Quad Lock: The Absolute Best Way to Mount an iPhone on a Bike

CYCLIST INTENSITY LEVEL

I'm a cyclist. I'm not a 6 A.M. 30 miles before work cyclist. In a scale of intensity, I'm somewhere in the middle. If I lived near my parents, brother, and friends who are more avid cyclists, I'm pretty sure I'd bump up a few points on the serious cyclist level.

NEED

I wanted a way to track my speed and cadence. So I bought the Wahoo Fitness Speed and Cadence Sensor. The app appeared to be much more precise than just using Strava (although I haven't done serious testing to determine whether this is the case. Also, I use the Wahoo app which allows direct upload to Strava, which I use). The problem I quickly faced was how to see the quick glance information I needed: Current speed, average speed, time, and trip distance. My iPhone was in my jersey pocket and only accessible when I stopped. So I started looking for a mounting solution for my handlebars.

MOUNTING

It didn't take long to realize that the Quad Lock Bike Kit looked like the best option out there. I got my hands on the Quad Lock Bike Kit. Installation, if you can even call it that, took about 30 seconds. The mount uses two black elastics to mount onto the handlebar stem. Then I slipped the case onto my iPhone 5. Let me talk briefly about cases. I'm not a case guy. During my time the past 6 years of having an iPhone I have tried different cases, but typically prefer to go nude. So I was skeptical of having to use my phone with the Quad Lock case. However, it is a nice soft material and quite thin, despite the fact that it has the locking area indented on the back. I really don't mind the case and it is one of the reasons I still really love the Quad Lock system.

USE

The Quad Lock has been fantastic. It holds my iPhone completely stable and has never once given me reason to fear of it falling off, even when I've hit some nasty Chicago potholes. It is super quick to twist on or off, which is nice when you need to quickly pull over to answer a call. I really like the angle that the mount holds my phone, making it very easy to quickly glance at my screen for the information I need.

RECOMMENDATION

There are a number of different options for cycling computers. You can snag a really affordable one ($20 on Amazon) and it will tell you basic information but lacks the ability to sync your information with a service like Strava. You can get a Garmin, but they can get expensive quick. Or you can use your iPhone, which is what I have opted to do. The only real downside is battery drain, but I've found either dimming the screen or turning off the screen (when knowing your speed and cadence isn't essential) will greatly improve battery life. The Quad Lock is also available for the iPhone 5c, 4/4S, GS4, and the GS5. They also make a mount that uses 3M adhesive to mount directly to a different phone or case. I've loved mine and am looking to get a second Quad Lock mount for my commuter bike as well as the car mount for navigation in the car (since my Garmin was stolen last year).

We Can All Learn a Lesson From the Harvey Langi Escapade

I'm not going to take the time to rehash the whole Harvey Langi situation here. The chances are, that if you are reading this, you are familiar with the whole situation. In a nutshell, Harvey is an LDS football player who committed to the University of Utah before leaving on a 2 year mission. Then, right before he got home, word spread that he was reaching out to BYU with intentions of transferring.

As a Utah fan, I'm not happy about Harvey leaving. I think he's a good athlete that would have helped the team. However, as much as I favor Utah over BYU, I don't fault him for changing his mind. What I do blame Harvey for is how he handled the whole situation. The truth is, people change their minds. Employees quit jobs, couples break up, and kids even transfer schools. We've all felt strongly about something, made a decision, and then decided later it wasn't for us. Which is why we can't fault Harvey for having a change of heart. The decision could be one based on athletic factors or it could be spiritual, economic, or social. The truth is, we don't have all the facts.

But, what we do know is that Harvey went about it all the wrong way and that's a fact. If you are an employee considering a new job, you don't want local media breaking the information to your current employer that you've decided to leave. It tends to leave a foul taste in one's mouth. Or, if you're in a relationship, you don't want your significant other finding out from twitter that you were calling and texting a different cute guy or girl. That's not how you want those scenarios to play out. And yet, that's exactly how the whole Harvey escapade unraveled.

Rather than causing red and blue twitter fights and full-blown local media speculation, he could have avoided the whole circus and handled it quietly and professionally. That would have meant finishing his mission, heading up to the Utah football offices, and sitting down with Kyle Whittingham. Would it have meant having a hard conversation? Of course. Break-ups and 2 week notices aren't fun conversations either, but if you do them right, you can prevent burning bridges. Instead, Harvey managed to burn down every bridge leading in and out of Rice Eccles Stadium.

We can all learn a lesson from Harvey. The next time we change our minds after someone has taken a chance on us, whether that's an employer, a school, or a boyfriend/girlfriend, let's show that person nothing but utmost respect and appreciation. That doesn't mean they'll like our decision to leave for a different pasture. But it does mean they'll respect the way we went about doing it. And in life, that's important.

One of the original articles here. 

Note: Harvey's transfer isn't official but all the signs point to him transferring. Yesterday KSL posted this article.

And a tweet by Brian Swinney.

Will an Apple watch find its way onto your wrist? I share a few thoughts on the matter.

Here are my current thoughts on a rumored "iWatch" device. 

1. NAME. They may use the iPod name and brand. Apple currently sells the iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod classic, and iPod shuffle. Maybe this new device will be called the iPod wrist, iPod watch, etc. The iPod is iconic, familiar, and relatable. With so many customers having owned an iPod, buying another "iPod" would feel like an obvious and exciting next step. By using the iPod name, Apple may be able to avoid a lot of the negative sentiments surrounding wearables, with many describing devices like Google Glass and Samsung Gear as ridiculous, unnecessary, bulky, and creepy.
2.  SHAPE. I think a square or rectangle shaped watch makes more sense from a functional standpoint. However, I think a round faced device makes more sense from a fashion standpoint. The biggest issue I see is size. If you go too small, it becomes hard to see and use. You also face a battery issue. Obviously the bigger the device, the larger the battery can be. A large battery is crucial for a device like this, because you need it to last *AT LEAST* a day, ideally longer. However, if you go too big, you face a potentially bigger problem: alienating small wrists. Men and women alike can have small wrists but as a general rule, this is more of a female characteristic. I can assure you, Apple is not OK creating a device that is so big, bulky, and manly that they lose the female customer. 
3. MODELS. So this poses, what I believe, is the biggest question: Can Apple (or anyone) make a wearable device that appeals to both genders? They've done this with the iPhone but a smart watch that you slip into your pocket or purse is a completely different animal from something you wear. I'm not going to claim that it can't be done, this is, after all, Apple. But let's just say that it can't be done, at least not with technology (screen and battery limitations) that is currently available, does Apple make two models? Even though it makes sense to make a male/female version, it may not make sense in the first version. This could be something that makes more sense with time, just like Apple has done in the past with the iPad, MacBook Air, and iPod. 
4. APPEAL. Women + iPhone in Purse = Perfect target customer for a watch. Being able to receive and respond to texts, get quick information like weather, calendar events, etc. without having to dig through a purse for a phone would be really convenient. It may even allow people to reach their parents and grandparents, who still find a way to "leave their phone in the other room." 
5. COST. It is going to cost more than you think. It is very rare that Apple releases a new product and your thought is "wow, that's really cheap." So don't expect a $200 Apple wearable device. My bet is $299-$349. 
6. HEALTH. There has been a lot of speculation that a device of this kind would be a fitness tracker. And I have to agree. I think it is the reason they introduced the new Health app. We'll see. 
7. BEATS. I don't see Beats playing too big of a role in the first generation model, since the acquisition hasn't even happened yet. Obviously Apple has been big on colors for a long time, dating back to the old colorful iMacs, so they don't NEED Beats in order to introduce a wide array of color options. I think Apple will play it a little safe when it comes to colors (black, white, gold), but I could be wrong. I do think they will rely heavily on Beats tactics for making the device cool. If they can get big names to wear it, it will go a long way in more general public acceptance of such a device.
8. TIDBITS. I see this as a device that will be cool in its first iteration, but one that will be a much better product in a year or two. This sounds kind of like a stupid statement, since tech tends to get better with time. But with a product like this, you can learn a lot from designing and testing it in a lab. But you learn a whole lot more watching the world use it and provide feedback.

*I do not think it will be called the iWatch. 

iMessage: Broken and Filling up your iCloud Backups

When texting on the iPhone, your text bubbles are either blue or green. Green denotes SMS and is used when texting any phone but an iPhone. Blue means the message is an iMessage and is sent over the internet to another iPhone, iPod, iPad, or Mac. iMessage debuted in 2011 and was great. It featured visual typing cues, read notifications, and overall, a more reliable method of messaging compared to SMS.

Fast forward to 2014 where Messaging services are now all the rage. Recently Whatsapp was sold to Facebook for 19 Billion. In addition to the new acquisition, Facebook has made a push with Messenger, Google has been reworking Hangouts, and Snapchat is raging in popularity.

Meanwhile, back on iMessage, we've got some problems that are in need of immediate attention. With WWDC less than a month away, we can only hope Apple is ready to show improvements to the iMessage platform—one that is starting to show its age.

My main beef with iMessage has to do with its interaction with iCloud. iCloud is the free service (5GB is free, after that it is quite expensive) most iOS users take advantage of to sync content and create backups of their devices. The problem is how iOS, and more specifically iMessage, stores messages. Every photo, video, and text received is stored locally on the device. The iPhone then automatically backs up iMessage to iCloud. There is no option to exclude iMessage from backing up or to just back up certain messages. This isn't a problem if you delete message threads on a regular basis, but if you like to keep messages for reference, blackmail, or nostalgia, you are going to run into a problem.

My iPhone no longer backs up to iCloud because there isn't enough free space and I have not upgraded to a priced storage plan. I looked at usage stats and my messages was taking up 2.7GB of storage on my device and thus 2.7GB of my 5GB iCloud allotment. Granted this is because I wasn't deleting message threads, but should I really have to? I don't delete Google Hangout threads nor do I have to worry about them.

So how can it be fixed?

• Ideally, Apple would give users an option to auto save media received in iMessage. 
• Another great feature would be the ability to view just the media in a thread without having to scroll through the entire text conversation to find old photos. 
• And finally, add an auto-archive option that would archive (or delete) message conversations after a specific amount of time has passed, i.e. a month. 

There are other things that need to change in iMessage, like the ability to leave a group conversation and the ability to create groups in Contacts. Additionally, Apple needs to lower the price on iCloud storage to be more in line with other services like Google and Dropbox.

Here's to hoping Apple takes what was great in 2011 and makes it terrific in 2014.

Note: I think Photo management is an even bigger problem than messages but that is for another post, another day. 

How a BMW M3 made me fall in love with BMW again.

I'm a car guy. Ignore the fact that when my then fiancé was shopping for a car I suggested a gold Toyota Camry, Pontiac Vibe, and a Honda Fit. The biggest misstep was the gold Camry, which aged me by about 40 years. I'll never live that one down.

So I wanted to do something special for my wife for her birthday. A month late. Hey at least I was a good husband and bought her a bike for her birthday! 2 years ago. Ok, so anyway, I needed to really do something special so I went after my friend's E92 BMW M3. He's the nicest guy in the city of Chicago so of course he said yes when I asked. I showed up Monday morning and left him the keys to my 1999 Lexus GS 300. He was beside himself with excitement. Nope, actually, he wasn't.

So let me step away from the story for a minute. I really loved the E46 M3. It has been my opinion that those years, 2002-2004, were some of BMW's best. Then Bangle got his hands on the design reigns and some weird stuff started happening. Recent years have been much better but I've felt that design has drifted a little and my enthusiasm for BMW has waned substantially. That is until I got behind the wheel of the M3 on Saturday. Oh. My. Heavens.

I picked up the wife and then we hopped on Lakeshore Drive. I dropped the hammer. That V8. That exhaust note. That tight steering wheel. The way the leather sport seats wrapped around me. Crazy good. Outlandishly fast. Insanely beautiful. The M3 was everything a sports car is supposed to be. Except for the fact that the there is a weird material on the steering wheel that was peeling, the car is practically flawless. When you're in the middle of the power band, you know, where a typical car starts to slow, the M3 just keeps going. You run out of straight road and guts well before you run out of power.

The M3 had such a powerful effect on me that I found myself configuring a 320i the other day. Sure it has 234 less horsepower than the M3 but IT'S A BMW! Driving the M3 finally helped me see why Car and Driver has given so many accolades over the years. No they aren't biased. No they aren't receiving a paycheck from Munich. Driving a BMW is really that good. I still don't like the X1 or the X3 or the X4. I still think the GT versions of the 3 and 5 series look terrible and I just want the wagon. But the M3 really is that good. I was never a BMW hater but one weekend may just have been enough to make me a BMW lover.

"Modern Light Fixtures"

I wanted to give everyone a chance to see what the "Modern Light Fixtures" mentioned in the previous post look like. So here they are for your enjoyment. Let the modernness blow your retro/contemporary minds! 

This last one is my favorite. It's so modern that it doesn't even exist! Because hey, in this modern age, who needs a light in the living room!?

P.S. We don't pay $1650 for an apartment without AC, dishwasher, parking, etc. We've made plenty of bad decisions but that isn't one of them. The apartment for $1650 mentioned in the previous post is in our building but not the unit we currently rent.  

Apartment Hunting Hell in Chicago

29 weeks along. There are few things in this life that are so scrutinizingly counted in weeks and pregnancy is one of them. Which is why when most people ask, I tell them my wife is just over 6 months pregnant so they don't have to start doing math on their fingers. There are all sorts of things you do in preparation for a child. For us, that mostly consists of siphoning off all the baby stuff from my older siblings who have come to the end of reproducing. It also means trying to figure out where were are going to put the little munchkin come April. 7 months ago today we signed a lease and moved in to our second apartment here in Chicago, located in the quaint neighborhood of Lincoln Park. That apartment has one bedroom. 1. As in less than 2. We conveniently realized this was going to be a problem 1 month after we moved in when the pee stick came back with two unmistakable lines.

So, here we are, trying to find a new place with 2 bedrooms. This, however, isn't easy nor cheap. It's very stressful and time consuming. Tonight we pulled up a listing for an available apartment in our current building. That listing inspired this post. And here is why. Take a look at the photo I've included. Notice the light fixture in the photo? Now go ahead and look at the description. That's right, "Modern light fixtures." Because we all know there's nothing more desirable in an apartment than "modern light fixtures," especially the ones that are simply a metal rod and a light bulb. But I guess when you are listing an apartment for $1650 that DOES NOT HAVE an elevator, air conditioning, in unit washer/dryer, parking, or adult sized bedrooms, then you're forced to promote its "modern light fixtures." We've got 5 months until our lease is up. Here's to hoping we can survive the "modern light fixture" listings and actually find ourselves a place that is "baby approved."

p.s. The funny thing about the light fixture in the photo is that it's exactly what our kitchen light looks like. Of course, that's because I recently replaced the bulb and couldn't figure out how to get the tacky and completely non-modern glass globe to hang back on.

The Bully Who Makes Recess Your Worst Nightmare

There's this terrible menace called winter. It's much like a playground bully. All you want to do is go outside, play around, be goofy and have fun. And there's the bully. Staring you down. Lingering near the monkey bars just to make your life miserable. Prior to moving to Chicago, people had warned us about the cold temperatures that plague the midwest. "Hey, we’re from the state that brags about having The Greatest Snow on Earth. Trust me, we’ll be fine." We arrived on the 4th of July, 2012. As we drove into the city, the digital temperature display in the car read 104 degrees. I managed to soak both of my white tops right into a slimy-opaque-nasal-distressing mess. Cold was the last thing from my mind. Then winter arrived. And you know what? It wasn't bad. We walked everywhere and were just fine. I remember a few days where I shivered and thanked the great God in the heavens for my cashmere scarf, but it was never life threatening. Chicago winter: 0, Justin Lake: 1.

Winter passed, spring arrived and soon summer was in full swing again. With the passing seasons came a handful of very expensive parking tickets, moving homes, quitting school (I really “finished” school but quitting sounds so much more rebellious and free spirited), and the starting of an internship. In other words, no bully (unless you count the parking meter police). However, when November of 2013 rolled around, I learned a valuable lesson. The playground bully had merely been on vacation for the previous winter. Sabbatical over, the bully was here for the long haul this year.

So what do I mean? Let me explain. This year you have ice forming on the INSIDE of your windows and frostbite warnings showing up on your phone. You can't even go outside to let the dog take a leak without your mustache turning into a frozen doormat for your nose, dangling icicles tauntingly in front of your pursed lips. So when you see a man walk in from off the street into a warm building with his glasses iced over, it's not abnormal to consider this totally normal.

My wife has a coat she was gifted. It's big enough to cover her beautifully round 6 month pregnant belly. It's also big enough to blanket the state of Rhode Island when stretched open. The result is that a woman who is already self conscious about her body because she can't see her toes anymore and has touching thighs (gasp) now looks like a moving, breathing, stay puffed marshmallow. And yet, you know something? No one cares. No one but her, that is. That's because there is an unspoken rule here in this God forsaken tundra: stay warm and stay alive at whatever cost, even if it means leaving the house looking like a total bafoon. Under normal circumstances you would see another human being wearing a muskrat on his or her head and start cracking jokes to the person on the bus next to you (unless, of course, that person is the muskrat wearing rider). However, during January in Chicago, you applaud their exceptional resourcefulness. It’s not even uncommon or wrong to feel a sense of jealousy.

I'm telling you, things get weird when the temperature gets so cold that the local zoo is taking the polar bear indoors (true story). Heck, Katy Perry could be outside in a mini skirt giving out free kisses and I wouldn't budge from the warmth and comfort of my radiator heated villa. So next time you check the weather and the temperature reads a number above 0, do a little jig, a celebration dance, and know the bully’s away. And as they say, when the bully’s away, the kids will play.

How to be in a relationship, own Apple products, and share an Apple ID.

Below is a Couple's Guide to Sharing an Apple ID.

I've had to explain this same process at least 4 times over the holidays to family so I decided to write a tutorial on how to share an Apple ID within a household. I will do my best to explain it as succinctly and clearly as possible. I will use a made up couple to demonstrate the situation.

Jack and Jane, happily married for 5 years.

In the household they have an iPhone 5s, an iPhone 5, an iPad Mini, and two MacBook Airs.

Jack needs his OWN personal iCloud account. Jane ALSO needs her OWN personal iCloud account.

To confirm that this is the case, we will take Jack's iPhone 5 and go to Settings>iCloud. At the top it will say Account and then show his ID.  His happens to be jackrocks4ever@icloud.com.

You will repeat the process on Jane's phone to confirm she also has her own iCloud account. Her iCloud address happens to be janerules4life@gmail.com.

NOTE: An iCloud account can end in @icloud.com, @me.com, @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, etc. It doesn't matter. It is simply whatever account you created when iCloud came out or it is the Apple ID you already were using when iCloud came out. (Also know that @mac.com, @me.com, and @icloud.com are all aliases.)

Jane will log in to iCloud on her Mac and Jack will log in to his iCloud on his Mac. But what about the iPad?

Sharing an iPad doesn't work very well. In my household, my wife is logged into iCloud on the iPad. As a result, the calendars, contacts, and messages are all hers. Sadly there is no way yet to have multiple iCloud accounts on one iOS device.

OK, now lets talk about the part that confuses many people. If you are a couple that doesn't love paying for things twice, I highly recommend that you share an Apple ID for the App Store, iBooks, and iTunes. Doing so will save you a lot of money in the long run.

It doesn't matter which Apple ID you use but pick one and then NEVER change. I'm serious about never. Everything you buy is associated with that Apple ID, so if you buy music, TV shows, movies, and apps, those will forever be associated with that Apple ID.

In the case of Jack and Jane, Jack bought his first iPod in 2007 and created the following Apple ID at that time: Jack1984@gmail.com. He has been buying movies and music ever since. Jane got her first iPhone this fall. So, the family is going to use jack1984@gmail.com for purchases.

Let me repeat: jack1984@gmail.com  IS THE APPLE ID THE FAMILY AKA BOTH JANE AND JACK WILL NOW BOTH USE.

So, on Jack's iPhone, we will go to Settings>iTunes and App Store and then confirm that it says Jack1984@gmail.com.

Note: Jack has two separate Apple ID's on his phone. For iCloud he is using jackrocks4ever@icloud.com and for the stores he is using jack1984@gmail.com.  Let me just quickly point out that if Jack had purchased his first apple product last year and created his apple ID as jackrocks4ever@icloud.com, he could use that for his apple store purchases as well. It is not a problem that he has a different ID for iCloud than he does for the ID he uses in the stores.

Now, back to Jane's phone. Go to Settings>iTunes and App Store and then NOW PAY ATTENTION, you will want to log in using jack1984@gmail.com. In fact, you are going to make sure that on both computers in the Mac App Store and iTunes, you are logged in to jack1984@gmail.com.

On the iPad, you will also login as jack1984@gmail.com.

So to reiterate, if you are jack and jane, you will forever use jack1984@gmail.com for all purchases regardless of whether or not you are Jack OR Jane.

Now for some FAQ.

Q:I'm Jack and I don't want to tell Jane the password to the Apple ID jack1984@gmail.com. What should I do?
A: If you don't trust Jane with your password, your marriage will probably not work out very well anyway.

Q: I'm Jane and I too have had an Apple ID since 2007. What if I don't want to give up my Apple ID? I've purchased lots of music and apps too.
A: This makes the situation tricky indeed. However, in my opinion, if you plan on being married for the rest of your mortal lives, I think it is best to cut your losses and move forward. Because, in this situation, you only have two options. Either keep your separate ID's and thus keep the barrier between sharing apps, music, movies, books, and TV shows you purchase. Or you give up your Apple ID and start sharing going forward, only having to buy content ONE time.

Q: We both have Apple IDs with purchases? Who should switch over to the other person's Apple ID?
A: Use whichever Apple ID has the most purchases of value associated with it. If Jane has more, use Jane's.

Q: We have a 13 year old. What should we do about their iPod?
A: I have no idea. No, but seriously, that is an age where this decision becomes tough. You may want to cut them off and have them get their own Apple ID. It does, however, make it so they can't share any purchases you buy but it prevents them from knowing your Apple ID password and potentially running up high charges. Granted you could keep your password a secret from the child but at age 13, they are going to want to download snapchat when they want and not wait for you to type in the password for them.

Q: Can't I just log in and out of different Apple IDs in the app store on my iPhone?
A: No, you cannot. You can only change once every 90 days. So make sure you DECIDE definitively before you do make the decision and log out and then log in. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4627

Q: How many devices can I have associated with one Apple ID?
A: 10. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4627  So if you happen to be an Apple junky and have LOTS of devices, you are going to run into a pickle eventually.

Q: Is it honest to share?
A: Apple says you can have 10 devices associated with an Apple ID. We would assume that they are saying 10 devices belonging to one person. So, in my family, I believe all the devices "belong to me." Or they could very well all belong "to my wife." So if you believe in this sort of living, where nothing is truly his or hers, then yes, it is honest.

If you have any further questions, swing by an Apple store or ask me for clarification in the comments. Best of luck to you!

Note: If you are wealthy, you may not want to share. If you don't ever plan on buying anything from Apple, you also may not want to share.

The First Ever Justin Lake Automobile Winners List

My two favorite Car and Driver and Motor Trend issues both arrived recently: Motor Trend's Car of the Year issue and Car and Driver's 10 Best issue. Here are my winners.

CAR

Compact Car/Hatchback: Mazda 3

As most know, I'm a big fan of wagons and hatchbacks. I love the utility they provide while still providing a car driving experience. Hattie and I put a deposit down on the then unreleased 2012 Subaru Impreza hatchback. Luckily we changed our mind before we plunked down the big cheddar. I love the Impreza for its looks and AWD but the interior, engine power, and MPG are not up to snuff with the Mazda. I think the Mazda 3 is the best looking small car on the market and the hatch version is just a bonus. I hope to buy a used one of these in a few years. 

Midsize Family Sedan: Kia Optima

I drove an SX version of the Optima right after it came out and I loved it. I think it is a heck of a looker, has some serious get-up, and gets great gas milage. And it's not a Honda Accord, so you may actually stand out on the block. 

Small Luxury Sport Sedan: Mercedes CLA

I love this car. It's relatively affordable and it is almost perfectly executed from a design standpoint, both inside and out. Ok, fine, maybe it slopes a titch too much in the back. If they sold the hatchback version in the U.S., I would consider going into debt in order to own one. 

Midsize Luxury Sport Sedan: Audi S6

We are talking about some serious cashola with the S6 but it is pretty much the perfect car. Car and Driver reported a faster 0-60 time in the S6 than they did in the all new Corvette Stingray. That's wicked fast. A very tempting alternative to the S6 is the brand new Cadillac CTS. I really love this car. Especially in Vsport. Yes please. 

SUV

Small SUV: Mazda CX-5

This winner was a little harder to choose. Wins for its good looks, sporting nature, and strong MPG. However, if you were to pick a Subaru Forester or Ford Escape, you wouldn't be going wrong.

Offroad SUV: 4 Door Jeep Wrangler

Our wedding photographer had one of these with the perfect lift and after market tires. I've been sold ever since. 

Midsize SUV: The Audi Q5 and Jeep Grand Cherokee

I couldn't pick a winner. I love both of these SUVs and want to own both. I think they both are gorgeous and well crafted vehicles. The rational buy for the Jeep would be with the diesel engine but the thrilling choice would be the SRT version. As for the Audi, I'd get 3.0 TDI. Got some serious torque. 

Large SUV: The upcoming GMC Yukon Denali

I'm not usually a big fan of these monstrous cars but these thing is a looker. Will be available in 2014 and would be my choice over any of the competitors.

Truck: Ford Atlas Concept

Ok, it is probably not fair to choose a concept vehicle but I was so enamored by the Ford Atlas at last year's Chicago Auto Show that I can't imagine spending money on anything that wasn't this. If Ford deviates too far from this concept for the next generation F150, many manly tears across America will be shed.

SPORTS CAR

Budget Sports Car: Subaru BRZ
My wife doesn't think this is a cool car. I think she's crazy. I love the BRZ. I do think it is underpowered right now and if they were to put an engine with STI like performance in it, this car would be a mini Porsche. Or at least a wannabe, which in this case, wouldn't be a bad thing.

Under 100k Sports Car: Porsche Cayman S
I currently love this car more than any other car in production. It is pretty much perfect in every way. This car is why I dream of having a spare garage with a sports car inside.

Premium Sports Car: Ferrari 458 Italia
This was a tough choice. I love the looks and awe factor of the Ferrari more than any other car. However, if I wanted to "budget" my purchase, I'd opt for the Audi R8 V10 Plus. Yes please.

Hot dang! Hyundai and it's upscale climb.

Autoblog just released their First Drive piece on the completely redesigned 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan and it is a looker! The first thing I noticed about the rear end is how much it looks like the Lexus GS 350.

Granted the shapes are slightly different and so are the tailpipes but there is a definite similarity and not in a bad way. I really like the current Lexus GS. Some may think the back is too boring or conservative. It's nothing flashy but I think it looks great. 

I haven't had a chance to read the whole Autoblog post so I may update this post later after I've read it. What I will say is that I like what Hyundai is doing. I have been a big fan of their design and product direction for awhile and it continues to go in the right direction. Competition produces better products and that is Hyundai's goal. 

Railtek Belts: How all belts should be made.

I have a pet peeve: forgetting my belt. On my new yellow cords that I am wearing today, it is less problematic, but on my suit pants, I feel like a total Gomer. It is also a problem if my pants or shorts are slightly too big and I spend the day fighting to keep them from falling down around my ankles. So like most guys, I wear a belt daily. I currently have 5 belts. They are as follows:

1 black/brown reversible that I leave on the black side and is used strictly for formal affairs.
1 black that, after losing weight, doesn't have enough holes punched in it to provide any value.
1 black belt that I've been wearing since 2007 that works ok but doesn't look all that great.
1 brown belt that I like enough but don't wear very often.

And the last belt is my new Railtek belt. Let's not mince words here: This belt rocks so much that I only wear one of the other four belts if my messy self has misplaced my Railtek belt. The company was recently started by a friend of mine who discovered the belt concept in Ukraine. He finally got enough courage and funds pulled together to quit his day job and start his own belt company. He sent me the belt as a gift and I've been loving it ever since. The look of the black leather is nice. It has a more formal look to it rather than a worn or casual look. This, however, doesn't stop me from wearing it with my very casual jeans and t-shirt look I rock most days.

But as nice as the look is, I don't wear the belt for the look, I wear it primarily for the function. I love the micro-adjustability. The problem with my other belt is that there is one hole that has been used more than others and it is now stretched out. However, depending on the pants I'm wearing or if I just slammed some deep dish pizza, I may be inclined to use another hole on the belt. The problem is that doing so makes the belt jut out weird, since it isn't where I typically wear it. This is not the case with my Railtek belt. If I feel like a need it a hair snugger, I just notch it forward. Big lunch? I notch it back a bit. The belt is terrific.

I think it is hands down the best choice for someone wearing slacks every day. I also think it works great to go casual, as I typically do. It's always cool to support someone following their dreams and not some huge company. Check them out and snag one. Additionally, Railtek will be launching on Kickstarter on November 18th. Check out the teaser video here.

*Oh and one added perk: The wide range of size adjustably makes it a great gift idea because, as long as you have an idea of what size waist the person is that you are giving the belt to, guessing the right size should be a cinch.

Why the cheaper iPhone won't cannibalize iPhone 5S sales.

I've thought a lot about what Apple plans on doing next week at the iPhone event. Like others, I too was nervous that a cheaper, plastic iPhone, would cannibalize the more expensive iPhone. I think it will dip into sales, no doubt, but I think both iPhone models will sell extremely well and the decision to sell a cheaper iPhone is a win win for Apple. Let me explain why.

Reasons why Apple will sell a LOT of cheaper iPhones

1. People will buy the cheaper iPhone because people don't care about having a plastic phone. We know this for two reasons. A)Millions of people are buying up Samsung phones which are made of plastic. B)Millions of people buy the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 and then pay anywhere from $25-$50 to put a plastic case on top of their aluminum phone. 

2. People like Apple products that are affordable. Apple sold boat loads of the iPod Nano and made a killing off that product. Apple also sells a lot of entry model MacBook Pros. 

3. Kids will beg for the iPhone 5C (Don't trust me on that name, that's just the name everyone is using until next Tuesday). Every kid between 8-16 is going to have this cheaper iPhone on their Christmas list. You can't get a brand new, really cool Android phone for free on contract. Apple is about to introduce a new, colorful, really cool iPhone, free on contract. All those parents who have been using the excuse, "the iPhone is too expensive" are going to have to find a new excuse if they want to continue to stave off the pleadings of their children.*

4. This cheaper iPhone is not going to be a "budget" phone in terms of specs. This is Apple, not Samsung. They refuse to sell crap. There is no way they are going to release a new iPhone with a crappy camera or a processor that isn't capable of keeping up with its new operating system, iOS 7. Bad press on the cheaper iPhone will be bad press for the whole iPhone line and that is something Apple can't afford. It won't be state of the art specs (see below) but it will be a dang good phone. 

Reasons why Apple will STILL sell a LOT of the iPhone 5S

1. People like having really nice Apple products. Having worked at Apple for 2 1/2 years, I saw lots of people plunk down lots of cheddar for a machine or device that was way more than they needed. I would try to reckon with them but sometimes people just "need" the fastest process, better/bigger screen, or more storage capacity. "Need" is a very relative term. Don't underestimate people's desire for the best and the iPhone 5S will be the best. 

2. People like having a phone with state of the art specs. The camera alone will make some people, who may have been willing to consider the cheaper iPhone, opt for the more expensive iPhone in the end. Take my wife for example. I told her about what I believe the cheaper, colorful iPhone will be like and she said, "Oh, I'd just get that one." Then I said, "Well, the camera is going to be quite a bit better on the more expensive iPhone" to which she responded, "Oh, never mind!" Having a good camera on your smartphone matters and the iPhone 5S will arguably have the best in the world.

3. People like having a phone with state of the art specs part 2. The iPhone 5S will have a distinguishing feature, like a fingerprint scanner, that will set it apart from the cheaper iPhone. Apple will do a very good job at marketing this feature and making it very desirable. Having a faster processor is also going to be something people will want. I like to call this future proofing your device.

4. More storage capacity. This is going to be a real kicker. There are lots of people that want 32 or 64 GB of storage on their iPhones. Apple will intentionally not offer the cheaper iPhone with more than 16GB. So some may have been willing to consider the cheaper iPhone but they aren't willing to part with the storage and will opt for the more expensive iPhone. For these people, this will be a $300 jump in price. Steep, but worth it to many.

5. $200 is not expensive. The U.S. market is built on the backs of subsidies. Heck, I would say that somewhere between 50-70% of consumers don't even realize their iPhone is NOT really a $200 device but is actually a $650 device. They understand that they can only get a new iPhone every 24 months but they don't understand why. These subsidies, whether you like them or not, allow consumers to get a high end product like the iPhone 5S at a very affordable $200. $200 for some is a lot of money but for most, especially those paying over $100 a month for the cellular service, $200 is not a lot. 

*You argue, "Apple already sells a free iPhone Juice, did you forget the iPhone 4!?" No. I didn't. However, let's be honest, no kid is dying to have the iPhone 4. It is a 3 year old phone. It is really a shame that it is still sold because of how slow it is, not to mention only 8GB of storage and a terrible camera. Selling a BRAND NEW iPhone in an array of different colors is very different from selling a 3 year old product. Kids will go crazy over the new iPhone. 

Coming soon I will discuss China and T-Mobile and how the iPhone will affect both. 

Moments

Life is made up of trillions of moments, each one affecting the ensuing moment. We control many of these moments in our lives by the choices we make. Others we can't control, either because they were made by another individual or they are merely the consequence of the previous moment. When we look back at time, we can often piece the moments together in a string of events. When we do this we are able to see the interwoven fiber that connects them together.

Sometimes these series of interconnected events are the most beautiful thing in the world and they become the stories that get passed down through the ages. They may start out with "So I took the later train that day and when I climbed aboard, I saw the most beautiful woman sitting there" and end with "that women is your grandmother." We look back and exclaim, "Oh thank heavens your alarm didn't go off that morning" or "So glad the sticky note fell off the door and got picked up by him" or "If he hadn't been promoted, we never would have moved back east." These events are so prominent that it is easy to recognize them and show gratitude for them.

Then there are other events that we never notice, many of them because they never happened. We will never know that if we hadn't stopped to change the radio station before backing out of the driveway that we would have hit the neighbor boy riding his bike down the sidewalk. We'll never know that if the meeting coordinator hadn't pushed for the meeting to be in Austin rather than San Antonio, we may have been on a flight without a doctor so that when we suffered an allergic reaction, we may have died rather than being saved by a complete stranger. We will never know that the the farmer had changed pesticides at the last second and had he not, we would have become seriously ill from the apples we purchased. These events never occurred because a tiny moment forever altered the course of time. They are the ones, that if we even recognize, cause us to exclaim, "I'm so glad that…"

Finally we have the type of events that hurt, the ones we wish we could rewind the clock on. These are the ones that cause us to utter "if only" over and over again. We replay the moment or the moments and events leading up to the moment and agonize over each one, knowing that each was a stepping stone that led up to the accident or tragedy. We, by nature, are inclined to either take the blame or cast the blame, thinking somehow that doing so will help. It won't. As we start to comprehend that these millions of events are all interconnected, blaming someone is simply pardoning another earlier in the chain.

Ultimately, as we realize that we are mere mortals in an eternal situation, we will be more capable of letting go. Letting go of the guilt, the pain, the anger, and the longing. God has mastered the delicate balance of being omnipotent and yet allowing us to have our free agency. He is capable of preventing every accident, every heartache, but would that be somehow better? How would that affect later events? How would we grow if that is how God worked? He knows the end from the beginning and He knows us personally. He is the on who sends angels to the scene of an accident and dictates whether it is heal or to usher one home.

In the wake of Sammy's accident on Thursday, I have reflected on these eternal matters. As I sat in the back of the cab on my way to pick her and Hattie up, I found myself in prayer. When we later learned that Sammy, despite being hit by a car going 35 MPH, had not sustained any broken bones or permanent internal damage, I knew guardian angels had been sent. I wouldn't doubt it if they were the same angels that kept me from falling out of a window at the age of 2 or healing my broken neck at the age of 4. I can't explain why this was a "thank heavens" and not an "if only" moment in our lives. I can't explain why some accidents don't have a positive outcome while others do. I have, however, been involved in too many traumatic injuries in this life to know that it isn't just "luck" or "fate" that dictates the outcome of a situation. I've found that faith and trust in Him are the only ways to obtain peace during moments of tribulation. Indeed, how we respond, not the moments themselves, are the only thing truly within our control.

The awful (intentional) Instagram feature that is ruining your relationships.

Let me paint a scenario that I'm guessing many of you Instagramers out there are all too familiar with.

You climb into bed and grab your phone, looking forward to unwinding with some Instagram. Yesterday was crazy and today was even crazier and you haven't had a chance to check the gram in over 48 hours. That's 2 complete days of not seeing your friends' baby photos, sunsets shots, and incredible vacations spots that make you feel like your life sucks. So you open it up and start scrolling. Then your wife walks in and lays down next to you. She wants to talk. 

PAUSE. 

This is where things get really tough. You've made it through, oh who knows, maybe 30 photos so far but you still haven't gone back ALL THE WAY to the last photo you remember seeing when you opened Instagram a couple days ago. You love your wife and want to talk but you know what will happen if you set the phone down to chat. You all know right? Yep, you KNOW that when you finish the conversation - when she either falls asleep or goes to the bathroom to take off her makeup and brush her teeth - that Instagram will have timed out. This means you will be back at the top of your feed, forcing you to scroll through the same photos AGAIN in order to see yet unseen photos from yesterday. 

Forced to most recent photo.

THIS IS IT. This is the evil feature that Instagram (owned by Facebook) has consciously let exist. It knows it is ruining relationships. It knows it is causing your friend on the bus to ignore you because once a person has started down the Instagram road, that person is gone. Heck, you could announce that you got fired or that you were pregnant and they'll be so busy over double tapping someone's burger photo that they won't even hear you.

Here's the deal: You know that Instagram and Twitter know about one another. Which means the programmers at Instagram KNOW that there is the feature in Twitter that keeps your place, regardless of how long it has been since you last opened the app. The feature that, when you get off an airplane, doesn't rocket you past 5 hours of tweets but instead lets you work your way through them, on YOUR own timetable.

26 New Tweets - Not forced to the top.

So if Instagram is aware that this "maintain current location in feed" feature exists, the question is, why don't they fix it already? Usage. Instagram wants everyone on every device everywhere to use Instagram all the time. They want you and your mom and your 13 year old niece to use Instagram. They want Lebron and the 49ers and Lady Gaga on Instagram. They want you to open it every single day, multiple times a day. Why? Two reasons: 1)They are going to monetize Instagram. If you don't think they will, you are wrong. This will most likely be through ads. The higher the amount of people seeing ads with a high frequency means more money. NOTE: This article on Forbes was posted minutes ago. Click HERE.  2)They want more information about you. The more photos you take, the more photos you like, and the more locations you post all lead to more information they know about you. Wait, they care about this stuff? You bet they do. 

I love Instagram. I'm a regular. But I also hate the feeling that I have to check it often, knowing that catching up can be a time-consuming, relationship-damaging experience. And yet, this is JUST the reason Instagram doesn't allow you to bookmark your place in your feed. They want those spare moments on the bus, on the toilet, and in bed to be spent doing one thing: Instagramming.

Anxious for a new iPhone? Here are my September iPhone predictions.

We are all anxious to see what Apple has in store for us this fall. Rumors have been rampant about a new iPhone that will be more affordable and use a plastic back rather than the current aluminum and glass found on the iPhone 5. With that being said, here is what I predict: 

I think there will be an event on the 17th of September that will announce two new iPhones. I think the iPhones will be available for preorder starting on the 20th, and in store the 27th(maybe the 4th).  

1. The iPhone 5C. Not sure if it will be called this or not but that is what current rumors are speculating. It will be a 16GB model and come in 5, maybe 6 colors. It will basically be the same internals as the current iPhone 5 but in a plastic body. That means, the A6 processor, 8 Megapixel camera, bluetooth 4.0, LTE, and 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi(no ac). The phone will retail for $449(free on contract).

2. Apple will keep the current iPhone 5 but drop the price $100, ditch the 32 and 64GB models, and continue selling a 16GB(There is the possibility that Apple makes the iPhone only available in 32GB in order to give someone more reason than just the aluminum back to pay the $99 premium over the color iPhone). The iPhone 5 will be sold for $549 ($99 on contract).

3. Apple will introduce an iPhone 5S. It will look the same as the current iPhone 5 but will have a faster chip, probably an A7, will have an improved camera(not necessarily a megapixel increase, but definitely other improvements), NFC, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and some sort of distinguishing feature. Rumors are that this feature will be a finger print sensor. I'm not 100% convinced that this will happen but I do think at this point that is the best bet. The 5S will continue to be sold in black and white, in 16, 32, and 64GB models, and prices will be $649, $749, and $849 ($199, $299, $399 on contract).

The color iPhones will be very attractive to a lot of people, especially in order to save $200. However, Apple is definitely going to do things to the 5S that will make you pine for it, almost anxious for them to take the additional $200 out or your pocket. The 5S is going to be one snappy bugger and it will be great with iOS 7. Oh, and as for iOS 7, I think it will be released sometime between the 20th and 26th of September. 

So if you are at the end of your life with your current iPhone, hang tight for 2 months and you'll have the chance to get it replaced. 

Hashtag Graffiti

Daniel Victor wrote a piece called Hashtags considered #harfmul and this was a priceless nugget at the end of the article:

I believe hashtags are aesthetically damaging. I believe a tweet free of hashtags is more pleasing to the eye, more easily consumed, and thus more likely to be retweeted (which is a proven way of growing your audience). I believe for every person who stumbles upon your tweet via hashtag, you’re likely turning off many more who are put off by hashtag overuse. We need not banish the hashtag, but let’s start putting more thought into when we’re using it.

I couldn't agree more. I don't think hashtags are always bad and that they can't be used, but like most things, they are best in moderation. Also, this hashtag graffiti concept is especially applicable on Instagram.  

iOS in the Car - "Very Important"

I wrote a piece called The Awful State of Infotainment Systems here on my site. Yesterday, at Apple's quarterly earnings, Tim Cook was asked about iOS in the Car and its importance in the Apple ecosystem. He responded that it is "Very Important." This is music to my ears! Knowing that Apple is concerned about the in car experience is the first important step in overhauling an absolutely terrible experience that currently exists. Next, we have to pray that the automakers get on board. Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Infiniti, Ferrari, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Opel and Jaguar are all listed as participating automakers but time will tell whether or not they actually put screens in their cars that can take advantage of iOS in the Car. My fingers are crossed. 

*Note: I really want the new Mazda 3 Hatchback but Mazda is sadly not on this list. Come on Mazda, get your act together. You, of all automakers, needs some serious help with your in car entertainment and navigation offerings. 

With Bangle long gone, where does BMW design go from here?

BMW had a problem on its hands. Chris Bangle had been a designer for the German automaker since 1992. During those years he rose to a more prominent position and ultimately, head of design. Bangle is infamous for the dreaded "bangle butt" of the 7 Series sedan released in 2001. Personally, I didn't mind the 7 series too much. In fact, it was far less polarizing than the even more prominent and hideous trunk of the 6 series coupe. The problem was simply that the 7 series was BMW's flagship sedan. Later the BMW 5 series took on some terrible lines in its skin as well as the Z4. I think during that decade, the Z4 was my least favorite.

Chris Bangle left BMW in February of 2009. So why do I bring this up 4 years later? BMW announced the 2014 X5 SUV on the 30th of May. The new X5 is an evolution of BMW's current design concept. I don't think the new X5 is ugly. In fact, it is the best looking SUV in BMW's lineup. My question is, where does BMW design go next? Have they cornered themselves into a current design language that leaves very little room for interesting progression? Who knows, if BMW stays true to the design of the concept 4 Series, I could be swayed.

New 5th Generation iPod Touch 16GB

Apple quietly announced a new 16GB iPod Touch model yesterday. The new model comes in at $229. What I find interesting is the fact that Apple did away with two features the 32 and 64GB models have: the rear facing camera and the loop. I find this interesting because at $299, I always felt that Apple had priced the 5th gen iPod Touch too high for most parents looking to buy their kids (Ages 5-14) an iPod. So this new model makes a lot more sense. Except, having just spent a weekend with my niece and nephew who have the 4th generation iPod touch, they love the camera. We stopped outside the Willis tower one day and I looked over and they were posing, taking pictures in front of it. They take photos all the time, mostly of stupid stuff, but still, they love that feature. The second feature Apple omitted is the loop. Now I personally don't think this is a very used feature on the iPods but the one age group that probably does need an expensive device securely connected to their wrist are kids. So while making a smart decision to offer a more affordable iPod, Apple has essentially removed the two features that make the current iPod touch appealing for kids.

*The Product that could ditch the back facing camera and not be terribly missed? The iPad.