Why the iPhone 4S (iOS 5) is a Step Backwards

Since its inception, the iPhone has sold millions of units worldwide. It provides a simple, streamlined and stable mobile environment to its users, allowing them to interact with groups and individuals around the world through Apps, web services and even games from wherever they happen to be standing.

When Apple first launched the iPhone, CEO Steve Jobs said it was the world’s first true “mobile internet device” and he was right. Sure, there had been other devices that let users connect to the web and perform many of the same features, but the iPhone was the first that gave true access to web services like Google maps, Skype, Twitter, along with a browser that displayed web pages as their designers intended.

Still, even with all of these advancements, Apple continues to fall short in regards to its competitors. Copy/Paste, which has been a default standard in personal computing since the 1970’s, didn’t show up on the iPhones until the 3GS. When presenting the iPhone to the world, Jobs toted it as a mobile email device as well. Email attachments, a huge part of the email exchange between people, often contain pictures, documents, compressed files and more, yet here we are in iOS 5 and we still can’t save many of them natively. Microsoft, a company who has repeatedly made decisions that have placed them far behind the pack, included both the previously mentioned features on their often buggy and crash-a-lot Windows Mobile OS.

My first iPhone was a 3GS and I jailbroke it an hour after un-boxing the damn thing. I couldn’t stand the pre-fab sand box Apple left me in and SB Settings, along with Winterboard and other Cydia Apps, opened up a whole new world to me. Let’s be honest folks, despite all the advancements Apple has made in regards to mobile computing, they just can’t seem to remember to load the basics. Many want the ability to turn on Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth with a single swipe of a finger. Apple forces you to choose either battery life, or journeying through the deep and dark depths of the Settings App. Hope you left the Settings App on the first screen page, if not; good luck finding it without search. The way iOS’s folders and pages work is still reminiscent of PalmOS.

Here we are now with their newest iOS version, iOS5, the stunning spectacular we’ve all been waiting for. “It’ll revolutionize computing”; “It integrates seamlessly with MacOS”, “its got iCloud”. Come-the-frack-on! I still can’t turn my wifi on from the home screen, the notification center is ungodly, (there already several replacement Apps available via Cydia), SIRI, if her server is actually up, takes longer processing what I’ve said than just opening up a browser and typing my question into Google. I swear it’s like someone spending days preparing a lavish, five course, Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings, and forgetting to provide plates and silverware for their guests.

Those are a few reasons as to why my iPhone 4S is sitting in its box waiting on the DevTeam while I stroll around using my 3GS. Yes, I was sold by the dual core processor, updated camera and yes, even SIRI. But after using it for two days, I decided that I won’t take a step backwards just to have the latest and greatest. Apple, your top salesman has left the building, get on it or get used to catering only to those who don’t know any better.

From Dust, A Game We’ve Played Before

Until today I was unaware of Ubisoft’s upcoming game ‘From Dust’, which releases on XBox Life tomorrow. It’s a game that looks both fun and amazing in screenshots and videos, but apparently, when you sit down and the play the thing you realize that it’s ridiculously reminiscent of a game released back in 2005.

Upon seeing some screen shots I was actually excited, that was, until I watched the video below. It would appear that Game Developers have decided to follow the Movie Industry model: Change the name and the faces, but re-release the same script and story over and over again.

However, don’t take my word for it, check out the vid link below.

Apple suspends Pre-Orders for iPhone 4

Earlier this month, Steve Jobs announced the release date of the iPhone 4 as June 24th of this year and the internet went into a frenzy. Two days ago, AT&T began the rollout of pre-orders for the devise and ended up with packed stores, long lines, exposure of credit card information and a lot of unsatisfied customers. Well after that fiasco, AT&T has pulled the plug on pre-orders for the iPhone 4 and the 8 GB iPhone3GS according to a memo obtained by Boy Genius Report:

Pre-orders for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS 8GB are Temporarily Suspended

Effective close of business on June 15, 2010, the ability to place pre-orders (new activations, upgrades and exchanges) has been temporarily suspended.  There is a special team that will be manually working all pre-orders from June 15th that were held in a pending status.  Under no circumstances should new pre-orders be attempted in the system.

This suspension impacts Phoenix, Premier, OPUS (COR), and System X (DMDR).

Please stay tuned to future bulletin communications for any updates.

So for all you fan-boys and girls who want to be the first to have the newest iPhone in your circle of friends but didn’t make it to the store on the 15th, it will not be happening. It’s smarter to wait for the first gen bugs to pop up and be fixed before purchasing a $300+ device anyway.

Well Shucks, AT&T Apoligizes for C&D Threat

I don’t think AT&T likes bad press. The story reported earlier concerning Girogio Galante’s being threatened with a Cease & Desist letter has concluded with an AT&T senior VP contacting Galante and providing a sincere apology.
Here’s what AT&T has officially released:

We are apologizing to our customer. We’re working with him today to address his questions and concerns. This is not the way we want to treat customers. From Facebook to significant customer service channels, AT&T strives to provide our customers with easy ways to have their questions addressed. Because of this incident, we are reviewing our entire process to ensure a situation like this does not happen again.

Giorgio says he’s still leaving AT&T and switching to the Evo 4G on Sprint’s network. Hopefully for him they aren’t the first to jump on the pay-per-byte bandwagon.

Warner Bros. Being Sued for Piracy – Hello Mr. Pot

After years of chasing down people who’ve illegally downloaded their films, Warner Brothers is being sued for software piracy. Medien Patent Verwaltung, a company based out of Germany, claims they created the method of marking film reels that Warner Bros. uses to discern which theater had played a pirated film originally.

“We disclosed our anti-piracy technology to Warner Bros. in 2003 at their request, under strict confidentiality, expecting to be treated fairly,” MPV says in a statement. “Instead, they started using our technology extensively without our permission and without any accounting to us. However, we had taken care to obtain patents to protect MPV’s technology, and we are now in a position where we must assert our rights.”

In Warner Bros. defense, they are all the way in Germany. Hell, most small businesses I know of pirate the hell out of Microsoft Word and Microsoft is right here. I know this will get settled out of court, but I at least it gets some main stream press too.

(via TowerGaming)

Do You Recognize This Guy?

No? Well you should. His name is Ghyslain Raza and he’s a bad-ass Canadian. Raza is the president of the Patrimoine Trois-Rivieres and holds a law degree from McGill University in Montreal. That isn’t the reason you should know who he is though. Raza’s earliest claim to fame was a low-rez, less than two minute film of him posted to the internet by his so called friends.

Recognize him now?

That’s right kids, Ghyslain Raza was the ‘Star Wars Kid’. Don’t make fun of him though, after the release of that video, Raza, sued the parents of the kids who released the video. Why? Well Ghyslian understandably became depressed – dropped out of school – and entered a psychiatric hospital. It would have been a sad story if he hadn’t gotten his confidence back and returned to school. Good job kid, good job.

You can see the classic YouTube video here.

(via Cinematical)

And Another Tablet Enters The US Market

Today at D8, Dell announced that they will be offering their new portable tablet computer/gadgety-thingy, the Dell Streak – unlocked, via their website in July. If you haven’t heard of this devise at all, Engadget did a review a few months back, here. It’s running Android and seems a bit easier to manage than the iPad or iPed, but still priced at around $500.

(via Reddit)

Who want’s a Lego Printer? I Do I Do

I played with Legos every day when i was a kid. I never got one of those pre-designed kits though. No sir, no directions for me, I used pure creativity, well, that and pictured of what i was attempting to make. Well it seems as though this guy over at B3ta never quite grew out of Legos, (Do any of us? My parent’s just threw them out when they thought I was too old for them), and built himself a printer. Its quite impressive. It’s bricks, a motor or two and a felt tip fraking pen. Ingenious! Not only is it an awesome display piece, it uses the cheapest ink you can get. He’s got it hooked up to a mac, but I won’t take points off for that …this time.

I’m making one for the Linux box.

(via PC Pro)

Knock-Off iPad – I’ll buy that for $150

At Steve Jobs’ last keynote speech, he introduced us to the Apple iPad. It was sleek, mobile, and considerably more than I wanted to pay for a giant iPhone. No longer do I have to worry about buying a big screen iPhone as China Grabber is now selling the iPed here. The iPed is a knock-off product made in Shenzhen, China at the Foxconn plant, which just so happens to be the same place that manufactures the iPhone.

Personally, I’d prefer this to the iPhone as it comes with Android OS installed which keeps Jobs and his cronies from locking out features I’m sure to like. Also, I’m cheap, and being a cheapskate, $150.00 is perfect for this hardware. Check out the video below so see how it works, it’s in Japanese, so good luck understanding the dialogue.