FaceTime is Apple's video calling solution for the iPhone 4. My buddy Paul G. and I have been testing it over the last week or so. The high video quality has been fairly consistent, even when downloading and uploading files on the same network as the phone call.
The delta-based compression creates artifacts if the subject or background are moving, but that is to be expected.
Overall, we were both impressed, especially considering it is a first generation product. We did, however, have the following wishlist of items to be improved or added:
This week, I upgraded from the original iPhone to the iPhone 4. I ordered using the Apple Store app on June 16th (the second day of pre-ordering). It shipped from China on July 1st and was delivered into my hands July 6th. It set at the FedEx office in Austin for three days due to the holiday.
The packaging was the usual minimalistic Apple, with the phone, a set of headphones, a USB cable, a charger and a bit of …
Paul Groepler reports in on his first week with the iPad.
Okay I've had this iPad for seven calendar days, and took it with me on an international trip. I have figured out a few things, discovered a few more and have been stonewalled by a few. My end-of-the-week rating is a B - (B minus).
Here's the good, the bad and the ugly:
Unless you've been living under a rock the last few days, you know that Apple released the iPad on Saturday. Paul Groepler, the unrepentant, bleeding-edge, early adopter, had to have one, of course. Here are his initial thoughts.
Saturday at 10am the UPS guy showed up at the front door with my iPad. I’ve taken a few wacky photos to show you what’s in the box...not much actually.
It was great to see you speaking at the Apple event yesterday. You've lost some hair and some weight, but as you said, you're vertical and you're back at Apple. I'm glad you're there. Hopefully the health problems are behind you for a while.
I'm always amazed that companies can't learn one of the basic lessons of public relations: If you try to hide bad news, you're just going to make things worse. As soon as people begin to pick up on the deception, they will just assume the worst case scenario. And if/when you do fully disclose, people won't believe all the bad news is out there.
Take Steve Jobs and Apple Inc., for instance.
As we surmised, Steve Jobs' health was more complex than previously disclosed. He announced this week that he is taking a six month medical leave.
Jobs said:
Unfortunately, the curiosity over my personal health continues to be a distraction not only for me and my family, but everyone else at Apple as well. In addition, during the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought.
Does the man on the left look healthy?
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs announced Monday the "reason" for his substantial weight loss throughout 2008. That's Jobs from June 9, 2008 on the left, and from January 11, 2005 on the right.
From his open letter:
As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.
Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.
