customary behavior
There were a few minutes in my weekend to spend at the nearby AT&T store, where three iPhones were on display. There’s no clearer way to say: I.Am.Smitten. The multi-touch interface is flawless and typing was easier than I had imagined. Remarkably snappy performance, too; but, maybe, that is my perspective because I am used to typical cellphones with carelessly designed software. I haven’t heard any amazing life-altering stories about previous-existing smartphones to have suggested they were any better, though. This review does iPhone good.
The Apple TV is now hooked up to the HDTV in the living room. I had read, sometime ago when it was launched, that it runs hot. It doesn’t run hot - were it not for my heat-dissipating furniture, I can imagine that it would otherwise melt through its perch and drop to the floor. Given the complaints of overheating notebook batteries last fall, I’m glad that the Apple TV is not meant for use in my lap, otherwise more recalls would be in order. Apart from the heat issue, which doesn’t appear actually dangerous since the unit isn’t touched regularly, I suppose, except for a dusting over, I would appreciate an on/off feature. I had also read that there’s no way to actually shut it off; that is definitely the case. Jon and I, both, have low-power electronics around the house, barely let our compact flourescent bulbs burn when not needed, and keep the house well-tempered, so as to maintain a bare minimum electric bill. I wonder how much electricity the Apple TV sips on when not in use. Dag, yo.
On June 29, in the car, traveling to Radford University for their last day of orientation, I spotted a UPS truck being towed out of a neighborhood development. That same day, a package was expected to arrive, originally from Amazon, sent on a UPS truck that was said to have left Radford’s UPS facility. The thing was never left at my door, nor was the tracking information ever updated beyond “6:09AM - Out for delivery“. No word was spoken until this afternoon when I received an email from Amazon saying I was receiving a full refund for my purchase. Wow. I never even thought to email them - my assumption was that the package would be left on the truck and eventually, following transport maintenance, would be delivered. Wonderful service deserves public praise.
Today was a better Mac-selling, sanity-keeping day.