The iPhone 4 Review You’ve Been Waiting For!

I always find it amusing to find reviews of gadgets the DAY they launch.  Really?  Unless you’ve had a device for a good few days (and I would argue weeks), can you really give a review that’s based on regular usage?  I don’t think so.  I’ve given myself a good week or so to really experience the device before sharing my thoughts.  And while iPhone 4 is certainly not perfect, it’s a big winner in my book.

NOTE: My review only covers features that are iPhone 4 centric, so new features of OS 4 aren’t covered here so you can get a true sense of my review of what this actual device delivers uniquely.

The Great

1. Build Quality – This thing is a Rolls Royce of devices.  The build quality is outstanding.  It feels like a million bucks in your hands, and you can tell that this is no cheaply made gadget.  It’s solid, the glass finish is sexy as hell, and it feels like it could definitely survive a few falls.  Now whether the glass could actually survive without a crack or two remains to be seen.

2. The Display – No doubt about it, this retina display is the best I’ve ever seen.  When you compare it up against the older models, it just puts them to shame.  Take a look at the following graphic to give you an idea of the difference:

3. New Cameras – In addition to the 5mp bump and flash on the back camera, finally a front facing camera is added.  For the first time, I can seriously consider my phone replacing a digital point and shoot.  Sure, it’s still not of that caliber, but definitely good enough for most pictures.  Both photos and videos have looked great, and considering 99% of what I shoot is only viewed online, it works out great.

The Good

1. Reception – I have to say that a week in, and I’ve had better phone reception.  I haven’t experienced the “antenna” problems that are being reported even with covering the “black gap”.  I used to get terrible reception in my home, and now no problems.

2. Facetime – I’ve tried it once, but only because it requires both iPhone 4 AND Wifi, which isn’t always a situation that corresponds to opportunities to use it.  If they can get this to work on 3G, then we’re talking about a great feature.  But let’s be honest here; we’ve reached a point in technology where we can video chat on our phones.  That’s crazy period.

3. OS Speed – Without a doubt, apps open and operate much quicker.  Something you certainly get used to fairly quick, but I love it nonetheless.

4. Battery Life – Again, definitely better.  No issues getting through an entire day even with heavy call/text/app use.

The Bad

1. No Removable Battery – Sure would be nice to be able to lug an extra battery around and be able to swap them out.  Probably never going to happen though.

2. 32 GB Max – I’m not technical nerd, but I’ve got to believe they could have fit a 128 GB chip in these things.  Or at least a bump to 64.  32 can go fast, especially if you add a few movies.

3. No Memory Card Slot – If your not going to have a large on board memory, at least give us the option to store things on a card.  Again, probably never going to happen on an iPhone.

Conclusion

Bottom line is the iPhone is still by far my favorite device, and hands down the best mobile user experience available.  Yes it’s popular and everyone practically has one, but there’s a very good reason for that, and the 4 is a great update to an already superior product.  I’ve tried numerous other devices, and it’s just not even close.  Android is making strides, and I certainly hope Windows Mobile 7 can deliver, because quite frankly, the more competition the better all these devices will be.

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Yes, Another iPad Review, But From Someone Who Still PCs Too!

I’ve made no attempt at hiding my love for many of Apple’s products.  It’s not easy admitting being an employee at Microsoft.  I just refuse to not enjoy and recognize great products even when they come from companies outside the one I work for.  I use an iPhone, and the reality is, there is not another phone on the planet that can match the hardware quality, and user experience it delivers.  If Microsoft did (or even came close), I’d be all over it.  My hope is that Windows Mobile 7 lessens the gap.

When the iPad hit, I knew it would be something I would want to get my hands on.  I didn’t really “need” it, but the cool factor definitely had me wanting one.  I opted for the Wifi version as 3G is skechy at best, and there are other options for mobile broadband even with the Wifi version.  That being said, here’s my initial thoughts on the device.

The Good

1. Form Factor – There’s no getting around it, using the iPad is bad ass.  It really is.  I love the form factor.  The build quality is outstanding of course.  It feels like a million bucks in your hands.  There’s just something really unique about busting out this device to check your email real quick, or look something up online.  I definitely see myself defaulting to the iPad many times over a traditional laptop for many of the things I do.

2. Media Monster – Music, movies and pictures are a blast on this thing.  It’s a true multimedia device, and an outstanding way to consume media.  I definitely see myself using it a ton to browse photos, manage music and watch movies.

3. Apps – The iTunes App Marketplace goes to another level on this thing.  It’s already money on the iPhone, but even more so now with larger screen real estate.  I can see this being a bonafide gaming device, and there are already some great inexpensive game apps that look amazing on this thing.

4. Battery Life – It’s crazy on this thing.  Easily lasts all day no matter what you are doing with some juice to spare.  Very impressive.

The Bad

1. No USB, Memory Card Reader – I really hate devices that are proprietary and don’t offer any universal plug in options.  I understand Apple is trying to ensure the quality of the user experience, but devices like this really could benefit from some input flexibility.  Now I have to purchase adapters to be able to plug in devices such as cameras or memory card readers.  Ugh.

2. No Multi-Tasking – It’s not an end of the world thing, but c’mon.  iPhone 4 is going to have it, so I’m guessing it’s just a matter of time before this feature hits, but it should have shipped with it.

3. No Camera – This isn’t a huge deal for me as I just wouldn’t see myself taking pictures with something like this, but I would DEFINITELY see myself video chatting.  Seems like another addition that wouldn’t have been difficult to implement.

The bottom line is that I see the iPad as a complimentary device.  Certainly not a laptop replacement, but definitely something I would see many people using quite a bit.  My guess is that I will decrease my traditional laptop usage by at least 50% if not more.  Browsing online, managing email, media consumption are all handled very well by the iPad and much more fun.  If you’re torn on whether to bite, consider just going with the Wifi version and saving a few hundred bucks.  There’s so much Wifi out there these days, I don’t see the value in spending more for the 3G and the monthly charges.

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iPhone 101: How To Sync Gmail Contacts Without Using Exchange

I felt compelled to share how to go about synching your Gmail contacts without burning your allotted ONE Exchange account on the iPhone.  Not entirely sure why this limitation is in place, but for the longest time I simply used Google’s simple instructions to use Exchange to sync my email, calendar and contacts in one simple step.  Works like a charm, and never really had any issues.

But after returning to Corporate America, I quickly found that not being able to check my work email easily on my phone became a pain in the butt since I already was using the Exchange account for my personal stuff.  I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out a way to do both, and today I stumbled across a very simple process to accomplish just this.  Quite simply, there’s an app for that.

Sync In A Blink.  Simply put, this $4.99 app does exactly what it says.  It allows you to sync your Gmail contacts with your iPhone using their simple to use app to do such.  Plenty of options to sync in exactly the way that works for you, and after entering your Gmail credentials, it’s a snap to get your contacts on your phone seamlessly.  By using this program, and CALDAV for my calender sync (see here for how to do just this), I can now simply use the Gmail account adder in the mail setup, and free up my Exchange option for my business email.

Yes, it was $4.99, but it was so simple, I feel sometimes it’s worth a few extra bucks to accomplish what it is you need on your devices.  Should Apple just allow for multiple Exchange accounts on the iPhone?  I think so, but for now, my needs are met.

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My 9 Favorite iPhone Social Media Apps

As if spending countless hours on the computer with social media wasn’t enough, there’s a quite a few excellent apps out there that help you manage, monitor and communicate through your social media channels on the go. While some of these are quite obvious, perhaps a few in here are new to you. Regardless, here are my 9 favorite social media iPhone apps.

1. Facebook – Really if you don’t have this one on your phone, you really aren’t interested in this article to begin with right?

2. LinkedIn – Their first version was pretty lame, but the most recent update brings the app into usable form.

3. Tweetie 2 – In my opinion, the crown jewel of Twitter iPhone apps. Slick interface, easy to use, and a front pager for me.

4. Meebo – Recently launched, a free IM client that is terrific. Works like a charm, and practically supports every IM client there is including Facebook.

5. Yelp – Perhaps a social media reach, but the fact is, Yelp has many social media aspects to their site, and I use this app quite a bit. My fav app to find everything on the go, and read reviews from the community.

6. WordPress – Again, another example of the 2nd version of the app breaking through.  I don’t really blog with the app, but monitoring comments is very useful on the fly.

7. Mashable – Recently just launched, a slick little app to stay on top of social media and technology stories quickly and easily.

8. Byline – There are quite a few RSS iPhone apps, but I’ve found Byline to fill my needs quite nicely.  Synchs with Google Reader seamlessly, and I can easily stay up to date on my fav blogs.

9. Ustream Live Broadcaster – Maybe not for everyone, but it’s still pretty amazing to be able to stream live video straight from your phone…for free!

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Office For Mac Macworld 2010 Recap

This year’s Macworld 2010 was my first Macworld and it was definitely a different tradeshow experience then I am used to.  For years, I’ve attended the Search Engine Strategies and SMX events and the biggest difference by far is in the audience.  The search shows I’ve attended are much more B2B, with Macworld having a much more consumer feel.  This was very evident in my attempts at doing video recaps like I had done in the past.  At the search shows, EVERYONE wants to be on camera.  At Macworld, not so much.  It was like pulling teeth actually.  We did the best we could, and I’ve embedded our two daily recaps below.  The Day 2 video is a bit more interesting as you actually get some insight into some cool apps and software that were at the show.

What’s been most interesting is seeing the social media plan that I’ve been working on for quite a while go into action.  As of this blog post, the Office for Mac twitter account is closing in on 8,000 followers after a few weeks of going live.  My hope is that they would hit 10,000 by the end of the Mac Office Loves You campaign which wraps up 2/25.  I think they’ll get there.

What suprised me the most though was the Facebook adoption.  Well over 3,300 fans after just a few weeks.  I wasn’t expecting that many that quickly.  Obviously a good thing, and part of that success is certainly the group’s ability to be in the conversations.  So many companies have good intentions and launch, but never back it up with real people and responses.  As long as they keep it up, I anticipate they will continue to build momentum and be able to drive real value through their social media efforts.

It’s been a great run, and I’m wrapping up my time with the group.  I’ve got big news to share in terms of my next move that I hope to share in the next few days.  In the meantime, enjoy the Macworld video goodness below.

And don’t forget you can still enter to win one of two fancy Macbook Pros just by following Office for Mac.

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The Office For Mac Social Media Extravaganza!

Three months ago I accepted a contract position that would have me help build the social media and community plan for Mac Office.  Now, after 3 months of discussing, planning, revising, and who knows how many meetings, the curtain has been pulled away and the excitement begins.  It’s been an amazing experience getting to experience building and executing on a plan for a large brand, and certainly challenging to say the least.  The group is very unique in that it’s a Mac product within the halls of Microsoft.  I’ve grown to love the platform (don’t fret, I enjoy both), and I look forward to now getting to interact with the Mac community a bit more now that we are launched.

I’ll be attending Macworld next week which I’m pretty excited about.  We have a fairly large booth presence, and I’ll be spearheading some daily video recaps that I will post here in addition to the Mactopia blog.

In addition a custom website was built to celebrate the social media launch and Macworld experience.  Be sure to check out all the fun at www.macofficelovesyou.com.

In addition to all the hoopla, Mac Office is also giving away 2 sweet Macbook Pros as part of the social media launch.  All you have to do to be eligible is to follow the officeformac twitter account and you are entered to win.  You can earn a second entry by tweeting anything (preferably something clever of course) using the #officeformac hashtag.  The contest is open through 2/25.

I can’t take all the credit.  Tons of thanks to some great agencies and individuals I’ve gotten to work with throughout the project.  Zaaz is a tremendous group of smart, talented people that I’ve had a blast working with.  And don’t even get me started about how cool it was to work with Wexley School For Girls.  I never thought I’d get the opportunity to work with them on a project, and I’m glad I did.  Super creative folks, and the craziest offices you’ve ever seen.

So now I ask all my friends, family, readers and visitors to spread the love!  Follow Office for Mac on twitter, fan ‘em on Facebook, and win yourself a cool new Mac in the process.

More to come!

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Apple Magic Mouse Review

It’s no secret I have formed a deep, passionate love for all things Apple over the past 6 months. After a 2 month learning curve getting used to the differences in operating systems, I am fully assimilated. Of course with Windows 7 now out, I’m much more likely to boot up in Windows once I get around to installing the new system.

My latest love is the new Apple Magic Mouse. I was in an Apple Store the other day and played around with their most recent mouse offering. As with all things Apple, it definitely looked and felt like an impressive piece of hardware. After having the store employee demonstrate a bit, and playing with it, I couldn’t resist. Even despite the $69 price tag.

First things first. $69 is a lot to pay for a mouse. Especially when you can walk into a Best Buy and get a decent one for roughly $25. But when you decide to go Apple, you know you are going to pay more. So was the purchase worth it?

So far, I’d say yes. Like I mentioned, the build quality is far superior to any mouse I’ve ever handled. Even Logitech’s top offering doesn’t even come close to comparing (I know, I’ve had this one). This mouse feels like you could drop it a few stories and it would still survive. It is a very narrow design, so those used to a bulkier mouse design will probably find issue with the comfort factor. This wasn’t as much of an issue for me as I had been using the Microsoft Arc mouse for awhile which also has a low profile design.

There’s also a bit of a learning curve using this mouse with the multi-touch functionality. Most users are used to using buttons on a mouse, so using finger gestures to accomplish similar tasks takes a bit getting used to. For users of the newer Macbook Pros with the glass touchpads, this learning curve is much less.

I absolutely love being able to scroll using finger gestures on the mouse. The new glass touchpads on the Macbooks are revolutionary, and I always found myself missing the finger gesture functionality when using whatever mouse I had paired with my laptop. Now I don’t have to. Holding control and finger swiping allows you to zoom in and out which is also a nice touch.

The bottom line is this; if you are a newer Macbook Pro owner, the magic mouse is a no brainer. You’ll be used to the functionality and it pairs very well. However if the new trackpad functionality doesn’t matter much to you, I doubt this mouse will either. Also, one frustration point is that the mouse doesn’t function entirely out of the box when paired with your laptop. It requires a software update that automatically appears once paired.

Expensive? Yes. But I would anticipate that like other Apple products, the lifespan of this piece of hardware will eventually warrant the price tag.  Time will tell.

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