nathan jara

Yesterday, Apple released iOS4 for the iPhone and several generations of the iPod. I hooked up to iTunes and downloaded the latest update last night. I can say that once completed, which took about 5-10 minutes, I was glued to my iPhone for about the next hour :) The update is awesome. New features like folders and multitasking are done very well and are super easy to implement. I think this is something that continues to impress me with Apple products. The UI design of Apple software and operating systems are impeccable and certainly are tailored for the customers ease of use. The new camera zoom feature is nice along with the ability to designate different background wallpaper for your home screen and main menu screens. Actually, this little wallpaper feature is one of my favorite new additions. May sound silly, but having a picture of my choosing in both places is really cool. I think my other favorite new features is app-switching (a.k.a. multitasking) for applications like Pandora. Now I have the ability to continue listening to my internet radio music and switch over to check a message or email and use the iPod music controls to move to the next song or pause. I’m finding new little things here and there as I continue to use the updated OS. I haven’t found much I don’t like yet.

It was also brought to my attention today that with this latest update, Apple additionally made an update to its iTunes privacy policy, inserting a new section which describes that by accepting the new policy, the user agrees to allow Apple and third-party applications to collect specific location information, as CNET describes in more detail, to enhance application services along with marketing and advertising research, of course. The privacy policy update is a little disconcerting, however, as a user I have the ability to deny any applications from sharing my location information at anytime. In my opinion, this is a much better approach than Facebook has taken. Apple has ensured that I have control when a service is using my information, rather than Facebook deciding for me. Now, this is assuming that all of the information that is being reported back has been expressed by Apple. Still though, I guess this is the internet, so I can’t complain too much :P

On another note, here’s an intriguing trailer for next summer…

Looks like it’ll be a good summer at the movies….

Apple announced the release of its newest product this afternoon, the iPad. They (who’s “they,” you say? you know, the people who say things.) have been talking, chatting, blogging, writing and talking, chatting, blogging and writing some more about the mysterious iPad for months now. I’ve read bits and pieces about it along the way, but was never really ‘chomping at the bit’ to finally see the thing. Now that it’s been announced, I have to say that I’m still not ‘chomping at the bit.’ Before I go any further however, I must say, that the iPad, just like any other Apple product, is very sexy. And, it’s REALLY COOL.

I’d been a PC user for many years until about a year ago when I purchased my first MacBook Pro. Once I used it, I was hooked. I’m not sure if I’m a total MacHead, but I’ve definitely “made the switch” without any thought of going back. Since then I’ve also gotten an iPhone, which I love.

With a first look at the iPad, I don’t think it’s that great. It seems like it’s just a big iPhone, without the phone. I don’t think it would be very practical, especially for me. Since I already have a laptop and a mobile internet device, why would I need an iPad that does the same thing. I know that I don’t plan on forking out $500 or more on something that does the same things I can do now.

Regardless what I think, Apple knows what they’re doing. I think there definitely is a market out there for this device. Possibly for those that don’t have a newer laptop, aren’t connected with a mobile device and are looking for something to do email, surf the web, and watch movies on; the iPad would be perfect. Two features that I was really impressed with were the iCal and Contacts apps. They just look sweet. And the way you can interact with your photos? Totally cool. And because it’s a ‘touch’ device, the application interaction is very cutting edge.

About a month ago, I saw James Cameron’s new movie, AVATAR. The iPad reminds me of some of the computer interfaces that were used in the movie. (By the way, if you haven’t seen AVATAR, go, now. And don’t forget your 3D glasses.) The devices the characters used in the movie were all interacted with by touch and gestures, very similar to the iPad. I think it’s pretty amazing that, in 2010, we are seeing technology that is very close to what we see in the movies. I mean how many times have you gone to the movies and thought, whoa, how sweet would it be if we could do that! I think some of those things are getting closer to reality. The iPad is proof.

I still know I won’t be getting one, but…..

….it is really cool. :)

So I don’t know about you, but I don’t really watch a lot of TV. When I do, it’s either the morning news, a Pittsburgh Penguins game, or an Everybody Loves Raymond rerun. The rest of the time I relentlessly click the page down button on the control and search for a couple movies I can flip back and forth between. A light bulb went off about a month and a half ago, enlightening me to the fact that, hey, it’d be great if I got Netflix, then I could see all the dozens of movies I’ve missed over the years and not have to deal with stupid commercials and endless flipping. And so, today, almost a month into my Netflix membership, I am happy to report that my enlightenment period has proven to be, well, enlightening.

By the way, I just watched a totally awesome movie last night. If you’re into 80’s cheesiness, or just cheesiness in general, you should definitely checkout Johnny Dangerously. It’s a fantastic film.