RyanKenward.com » Technology

iLove/iHate the iPhone

Ryan K. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:47:35 +0000

Let me preface this by saying I’ve been using the Apple iPhone 3g (8gb model) for the past 2 weeks and have given some serious thought to some of the major pros / cons and mehs of the iPhone. It has taken me several days to summon up the energy to write this but at last here it is – I’m sure everyone was anxiously awaiting.

The Pros:
* As with all Apple products, it is an extremely stylish and slick device.

* Integration with iTunes is great, best Computer to Phone connectivity I’ve ever had.
– Previous I used Sony phones, my last phone was the K790a (You may remember it from Casino Royale, yeah… the phone Bond used)

* It works exactly like an iPod. This may seem obvious but when you think about so many other phones out there that allow mp3 playback they really don’t measure up. In my experience it has been a hassle to manage memory cards, and load files to them. iTunes and iPhone work beautifully together with this too.

* Menus are intuitive. Unlike many other phones out there that can be a bit daunting to the “not so tech savvy user” the iPhone is extremely easy to navigate.

* The phone sounds very good. I’ve heard complaints in the past that calls don’t really sound too clear but I have no idea where these claims come from as this is one of the best sounding phones I’ve ever had.

The Cons:
* The camera is completely unsatisfactory. While it make take decent pictures it requires perfect conditions (good lighting / no movement) – this is a big annoyance to me as I like to post pictures remotely from my cell phone. (http://ryankenward.busythumbs.com/)

* No MMS! Holy shit this is my biggest annoyance (I know saying “Holy shit” in a revue is not good etiquette but whatever, this seriously urkes me) — I am a picture message junky! I see something funny, take a picture and share it with everyone… I am not about to spend forever to e-mail it to people. Apple, I don’t know how this happened but fix it!

* No video! Even the cheapest crap phones out there now can make videos, why can’t the iPhone?

* No flash!? Again, the camera is garbage… But even still, I wish I could send the pictures I spent forever trying to make look perfect.

* $30.00 month iPhone data plan? What was wrong with my $15.00/month unlimited usage I had before? Why do I have to pay 2x what I did before to get the same thing? Oh… I know, so Apple gets its cut. Apple, listen carefully – this is coming from a friend, I love you like a brother but – YOU ARE FUCKING RICH! TAKE A BREAK!

That’s about all I can say about the iPhone. What are your thoughts?

Damn you MacBook!

Ryan K. — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:31:54 +0000

What I need…

Ryan K. — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:30:53 +0000

Sony HDV 1080i Handycam

20″ iMac

Anyone want to help?

- Ryan

(Of course you don’t… sighhhh)

Who wants to help?

Ryan K. — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:38:06 +0000

Okay so I am trying to get an iMac so I can do more editting on my films and also start independent films which I’ve been writing. However, I don’t have a lot of money. Good news – after researching those free sites do work however they are tricky. I had to complete an offer (I did the 14 days free of Rhapsody) and then you have to get 10 people to complete an offer (which I would recommend doing the same one since it only requires a credit/debit card and does not charge up front) So if you would be so kind to click Here and sign up that would be fantastic. The good news is once you do this you will also get your own link that you can have people click so you can get your own iMac. I only have 90 days to get 10 sign ups so here is hoping I can make some progress.

- Ryan

Wednesday looks weird if you stare long enough

Ryan K. — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:35:39 +0000

What a dumb name for a day of the week, if it were up to me I’d call it floccinaucinihilipilificationday just for fun. Try to fit that on your crappy calendars walmart. I am listening to Audioslave right now, they are awesome. I wish I could record an album then sit there and listen to it, I can just imagine them sitting there being blown away as well. There was that one band I was in there and I never really was super satisfied with anything we did, it was good for what it was but… I don’t know. Musically uninspired, partly my fault for not coming up with more catchy bass lines (of course, I did often and they got voted down) – drumming was good though, the guitar though… Eh… same chords over and over again and then very lame solos. Vocals, nothing great. Still, it was fun to go out and play shows though I’m reluctant towards attention after the set – I prefer to just hang out with the band and not have dumb people come up to me… cool people are good to go but it was always like eleventeen year old girls. Sigh. I should start writing again, perhaps when I finish my stint in the Air Force I will have more time to organize some better things. I am in a good long winded rant mode today, that’s unusual and a sign that things are starting to settle. I’ve accepted some things suck, and other things do not need to suck at all… It’s all within my reach, I just need to organize the chaos and start making things click. Been there, done that – can and will do it again. My short lived relationship with Verizon is coming to an end as I’m switching back to Cingular. I’m tired of seeing consistently large bills and I guess it isn’t just me. Not to mention CDMA? WTF Verizon, get on the band wagon maybe you’d have better phone options and you would have been a better iPhone contender. Although, the dumbasses at Verizon declined carrying the iPhone because Apple wanted a share in the profits and Verizon said no way Mr. Jobs. Dumb dumb dumb, and this is why – how much revenue has come from iPods and Mac books in the past year — filthy large amounts, Verizon would have definitely won in that deal but no. Ah well, who cares. I’m getting the Sony Ericsson w810i to start with and hopefully the US will get the k790a soon so I can upgrade to that. I like my phone to be able to launch weapons and be compact and stylish at the same time. Well – I suppose that’s all for now.

- Ryan

Eternal Wednesday of the Sucky Work-week

Ryan K. — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:27:38 +0000

Hump day! Yuck, I think I officially hate every day of the week except days I get money on which is always the fifteen and the last day of the month, fortunately – Friday is the fifteenth so it is a double whammy for goodness. So I’ve been talking about doing an IP TV project for quite some time, and now I’ve finally decided I am going to take the plunge and do it. First thing’s first though, I need to figure out a way to host it – so, if anyone reads this (well, lots of anyones are here but none of you talk) – I implore you, if you know of any reasonably priced dedicated server providers please comment with a URL so I can get that set up. The first flagship that I want to try to get going is a reincarnation of the TechTV shows The Screen Savers/Call For Help. Basically I want the entire venture to be community fueled, so what this will entail will be collecting users who have tech questions, comments, problems and opinions in to one place and then have a forum for discussion. From that we will derive a vidcast which will likely be a weekly thing which will hit on some of the best questions asked during the week, user suggestions for coverage, reviews on new software and product… it should be a Petri dish of tech. It sounds nerdy, but in reality it would appeal to a big group of people just like the old TechTV shows did. The spin is that this will have a lot more interaction and be a lot more of giving the people what they want. Also if you are techy and in the Western New York area, or anywhere really and I do not know you introduce yourself. People who know about tech gadgets like digital cameras, mp3 players and so on; software; programming; Linux; Mac; windows; in depth internet knowledge; security – there are tons of things that can be listed. Anyway, well see what happens. Freely comment on anything you wish though even if it is completely not related to this post at all.

- Ryan

Can you hear me now?

Ryan K. — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 16:18:08 +0000

Verizon employees – if any of you happen to be reading this and have any corporate pull whatsoever, please inform your bosses that the phone selection for Verizon sucks. I hate nokia, Motorola, Samsung and all those other pieces of crap phones that are offered. My Motorola phone is constantly crashing, the 1 MP camera sucks at anything close up, my calls drop and I’m ready to throw the thing off a bridge. Nokia are cheap feeling pieces of garbage, as are Samsung. You’ve at least got LG but you over charge for them. My beloved Sony Ericsson is not even an option! Wtf Verizon?! Fear not, redemption is at hand. If you at least carry the iPhone I promise to not bitch so much. It looks like my cost effective alternative to the Sony Ericcson K800i. There are many industries I dislike – banks, internet service providers, and cell phone services. However, that could all change if I had a phone that didn’t suck so damn much.

Go to it Verizon, I want this in January.
- Ryan Kenward
(Verizon Customer)