The blog that's gotten one comment ever! Thanks mom!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Yay, iPhone!

So, I finally got one. And I have to say, it's pretty slick. I've been a Windows Mobile user from before Windows Mobile, before Pocket PC, when the only MS option in the mobile space was Windows CE. So this is a bit of a change for me. But I think I can safely say that it was worth it (from a usability point, let's not discuss monetary). The mobile browser continues to be the best web experience you'll find outside of one of those tiny laptops, and for 90% of what I do on a daily basis, it works. The easy synchronization with my work's exchange server, plus gmail, all right there on the device. SMS prices still bother me, but since they're practically a necessary evil, the SMS app works well and the IM like conversation tree is intuitive. In fact, the phone itself is intuitive to use. I wish some of the apps were a little more polished, Bookshelf especially, as reading eBooks is my primary non-phone use for this thing. But all the other little things it does, it does well, in a very slick fashion.

I will say this. Having to pay for a song in iTunes, then pay for it again to make it into a ringtone, is absolutely rediculous, especially if you already legally own the song from another source. My ringtone isn't a free public concert, it's a way for me to know I've got a call. Heck, my current ringtone is a midi from one of my all time favorite games (Tie Fighter) converted into an MP3 and then converted into whatever format Apple uses for ringtones. There are ways around the silliness, but that doesn't make the situation any less silly. I'm ok with artists getting paid for their work. But I don't see how making a ringtone isn't fair use.

No comments:

Have you read my blog?