Mobilescape Q4 2015

Welcome to the party! Shot with Nokia Lumia 1020

After lengthy evaluation of Microsoft Windows 8.1 mobile platform (W8) I came to conclusion that it is less useful in the real world than Apple iOS.

I did like W8 - it felt smooth on low end devices, had a logical layout of the OS. Camera was pretty good, yet focus was little slow to keep track of my moving kid. Yet there was enough things I liked that in the future I might re-evaluate Windows platform again, if they are still around.

What I did not like was lack of apps that I used on iOS (Amazon Video, Apple Messenger, FaceTime), and reduced functionality of Line messenger - you can't send previously shot videos, for example, was simply stupid.

Also, the phone I had a lot hope for - Nokia Lumia 1020 - has died on me within 2 weeks of use, what a shame. My original Lumia 620 still works and I will keep it as my "backup backup" phone in case I need a spare.

Although those were small complaints initially, over time they became annoyances that I decided are not worth dealing with. I am staying with iOS platform for now, less compromises in my opinion.

What's Wrong with a new iPhone?

Every year there is a lot excitement about a "new" iPhone, whatever number it might be. But some inherent flaws remain.

1. Built in obsolescence - no matter how "insanely great" your phone is now, in about a year it will be eclipsed by the next "best iPhone yet". 
2. Price. iPhone now is Apples cash cow, and you are getting fleeced.
3. Did I say new design is just around the corner?
4. To maximize your time with the current model that is not carrier locked you have to stand in line at apple store. Time wasted (or pay the bum do it for you, if you dare!)

So there you go - if you have the cash and can afford the best, that's your ticket. Otherwise, move on - nothing to see here. Personally, I have a strange urge to go camp out in front of Apple store... As P.T. Barnum said - "there's a sucker born every minute".

10-4-15  Update:

After a week with iPhone 6s I can say with confidence that it is a good device. Good, but not perfect.  I wish that Apple get off anorexia bandwagon and make the phone more ergonomic to hold - you have to buy a silicon bumper to achieve that. Now if Apple built in the bumper which is needed anyways and made it out off battery material that would increase the talk time - that would be fantastic. Oh, and they did add an external battery eventually.

2-4-16 Update:

My wife has been using the iPhone 6s and she is very pleased with it, which makes me pleased as well. I just got off intercontinental video conference call via Line (I am using Lumia 640 with Win8.1) and both phones worked excellent. Lumia 640 was not heating up like Lumia 620 used to. So take your pick - iPhone 6s is a definite pinnacle of status and design, while Lumia 640 is a $59 phone from Microsoft Store. If it was available at this price when I got the iPhone, I would have at least tried it before I parted with my money. But happy wife - happy life, so there is balance in the force.

Apple Watch - is it a game changer? Not for me.

I have been keeping my eyes open for new wrist devices - I had databank products from Casio, their Pathfinder flagship and various G-Shock devices. They were not "smart", but batteries lasted for years (or months for Pathfinder triple sensor) and were quite geeky. I liked them.

When latest crop of smart watches appeared couple years ago, I was wearing my Citizen Chronomaster Titanium, which was the best watch so far. It was good looking, accurate, and batteries lasted 5 years (I have changed them once so far, and that will be the last as the watch was stolen from my house). I really liked that watch, but would I buy another one to replace it with?

The answer is "depends". The bad part is that I don't have $2600 laying around to spend on another watch. Insurance will only cover up to $3000 on jewelry, and my wife lost a lot of her gold and silver. So I would have to cough up the money myself, and at this time I just don't see it happening. My old King Seiko Hi-Beat automatic is back on my wrist. Although it runs a minute fast every day, I can deal with it. The new Chronomaster will have to wait.

Now what about the Apple watch? I already deal with charging my phone every day and I think that is a pain. I am waiting for an iPhone that would last a work week on a single charge, just like my old candy bar Nokia 6610 used to. Well, it would work for at least 4 days, which was not bad at all. So I don't need another gadget to discharge my iPhone even faster. Oh, and it would not work with my 4s, so that's a no go anyways.

I wonder "what would the Apple watch would do for me?" Again, like with an iPad, I could not put my finger on it. Does it replace my phone? No. Does it replace my watch? Sorta, but it needs to be charged every day. Then there are build in sensors for the heartbeat. If I wanted one, I could have gotten it long time ago, so that's a moot point. Does it look cool? I prefer a clean look of Citizen or Seiko.

I will probably get an Apple Watch once they make it into a stand alone device with built in phone / internet and the accouterments. If I could dump my iPhone, I would switch for a wrist based device in a heartbeat. But that is not happening yet. 

What will Apple Watch do for me?

I confess - I am a wrist watch addict. Although many of my electronic devices have clocks built in, they are never as convenient or as accessible as my wrist.
I have gone through quite a few watches in my life and so far the best one is on my wrist right now - titanium Citizen Chronomaster. It rarely comes off my wrist. I don't need to reach for my phone to check the time at night or in the morning, and bright luminescence lasts the whole night with ease. I left the watch at home one day, and caught myself staring at my bare wrist more than once. It does not bother me with beeps or flashing messages. If I need an alarm, I set my iPhone. iPhone is my jack of all trades for now.
In the past I had Casio G-Shock which was good daily watch for rougher conditions. Gym, beach, travel - I did not have to worry about babying it. The battery lasted for more than a decade. But the weak link was the band - after couple years it eventually broke. I got tired worrying about the band and retired the G-Shock(s). But I sure got my use out of it.
Now I also have a $10 Casio for outdoor activities, but I do miss countdown timer in my G-Shock. I might pick one up again eventually, after $10 Casio breaks. I also had a big watch - Casio Pathfinder with sensors for altitude, pressure and temperature, and while it was cool tech, it was not super useful. And then the band broke...
Now down to business: Apple Watch. The $350 question is what can it do for me? Just like an iPad, I am yet to figure that out. I don't need another device that I have to obsess over loosing power and not doing much more than my iPhone - real estate on my wrist is precious. I think I am going to hold out couple generations and see where Apple takes them. I am not in the rush to part with my money just to stimulate the economy.

2-4-16 Update: I got another beefier G-Shock and have been happy with it again. I don't need my watch nagging or telling me what to do, and G-Shock doesn't.