likesunday

As Promised

It is now Day 12 of the "iPhone Experience". I'd promised an honest, early adopter assessment at 1 week, but when life gets in the way time lines can double. All the more goodness to dish on. If you have no interest in this bit of flippery, best move along and wait for more regularly scheduled political snarkiness.

I'll start with what I've found to be 2 major keister pains, at least until I was led to the resolution pathways. All was smashing ,until last Thursday when suddenly the slide-lock...well...no longer slid and unlocked. I could sort of fake it out by swiping a couple of times then pressing the Mother-ship button, but this trick didn't apply so well when trying to accept an inbound call. By Friday, I was all fired up to hit an Apple store, when I took a quick gander at what Google trails the issue might have. As so often is the case with Google, I had the answer I needed within 15 seconds.

The iPhone has a 'hard-boot' feature, to be employed whenever general bugginess occurs. These bugs- in addition to the aforementioned unlocking problem- included for myself frequent Safari network shutdowns, a random inability to send text messages (would hang then error out), and even not being able to dial out. All set to perfect working order by the mysterious boot. A mystery because isn't this the kind of thing one expects from Windows, but that Apple has always claimed to be free of? In any case, for those who have the phone or those who intend to get one, hold the top right sleep/wake button at the same time you hold the home button to invoke the re-booting process. Make sure you hold it for about 8 seconds or so, you should see a black screen, then a silver Apple icon appears.

Now I said two pains, but the second honestly wasn't an iPhone issue. It was related to that wonderful bit of software, iTunes. I'd fired the baby up today to feed it some more cd's, when a delightfully new, "Visual C++ unexpected runtime error/contact administrator blah blah" hard error resulted. After furiously backing up the iTunes music folder, I meandered to Apple online support user forums. Not as quick as Google usually is ( which actually let me down on this one), I managed to learn that re-naming the Apple Software Update folder ( I managed fine just adding an underscore as prefix) allows iTunes to function as normal. In extreme circumstance, one can reinstall iTunes and you shouldn't lose any of your media files.

So, back in business, anything else I've come to really enjoy?

Actually, quite a lot. I'm just going to spit them out in one ginormous list (I'm enjoying that word more now that it's been added to Webster's through some freak oversight).

1. Google maps. This was mentioned before, but I've now had many instances to really test drive it. I am not sure which is cooler to me- being able to get to a company's website right from the little Google map-pin (getting me to a unfamiliar restaurant's menu in two taps), or never needing to print out driving directions again.
2. Camera. It's very basic, but takes much nicer pics than I'd expected- and can email them (uses my Yahoo account, so an actual real email instead of some weird mms.att deal) tapping out from my contacts in a very easy fashion. I don't know if you've ever sent one from a RAZR, including text, but I was never personally a huge fan of the experience.
3. The ability to access my company in-box any time I need to.
4. Instant access to all my email accounts. I will admit one thing here- emailing from Yahoo is tricky. You hit 'send', it takes you back to the edit screen, like you're still composing the email. Don't be fooled, the email actually does get sent, as one colleague who received 10 of them from me in 20 seconds can attest (I'm still a part of, 'If it doesn't work the 1st time, hit it a few dozen times' school- even though I know better).
5. The calendar event management is rather nice- I will be playing with this more soon.

And that, my friends, concludes the iPhone trial. Overall, a rousing thumbs up. I admit, I even feel a whole lot safer now out and about with my toddler. I can access the usual help methods (911, AAA, etc.), but now can also email for assistance, look up how to address an unfamiliar situation, and little things like plan out his meals before going to a new place with him. Not to mention show him video clips while waiting to see the pediatrician (yesterday's lifesaver).

Back at the ranch, said son is having a heck of a time with fevers today (was told tummy bug, we'll see if he's better tomorrow or another trek north to see the doc), so I'm off for another 6 hour dosing of Motrin (then in 2, the Tylenol dose, kinda did it backwards today). It's been an action packed day of otter pops, liquids, cold washclothes, and tepid baths, poor little guy. Nothing stops your heart quite like the glazed eyes and rosy-cheeked feverish nodding of a little one.

He actually was in very good spirits, for all of that:

The Truth Must Be Heard

The first time I read about the Apple iPhone, I had an instant, "I must have this" consumerist reaction. One that, quite frankly, didn't subside with the subsequent reviews. When my ho-hum RAZR died in a pool of sippy cup overflow last week, I knew it was a sign.

Let me preface the following by stating that I have never owned an Apple product. I used an iMac mouse once and thought maybe I was suffering an epileptic fit. More recently I web-browsed on an Apple notebook where there was a touchpad that hadn't been enabled for scrolling, and had it been my own it would have been teetering on the brink of being smashed into the nearest wall. Someone gave me a Nano, and I've just today figured out how to get the software reset (so now life is more exciting).

But I needed a phone, I just got a raise, so what the Hell. We'll start the 'paying off old credit card debts' project next paycheck.

I researched my plan well. A small AT&T store is nestled in a strip mall between a Target and a Mervyn's, just 5 minutes from my work. The city is mostly a residential suburb. The big Apple stores (we have 3) had been on the news a couple days already in regards to campers, so I knew I wasn't even going to go near a flagship.

I grabbed a friend and we scoped it out at lunch for line horrors. If the queue was all the way down to the street, Plan "B" was a date with apple.com at 6pm and just waiting for one to be shipped (and since I'd already gone 5 days without, and husband is in L.A., this was Not my preference). To my utter shock, as I was pretty resigned to the fact I was to be phoneless a few more days, there were only about 15 people (or chairs at least) and one very bored security guard. That's when I knew- I was doing this.

I made it back to work, making sure my friend was okay'd to pick up my son from daycare so I could start my mission early. I tidied up some work for about an hour, and finally couldn't stay still any longer. Gratefully, my manager only laughed at me and told me to get out of there. After showing me the Dave Chapelle video he'd downloaded onto his iPod the night before. Sweet.

When I arrived, I parked in front of an adjacent store. I walked up, and there were about 20 people or less- 3 of which I knew. This wasn't going to be so bad! After a few minutes others lined up- one of which an hour or so later grabbed an extra chair for me out of her vehicle (after over-hearing one of the aforementioned 3 suggesting I get my ass to Target and shell out the 12 bucks for a chair), may she have good Karma forever. 110 degrees is amazingly easier to handle when not seated on steaming concrete. Thankfully, we were all in the shade.

When the store began letting us trickle in (about 7-10 at any time in the store), it was just ridiculous the satisfaction I was feeling about getting ready to plonk down $600 (a fellow line-mate having talked me into the 8mb version). A mere 25 minutes later, it was done. The iPhone was mine.

As soon as we were home and my son asleep finally, I logged onto Apple. This proved to be the most torturous part of the entire process, keeping in mind I only waited for 3.5 hours where others waited all day or for days. I really should have followed the site's advice to set up an account earlier in the week, but I had created one before so didn't think was going to be the issue it was. Somehow my download had become corrupted, so after a couple repair attempts I finally remove all iTunes programs and did a clean install. Finally, activation.

This was a very curious process, as there is only one small blurb in the (tiny) manual, and on Apple one was supposed to watch a video for it that kept getting hung up. So, I was flying blind.

Here's where I should probably mention that I am an existing AT&T customer (10 years), that I have always had a positive experience, and only one area where I get dropped calls (and I know it's not just this carrier, mountain with a lot of radio towers). I didn't have an activation fee. I didn't have to do a credit check. That I now have unlimited data and 1500 sms (vs. 200) for the same amount I was already paying. I mention this because I've read nightmare stories for those that weren't. For myself, once I finally had the right software version, it was cake.

And now, cue in the 24-hour 'review'.

I will try and restrain my self from the 'OMFG this is the coolest gadget I've ever seen much less owned' commentary- but it's going to be really, really difficult.

First, let's start with the contact syncing. Once iTunes had my phone activated, my pictures, videos, and Yahoo contacts (no music on this notebook) were all synced with the iPhone. Remember, my previous phone died an untimely death, so entering all these contacts and numbers was no joyous prospect. Imagine my giddiness that a very good percentage of these already were populated in my phone. It seems I've made an attempt in the past to clean up the Yahoo data, and I could just hug that previous self. I may try to do same now with Outlook at work (via the Wifi connection, natch), but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Next, the keyless keypad. I was a bit concerned about this, as I do a lot of text-messaging and I'm very slow at it. I try and use Yahoo messaging when I can so I at least have a qwerty to use. I was also worried because I have these long acrylic nails (YOU try and keep nice natural nails with a 2-year old boy, it's beyond my abilities) and the touchscreen was likely heat-sensitive- was I going to be able to contort enough to connect with the touchpad?

Oh, oh yes. And it was good for me.

It is by far the easiest phone interface I've used for messaging (or email, for that matter). The word-suggestion logic is quite able, and much more intuitive than the clunkiness of a typical phone. And- I cannot stress this more- it's fun.

"Fun-factor" shows all over this baby. Text messages show in little cartoon bubbles as conversation streams. New messages show as numbers outside of the relevant icon. Pictures can be sized down by pinching or the reverse to enlarge. To see the next picture, flick your finger. Want to zoom in on a web page, or a piece of a web page, just double-tap accordingly. Almost all of which I figured out just by poking around, as there is an almost laughablly minute manual that barely merits mention. But with an interface this intuitive, why waste the trees?

That's not even all. Let's talk browsing speed. I was geared up for the painfully slow experience I'd read to expect. Well, considering the number of people surfing on these things just like me last night, AT&T must have tweaked the network, because pages loaded anywhere from a second to 3 seconds. I encountered only one 5 second download, but with a page picture heavy and one that even my laptop struggles with. I forget to mention the surfing aspect was made even better by all my Explorer favorites (I hop between firefox and IE) already being in my phone from the 2-minute sync. And the Google apps feature is impressive, if a bit dizzying.

Gosh, and I have to squeeze in here how cool the ability to listen to voicemail like email is- that is, to hear it in whichever order you wish.

So, now that you've heard all the rah-rahs, what would I change?

First on the list would have to be no video ability- you can play it, you just can't record it. I'd actually just assumed video since there was a camera feature. I can't get too disappointed, however, as I only tried to use video on my RAZR once and it was just a tuneful blur (Bauhuas concert).

Second should probably be the lack of a swappable battery (all the more reason to keep iTunes synced if it ever has to go in for repair). Apple has had ongoing issues with new releases and these, so it is a concern.

I was a little disappointed by the sparse youTube offerings ( I was planning to wow my son, but no Wiggles, Mickey Mouse, or Dora), but heard all videos should be converted by October so will just improve with time.

Ringtones...okay, here is one that could be better. Think cell phone circa 1997, then remove all the 'cool' canned rings. Bingo. I was so unimpressed I went with the 'old fashioned' ring, "Brrring...Brrring...". With a phone that stores music, why not the ability to apply one of those songs as a ringer?

I haven't seen how to see multiple text messages outside of one big message stream, but this is likely because I only have been doing this with one person.

I am trying to find other things to add to this list, but I honestly can only think of one more, and that's to do with the accessories. I bought a cheap 3rd party DLO case (shock absorber, basically), and it's clear the rumour that Apple didn't release any prototypes to manufacturers is true. The rubber case just fits around the unit, the holes for ringer off/go to vm, sleep, etc. are slightly off, and though it has an opening for the dock the case has to be removed to sync because it doesn't fit inside with it (with the dock design, may be true of all cases, actually). I will now be investing in one with a book-like configuration, as my cat's hair does seem to be gravitating to the glass screen and a little annoying, and may have to go for an over-priced Apple one until the makers have time to re-design based upon actual physical specs instead of approximations.

I'll do a one week review (considerably pared down from this one) and update anyone who cares whether I still am still giddy, or if it was just the excitement of some strange.

Here I am...

When she awoke, the solstice was upon her.

Too much has been going on...not enough has been happening...I need a rest.

As I am 'in a mood' and this is my blog, a list- try to make order out of it, I dare ya- of wild and wooly and mundane items, events, and thoughts in my 'codeinated' head (see following for why):

• My tumbleweed-ridden backyard will be a lush paradise (it's relative) of grass, granite, plum trees, hibiscus, jasmine, gardenia and more as of tomorrow. Plants are in place (many with dead leaves, so panic-watering has begun), now just the sod and rock remains. I am inordinately pleased by this, and my son a happy, bouncing tot asking, 'grass yet, mama?'.
• I saw '28 Weeks Later' Friday night. Never abandon your wife to zombies, that's all I'm going to say.
• While tensely munching popcorn, half of a wisdom tooth crumbled.
• Ouch. OK, not really, but it seemed like it should hurt. That didn't really hit until morning.
• Yesterday, visited the dentist. Later in the day, an oral surgeon. The offending tooth was removed, then next month 3 more say their adieus. I was fascinated to learn I actually have excellent dental coverage, even though max benefit could be (much) higher. So the gazillion fillings will need to wait until the next benefit year. Something to look forward to.
• My son has pink-eye. As we were leaving the pediatrician's Monday, he pulled on my skirt, "The Dr's good, mama!". I said, "He is?". "Yeah, I feel better!". This as the poor dear's eye was swelling shut faster than Apollo Creed's. Kids are so damn cute sometimes.
• Sometimes, when you make your case to your company that you are worth more $$ and if they can't make an effort to come close you'll have to leave, they actually pull through. I'm still a little dazed by that.
• The timing couldn't be better, as hubby will be paying less towards joint bills now to catch up on medical bills and taxes.
• It's amazing, but has really been wonderful having old friends- college, high school- back in my life (myspace. seriously). I had a 2 hour or so phone conversation last week. I'd have to go about 5 years back for the one before that.
• Another great friend may be moving back to the valley from the Windy City. It would be incredible pay for him, really hope he nails his interviews.
• In an uber-geeky twist of fate, have run across a cache of mTg (if you don't know what that means, move along to the next bullet and count yourself amongst the unscathed) players lately. The fact this excites me worries me more than I'll admit.
• I've been obsessing over my carbon footprint. Very much a '2 steps forward, 3 steps back' process. A woman's mag- Glamour, maybe?- at my nail tech (OPI polish, but chemicals in removers and acrylic surely is not eco-friendly) was devoted to the topic. CD's...2.2lbs of carbon waste. Puts that BMG membership into different perspective, and the justification for the iPhone (at least an iPod) exponentially grows. I bought a really slick white board (only, it's not white, looks like steel) to use for my daily work schedule and notes to replace the page of paper I use for the purpose daily. Baby steps. I have the weird lightbulbs, and they Do decrease the electric bill. I've started to turn off the powerstrips at night (reminder, must plug dvr into wall instead of monster). I bought the trader joe's recycled toilet paper this round (can't use every month...you can sand with the stuff, the delicate sensibilities deserve better). But go into the bathroom- hair products, razors, hair removers, perfumes, makeup, non-homeopathic cheap bubble baths- and yowza...To go to all (mostly, or more) green products is just so expensive. So glad we have t.j.'s or food would be the same problem. Did I mention the obsession? Not sure if overall doing any better, but certainly feeling guiltier.
• The codeine is wearing off, so should probably take off and down some and go to sleep before I get into how pissed I am that Gore hasn't declared he's running yet (he has the written invite, c'mon...Hillary wouldn't stay out of it for you).

What's going on in your life?

Can I get a "whut whut'

Scooter Libby's been served. Some days you're Cheney, some days you're the fall guy.

[source]

This is just sickening

What is the firefighter creed in Gilbert, anyway?

Or how is it a courtesy service contribute to a 10 grand bill?

This family was in a trailer park, so what is that, 30% of the worth of their home?

Wow.

Remembrance.

[source]

Is it possible...

that this fucktard be re-admitted to the military so that he may be court-martialed:

Jesse Adam Macbeth, 23, formerly of Phoenix, garnered attention on blogs and in some alternative media after he began claiming in 2005 to have been awarded a Purple Heart for his service, which he said included slaughtering innocents in a Fallujah mosque. His story was contradicted by his discharge form, showing that he was kicked out of the Army after six weeks at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2003 because of his “entry level performance and conduct.”

How exactly is that not treason? It's one thing to not agree with a war...but this:

In one videotaped interview, a skinny, stuttering Macbeth, dressed in a camouflage jacket, described slaughtering hundreds of people in a mosque: “We would burn their bodies ... hang their bodies from the rafters in the mosque,” he said

Treason, right?

Snark

Top 10 Bush t-shirt slogans

My favourite:

18. Bad president! No Banana.

In all seriousness, the corrupt nature of this government is venturing into surrealism. Karl Rove. His cronies- McNulty...Sampson...Goodling...all resigned, in shame. All that just since March. Going back further in the Administration's history is truly a head-scratching experience.

As far as Iraq now...who are the good guys over there? As long as the Saudis are in play, it's all a big ruse, isn't it. They fund the Sunni. For all the hate talk of Israel, that's where this is headed, if genocide is to be avoided. While we're at it, maybe set up a Palestinian state officially.

Because in the end, it doesn't matter, does it. These are people bent (yes, radical followers, ever-increasing in numbers) on killing each other and anyone seen circumventing their way of life just by existing (this is a culture that stones women when their ankle-skin shows because the man is tempted to rape- not that the man is an evil bastard, no, never that). Huge swaths of under-educated or carefully educated (brainwashed?) zealots on 2 continents and fanning out, determined that pre-Enlightement standards be reverted to. All with hypocrisy built right in, because the rich never pay the same dues.

Makes hope in world peace a bit naive.

What does a bear do in the woods?

Actual tagline on msnbc of Newsweek article, "Did Rove try to mislead Congress?".

Erk.

No wonder I've been retreating to the land of lolcats and myspace (I know, I know) lately.

New Hobby

LOLcat buildr...OMG! OMG!

lolz