warez. Shareware is a type of software that typically allows a trial period before requiring purchase, but encourages you to share or pass along to your friends. Many aspiring programmers get started out with shareware, in fact, Steve Pavlina says that he got his start as a shareware games developer.

Malware is software designed for malicious purposes such as computer viruses, worms, and trojans, named after the Trojan Horse of ancient Greek history or legend. Spyware is designed to spy on you and send back information about your habits or even worse, keystrokes such as login and password information.

Crapware is a category all to itself. I'm sure that somebody has cooked up a wonderful and eloquent definition for crapware, but put simply, crapware is software that is utter crap and chances are you never asked for it in the first place. This includes unwanted browser toolbars and media players that just seem to show up. Some programs try to install trials of partner's products. Have you ever installed Intuit's Quicken and found shortcuts all over your desktop for things like Quicken Brokerage, Mastercard, and America Offline? Crapware is not limited to unwanted partner software. Some full version applications by supposedly reputable vendors can fall into this category. I actually consider Symantec's Norton Internet Security to be complete and total crapware. It bogs down my system, loses my email, blocks programs that I want to access the internet from accessing the internet, can't do the simplest process like update itself without constantly flashing a window on my taskbar to tell me what file it's updating, and it starts reminding you that you have to pay for a renewal way too early. I can't stand it. I also place McAfee's Internet Security in the crapware category after my last experience with their product. To be fair, it was the version that Comcast provides for free to subscribers, but it was an utter nightmare. It shut down my ability to share files across my home network, my Macs wouldn't even show up on it's network map because they didn't have McAfee installed (and no version was available to install), and I finally uninstalled the darn thing and decided I'd rather run unprotected than completely hindered in my normal activities. I spent 2 days searching for help. McAfee's website was actually more useless than Microsoft's (if that's possible) for finding answers, and even though I had every setting set properly I still could not connect from one computer to the other across my home network or Hamachi.

CNET's brief video deals with the crapware that computer vendors install on brand new computers. Except for laptops, I've always built my own systems, which cuts down on this dramatically. My sister in law lived with some stupid jukebox program that Dell installed on her laptop asking her to buy a music subscription every time she tried to play one of her own songs, until she finally shared that detail with me and I set iTunes to her default player and uninstalled the crappy jukebox software.

If you've ever bought a new computer that made you feel like you were living in a commercial after you booted it up, then kick back with a cold drink and watch this video. If you're thinking about building your own computer, let this inspire you while you wait for me to produce a series of blog posts on building your own computer. It'll be a while though; I'm still putting most of my time into famiy, church, and and finishing my IT degree.

CNET TV's Top 5 Crapware

 

Technorati tags: Crapware, software, computer vendors, Dell, HP, Compaq

Labels: Apple, DRM, Media, Microsoft Windows, Security, Software

Linux and Mac

Last week, I heard that Ubuntu Linux 6.10 was out. I was struggling with Max OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) on my iBook. I can't upgrade iTunes without 10.3, and I was having trouble doing a few other things. I figured if I was going to be stuck with an operating system with somewhat limited capabilities compared to what I'm used to on Windows, I would just put Linux on this iBook. At least Linux is updated for free, compared to Apple which releases a new operating system every 20 minutes ans expects you to pay for them. I burned a Live CD of Kubuntu and fired it up. I found a wireless helper which saw my Airport card but could not handle the encryption on my router. Wireless, for now has been my deal-breaker when it comes to Linux.

I installed Kubuntu and found a beautiful, stable, and easy to use interface. The software catalog is very comprehensive and easy to use, and I quickly found updates to KDE that I have used in the past. I downloaded the KDE Network Manager, which didn't see my Airport card at all. I did a search on Google, only to find that it's hard to set up Airport Extreme on Linux. I don't have Airport Extreme, but apparently nobody else has tried to set up a regular Airport card on Linux.

As much as I loved the interface, reliability, and stability of Kubuntu, I went back to Mac OS X. I broke down and ordered Tiger (10.4) from Ebay, which will hopefully arrive today. I'll wait until the next round of Linux releases come out.

Linux distributors are finally starting to understand that if they hope to attract Mac and Windows users, they have to offer us an attractive interface that is also somewhat easy to use. Not everybody wants to be a Unix programmer hobbyist. People like me are easily smart enough to figure it out, but we'd rather be using our computers than hacking .conf files. I definitely don't mind some configuration work and troubleshooting, and I even enjoy it, but I do think that my operating system should be able to play a DVD out of the box, and it should be able to see my wireless chipset and connect to my router with 128 bit hexadecimal encryption. As exciting as it is to take part in a revolutionary movement against proprietary software, we still want our software to work, and the market will move in the direction of the best solution to our problems.

Labels: Apple, Linux, Mac OSX