TechImpact / it happens there first

After reading the numerous complaints on the internet about how the 2.0.2 update took too long, and did nothing to fix the "real" problems with the platform, I installed it anyway.

The install process was not as monumental for me as others have reported. The download took roughly longer than a lifetime -- possibly two, but that gave me ample time to scavenge for sustinence. I had expected from reports so far that I was in for a long night to just survive the backup level, so food would be needed.

Sadly, by the time I had returned pizza and coke in hand, the stupid thing had completed the entire process. Now in all fairness, I have not used my entire 8g of storage for movies and music, so your experience may vary. But over all I was please. Time to start the tests. Of course, all extremely informal since there was no official changelog or notification of any sort of what was "fixed".

First informal test -- open my contacts. Admittedly, this is hardly a test of os, processor or anything. I have only a few dozen individuals listed in my phone book. Still, at the mighty Rev 2.0.1 it took a countable 20 seconds on first open. I had grown to fear needing to contact my friends in the early days of the old release, and instead opted to start scribing their every detail onto cocktail napkins that I stashed inside the fresh leather case for my iPhone. The moment of truth. I reboot, I click contacts and get the coffee maker ready... IT OPENS! Not only does it open, but its reasonably fast. One small step for the oversize gizmo! Likewise, I have in fact noticed that all screens appear a bit more tolerable.

But I didn't but this overpriced toy for contacts or any business purpose. I bought it for YouTube! So I fired up my handy YouTube app. It works still. Good start. Search videos -- because I am not of the unwashed masses. I refuse the "most popular". Instead I open the search box, type in my super secret video desires "Nelly Furtado", and click. It plays. Its fast, its 3g! I'm in love all over.

Of course, this is all still plugged into the wall. Over the last few weeks of 3g, I have come to learn that my phone was to never be used away from my wall charger. It was just -- bad. So slowly, I dare pull away from the wall. The cord falls to the floor, and the battery light comes on. I wait, a few seconds more, and its not completely drained! Life as I know it has meaning again. Of course, the real test was the over night stand-by. Stand-by.

So I woke up this morning fresh and ready to type all of my experience in, fully expecting to see my phone self powered down. So I click the little button at the top, and find once again to my surprise, not only is there still power, but the stand-by has drained very little. Its moved just enough so that I don't think the battery bar was broken.

Happy -- not until my camera has a zoom and I can keep a call active while walking. But at least I feel more confident that I may some day be able to use my shiny new toy outside of the confines of my tiny box and all of its glorious artificial lighting.

by Chris Gamble