Randomn3ss

The iPhone just keeps getting better. I updated my phone just two days ago. This update has been the biggest one since September.

The new features on the phone are even more exciting than the new season of American Idol!

I can now rearrange the icons on the homepage. They do a cute little jig on the screen when you hold an icon down for a second. Also, I can make “web clips” enabling me to add a website onto the main page.

Google Maps now accesses my location by cell phone towers and wireless internet. It pinpoints your location on the map which you can save. There is also a new feature to view the map in a hybrid function. This means the map shows a satellite and street name perspective. Real time traffic is a fantastic feature added as well.

The strangest new function that has come to Apple is iTunes movie rental. You are able to do this via computer or iPhone. I don’t understand why anyone would want to watch anything on a such a small screen. I can hardly make out the videos on YouTube. In anycase, you are able to rent it through iTunes. The rental will download onto your phone with an expiration date when you sync it.

The best thing about the January ‘08 iPhone update is multiple person text messaging. I can finally send one text message to a ton of people. This would have been handy on New Year’s when I had to send about a million different text messages to a million different people.

I am now waiting for a copy and paste function.

I honestly can still say this phone treats me well and I have no regrets still. I can’t wait for the next update!

With all the hub-bub about Randomn3ss turning 1 yesterday, I totally forgot to cover the iPhone release one year anniversary as well. It still amazes me when friends of mine will get all giddy when they pull one out of their pocket and, with glee show me how cool it is. I’m not all that impressed, still. It’s big, over-priced and, well its too big still.

When I was a kid the thought of getting something in the mail was great, no matter what it was. As a grown man in my late 20’s, fetching the mail usually means looking at another bill or some worthless piece of mass marketing where someone is trying to sell me something. Yesterday was no disappointment, getting two bills and an AT&T cell phone brochure. This one is a full magazine sized, stapled in the middle and 25 pages thick, clearly they spent money on this. Since I’ve been interested in upgrading to a smart phone and the one I’ve been eyeing up was just released, I glanced through it to see if specs were listed or some more product shots. Disappointed that the phone I was looking for wasn’t listed, I was about to toss the magazine until a quarter page article stuck out, it was an add-on to an article about texting with your teens. What follows is what AT&T has translated from text messages.

Basic

• YT? - Are you there?
• - Big smile
• 4E - Forever
• F2F - Face-to-face
• GR8 - Great
• LMK - Let me know
• N2K - Need to know
• U@? - Where are you?

Intermediate

• DHYB – Don’t hold your breath
• FFR – For the future reference
• ILBL8 – I’ll be late
• KThxBye – Okay, thanks. Goodbye!
• RB@U - Right back atcha
• PTMM – Please tell me more
• *vin – Starving
• SC$ - Success

Advanced

• B3 – Blah blah blah
• FTBOHM – From the bottom of my heart
• GD&R – Grinning, Ducking and running
• HB2U – Happy birthday to you
• TTYL – Talk to you later
• Y3 – Yadda yadda yadda
• MHOTY – My hat’s off to you

Am I that old to think most of this shit is nuts? Unless you are on a smart phone, making half of the special characters is a bigger pain in the ass than actually typing it out. Now I’ve done more than 6,000 texts in a month, I’m very capable of texting, none of my friends use any of these stupid shortcuts. In any event, the article points to lingo2word for translations, it is where I learned how to say, dis S realy Fkng lamo.

California Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a new bill that will target 16 and 17 year old drivers on their cell phones.  Starting July 1, 2008, officers will start to hand out $20 tickets for the first offense, $50 for each additional offense.  At the same time, a different law becomes effective requiring all cell users to use a hands free device while driving, the fines will be he same.

Now this has a really good idea behind it, I was the victim of a fairly serious car accident because a woman was on her cell and not paying attention, so at the core, I think this is the right thing to do, but I really wonder how enforceable it is going to be.  Here in Pennsylvania we have a seat belt law.  The fine can be up to $115 for not wearing your seat belt, but there’s a twist.  No officer can pull you over solely because they see you without it on, it must be in conjunction with some other citation, like a tail light out.  Therefor, it is not really that enforceable.  Secondly, who is going to keep track of how many times you’ve been given tickets to know if $20 or $50 is the right amount to charge?  Lastly, it is such a small sum of money, I can see it being thrown into the cost of driving tax that so many people are accustomed to paying.  It is essentially the amount of money that certain people associate with driving, mostly in speeding tickets, sometimes in parking tickets, but not a real tax in the sense of the word.

Source: Information Week

Now that I have had my iPhone since it came out at the end of June it is time for my long awaited review.

I’ve had a plethora of cell phones and cell phone providers. Ranging from Verizon to Virgin Mobile to the Sidekick III to an old school LG phone. Hands down the iPhone is the best.

Of course there are cons to having the iPhone. For starters, I had to change my phone number again. If you know me, you will know this is about the 100th time I’ve changed my number. There are no games on the iPhone, no audio recorder (or video recorder) and you must use only the iPhone ringtones. Also, there is not a copy and paste feature on the iPhone’s internet (which my Sidekick had). Lastly, the alarm clock on the phone has failed to wake me up on more than one occasion.

I believe the price and service provider (not for George Hotz who hacked the iPhone to work with any cell phone provider) is a con to most people. In my opinion, it is well worth it. In the long run, I will be saving money month to month compared to being with T-Mobile. I got lucky because I joined a family plan rather than being on my own. Obviously not everyone has this option. These are the only few problems I have found with the phone, which are not that big of a deal to me.

The things I love about the iPhone are the camera, having tons of music without having to carry a separate MP3 player, amazing internet and its graphics. I throughly enjoy the fact that I can scroll through my music with my fingertips (same goes for my photos). The photos actually turn out pretty extraordinary on my laptop. I can also use my wireless internet on my iPhone whenever I am home. The most impressive thing of all is Google Maps on my phone. I am new to Seattle and often find myself in need of directions. I can also search for restaurants, grocery, music and clothing stores on Google Maps. I showed off Google Maps to my cousins by searching for their houses using satellite mode. They thought looking at an aerial view of their house on a phone was the coolest thing since Bratz.

I am stoked that the iPhone has been hacked recently. I will be trying out the hacks in order to load games and my own ringtones onto my phone. (I knew the hacks were going to happen someday so the drawbacks didn’t seem so bad.)

All in all, I don’t see how anybody wouldn’t love the iPhone. It is geared towards all ages for all different lifestyles.

Wednesday was a day of milestones for me. Not only did I have my first day in court, but I also ended a tumultuous 3 1/2 year relationship… with Nextel.

I broke up with Nextel and started dating Verizon. It’s working out well so far, we’re committed for 2 years now, so I’d better get used to actually getting service and receiving calls. Seriously. It’s a totally new endeavor for me.

Anyway, since my birthday is rapidly approaching, the moms decided to finance part of my new relationship and buy me a smartphone for my birthday. I had been researching the brands that Verizon offered (note: my mom’s company gets us a discount, hence going through only Verizon) and decided on the Palm Treo 700wx (Windows OS). It’s perfect for a freelancer like me, who needs applications like MS Word when she’s out at shows and doesn’t really need a music player since she has two iPods. I even bought a blue skin for it so when I inevitably drop it, it’ll be okay. It’s a gorgeous, expensive piece of technology and does a ton of cool stuff.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what cool stuff it does or how to make it do said cool stuff.

I, a graduate of a prestigious liberal arts college and exceptionally intelligent individual, cannot work my smartphone. I can call people and am getting the hang of the full keyboard for texting, but in less than 48 hours I have:

• Accidentally called about 10 people
• Been outsmarted by the smart text
• Almost irrevocably locked the keys (well, with me, it would be impossible to unlock… I’m sure some techie genius could do it).

Call the Governator… the machines have won.

After I realize that I don’t really know how to sync my computer up to it and am not sure if I’ve minimized or actually closed programs, I decide to download some ringtones, because I need the opening strains of “Don’t Stop Believin’” back as my ring. I spend literally two hours in a feeble attempt at navigating the stupid-ass Verizon Wireless site only to realize that they don’t support the Treo for their tones. WHAT?!? Verizon, if you are reading this - I want to spend my money on your ringtones. I don’t understand why you’re doing this to me!! Oh, and just in case you were wondering, Google’ing “Where the fuck can you get ringtones for the fucking Treo?” doesn’t yield helpful information either.

But you know what? It’s still a cool fucking phone. And as soon as it and I come to the agreement that it’s going to work with me, I will rub it in your face that my phone kicks your phone’s ass.

Cell phones have become part of our life for many of us, attached to the hip all day and next to the couch all evening, while making a trip to the bedroom to keep us company at night.  Some even have the stinky task of doing business in the bathroom while the user is doing their business sort to speak.  Cell phones are no longer just for making calls, teens across the country rack up insane amounts of text messages, sharing photos and sending funny video clips to friends.  Busy adults use them for paying bills on the go, browsing the internet and as GPS devices.

My own desire to make the move to a smart phone has me perplexed as to whether or not I really want to do it and what the benefits to me will be.  For millions of users however, doing anything but making phone calls is what their phone is for.

So what happens when you sell your old phone on eBay when you upgrade to the latest and greatest?  The goal is usually to help recoup some of the money you laid out for the new phone, right?  What if you forgot to erase those steamy text messages you had with a girlfriend, even though you are married?  Better yet, what happens if you have erased those, along with the banking information from the last bill you paid on your phone and someone recovers it with some cheap software?

The CBS News covers this very topic in Betrayed by a cell phone, a look into the seedy world of people who buy used phones just to search the content of them for something good to exploit you with.

The article covers many things, mostly about how you should reference your owner’s manual for how to wipe everything clean from your phone.  Honestly though, my owners manual is usually the first thing tossed out and I never keep things like that.  If you need help finding out how to reset your phone because you will be selling it or giving it to a friend / family member and want to strip all information from it, I suggest visiting the Howard Forums.  Those phone geeks will set you straight.

If you use your phone for business purposes and exchange sensitive email, text messages or you have a bad habit of taking explicit photos of yourself, the only real solution I would recommend would be smashing the phone when you are done with it.

Over the last year or so I’ve started to realize that I use my phone for much more then just making phone calls. My text message plan had to be increased from 200 per month to unlimited. More and more of my friends communicate via texting and often times it makes simple things easier, especially if one can’t answer a phone. Additionally, the fact that I no longer have to worry about how many texts I send in any given month has allowed me to take more photos with the pitiful camera on my phone and send them to friends, as they do to me.

There are a bunch of reasons I’d like to go to a smart phone as well as several reasons that are making me question the jump. Positives are:

• Faster texting
• Better camera (Currently looking at the Motorola Q9 due August 24th)
• Ability to check mail
• Mobile blogging
• More robust calendar
• Web browsing from nearly anywhere
• Streaming satellite radio

The downsides to the switch are:

• New phone cost
• Renewing my contract to get the phone at a discounted rate
• Added cost for a data plan - possibly up to another $20 per month
• Larger size - I’ve been accustomed to my RAZR

Right now the biggest thing holding me back is the added monthly fee of the data plan. I’ve made it this long without the need to check email and browse the internet from my phone, but it would be nice. Renewing my contact isn’t much of an issue for me, I mean I need a cell phone, I haven’t had a land line in years.

Ask the readers time. At what point did you make the switch to a smart phone and why? For those who haven’t or won’t make the switch, why not?

Yesterday Wired.com published Top ten reasons to throw away your cell phone, this is my rebuttal to the article, piece by piece. It is probably worth glancing at the article so you understand my rebuttals. Following the top ten are four more reasons you need your cell phone.

1. It helps to organize your life. Granted, not everyone has a super busy life, but since the Wired article focused mostly on smart phones, I’ll keep the focus towards them, even though most modern phones have calendars built in. Let’s face it; we can’t all remember everything we need to do on a daily basis. I often send myself text messages from my email account so that when I’m out I’ll be reminded of something I need to do, pick up or go to. Some phones have a voice record option, great for people who hate texting or writing things down. Most smart phones and more and more traditional phones will sync contacts, data and calendars with your desktop computer. The ability to carry that much information with you in something the size [or smaller] than a pack of smokes makes many peoples lives much easier.
2. Cell phones can eliminate costs in other parts of your life. The article states that the cost of ownership over the years is astronomical. This is partly true. Most phones, including smart phones are fairly cheap when getting a new contract or renewing your contract. The vast majority of carriers also offer discounts to long term users who have good standing with the billing department who like to upgrade when newer technology comes out. Users are also clipping their home land lines at an alarming rate, opting to go with high speed cable internet that does not require a phone line in the home and using their cell phone as a permanent “home” phone. Nearly every plan includes free nights and weekends along with free nationwide long distance. The corrupt part is that users often overbuy their service plans and never use all they are given, the exception being AT&T (formally Cingular), who offers roll-over minutes for unused minutes.
3. Contracts are not always a bad thing. I know of very few people who have had issues with contracts. The early termination fee stems from the discount given when you get a new phone at a discount. It makes good business sense. That said giving a good reason to get out of your contract will often work. Examples I’ve read about on the internet are, moving to another country, leaving the country for an extended period of time, such as military service or repeated problems with service and usability on that carriers network.
4. You control when and how people contact you. The article complains that you are perpetually available, this is not true. Caller ID is a wonderful thing. Not replying to a text message is easily done. I know it is hard to believe but cell phones have a power off button too!
5. So what if phones are boring. Apparently there are people who care and hype them, but it is a utilitarian item, the fact that people are so passionate about them should tell you something about the likes and dislikes of Americans. Ergonomics, new features and functions along with different sizes and places to put hinges excites not only geeks but everyday people too.
6. Talk time is better than your average home portable phone. Again the article seems to point out that you need to constantly recharge your phone. This is no different than recharging the portable phone in your house (if you have a land line). If you don’t put the home phone back in the cradle, it dies, often in less than a day. My cell phone gets charged on my way to and from work in the car usually, having zero impact on the usability for me.
7. Conspiracy theorists are everywhere. The thought that the government is watching your every move from the GPS unit in your phone is obscene.
8. My phone, my conversation. I will grant the article the credit in pointing out that most people who use a phone in public are idiots. Studies show that they do tend to drive worse and lord knows I don’t need to hear how your date went last night or the fight you are having with your significant other while I’m pumping my gas or standing in line at the grocery store. The ability to have conversations in these places does require an amount of self restraint, however most people don’t have the balls to say what they want to who they want face to face. Sometimes they are needed and are good entertainment for those lucky enough to see them.
9. Accessories are in the American bloodline. The article mentions pleather and pegboards, if you care that much about what I do with my cell phone and how I use it, you need to get more of a life.
10. I’m not a public annoyance. Wired’s article basically uses the eighth item in their list for number ten, very weak.

Ten rebuttals to why you need cell phone. Their article was pretty week, here are a few more reasons you need a cell phone.

1. Cell phones save lives. For those unlucky enough to be in a car accident or have been kind enough to stop at one, chances are the 911 operator you called told you that you were caller number 14 about this accident. There is nothing wrong with being number 14, it proves that people are kind and that the phones do work and help save lives.
2. Text messaging can often repair friendships and relationships. Due to the short, to the point nature of texting, each side of the conversation usually just says what they need to, no fluff, no crying, and no drama. I know several people who have mended things together after texting back and forth a few times.
3. I need a photo of that! Nearly all phones come with a camera, albeit a crappy one, they do have their purpose. Spur of the moment photos just don’t have the time to go dig the camera out of the closet or glove box, they need to happen now – how else would MySpace be so full of crappy photos. Use your camera to your advantage. Many businesses and restaurants have their hours in the front window or door, usually in an area the size of a standard sheet of paper. Take a photo of this and then store it to your phone, then associate it with their number in your phonebook. Next time you need to know if they are open or not, you can simply use your phone.
4. I’m lost, can you give me directions. I don’t care who you are, you’ve been lost at some point or another. There isn’t always a gas station to stop and ask for the right way to go, not all gas stations are friendly enough to warrant getting out of the car for that matter. Lost, call whomever you are meeting. Not meeting anyone, call someone who’s going where you have gone before. Last ditch effort, call someone who you know is sitting in front of a computer, we all have friends like this. Tell them where you are and have them get you directions from the internet to the right spot.

While I agree that cell phones can be costly, the price of not having a land line can offset this. I also agree that people can be stupid in public with their phones and they are a proven cause of many accidents, however there are so many reasons that outweigh the downsides, I feel having one makes more sense to me than not.

This guy has got to feel like the dumbest person on the planet for dropping his iPhone 1 second after opening it and having the video be all over YouTube.

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