iPhone OS 3.0

Apologies for what is going to be a pretty nerdy post. I've just finished up reading the live feed from of the event Apple HQ regarding the new iPhone software update coming this summer. 

Last year we got the iPhone 3G and with it OS 2.0. This was a pretty big jump because we got things like the App Store - a repository of applications that practically increased the usefulness of the iPhone ten fold (as well as giving the world thousands of awful games and a fart simulator).

This year looks like it's going to be a similar leap with some very much needed features. For instance at the moment the iPhone can't copy and paste text. It sounds like something you wouldn't use that much but when you have a fairly full e-mail client and web browser you quickly realise that it would be very much appreciated. For instance you can't text a phone number or e-mail address from Contacts... you actually have to write it down on a piece of paper or borrow someone else's phone... not very smart for a smart phone.

Another thing I can't do at the moment is send or receive media messages. My Nokia from 2003 did this... why can't my £400 phone from 2008? Well, this will be finally added in the summer. I didn't tend to send a lot of media messages but it's quite annoying when someone sends you one and you have to load up the web browser and input your phone  number and a random code (without copy and paste) just to see someone's hilarious photo they just had to send you...

There are lots of other nice updates that I'm sure will be incredibly useful but there was still no mention of some pretty basic features that are missing. I still can't sync my to do list from my calendar for instance - even though its a default Apple application (iCal) that has shipped on Macs since the dark ages.

See... Apple do annoy me sometimes! I'm not that much of a Fanboy :-/

Right... enough typing... must go back to playing GTA: Chinatown Wars on the DS :-D 

Aural ponderings

Our big move from Brighton to London started this past weekend. The first load of stuff was taken up in my infinitely small car and unloaded at Jordan's parents house where we will be staying for a while until we get on to our feet.

Jordan had to stay in London to settle in our cat so I am at home trying to decide what to take in phase two. I have packed away the last few hundred DVDs and a few of the lighter books. I have filled a few bags with clothes that I rarely wear and I've take apart a bookshelf and the two units that I keep my stereo in.

I was then left with the decision to pack away my stereo and rely on my iMac's internal speakers or keep it set up and deal with it later. Firstly I tested out the iMac's speakers. I think I have used them possibly once or twice in the entire life on the computer. They are surprisingly good. Of course they are not up to the standard of even a fairly cheap all in one system but I imagine the average person could happily use the internal speakers for movies and even music.

I then decided to place my stereo's speakers on the desk, as they would be in our new room, and give them a good listen. Now my house mate, Richey, has just managed to get back his vinyl collection and record deck from his ex-girlfriend so we were having the obligatory conversation about how much better vinyl sounds than CD and (obviously) MP3. This got me thinking about my stereo and, in particular how CDs sound on it, as I rarely use my CD player. I just run my computer into my amplifier (with a £30 cable no less) and listen to my iTunes library.

So for this test I decided to use a few CDs - the first being The Cure's 2004 self titled album. The verdict was fairly obvious. Even through my pretty mid range stereo, the difference in quality was huge. I think the shape of my room and the rather sorry state of my speaker stands weren't doing me any favours as the new placement of the speakers on the desk has really helped with the wobbly bass sound I was getting.

Anyway, I think I have decided to keep the stereo set up and I will deal with it when I have to pack away the iMac.

Clearly I'm not just a nerd for computers...

Dexter

I have been fairly terrible at giving this blog the attention it deserves over the last week or so. Partly this is because my girlfriend has been using my iMac for her university dissertation (her TiBook is still out of service due to a faulty power supply. I've ordered another one so hopefully I can use that while she uses the iMac. It's running Leopard and I think Time Machine was designed specifically for people writing two 8000 word essays). 

But mostly it is because of Dexter. Now I usually detest american serials. I did watch the first series of Lost over the course of about 3 days but I gave up after episode 12 of series 2 when I realised that nothing significant had happened. 

But Dexter is different.

Dexter is a US cop drama with a twist. The protagonist, Dexter Morgan, is himself a serial killer who hunts down murderers to relieve his dark urges. The characters are generally likeable with the exception of Debra, Dexter's adoptive sister and the dialogue is clever and witty. The audience is supposed to identify with Dexter thus supporting him in his morally dubious affairs (a device that found the show embroiled in controversy when it aired on American non cable TV). 

I won't carry on with some lengthily review but I will urge you to give Dexter a watch. The first series is coming out on DVD next month and I think ITV are running it at the moment. I suggest going down the DVD route as the idea of having to wait a week between episodes is really quite terrifying...

Applecare 2

Success!

My iMac is covered under warranty until 2010.

Applecare

I've been trying to decide on whether it was a good idea to purchase 'Applecare' for a while now. I'm not usually one for buying extended warranties but I kept having a really niggling feeling in the back of my head over my iMac. If a console breaks after 18 months, it's not a tragedy. It's not an essential tool and will only cost around £200 to replace (probably a lot less than it's price 18 months prior). Even a regular computer tower is easy to fix yourself with it's easily accessible insides.

An iMac on the other hand.

Everything is soldered to the logic board (motherboard) including the CPU, GPU, sound card, USB, Firewire.Add to that the fact that the monitor is attached to the thing and it really starts to look like a DIYers nightmare. I wouldn't even know where to start taking it apart.

For this reason I have done the responsible thing and acquired myself an extra couple of years of peace of mind. I even shopped around a bit. Apple sell Applecare for £139.00.  It's a bit less with the student discount (available to me if my girlfriend uses her name and card) but it's still more than I can comfortably afford at this time.

eBay to the rescue! I managed to grab a great bargain - £65 from an American seller.

Now lets just hope an American code works over here in Blighty...

Things are looking up!

Apologies again for the lack of posts. I've had a bit of a hectic week with all the joblessness and looking for work.  Not to mention the fact that my flat is a bit of a guest house at the moment. We had two friends staying for the week and another who just likes to crash here... it was crowded to say the least.  I have, therefore, spent most of my time entertaining guests not to mention also helping my girlfriend with university essays. 

All of these things add up to one thing... not a lot of activity in my usual life. I don't think I watched a single movie last week (hence no Movies of last week post) as the living room TV and my bedroom iMac (my girlfriend's TiBook died last week also) were constantly engaged.

I have, however, found myself acceptable temporary employment at The Pensions Regulator telling businesses to hurry up and fill in their updated details.

Leopard 10.5.2...

Another day half way through without the latest update to OSX Leopard. I'm having a few problems with audio and video pausing for a couple of seconds and then jumping a few seconds forward... very annoying. Video seems to play happily from a DVD though...

Other than that, my experience with the now three month old operating system has been fairly trouble free. In fact, the new features almost make up for the frustration of not being able to watch videos or listen to music comfortably on my £1300 computer. Time Machine has actually got me to back up regularly and I really like the new finder with shared volumes on the sidebar - much more elegant than having to place aliases on the desktop for quick network drive mounting.

Anyway... It's still more enjoyable than using Windows and less hassle than Linux!