Siri Alone Justifies Upgrading to iPhone 4S - You Get a Personal Assistant, Who Wouldn't Want One?

Let me get right to it.  I stayed up until 3 AM to order a white 32 GB Verizon iPhone 4S.  It seems exactly like the white 16 GB Verizon iPhone 4.  Why?

Siri is the main reason.  As a mobile fan, I want to experience what I believe is the next revolution in mobile computing and social experience.  Sure, the 8 MP camera is going to rock as is the two core A5 chip with what I assume will be much faster speed operational wise and 7X the graphics.

But it's Siri and the accurate dictation.  By next week, I hope to be able to dictate these blog posts and updates on Google+ and Twitter.  I hope to send out messages and e-mails while I drive.  This past Wednesday when I was on the freeway to meet some friends for dinner and to pick up my awesome new Touchpad, I got a few messages about changes in plans and inquiries about where we were meeting.  I could have used those features.

On top of that, I'm pretty stoke not only by what is available with Siri now but what updates Apple will give us throughout the year until iOS 6.  

These devices are tools that are meant to broaden our horizon and Siri will do just that.  This Forbes post (via 

Macdailynews) wisely see the virtues of Siri.  The author believes Siri will permeate throughout the Apple ecosystem and make its way onto the iPad.  I think it'll also make its way to the Mac.  It only makes sense for this to happen.  

So don't be surprised when Apple periodically update and broaden how Siri can interact with us but future OS X updates that also bring Siri to the Macs.

Imagine asking Siri for TV times and asking it to put on movies and music through the Apple TV when you're at home - through the iOS devices or the Macs.  Or asking Siri what vegetables you should plan because Siri knows where you live, the environmental conditions, and which plants would do best.  

Siri is an assistant. Apple is giving each and everyone of us a personal assistant.  Who wouldn't want that?

Google And Samsung Postponed Event For Its Nexus Prime Phone and Ice Cream Sandwich

Under the circumstances, it appears that Google and Samsung did the right thing and posted their next Android event, previoiusly scheduled for October 11th to another date to be determined.  The reason appears to be the 11th will be the day Steve Jobs' family and friends bury the iconic figure.

Is this the right thing to do?  Humanity never ceases to amaze me even when we are locked in as competitive a market as the mobile market.  

It shows that what's going on in the market, the war of words, patent wars, and others showed that none of that is personal.  I'm sure our readers all realize that as well.  After all, Android versus iOS versus anything else has always been what sports is like for sports fans.  UCLA versus USC (Bruis rock!) or Starbucks versus Coffee Bean.  

I think those companies did the right thing and I like to think that Apple probably would have done the same.  

Source: The Droid Guy.

Dynamic Duo, Jon Stewart And Stephen Colbert, Pays Tribute To Steve Jobs

These two funny, funny, and very important voices of sanity in America right now pays tribute to Steve Jobs.

Doesn't get better than this.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The Colbert Report
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IPhone 4S Preorder Is Hours Away

I am not sure if you are aware of this because it kinda sneaked up on me.  We are hours away from the iPhone 4S preorder here in the US.

I was only made aware of this when I was at the temporary Apple store in Pasadena, CA to buy a couple of Apple TVs on behalf of my mom to give to her friends.  The Apple employee who was helping me was kind enough go answer a few questions I have about it and reminded me that I should be ready to order it tonight.

I supposed the news of Steve Jobs has sort of left me feel a bit out of it.  So, if you are looking to get the new iPhone, make sure you've got your Apple ID all set to go.
 
The ordering starts 3:01 am EST and 12:01 am PST.

-- Sent from my HP TouchPad

Avoiding The Web Today

I woke up this morning thinking about avoid the Internet today.  As you know, Steve Jobs passed.  I don't take these things well, even with people I've never met but follow closely as anyone can from a far on the Internet.  I guess with human nature, you don't have to have shaken hands with someone, met, or say hello to for someone to become a part of your life.

Steve Jobs, through his genius and deeds, have really impacted people far more than they realized.  And for us who follow tech and mobile, even more so.

I'm sure I'll much more to say about this so let me apologize.  It's a release for me.  And perhaps for you.  Like I said, I'm not very good at deal with these things. I don't know, I have learned how to grieve.

But I'll come back to mobile and other tech stuff soon enough.

Steve Jobs Passed...

Apple's page on Steve Jobs...

Which iPhone 4S Is Best For You?

Let's face it.  The iPhone 3GS is there at "free" because Apple wants to cover all basis from free and up.  It's why the iPhone 4 with 8 GB is at $99 and the iPhone 4S from $199 to $399.  But I'm telling you.  Get the iPhone 4S.  And if there is Sprint in your neighborhood, go with Sprint.

Apparently, this Cult of Mac (who I'm upset with right now because they have been so wrong with the information they've been pushing about the iPhone 5) post thinks you should get a 16 or 32 GB white 4S through Sprint.  I'm gonna leave the color and size up to you.  However, they did make a very good case with iCloud:  cloud storage could alleviate some storage issues.  

So, it has me thinking about whether I need a 32 GB model anymore.  However, I still have to see just how well iCloud services me first.  

See, I don't just take a lot of pics. I also take a lot of videos to the chagrin of my family and friends.  And they're all such pretty people too.  It's a damn shame.  

And with iPhone 4S capable of 1040p video capture versus 720p on the iPhone 4, I think I might need more storage than the 16 GB I've got on my iPhone now.  My hope is that I can find a way to offload some of that to a third party storage of my iCloud storage.  If I can do that, that would go a long long way in help me figure out just how to manage with 16 GB.  

you might think 16 GB is a lot for video.  True.  But as you know, 16 GB on the iPhone is shared with other data like iOS, music, apps, docs, and books.  So, we'll see just how well iCloud works for users who need more than 16 GB. After all, iCloud is suppose to help with the issue of space.

Otherwise, 32 GB iPhone 4S is probably the safest way to go.  

As for the 64 GB model, well, it's probably an overkill for a majority of iPhone users.  And that might be something to consider if you also carry with you a lot of video and games that you get from iTunes.  In that case, 64 GB might not be enough.

Microsoft's Line-Up For XBox Video

Here's a list of participating providers and studios that will be offer their services and contents for the Xbox.  All of this is from a deal Microsoft announced earlier today.

I'm like ESPN, HBO, Manga, and BBC.  

There are a few like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon that are participating. I'm not sure what they are bring to the table.  Their channels?  That would be good.  Perhaps, this is why Dish Network offered its Blockbuster streaming a week or so ago.  

And then you've got the old ones like Hulu and Netflix.  Now, this is competition.

I am trying to see just how Apple and Google will try to counter this.  I see Google offer similar services for Google TV.  Apple?  Maybe these individual services can be persuaded to write apps and stream their video on iOS devices including Apple TV.

I Love Apple Rumors And Will Continue To Read Them But They Owe Readers Explanations For Each Piece Of Info That Did Not Pan Out

Some on Wall Street are afraid that Apple’s iPhone 4S has given a window of opportunity to other mobile platforms.  And they could be right.  But it is also Wall Street who starting on this window of opportunity with their wild predictions that looked like they’re reading the same rumor sites we all are, talks about supply chain checks that never panned out, and information from questionable sources who probably have their own agendas.

Take the WSJ and BGR combo that said the iPhone 5 will be a Sprint exclusive.  Yeah, not only was there no iPhone 5, the only exclusive that remains is the iPhone 3GS that AT&T is selling.

Here’s a list of rumors that Gawker put together of. All are major FAILs.

So far, this morning, few sites if any issued retractions or apologies for disappointing their readers.  After all, a few of them even offered up their information as “exclusives” like Boy Genius Report.  Okay, BGR I get but WSJ, Bloomberg, and NYT?

Journalism is lead.  Long live rumor blogging.

Microsoft Considers Courting Yahoo Once Again

I'm not sure why Microsoft wants Yahoo this badly.  After all, they've got a search and ad seal with them already. 

Maybe it has to do with the international reach of the Yahoo properties or some kind of hidden value.  The question for Yahoo's board is if they make a deal this time around or not.  Since Microsoft's last offer, Yahoo has lost billions in market cap and with its CEO firing debacle, things don't look to get better any time soon.

What's interesting is that Microsoft is looking at a partner to go after Yahoo.  As cash rich as Redmond is, putting down $25 to $30 billion is still a large chunk of dinero.  

Money and valuation aside, core Yahoo guys need to know that if they sell, they have a buyer who can allow Yahoo to flourish and bring benefits to the new company.

So, who would this partner be?  A domestic company?  An international one with better reach like Alibaba?  

It'll be interesting to see where this goes and how it affects mobile.  I know this.  Perhaps, it's time for Jerry Yang to sell out and put his time and energy into something new.  

Source:  Reuters.