Why I'll Most Likely Get the iPhone 4S

I think the 4S is an underwhelming release overall as a tech fan and very much so if you have an iPhone 4. But I think for those of us, with 3GSes, it's a very good upgrade. Since we have a pretty good thing going with our Family Plan and being grandfathered into our Unlimited data plans, we aren't going to go switch carriers anytime soon. That being said, I had been looking into some Android devices a few months back to see what is out there. The best one out there seems to be the Samsung Galaxy S II. It has a few specs that are better than the 4S, but many of them are right on par now. Apple essentially caught up with it and a couple other devices, rather than leaping them like they normally do. I think that's where the disappointment stems from. People are used to Apple completely jumping the competition or redefining the market and with this release they've merely caught up, at least hardware-wise. 

For me, the biggest issue is that my headphone jack has not been working since around Jan/Feb. I can't listen to anything with headphones which is extremely frustrating, so I want to get a new phone. I waited specifically for the announcement of this one to see what Apple would do. While the Galaxy S II looks great, the only major thing that would really convince me to switch is the fact that it can do 4G. The problem is that 4G is still not very widespread and from what I've read, most of the time you end up getting kicked off onto 3G. Verizon's LTE is supposed to be a bit better, but as I already said, we aren't switching networks so it's a moot point.

I'm very much tied into the Apple ecosystem now with the iPad 2 and my Macbook Pro and iOS 5 looks really great. Android still can't interact with the rest of my Apple products quite as well so the cost of switching to a new OS is hard for me to justify. Since most of the specs of the 4S are on par with the Galaxy II, the only real big reason to switch is the 4G, which I've already mentioned.

The 4S will certainly be faster than what I have with the new processor. It also has the better screen that the 4 has. And the cameras are clearly way better. I don't even have a point-&-shoot camera so this would end up being my camera. The Siri thing is nice to have but isn't necessarily something that I need. I know that there are a few features in iOS 5 that won't be available on the 3GS but I can't remember what they are. The integration with iCloud will also be nice as well.

I'll read some more thoughts and reviews on it before making a decision, but will probably get one. From the comments I've read so far the consensus seems to be that no one with an iPhone 4 should get it but people with a 3G/3GS should. I'm also going to take a look at the Nexus Prime, which should be announced next week. I simply am tired of not being able to use my headphones with it when I have all my music on it so I need a new phone soon regardless.

The iPad has arrived!

I finally bit the bullet and splurged for an iPad. I'd been holding out on the first generation as I didn't feel like I needed an iPad and wanted to see what the next generation would be like. Once I saw what the new one was like, I was definitely interested in picking one up. Do I need one? Absolutely not. Do I want one and am I glad I have it? Absolutely.

I picked up the 32GB in white, wifi only. It was tough to choose between storage capacity and wifi vs. 3G, but storage won. I've got a 32GB iPhone and have only 3GB left so I knew I could easily use the space. I figured I can pretty easily get by with just wifi since most of the places I'm going to use it will have it. I'm primarily going to use it at home, at my parents' house, in the office, or at friends' houses so I should be covered. Worse comes to worst, I'll jailbreak my phone and tether, so long at at&t doesn't thwart me.

So far I love it and it does exactly what I need it to do. In fact, I'm typing this post directly from the iPad with the onscreen keyboard and the Squarespace app. One thing that surprised me when I picked up the iPad and started looking for apps was how few iPad-specific apps there are. I naively assumed that most, if not all, iPhone apps had iPad counterparts. That's turning out not to be the case. A majority of the apps I use on my phone don't have corresponding iPad apps. There are many notable apps that I could list and I really can't understand why they don't exist. I've had to keep a number of iPhone apps on here just to have access to them, which sucks. I really hope these will be developed. The experience of using iPhone apps on the iPad isn't all that great. It's better than nothing, but still sucks.

Can the iPad replace a computer? At this point, I don't think so. When iOS 5 comes out, I might be able to answer that differently, but for now I'll have to say to keep your computer. Surprisingly, it's Apple who is making the case for keeping a computer. Right now you still need one just to set the iPad up. iOS 5 will make it less necessary but until you can set it up without a computer, this is a no-brainer. Not to mention, how are you supposed to set up an Airport or other wireless network without a computer? Until Apple comes out with an app to set up an Airport device, you'll have to have a computer around.

Pairing the iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard would certainly help to make a convincing case for going without a computer. The built-in onscreen keyboard is quite good when you're in landscape mode, but if you're going to be doing a lot of typing you're definitely going to want a physical keyboard. There are a number of cases that have built-in keyboards, like this one from Logitech, that would make for a good setup. I've also looked at a few roll-up keyboards that I can stuff in a small pouch, but am a little skeptical about real world use. Though they aren't terribly expensive so I may pick one up. For now, I'm going to stick with the Apple smart cover (in blue) which is amazing. It really has so many ways to use it and is great. My only gripe is that it really does not protect the back at all. I'm looking at two cases that protect just the back and allow you full use of your smart cover, one called the Cover Buddy, and one called the BaseCase. I haven't taken a good look but will order one soon.

For now, I'm just enjoying this thing and finding out cool new apps and uses for it every day. Is it a must-have? No, but it's great to have. If you can swing for one, you won't regret it.

Obligatory iPhone 4 Post

As an admitted Apple fanboy, I'd be remiss if I didn't say something about Monday's WWDC Keynote. So unless you live under a rock, you've heard about Apple's newest phone handset, iPhone 4. Apple's calling this the biggest change since the original iPhone. 

I could simply rattle off the new features coming to the device, but I'll just talk about the ones I'm excited for most.

First, I'm happy to see the A4 chip from the iPad has made it under the hood. I've played with a number of iPads at my old office and the response times are noticeably faster than my 3GS. You can really tell the difference of the chip and this is going to be necessary for some of the other feature enhancements.

The upgraded battery is something I'm glad to see. Generally I don't have too much problem with battery life that some people have with their 3GSes, although it can certainly be improved. The fact that Apple has added in battery-intensive functions and it's still getting more time than the 3GS is impressive.

The upgraded camera system is one of the biggest things I'm looking forward to. Even though most people who know me would consider me the Titan of Tech, amazingly I don't own a Point-and-Shoot digital camera. Somehow I just never got one. I've got my trusty D40, but for daily shooting I just use the camera in my 3GS. Megapixels don't really matter since I'm not likely going to make posters out of my daily snaps, but the ability to print larger images is appreciated with the upgrade to 5MP. More importantly, Apple claims to have used a better quality image sensor, which is what really matters. This upgrade should yield better low-light shots, especially coupled with the LED flash. Right now, my 3GS is worthless for nighttime or dark shots like in a bar or club. Not having a flash on the current one is one reason I've still toyed with getting a proper P&S. But this upgrade could keep me from doing that.

The second half of the camera upgrade system is the addition of HD video recording. This is a biggie. I think Giga Om's NewTeeVee hits the nail on the head regarding how this feature will affect sales of Flip's line of cameras. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Flip's camera lineup, but I think this spells trouble for them. As I think I've mentioned before, I used to own a Flip Ultra and I currently own a Sony HD camcorder, in addition to the video-recording ability of my 3GS. Can you guess which one I use/used the most? The Flip started making this weird buzzing noise every few seconds that the mic would pick up making it useless so I just threw it out. I'm not discounting their quality and I think I would get another one if Apple wasn't adding HD to the iPhone. The Sony takes great quality footage and has plenty of features, but it's just not something I'm going to carry around with me all the time, even in my backpack. The 3GS takes OK video if you've got good lighting, but let's face it, it's going to be way better in HD with a better image sensor, plus some zoom and the LED flash which can be used as a light. The fact is, the best camera is the one you have with you. And I'm way more likely to have my phone with me than any other device. I can't see myself carrying around a Flip plus my iPhone with HD video. And I'll be able to edit it and upload with iMovie right from the phone? Sorry, Flip.

Some of the things I'm looking forward to most will actually be ios4 features that are not necessarily related to iPhone 4 but will probably work even better on it. Multitasking and folders are two of the ones that stand out for me. Can't wait to get my hands on those features. But the one that might be the coolest is the ability to use an external Bluetooth keyboard. This actually may prevent me from getting an iPad, or at least waiting until the 2nd generation comes out. I could throw a small stand in my bag and either a rollup or foldable keyboard, or Apple's offering, which is quite small, and have myself a nice little setup that could handle the majority of the things I need to do. Yes, I know the screen is a whole lot smaller, but I'm pretty comfortable with my iPhone's screen as it is, so this could be a great mobile setup when I don't need the full capabilities of my MacBook.

One more thing...

So about that FaceTime thing...The geek in me says AWESOME! And it certainly is exciting and it's something that's been desired for a long time but hasn't really caught on here in the U.S. like it has around the world. This is going to have so many great uses and could really change how people communicate. The video showing the deaf couple was extremely touching. But (there's always a but isn't there?!), there are a number of issues that make me say "meh."

First, this is WiFi only to start. Now that's not really a surprise- AT&T can barely keep up with the demand for data as it is, so video- fuggettaboutit! This certainly lends credence to the rumors that Apple desperately wants to get other carriers on board who might be able to handle traffic better (although video is very intensive so there may not be a good solution even if they get someone else.) So since we're limited to WiFi to start, this is going to be useful in very few places. I guess you could pair it with a MiFi, but you're going to eat through those bytes awful quickly. It also highlights how far we are behind in the fact that municipal WiFi is virtually unheard of in the U.S.

Second, it's only iPhone 4-to-iPhone 4 right now, so communicating with other devices is out of the question. I'm very surprised this isn't at least compatible with iChat out of the box. I expect they'll be supporting it in the future, but it seems like a no-brainer to get that working from the get-go. I figured for sure that you'd at least be able to video chat with someone on a computer. Steve Jobs also said it will be compatible with millions of iDevices which I interpreted as they're going to add cameras to both the iPod Touch and the iPad. There were outcries from the launch that the iPad doesn't have a camera, which is one reason I'm holding out because I think they'll release that in the next generation. Unless I absolutely needed one, I'd hold off on buying either of those devices for a while, especially with the iPod Touch likely to get an upgrade at the beginning of September.

I'm glad FaceTime is easy to use, requiring zero-configuration and that you can take advantage of both cameras at any time in both portrait and landscape mode, but the limitations seem to say that it's going to be some time before it all takes off to the level of the Jetsons, which Steve referenced in the Keynote.

So Will I Get One?

The answer is yes. As soon as I'm eligible, which AT&T seems to think is 2011 so we'll have to see about that, I'll pick one up. I'll welcome the ios4 features onto my 3GS in the meanwhile, but I think they really have made some great advancements with the new iPhone 4. Despite some of the limitations, there's enough there to justify getting the new one, especially since the price is the same as a new 3GS used to be.

What do you think? What are you looking forward to most? If you're not an iPhone owner, will you get one? If you are, will you upgrade?

Rumor: New AppleTV device coming soon!

According to Engadget, Apple has been hard at work on the new AppleTV and if true, it sounds sick! Essentially, the ATV will be a stripped down version of the current model with very limited on-board storage (a rumored 16GB), a quick A4 processor (like in the iPad and rumored new iPhone), will only have power and video-output ports, yet will be capable of 1080P playback (something the current ATV can't do).

This is major news for a device that's received little attention from Apple in its 3 year existence. The best part? It's supposed to only cost $99. I am super, super excited for this and am hoping it's not just a rumor. As Engadget describes, the new ATV will run a much lighter OS, most likely a variation of the iPhone's OS and will rely mostly on a streaming experience (hence the limited storage capacity.) You'll likely be able to access content on your local computers or networks via a Time Machine device or similar (hopefully a external drive hooked up to an Airport Extreme).

One thing Engadget can't confirm, but something I've been expecting, is that the new software will likely run apps and have an app store akin to the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad. And I firmly believe this is what Apple needs if they want to successfully break into the living room.

For quite some time, I've been considering selling my ATV and purchasing a Mac Mini or possibly the Boxee Box, which has yet to make itself available in stores. It's no secret that the ATV is underpowered and should be able to run more formats and handle 1080P easily if it's going to be a home theater centerpiece. I've wanted to run a Mac Mini with either Plex or Boxee because they're more customizable, they play more formats, and they have app stores that allow you to install third-party apps. Not to mention, they allow you to store your files anywhere rather than directly in iTunes. I've been planning to move all my media onto an external 1TB drive hooked up to my Airport base station.

But this new ATV could change that. An app store would be fantastic for the ATV. Currently, with Boxee/Plex, I've installed a number of different apps- Last.fm, Pandora, Flickr, Picasa, Revision3, among others. One app I haven't found yet but I'm hoping will come out soon is the NFL SuperFan app which allows DirecTV customers to watch the SuperFan, and more importantly the Red Zone, channels on the iPhone but also on a computer. Right now I'd have to use a Mac Mini for it, probably using something like Fluid to make it couch-distance friendly, until they come up with an app for Boxee/Plex. But since the SuperFan app already exists for iPhone, if the new ATV used the app store, it would be relatively ready to go for the big screen.

Also, imagine the possibility for games. Apple definitely wants to improve in that space, especially with the announcement of the Xbox360-like Game Center coming in OS 4.0. Imagine using your iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad as a controller for games you're playing off of the new ATV! I'm not suggesting that the new ATV would compete with the XBox360 or PS3 or even the Wii, but it could definitely be a quick, easy, friendly way to just do some light gaming. I play Shrek Kart Racing on my iPhone all the time, but I would definitely be interested in playing on my TV.

So it's obviously really early to know what exactly they're going to do and Engadget has proffered that there will be no announcement next week when Apple will likely unveil its next iPhone. But this is really exciting, and if these rumors are correct, the AppleTV might finally get the attention it deserves.