My iPhone Saga... So Far...

It was a chilly day in mid October 2009 when my 2 year AT&T contract finally ended. I had been using a Motorola Z9 up until that point (which was basically a Razr in the form of a slider.) The phone was sufficient enough for my needs, it made calls, text messages and I could sort of browse the web... sort of.

With the onslaught of smart-phones beginning to truly dominate the mobile phone market, my intrigue into Apple's iPhone was at an all-time high. Announced in 2007, made better in 2008 with the iPhone 3G and improved upon even further in 2009 with the 3GS, the iPhone was the phone to beat.

My first foray into what would later become 'iOS' was in early 2009, in the form of a used 1st generation iPod Touch that a friend of mine sold me after he transitioned to an iPhone 3G. I was blown away by the device, the intuitiveness and the apps. It went with me everywhere, I had my phone in my right pocket and my iTouch in the left. The only issue was the fact you had to have wi-fi to use most of the apps and features. This is when I really hungered an iPhone.

Fast Forward to that chilly October day, Columbus Day to be exact. My contract had expired and I was finally able to change my phone from a Motorola Z9 to an Apple iPhone 3GS, and of course I opted for the 32 GB version.

I remember that day clearly, well not so much the 'work' part of the day, but as soon as work was over, it was a mad dash to the mall's AT&T store to pick up an iPhone. I also had to go get fitted for a tux for my wedding in November, but priorities are priorities and I went to the mall first. It was a simple transaction, they grabbed the phone, put in my sim card and I was off.

It wasn't until later that day when I got home that I really dove head-first into setting the phone up, adding apps, adding contacts and testing it's capabilities. It was finally a reality... I had wanted an iPhone since the first one was announced in 2007 but didn't have the funds at the time, by 2008 I already had the Z9 and it's contract. 2009 was a great year!

Since I got the phone, it has gone with me everywhere, including in the shower, (after being wrapped in no less than three zip-lock bags.) I have done everything I could with the phone, including having it jailbroken for a while (until iOS 4 provided most of the things I was jailbreaking it for.) I fall asleep with the phone by my side every night.

I couldn't imagine ever going back to a regular dumb-phone, and through these two years, I've also played around with competition such as Android and HTC phones... and maybe because I'm so far embedded into Apple's world, but I don't think any other smart-phone out there can hold a candle to what Apple brings.

Fast Forward again to tomorrow's Media Event (I'll skip over the whole iPad thing... I've already written plenty of posts regarding my iPad Saga.) A new phone (or beefed up iPhone 4) will make an appearance, and I believe the biggest selling point is going to be The Assistant, which will successfully take voice recognition and artificial intelligence to the next level (or so Apple hopes.) Regardless of the announcement, I'm going to be getting a new iPhone, and unlike my previous attempts to acquire Apple products, I'm ordering it online, which should hopefully ensure I'll get one.

Tomorrow... It's Only a Day Away

Excitement is reaching it's peak... Apple's 'Let's talk iPhone' press event will be kicking off tomorrow at 1 pm eastern and will answer all of the questions that speculators have been debating back and forth since last year.

Judging by the evidence presented, it is very likely that Apple will be releasing an updated iPhone 4 (called iPhone 4S,) and offer three storage sizes, 16GB, 32GB and 64 GB, while the current iPhone 4 may get a bump down in storage (8GB) and be offered at the $99 price point. It doesn't look hopeful that Apple will release a redesigned iPhone 5 at this event, unless they have been absolutely amazing at preventing any info from being leaked.

Personally, since I've been using the iPhone 3GS for two years, I will happily get an updated iPhone 4. However, if I had been using the iPhone 4, I probably wouldn't upgrade, but that's just me.

I am actually glad that they aren't redesigning the phone using the 'teardrop' design... I never liked it and feel that it would not be as balanced when using it sideways (although it's hard to say since I haven't had it in my hands.) I like the current form-factor and I don't even mind the screen size. Many have been saying that if it's not redesigned or if the screen is not bigger that they will get an Android phone instead. That's ridiculous. Try as you may, even with Apple just offering a spec boost, the intuitive nature of the iPhone far outweighs what Android devices bring to the table. (*editor's note... in my opinion.*)

I am excited as hell to get the new iPhone... As I said earlier, I've been using the 3GS for two years, so I missed out on the iPhone 4 features like the retina display, the front facing camera, and the increased processing power. Add on the 8 mp camera boost, the even-more increased processor, the higher storage and the new 'Assistant' voice recognition software and I'm going to be a happy, happy camper.

Speaking of The Assistant (which is still a rumor, but seems very likely to be announced tomorrow,) I think this will absolutely be a game-changer. The potential of this software implemented into iOS will take us one step closer to living in a futuristic Star Trek world.

I've toyed around with both the Dragon Dictation by Nuance, and Siri Assistant apps (the two companies who will be instrumental in Apple's 'Assistant',) and have found that the voice recognition works extremely well... not perfect, but very well. There are limitations to these apps, and I imagine that Apple will figure out ways to make everything cohesive and intuitive.

With the Siri app, it already does a number of things well and I am positive that they will make the transition into iOS, such as finding directions, pulling up weather info, booking hotels or taxis, and a slew of other things. It was unable to get me store hours when I asked "What are Target's hours?" and it could not give me sports scores when I asked "What is the score of the Notre Dame and Purdue game?" I imagine that Apple will work this software to the point you will be able to ask it almost anything and it will find the answer somehow. Plus, you will be able to use speech-to-text whenever a keyboard pops up, which will make sending texts while driving much more safe. There are numerous other uses I can imagine, but it's anyone's guess what Apple will say tomorrow.

All I know is that I'm hype.

Apple Update

It's been a while since I last updated this blog, but there has been some recent excitement from Apple that I wanted to write about.

Let me start by saying that I still have an iPhone 3GS and my 2 year commitment expired just this past July, which is why I didn't jump on board with the iPhone 4. My plan was to get the new iPhone when it was released in Summer.

Unfortunately, Summer has come and gone and there was no new iPhone to speak of. Plenty of speculation and rumors of course, but no word from Apple at all.

Well, we are now nearing October, and invites have been sent out for a 'Let's Talk iPhone' press event, which will take place on October 4th at Apple's campus. According to sources close to the matter, the new iPhone will be released October 14th.

It is still highly debated if Apple will simply release an iPhone 4S or an iPhone 5, or both. According to parts manufacturers it appears that the release may be just iPhone 4S which will carry a similar look to the iPhone 4, but feature internal enhancements such as faster processor, 8 MP camera, and an overhauled voice command system.

Evidence of an iPhone 5 has only come in the form of case-manufacturers who have been working off of a 'supposed' leaked document which shows a redesigned iPhone that has a tapered appearance, reminiscent of a MacBook Air when closed.

We will not know for sure what Apple has in store until next Tuesday, when new iPhone(s) will be announced, iOS 5 will be released, and possibly an iPod refresh will occur as well. I can't wait... I'll definitely be pre-ordering the second I am able to.

Bring Back My Fries!

I'm absolutely frustrated that Wendys is sticking with these new 'fresh-cut' fries... I figured by now that they would revert back to the original fries, but alas, they haven't. I say again, there was nothing wrong at all with the old fries, and if they wanted to introduce these new fries, they should have offered both options. It's ridiculous.

According to some survey I read somewhere (which is far from scientific and easy as pie to skew,) Wendys new fries top McDonalds fries in taste, but I say that's bullshit.

Fuck Wendys! Fuck Surveys! Fuck it all! I'm still boycotting Wendys, it's been since April and I don't plan on going back anytime soon. Fuck em!

6 iPads

At last count, I had bought 5 different iPads since March 2010. I can now add one more to that total. I was finally able to find an iPad 2 for my wife (as an Easter gift.) The funniest thing about it is the iPad I got for her is a White Verizon 32 GB, which is the exact same model, color and carrier that I got for myself on the iPad 2's release weekend (which I took back because I wanted black.) So suffice to say, almost everyone in my immediate family now owns an iPad. We were joking around that we should get together on Sundays to have an iPad Roundtable at my Mom's house, and although we laughed, I'm starting to think that might be a good idea. I'm definitely down to do it because it sounds fun and educational. Will let you know how it goes.

Too Many Words

Looking back through some of my old blog posts I realize that I type too many words and don't post enough pictures. People can tolerate some words, but overall they just want fascinating pictures and quick little blurbs. I'll have to start doing that more.

This is a cartoon picture of a laughing hyena. ha-ha... yes, very funny.

The perfect Waitress.

Umm... that's all I got for now. Whatever.

3D

Recently it seems that 3D Films (and to a lesser extent, TV,) has really gone from fad to mainstream. Anyone over the age of 30 probably remembers when a slew of horrid 3D films sporatically came out and everyone donned those blue and red glasses. The effects were pretty neat for the time, but it was simply a fad.

Nowadays, technology has given 3D new life, we now have glasses that moreso resemble sunglasses, and the 3D effect is pretty awesome. Director James Cameron has recently stated that he believes 100% of movies will be 3D within the next 5 years. If the technology becomes such that we don't need glasses (and that is already becoming a reality, i.e. Nintendo 3DS,) then maybe there is a chance that everything will be shot in 3D.

I have not totally embraced all of this 3D entertainment just yet. I have seen a couple 3D movies and yes, I enjoyed them, but then again, I have seen thousands of 2D movies and enjoyed those just as much. The higher ticket prices for 3D movies vs. 2D movies is a huge factor that keeps me away from the theatre, and I don't particularly like watching movies with sunglasses on.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all about the next step in entertainment... we went from silent black & white films, to audible black and white, to color, to better color, to HD and now to 3D. As James Cameron believes, 3D could very well be the next step for films and television, but I am not in a big hurry to buy a new TV and start wearing glasses whenever I sit down to watch some Two and a Half Men, or Football. Maybe that's just me though.