A few weeks ago, the tech gadgetry blog Gizmodo published an article with pictures of Google’s vehicle fleet, sitting in a parking lot (presumably in Cali based on the license plate – see image, from Gizmodo, at left) getting ready to take photos. You see, these street-view images don’t just come out of thin air – Google’s purchased a fleet of Chevy cars to drive around America, roof-mounted camera at the ready, waiting to capture more image data for Google Maps.
Not the greatest photo, but you can just make out the Erwin Terrace dumpster structure on the right and Poplar Manor on the left:
(Via Bull City Rising.)
Yay!
Sorry, I am being a snob surely. But Internet Explorer 5 and 6 must be put out to pasture.
Anyone still using these browsers I now consider retarded.
With Safari, Firefox and Opera sprawling across Mac, Windows and Linux – Internet Explorer is a relic of Microsoft’s monopolistic fantasy.
IE7 is not bad, having been modernized reasonably.
But IE 5 and 6 vistors need to get a clue and move into the 21st century.
How do you feel about the iPhone after a week?
My previous phone was a Nokia N95, and prior to that the E61 and E62, also by Nokia.
After living with an iPhone for a week, I was expecting the new toy sensation to have worn off and reality to sour my initial reaction.
So has it? Not at all!
A couple non-iPhone equipped friends have called to ask me how I like it, knowing that I am one finicky geek. They half expected me to abandon the iPhone for the sweetness that was the Nokia N95.
The reason I am still enthralled with the iPhone is simple. It is the first “smart” phone that deserves to be called “smart”.
The virtual keyboard learns how I communicate and adapts. The phone automatically switches between networks as I encounter them. It gracefully fades music and podcasts in and out as you take calls - well I could go on. The iPhone, as with most Apple products, just works.
The final nail in the coffin of my Nokia N95 was a simple revelation.
I was enjoying answering email on the iPhone, more than on my MacBook Pro. Its interface is fast, clean and to the point. The user experience feels like a reward for being productive.
On the Nokia N95, even over wifi, the processor and UI strained to produce modest results. The email application frequently failed to display messages.
Even with the Opera browser installed on the Nokia, the iPhone just seems to work better and faster for web browsing. My guess is that the iPhone is leveraging more memory, horse power and the benefits of having Mac OS X under the hood.
That brings me to the updates. Outside the robust Nokia N770 and N800 internet tablets, my experience has shown that Nokia, like other mobile device makers, tends to skimp on updates for existing devices. They like to roll the advances into the next device instead.
Apple, with the roots in the desktop computing, obviously built the iPhone as a platform. They fully intend to release numerous updates. Filling the application gaps like chat, MMS, improved syncing and who knows what else they dream up.
These updates translate into added value for customers. As they see their investment grow.
Regarding the lack of 3G, it was certainly a tough choice. However, part of the blame lies with U.S. carriers whom have insisted on using ever divergent flavors of networks to gain Microsoft-like positions in the market.
What about network coverage?
The iPhone can do nothing to combat any carriers limitations. If AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular) coverage sucks in your area, it will still suck with an iPhone. They same would be true for any carrier, anywhere in the world.
Lastly, what about the AT&T and NSA angle? What about it!?
Do anyone really think that their network traffic, including voice is not being monitored? Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint may not have caved publicly, but intelligence organizations are able and willing to snoop on all but the most encrypted communications. Get over it.
What do I miss from the Nokia N95. I miss the 5MP camera and VoIP using Truphone.com, but that is all I miss.
In the next few years any elected official not broadcasting their actions, intentions and gestures on systems like Twitter and Jaiku, will be considered irrelevant dinosaurs.
It will be impossible to be re-elected without these and other communities within a decade.
Technorati Tags:
Democracy, Twitter, Jaiku
”These guys could have done what we did. In the early days of the Internet, everyone figured the majors would build digital distribution arms. But they didn’t do it, because they didn’t understand technology, and they didn’t want to invest in building this expertise, and they were freaked out about piracy and paralyzed with fear. So we stepped in. We made the big investment. We hired programmers. We developed software that’s easy to use and works flawlessly. (If you think that’s trivial, think again. It’s huge.) We ran the system. We promoted it, we marketed it, we haggled with all the majors and struck deals. We took all the risk, which was considerable. Now we’re reaping the reward. And the majors want a bigger slice. Um, for what? We did all the work. Ain’t gonna happen, slick.”
(Via Fake Steve Jobs.)
Much handwringing has been done regarding the recessed earphone jack on the iPhone.
Claims about gouging customers, sweetheart corporate deals and incompetent designers have been thrown around like rags dolls in a tornado.
My immediate thought on that design decision, bravo Apple!
Why?
The recessed jack makes it highly unlikely that the earphone jack will be the burial ground for broken connectors or do damage the innards of the device from a swift yank.
Both of these issues I have seen first hand with other phones.
With iPhone it is less likely to ever happen.
For those still upset, take Alex Lindsey’s advice, use a hot knife on the excessive plastic of those old earphones. You should have a perfect fit in no time.
Technorati Tags:
iPhone
Much has been said about the questionable choice Apple made putting a 2 megapixel camera, sans high end features.
My previous phone, the coveted Nokia N95, has an excellent 5 mega pixel camera with many extra features, so I have that experience fresh in my mind.
Recently I shot some low light shorts with the Nokia at a couple concerts. Honestly, I was disappointed with both the lens quality and the quality the Nokia achieved.
So how would the iPhone’s puny, in comparison, camera do as night with fireworks?
Not bad in my opinion.
The quality comparison between 2 and 5 mega pixel is obvious. But the ability to shoot in low light was better than the Nokia..
The most surprising thing was the speed of the iPhone vs. the Nokia.
On the N95 it tooks 4-8 seconds or longer to cycle between taking photos.
On the iPhone I was able to shoot rapidly in sequence with only 1-2 seconds between shots.
As I clicked away at the bombastic fireworks display, I was surprised to see over 200 shots by the time the show was over.
What I would love to see in the next version of the iPhone are:
- Higher resoltion <- duh
- Image stabilizaton
- Macro or fish eye capabilities
- Automated or timer-based shots
I don't have the need for a zoom. With the miniscule lens in these portable devices, the zoom features tend to be useless.
Anyway, two big thumbs up for the iPhone camera!
Technorati Tags:
iPhone
Just put another domain to great use this morning - AppleTrainer.com
Over the coming months it will be getting a lot attention as my vision for a premiere destination to educate people using Apple’s great products.
