from the serious to the ridiculous
It will cost $125 to break my Verizon contract. I’ve been very happy with Verizon over the years: great coverage, good customer service the few times I’ve needed it.
I could hold out until September 5, when my contract expires. Thing is, I feel like I’ve already waited a long time to get an iPhone. What to do?
Yes, I’m breaking somewhat of a cardinal sin of this blog, but I’ve got to get some of this down. I’m planning to buy the iPhone 3G on Saturday morning, breaking my contract with Verizon, and, well, seeing whether my life will indeed change with this seemingly awesome gadget.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you here, but I have a feeling I may become about as obsessed with the phone as I was Obama a few months back.
My paraphrase of Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg’s words about Steve Jobs.
Patent application shows that Apple may be adding instant-message capability to its popular smartphone.
Had some last-minute canvassing to do this morning — had a list of pledged Obama supporters, names, phone numbers, addresses. I was tasked with delivering door-hangers with polling information.
Man, I thought, how am I gonna get all those addresses into a format I can use? And what technology? I don’t have a printer, so wtf?
It occurred to me that I could whittle the list down to just addresses in a spreadsheet, then copy that list into an email. Then I could access my email via iPod Touch’s Mail app. Sure enough, it was exactly what I needed. I even managed to sort the list while I was in Excel into an order that made sense on the ground.
Go me!
Okay, okay, my last post on this was admittedly knee-jerk. I realize a lot of skill and hard work goes into these kinds of advancements in technology.
But I guess the underlying beef is this: Similar to the way Apple lowered the price on iPhone, keeping the same price on a product with enhanced features is, quite frankly, bullshittish. Offer three or six months of a free upgrade for those who already own Touches. That, or charge just a little more (I know, I know) for the revamped product.
Okay, I’ll shut up and pony up my $20 now.
Simply put, I think it’s bullshit that the web apps for iPod Touch cost $19.99 for those who already owned the device.
or, Things I Find Lacking on iPod Touch 1G:
* built-in camera (don’t need it, but it would be nice, and yes, I will sacrifice the thinness for that)
* built-in ability to cut, copy, and paste text
* built-in ability to record audio (been wishing for this through all generations of iPod)
* support for files such as .doc and .pdf
* more storage
* tabbed browsing
That’s all I can think of for now. A friend suggested that 2G would come out before Christmas. I’m not so sure. I’m not as cynical as to think the technology is already there, tested, and put on hold to create more demand. But then often a lack of skepticism can be equated with naiveté. We’ll see.
I know I’m late here, mostly due to the fact that I never drooled over nor purchased nor extensively used an iPhone. But I discovered the joy of the touchscreen keyboard the other day, as well as its limitations.
“Key” to this discovery was the ability to turn the device on its side and have the screen rotate ninety degrees with me. Thus the keyboard is larger and, once I discovered two-thumb typing, easier to use.
The limitation comes about in the inability to copy, cut, and/or paste text. I vaguely recall seeing some workarounds for that with iPhone, and they should work on iPod Touch. Details to follow …
PS still annoyed by lack of abundant free wifi in San Francisco.
I see now how easy it can be for someone to quit their job and pledge themselves fully to what once was a pet cause.
Mine? Worldwide free internet access.
My biggest gripe with Day One of iPod Touch was the spotty internet reception walking around San Francisco. San Francisco?! I know!
Once I got back to the home of some friends, everything worked and was spiffy and sleek and high-res and amazingly adept and wonderful. Away from “home,” I could find a single accessible network, password-protection or password-protection.
Day Two ensues …
No time to write just yet (work and gadget-drooling ensue), but I got me an iPod Touch!