I like how I just received my iPhone 3G S via Fedex overnight today (4 days late and a couple hundred dollars short I might add) but they are making me sit through at least a 20 minute hold time to activate the stupid thing. What’s the point of being a premier customer? *&^$!@!!!

UPDATES:

• It has been 25 minutes, 32 seconds since I have been on hold as I write this.
• 4:03pm (44 minutes, 40 seconds): YAWN!
• 4:22pm (1 hour, 3 minutes, 52 seconds): I am left wondering why their system straight up lied to me in the beginning by saying it was a 20minute hold. Not cool AT&T!
• 4:40pm (1 hour, 21 minutes, 33 seconds):  …texted two friends at AT&T because this is ridiculous. Hopefully they give me some good news and a direct phone number.
• 4:41pm (1 hour, 22 minutes, 16 seconds): Success! Got a direct phone number from Anthony!
• 4:55pm (1 hour, 36 minutes, 40 seconds): Didn’t call the direct line yet, got distracted. Answered two phone calls, sent an email and sent a letter out through snail mail and I was still on hold.
• 4:57 (1 hour, 38 minutes, 4 seconds): Placed a call on another phone line and dialed the “elite” phone number courtesy of Anthony. Not even one minute on hold and AT&T rep Linda O. asked how she could help (awesome, someone answered this time!) Told her my dilemma with the premier support line and she replied, “Oh my gosh, hang up on the other line, I will take care of this right now!”
• 5:10pm: iPhone activated and Linda also setup an appointment for someone to call me within 2-4 days to make sure everything is going okay with my iPhone. Thanks Linda O!

Sigh, I really am starting to see why people hate AT&T! I feel the pain for anyone who has been trying to activate via the phone.

P.S. If you don’t know what != means, it’s geekery code for “not equal to.”

If you are into technology and gadgets at all, you have probably heard of one and only TechCrunch. But, what you may not know is that for approximately the past, they have been publicly discussing their plans to build the “CrunchPad” which is what they hope to be an excellent web tablet. The CrunchPad is capable of surfing the Internet through a kiosk version of Firefox as may possibly handle VOIP functions through Skype. To summarize their original post from last year, the CrunchPad will be an iPhone styled device with a sleek and simple touch screen interface with no eyesores. Since the CrunchPad would just be a machine that would surf the Internet and possibly do VOIP calls and things of that nature, it would likely not be a powerhouse. In essence, think of the hardware and powerhouse capabilities of the CrunchPad as those of the $300 netbooks that have been flooding the markets recently. The Crunchpad (or a $300 netbook) is to a Honda Civic DX as a desktop machine with an Intel i7-975 processor is the Lamborghini Reveton.

As of now, pricing and specs are still hush-hush. Their original goal was to introduce the device around $200 but we will see if that actually happens. I am sure their recent decision to go with an aluminum body raised the costs. But if you ask me, an aluminum chassis is a worthy justification for an increased price because it allowed the device to the thinner and more attractive.

The software partner that was in charge of the CrunchPad recently leaked photos and video over the Internet so without further adieu, here is what you have probably been waiting for:

After the leaked information, we know the following:

• About 18mm thick
• Probably 12” screen
• Screen is flush with the bezel
• It looks awesome!

In closing, I would honestly much rather spend $300-$500 on something like the CrunchPad than a pointless Amazon Kindle. In general, I hate how eink on ebook readers flash between pages. Well that plus the fact that you cannot really do anything much besides read books and some magazines/newspapers (which must be purchased). On the other hand, the CrunchPad can do anything from just surfing the internet, to writing emails, listening to music, watching streaming content, etc.

P.S. <noshame>TechCrunch, how about a CrunchPad to play with and review </noshame>

[TechCrunch]

It’s a real camera from 1985…I want one so badly!

Today, I preordered the new iPhone 3G S but I am far from stoked about my decision to commit yet another two years to your lackluster corporation. Let me be clear, the only reason I have stuck around is due to the fact that you give me a killer company discount by using you as my carrier and I get good coverage at home. Now let us get down to the core of this rant by asking you a couple questions:

First, why must you alienate your current subscriber base by not offering current iPhone 3G owners the ability to upgrade at the subsidized price of $200 for the 16gb version or $300 for the 32gb version? While I understand you are in the business to make money, I feel you have seriously dropped the ball on this opportunity. Generally speaking, phone sales do not pad your bottom line as much as subscriber contracts and upgrades such as text/data plans. If it was my decision, I would have developed a plan that says if the customer has been an iPhone 3G owner for at least 12 months, they will qualify for the iPhone 3G S at subsidized pricing under the condition that said customer extends their service contract for an additional two years. For the customer’s who need to have the latest and greatest, this keeps them happy and also keeps you happy by locking down your subscribers. I am sure you do not need me to tell you that your exclusive relationship with Apple in the USA to carry the iPhone ends in 2010. If Apple launches yet another device on say the Verizon network after your exclusive contract, what makes you think your current customers will not jump ship because you could not make this seemingly trivial decision?

And second, if Apple was able to rebuild their firmware and device to have the ability to offer tethering and MMS, why could you have not gotten your act together in time? I am appalled that I am going to receive my new iPhone 3G S only to run into a brick wall. Due to your ill timing of “network upgrades,” I will not be able to receive MMS messages or tether data. Saying that you will have these options available sometime this summer is quite honestly not good enough. I am sure you were aware of Apple’s plans to include such options in advance to the 2009 WWDC, so why could you have not had your “network upgrades” completed before the launch on Friday?

You have seriously disappointed me and have done nothing to build my loyalty towards your corporation. In fact, you have done quite the opposite. And to show such lack of trust, once another promising phone such as the HTC Diamond 2/Touch Pro2 comes out, I will unlock my new iPhone 3G S and sell it off on eBay so I can buy superior (in my opinion of course) device.

Thanks for nothing. I bid you adieu.

Be sure to check out TomTom’s site for voice samples.

Not too shabby if I don’t say so myself. Finally a camera that can take pictures, is an SLR, can shoot HD video with stereo sound, looks great, and is small! I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on one!

More information to come later. And as always, if you are seriously considering buying the camera, be sure to read Olympus Pen E-P1 reviews from trusted sources.

Spacing Between Words: People-person who craves social contact.

Spacing Between Sentences in Paragraphs: Average (a balance between little and large space).
Details: Little space represents that thoughts might be a bit jumbled. On the other hand, large space represents sharp perception and meticulousness.

Line Levels: Straight to slightly ascending
Details: Someone who writes in an exactly straight line could be rigid and methodical, to the point where he/she sees being emotional as having a lack of discipline. Mostly straight lines speak well of a person’s level of self-control and success in a variety of trades. If the baseline slopes upward as you write from left to right, graphologists would say that you have a positive outlook and are generally enthusiastic and determined.

Slant of Writing: Vertical
Details: A lack of slant in writing suggests that you’re guided by logic more than your emotions.

Size of Writing: Small
Details: This type of writing often belongs to someone with a high concentration level and a superior attention to detail. They operate best when given one task at a time and the ability to tackle it alone.

Signature Legibility: Illegible
Details: Possibly indicates that the person isn’t all that interested in being publically recognized.

Signature Spacing: Small to no gap
Details: The bigger the gap, the more a person is attempting to remove him or herself from a familial identity and focus on an individual one.

Pretty interesting that you can get so much information about just the way someone writes or signs their name.

I was able to see a few people I haven’t talked to in a while…Andy from Garage Inc., Jay from NVIDIA, Ronnie from Fatlace, and was able to meet a bunch of new people too like Andy’s crazy cousin. Oh man, waiting in line with those guys and calling it comedy would be an understatement.

While we were in line, we all made our predictions about how many rounds the fight would last. I think the consensus was around 6 rounds. Needless to say, I definitely didn’t expect the knockout in the second round.

Anyways, after we got in, we were greeted by a bunch of free food… pizza, sodas, water, candy, whatever you wanted courtesy of Nike. I didn’t really care for any of the freebie food because we had eaten at Ike’s Place about 30 minutes prior (if you want a good sandwich in the city, definitely check out Ike’s). They had a live DJ on stage, a comedian, and they also did a raffle where they gave out some tshirts, signed photographs by a local photographer, and a pair of the limited Nike Pacquiao kicks.

Fun, fun, fun event. I hope Nike throws another one!

The place itself is small, and there’s only a few tables outside, but as long as you don’t go during rush hour, you’re fine (unless you feel like waiting in a 40 minute line that is). A lot of people talk about the veggie menu they have and my assumption has always been that if a place has a great veggie menu, then their regular menu should also be great (but the opposite is not always true).

So with that in mind, I bought a “Veggie Paradise Found”  which has vegan turkey, marinara, pineapple, and provolone cheese. My friend picked up a “Nacho Boy” which has hot roast beef, mushrooms, avocado, and swiss cheese. My favorite part about this place is the bread. Instead, of many sandwich shops which bake their bread in the morning, Ike’s bake their bread fresh for you when you place your order…how awesome is that!

Anyways, when you’re hungry next time in the city, check this place out. It’s good enough to where I could probably justifiy a 45 minute drive just for a sandwich haha.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers,” Gladwell discusses the concept in detail (although the idea itself is nothing new). In order to gain mastery of your field, you must practice a lot, at least 10,000 hours. Be it programming, learning a new language, playing football, etc. the concept applies equally to all fields of interest. I’m sure you can think of random examples where it wouldn’t apply like an 83 year old woman who wants to become a master of figure skating but let’s take that out of the picture for now shall we?

One might assume that successful people have some sort of innate gift. But where’s the proof? In an era of science, that branch doesn’t bear much fruit. But the concept of working hard and dedication does make sense. Anyone can be successful at what they do given time and practice.

So what’s the breakdown of 10,000 hours? The following calculations are made on the assumption that you work 50 weeks a year:

50 hours a week: 4 years
40 hours a week: 5 years
30 hours a week: 6 years, 8 months
20 hours a week: 10 years
10 hours a week: 20 years

Senior and junior positions in the workplace begin to make a little more sense now.

No one said mastery was going to be easy but keep working, it’ll pay off! After all, as the old adage goes: practice makes perfect!