- Image by Yang and Yun’s Album via Flickr
I did something contraindicated by statistics, (those who know me are rarely surprised by this).
I voluntarily gave up my beloved iPhone 3Gs – for a Google Nexus One. Yes, I have given up the phone that I have cherished, since release, that has persuaded so many people to change their ways due to my usage of it (and every one of them has loved their own iPhone in turn). Me, Apple fangirl.
You see, I have not always been just an Apple fangirl. Just about all my tech life, I have been in love with Linux – the principles, the way of crowd sourcing development. I still think you could easily stack Ubuntu up against Windows and wonder why you would bother with the proprietary costly Windows. I never got the whole Cult of Mac.
Then, I got my iPhone. There was no other phone like it, then. It rocked. Shortly, I had moved into a shiny Macbook Pro, a 24″ Mac screen, and then – the iPad. Apple saturation, and I still love those products to death.
But now, here I am happily using a Nexus One. Not an intuitive leap. Why go (what many would regard as) backwards, given the shiny new iPhone 4?
It started as a result of Serval. Dr Paul got one for the project, (we had been using HT Dreams, nice enough, but, not a patch on the iPhone). Then, playing with is Nexus One, I found myself liking the plucky little underdog. It felt more real. More phone like, less computer.
Lately i had been feeling like having the iPad and iPhone were a tad overkill, too duplicating of services. Also, since this project started, and my involvement with it has exponentially increased to the point where i am now doing pre study for Masters, to swap into PhD territory, the direction I wanted to go has been clearer. I had been thinking of Apple development. I may still develop a version of the Serval software for the iPhone - I would dearly like to, in fact.
But, it is time to immerse myself in the cleaner world of Open Source. Stop living in the perfumed walled garden of Apple delights, and become more grounded in reality, in all it’s kludgy inconvenience (mourning my beloved speaker dock system atm).
I thought I might blog my progress in this. I am not sure if it will last. I have given myself two weeks to conduct the experiment. The fate of my old friend, my first Apple foray, is assured no matter what. There is a willing home waiting for him with my middle daughter, who has been not so secretly (subtle is not a strong point of this family, and her in particular - so like her mother) lusting after one…
So, later today, I will write about days one and two. The change.
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Congratulations and welcome back to the light/dark side (not entirely sure which). I’ve got the HTC desire which is a slightly pimped version of the Nexus One which I’m pretty sure you’ll love because it allows for real use of your device. People buying the iPhone4 are wondering “but why can’t I make a video call?” to which the answer is “because you just can’t” whereas the android conversation is something along the lines of “I think my phone should be able to do X” to which the response is “sure, why not, here’s an app, a plugin, or the dev kit to build it yourself.” I’m sure there’s a Google cult, and I’m warming to it, but I’m not drinking anyone’s Koolaid yet; Apple flavoured, Google flavoured or otherwise.
Thank you:)
I am enjoying the process greatly – but I still love my MBP and my iPad. But truly not missing my iPhone yet! This Nexus One is amazing – I haven’t even rooted it yet (oh gods, isn’t that a dreadful term for Australians?! Lol;) ), but there is more than enough in the way of apps. Except for one or two areas I will be blogging about, and they are so not Android fault by any means.
There is a lot of stuff teh iPhone does and does so damn well. Good for 90% of people. It is when you wan tot go outside those boundaries. I ALWAYS want to do that;)
Not sure if this iscompletely the same, but your comments comparing ubuntu and Windows reminded me of my daughter’s mp3 player. Sh is a cluey shopper indeed – I was most impressed when the world was going crazy for iPods as THE benchmark for mp3 players, she went off and bought an iRiver which is the same handheld size, but bigger screen and more storage for much less price. The gems are often the underdogs.
Have fun with all of your techy toys…play nicely now!