Thursday, July 23, 2009
Workspace
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The iPhone Post
 | Oasis - Champagne Supernova |
I was actually trying to write this the other day and for some reason Blogger wasn't complying with my new FTP password. Everything's working now, though...odd.
So neztach just got a new iPhone and he was asking me what all I do with mine. He's no doubt trying to move out of the stoneage. :p I'm going to do my best to keep this organized and give an idea of how I use this thing daily.
Home Screens
As you can see, I have and use quite a few applications, both standard and downloaded from the app store. In some cases I even have redundant applications for the same task, but with slightly different features. There's really no right or wrong way to organize home screens (or just go for straight up anarchy!). I basically try to organize mine by like tasks, so for example, on the second line of the first home screen are several of my social networking apps. On the first line of my second screen are my streaming audio apps, etc. I guess this method of organizing is held over from the good old days of when I carried a Handspring Visor and later a Palm Tungsten T2 with me everywhere. Can't remember whatever happened to those things.
SMS Text (Text Messaging)
It's almost a given in this day and age that people text. I remember before going back to school in 2003, I'd be lucky to send or receive 20 texts in a year. At my peak during school, and with the aid of an unlimited plan, I inched just over 2,800 messages in one month. I'm out of school now and the days of a hundred texts a day are gone, but I still appreciate a good SMS application.
I actually managed to cripple my T-Mobile Dash by trying to install a threaded SMS client. After that, my factory AIM client never worked again. On the iPhone, Apple has made the whole process painless and included the iChat interface that I'm very fond of. The only thing that would make this better is if they integrated the SMS (and upcoming MMS) functionality with the standard IM protocols. One place for messaging, everything from SMS to Google Talk, would be amazingly handy.
Fring (Instant Messaging)
Now I'm not going to lie and say that this is the best IM client I've ever used. Far from it, actually. What it does do right, though, is combine every possible IM protocol into one package (I use MSN, AIM, Skype, and Google Talk). My main beef with the application is that it completely breaks the UI for each client. Instead of feeling like I'm messaging someone on Google Talk or someone on AIM, it feels like the separate services don't even exist. That's an especially annoying UI choice when it comes to multiple contacts and I'm trying to hunt down their Skype account, for instance.
All that said, Fring is a great option for free, especially considering the only better IM app on the iPhone is Beejive which runs a way too pricey $16. It'll be interesting to see what happens once Apple rolls out iPhone OS 3.0 with push notifications. I'm holding out hope that someone will port Pidgin.
Rooms (IRC client)
Simply put, this app is amazing. Sitting in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport this last Christmas for over 5 hours, I was trying to pass the time through watching some Netflix DVDs on my MacBook Pro (incidentally, avoid Sweeney Todd), I felt the itch to get online and check out what was going on in my normal IRC channels. Airport Wi-Fi was just as overpriced as the gum at $10 for one day's access. After hitting up the app store, I 'walked' away with this app at the bargain price of $2.99.
Basically this does everything you're used to on a normal IRC client short of DCC send. Full support for multiple servers, channels, onjoins, notifications on new messages (dot blinks), portrait and landscape keyboard, mod utilities...everything. I don't know if there are other IRC apps out there, and I really don't care. The only better IRC client I've ever used is X-Chat, and not by much.
Twittelator Pro (Twitter Client)
Without a doubt, this is the best Twitter client on the market, desktop or mobile. Any and every function of Twitter that I can think of is in this program: follow/unfollow, retweet, reply, email, favorite, groups, threaded conversations, search, trends, landscape typing, pics from your library or snap a pic, GPS location, in-app browser, etc etc etc.
There are a lot of Twitter apps out there, and even a dozen or more for the iPhone. Some are free and offer perfectly good service. For someone who truly wants the most robust and easy to use Twitter client, however, $4.99 for Twittelator Pro is a great deal.
Weather Channel (Weather)
SMS Text (Text Messaging)
It's almost a given in this day and age that people text. I remember before going back to school in 2003, I'd be lucky to send or receive 20 texts in a year. At my peak during school, and with the aid of an unlimited plan, I inched just over 2,800 messages in one month. I'm out of school now and the days of a hundred texts a day are gone, but I still appreciate a good SMS application.I actually managed to cripple my T-Mobile Dash by trying to install a threaded SMS client. After that, my factory AIM client never worked again. On the iPhone, Apple has made the whole process painless and included the iChat interface that I'm very fond of. The only thing that would make this better is if they integrated the SMS (and upcoming MMS) functionality with the standard IM protocols. One place for messaging, everything from SMS to Google Talk, would be amazingly handy.
Fring (Instant Messaging)
Now I'm not going to lie and say that this is the best IM client I've ever used. Far from it, actually. What it does do right, though, is combine every possible IM protocol into one package (I use MSN, AIM, Skype, and Google Talk). My main beef with the application is that it completely breaks the UI for each client. Instead of feeling like I'm messaging someone on Google Talk or someone on AIM, it feels like the separate services don't even exist. That's an especially annoying UI choice when it comes to multiple contacts and I'm trying to hunt down their Skype account, for instance.All that said, Fring is a great option for free, especially considering the only better IM app on the iPhone is Beejive which runs a way too pricey $16. It'll be interesting to see what happens once Apple rolls out iPhone OS 3.0 with push notifications. I'm holding out hope that someone will port Pidgin.
Rooms (IRC client)
Simply put, this app is amazing. Sitting in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport this last Christmas for over 5 hours, I was trying to pass the time through watching some Netflix DVDs on my MacBook Pro (incidentally, avoid Sweeney Todd), I felt the itch to get online and check out what was going on in my normal IRC channels. Airport Wi-Fi was just as overpriced as the gum at $10 for one day's access. After hitting up the app store, I 'walked' away with this app at the bargain price of $2.99.Basically this does everything you're used to on a normal IRC client short of DCC send. Full support for multiple servers, channels, onjoins, notifications on new messages (dot blinks), portrait and landscape keyboard, mod utilities...everything. I don't know if there are other IRC apps out there, and I really don't care. The only better IRC client I've ever used is X-Chat, and not by much.
Twittelator Pro (Twitter Client)
Without a doubt, this is the best Twitter client on the market, desktop or mobile. Any and every function of Twitter that I can think of is in this program: follow/unfollow, retweet, reply, email, favorite, groups, threaded conversations, search, trends, landscape typing, pics from your library or snap a pic, GPS location, in-app browser, etc etc etc.There are a lot of Twitter apps out there, and even a dozen or more for the iPhone. Some are free and offer perfectly good service. For someone who truly wants the most robust and easy to use Twitter client, however, $4.99 for Twittelator Pro is a great deal.
Weather Channel (Weather)
Outside of that, however, the app delivers. Current conditions, hourly, 36 hour, local radar static or in motion, and even up to the minute video forecasts with an actual Weather Channel anchor. Finally, one of my favorite features, is the severe weather tab along the bottom that will gain a number badge (eg. 4) if there are any severe weather alerts in your area. Given this area of Texas, severe weather is pretty frequent and it's always nice to have these alerts in case power goes out or the cable signal drops.
Google Maps (maps/phonebook)
Not really a whole lot to say about this app. It's absolutely essential and rightly included with every single iPhone that ships. Maps, driving directions, street view added in 2.x, quick access to both phone numbers (tap once to dial) and websites. If you've used the desktop version of Google Maps, this is fairly close. All that's missing is the handy reviews.YouTube (videos)
Pretty cut and dry app. It's not too bad at all when on WiFi, but is crippled on 3G due to lower bitrate videos (imposed by AT&T presumably). Other missing features are: the ability to sort, rating videos, commenting on videos, reading comments, adding to favorites, and many more. While it's great to have access to YouTube videos on the run, I'd have to say this is by far the most lackluster default app on the iPhone. If you just want a simple to use interface, then there you go.Photos (iPhoto library)
Great implementation of the iPhoto library on the iPhone. I'm hoping in the future that Apple adds in the basic editing features found in iPhoto such as enhance, red eye, and crop. Outside of that, this app provides quick and easy to navigate access to all of your photos, and even has the ability for a slideshow. Tap the icon on the lower left to use as a wallpaper, email, or assign to one of your contacts.Streaming Audio (Pandora, Slacker, Last.fm)
What can you say about this category. All three programs are fairly similar with different levels of customization. Pandora takes artists/songs that you input on the website or rate up and down on the device and attempts to find matching styles utilizing the Music Genome Project. You can make (as far as I know) an unlimited number of channels with different themes. The downside to Pandora is it tends to repeat a bit too often.
Slacker takes an approach somewhere in between Pandora and satellite radio. While you can create your own stations, most genres are already covered and playlists are organized by producers. Favoriting a song means that particular song will come up more during rotation but has no bearing on any other songs played. Banning naturally means you won't hear that song (or optionally artist) again. The nice part of Slacker is being able to switch between stations without the need to build your own. The main downside to Slacker is occasional commercials for non premium subscribers.
Last.fm offers the least amount of customization but, in my experience, matches listening preferences much better than the other two programs. Because you "scrobble" (tell Last.fm) what you're listening to on your iPod or in iTunes/Banshee/etc it's able to match your musical tastes to other available music. The "Recommended for..." playlist is quite fun and I use it often both on the iPhone and in Banshee. On the downside, it's impossible to listen to specific genres in Last.fm without paying a monthly fee, and even then, it's pretty poor implementation.
The reason I have three of these apps is because all three fit different needs at different times. I listen to none of them all the time, instead going back and forth between the three and my iPod.
Slacker takes an approach somewhere in between Pandora and satellite radio. While you can create your own stations, most genres are already covered and playlists are organized by producers. Favoriting a song means that particular song will come up more during rotation but has no bearing on any other songs played. Banning naturally means you won't hear that song (or optionally artist) again. The nice part of Slacker is being able to switch between stations without the need to build your own. The main downside to Slacker is occasional commercials for non premium subscribers.
Last.fm offers the least amount of customization but, in my experience, matches listening preferences much better than the other two programs. Because you "scrobble" (tell Last.fm) what you're listening to on your iPod or in iTunes/Banshee/etc it's able to match your musical tastes to other available music. The "Recommended for..." playlist is quite fun and I use it often both on the iPhone and in Banshee. On the downside, it's impossible to listen to specific genres in Last.fm without paying a monthly fee, and even then, it's pretty poor implementation.
The reason I have three of these apps is because all three fit different needs at different times. I listen to none of them all the time, instead going back and forth between the three and my iPod.
Movies & TV (Flixster, Now Playing, i.TV)
Much like the music apps, I have two movie apps to cover different needs. Flixster offers the ability to connect reviews of movies to Facebook and of course all of the usual options of viewing trailers, seeing ratings, and purchasing tickets. Now Playing picks up Rotten Tomatoes reviews (great feature!), also includes trailers, and can manage Netflix queues in real time. Also I find that usually if you can't buy tickets online through one app, you can usually get to them through the other.
i.TV is handy for ghetto TVs that have no cable box or DVR. I believe it has some TiVo functionality to it, but since I don't have one, that's a moot point for me. It's not an essential app by any means, but is put together well nonetheless.
Truveo (Video)
A recent app that I found, Truveo links directly into AOL's video aggregating site of the same name. The cool little app lets you search multiple services and view videos including entire TV shows and full length movies. Definitely an awesome alternative to sideloading your own content before heading out, or purchasing content from the iTunes store. The interface is a bit buggy, but I expect that it will continue to improve with new versions.
Lose It! (Health & Fitness)
A very nice little app (and free!) that lets you track your daily food intake and exercises. You can see data daily or weekly by graph form. It also includes nutrients to help you see if you're hitting your goals on daily splits (eg. 40 protein/20 fat/20 carbs). The interface is intuitive and the program includes a very nice sized database of generic, name brand, and restaurant foods. Definitely a must have app for anyone who wants the benefits of keeping a journal without lugging a binder around with them everywhere.
Google Reader (RSS reader)
This is almost cheating since this app is just a link on my home screen to a Google web app. That said, Google Reader has been my favorite RSS reader for years now. Using the desktop version you can customize categories, tags, and subscriptions. The mobile version is a little less featured than that, but still offers the ability to read stories with images in line, mark favorites for sharing, email, and more. The best part is that since it's synced with Google, your unread items are kept to date whether you access from the desktop or the iPhone. No going back and forth between separate applications on different devices.
SplashID (password vault)
Unfortunately this is all I can show you of my SplashID app, but there is a ton more information and screenshots here. I've been using this program since way back during the Visor/Palm OS days. With so many logins to websites for everything from forums to phone bills, it's an absolutely essential app for me. This is especially true these days as websites are starting to require increasingly complex passwords to guard against hackers. At $9.95 the app is a bit on the pricey side, but it is by far the best utility out there both for managing the information and keeping it secure. Truly an app I could not live without.
Wikipanion (Wikipedia access)
There are several apps out there for accessing Wikipedia, and Wikipanion is my favorite. While you could just open up Safari and go to Wikipedia, that option doesn't offer the luxuries of being formatted for the iPhone's screen, quick access to each section of the article, and the ability to easily bookmark articles for future use.
Games (Reign of Swords, Aurora Feint, Fieldrunners)
Reign of Swords is a strategy-RPG somewhere in between Advance Wars and Fire Emblem. It's a bit sparse on sound effects and audio, but otherwise a good way to kill time.
Aurora Feint is 100% free, and absolutely worth a download. I'm not even going to go into describing it, because if you're too lazy to download a good free game, you don't deserve any more explanation.
Fieldrunners is a very well thought out tower defense game. Currently there are three maps and several modes and difficulties for each map. While the game runs $4.99, the author provides regular updates and the production on the game is that of a DS or PSP game.
MLB At Bat Lite (MLB scores, standings)
Soon to be upgraded to the full version for $9.99. This free version offers up to the minute scoring and standings for every MLB team. You can view runners on base, strikes, balls, etc during a live game. In the full version, you have access to a more elaborate game channel view, as well as the ability to listen to the entire radio broadcast as it's taking place and view video highlights. The $9.99 lasts for the entire season, all the way up through the World Series.
There are a few apps off of my home screens that I did not cover; trust me, I use them. I encourage everyone to browse through the app store and see what catches their eye. While most of my use of the iPhone comes from actual productivity, I know an equal number of people who use apps that fart :p. Of course what I didn't mention in this post is the insane amount of time I spend in the Safari and Mail apps. I obviously also make great use of the iPod app for music, podcasts, and movies. Especially on those 45 minute nightly walks with Link.
This device is literally my most used piece of electronics ever. I would honestly be lost without it, and hope that day never comes, lol. Thanks for reading.
i.TV is handy for ghetto TVs that have no cable box or DVR. I believe it has some TiVo functionality to it, but since I don't have one, that's a moot point for me. It's not an essential app by any means, but is put together well nonetheless.
Truveo (Video)
A recent app that I found, Truveo links directly into AOL's video aggregating site of the same name. The cool little app lets you search multiple services and view videos including entire TV shows and full length movies. Definitely an awesome alternative to sideloading your own content before heading out, or purchasing content from the iTunes store. The interface is a bit buggy, but I expect that it will continue to improve with new versions.Lose It! (Health & Fitness)
A very nice little app (and free!) that lets you track your daily food intake and exercises. You can see data daily or weekly by graph form. It also includes nutrients to help you see if you're hitting your goals on daily splits (eg. 40 protein/20 fat/20 carbs). The interface is intuitive and the program includes a very nice sized database of generic, name brand, and restaurant foods. Definitely a must have app for anyone who wants the benefits of keeping a journal without lugging a binder around with them everywhere.Google Reader (RSS reader)
This is almost cheating since this app is just a link on my home screen to a Google web app. That said, Google Reader has been my favorite RSS reader for years now. Using the desktop version you can customize categories, tags, and subscriptions. The mobile version is a little less featured than that, but still offers the ability to read stories with images in line, mark favorites for sharing, email, and more. The best part is that since it's synced with Google, your unread items are kept to date whether you access from the desktop or the iPhone. No going back and forth between separate applications on different devices.SplashID (password vault)
Unfortunately this is all I can show you of my SplashID app, but there is a ton more information and screenshots here. I've been using this program since way back during the Visor/Palm OS days. With so many logins to websites for everything from forums to phone bills, it's an absolutely essential app for me. This is especially true these days as websites are starting to require increasingly complex passwords to guard against hackers. At $9.95 the app is a bit on the pricey side, but it is by far the best utility out there both for managing the information and keeping it secure. Truly an app I could not live without.Wikipanion (Wikipedia access)
There are several apps out there for accessing Wikipedia, and Wikipanion is my favorite. While you could just open up Safari and go to Wikipedia, that option doesn't offer the luxuries of being formatted for the iPhone's screen, quick access to each section of the article, and the ability to easily bookmark articles for future use.Games (Reign of Swords, Aurora Feint, Fieldrunners)
Reign of Swords is a strategy-RPG somewhere in between Advance Wars and Fire Emblem. It's a bit sparse on sound effects and audio, but otherwise a good way to kill time.
Aurora Feint is 100% free, and absolutely worth a download. I'm not even going to go into describing it, because if you're too lazy to download a good free game, you don't deserve any more explanation.
Fieldrunners is a very well thought out tower defense game. Currently there are three maps and several modes and difficulties for each map. While the game runs $4.99, the author provides regular updates and the production on the game is that of a DS or PSP game.
MLB At Bat Lite (MLB scores, standings)
Soon to be upgraded to the full version for $9.99. This free version offers up to the minute scoring and standings for every MLB team. You can view runners on base, strikes, balls, etc during a live game. In the full version, you have access to a more elaborate game channel view, as well as the ability to listen to the entire radio broadcast as it's taking place and view video highlights. The $9.99 lasts for the entire season, all the way up through the World Series.There are a few apps off of my home screens that I did not cover; trust me, I use them. I encourage everyone to browse through the app store and see what catches their eye. While most of my use of the iPhone comes from actual productivity, I know an equal number of people who use apps that fart :p. Of course what I didn't mention in this post is the insane amount of time I spend in the Safari and Mail apps. I obviously also make great use of the iPod app for music, podcasts, and movies. Especially on those 45 minute nightly walks with Link.
This device is literally my most used piece of electronics ever. I would honestly be lost without it, and hope that day never comes, lol. Thanks for reading.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
PSA: Do you have multiple computers?
Assault on Precinct 13
If you have multiple computers and monitors (even multiple operating systems), this is the best program (and free) that you'll ever find. Use one mouse and keyboard for all computers, and share the same clipboard for copy and paste between all systems. Jump below the picture.
Download here: Synergy
If you have multiple computers and monitors (even multiple operating systems), this is the best program (and free) that you'll ever find. Use one mouse and keyboard for all computers, and share the same clipboard for copy and paste between all systems. Jump below the picture.
Download here: Synergy
Labels: computers
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Hellgate: London (PC)
 | Ok Go - Oh Lately It's So Quiet |
Fall 2007 Preview
Synopsis: Hellgate: London is the first original title from premier developer Flagship Studios, whose team hails from such blockbusters as the Diablo, StarCraft, and WarCraft series. Set in the near future, Hellgate: London introduces a world devastated by a demon invasion. Players are thrust into a desolate city scorched by hellfire where the survivors meld science and sorcery to gain a foothold against the minions of darkness and save the bloodline of humanity.
My Take: Well, this is more of a hands on impression now that I let a month and a half pass and the game has been released. Basically this is Diablo updated for 2007, and either you're going to love or hate that. The action now is real time instead of point and click, allowing you to go into first person or third person. Classes such as engineers and marksman will usually play through in first person mode in pseudo FPS-style gameplay, while classes like Blademaster and Guardian will usually prefer third person play. Aside from that, if you like dungeon crawling and collecting mad loot while leveling up, this is your game. If you're expecting anything else, like so many in the media seem to be doing, you will be disappointed. I'll try to post a decent review once I've had more than a dozen hours with Hellgate.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Crysis (PC)
 | Stone Temple Pilots - Plush (Lucy XM54) |
Fall 2007 Preview
Synopsis: From the makers of Far Cry, Crysis offers FPS fans the best-looking, most highly-evolving gameplay, requiring the player to use adaptive tactics and total customization of weapons and armor to survive in dynamic, hostile environments including Zero-G.
My Take: This is the kind of game that you pick up to see what your system can do. It's not like anyone will ever see, but you just want to know how the best looking game ever made works on it. Beyond that, the concept of the game is new and interesting. Your character is wearing a "nano muscle suit" that allows you to switch your style of play on the fly. Someone can be ready to finish you off; have you near death. In any other game, you have a second or two to live. In this game, you can switch to sprint, run off, switch to strength and jump incredibly high, and just after you jump, switch to cloak and disappear.
Unlike Far Cry, Crytek is putting a lot of effort into the multiplayer part of the game. That isn't to say they're neglecting the single player at all. You'll be playing in different environments than just a jungle, including the ice level gameplay that was released on Thursday. The game looks solid at this point, and should give Halo 3 and Half-Life ep 2 a run for their money.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (PC)
| Trust Company - Stronger (Squizz XM48) |
Fall 2007 Preview
Synopsis: Experience the ultimate team and mission-based online warfare, defined by the acclaimed Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, now set in the legendary QUAKE universe. Choose to play as the human Global Defense Forces or the invading alien menace, the Strogg. Each side has distinct classes, vehicles, and weapons to choose from, giving players countless ways to join the battle.
My Take: Quake Wars is one of those games that completely replaces something you already play. In this case, it's impossible for me to go back to Battlefield 2, because it feels way too slow compared to the complete anarchy of ETQW. The demo was released today and there's a hojillion fools running around getting mowed down by the dumbest shit. Makes me feel like I'm actually good at this game.
If you're wondering about my opinion on this versus Wolfenstein ET, I have no idea; never played it. However, I can say that ETQW is an incredibly well put together team FPS, and looks like it'll only get better by the time retail hits. I say this, because I've put in 25 hours or more on one map. The replay value to the game is just as high as BF2, and the pace of the game makes every game one hell of an experience. strogg...Strogg...STROGG!
Sunday, September 09, 2007
The Orange Box (PC)
 | New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys |
Fall 2007 Preview
Synopsis: The Orange Box delivers five innovative action games from Valve® - creators of the blockbuster Half Life® franchise, in one box. The Orange Box includes Half Life® 2: Episode Two, Portal™ and Team Fortress® 2 in addition to full versions of award-winning Half Life 2 and Half Life 2: Episode One for an engrossing first-person action experience.
My Take: These are some solid games. While Half-Life 2 isn't my favorite FPS of all time (blasphemy!), it was a fun game to play and I'm anxiously awaiting playing through episodes 1 and 2. Nothing additional is even needed to sell Team Fortress 2. This is a game that people have been waiting on for the better part of a decade now.
Finally there's Portal, which looks like it'll either be a lot of fun, or full of mouse breaking frustration. Of all the new games in the pack, this is the one I'm looking forward to the least. However, even if it's not the best, I have nothing but praise for Valve throwing in another game. The Orange Box, hands down, has the most potential hours of fun of any release this Fall.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
The Witcher (PC)
| Andy Ling - Calling Angels (System XM82) |
Fall 2007 Preview
Synopsis: The Witcher combines spectacular and visually stunning action with deep and intriguing storyline. The game is set in a world created by best-selling Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The world shares many common features with other fantasy lands, but there are also some distinguishing elements setting it apart from others.
My Take: When I first saw this game a couple years ago, I devoured every image and story I could find on it. As time passed, I completely forgot about it and was happy in my state of ignorance. Then one day SoulBlade (from #videogames) brought the game up, and here we are talking about it in the Fall Preview.
The Witcher is an old-school RPG with a few twists. While you can change the controls to support WASD, the preferred method is to move the character through mouse clicks Fallout style. The action, however, is real time, using timed mouse clicking sequences to produce chained combos with your sword(s). The latest gameplay trailer is absolutely amazing, and makes this look like a serious contender for RPG of the year.
The main story in The Witcher unfolds over nearly 30 hours of gameplay. For those who don't want it to end, there's an additional 50 hours worth of side quests, bringing the game up to 80 hours total of Mountain Dew and Taco Bell fueled gaming. Moral decisions abound, but according to CD Projekt (the developer), they will be more vague than the status quo supervillain or angel motif most games use. It's so cliche to end articles like this, but this is one game I really can't wait to play.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
iPod revisited
| Spoon - The Beast and Dragon, Adored |
So it's been a little over four years since the iPod was first debuted on October 23rd, 2001. I had just upgraded my car stereo a month earlier with a Pioneer headunit, and an XM receiver. I admit it, I'm always the first on the bandwagon for everything, and the iPod would be no different. First, though, let's back up a little bit.
Apple had announced to reporters that they were about to release a "breakthrough digital device." Expectations were running high off of rampant speculation that sometimes hit and sometimes missed. Many in the Mac community already had their wallets ready and were just waiting for the Apple Store to add the device. Then, it was unveiled and message boards lit up. I have to admit that I was completely underwhelmed, especially with the $399 price tag. I knew the thing would see at least some success, but I knew that I couldn't afford one. Other reactions varied from very good to very bad, but I think it's safe to say that people were cautiously optimistic about it.
"The device is by no ways groundbreaking. Sure, it uses firewire (which is good), it is light, and probably built well, but in 5 years will [we] be looking back at the iPod?" (link)
It hasn't quite been five years yet, but I have a feeling people are going to remember the iPod.
I never did get one of those original iPods. A few months later, Apple rolled out the 2nd generation of iPods with Mac and PC versions. I picked up the Mac 10GB iPod from the local Apple Store and the building hype started to make sense to me. Up until that point, I couldn't understand how people would go and shell out over $400 for something as trivial as a music player. Then as I walked around with my entire music library in my pocket, it hit me; I understood. I was also hooked.
I eventually sold off that iPod to a friend, and upgraded to a 3rd generation 15GB player. Being as much of a sucker as I am for Apple products, I also ran out earlier this yearand bought a 512mb iPod shuffle. Luckily, I've gotten a ton of use out of that little thing. It really looks like I've taken sand paper to it with how abused it gets on a daily basis, but it keeps on tickin'. It's been my all-purpose gym music player/flash drive since I first connected it to my PowerBook.
I still take care of my 3rd generation iPod as if it were delicate porcelain, but I know one day it's going to play its last note. That new iPod is looking pretty cool... chu's iPod nano looks good too...
Labels: computers
Saturday, December 10, 2005
RSS from anywhere
| Husky Rescue - Rainbow Flows |
I'm sure I'm the last person in the world to know about Google Reader. I stumbled upon this article about it while looking over Blogger enhancements. Pretty nifty, I think.
On a sidenote, I changed the links to where visited links show a line through them. If you hover over the links, the line will go away so you can read it. Thoughts?
Labels: computers
