Mar
29
10
A Week With the Other Side

I had anticipated starting an Android project at work in the next few days (those plans have since changed). With that in mind, the fact that AT&T just dropped their first Android device, and the fact that I was eligible for an upgrade, I decided to buy the Motorola Backflip. After a week of using it, I have now returned it and switched back to my iPhone 3G.

Why Android?
Truth be told, I’ve been interested in the Android platform for awhile. I just needed some half-assed reason to buy an Android device. A potential project did the trick. Ashley wanted to upgrade her phone anyway (her original iPhone was dying a slow and painful death) and while we were at the AT&T store, I played with the Motorola Backflip for a while. I thought the hardware was kind of different. I thought the OS was very different. So after a day of playing Hamlet, I decided to buy it, with the understanding that I could take it back within the first 30 days for a refund (with a restocking fee).

A Week is Enough
What did I think about the Motorola Backflip and it’s version of Android? Obviously I didn’t think enough of it to keep it as my device. The Backflip runs Android 1.5 (and for those of you keeping count out there, you’ll know that Android is currently at 2.1, 2.0 on most devices), which isn’t a bad thing, just an outdated thing. Why was the Backflip running 1.5? Because Motorola wanted to skin the OS with their Motorola Blur theme, which is focused around social networking. It supposedly integrates you into your Twitter, Facebook, and Gmail accounts (amongst other services that I do not use). This is a cool concept, except for the fact that it puts all of this on the home screen which if you lend your phone to someone, they would have access to. On top of that, the interface for connecting with your social life is a little clunky and not exactly smooth.

Once you get past that, you realize that you’re still on Android. I think Android is a great OS with a lot of potential, but it definitely does not have the application magic that the iPhone has. By that, I mean there aren’t as many developers on the Android platform which ultimately leads to less choice, less quality, etc. Because the iPhone is so popular to develop for, there is a lot of evolution on that platform, which is constantly making software better and better. Android just doesn’t have that right now. The most exciting game I found for Android was a chess game that was pretty basic in interface (so much so that I could maybe knock it out in a week or two of development).

Not only does the device use an older version of Android, it also carries sub-par hardware. The processor is slower than other Motorola handsets, which causes the interface to feel sluggish and unresponsive at times. I accidentally called people when I was just trying to select a contact. I would touch the contact’s name and wait. Nothing would happen, so I would touch it again. All of a sudden, the call screen is up and I am calling that person. This was incredibly frustrating.

Another part that surprised me about the device is how frustrating the physical keyboard was to use. I was so slow using the physical keyboard. I tried to use it, but I found myself using the onscreen keyboard more often (which was better, but a little frustrating because the Backflip’s screen is smaller than the iPhone’s).

When using the touchscreen, I found this experience lacking as well. Surfing the web with the built-in browser was painful. So much so, I wanted to snap the damn screen every time I tried to read through my Google Reader on the device. You can’t pinch to zoom on the Backflip (as of now with it running 1.5) and the zoom button doesn’t always show up (and I’m not sure of how to make it show up consistently). I also accidentally clicked the wrong thing more times than I actually clicked the thing I wanted to click. I would put my finger over the top of the link I wanted to click. All of a sudden, the link a few rows down would flash and a new window would be opening up. It was infuriating to have to go back and close the erroneous window and try my luck again.

I know many people complain about how the iPhone doesn’t allow you to run multiple applications at the same time. They love that the Android lets you run applications in the background. I understand the allure of that, but in practice, it’s actually a negative in my book. I found that the Backflip’s battery drained incredibly fast because of it. You don’t think about it, but you open an application and you go back to the home screen. It’s now running in the background (or at least most of the applications function in this manner). Without downloading a task manager application, you would have no idea the application you thought you closed out of is now running in the background. On top of that, you now have another application running all the time in the background (your task manager) just to see all the applications you have running in the background.

Switching Back
All of these little frustrations eventually totaled more than I wanted to deal with. Today I switched back to my iPhone and it feels good to be back. I kind of felt that going to the Backflip was a downgrade in many ways. I think that the Android platform will become more interesting, but for now, I’ll stick with my bread and butter device.



Mar
22
10
Oh Noes, I was Hacked!

If you came to my website about a week to two weeks ago, you would have noticed, in a small window, that my website was hacked. I would love to say I’m that important and that they had tremendous skill. But that would be a lie. I’m sure I wasn’t specifically targeted (just an automated attack that looks for vulnerabilities) and I’m sure they weren’t that crafty (they took advantage of a WordPress exploit). I had been busy and hadn’t upgraded to the latest version of WordPress, which left my website at risk.

After a little scrambling and a lot of planning, I was able to get everything back up. All they did was a) rewrite the index file of my theme (so I know they didn’t have access to all my files) and b) change my WordPress password. I was able to log onto my database and change the password and thus gain access to my WordPress control panel. I then promptly changed my database, ftp, and WordPress passwords.

What does this mean to you, the reader? Nothing. But I wanted you to know that I wasn’t going to go down like that.



Jan
28
10
Updated Ramblings

In case you don’t talk to me on the regular, I am now employed, full-time, at a software development company in Franklin, TN. The company is named Metova and so far it’s been quite a ride. I’m learning a lot and I’m having fun, but a full-time job is definitely more stressful than school (at least this one is). I like the responsibility and I like the work, but it is eye-opening to see how raw my developing skills are. I never claimed to be a great software developer, but it has definitely been quite the gut check since starting work.

Ramblings
I haven’t exactly had time for full posts, but I have had a few things come across my mind and I’d like to get those out.

  • I’m stuck using Windows 7 for now. Originally it was Vista, but we were given Windows 7 upgrade discs. I don’t exactly hate it, but I’m not exactly thrilled by it. I like it for the most part, but that stupid snap feature makes me want to punch that guy with glasses from the commercial who claims that idea. I always accidentally do it and it pisses me off. I would rather have a Mac, but I’m not going to throw a fit about it right now. I figure I’ll use this computer and after a while I’ll ask for an upgrade. I would even offer to pay for it.
  • I’m very frustrated with BlackBerry UI
  • In case you aren’t familiar with Tennessee geography, Murfreesboro (where I live) is about an hour drive from Franklin (where Metova is), which amounts to 2 hours a day in my car, or 10 hours a week. Driving sucks.
  • Also, being away from home so much sucks.
  • I miss my wife, my dogs, and my computer while at work.
  • I kind of want an iPad, but it sounds way too much like a feminine product for me to use with a straight face.

I hope you enjoyed that. I just wanted to put an update out there, as it’s been an incredibly long amount of time since my last update. I mean, honestly, I missed Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Martin Luther King JR day… Way too long.



Sep
21
09
A Tough Decision

Lately, I’ve been juggling a really tough decision around. Should I look for full-time employment or seek a different method of employment? As some of you know, I have been in talks with a recruiting agency, attempting to find full-time employment. I have also been to other interviews and have spoken to employers about some openings. I had a very positive interview recently, where, if things pan out, I would work for that employer as an independent consultant. Essentially, as far as I understand it, I’d be in business for myself. This possibility scares the be-Jesus out of me. At the same time, however, this possibility excites me.

With that in mind, I have stepped off the recruiting carousel. I won’t name the recruiting company in question, nor will I speak badly of it. I just didn’t get the results I was looking for. The opportunities coming through that recruiter did not entice me all that much. Instead, I have decided to jump down that “self-employed” rabbit hole, at least for a while, to see what comes of it. With that being said, if you have any web-related work that you need done, feel free to contact me (via the link on my ‘about’ page).

Until next time…



Sep
14
09
The Stay-At-Home Husband

So I’m sitting here, doing the usual: laundry and small house work. Getting ready to mow the yard a little later. Unfortunately, I now have another duty: Thank You cards. It’s almost been a month since Ashley and I were married, and we have a ton of Thank You cards that we have yet to make out, simply because we’ve been busy or lazy (you can pick). I just don’t see why I can’t put a post up here saying:

“To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the gifts. Love, Todd & Ashley.”

But apparently, that won’t cut it. So a little later, I’ll be working on those, as well as putting together a mystery website that I’ll post about more later on as it goes live (just purchased the domain name).

With that being said, I’ll take my leave to finally get these cards written. Also, if anyone needs a website designed, feel free to contact me. I’m trying to put together a portfolio so I’m looking to do a few sites for cheap.

Until next time…