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!

Thanks to Scott for sharing a site that clearly shows geeks would rather build geeky things than work on personal hygiene.

So what is a Bristlebot you ask?

The BristleBot is a simple and tiny robot with an agenda. The ingredients? One toothbrush, a battery, and a pager motor. The result? Serious fun.

I’m not sure what your idea of serious fun is, this is entertaining, but I wouldn’t classify it as serious fun.

Source: Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

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.

So you have the iPod (or any MP3 player) loaded up with all of your favorite music and want others to be able to listen to it with you wirelessly, there has been no easy solution until now. What Aerielle has done is create a small, in-line wireless transmitter that you place between your headphones and mp3 player, it then broadcasts over a 2.4GHz RF to anyone within about 30 feet of you that also has an i2i Stream plugged into their headphones, allowing them hear everything you do.

My first thoughts on this product were wow, finally a way to share music on a plane ride with my friends who got booked 2 rows behind me. Then other ideas of sharing music started to sink in, like in a school library across a table while studying or even for 2 kids in the back of a car who want to listen to something other than what their parents have on.

They come with an internal rechargeable battery, it is oddly powered by a USB computer cable though, but a wall charger is promised to come out soon.

I can’t seem to find an answer anywhere on their site, but I’m also thinking you could broadcast wirelessly to any sort of small stereo speakers that has 1/8th headphone jack, which would be really cool to do. Then it would be possible to control the music played at a party from just about anywhere in the room.
They should be available in January 2008 and prices are set to be $70 for one or $120 for two with skins available for around $10. Keep glued here to Randomn3ss for more info on these.

Checkout the old-school dance moves the cop busts out in this promo video too.

i2i Gear official site: i2igear.com

As of 5pm EST, I became the proud owner of a brand spankin’ new 13.3″ screen, white, 2.2GHz something, 120 GB of something, and 2 GB of something else MacBook laptop.  It’s super freaking cool.  It is sexy and light and totally full of memory and I have yet to take it out of the box.  And I probably won’t take it out of the box until Tuesday, when I will be able to take it back to the store to get my data transferred from my old laptop.  Until then, I will continue to use my 2001 Toshiba Satellite with no more memory, a broken CD drive, and the inability to delete programs to make more space.

Why, you ask, did I just drop $1500 (plus tax, minus the “student discount,” thank you Hamilton College, your IDs without dates and the $160,000 I spent for them are the gifts that keep on giving) on a computer I’m not totally psyched to dive into?  Because I’m afraid.  Yes, I am intimidated by new, sexy, smart piece of machinery.  I will not be used to a computer that is speedy and doesn’t immediately get a virus as soon as I check my email.  I am not ready to not hit the “ctrl” key everytime I need to click a link so that I can fool my pop-up blocker.  I can’t commit to long battery life, nor to the time it will take to rip all of the CDs I’ve accumulated in the last 15 months since my CD drive broke.  Will I finally subscribe to NetFlix now that I have a functioning DVD player?  Am I sure I want to be able to download and delete programs with ease?  Do I want to be modern and sexy?

No.

I want the status quo until I have the courage to take my MacBook out of the box.  Also, I have an uncanny tendency to ruin electronics immediately upon first use, like the time I bought my Treo 700wx and dropped it when I went to show it to my friends.  Yeah.  Or the time I bought my new iPod, then went to Japan, got on a bike and wiped out with it, getting the headphones caught in the gear chain.  I’m pretty sure that as soon as I open that MacBook box, I will dump spaghetti sauce on it, drop it into my humidifier, get a coin jammed in the CD drive, and then, suddenly, lose the “r” key. 

Wish me luck.

Now that I’m (kind of) an adult, I don’t really get to make a Christmas list anymore. There are fewer presents under the tree and more cards with some cash in them. It’s not that I’m complaining - money is great - but it’s more fun to open gifts than to buy them for yourself. There are a few choice things I would like to see under the tree this year. Sadly, much of what I would like could be filed under “practical and boring” but, being female, I think I can find some frivolous things to throw in there.

Dear Santa:

I was only naughty on a handful of occasions this year, so I think I’m deserving of the items on this list. I mean, the naughty-ness occurred in the company of good friends and was all in the name of fun. If there was any naughty-ness that was not in the name of fun, I was too drunk to remember it so it doesn’t count. I’m pretty broke, so if you could like, pass this on to people who are loaded, that would be great.

1. A humidifier. I’ve had this persistent sinus infection for the past three weeks and I think it’s partially because of how dry the heat is in my apartment (it’s also due to drinking). But, I think this would help. This one is fancy and cute and from The Sharper Image. It’s also $150. Something between this and “cup of water next to the bed” would be stellar.
2. The Led Zeppelin 2-disc retrospective. I’m really into them lately and would love to have it in my music collection. I can’t get “Kashmir” or “Immigrant Song” or “All of My Love” out of my head lately (and I even like some of Robert Plant’s solo stuff). I’ll also take an iTunes giftcard. I’m kind of a music whore.
3. My computer is dying. It’s a six-year-old Toshiba Satellite laptop that has been very good to me, but is definitely in its last days. The CD drive doesn’t work and I’m pretty much out of disk space on my hard drive. Since I blog, I kind of need a computer (and it’s nice to have a portable one at that). I realize that I could get a regular Windows OS laptop for way cheaper, but I am sick of viruses and popups and installing extra programs to prevent the aforementioned. I just want to buy a computer, have all my files transferred, and call it a day. I want a Mac. Not only are they extremely sexy, but they are easy to use and don’t get all funky from rogue programs. I’ve decided on the 15″ MacBook Pro - it has a matte screen (unlike the 13″, which only comes in “glossy” which is damn annoying). However, I am really sad that it doesn’t come in black to match my two iPods and Bose speakers. Yes - color is important to me. Don’t judge.
4. Because you can never go wrong with this gift… but I can’t guarentee it’ll last past New Year’s.
5. A job with health benefits. I don’t think that’s a whole lot to ask for. Right, Santa? And yeah - that’s a picture of Steve Jobs… get it? JOBS?? HA! Also, if he reads this, it might help my case with getting that MacBook.
6. Maynard James Keenan. You don’t need to put him under the tree, just undress him and leave him tied to my bed, please. He can keep his cowboy hat on. Thanks.

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Apparently lawsuits against those who download pirated music aren’t the only thing we have to worry about, a fire extinguisher could also come in handy.

Over the last few years I’ve had several iPods, they are simply a part of my life at this point and I couldn’t imagine living without one. In my car, the radio is rarely used anymore, my iPod now connects directly to my head unit and is nicely hidden away, I can scroll through the entire contents through the screen on the head unit. When I go to the gym I watch video podcasts or TV shows I want to get caught up on. For plane rides it has become essential, both to listen to music on and watch movies, as a laptop is nearly impossible to open up and watch in coach.

During this time, I’ve realized that the first thing anyone should do when they get an iPod is to get a skin to help protect against scratching and give it a bit more cushion. My first skin was from some country out near China, I really don’t recall the name, but this is going back about three years now. At the time, they were one of the only companies that offered a product that covered the touch wheel. It was nice, but the quality of plastic was such that it attracted dust and lint. If you put it in your pocket, it would come out fuzzy from the fabric lining.

About a year and a half ago I upgraded to the newer 5th generation video iPods and again went out searching for a skin. After some quick research and asking questions on forums, everyone and their mom suggested the iSkin Evo3. Point blank, this is the best skin / case you can buy for your iPod.

OK great, I’ve made my point, I really like this case, its held up with no signs of use or abuse in the last 18 months of use and several friends have bought it on my recommendations and really enjoy it as well. There is a downside to this thing though, it won’t fit in the Apple dock or any other dock for any other third party piece of hardware. All those nice looking all-in-one speaker units, like the iHome, won’t work without painfully removing the skin, which defeats the purpose. Not a super big deal for me, I can charge it without using the dock, hell Apple doesn’t even give you one for free like they used to, and I can play music through my home stereo by using the headphone jack. Still, I’ve like the idea of an iHome for the bedroom, but haven’t been able to even consider purchasing one because my iPod simply won’t fit.

Along comes a product that was, at the time, just a concept on some tech blog I read, this was close to a year ago. I signed up on their site to be notified if the product ever went into production, well it finally has. It is called the Dock Extender and is designed for iPods with skins to be able to use docking devices. It simply gives clearance by about an inch and has two thin metal supports up the back for the iPod, so it doesn’t fall backwards. Brilliant!

Admittedly, I haven’t bought one yet, I’ve got some other bills to take care of before I look at buying an iHome, but this product is a no-brainer and should have come on the market a long time ago. If anyone is using this, please leave a comment.

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.

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