Boy & Their Toys...

Last week I broke down & bought a smartwatch. I've been waiting for Apple to release a smartwatch since 2010, when 3rd party cases started showing up for the Nano - allowing you to wear your iPod on your wrist as a watch. 

But the Smartwatch 2 (Sony) & Galaxy Gear (Samsung) swooped-in to land the 1st major smartwatch punches with early fall releases this year. So I went with a 3rd party company in Pebble to satisfy my immediate new tech craving.

It's a pretty good watch & should do just fine for the time being. There's a wide range of cell phone app notifications & alerts that sync seamlessly with the watch in real-time. I once wondered about the practicability of a smartwatch, clearly many simply aren't ready for this particular piece of tech.

But it's pretty convenient not having to pull my phone out of my pocket to change my music, read an alert, text message, or email so often. If the industry manages to continue successful development of the smartwatch functionality & services that people can actually use, they could be the next big thing.

Again, the Pebble smartwatch I have is just a stop-gap until The Big A gets their shit together in 2014. Color graphics, swipe gestures, a camera & voice assistance are some of the things the Samsung & Sony smart watches are respectively capable of, so I expect similar features, at minimum, for Apple's rendition - especially, since they are so damned late to the party. But I'm pleased with the overall functionality of the Pebble smart watch.

The ball is in your court Apple, we're waiting...

Journal 2.0

I've been using a new app on my iPad & iPhone to record & track my individual journal entries (it's called - Day One). 

I've been using it for about a week now, but I've also been transferring my previously written entries into the new app at the same time. 

It's been absolutely amazing to look back at the various thoughts I once had of people & the direction my life was heading.

As I've been transferring the old entries, I've also been applying the various tagging features to sort the entries into categories like people, events, places & etc. So far I've found the feature to be pretty helpful, especially when trying to pin-point a particular journal entry or experience.

My old journals date back to September of 2004, so that's almost 10 years of fuckery I'll get to chuckle at as I bring my new journal to date. It should be a pretty entertaining experience since I very rarely re-read my entries after writing them. Already I've come across experiences that I have no recollection of, lol.

The app allows for the import of previously typed entries & also the export of app data to another medium should I so desire in the future. Based upon individual settings, the app records GPS data, weather conditions - even the song currently playing on the device you're posting from.

It's a pretty cool app, if nothing else, it's already rejuvenated my interest in keeping a regular journal - so it's totally worth the $5 I paid for it.

Jobless (1955-2011)...

As a frequent user of Apple products, I'd be a bit remiss not to post about the death of someone who many might describe as a technological visionary. On October 5, 2011, former Apple CEO, Steve Jobs would succumb to pancreatic cancer at the relatively young age of 56... but in his passing, he left us with so much. Whether you're an Apple supporter or hater, you've got to realize the genius in the man, coupled with his unrivaled presentation skills & ability to create anticipation among loyal consumers.

It's funny, I'm heading home from work on the train, composing this post from my iPad & will later use the data signal from my tethered iPhone for upload to Internet (all before I even get to my car). I never imagined we'd be using cell phones & mobile computers this way - now look at us! It's also pretty fitting that I purchased my very 1st Apple computer on the very day of his death. An obvious example of how, even in death, his ideas, concepts & standards will influence the way we operate & think for some time.

Apple has made life much easier for me over the years. 1st there was my very 1st 1gb, black & white display iPod (graduation present from my aunt). By the end of that summer I'd fallen in love with idea of mp3 music file playback, pitched my CDs, & upgraded to a 30gb iPod Video. Then I figured, why not consolidate the devices I lug around & get an iPhone? I was was tired of losing oPods anyway - no brainer. Then I added an Apple TV to the mix & was introduced to the visual world of Apple. Then finally the concept of mobile tablet computing exploded with the success of Apple's iPad.

So now that I finally have a Mac to tie everything together seamlessly, I'm completely in-sync! Whether I'm in the home, the car, at work, or on the go, I'm never without any of my emails/messages, tv shows/movies, music, important documents, magazines/books, social networks, photo galleries, so on, & so fourth. Apple's newest iPhone (4S) hits the streets in less than a week, but I 'think' I can hold out for the iPhone 5 (which I expect to drop in 2012) since there will be an iOS update for all devices as well in the coming days.

It really just depends on how many new features software updates are unique to the new handset only & whether or not I feel I can go without 'em until the release of iPhone 5. In either instance, my next phone will most definitely be an Apple product, & thats a credit to a great company that a certain 2-time CEO left fingerprints all over. For that, I'm so very thankful Steve - scratch that... iThankful.

Just Thought this was Pretty Cool...

The Baltimore Ravens (my favorite football team) now distribute iPads to it's players, rather than the old-fashioned playbooks & to me, that seems like an excellent idea.

Players now have the convenience reviewing game film, studying plays & game plans all in one device. The only other team that seems to use iPads for playbooks are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so it appears the Ravens are on the cutting edge in this regard.

According to the blog I read on the teams website, Ravens offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron (pictured above) wondered if the team's several-hundred page playbook could somehow be transferred to some sort of tablet device. Less than a year later - the notion is a reality. The teams says the responses by players & coaches alike, have been rather positive so far -- well duhhh! Lol.

"There are things it’s good for & things that the paper is better for. You can put video on it, which is very convenient. It’s nice to not have to carry around a giant playbook all week. “I do print some things out so I can mark down the route progressions & things like that, but in all, it’s been an easy transition", said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

The team purchased 110 iPads & even purchased 10 more when the NFL expanded training camp rosters to 90 players this year. According to Nick Fusee, the Ravens' Director of Information Technology, several tablets were tested before settling on Apple's 64 gb iPad 2. Fusee expects the new playbook distribution method to save the considerable printing costs over the new few years.

“Our video staff has already got the game loaded on their laptop, so all they have to do is plug in through iTunes & load it up on the plane. It only takes a minute, & the guys like that,” Fusee added.

Another huge benefit of going the iPad route is that the Ravens cam always remotely wipe data from any stolen or missing iPad ensuring that playbook & scouting info doesn't 'conveniently' fall into the hand of another team. Additional security measures include automatic wiping of the device after 3 incorrect password entries.

The Atlanta Falcons also flirted with iPads this year. They used the tablet to conduct pre-draft interviews. In my opinion this is yet another example of how tablets are taking over & I, for 1, love it...

The Day DVD Died...

A few days back I (slowly) began converting the DVDs I currently own into specific file formats needed for future storage & playback on various external drives, computers & portable devices. Due to the slow-ass data ripping speed of my current laptop's DVD/CD drive, the process takes about 3-4 hours for most feature length films or performances.

Given the fact that I've accumulated more than 300 DVDs over the years (& that's not even counting pirated films), it's clear this process will take quite some time to complete. So I guess I'll get into the habit of ripping a DVD or 2 per day to expedite the process. On the flip-side, I've already noticed the many convenient advantages of having the few DVDs I've uploaded available in my iTunes library.

I'm not yet so sure what to do about the 30 or so BluRay discs just yet, but it's not of much concern at this point, since it's the newer disc format. Most of my BluRays included digital copies for media storage purposes anyway. In the years to come, I'll need to master preserving BluRay and/or 3D quality during the conversion process, but for now, I'm good with the standard format - I'm just tryna get all these damn DVDs out of my face!

Eventually, with all of the DVDs/BluRays uploaded, I'll be able to enjoy all of my media (coupled with iTunes & Apple TV) from almost any TV in the house with just the simple touch of a button, further eliminating the need for me to get off my lazy ass - such a spoiled society we've become, lol.

The way I see it, the day digital video disc manufacturers feared will soon be upon us & BluRay discs aren't where it's at either. It's not that there's anything wrong with BluRay technology, in fact it's the best right now. The problem lies in the delivery format. In this world of increasing portability, people are simply moving away from any disc format - whether they realize it or not.

You need only to look at how the sales of portable DVD/CD players have plummeted over the past 5-7 years. Folks are primarily watching & listening to media that has either been uploaded or streamed to their cell phones, car stereos, satellite radios, net books, e-book readers, PC tablets, so on & so 4th. There just isn't the need to have a physical disc in-hand unless of course, you're 1 of those unfortunate creatures technological of habit, lol.

When Netflix rolled out their instant streaming video (to video game consoles, Internet tv/media consoles & mobile devices) last year, the end of a storied era in technology ended. So much that the idea of a disc as the standard for the portability of video & audio media already sounds archaic. Ironically, the last time such a shift in technology took place must have been when DVD/CDs replaced cassettes tapes & VHS. Remember how resistant folks were of that change?

I think what's made Netflix so successful, in such a short time, is the fact that it seems to satisfy those who remain on the cutting edge of technology, people who consider themselves to be somewhat tech savvy & also folks who simply don't have (nor desire) a clue. If you're not so hot on streaming for your video needs, or maybe you just don't want to wait a week or so for a new release to become available for instant streaming - just have the DVD/BluRay(s) sent to your home in 2 business days, piece of cake!

With Netflix providing the 1st highly successful model of how profitable & efficient video streaming can be, production companies are sure to notice the trend & will likely devote far more resources into (I promise no pun was intended here) streamlining the end user's consumer experience in terms of ease of use & overall practicability.

Apple, Roku, Google, Logitech, Nintendo, Sony & Microsoft are just some of the primetime players that gave rise to video streaming last year by incorporating services like Netflix & Hulu among others, into their own flagship devices & platforms while boosting the usefulness each respective device at the same time. In addition, it's no longer uncommon to see mobile phone applications with video modules built within the app, allowing for viewing of streamed or stored content.

Folks, I'm not saying go throw away your DVDs tomorrow, lol. I'm just pointing out that this slight shift in mediums is something you might want to keep in mind, especially in regard to any electronics you buy from this point forward. Already companies like Amazon have announced plans develop a vehicles similar to the current Netflix beast (Amazon expects to offer the same services at an even cheaper monthly rate).

I don't expect companies like redbox to go the way of Blockbuster, my guess is that they'll morph their company into a model not unlike what Netflix has put together in order to survive & provide more of that all-important element of competition that any free-market economy needs to thrive. That & the fact that there will always be be the need for same day service. In what now seems like a contingency plan, Redbox encroached upon Gamefly's top billing as kings of video game rental by beginning to offer similar services last year.

Still, models that rely too heavily upon disc-based formats will take an even bigger hit once the video streaming kings lay claim to a stake of that piece of the market as well. My suggestion, buy stock in all of em! As time passes, it'll be interesting to watch which implementation model, medium & format ends up standing above the others as the recognized standard - at least for a little while anyway, lol.

As far as my project, I've got just 1 little-big problem - file storage! It was much easier when I went this route, dumped my CDs & started using .mp3/.mp4 files exclusively. Even in 2004, most notebook computers had more than enough hard drive & RAM space to handle the typical iTunes library; however, taking the same approach with more than 300 DVDs is NOT an option unless I suddenly develop an affinity for severely decreased computer performance.

For the time being, I'm storing all my tv shows, movies, music videos & concerts (basically all large file types) in a 1 terabyte Time Capsule external drive which until now, it was dedicated for backing-up me & my brother's computer hard drives wirelessly. Now it doubles as the storage tank for all video files until I decide what I want to do long-term. That is all...

VZW's iPhone Takes Flight - well, sort of...

Perhaps a better title for this post might've been 'Off & Running' as I've got a few reservations about switching to Verizon just yet. This past Tuesday Verizon announced it's (official) plans to carry the Apple iPhone, a move long awaited by current iPhone users, previously hand-cuffed to AT&T for wireless service over the past 5 years.

What this means for iPhone users is that there's finally competition in the marketplace, surely benefitting longtime users of the device.

Verizon is beginning to stock it's stores & warehouses with a newly developed CDMA network version of Apple's iPhone 4 (GSM-based network versions of iPhone 4 have been available via AT&T since early 2010) & are expected to release the smartphone in early February - at least that's the word we all got in Tuesday's press event.

I was certainly among the masses longing for the eventual announcement (& subsequent release details) by Verizon, I think the feature I most looked forward to was the ability to maintain a data signal while below street level in underground subway tunnels. Even still, I think I'm content to remain with AT&T for my wireless service for the time being for 2 major (& 1 minor) reasons.

#1 Verizon's version of iPhone 4 WILL NOT be a 4G device: With all the advertising Verizon has thrown our way, touting it's 4G devices in the works, I was hoping their version of the iPhone 4 would be among those, wishful thinking I soon discovered. It appears Verizon's big push was solely to get an iPhone in their lineup. Nonetheless, I'm super glad they managed to do so.

#2 Apple's special development of the device as a CDMA-based network device (for use on Verizon's wireless network): Though in essence a stronger network in many regards, it tends to restrict/reduce data usage on mobile handsets when calls are in progess: This means no surfing the net, receiving notifications, or undergoing any task requiring use of a wireless data signal until completing a call (a pretty major flaw for anyone who's grown accustomed to doing so for years with AT&T's GSM-based network version of the device).

The same would apply towards what would have been one of the VZW version's best features over AT&T's - the internal mobile hotspot allowing for internet connection for up to 5 devices. Because of network lmitations, you wouldn't be able to get a call while transmitting a data signal. I wonder how long this will be a drawback of the current Verizon/CDMA network technology, hopefully the issue will be resolved by the next model. Speaking of which...

#3 ...iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple decides to call it *this is the minor reason*) We all know it's coming, the question is when???: The spring is approaching & that's generally the time that Apple likes to announce their upcoming releases for the summer & early fall & they're clearly not shy about releasing 2 successive models of a device in less than 2 years time, especially with Verizon's Droid series of phones (running Google's Android OS) closing-in on their market, fast! I don't think it would real ly smart to get a VZW iPhone now only to be clamoring for yet another new phone if the 5 drops this summer...

Aside from those flaws, it appears that Verizon's version of the smartphone will for the most part operate pretty much the same as AT&T's iPhone 4 & will essentially be a carbon copy (as far as it features operating system is concerned). With that in mind, it looks as though the table is set for the 1st 4G iPhone (iPhone 5) to be released simultaneously on both carriers (& who knows? Maybe even more).

So I'll be waiting on that particular series of events to unfold & will once again compare the up/downside of switching my wireless service provider to Verizon at that point. Though Verizon's version isn't quite the device I was hoping for from Apple, I remain ecstatic that AT&T's long-standing exclusivity rights have since lapsed & now, the world has far greater access to this genius of a device. Long live the Apple, lol...

iOS 4.2.1

Earlier in the week the most recent OS update to Apple's iPod & iPhone (& most importantly the 1st significant update for the iPad's operating system), iOS 4.2.1 was officially released & after a few days of playing around with the various new features, I'm pretty impressed with the direction in which the devices are heading. The iPad has essentially replaced my laptop as far as everyday use & each week it seems I find a new reason to use it even more.

I absolutely love the convenience that this device has given me since the spring of this year when the 1st shipments finally started rolling out. I carry it with me during my daily commute to/from work & at this point I'd be lost without it. Anyone who doesn't see the need for such a device clearly has no clue of all that it does. Between it's audio/video media playback & management, file storage, data & word processing, web browsing & advanced email capabilities, it does everything I need it to do as far as my day to day needs are concerned.

I'd highly recommend it to anyone considering the purchase of a conventional note or net book for similar uses. In conjunction with the use of any desktop or stationary computer in the home or office, most would be hard-pressed to find limitations to the overall functionality of this wonderfully designed tablet computer.

The following are the 3 are the upgrades to the OS I looked forward to the most (on the iPad specifically):

- Multitasking is now supported on the iPad & folders have finally been introduced as well (so no more swiping through page upon page of apps on the iPad).

- AirPrint is a pretty useful new feature to the iPad (allowing for printing to a wireless printer operating on the same network as the device).

- Far better mail & calendar support (including improved syncing between MobileMe & Google have also been implemented with the introduction of the update).

-Interestingly in a very uncommon move for apple, The OS update was used to make a slight change to the hardware itself. The page orientation lock swith now serves as the mute sound switch, the page orientation lock toggle is now found by swiping left within the multitasking dock (just like the on the iPhone after previous updates).

For the most part, all of the new iPad features unlocked by the new OS are available on the iPod & iPhone respectively, but most had already been implemented in previous updates to those devices a month or so back, so there aren't many brand new features that come to mind in that regard.

I did however notice that the iPhones now have the native ability to have newly added sms/mms alerts assigned to specific contact entries, so u know exactly who is texting you by the sound of the alert alone (17 new sounds I believe), but I won't get much mileage out of this feature myself since my iPhone is jailbroken & I have my own custom alerts sounds anyway, but many non-jailbroken iPhone users should find a practical use of the new capability.

Looks like the iPhone on Verizon is Finally a Reality...

It appears Apple and Verizon are finally geared up & ready to play nicely with one another in early 2011 (as confirmed by Fortune magazine). AT&T's death-grip on the exclusivity of the iPhone has long been rumored to be dead in the water, but Apple, AT&T & Verizon have been much more willing to talk about the issue in recent weeks & it appears officially no longer a pipe-dream.

Personally, this iPhone user is ecstatic that Verizon will be joining the game. But not for the reasons that most iPhone owners are. I've always preferred Verizon phones for the simple fact that they were for many years the only carrier's whose cell phones worked underground in subway tunnels and such. Though other companies now offer a similar convenience, Verizon still maintains the most reliability in that regard. Probably a pretty trivial reason to prefer one carrier over another, but hey - we live in a trivial world, lol.

But I think most iPhone owners will probably tell you that they're looking forward to the increased call quality & network that Verizon will offer. Many current iPhone owners have often dogged AT&T's network and customer service during the years since they gained initial rights & exclusivity of the device, but honestly I've never encountered much of an issue, if any with AT&T. I've always thought any of the big 3 or 4 major carriers was about the same, so while AT&T may not be the best - they certainly aren't the worst either.

I'll admit; however, that I'm not a huge talker on the phone, so the calling aspect of any smartphone I own is probably the least used feature, so it's very possible that I'm not so picky about call quality for that reason - all I know is that it makes and receives calls whenever I need it to. I'm a huge user of data so as log as I getting a 3G data signal (at minimum), I'm happy!

In general, I get rather close to obtaining the maximum potential from my iPhone as I use it ALOT for everything from emailing, texting, my iTunes music library, & banking to social networking, watching video, film/photography, news/weather, shopping & much, much more! So the future development of this phone (& corresponding carriers) remain only radar.

I can recall some point in early 2008, when I got my 1st iPhone. After losing my 3rd iPod, I said fuck it, switched carriers & made the iPhone thing happen - best move I could've made & I'm STILL pissed that I didn't get on-board back in 2007 when iPhones debuted. It's been the most practical & user-friendly device I've ever owned.

I actually still have my old Verizon account active & in good standing, so I'm sure to make switch shortly after we're given the green-light. Perhaps Verizon finally being in the mix is what the rest of you guys (who refuse to admit the superiority of the iPhone) need to finally jump on-board and see what you've been missing. Or maybe not, either way, you'll definitely see more iPhones - whether you like em or not, lol. All I need now is my Apple desktop computer & I'll be all set!

With that being said, I own stock in Apple, AT&T and Verizon - so I'm also excited from a financial standpoint & really couldn't care less about which carrier has the most success with iPhone sales. Clearly, the additional iPhone sales for Verizon are sure to give any Apple & Verizon stock a boost, so I'm looking forward to the upswing that's sure to take place within my portfolio when it all goes down.

As you can see, I could go on & on about the iPhone, but it's midnight & I've gotta go pick-up the new Call of Duty: Black Ops game - I'm such a child - why can't I just wait until I get off of work tomorrow? Lol...

Free at Last (again...)

I spent about a month of my life reluctantly operating a non-jailbroken iPhone 4 upon it's initial release, but in recent weeks the Tech Gods smiled down upon us with the release of a new jailbreak via Jailbreakme.com. FINALLY a viable jailbreak solution for the new OS. Oh, how I've missed my jailbroken apps & tweaks. I've always thought it was ridiculous to ask a consumer to spend $500 for a device & then say he/she she shouldn't have the ability to customize.

Incidentally, along with the release of the new jailbreak came an announcement that jailbreaking a device is no longer illegal. Not really sure what that means for the typical cell phone user at this point, but one thing I do know is that the legality of the issue was rarely what kept apprehensive folks from doing so. To me, it seems to involve more fear of how complicated it is to jailbreak one's device and furthermore how painstaking it is to maintain a jailbreak in regard to future firmware updates and so fourth.

With that being said I'd be very surprised to see hoards of folk jailbreaking their devices since in most cases, the masses just don't know what their missing when it comes to tweaking their device. Below you'll find my lil' run-down of pros & (the one) con when it comes to jail breaking.

Pros:

1) An entirely new app store is made available to owners of JB phones
2) Complete customization of the phone (layouts, icon, sounds,etc) becomes possible when jailbroken.
3) Features and functions of the device either forgotten or forbidden by the manufacturer/carrier are available, and in great abundance

Con:

1) Often times firmware updates for a device become available; however, jailbreakers need to wait a day or two for app developers & hackers to test the jailbreak against the new firmware - that's about the only drawback I really come across in my experience as a jail breaker.

Recently broken your iPhone & looking for cool JB apps? Help are some of the JB tweaks & apps I'm using nowadays...Fake Carrier- is a tweak that allows me to customize the standard AT&T carrier banner to say whatever I'd like, mine says "Ghostwriter28," of course...qTweeter- an excellent jb app for Twitter & Facebook that allows you to effortlessly Tweet or update your Facebook status at any point, from anywhere on your phone with out interrupting anything your currently doing.iBlacklist- an essential app of mine which allows me to decide which calls make my phone ring regularly, discreetly or not at all. It also allows me to decide whether the call shows up in my normal call log or in a separate hidden log. The same features are available for SMS msg as well.

LockInfo- a tweak which displays a fully customizable quick glance display for each SMS/MMS msg, email, notification, calendar item, etc. to my lockscreen in place of the standare wallpaper.

biteSMS- an SMS/MMS app which I use in place of the normal texting app included w/ my iPhone. It displays the contact photo for each msg and allows me to send a msg at a scheduled time. It also gives me the ability to decide precisely how I want txt msgs to be displayed, this app is one of my favs!

Cyntacts- is a tweak that places contact photos next to each contact in my iPhone's default contacts list. This is a great tweak for me, as it performs a function that I've always felt has been missing from the iPhone (& still is).

vWallpaper- a tweak that allows me to display a video wallpaper instead of a static image or blank wallpaper beneath my app icons.

Early iPhone 4/iOS 4.0 Impressions...

I've had my new iPhone 4 for 2-3 weeks now, so I guess that's more than enough time to make a fair review of the device. Generally speaking, I'm impressed by the 4th generation of the iPhone & all that it features. For me, it offers the perfect blend of functionally and entertainment necessary to maintain it's top-dog status among all smartphones currently available to consumers. For years I was a very heavy iPod user, so after losing my 3rd iPod Touch, I got wise & chucked my Android G1 & consolidated my cellular & mp3 devices into one - it's been a glorious ride ever since.

Among of my favorite improvements to this iteration of the device & corresponding OS are the *front/rear mounted cameras allowing for video calling (& what I imagine will eventually include an introduction of video Skype to Skype calling capabilities within current the Skype app) and the all important self portrait, *multitasking - no more starting over in an app each time you open another (plus an app mgmt dock for toggling between currently running apps), *application folders (another formerly missing feature which largely influenced my constant jailbreaks of my previous iPhones) and the *ability to edit iTunes playlist directly rom iPhone (no more waiting all day to get home to ur PC or Mac just to add/delete a songs from a desired playlist).

Below you'll find my quick list of pros & (just for u BB enthusiasts) cons for the device.Pros:

-326 pixels per inch Ultra High Resolution Touchscreen Display (Games and apps look even more amazing, the sharp, rich/bright display of photos & graphics is currently unmatched.)

-improved better battery life (as promised by Apple - finally!)

-Thinner Design (some ppl say its slightly heavier, but I find it comparable to the weight of my 32gb 3GS if not lighter)

-Bright Flash for photos/steady light for video recording

-5 megapixel camera/720p HD video recording

-Fully customizable split home/lockscreen wallpapers

-SMS/MMS now display character count, so no more guessing whether ur msg will fit into one sms (*note - feature must be enabled in message app settings).

-Group messaging between all iPhone users running the current OS.

-Mail app now groups back & fourth emails from the same senders into thread groupsCons:

-1st off, it's still currently exclusive to AT&T, so any add'l greatness of the iPhone is definitely handicapped in that regard (you Verizon hold-outs still have a lil wait in-front of you before iPhone 4 becomes a reality - 2011 at best)

-The Locksreen still features minimal customization options - or better yet, none at all. It would really be useful to have updated information (mail, calendar, weather, reminders, etc) displayed on the lockscreen for viewing at a glance. This is where other cell phone OS such as Android have managed to one-up Apple in the game and another reason that I continue to jailbreak my iPhone, they clearly blew it there.

-Lastly Apple used some new stronger more scratch-resistant glass on the front & rear of the phone to house the inner-workings & main display. The only draw-back here it that this new glass doesn't seem to resist smudges & fingerprints nearly as well as it's predecessor, the 3GS. An easy fix would be a screen protector (however touchscreen phone users of any sort should be well accustomed to by now).

As with anything else, there's always room for improvement, so jailbreaking is still necessary if you want to 'fully' maximize the features of your iPhone, but I can honestly say that Apple has done alot this go-round to bridge the jailbroken vs non-jailbroken iPhone gap. Two thumbs up...