Kindle Fire HD...What's Up With That?

The Kindle Fire HD has been out on the market for about a month now. It's the predecessor to the wildly popular Kindle Fire.  For many people, like my father, it's a great device because of the simplicity, the breath of content and the design. But simplicity does not mean intuitive and designs are always improving or changing. So what are people saying about the new Kindle Fire HD?

First, let's look at the hardware. All the details are here:
      http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-HD/dp/B0083PWAPW

My personal highlights include:

• Very good Dolby Dual Stereo sound
• A thinner screen for up to 30% less glare than the New iPad (but not sure how accurate that is)
• First tablet to use MIMO dual Wi-Fi antenna technology for enhanced wireless connectivity. Basically, this allows wireless signals to be sent or received by either antenna and the signals can move on 2 different frequencies to avoid air-wave congestion....that means 40% faster media streaming.
• 7 inch (diagonal) screen 7.6" by 5.4" by 0.41"
• An 8.9 inch version (actually THINNER than the 7 inch version) with 250 MB of 4G LTE data per month for $50 for the entire year. 

These added tech specs are very useful and powerful and make the Kindle Fire HD better than its predecessor in every way. BUT it's not perfect.

This is one bug-a-boo about the Kindle Fire HD. There are ALWAYS advertisements on the lock screen and then they are relegated to one corner of the screen when you unlock your device. That really 'grinds my gears' for all you Family Guy fans out there. I see enough advertisements on my free iPhone games and on my TV. They shouldn't be on my tablet too. 

Another issue is the software. Yes,  it is maximized for instantly streaming and downloading Amazon's digital content. On the other hand, that's all it can do. There is really no freedom of customization. It makes iOS feel like Android (ha ha, I'm funny, I know).  The Amazon App Store has most of the major popular gaming apps, but many of the newest gaming and non-gaming apps are missing from this small online store. This is really a media consumption device, not a do-everything device like the iPad.

On the other....other hand, the simplicity of the software can be a selling point for older adults who refuse (or are unable) to learn the more complicated tablet and smartphone software.  That's a big reason my father loves his Kindle Fire so much, and also why he doesn't want a new one this Christmas. He has a few games he loves to play like Solitaire or...Solitaire.  Otherwise, he just surfs the web and checks and writes email. I keep telling him he also has access to my Amazon Prime Account videos and books, but let's just say he's an old dog who can't learn new tricks. 

I really haven't found a short and well filmed YouTube video reviewing the Kindle Fire HD.  The video above gives you the basic idea of the usage and feel of the device. 

It's important to note there is also a regular updated Kindle Fire for $159.   The normal Kindle Fire has the same screen size as the HD version, but is a little heavier with no front facing camera and no updated wireless antenna or speakers. And of course, the screen resolution is not.....HD. 

For anyone who just wants a device for browsing the internet and consuming Amazon's extensive media library (books, music, movies, TV shows) on a smaller device that fits in your hand or pocket, the Kindle Fire HD is your tablet. If you want something with the Google, Android or Apple selection of applications and the customization of features, get the Google Nexus 7 or the rumored iPad Mini.  

Despite the simplistic software, this device will sell very well this holiday season. Here why:

• Amazon is pushing the envelope with the hardware technology. Their new design for the wireless antenna, the screen thickness and the Dolby dual speakers are seemingly ahead of its time. No other tablet features these advancements in portable electronic devices. The million dollar question is whether these advancements are worth the loss Amazon is taking for each tablet sold. They could have easily started the Kindle Fire HD at $249, but they remained steady at $199 and LOWERED the price of the UPDATE regular Kindle Fire to $159. Not even Apple is willing to do that. 

 

Lower the price on the iPad??? NO WAY MAN! We actually like making money!

The picture below highlights what Amazon could have done to profit from the Kindle Fire HD on its own.  But they tried to play the ace up their sleeve and focus on the savings. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has gone as far as openly saying Amazon will profit from the content consumed, not the hardware sold.

• Another reason the Kindle Fire HD will be successful is because of Amazon itself, which recently acquired the contract of Epix to bring 3,000 more movies to the Amazon Instant Streaming video service, including big hits like Iron Man 2 and THE AVENGERS! 
• Amazon started as an online book selling company. But today, everyone basically buys everything from amazon.com. Heck, I even just sold old video games to Amazon and then bought some books my mother needed for her book club and they arrived in two days with Amazon Prime shipping...and they were cheap! 
• Amazon's music library and digital bookstore will also be optimized on the new tablet. 
• This is a great opportunity to point out there is one important factor many people don't realize about buying music from Amazon.  When the music files are downloaded, they are in mp3 format, which is widely compatible with almost every device that plays music.  But when you download music from iTunes to your devices or computer, the format is not mp3.  You have to manually convert each song to play music from iTunes to another non-Apple device. That's why I almost always use Amazon for downloading music, unless I'm traveling and I really want a specific song, then I use iTunes. 

In a future post, I might compare the larger 8.9 inch Kindle Fire HD to the new iPad. I only say this because I just ran across an article where Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos argues the his device is better than the iPad. To put it bluntly, "You are the weakest link. Goodbye."

The Galaxy Note 2. My Reservation About the Device

The Phablet. A new word in the technology world my computer can't even comprehend. I'm adding it to my digital dictionary. Anyway, I want to talk about the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It will be released in the US on October 24. It is a monster phone that is trying to redefine the category while creating its own category.

Here are the specs:

• 5.5 inch Super AMOLED screen
• 720x1280 pixels, 267 ppi pixel density
• Micro SD card slot 
• 2 GB of RAM
• Quad Core 1.6 GHz processor
• 'Super awesome' S-Pen
• Android Jellybean
• 8 megapixel rear camera

Pros to the Note 2 compared to the iPhone 5:

• 2 GB of RAM is what makes this phone a powerhouse. It can effortlessly open applications and run them together, but a lot of that is for the useless pop-up play feature.
• The screen size is mostly a pro, but also a con.  On the pro side, everything is easier to see and details are sharp. There is also a lot of room for the applications to spread their wings and despite the size, everything happens FAST. 
• The micro SD card slot is extremely useful.  Removable memory gives you the flexibility to have exactly what you want in your device. Maybe you have a SD card with a lot of pictures from vacation you want to share at a family gathering. Maybe you want some HD movies to watch on a long plane flight. Maybe you don't want to be handcuffed by Apple into spending more money on an iPad by going for 64 GB of storage because you're afraid to run out of room with so many cool games available with the new Retinal Display.....not that it happened to me or anything.....
• Otherwise, the iPhone is comparable in terms of the operating systems and cameras.

Cons to the Note 2 compared to the iPhone 5:

• My research indicates that, while the screen looks very sharp and colorful, it is not superior to the iPhone 5 and the Retinal Display.  
• After watching countless YouTube videos of hands-on demonstrations with the Galaxy Note 2, I came to the realization the screen was just too big. And that's coming from a guy who's 6' 4".  

• I really believe a smartphone should always remain comfortable to hold in one hand. Typing should be simple with just your thumb while you're moving or carrying something else. I do concede there is a function that shifts the keyboard to one side of the screen for thumb typing, but its a hassle to activate the feature and it makes the keys smaller and squished together.
• I am also not overjoyed with the S-Pen. I'll use a stylus on my iPad once in a while, but the touch gestures are more convenient and feel more natural. I do not want my phone being a two-handed device. I would use the S-Pen for detailed drawing or quick note taking, but that would not be very often.
• The review is kinda feeling like my Galaxy S III review and for good reason. The Galaxy Note 2 is only different because of the screen size. Everything about it rests on that hardware feature. The better processor and RAM are for the larger screen as is the larger battery and the S-Pen.  And I was already hot and cold about the Galaxy S III screen size.

While there is still a strange attraction between me and this device, I will sleep easy knowing I have the iPhone 5 at my bedside. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will only have a niche market, but it will receive strong reviews and be compared to the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III. It's not a question of quality or technology. It's a question of comfort level and respecting the norm in regards to smart phones. This should be one very interesting holiday season.

My Favorite iPhone Apps...Some Of Them At Least

On the anniversary of Steve Jobs' death (technically yesterday, but since I'm still awake, I consider it today), I think it is appropriate to give my commentary on some of my favorite iPhone applications. Here are 10 apps I consider supremely cool and/useful.

• MLB.com At Bat

• As a mega baseball fan, I absolutely LOVE this app! It gives live audio feed and live boxscore for every single game, even during the post-season. It has all the baseball news, standings and highlight videos. There are complete roster breakdowns for every team and you can purchase game tickets directly from the app. And if you pay monthly for MLB.TV, you can watch all the games through your iPhone, which is especially nice with 4G LTE.  It costs $15 at the beginning of the season, but right now, it's FREE for the post-season. 
• Calendar 

• Yes, I'm sure everyone has their own calendar app that's "better" than Apple's stock calendar, but I really like this one. It's simple, well designed and works with Siri. List view is great when you only want to see your upcoming appointments. Day view is used to plan out your entire day.  The 'month' view is my standard because with the bigger screen of the iPhone 5, I can easily tap any day and see almost all of my plans. Holding the phone in landscape mode allows me to see five days worth of calendar events. And now, my Facebook calendar is also synced to my regular calendar. AND Siri works really well with this application. 
• Messages 

• The awesomeness of this app is solely due to iMessages. It's a great example of how Apple destroys competing companies.  No cell phone provider likes that I can send unlimited texts to anyone with an iPhone, iPad or Macbook.  And my response is....."All cell phone companies charge too much already, so just shut up."  It's also really convenient that I can send regular text messages and attach photos and videos without doing anything different.   
• Mail 

• Again, plenty of people say they have other apps for their email. I say "hogwash," Apple Mail is great! I have different mailboxes for each of my email accounts and I can see them together or separately.  There's great integration with other apps for attaching photos and documents.  The interface is simple and smooth and there is customization for spam folders.  Stop looking elsewhere for the perfect mail client, it's been here all along.
• Twitter 

• I don't understand all the hype about Tweetbox. I'm not paying $2.99 for something that can only be marginally better than the FREE Twitter app. I can easily view tweets of people I follow, click links to articles through the tweets, compose my own tweets, find new people to follow and update my profile. What can Tweetbox do? Let me view tweets while I compose one. Yeah, that's worth 3 bucks (sarcastic). The only issue with this app are the ads built on some of the articles linked to tweets.  Sometimes, the banners or videos really get in the way, but it only affects certain website, so I'm giving Twitter a pass on this.
• Facebook 

• Especially with the integration of iOS 6, the Facebook app is better than ever (and it wasn't 'great' in the past).  Status updates, uploading photos and sending messages are all easy and fast. I can quickly view my own timeline or the general news feed and 'like' what all my Facebook friends are posting.  I really like the notifications when close friends post something or tag me in their pictures. Definitely use this app everyday.
• Action Movie FX

• Alright, enough with the useful apps. How about some fun apps...some REALLY fun apps! Enter 'Action Movie FX.' I picked this up literally yesterday after hearing about it from watching 'Conan' on TBS (very funny....that's not my opinion, that's the slogan for TBS). Here are some examples of its awesomeness. 

• Now that's cool. You just record whatever you want to blow up or smash after you pick a method of destruction and the app does the rest. There are other you can buy for $1 for each pair. I might break down and get a couple of extras.  And J.J. Abrams, the director of of the new Star Trek movie, created this! Even better. (It wasn't Michael Bay? That's shocking)
• Stop Motion Studio Pro HD 

• This is quickly becoming one of my favorite apps. It costs $1 and there are really cool addition features that can be unlocked for $1 each. The on;y two really worth the extra cash are the remote camera and the paint additions. The general idea of the app itself is to create stop motion movies like Wallace and Gromit (if you're like 100 years old) or, more modern focusing, Robot Chicken.  I am working on a super epic action movie with Lego pieces and action figures. Stay tuned for updates on my production. Here's a quick sample I threw together. 

• What's great about this app is how easy and fun it becomes to create your own movie. Yes, it's time consuming, but a little patience goes a long way with this app.  To speed things up, you can set a timer to take pictures every 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 seconds. You can also see each picture in a long procession line and scroll through them to make sure the figures are moving appropriately. The remote camera allows my iPad to see what my iPhone is seeing, which is useful for different camera angles and for feeling like a super spy James Bond awesome man. You can also mute out any sound in the scene and then add any music from your library or record your own sounds. With the extra feature for painting, you can add paint effects directly onto the scene and with each new frame, you cane what you previously drew to make the progression of drawings that much easier.  The finished movies can then be sent to YouTube directly, to your camera roll for more editing on iMoive, or emailed to that special someone (I already have Valentine's Day ideas). 
• There's also functionality for creating a green screen effect, but so far I haven't got it to work properly. I think I need a better green background then a towel, but in general, I don't think this feature is very useful as it stands today. 

I'll definitely have more apps to talk about in the near future such as Pages, iAnnotate and some of my favorite games (mostly for the iPad actually).  For now, take my advice and make sure you get and/or use the apps I listed.  You won't be sorry!

What the Mets MUST Do Before Next Year

With another baseball regular season complete and another disappointing year for the New York Mets, it's time to reflect on what was and dream about what might be.

First, what was...

• The Mets started the season surprisingly strong, winning their first 4 games and having a winning record in April, May AND June. 
• Then on June 1st, Johan Santana did the impossible, for a New York Met. He pitched a no-hitter. Yes, I know many people dispute its integrity because of this play.  

• But you know what? It counts just as much as anything else in the sport when you're restricted to the inaccuracies of human perception.  End of discussion.
• On a lighter note, the Mets entered the All Star Break with a record of 46-40 and posed to make an improbable playoff push. 
• Then....well everything collapsed and they lost 12 of 14 or some ungodly number and basically had their spines broken and surrendered to the pressure. But through it all was R.A. Dickey.
• Yes Dickey. Dickey, Dickey, Dickey. Ok, now that I got that out of my system, let's talk about....R.A. His final record was 20-6 with an ERA of 2.73 and 230 strikeouts.  One other pitcher in the National League had more wins (Gonzalez with 21) and one different pitcher had a lower ERA (Kershaw = 2.53). Dickey also had the most complete games in the NL with 5.  He truly deserves the Cy Young award. My goodness, he pitched back to back 1 hitters! 
• We also saw the emergence of Mat Harvey, who will surely be in the starting rotation next April, and the power of Ike Davis, even with a horrendous first few months. 
• But we also saw an atrocious outfield, a pathetic bullpen, a broken down starting rotation, and one of the weakest offenses in the league. And there isn't going to be much on the free agent market this winter, nor are the Mets going to spend money, much of which they still have locked up in Jason Bay and Santana. AND they have to spend a lot of money to keep David Wright and maybe Dickey. 

The Silver Lining

• I really believe, barring injury (that's asking a lot), the Mets starting rotation will be very strong next year. Dillon Gee has plenty of time to heal after his mid-season surgery, as does Santana, who will be pitching for a new contract at years end.  Even if the Mets trade Dickey, they will have Jonathan Niese and Mat Harvey. That's a strong 4 man rotation with Zack Wheeler almost guaranteed to get a mid-season call up. 
• The offense will also be automatically improved with Ike Davis having unlocked his potential and Lucas Duda (hopefully) on the verge of the same. And the Mets should keep Mike Baxter as a solid bench player.
• David Wright WILL get a long term contract. If not, Citi Field will burn in the fires of angry New Yorkers.

How to Improve the Club?

• There isn't much on the trade market this winter. Here's a short list of who the Mets could go after with what little money they have: 
• Cody Ross
• Shane Victorino
• Mike Adams
• Mike Morse, if Nationals sign B.J. Upton
• That's about it, and I'm pretty sure Victorino is not really an option, but a guy can dream, right? 
• The Mets MUST get another outfielder AND resign Scot Hairston. Only then will I truly have hope for 2013. 

Hope for 2014

• To be realistic, the Mets need one more year before they can be contenders again. When Harvey and Wheeler, the Mets top 2 prospects, are fully integrated into the rotation, they will be tough to beat. Add a combination of Familla and Mejia in the bullpen with Parnell and Edgin and now we're getting somewhere! 
• Offensively by 2014, Davis will be as scary as Ryan Howard before he got old. Wright will maintain his elite status and Lucas Duda and Kirk Nieuwenhuis (he dropped off the map, but will be resurrected) will be mature and hungry to win. The same goes for Ruben Tejada and Daniel Murphy. 
• Most importantly, at the end of 2013, the contracts of Johan Santana and Jason Bay will be done. The Mets will finally have money again! Personally, I think Jason Bay should be locked up with Bernie Madoff for scamming the Mets out of A LOT of money. 

He can't be THAT good of a guy if he won't refund us some of those millions

There's my rant on the New York Mets. There is hope for the future, but New Yorkers are anything but patient and patience will be paramount for next season....as it was this season....and last season......and the season before that......

Why I Might Trade In My iPad For Something Smaller

A few months ago, I would never have considered saying goodbye to my third generation iPad, but with a particular Android tablet release this past summer, things are changing.  I am beginning to realize the iPad isn't a true laptop alternative, but I still want a tablet in my life.  Enter the Google Nexus 7.

Back in my day (senior year of college....a few months ago), I did everything I could to solely use my first generation and then my third generation iPad, leaving my computer to collect dust.  It worked for almost everything, except my senior year thesis project, which required Microsoft Excel, SPSS software and A LOT of typing.  

For email, YouTube, taking notes in class, web browsing, Facebook, short writing assignments and reading responses, and everything in between, I used my iPad. I did this not just because I could, but because it was honestly a better experience.  The touch interface was intuitive and I had no battery issues or weight issues when moving from class to class.  Everything was great! I even had a Bluetooth keyboard for typing, although I had become very adept at the touch keyboard as well. 

Now THAT is sexy

Then I had to start writing the biggest assignment of my college career and I immediately knew my iPad was not going to cut it.  I could have used computers in the library, but the customization and convenience of a laptop in my dorm room was far too appealing. 

I thought to myself, "I'll only use my laptop for this one big assignment and for iTunes backup.  My iPad can do everything else from now on." But then I starting writing this blog and I quickly realized that any laptop is better than the iPad for blogging. Sure, I've used my iPad to post one or two articles, but I really prefer typing and creating my blogs on my Dell computer.  And who knows what my (feels like distant) future job will entail or what technology requirements will be necessary.  A Macbook Pro or Macbook Air will prepare me for any eventuality. An iPad cannot. 

You thought of everything, oh illustrious one

So now I am entertaining the possibility of selling my iPad and buying the Google Nexus 7. I would then save the remainder of the profit for a Macbook Air.  The best price I can get for my 64gb wifi 3rd generation white iPad is $450. That price is from an online instant seller. Maybe I could get more in auction format on eBay. It's in near mint condition and works perfectly, like it was just removed from the box.  In any case, I will have plenty of money to purchase the Google Nexus 7 with money to spare. Here's my attraction:

1. 7 inches
• Bigger is (almost) always better, but I'm beginning to think the iPad is slightly unruly. My father has an original Kindle Fire (my suggestion for last Christmas) and I really like the feel of the smaller tablet in my hand. The new iPad is super thin, but very dense.  I wouldn't mind a little more thickness with less weight and that's precisely what you get with the Nexus 7.  If I want a larger screen, I will have a laptop and a 46 inch HD TV.
2. Design



That is not me holding the tablet. My hands are far more manly

• I am really attracted to the rubberized back cover of the Nexus 7. I think it will feel sturdy and comfortable in my hands. The overall design is also very nice for such an inexpensive tablet. 
3. Jellybean and Butter

• After watching several video reviews of the Nexus 7, I find myself with the desire to experience the Android operating system.  The customization, the large library of apps and the general feel of something different make me gravitate towards this product. And with the addition of Project Butter, everything feels silky smooth, very much like iOS.  And I also like having the most up to date software, so Jellybean over Ice Cream Sandwich is a big plus.
4. Price
• At a price of $200-250, this tablet is truly a pleasure device that doesn't have to do any heavy lifting, but it can if need be.  The iPad can have more complex and powerful software, but a laptop would be even more powerful and useful for those kind of tasks.  Heck, I might just ask for the Nexus 7 as a Christmas gift and keep my iPad! It could be a smart and safe purchase.

I'm still not sure what to do.  While I am living at home without a job, it isn't smart to invest in a new laptop. If or when I finally do get a Macbook Air, the iPad might have to go.  Even when the iPad Mini is announced, I think I would rather trade in my current iPad for the Nexus 7. I need a break from iOS. 

Finally, if I don't let go of my iPad, it will be because of the Retinal Display. It is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL and I don't think I can look at another screen the same way again...although I will always have my iPhone 5 to stare at stupidly. Only time will tell. 

  

Why I would want a Samsung Gaxaly S3 over my iPhone 5

With all the attack ads and comparisons between the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S III, I have tried to sift through the sea of information and propaganda to find the 'truth.' Don't get me wrong, I am committed to my iPhone 5 for the next two years of my life. That's a big commitment (and guys don't like commitment) and it would leave anyone with some doubts.  Here, I have listed what features would draw me to the Samsung Galaxy S III if I was completely obnoxious. I have also listed why I am keeping my iPhone 5 (other than the money thing).  Finally I listed what features of the S III are just stupid....to make me feel better about my decision.


Why I would switch to the Galaxy S III

1. Screen Size

• When I first laid my eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Note in Best Buy, I immediately screamed "SEXY." After I was released from prison for public disturbance (jk), I went back and looked at the device again.  I never knew a world of smartphones with huge screens existed and I was sorely tempted to jump on the bandwagon. I held out because I heard the iPhone 5 would have a bigger screen and I'm glad I did, but part of me wanted it BIGGER....like 4.8 inches.

• Then I saw this Apple commercial and my crazy, lusty desires were subsided.
• From reviews I've seen of the Galaxy S III, you're thumb can't reach all parts of the screen when held in one hand (even with my 'bear paws for hands'). You would be surprised how often that would be a problem.
• While I am still very much a fan of bigger screens, remembering this commercial allows me reign in my emotions and be happy with my iPhone 5....for now.

    2.  Android Software (widgets and maps)

• I have not had prolonged interactions with the Android operating system. I am afraid if I do, I will fall in love and cheat on my iPhone.  Two things about the software which are particularly attractive are the customization of widgets and, with the Apple Maps debacle, Android maps.  I really like the notification center in iOS, but the only 'widgets' are weather and stocks. It would be nice to have more multitasking power and integration between apps.  iOS has almost caught up, but not quite. There is Facebook and Twitter integration but what I really want is to be able to open documents from one application in the web browser. That way, while I apply for jobs I'm over-qualified or under-qualified to take, I can use my iPad to upload my resume and cover letter right to the website without having to use my 5 year old Dell computer!  

• You can do this with photos now, supposedly, but I want it WITH EVERYTHING!
• I don't really care about Flash support anymore, surprisingly. Most websites have coded for HTML and if they don't, like Fox.com or Hulu, I found a pretty good web browser for $5 that has Flash support on my iPad. It's called 'Photon' and it's not bad, but the quality isn't Retinal Display either.  Maybe there's an app I can purchase to upload documents too, but it really should be part of the software. 
• Finally, maps. I have not personally had any issues with Apple Maps, except for one time when the Location Services was totally wrong.  I haven't used it for driving yet, so maybe I will find problems down the road (ha ha, maps joke). For now, I will use a combination of Apple Maps, Bing and this 'Waze' app thingy to get driving, walking and most importantly MASS TRANSIT directions.  But I shouldn't have to. I want Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation! :-(

  3.  Photo from Video and Burst Shot

• These are two features of the Galaxy S III that really appeal to me. Many of the other features are stupid or unimportant. Being able to take photos while recording video is really useful and cool, as is shooting 8 pictures rapid fire.  This could definitely be in iOS, but it's not. Maybe Apple is afraid to start copying Android, maybe it wants to just be different, maybe Apples wants us to keeping buying their products hoping the next iPhone will have everything..I don't know. 

Why I'm staying with my iPhone 5

1. Familiarity, Comfort Level, and Integration

• I know Android allows for more customization, but other than some extra widgets, I am perfectly fine and pleased by iOS and I really understand the software. Change is generally scary and I don't have any real need to change away from something that works very well. It's not perfect, but I'm sure there are aspects about Android that would make me want Apple again. To prevent this wavering, I am standing firm with Apple.
• Also, I really like the integration of Apple devices with iCloud. Being able to take photos on my iPhone and see them on my iPad is wonderful...if only videos could be shared the same way (sigh). If I ever get a Macbook Air (who am I kidding, as soon as I get a job that's the first thing I'm buying) the power of iCloud will be fully realized. 
2.  Design, Feel and Sexiness 

• These are actually important factors for me in choosing devices. The iPhone 5 is the slimmest, sleekest, and sexiest iPhone ever and maybe the sexiest phone ever. It feels really good in my hand (no joke intended) and looks like a 'jewel,' as Apple so eloquently described it during the Keynote. 
• The Galaxy S III looks really nice and fits well in the hand, but the plastic back cover is a deal breaker for me. The aluminum backing of the iPhone 5 is SO much nicer and more scratch resistant. 
3. iMessage
• This may be the most important reason why I am remaining an Apple follower. All my friends have iPhones, so we all can text each other using iMessage completely for free no matter what carrier we each have. We can even text to each other's Macbooks and iPads. That's a big deal. For my few friends who do not have iPhones, I found a great free texting application called 'Pinger' which gives me a special texting phone number. I still pay 5 bucks a month for texts just in case people contact my actual phone number from a non-iPhone device, but it's a lot cheaper than $20 a month for unlimited texts. 

What's just plain stupid about the Galaxy S III

~The laundry list of features displayed on this poster shows several features which are unnecessary and have no effect on my like or dislike of the smart phone. They include:

1. NFC
2. Smart Alert
3. Direct Call
4. Tilt to zoom
5. Shake to Update
6. Palm Swipe Capture
7. Group Cast
8. Picture in Picture

I don't even know what some of the other software features are supposed to be. I also don't like how Samsung deliberately did not list ANY iOS features in this poster.  

****Why should I buy from a company who is afraid to compare their features against a competitor openly? Does no one believe customers are smart enough to make their own objective decisions?  

Other that than shameless poster, I have learned through many YouTube videos that S Voice is slow and fat and ugly compared to Siri, and Siri isn't stupendous by any stretch of the imagination.  

You can make the argument that some of the questions he asked were formatted specifically for Siri, but there were other questions where S Voice was very slow to respond. 

Also, who cares about tapping together smart phones to share pictures when no one else in the USA has the Galaxy S III?  This is a feature that was kinda available with the 'Bump' app for iPhone, but it required you to go into the app, whereas the S III boasts you can take a picture and share it immediately me tapping two phones together. I admit it's a really cool feature, but until multiple types of phones have the same functionality, it's not very useful.

Ok, I'm done ranting and raving for the day. And you know what? I feel a lot better about my decision to purchase the iPhone 5 after writing this article.  Sure I might fantasize about the S III or the Note II once in a while, but after holding my iPhone for a few seconds, I'll always know I made the right choice.

Best Disney Movies of the 1990s Part 2

Beauty and the Beast

Getting back to my ranking of the best Disney movies of the 1990s, we come to Beauty and the Beast, released in 1991.  Based in medieval (or non-iPhone age) France, this enchanting story involves the beautiful but quirky young girl named Belle and her quest for something more than 'this provincial life.' She gets much more than she bargained for when she is imprisoned by an fearsome beast in an enchanted castle.  She then falls in love with him, which breaks the curse placed upon the castle and returns the Beast and all his servants back to human form.  Let's break this down by my 4 part criteria I established earlier: Plot, Characters, Animation and Music.

~ Plot ~ 6.5 out of 10

• One of the most pronounced issues with the plot has to be the curse itself. We learn that the magic rose would bloom until his 21st birthday, after which, if he has not found his true love, the curse on the castle will become permanent.  We also learn the curse has been in effect for 10 years. That means it began when the Beast was 11 years old!  This leads to several follow up questions.

1. Why would the enchantress punish an 11 year old spoiled brat with ten years of being ostracized and depressed?
2. Why were every single person who lived in the castle also be punished just because they let the prince answer the door?
3. With so many people living in the castle, why was there no butler/doorman. 
4. How could no one in Belle's village not know there was a giant castle just a few hours down the road this whole time?

• Yes, this is over-analyzing, but it goes to show that plot isn't the all-important factor when the music, animation and characters can shine through. And no children's movie can have a lock-down plot  because the general 9 year old audience isn't going to care. 

But other than the set up of the movie, the actual plot is fairly solid.

• Belle's father gets lost trying to find an inventors competition and finds himself inside the Beast's castle to escape the rain and the wolves. Makes sense.
• Belle uses his horse, which escaped and ran back home, to find the castle and asks the Beast to imprison her in his place. Also makes sense (assuming horses are that good with directions)
• Belle tries to run away after the Beast almost eats her for touching his magic rose. Understandable.

That face alone would scare me.

• Beast saves Belle from wolves and they begin to fall in love. BUT her father returns home and tries to convince everyone that the Beast is real and they need to save Belle. All very practical.
• That gives Gaston, the town hero, a chance to force Belle to marry him by having her father thrown in a crazy house.

This made me smile

• Belle's father makes a 3rd dumb decision (#1, going down a clearly sketchy path. #2, raving about a Beast) when he goes to rescue Belle himself and collapses from the cold. 
• The Beast, out of love, allows Belle to save her father and return home (why didn't she just bring him back to the castle???), where Gaston puts his plan into action and Belle is forced to prove the Beast is real with the magic mirror.
• As a result, Belle and her father are locked up in their own house, 'cause there's no way someone can't escape from their own house, and Gaston leads the townspeople on a Crusade to 'Kill the Beast.' 
• Belle and her father somehow outrace the mob after escaping and try to warn the Beast. A final battle ensues where the villain turns his back on the fallen hero, giving said hero the opportunity to knock the villain into a bottomless pit. 
• The spell is broken just as the Beast dies and he is returned to human form...and his apparently brought back to life. Everyone lives happily ever after. The End

With all that said, the plot holds up pretty good.  The magic spell and the few other glaring issues (in bold) with the plot lead me to a rating of 6.5 out of 10.

~ Characters ~ 8 out of 10

• Belle is beautiful, brave and bold. Just like many of the Disney female characters, she is almost too good to be true.  A great role model and and an idealized figure. Enough said.

No one eyebrows can be THAT perfect

• Beast is a very complex character that was arguably the deepest male character Disney had ever created up to this point. We see his anger and bitterness over his 'monstrous' punishment but we also see that underneath all that fur, he is still human and feels human emotions. It's a great example of looking beyond what you see to discover the true self. Wow, that got philosophical in a hurry. But maybe that was the idea behind the character. Young children can learn that a scary looking appearance might not mean a scary or evil person and that everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, a lesson that most adults have a hard time learning. 
• One creative point about the character that I personally enjoy is the detail with which the animators created a true 'beast.'  Look at this...

That's pretty cool!

• Gaston is a stereotypical ladies man who thinks himself a god.  However, to call him 'evil' might be an exaggeration. I would say his only truly evil action is attempting to imprison Belle's father to force her to marry him. Leading a mob to kill the Beast is an understandable (and unfortunate) human reaction to something frightening that no one understands. Otherwise, Gaston is really only guilty of hubris.  I don't think he's a purely evil character like Ursula, Maleficent or Scar.  In some ways, fear is the true villain in Beauty and the Beast. Fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of rejection. How's that for philosophy. 
• Maurice (Belle's father) is actually a very important character because he personally drives the plot by leading Belle to the castle in the first place and luring her to leave the castle when he collapses in the snow trying to rescue her. But his personally is very jovial and loving, so we don't blame him for the events of the movie, although he is primarily responsible for moving the plot. 

How can you not love this little old man.

• The supporting characters from the castle are very memorable, particularly Lumiere, Cogsworth and Mrs. Pots. They form the comedic relief of an otherwise serious plot, very much like Timon and Pumba.  They don't need to be developed or deep because we know from the beginning they are kind and caring supporting characters. They are also very important in leading Belle and the Beast closer together, culminating in the dance sequence from the title song, one of the better Disney songs ever created, in my opinion.

I believe this movie is very character driven and the story is better for it. This deserves an 8 out of 10.

~ Animation ~ 7 out of 10

•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtTPTxvoPA
• This scene is the poster child for the movie and its animation. The panning camera ballroom scenes are, if nothing else, 3D-esque. That means a lot coming from 1991 and the result is stunning. It compliments the hand drawn animation, which is just so smooth and elegant, it makes me yearn for the days before Pixar.  This was a step up from "The Little Mermaid," but there was still much animation innovation to come later in the decade...7/10

~ Music ~ 8 out of 10

• This movie incorporated some of the best music in any Disney movie. 

1. "Belle" is a catchy tune that is lively and upbeat, but also charming.  It's a great way to introduce you to some of the major characters and it ups the ante for the rest of the movie.
2. "Gaston" is such a fun song. I was fortunate enough to perform this as Gaston for my high school's musical rendition of the movie. It's not really a villain song, which supports my hypothesis that Gaston is not a purely evil character.  It's lively, energetic and bright.  In fact, there's nothing in the song that would suggest Gaston is anything more than the village hero. Yes, it shows he is boastful and full of himself, but when your the only good looking guy in the entire town, that's a logical thought process.   
3. "Something There" is cute and begins to establish the relationship between the main characters. It's not my favorite by far, but it's not bad. It's almost like the composers wanted to take a break to prepare themselves for an epic second half of the movie.
4. "Beauty and the Beast" is the flagship song. No one can perform this better than Angela Lansbury (Celine Dion tried).  The background music is soft, but strong, allowing her voice to be the center of attention, but strengthened by the music.  The violins and brass harmonize perfectly to create one of the most beloved Disney songs of all time.
5. "The Mob Song" is really the villain's song of the movie, but it portrays the entire village as the villain. That's a pretty cool effect and goes back to my philosophical undertones for the film.  The song itself is dark, powerful and angry and it works very well with the rest of the movie.  Not the best villain song ever, but pretty darn good.

• Overall, I wish there were one or two more memorable songs, but this movie is still as good as "The Little Mermaid" in terms of music, if not better. 

• And as with most Disney movies, the ending music is EPIC. A great way to end a great movie.