Archive for the 'general' Category

still waiting

Published
by
philip
on July 20, 2008
in general
. 0 Comments

Just over a week now, and I find myself waiting for more application updates. I’ve noticed most of the free applications have rev’d their version number by at least a .0.x or in some cases a .x update. Still, we’re seeing applications crash, force a reboot on the phone, slow the interface down and just cause general problems.

Additionally Apple’s support forums are alive with people discussing problems with wifi (one I am currently suffering with), interface issues, location services issues, accelerometer problems and more. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the two groups of problems are related. It sure seems like there are some issues with the new firmware and if reports are to be believed, their seeing it around the web already. Sure wish they’d hurry.

On a different note, my location aware social networking application application update shows another applicaiton bit the dust. Limbo was recommend in a previous post by a commenter (who apparently works for the company…) and I had already seen some comments about their app. I tried it out, but found the interface annoyingly RED! of all things, difficult to navigate and the whole what are you doing portion a bit lame. Additionally, I inadvertantly let the iPhone app grab all my contacts and when I decided I didn’t want that (thanks Loopt for making me paranoid about that) found that the website interface was nearly as bad as the phone. Ended up taking me about 20 minutes to delete all my contacts via the phone interface as the regular web interface wouldn’t let me delete names.

Maybe I’m not the right demographic for Limbo - what with all it’s ways of ‘Play’ing and getting ‘Loot’ (whatever that’s all about. how does that help me find my friends around me?). I’m looking for a simple, easy to use application that allows me to see my location, the location of my friends around me and the location (if i desire) of restaurants etc. Loopt was on the right track but man did they screw that up, insisting they aren’t responsible for the SMS debacle and the interface Whrrl used was just terrible. I’m still hoping Brightkite comes through like a champ - but who knows.

In other news. I finished a couple of tables. Not bad for the analog version of me.

seriously?

Published
by
philip
on May 21, 2008
in general
. 0 Comments

saw this come across twitter this morning.

just the first sentence is good enough:

American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and lay off workers as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.

now don’t get me wrong, i realize all the airlines are freaking out because of the cost of fuel and they’ve got to do whatever they can to get money in the bank. but it would seem to me that charging for the first checked bag may not be the most creative thing they’ve come up with. it makes sense to me to charge for food or to raise ticket prices because of the fuel costs. but when we’re encouraged to check our bags because we can’t possibly carry it on (thanks TSA for your liquid rules) and the cabin storage is minimal and a painful experience if you’re in that last boarding group - this comes across as a penalty for flying with American.

on their site they list a ton of exceptions. the three that affect most of us are these:

Customers traveling on an international itinerary to destinations beyond the U.S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Canada
Customers who purchase full-fare tickets in Economy Class
Customers who purchase Business or First Class tickets

so basically if you’re a budget traveler you probably aren’t going to fly American. then again, if you are, why are you flying American?

let’s hope other carriers can be more creative then this as they deal with fuel costs.