Sucks to be you BlackBerry

Ok so there is an offical beta for Lotus notes support on the iPhone w00t!. Pretty sweet, check out the article at TUAW.

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/30/iphone-in-the-enterprise-lotus-inotes-ultralite/

iPod Nano 4G

So I got a new black iPod Nano 4g over the weekend because I buy every nano that's ever come out. But I wanted to give my first impressions over the newest nano.

• I got the 8 gig, the 16 just seemed like a waste for me since the past few nano's I've never even filled up.


• Extremely thin and light. I think it's the thinnest nano yet.


• The screen is extremely bright and high resolution very crystal clear.


• The accelerometer is pretty cool rotating the screen from portrait to landscape is very easy.


• The shake to skip and shuffle feature is cool as well, but just a gimmick I'm not sure too many of us will take advantage of this feature.


• Genius play list is actually pretty cool but the database is somewhat limited so a lot of times it can't find matching songs, however over time as more and more people us the genius play list feature the better it will get as peoples other compatible songs are being uploaded to the Central Genius server and will be able to find even more matches


• Sounds great works just like the other nano's I've had

That's about it. Got any questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

BlackBerry Storm (BB Touch)

Ok BB fans there is more info on the "Touch" BlackBerry. If you haven't heard already it's called the BlackBerry Storm and will be available for Verizon wireless.

Check out the report on Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/15/verizon-blackberry-storm-talking-points-slip-out/

Some guy actually got a hold of one and was testing it out and his initial impressions that while good it was a bit slow and the tactile feedback was a bit awkward. But overall a good phone. We'll see what happens when it finally comes out.

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone firmware version 2.1

Ok everyone version 2.1 firmware is release and I've updated both of my iPhones with the latest software release.

It seems like my original iPhone works fine no problems at all. And actually the first iPhone is a bit more stable wasn't plagued by some of the other bugs from the 3G version.

On my new iPhone I can definitely see the improvements. Apps install much quicker no more lag in typing (so far at least) overall improved stability as well. It also seems to be able to hold the WiFi signal better as well.

However it's only been a few hours so I'll blog back after the weekend and let everyone know how it goes. But so far so good iPhone 3G is running pretty smooth.

Got questions? Email me: richmlee@gmail.com

Ok, I think new Macbooks/Pros in October

There is a report out there that new Macbooks, Macbook Pros, and Macbook Airs will be coming out October 14th. It's only a rumor for now but it's supposed to be from a fairly reliable source and it's consistent with Apple's upgrade history.

One additional note that Macbook Air will look the same but will receive upgraded Intel processors and a larger hard drive at 120 gigs. The Macbooks and Macbook Pros will have more significant changes including the case. We'll see October 14th I guess.

See the full story at here: http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/10/apple-notebook-updates-on-october-14th-120gb-macbook-air-hdd/

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

New iPod Nano's and iPod Touches

Ok so it's official there are new iPod Nanos and iPod touches, iPod Classic now only 120 gig, firmware 2.1 for iPhone and iPod touch and iTunes 8

So here are the cliff notes versions of the latest:

iPod Nano:

• Long and thin 8 gig and 16 gig glass screen and aluminum case $149/$199


• Has accelerometer so you can turn it land scape to watch video


• Literally shake to shuffle or skip next track


• New headphones have volume control, skip, back, and built in mic for voice recording


• New Genius play list, "Pandora" like smart play list where you play a song you like and it will search your music library for similar songs and recommends new ones on iTunes

iPod Touch

• New curved even slimmer design (think 3G iphone but even thinner)


• New "hard" volume controls on the outside like iPhone


• New built in speaker


• Genius play list


• BUILT in Nike Plus no more receiver all you need is the sensor in your shoe!


• 8GB, $229, 16GB for $299, and a 32GB for $399.
  
  

iPod Classic

• Got rid of the 80 gig now only 120 gig and only $249
  

Firmware 2.1 for iPod touch and iPhone

• This is a big update, it fixes lots of bugs. Fewer dropped calls, big battery life improvements. No crashes with Apps. Backing up is faster


• Per Steve Jobs "Some great new performance enhancements" (whatever that means)
  

So that's it. No new Macbooks but there is still a rumor out there that they will be coming in October who knows.

Got questions? email me: richmlee@gmail.com

Have BlackBerry want to switch to iPhone

So you have a SlaveBerry, I mean Blackberry and you want to switch to a superior phone. Ok that's an easy decision. But what about that little problme of all your precious contacts stuck in your Blackberry! Do you have to manually re-type all of your contacts? Hell no, that's why you read my blog because you'll learn how to automate this process. I know that if you're a BB user you probably have Windows. So I'm gonna tell you how to export your Blackberry contacts to outlook and then sync that to iTunes and your iPhone.

1. Download and install the latest Blackberry desktop software as of the posting of this blog it should be ver 4.6. Get it here: https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E4F3BB068C22


2. Once you've installed the BB desktop software run the app and plug in your BB


3. It will ask for your password, NOTE: be sure that you spell your password and not the numbers. So if you have a curve and your password is 4545 your password is sdsd.


4. The BB desktop software will have to connect to the Internet to check some settings and then let it do it's song and dance


5. Once it's finished click the "Menu" button and sync your BB contacts from your phone to the BB desktop software by selecting the sync option


6. Once it's done syncing in the left hand pane you'll see the sync button click that again and it'll take you to another screen asking you how you want to export your BB contacts, select Outlook and do a two way sync or one way sync and finish the prompts


7. Go back to the main menu and select synchronize and then press the sync button again in the middle of the screen, this will snyc your contacts from the BB desktop manager to Outlook


8. Load up Outlook and click on contacts and you'll see all of your BB contacts in your Outlook contacts.

There you go I've actually done for someone this so I know it works.

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

F-U AT&T LOL! : )

Ok so the girl I'm dating wanted an iPhone but she wasn't upgrade eligible for the discounted pricing ($199/$299) according to ATT, even tho she was coming off corporate liability and onto an individual liability and she had to sign a new 2 year contract.

We proceeded to fight with the ATT reps for another 20 min about how this makes no sense. Then I just blurted out, what's to stop her from walking into a Verizon store switching carries and doing their 30 day free trial, but instead of waiting 30 days just walk back to an Apple store later that day and then get an iPhone for the $199/$299 price? All the ATT rep could say was well there is nothing stopping you.

So that's what we proceeded to do and I'll give you the whole low down.

BEFORE YOU START THIS: Make sure you will not incur the early termination fee from ATT if you switch carriers!!!! More on this below.

1. Walk to a Verizon store and tell them you want to switch carriers, pick a cheap ass phone and start service. This will cost you about $13 dollars



2. Wait for your number to port to the Verizon phone



3. Make all the phone calls you want because according to Verizon's 30 day test drive you can talk all you want and they'll pay for the calls



4. After about an hour or so walk over to an Apple store



5. Tell them you are an existing Verizon customer and you want to switch carries to get the iPhone



6. The Apple rep will enter all of your info and attempt to switch carries and activate your phone, BUT they will receive an error that says "This number is an existing ATT number and belongs to NMI" Whatever that means



7. On your cell call ATT customer service 1-800-331-0500. Tell them that you've switched your service to Verizon and now you are coming back to ATT and that you are about to get a new number with ATT and that you would like your current number to port over to the new line and have your current number replace the new number. Have the ATT rep on the line hold.



8. Instruct the ATT rep to start a new ATT line and you'll only have to pay the $199/$299 price.



9. Once this is done talk to the ATT rep and ask them to port your current number to replace the existing number. They will say "The system isn't allowing me to do that right now" but but be very courteous and ask them to have a supervisor or higher technical support to port the number and have them call you when this is done (they should be able to within 24 hours)



10. Walk out the Apple store with a big smile, because you got your new iPhone having only paid the $199/$299 price



11. By tomorrow morning or so the ATT rep will call you and let you know that your old number has ported over and replaced your new number.



12. Smile again as you've found a loop hole to get your iPhone at the discounted price : )

Make sure you do not incur any early termination fees because the early termination fee is $175

Got any questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone 3G Update

Ok so I've officially had my iPhone 3G for almost 2 months now. Since that time there have been two minor firmware releases (2.0.1 and 2.0.2). Both of these firmware releases updated some minor fixes such as somewhat improved 3G & cell reception, keyboard typing lag, and crashing apps.

Overall I'm still pretty happy with my iPhone however I do have some gripes.

1. Back up takes over 45 minutes! This shouldn't take that long I hope firmware 2.1 fixes this because it's really annoying.


2. Installing Apps on the iPhone is a little inconsistent, sometimes the install crashes or takes forever even on WiFi.


3. My iPhone will sometimes freeze and I'll have to wait for it to come back to life and then I can use it again or if I even touch on a native app like SMS it'll take a while for it to pop up, or when I "slide to unlock" it does a weird pause but will eventually come back.


4. Switch from EDGE/3G to WiFi is slow and inconsistent. I usually have to go into settings and hit "release/renew" before it'll pick up my WiFi.

So far those are my biggest gripes, but again overall it's still a great phone, better than most of the other crap out there. So crossing my fingers that firmware ver 2.1 which is due this month will fix some if not all of these issues.

New iPods September 9th

Well there is a confirmed date for new iPods, Apple is having an official announcement on September 9th. Sounds like for sure new iPod Nanos and a refreshed iPod touch. No word on Macbooks/Macbook Pros, although there is a rumor that these have been delayed until October.

Well if you were looking to get a new Apple product at least wait until September 9th to see what all the latest and greatest are.

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com