Category: tech
06/08/09 09:41 - 63ºF - ID#48872
iPhone 3G S
I can't wait to get it, my current phone's battery is starting to die the past month or so, only holds about a day's charge. Didn't want to pay for a new battery in the mean time so I'm glad they're releasing this in June.
I've been using the beta version of the iPhone 3.0 OS for a few months and it rocks, and as always Apple's API's are a joy to use. Since I use it for development I can write off most of the cost of the hardware ;) Now I just have to actually
I've heard from a couple people that it's kind of a boring incremental update, but since I have the original version of the iPhone, it's actually a fairly large step up for me. Mostly, due to the 3G network and 4x as much storage. 32gb, yum. Also, the new camera is a huge upgrade, w/ auto-focus and macro. Sick of blurry looking crap photos.
Permalink: iPhone_3G_S.html
Words: 172
Location: Buffalo, NY
06/08/09 06:13 - 61ºF - ID#48870
NY Senate Coup
NY Times:
I am disheartened this basically kills my chance of getting married in NY.
I was pleasantly surprised at some of the rule changes that were voted for after the coup (partial list):
- Committee Chairs and Rankers are term-limited to 8 years.
- Proxy voting in committee is eliminated.
- All agendas and voting records will be published on the Senate Website; all committee meetings recorded and webcast. A plan will be put forward by January 1, 2010 to create NY-SPAN statewide broadcast of legislative proceedings similar to C-SPAN for Congress.
- No bill may be introduced without a named Senate sponsor.
- A non-sponsor amendment if successful will retain its place on the calendar for three days and then shall be taken up by the body for final passage, not returned to committee. Messages of Necessity shall only be permitted in cases of actual emergencies.
- A new motion for consideration is created. A sponsor may move to have his or her bill included on the next active list if a majority of members present and voting agree to the motion.
- A petition for consideration is also created, which allows a majority of the members elected to request a bill be put to the floor. If successful, the bill shall be placed on the active list for the next session day. If within the last four days of session, it shall be immediately considered by the body if successful.
- All procedural votes require only a majority of members present and voting, rather than members elected.
- Debate may exceed 4 hours on budget bills, any bill considered pursuant to a message of necessity, or those which appropriate money.
-- source: (via )
Now granted, this is mostly all just so in 2010 when they end up back in the minority they're not locked out of power (demographic shifts virtually guarantee they'll be ousted again shortly). But still.
This also means that the Republicans will be mostly in charge of redistricting NYS Senate districts, which will keep them from losing as much ground in 2010 versus what the NYS Senate Dems would've drawn.
Ah -- one other new rule I just parsed the meaning of: 'Member items will be divided evenly.' -- essentially pork will be able to be given out by the minority and majority equally, so they can keep the folks back home happy.
An interesting day. Well played, Tom Golisano.
Wasn't he supposed to be in Florida by now?
Permalink: NY_Senate_Coup.html
Words: 452
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: life
06/05/09 02:26 - 73ºF - ID#48845
Boston?
Has anyone here lived in Boston? Should we stay or should we go? I know it's a very expensive city. Presuming I got a cost-of-living adjustment to Boston wages, is it a fun/cool city to actually live in?
Plus, (e:james) and I could get married there :)
Permalink: Boston_.html
Words: 73
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: economics
06/01/09 08:32 - 46ºF - ID#48810
GM: Goodbye and Hello
The car industry almost single handedly killed universal healthcare in the mid 20th century. They saw that sooner or later everyone would demand it, so they came up with a scheme where health insurance was paid for by the company that the workers worked at.
Which of course
They fought airbags and seat belts, higher fuel efficiency and safety standards, the classification as SUV's as passenger vehicles instead of commercial trucks.
GM was largely responsible for killing mass transit in the early 20th century. They purchased privately run and profitable intracity train lines only so that they could close them. And they were powerful, so we let them.
I am sorry for the workers who are hurt by this, but this is more of a suicide then a bankruptcy. Here's to hoping for a brand new, 21st century smart company when the dust settles. Think bigger GM! Think long term. I am not holding my breath.
Permalink: GM_Goodbye_and_Hello.html
Words: 224
Location: Buffalo, NY
05/29/09 04:07 - 61ºF - ID#48785
Buffalo Crime - Mapped
Permalink: Buffalo_Crime_Mapped.html
Words: 31
Location: Buffalo, NY
05/29/09 08:46 - 56ºF - ID#48781
Auto-Tune The News #4
Permalink: Auto_Tune_The_News_4.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY
Category: geek
05/28/09 03:51 - 79ºF - ID#48774
Super Excited
Permalink: Super_Excited.html
Words: 38
Location: Buffalo, NY
05/27/09 08:51 - 62ºF - ID#48765
10 Things I Hate About Commandments
Permalink: 10_Things_I_Hate_About_Commandments.html
Words: 8
Location: Buffalo, NY
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And I'm no computer guy, but- even if they DID have to go manually change a feature on every account, would that really take 2 months? Can't they write some little program that would do it in like 5 min?
And, if they have manually put all iphones on "no MMS" accounts- I wish they would bounce them back to the senders or something.
I mean I can handle not sending MMS myself, for now. But I hate that people send them to me, and they get no error or anything, but I have no clue they've send it, and then they're annoyed that I don't respond. At least bounce back "unable to send, this user cannot receive MMS" or something.
Grr.
And while I'm griping about ATT- do you guys drop calls like ALL THE TIME? For a company whose ad campaign makes such a big deal about 'fewest dropped calls'- I had NEVER dropped a call before switching to ATT. Now it happens OFTEN. Now, I don't know if that's ATT or the iPhone, but I have my hunches.
Seriously. :::link:::
Also in that report, tethering will bring the data cost of the plan to $70 from $60. Yeah right.
AT&T: fuck you and die.
I was also hoping for a revamped notification manager. Like I only get a popup when I have texts, but not emails? etc.
Not to mention that f**king ATT isn't going to support MMS and tethering right away (see my journal). Blah.
I still want one.
But the 32gb will cost me not 299, but $699, until february when my contract is up. Oy. $400 change?! I can live without video until then. Esp since a lot of what I want (cut and paste, text forwarding, +/-MMS) will be available for free in the software update next week.)
I definitely will consider getting one seeing as the price is reasonable. What I don't understand is the 7.2mbps HSPDA. Do we have that here? The whole time it is just the phone hardware holding back the speed?