No image. No Twitter post. Just a few thoughts about the Verizon Wireless iPhone, the iPad 2 and which one I’m more likely to get.
Hooray! The moment that 90 million people were waiting for finally happened last month, and that is Verizon Wireless getting the iPhone! And I want one. I almost pre-ordered one. Then I almost went to the VZW to buy one. But I didn’t for budgetary reasons. You see, I picked up the Droid Incredible back in August and I’m stuck without any upgrade pricing until June or July 2012. While I’m sure it’s worth it, dropping $600 on an iPhone right now just isn’t in the cards.
Then last week Apple introduced the iPad 2. Essentially an iPhone 4 with a 10″ screen. 2 cameras? Check. IOS 4.3? Check. Music playback and video editing on the device? Check. Can be purchased without a carrier contract? Check!
So, here’s the thing. While I could rush out and drop $600+ on an iPhone (when funds permit), why don’t I save a bit of coin and pick up an iPad 2? The price is $100 less (on a 16gb WiFi model) than the base iPhone. For what I need an iPhone 4 for, the iPad 2 will do and then some. Video editing, Garage Band, Keynote and Pages. Add a bluetooth keyboard and I wouldn’t even have to carry a laptop for most of the stuff that I do when I’m on the road. Then, in 2012 when I’m due, I can pick up whatever iPhone is being offered.
If I need connectivity while on the road and I’m not within reach of a WiFi access point, I can turn on the hotspot on the Dinc and be good to go. To me, this sounds like a pretty good deal.
I don’t mind carrying multiple devices. I already carry a phone with me everywhere, and almost always have a laptop for when I need to have a keyboard. The only thing I can see being a problem with only carrying an iPad would be storage. When I’m out at a MINI Cooper event for example, I’ve been known to generate as much as 20GB of content over the course of a few days. Sure I can edit that content on the iPad now, but with only 16gb available, I would need an alternate solution. Essentially, some kind of backup. Maybe I get a 50GB dropbox? Multiple 8GB SD Cards?
Regardless, this is what I’m looking to do. If anyone of you have had any success with mobile storage on the iPad or have some tips to lay down, comments are open and I would be interested in hearing what you have done.
Recently, a Roku Box was installed into the home entertainment system, with the sincerest hope of canceling the TV portion of our cable bill. Except it’s not possible. Yet.
The dream of many to be sure. To escape the grip of the cable company for television service. It started when I decided to stop using the teleco for phone service when I had a reliable cell phone. So far, 5 years and counting. Now, here we are, in the 21st Century, surrounded by high-speed internet service and the ability to get television programs streamed to computing devices. But not.
Using our friend Chuck Bartowski as an example. A show that has been on the fringe of being cancelled every season that it has been available. A show that seems to be saved by huge write-in campaigns and large turn-outs at ComicCon. A show that, as best I can tell, could easily be saved. How?
Allow streaming.
You see, on the Roku box I actually signed up for Hulu Plus, thinking that I would able to get all that was good and awesome about Hulu streamed directly to our television set. It would seem that is possible, as long as it is not a show that I’m a fan of. ABC programs? All of them are there. Crappy reality TV? Yep, it’s all there too. Family Guy, 30 Rock, The Office and SNL? Yep, those are all there too.
But drill down to shows like Chuck and The Cape on NBC. Burn Notice and White Collar on USA. Human Target on Fox. All programs that I watch on a regular basis. All shows that I enjoy on Hulu currently, from the confort of my office chair. But, not from the comfort of our sofa.
Why?
You see, when it comes to getting the word out and making sure something gets high ratings, I think that it needs to be in as many places to be consumed as possible. I think that in TV Land, that means as many eyeballs as possible to see as much advertising as possible. I think I’m right. No, scratch that, I know I’m right. Too toot my own horn, if you open the podcast section in iTunes under Games and Hobbies -> Automotive -> Audio, you will see that White Roof Radio is near the top of any list that contains audio programs. We get the word out. We make it available to as many people as possible, any way possible.
Which leaves me scratching my head about Chuck. If it’s close to getting cancelled all the time, why not allow it to be played on Hulu Plus on televisions? Is it because the revenue from iTunes and Amazon are too high? At almost $3 per episode, I would hope. But why not cash in on some revenue from advertising too? Why not make it available to as many people as possible, any way possible? It would cost almost nothing since it is already streamed on Hulu anyway. Win win.
So now we have a very fancy Roku box that rules at streaming NetFlix, Amazon and Hulu, just not the shows I want.
I just don’t get it.
Hey NBC (and CBS too. You guys are dead to me anyway), when the time comes and you are ready to join the rest of the world in the 21st century, give me a call and I will help you get everything sorted out.
It’s that time of year gang. The sun is shining, temps are in the 80s and there is nary a chance of foul weather. Must be Christmas in the Southwest!
And, if it’s Christmas, then things around the donburnside.com family of sites start to slow down just a little bit. Those include
While the words aren’t flowing quite as much as they normally do, there is plenty going on behind the scenes. Watch for a brand new donburnside.com coming shortly after the New Year if not a little sooner. As tradition dictactes, those changes will filter down to dbmini.us and White Roof Radio shortly thereafter.
We are hoping to start taking on more projects in 2011. With the relocation to Arizona, there is an entire state that has yet to experience the raw, unadulterated awesome that is produced from donburnside.com, and we think it’s high time they do.
Over at White Roof Radio we will be covering events like it’s nobody’s business. Not to mention trying to get a few more dealer grand opening’s under our belts and a couple of other things that I can’t share at this time.
We aren’t ignoring the motoring blog either! Besides a new layout, there is an entire state left to explore, a new club to join and new dealers to continue to break-in. Plus the continuation of the OP/ED pieces that we love to write.
Finally, in the continuation of the transformation of Wind(the)frog(dot)net, you will begin to see more posts there that are more personal in nature. It will remain the one true blog under the roof with cool links from the internet, words and, of course, the w(t)f video hour which will become a bi-monthly affair.
We certainly hope that all y’all have a great Christmas and fantastic New Years! And thank you for sticking around, commenting, and overall just being the most awesome audience anyone could possibly want.
See you next year!
I don’t like paper. So much so that when I opened my current account at Bank of America, I didn’t even bother to order checks. I just opened a new account at Chase and got a little confirmation on my decision to keep my money digital.
Back in 1995 I started my transition from analog to digital when I purchased my first DVD player. All of my music was already on the go for the move too. A few years passed and my hatred for printers continued to grow until I got to the point where I didn’t print at all and never wrote a check. Cash or plastic. And this has served me well for the past 7-8 years.
Then, at a local branch of Chase this week to open a new account and it turns out that my guy completely agreed with me. However, his agreement didn’t come because he also bore hatred toward paper and all paper generating devices like myself. He agreed because of security.
Duh. Why didn’t I get that?
Take a look at your check. It has your name. It also has your address, maybe a phone number. If you are older than I am, maybe your driver’s license number. Look lower. Account number and routing number are right there at the bottom of the check as well. That means that, really, anyone could get ahold of one of those, fill it out and take it to the nearest check cashing store or bank and trade it for cash. Then, they will drive to your house and steal your Macs and HD televisions and iPods.
Not good.
Versus the debt card that you probably also carry. Associated with that are 16 digits + 4 digits + your 4-8 digit pin. That’s practically 256bit encryption right there friends. Not only that, but you can easily track transactions quicker than you can with checks. And, the only bit of personal information on it is your name.
I’m going to continue my paper-free existence. Saving trees and increased security is how I roll. Paper is so 20th Century, maybe you should think about it too.
Comments are open.
As I slowly sneak up to the 100th Sunday Post, It’s time for me to lay out my plan for world domination. Or, at the very least, my plan to get back in the groove.
You all know that I have opposable thumbs. You all also know that being equipped in such a way is also 50% of the solution when working towards world domination. I am here today to empirically deny the fact that I am trying to take over the world, which isn’t entirely true. I am going to take over the world. Just my little chunk of it.
Back in 2008 things changed. For the first time pretty much ever I became unemployed. And I stayed mostly umemployed for the next almost 3 years. For all but the last 18 months, I was able to continue to write, do stupid video blogs and amuse everyone on Twitter. Self promotion aside, I think I really started getting pretty good at it.
Then things changed. I ended up living with my folks and getting work fixing computers. It was a mediocre gig at best and combined with my living situation I lost track and focus. I stopped writing for the most part. Stopped the silly videos. My toots got snarky. And I wasn’t motivated.
Time to change all of that. My new job will require that I use all of those skills I honed over the past almost 10 years and have let a nice layer of rust form over them. I will have to write, shoot and tweet on a regular basis. And do it in such a way that it is entertaining, have promotional value and drive traffic.
Just like I’ve always done.
To that end I have made some very positive changes that will allow me to get back on track. A new job in a new state with a brand new living arrangement that is all, so far, suiting me just fine thankyouverymuch.
Watch for regular stuff coming out of me again. More words here and at Wind(the)frog(dot)net (which is where my more personal posts will go). Video blogs more often than once a quarter. More photos as I explore my new surroundings. Hell, even more MINI stuff as I break in a new dealer and try to get involved with the local enthusiast scene.
So, stay subscribed. I think you are all in for a real treat!
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