Did a backup of my M17X last night using DriveImage XML. It was simple to execute. So now, I've a fresh copy of Windows 7 on my recovery partition, a copy of that with some apps installed stored to a memory stick, and now I've a copy of the C: as it is right now. At some point, I need to do a drive-for-drive image, but I don't want to have to buy another backup drive (and a big one at that)...a drive-for-drive image will be copying used and unused space...all 1.5 TB of it...or am I wrong?
What I really want is an extra copy of the restore partition, so I can burn it to CD and put it somewhere safe. DriveImage XML won't even let me see the recovery partition, although native tools such as diskmagn (the default Windows disk management system) sees the partition.
Now I need to take that backup that ran last night, and place it on the MBL backup drive. :)
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Installing a Couple of Flight Sims
Installing Wings over Vietnam and Strike Fighters Project 1...older games, I know, but I want to start using my simulator games on the Alienware system. I'll get Strike Fighters 2 next payday and maybe install Blackshark and A10C sometime this week, also.
EDIT:
Installed both but I believe that Wings over Vietnam is the successor to SFP1, so I'm going to remove SFP1. Played some last night and I enjoyed myself. Went to ThirdWire's website and downloaded the patches and installed without a hitch. One problem, though, is that the game continues to use my integrated graphics card instead of my dedicated 580M. Not that it matters with this game, though, since it is older and this system is so powerful. I tooled with the game's settings as well as the Nvidia control panel and could not get the game to use the 580M.
EDIT:
Installed both but I believe that Wings over Vietnam is the successor to SFP1, so I'm going to remove SFP1. Played some last night and I enjoyed myself. Went to ThirdWire's website and downloaded the patches and installed without a hitch. One problem, though, is that the game continues to use my integrated graphics card instead of my dedicated 580M. Not that it matters with this game, though, since it is older and this system is so powerful. I tooled with the game's settings as well as the Nvidia control panel and could not get the game to use the 580M.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Miscellaneous...
So, I'm finding out that the M17xR3 is bulky enough to where I don't want to carry it around from one part of the house to another, so I've still been using my Macbook (when I'm lazy). Been using it a lot to pay bills, IRC (##slackware), and web browse.
So, one day, I unplug it and go to another room to help my wife with a project and notice that the battery icon is still showing 100% after not being plugged into AC power for about an hour. I click the icon and it states that I'll be needing another battery soon. COME ON! First I run into the limited hard drive space, now I'm going to need a new battery? GRRR... Might be time to retire it. Granted, this battery has been stellar since the original was replaced...it IS about time for a replacement, I guess. And, it could do with more than 80GB of drive space. So, it looks like I might be refreshing both sometime this year. Maybe July/August, if I can hold off.
About the M17xR3. I've decided to subscribe to Carbonite as a backup utility. I was using Dropbox but didn't want to pay for the extra space (using the free account...and no, I'm not going to hawk Dropbox to my friends to get extra space). Carbonite has no limit on backup spacing, but is tied to one PC. It also won't backup the OS or applications, but will backup everything else. I purchase the HomePlus version of Carbonite and it has a drive mirror option, but requires a dedicated local drive to mirror the drive...BUT...I'm using two drives in RAID0 format (stock configuration), which HomePlus won't support.
I'm also using DriveImage XML and plan to perform a whole disk backup (as soon as I figure out where to store the image...it should be pretty big). I will also need to back up the restore partition. I do have a clean image backed up to USB drive (using Alien Respawn), but it is a copy of the drive without most of my apps, which is a good start, I guess.
I've been gaming a lot from my dining and living room (via wifi connection), playing L4D2 and BF3. The Killer wireless card is awesome, as I've noticed NO lag or connectivity issues. I'm loving the fact that Killer prioritizes the packets associated with gaming...that may be why I'm seeing no connection issues. I do notice that it takes BF3 longer to load (which I was attributing to my RAID0 setup), but most of my clanmates are experiencing the same issue, and they're using standalone hard disks. The load issue wasn't present before the last BF3 patch, so I'm thinking the issue is related to that.
I'm having issues with using my iMac as a second screen now. Not a real issue, but for some reason when I try to get BF3 to show on the 27" screen, Windows 7 keeps placing the gaming window on the M17x monitor instead. I didn't have this problem initially, so I wonder why W7 is doing this.
I began to use my G930 wireless headset with the M17x and it is awesome. I still need to get the headset set up so that W7 detects that it is in use and uses the headset by default when it is plugged into the Alienware system (I have to manually go into the sound settings to enable it). I don't remember having this issue with my Turtlebay headset, but want to use my G930 since it sounds soooo much better than the Turtlebay.
So, one day, I unplug it and go to another room to help my wife with a project and notice that the battery icon is still showing 100% after not being plugged into AC power for about an hour. I click the icon and it states that I'll be needing another battery soon. COME ON! First I run into the limited hard drive space, now I'm going to need a new battery? GRRR... Might be time to retire it. Granted, this battery has been stellar since the original was replaced...it IS about time for a replacement, I guess. And, it could do with more than 80GB of drive space. So, it looks like I might be refreshing both sometime this year. Maybe July/August, if I can hold off.
About the M17xR3. I've decided to subscribe to Carbonite as a backup utility. I was using Dropbox but didn't want to pay for the extra space (using the free account...and no, I'm not going to hawk Dropbox to my friends to get extra space). Carbonite has no limit on backup spacing, but is tied to one PC. It also won't backup the OS or applications, but will backup everything else. I purchase the HomePlus version of Carbonite and it has a drive mirror option, but requires a dedicated local drive to mirror the drive...BUT...I'm using two drives in RAID0 format (stock configuration), which HomePlus won't support.
I'm also using DriveImage XML and plan to perform a whole disk backup (as soon as I figure out where to store the image...it should be pretty big). I will also need to back up the restore partition. I do have a clean image backed up to USB drive (using Alien Respawn), but it is a copy of the drive without most of my apps, which is a good start, I guess.
I've been gaming a lot from my dining and living room (via wifi connection), playing L4D2 and BF3. The Killer wireless card is awesome, as I've noticed NO lag or connectivity issues. I'm loving the fact that Killer prioritizes the packets associated with gaming...that may be why I'm seeing no connection issues. I do notice that it takes BF3 longer to load (which I was attributing to my RAID0 setup), but most of my clanmates are experiencing the same issue, and they're using standalone hard disks. The load issue wasn't present before the last BF3 patch, so I'm thinking the issue is related to that.
I'm having issues with using my iMac as a second screen now. Not a real issue, but for some reason when I try to get BF3 to show on the 27" screen, Windows 7 keeps placing the gaming window on the M17x monitor instead. I didn't have this problem initially, so I wonder why W7 is doing this.
I began to use my G930 wireless headset with the M17x and it is awesome. I still need to get the headset set up so that W7 detects that it is in use and uses the headset by default when it is plugged into the Alienware system (I have to manually go into the sound settings to enable it). I don't remember having this issue with my Turtlebay headset, but want to use my G930 since it sounds soooo much better than the Turtlebay.
Friday, April 27, 2012
I've been hitting on max disk space usage on my Mac (80GB drive). Wondering if it's worth upgrading the drive to something bigger, but I don't really use this machine anymore. I mean, I do, but it's not a primary machine anymore...it has been replaced by my Alienware M17xR3, but I use the Macbook when I feel the Alienware is too bulky (there ARE times that the bigger machine is inappropriate). I deleted 465 files from the Downloads directory (for browser)...freed up maybe a gig of space. Will be downloading Disk Inventory X to see if there are any extremely big files that need to go.
Update -- Oh yeah, Disk Inventory X is a Mac port of WinDirStat, by the way.
Update -- Freed up 6 more gigs of data. Found that I had some TomTom files that I didn't need (upgrade files). I've quite a bit of music also...I might need to archive it or move it to the iMac (got 1.5TB in that one).
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Got my mini-DisplayPort Cable!
I ordered a mini-DisplayPort cable this weekend. The idea was to be able to use my iMac screen as additional screen real estate, so that I can game on a big screen (like 17" isn't enough...it's plenty but more is always better).
So, the cable arrived today.
Results:
All I need to figure out now is to how to configure BF3 sound to be heard in the headset (vs the iMac speakers). Also, there's an issue where game sounds (on the iMac) lower or mute...the OS is apparently turning down the sound automatically. It wasn't doing this when playing BF3 through the M17x audio and display. I'll figure it out later.
Also, as a note, only the mini-DisplayPort cable will work (or a DisplayPort cable with mini DisplayPort adapters). The main cable has to be DisplayPort...HDMI will not work. This solution will also not work for Thunderbolt Macs. My iMac is pre-Thunderbolt.
I'll be going to OBX for vacation next week. I plan to take the M17x so I can occasionally play BF3 or other Origin/Steam games. We'll see how that goes, especially since I don't know what type of internet connectivity we'll be provided.
So, the cable arrived today.
Results:
All I need to figure out now is to how to configure BF3 sound to be heard in the headset (vs the iMac speakers). Also, there's an issue where game sounds (on the iMac) lower or mute...the OS is apparently turning down the sound automatically. It wasn't doing this when playing BF3 through the M17x audio and display. I'll figure it out later.
Also, as a note, only the mini-DisplayPort cable will work (or a DisplayPort cable with mini DisplayPort adapters). The main cable has to be DisplayPort...HDMI will not work. This solution will also not work for Thunderbolt Macs. My iMac is pre-Thunderbolt.
I'll be going to OBX for vacation next week. I plan to take the M17x so I can occasionally play BF3 or other Origin/Steam games. We'll see how that goes, especially since I don't know what type of internet connectivity we'll be provided.
Monday, March 26, 2012
M17x R3 Has Arrived
My M17x R3 has been delivered!
It was delivered 3/20/2013, late in the evening, around 7:45PM (rather late, but that's another story).
I cracked it open but decided not to capture the box-opening on video...there are FAR too many videos of this on the internet as it is. Once you've seen one, you've basically seen them all.
Anyways, this is a large notebook, especially since I've been using a 13" Macbook almost exclusively. This notebook positively dwarfs the tiny Macbook in size as well as weight (this notebook weighs at LEAST 10lbs).
The screen is awesome. It's on par with my iMac's screen for brightness and clarity. I'll certainly test both, as I plan to use the iMac screen when gaming on the M17x via a mini-DisplayPort-to-mini-DisplayPort cable. I played BF3 several times over the weekend using the new notebook and my KDR went up at least on percentage point (it has been dropping in the last six months). I primarily use the sniper class and noticed that I can aim and shoot quicker on this system, so I decided to use the engineer class last night. This is something I usually don't use, unless I anticipate having to fix vehicles. I used that class in Operation Metro, which usually has me dying left and right. I used the AKS-74u. In 8 minutes of gameplay using that class and that weapon, I raised my engineer score by several thousand and killed without mercy...checking BFStats.com, I found that my accuracy with that weapon went up 1.14% with that gaming session alone...unbelievable. And with the M40A5, my accuracy went up 1.87% just with last night's few hours of play. A large part of this is probably due to the video card in this system. I also played some BF3 on my AMD 6-core system and noticed immediate differences in clarity. I still have to install Fraps onto the M17x but I'm positive that the 580M is outgunning the ATI 5600-series card in my desktop system. I've seen this before, when moving up from an Nvidia 7500 to a 9500...my gameplay kill scores skyrocketed due to pure FPS increase. This means I might consider upgrading the vidcard in my desktop (again...when will it end????). And we'll see if things get even better when I push the video to the 27" iMac screen...
I find I don't play as well if I have to use the notebook's keyboard (I bought the TacX keyboard for use with this notebook). The TacX keyboard and mouse are awesome! I play better with this keyboard because I'm used to the external keyboard layout when I game. I have to have the arrow keys when gaming (I'm not a fan of WASD and never have been...been gaming since FPS became prevalent), as well as the upper row between the numpad and QWERTY keys. I *might* try to adapt to the laptop's keyboard...we'll see.
I've installed only a few apps, such as Norton 360 and Norton Management, Origin, TeamSpeak, WinDirStat, HWINFO64, Chrome, BF3, and one or two others.
Temperature-wise, the 580M has been good, so far. There are quite a few complaints of throttling due to heat on the NotebookReview.com forums, but the highest I've seen so far is 59C when playing BF3. *knock on wood*
I've a few desktop gadgets running: CPU usage, GPU meter, drives meter, and network meter. When I installed Norton, it installed it's own desktop gadget, which I'll tolerate since it should keep me situationally aware.
I haven't noticed any issues with the notebook so far, which is good, since Dell's support appears to be rather shakey (from what I've gathered on the forums, as well as the pains I went through to even get the notebook delivered).
One last note. The RAID 0. It's getting a rather low WEI rating, due solely to the performance (or lack thereof) of the RAID 0 setup. Now, I've not noticed anything abnormally slow with the drive writing and reading at all. WEI has been massively sensationalized...the system runs good regardless of the low rating. I don't need an SSD at this moment in time...really. Many people are pushing for SSD, but it won't do much but help the OS start and shut down a few seconds quicker. It might help game loading a bit, but not really much. Besides, SSDs are REALLY expensive and to afford one, I'd have to buy a small one and shift my games back and forth between a platter drive and the SSD...not conventional at all and certainly not convenient to have to micromanage the notebook in such a manner. No thanks...it's not for me.
Friday, March 09, 2012
Alienware M17x R3
It's been awhile since I've posted here and at my iWeb site. I'm a bit turned off by Apple, their Macs, and some of the software debacles lately, so I've been debating on where to post my Mac material. I'm hating iWeb more and more (and it's not being updated any longer...as well as MobileMe being end-of-life), so it looks like I'll stick to this site as my main blog. I'm not even going to bother with trying to import my other blog entries over to this site.
On this note, I've bought a new notebook. And it's not an Apple product. I bought an Alienware M17x R3. The specs are below:
Stealth Black, soft-touch
Intel Core i7 2760QM 2.4GHz (3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
17.3-inch WideFHD1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
1.5TB Raid 0 (2x 750GB 7,200RPM)
Custom Nameplate
AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
Alienware Command Center Software, M17X
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology
I opted out of the 3D 1080p screen (I don't care about gimmick items), although the resolution is a tad better than what I got. I almost got the red version, but thought that the AlienFX coloring might clash with the red case color.
I'll be making space next to my iMac for this machine, as I plan to use the 27" screen for gaming. I also to use this notebook in tandem with my AMD 6-core desktop system. In some regards, the M17x will replace my gaming desktop, especially when I'm traveling.
I also bought the Alienware TacX keyboard and mouse, a My Book Live 2-TB NAS drive for extra storage (I'll speak further on this later). I bought a Cooler Master NotePal LapAir and Swiss Wenger messenger-style Legacy Slimcase (which is checkpoint-friendly). I also bought a Cooler Master NotePal U2 desk cooler with fan system, for the desk.
The system is due to be delivered March 13th. I may be taking off that day to be sure I'm home to pick up the system and get it situated. I ordered it Feb 18th, so I've been waiting awhile for the system to be built. There was/is a stocking issue with the NV GTX580M video card, due to this past winter's flooding in Asia.
Another thing: RAID 0 with the HDDs on a laptop. They configured RAID 0 to offer optimal speed, but if one drive fails, I lose all the data of both drives (since data will be spread over both drives). I'll see how fast the machine is, and if I'm not satisfied, I'll contemplate changing to RAID 1. Then again, this is why I got the NAS drive. I'm not ready to go the SSD route...I've spent enough on this system to where I just want to use it for awhile before buying anything else. I *might* install more RAM, since I eventually plan to use virtual machines. Also, I'm not planning on running Linux natively on this machine...there's just no need, since I've a ton of natively installed *nix machines already. I might at least install Cygwin, though, as I've found Cygwin to be invaluable to use on Windows systems.
About the NAS drive, this thing was a PITA to get working with my Macbook. After doing some internet digging, I found that I have to ensure that my Macbook is already connected to the NAS drive via AFP (not SMB) as a user, otherwise Time Machine won't connect to it. It took me maybe a week to figure that out, and it's not anywhere on WesternDigital's knowledgebase (but is on their forums). The NAS' network connection speed is satisfactory. I was able to back up the Macbook in 24 hours (close to 70GB of data over a network connection).
I'll do some videos and take pics of the system when it arrives. I will NOT video the unboxing of it...there's enough of those types of videos.
On this note, I've bought a new notebook. And it's not an Apple product. I bought an Alienware M17x R3. The specs are below:
Stealth Black, soft-touch
Intel Core i7 2760QM 2.4GHz (3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB Cache)
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
17.3-inch WideFHD1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M
1.5TB Raid 0 (2x 750GB 7,200RPM)
Custom Nameplate
AlienFX Color, Quasar Blue
Alienware Command Center Software, M17X
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit Service Pack 1, English, w/Media
Slot-Loading Dual Layer Blu-ray Reader (BR-ROM, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Killer Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO Technology
I opted out of the 3D 1080p screen (I don't care about gimmick items), although the resolution is a tad better than what I got. I almost got the red version, but thought that the AlienFX coloring might clash with the red case color.
I'll be making space next to my iMac for this machine, as I plan to use the 27" screen for gaming. I also to use this notebook in tandem with my AMD 6-core desktop system. In some regards, the M17x will replace my gaming desktop, especially when I'm traveling.
I also bought the Alienware TacX keyboard and mouse, a My Book Live 2-TB NAS drive for extra storage (I'll speak further on this later). I bought a Cooler Master NotePal LapAir and Swiss Wenger messenger-style Legacy Slimcase (which is checkpoint-friendly). I also bought a Cooler Master NotePal U2 desk cooler with fan system, for the desk.
The system is due to be delivered March 13th. I may be taking off that day to be sure I'm home to pick up the system and get it situated. I ordered it Feb 18th, so I've been waiting awhile for the system to be built. There was/is a stocking issue with the NV GTX580M video card, due to this past winter's flooding in Asia.
Another thing: RAID 0 with the HDDs on a laptop. They configured RAID 0 to offer optimal speed, but if one drive fails, I lose all the data of both drives (since data will be spread over both drives). I'll see how fast the machine is, and if I'm not satisfied, I'll contemplate changing to RAID 1. Then again, this is why I got the NAS drive. I'm not ready to go the SSD route...I've spent enough on this system to where I just want to use it for awhile before buying anything else. I *might* install more RAM, since I eventually plan to use virtual machines. Also, I'm not planning on running Linux natively on this machine...there's just no need, since I've a ton of natively installed *nix machines already. I might at least install Cygwin, though, as I've found Cygwin to be invaluable to use on Windows systems.
About the NAS drive, this thing was a PITA to get working with my Macbook. After doing some internet digging, I found that I have to ensure that my Macbook is already connected to the NAS drive via AFP (not SMB) as a user, otherwise Time Machine won't connect to it. It took me maybe a week to figure that out, and it's not anywhere on WesternDigital's knowledgebase (but is on their forums). The NAS' network connection speed is satisfactory. I was able to back up the Macbook in 24 hours (close to 70GB of data over a network connection).
I'll do some videos and take pics of the system when it arrives. I will NOT video the unboxing of it...there's enough of those types of videos.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Application Removal in OS X
I had to remove an application in Mac OS X. I've never really bothered with this before, but thought I'd like to know the process of removal. Well, it isn't as straight-forward as Microsoft OSs such as Windows XP (and yeah, I know that not all applications are removed cleanly by install/remove programs).
Here are a few tips.
Here are a few tips.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Backup Drive Corrupted
I was on vacation and upon return noticed that my periodical backups hadn't been running since the 21st of Jan. I back up data using Time Machine, to a LaCie 750GB drive.
I hadn't restarted the iMac in awhile (to which the drive is attached), so I restarted it...that didn't get it working. I also restarted the drive itself...no resolution either.
I opened up Disk Utility and it saw the drive, so now I'm running a "verify disk" and "repair". I'm hoping this fixes the issue, but I'm now wary, as it's taking quite a while, but this is probably due to the size of the drive. Also, maybe there's a ton of errors? I don't know.
I'd hate to lose the data on this drive. Perhaps I need to think of some type of backup procedure of the backup drive (maybe backing it up every six months or so).
It might be time to look at a different solution.
EDIT: Yeah... Disk Utility couldn't repair the partition, so I had to erase it to get it working again. It is fine now, but I think I'm going to need to periodically back up the back-up drive. Lost a LOT of pictures and such. I'm actually thinking on using a cloud-based storage solution.
I hadn't restarted the iMac in awhile (to which the drive is attached), so I restarted it...that didn't get it working. I also restarted the drive itself...no resolution either.
I opened up Disk Utility and it saw the drive, so now I'm running a "verify disk" and "repair". I'm hoping this fixes the issue, but I'm now wary, as it's taking quite a while, but this is probably due to the size of the drive. Also, maybe there's a ton of errors? I don't know.
I'd hate to lose the data on this drive. Perhaps I need to think of some type of backup procedure of the backup drive (maybe backing it up every six months or so).
It might be time to look at a different solution.
EDIT: Yeah... Disk Utility couldn't repair the partition, so I had to erase it to get it working again. It is fine now, but I think I'm going to need to periodically back up the back-up drive. Lost a LOT of pictures and such. I'm actually thinking on using a cloud-based storage solution.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Apple iCloud pricing revealed in developer beta
Apple has revealed its pricing structure for its iCloud service in a beta launch for developers
More here.
More here.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Core Duo Not Supported by Mac OS X Lion
So, I plugged my Macbook to the network, thinking I'd download and install Lion via the App Store (by going to Store --> Purchased (since I'd already bought and installed Lion on the iMac), but found that Core Duo machines aren't supported:
WTF...
It looks like my Macbook now has one foot in the grave. I'll have to stick with Snow Leopard, but eventually, that will be unsupported. It's not a huge deal, I guess, since Lion just came out. I wonder when Leopard goes end-of-life (if it hasn't already)...
This is a rather large bummer. The laptop isn't THAT old.
Well, there's one other Macbook in the house...my wife's. It is a Core 2 Duo machine. I don't even know if she wants the upgrade but it is available to her if she'd like to give it a shot.
It looks like I've a good excuse to buy me a new Macbook next year with whatever bonus I get. If I do, I'll go Pro this time, more than likely...so I can game on it.
May as well back up with Time Machine since I've got it set up beside the iMac, though.
WTF...
It looks like my Macbook now has one foot in the grave. I'll have to stick with Snow Leopard, but eventually, that will be unsupported. It's not a huge deal, I guess, since Lion just came out. I wonder when Leopard goes end-of-life (if it hasn't already)...
This is a rather large bummer. The laptop isn't THAT old.
Well, there's one other Macbook in the house...my wife's. It is a Core 2 Duo machine. I don't even know if she wants the upgrade but it is available to her if she'd like to give it a shot.
It looks like I've a good excuse to buy me a new Macbook next year with whatever bonus I get. If I do, I'll go Pro this time, more than likely...so I can game on it.
May as well back up with Time Machine since I've got it set up beside the iMac, though.
Friday, July 22, 2011
OS X Lion Brings Major Security Overhaul To Apple Users
OS X Lion Brings Major Security Overhaul To Apple Users
I haven't yet fully read the article, but it will definitely be on my weekend hitlist!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
OS X v10.7!
Yep yep! I got the big Lion! I'm using it on my iMac and once I get used to it, will be putting it on my Macbook.
I'll update this post as I discover issues and/or things I like.
[EDIT (7/23/2011):
So, I'm finding --
1. That I like Mission Control...a lot.
2. I like that I can side-scroll the desktops.
3. FaceTime looks cool. I'll have to give it a shot soon.
4. I like the fact that I can use the Magic Mouse like the touchpad on my Macbook...even if I can't do everything the demo video shows on the Apple pages).
5. I read in an article that I posted here that security in Lion has improved drastically. Good job, Apple!
6. My Macbook (Core Duo) is NOT supported in Lion, so I can't install Lion on that machine...not good!
7. Full disk encryption will secure your data if your Mac is lost/stolen.]
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Doubletwist and More Phone Things
So, I finally finished importing my iTunes files to my Thunderbolt. Only, now I've a ton of duplicates. This is a known issue with Doubletwist, unfortunately. Well, at least I've all my files imported now. I'll have to go through the SD card and manually remove the duplicates.
I also went to Manassas today and was able to pick up a strong 4G signal...ran a quick speed test using the Speedtest.net app. I got speeds greater than my home wifi. Latency is higher, though. Upload is lower, also.
See below:
Based on those screenshots, I can't wait to have 4G where I live, which is like 4-5 miles down the road from Manassas. 4G is JUST out of reach...AAARRGH!!
Also, we lit some fireworks last night and I tested the phone's camera and HD capability (@ 720p):
Non-HD video footage:
I also went to Manassas today and was able to pick up a strong 4G signal...ran a quick speed test using the Speedtest.net app. I got speeds greater than my home wifi. Latency is higher, though. Upload is lower, also.
See below:
Based on those screenshots, I can't wait to have 4G where I live, which is like 4-5 miles down the road from Manassas. 4G is JUST out of reach...AAARRGH!!
Also, we lit some fireworks last night and I tested the phone's camera and HD capability (@ 720p):
Non-HD video footage:
One Less Reason To Have Me.com
So, I found out that the Thunderbolt won't synch with Me.com (what used to be .Mac and MobileMe). While it's not a surprise, it is rather irritating. I used to rely on it to synch with my phone, as well as my wife's phone (and all the Mac systems in the house, of which there are four). Well, I still have my iPad also.
What am I using now, on the Thunderbolt? Google Calendar, which appears to be simpler (fancy that...something that's simpler and more intuitive than an Apple-grown app).
I'll still use my Me.com account for other things, such as photo sharing and archiving, extra e-mail accounts, and tracking my iPad (if I lose it) and daughter's iPod Touch. As I said, I still have Mac systems in the house.
Also, this phone is a power hog! I have a car adapter for charging and use my work's Blackberry charger to charge my Thunderbolt at work (I also have a micro-USB cable that I can use and plug into my laptop when I need to charge both the BB and the Tbolt). Still, I find it consuming lots of energy, and I'm barely on a 4G network throughout the day (I touch it maybe once or twice for 10 minutes at a time).
I'm still drooling over the HD videos it records, too. I recorded some fireworks that we set off tonight and the video turned out very well (once I found out how to adjust focus).
AT&T called me last night wanting me to participate in a survey once they found out that I cancelled my service with them. They called me on my Tbolt and asked if I was on a cell or landline (WTF?). When I told them I was on my phone, they told me they'd call me at my home phone, which was rather odd. When I later told my wife, she said, "they were afraid the call would be dropped". I almost snorted my lunch out of my nose when she said that!
And on that note, no, I still haven't had a dropped call and it's been almost a week since I've had the new phone. If I were using my iPhone, I'd have had at least 4-5 dropped calls already.
What am I using now, on the Thunderbolt? Google Calendar, which appears to be simpler (fancy that...something that's simpler and more intuitive than an Apple-grown app).
I'll still use my Me.com account for other things, such as photo sharing and archiving, extra e-mail accounts, and tracking my iPad (if I lose it) and daughter's iPod Touch. As I said, I still have Mac systems in the house.
Also, this phone is a power hog! I have a car adapter for charging and use my work's Blackberry charger to charge my Thunderbolt at work (I also have a micro-USB cable that I can use and plug into my laptop when I need to charge both the BB and the Tbolt). Still, I find it consuming lots of energy, and I'm barely on a 4G network throughout the day (I touch it maybe once or twice for 10 minutes at a time).
I'm still drooling over the HD videos it records, too. I recorded some fireworks that we set off tonight and the video turned out very well (once I found out how to adjust focus).
AT&T called me last night wanting me to participate in a survey once they found out that I cancelled my service with them. They called me on my Tbolt and asked if I was on a cell or landline (WTF?). When I told them I was on my phone, they told me they'd call me at my home phone, which was rather odd. When I later told my wife, she said, "they were afraid the call would be dropped". I almost snorted my lunch out of my nose when she said that!
And on that note, no, I still haven't had a dropped call and it's been almost a week since I've had the new phone. If I were using my iPhone, I'd have had at least 4-5 dropped calls already.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Mac OS X - how to disable auto logouts
How do you disable automatic logouts in OS X?
System Preferences -> Security -> There's a checkbox for auto-logout.
I don't know why I haven't done this (until now). I guess I just got too tired of coming back to my system after being diverted and finding that I got logged out.
Now, that being said, still, I'd like to be able to lock my session without using the GUI. I guess my research isn't yet done! :) [EDIT: Here it is, and I've implemented it...it works! http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090831093941225]
EDIT: Wow...on that same page, in the comments section, someone mentioned using ctrl+shift+eject...that works...so, maybe I can remove the edits I did?
System Preferences -> Security -> There's a checkbox for auto-logout.
I don't know why I haven't done this (until now). I guess I just got too tired of coming back to my system after being diverted and finding that I got logged out.
Now, that being said, still, I'd like to be able to lock my session without using the GUI. I guess my research isn't yet done! :) [EDIT: Here it is, and I've implemented it...it works! http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20090831093941225]
EDIT: Wow...on that same page, in the comments section, someone mentioned using ctrl+shift+eject...that works...so, maybe I can remove the edits I did?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
HTCing
A few things:
1. I've installed Prey on my Thunderbolt. I've run it on my Dell Mini but wasn't aware that they made it so that it can be used on Android phones (which is Linux at its core). On a side note, they also now make versions for Macs and Windows.
2. Noted that there's no Zinio for Android versions below v3.0. That's a huge bummer. I'd wanted to use it on this phone but this phone is using Android v2.2.1. I might not ever see v3.0. I don't even believe there are many phones using v3.0. I've no idea why they didn't focus on what's being used broadly. I guess I'll have to continue to use Zinio on my iPad and Macbook.
Some of the apps I've installed so far:
androidVNC
AutoKiller Memory
Delicious
doubleTwist
Dropbox
Facebook
JuiceDefender
Linode Android
Lookout
Motorcycle.com
mSecure
Prey
Speed Test
Tapatalk
Unit Converter
White Noise
Zedge
Some of these were suggested to me, but most of these I either used on my iPad or iPhone. I haven't used them all yet. I need to, because some of the UI on these apps have quite a different layout than their iPhone versions.
I also have gotten a taste of 4G LTE, but only at work, and even then it's sporadic, since where I work is at the fringes of coverage.
I've noticed I haven't dropped a call yet, and I've tested in the places where I used to constantly drop calls when I used the iPhone. This is good!
I also got my 25% employee discount enabled on this phone's account...can't wait for that to kick in.
Tried the speaker phone today, also...I love it. I do notice that the speaker sounds a bit muffled when the kickstand isn't pulled out, but the speaker is way louder than what I had on the iPhone.
It also feels GOOD to have REAL Bluetooth again! :)
1. I've installed Prey on my Thunderbolt. I've run it on my Dell Mini but wasn't aware that they made it so that it can be used on Android phones (which is Linux at its core). On a side note, they also now make versions for Macs and Windows.
2. Noted that there's no Zinio for Android versions below v3.0. That's a huge bummer. I'd wanted to use it on this phone but this phone is using Android v2.2.1. I might not ever see v3.0. I don't even believe there are many phones using v3.0. I've no idea why they didn't focus on what's being used broadly. I guess I'll have to continue to use Zinio on my iPad and Macbook.
Some of the apps I've installed so far:
androidVNC
AutoKiller Memory
Delicious
doubleTwist
Dropbox
JuiceDefender
Linode Android
Lookout
Motorcycle.com
mSecure
Prey
Speed Test
Tapatalk
Unit Converter
White Noise
Zedge
Some of these were suggested to me, but most of these I either used on my iPad or iPhone. I haven't used them all yet. I need to, because some of the UI on these apps have quite a different layout than their iPhone versions.
I also have gotten a taste of 4G LTE, but only at work, and even then it's sporadic, since where I work is at the fringes of coverage.
I've noticed I haven't dropped a call yet, and I've tested in the places where I used to constantly drop calls when I used the iPhone. This is good!
I also got my 25% employee discount enabled on this phone's account...can't wait for that to kick in.
Tried the speaker phone today, also...I love it. I do notice that the speaker sounds a bit muffled when the kickstand isn't pulled out, but the speaker is way louder than what I had on the iPhone.
It also feels GOOD to have REAL Bluetooth again! :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Got a New Phone!
Bought a new phone yesterday.
Yeah. I went Verizon. This is the first time in years that I'm not using an iPhone. Since I've done a lot in the last 24 hours with the new phone, I've a bit to discuss.
The wife wouldn't let go of her vacation and stretched it to the limit yesterday. She took the kids to the water park and I was positively done with vacationing, so I opted out. I took the boy with me and decided to drive around Massanutten/Luray/Harrisburg in Virginia. Then I got to thinking that maybe I should go look at phones at the closest Verizon Wireless center. After driving around for a bit, I went to Harrisburg, looked around, and asked them if they had HTC Thunderbolts. They did and I began to ask questions. I looked at other 4G Verizon phones but had all issues with them. The Droid X2 had a BIG screen but wasn't 4G. The Revolution and Charge were OK but again, they weren't meeting my requirements, which I explained in my last post.
So, I ended up getting the Thunderbolt.
My 24-hour impressions are below.
1. This phone is HEAVY. When I say this, I'm comparing to my current iPhone 3GS. My wife's Samsung Infuse makes the T-bolt seem like a boulder. But I do like the solid feel. I do like the heft, though...it doesn't seem fragile and is probably more durable than my iPhone.
2. The screen is brighter than I thought. It was blinding my wife when I was in bed reading.
3. Voice clarity is incredible. I called my mom and could hear everything going on in the background.
4. Still getting used to the Android Market. There's a LOT of junk apps...seriously. I'm not used to that. I was trying to find a free and GOOD free screenshot app but couldn't find one (and all want you to have a hacked phone (for root access). I'm still looking for a good screenshot app, too.
5. I had to find some critical apps that matched what I was using on my iPhone, such as mSecure. They had mSecure for Android phones but it was a real pain to get a backed up copy imported onto my T-bolt. At first, I mailed a backup to myself, but the phone wouldn't let me copy the encrypted backup (it was several pages long and the phone wouldn't let me copy AND scroll down). So, I used mBackup and my Macbook to get a copy onto the T-bolt.
6. I had a difficult time figuring out how to get my iPhone pictures onto my T-bolt. Finally, I plugged my T-bolt into my Macbook with a USB cable, which mounted the phone as a drive. Then I just copied the pictures onto the micro-SD card.
7. I had to repurchase my highly desirable apps. Apps such as Tapatalk and Motorcycle.com (as well as mSecure). That was undesirable but unavoidable. I found that I'd invested a bit into the iPhone, enough to where it was a bit painful for me to repurchase these apps. I left alone such apps as Angry Bird, especially since I'd have to start all over with playing it (I don't believe Angry Bird saves game progress to the level that I can continue from the same place I'd left off on the iPhone).
8. I love the speaker phone. It is loud. I love the fact that the speaker is big (it is behind the side stand).
9. My bill should be the same as what I had with the iPhone, with the exception of the activation fee, which is $35 and will only show on the first bill.
10. Data plan usage is NOT unlimited, but the salesperson swears that most people don't bump into the limit. He insisted that 2GB is fine for most people. We will see, as I do sometimes use data (at work when I can't reach the wifi hotspots).
11. The voice plan I selected was the 450 plan. Lately, with AT&T, I'd been bumping into my limit but what was saving me was the rollover minutes (I have a TON of them). I'll have to watch my usage very closely. No more speaking with mom for 1+ hours in the middle of the day!
12. The seven (7) virtual screentops may not be enough for me. Or, maybe I need to reconsider what I place on those screentops. I'm used to the IOS's way of grouping screentop icons.
13. The FriendStream app is NICE! The wife also has it on her phone (but she doesn't use it...I'm going to push her to try it, as it is VERY cool.
14. The front-facing camera on this phone is wicked. It rivals my wife's Infuse (that statement would be scandalous to some). The flash is bright, also. The clarity is good. The rear-facing camera is decent, also, but I would like to test it with apps such as Skype. Sadly, Skype isn't ready for this phone yet. Yahoo might work, though.
15. I love the way I can kill running apps and have an app manage battery consumption.
16. The micro-USB cable is a life-saver. No more proprietary cabling. I HATED the iPhone's cable and the fact that I couldn't do crap with it without iTunes.
17. The 32-gb micro-SD card is a lifesaver...and it is rather large in storage capacity. Too bad that you can only access it by removing the battery.
18. This phone pretty much flies when asked to do something. I rarely see it running slowly.
19. I had a few large software updates waiting for me. It's nice to have these loaded directly to the phone instead of relying on iTunes. Word of advice, though, some updates can be large...it would be wise to use a wifi connection when updating. Also, I preprogramed the phone to get the updates while I was sleeping (so it wouldn't interfere with me doing other things...plus, the phone gets hot when downloading large files).
It's going to take me awhile to get used to this phone, especially since I'm coming from an iPhone. I'm ready for a change, but I'm not going to lie when I say that the iPhone is the phone to have if you just want crap to work.
Loving it so far!
EDIT:
Still need to import my iPhone contacts and music to my Thunderbolt. I'm currently in the process of importing my contacts. What I had to do was save all of my contacts in my address book on my Macbook into a vcard formated file. I then placed this file on the micro-SD card, then I imported the file into my People app. It looks like it worked fine. The real test may be my music, especially my iTunes-purchased music. :(
EDIT 2:
Tried using ITMW (itunemywalkman) to get my music into my Android but it was cumbersome, but I remember a phone salseman mentioning Doubletwist. I installed that and my music appears to be synching. It will be awhile, as I've 29GB of stuff to transfer. I suppose I can do this a few hours every day for a few days. Most of it is podcasts, I think, so I could maybe remove all the podcasts (I don't listen to them anymore anyways). We'll see how it turns out.
Yeah. I went Verizon. This is the first time in years that I'm not using an iPhone. Since I've done a lot in the last 24 hours with the new phone, I've a bit to discuss.
The wife wouldn't let go of her vacation and stretched it to the limit yesterday. She took the kids to the water park and I was positively done with vacationing, so I opted out. I took the boy with me and decided to drive around Massanutten/Luray/Harrisburg in Virginia. Then I got to thinking that maybe I should go look at phones at the closest Verizon Wireless center. After driving around for a bit, I went to Harrisburg, looked around, and asked them if they had HTC Thunderbolts. They did and I began to ask questions. I looked at other 4G Verizon phones but had all issues with them. The Droid X2 had a BIG screen but wasn't 4G. The Revolution and Charge were OK but again, they weren't meeting my requirements, which I explained in my last post.
So, I ended up getting the Thunderbolt.
My 24-hour impressions are below.
1. This phone is HEAVY. When I say this, I'm comparing to my current iPhone 3GS. My wife's Samsung Infuse makes the T-bolt seem like a boulder. But I do like the solid feel. I do like the heft, though...it doesn't seem fragile and is probably more durable than my iPhone.
2. The screen is brighter than I thought. It was blinding my wife when I was in bed reading.
3. Voice clarity is incredible. I called my mom and could hear everything going on in the background.
4. Still getting used to the Android Market. There's a LOT of junk apps...seriously. I'm not used to that. I was trying to find a free and GOOD free screenshot app but couldn't find one (and all want you to have a hacked phone (for root access). I'm still looking for a good screenshot app, too.
5. I had to find some critical apps that matched what I was using on my iPhone, such as mSecure. They had mSecure for Android phones but it was a real pain to get a backed up copy imported onto my T-bolt. At first, I mailed a backup to myself, but the phone wouldn't let me copy the encrypted backup (it was several pages long and the phone wouldn't let me copy AND scroll down). So, I used mBackup and my Macbook to get a copy onto the T-bolt.
6. I had a difficult time figuring out how to get my iPhone pictures onto my T-bolt. Finally, I plugged my T-bolt into my Macbook with a USB cable, which mounted the phone as a drive. Then I just copied the pictures onto the micro-SD card.
7. I had to repurchase my highly desirable apps. Apps such as Tapatalk and Motorcycle.com (as well as mSecure). That was undesirable but unavoidable. I found that I'd invested a bit into the iPhone, enough to where it was a bit painful for me to repurchase these apps. I left alone such apps as Angry Bird, especially since I'd have to start all over with playing it (I don't believe Angry Bird saves game progress to the level that I can continue from the same place I'd left off on the iPhone).
8. I love the speaker phone. It is loud. I love the fact that the speaker is big (it is behind the side stand).
9. My bill should be the same as what I had with the iPhone, with the exception of the activation fee, which is $35 and will only show on the first bill.
10. Data plan usage is NOT unlimited, but the salesperson swears that most people don't bump into the limit. He insisted that 2GB is fine for most people. We will see, as I do sometimes use data (at work when I can't reach the wifi hotspots).
11. The voice plan I selected was the 450 plan. Lately, with AT&T, I'd been bumping into my limit but what was saving me was the rollover minutes (I have a TON of them). I'll have to watch my usage very closely. No more speaking with mom for 1+ hours in the middle of the day!
12. The seven (7) virtual screentops may not be enough for me. Or, maybe I need to reconsider what I place on those screentops. I'm used to the IOS's way of grouping screentop icons.
13. The FriendStream app is NICE! The wife also has it on her phone (but she doesn't use it...I'm going to push her to try it, as it is VERY cool.
14. The front-facing camera on this phone is wicked. It rivals my wife's Infuse (that statement would be scandalous to some). The flash is bright, also. The clarity is good. The rear-facing camera is decent, also, but I would like to test it with apps such as Skype. Sadly, Skype isn't ready for this phone yet. Yahoo might work, though.
15. I love the way I can kill running apps and have an app manage battery consumption.
16. The micro-USB cable is a life-saver. No more proprietary cabling. I HATED the iPhone's cable and the fact that I couldn't do crap with it without iTunes.
17. The 32-gb micro-SD card is a lifesaver...and it is rather large in storage capacity. Too bad that you can only access it by removing the battery.
18. This phone pretty much flies when asked to do something. I rarely see it running slowly.
19. I had a few large software updates waiting for me. It's nice to have these loaded directly to the phone instead of relying on iTunes. Word of advice, though, some updates can be large...it would be wise to use a wifi connection when updating. Also, I preprogramed the phone to get the updates while I was sleeping (so it wouldn't interfere with me doing other things...plus, the phone gets hot when downloading large files).
It's going to take me awhile to get used to this phone, especially since I'm coming from an iPhone. I'm ready for a change, but I'm not going to lie when I say that the iPhone is the phone to have if you just want crap to work.
Loving it so far!
EDIT:
Still need to import my iPhone contacts and music to my Thunderbolt. I'm currently in the process of importing my contacts. What I had to do was save all of my contacts in my address book on my Macbook into a vcard formated file. I then placed this file on the micro-SD card, then I imported the file into my People app. It looks like it worked fine. The real test may be my music, especially my iTunes-purchased music. :(
EDIT 2:
Tried using ITMW (itunemywalkman) to get my music into my Android but it was cumbersome, but I remember a phone salseman mentioning Doubletwist. I installed that and my music appears to be synching. It will be awhile, as I've 29GB of stuff to transfer. I suppose I can do this a few hours every day for a few days. Most of it is podcasts, I think, so I could maybe remove all the podcasts (I don't listen to them anymore anyways). We'll see how it turns out.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
So, I'm on vacation...
I now have some time to geek out. I suspect it will involve something with Apple products, whether it be the iPad or the Macbook. The wife has her Macbook with her, also. Maybe I'll take a look at hers to see how she's doing on disk space. I may delve in some scripting on mine. Or, play with web serving.
Regarding the iPad, I forgot to bring the charger, but I do have my standard iPhone synching cable with me, so I may have to slow-charge the iPad (when I'm sleeping or something, but that means I'd have to put the iPad to sleep). I'm charging it now as I type, and it charged 2% in 10 minutes, so that's actually not bad, especially since it was at 92% to begin with.
My iPhone is about to be replaced. I'm not even sure I'm going to stay with AT&T, as I'm tired of dropped calls. I also work for Verizon and will get a pretty substantial discount (15%) if I switch. The only Verizon phones that catch my interest are the Droid X2 and the HTC Thunderbolt, which are both LTE/4G phones. The AT&T phones that interest me are the Samsung Infuse and the Motorola Atrix (the Atrix has a dual core CPU, as does the Droid X2), and both of those are considered 4G phones, even though AT&T doesn't yet have a "true" 4g network...they have that HSPA+ crap that isn't quite on par with 4G but insist that it is equivalent to 4g
My wife has the Samsung Infuse and it is a great phone, IMO. The screen is 4.5"...huge! And the clarity of the screen is typical Samsung. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, also, which is another one of my requirements. The camera at the back of the phone is 8MP, and the front camera is 1.3MP, I believe. It is an Android phone. My wife doesn't like it, but she's coming from an iPhone 3GS (which I have right now), which she loved. The Infuse isn't as intuitive as her old phone. I told her if she didn't like the phone, she should return it before the 30-day satisfaction guarantee expired. In the end, she kept it, as she liked the clarity of the screen and the cameras. I'd have taken it off her hands if I wasn't still tied to my phone number...we could've swapped (and no, you can't swap the SIM cards from one to the other, between the iPhone and Infuse). But, she complains of dropped calls and bad reception at work, while Verizon phones tend to get good reception inside buildings. I've friends who say they can make/take calls when in the subways...can't really beat that.
Comparing both the Infuse and the Thunderbolt, they appear to be very similar in hardware. What I like about the Thunderbolt is that you get a 32gb micro-SD card with it, out of the box! The cameras are the same. The screen on the Infuse is larger, though. The Thunderbolt is true 4g. The Infuse has super screen clarity. The Samsung captures video at 1080P, while the HTC does it at 720P. This is going to be a hard decision. Also, I'm still under contract, although I'm seven months out. I'd have to pay something like $80 as an early termination fee (which isn't bad). A comparison of the two phones is here.
Why am I not getting an iPhone 4? I see no need to continue to be tied to any iPhone, as intuitive as they are. My main complaint about my current iPhone is the fact that I can't customize it the way I want. I sometimes wish I could have some of the Android apps, as they tend to let you do some pretty awesome things. I want more screen area, also. I want the option of having my data stored on external media such as an SD card (no, Dropbox doesn't cut it). I want real 4g (and 3g will no longer cut it).
I've yet to decide if I'll migrate to Verizon. I've yet to decide what phone I want, but I want the Thunderbolt pretty bad. I've seen it on display and it is a nice piece of work. About the only thing I haven't done is actually used one on the LTE network. It is pretty much either the Samsung or the Thunderbolt, right now, but I haven't even looked at Sprint's phones. I'm going to have to do that, also. I refuse to look at T-mobile, since they are pending a merger with AT&T, with AT&T buying them out. AT&T will get rid of a lot of things that make T-mobile good. I do not want to buy a T-mobile phone and find that I'll have to get another phone in a year...that would piss me off. I hope that merger doesn't go through, either, as that would mean there are only three major players (Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint).
I do want to check out Sprint's phones, though. It will have to be a top-of-the-line Sprint phone, though. HTC's EVO 4G would be the Sprint phone I'd probably look at first.
Regarding the iPad, I forgot to bring the charger, but I do have my standard iPhone synching cable with me, so I may have to slow-charge the iPad (when I'm sleeping or something, but that means I'd have to put the iPad to sleep). I'm charging it now as I type, and it charged 2% in 10 minutes, so that's actually not bad, especially since it was at 92% to begin with.
My iPhone is about to be replaced. I'm not even sure I'm going to stay with AT&T, as I'm tired of dropped calls. I also work for Verizon and will get a pretty substantial discount (15%) if I switch. The only Verizon phones that catch my interest are the Droid X2 and the HTC Thunderbolt, which are both LTE/4G phones. The AT&T phones that interest me are the Samsung Infuse and the Motorola Atrix (the Atrix has a dual core CPU, as does the Droid X2), and both of those are considered 4G phones, even though AT&T doesn't yet have a "true" 4g network...they have that HSPA+ crap that isn't quite on par with 4G but insist that it is equivalent to 4g
My wife has the Samsung Infuse and it is a great phone, IMO. The screen is 4.5"...huge! And the clarity of the screen is typical Samsung. It has front- and rear-facing cameras, also, which is another one of my requirements. The camera at the back of the phone is 8MP, and the front camera is 1.3MP, I believe. It is an Android phone. My wife doesn't like it, but she's coming from an iPhone 3GS (which I have right now), which she loved. The Infuse isn't as intuitive as her old phone. I told her if she didn't like the phone, she should return it before the 30-day satisfaction guarantee expired. In the end, she kept it, as she liked the clarity of the screen and the cameras. I'd have taken it off her hands if I wasn't still tied to my phone number...we could've swapped (and no, you can't swap the SIM cards from one to the other, between the iPhone and Infuse). But, she complains of dropped calls and bad reception at work, while Verizon phones tend to get good reception inside buildings. I've friends who say they can make/take calls when in the subways...can't really beat that.
Comparing both the Infuse and the Thunderbolt, they appear to be very similar in hardware. What I like about the Thunderbolt is that you get a 32gb micro-SD card with it, out of the box! The cameras are the same. The screen on the Infuse is larger, though. The Thunderbolt is true 4g. The Infuse has super screen clarity. The Samsung captures video at 1080P, while the HTC does it at 720P. This is going to be a hard decision. Also, I'm still under contract, although I'm seven months out. I'd have to pay something like $80 as an early termination fee (which isn't bad). A comparison of the two phones is here.
Why am I not getting an iPhone 4? I see no need to continue to be tied to any iPhone, as intuitive as they are. My main complaint about my current iPhone is the fact that I can't customize it the way I want. I sometimes wish I could have some of the Android apps, as they tend to let you do some pretty awesome things. I want more screen area, also. I want the option of having my data stored on external media such as an SD card (no, Dropbox doesn't cut it). I want real 4g (and 3g will no longer cut it).
I've yet to decide if I'll migrate to Verizon. I've yet to decide what phone I want, but I want the Thunderbolt pretty bad. I've seen it on display and it is a nice piece of work. About the only thing I haven't done is actually used one on the LTE network. It is pretty much either the Samsung or the Thunderbolt, right now, but I haven't even looked at Sprint's phones. I'm going to have to do that, also. I refuse to look at T-mobile, since they are pending a merger with AT&T, with AT&T buying them out. AT&T will get rid of a lot of things that make T-mobile good. I do not want to buy a T-mobile phone and find that I'll have to get another phone in a year...that would piss me off. I hope that merger doesn't go through, either, as that would mean there are only three major players (Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint).
I do want to check out Sprint's phones, though. It will have to be a top-of-the-line Sprint phone, though. HTC's EVO 4G would be the Sprint phone I'd probably look at first.
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