New Workstation (or Colophon 2012)
For those of you who are geeky enough to be interested, I thought I’d share my new workstation set-up now that I’ve finally gotten everything somewhat in working order. For extra-credit, if you click on the Flickr-linked image above, it will take you to a page that has everything highlighted and called-out in rollovers.
See after the jump for all the glorious (or was it goriest?) details of my new system, my old system, and most of the software that I use (hence the “colophon” title)…
Android vs. iOS: Going Into 2012
Just read an intriguing article (Android’s hollow revolution and hope for 2012) by a writer who is actually pro-Android but is realizing what a mess the Android platform is—and its not just about device fragmentation, it’s also about carrier intrusion and the creation of a system more closed than what Apple’s iOS is frequently accused of being. Personally, I have found it baffling when Android users bash iPhones for not being “open” because I haven’t found one person able to explain why that’s any sort of an advantage other than confusion for the average user and an opportunity for Android geeks to spend a lot of time hacking a phone to be able to do what you want it to do when an iPhone does that out of the box.
Also, MacObserver had a good article (iPhone Crushes Android at AT&T Corporate Stores in December) where they shared how AT&T moved 981,000 iPhones compared to only 126,000 Android devices. Ouch. (clarification: that is AT&T corporate stores only—but still impressive).
I don’t even try to really debate these things too much, with user experience being so subjective and in these matters, so incredibly biased (including yours truly), but I really think you are going to begin seeing the Android reality distortion field begin to wear off as the numbers will begin reflecting what the public has begun to realize after a few years of real-life comparisons between the two platforms and for the first full-year, the ability to purchase the iPhone from your preferred carrier (apologies to T-Mobile customers).
And if all that weren’t enough, just wait until Apple announces the (real) iPhone 5 and and the iPad 3 (sooner rather than later) in 2012.
iPhone 4S Mania
Trying out posting from the WordPress app for iOS on my new iPhone 4S. I’ve waited a long time for this–patiently waiting for T-Mobile to either finish getting swallowed by AT&T or actually get the blessing from Apple to be able to sell the iPhone–but to no avail. So at midnight on the date for pre-orders, along with several million other people, I did my part to help bring Apple’s and AT&T’s servers to their knees. After trying to order through the Apple Store with multiple failed attempts, I finally went to AT&T’s site and had a tough time there as well until about the third time it finally allowed me to complete the order and violá, I was on the fortunate waiting list for the first batch of iPhone 4Ss. Evidently not as fortunate as some in Germany, but hey, at least it didn’t come later.
So, I’ve been enjoying the transition from the old-school RAZR (don’t laugh–you know they still look cool) that I’ve had since forever, to the new paradigm of actually having a truly smart phone.
But just to catch up on what I’ve missed out on over the past two or three years, I also ordered a 4 and a 3GS for the rest of the family and can now have a pretty full spectrum of experience with the iPhones that have really mattered.
One thing I can say is that I probably won’t make a regular practice of posting from my iPhone, but I’m glad that I can and have enjoyed the opportunity to try it out. However, it’s main drawback with the small screen real estate and lack of a real keyboard for speedier typing, make it harder to put a well-written post. Of course I have other impediments to being able to write a well-written post, but I’ll be glad to use this as my main excuse for this post. Until next time..
Sent from my iPhone
Verizon’s First iPhone Commercial
And so, it begins…
If only it would begin on T-Mobile.
