Why I’m Glad I Waited a Year on the iPhone X

I didn’t get an iPhone X. I chose the 8 Plus instead for this year’s upgrade and I’m glad I did.

I wrangled and writhed over this year’s upgrade because Apple gave us more choices than ever and thus made my decision the toughest it’s been.

I quickly elminated the 8; I wanted a dual camera phone. So it became a question of “super new hotness, but a year of beta-ish features” versus “almost everything except way bigger and slightly less cool-factor."

I opted for the 8 Plus as the early look at the X (long before any reviews were out or hands-on had been had) made me worry about the software package on this new flagship. Control Center being in the top right was particularly worrisome (I use it dozens of times a day as my primary Home and TV app). It was a gamble and I knew no matter what I’d miss being on the latest, leading edge device.

But now that I’ve had my 8 Plus a few weeks and had a chance to go hands-on with the X, I feel sure I made the right choice.

The X is amazing and clearly a next-gen product. And yes, I am a little jealous of the FaceID fun, "Animoji Karaoke,” and general “check out the new hotness” lifestyle the X is offering. In just a few minutes with it at an Apple Store I can tell the home button would not be missed, the notch is no big deal, and that phone is overall leading-edge cool. Had I gone for it from the 7 I would have been very happy, no doubt.

But in just a few short weeks of the “#PlusLyfe,” the minute I picked it up it felt… small.

I never thought I’d feel that way. The Plus is big to me- like even now, I’m very aware of how it feels bigger and heaiver than any phone I’ve ever had. But I’ve so quickly grown accomstomed to it that even the edge to edge screen of the X felt cramped by comparison. Don’t get me started on the iPhone 5 screen I had to use for an Apple Store purchase. That was a freaking “nano."

After only a few weeks the thing I thought would be my compromise has become my norm. That big, spacious screen of the Plus is great and like a goldfish I have quickly grown to the size of my container such that the narrowness of even a 7 or X feels cramped. Not small; just squished.

There’s a ton more. I think the X has a lot to learn about it’s software. I’m hoping the camera “button” on the lock screen can be swapped out for Control Center since the swipe over camera gesture still works. I hope they find a more creative use for the space under the keyboard. I want every app to update for the X. There are lots of software design choices that I think will be better in iOS 12.

But more than anything, I’m looking forward to the iPhone 11 Plus. Because I’m not sure I could go back now. Yes, I want all the fun and futurism. But now I want it on an even bigger, more spacious screen.

So I’m glad I waited the year and opened my eyes to the Plus life. It’s better than expected. Now on to the iPhone 11 Plus.

Why Apple Watch Made it Possible for Me to Skip iPhone X

Funny thing happened when Apple released the first series Apple Watch. They trained me to stop caring about “having the best."

I loved that watch- right up until I replaced it year with a Series 3- but I always knew I didn’t have “the best.” Or even the “second best.” I had the “Sport”- a name designed to allude to the device’s lighter aluminum frame; but was to me more reminiscent of the dimuniative nickname for a young kid. “Good on you, sport, and you’re little watch."

The standard watch was stainless steel. Gold belonged to the “Edition.” I had the sport and as such, I was no longer as cool as I could be. After years of having the “latest and greatest” I was a “sport."

And I became okay with it. So much so that my new watch is also a “Sport.” (I like the lightness of the aluminum and the lightness of the price).

But when this year’s phone lineup was announced, I had real anxeity all over again. I’ve felt like goldilocks trying to figure out which iPhone would be “just right” for me. They all come with compromises, so it’s been a struggle.

But one factor I didn’t expect was the feelings that by not getting the iPhone X I’d be excusing myself from the “cool kids table."

I ended up ordering the iPhone 8 Plus. It’s the right call and I’m totally happy with it. And part of what got me over that hump was remembering that my Watch is not the “coolest” either, and yet I love it. Because it’s the right device for my lifestyle and works the way I want at a price I can afford.

A lot of us are going to be struggling this year picking from the most pluralistic iPhone lineup yet. But, for what it’s worth, consider not worrying so much about the “cool” factor.

Because you know what’s really cool? Tech that “just work” in your life and let’s you spend time enjoying other things.

At least for me it is ;)

Audiophiles Were Always the 1%

Remember a year ago when Apple was about to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack and the internet lost it’s shit?

Good times.

Personally, I’m much more concerned about an iPhone with no more TouchID than I was ever afraid of one with only a lightening port, but that’s just me it seems.

Anyway, it’s been a year now and in case you were wonder if removing the audio port was a “death sentence” for Apple, it was not. Not even close. In fact, the iPhone 7 was the highest selling smartphone of the year.

So why then did the internet lose it’s shit over something that turned out to be a complete non-factor?

I have a theory.

The overlapping venn diagram of “audiophile” and “tech writer” is pretty big. Nerds are nerds; they’re defined by their intense love of topics- often technology- and so it should be no surprise that the same people who obsess about technology of a smartphone would likely obsess about the technology of sound recording and playback. Nothing wrong with that by itself, but this is great opportunity to explain how bias works in reporting; so stick with me.

The number of people who actually care about audio quality is pretty small. Maybe 1% or less of the total of people who actually buy smartphones. But, among the number of people who WRITE about smartphones, that percent is much higher; maybe even as much as half.

So, when half of all tech writers are complaining about the feature, it seems like a HUGE deal- like it could kill half of Apple’s potential market or something. But in reality, that population is just massively skewed and in the real world, the port removal didn’t matter at all.

This is how all media bias works. When a percent of the media thinks a way at disproportionate levels to the general population, it causes the issue to seem either bigger than it really is or more important than it really is.

In the end, reality will win out and in hindsight- as with iPhone 7- we’ll realize it was a media bias, not a consumer one.

Also worth noting is that their complaints are not delegitimized by this fact. The iPhone 7 is not good for audiophiles. It’s just that last summer you’d have gotten the impression that half of all buyers were audiophiles; when in fact they’re a small minority.

I wonder if on some level part of the hysterics around the port removal was the feeling by those audiophiles that their beliefs (regarding audio quality and it’s importance) lose a chance to go mainstream when the jack goes away. If on some level they feel like- “I believe that audio should be important to everyone and by removing the jack, not only am I inconvenienced, but I’ll have no future opportunity to change minds. I know I’m not a majority now, but this cements that I never will be.” I know that sounds weirdly emotional, but that’s because it is. It’s why they complained so emotionally.

Apple made the (courageous?) move to eliminate the 3.5mm jack. Turns out, the world didn’t mind at all. And to an audiophile, that may just be the worst part of it all- confronting the fact something so important to you is a non-factor to almost everyone else. Because when it comes to our values- our beliefs- the worst thing isn’t confrontation or opposition; it’s indifference.

Of course, everything I just said is true for politics as well.

Your Official Conservative “Friend”

I’ve been musing a lot on Twitter about how important it is for everyone to get out of their “echo chambers” in light of the recent elections.

So to do my part, I offer myself up as your Official Conservative Friend (or OCF for short).

What would this mean?

It means you can follow me on Twitter and read my blog here to get a better understanding of the convervative viewpoint from someone who is resonably- if not above averagely informed- on American government and politics (I do have my degree in this stuff).

It means I’m going to write a lot more in this area than I previously have since I think it’s more important than it’s ever been.

And it means I’m going to take a lot more questions and be a lot more conversational on this stuff. (Not here- no one uses “comment” sections anymore. Comment on Twitter like a normal person ;)

Bottom line, if you’re looking to hear from a conservative that is well informed but not a wackado, I’m going to hope to fill that void. And if you’re someone who thinks a reasonable, non-crazy person can’t be a conservative I hope to challenge that assumption. But most importantly, if you’re a liberal who feels like your bubble has been burst in the wake of this election and you need a way to broaden your understanding of “the rest of us” you’re most welcome.

We need converstations like this now more than ever. I’m going to start posting more as a way to do my part.

PS- I’ll be tagging all these posts with OCF so you can avoid them if you like. Hate to burst your bubble unintionally ;)

Values and Users - The Biggest Takeaway from WWDC 2016

There's going to be a lot written about all the new software features announced at WWDC today.  I know, because I'll be doing a lot of that writing along with so many others.

But for my first impression, "hot-take" on WWDC, the thing I'm struck by most isn't any one feature or software upgrade.  It's how Apple differentiates itself by thinking about people before products.

We expected a lot more talk about services at WWDC. We got very little.

We expected to see iMessages go cross-platform.  It didn't.

There was no hardware, no new services... in fact- by my tracking- there was NOTHING new announced today that will make any revenue for the company (save for Apple Music and News; but they aren't new).

What there was, was a clear demonstration that Apple, more than anyone else in the tech industry, is thinking about users.  About how we use the devices they make.  About how they can make our lives easier, better, more fulfilling, more engaging.

I understand now why Phil Schiller wanted the App Store news out of this cycle.  That's about business.  And today- by my account- was about us.  About people.

About how we connect and how to make it more fun.  About how our devices can learn to better serve us without compromising our privacy.  About the future of programing and coding for the whole world.

Today, I saw the Apple I love at it's best.  I have no doubt that this fall we'll see some great new hardware for running these redefined platforms.  But Apple- as Steve would say- is about the intersection of technology and art.  About how technology makes our lives better.  And what makes Apple unique has always been the way they can take beautiful hardware but put upon it a platform that makes it more personal, more useful, and more friendly than anyone.

Everything they showed today was born of that guiding light.  

Every company has profit margins.  Not every company has values.  Today, Apple showed us just how good they are at both.

Only Apple.

On Gorillas, Small Kids, Accidents, and Blame

Why must there always be a villain?

Hundreds of parents have taken their eyes off their kids by a zoo pen; this time one happened to get away and fall in.

Dozens of trainers have interacted with a gorilla throughout it’s life without incident; this time it wasn’t clear if the animal was aggressive.

The people there- forced to make the choices and evaluate the situation- decided that there was danger and that a human life was more important than a gorilla’s.  They weren’t poachers or hunters; they were vets and animal keepers.  And they made a choice in an un-winable situation.

It was an accident.  An accident that the kid fell in.  An accident that the gorilla appeared hostile.  Maybe both. 

But in the end- no matter how it happened- it was a tragedy and the real compassion should be for everyone involved.  The parents who will always carry the guilt of that one time they took their attention away.  The kid who first hand saw an animal killed.  The staffer who’s life has been dedicated to animal care forced to take the shot.  And the dozens of bystanders who’s dreams may be haunted by what they saw that day.

Not every story has a villain.  Sometimes, tragedy just takes place.  We shouldn’t need to find blame, find someone or something that must be pointed at to carry the fault.  We shouldn’t need a villain.  

But we do.

Even if we have to make one up.

The Flash Finale - Quick Thoughts (Spoilers!)

SPOILERS FOR THE FLASH SEASON 2 FINALE!!!

Okay, I have so many thoughts on this I might write up a detailed analysis of the season at some point.  But here's my top of mind thoughts...

1) This season's second half has been weak-sauce.  The first half was pretty good, leading up to the killer reveal of "Jay" as Zoom.  Then the mid-season break came and everything after that was more flop than not. 

All this led to a finale that was a real mixed bag of "what could have been."  In the first 15 minutes, they gave us 5 - 6 key moments; all of which could have been an entire episode!!  Why did we get half a season of crappy, mis-step filler when we could have had so many great shows??  Where was the episode where Wells-2 finally realizes the STAR Labs team is the "family" he's always been needing?  Where was the episode that sets-up Zoom's master plan?  Where was the episode where Wally discovers Barry's secret identity??  We got all that and more in 15 minutes; I'd have taken a show's worth of each with breathing room and real character development.

The Wells/ Sisco relationship is a perfect example.  They were GREAT together in this one- where has that been all second half??  Why not have let that build up to instead of just dropping it on us so quickly.

2) Zoom was horribly managed.  We started the season off with this near-perfect villain.  Menacing, evil, unstoppable- Zoom had it all.  And up to the reveal that he is- in fact "Jay"- it was fantastic!  Then it all falls apart.  Once out of the mask, Zoom's motivations become murky, his plan is unclear, and he seems incompetent compared to the first half.  What was with all of Checkov's Metas??  Never explained.  Why did he go from wanting to conquer worlds and be fast to "I'm going to start counting success in the number of bodies I drop?" and back again?   It doesn't hold up.

In the end, Zoom's master plan actually fits the Zoom we first met- I'm going to destroy the multi-verse so I can rule this one planet AND do it by proving I'm the fastest man alive.  Perfect!

It really- REALLY- felt like the first half of this season and the finale were written by one team of writers, and the second half was done by a group that didn't get to read what the others were doing.  It's so disjointed, the characters are so out of line  that it makes the whole season suffer from "what could have been."

And lastly.. the ending.

For two seasons we've been dealing with a Barry Allen racked and motivated by a guilt he cannot escape.  It's driven him, but also limited him.  This year, we got some real character development in the one bright spot episode of the second half.  Barry goes into the speedforce and seems to emerge with real character growth.  Confidence, purpose driven, at peace.

And then they undo it all in the final moments as Barry screws with the timeline for his own selfish, petulant reasons.  They unraveled all his advancement for the sake of a cliffhanger; one they didn't even need.  The show was already renewed.  The audience would be back.  They could have left us with a win and a happy ending but instead they went for the cheap trick.

I died a little.

I still like the show and I truly hope that next season is as much fun as the first and we all look back at #2 as the season that we dare not speak it's name.  But the writer's room better learn from this because they can do better.  I know it- I see the potential.  I just want that little bit more.