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|  I have been a user of Vodafone since 2004. In that time I have only wandered once for 3 months. I talk them up so many times and have referred much business their way in the past.
However in the last 8 months, they have started to go down hill. Little niggles, but they are building up and have now convinced me 100% to shift to Telstra – as soon as I can afford a new phone (as my Legend is not designed for the NextG network).
Why am I so annoyed?
I have gone through days where I lose data for several hours. I lose reception completely every day on my ride to work. Today, I had no reception at all for 2 hours. I work in the CBD, not the stix. I expect better.
And while we’re at it, can you explain how a phone that has full bars of 3G reception can fail to load webpages, fail to send sms’s and fail to connect to make phone calls…
The worst part about this is that Vodafone Australia refuse to admit there is a problem with their network. While their New Zealand counterpart has.
I’ve reported the problems, which have also included mms’ not arrive for up to 5 hours – only to have 6 phone conversations with 6 different members of their tech team who really – did nothing but to ask me “can you give me exact details of messages that failed?” to which I replied “I have done already – three times…”
In the end I just told them to forget it. I don’t use mms anymore – I just email photos.
To add icing to the cake – they keep bringing out unlimited plans which will hammer the network even more. Of course making the already crippled network more fragile. Now it’s obvious why they’re doing it, to entice 3 users over to Vodafone so they can wrap up that side of business with less mess. But I don’t care. I pay $55 a month for a service I am not getting. The only silver lining is that I was smart enough to not sign into a contract. I’m on a month to month contract.
I implore all Vodafone Australia users to abandon the network – and for those locked into contracts to approach the TSA to have their contract terminated without fee. Jump to Optus, Virgin, Telstra, ANYONE!
A smart phone without a reliable connection is not smart. It’s just a joke. So thank you Vodafone, I don’t find it funny now, but maybe in several years when I look back and wonder “What the f**k was I thinking?” I will smile and be glad that I dumped you for good.
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I remember growing up, I always felt an affinity for Sony. Strange and unfounded, it all began with my first Walkman. It could only ‘Play’, ‘Stop’ and ‘Fast Forward,’ but it sported an AM and FM radio. I, along with my sister, received one for having kept our mother’s 40th surprise birthday a secret.
But as time went on, and I dumped the walkman, the DiscMan, the MiniDisc player, the PS One and the PS2, my attention started shifting to Panasonic. Okay, it was mainly because around this time (to me) Panasonic had a face… That face was Hamasaki Ayumi.
So things changed; Panasonic MiniDisc players (multiple), Panasonic mp3 players, Panasonic TV, headphones, mobile phones (multiple) and digital cameras (multiple).
But I wonder if I had it wrong all this time? I mean brand loyalty is great, but it always leaves you missing out on something.
Enter my desire to open my legs to the world of brand whoring – a world where anything goes… as long as it feels good.
In this world I can look forward to purchasing my new laptop (most likely a PC of ASUS lineage), which next year will be networked with a Mac desktop, (oh wait, Mac users are too cool to call them desktops… they call them iMacs). The plan is to then introduce them both to a little fellow running Linux.
I can venture into new territories and discover new platforms. And while I’m not sure if I can stand the visual compilation of Panasonic TV connected to Sony Blueray, connected to a LG sound system (perhaps signs on OCD), I’ll try my best.
The ability to do this is nothing special. However the ability to do this without needing to hear or defend against people’s comments on me “jumping sides” is.
The thought of becoming a consumer who can buy what he wants, when he wants, for his own reasons, is nice. I can comfortably tell naysayers to kindly f**k off and end this communist brand regime I’ve been shrouded in.
The most exciting part is that I can look at my devices, as devices. I’ve had an android phone now… what should I try next? WebOS (Palm), iOS (Apple), MeeGo (Nokia) Windows Mobile 7? I can try them all and be as judgemental as I like, without having my views skewed with brand prejudices or alliances, (something not commonly found in the world of gadget discussion these days).
So with a new liberated outlook on my electronic life, I’ll pull up my compacitive fishnets, don the cyber heels, and stand on the corner of technological pleasure where I’ll await my next romp with digital destiny.
PS - Sorry for the lame puns - I couldn’t resist! XD
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| The future of Android? You all know I had a turbulent introduction to Android recently, but you would be proud to know that after two months, excluding the occasional outbursts, I’m moderately satisfied. For someone who was all geared up to become an Android-boy (not a fan-boi), it was a shock to find myself so critical of the OS (or perhaps that’s a good explanation of why). Either way, throwing myself into the Android world, and trying to discuss it as much as possible with other users, allowed me to see the many highlights, and sadly, flaws of the OS – but more curiously left me with one very big question.
What is the future of Android going to be?
Created as an open source mobile operating system, adaptable to many devices with ongoing development, Android seems to be arriving at a point that will either continue to follow that mantra or land it in a pool of contradictions. Becoming a paradox, that simply shouldn’t exist. Forget for a moment the latest update Froyo, and concentrate on the next: Gingerbread. This is the release that will make it, or break it in my opinion. Google promises that Gingerbread will be the release that will improve the user experience. The one that will (hopefully) end the need for manufacturers to put a proprietary skin on top (HTC’s Sense, Motorola’s Motoblur, etc). If this doesn’t happen however, Android’s dream (IMHO) will be dead. In the beginning Android phones were open, easily rooted; installing new ROMs was simple and allowed you to get rid of the skins and bloat-ware the manufacturer and telco providers slathered on top. But over the last year or so, something strange (but not totally unpredictable) has started to occur. Handsets have started to progressively be locked down. Some phones more than others, but it’s only going to get worse. For users to ‘clean’ their phone now, they better have plenty of time and reliable contact with someone who has done it before. Android no longer holds the advantage over other smart phones for being able to be rooted/jailbrake’d/hacked. Add this to the recent controversies of Google kicking competitors out of the Market Place (Skyhook), along with the non-arrival of “Google Experience” phones that would be completely open and unrestricted, and a familiar scent starts wafting into the room… it smells like apples.
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| IKEA let 100 house cats loose in their Wembly store in the UK. It was listed as being for an "experiment" but of course was more for a comercial purpost. At first I thought "how preposterous!", but then I saw the result...
They filmed them running around, getting comfy and playing with eachother - to create this new commercial. It's been a while since i saw such a cute CM and one so naturally cute. None of the scenariou's were set up - other than cate being in an IKEA store to begin with hehe...
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| In my last post I talked about my first experience with Android. I also made a comment at the end
“ Who knows, maybe the next revision of Iphone may evolve by then ^_~ hahaha “
Believe it or not, I received a few ridiculous fanboy’s msg’s from both Android but more from Apple fanboys.
So rather than just insult both sects, I thought it better to explain my comments:
First up, Yes, I like Android. It is great – but I stand by my original statement that it needs A LOT of setting up. Perhaps in the next, next revision (Gingerbread and beyond) this will change, as the Android interface should have been refined by then – needing no skin from mobile manufacturers. If this is the case, then hopefully basic stock apps will improve also (namely sms, gmail, use of the term “push” in update settings so it doesn’t confuse new users, etc...
Android by nature is open source, and very customisable. But there are pro’s and con’s to this. I must admit, the cons didn’t occur to me whilst deciding to make the move over to Android, which is probably why it hit me a bit more.
Now, to the iphone. I’ve made no doubt in the past of my distain for the iphone...
Its mass adoption was the first thing to urk me. Followed by the ever ridiculously buggy patches, the randomness of the phone suddenly crashing itself and having to be connected to itunes or taken to a mac store to be revived, along with the crazy filtering of apps allowed into the marketplace, but finally the poorly thought out design which we all know is an issue – perhaps not something that will effect you every time you use it, but its something you wouldn’t expect to have to deal with on a $1000+ phone.
So if some or all of these issues can be worked on by apple, yes, I would consider giving in and owning one, if only for convenience. My recent attempts to find a case for my HTC Legend offline has been a nightmare – however had I needed an iphone case, thousands were on offer. Likewise for apps (usually coded for iOS before Android, not always, but usually).
All jabs aside, the iphone has a very sexy screen, better battery management (perhaps finally with a better battery in the new version), and more accessory support, but Android is improving at lightning speed so will catch up im sure (perhaps not in the screen dept. tho). I will even go the extra step and say as a multimedia phone, it does walk over MOST Android phones, as long as you’re willing to succumb to iTunes or find some stupid work around.
I think this is a pretty honest and fair extension of my previous comments. Having only introduced myself to Android, I’m sure I’ll have plenty more to say, both good and bad. But seriously guys, I’m all up for debate and discussion, but have the balls to leave replies on the post, rather than sending me chicken shit emails or messages.
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