Vox

Virtual Readality

I haven't written about my Kindle lately, but feel an update is in order as I have found another complaint.

Not all books translate into Kindle format.

I knew there would be certain genres that would not make the leap to eInk; e.g. the scrapbooking and other craft titles I enjoy would be a big disappointment without the gorgeous color photos. However, a couple of text specific titles have caused me irritation, as well.

Both were read via the "Sample Chapters" feature offered by Amazon. In many instances, a quick start on the sample has been all I need to go ahead and complete the purchase. Unfortunately, in the case of Michelle Malkin's Culture of Corruption, I found the typos and formatting issues completely off-putting. So much so that, should I choose to read the rest, I would avoid the Kindle version - unless they redo the conversion. I assume that in the dead-tree version, they have proofreaders that would have stopped that.

Then there is Glenn Beck's Arguing with Idiots, which I wouldn't even have looked twice at if not for the glowing reviews I am seeing all over the internets, and the ability to sample before I buy. The book, though, appears to be laid out to include fun little facts and drawings and trivia....most likely on the edges of the page in obviously separate spaces so as not to disrupt the flow while you are reading. In the Kindle version, as you read happily along, you are suddenly in a paragraph that has nothing whatsoever to do with the subject at hand. There is no real delineation (I noticed a couple had an extra blank line preceding) and no rhyme or reason. Then poof, there you are, back in the chapter you thought you were consuming in the first place. Again, there is no way I would buy this title for my Kindle unless they took the time to redo it and make it readable. I assume with this one also, that the dead-tree version has someone actually thumb through the finished product to ensure customer satisfaction.

I LOVE my Kindle, and I certainly find plenty to fill it up, plenty to keep me reading. However, neither of those titles was a small release - with two proven authors writing two almost guaranteed bestsellers, why wouldn't the publisher want to ensure a quality product for a market like Kindle owners?

To Quiz or Not To Quiz

I am going to violate Facebook etiquette (or not, depending on who you read) by commenting on a Facebook etiquette post. I've seen it posted on two friends walls, so it must be striking a chord with them.

Trouble is, the things he says are so annoying really aren't that bad - or are avoidable, as far as I know. So...at the risk of annoying people even farther, here is my take:

1. Update Your Status About Mundane Activities
   Perhaps this doesn't bother me because I am guilty of it, perhaps I just happen to enjoy hearing mundane details of my friends lives - or perhaps my friends aren't mundane enough to be truly tedious. Whatever the reason, I like it. After all, the question is "What's on your mind?" not "What deep intellectual thoughts do you have, or terribly important tasks are you completing?"

2. Keep On Poking Away
   I don't get the reason for pokes, but I can't say they are annoying. I've never gotten into a "poke war", but then, I just ignore them. Still, it is just a little notification on your sidebar - not really a major pain.

3. Sharing Your Quiz Results
   I can see this annoying some people, but I have friends & family who take every quiz that comes down the pike. I have occasionally taken a quiz just because I knew the previous friend to take it would be amused to see my results. You can ignore them if you choose, or giggle at them...which I assume is the spirit in which they are offered. You can also block each app from appearing, so the first time you see the "What color sheets should you have?" show up on your page you can block it, and never see it again, no matter how many friends take it.

4. Invite Your Friends To Some Sort Of Battle
   I have to admit I find this one a bit annoying but, again, you can just block the app. I don't know whether it tells the inviter that the invitee has blocked those invites, or whether they just think I am ignoring them - either way, it isn't much bother for me.

5. Reply To Broadcast Messages
   Perhaps because my friends list is still small, perhaps because I enjoy those mundane details, perhaps because I can ignore stuff that gets off topic - just really not something that causes me any issues.

6. Tag Your Friends In Unattractive Photos
   This is one I do have a problem with, but I also find mitigating circumstances. It would never occur to me to post (let alone tag) an unflattering photo of my friends. (I have found a couple of unflattering shots of me on here, though). Why would I want to portray anyone I care enough about to consider a friend in anything but a good light? That said, however, I notice that younger generations view pictures in a completely different way. They have no problems at all posting every picture, of every friend, at every event where they had a camera or camera phone. It is all about capturing a feeling in a 'bigger' way, so the quality of the image is less important than the quality of the memory it invokes.

7. Friend People Who Hated You In High School
   Ummm...why would you? And, if you did, why would they accept? This one seems like such a no-brainer I can't even figure out why it is on the list. If you don't know or like someone - don't accept their friend request. If you don't know or like someone - don't make a friend request.
   

So, there it is. Sure to annoy someone on Facebook, or here ;-)

Read All About It

One of the fun options with the Kindle 2 is the ability to subscribe to various periodicals which are delivered wirelessly to your unit. Genius, in most cases.*

I was really looking forward to the newspaper delivery, and was happy to hear our local rag was one of the many Kindle ready dailies - even though the print version is not a very high quality product. Most 'local' papers (SF Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, etc) are $5.99 per month. The Arizona Republic, however, thinks it is worth $9.99 - the same rate being charged by the big guys; Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, etc.

I decided to give them a try, anyway, and downloaded a sample issue. I knew the Kindle edition was abridged, leaving out some of the silly, fun bits like the crossword. What I didn't realize was that, in the case of the AZ Republic, the Kindle version is stripped. Unlike the other newspapers I have sampled, the Republic removes all graphic content; no pictures, no graphs, no tables. They don't do it very cleanly, either, leaving in the references to photos and such (i.e. "Arpaio, seen during a January press conference above") There is no reason for this, however, as the Kindle displays images quite well (though in gray scale)

I have been getting the The Wall Street Journal for a few days (pictures and all) and am thrilled with the content. Given the choice of which $10 paper to choose, the WSJ wins, hands down. I may still want a smaller market paper, as well, but I will end up going out of state. Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Orange County - all have great papers at a much better price. AZ Republic, even when I try to support them they find a way to stop me.

* Investor's Business Daily gets poor reviews from Kindle users for it's lack of charts, one of the best things about the print edition.

Curling Up With A Good Book

Actually, it is more like curling up with hundreds of them, right at your fingertips.

Partly because I am spoiled, and partly because she wanted to bribe me into some extra work, she got me a Kindle 2 this past week. It is no secret that I have been craving one and I think they heard my squeal of delight across town. Words can clearly not express how very cool it was to find such a treasure on my desk.

I have since been sampling books (they give you a chapter free), purchasing a couple, and being amazed & delighted at the volume of volumes available for free in the Kindle store. Dickens, Austen, Churchill, Lincoln.... thousands of great books are yours for the asking, and delivered to your Kindle wirelessly in less than 60 seconds. Genius. Joyousness.

The ease of use is even better than I anticipated, and the real book 'feel' blew me away. The pages look like pages and are much easier on the eyes than a computer screen. I assumed I would need a Kindle cover/holder to give me something to hold onto while reading but the device itself truly sits so comfortably in the hands you could do without. I will get one still, but more to protect my treasure and less to make it book-like.

The text-to-speech is handy, though I doubt I will use it much (and it is no substitute for audio books). The very basic (and experimental) web browser is intriguing, though at this point it is certainly no match for my G-1. Being able to bookmark & highlight the text, as well as include notes as I read, is such a help. The onboard dictionary (place the cursor next to a word for a definition, click to jump to the dictionary page) will be handy at some point, and would be fantastic for students working through a reading list.

All this happiness doesn't come cheap and as much as I was craving one, I was unlikely to fork out that kind of dough on a 'gadget' that I hadn't even seen in person. I am so lucky to be so spoiled, and so grateful to my sister for being less practical about these things than I.

My Kindle review = WOW.

My one complaint so far is the inability to add Kindle versions of books I want to my wish list. This would seem like a no brainer for Amazon to incorporate, and how great to turn on my Kindle to find someone gifted me with a book - instant gratification for us both. I sent an inquiry last night, and this morning received this reply.

Although digital items such as Kindle books cannot be added to the Wish List directly from their product page at this time, you can add these digital items to your Wish List by using the Universal Wish List Button.

Although this feature is meant to be used to add things you want from other web sites to your Wish List, you can also use it to include digital items from our own store to your Wish List so that you can keep track of the digital media that you may want to order later.

To add the Universal Wish List Button to your browser, visit the web link below to get the button:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/wishlist/get-button

Once the "Add to Wish List" button is installed, just click the button in your tool bar to add an item on any website to your Amazon.com Wish List.

Just know that if your friends & family browse your Wish List, they will not be able to order the listed digital items for you. Clicking the "Shop this store" button will only allow someone to order a digital media item from Amazon for themselves.

The purchase and download of digital content from Amazon.com is associated with the Amazon.com account used to make the original purchase. Because digital content cannot be transferred to a different Amazon.com account after purchase, digital products cannot be given as gifts.

My guess is that they just haven't worked out the process, yet. Obviously you can gift digital products, that is all an Amazon gift certificate is, really, and if they chose to, allowing someone to purchase a book I've selected to be delivered to me would be easy technology to develop. As it stands, I guess someone could send you a gift certificate with a note, "Wanted you to have Sowell's new book on your Kindle, enjoy" (Are there Kindle editions of Sowell's books? I'll have to go look)

Anyway, just a little quibble - still gets a SOLID squeal of absolute delight.

UPDATE: New version coming soon; larger screen...but at a larger price.

UPDATE: I have heard some rumblings of a problem with the Kindle if used with a cover. As I understand it, if you fold your cover (which has been attached via the Kindle specific connections) back all the way and hold it that way to read, the connecting tabs put too much pressure on the screen, causing it to malfunction or stop working entirely - a problem that Amazon doesn't recognize under the warranty. So...play it safe, don't fold your cover back all the way.

Call Me ...

...or text me, or email me, or IM me, or Tweet me......

Yep, I have the Google phone and so far, for the most part, it truly does rock.

It is small and lightweight, yet features a large clear screen. Not only is the keyboard QWERTY, it features the numbers on a separate row (my old MDA required ALT+ a letter to get the numbers) The trackball, which gets very little mention in any ads, is genius for navigating. T-Mobile customer service has been great (I've been with them just over 2 years).

But that is all just standard phone stuff - the major win is in the applications.

What I use regularly:
Preloaded

• YouTube viewer - quick, easy & clear on my phone.
  
• Gmail - never had a Gmail account before but, since I can't get Cox to authorize my email through the phone (Cox fail) I use this quite a bit.
  
• Google maps/GPS - loving this, especially the ability to see the streetview.
  
• Text - OK, pretty standard but the keyboard makes it easier and, unlike my last phone, this threads conversations by contact so I can see what it was I asked my sister about when she answers me cryptically 3 hours later ;-)
  
• Web browser - other phones have it, this one is nothing special, but very handy.
  
• Music player - I love having the option of listening on my phone when I don't want to carry my MP3 player. (if I don't have the song, I can always find it on YouTube) I also like being able to choose a fitting song/sound clip for a ring tone. For instance, my sister is the hook from "Sisters", the office says "Did I make it clear you JOB is at stake?" (yes, had that on my MDA, too)
  
• Google calendar - this I have used before online, but now I have ramped it up. Very convenient to access and get reminders.
  
• Alarm - Set several alarms, repeat on the days you choose (mine is only Mon-Thurs), choose your alert music. Well done and flexible.

What I've added from the market:

• AK Notepad - Yes, the phone should come with a list app pre-installed, but at least there is a good one available. Easily make lists, set reminders...
  
• Tune Wiki - works with your music player or YouTube and scrolls the lyrics in time to the music. I have only found one song that didn't have lyrics available. Nice
  
• ProFootball, College Football, ProBasketball - Wonderful sports apps that track your teams, give you up to the minute scores, play-by-play, latest news, pics. These apps make the phone worth the monthly charge all by themselves.
  
• We The People - Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights - on my phone (OK, don't use that a LOT, but nice to have it there)
  
• Shop Savvy Compare Everywhere - Scan a barcode, get pricing. Tried Shop Savvy first, like Compare Everywhere better. Also allows you to add items to wish list or shopping list, and send list via email.
  
• Twitli Twitdroid - I am still not completely sold on Twitter, though I certainly see the appeal. Tried Twitli first and was underwhelmed. Twitdroid is much better. UPDATE: Twitdroid doesn't quite do it, either. What it adds, I don't need, what I need, it doesn't have. I will probably just use the mobile browser for all my Twitter needs. UPDATE: Re-installed Twitdroid for the picture tweeting function. And replies, which I can't do specifically through the mobile site.
  
• Pintail - send me a text message with the right code and Pintail sends you my location (complete with a map link if you have a smart phone or sent the message from computer, say via Yahoo messenger). So, if my sister or D want to know where I am, I don't have to answer them, my phone does it for me.
  
• UPDATE: GPS Tracker - I still have Pintail installed, but find this even more useful (and fun). If you don't need to know when someone is checking your location, you can give them your secret link to InstaMapper which will give them your latest location. (I think you can set it to show your full route, too) You set how often it updates, I went with a long lag since I rarely go anywhere ;-) Gives enough data for my sister to know if I am at work or for D to know if I left yet.
  
• PicSay - photo 'editing' app. Mostly just fun stuff like adding props and word balloons. Fun time killer.
  
• SkyMap - Point it at the sky above and, using your GPS, it tells you what you are looking at. Beyond cool.
  
• Shazam - This is the app you see advertised in the iPhone ads. It 'listens' to music and tells you what the song is - and gives you links to the artists MySpace page and Amazon for purchase. Awesomeness.

Games I added:

• Solitaire - This is where it falls down. The game works well enough, but the graphics are not great. Also, no score is kept - I like to see how I did, even when I win (which seems abnormally often with this game).
  
• Brain Genius - Fun app, much like Brain Age for the Nintendo DS. I use it more to pass time than on any sort of schedule, but still - fun.
  
• Zombie, Run - OK, OK...stupid game. It uses your GPS to locate you, then populates the area with zombies. That chase you. You can see them on your map as they get closer and you have to run away. What? Who doesn't love Zombies?
  
• Amazed - Yep, the roll-a-marble-through-a-maze game. Fun & mindless, and cool that my phone knows what direction it is being tilted.
  
• MineSweeper - Love this game but it isn't quite right for this phone...yet. I will still play it and wait for updated versions.
  
• Christmas Snow Globe - Just what it says. Picture of a snow globe with a Christmas greeting. Shake your phone and the snow starts to fall. Silly and cute.
  
• Lexic - make words from a grid of letters. More fun, and more challenging, than you would expect.

Now for the bad - -
* The camera, which takes great 3.2 megapixel pictures - but way too dark. It works OK outside, but inside, even with all the lights on, not so much. No adjustment to be found. Either it doesn't take video or I am just unable to find it. Also, when I get a picture or video sent to me, they don't display well. I have that whole big beautiful screen, and less than a quarter of it is used for images I receive - and they are still pixelated.
* Speaking of pictures being sent to me, I'll be darned if I can figure out how to save them and/or use them for anything. D sent me some gorgeous shots yesterday, and there they sit, languishing away in my messaging inbox.
* The trackball - yes, I said I loved it, and I do. However, I would really like arrow keys, as well (yes, I am nit-picking. It's a great phone, there's not a lot not to love.)
* Voice dialer - not even close. Give me the voice tags I had for my MDA, at least they worked 95% of the time.
* The dialer screen - actually, the screen isn't the problem. The fact that it shuts off so quickly while you are in a call is. If you are checking your voicemail, by the time you need to enter your code, the screen is blanked and you have to resuscitate it. 3 extra steps of unnecessary irritation.

I'm sure I will think of more, good & bad. Do you have any specific questions?

UPDATE: Battery life - has been very good. Despite the warning that leaving the GPS on would drain the battery, I have had no problems. I leave it on, and work the phone constantly, all day and have yet to get the battery close to drained before I plug it in at night.

3G - much faster than Edge, which I had before. WiFi also works better on G1 than it did on my MDA.

I've had several people ask me, "Is that the G1?" and ooh & aaah over it. A guy the other day asked "Do you like it better than the iPhone?" I said I didn't know since I had never had one but that my brother-in-law had the iPhone and hated it. The guy pulled out his iPhone and said, "yeah, I pretty much hate it, too, wish I could get one of those on my network"

Had a bit of a scare with my touch screen losing all sensitivity - not good. After a reboot and a night off, all is well. We'll see.