Posted by: fury
on Jun 21, 2009
I camped out for the 3G S launch so that I could be near the front of the line. The Apple employees greeted us at the store doors with fanfare and applause and made me feel like a desired, appreciated customer, and a part of something bigger than me, something to remember. Unfortunately, the iPhone 3G S comes cuffed to one of the dumbest companies on the planet, and that is souring my Apple.
The buying process was painless and amazingly flexible. I was just shy in the bank, so I paid for part of it with cash (they did that by using a gift card to do it). When I did the credit check at the reservation process beforehand, it informed me I would have to pay a $750 deposit on top of the $299 32-gig phone and a 2-year contract. I spoke with the representative who greeted me at the store to take my order, and asked if there was a way I didn't have to do a 2-year contract. No problem, just pay the full price for $747.93 after tax! That's a little easier to swallow than the $1,087.93 I'd have had to pay to do the 2-year agreement. So, that's what I did. But he didn't get the full story from AT&T. Neither did the AT&T employee I called before opening the phone in order to verify.
Posted by: fury
on Jan 1, 2009
Apple's mobile OS X devices are sexy, innovative entertainment packages. When the success of the App Store surprised the world, Apple began pushing the platform as the most fun you can have with your clothes on, especially in the case of the new iPod touch, by showing ads on TV and on the web, in no uncertain terms, that it's got game. It's certainly the best mobile OS X gaming device, with the faster processor bringing smoother frame rates and quicker loading time. They overlooked an important detail, however -- can you actually play unplugged? In my experience, the device has some great potential, and developers have already forged some gems in the rough, but the iPod touch needs a serious battery in order to be a serious competitor to the incumbents, Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).
I came to this conclusion after a series of tests I performed, beginning with checking the baseline. No sound, no Wi-Fi, minimum brightness, and minimum enjoyment. How long does it last at the very most? 4 hours and 20 minutes of constant, solid gameplay is the most you can expect if you don't plan to be in the sunlight, hear the game, or be on the Internet.
