CoolSlice

From Mad TV in 2007 (yes, 2007):

The iPad reminds me of the original iPhone release. Neat but was so fundamentally broken that it should not have been releases and did not deserve the high price. The baby non 3g iPad however is an interesting option for people who do not have a kindle but WANT one. The Kindle DX is around $400 and for an extra $100 you can get the iPad. Not awful.

My final conclusion is that the vast majority of people should wait for the next iPad iteration that will be sure to have a camera, better battery life, slightly speedier processor and a more stable/robust OS.

For those spicy early adopters out there…have fun with your iPad. My review unit won’t arrive for 2 months so i’ll have to see for myself what I’m missing.

Personally, I’ll just plan on buying my iPhone 4G on verizon in September.

(Update: maybe there is some hope for the iPad 3G…still has to use the awful ATT service but at least it can grab some non-wifi data)

Sigh.  So as feared Apple has released a giant iPhone called the iPad.  Super.  That’s really all you need know.  It’s a giant iPhone, running nearly the same exact operating system, with nearly the same exact form factor (albeit jacked up in size).

Actually, it’s not a giant iPhone because it only has WIFI.  So…it’s a giant iTouch.  The main reason why the iPhone is so powerful is the fact that all of its apps can update themselves via a cellular 3G network.  So wherever you are, bam, your apps can you use the power of the Internets (plural intended cause it sounds more fun).  The iPad, dare I say it…sucks.

The ONLY thing that makes me interested in this thing is its battery life.  Having 10+ hours of video playback is tasty.  That said…is it worth it to buy this thing?

If you already have an iPhone I would have to give it a resounding NO.

If you already have an iPhone AND a Kindle…an even louder NO.

If you do not have an iPhone NOR a Kindle, yet you have an iTouch and a trust fund…then, maybe, go for it.

If you do not have an iTouch, Kindle, nor iPhone and you have a trust fund…go crazy.  Enjoy your large iTouch/the iPad.

Bah.  This photo below pretty much sums it up:

Dear Ladies (and possibly some men),

1. Please stop the kissing face picture pose.  I know it makes your face look thinner, lips fuller, and maybe even shows a jawline, but it’s getting silly at this point.  Just smile, or don’t smile, or make really any other face you want except the kiss-pucker.
2. No more hands on the hip, taught by Cosmo pose.  It even sometimes looks silly on the models so…there we go.

I know, none of my business.  They are your photos.  That said…stop it.

I may be the only one…feel free to yell at me.

3 year old shows the “So You Think You Can Dance” contestants what is good.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever cooked before.  Ok, now put that hand down on your mouse and click here to buy the Thermoworks Thermapen.
See, wasn’t that easy?

If you need more convincing just accept the fact that every time you cook something be it on the stove, the grill, or oven, crazy things happen (scientific term).  Temperatures are never the same, meat is never cooked the same, etc.  The ONLY reliable way to tell if a piece of meat is done is with the temperature.  Temperature, unlike many things in life, cannot lie.  That chicken just hit 165 degrees in the oven?  Bam, yank it out and enjoy it cause it’s done.  One of your friends wants a medium rare hamburger and your other “friend” wants it sacrificied beyond well-done?  No prob.

This thermometer is instant fast, splash proof, durable, comes in damn near every color and dead simple to use.  Just buy it.  Stop thinking that it costs $100.  It’s worth it, you will have it for decades.

Boom.

A little trick for all you GMail lovers out there using Firefox (you should be using Firefox, or at least Chrome).

So, why do you need this trick?  Say your browsing along on your favorite website and you see a link to contact someone.  That email address highlighted in blue and underlined is ever so inviting but when you click it, what happens?  Some useless Outlook/Mail application pops up.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to click that link and have Firefox automatically open GMail and compose a message?  Yes, yes it would.

Steps:

1.  Make sure Firefox is fully updated (if not, click here to download latest)
2.  go to Tools > Options, select the Applications tab
3.  search for mail
4.  select Use Gmail from the list of actions associated with the mailto protocol
5.  click OK to save the settings.

Can I cite any real evidence proving the above statement?  Nope.  Not allowed to.  Here’s my pronouncement: by the end of summer ‘09, Apple and Verizon will ANNOUNCE that a Verizon iPhone is coming soon.  I say it will be released and available for purchase by September of this year.

Will it be the same iPhone as the current Apple iPhone or the new iPhone being released by AT&T this summer?  Probably with some very slight tweaks.  To anybody who has had problems with AT&T service and their iPhone, this switch to Verizon is sexy indeed.

Boom.

You have attractive people in your life and you yourself may look attractive at times.  In order to capture all of this attractiveness one needs a solid camera.  No need to read a ton of reviews or ask your friend who minored in photography at a small liberal arts college in the northeast.  Just buy one of these and start snappin’.  Boom.

Ultimate/Professional

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ($4,999): Big mack daddy of the camera world.  If you want the best, can swing the $5k price tag, and more importantly, can afford all the Canon glass* you’ll need to take advantage of this beast, then look no further.
Runner Up, Nikon D3X ($7,500): Amazing camera in it’s own right and maybe even worth the $2,500 over the Canon.  Obviously if you’re looking into this world of camera’s then you will most likely decide between these two based on your current lens collection.  But if you’re just jumping into the high end, grab the Canon, great deal.

Prosumer DSLR

Nikon D300s ($1,699): Great value, nice little incremental upgrade from the D300 released last year (added video).  Can’t go wrong.
Runner Up, Canon EOS 7D ($1,699): This is a tough one and it comes down to preference.  I prefer Nikon.  Others prefer Canon.  Both of these cameras are awesome.  Fact.

Prosumer Non DSLR

Canon S90 ($400) : Arguably the most exciting release this year.  Can camera releases be exciting?  Prolly not.  But if they were…this would be exciting.
Runner Up, Canon Powershot G11 ($440): A bit chunky but feels great in the hand (odd turn of phrase), takes stunning photos, and is a steal at $440.

Consuner DSLR

Canon Rebel T1i ($759): Canon is on a roll and I have to give the win to the Rebel T1i over the D5000.  Just buy this camera if you want to get into photography.  Step it up Nikon.  
Runner up, Nikon D5000 ($699): CLOSE call, dammit.  Solid, very fast on the snap, great value if you want to get into the world of DSLR.  Edge goes to Canon though.

Point and Shoot/Pocketable

Samsung TL225 ($299): Samsung comes out of left-field and strikes the point and shoot world across the dome piece.  Built in lcd screen on the front for those adorable arm stretched out photos you ladies are so found of.  Nice downward angle to avoid the double chin shot.  All around great camera.
Runner Up, Canon 780is ($200): One of my all time faves.  Small, solid, takes clean photos and a great value.  Perfect stocking stuffer.

Conclusion

This is it folks.  No need to look further.  These are the best cameras right now.  Yes, there are other brands besides Canon, Nikon, and Samsung.  But they just aren’t as good.  Nikon’s and Sony’s take just plain awful photos in the point and shoot category (soft, almost blurry photos.  They are all style over substance).  There are some prosumer/higher end Olympus cameras that are solid but why invest in an Olympus when Nikon and Canon lenses are so much better?  Done and done.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

*”glass” is photo-slang for lenses used on DSLR/SLR’s.

Please stop trying to make plans via your friends wall.  For example, if you post this on your friends facebook wall:

“Hey!!!  We hanging out tonight at 8pm, my place??”

Then I find that just plain weird.  There are literally 4 better ways to make plans let alone without letting the world know that you are making plans.  Texting, emailing, actually calling the person, or even a private facebook message.  It’s just an odd phenomenon.  Now everybody knows that you want to do something with your friend tonight at 8pm….extremely useful.

haha, i guess it just pains me to think that people check their facebook wall more than their email, texts, or voicemail.