Tag Archives: champaign

iPhone this, 3G that.

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Everyone’s talking about it. I might as well contribute a little bit.

I sold my iPhone.

I realized something: I don’t need a revolutionary Internet communication device. Not when I have the Air. More on this later.

The iPhone was a splurge even when I got it. I had to get on the bandwagon, being the Apple ahemfanboyahem I am. And at the time, I made this move only after the $200 reduction in price.

What? Did you think I was some crazy Machead? Heh, I don’t think I would have spent $600 on the iPhone. I even bought a refurbished 8GB one for $350, and even though about going down to the 4GB model for $250.

So I sold it this week for $280. I was happy to have an extra $280 to save. Until… the next one?

Maybe, maybe not.

There are a couple reasons for and against the next generation of the iPhone. But 3G doesn’t matter for me as much as some of the other people. Why?

Since I am surrounded by wireless Internet (finally, at my apartment also) and almost always carry my laptop (the Air is finally a true “lap”top… runs much cooler…), the need for a device to be always “on” is already fulfilled somewhat. Now, that is not to say that the iPhone isn’t ridiculously easy to use. I miss when my iPhone would vibrate to tell me I have an email message: It’s a new level of notification when there’s a tactile response to something that happened online.

3G map from AT&T

This is a map from AT&T’s site. See that blue? That’s where the fun is. See where it isn’t blue? Not so much love. Here’s a clearer version of that map, brought to you by the Wacom tablet.

3G map, modified by yours truly

Sidenote: I hope to use this tablet more in the future.

If not 3G, then what else? Bring on the Muzak.

Of course, I loved the fact that the iPhone represented one less thing to worry about.

Before iPhone:

  • Keys
  • Wallet
  • iPod
  • Phone

After iPhone:

  • Keys
  • Money Clip (I upgraded in this department as well: Less bloatware… in my pants.)
  • iPhone

The fact that the number of things in my pockets went from a dizzying four to a much more manageable three is huge.

The problem started happening when I realized the iPhone earbuds are pretty much trash. I’m was on my fourth or fifth, and just gave up to buy a much sturdier, bass-friendly clip-ons.

IF the new iPhone has a non-recessed jack like everyone’s raving about, then I’ll be much more inclined to get one. I’m okay with taking out the phone out of my pocket to take the call. I do it anyway because…

Sidenote: Audible iPhone Notifications

Someone write this program: Make the iPhone “tell” me audibly who is calling. That way, I don’t need to take the thing out of my pocket to see who it is.

I guess you could just pick up the call, but I tend to just start in mid-conversation with people I know. (If you know me, you know what I’m talking about.)

This doesn’t have to just stop with calls. Do it for songs, too. Artists, titles… And also, make it so that you can talk to the iPhone: have some kind of voice command to skip to next album or previous song.

I think I’m getting too far ahead of myself. Or maybe someone brilliant is working on it.

Camera. CAMERA.

Camera is soooo important for me. I don’t have a digital camera, nor will I get a point-and-shoot one. I stopped wearing a watch (to tell the time, to set an alarm) because the cellphone made it irrelevant. I stopped carrying a music playing device because the cellphone made it irrelevant. And so, seeing this pattern unfold, I have decided to take a firm stand on this.

It’s only time until America catches up with the rest of the developed world and create some hot cameras for their phones. the iPhone camera wasn’t too bad. But the kicker was that, even better than certain point-and-clicks, it had online capability out of the box. I could post to flickr by email (or if you’re l33t and have it hacked, through some apps) immediately after I shoot the picture.

The lick-able user interface

I really don’t feel like I have to argue the fact that no cellphone UI comes close to the iPhone UI.

I’ve used Nokia Ericsson (some free brick phone), Motorola (v505), and Samsung (d807) phones. All trash in terms of UI (although, I like sliders, so the d807 still has a place in my heart).

By this alone, I should be re-buying the phone. I love good UI almost too much. I also hate bad UI completely too much.

So… Will you get it on the 9th?

The rumor around the blogosphere has it getting released on the 9th. Probably on stage. I’ll probably have to take off work to sit there on Apple’s site to grab it if I decide to get it.

But really, I’ll just do it like last time. I’ll go to the nearest Apple store that has it in stock, mess with it, and then buy it… sigh I guess it’s just a matter of time, isn’t it.

Start your “Josh Kim iPhone purchase date” pool now.

Another End, Another Beginning

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After spending a day and a half in Cincinnati, I’m back to Illinois.

Please… no more driving. For a little while? Heh.

Excited? You betcha. A new MacBook Pro waiting for me in less than 12 hours… I kid. I’m very excited about what I’ll be getting to do for NCSA. I got a taste of it after I had a lunch meeting with them this past Monday. This first week’s probably going to be spent on getting acquainted with the system, as well as mounds of paperwork. Delicious paperwork.

I still haven’t fully unpacked. Too much space equals not enough limits on where the furniture can go. Still have little corners of the apartments that I must clean partially due to my OCD-ness.

What else is on my mind…

After 1.1.1, my iPhone is much more unstable than before. I don’t get it. I’ve had it “crash” on me a couple times after the update, quitting out to the home screen from whatever I was doing. I’ve had it get really hot which I can only blame it still looking for a wifi source that didn’t exist (it didn’t disconnect properly or something). I hope it was just a bad string of errors.

Still looking for a new set of headphones and a lighter mp3 player to run/work out with. The iPod shuffle seems kinda expensive for what I want to do… but we’ll see…

Lots of electronic purchases, hopefully, in the future. Lots to do in this upcoming month… I feel like I’m back to some semblance of sanity. I’ll be back to doing my Month in Reviews, and continuing to blog personal as well as technical.

Mind ready. Goals set. Headfirst go.

What's Up, JK?

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For those who want the facts, quick and to the point:

  • I have given my two weeks notice at MoCo, Inc here in Minneapolis, MN.
  • I have a job as a Research Programmer at NCSA, in Urbana, Illinois.
  • Putting two and two together, you get four. Also, a lovely return trip to Champaign in two weeks.
  • Looking for housing until I find an apartment… anyone? I’ll… do some stuff for you… Cook/clean? Large wads of cash?
  • I hope to squeeze in a visit to Cincinnati before starting work, to visit family and friends, as well as pick up more of my junk. (Books, books, and more books.)
  • There is no strict date as to when I start the Research Programmer position.
  • I have bought the iPhone, after the price cut of the year. It’s definitely the best gadget-y device I’ve ever owned. It’s got it’s problems though.
  • Starting next month, the monthly reviews will return. I’m pretty sure things will finally become more settled down.
  • I’m suffering from pain in my left wrist. I have a feeling it’s carpal tunnel. Will need to find a doctor soon… but insurance doesn’t kick it until… I start the new job. Wee.
  • The reason for the “Crap crap crap crap” post was definitely due to the job situation. Hopefully that clears up a few things.

Quickie on the iPhone

As expected, most of this weekend was spent on tweaking and messing around with the iPhone. Definitely a treat for the UI-inclined nerd I am.

  • I love how the phone vibrates/makes a sound when I get any email or text. It’s another way of being notified. Growl is good, but this is much sleeker; having a physical feedback. Now if someone could hack it to display some other data while it’s plugged in, like a dashboard of sorts for everything, rather than having to click on things: A quick summary of everything you need to know.
  • I love having a third screen now that occupies my desk. The screen usage varies from having my email up to listening to music.
  • I don’t like the UI inconsistencies that are all over the place. Oh, it’s much much more put together than any cellphones out there, but for a phone that’s been dubbed the “JesusPhone”, I expected more. But alas, human engineering can only go so far… I’ll probably write more on this as things annoy the crap out of me more and more.
  • Every time I see this phone, I feel like it’s getting smaller and smaller. I’m not sure why. It’s the darn designers at Apple… they somehow made the thing seem feel smaller with each use. It seems that the iPhone got a bit of the Reality Distortion Field from Jobs.
  • The phone portion of the iPhone is great. Calls are clear, and I get more bars than my Samsung phone from where I live. No more running outside for phone calls.