Tim Marman's Loosely Coupled

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• Technology really only matters when it creates new possibilities

  I've gotten a bad rap over the years as a "gadget guy". Every time something new is released, people have come to expect me to have it. I'm definitely a gadget guy, but I think people often miss why I buy gadgets. Unlike, say, Alex , you'll rarely, if not never, see me buy something new just because it's new. I don't own an iPhone. I'm definitely an early adopter, but only when the new technology enables me to do something I couldn't do before (or makes what I could do before drastically easier). For example, let's walk through my history with music players. I first had a Walkman back in the day. It was great, because I could make my own mixes and run with it. (My favorite version was the yellow Sony Sport one. It even had a sweet strap for running. Kick ass). Then I got a DiscMan. This enabled me to skip to the next song, something that was more tedious with cassettes. It still sucked because I had to carry a whole ton of CDs based on what I was... Posted Jun 22 2008, 09:03 AM by Tim with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Rants, Gadgets

• The Enterprise, The iPhone, and the Role of Silverlight

  With its recent announcement to support ActiveSync on the iPhone , Apple is clearly going after the enterprise user. The problem, as Colin puts it, is that the decisions that consumers make decisions on a radically different set of criteria than organizations . Lack of Exchange support was surely holding back enterprise adoption, so that move was both obvious and inevitable. The fact that they are also supporting remote wipe is a bigger deal than most might realize too - security is a major concern for large enterprises, and for a long time Blackberry was the de facto device in large part because of this. (Windows Mobiles devices weren't allowed at my last job until the Remote Wipe feature was enabled). Fundamentally, I think we're moving to a model where enterprises are going to demand a certain baseline for devices to play in their garden. Features like over-the-air Exchange connectivity, remote wipe, and support for .NET, Java, and Flash are quickly becoming non-negotiable. It... Posted Mar 27 2008, 09:00 AM by Tim with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Rants, Gadgets, Microsoft, .NET, Enterprise, Apple, Programming

• T-Mobile doesn't know how to treat its customers

  It looks like T-Mobile dropped their data plan from $29.99/mo to $19.99/mo. I originally thought this was related to the new unlimited rate plans and losing the Starbucks account , but it was actually back in September (on my birthday no less). I must have missed it at the time, given that whole wedding thing. And worse, it turns out you have to actually ask for the new rate . After reading Kevin's post, I logged in to My T-Mobile today to adjust my plan. To add insult to injury, check out the options I'm presented with. For the past 5 months, I've been paying $10 more than I should have for this service. T-Mobile should have adjusted this for me automatically (as Kevin said, you can be sure they would if the price went up). At the very least, they could have told me about it via a pamphlet or during the time I spent talking to a T-Mobile representative as I was trying to get my phone unlocked for the honeymoon. They did neither, and were quite happy to let me pay $10 more a... Posted Feb 24 2008, 10:16 AM by Tim with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Rants, Gadgets, Things that bother me, Business, Marketing

• Verizon to open up its network and devices

  Verizon, a company traditionally known for being ultra-controlling with its network and devices on its network, is opening its network in 2008. As Om puts it, "given Verizon’s track record of tight-control of its network including the user interface, this is a huge announcement : akin to Mikhail Gorbachev responding to President Ronald Reagen’s call to bring down the walls." In practical terms, there aren't a lot of CDMA phones out there compared to GSM, so it's not (initially) that big of a deal. For example, you still won't be able to get an iPhone on Verizon anytime soon. The really important line in the announcement, however, is that "any application the customer chooses will be allowed on these devices". It's about time. I wonder if Verizon will finally stop disabling the GPS and otherwise crippling their devices... If this is the case, I might actually be tempted to consider CDMA and a switch when my T-Mobile plan is up. Posted Nov 27 2007, 10:49 AM by Tim with | with no comments Filed under: Technology, Rants, Gadgets

• How to buy an unlocked iPhone (and thoughts on the iPod Touch)

  Go to Germany and bring $1,500 with you (well, more if the dollar keeps slipping and you don't go soon). T-Mobile will be selling an unlocked, contract-less iPhone as a result of a German court ruling . T-Mobile said Wednesday that it will sell the iPhone in Germany without a contract, complying with a court injunction against it. In addition, it will unlock any phone bought since November 19 -- the date of the ruling -- at no charge, so that the device can be used with other carriers. However, the company has asked the courts to clarify the injunction so it may change its offer to consumers based upon that. Consumers will gain the option to purchase the device without the two year contract for €999, or about $1,478 USD. In all cases, contract or not, T-Mobile will unlock any iPhone purchased after the ruling. The process is apparently different in Germany than it is here in the US. American consumers may purchase the iPhone sans contract for a flat price of $399, whereas in Germany... Posted Nov 27 2007, 06:18 AM by Tim with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Gadgets, Business, Apple, Law

• Unlocking the iPhone

  Fred is unlocking his iPhone . I'm waiting anxiously to see how this turns out. If all goes well, I may have to consider picking one up myself especially in light of the price drop. The EDGE-only doesn't bother me too much since I'm on the T-Mobile network which doesn't have HSDPA anyway. Maybe Alex will sell me his old one when the 2G inevitably comes out with HSDPA and 16GB... Posted Sep 12 2007, 04:44 PM by Tim with | with no comments Filed under: Technology, Gadgets

• What exactly is an iPhone application?

  Scoble mentions 3 new iPhone apps today from Newsgator, Bloglines, and Google. It's interesting that companies keep saying they are doing "iPhone development", when really these are nothing more than sites skinned to look more natural on the iPhone. The iPhone is the only mobile phone that gets special versions made for it, which is especially curious to me considering one of its big selling points is the full-featured Safari and a better browsing experience in general. My initial take is that these companies are just trying to ride the coattails of the amazing iPhone marketing. Mashable says "NewsGator hasn’t been so hyped in recent months, and all I ever hear about is Google Reader." Is it just an easy press release when you have nothing else interesting to announce? Or do these special versions really make a difference? (I don't have an iPhone... so isn't an entirely rhetorical question). Posted Jul 24 2007, 10:28 PM by Tim with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Software Development, Rants, Gadgets, Things that amuse me, Marketing, Apple, Programming

• The iPhone is a game-changer

  I recently wrote a piece for the TechDirt Insight Community about the impact of the iPhone and how the other carriers and device manufacturers can respond to the iPhone. I've come to realize that the iPhone has indeed changed the game, but maybe not for the obvious reasons. Yes, the iPhone is "making it okay to experiment with new ideas, and throw out previously taboo notions." It will probably lead to innovation with touch interfaces, and will probably shake up the way we purchase and activate phones. Ultimately, though, those aren't why the iPhone is important. The iPhone is important because it's the first smartphone that appeal to the general public. For example, Tara had heard all the hype but had no interest in the iPhone, nor does she have any interest in a BlackBerry or the Samsung Blackjack. Then she saw this David Pogue video, to which she responded "whoa - that thing is sweet! I had no idea it was that cool". According to Charlie's informal... Posted Jul 05 2007, 05:12 PM by Tim with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Rants, Gadgets, Apple

• iPhone impressions

  Alex has an iPhone (two, actually) and posted his first impressions (but not until he shared his activation woes ). In talking to Alex and reading other reviews, the general consensus is that the iPhone is very good, but underneath it all it's still the same old carrier BS. I did have a chance to play with it briefly this morning and it's undoubtedly a very, very slick device (in both form factor and UI experience). We may have been wrong about condemning the choice of glass . It looks like it's quite durable , and actually didn't smudge too much in the few minutes I used it. It may sound scary, but hey, the only thing that scratches glass is diamonds and other glass right? I am still probably not going to be getting one , the convergence with my Dash to Exchange is simply awesome, and I can still get work e-mail through Good Technologies. Aside from that, the other thing that really stood out for me was the recessed headphone jack. One of my biggest complaints with Windows Mobile devices... Posted Jul 02 2007, 11:27 AM by Tim with | with no comments Filed under: Technology, Gadgets, Apple

• Is touch the next big thing in mobile?

  Om Malik says that, in a sense, the iPhone has already changed the mobile business because they're "making it okay to experiment with new ideas, and throw out previously taboo notions." Now Tero Ojanpera, the Nokia CTO, believes that "optical sensors and touch will be the next big things". Personally, I think there's going to have to be a lot of innovation before I think that can happen - not just in the quality of recognition and somehow providing tactile feedback, but in the material used for the screen surface. iPods are notorious for being easily scratched, which has apparently prompted a switch to glass . Apple also announced that the entire top surface of iPhone, including its stunning 3.5-inch display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity. Judi Sohn doesn't think this is such a great idea . Glass? Glass?!?! On a phone?!?!? How is this a good thing? Raise you hand if you have never accidentally... Posted Jun 18 2007, 04:51 PM by Tim with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Gadgets