Tag: Review

Categories
Apple iPhone

iPhone 12 Review

I didn’t get an iPhone 12.

Instead I decided to save a few bucks and went with an iPhone 11 instead. In glorious purple!

What do I think about it? Glad you asked.

It’s fast! I’ve been using an iPhone 7 as my daily driver so this phone feels amazing.

The display is absolutely beautiful. Seeing everything edge to edge is sweet. I really love how Stream looks on it.

Face ID is really nice. It’s not like Touch ID was bad but this is definitely faster, unless you’re wearing a mask. That’s ok. I really like it.

I really struggled trying to figure out what to buy. I considered the iPhone SE (second gen), iPhone 11, iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 12.

The second gen iPhone SE was tempting because of the price. It’s using the iPhone 7/8 form factor with updated guts and the starting price is $399. That’s really hard to beat.

The comparison between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 was tough. I love the design of the 12. It takes me back to my favorite iPhone design, the iPhone 4. The square edges, that sandwich look, is beautiful to by eyes. The iPhone 11 is also beautifully designed and I liked the color selection better than the 12 color selection. Both phones are larger and much faster than my iPhone 7.

The iPhone Mini really messed with my head. I was leaning toward this phone for most of the time I was considering what to buy. Great design, edge to edge display, fast, good camera, and it’s much smaller in the hand. I was considering the Product Red model but the blue on the Mini is fantastic.

In the end the lower priced iPhone 11 in purple won out.

I also put it in a case day one. While I love the feel of the naked device I’ve broken two screens over the years and I’ve only had four iPhones over that period of time. I cracked the screen on my beloved iPhone 4 and the same with my iPhone 7. Believe it or not the toughest phone I’ve ever owned was my green iPhone 5c. That thing hit the ground a few times and never cracked.

I’m a fan of Unicorn Beetle cases so I picked up a MetallicPurple Unicorn Beetle Pro Series Case to protect it. I love it.

Do I regret getting an iPhone 11 instead of an iPhone 12? Not one bit. It’s a marvelous piece of hardware.

Categories
Life Uncategorized

Day One, by Bloom Built

Day One App IconI’ve been using Day One, from Bloom Built, for a few weeks now. It is quite possibly the best pure writing tool I’ve used to date.

The UI is the thing I find most compelling. They’ve kept it simple. In both apps you add a new post by tapping, or clicking, a plus button, write what you are thinking, and hit Done. It’s that simple.

Another nice thing: your writing is kept in sync between the Mac and iOS clients using iCloud or DropBox. I’m using iCloud and it’s been flawless.

If you are a Mac user and would like a place to write, that isn’t public, and you like the experience of a nicely designed native client, consider Day One.

Bloom is one of those companies, on a very short list, I’d work for (not that I’m good enough to work there.) I know that probably doesn’t mean much, but I tend to really love or hate software. When I love it, I want to work for the company. When I hate it? Well… I could care less. The list of companies I’d love to work for is very short. Bloom Built just joined that list.

Categories
Apple

Dan Gilmore’s bizarre Lion review

I'm sorry, I'm confused.Dan Gilmore: “This machine is a Macbook Air, a 13-inch model that came out last year. It is a stunningly fine combination of size, style and power. And Mac OS X 10.6 “Snow Leopard” is a terrific operating system. I’ve customized it for my needs, and have truly enjoyed using it.

Because so much of my work depends on having a reliable and up-to-date computer, I buy a new one each year, using the older one as a backup in case of trouble with the newer machine. In recent years, that has meant owning two roughly equivalent Macs.

The latest Macbook Air went on sale this week. As is always the case with technology, it’s even more powerful than the one I have. I crave it. I won’t buy it.“

He loves his MacBook Air, he loves Snow Leopard, so he’s not going to purchase a new MacBook Air because Snow Leopard won’t run on it? That just seems… odd.

Dan, you could use your current MacBook Air for another five years and have a better experience than you’ll get on modern hardware running Linux because the Linux crowd doesn’t care about UX.

You mention lack of tools you use on Linux.

“…not least of which is my inability to replace several must-have tools, notably sparse disk image bundles and several superb applications I use for my blogging and other media creation.”

There is a bright spot. Linux is open, and free! You can write your own tools to match your current Mac workflow. No problem. Who knows, once you become an emacs, or vi, expert and learn to write Bash scripts like a pro and add in a dash of Perl, Pyhon, and Ruby, you’ll probably come to appreciate the power and freedom of Linux. Just remember to share your work with the Linux ecosystem so everyone can benefit.

Yeah, I’m being serious about that. If you are a complete computing bit head Linux can be a terrific experience. Maybe Dan can find his inner geek?

Is this an experiment?

Here’s another thought, maybe Dan is conducting some sort of experiment? Maybe he’s trying to see how much power he has over his followers? Could it be? Is this an evil plot to destroy Apple?

It could happen.

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

None of this matters in the end. I find it odd, some will agree with his viewpoint, others will hate Apple because they can. Some will even hate Apple because they’re no longer the underdog.

Bottom line, I’m an Apple fanboy.

Categories
Microsoft

Windows Phone

Justin Williams: “Windows Phone 7 doesn’t inherit any of that legacy and really is a whole new experience. It’s so different, in fact, that it doesn’t feel like anything ‘Windows’ I’ve ever used before. Microsoft might have done themselves some
favors by giving it a whole new naming scheme away from the Windows brand.”

A wreathed gas lamp in the snow.A pretty fair review from a man that develops for Mac and iOS. As a developer it’s interesting to see how Justin feels about Visual Studio. It’s how I feel about Xcode. Xcode is super nice, but I just can’t get used to Interface Builder. He also had some words to share about his attempt at Android development, not stellar, but I wouldn’t expect that from someone that’s used to using great tools to do their job. Both Microsoft and Apple provide superior development tools. Android is going to be a bit more work, more hackerish.

On Android: “Truth be told, I had fun with the Windows Phone SDK. Whereas the Android tools and APIs frustrated me to no end, I had little trouble picking up Windows Phone and translating many of the paradigms and lessons I’ve learned on the Apple platform to Microsoft’s.”

Categories
Apple iPad

iPad, on the road

Jerry Fahrni: “This is where things with the iPad didn’t work out so well. While I found the device a pleasure to use for reading, playing games, dealing with email and using social media, I found it difficult to use for any serious work productivity. The iPad just isn’t designed to take the place of a laptop. Typically when I have downtime I can generate a blog or two or work on something that I’ve been sitting on for just such an occasion. No luck with the iPad. The onscreen keyboard is good, but not that good. In addition the simplicity that makes the iPad such a wonder also creates some problems when it comes to doing a lot of the things I’m used to.”

Bottom line: the iPad is great for consuming content, not creating it.