iPhone is enough.

I am right now in the middle of trying to stay awake while typing this
note on my iPhone to talk about the recent updates. All I can say at
this point is that I am truly impressed with the iTunes wifi music
store and how smoothly it interfaces with my MacBook Pro. From the
music store to the simple addition of tones for text messages alerts I
am becoming more comfortable being without my Nokia E90. I can now
confidently say that I am officially over the Nokia E90 now that I
have sold it to a good friend of mine.

It is so funny that when I had all of the features if the E90 I did
not take advantage of them all on a regular basis. As a result the E90
became smartphone overkill with too much bulk and I grew tired of it.
Another issue is the button-riddled form factor of the device that
does not give any impression of design innovation like the iPhone.
This multitude of keys all over the phone combined with Symbian OS can
make navigation through UI menus slower and even more cumbersome. A
great example of this can be found in the use of Google Maps; whereas
on the iPhone it's a breeze, it is a snooze on the E90. On a vacation
when I had owned the Nokia a friend and I had a Google Maps challenge
to see who could find information on a local restaurant faster. There
was no contest since the iPhone has a convenient one click feature
from its home screen versus the E90 and its system of menu folders.

This iPhone is surely a breath of fresh air in comparison with
previous devices I've owned from the perspective of Mac syncing alone.
Being able to make calendar entries and update contact information on-
the-fly and have NO WORRIES upon hooking up with my computer is a huge
benefit that I could never obtain with Nokias, Blackberrys or Palms.
It is true that Palms and Blackberrys have third party methods for Mac
syncing, but they aren't always foolproof.

Financial instability from credit debt has been a big factor in my
need to cease and desist my addiction to buying smartphone after
smartphone. Now that I am currently settled on keeping the iPhone as
my only phone I feel a sense if relief that I don't have to worry
about being tempted at all anymore. With a new focus on getting out of
my money troubles I am whole-heartedly attempting to make a change in
my spending habits. It has honestly been a humbling experience to not
be able to grab anything I see and take it home with the swipe if a
card, but this is all for the best.


TRENT
Sent from my iPhone

Reunited with iPhone

Yes, it is true that once again I have fallen for this thing in the
most tech addicted way I ever could. But what else can I say?

After owning the E90 for a few weeks I grew to love the functionality
that I could muster from it on a daily basis. Loaded with just about
everything a smartphone owner could dream of this communicator machine
is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the phone industry. As
much as I felt in my heart that the E90 would be the most permanent of
all the gadgets in my life, there was always something tempting and
alluring about the iPhone.

I would be lying if I said that I don't believe the iPhone is
definitely the wave of the smartphone future. This device continues to
impress me in the most amazing way as I now type on its multi-touch
screen with sufficient speed. Vivid resolution that puts even Nokias
to shame, breathtaking interface graphics and a well-built, compact
form factor places this machine in the highest regard. Sure, there are
some mobile features that I must sacrifice to be an iPhone owner, but
for the sake of unsurpassed ease-of-use and functionality it's very
much worth it.

To be honest I am back with the iPhone because of my need for
simplicity. I need to find some balance in my own finances and get
myself focused on that which is most important in my life goals. I do
believe that I have been spending too much time obsessing over tech
toys and not enough pursuing my dreams. So many months have been
wasted by irresponsible spending and wreckless tendencies, and I must
take this time out to put a stop to it. This problem of mine has been
so overwhelming to the point where I seriously lost track of my sense
of meaning. It was as if my purpose in life was to live and work for
smartphone technology instead of vice versa, so I then became a slave
to every new toy that would arrive on the market. While it is alright
to be amazed by all these new gadgets debuting to the public, I found
that I have been obsessed. This driving force is what I allowed to
feed my urge to have the latest and greatest in whatever I desired. As
a result I dug myself into a deep hole of materialism and still had
the audacity to wonder why I felt empty inside.

Any other smartphone still in my possession shall be given away to
good friends who will make the most use out of them, and I shall
continue on with what matters most according to my evolving destiny.
Day by day I would question why I did not have a clear vision of my
own aspirations or the movtivation to bring them to fruition. I can
now say that I know the answer, and I am taking this moment to act on
it.

iPod Classic: Worthy Upgrade

Tonight is the last night as the owner of my 5th generation video iPod, and I am not unhappy in the least bit. I can hardly contain myself as I anticipate the arrival of these new Apple products due to be unveiled by no one other than Steve Jobs. The announcement is scheduled to begin at 10am Pacific Standard Time in California, so at 1pm sharp at my cubicle I plan to be fixated on any kind of live feed from any of the tech websites.
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I am now the proud owner of a brand new 80GB iPod Classic in silver and I am so far loving it. This current model is much slimmer than my old 60GB fifth generation model and the new aluminum face is striking at first glance. I am glad that Apple has rid this iPod of the one sheet of plastic that covered the entire screen and body surrounding the click-wheel of the 5th generation lineup.

I am so far very impressed with the new interface that features split-screen navigation with album art and icons for menu items. I really believe that this is a much needed overhaul on that predictable white screen interface that graced the screens of all the iPod photos and iPods with video. Those white screened menus got the searching jobs done, but there was no finesse to it and hardly any aesthetic quality. If the iPhone can get by with a great interface, then the iPod is due for a makeover and it's about time. It is also very exciting to see CoverFlow on this new iPod as well.

There is one problem that I have run into that involves video playback on the iPod itself. Any video clip that had been shot by a Nokia smartphone will not play in its entirety. There is only a brief moment that passes before the video starts to fast forward and then immediately freeze. In this situation the iPod controls still work, but they have no effect on the frozen video image on-screen. Playing the video again only repeats this problem and there seems to be no solution. I will convert a couple of these videos shot by a Nokia smartphone to the iPod format again and see what happens. The fact that these same videos played just fine on my fifth generation iPod makes this even more puzzling.

Overall the iPod Classic is surely a worthy upgrade to my previous 5th generation model with its slimmer profile, increased capacity and remodeled interface.