I talk about tech stuff like Android, mobile phones, computer hardware, living in the middle of nowhere and other shit that doesn't matter.
The author of this blog assumes no risk or liability while reading or committing any type of deviant behavior resulting from the reading of said content. The statements and opinions contained herein are presented with no warranty or assurances, expressed or implied of any kind. So there.
If you like what you see here then feel free to visit regularly. I try to update the site at least twice a month and by that I mean whenever I feel like it.
Firefox, I…
Listen Firefox, we had a lot of good times in the 00’s but I have to move on. Chromium (Chrome, Iron) suits my internet needs better now. We can still be friends but we have to move on. I will always appreciate you checking to see if my web plugins are up to date but it’s really just best for both of us to see other people. It’s not you, it’s me. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. It is better to have loved than not to… yadda yadda etc etc. Have a nice day.
(BTW tumblr peeps, more delicious content is coming very soon. Thanks for your non-attention.)
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What’s so great about the Galaxy Nexus?
Six months ago the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus (GNex) would have been badass. Now it’s just kind of meh. That sums up my review of a phone I don’t even have! However if anyone wants to send me one, I’ll gladly accept. Anyways, by looking at the specs “on paper,” there’s nothing special about the GNex. The only reason this phone is getting any attention is because of the latest Android OS (v4.0 aka Ice Cream Sandwich aka ICS). I argue, however, once other devices get upgraded to ICS and newer devices come with ICS pre-installed, the novelty of this phone won’t hold. So what really was the reason for the “Google phone” being held up for so long? I suppose we’ll never know. Remember there was a long delay getting the phone out to market; it wasn’t even officially announced until roughly two days before going on sale. Knowing Verizon, I am sure they were just testing it all this time to make sure it worked good. HTC Thunderbolt anyone? The way the GNex was launched continues to prove in the United States, carriers like Verizon still call the shots. Apple doesn’t put up with this shit so why does Google have to?
So specifications for the GNex aren’t groundbreaking by any means. But does it really matter? Do I really need a quad-core processor to send texts and check Facebook on my phone? Probably not. A lot of people will tell you specs don’t matter to most and they’re right. Many just want a phone that works and does what it’s supposed to. Look at Apple: the phones they “build” aren’t with top of line hardware, instead they appeal to a certain demographic which believe Apple’s line of “it just works.” Which is really bullshit (iOS 5) but if it helps people justify their purchase that is fine by me. Before anyone says I’m just an Apple hater, I am not. I don’t hate Apple because a tech industry without them would be horrible. What other incentive would companies like Google, Microsoft (Windows Phone) and RIM (Blackberry) have to keep innovating and updating their products? I do hate iTunes though and I hate being forced to use it. iTunes should die in a fire.
The novelty of the GNex will wear off and will be replaced long before another Google phone comes out. I guess people have different priorities but it isn’t a big deal if you have full control over your device (aka root aka jailbreak). Yes the GNex is easy to unlock but you can still get the same amount of goodness from an older, less expensive option. Buying the GNex now and paying the upgrade or full retail price is too much in my opinion. New and better phones will be out by the mid of next year - it’s just the way the market works. As long as the phone isn’t some old garbage from 2009, it will run ICS. Just because the GNex is first to the party doesn’t mean it’s better. There’s still some growing pains (battery life being one) and Google has already updated ICS to 4.0.3; which continues to prove Google can’t even release a well polished OS on their OWN DAMN PHONE. They release the source code because it’s “free” but rather someone else solve their problems. I really like Android but as a platform it still has issues (UI lag and app compatibility for example); also it’s not as open as Google purports it to be. I’m just saying let’s not make using Android a RELIGION. It’s just a damn mobile operating system for bloody sake.
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Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) reminds me of going from Windows XP -> 7
So Google showed off their latest version of Android last night (for those of us in United States time zones) and it looks really clean and polished. Google has added a lot of nice features (which I won’t go into here) which make Android something to look forward to in the near future. But it reminded me of something: it was like going from Windows XP to Windows 7. Allow me to explain.
You see, I’m basing this on my experience I had with my laptop. When I first bought it, the laptop had XP on it. I bought a Thinkpad and as all good OEM’s do, they pre-install a lot of crap on their builds. Reasons can range from making more money to “enhancing” user experience. One day I decided to upgrade my laptop. I bought more memory, a new hard drive and Windows 7. I installed 7 which gave me a clean install of Windows without all the Lenovo bullshit. Then something occurred to me: a lot of the Lenovo programs from the XP install became invalidated because Windows 7 took care of 98% of the ”features” out of the box. I didn’t need them anymore. I ended up only installing the on-screen prompts for volume and shit because I kinda liked it. But other than that, I no longer needed any of Lenovo’s “features” because Windows now took care of it without having to install a bunch of third party programs to get the same functionality. Nevermind the fact that XP sucked (yes it’s true, we just didn’t know any better at the time) and 7 provided a lot of “under the hood” improvements as well.
A few years later Google appears to have done that and then some with Ice Cream Sandwich. I run the latest (phone) version of Android (v2.3.7 Gingerbread for you nerd types) on my HTC device but it seems a little bland and outdated by today’s standards (Android is constantly evolving each day). Now I like a very basic operating system install because I know more of what I want on my system (phone or desktop) than HTC or Lenovo thinks should be on my device. Indeed, it appears HTC is now evaluating what to do with their phones because if you didn’t already know, they like to inject an “overlay” in their Android phones with something called “SENSE.” I cite the following as my evidence:
“We are excited about the latest update for Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, and are currently reviewing its features and functionality to determine our upgrade plans. Our goal for Android updates is to give every customer an improved user experience, which means balancing each phone’s unique hardware, HTC Sense experience and the Android kernel. While our goal is to upgrade as many of our recent devices as possible, we are committed to maintaining every phone’s performance and usability first. Please stay tuned for more updates on specific device upgrade plans.”
- via Android Central (link below).
Basically HTC says they really don’t know what to do with SENSE right now. It seems as though Google has taken a larger role in the user interface experience. So do we need HTC’s SENSE or Motorola’s BLUR or Samsung’s TOUCHWIZ with Android anymore? As it appears now Google has uped the ante, adding a lot of functionality phone manufacturers used to do; partly because this version is supposed to finally bridge most current phones and tablets into one version (finally). It’s too early to tell right now, so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Source: androidcentral.com
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[Movie Review] Rise of the Planet of the Apes - CONTAINS SPOILERS
If you haven’t seen the movie and/or don’t want it spoiled, do not continue. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
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Angry Birds
I hearby proclaim (something I’m sure has already been expressed) that Angry Birds is hands down the best mobile game to play whilst on the crapper.
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AT&T-Mobile to America - we hope you like more dropped calls!
All this tough talk about AT&T and T-Mobile merging from these damn bureaucrats is typical Washington bullshit. Should we expect anything less from a government in bed with every corporation in America? Someone once said, “We have the best government that money can buy.” Looks like nothing has changed all these years.
This merger should not be done but I’m sure the losers at the FCC and Justice Department will rubber stamp this deal anyways. When has our government ever stood up for free enterprise and the everyday working contributing citizen? Nowhere in recent history. Listen, if they’re going to approve this deal then just DO IT. Why do we have to have all these hearings, empty gestures, tough talk and public spectacles? A lot of do nothing and hot air. The people on both sides makes tons of money to do this sort of thing. Who knew it could be an actual JOB. Let’s level with everyone: along with the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing huge corporations to vote with as much dollars as possible, give up this charade and just do what these CEOs want. They already do anyways.
This government is a joke. We dare to tell other countries how to govern themselves when our system is just as corrupt? How much more can we take before everything crumbles like a house of cards built on sand? Believe me, the free market is a great idea, too bad there is no such thing in the United States. I’m not against large corporations that are sucessful, they do good things by providing amazing products and services. But when there’s a mandate to make as much money as possible, to make more money each quarter and combine that with greed; well you have our version of “capitalism.” It was a great system until greed became good.
“Humans have always been greedy, but they never convinced themselves it was good.” - Bill Maher
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