Samsung Galaxy S IV Unveiled, WOOT!

New Samsung Galaxy S IV (Source: Ars Technica)

I have had the joy of owning a Samsung Galaxy S III (henceforth known as the SG3) since last September and I am still loving it. Not only have I rooted it so I can use my 4G service as my main internet access, I really enjoy how robust it is and smooth it is. Sure, it is not the most awesome phone one could buy, but in my book it is the best phone right now.  So with tonight's unveiling of the new Samsung Galaxy IV (SG4) via Ars Technica's live-blog, I was pretty excited to see some of the new features they were talking about.  I really like the fact that you will be able to use both cameras to make one picture.  How it will do that, I am not entirely sure as of right now, however, it is a rather cool, innovative feature. Another one and rather important too, is the AMOLED screen being a full 1080p resolution.  Also a new feature is air gesturing, streaming music up to eight other phones to make an ad-hoc surround sound system.  Not forgetting to mention the ability to stream wirelessly without an internet connection from/to (?) your tablet, TV, and/or another phone and the ability to control your TV with the built-in infrared LED.  These smartphones sure are becoming all-inclusive. Oh, let's not forget the 8-cores this new phone will be packing. The only thing I was disappointed with in the SG3s released in the United States was the fact that they are only a dual-core.  For some reason, the carriers only wanted dual-cores for longer battery life instead of the quad-cores. Personally, I'll take a slightly shorter battery life over a reduced spec'd phone.  Especially if I had to pay the same price as the quad-core spec'd phone. *grumble grumble*

It is too early to say whether or not I will upgrade to the new SG4, but if I needed to I am glad I can stay in the Samsung Galaxy family.  Prior to purchasing the SG3, I had the SG1-S4 which was a pretty awesome phone.  Although it was my first smart phone too, so I could be a bit biased.  I really enjoy the quality of product that Samsung has brought to the market and maybe it tickles me a lil'bit that they are annoying Apple so much.  I really dislike Apple. I remember Apple and their fan base from the 1980's, so you will not get any love from me with them. Yes, yes.... they do make a "nice" product, however, I dislike their attitude. *rant*

Debating Between Tablet or Laptop

Boy do I have a shopping list for myself. For starters, I need a new laptop... or a tablet. Hell, I cannot decide if I need a tablet over a laptop or a laptop over a tablet. I have messed around with my mom's Samsung Galaxy 10.1 (the original) and I like it, however, I cannot see where it would need to be in my life. I already have a smart phone (Samsung Galaxy S III.... see a pattern here?) and I already have a laptop, albeit it is a rather old laptop (ala 2004). Personally, I just do not see tablets supplanting laptops just yet, however, they are close.... however ( :-P ) I like power and versatility. Tablets are versatile, light, and fashionable if you're into that kind of stuff, but they are still functionally and practically limited, IMLHO. Laptops are powerful and versatile, although bulky but you can customize the shitz out of them. What I mean by that is if I had a tablet and I got tired of the latest, greatest, most recently available android OS from my particular device supported by the carrier and/or manufacturer, I could attempt to install a newer version that folks on the interwebz have so kindly put together for my risky enjoyment. If it works, I got a new possibly unstable but definitely beta-testable version of a new android OS. If it doesn't.... well I could have either bricked my fancy tablet or want to brick it trying to reset it to factory OS. With a laptop, well there is not that option. I have not hear, nor seen a laptop/computer bricked by an OS install in over a decade at the least. Anyway, after typing all of that I am still leaning towards a new laptop.

Goodbye 2012, Welcome 2013!

Well, it is the end of another year with 2012 coming to an end.  I cannot say that 2012 flew by, but it kind of did too.  This year has felt like it was a hundred years long to me, but I could not say what all happened either. What did happen is that I bought a new truck for myself, which is freaking awesome! She's not new as in model year, but new to me. I am very appreciative that I was able to buy a fairly new truck instead of something twenty or so years old.  Although I originally did not want to buy a truck on loan, however, if I am going to buy a house I will need to show consistent payments to something. I have missed my diesel truck, even more so with driving a gas truck that only gets 12 MPG on the freeway. Obviously there are a few things I can do to increase that mileage, however, I will get to that at another time.  On a bright side, since I buy all of my gas at Costco, I get a percentage back at the end of my membership year.  That roughly equates to a big rebate check thanks to $85 average tank fills. Win-Win!

I Need A Break....

Another one of our cats suddenly fell ill and died yesterday.  Getting really tired of that.  He was not terribly old,  but never really well either.  Too many strays in the neighborhood that are sick too.  And they always feel the need to die in the yard or underneath the house. Luck for me, the last one did not.

Oh, ya ... lets not mention my dog.  Grr!!!!!!