Louis C.K.: Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy
I feel it’s important that I post this, since I’ve been complaining about amazing devices for the last few weeks. I want you to know I’m well aware of the fact that Louie is basically describing me in this video.
It’s bad enough I had to buy an AT&T MicroCell so I would stop dropping calls in my apartment, but to add insult to injury, whenever connected to the mini-fake-3G network the carrier text on the iPhone becomes this huge monstrosity that takes up the whole left side of the status bar. Why can’t it say “AT&T MC” or simply “M-Cell”?
The fact that this device uses my internet connection—which I pay for—to create a fake 3G network so I can avoid using AT&T’s shitty service, and yet I have to pay AT&T to get one is a slap in the face. But if I want to make phone calls with my iPhone in my living room these days, I don’t have much choice.
On a related note, while I was at the AT&T store today the salesperson casually said, “Bad coverage in your apartment, eh? That’s a shame.” To which I replied, “Yes, AT&T sucks. If I didn’t have an iPhone, I wouldn’t use you guys.” He thought on this for a moment and then said, simply, “Yeah.”
Minutes later, I walked into the Apple Store to pick up a Magic Trackpad (verdict: excellent). While the salesperson was ringing me up, he glanced at the AT&T bag and asked if I had purchased anything fun. I told him no, I had to buy a MicroCell because AT&T has a shitty network. He said, “I’m sorry you’re having problems. Did you ask them to look into network issues in your area?” I said no. “Do you want me to take you upstairs to have a Genius check your phone?” I said no. “I’m sorry to hear about this. AT&T coverage in New York City is generally good, but there are weak spots. Where do you live?” At this point, I thanked him politely for offering his help but assured him it wasn’t his problem to deal with.
AT&T store: Yeah, we suck. Go screw.
Apple Store: What can we do to help you, even if your problem is with AT&T?
Honda EV-N
I wish this car actually existed, because I would buy it. It looks like a futuristic version of a French car from the 70s. Electric to boot.
Lightning Over Brooklyn (View bigger at Flickr)
It was dancing in the clouds for a few minutes last night before the rain started. The moon was watching.
“ Call me a grumpy old codger, but I liked the old way [American newsrooms worked] better. For one thing, I used to have at least a rudimentary idea of how a newspaper got produced: On deadline, drunks with cigars wrote stories that were edited by constipated but knowledgeable people, then printed on paper by enormous machines operated by people with stupid hats and dirty faces. ”
Tracy (More CS Crash Reports)
While it’s true that I’m unhappy with parts of my iPhone 4 experience (specifically dropping calls and the proximity sensor), it is otherwise one of the best products Apple has ever made. I keep describing the iPhone 4 to people as the “best and worst phone I’ve ever owned,” which is very true. The industrial design, the way it feels in your hand, et cetera—it’s gorgeous. And the screen has made nearly every other screen on earth look like shit.
If I had to switch to another phone, I would go with an Android device, but I’ve had a Nexus One for a long time now and I couldn’t use it daily if only because I would miss all the amazing apps I use on my iPhone that aren’t available on the Android platform.
It is obviously saying something that I would rather continue to use my iPhone 4 even with these frustrations than switch to any other device. And it doesn’t hurt that I make my living from building applications for iOS.
Thursday Night (View bigger at Flickr)
Working in bed. Well, we were. Until I made Stacey move so I could take a photo.
