Mens Rea

iPhone... why I'll wait

Anyone who reads this knows that I am a true Apple fan. I started my love of Apples when I was a kid in the 70's. Then became reacquainted with them in 1989 and then left for the PeeCee world in '96 only to come back in '03. Apple products just work. They are ridiculously well thought out they pay attention to the end-user's interaction more than pure power (although now they are just as powerful as their PeeCee brethren). So when the iPhone was announced in January, like many, I was intrigued and amazed. But then you start to think about it. Does the iPhone do anything that an existing "Smartphone" doesn't? Not really. In fact there are things that the iPhone just doesn't do.

So am I dissing the iPhone? No, of course not. Although I have not used it (who has?) it is safe to say from reading the early reviews that Apple has perfected the cell phone. It is fast, responsive and, well, just works. I have one of the best Windows Smartphones on the market, the T-Mobile Dash. It is a good phone, secondly only to my Treo 600 in my opinion. However, in true Microsoft fashion, the bloody thing locks up. Perhaps it is not fair to MS. The dash is underpowered. It is not completely integrated and it is not always intuitive. The iPhone, from what I have seen, is just smooth. This should surprise no one.

I am holding out for the following as I can make do for awhile with my Dash, here's what I am waiting for:

1. GPS. I mean you have a kickass Google Maps application with no GPS, while not dumb, it certainly not maximizing the potential of the application.
2. 3G technology. Like ATT/Cingular, I use (usually) T-Mobile. I like T-Mo but their network is certainly lacking. Edge is not fast. Compared to my Sprint PCS phone that has EV-DO, it is just antiquated. Rumor has it that both T-Mo and ATT will upgrade to the 3G HSPDA technology shortly which should make them competitive.
3. Third Party Application- I am a tinkerer and while I am getting much better at keeping things simple (for example I use the Mac's native iLife applications now) I think that you must offer some customization on a phone this powerful
4. the ability to have virtual voicemail on other carriers. To be frank this looks really cool, but in reality, not that complicated. I have been using Vonage for years and I get my voicemail via email (even listening to it on my Dash).
5. Cut and Paste. My Dash does not have this (there is a third party program that adds it that I am going to try) either. What the hell are people thinking when they design a smartphone. Cut and Past has been on every Apple since 1984. Common sense.

So that will mean, at the very least, the second generation iPhone. Knowing Apple, this will be in December!

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Paranoid Android

You know I received some disturbing information today. Information that reinforces why I was feeling so miserable for so long. It is funny, in this world, some people are just not nice. Rather, there are those who are so full of anger, superiority, condescension, entitlement that it renders them quite pathetic. I am not sure if these people are entirely or inherently evil... but in general is like Darth Vader. Perhaps Anakin is still there. One hopes for their sake. I really hope that they are well and that they can remove this venom as it ultimately will manifest itself deep within themselves and cause their own pain. As the Yoda said "anger becomes hate and hate leads one to the dark side of the Force." Some people see everyone as a threat. Thus they attempt to extinguish every single obstacle or perceived obstacle in their way. It is why people sometimes have to go to extraordinary steps and just try to remove them from one's mind and past. Excise the cancer. Just like in Star Wars, I never knew I had such power to make people so paranoid. Geeze, it is not like I am some demigod. I am just not like that. I do not treat people like that. Yes, like everyone I am all too fallible and end up hurting people unintentionally. However, I am not one to seek vengeance. Why? What is there to gain? Is one's ego that poor that one has to do that? Sure, like anyone, I feel anger and I think of crazy things. However, that is our anger talking. The rational side usually prevails and acts accordingly. Lord knows if everyone went off half cocked based on their anger, we'd be in trouble. Unfortunately, some people mistakenly believe that as long as they are not punching someone, that their vitriolic actions are acceptable, or, even commendable. I, for one, do not subscribe to this. The pen is certainly mightier than the sword and thus is equally as spiteful as walloping someone. Fortunately, I chose to view this not by becoming upset, but rather of a sad indictment of the materialism that has caused one to seek riches at the expense of basic compassion. 'Tis funny that oftentimes such individuals have a false facade that they parade around pretending to be virtuous. People who do this truly believe that they ARE virtuous that is the problem. They believe their own delusion. I fully acknowledge my shortcomings. My how I wish I was perfect. Alas, I am not. I suffer all human shortcomings I am afraid- some more than others. It is something that I strive to improve. However, one cannot improve on things if you are blind to them.