Aug 03

The first three days with my new iPhone 3G

Okay, I haven’t posted in a couple of days because I finally got my iPhone on Thursday and I have been balancing my time with a cold and playing with my phone.

Now that I finally have the iPhone 3G what do I think? It is wonderful. Optus, on the hand, has been less than stellar. My first day with the phone went well. I brought it home, synced it with iTunes and was off and running. Made a call, played with the settings and just generally marveled at its multi touch interface. Everything is smooth as silk and works very well. Then I hit the voice mail key, I have really been looking forward to Visual Voicemail and when I mentioned it to the Optus guy in the shop he nodded understandingly. But wait, what’s this? It just dialed my normal voicemail account, no list of messages, no nothing. Had I set up something wrong? I had a quick look around online and found out that Optus doesn’t have Visual Voicemail as a service yet (if ever). Strike one for Optus. To be fair, I also noticed that NONE of the Aussie servers are currently supporting Visual Voicemail. This is a key feature of the iPhone, how could they not have this set up yet?

Anyway, day two comes along and my mother gets an email that she wants me to read but we have to take Little Geek to the doctor, no problem I say, email it to me and we can read it on the iPhone. She does and off we go to the doctor. Once there, I turn on the iPhone and I have no service!!!! I move around trying to find the signal for many minutes but cannot get a data carrier signal. Just for your information, we are in Randwick, which is an Sydney suburb and smack in the middle of the 3G coverage area. I suddenly realise that I not only have no data connection, I have no phone signal. Needless to say, we never got to read the email. Through out the rest of the day I cannot get a stable carrier signal. Did I get a dud phone? I start getting teased by my mother who says her $69 pre paid phone has a perfect signal (and she is with bloody Vodafone – see previous posts!). After a call to Optus, it turns out that their 3G network across the entire eastern side of Australia has gone down. I think, thank god, it is not my phone! But why did it have to go down now!?!?!?!

Now on day three and the carrier signal seems to be back and everything seems to be running smoothly. I have also been hitting the iTunes App Store – freaking awesome! I suggest that all new iPhone users should get MacSaber, it is free and essential for your geek credentials!

Bottom Line: The iPhone 3G is an awesome handset. It is a computer in your pocket and hours of entertainment.

Jul 31

Kath & Kim gets “de-Kath & Kimmed”

Most of you already know that the Australian series Kath and Kim has been bought by the Americans and has been re-made (like British shows, Life on Mars, Queer as Folk etc). The new Kath and Kim show airs in America in October and stars Selma Blair and Molly Shannon. Australian readers will probably be horrified to read that NBC is re-working the show again. NBC is apparently concerned about the first episode (the show skipped the traditional pilot process) and are doing some reworking to it. The execs are worried the show will fall flat with US audiences – I could have told them that before they bought it.

The network has invested heavily in this show and so they have asked if it can be more highly stylised.

“Think CSI: Comedy. They want to de-Kath & Kim it a bit,” an industry insider said.

I have to say that I am not a huge Kath & Kim fan and I don’t want to see the new series that much, but I will say that I have said from day one that I didn’t think this project would work. Kath & Kim is a very Australian show and is a product of time and place. Americans will not watch this unless it is completely revamped – and in a situation like that, why not just make something original. Why bother remaking something if it does not resemble the original.

To read the full story go to news.com.au

Jul 31

Angelina Jolie wants to play Catwoman

According to news.com.au, Angelina Jolie is said to be in final negotiations to play Catwoman! It is not known at this time whether this is for a new spin off movie (bad idea, can we say Halle Berry anyone) or as a nemesis for Christian Bale in the new franchise (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight). This could be awesome if it is for a new Batman movie for two reasons: a) Angelina would look hot in tight leather and b) It might be confirming a third Batman movie for the franchise (please let Christopher Nolan be directing it!).

I thought it was interesting that Julie Newmar (who played Catwoman in the 1960s TV series) has given her blessings to Jolie.

Newmar said, “Angelina would own the part, My industry friends tell me she has already made enquiries about the role. I can understand how it would pique her interest. Catwoman is Batman’s one true love. She is tremendously popular with women because she’s both a heroine and a villainess.”

Other Jolie news, studio bosses have reportedly ordered her to put on weight for a role The Thomas Crown Affair 2.

You can read the whole story at the link above.

Jul 30

The X-Files: I Want to Believe – Not as bad as I thought it would be

X-Files: I Want to BelieveI went to see the new X-Files movie last night, I was expecting a real Thanksgiving dinner, I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t suck as much as I was expecting. In fact, I thought it was a fairly interesting thriller. My biggest complaint would be that it didn’t need to be an “X-Files” movie. You could have put any detectives in there and it still would have worked as an interesting little thriller.

I was a huge X-files fan for the first 3 or 4 years of the show and then I kind of just lost interest. I did not see the final seasons at all and I was worried that I would not know where I was in the new movie. Luckily, as long as you are familiar with the characters of the series, you can jump straight into this film without much trouble. This film works like the odd little stand alone shows of the series, no aliens here. The story is simply about serial kidnappings and murders. What makes it an X-File is a fallen priest who is having visions of the victims. Mulder is called out of hiding to figure out if the priest is on the level or just faking it.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson slip back into their roles of Scully and Mulder as easily as you put on an old comfortable glove. Although, Anderson is looking thin more gaunt than usual. Out of the two I think Duchovny has always been the more interesting to watch as an actor. Billy Connolly, as Father Crissman is a joy. Connolly has proved time and time again over the years that he is an excellent dramatic actor and he doesn’t disappoint here.

I will give a much more detailed review in this weeks podcast, so I hope you will be listening.

Bottom Line: “The X-Files: I Want To Believe” is far from perfect but is a an entertaining two hours. The thriller aspects of the film worked well, but it didn’t really have to be an X-Files story. Did I have a good time at the movies? You bet, it was fun.

Jul 30

Optus or Vodafone, so far no difference.

It is now July 30th and still no iPhone to be had. As mentioned in an earlier post, I have made the switch to Optus (on the 16th of July) because they had the best plan and the woman said I would get the phone in a few days. Okay, half a month later and still no phone. But a new issue has raised its ugly head that I hadn’t thought of – data.

No, not data plans, I get 250 megs a month on the Optus plan. It really isn’t enough but I choose to live in Australia and we are used to getting shafted on data. No, the issue is a special offer that Optus offered all new iPhone users. If you sign up with Optus for the iPhone, you are suppose to get one month of free, unlimited data. Are you with me here? I signed up on the 16th and still don’t have my phone. I have this horrible feeling that I will get my phone in a couple of weeks and then my free month is over.

I spoke to my Optus store this morning trying to clarify this but I think it I will really have to wait until I get the phone and then call Optus direct.

Last thing, my podcast co-host, Jacob Oberman, told me that his girlfriend just walked into an Apple store (and after a 4 hour wait) and walked out with an iPhone, signed up with Optus!!! So, you can get the stock, so why doesn’t Optus themselves have any???

Long and the short of this: Optus or Vodafone? Answer, Buy from an Apple store.

Jul 28

Aussies want fast internet! Cool!

News.com.au has reported that two thirds of Australian households now have internet connection and broadband users out number dial up 2 to 1. This is amazing news considering that Australia has been so far behind for so long. Now if we can just loosen up the download limits a little it would be even better news. Click the link above for the full story.