My Brother is a Blogging

Not sure what got into to him, but my brother is a blogging.  Food blogging to be exact.  I like this a lot because I get to be one of his taste testers.  It works out pretty well for me.  He's new to the world of blogging and a man, so you'll have to excuse his lack of design on his blog thus far, however the content will be awesome!

Here's his blog: kaisersfoodblog.wordpress.com

Pop Art

It's been awhile since I posted, because I don't have much to post about currently.  So I thought, what a better time to use the camera on my computer and use the pop art effect.  I've never really been a fan of this effect, but today for the purpose of having a blog post, it works.  Besides, look how cute my cat is...and how not too chunky my bangs look.  (See my tweets from earlier this week about my chunky bangs.)

Would I buy an iPhone?

I've been a big advocate for the Android platform here on my blog.  I've had an Android based phone for about the last year.  In August, I got my first iPod when I bought my computer (yes, first), then in November I got my second (I realized I needed waaaaaaay more storage than I got with my free one).  When I got my iPod in November, I got an iPod Touch again and got the most recent generation that Steve Jobs himself called "an iPhone without a contact."

At first, I found the lack of personal controls on the iPod a little annoying.  I couldn't tweak every little thing about the iPod, like I can with my phone.  However, my annoyance quickly wore off, because some of my desire to tweak had come out of necessity to optimize my phone.  For example, I have several apps on my phone that help manage and control the running activities of my phone so my battery won't drain completely half way through the day.  There are certain things I eventually just got over, like being able to customize where I do and don't want icons on my home screen like I can with my phone and being able to put widgets on the screen to make my life easier.  However, eventually I just didn't care enough to care.  This is the magical key that Apple has figured out.

I realized that Apple has figured out that most people who would like to use a smartphone want and need simplicity.  Only a small percentage of us are willing to take the time to learn all the in's and out's of a phone and then put the time and effort in to optimizing it.  For most people, it's like having a camera or camcorder (or insert other complicated device) that you know does so much more than you do with.  Ever had one of those?  A device that you don't use every function that it has, or even know how to use those functions.  Eventually you wonder why they couldn't make it do exactly what you want it to do when you want to do it.

That's exactly what Apple has done with the iPhone.  They figured out the things that are most important then, as they do with their computers, made it simple.  They already optimized the battery for me.  They realized that most people aren't concerned with making pretty designs out of their icons on their home screen.  And then they through it in a tiny package with a beautiful user interface.

I now use my iPod more than I use my phone, which is basically a paper weight.  I have to think less with my iPod and focus on fun more.  I don't want to think.  Apple did all the thinking for me.  They took out features that are unnecessary and through research (I assume) figured out how I would like most of my settings.

So yes, I would buy an iPhone.  It's simpler.  More beautiful.  More intuitive.

Verizon iPhone

Rachel asked a good question:

Here's my point of view:

It's a good thing.

It means those who want an iPhone don't have to sacrifice service by going to AT&T.

It also means that Apple can put out an iPhone that can run on a 4G network, because let's face it, I bet Apple was really hoping that the iPhone 4 could have been named the iPhone 4G, but no AT&T couldn't hold up there end of the deal (during the original talk about an iPhone existing, Apple and AT&T had a little chat about how AT&T would build there network to keep up with Apple's innovation). 

It means that Apple will take a bit out of the growing Android market share, which let's be honest had a lot to do with the lack of a decent phone on various networks.

It means Apple's going to roll out one badass phone, expect your world to implode.

It means that all of us who have come to appreciate our Android phones will have some serious thinking to do.  It's easy to embrace Android when the option of iPhone isn't available.  Will Android be as awesome as we once thought it was?  Probably not.  (I have other reasons for this, but that's another blog post).

Hopefully, with network alternatives it might mean that there will be a price point competition for plans.  But don't hold your breath.  Apple has a short lesh on the price of their products and I doubt plans will drop much, if at all.

It really means we're about to see a million more iPhones and Apple will officially begin making a huge dent in Microsofts world.  With Verizon iPhones will reach the hands of millions - of Window's users who are going to get curious about this awesome Mac world and when their PC burns up (as they all eventually do), they will begin looking at our dear friend Mr. Mac.

Maybe as I'm lying in bed sick tomorrow, I'll come up with a few more things, but for now, these are my initial thoughts to help bring clarity to this very confusing world.