THE SPECTRUM SQUEEZE & THE MOBILE DATA CRUNCH THAT  WILL BRING RAPID CHANGE

CNNMoney.com is telling us that smartphone companies and carriers are desperate for network capacity and they are hard-pressed to find it. I recently blogged about AT&T plopping down $1.9 Billion for the 700MHz spectrum owned by Qualcomm (read about it here), so this is without a doubt a very serious problem.

To make matters worse the FCC is projecting a huge increase in data traffic, on the order of 612% per cell site this year and 925% in 2013. This will certainly put the squeeze on the telecoms like never before. I’m not so sure that anyone even has a real solution to this problem as of yet.

Reuters is now reporting that the iPhone 4S consumers are using twice as much data as its predecessor the iphone 4, and three times more than iPhone 3G/3GS users. Some say that Siri is to blame for the spike, but nobody can really nail down the true reason.

Apple just upped their 2012 iPhone sales estimates by 20%. Add that to the pile and this situation gets messier. Plus they are predicting the sale of 125 million iPhones this year. Can you say data traffic jam?

One thing is for sure… this will put network engineers to the test as they scramble for solutions. With problems like this, technology will have to make a quantum leap. It has happened time and time again throughout the course of history. We saw a quantum leap when we went from cramming data through the audible frequency range to DSL not too many years ago, and I predict that the next leap will be equally as significant.

Sure, we have a brand new LTE (Long Term Evolution) network rapidly growing throughout the country as we speak. It promises super fast data transfer speeds of up to 10 times that of the existing 3G network, but it won’t solve the problem of crowding. The challenge we face is that the faster network speeds get, the demand for service grows almost exponentially.

What will the next development be with high speed data transfer? Will it run through the existing network, or will we have to turn to an entirely different hardware system? Will we end up with new cell phone towers littering the countryside in the same way that telephone poles and power lines exploded during the industrial revolution? I don’t think so…

I truly believe that we will see some crazy new way to ram data through the existing network in much of the same way we have seen before. If we don’t, the demand for data downloads will out pace our ability to expand the telecommunications infrastructure. Someone is going to come up with a new idea that hits us by surprise.

When that happens, I truly believe that measuring data download speeds will become something of ancient times. People will look back and remember the days that everyone focused on how fast the latency speed and data transfer speeds are as a measurement of service quality. Data transfer speeds will be so fast that we will think nothing of instant transfers.

By that time, we might be laughing at how the cellular service providers bragged and boasted about 21Mbps transfer rates. People will come to think that instant data transfer of any size is supposed to be, well, “instant”. Nobody will know any different. All of this will probably have to happen within the next 2 to 3 years.

It’s an exciting time in the history of technological advancement. Things change so fast, we can’t even conceive of how much we have improved over time. It’s mind boggling just to consider where we have come since the days of the first affordable cell phone services. If we continue at the current pace, the sky will truly be the limit to what we can accomplish.

What are your thoughts and predictions of the next paradigm shift in data and communications services? What type of devices will we be carrying in our pockets. Or, will we even have rectangular shaped gadgets that we carry with us to access the internet? I’d love to hear your thoughts, my fellow geeks!

Carlton Flowers
Technology Nostradamus

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

GREAT MARKETING & THE DISTURBING PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE “4G-CLUELESS”

Today I had an interesting conversation with my partner-in-crime Tim Largent. Not quite satisfied with the download speeds of his new iPhone 4S, he posed the question of whether or not the 4S is an HSPA+ compatible device.

This sparked a long discussion that raised some interesting facts about people’s general understanding of 3G/4G/LTE, and I have come to realize a few things…

I think an embarrassingly large percentage of people really have no clue as to what the heck “4G” service really is, and the reason behind this is the misleading marketing schemes that the big 4 telecoms put in people’s heads. I think the majority of smartphone owners are being bamboozled. Why?

First of all, I think 3/4ths of people that own “4G” smartphones don’t have any idea that they aren’t getting 4G service at all.

Case in point, the slick-talking reps at the local T-Mobile store had my wife bouncing off the walls with excitement when they sold her an HTC MyTouch 4G smartphone last winter. Sadly, she came to realize that her beloved carrier doesn’t even have 3G service in Central Missouri. We only have crappy dinosaur-speed EDGE coverage. As a side note, I dumped my wife’s T-Mobile service and purchased a Samsung Galaxy Skyrocket LTE smartphone for her in its place. At least she can operate her smartphone at 3G speeds now.

There are a lot of people buying “4G” smartphones from fast-talking sales reps who fail to mention that 4G service is nowhere near available, because the network has not been expanded to most areas as of yet. Sure, there are some lucky metropolitan areas that have an actual LTE 4G network up and running, but the majority of the rest of the country does not. Yet and still, the carriers advertise it like it’s everywhere. I think it is borderline consumer fraud to say the least.

What makes it even more complicated is the fact that AT&T and T-Mobile are calling their HSPA+ service “4G“, which is the same label given to LTE service. They claim it’s all about the speed capabilities, not the hardware, that makes the service “4G”. But again, phones are being promoted by sales agents without making it clear that most areas don’t even have HSPA+ available.

9 out of 10 times that I ask people if they know the difference between HSPA+ “4g” and LTE “4G”, people don’t even have a sliver of a clue. The carriers march right on, bragging about super fast download speeds, but they don’t put much focus on making this clear. As I’ve said before, I’d be happy just to have HSPA+ “Fake 4G” service in Jefferson City, let alone LTE 4G.

Something else that I really find disturbing is the situation with Verizon Wireless. They are selling iPhone 4S devices in record numbers. From my research, the AT&T version is supposedly capable of running HSDPA/HSUPA speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, not the full 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds that are advertised. But Verizon isn’t in the business of developing an enhanced ‘3.5G” network like AT&T. To the contrary, they are trying to ditch the entire 3G network by the end of 2013.

Verizon wants all of the smartphones sold on their network to be 4G LTE capable by the end of the year. But what about the millions of iPhone 4S devices being sold by the truckloads since the launch in October 2011? What will happen to all of the customers, numbering in the millions, that are left holding these devices? What will become of these phones once the switch has been made after the 3G network has been phased out?

The AT&T version of the iPhone 4S will still be able to run at respectable speeds on the enhanced 3.5G network this year and next year. This tells me that the market for used iPhones should still be a viable market well into the 4G LTE phase. But will this render the Verizon iPhones useless? I’d sure love for someone who is in-the-know to shed some knowledge on that.

Meanwhile, I think all of the carriers need to settle down and stop pumping out these commercials bragging and boasting of “instant downloads” that are so fast, they reach into the future before events even occur. The whole idea of this marketing scheme is laughable to say the least. I’ll bet you that Consumer Reports jumps into the picture before the year is out and issues a warning to uninformed buyers.

I don’t want to even get into the Sprint situation, which is even more muddy, with their “WiMax 4G” version of high speed service. It’s on the fast-track to being mothballed. Sprint knows that true LTE is the future, and they’ve already been in hot water with class action lawsuits in the past year for pushing their smartphones as 4G-capable and charging and extra $10 per month fee. We’ll save that for another day.

In the meantime, I guess ignorance is bliss. If people are happy to have a smartphone that has a “4G” sticker on the box and a fancy flashing 4G icon at the top of the screen, I suppose we shouldn’t rain on their parade and just leave them in their happy state. But hopefully more of the noteworthy tech blogs will bring this to the light of day and get people informed.

Maybe I’m off my rocker, and maybe I’m being a little picky. But if I can help someone save $200 and a wasted 2-year commitment to a device that could be rendered obsolete within the next several months, I’ve done my honest duty. My rant is done. I’ve spoken my peace.

Let me know what you think. How many of your friends remain clueless regarding all of this 3G/4G/HSPA+/LTE nonsense? I’m curious to know. If you want more information, be sure to check out my previous post “Fake 4G vs Real 4G – The Shootout Explained“, and “GSM And CDMA Explained In Simple Terms“. Enjoy!

Carlton Flowers
4G Whistle Blower

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Tweet This Post

RUMORED IPHONE 5 DESIGN THAT HAS DURABILITY IN MIND

This is “breaking” rumor news if I have ever heard it, and it concerns a new design change “breakable” iPhone and we’ve all come to know and love. Apple could be actually pulling their heads out of their rear ends if this holds true. It’s about the next iPhone. The iPhone 5.

Rumor has (by word of the Boy Genius Report blog) it that the Apple iPhone 5 may be encased in material that the protective rubber bumper cases are made of. It could actually become a durable smartphone!

Has common sense just invaded Cupertino? Are the fruity design engineers finally coming to grips with the obvious fatal flaw of the iPhone which is its frailness and fragility?

It very well could be…

If they have made the decision to change the build of the iPhone and focus on durability, I’ll be shocked. This would mean that the geniuses at Apple will have lowered their extremely high IQ’s down to the level of practicality. Why it had to take this long, I will never know. But it sure gives me a sense that there is hope for Apple after all.

In the fall of 2012, about a year after the release of the “all-new” (tongue in cheek) iPhone 4S, Apple supposedly will unveil a completely redesigned iPhone 5 that has a plastic or rubber-like case and bezel surrounding the glass surface and connecting it to an aluminum back plate.

The crazy idea of having an external antenna will go by the way side. No more will Apple have to come up with excuses to explain away the fact the signal attenuates when your hands touch the metal band surrounding the phone. Antennagate-2 won’t be a possibility. Free bumpers by the millions? Not necessary. Being plagued with complaints of cracked iPhones from the glass sandwich design approach? No more.

It looks like they might have figured out the obvious… build the solution into the phone.

Some other design change rumors are still swirling, and I think they are credible. There’s still talk about increasing the display size to 4”. That’s a definite improvement, in my opinion, to the tiny 3.5” Retina Strain Display currently found on the iPhone 3Gs/4/4S models.

I think this would be a huge step forward for Apple. Modifications like this will most likely solidify their already loyal customer base. The iPhone train will probably roll on and continue to set sales records for smartphones. I’m totally excited about these rumors, and I think it’s a move in the right direction.

As far as I’m concerned, however, it’s a huge move that comes a little too late. Had they made this move instead of rolling out the warmed-over iPhone 4L (for “lame”), I might still be packing an Apple in my back pocket. It’s a tempting thought to come back to the world of Apple, but it would be backsliding for me at this point.

I’m forever changed by my wonderful macro-sized 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus display on my Samsung Galaxy S2. Samsung has practically become my new Apple in that they are now the the innovators pushing the edge of technological advancement. But while I’m enjoying the larger display that doesn’t cause my eyes to cross trying to read microscopic font sizes, I’m already looking ahead to a bigger display.

Samsung is rolling along with the trend of larger smartphone displays. The Samsung Galaxy S3 coming to us in 2012 could possibly have a 4.7” to 5” display, and it will be the next logical transition in size for me. Stepping backwards to 4” is not going to get it.

Sure, the iPhone 5 is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, but it’s going to stay in the regular smartphone zone. I’m moving into the hybrid niche that is about to hit the horizon where smartphone gets cross-bred with a tablet. The number of people being drawn into this new niche is going to become significant. That’s why Samsung is taking the chance on breaking ground by investing in this new area.

I think Samsung is running away with the game in the race to making the most technologically advanced smartphones. From this point on, Apple will be playing catch-up if they are planning on drawing away current Android users into their environment. I don’t see that as their strategy. There are enough loyalists that Apple won’t find it necessary to even compete in that sense.

However, I’ll still be excited to see the new redesigned iPhone. This model could be the one created that keeps the consumer in mind rather than continuing the “company-knows-best” design philosophy. I just feel sorry for the millions of people locked into the breakable iPhone 4S when there is such a spectacular new durable product right around the corner coming from Cupertino.

What are your thoughts on the new rumored iPhone 5 design? Would you be happy to see Apple make the shift towards durability versus the beauty of the all-glass design? Voice your opinion below!

Carlton Flowers
iPhone 5 Prognosticator

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for between $179 and $199 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for between $99 and $149 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T! Pricing depends whether you are getting a new account, adding a line, or upgrading an existing line.

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone (Sprint)

The Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic Touch 4G Android Phone by Sprint packs all of the features that you want, just like the AT&T version and is now selling with a 2-year plan as low as $79.99 over at Amazon Wireless!

This version of the Galaxy S2 line runs on Sprint’s WiMax Network at blazing speeds. With unlimited data available with your contract, you won’t be a disappointed surfer! Get it now while the price is low!

Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android Phone (T-Mobile)

Get the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G Android smartphone made for T-Mobile with the large 4.52″ SUPER Amoled PLUS display that packs all of the features you expect with Samsung’s amazing flagship line. Currently, the price of the T-Mobile version is $199 with a 2-year contract.

The T-Mobile version runs on the fastest HSPA+ network at speeds up to 42Mbps! It will certainly get the job done and maximize your surfing experience!

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G Android phone is the monstrous version of the Galaxy line made especially for Verizon Wireless. It features the all new Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” operating environment, and is jam-packed with the latest hardware specifications.

If you are drawn by the jumbo 4.65″ Super AMOLED contoured display, hit the link and check it out! It’s currently on backorder, but Verizon will be releasing the phone soon so check back often!

Tweet This Post

AS FLASH BITES THE DUST, HERE’S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY:

So Adobe goes Hewlett Packard and makes a shocking and disappointing announcement that mobile Flash is dead. They are dropping any further mobile Flash development from this point on. Since the announcement, I have had countless Apple iPhone-ites in my face with smug grins and snarky comments.

Since lack of Flash support was one of my many complaints about my iPhone products that I have owned, I thought I would share my final thoughts about this crazy decision that Adobe has made, and whether or not I am still happy that I made the switch to Android.

First of all, let me set one thing straight… I can tell everyone that within the month that I have owned my Samsung Galaxy S2, which is running on the Android Gingerbread operating system, I have not had one single incident of malfunctioning or even the slightest security breach due to Flash. In fact, my experience has been quite the opposite.

I am able to use three websites (that are Flash-based) on my smartphone that I could not use with my iPhone 4, all of which have very high utility to me. It has made my smartphone ten times more useful, and I can’t tell you how happy I have been being able to perform certain functions on my Flash-enabled phone. And what really has me rubbing my head is that my Galaxy S2 doesn’t lock up or crash near as much as my Flashless iPhone 4. How do you explain that?

Now that we have that out of the way, we can talk about Flash biting the dust. I think one thing that people are not realizing is that this does not mean that Adobe Flash for mobile devices will disappear immediately. As far as I can tell, it just means that they are no longer going to continue development of mobile Flash as operating systems and phone hardware are updated. There will still be some time left that Flash will work on the mobile platform.

If you asked me the question of whether or not I should have stuck with Apple & the iOS platform since Flash is “no longer an issue”, my answer would be no. I am still glad I made the switch to Android, and I am still extremely happy that I will be able to enjoy Flash content on my Galaxy S2 for however long it lasts (while Apple iPhone users will get the ugly pair of dice where they can’t see the Flash content).

While everyone is touting HTML5 and how it will completely replace Flash to the point that nobody will know the difference, I would have to disagree. I could be wrong about this, but from what I have read, HTML5 is not yet something that has been developed to the point of performing the wide range of things that Adobe Flash can. There’s still a long road ahead before HTML5 can completely replace Flash.

As far as my iPhone experience, what rubbed met he wrong way was that Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs forced me to miss out on Flash content because he believed it was for my “best interest” (even though I know the decision was made based on what was best for their business model). I still want to make those types of decisions on my own. Now that I know that all of the issues that the Apple geniuses brought up were mostly crying “wolf”, I’m really glad I made the decision to jump off the Apple cart.

I’m really disappointed with Adobe and the way they went about this. I don’t understand how they think this move wouldn’t damage their overall credibility and viability as a company, especially since it became such a bone of contention with their chief competitor over in Cupertino. Many of the Flash-supporting experts like Joseph Labrecque were equally as miffed as I was when Adobe blurted out this decision (check out his blog post on the topic by clicking the link).

So to answer the five dollar question of whether or not this makes me doubt my decision to switch to Android, again, I can confidently say no. The thing is, there’s still a laundry list of other things that had me banging my head up against the wall regarding my iPhone 4 and my decision to abandon it.

The 3.5″ screen is still to tiny and boring for my aging eyes. It still lacks text reflow in the Safari browser, so I can’t read the microscopic crap I mean text no matter how great the resolution is. It’s still way too fragile, shattering from drops at 2′ or more. It’s still too tight of an operating system that won’t allow much modification. It still doesn’t have active wallpapers to make me say “ooh” and “ahh”. There’s still a non-standard plug on the bottom instead of a micro USB adapter. It still has no dadgone SD card slot. You still can’t take the back off and replace the battery. You’re still stuck with the un-intuitive iTunes to load stuff on the phone. You still can’t drag-and-drop items in folders like the Windows operating system. You still don’t have turn-by-turn GPS built into the phone. It’s still significantly slower on the 3G network and even over WiFi. And the iPhone 4 still drops signal strength when you touch the fat metal band that surrounds the phone.

Do I even need to continue???

Ok, so I’ve gotten off the beaten path a little, but you get the point. I digress. Flash is dying a slow death. Big deal. Am I disappointed? Yes. Does this make me think any higher of Apple? No. Am I still glad to be clutching a fantastic super-D-duper Android smartphone? You better believe it.

And that’s all I have to say about that. Apple folks???

Carlton Flowers
Still Loving Android

And now… a special word from our sponsors!

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket is available right now on Amazon.com for only $189 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T!

This is the lowest price you will find the Skyrocket, the super capable LTE Android smartphone with the jumbo-sized 4.5″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is good!

The Original Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

The original Samsung Galaxy S II is available right now on Amazon.com for only $144.99 with a 2-year contract agreement with AT&T!

This is the lowest price you will find the Galaxy S2, the super capable HSPA+ Android smartphone with the optimal 4.3″ display.

Click the link or the thumbnail pic to hop to the Amazon Wireless Store and get it now while the price is still this low!

Tweet This Post

FLASH PERFORMANCE ON A SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 – DOES IT CUT THE MUSTARD?

As I am getting more into the depths of running my new Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone, I am finally able to report my experience on one hot topic… Adobe Flash and browsing the Internet.

As you know, I previously owned an iPhone 3GS and also an iPhone 4, and I took every opportunity to whine and complain about the lack of Adobe Flash support within the Safari browser.

The reason that I complained so much was that I frequently use two particular websites that require Flash support, and I wanted to be able to use these sites with my  smartphone instead of a laptop computer.

During the two years that I owned Apple iPhone products, the corporation hinted at making deals with Adobe on allowing Flash on their devices, but when it came down to it, Steve Jobs put the kibosh on it and never turned back for even the slightest consideration.

The “warnings” about allowing Flash on Apple’s portable devices were battery drain, system instability, and vulnerability. All the while, my theory was that it would threaten Apple’s walled garden business model because Flash would allow their devices to run web apps that do not come from Apple’s App Store.

While I moaned and groaned about the lack of Flash, many of my iPhone and iPad toting friends claimed that they never missed it on their browser. I couldn’t quite understand how a person couldn’t miss Flash content on the web, but I supposed that once you get used to avoiding certain sites you would not seem to have a problem with it.

To me, restricting Flash support from a mobile device is like removing much of its basic functionality and usefulness. It prompted me to write this silly spoof post that a few people apparently took as serious news (I had to chuckle about that!). But again, apparently there are a lot of people who don’t see it as a fundamental component of their web surfing experience on their mobile devices.

Enough about Apple and their Flashless devices. The purpose of this post is to report my findings on the functionality and usefulness of the Flash-enabled browser on my Android device, the Samsung Galaxy S2. Have I had any serious issues or complications with my smartphone due to its allowance of Flash content?

No.

Maybe I haven’t used my Galaxy S2 enough as of yet, but thus far I can’t tell you one single negative story that has resulted from enjoying sites that have Flash content while using my mobile device. I don’t see the supposed enormous battery drain, because I just don’t go far without a charger. I haven’t had a single crash. Running Flash-enabled sites has not shaken up my device’s operating system. Neither have I had any security issues or virus problems.

I’m not saying that there aren’t people who own Android devices that have had these issues due to surfing Flash-rich sites, but I just can’t confirm any of the negative things that the Apple experts have always gone on about when it comes to justifying barring Flash from their devices.

But my biggest surprise with using my Flash-enabled Samsung Galaxy S2 was realizing just how much rich content I was missing out on previously with my iPhone and the Flashless Safari browser. The “we-don’t-really-need-Flash” argument from the Apple loyalists does not stack up one single bit with me any more.

I have not only been enjoying Flash video content with my device, but I now get to listen in to audio content like never before, plus I can use sites that have high utility to me that include Flash programming like Google Analytics, the Amazon Affiliate site, and my Quansite blogging engine. I’m getting more use out of my smartphone than ever before.

Until I see some seriously negative side effects from its use, I will be recommending the purchase of Flash-enabled Android devices to all of my friends and family members. Sure, HTML5 will be the wave of the future, but right now, Flash isn’t going anywhere. If you want the best overall utility from your mobile device, you’ve got to have it. Period.

Do you have any Flash-related stories or experiences with your Android device? Are you for or against enabling Flash in your browser? Id’ sure like to hear your opinion. I’m open to all viewpoints!

Carlton Flowers
Flash Fan I Am

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

You’ll find out why 10 million people from around the world are joining the frenzy and jumping aboard the Galaxy S2 phone craze!

Tweet This Post

RAD RETRO YELLOW IPHONE MOD TESTS MY SKILL LEVEL

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by an old high school friend who heard that I could fix cracked iPhones. I’ve done a bucket-full of iPhone 3G and 3GS screen repairs, but my friend Lisa put me to the test. She wanted me to fix her son’s iPhone 4.

Fixing the iPhone 4 is quite a bit different that repairing its predecessors, but I was up for the challenge and ready to learn something new. Plus, her son had purchased the pimped-out retro yellow mod kit instead of the plain ole boring black bezel replacement. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pimp out an iPhone 4!

The kit included a replacement front digitizer/bezel/LCD, a replacement back panel, and a color-matched home button. As you might know, you can’t simply replace the front bezel and glass on an iPhone 4 because the glass is glued to the LCD.

I met with Lisa and she handed off the broken iPhone 4 along with the retro yellow replacement kit, and the stupid Pentalobe screwdriver that Apple created to keep people like me out of repairing iPhone 4’s (nice try, Apple). I took it all home and did not take out a single screw until 48 hours later.

I was very nervous about this repair job, because it was hideously obvious that I would not complete the process in the 30 minutes that it takes me to tear down and replace the digitizer on a 3G or 3GS unit. So I spent 2 days watching the instructional videos, making sure to pick up on all of the warnings and special tips for taking the phone apart and reassembling it.

I had to take a deep breath before finally removing the 2 Pentalobe screws at the bottom of the phone, but I got over my fear and dug into the project. I had to follow along with an online repair guide, and I didn’t miss a single step along the way.

As I disassembled the phone, I taped the screws and parts down on a piece of paper where I drew pictures showing where those screws and parts actually went. This would keep me from losing anything, and also help me not to mix up any of the five different screw sizes that come with the phone.

Over 25 screws and several removed components later, I had the phone completely disassembled. It’s interesting that Apple designed the iPhone 4 to where you have to remove everything in order to replace the screen components, but oh well. Since when have we ever tried to understand the the minds of the Apple geniuses?

Before installing the new yellow-bezel/LCD component, I had the daunting task of changing out the home button. I thought the replacement would come with the ribbon and pop button attached, but it didn’t. The yellow replacement home button was just the plastic part alone. What you have to do is to carefully peel off the pop button pad from the bottom of the original black button, without breaking the fragile ribbon cable, and re-stick that to the new colored button. That made me very nervous, but I made it through without damaging the ribbon.

With the yellow button in place, it was time to put all of the pieces back together. It didn’t seem near as difficult or intimidating putting it back as compared to tearing it down as what I thought it would be. But I ran into a few snags. A couple of the screws in the corners were not wanting to easily go in, and it took a little bit of patience to get the threads started.

But the hardest part of the reassembly was putting the IC board back into the case. I fumbled with the IC board for almost 45 minutes, almost giving up on it entirely. It was very hard to get it matched up with the screw hole mounts and the edges of the phone. The worst part was making sure that the top part of the L-shaped IC board was correctly butted against the top of the phone.

There were 5 ribbons that had to go in between the board and the case, leaving enough slack to plug the connectors into the board. Plus, the tiny metal brush (what I am assuming to be the antenna connector) had to be exactly pushed up against the outer metal band. I must have put the board in and taken it out a dozen times before I felt that it was close enough to install the screws.

What made me nervous were the many warnings along the way. I saw statements such as…

“If you don’t properly replace this clip, you will lose WiFi capability.”

“If you replace these screws out of order, you will render the LCD useless.”

“If you damage this microscopic inductor, you will lose all call reception.”

That didn’t make me feel very confident going in, but I managed to stay clear of all the warnings. When I got the phone all put back together, I was pleasantly shocked to find that it booted right up on the first try. I wasn’t expecting it to go quite that well, even though it took 5 hours from the time that I removed the Pentalobe screws.

So my first iPhone mod was a resounding success. It was a stressful process, and I was very nervous handling all of the small parts. The iPhone 4 is so much different than the 3G and 3GS, and it takes real patience to get through the tear down. But it was worth it. I am confident I could do this again and again.

I must admit, once it was done I really liked the yellow color. This is the first time I have seen an iPhone in a color other than factory black or white, and it looked great! I’d love to do a blue or red mod in the future, and if I do, I’ll most definitely be sharing the pictures with you.

Have you ever disassembled an iPhone 4? What was the most tedious part of the process in your opinion? And would you go for a color modification like this, you iPhone lovers out there? Let me know!

If you have a broken iPhone and need to replace a cracked screen, don’t forget to check out my iPhone Cracked Screen Guide where you’ll find links to the lowest cost replacement parts through Amazon, and all of my tips and advice on repairing your phone. I hope it is helpful, and hit me up with your questions!

Carlton Flowers
iPhone Mechanic

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

You wind out why 10 million people from around the world are joining the frenzy and jumping aboard the Galaxy S2 phone craze!

Tweet This Post

POSTAL JIM ON THE EVOLUTION & FUTURE OF APPLE

I’ve written about Apple and its long journey from the “little guy” to its current status of “gigantic Walmart-esque tech beast”. But Postal Jim really put it down on the comment he made referencing the original “Pre-Release Rumors & The iPhone 4S Wall Street Flop” blog post back on October 7th, 2011.

I’ve got to follow up Jim’s thoughts with the comments made by fellow CZ Blogger Matt M, who equally had some great stuff to share. Matt threw down with his techno-comments equally as well! With that, here’s what the gang had to say… enjoy!

——————————–

Does Apple care about what anyone thinks anymore? This release, and the record setting response to it, should drive home that point emphatically.

If they can delay a launch only to come out with changes that barely bring them up to where technology was six months ago, and still set records for units sold, what can we say?

Granted, the camera on this phone is head and shoulders above anything out there now, or maybe ever. But, exactly how much of a camera do we really need on a phone? Once we hit 5 MP and HD, is there a need to go further. I mean, there are 5 MP cameras that blow away 8 MP. The more pixels do not necessarily mean a better picture. The use of the pixels is where the difference lies.

Apple can rest on its laurels and continue to just merely keep up with the Jones’s and remain a superpower due to the cult following they have created. These people, for the most part, would buy a Lego phone with the Apple logo, just because it’s an Apple. That may be a SLIGHT exaggeration, but you get my point.

One commercial, with one glimpse of the new product, a catchy ditty, and the high and mighty logo is all that is needed to open the flood gates of the Apple Nation.

I still believe Apple will be cutting edge in regards to some things in the future. They allegedly have hundreds of engineers delving into what lies ahead for Apple. But even if the lag behind HTC, Samsung, and the like, the customer base has been established and the sales will still be there.

What else is left to dominate? They reinvented the mobile phone. Took it to a level of science fiction, when looking back at my first grey brick of a cellular phone. Then music site such as Rhapsody, Napster and the like were brought to their knees. iTunes, despite the outcry from the recording industry, reinvented the way we buy and listen to music. When was the last time you went to a music store (do they still have those) and purchased a CD, cassette, album, or 8-track (did I just date myself?)

Apple TV seems to be the next target for this group. Phones are doing about as much as they can without becoming more massive and even bigger power hogs. The mobile TV market seems to be the wave on the horizon. Yes, there are several outlets to watch TV and movies on your mobile device. There were as many for music before iTunes, and some still remain. But Apple has shown their ability to tweak something into a innovative, must-have avenue of entertainment. And once it has the Apple name behind it, it will be the standard by which all other outlets will be measured.

So the way I see it, Apple can put a logo on a square wheel and it will sell. They wouldn’t surprise me if the reinvented the wheel either. Sad but true. You can compare Apples to Androids upside down and backwards but Apple will remain the trend setter for years to come for their loyalist, and many others.

Status quo also was reinvented by the late Steve Jobs.

Postal Jim

——————————–

The Matt M Response

This is certainly true, and it saddens me. I’ve grown up with apple. My dad’s been an Apple guy ever since the 80’s, and he’s shared that passion with me over the years. I can remember sitting down with him and watching Steve Jobs give his keynote addresses, announcing the iPod, the flatscreen iMac, the PowerMac G5, the Intel Macs, and of course the iPhone.

During all those formative years there was always a certain paradigm with Apple and the rest of the electronics industry: Apple was the underdog, the good guy, the company with superior technology unjustly overlooked by the mass of blind consumers consuming their Micro$oft products. Only in the last couple of years, my junior and senior years of college, did I take a step back from my Apple mania. This was mostly because I had bigger things to worry about, and I simply lost touch with the lastest and greatest from Apple.

Then I started researching what kind of phone I wanted to get with my September upgrade, and I started to dig, to research, and I started to wonder if these iPhones were really the best of the best. I finally decided I liked the Android platform better, and decided to get the Galaxy S II.

All that to say, all the reading and research I’ve done has brought me to a frightening realization: Apple is becoming Microsoft. They’re king of the industry at last, and they know it. They no longer have to innovate; people buy iPhones because iPhones are the thing to buy. It’s the end of an era.

Matt M

——————————–

Boys & girls, that’s what I call some dadburn good writing. I couldn’t agree more with both Postal Jim and Matt M. Big thanks to both of them for for sharing their thoughts and insight. This is what makes the CZ Blog awesome!

Carlton Flowers
CZ Blog Commentor Fan

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

You wind out why 10 million people from around the world are joining the frenzy and jumping aboard the Galaxy S2 phone craze!

Tweet This Post

MY GALAXY S2 ANDROID JOURNEY BEGINS, AND THE VERDICT IS…

I am completely, totally, wholeheartedly outdone! The Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone is everything I ever hoped it would be, and even more. I am 100% convinced of this in only 8 hours of constant use since purchasing this phone.

At 10:30am this morning, I got the notification on my iPhone 4… someone bought it for the low low price of $289, and that included the cracked screen, partially responsive home button, and all of my iPhone accessories & the original box. I was so happy, I could have let out a scream right there in the office.

At 11:30am, I went straight to the AT&T store, where I had previously gotten them to agree to sell me the phone for $50 cheaper than what they were asking for it (I asked them to price match Walmart). On the way, I was giddy and nearly uncontrollable. I could not wait to get my hands on the phone.

Even though I was totally beyond excited, I knew this would not be the the easiest of transitions. There would be things that I would miss, and there certainly would take some getting used to using an Android device after having an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 for the past 2 years.

I arrived at the store and spent about 45 minutes of waiting time and demonstration time. When I walked in the door and was waiting in queue, I chatted with my friend Bern from work, and he found me to be quite entertaining. I told Bern that if I hadn’t sold my iPhone 4, I would have drop-kicked the thing straight through the AT&T Store window, and I would not have worried about broken toes.

Usually, it is a hit-and-miss experience when you visit cell phone retail outlets when it comes to being helped by someone who has real tech geek experience. Fortunately for me, attendant Frank was not only quite the smartphone expert, but he was also a Samsung Galaxy S2 owner himself. We spent a good amount of time talking, and he ushered me through some of the basic aspects of getting around Android and downloading some basic apps.

When I left, I was on cloud 9 (not to be confused with “iCloud). I did not take my eyes or my hands off of the phone for the next 8 hours. I even took it with me to Zumba fitness class and had it plugged into the wall 8 steps away from where I was.

My head hurts from trying to figure out how to do things in Android. I am still automatically and unconsciously on “Apple cruise control”. It has taken some real effort, and it can be frustrating. As time goes on, I’m getting better and better at typing and moving around on the phone.

Right now I am loving the Swype keyboard. It is my favorite. But the Samsung keyboard also is fantastic. I love the way it sounds and feels, and when you backspace, it gives you this squishy erasing sound that really makes it feel like you are destroying what you are deleting.

The voice command entry is fantastic also. I have had fairly good luck getting the device to understand what I am trying to input. I also downloaded and installed VLingo, but I have not had a chance to give it a test drive. I have been hearing good things about it, and I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

The display is remarkable. I was slightly discouraged the day before I bought the phone, because I read a really bad review of the Galaxy S2 on one of the tech blogs. The writer reported that the Galaxy S2 had the second worst pixel density of all smartphones, with its 800 by 480 resolution. After having this phone in my face for 8 hours, I have no idea what this guy is talking about.

My eyes are certainly not able to tell the difference between this Super AMOLED display and anything else that has a better screen resolution. In fact, this display far outshines my iPhone 4’s Retina Display. The blacks are richer and deeper, and the colors just simply pop. I don’t think my eyes will be able to appreciate something much better than this. I am 100% satisfied with the display.

Some of the things that I find frustrating the most would be getting used to typing in text, because I am so used to the spacing and placement of the iPhone keyboard. I still think that the iPhone layout is one of the best and most responsive of all smartphones. But that might be due to the fact that it is the one that I learned on. After sending thousands upon thousands of text messages using my iPhone, that is to be expected.

I am now in the process of downloading applications that I previously enjoyed on my iPhone, and quite a few new apps that I have found in the Android marketplace. I don’t think there are as many high quality apps in the Android Marketplace as compared to the Apple App Store, but again, this might be explained by the fact that I am used to Apple apps. But even if the Android Marketplace isn’t quite at the level of the App Store, I’m sure it will catch up over time.

The battery life is respectable. One thing that I noticed is that the Galaxy S2 smartphone takes quite a bit more time to fully charge than that of the iPhone 4. But this is not an issue for me, because I don’t go far without a charging cord of some type. I usually had my iPhone plugged in 90% of the time that it was in use, and I’ll do the same with the Galaxy S2.

The Galaxy S2 is very thin and light compared to my iPhone 4. It fits well in my hand, and it’s not too big. I love the extra size of the 4.3″ display, which seems to be the perfect size for me. The thinness is incredible, and it “sticks” to my hand when I grip the phone, unlike the super slick glass sandwich that I had with my iPhone 4.

Download speeds are also very respectable. I was getting decent speeds with my iPhone 4, and as I mentioned before, it was even out-performing my friend Tim Largent’s iPhone 4S. My average download speed on the AT&T 3G network here in Jefferson City was around 1.0Mbps, peaking out at 1.5Mbps on a good day. The Galaxy S2 is consistently charting at 1.2 to 1.4Mbps, and I am happy with that.

I’m not sure what the status is in Jefferson City Missouri with the HSPA+ upgrade of the 3G network. One thing is for sure, though, there’s no LTE coverage here and there probably won’t be anywhere in the near future. I would probably bet that the HSPA+ speeds will improve before we get LTE service. HSPA+ “Fake 4G” will work fine for me over the next year until I get a Samsung Galaxy S3, that’s for sure.

I had some mixed feelings about whether or not I should have waited for the Galaxy Nexus, but I’m solidly sure that the Galaxy S2 is for me. The rear camera is 8 megapixels as opposed to 5 on the Nexus, and the front facing camera is also better. Something else that disappointed me was the lack of an SD Flash card on the Nexus, so I’m not going to be hurting in that catagory.

I really needed to jump off of the upgrade vicious circle waiting game and just lock in on a device, so waiting around for the “next big phone” is something that would have kept me with my iPhone 4 and my Apple frustration. I’m glad to have finally stepped off the crazy train, and I’m ready to settle in on using this Galaxy S2.

My head still hurts from using this phone and getting used to a different system. It’s like learning a foreign language for the first time. It’s totally frustrating until the new language sets deep into your mind and becomes an unconscious thing. I might give this process about a week or two before I think my aching head will go away.

Overall, I’m feeling as if I have been liberated. There is so much that you can modify with the Samsung Galaxy S2 it will make your head spin off of your shoulders. For a computer hacker/programmer/builder like me, this is the only way to go. I have come to realize that the iPhone is more geared towards those that want immediate simplicity and mindless usability. There’s nothing wrong with that.

However, I found it quite interesting to hear a report from a fellow HTC Inspire user friend of mine that she had a hard time understanding how to tool around on the iOS operating system as opposed to her Android device. She stated that the Android system was much easier, simpler, and straight forward. The biggest thing she noticed was the ability to get straight to what you want to do without heading back to the home screen and selecting the setup icon to make changes. Again, this proves that what you learn on will become the easiest system in your mind.

I will have a lot more to say about this device, and there will be plenty of screen shots and videos that I will share as I get used to this Android smartphone. I’m glad to say that I agree 100% with my fellow Galaxy S2 owners on the CZ Blog that this is one incredible, spectacular device, and easily the best smartphone on the market at this time.

I’m going to go take a couple of ibuprofen tablets and let my head rest. We’ll chat more tomorrow.

Carlton Flowers
Android Assimilator

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

Tweet This Post

WITH IOS5 CAME A FEW DIFFICULTIES, NICE SURPRISES

On Saturday I decided to un-jailbreak my iPhone 4 and upgrade to iOS5 in preparation of selling it on eBay. The process took all day long, and it came with some woes, and a few exciting moments too.

Overall, the upgrade to iOS5, no matter how great the benefits are, practically sealed the deal for me to finally get rid of my iPhone 4 and migrate to Android. But there are several new features on iOS5 that will make me miss having the opportunity to grow with it and use it.

First off, I unloaded the jailbreak on my iPhone 4 and backed up the device every way possible. I transferred my contacts to Google, emailed all of my personal note files, and copied all pictures and videos off the device. I then performed a backup three separate times just to play it safe.

The biggest difficulty that I had (and have had in the past) was iTunes not knowing how to allow the iPhone to take precedence on which apps I wanted saved and backed up. It seemed like it was always warning me wanting to erase the applications on the phone and replace them with what was on the computer.

No matter how many times I backed up the device, the app list on iTunes never really matched what I had on the phone. Out of frustration, I proceeded with the upgrade in haste. By the time I got done downloading and installing iOS5 to my phone, I was missing half of my applications. Many of the missing ones were paid apps, not free versions.

I have a couple of friends who had experienced the same issue when upgrading from iOS3 to iOS4 a year ago. I had no problem whatsoever when I performed that particular upgrade, and wondered if it was something they were doing wrong, Well I guess it was my turn to experience the disappearing apps thing.

Since my Apple experience is going to be short-lived, I wiped my tears and decided to just accept the disappearing app problem. I’ll only have a day (or two or three, depending on how the sale goes) to enjoy iOS5, which I believe to be an excellent upgrade of the operating system

The thing I like most about iOS5 is the new notification system where you can swipe to unlock directly to the notification you want to see. I also like how you can pull the keyboard up and down when in the messaging window in order to free up screen space to read your messages. That’s pretty nifty.

The speed of loading and running apps is either the same, or close enough that I don’t know the difference. But overall, it’s seemingly a great upgrade.

Speaking to my good friend and fellow Apple user Tim, I was informed of the same disappearing apps issue that I had with my upgrade. Tim transferred his data from his iPhone 3GS to his brand-new iPhone 4S. Apparently, these issues are popping up on restoring data to a new phone just as well.

Thus far, there has been a lot of talk about how much faster and more spectacular and amazing that the iPhone 4S is over previous models, but we don’t see that big of a quantum leap. The download speeds on Tim’s iPhone 4S are about the same as my iPhone 4. It looks the same, operates the same, but can run Siri. Plus you have the beefed-up processing power and memory.

Overall, I think the iPhone 4S can be a great upgrade for those that have never owned a smartphone, prior 3G owners, and possibly 3GS owners, and for those that would enjoy the ease of use with iOS5.

If you have had any whacky upgrade issues with iSO5, share it here. And also give your overall thoughts on your satisfaction with it. Any other iPhone 4S owners out there who have something to report? Sound off!

Carlton Flowers
Apple Short-Timer

Hit this link to subscribe to my RSS feed right now —> http://feeds.feedburner.com/carltonzone/yZXF

www.carltonzone.com
www.microbusinessplans.com
www.twitter.com/carltonf

WANT GREAT DEALS ON ELECTRONICS? Hit the banner below right now and visit Amazon.com for awesome deals on gadgets and electronics, and you will help the CZ Blog to pay the bills and continue bringing you the straight-dope on what is happening in the world of technology!

Tweet This Post

THE PREPARATION PROCESS THAT SOLIDIFIED MY DECISION TO DITCH APPLE FOR ANDROID

Many months ago, I started contemplating getting rid of my iPhone once and for all and making the switch to an Android device. But I just couldn’t bring myself to a firm 100% decision point. I was stuck, paralyzed in indecision, hoping to be knocked off the fence one way or the other.

As time went on, I started leaning towards making the switch to Android, but I still was not 100% sure. But I finally felt comfortable enough to at least make the move only 2 days ago.

I decided to list my iPhone 4 on eBay to free up the necessary funds to purchase Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone. But the night that I had decided to list my iPhone, I got cold feet. I put it off for one more day. I figured this would be as good time as any to at least make all of the necessary preparations should I finally get up the nerve to make the move.

While I still wasn’t completely sure that I wanted to follow through and do this, it was the actual preparation process that has made me 100% certain that I am completely finished with my Apple iOS experience.

All it took was getting on iTunes (should be “iTurds”) and trying to synchronize the applications and information that I wanted to save, in case I decide to purchase an iPod Touch to still have use of what I had formerly purchased. Halfway into the process, I was ready to pull my hair out. And I don’t have much hair to yank out of my scalp.

I remembered how unintuitive iTunes is for my PC brain. It refreshed my memory of why I don’t ever run backups, sync my applications, or run new software downloads. iTunes has never made sense to me, and it probably never will. I’ll admit, I have a complete mental block to its use.

Nothing I did would work right. Either I would be in danger of replacing or deleting all of my applications, or the system would lock up and crash. All I can fit in my mind is “drag and drop”. Open a folder in one place, copy and paste to another. I can’t understand the seemingly complex “Apple way” to synchronize and backup my information.

Case in point, when attempting to install iOS5 to my iPhone 4, I get a message from iTunes that states “Updating to iOS 5.0 will delete all of the apps on your iPhone. To preserve your apps, apply this update on the computer where you sync them.” Does this make any sense? This is the same computer I just synced my iPhone to 5 minutes ago!!!

At any rate…

About a year ago, I quit trying to figure out how to get music and podcasts on my iPhone. Either I would delete the wrong files and add new ones, or I would go in circles and end up with nothing being copied correctly. I don’t so much as have one sliver of a clue as to how “playlists” and folders are supposed to work. I still don’t even know what a “Genius” is. I guess I’m just plain “Apple stupid”.

I have come to the conclusion that iTunes and the Apple interface are for those that learned the system from day one. It’s not something that a person who has been programming and maneuvering computer files since the DOS 6.22 days. I’m so ancient, I still know how to edit an “autoexec.bat” and “config.sys” file. Does it make any sense that I understand things like IRQ’s (interrupt requests) and manipulating registry files, but not iTunes? Not at all.

But again, it boils down to what you are used to. I guess the old phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” applies to me when it comes to Apple products. I just can’t get those new “iTricks” to fit in my dusty old mind. It’s so counter-intuitive to me that it just makes me want to grind the teeth out of my head in frustration.

If I get through the process of backing up all of my information and resetting this phone, the iPhone 4 will be on eBay with a “Buy-it-now” price of $300 by 9pm this evening. The minute it sells, I’m heading to the AT&T store to get my Samsung Galaxy S2 and start the Android learning curve.

Maybe when I put an SD memory card in my Galaxy S2 and transfer music and PDF files for the first time, this stress-induced shooting pain in my neck will go away.

Carlton Flowers
iPhone 4 Punter

GET IT NOW –> $149 Samsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (AT&T)

Help support the CZ Blog and join and Android Army at the same time by purchasing your Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through our proud partner Amazon Wireless!

Click the link above (or the picture to the left) to make the jump to Amazon where you can purchase your very own Galaxy S2 for only $149.

That’s $50 off from the current selling price at most retail outlets! Grab one while it’s hot, and congratulations on your choice to snag an amazing cutting edge smartphone! Click the link and go get it!

Tweet This Post