4 Months Later

There I was sitting in my 'Advanced Sharepoint' training session, where we were being taught the blogging part of the software. The trainer said, well who reads blogs anyway? to which the wonderful Mrs Parker turned and said 'I read Damians'. - Cue an embarrassed Me.

Thanks Laura, and as promised, here is a blog dedicated to just you.
----------------Photo coming soon -----------------------
What is on my Blog? - 'gadgets and technology' she said

What's new in gadget land

As you may already know I ended up getting an iPhone despite being anti-apple and not wanting to jump on the apple bandwagon.

6 months on and am I happy with it?

I now have a HTC Desire....
Sitting in my windowsill at home, unused... and why?

Because it's not an iPhone, I agree it's improved loads since my HTC Magic (still the 2nd best phone I have ever owned), with its multi-touch screen and fantastic camera (with flash), but it's still not there. So yes I am still using my iPhone, I did have a while where I couldn't use it however due to an issue around it crashing

Which meant a restore
... Which meant an upgrade to the firmware (3.1.3)
..... Which meant I couldn't Jailbreak
......... Which meant I couldn't unlock
............Which meant I couldn't use it on Orange
................Which meant it was quite useless really.

Luckily those geeky people in unlock land came to my rescue in the form of the Spirit Jailbreak, and a bit of effort meant I was able to unlock it again, so my iPhone is back up and working again.

What Next

The iPhone 4

Although you can now Jailbreak the iPhone 4. It's apparently the easiest Jailbreak yet (you can do if from the iPhones web browser - www.jailbreakme.com), but you can keep your iPhone 4.

I can't believe apple could release a device that doesn't work properly (you have to hold it a certain way). How do they fix this - they telll you to hold it a certain way and give everyone a 'free' case.

Come on Jobsy - You're not Microsoft. Absorb the cost and recall them - ALL, fix them and send out working ones.

As it shows I'm in no hurry to get the iPhone 4. In fact after that shambolic release, I don't think I'd touch another apple device, certainly not something that's only just been released. I'm not the sort of person to jump-on-the-bandwag......

Oh wait - I have an iPad

Damn, I've done it again, 64Gb Wi-Fi,3G pleasure.
Jailbroken !!!!

There you go Laura !!!! an gadgety, techy, update.

iOrange

After my falling out with Thomo over his recent purchase, I have decided to allow him to buy me lots of beers in return for forgiveness.

What I am not happy about though is the fact that I don't want the iPod Touch, I don't want an iPhone,

I Need one

The HTC Touch Dual is a fantastic phone with most of the functions I want in in a phone, but its missing... that something,When Orange bring out the iPhone v2 (which they will) put me down for one, with a decent data plan . (v2 will have 3G)

I love the iTouch (Now), combining this with a phone I use and carry around every day will be perfect.

Santa Baby, Slip an iPhone under the tree, for me.

iPhone

So the iPhone has been released and all the daft punters are happily enjoying their expensive gadget. I still didn't want one.

It appears however, my iPod mini was set to self destruct at the mere mention of not wanting a newer iPod, and has now decided to run out of battery 5 minutes after each charge. Even google can't seem to give me a straight answer. So far I have restored the iPod to it's factory state, left it on charge for a couple of days, I'm now at the point where I may replace the battery if I dare.

So a week of freebies has led to a weekend of sh*t.

• My iPod playing up
• Watching 60 minutes of abysmal Derby County getting thrashed by the Hammers

The only real thing to look forward to is going back to work tomorrow after 5 months working at home with a dodgy knee, which I'm happy to say is at 90% better. (Thanks to a Forest supporting physiotherapist - boo!!!)

Some people just don't listen

Dear Time Magazine - do you not read my blog... tut tut

What next indeed

Time magazine have only gone and named the iPhone the "Invention Of the Year"
Obviously this paper is either an Apple fanboy, have no idea what they are talking about or don't actually own things such as this. I guess as an invention it's but not as revolutionary as the iPod itself. Although it does appear that they actually don't really like it either - worth a read.

Just look at the size of it, "life in your pocket", yeah right

The iPhone is just an iPod touch with a built in mobile phone. The things I like over a traditional ipod are the Touchscreen and Widescreen functions, but it's still missing (for me at least), 100Gb in storage, Built in GPS for Sat Nav, 3G and the ability to synchronise with MS Exchange - oh - and the pricing, available tariffs and limited choice of network providers.

I know there are ways around these issues (apart from the storage), but I, like many others want things to work straight out of the box.

I have the HTC TYTN II which has built in GPS, 3.5G connectivity and syncs with Exchange, ok the memory is stored on a Micro SD Card, which at the moment are only up to 6Gb in size (for £30 though), so a slight drawback, but I still prefer it to an iPhone.

I do however still want the iPod "classic"... Please..... someone... anyone.

iPhone UK
The iPhone is coming to the UK on November 9th.

Do I want one yet? - nope, I'm still managing to resist temptation especially as the pricing and tariffs have been announced.

Firstly, you can only supposedly get the phone on the O2 network (I'm on Orange), you have to pay £269 for the phone itself (8Gb) model, and then you're robbed every month with the tariff.

£35 per month gets you 200 minutes and 200 texts
£45 per month gets you 600 minutes and 500 texts
£55 per months gets you 1200 minutes and 500 texts

I currently pay £25 per month and get 500 minutes and 500 texts. and SWMBO pays £35 for 500 minutes and unlimited texts.

So not only are you having to pay over the odds for the privilege of owning an iPhone, there's a premium each month for using it. The tariff does come with an unlimited data allowance although the iPhone isn't a 3G device.

&

I'd rather go for the 160Gb Video iPod (now known as the "Classic") for £229.00 and get a Smartphone on a free upgrade. The iTouch is only let down by the hard drive size (8 or 16Gb).

Not Got me Yet...

Let it be said.... I LOVE GADGETS, if it's techy, new and does something technical I will have it.

HOWEVER...

Stick an "i" before a word, It'll sell by the millions

The iPhone from Apple is something the world seems to have gone mad over, sure its another Apple product which means all the iPod lovers will want (and buy) one. I have an iPod but I don't. I'm either getting responsible in my old age or there is nothing that appeals to me.

I currently have 2 phones (like to keep my work and personal life separate) and both of these do
Qtek 8500
HTC Tytn

The Qtek is a great slimline phone (a real weekend phone) dual screen, camera and Micro SD storage, A2DP support (Geek Alert)

The HTC is simply amazing, touchscreen, slide out keyboard, 3G, wi-fi, bluetooth, Outlook synchronisation for emails, tasks and contacts, TomTom sat nav, and Micro SD.

Although Micro SD cards currently have maximum storage of 2Gb this will no doubt change, at £30 however why not get a couple of cards. what's more, 8Gb is not enough for a device playing movies... trust me, it's not

I can play movies on my HTC, use as a modem plus lots more that the iPhone won't do, whats more, these devices are application unlocked you can bet your bottom dollar the devices will be application unlocked allowing you to install 3rd party applications - this, I LOVE.

The iPhone will be more secure than the Bank of England and I bet you wont' be able to play ripped DVDs back ups of films you legally own.

Until someone releases a device that has;

• 3G (Video) Phone
• Built in GPS,
• Slimline
• Keyboard
• 80Gb storage
• Multi-Codec Video playback
• TV Tuner

I'll Stcik with Windows Mobile 5 devices

Add to that the $499 or $599 pricetag and the 2 year contract period. Who's iPoddy enough !

Links
Modaco - coolsmartphone - xda-developers - mobilegazette