what's iphone'n':
Spider-Pig, Spider-Pig…
Nice. I just noticed that the iTunes Store now has The Simpsons Movie (itunes link) available for rental. I think that’s a pretty nice get, and should entice people to give the service a try. I’m not too concerned that it’s not for sale, only rental. I don’t see the point of buying movies very much. Sure, you may have some ultra favs that you use to define you as a person to the outside world, but even then, how often do you watch Jackass: The Movie?
I’m quite pleased with online rentals, especially since I live in a tiny studio apartment and my 23” iMac is my HD television set, so consequently, I don’t need an TV to view things on my “television”. I still have to try out the service myself, but I think it should be okay for me… me a childless consumer not subjected to the night-time whims of a fussy shorty.
Daring Fireball and David Pogue have simultaneously complained about the 24 hour limit upon initial playing rule. They both have recounted tales of, after a busy, parent-ful day, starting a movie at 8:00 PM and falling asleep an hour later (pussies) – so now they have to continue their movie the next night before the 24 hour period expires (possibly meaning to continue the movie at 7:00 PM if you have an hour left, but that conflicts with the ‘putting the kids down’ schedule so the movie disappears unfinished). I laugh. But I digress… as I sit in my lonely, lifeless apartment.
Daring Fireball has noted that this time limit is more of a sacrifice given up to the cable provider gods than anything else, impressed upon Apple by the movie studios who wish not to upset said cable provider gods (gosh, could Time Warner, Comcast and other providers be anymore of a downer for our party?). BUT as I alluded to earlier, this service is excellent (just pay as you go, and choose on a whim, unlike Netflix) for me and my god.
Ooooh Couchyus, The Provider! Giver of Life! Taker of naps!
And Macworld will begin! Whore-ray!
Macbook Air? iTunes movie rentals? iPhone SDK preview? Apple TV updates? Ubiquitous wi-fi? The Romans bursting into Moscone and crucifying our one true lord and saviour? Mac mini speed bumped?
I’m pretty sure that my iPhone’s cell signal is periodically knocking out my USB, and thus my USB keyboard and mouse.
I don’t have the “required” USB 2.0 and I thought the problem was connecting my iPhone to the computer without USB 2.0 because I would get problems like the aforementioned. But now, I just had the keyboard go out again and the docked iPhone isn’t even connected to the computer! Ghosts! However, I was checking and downloading email to the iPhone while it was docked in the unhooked USB dock (the dock seems to act like an antennae booster so that’s why) and still lost communication with my keyboard.
This could just be the USB in my computer dying, but I haven’t had these troubles before, nor while the iPhone is sitting inactive. The constant in this problem seems to always be the iPhone either accessing EDGE or being connected with my G4 iMac. I guess they really meant it when they said “requires USB 2.0.” But USB should be backwards compatible, so I’m really guessing it’s the cell signal wrecking havoc. Maybe USB 2.0 isn’t susceptible to this glitch. But since I’m living on the fringes of society without USB 2.0, and Apple says it’s required, I guess I’m outta luck for calling tech support.
Get a computer with USB 2.0. Thank you for calling Apple tech support.
[UPDATE] Meh, I think it’s not exactly the cell signal, because I’ve come home to find the keyboard knocked out, while my iPhone was with me. Oh well, a good theory anyhow.
Steve Jobs pitching the “modicum” idea for iMovie ’08
Wow! I just watched video of the Apple Event (Quicktime Link ) from earlier today and couldn’t help but notice that a good idea came to fruition in iMovie ’08. Hmm, where did that come from?
Of course it’s just coincidence, and tons of people probably thought videos deserved the same thing. I’m telling ya, though, I should be working at Cupertino! Sure, I arrive late for work, take long lunch breaks and push my work off onto others, but shit, having a good idea once per decade has gotta put one in the executive lounge, right!?
Left.
(See what I did there? You thought I’d go in one direction, but I totally went in the opposite direction. That’s what good executives do.)
Image from lawgeek’s Flickr account and the EFF
Yep, got an iPhone. Yep, AT&T is the WORST thing ever. I got the phone on the second day, and waited until July 3rd to finally get unlocked and activated! I had a run around with AT&T operators and 1-800 numbers that would probably rank up there with the worst stories.
Way back on day 2 of waiting, I asked for the number to the complaint department. Complaining was my second priority and just getting my damned service going was the first. But you know what? I haven’t gotten around to complaining yet (although I mean to). The iPhone just… just… distracted me. The night I was driving home from a friend’s house and noticed the AT&T service going, I had to pull over and, EDGE be damned, try out Safari, Google Maps, etc. Yes, I’m one of those disgusting people who can be entranced by a device. Look away, I’m hideous. The iPhone is not.
tick tock, tick tock
I think I’m going to have make the iPhone my first* cellphone. Even though it’s the first of it’s kind and I’m always a bit suspicious of the bugginess of such things, I can’t pass up having a “1st gen” iPhone. I wonder if they’ll come out with an iPhone nano!? The iPod was a feature packed, premium priced music player, and then Apple introduced the mini (now nano). I don’t see why they would only have one entrant in the mobile phone industry and not add some variants.
I’ve been hankering to expand my digital suitcase, and the 512 MB shuffle is not the most roomy. While I only listen to an album or two at a given time, the storage capacity and ability to bring large files over to friends’ houses is painfully lacking in my current setup. Sure there’s other ‘smartphones’ out there and there’s large USB drives too, but, c’mon, that touchscreen is awesome!!!
*I did get a prepaid phone a few weeks ago which I’m hobbling on for now, but it’s very temporary (i.e. piece of shit).
Albrecht and Rose of Diggnation
I thought this was interesting. Twice I’ve noticed that during a piece on the Zune, the iPod shuffle has been brought into the conversation.
In chronological order, the guys on the podcast Diggnation were the first to start talking about Zune news but then drift into the coolness of the new iPod shuffle. The two digital audio players are not in the same league, but that doesn’t seem to stop people from interrupting the Zune-time with talk of the iPod shuffle.
The second time it happened was blogged here earlier. Soledad O’Brien busted out her iPod shuffle near the end of a Zune review piece, saying, “why would you buy that (the Zune)?” Dang.
I know monopolies are never good and lead to stagnation, although Apple’s middle name is ‘innovation’, but it seems like nobody can take down the 800 lb. gorilla. But the introduction of the Zune did do one good thing — brought the price of the iPod down a tad.
