After the first couple weeks of having the new iPhone 3G in my grubby little mitts (thanks to this phone, I’ve discovered just how clean/unclean my hands really are), I have put together my first impressions.  I’ve willingly given up some highly-used handset features (high-end camera with Xenon flash, high-res video recording) for some features I’ve always wanted to have on my handset, and my current Nokia /Sony Ericsson at the time, had  just never been able to deliver (usable mobile web browsing, GPS mapping… Nokia maps doesn’t cut it for me).

To me, this is a divergence device… I had to by myself a tiny little gay camera (with widescreen video that’s pretty damn nice, FYI) so I can take photos in crumby photo conditions… ie,  bars.  And since I opted for the tiniest baby camera that ever was, so far I’ve had little annoyance with carrying it along when I know the iPhone cam will fail to all measures of failure. 

I mean, this camera takes me back to somewhere between the Nokia 7610 and the Sony Ericsson K750i… so 3 to 3.5 YEARS back in the grand timeline of top-of-the-line camera phones.  One can only hope that Apple finds some sneaky way to monetize photography on the iPhone, so it’s worthwhile for them to spend the time cramming the features in the 3rd round of hardware.  All that griping aside, I’ve managed to play with the camera a good deal, and it works for the candid little snaps here and there… but coming from someone who didn’t need a separate digital camera for vacation photos, let’s just say I won’t rely on the iPhone to capture the good times like I have with phones in the past.

So what’s the friggin’ tradeoff for this miserable, painful, self-sucker-punch to the face?

Connectivity.

I no longer will take a laptop on vacation, to have in the hotel to look up places and stay connected online.  And time in the airports (I just got back a seven-flight, two week trip, I can speak plenty for airport time right now) is much more pleasurable when you have a usable Internet experience in your pocket.  And when I’m not traveling for business, I’ll ditch the laptop altogether.  But of course, will have to carry along that aforementioned tiny gay camera.

And to be able to play tunes, some pretty fun games, and watch movies on the plane, all from one device… isn’t something that came as a great experiences on my previous handsets.

   
I like white phones.   Apparently, at  least as much as tilting head slightly to the right.

Since I’m relatively new to this area of Canada, having mapping software that’s quick and easy to use, is great.  And Mark would give kudos to any device that makes it easier for me to have a better clue as to how to get places around here.

I nabbed an iPhone a few weeks before the launch of the 3G, and had a realization… the touch-screen, for text input… wasn’t the big challenge for me…. it was the qwerty altogether.  I flew through messages with predictive text like nobody’s business.  I’m starting to get used to a qwerty, but luckily I haven’t found the touch element of the text input to be as big of a deal as I had considered I might. 

Comparing it in the hand to the first iPhone I borrowed from a friend, it’s much less slippery, even though the previous version’s metal back was a much classier look.  The bonus is that the white version, which I typically spring for, doesn’t show fingerprints at all like the black model.  Hardware-wise, this thing is rock solid and feels great in the hand.  But those stingy Apple bitches should have put a standing dock in the case.  Stingy.

And while I’ve "sold out" in the eyes of many of my readers… my response is… it’s Nokia’s/SE’s fault.  But you’re a little bit right.

I’ve been quite loyal fans of their handsets over the years, and still am.  And the first version of the iPhone, didn’t have enough connectivity advantages to make toss my phone aside.  And a whole 18 months later, SE is hurting, and Nokia’s next generation touch interface makes me watch to hit them, hold them tight, and then hit them again.  A stylus? 

In fact, my bet is on RIM to show Nokia up on the front of a powerful/usable touch interface.  Symbian needs to be rewritten, not made slightly bigger, for touch.  Looking at it’s current state, Symbian has  barely changed since it’s beginnings, and has gotten bloated, sloppy, and sad.  At least SE has made steps over the years to keep it’s phone UI powerful, quick, and more usable for it’s purposes.

And if you think I’m the only Nokia-lubbin’ blogger that’s bought an iPhone 3G, you’re wrong… I’m close to those much more in the web spotlight than myself, and I’m just the only one not hiding it from my readers :)

So, for now, I’m really loving the 3G.  We’ll see how I feel after a bit more time, as who knows what I might feel as time goes on.  And no, I haven’t owned my last Nokia or Sony Ericsson phone.  But if they’re just gonna sit this one out, I’ll dance with with the iPhone 3G for the time being.

Since making the move over to Wordpress and Flickr last Fall, one of the few things that didn’t make it through, was photos comments for photos in my journal.  I couldn’t get the Flickr comments to show *on* my site, so just didn’t allow comments on my flickr photostream (where my photo journal actually pulls from) for a good long while.

After realizing that I could just link to the Flickr page for comments, and it wouldn’t be too bad to send users off onto my Flickr photostream, I’ve added a link for comments below each photo… just like old times.  Flickr requires you to have a login to comment, but I’d gamble a good many people out there have a Flickr or a yahoo! account they could login with if they felt like leaving a note.

If you don’t have a free Flickr account, it’s an easy sign-up and a great service, the best place to post and manage photos online… if you are a member, comment away and add me as a Flickr contact if ya please.

I’ve resisted posting anything all week, about the giant hubbub-fit Canada has been rightfully throwing over the data plans that Rogers/Fido had announced for the iPhone.  Between RuinediPhone.com (aka FuckYouRogers.com) getting tossed around the blogosphere, to news stations doing features on  the unfair pricing, it seemed to be enough for Rogers to cave and give us a break.  If only to look less evil… for a while, anyhow.

From the launch this Friday, July 11th, until August 31st (I have a hunch it might get extended once they realize people just want peace of mind, and nobody really ever exceeds the amount), Rogers/Fido announced they’ll be offering 6GB data/month for $30… which you can add onto a new contract, or add to your existing voice plan.  Sweet! 

That’s roughly 4X the *MAX* of what I’m hearing power users log on their iPhones right now… the ones that travel with it, constantly emailing and browsing, with no regard to limits.  In fact, it’s my understanding that AT&T’s "Unlimited" is capped at fair use being under 5GB/mo (ie: if you exceed 5GB, you’ll hear from them asking you to cut back or prepare to pay for excessive/abusive use).  So 6GB is as good as unlimited in my books.  It’s 5GB/mo more than I’ll likely use, which should let me go nuts without having to worry.

Once you add it up with voice and text and any other options, you’ll still end up paying more than peeps would down in the US a similar iPhone setup… but at least it’s closer to the level we’re USED TO getting gouged for mobile services.

Now the big question… where do I line up to get one on Friday morning in Ottawa?  Anyone other eager-beavers in the area trying to land one on launch day?  Leads to who’ll be stocking them, Friday morning?  Shoot an email to andrewATbravehoundDOTcom.  Or just drop a comment… and bring donuts, I’m cranky in the morning.

Jay Brannan’s album is out on iTunes.  I saw him live in Vancouver when I was back for a visit, and he was amazing.  Go sample and download his full album, and be sure to catch him live for a great show.

Preview & Purchase here via iTunes.

I have to admit, I enjoy the creativity in little mysterious online campaigns that Nokia runs for a product or service launch.

OpenAtOwnRisk.com is a new mini-site with the following mystery, with a really DaVinci Code feel to it.  Have a look-see.

I’d say that on Monday… the start of the week the you-know-iWhat launches… it would be best for Nokia to fully launch the campaign for the Nokia "Tube"… their touch-screen phone to appeal to the user-experience whores tempted by the iPhone, but would rather stay with Nokia.  But I have a hunch that won’t happen… and by the rumors by the handful of bloggers that *really* sleep with Nokia, I’m sad to say it looks like it won’t be a handset at all.  That might make too much sense.

Then what could it be?

You’ve likely forgotten by now (or never heard about) Nokia’s "Comes With Music" program.  To refresh, this service allows you to download music to your device for 12 months, and keep the tunes as long as you own the device or transfer the tracks to a PC.  This could be the launch of the service with already-known handsets that are now ready to ship.  That’s my only guess at an announcement that might generate some buzz, that isn’t a new product itself.

That’s all fine and dandy, but I still wish it was a device… one that would help ward off the purchase that I and a few gazillion others will make next Friday morning.

Click to Play Elsiane - "Mend"

When I went to see Robyn on Montreal, I walked into La Tulipe and instantly heard an amazing voice booming through the speakers.  Montreal duo Elsiane was the opening act, and I think audience was surprised at just how engrossed they’d become.

People stood, staring at the group’s lead singer Elsieanne Caplette, as she crept and swayed around on the stage… more a musical creature more than a band vocalist.  The crowd applauded madly between songs, but stood in awe watching as she oozed each song.

Thanks to a comment from a fellow blogger Adam (thanks!), I was able to track down this band - he too, was impressed with Elsiane, and posted an entry about it.  I loved her live performance, I felt compelled to share my favorite track.  Her voice is so bizarre and haunting, we weren’t sure at first if she was even singing in English.  Many of her songs, are almost a dual between her voice as an instrument, and the jazzy, flowing percussion.

If you like what you hear, check out other tracks on their myspace, and catch them at a live gig - though I didn’t see a lot of tour dates.