In the current market, the primary choices are limited to buying compact discs or downloading their lossy equivalents. CDs have the edge in sound quality, but when it comes to speed, ease, and portability, downloadable audio files win hands down. My own collection heavily skews toward AACs and MP3s acquired from iTunes and Amazon over the years. The promise of higher fidelity sound is simply not enough to make me consider owning physical media.

And yet, I’d love to have the option of higher resolution sound when downloading music and am perplexed why record labels don’t offer audio in lossless formats widely. A small market, larger file sizes, and formats that aren’t nearly ubiquitous as MP3 are all factors that serve as legitimate excuses. However, I can’t help but feel that if record labels were to step into the present and offer consumers HD music downloads, they would find themselves duly rewarded.

The sentiment was that regardless of what I ‘resolved’ myself to do, I would eventually end up not doing it. So why bother? A broken promise is bad enough, but to oneself is especially damaging. It reduces resolution to whim and integrity to nil.

The truth is that keeping a resolution is hard work, and no one should be resolving to do something unless one is seriously passionate about doing it. A resolution only has meaning when one fully intends on seeing it through. And there’s no better barometer of intent than desire.

In fact, this is how it really works. Start with what you want to do and then resolve to do it — not the other way around.

Which brings me to my resolution for 2012. I’m passionate about writing. I want to write. I intend to write. I resolve to write.

Now let’s see how long it takes me to break this one.

It is said that home is where the heart is, and even at a young age, books lay at the center of mine. Apart from friends and family, nothing shaped me more than the words written therein. Whether it was for imagination, inspiration, erudition, or stimulation, books never failed to sustain me.

Books were to my mind and soul what food and drink are to the body – necessary. And yet, they were sufficiently diverse to suit every taste in the palette. One could as easily indulge in books as one could be poisoned by them. You are, after all, what you consume. The law of the balanced diet applies to reading as equally as it does to eating.

So, I read a bit of everything – what I liked; what I disliked; what excited me; what bored be; what pleased me; what revolted me. To be clear, I had my preferences. I would choose the classics over contemporary fiction any day; graphic novels routinely bested economic treatises; and there was more to mull over in a mystical text than the average scholarly tome.

Though my tastes continued to refine, my appreciation for books remained in the broadest of senses. As I grew older, that appreciation grew into an admiration not only of the content but of the physical anatomy of the book. Reading wasn’t merely a psychological experience but a sensual one, too. The weight of the book, the feel of the spine and cover in the hand, the print on the page, and, of course, the turning of each leaf was inextricable from the phenomenon of reading one.

So much was my fascination for books that in my early 20s I began collecting them semi-seriously, amassing a considerable personal library with a few editions worth more than most would pay for the latest in consumer technology.

My tastes extended to the aesthetics of the book itself. Each book was a self-contained whole. Its physical form ought to complement its content. Seeing both parts of Either/Or or Goethe’s Faust in the same physical entity struck me as Frankensteinian, never mind monstrosities like complete works or [shudder] anthologies. And yet, through it all, I cherished a soiled paperback of Nietzsche’s Joyful Wisdom as much as an early edition of Khayyám’s Rubáiyát.

Oh, to be young again and dream! Though I have yet to own my first home – let alone my own island – and my library amounts to several sated bookshelves, my fondness for books remains undying. Though I still find it nigh impossible to divorce the experience of reading from the book itself, the open mind I developed experiencing a plethora of them reminds me to be open to the possibility.

And so, I prepare to bid the book adieu. Farewell! I love thee, but I love reading that much more.

Design

Upon removing it from its box, I was immediately struck by how slim the iPad 2 is. I was familiar with the fact that iPad 2 is thinner than iPhone 4, but it isn’t until you actually hold it that you fully appreciate what that svelteness translates to ergonomically.

Despite its slenderness, the build quality of iPad 2 is rock solid. The glass and aluminum unibody design is as strong as it is simple. In handling it, I could detect no flex or weak points in iPad 2. Although I wouldn’t call it a tank, it’s a far cry from being fragile. If you’re not one to baby your tech, there’s little need to worry — the iPad 2 should handle the rigors of daily life in the home or on the go admirably.

Having said that, if you are OCD like me, the iPad 2 can seem like your worst nightmare. The finger-friendly touchscreen picks up prints as easily as pinching to zoom. Although residue is barely visible during use, that slightly oily feeling is perceptible enough to be off-putting. Luckily, iPad 2′s display has an oleophobic coating that makes wiping that grease away a trivial task.

The aluminum backside is another thing that I find irksome. As much as I love aluminum as a material, it simply isn’t resistant enough to scuffs and scratches for a mobile device (one reason I love the glass back of the iPhone 4). The finish seems harder and smoother than that of a MacBook Pro, but matte unlike the mirror polished back of the iPod Touch. Even still, mine had scuffs on the corner by the sleep/wake button right out of the box, presumably from chafing within the packaging while shipping. I also noticed a few tiny nicks and dings along the edges that encase the glass. From someone who considers the iPhone 4 an objet d’art, the iPad 2 doesn’t quite exude the level of care and attention to detail as the iPhone 4.

It is still quite the specimen though. Given its physical dimensions, one could easily mistake it for a pad of paper were it not for one thing — its weight. Although 1.35lbs doesn’t seem like much, spread over a nearly 70-sq. in. surface area, the heft is definitely noticeable, especially when holding the iPad 2 in one hand for prolonged periods. The weight seems to become more inconsequential the more you use it, but if Apple can bring the iPad’s weight down to under a pound, I could really see it leading the charge toward a paperless society.

Display

The second I booted up my iPad 2 for the first time, I was dismayed to find a dead pixel smack dab in the center of the screen. Dead pixels are not uncommon in a display this size, but when you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on a product from a company that is legendary for its attention to detail, you can’t help but be a little disappointed. In general use, that sole dead pixel has been unnoticeable — only when the surrounding area is dark can you really spot it. In other words, it does nothing to detract from the overall experience except, perhaps, psychologically.

Speaking of pixels, coming from an iPhone 4, they are really noticeable. The iPad 2′s XVGA resolution is respectable, but make no mistake about it, this is no Retina Display. Apart from the decidedly average pixel density, the iPad 2′s display compares very nicely to the iPhone 4. Colors pop, viewing angles are fantastic, and the overall impression is of high quality.

An iPad screen with crystal clarity is only a matter of time. In the meantime, I’m hopeful that Apple will vastly improve their anti-aliasing software in iOS. This would go a long way in enhancing the perceived sharpness of graphics and especially text on the iPad mitigating the need for a Retina Display.

As others have reported, I did notice some backlight bleeding around the edges at the default brightness setting (50%) when dark colors are being displayed. In practice, however, I haven’t found myself in a situation where this detracts from the user experience. Overall, besides the pixellation — and that infernal dead pixel — I’ve been very happy with the iPad 2′s display.

Connectivity

After some deliberation, I opted for the 32GB black iPad 2 with AT&T 3G. Since I wasn’t planning on loading music on the iPad 2, I figured 32GB would be enough for photos, apps, books and games with enough space for several movies while traveling.

The decision to pay the $130 premium for a 3G model when I already own an iPhone capable of slinging WiFi was a tough one, but I based it on two main factors. For one, unlike iPhones sold in the US, all GSM iPads are unlocked. I plan on taking a trip to India this summer, so having the option to drop in a local SIM to use mobile broadband abroad at local rates is worth the extra price. Second, unlocked 3G capabilities will likely command a higher resale value if I decide I want to upgrade to iPad 3.

I am currently taking advantage of AT&T’s promotional offer that gives you one free month of 2GB of data when you sign up for the 2GB Personal DataConnect Plan for iPad. Call 1-888-237-5888 or visit your local AT&T Store to sign up (unfortunately, you can’t accept the offer by signing up for data service on the iPad itself).

For anyone with a GSM iPad, I highly recommend taking up on AT&T’s offer while it lasts. There is no activation fee and the plan is commitment-free. Simply cancel before the end of the month if you wish not to be billed. You’re still liable for overage fees, though — $10 for each additional GB after the first two.

I’ve found AT&T’s data service on the iPad to be similar to that of the iPhone — generally fast and reliable, at least in the central Massachusetts and Boston areas I frequent. An informal test of AT&T’s mobile broadband on my iPad 2 using the SpeedTest.net app reveals download and upload speeds of slightly over 4Mb/s and 1Mb/s with 285ms latency — not bad at all. Your mileage will vary by location, but generally speaking, if you get good AT&T coverage, their mobile broadband will not disappoint.

The iPad 2 is the first 3G device I’ve owned that I am not planning to connect with my home WiFi network regularly. It will be interesting to see how much data I burn through over the course of a month. I’m also eager to test the quality of India’s 3G network when I visit there in May.

Performance

Having only used it for a week, I have little of substance to say regarding the iPad 2′s performance thus far. I plan on doing a full review next month after having more time with the device, but I will say that I have yet to experience any lag using it.

Apple’s buttery smooth scrolling is all the more evident on the iPad 2 and all general tasks like opening or switching between apps and browsing the web have been seamless. Even streaming a Wallace & Gromit short from the Netflix app over 3G proved to be no problem for the iPad 2. Other than a few third-party apps quitting unexpectedly — which is likely more a developer issue than Apple’s — the iPad 2 has worked without a hitch. I’m eager to see developers push the A5 chip to its limits, especially in the graphics department.

One other quick note: The battery life on the iPad 2 is impressive. Even over 3G, I was able to go a few days on a full charge with moderately heavy use. I can definitely see the iPad 2 edging out my MacBook Pro as a travel companion on long flights.

Experience

Anyone familiar with the iPhone or iPod Touch user interface will be right at home with the iPad. Apple has a knack for designing a user experience that is as simple as it is delightful to use, and the iPad 2 is more of the same. Although the iPad certainly looks like a larger iPod Touch, you are really doing the iPad disservice considering it as such. The larger screen size isn’t merely a quantitative difference — it’s qualitative, too. Multitouch gestures are much more natural on the iPad’s 9.7″ screen and open up a whole new world in the area of touch/gesture-based computing. Even simple things like zooming and typing feel fresh on the iPad.

The combination of a large multitouch screen with precise motion-sensing and location-awareness makes the iPad an exciting platform to use and develop for. Given new input paradigms, the ways in which we consume, interact, and create need to be redesigned accordingly for tablets. This space is still very young, so expect to see some major changes in software design as more developers embrace the strengths of tablets and free their minds of the old input conventions tied to the traditional personal computer.

Impression

While the iPad is certainly no replacement for a PC, I firmly believe multitouch, gesture-based computing will eventually supplant the keyboard and mouse as the dominant input paradigm in the next 5-10 years. PCs will not fade into oblivion, but the iPad is the beginning of that shift away from the PC’s dominance as a computing platform. And let me tell you, after only a week with the iPad 2, this is the first piece of technology that I’ve used in a long while that makes me believe that this is the future.

Well, Ludwig, meet qb. qb (pronounced ‘kyoob‘) is ‘an asynchronous, unranked aggregate of web content that interests me’ and serves as an experimental tumblog complement to The All Box. Powered by Tumblr and using Ben Delaney’s Notations theme, qb is meant to be my medium of minimalism offering ‘qbits’ of information for consumption in the tersest of form.

In introducing qb, my hope is to cover more stories in the mobile tech world while repositioning The All Box to realize its original intent — to awaken awareness of the questions that the bleeding edge of technology raise.

So, while you wait for the main course, give the hors d’oeuvres a taste and savor some qb.

AT&T’s climb to reclaim the top spot from rival Verizon after Big Red’s acquisition of Alltel Wireless 2 years ago has been an arduous one fueled in large part by Ma Bell’s lock on Apple’s iPhone. However, that 1.4 million subscriber lead may be short-lived with iPhone exclusivity set to end within a fortnight as Verizon prepares to offer its customers a CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 beginning February 10.

Regardless of the outcome, AT&T’s fourth quarter earnings are impressive with a record 2.8 million new adds reflecting ‘rapid adoption of smartphones’, 4.1 million iPhone activations and 442,000 tablet subscribers, all contributing to $31.4 billion in total revenue (up 2.1%) and $1.1 billion in net income (down 60%).

Although growth is likely to stall this coming quarter with Apple’s darling headed to Big Red, it remains to be seen exactly how much the loss of iPhone exclusivity affects AT&T in the long run. AT&T has repeatedly emphasized it is more than just a one-trick pony touting a diverse portfolio of integrated devices and hyping its accelerated deployment of ’4G’ mobile broadband technologies such as HSPA+ and LTE. In any case, increased efforts to upgrade and improve the existing network to be on par with its device offerings would go a long way to silence critics and keep the momentum in AT&T’s favor.

via intomobile

Sony unveiled its successor to the PSP codenamed ‘Next Generation Portable’ at an event today in Tokyo. The PSP2 — which has yet to be officially named — is touted to be as powerful as Sony’s PlayStation 3 console and, judging by the spec sheet, the hype isn’t hard to believe.

The PSP2 will feature a 5″ OLED capacitive touchscreen with qHD resolution (960 x 544) and be powered by an unspecified quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore coupled with a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU. Yes, you read that right — the PSP2 has a CPU and GPU with four cores each. This is unparalleled power in a handheld device.

The PSP2 has done away with the proprietary UMD optical drive, which caught on about as well as Betamax, opting for a ‘new’ — hopefully not proprietary — type of flash mini card. All the original controls are there including a touch-sensitive rear to add a new dimension in control, and yes, Sony has blessed the PSP2 with the dual analog sticks gamers have been begging for ever since the original PlayStation Portable was released. SIXAXIS tilt control is also included.

Other features of the PSP2 include a front and rear camera, stereo speakers, and a microphone. As for connectivity, the PSP2 is blazing the trail by being the first dedicated portable game system to support 3G while including the usual WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, and GPS in the mix. The dimensions of the PSP2 are 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm shaped in a new ‘super oval’ form factor.

Sony’s next generation portable is expected for release by the end of the year, most likely just in time for the 2011 holiday season. No word on price, but given the specifications above, don’t be surprised if the PSP2 retails for $300 or above. For hardcore gamers on the go, though, Sony has really upped the ante and buying in may prove irresistible.

via CrunchGear [pics via AV Watch]

via dalemcbroom on YouTube

Interested in freeing your phone number from your carrier’s clutches for good? Well, for some Google Voice users that dream is now reality.

Google is currently testing the feature on select users with the intent to roll it out to everyone ‘in the near future’. To see if the feature is available to you, sign into your Google Voice account and click on Voice Settings under the Settings tab located in the upper right. If your lucky, a Change/Port option will reside beside your current Google Voice number.

The process of porting a number to Google Voice is simple, but not without drawbacks. First of all, you are charged a $20 transaction fee via Google Checkout for the privilege. The porting process would also immediately cancel your current contract with your wireless carrier resulting in a potentially hefty early termination fee. Furthermore, your current Google Voice number is forfeited, although you will still have access to it for 90 days to inform everyone of the change. Finally, you still need to find another carrier for those newly emancipated digits — Google isn’t a mobile service provider yet. It’s also worth noting that not all numbers are currently eligible for the porting process, e.g. those of landlines and mobile businesses aren’t currently supported.

Having said that, can you really put a price on freedom? With your primary phone number tied to your Google Voice account, you can now manage calls and messages across multiple lines more naturally. Bar the obsolescence of the phone number itself, it’s the way mobile should be. So go ahead and make your phone number yours.

Source: Google Voice via Engadget

As much as I disdain Verizon Wireless, I have to admit I’ve always enjoyed their commercials. I hope they sell millions.

Source: YouTube via Engadget