Tech Talk: Google Voice Debate

Google Voice. In a way it looks like the next big thing in phone technology. It's supposed to become available to the public in a few weeks (you can check updates and progress here) and when it does, you will be able to use it to send SMS messages, record phone calls with the push of a button, read voice mails as text, and save everything forever. It also allows you to forward calls to one phone number, all your phones, or just some of your phone numbers based on who's calling. For now you have to forward your number(s) and deal with having anyone call your new number if you want to use Google Voice, but eventually they hope to allow people to port their numbers in directly if they wish.

It sounds amazing and it's all free, but before we go skipping through the park chewing gummy bears, there's definite conflict. For starters, when Google released a Google Voice iPhone app to Apple and it was rejected (the details here). The FCC is debating over what to do and we have yet to see that play out, but even if Google does win the battle and get to flex its muscles and threaten what profit means for carriers like AT&T, then what will happen to the people who use the program?

This could be one of Google's benevolent loss leaders that lays groundwork for establishing themselves in the mobile sector and helps them become more powerful in the future, but it's quite possible that Google will figure out how to monetize programs like this. One New York Times analyst pointed out that this could mean upselling an advanced version of the product (Chris Anderson's Free, anyone?) or using this as a platform for creating selling, targeting, and monetizing advertisements. Google always says, "Trust us." I hope we can.

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In case your eyes are glazed, here's a solid music recommendation to melt the glaze away. Check out Flunk, a group best enjoyed while relaxing in a dark room. They've been around almost a decade but their Portishead-like sound will probably be worthy of chill Buddha Bar type mixes for decades to come.

Flunk - "Blind My Mind"

Clue New York City

Scrabulous sales are fabulous, so why haven’t game developers joined in on the profits? Namely, someone needs to teach the Parker Brothers some coding because a modern Clue (or Cluedo if you’re from Europe) would be a hoot and a holler on the iPhone.

Just picture Clue: New York on an iPhone. You could call me Professor Plum and I have at least six friends whom I’d love to call Colonel Mustard. Add some code names and mystery to people’s lives and you’ll have people running around New York City exclaiming, “Was it Miss Scarlet with the wrench in the parlor of the Metropolitan Opera?”

And now steal a listen to Fol Chen.


Fol Chen - Wedding Cake

Fol Chen - Cable TV

Google Android G-1

Google has done it. Their new Android aka the T-Mobile G1 hit stores October 22nd, but one question remains and it is this. Have they done it well enough to undo the iPhone? Before we proceed I should fully disclose myself as an iPhone owner. But all bias aside, as far as I can tell the answer is no, at least not yet.

The Android device itself seems rugged and isn't nearly as aesthetically pleasing as the iPhone. The user interface is innovative and simple but visually, it appears reminiscent of web 1.0, where clunky blue boxes are the norm. The T-Mobile G1 made the same mistake as Apple did with their first edition iPhone too, and there isn't a standard headjack for audio listening. Over all, the T-Mobile G1 lacks the general suave overtone so typical of Apple, but it's certainly still a threat.

In my opinion it was enough of a threat to pull Steve Jobs out of the woodwork. The night before the release of the Android Jobs made a public statement solidifying Apple's place as the third largest handset supplier. Critics of the iPhone will surely appreciate the T-Mobile G1's tangible QWERTY keyboard, but I can't help but think the G1 seems a little Sidekick-like on the outside.

Apple changed the way we think about mobile devices with their iPhone, but we have Google to thank for changing the way we think about our applications.  Android's open source foundation forced Apple to open up their application building, and now the collective can not only dictate, but also participate in building a customized product that does everything we want it to do.  Steve Jobs is incredible when it comes to predicting what the public wants before they even know they want it, but maybe this massive push from Google will make him more receptive when it comes to listening to the collective.

Now let's get on track to prevent exclusive service provider deals and contract termination fees.  It seems almost every other industry is changing before they can blink.  Perhaps it's only a matter of time before the wireless telecommunications industry finds itself turned inside out as well.

Until then I'll stick with my iPhone, waiting patiently for the rumored 32 GB model to jump into the scene and impatiently for my EDGE network pages to load on my first generation device.  And of course, I'll all always keep track of the game changers, cheering them along for their innovation.

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If you've had enough geek and want to move onto the music candy, here you are.  There's a group called XYZ Affair out there and they've grouped towering choruses, sexy sophisticated lyrics, and a lost adolescent nostalgia reminiscent of the most approachable of Weezer.

If you watched Nickelodeon in the early 90's you'll love that they've chosen to include Marc Summers (Double Dare, Unwrapped), Jason Zimbler (Clarissa Explains It All), Danny Cooksey (Salute Your Shorts, Terminator 2), and Michael Maronna (Pete & Pete, 40 Days and 40 Nights, Slackers) to the cast in one of their more popular videos.  Click on the video below to play "All My Friends."

The XYZ Affair - "All My Friends"

My Crush on Steve Jobs

My heart races every time I see the MacBook Air. I've watched and re-watched the new ad on the computer more than is healthy, and now I can't stop belting out "I'm a young soul, in this very strange world, hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake."

Apple's stock may be off but Steve Jobs is right on for me. He knows exactly what I want, and as soon as the innovative MacBook air comes out with a bit more heft I'm ready to invest.

Speaking of Jobs, I have officially installed Apple iPhone Update 1.1.3 and it makes me doubly proud to own an iPhone. You can now send text messages to multiple recipients and move around and customize the home screen as if it were a normal computer. Best of all, the iPhone will now tell me wherever I am and allow me to map step by step directions to where I should be. For the directionally challenged this is not only beautiful but it's lifesaving. On a lighter note, Apple now made it possible for me to rent movies for road trips. The iPhone was wonderful when I got it but now it's even better. And what's more amazing than a phone that just keeps on improving?

If Jobs and his secretive team listened to me I would request that the following additional fixes are added to Update number 1.1.4.

• The iPhone doesn't allow users to send or automatically view picture text messages. Instead we have to go to a site with a hard to remember username and password (which is separate for each picture) and log in. Half the time the site doesn't even work so viewing something a friend snapped in the cell phone view finder for convenience is laborious and hardly worth it.
• No cell phone offers better browser viewing than the iPhone. But if Apple can do anything then I look forward to the day when we can view Flash.
• I'm used to the keyboard and have come to appreciate the silent satisfaction of pressing buttons. The self correct is effective but if there was a way to turn the keyboard sideways like in the internet browser then it would make my thick fingers much happier.
• Just add instant messenger already and give away a ringtone here or there. And while we're at it, don't constrict email and text message alerts to three measly tones. We want variety and beauty, much like the iPhone itself.

Jobs knows how to do it right, but if he wants me to review that MacBook Air I'd be happy to do so.

In honor of Steve Jobs and the wonderful musical taste of his employees I'm going to recommend some Yael Naim. The French musician usually plays slow ballads with David Donatien, and her music is amazing in a Cat Power sort of way. The song in the ad is even better in the video below:

iGot One

Hello friends,

I hope 2008 finds each and every one of you happy and healthy. I celebrated the New Year quietly and the year has treated me well so far. I haven't read as much as I anticipated over the holiday, but I saw Juno and Charlie Wilson's War, and also spent the day perusing Roman and Greek artifacts in the Getty Villa. I've got 40 more hours to bask in the La Jolla warmth and then I'm back to the beloved East Coast.

Beyond that the only other significant news flash is that after months of drooling over what Time Magazine called 2007's best invention, I got an iPhone. It's beautiful. Rather than discuss its value to me I've decided to add some of my favorite iPhone related user generated videos.

If you're a sap-geek like me you'll enjoy this one.

This one is also beautiful.



And because I do offer a music recommendation before closing every blog, I'd like to honor the artist that was actually featured in the video above.

It's called "Young Folks" and it's by Peter Bjorn and John, whom I absolutely adore.

Goodnight my friends, and best of luck to you in 2008. May you accomplish everything you dreamed of and more.

Plea for a Free iPhone

Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Saturday Night Live’s Fred Armisen sat down for Rolling Stone to record a video and it's brilliant. First they start with a discussion about chocolate and then they delve into how they'd tell everyone about the iPhone, Prius, or iPod. It's funny, it's nerdy, and it's slightly awkward. But most of all, this clip is hilarious. Why didn't I think of this?


Watch the video by clicking here (clicking on the photo doesn't work, sorry).


Here's my favorite part:

Fred: "Oh man, I mean how am I going to get on the internet and text and make phone calls without my music on there."

Carrie: "I have so many pictures, and it's like, I want to share with my friends when I'm out, but my camera can only store like two."

Fred: "That's too bad. I don't like the Blackberry, or the Palm Pilot. Hmm, what about the iPhone, by Apple?"

Carrie chuckles, almost losing it.

Carrie: I think that's a great idea, but you know, I wish I could get my hands on one. I really need to feel it to understand whether it's good or not."

Fred: "I need to feel them both in both hands, to compare hands."

Carrie: "And an extra one in my back pocket. I want to see, you know, what's the weight of it? Does it make my jeans sag or do I still look good."

Fred: "I don't know, I have no idea."

Carrie: "Yeah, I don't know."

Fred: "Well, we sure would like to try one out. Because then I would tell everyone about the iPhone, by Apple."

Carrie: "Apple's iPhone!"


While Fred is dreaming about putting Feist on the new ipod he'd tell everyone about, I think I'd like to download a little Tegan and Sara. Yeah, this duo would sound good in those trademark white ear buds. I'd walk around listening to their songs and telling everyone about the new 160 GB ipod...