i like the iPad too

I finally made a trip down the street to the local Apple store yesterday to experience the iPad 2.  Its everything Apple tell you in the commercial and less.  Thinner, slightly lighter, a lot faster, and strangely much more attractive, due to the choice of white as well as the 10 strong magnets in the iPad 2 itself.  Oh the crappy cameras are way crappier than you’d expect. Remembering my first colored display camera phone, the Motorola t720. Ah the good old days of attaching the camera to the phone when you want to use it.  I don’t remember what I did with those photos. They were so low-res that I kept them on the phone and never bothered to download them to a PC.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that unless you’re using the iPad 2′s camera to replace a camera phone from 2002, don’t bother using it as a camera. Focus on the good, the fact that it takes 720P video. And nothing more and nothing less.  Its really not Apple’s fault that they design with form over function.  I knew someone who worked at Foxconn and how Apple does their development is the following. The cost for the parts are the same, the design for the package is smaller and thinner, we don’t want to spend anymore money than before, now go and make it fit.  That explains the use of iPod Touch cameras on the iPad2. The only way to keep the cost down while making it fit into the thinner aluminum chassis.

My visit to the Apple store led me to the following conclusion.  People like apples because they used to give it to their favorite teachers. And now they’re in the Apple store. Touching all these pretty tablets that take crappy pictures.  I’ve never seen so many adults having fun with video games before.  The iPad 2 is great, better than the original, as long as you don’t take pictures.

Mandatory New Years Resolution Post.

Its that time of the year when every one looks back and reflect on their year. I think I'm gonna go ahead and wish everyone a happy new year first. 

Here's my list for 2011...

1. Get back in shape

2. Blog more~

3. Learn Japanese

4. Ride more.

5. Cook more.

6. More photography

 

Well thats it for now. See you guys in 2011... 

a legacy in its own right...

So I was one of the few people who braved the rain last night to stay up late on a school night to check out one of the most anticipated movie of this year. the 12:15am showing had about 60% capacity full. It was Real D 3-D but not IMAX.  

So I wanted to say that this movie was the long awaited sequel.. but its not kinda really... is it? a 28 year gap doesn't really make this movie the sequel.. but I guess on a timeline, this movie takes place after the original and the son is all grown up.. yea its a sequel.  

I hate spoilers when it comes to movies so I'll make this as spoil-free as possible. Using analogies from other popular movies that every's seen before.

What is the formula for this dictated success? Actor from original movie?, check, awesome special effects?, check, overwhelmingly awesome soundtrack?, check, a random cast of not super famous A-list actors?, check. Can't miss movie of the Christmas season?, you'd think this movie has all the formula for a smash hit.. well it does..in parts.  

I'd like to think of this movie as a "best sci-fi opera/musical" movie ever.   Its like.. Wall Street: Money never sleeps. Father leaves, father returns, son's all grown up, cue drama. Oh and there's Ducatis in the movie.  

Yes there are parts of the movie that are somewhat geeky, and also there are throw back lines to the original as well.  As a sum of its parts, its a good 3-D movie, a decent sci-fi film.  To me, it almost felt like it was a re-boot of the original.  The overall story of the movie was simple. Just like the original in the 80s.  The eye and ear candy alone was worth the price of admission into the theater.  If you're not a fan of 3-D movies, watch it in 2-D.  You won't miss anything you would like anyways. I personally thought it was worth seeing it at least once in 3-D.  Sort of like Cameron's Avatar. To enjoy the movie they intended you to in the first place. There were a couple cheese 3-D moments where things fly out at you, but what 3-D movie doesn't have that right? So turn off the lights, turn off your brain, unclog your ears and pry open your eyes. You'll enjoy this film. And yes, you should buy the soundtrack because its by Daft Punk.

its Incredible!

Yes it is... it is incredible.. the HTC Incredible. I got one, after spending almost 3 years with iPhones. 

Between the original iPhone and iPhone 3G, I've gotten used to the iPhone OS. And now with the iPad available, there's more than one way to get your dose of the iOS 4. So is there any reason you'd need a large and small iOS 4 device? I find out... kinda..

So as I've already mentioned, I've left my iPhone 3G (8GB) for the new HTC Incredible.  I'm gonna go ahead and skip the side by side comparison since I didn't have a 3GS and the iPhone 4 is coming out soon.

So what comes down to it in the end is the user experience.  I'm uncertain as to if Android is a better mobile phone system than iPhone OS3 or iOS4.  But what I do know is that HTC's own Sense UI is what broke my camel's back. Let me break it down...

 

Hardware: Build Quality

If you think your iPhone is sturdy (or not), you might wanna check out HTCs phones. They're IMHO built way better than the iPhones. HTC is a Taiwanese company and their phones are Made in Taiwan. (most if not all) I would say the quality is on par with something like the Nokia N900.  Very sturdy for a device that has a removable back for the battery and access to the microSD card.  The phone is mostly plastic but it doesn't feel cheap to me like some of the reviews I've read.  A rubber case is a must to protect not only from drops but the camera itself.  Since its a 8MP camera, the lens itself is quite large and protrudes out of the back of the phone, enough so that if you put the phone down, it'll be touch the table and potentially scratched to hell after a while.  The metal ring that holds the lens glass in place is red anodized aluminum. It definitely gives the phone a touch of industrial and androidness.  The front of the phone also has the red trim, but just on the cover of the ear piece.  The optical joystick is one of the first of its kind in a mobile phone. Since it doesn't wake the phone up from stand-by like the iPhone, I find myself not using it most of the time. It does have very good tactile feed back when you press down on it. 

Camera: 8MP

It's really astonishing how much details can be captured on a 8MP camera on a phone. This is by far the best camera I have ever used on a phone.  I know Steve was all defending the 5MP camera on the iPhone 4, but I know the real reason that it doesn't have a 8MP camera is cost and size.  Apple is very cost and design constraint.  So they go to Foxconn and tell them this is the dimension of the phone, and here's the cost, make it fit. A 8MP camera will never fit in the iPhone 4, not until the cost for smaller sensor units come down to Apple's standard.  This is obviously not an issue with HTC so you have a protruding camera, not a huge problem when you slap a rubber case on the phone. I love the topographic, none symmetrical back design. They even thought of the interior so everything on the inside is red and the exterior is black.  The design is really the opposite of the iPhone 4.  Which is a nice change of scenery for my hands.  

 

Software: Enclair topped with a little something extra...

You could turn off HTC's Sense UI, but why would you when it works soo well? I have had a coupe times where the app quit on me while trying to launch it. After a relaunch, its runs with no issues. Similar situations have happened to me on my iPhone before.  The Snapdragon processor makes the phone run as fast as the iPad. Battery life is poor out of the box, if you nurse it, you can get a full day out of the phone with ease.  That might sound like its pretty bad, but you already do that with your iPhone.  Android actually has a feature in the menu that tells you your battery usage in % and time. I find it very useful and try to make things pretty even between actual usage, stand-by, and screen usage.  I've never used any other iterations of Android so I can't say what the improvement 2.1 brings. I do feel that it is on par if not better than iPhone OS 3.  I will do a comparison between Android and iOS 4 when its released for the iPad. 

Menu system

You get 7 pages of spaces for your apps and widgets.. Each gives you a max of 16 apps. I can't stop raving about the widgets.. only wish HTC makes more of their own! You could download more from them at the moment but there's a handful and they're games and tip calculator. We're all familiar with the 

 

Service: Verizon

This is my first time being a Verizon customer. Being a long term GSM (mostly AT&T and some T Mobile).

What can I say that you don't already know. I'm getting much better and consistant coverage than AT&T at spots that have bad reception in general. I do have to warn you tho, be prepaired to have a slower over up and down speed on Verizon's CDMA than AT&T.  So far with Xtreamelab's Speedtest, my record download speed is 1.9 Mbitps.  Up speed, don't even test it, don't think about it.. because it'll just make you cry. It's suppose to be about 50% the speed of download but in my experience its more like 20%.  So before you go trading your iPhone in for a Incredible or a Evo, consult your next door neighbor and see if there's good coverage and reception on your block.

There is only one real test that really matters, and thats the one that you'll do on your own. We all use our phones differently and this review by no means will reflect how you feel about the Incredible. But at the end of the day, it has been quite incredible for me. 

Here's the specs for the Incredible.

 

CPU Speed Qualcomm® QSD8650, 1GHz Snapdragon™
Platform Android™ 2.1 (Éclair) with HTC Sense™
Memory Flash 8GB + 512MB/RAM 512MB
Dimensions (LxWxT) 4.63 x 2.30 x 0.47 inches (117.5 x 58.5 x 11.9 mm)
Weight 4.6 ounces (130 grams) with battery
Display 3.7-inch AMOLED touch-sensitive screen with 480 X 800 WVGA resolution
Network Dual-band (800 and 1900MHz) CDMA2000 1xRTT/1xEVDO/1xEVDO rev. A and IS-95A/B voice or data with up to 1.8 Mbps uplink and 3.1 Mbps downlink speeds (Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)
Onscreen Navigation Optical joystick
GPS Internal GPS antenna
Sensors G-Sensor
Digital compass
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor
Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.1 with FTP/OPP for file transfer, A2DP for wireless stereo headsets, and PBAP for phonebook access from the car kit
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
3.5mm stereo audio jack
micro-USB (12-pin micro-USB 2.0)
Camera 8-megapixel color camera with auto focus and flash 
Video capture
Audio Supported
Formats		 Playback: .aac, .amr, .ogg, .m4a, .mid, .mp3, .wav, .wma
Recording: .amr
Video Supported
Formats		 Playback: .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .wmv
Recording: .3gp
Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1300 mAh
Talk time: Up to 313 minutes
Standby time: Up to 146 hours
(The above are subject to network and phone usage.)
Expansion Slot microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
Up to 32 GB card support. No pre-installed card.
AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A
Email Push Gmail™ and Exchange
Special Features Friend Stream
In-Box Content Main unit, Micro USB cable, Battery (1300 mAh), AC adapter, RF Brochure, Product Safety & Warranty Statement, Quick Start Guide

Werkstatt Mavizen TTX02 at TTXGP

I got the pleasure to spend the day hanging out in the pit with the Werkstatt crew. Got a up close and personal look at behind the scene in what it takes to get a bike with new technology running. Jennifer came in 4th despite having to powercycle the bike after turn 1. She was able to catch up after it rebooted. It was a great experience and I can't wait to see Jennifer on the track kicking butt again! 

My Flickr for more pics

More pictures to come...

 

 

23 days later...

According to Steve Jobs, its magical and revolutionary.


But what is it to you? The consumer who starved for a month to save up enough laundry change to buy this beautiful slab of wonder.  It seems that the hype is still around but slowly being over shadowed by the memory leaks and expensive apps.  More on the apps later. So the iPad is supposidly magical.  Does it do anything that your current devices and appliences dont already do? Yes and no. Its currently the only way for you to access the iBookstore at the moment. At least until this summer when the iPhone 4.0 update comes out.  Then you would really be asking yourself why you're reading books on such a tiny screen(iPhone)  That would be the moment you realize that you need a bigger device like the iPad and go out and buy one. Apple wins.  It doesnt multi-task at the moment, so it can't replace a textbook or laptop for students.  But it will later this fall. So until then, this is the device that's the jack of all trades. (as long as you're doing one trade at a time.)

This was all before I got my 1 week trial of the company iPad.

At this point, you're probably thinking to yourself, he's writing his review on the iPad to make a point about how useful it is. But I'm not writing it on the iPad.  I am although watching Julie and Julia instantly streaming from NetFlix. Yet I'm not streaming from the iPad.  Frankly I tried to finish this post with the iPad. But I couldn't because for some reason, it wouldn't let me select the body of the blogger page, even though I can edit the Title and Labels.  So now I'm back, on the sofa, with the movie streaming on my PS3, porjected on my wall using my Sanyo HD projector.  The iPad is sitting on my bed... just sitting there... in its peaceful state of stand-by.  So what have I learned in the past 4 days of using this magical device?  Not much that you've already know.  The device does everything Apple advertises and more.  You can feel and envision all the functionalities that's still not unleashed behind the glass display.  


Okay, what did I do with it? I used it as much as I can.  What did I use it for? Well, its not powerful enough to do anything I do at work beside email. So I did email on it and it handled email just fine. It browses the web just fine. Besides the obvious Flash handicap, you'd be surprised at how many websites it handles well (and not so well) So by now I'm thinking, what would compell anyone to buy this?  To quote myself, 


Apple users who have an iTunes account...
who has an iPhone or iPod Touch...
I still stand by what I said about the iPhone or iPod Touch user being the iPad audience. These users, myself included, dreams of the day when I can just stand in front of a transparant computer display and touch everything a-la Minority Report style. You won't be able to solve any crimes that have yet to happen with the iPad, but you could have lots of fun with Plants VS Zombies HD. (Don't get me started on the HD naming convention in the iPad store..)  You could pretend like you're in 2054 and you work for the Pre-Crime unit.. killing zombies before they get through the back door of your house and eat your braiiinnnzz. 
For touchy games, Nintendo wish they made the iPad, there's no denying that the large touch screen trumps the dual small screen of the DSi or DSi LL for that matter. Its way more useful and easier to use than the iPod Touch.

I paused and reflected on my week with the iPad.  Thinking about the time I've spent with it, I came to the realization that it might not be as magical as Steve puts it.

This is the part where I go though all the Cons of the device. But in no perticular order nor in a list form.  Its too heavy. Yes its built like a tank, yes its smaller than a laptop (most laptop).
I guess at this point of my post, it feels like I'm just dragging my feet through the mud.  I can't really say what I'd come in conclusion in my review. We all know that this is an luxury item. An unnecessary appliance in the world of mobile computing.  Will I buy this? Yes of course. When? I really can't say.  Its a good first iteration. A good first real stab at touch based computing.  Much better than the UMPC I'm currently using to write this blog.  I can see why David Pogue was so split on his review of the iPad. There's just no way around this.. Its a love hate relationship that'll get better when the 3rd generation comes along...just like the iPhone.. Which brings me to another reason why I'm waiting.. the upcoming iPhone 4G.

I'm gonna stick it out for a couple more months and see how the new iPhone 4G is. Then decide if I wanna leave the iPhone for the iPad 3G... Can I handle a man bag on a daily basis.. only time will tell..