So I’ve decided to read a book by Miyamoto Musashi called “The Book of 5 Rings” (which is really popular in the east).

I remember reading about Musashi when I was younger (a novel dramtizing his life) and was pretty amazed at not only his “chaotic” pragmatic fighting style, but his approach to life and death in general.

Here is a picture of the book I have at home–and yes it’s a little worn through as I’ve read it at least 5 times.

Anyways, back on topic, I’m slowly developing a thirst for eastern books (I blame the Art of War), so if anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to post them below or on Facebook.

– Posted from my iPhone

Read More

So the new geek fad nowadays outside of Google, Facebook, teeth whitening and discovering the latest, greatest iPhone App is increasing one’s tweep count (or Twitter following in non-geek).

While there are a bunch of scams business opportunities groups offering to sell you software to spam the twitterverse to gain attention, it may not be beneficial to your wallet.

Instead, here are some tips for free–provided you sell your soul to me.

1) Think of 100 product categories everyday (like fish, finance, computers, Apples, etc.)

2) Tweet those phrases everyday, and every spam bot, marketer and lobbyist (note: yes, they’re on there too now) will follow you.

While your new found fans will probably not care about your physical, emotional and financial state (unless you buy something from them or endorse their cause), you will have a mass of followers inflating your ego like a fragile balloon.

Oh, for those of you applying these tips, I almost forgot the last step.

3) Do not follow me (@Darnell) as I desire to communicate with humans–at least the smart, funny and lovable kind.

– Posted from my iPhone

Read More

Update: Changed permalink as posting via YouTube simply left a weird number. Ghetto! (Hat Tip: Engadget)

So if you haven’t already seen the anti-iPhone Verizon ad, here it is in all its glory.

Here are the the points it lists, which I’ll update later on why its flawed.

• iDon’t have a real keyboard
• iDon’t run simultaneous apps
• iDon’t take 5-megapixel pictures
• iDon’t customize
• iDon’t run widgets
• iDon’t allow open development
• iDon’t take pictures in the dark
• iDon’t have interchangeable batteries
• Everything iDon’t

More later (as I’m posting this via YouTube).

Here we go!

iDon’t have a real keyboard

When Apple launched the iPhone a few years ago, Steve Jobs explained why they didn’t include a physical keyboard.

iDon’t run simultaneous apps

This has probably been one of the biggest gripes about the iPhone in general, as many of us have longed to run apps in the background.

In fact the only way to enable this was to jailbreak your iPhone via QuickPWN. With many angry users at their throats, Apple explained why they went with push notifications instead:

iDon’t take 5-megapixel pictures

The iPhone 3GS (which I have) has a 3-megapixel camera. While not perfect, I have yet to find a camera that is easier to use than the iPhone.

In fact, the iPhone is sooo popular that it has dominated Flickr as the camera of choice–despite superior digital camera’s out there.

(LA Times) Here’s a tidbit that’s sure to irk Flickr’s elitist photographers: The iPhone has just topped Canon’s high-performance Digital Rebel XTi as the most popular camera on Yahoo’s popular image-sharing site.

The iPhone, with its bare-bones, two-megapixel camera, has been battling for the No. 2 spot for months in a tight race with two other Canon cameras and the Nikon D80, according to a graph plotting the overall user percentages of each model on Flickr’s Camera Finder.

While the iPhone is not the best camera at taking images (and yes, this iUser will admit there are a ton of smart phones with better camera’s), it is the easiest to use–hence the reason people use it more often.

iDon’t customize

Apple currently does not allow users to customize the iPhone (i.e. having a real wall paper). So Verizon is dead on about this issue.

iDon’t run widgets

Verizon is right about this one as well. Unless one jailbreaks their iPhone, they can not run awesome widgets like these.

iDon’t allow open development

Apple allows developers to build anything. The only catch is that they have to approve the apps that come through the gate.

While Verizon may boast about Android’s open approach to their SDK, the fact is they have two problems the worry about, the first being “splintering.”

(TechCrunch) Android, an open source operating system, must avoid the fate of J2ME, an open source mobile applications platform. Open source is great, until everyone splinters off into their own world. That’s what happened to J2ME, and a number of frustrated Android developers are now saying that there is a risk Android will follow the same path. [...]

We’ve spoken with a number of high profile Android application developers. All of them, without exception, have told me they are extremely frustrated with Android right now. For the iPhone, they build once and maintain the code base. On Android, they built once for v.1.5, but are getting far less installs than the iPhone.

And now they’re faced with a landslide of new handsets, some running v.1.6 and some courageous souls even running android v.2.0. All those manufacturers/carriers are racing to release their phones by the 2009 holiday season, and want to ensure the hot applications will work on their phones. And here’s the problem – in almost every case, we hear, there are bugs and more serious problems with the apps.

The second major issue is that Verizon has to worry about hackers, who may build an app that hijacks a person’s android phone.

While Google does have a kill switch, it may not be too little, too late, especially if a hacker is able to use his Android app to hijack and steal personal info.

iPhone users do not have to worry about that (as Apple approves what goes in, and has a kill switch just in case anything gets by).

iDon’t take pictures in the dark

Since I have a FastMac battery extender with a built in flash light, this point doesn’t matter to me.

But for those of you who do not, I’d recommend buying one–you can purchase one over here.

iDon’t have interchangeable batteries

This might look like a major issue, but in reality its not.  One only has to look at the Macbook to see why they didn’t allow interchangeable batteries.

Everything iDon’t

There will always be a better phone out there, as there is always engineers creating breakthrough technology.

While I do not have any hate against Android or Verizon (which are both excellent products/services), they need to let other people praise their products, as well as tear down their rivals as well (Apple included).

Verizon seems to be following the footsteps of Sprint, whose Instinct didn’t do to well afterwards (and if you were wondering what happened to that “iPhone Killer,” I am asking the same question and getting blank stares).

While I am glad that Verizon is finally embracing a decent phone (so now my extended family can stop drooling over my iPhone), they need to stop focusing on “the iDevice,” and instead focus on promoting their phones/services.

Read More

Why is it that people expect an unconditional affection without exchanging anything in return?

It’s almost like I’m demanded to pour all of myself with the hope and knowledge that I will receive Jack squat–or worse nothing at all.

I’m not exactly sure where this thinking materialized, but one thing is clear–it has to end.

Friendships don’t endure with this mentality, and relationships often come to ruin when only one gives while the other only receives.

Love without sacrifice isn’t love, but enslavement, which can lead towards an unhealthy attachment to the one “being adored.”

I’ve seen this countless times and quite frankly it sickens me.

People need to realize when they are being used, and once enlightened terminate the pseudo relationship ASAP (plus avoid any collateral damage that may result from it’s ending).

If more people understood this, half of the talk shows and most politicians would be out of business.

– Posted from my iPhone

Read More

Unless you are apart of the alternate reality know as the geek-a-sphere, then you probably have not heard about the upcoming Palm Pre, exclusive to Sprint.

While this device rivals the iPhone in several ways (one of them being multitasking), this device is doomed to fail–although through no fault of it’s own (with one exception).

Dude, where’s my App?

After being inspired by jailbreaking hackers, Apple launched an app store which everyone from Google Android to Blackberry copied.

To my knowledge, Apple has over 30,000 apps while Android has a few thousand (note: I have no clue what Blackberry’s numbers are).

If Palm Pre launches without some App momentum behind them, they may not attract many users because their too busy coveting Stanza, Ocarina or Joost which are on the iPhone (but may not be elsewhere).

Solution: Palm Pre needs to entice the iPhone developer community in order to attract the masses by the thousands.

With many iDevelopers in an uproar against Apple over a delay of payment, now would be the perfect time to “steal away” developers from Steve Jobs.

My suggestion? Offer the first 10,000 developers 100% commission for the first month of operation, and extend that offer for another month for those who end up in the top 10.

Compare yourself, with thyself

When Sprint launched the Instinct, one of their first mistakes was comparing themselves against the iPhone. Not only did Apple receive free advertising, but it showed just how clear the screen was.

Palm (and Sprint) should let the pundits compare and contrast the phones, and not marketing execs (unless they want a public backlash).

Palm and Sprint are doing a great job of this this far, although I fear desperation for attention might kick in ruining everything (especially with WWDC rolling around in June).

Solution: Highlight your phone, wait for the Apple mania to pass (give it two weeks) before proceeding to the next idea below.

Palm Pre What?

While many people have heard of Palm–at least in the corporate world–very few in the mainstream have heard of Palm Pre.

Let’s face it, everyone has heard about the iPhone. I know plenty of kids (8 years or younger) who know exactly what an iPhone is and (sadly) think nothing can compare to it.

Suggestion: Since neither Palm or Sprint can match Apple’s market share (at least immediately), my suggestion is they introduce the world to the Palm Pre via talk shows like Oprah and Ellen.

They should focus on why the Palm Pre is “Oprah/Ellen friendly,” and then give one to every member of the audience (with 6 months free service).

This would generate headlines beyond the realm of geek, and help establish Palm as a serious iConpetitor.

Conclusion: You are probaly wondering why I, an iFanatic would seek Palm and Sprint’s success, instead of their demise.

Truth be told while I probably would never exchange my iPhone for a Palm Pre (at least without seriously testing the Pre), I do want a strong rival to appear against Apple, instead of these half baked attempts by the Blackberry Storm (who needs a UI design for their phone) and Google Android (who has a software hardware dissconnect on the HTC).

Palm is currently my best hope that a serious iRival will emerge which will not only save both companies from financial ruin (that would be Palm and Sprint), but it would spare me the agony of hearing “Hi, I’m an iPhone–and hi, I’m an Android Phone” in the not so distant future.

–Posted via iPhone

Read More

Read More