"Nice"
A thorough review of just how "nice" the iPhone 5 really is.
...there is no benchmark, no tech spec, to measure nice. But you can feel it.
via Daring Fireball
Free your Speaker!!!
Do you have one of Apple's 30-pin Docks or perhaps a speaker docking system that has now become obsolete? Well, if you haven't heard, Apple just recently implemented their new proprietary 8-pin connector starting with the iPhone 5 and next generation iPod nano making your accessories defunct but don't worry. More or less, you have the chance to set that dock / speaker free with a new device named auris!
Smaller is Better
Change is good.
...the other big advantage of the Lightning connector is its size: It’s 80 percent smaller than the 30-pin connector...
via Macworld
Twice as Fast
If this Geekbench test holds true, we'll have a new reigning champ in the mobile arena. I'm sure we'll also be hearing from Apple's PR either tomorrow or sometime this week reporting record sales after Friday morning's sell out!
The numbers seem to validate Apple's claim that the A6 processor is twice as fast as the A5 and any previous iOS device. This one score also places the iPhone 5 ahead of the average scores of all Android phones on Geekbench.
The Most Popular iPhone 5 is...
According to Sprint's website, the winner is the 16GB iPhone 5 with shipping times posting two weeks out while the 32GB and 64GB show delivery dates of September 21st. The other two US carriers, Verizon and AT&T show dates of 9/26 and 2-3 weeks ago respectively. Maybe Verizon has a larger allotment of iPhone 5s Fives?
Of course, if you do chose Sprint, you won't be able to make calls and surf the web simultaneously so chose accordingly. If you're like me and live in San Diego, I don't even see a roll-out date for Sprint LTE so until then, I'll be sticking with AT&T.
Simultaneous Voice & Data... nope
The bottom line on why Verizon & Sprint won't do simultaneous calls and data:
The technology in 4G LTE networks does not currently handle voice transmissions.
Online iPhone 5 Pre-Order Fiasco
For some reason, Apple thought that handing out online reservation tickets would be a great idea. It was a complete and utter disaster that prevented me from ordering any of my phones and now I might be stuck waiting in line if I want the new iPhone 5 on day 1, September 21. Yes, it could have been AT&T's fault due to carrier processing on subsidize costs and eligibility, but that's doesn't matter. I hated every minute of it. None of the "reservations" say that they phone will deliver by the 21st but instead say 2 week shipping. I logged into Verizon Wireless website where 2 hours after this whole ordeal took 3 minutes to go through and complete. I'm just waiting for my confirmation that I'm moving from one crappy company to the other "pompous, more expensive because we know we can be" carrier. Hopefully the grass is greener on the other side.
Here are some images that you'll enjoy that pretty much depicts what I went through.
Apple's new iPhone 5
Check out the amazing video that features none other than Sir Jony Ive showing you the amazing features of Apple's new iPhone 5! An even better camera with a sapphire crystal, unbelievable battery life even when coupled with LTE, a larger 4" screen, A6 processor and a new feel. Pre-order this Friday the 14th and it ships on the 21st of September!
With the release of this new phone, customers can now get the 2-year-old iPhone 4 for free, the iPhone 4S 16GB for $99 and the iPhone 5 starting at $199! (all under a two year contract of course) That's just simply awesome!
My Favorite LiveBlogs for Apple Events
Over the last few years, many geeks, myself included, become glued to their computers & smartphones following a live blog of the Apple Event. It comes around twice a year, sometimes three and today is the day! The iPhone 5 is set to be announced in just under 15 minutes and here are the two blogs that I love!
Ryan Block for gdgt.com does an amazing job of coverage. He has become synonymous with live journaling and if this was the only feed you could pull, I'd recommend it.
You can also count on Joshua Topolsky from The Verge to do a wonderful job.
I follow these two streams for varying angles and pictures throughout the event. Text wise, they both have their moments of colorful commentary and are fun to follow. Hopefully I'll get to be at one of these events someday!
A Kindle I want to Touch
On the heels of Nokia & Microsoft's event, not the mention the Motorola event that followed the same afternoon, Jeff Bezos and his team unveiled an onslaught of brand new Kindle devices. Ranging from the updated $69 K5 to the high-end LTE 4G 8.9" Kindle FIre HD, Amazon has spread their net wide across the already Kindle dominated ecosystem. I have been an avid fan of the Kindle ecosystem starting with the 3G Kindle Keyboard then purchasing a $79 K4 for myself. Great devices all around with one thing lacking; a light. The $99 Kindle Touch was initially on my wish list but due to poor reviews which mention a raised border and a slow response, I found that the twenty dollars wasn't worth it. Since then, I've enjoyed the Kindle 4 since its introduction and have bought it for some friends!
With the introduction of four new Kindle platforms and two sub offerings, I am confident that the Paperwhite WiFi with ads will be the clear winner priced at an amazing $119. I'll have a review once it comes in as well as an unboxing.
For now, the Paperwhite is touting a higher resolution and contrast, an 8 week battery life and finally, a built-in patented backlight. I can't wait! Also, if you click on the image or my link for the Kindle Paperwhite, it will help support my site. Thanks!
Remember to pre-order one now before September 15 if you live in California because that's when the tax-free ride disappears!
The Proliferation Of USB 3.0
During the last decade, Apple has led the way in optimizing the personal computer being the first to delete legacy equipment and replace them with new technologies or simply minimalize. On some occasions, their choice to adopt was either strategically delayed waiting for broad acceptance or in some cases never implemented e.g. Blu-ray. On the opposite extreme, they have also led the way in the proliferation of FireWire; Apple's own design and technology implemented in 1999 and found in Apple Computers since.
With the inclusion of the latest USB 3.0 ports, we can finally celebrate the new dawn of faster data transfers. Rumored to also be is a new Dock Connector that I'm guessing will take full advantage of these blazing new bus speeds. Introduced back in 2008 and the first consumer products released in 2009, it's been a long time coming with Intel releasing their first integrated chipsets earlier this year. I truly believe that we will look back and thank Apple for this as the adoption rate and proliferation of USB 3.0 peripherals will most likely sky rocket. This in part being that it costs less than the Thunderbolt equivalent and is backward compatible with USB 2.0. Consumers love the term "backwards" compatibility. Where the PC world has failed in the introduction of USB 3.0, Apple will be heralded as the usurpuer. From those million iOS users stuck syncing for hours, thank you and finally! Yes, we can say that wireless syncing is where it's at, but only because we don't have access to quick syncs and backups. The cloud is great nonetheless, but USB 3.0 will be where it's at.
The success of WWDC '12 and not to mention the intro of the MacBook Pro with Retina display, the yet-to-be-announced Fall '12 iPod / iPhone / iPad maybe iMac event couldn't come fast enough. I love Thunderbolt technology but how many hard drives and peripherals do you see out there support it compared to USB 3.0?
Man Triumphs Against the Red Planet
If you haven't watched this yet or have been just over burdened by all things Olympics, then you've been missing out how amazing we (the US, mankind, etc) really are. Watch this video from NASA JPL showing the sequence that took place just a couple of days ago. The pictures that the rover are returning are beyond beautiful too! America rocks!!! A freaking sky crane!!!
Here's a direct link to the photos from the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) here. NASA Photos
Friend's Take Time To Give Advice
When I asked a couple of friends through Facebook or Twitter on their opinions on a specific camera choice, I got an overwhelmingly response. They all gave great insights coupled with personal experiences and I just wanted to post my experience and my gratitude. First the twitter story.
Now a post from a great friend from High School.
I'm actually shooting with an Olympus Pen EP-3 (with misc panasonic/ oly/ third party Micro-Four Thirds lenses)
The NEX-7 is a nice camera, but Sony's native lens selection is kind of lacking. It's worthy of praise because you can use old manual lenses that benefit from Sony's focus peaking. Also, due to the large APS-C sensor size and flang mount in relation to a streamlined body, the NEX lenses are designed to be inherently big. It feels like handling a smart-phone with a soda-can attached. Kind of defeats the purpose of a smaller form factor when there's little to no native compact pancake lenses available. Plus, they try to bury every feature in the menu screen, requiring a proprietary learning curve... if only it worked like an apple product.
The OM-D EM-5 is pretty much an evolution of the EP-3. A compact Micro-four thirds camera with some "raise-the-bar" type features like the 5-axis stabilization, weatherproofing, fast rate viewfinder etc... The stabilization provided some extra stops for low-light hand-held shots. (Great for non-flash shots when your child is an infant, and better hand-held when the little one takes off running) In the flesh, this thing is pretty small. It's about the same size as my EP-3 sans the view-finder hump. I'd say MFT cameras had a lot of catching up to do in the last couple of years, but the current generation MFT cameras are the shit.
As for the full-frame 5D's: No one will argue against the Mark III as the current industry standard. (And some confess: most of the time it's just to appease the clients). As a matter of fact, I was introduced to the smaller MFT cameras from a bunch of guys who have to lug around 5D's for a living. From a practical standpoint, the Mark III is a big investment on just a body when most of us don't get paid to do this. Not to mention, once you get the essential full-frame lenses you'll be lugging around a lot of equipment, averaging the cost of a Hyundai under the baby stroller. Try to chase your toddler around with all that.
To conclude, you should base your decision on what you like to shoot and the overall system. The body is pretty much dated in a year or two since the consumer camera industry is as, if not more fickle than the computer industry.
^Being a gear-head, I'm sure you already know all this but I figured I'd share my thoughts anyway. Good luck with the camera shopping man, there's a lot great choices. Just make sure you do it soon so you'll have a handle on the hardware before the baby starts to grow up quick.
Let me know what you go with and if u have any questions on the MFT side of things. And read up...we're all biased in some way.
BTW- Congrats to you and Adelle.
Friends rock! Thanks everyone!