The Dude Says

Questions to ask when shopping for Homeoners Insurance or switching

2017-04-18T16:30:00.001-05:00

As I do periodically I wanted to get some quotes on homeowners policy and I wanted to make sure I was looking at things "apples to apples" comparison. Below is a list of some questions I researched to ask during the process to help.

[BASIC] What is covered under the new policy and what is excluded?
[BASIC] How much would it cost to rebuild or replace our home from a total loss? Is there a percentage of value?
[BASIC] Are there any discounts we might qualify for?
[BASIC] What would our deductibles be and for what?
[BASIC] Is mold covered under the policy?
[DETAILED] How much liability protection would we have and what is covered and what is excluded?
[DETAILED] Do you offer separate flood/earthquake/sewer backup insurance policy?
[DETAILED] What is my coverage for Additional Living Expenses (ADL) is included?
[DETAILED] Do you offer a umbrella coverage? How much would it be and what wold it cover?

I hope this helps you in your search for better rates.

Facebook Marketplace & Craiglist Acronyms

2017-04-18T16:17:00.003-05:00

You might have seen the following acronyms when searching on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. I was confused at first, but after some use I figured them out.

AFAIK: As Far as I Know
CP: Cross Posted
FS: For Sale
FCFS: First Come First Served
FP: Fixed Price or Firm Price
OBO: Or Best Offer
PPU: Please Pick Up
POMS: Posted on Multiple Sites

I hope this helps you if you had questions.

Whiskey & Bouron Life List

2017-02-07T12:07:00.000-06:00

Below is a list of Whiskey & Bourbons I have that I would like to try or have tried and reviewed:

Standard

Glenmorangi Original 10 yr [Tasted]
Eagle Rare 10 yr [Tasted]
Bulleit 10 yr [Tasted]
Monkey Shoulder [Tasted]
Buffalo Trace [Tasted]
Bower Hill Single Barrel [Tasted]

Premium

Blanton's Original Single Barrel [Tasted]
Four Roses Single Barrel [Tasted]
Four Roses Private Selection
Maker's Mark Cask Strength
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Hibiki Harmony

Ultra Premium

Yamazaki 12
Yamazaki 18
Aberlour A'bunadh Cask Strength
Glenmorangie Signet
Nikka Pure Malt

Uber Coupon Code 2017 $20 off

2017-02-07T12:06:00.001-06:00

Uber coupon code 2017 good for $20 off your first ride.

Uber Code: matts32873ue

Let us know your it works.

How to Stop or Remove Spam Calendar Invites on iCloud?

2016-11-15T14:56:00.002-06:00

NOTE: If you "Accept" or "Decline" the calendar invite this alerts the spammer that you are a real user and the spam you receive will increase.

To remove the calendar spam follow these steps as highlighted by our Dutch friends at appletips.nl

Step 1. Open your iCloud calendar app (for this demonstration I am using the web version)

Step 2. Go to Calendars and add a new calendar

Step 3. Click the "Edit" button and then the "+" to add a calendar. You can call it anything you want "spam," or leave it as the default "untitled 1." I left mine as the default "untitled 1."

Step 4. Open each invite and move it to the new calendar "untitled 1"

Step 5. Repeat this step for all spam invites.

Step 6. Now delete the spam calendar "untitled 1." Click the "Edit" button then the red button next to "untitled 1." to delete the spam calendar.

Not only will this remove all current spam, but it should eliminate any further ones from that sender.

Best iPhone Case for 6/6S & iPhone 6/6S Plus

2016-07-19T13:23:00.001-05:00

After trying several cases over the last year I have settled on a case that fits my style, personality and provides functionality.

My recommendation for best iPhone case is the Spigen "Slim Armor" case. This is the case that I now use on my iPhone 6.

Pros:

Feels very durable
Has a lightweight design
Has enough friction to not constantly fall out of your pocket
Easily access the headphone port
Allows phone to be connected to a good variety of third party devices
Allows free access to the Tough ID for quick access to phone

Con:

Case is not an ultra durable case (maximum protection)
Case does not come with a belt clip or holster for specific activities
Case does not provide superior protection for the screen

In my extensive use of this case I can tell you that I have been pleasantly surprised that for around $16 I have a case that fulfills the majority of what I want in an iPhone case. Before this case I was using the OtterBox Defender and found it to be bulky and awkward. The case hid the features of the phone and the protective film over the Touch ID sensor.

I have dropped the phone inadvertently while using it and the case provided a great buffer from a waist height drop. The case protects the corners and will protect the phone against a face first fall. The one downside in the protection area is that it will not protect the phone against a piecing fall. For example if the phone would fall onto a sharp rock it may crack the glass.

Overall, I believe you will be surprised by how seamless this case will protect the phone while not interfering with your use.

If your interested in what they look like check them out here:
iPhone 6/6S: http://amzn.to/2a8sTZr
iPhone 6 plus / 6S plus: http://amzn.to/2a8tsmb

Best iPhone Case for 6/6S & iPhone 6/6S Plus

2016-07-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

Feels very durable
Has a lightweight design
Has enough friction to not constantly fall out of your pocket
Easily access the headphone port
Allows phone to be connected to a good variety of third party devices
Allows free access to the Tough ID for quick access to phone

Con:

Case is not an ultra durable case (maximum protection)
Case does not come with a belt clip or holster for specific activities
Case does not provide superior protection for the screen

Pay ATT Bill with Promotional Card Online

2015-01-24T11:01:00.001-06:00

Below are the steps on how to pay your ATT bill online using your Promotional Card.

I was having a hard time finding out how to pay my ATT bill with my "Promotional Card" that I had received when I had sent in my old iPhone 4. Several websites indicated there where "hacks" to be able to get this to work and after contacting the website on the card www.att.com/tradein and calling the 1-877-659-1886 number I was directed to go to an ATT retail store (not a authorized retailer). Finally I found that the website has been updated and you can do it all online now as of 1/2015.

Log into your ATT account
Click on the "Make a Payment"

Note if your have auto-payment enabled you may need to alter it for the month

Under "Payment Method" you can now select "New Promotional Card"
Enter the information from the Promotional Card
Success! You should be able to credit your account from your Promotional Card.

Swtiching to Droco 6 Blade System from Gillette Fusion Proglide (Bonus: Dorco Codes)

2014-07-06T17:50:00.000-05:00

I wanted to make a change. I was sick with the price per cartridge that I was paying to use the Gillette Fusion Proglide ($49.98 for 14 ct = $3.57 per cartridge) and I decided that it was time to look for an alternative. I have used the Gillette Fusion over the last few years after switching from the Mach III.

I found the Dorco 6 Blade System as a comparative substitute for what I needed the razor to do. The price from the Dorco USA website is $5.71 for the handle and 2 cartridges or $6.25 for 4 ct = $1.56 per cartridge. That's over a $2 savings per each cartridge.

I have used the Dorco 6 Blade System to shave both my face and head and have found that it took a few times to get used to the different style than the Fusion Proglide. I have found that for my head shaving it does take a few extra strokes to get the back of my head. Using it on my face I have found a comfortable and smooth shave.

Overall, for the price I would encourage anyone to purchase a base set and give it a try. If it works it will save you a bunch of money. When switching know that it will take a few shaves at least two weeks to really break in the new razor. Most of it is just getting used to the hold and technique for using a different blade system.

Pro's:
- Razor did not nick or cut and appeared sharp
- 6 blade system provided a comfortable shave experience
- Blade has good movement to get hard to reach spots

Con's:
- The razor head feels smaller than others
- Razor handle has a little cheaper feel

Other Suggestions:
- Dollar Shave Club
- Harry's Razors

Dorco USA Discounts:
Dorco Code Save 20%
Coupon Code: TYTYTY
Expires: 9-12-2014

~~Dorco Code Save 20%~~
~~Coupon Code: TOGETHER~~
~~Expires: 8-31-2014~~

~~Dorco Coupon Code Save 25%~~
~~Coupon Code: BTS2014~~
~~Expires: 8/15/14~~

Dorco Coupon Code Save 25%
Coupon Code: DTravel25
Expires: 8/8/14

Walmart 1 Hour Guarantee - 2013

2013-11-29T15:45:00.003-06:00

The short version:
Tried to use Walmarts 1 hour guarantee service completely sucked. No phone service, still had to wait in line 2.5 hours to pay for card so I returned the card and walked in Target the next day and walked out with same product in-hand. Someone at Walmart should have had a plan B.

The long version:
See below

What to know:
Walmart was offering a 1 hour guarantee on Thanksgiving Day 2013 for two main events 6PM and 8 PM and Black Friday morning at 8 AM if you met certain criteria.

Some things to know:

You must claim voucher by December 1st
You can't lose the credit (it turns into a large gift card)
In-store pick-up only
You may not get the exact same item you ordered

For a full list of "Details and Gotcha's" check here http://www.gottabemobile.com/2013/11/28/walmart-black-friday-2013-guaranteed-deal-details-gotchas

My personal experience:
My wife and I made the conscious decision to go out on Thanksgiving Day for only one item because it was guaranteed and we could get it for on-sale and with $100 gift card to use for other gifts. So after getting home from our family dinner we decided to head out to Walmart at 15 to 6:00 PM to try to get their 1 hour guarantee card to have the ability to purchase an iPad Mini and get the $100 gift card to use for other gifts.

When we arrived at the Walmart (on North Avenue in Northlake, IL 60164) it was still a crazy zoo and people were already tearing into the 6:00 PM shrink wrapped isles of products that were denoted by balloons (GPS here, Canon camera, etc). One group had even taken it upon themselves to start opening an 8:00 PM deal and I thought we were about to see the national guard deployed. So we finally made our way to the "iPad Line" and began asking for what we needed to do. It appeared that with all the extra help that 1 out of every 5 employees actually knew what was going on and the others were just decoys wearing a Walmart smock attempting to direct people (very timidly). So from the beginning a frustrating process. Finally after 10 minutes a lady came around and issued us a "voucher" that we had to hold onto and pay for our product and the wait started. This process took of waiting and paying for our voucher took over 2.5 hours of waiting in line and watching another 8:00 PM sale happen. Which happened 5 minutes early according to my cell phone. But people had begun to arrive and find the shrink wrapped products and hold onto items "claiming" them until they were unwrapped.

Once we paid we were told that we needed to go home as the voucher indicated and register for our product and designate which store we wanted it shipped to. Our first big surprise was that the gift card was an e-gift card that we would receive only after our product shipped. The cashier clearly stated we had until December 1st to do this and at the time seemed like a long time away (this was Thursday November 28th). However, when I got home and tried to access the website I couldn't get one and had to wait for a few hours until I could get through. Second big surprise was that once I could access the website my receipt was not done correctly and did not have the required "Access Code" to register my iPad Mini. So my next two options were to call their support number 1 (877) 745-0190 which I tried to call (about 30 times) but I finally gave up because it was the same recording over and over and it didn't let stay on hold to get a representative or give useful information.

Finally I tried two more times on off hours at (2:30 AM and 5:30 AM) and still the same and decided to give up and wait until later in the day on Friday. So now that long time it seemed like we had seemed to be closing and the amount of time I already spent trying to get this product had swelled.

Well we headed out to hit a few shops on Friday as usually do on Black Friday (Toys-r-us, Target, Sears) and while we were at Target I happened to stop in the electronics department and low-an-behold they had 10 iPad Mini's left. We decided to put the whole Walmart situation behind us and leave the store with one in hand. Not only that we got a $75 gift card that we were able to use immediately on some other gifts we were getting for the kids. Another reminder of the difference in service and quality between Target and Walmart.

Afterwards we stopped at Walmart and within 10 minutes in line again I was able to return my $330 voucher. They did offer to fix the situation and print me a new receipt but it was beyond hope.

SO pie in your eye Walmart. Someone had a big idea that could have a been a huge holiday success or a big mess and I know which one my vote would be cast.

What I found out:

Sometimes the website was flaky walmart.com/1hourguarantee you should use walmart.com/onehg (worked better than the redirect)
Some stores didn't print the "Access Code" on the receipt and ask you to call 1 (877) 745-0190 which has a simple message and then hangs up (yes no answering service or putting you on-hold)
If you use the voucher you don't get your e-gift card until after your product ships
It was noted later that the fine print denoted that Walmart had the right to substitute similar products (would have been interesting if they tried to substitute an iPad Mini)
Walmart still seems inadequately prepared for the crowds and sales they promote on Thanksgiving & Black Friday (but very interested in profits)

The dude abides.

Hunger Games demonstrates parallels outside plot

2012-04-02T14:39:00.012-05:00

After bending to my will I decided that I needed to go watch the Hunger Games this past weekend as I began hearing from friends & colleagues who spoke highly of the movie. All the reviews were coming back positive even from people who originally had no intention on going to see the movie.

The first thing to note about the movie was that it was an incredibly tense movie and at times kept you on the edge of your seat and provided for some dramatic encounters. My only criticisms would revolve around some of the bad acting (except Jennifer Lawrence) that flows in and out at times.

Having not taken the time yet to read the stories I find that I am drawn towards downloading the books (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mocking Jay) to experience this adventure further.

My diversion. After finishing the movie I could not contain the thoughts that were going through my mind wondering why such a story in today's day-and-age would be so popular. Then it occurred to me that one could draw strong parallels from the movie to the current socioeconomic condition of the US and the diverging classes of our citizens. As the storyline progresses you begin to feel (yes I mean feel) how Katniss begins to recognize her surroundings and understand the true game she is playing. By game I am not referring to the "hunger games" but to the game in which the citizens of the district are pawns in the large game of "life". As the socialites continue to find enjoyment from the struggles of the lower class citizens (think occupy Wall Street & the 1%) we begin to gain a better picture. Now this is one take on the comparison and you can equate it to a myriad of past struggles of good vs evil, have's and the have not's but my proposition is that this is what is making the movie a hit. The fact that a person can visualize the gravity of the situation in a Hollywood analogy fit with a life struggle and praised victor.

Note that this was written before I have read/finished the books and I hope to update my opinion as my knowledge increases. Please feel free to agree/disagree/respond as you feel appropriate.

The dude abides.

Project: Remote Temperature Sensor Array

2012-01-19T16:06:00.000-06:00

Alright. I have begun to work on a new home project and wanted to document my work (because I often forget) and if anyone else is interested. I have broken down this project into 4 phases with my end goal being completed at the end of Phase 4.

Here is my project code named: Thunder Rock (yup, just because).

Phase 1. Develop a temperature sensor that can read the ambient temperature have have it display the readings on my computer via USB connection.

Phase 2. Build a multiple sensor array via wired sensors and have the temperature be displayed on my computer.

Phase 3. Convert sensors to be wireless and transmit the data remotely back to my desktop computer.

Phase 4. Connect working wireless sensor array to the WWW and allow myself to view the different temperatures on the web.

NOTES:
- For the beginning stages of the project I plan to use an Arduino Uno as my micro-controller
- There have been a lot of great resources on internet and I am not trying to re-invent the computer here.

Best & Worst Recommendations

2011-07-23T06:59:00.000-05:00

Updated: 7-23-2011

Below is a list of items that I would always recommend and feel they are a great value and other items I have used and believe them to be a complete waste of money and should be avoided. These are my opinions.

BEST RECOMMENDATIONS

RipIt - [Mac App] This has been a very reliable alternative to backup movies I want to watch at a later date. Very few DVD's it won't work on and it just works when you put the DVD in.

WORST RECOMMENDATIONS

Dell TV - [Consumer Electronics] I purchased a Dell TV probably 5 years ago and only a little over a year it stopped working (remote, display, etc) properly. I will never recommend purchasing a Dell TV ever again with all the other quality alternatives.

Podcasting with two USB Mic's in Garageband PICS -v2.0

2011-03-06T14:44:00.000-06:00

After getting a few requests I have decided to update my old post to current info for OSX 10.6.4 and Garageband 3.0.5. Yes, I know that there is a new version of iLife'11 available but I have not had the need to purchase, but once I do I will update my post to v3.0. Also, new is a notes feature at the end of the post for strange things that I have come across.

This following post is an updated version of my original: Podcasting with two USB Mic's in Garageband PICS

So after searching the internet and apple forums I found some work arounds, but finally found a way that works great and is easy to setup using the utilities provided by my Mac.

So here is how I found out how to do it:

Step 1. Plug both of your USB mics into your Mac

Step 2. Open up the "Audio MIDI Setup" utility Applications -> Utilities -> Audio MIDI Setup

Step 3. In the bottom left of the "Audio MIDI Setup" window click on the "+" button to add a new aggregate device.

Step 4. Locate your two USB mics and check in the "use" column. You can now double click on the new device "Aggregate Device" and change the name. I changed mine to "Dual Blue Snowball Mics" so that I could easily identify it later on.

Step 5. Verify that your newly created aggregate device shows up in your audio settings. You can find it under System Preferences -> Sound -> Inputs

Step 6. Open your Garageband podcast project. You now want to set your Garageband Preferences to take the input from your new aggregate device. Garageband -> Preferences -> Audio/MIDI -> Audio Input and find your device for mine I added Dual Blue Snowball.

Step 7. Now to add the input to the podcast poject. For this I added two new tracks using the Podcasting -> No effects setting (you can set this by using the track info on the right hand side after clicking on the track).

NOTE: Don't forget to change the "input" on the track info to "Channel 1 & 2 (stereo)" for one of the tracks and "Channel 3 & 4 (stereo)" for the second track. Otherwise Garageband won't pick up both mic inputs.

You should now be able to test either mic and verify that they are input and being recorded by Gargageband.

Good luck and happy podcasting.

The dude abides.

NOTES:

- Make sure you are connecting your USB mics directly into the laptop or desktop computer. If you use a USB hub you may have some interference or it may not pickup the mic correctly.

Updated: 3-6-11

Wikipedia the worlds oyster...

2009-06-30T22:29:00.000-05:00

After reading recent criticism about accuracy of Wikipedia I find myself in an interesting position. Currently I am finishing my second Masters degree and over that time I have written countless articles on a wide range of topics from a few pages to over fifty. When asked by my professor to utilize credible sources and "peer reviewed journals" I think nothing over it. I have learned to navigate the educational abyss of the the university library like a busy street during rush hour downtown. However, this doesn't mean I always begin my search flying blind and disregard the wealth of information available on the internet. Thus this brings me to Wikipedia the self regulated largest collection of knowledge with over a couple million english articles. Although I agree that you should never find a wikipedia entry as your primary source it can be a great spot to start your search as it offers a good overview of almost any topic imaginable and if it current doesn't have an article by the end of your research you can author one. Often I have read an entry in Wikipedia as an overview of the topics I am going to examine to help me drill down to that next level and to begin to make sense of what constraints are for the topic.

So the next time you need to research a topic don't shy away from the opportunity to begin your search on the internet using Wikipedia as a starting point. Although remember that it's not a good idea to quote directly from a wikipedia page and it's worth the extra ten minutes to find the original quote from a reputable source.

Be Adventurous in the Current Economy

2009-03-01T08:57:00.000-06:00

Although it may be an interesting turbulent time there appears to be a lot of positives that consumers and investors can take advantage of.

For example:

- Car shopping. Many car dealerships being hit hard by the current economy are beginning to offer better and better deals to car buyer. The trick is that you need to be patient and work them against each other, and also realize that financing may be a sticking point if you need to go through a bank instead of a car dealership themselves. Recently my wife and I had found a great opportunity at a local Honda dealer and recently purchased a 2009 Pilot. We did this because it was once of the rare times that we have ever seen Honda offer such great price on a vehicle.

- Internet shopping. If you have been looking for a particular item it's a great time to browse the internet for deals.

Best way to find deals. Begin at either Google.com (do a quick search for price comparison) or Amazon.com (to find out quick reviews about most products). Next when you find the website you would like to purchase from be sure to use your resources and do a search for "coupon code" etc. This can turn up a lot of hidden treasures and can save you a bundle of money.

To make up for loss of sales companies have been offering steep discounts to get new members or increase sales.

- Buy last years model. When looking to buy something (cars, tv's, etc) consider purchasing the previous model or years product. Many sellers are trying desperately to move these items and continue to offer steep discounts. You may not get the latest/greatest, but you can get a very similar product a great discount.

- Investing. Consider if you have not already begun saving for you future the opportunity of putting away money pre-tax (401K, IRA, etc). This can automatically increase your current savings by using pre-tax money to begin building your nest egg. A good starting point is finding a discount brokerage account and buying a few index funds. **Remember that this is a long-term investment** By investing now you can continue to purchase stocks at a depressed value (even if the market continues to drop).

Overall, may sellers are trying to keep drumming up business and continue to offer sales and discount to keep products moving off the shelves. So if your patient and do your research good things can happen and great deals can be found.

The Dude Abides.

Car Stalking

2009-02-14T13:21:00.000-06:00

So what do we do for fun when we want to have a no hassle approach to car "browsing." My wife and I had coined the phase "car stalking." Which simply put means we do our research online and then find the local dealers that carry the cars we are looking at. After the dealership closes we head over and drive around to look at the model we like, writing down specs from the window sheets and getting a chance to look at the colors. Although this will work for some, I am not suggesting everyone try this. The pros to this are: we can really look at the spec sheets and do a thorough walk around without feeling watching, no pressure to test drive or make a deal. Cons don't get to see the inside and we need to go back to work on the deal.

But overall if your just in the market to "look" at cars we have a found this to be a no-hassle way to do that.

The dude abides.

2008 Tax Suites: Buyer Beware!

2009-01-29T23:48:00.000-06:00

Very sly... buyer beware. As tax season is approaching and those of us early birds who file to get our money back that the government has graciously held for us back have begun working already on our 2008 taxes. However, after doing a little research I have noticed that several tax programs most notably TaxCut (H&R Block) and Turbo Tax (Intuit) have removed the packing of state e-filing from their packages.

Meaning that last year if I would have purchased the "Premier" version of TaxCut I would have been allowed to prepare both Federal and State taxes AND e-file both federal AND state. Currently they have removed these options in their 2008 software packages.

When digging I found a response from a representative at TaxCut that stated that few people had used the state e-filing so they had removed it and lowered the cost. Thus lowering the overall cost of the software package. This may be true and in some instance can save some people some money, but others who are more creatures of habit may overlook this small feature switch. Just a heads up. Now go get cracking on your taxes.

The Dude Abides.

Welcome to the future

2008-12-15T00:08:00.001-06:00

Looking for inspiration in today's world seem very easy to find.

I have the internet at my finger tips (literally via my iPhone) and access to information at incredible speeds. What boggles my mind is the things we are still faced with as a developing society.

Take for instance our recent financial downturn that we have are currently experiencing. Who would have speculated that something like this would have happened? A few did but most of the world didn't listen and now we find ourselves in a pickle. The US housing market has plunged the stock market has crashed and crashed again, and we still don't have an answer on if we will need to bail out the "Big 3." Hindsight is 20/20 but when did we move so recklessly into the future without caution for much of anything?

Now there are tough questions being answered and people and having to "pay the piper." What sucks are the millions of people who were honestly taken advantage of during the housing boom and were given the wrong types or size of mortgages who will suffer because of the other group of people who own two or more houses they were trying to flip or knowingly asked for a $350K mortgage when they could only afford $200K. It's how are system works thought we must flush everything out or help everyone because if we don't those who know how to work the system will get all the benefits while those who truly need it will not.

So looking forward I hope we take a step back and see where we are now and these leaves a small scar on the minds of Americans as we realize what we are capable of good and bad. Because there is a chance to make a difference and turn things around. We have a chance to change our future and make things better, but we must always realize what got us here as well.

The Dude Abides.

Pondering the World - 1

2008-07-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

Things that make me go "huh." One of the biggest items I ponder are why other people do the things they do...

Here are some examples...

- Went to a local restaurant that has a buffet and clearly at the start of the line it clearly states "One bowl please." Yet there are still those people (big, small, old, young, etc) who choose to take two bowls. What in our human nature causes us to disobey a simple guideline. I would imagine its the fact that there are no penalties for anyone who violates this norm and that because others are doing it, it must be OK.

- A second example is where I watched as a car pulled into a parking lot that was full and because there was no room decided to park next to another car (not in a spot) and make their own new row. Even better was they guy in the expensive BMW who pulled up and actually moved a set of cones restricting people from parking in a spot to use the spot for himself.

Where in our history have people found the need to feel entitled to these items?

The Dude Abides.

iPhone 3G - Release Info UPDATE

2008-06-09T11:27:00.000-05:00

EDIT: As all good things go, if it's too good to be true it probably is. The actually release date for the 3G iPhone is set for July 11th.

The new 3G iPhone that is expected and now confirmed via sources from Gizmodo will be released TODAY Monday June 9th after the keynote address by Apple guru Steve Jobs.

Althought it is still based on confirmed sources based on recent news about boxes arriving to retailers worldwide this has some credence.

Now to wait and see what happens.

Follow the news live via MacrumorsLive.com

iPhone 3G - Release date TBD (coming soon)!

2008-04-05T22:43:00.001-05:00

With all the recent news of the new revision of the iPhone due out in the next few months it has spurred some thoughts on how well received this will be and what will it mean for AT&T.

Recently during a presentation Walt Mossberg Co-editor of All Things Digital has stated that iPhone will be 3G within the next 60 days. This has increase speculation about the summer release of the iPhone rev 2.0.

As someone who has waited to jump on the bandwagon for several reasons, but most notably because of the 2 year contract I was tied into with Verizon Wireless has decided to wait it out and switch over in September after my contact expired.

Currently reasons to wait for the next generation of iPhone (mostly speculation):
- 3G network capabilities
- Ability to download and use native (non-internet depended) application on your iPhone
- Ability to cut and paste
- Larger storage capacity 32 GB +
- Corporate system integration (push email, iCal, etc)

It Must Be the Season

2007-12-22T09:03:00.001-06:00

No matter where I go the Holiday's always seem to have an opposite affect on people in regards to shopping. I find myself being cut off for parking spots and brushed out of the way as the hustle and bustle ensues. I find this irony disturbing for the holidays are a time to revel with strangers and celebrate people we love most.

Hence, a key reason why I mostly avoid the in-person shopping experience opting for one of my many favorite online stores such as Amazon.com or an other handful that offer online coupons and free shipping.

Remember next you are out and challenged with a situation, rise above, and bring the holiday spirit with you.

Warm wishes. Happy Holiday and a great New Year.

The Dude Abides.

Rhetorical Question no. 5002548

2007-12-01T00:24:00.000-06:00

When will I be able to use an iPhone on the Verizon network?

Image from: http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/344/C11529/

Apple playing nice with others...

2007-11-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

With the much anticipated release of the new version of Mac OSX 10.5 Leopard Apple has made some broad claims for the future. The bets have been made that this new version of the operating system will be the "anchor" for future application development. Having had the opportunity to install and use the new system I can see where they are coming from. This new version has several much anticipated features such as Time Machine, Cover Flow viewing, new integrated finder, and countless others.

See Apple's website to view the over 300 new features:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html

However big the news isn't about Leopard. Personally I feel the big news came when Apple released info that beginning next year they would be offering a SDK (software development kit) for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This is a huge step in the right direction. I still don't think the end result product will be as smooth as the "install.app" and "jailbreak" versions currently used on hacked iPhones and iPod Touch's but it will be close.

So now I sit in anticipation to see what Apple's next big move will be to cause others to scurry around franticly in an attempt to beat the growing giant.

The Dude Abides.