As a super-early adopter of the iPhone4 (Apple actually sent me one the day before launch date!), I'm often asked by current iPhone 3GS users if the iPhone4 is worth the upgrade. Now that I've had mine for nearly a week, I'm pasting a recent email response to just this type of inquiry so I can just point folks to this post!
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June 29, 2010
W-
Stopped by the AT&T store and confirmed that I can upgrade my iPhones basically for free ($200 fee, but I can probably sell the phones on craigslist for around that amount).
Now, do I do it? I would love to get Chuck’s input/advice 3GS vs 4. The 4’s I played with at the store seemed nice, but I did notice scratches on the glass which I have not seen on the 3GS. Not sure about other issues, battery life, speed, durability, etc.
Scott
**********************************************
June 10, 2010
S–
First, I assume you’ve already updated your 3GS to iOS4? If not, you may want to, because a lot of the functionality marketed for the iPhone4 (multi-tasking, folder management, unified email/threading, etc…) are not specific to the iP4, but part of iOS4—which is a free download for the 3GS. You probably already know this, but figured I’d mention just in case.
Aside from iOS4, iP4 has an outstanding display compared with the 3GS, longer battery life (ie. I can get through almost 1.5 days now, versus not quite making a full day with the 3GS), better camera (including front-facing camera), faster processor, use of iMovie for editing video on your iPhone (only for iP4—which is surprising to me), and it’s new video call functionality called ‘FaceTime’. The FaceTime functionality is limited in usefulness by the need to have both phones on wifi (and both have to be iP4’s)—so it’s more for showing off than any real practical use unless you have specific calls pre-scheduled with folks. I haven’t seen any issues with the glass (it’s supposed to be better than the 3GS, though), and the iP4 ‘feels’ more solid and state-of-the-art. So, I assume more durable.
From my perspective, if you love your 3GS but also
• have a need to do a lot of video capturing and want it in HD, or
• have to have 20% longer battery life, or
• have a need to do video conferencing with another iP4 user who is on wifi,
then go ahead and get the iP4. Otherwise, I’d stick with the 3GS and wait another 6 months for a new iPhone announcement--say January-ish!
Also note that, with the iP4, there are reception issues due to the fact that the stainless steel band that goes around the phone also serves as the antenna, so when you hold the phone in a way where your skin bridges the gap between the lower left hand pieces—you will slowly see a deterioration of your cell reception. I have the ‘apple bumper’ that goes around my phone, so this is not an issue for me…but you may not want to shell out the additional $29 for the bumper.
If you don't truly love your 3GS or hate AT&T (I keep wavering in and out of this camp), move over to an Android OS device, which I foresee taking over market share and app development in the next 3 years. The new Droid X looks very nice!
Hope that helps.
Thanks,
Chuck
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Musings of GC - April 5, 2010
I decided today to write up a pseudo-stream of consciousness post today, with random fodder on things going on over the weekend...
RODDICK
Congrats to Andy Roddick for winning the title at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. This tournament will always be 'The Lipton' in my mind, and is probably the most prestigious non-major out there. He showed the ability to change strategies in the middle of matches (serve and volley against Rafa!), and looks like he's going to be a force in the Majors this year! Go Andy, Go!
REDS
Red's Opening Day is today! I'm still amazed at the level of enthusiasm the whole city has for Opening Day--given that they haven't been relevant (ie. playoffs) in over a decade. Good luck to the Reds...their pitching should keep them in games this year--but where are the runs going to come from?
GOLF
Had my first two golf rounds of the season a few weeks back, and it was ugly. Shot in the 90's on both days (94 at Royal Links in Vegas, 90 at Boulder Creek in Boulder City). Amazingly, I was outstanding off the tee, and it was my short game that blew chunks--specifically anything where a wedge, touch and creativity was needed. I'm looking forward to playing more this year, since we decided to increase our golf membership at Ivy Hills now that Wendy has committed to playing more this year!
iPAD
Got the iPad over the weekend. I admit that I was very skeptical about this device when I first heard Steve Jobs announce it in January (come on...it's just a jumbo iPod Touch!), and I loved the following edited video of the announcement--stripping the announcement down to only adjectives. Talk about vomit-inducing sappiness! How in the world could this thing be 'magical'?
However, after having mine for over 2 days, I retract my cynicism. The iPad is definitely going to change the game of personal computing. The first thing to realize is that it's target market is not really techie, gadget geeks like myself--it's for the normal, non-techie consumer. It's very easy to envision the entire population of average folks having a similar device to consume media--newspaper, magazine, web content, video all to be accessed with their tablet. iPhones are merely complementary accessories to the tablet. Not sure how long before tablets become the norm (5 years?), but definitely the tablet market will finally begin to take off this year--and consumers are going to reap the benefits of R&D departments in all the big manufacturers trying to get new, innovative product lines to fill this newly created demand for tablet devices. Hooray!
ZINIO
One of the reasons I'm excited by the iPad in the short-term is that it leverages the Zinio app much better than the iPhone does. The race to how content is created and served up has started, and Zinio already provides digital content to the iPad for many magazines, periodicals, newspapers--so they seem to have a head start. Regardless of who wins the digital content race, the consumer viewing platform of the future is currently Apple's to lose.
SCARY TV
Ugh. I thought the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati was in bad shape and in need of renovation--but the Tappan Zee in NYC is way worse. History Channel program that aired over the weekend on the 'Crumbling of America' highlights the T-Z bridge as the poster child of bridges on the verge of collapse. Beware, Hudson commuters!
EASTER WEEKEND
Celebrated Easter with the family and neighbors... Started out at 6:30am with the girls waking up early to get into their Easter baskets/presents.
Candy is to Kids, as Bloody Mary is to Daddy! Good times! This helped us survive a special Easter Time Warner service disruption--but this one was caused by neighbor John. He cut our service off while edging out the new landscape 'feature' we're jointly putting in to hide our utility boxes. To John's defense (kinda), those stickers plastered all over the utility boxes that say 'Call before you dig!' are a bit faded in areas!
GATOR FOOTBALL
Sounds like the Gators spring practice is going well, with few injuries. Defense should be stout next year--which will be needed as the Offense continues to carve out it's identity. John Brantley will be well-known nationally by the end of the year.
TIGER WOODS
It appears that Tiger is staying on the down-low at Augusta, sneaking in Sunday and seemingly being humble and apologetic. Homey screwed up. He knows he has a problem. Sounds like he's working on addressing the problem. The humanizing of the Tiger brand has already started, and I hope he wins the Master's and balls his eye's out at the end. More importantly, I hope that those tears are real and not contrived.
TIM TEBOW
Because I get asked nearly daily, let me go on record to say that I think Tim Tebow will be a playoff quarterback--but only if he gets a year or two backing up a QB star today: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or even Carson Palmer. If he goes to a team like Buffalo and is thrown to the wolves right away, he will not do well--short and long term. Regardless, though, Tebow WILL play in games this year regardless of where he goes... more than likely in a special offensive package, ala the 'Wildcat'. Will he be a HOF'er? Probably not. Will he make folks sick of hearing his name in the media for another 5 years? Absolutely.
RODDICK
Congrats to Andy Roddick for winning the title at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. This tournament will always be 'The Lipton' in my mind, and is probably the most prestigious non-major out there. He showed the ability to change strategies in the middle of matches (serve and volley against Rafa!), and looks like he's going to be a force in the Majors this year! Go Andy, Go!
REDS
Red's Opening Day is today! I'm still amazed at the level of enthusiasm the whole city has for Opening Day--given that they haven't been relevant (ie. playoffs) in over a decade. Good luck to the Reds...their pitching should keep them in games this year--but where are the runs going to come from?
GOLF
Had my first two golf rounds of the season a few weeks back, and it was ugly. Shot in the 90's on both days (94 at Royal Links in Vegas, 90 at Boulder Creek in Boulder City). Amazingly, I was outstanding off the tee, and it was my short game that blew chunks--specifically anything where a wedge, touch and creativity was needed. I'm looking forward to playing more this year, since we decided to increase our golf membership at Ivy Hills now that Wendy has committed to playing more this year!
iPAD
Got the iPad over the weekend. I admit that I was very skeptical about this device when I first heard Steve Jobs announce it in January (come on...it's just a jumbo iPod Touch!), and I loved the following edited video of the announcement--stripping the announcement down to only adjectives. Talk about vomit-inducing sappiness! How in the world could this thing be 'magical'?
However, after having mine for over 2 days, I retract my cynicism. The iPad is definitely going to change the game of personal computing. The first thing to realize is that it's target market is not really techie, gadget geeks like myself--it's for the normal, non-techie consumer. It's very easy to envision the entire population of average folks having a similar device to consume media--newspaper, magazine, web content, video all to be accessed with their tablet. iPhones are merely complementary accessories to the tablet. Not sure how long before tablets become the norm (5 years?), but definitely the tablet market will finally begin to take off this year--and consumers are going to reap the benefits of R&D departments in all the big manufacturers trying to get new, innovative product lines to fill this newly created demand for tablet devices. Hooray!
ZINIO
One of the reasons I'm excited by the iPad in the short-term is that it leverages the Zinio app much better than the iPhone does. The race to how content is created and served up has started, and Zinio already provides digital content to the iPad for many magazines, periodicals, newspapers--so they seem to have a head start. Regardless of who wins the digital content race, the consumer viewing platform of the future is currently Apple's to lose.
SCARY TV
Ugh. I thought the Brent Spence Bridge in Cincinnati was in bad shape and in need of renovation--but the Tappan Zee in NYC is way worse. History Channel program that aired over the weekend on the 'Crumbling of America' highlights the T-Z bridge as the poster child of bridges on the verge of collapse. Beware, Hudson commuters!
EASTER WEEKEND
Celebrated Easter with the family and neighbors... Started out at 6:30am with the girls waking up early to get into their Easter baskets/presents.
Candy is to Kids, as Bloody Mary is to Daddy! Good times! This helped us survive a special Easter Time Warner service disruption--but this one was caused by neighbor John. He cut our service off while edging out the new landscape 'feature' we're jointly putting in to hide our utility boxes. To John's defense (kinda), those stickers plastered all over the utility boxes that say 'Call before you dig!' are a bit faded in areas!
GATOR FOOTBALL
Sounds like the Gators spring practice is going well, with few injuries. Defense should be stout next year--which will be needed as the Offense continues to carve out it's identity. John Brantley will be well-known nationally by the end of the year.
TIGER WOODS
It appears that Tiger is staying on the down-low at Augusta, sneaking in Sunday and seemingly being humble and apologetic. Homey screwed up. He knows he has a problem. Sounds like he's working on addressing the problem. The humanizing of the Tiger brand has already started, and I hope he wins the Master's and balls his eye's out at the end. More importantly, I hope that those tears are real and not contrived.
TIM TEBOW
Because I get asked nearly daily, let me go on record to say that I think Tim Tebow will be a playoff quarterback--but only if he gets a year or two backing up a QB star today: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or even Carson Palmer. If he goes to a team like Buffalo and is thrown to the wolves right away, he will not do well--short and long term. Regardless, though, Tebow WILL play in games this year regardless of where he goes... more than likely in a special offensive package, ala the 'Wildcat'. Will he be a HOF'er? Probably not. Will he make folks sick of hearing his name in the media for another 5 years? Absolutely.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Just What Urban Meyer's Doctors Ordered
Urban Meyer’s doctors should be somewhat relieved.
While they probably can’t be too happy that he has yet to officially start his leave of absence, clearly his actions in the recruiting arena over the last two weeks are paying off with big dividends—and ultimately may lead to the healthy recovery that he knows he needs.
Last week, going into the two biggest high-school all-star games in the country, the Florida Gators already had the #1 rated recruiting class in college football, with stud recruits like Jonathan Dowling, Demar Dorsey, Mack Brown, Ian Silberman, and Leon Orr having already firmly committed to the Gators.
However, Urban Meyer’s work on the phones and his coaching staff’s work in the field (Meyer didn’t travel much after the Sugar Bowl, instead sending out Steve Addazio and his staff for in-home visits) yielded major results over the last two weeks.
During yesterday’s U.S Army All-American Bowl and last week’s Under Armour All-American Game, the Gators received a bundle of verbal commitments during the live telecast of each game. DE Dominque Easley (NY), WR Chris Dunkley (FL) committed during the Under Armour game, while DE/TE Ronald Powell (CA), LB/RB Matt Elam (FL), and DT Sharrif Floyd (PA) committed during the US Army game. The nicest touch was seeing the US Army in the background doing the Gator Chomp during Ronald Powell’s commitment.
This brings the totals for the current 2010 Florida Gator recruiting class to 24 commitments, with a staggering 15 coming from ESPN 150 players. With the Gators still in the running for undeclared 4-star and 5-star players like offensive linemen Seantrel Henderson and Matt James, quarterbacks Jackson Jeffcoat and Andrew Hendrix, top linebacker Jordan Hicks, and receivers Christian Green, Ivan McCartney, Kadron Boone and Kyle Prater (who may be wavering on his USC commit with the recent Pete Carroll news), this class is truly stacking up to be one for the ages, and perhaps the best class ever.
So, even though Urban Meyer has continued to go in to the office following the Sugar Bowl (going against what Florida’s Athletic Director Jeremy Foley intended), it is clear that by doing so he has been able to not only salvage a very good recruiting class, but rather grow it into an all-time great one.
My best guess is that Urban Meyer will continue to go into the office and make calls to recruits up until National Signing day on February 3rd.
But after this class is signed, sealed and delivered, I hope Meyer takes some real time off, not only relaxing with his family and close friends, but also truly thinking about the personal changes he needs to make to ensure that he can continue to lead the Florida Gator football program while eliminating the high-levels of stress it brings to him.
My opinion is that Meyer brings a lot of stress upon himself throughout the football year, mainly because he is very ‘hands on’ as the head coach, and truly invests every ounce of energy he has directly into his players and coaches. To ultimately reduce his stress levels over the longer term, Meyer needs to figure out how to effectively incorporate the word ‘delegation’ into his personal management style as CEO of the Gators. Giving up coaching special teams would be the first step. Trusting his staff to handle more of the day-to-day decisions would be another step he could take. How to delegate in a way that works best for him is something that only he can do, and I'm sure that is what he means when he says he needs to take time to "figure it out".
However, regardless of whether Urban Meyer figures out how to change ‘HOW’ he manages the team, one thing is for sure… With the talent in the Gator’s 2010 recruiting class, his stress level should be greatly diminished over the next three years—which is just what the doctor ordered!
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