I had to travel to Corpus Christi today to attend my management class graduation. Before leaving I made sure that my InCase PowerSlider was fully charged and so was my iphone nestled inside it. With the PowerSlider, I can could fully utilize my GPS features, bluetooth, and push services without worrying that my battery would be dead before I got back home. While I was in Corpus, I met up with some friends from the class and we decided to go out for dinner. We didn't know what we wanted so out came my iPhone and we began spinning the dials on UrbanSpoon. Soon we found a steakhouse that met our requirements and had favorable reviews. We all piled into my car and via my iPhone's GPS we were on our way.
My iPhone Today
I awoke this morning, as I do every morning, to the klaxon alarm on my iPhone. I check my email and RSS feeds and head to the bathroom to go shave. While shaving, I play some music and then set an alarm to make sure I get out of the shower in time. I have my work email set to forward to my MobileMe account so any emails I receive are automatically pushed to my iPhone. Throughout the day I check emails, RSS feeds, text message a few people and look up information. A nice feature of the college I am attending is their iPhone friendly website that allows me to see assignments, grades, and announcements. If I have time on my breaks, if I have one at all, I will watch a few video podcasts.
Now It Really "Shines"
One of the many benefits of being an Associate Writer for Palm Addicts, is the opportunity to do reviews of various software and accessories. Currently, I have been given the opportunity to review the Crystal Case with Soft Feel Base (SKU: 26235) and the Echo - Mirrored Screen Protector (SKU: 25351) for the iPhone 3G from Proporta.
First off, I'd like to talk about the risks that we reviewers take. We risk our systems by uploading new software and we risk our devices when reviewing accessories. Take me for example, I am a diehard Otterbox user after having one on my first iPhone and seeing how many times the case saved the device. Right now I am using my device with the Crystal Case with Soft Feel Base which is a step down in the level of protection, but I also cut the bulk of my device by almost 50%. I like to think about this way, if this case got me to take my Otterbox off to try it, it must be good.
Now, the shame on me part...I have had my iPhone 3G for about 4 months WITH NO SCREEN PROTECTOR!! Who does such a thing!?!? I am fanatical about lint under my screen protectors. If it's there...it has to go! As with all screen protectors, you want to thoroughly clean your screen before application. As I was doing this , I realized there is dust in between the touch screen and the screen! I'm not happy, but there's nothing I can do about it. I will just have to try to not think about it. When I owned an LG Shine, it really didn't reflect like I thought it was advertised to. Now the Echo - Mirrored Screen Protector, really reflects! It is a nice thick screen protector that doesn't affect touchscreen sensitivity. I also learned that the screen protector is polarized. I remember reading that the iPhone light output is polarized, so I guess that's how the screen shows through when it's on and is totally opaque when it's off.
Well, here are my initial thoughts. After a week or two, I'll give you my final thoughts and pictures. Until then, be a happy addict and enjoy your devices!
Fun with the iPhone
When I first had an iPod Touch and then an iPhone, before the release of the App Store, I had a very hard time wrapping my mind around games for this platform. There weren't many buttons and the idea of controlling everything with the accelerometer just didn't interest me all that much. Currently, I have a few games on my iPhone that I probably would have ever thought to have to my Treo. Here's what I have on my iPhone: 300 Bowl, Cro-Magnum Rally, Motochaser, Spore, Texas Holdem, Aurora Feint, Diner Dash, Top 3 Solitaire, Cannon Game, Koi Pond, and Blue Skies Lite (just downloaded; haven't played it yet). So far, my favorite game is Spore with Diner Dash a close second. I got Diner Dash as a gift for my wife and now I'm hooked!
One thing I learned to do is to put my games on the last page of my menu, that way, I have to go through my programs to get to them. (Will someone please come up with a launcher, or maybe Apple needs to let go of that part of the code.)
How Technology Has Ruined My Life
My first computer was a Packard Bell desktop that I reformatted so many times that I think the platters in my hard disk must have been paper thin. My first laptop was a Sony SRX and it was a little larger than a current netbook. I ran the laptop like a desktop, keeping it constantly connected to an ethernet cable and power cord. My first mobile device was a Sprint Samsung i-300 that was a gift to me and I wanted to take the web with me wherever I went. Life has never been the same since that device.
In the course of the past 6 years, I have been through more devices than I can count. I have probably lusted after more devices than I have owned. Currently, I am married to an iPhone 3G. I say married because my wife will remove parts of anatomy should I purchase another device and the parts of my anatomy that she would remove would be the fingers and hand that swiped the card. For every device that is released, I analyze and agonize over its every feature and lack thereof. I, like many of you, seek the Holy Grail of Mobile Devices; a product that has every feature that I want, has the right interface, and plenty of battery life. For the time being, the iPhone 3G (with a few upcoming software releases) is as close to perfection as I can achieve at this time.
My phone has become an addiction. I can rationalize buying uncounted software, cases, and accessories. It is because of this addiction (and remorse for so much spending) that I feel that I need to have my phone with me all the time. The addiction doesn’t stop there. Ever since I owned a Treo and it was near me, I felt the need to pick it up and do something with it; almost a compulsion, if you will. When I can’t find anything to do at that moment, I simply put the device down and feel a little sad, like some how my device let me down. It is that feeling coupled with a compulsion to spend money that drives me to look for what might be newer and better.
In the end, I tend realize that what I have is just fine. My wife is also key in reminding me of this. Patience has never been a strong suit of mine, but if I can learn to get better at it, I can learn to be a devoted fan of a single platform and single device instead of a mindless freak collecting every bit of technology I can get my grubby little hands on.
Mini-Theater
While visiting a local Best Buy, my wife started browsing the music docks for iPods. (We both have iPhones and realize that you have to put it in airplane mode to make them work.) Most of them sounded loud and tinny, but one sounded very rich and seemed affordable to us. (And is iPhone compatible.) I didn't buy it on the spot because I wanted to take some time and do some research on the device and here is what I have found: It has received 4.25/5 stars from Best Buy reviewers, I cannot find it discounted anywhere on the net, and even eBay has 0 listings. What this tells me is that this is a solid device with a good track record and no one wants to give theirs up.
This dock comes with a remote, you can charge/sync your ipod/iphone with it, it also has a standard input jack for use with other MP3 players. The only downside is it requires AC only for power, but for the sound quality, it's worth it.
Click here to visit Best Buy and see. (By the way, Best Buy is also back ordered about 2 weeks...must be popular!)
iPhone Frustration
Ever since upgrading my iPhone to 2.0.2 I've had nothing but problems...mainly I have had to do a full reset and restore 5 times in only two days. When I had a Treo, this wasn't really a problem thanks to backups and only 64MB of inboard memory. My iPhone contains almost a full gig of programs and takes almost an hour and a half to restore the apps alone, not to mention re-adding music and videos. As I am typing this, I have just finished downgrading my iPhone back to 2.0.0. I am hoping that this will solve my problem, because nothing is more frustrating then having my $500 iPhone sit with the apple logo on the screen for 30 minutes. Before all these lockups I was loving my iPhone and really losing my inhibition toward spending money at the app store.