My "smart" phone

Mobile phone technology changes so fast it makes my head spin.  Each time I upgrade my phone I am so pleased with my new up-to-date gadget…for about a few months before there is a new one that is better, faster…hey mine doesn’t do that!...you know what I mean.  Then I think – next time I will not get so excited when I upgrade because it is only temporary, but inevitably I hold the shiny new device in my hands and marvel at the wonderful things it does and get all starry eyed….for a few months.

I have yet to buy an iPhone, but I have had gone from a basic flip phone to Palm to Blackberry and now to an android based HTC phone.  I love having the convenience of a little computer in my purse…let’s face it – it only fits in a purse or a REALLY large pocket.  The battery life is so poor that I have to carry a charger around with me which I guess somewhat defeats the purpose of a “mobile” phone, but hey…I can listen to music, watch movies, get directions, surf the internet, search out a nearby restaurant or anything else I can think of, and so much more besides the obvious things like making calls or sending texts.  Of course, the newness has worn off a little now – after all I bought this new phone way back in July!  So, now sometimes the shiny new toy barely gets touched in a day.  At least I am still happy with it with the exception of the battery life….but then again I haven’t yet seen what else is out there to lust after, have I?

Can Technology Cause Humans to Become Extinct?

Robots a possibility?  Maybe, but the kind that cause us real harm in the future I doubt are as close as Bill Joy leads us to believe. It seems a bit outrageous to me and more like a scary science fiction movie than something that  could happen, but then again there are a lot of things in old science fiction that have come into existence and are even now taken for granted...so who's to say it can't happen?

More likely I think, is the possibility of technology doing us in.  The example in the article about people abusing antibiotics and creating resistant bacterias...that happens all the time!  I can't count the number of times I hear of people taking antibiotics every time they get a little stuffy nose or tickle in their throat!  The doctors are just as much to blame for this problem. And don't get me started on Genetically Modified Organisms....talk about bad news!  We are literally poisoning ourselves into extinction with this crap!  Don't believe me?  Do some research, now that's some scary shit! 

Another problem with technology is that we are living longer than before.  This sounds great, but think about this...with increased life expectancy and decreased resources we will have some issues.  Look at China with their one child policy.  Imagine if that became a reality everywhere?  Or even worse if you had to get permission to have a child at all?  On the one hand that doesn't sound too bad since there are definitely people out there who should not be procreating, but seriously, it's scary on the other hand because it puts all the power into the hands of the government and we know that they are such great decision makers...I mean look at the deficit. Yeah, they'd do a wonderful job at dictating who can breed and who can't!  My point is that technology affects us in so many more ways that we think of.  As we discussed in class most of us are already dependent on at least one form of technology...usually several types of technology.  I hate to admit it, but I definitely fall prey to that vice. 

HBO-GO...love getting my HBO fix even though I don't have a TV

HBO launched a streaming application for use on mobile devices and computers called HBO Go.  It allows current HBO subscribers to stream video when they are away from home.  Almost all of HBOs complete series (or complete up to the current season) are available for on demand viewing. 

 I love this app for working out on the treadmill.  It really keeps me motivated when I can watch a movie or a 30 or 60 minute episode from one of the many series HBO produces while I am walking on the treadmill by using my phone and either a 4G network or WIFI.  I also use this feature at home as a replacement for television.  I have an account from my family home in Southern California, but I can take advantage of viewing the shows while I am in Northern California going to school.  How awesome is that?  OK…maybe that’s a bit too enthusiastic, but it is pretty convenient for me.  I love being able to enjoy serial entertainment without the confines of scheduling my life around TV schedules.  I can be entertained on my time which is just the way I want it.

Pretty soon I think we will be able to watch anything on mobile devices or computers.  Maybe companies such as HBO and Showtime will start selling their services independently of cable and satellite companies.  Now that would be awesome!

Now if only my course load allowed me time to hit the treadmill, or the yoga mat, or the swimming pool…ugggg…I just need more than 24 hours in each day before finals!!! 

My Kindle

Ever since Amazon released the Kindle I have wanted an ebook.   The initial appeal for me was due to the fact that I did a lot of traveling for gigs and with costumes, gear (and all the other things I couldn’t live without for a few months at a time). I didn’t have a lot of room for heavy books that once read would become excess baggage.  Unfortunately, when they first came out, I couldn’t afford one and they were much more limited in what they could do.  I knew if I was patient the price would drop and Amazon would add more useful features to the device…and I was right!  Then when the price dropped and it seemed to have the features I wanted,  I was getting ready to go back to school full time and knew I wouldn’t have a hell of a lot of time for pleasure reading. So, I figured I would wait a while longer.  After all, I had waited this long, right?  

 

Kindle 3 (The model I bought)                             PHOTO / johncatral

However, when I signed up for an online class this past summer quarter all of our reading was in pdf.  I HATE reading on a computer screen if the text is more than a couple of paragraphs, so I decided it was time to invest in my first Kindle.  I immediately fell in love with the convenience and found that it was really easy to read my class materials.  I especially loved the search features when looking up specific information.  Another perk is the word games that were either free or only a dollar or two which are great for BART rides! Oh, don’t get me wrong…sometimes I do love to have an actual paper book in my hands.  Also the E-ink technology has not been able to incorporate color yet, so I still like my art books and books with beautiful illustrations the old fashioned way.

 Fire            PHOTO / dekuwa                                                                   Touch WiFi/3G   PHOTO / paz.ca

Now, a couple of months later, of course Kindle has released newer, better, less expensive models!  Well, I can’t say I am surprised since technology changes about as fast as you can click “buy” on the Amazon website!  Though slightly envious of the newer models, I still love my first Kindle.  Yes, I keep saying first because I am sure they will be like everything else in our modern tech world…disposable due to the desire to upgrade.  By the time I upgrade, the technology will have once again made advancements and likely the price will be even more affordable.  That being said,  a little of my envy dissipates.  I am holding out for a color E-ink version that I am hoping will not be too far off in the future!