In one word… Amazing! It’s all I was expecting for and so much more. But let’s take it step by step because even though I really enjoy the iPhone, there is room for improvement.

Or should I say “fine tuning”. There are no real “bugs” but I can feel they had to rush it to meet the June 29 deadline. But let me tell you that the Synch process goes so well, it’s gonna be easy to update your iPhone!

First of all, I need to thank the AT&T store on Union St here in San Francisco. They were just great! Making sure we had water, information about the whole buying process, etc.

Just imagine their frustration… since they work for AT&T, they are not allowed to buy an iPhone for 60 days!!

Hang in there buddies, it’s definitely worth the wait!

Speaking of wait, I feel sorry for those who camped in front of any Apple Store. As we speak, there are still plenty of 4Gb & 8Gb iPhone at the Apple Store downtown SF ah!

Yesterday, I took some time in the morning to drive around the different stores that were carrying the iPhone and at 9AM, only the Apple Store had over 150 people waiting in line.

That’s why I decided to start waiting in line at around 1:30PM and was #15!

Anyways, back to business… Let’s start with the activation process. I had to call AT&T customer services because my information were not recognized (tho I am a 3 years old customer).

The agent was very competent and 10 mins later, my iPhone was activated and ready to make/receive calls. First good point!

The graphic user interface (GUI). is just perfect! No real surprise, we’re talking about Apple here! The transitions are smooth and quick. The buttons, icons, menus, etc. are simple to use yet efficient and powerful.

Read more… »

When one talks about Apple’s history, one imagines a dark garage and a bunch of nerds with a fetish for electronic components and without any idea what the future might hold for them…

Bloggpix has a great slideshow about “The History of Apple“. What’s behind the myth? What were their products? Who were the men and women helping the Steves (Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs) to become the mega Apple superstars?

A good way to start my last day of languishment over the iPhone!! Today is the DAY, just a few more hours…

One more day… one last day! But reviews are already available. I am sure Steve would have liked to keep everything under the radar until the official launch, tomorrow June 29 at 6PM but since they are quite good, he shouldn’t complain.

No surprise that the reviewers found EDGE to be slow, 3G will most definitely come in the V2.0.

Since mid June, Walter Mossberg got the chance to play with the iPhone and tho he wasn’t too excited at first, he now acknowledges that the iPhone IS a Breakthrough Handheld Computer.

All the reviews:

• The iPhone Is a Breakthrough Handheld Computer - Wall Street Journal
• The iPhone Matches Most of Its Hype - New York Times
• Apple’s iPhone isn’t perfect, but it’s worthy of the hype - USA Today
• At Last, the iPhone - Newsweek

Hopefully, I’ll be able to appreciate the iPhone myself tomorrow and I’ll make sure to post some photos as soon as possible!

[Via Engadget]

Aperture Plugged In is a cool website that will keep you posted on all the latest plugins for Apple Aperture.

“Each month Aperture Plugged In will take you through an in depth analysis of the latest from the plugin community.”

For example, you can find an Aperture plugin for :

• Aperture to Facebook
• Aperture to Gmail
• Aperture to Picasa

And much more! Always good to bookmark…

The 1,1 update includes these enhancements:

• Flexible image management for multi-computer workflows
• Improved Noise Reduction and Sharpening technology
• New camera support includes flexible image management for multi-computer workflows, improved noise reduction and sharpening technology, and more.

If I read the Lightroom 1.1 ReadMe file correctly, over 25 improvements mostly in the Develop Module.This update (22.5MB)  is available as a free download for existing customers.

Two press releases this morning, the first one : “Apple and AT&T Announce iTunes Activation and Sync for iPhone” and the second : “AT&T and Apple Announce Simple, Affordable Service Plans for iPhone” two of the most anticipated subjects for this week. Only 3 days before the iPhone launches, it was about time ah!

It comes with a cool new video showing you the process.

The bad news first… you definitely, positively will need an iTunes account since this will be the “only” way to activate and synchronize your iPhone! Or at least a credit card (since when do you need a credit card to activate a phone??!!). To create your iTunes account, simply download and install iTunes and click on “Store” then follow the steps.

The iPhone activation will also require an Internet connection and a valid Social Security number (as required by AT&T).

“CUPERTINO, California and ATLANTA—June 26, 2007—Apple¬Æ and AT&T Inc. today announced that iPhone‚Ñ¢ users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple’s popular iTunes¬Æ software running on a PC or Mac¬Æ computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated.

Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.”

The good news, it will only takes minutes!

All this kinda sounds like 1984 if you ask me… If just like me, you already have AT&T accounts, you will have the option of keeping your existing phone number and upgrading your account to work with iPhone.

Which brings us to the second press release, the iPhone Service Plans!

Read more… »

© 2007 Aaron Johnson