We usually purchase new phones every 18 months.  Last December we broke down and upgraded to iPhone 3GS models, and have been pretty happy with our phones.  Sound quality aside, of course, iPhone has served us pretty well over the past 8 months.

As we looked at options for the geek kids, we started talking about upgrading to the iPhone 4 and giving our 3GS models to the two younger boys.  We kicked it around a bit and decided to investigate.  Two weekends ago we visited Best Buy and AT&T.  He walked out with the Samsung Captivate and I walked out with my iPhone 3GS firmly in hand, with no thought of upgrading any time soon.

Fast forward a week and I was thinking I would upgrade to the iPhone 4.  Until I got into the store and found that it’s a 7-10 day wait.  > . <    I am not very good with waiting, so I reluctantly purchased a Samsung Captivate.  Reluctantly — in case you missed that in my previous statement.

I have spent about 24 hours with my Captivate but I have to say that as of this moment, I am less than *ahem* captivated by my new device.   I want to like it.  I want to be happy with my purchase.   I have a rather uneasy feeling that my impatience has overridden my common sense and I have gone the wrong direction.

Don’t get me wrong – it is fast and it does have some sweet features.  And I’m no Apple Fan Girl.  But in all honesty, I don’t want to have to think about how to use my phone.  And this dang thing has a learning curve.  It also requires me to kill off apps.  I want to close it and be done with it, not have to kill it in order to keep it from running in the background.

I don’t know y’all….we shall see.

For those spec hounds, here is the information on the Samsung Captivate (SGH-i897 Galaxy S).

Processor: Arm Cortex A8 1Ghz Processor (hummingbird)
PowerVR SGX540 Graphics Core Processor
Memory (RAM): 512MB
Storage: 16GB Internal (+16GB expandable through MicroSD)
Android Version: 2.1 (Eclair)

Network/Connections:
Bands: 2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, 3G : HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 7.2Mbps
GPRS: Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32-48kbps
Wireless: b/g/n; DLNA
Bluetooth: v3.0 Profiles: GAP, SSP, SDAP, HSP, HFP1.5, A2DP, AVRCP, SPP, DUN, FTP, SAP, BPP, OPP, PBAP
USB: Micro v2.0

Dimensions:
H/W/D: 4.82in x 2.53in x 0.39in
Weight: TBA
Screen: 4 inch Super AMOLED
Resolution: 480×800 16M Colors

Audio/Video:
Connection: 3.5mm Audio Jack
Codecs: MP4 / DivX / WMV / H.264 / H.263 player, MP3 / WAV / eAAC+ / AC3 / FLAC player
FM Radio: Yes

Camera:
Resolution: 5 MP 2592×1944 Auto-Focus
Digital zoom
Shot Mode: Single shot, Continous, Panorama, Beauty, Vintage, self shot, action shot, addme, cartoon shot, smile shot
Photo Effects: Normal, Negative, Black and White, Sepia
F-Stop/Aperture: 2.6
Focal Length: 3.79 mm
Focus Range: 120 cm
Image Format: JPEG
Flash: No

Video:
Recording: 720p (720×1280) 30 fps
Front Facing Camera: TBA

Battery:
1500 mAh Li-ion Battery
Standby: 2G Upto 750 Hours 3G Upto 576 Hours
Talk: 2G Upto 13 Hours 3G Upto 6.5 Hours

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ican haz a super Touch?

I must admit…I love my iPod Touch.  It’s a cool gadget that I had to have, and HG surprised me with last year.  I have enjoyed it thoroughly, but truth be told, I have been dreaming about all the things that would make the Touch even better.

The end of 2008 brought a growing hum about the possibilities of Apple’s next great thing.   Michael Arrington wrote about it in a December 30, 2008 article in TechCrunch:

We’ve got this from three independent sources close to Apple:  expect a large screen iPod touch device to be released in the Fall of ‘09, with a 7 or 9 inch screen. Prototypes have been seen and handled by one of our sources, and Apple is talking to OEMs in Asia now about mass production…. I’m not saying Apple is definitely launching a large form iPod Touch. But sources I trust are saying they are currently planning to, and one source has actually held the device.

While that was definitely a tasty morsel, it was still too early for any type of real anticipation.  Fast forward to today when DigiTimes quoted a daily Chinese-language financial newspaper, Commerical Times, as saying:  “Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for Apple’s new netbook, and shipments will start in the third quarter this year”, that hum became a buzz.  The internet was suddenly a flutter with commentary about the possibility of a netbook by Apple.

The information quote from Commercial Times states that the Wintek touch screens are for an Apple netbook.  A previous quote about netbooks by COO Tim Cook stating that Apple was ”not too impressed with what it’s seen so far” would seem to contradict this.  In fact, based on the popularity of the iPod Touch and the iPhone, it would seem to make a lot more sense that Apple has  been developing a hybrid device – something in between the Touch and the Macs.

So what do you think?  Netbook or a super coolio new iPod Touch?  I say, “BRING IT!”  I am ready for a new iPod Touch!!

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Illustration by Charlie Powell

Geek life as I know it is about to come to an end. My Samsung Blackjack II – the fourth of its kind that I have owned in the past 8 months – is on its last lame leg. Welcome to my nightmare.

My life is planned, coordinated, scheduled, re-scheduled and communicated via this small but occasionally wonderful device. I say occasionally not because it doesn’t work well for me, but rather because it doesn’t work well for me OFTEN. Considering nothing in the geek world that is mine moves, shakes, rattles or rolls without the mobile madness I carry with me almost everywhere, this is a modern-day Shakespearian tragedy.

The last time I was in the AT&T store the personality-challenged rep I talked to via phone was considerably less accommodating than the “Hi, I’m Barbie. Can I be window-dressing while you wait on hold” in-store rep who greeted me on arrival. After 30 minutes of proving to the call center charm school drop out that my phone was indeed malfunctioning, he not-so-warmly agreed to ship me a new refurbed phone. Have I mentioned that I hate refurbed phones?

I politely mentioned to Mr. Wonderful that I would be requesting a different phone altogether the NEXT TIME this happened. He assured me that it wouldn’t happen again and trusted that I would be most happy once I received my new-to-me-but-not-really-new phone in the mail in 2-3 working days.

Eh……LIAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Wednesday night when I picked my phone up off the desk and woke it up, horror of horrors – there was a crack in the display and colors were bleeding.  I have not dropped it.  I have not abused my phone.  But I will still need to go through 117 different checks, re-checks and probably a whole lotta ‘splaining in order to be considered believable and possibly eligible for delivery of another phone to my residence in 2-3 business days.

Except – I’m not going that route.  I refuse.  4 strikes?  Usually you’re already in the dug out or maybe even at your locker cleaning it out.  I most certainly will not go for a 5th phone of this type.  No way.  No how.

Here’s to a weekend spent determining which device they shall be happy to give me as a replacement.  LOL!

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Pile o' Mobile Phones

Nothing has proven more challenging to me than shopping for a mobile device.  Touch screen, no touch screen.  Full QWERTY keyboard.  Slider.  Flip.  MP3.  Camera.  Vid Cam.  Full Web Browser.  PDA functions.  Crackberry?  YIKES!!!

I’m as geeky as the next girl (okay, more geeky than most), but I have to admit that I have a real prejudice against these “One Size Fits All” type devices.  I want it how I want it (aka MY WAY) and I want it NOW!!

In the dark ages of the PC, you got what you got unless you knew how to build your own.  I have built my own computer but having tackled that so-called challenge (it’s really stupid easy these days compared to when I did it), I prefer being able to go online and order it my way.  So riddle me this:  Why can’t we do the same with mobile devices?

Applications do not make a device; they enhance a device.  Although the ability to add apps is one cool thing about the iPhone, it doesn’t get me past the whole lack of a QWERTY keyboard.  I text like crazy and process a lot of email on my mobile device.  My fingers are not tiny and I need the tactile feel of a keyboard.  Neurotic, perhaps, but I can’t stand the whole touch to type thing.  It lacks bounce.

I like the keyboards on devices like the Samsung Blackjack II, but I cannot stand the fact that if you need to use the touchpad to key in something during a call you have to know the number to letter conversion on your telephone in order to do so.  That completely hoses up your ability to wade through many of those stupid VRU apps, which forces you to keep hitting # until you get to a live person (if you are so lucky as to find a real person on the other side of the canned tinny voiced bot beeyotch).

I don’t want a camera or a video camera.  They are annoying stupid things that I have no use for whatsoever.  It’s just one more thing on the mobile device  that can break and rendering it unusable and in need of repair.  To go without my device for any length of time is a complete tragedy, and one event I prefer to avoid at all costs.

The cost for cool gadgets that “do it all” is not small, and is on the rise.  But I have to tell you – if I’m going to spend upwards of $400 on a mobile device – I don’t want someone else’s idea of what a mobile device should be or should have – I want to create my own mobile device.  This is the ultimate in personalization and would be worth the money.

I realize there are challenges with this request.  Mobile devices aren’t made here.  There would be a delay in delivery.  They would likely be more expensive.  Blah blah blah.  This is all lip service.  Look at it this way – if I can have customized personalized M & M’s delivered to my door, why can’t I get a mobile device that is personalized and customized according to my needs and wants?

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Apple iTouch 8GB

I got my iTouch last winter and have recently used it more heavily at work. Consider this a 1 year review of this first generation touch-screen iPod. It’s an 8GB model that includes WiFi connectivity, web browser, email capabilities, contacts, video, games and more.

Just the other day I upgraded the firmware to the latest 2.2 version from Apple. This is the same firmware that powers the current 3G iPhones. The upgraded firmware cost $9.95 (something I not a big fan of), but thus far I believe is worth the cost.

The key, and biggest selling point to the firmware upgrade, is the ability to download and install applications directly on the iTouch. As long as you have Internet connectivity, there is much you can do with the iTouch.

A new feature I am starting to use are Podcasts. In particular, video podcasts. The current subscription I have is to the Dilbert video cartoons. They run about 20-30 seconds each, but it’s well worth the free subscription. So far I have downloaded over 100 of these Dilbert p0dcasts and watched about 10. I’ve got a ways to catch up.

And onward to the main reason I have an iTouch…. music! With 8GB of space on this iTouch, there is plenty of room for songs. I think I have used up about 6.5GB of space with hundreds of songs to listen to. One great feature of the firmware upgrade to 2.2 is the inclusion of the “Genius” feature. When playing a song, press of the “Genius” icon on the screen and the iTouch/Genius “robot” will automatically put together a playlist for you based on the song you are listening to. If there are not enough songs to make a playlist, Genius will let you know as well. I actually found this out listening to a Prodigy song and didn’t have any other music on the iTouch that matched up with that type/genre of music. Right now I am listening to a lot of Rock/Metal bands.

Get yourself a nice pair of headphones too if you pick up an iTouch. The headphones that come standard with the iTouch are okay, but I didn’t like the way that felt. I picked up a pair of black “Shure” headphones, though expensive, but have enjoyed them quite a bit. They come with multiple ear fitments and the sound quality is first class.

The newest investment made into the iTouch is the addition of an “Invisible Shield” by Zagg. This is a scratch proof rubber-like adhesive that is applied to the iTouch, form-fitting even. I did have a case for the iTouch. And while it was a nice case, it ended up breaking up on me. The Invisible Shield has proven to be great. It’s very thin, actually improves the viewing on the iTouch, and outside of a couple of air bubbles that are cropping up, has been worth the money.

The Microsoft Zune is the direct competitor to the iTouch. While the Zune is quite a bit cheaper and can hold more space, it does not have a touch-screen. I find the touch-screen much easier to use while driving to and from work and honestly, just feels easier to use versus a scroll-wheel interface like the old iPods.

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