Jerry Seinfeld likes Bill Gates (and Henry Blodget is a fogie)

(posted August 21, 2008)

I hate those stupid Apple ads, where they have a guy like junior Steve Jobs acting superior to a guy meant to be Bill Gates.  I like PCs, I like Bill Gates, and compared to Apple, I also like MicroSoft.  Ok, my opinion, fueled also by all the trouble I have with my iPhone.

Anyway, MicroSoft is trying to make over its image (again), and is paying Jerry Seinfeld...... TENN MEEELLION DOLLARSSSSS ...... to appear on ads with Bill G.  I would have done the ads for ten thousand dollars, but I guess MS didn't get my email.

So the first part of this blog post is about the fact that I like this move.  I love Seinfeld, quote lines from the show and his stand-up routine all the time, want to own as many Porsches as he does, and can totally buy him being pally with Bill Gates.  Good.  Lets all buy Vista. 

Second part of the post - an article by Henry Blodget today, on Yahoo Finance Tech Ticker.  The article is titled - "Microsoft, Trying to Be Cool, Hires Uncool Comic for Ad Campaign".  In the article, he even says he expects Seinfeld to appeal mainly to "fogies like us". 

You know what?  That just proves to me that Henry "Securities Fraud" Blodget knows as much about pop culture as he does about tech issues.  Seinfeld is popular among everyone from 16 - 60 years of age (I'd go further, but didn't check the comScore or Nielsen NetRatings data).  Seinfeld "uncool"?  Puhleeze! 

iPhone 3G Solar Charging Case

(posted August 12, 2008)

Lets face it, the 3G iPhone has a battery life problem.  This is exacerbated by the fact that there are now so many new toys, apps, what have you to play around with all the time.  People at my office keep the phone charging all day, connected to their laptops.  Some have car chargers, to be able to utilize the time they spend driving during the day. 

This is all quite silly, isn't it?  Well, there's now a $54 solar charging case for the phone.  It is okayish looking, and with dubious product value, specially for the cube-dwellers among us.  But if there's a way to sneak a little more juice into your phone, then $54 might not be a bad price to pay for it.

iPhone App Review - Flashlight

(posted August 13, 2008)

Some iPhone apps are handy,

Some iPhone apps are tight

One app I liked a lot today

Was John Haney's FlashLight.

This app essentially turns your phone into a flashlight - and hey, you can have nice bright colors, too!  I played around with it in a dark walk-in closet.  Quite fun, and actually works well. 

Watch out, for those who need to be aware - there is a strobe-light version that is quite jarring.  Definitely don't use if you are susceptible to attacks.