iPhone Carrier Comparison

iPhone 4S pre-orders started today(sometime around 12:20 AM here in Utah).  If you are nerdy, you probably stayed up late to order your new iPhone 4S as soon as the page went live.  If you value sleep and aren't uptight about your phone, you most likely haven't ordered yet.  PCMag.com posted a very helpful  comparison chart of the three carriers and what you can expect to pay with each.

So as you can see, the prices are not wildly different between carriers. Each one, however, will leave a gnarly hole in your bank account after two years.  Welcome to the Age of Convenience, the Age of Cell Phone Carriers Have Way Too Much Control, the Age of Get Used to High Prices For Technology. 

Let me break down for you what I know:

AT&T

AT&T, as a common consensus, tends to have the fastest 3G internet speeds.  This may not be true in every instance or comparison but overall it tends to be true. AT&T, may also be the cheapest option if minutes are still important to you.  This is why.  When you sign up for the 450 minute $39.99 plan and then add unlimited text messaging, you also receive unlimited cell phone to cell phone calling.  This gives you 450 land line minutes.  Who calls land lines anymore anyway?  450 should be plenty. AT&T also has a $15 data option that the other carriers don't have, which is sufficient for users who use very little data consumption, like my parents.  If, for example, my parents were on Verizon, they would both be paying double what they currently are paying for data and not reaping any significant benefits since it isn't something they need or use.  AT&T tends to have pretty solid coverage along the Wasatch Front and is a good option for a lot of people. Simultaneous Talk and Surf exists.

Sprint

Sprint is the newest carrier to obtain access to the iPhone.  This is a big deal for Sprint.  In fact, had they stayed out of the iPhone game, it could have been devastating for the company.  Sprint is currently offering unlimited data on the iPhone, something both AT&T and Verizon once offered but have since gone away from.  As a user who is still grandfathered in to unlimited data on AT&T, I can say two things about it.  1)You probably don't need it.  Almost ALL users will be fine with 2GB of data.  I myself, am a heavy user, and have only gone over 2GB a few times. 2)With that being said, it is also really nice not having to every worry about data usage.  If I want to stream TV to my phone while away from a WiFi network, I can.  If I want to stream music from Rdio or Podcasts from Instacast while driving to work and back everyday, I can without worrying about my data consumption.  So with Sprint you get all the data you want, however, reports are saying that Sprint's 3G speeds are the slowest of the three carriers.  I personally cannot confirm or deny that claim.  As for coverage, Sprint appears to have even greater coverage than AT&T, at least here in Utah.  Sprint may not be a bad way to go. Simultaneous Talk and Surf does not work. 

Verizon

In regards to customer satisfaction and quality of network coverage, the usual consensus tends to give Verizon the advantage.  On a road trip from SLC to Las Vegas, I was in and out of 3G coverage whereas those in the vehicle with Verizon had more consistent data coverage.  Verizon tends to have a very solid voice network and great coverage here in Utah.  Rural area coverage is usually the best of the three as well.  Verizon tends to be the most expensive, getting less minutes and data for your dollar.  However, you may save money compared to AT&T if you only text occasionally, since Verizon offers tiered texting plans.  Verizon has the same Talk and Surf limitation that Sprint does.  If you are on a call and want to look up something online, you will have to be connected to WiFi or end the voice call.  AT&T is the only one of the group that allows you to do both.  This may or may not be an important feature to you.  Verizon is a great choice for many people. 

Is there a perfect carrier?  Most definitely not.  I really tend to dislike the cell phone companies.  They, unlike Apple, really aren't focused on customer experience.  They do however really want your money.  They also want to lock you in for life.  2 Year contracts bite but result in a savings of $450 on the cost of your iPhone.  That $450 is incentive enough for most people to make the commitment.  

Feel free to post any insight you may have in the comments section. 

Note: Family plans are not mentioned in the comparison chart nor discussed here in the post however they will almost always save you money over personal plans.  If you are on a family plan, it makes it more of a challenge to switch carriers since each phone may have a different contract termination date.  If you are starting new, configure away on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon to determine the best price for your family plan.

2nd Note: Sprint and Verizon both use CDMA technology whereas AT&T uses GSM.  GSM has come to be the international standard.   However, the new iPhone 4S is a "World Phone" so a Verizon iPhone 4S will be able to roam internationally now.  GSM phones use SIM cards, CDMA phones do not.

3rd Note: I will be posting later on which iPhone model to choose.

UPDATE: Engadget just launched a great article on this same topic.  Even better price breakdowns.  Check it here on Engadget! 

Choose To Be Remembered

I just spent the last few minutes reading quotes about the passing of Steve Jobs from prominent individuals in society such as Tim Cook, President Obama, Bill Gates, Eric Schmidt, etc.  It caused a little emotion to well up inside me.  As I read the remarks about Steve, I thought about the incredible impact one person can have in this world.  We are so small and yet so capable of amazing things.  It is pretty crazy to ask yourself questions like, "What if Steve Jobs hadn't been born?" or "What if Steve Jobs hadn't returned to Apple in the 90's?"  What would we be using to talk to each other?  What would we use for a computer?  Where would I be sitting right now rather than the Apple Store?  Steve took the talents he was given and he made something happen.  He was a brilliant businessman and inventor.  The incredible thing is that we all have something to give to the world.  We can all contribute.  We may not be as known as Steve Jobs but we can bless the lives of other individuals in a way only we could.  So ask yourself, "What would the world be like without me?"  Realize your worth and potential and strive for the top.  By so doing, you too may be remembered by millions.  And if it isn't millions, it will surely be hundreds.  The number is insignificant.  What is significant are the lives you will change and legacy you will leave.  

Steve, we thank you.

The man truly changed the world.  Thank you Steve. 

Apple: Offend No One! Part 2

Yesterday I wrote a piece regarding the iPhone 4 and why Apple did what they did.  It touched briefly on the disappointment many are feeling from the fact that Apple didn't release an iPhone 5.  I have since found a number of good articles that I would like to point to.  

Marco Arment states, "Would as many people be disappointed if Apple had released the same device but called it the iPhone 5?"  Interesting point.  You should read his whole post HERE. 

Daniel Indiviglio also stated, "As far as I can tell, most of the dismay at the release of the iPhone 4s stems from pure semantics. People are mad that an iPhone 5 wasn't released -- but they can provide few examples of what they expected from an iPhone 5, that the iPhone 4s is lacking, other than its having a different name."  He expounds a little more than Marco does and his post can be found HERE. 

I agree with Daniel in the fact that of course we would love 4G and many of us would also really like a 3.7" or 4" screen.  Those would be great features but we can't "throw the baby out with the bath water." Should this iPhone have been released in June? I think so. Nevertheless, No phone is perfect but this is going to be a fantastic phone that translates to real day to day benefits.  Besides, if Apple had released a 4G 4" iPhone 5 yesterday, what would they release next year that would woo the masses?  People's "disappointment" would have simply been postponed a year.

Apple: Offend No One!

I am in the middle of an interesting conversation with my great friend and tech buddy Zach Holmquist.  What else would we be discussing today other than the iPhone 4S.  So I'm getting the vibe that most people were "expecting more."  What would I define that more as meaning?  Different external design.  First we should understand why so many people had such an expectation?  The answer is that Apple, rather than releasing the iPhone 4S in June, released it in October and thus a delay of roughly 3 months lead many to believe "big things" were in store.  So the big question is why did Apple not change the design and was it the right decision?

Customer happiness is all based on perception.  To try and best explain this, I'm going to do a list of bullet point scenarios.

• I bought the iPhone 4 on launch day in June of 2010.  How do I feel about the launch of the new iPhone 4S?  Great!  Why?  If I choose to upgrade, it will give me some great new features.  If I choose to stay with my iPhone 4, I also feel great because it isn't "that different."
• I bought the iPhone 4 on Verizon when it launched earlier this year.  Would I have been upset if a completely redesigned iPhone had launched today, a mere 3, 5, or 7 from my date of purchase? You bet! I would have an OLD, USELESS, OUTDATED iPhone 4.  How do I feel now that i know the iPhone 4S looks the same and "isn't that different"?  Great!
• I don't want to spend $200 on a phone because, ya know, technology really isn't that important to me.  But my RAZR flip phone just broke and I need a new phone.  Oh, I can get an iPhone 4 for only $99? How do I feel?  Great!  "I feel even better since I know it looks JUST LIKE that brand new expensive iPhone 4S that my son in law just bought."(Zach Holmquist)
• I want an iPhone but why would I spend so much on an iPhone when there are Droids for less money?  Wait, there is an iPhone 4 for only $99 that looks JUST LIKE the iPhone 4S?  Oh, I want that! It's probably pretty much the same for only half the price!

Hopefully this 4 bullet points have helped point out the amazing genius that Apple is.  You are always going to make some people upset.  Yes, there were those in the camp pining for a thinner, bigger screened iPhone 5.  But they have managed to release a fantastic updated product that will sell millions and all the while keeping everyone happy.  They have also managed, as Zach put it, leveled the playing field for a BIG release next year. Well done Apple, you un-offending company you. 

Note: If you still really want a thinner iPhone, come into the store sometime and hold the iPod touch up to your ear for at least 5 minutes.  I'm guessing it will start to feel uncomfortable after about 1 minute.  Too thin, the edges feel sharp.  Also, you thought a lot of people dropped the iPhone 4?  Give them something thinner and then we'll see a serious increase in dropped and damaged iPhones.  

short skates

i can feel a cough
a deep stunted struggling
inside my chest, filling up my throat
like an animal, caged and dangerous
ready to ignite this fuse, explode

like a sail boat with no sails
no wind to push me
no ruder left to steer me
no stars to guide me
no one to hear me
no life vest to save me

a face on a light post
enabling the entertainers
startling the suspects
angering the innocent
propagating paranoia
rioting the rebellious
all to solve a problem

let me hold your hand
grasp just tight enough
to ensure i'm here
to run away forever
through sunflower fields
and shady groves
to reach that new beginning
where the grass has no fear

Chapter 5

The van sped down highway 4. Annie tried to open her eyes but they felt heavy, as if her eyelids had become small weights. She could hear rapid talking from the front of the van and a somewhat inconsistent breathing from someone near her in the back. Her head was spinning and she felt sick; mostly from the throbbing she felt at the base of her skull. The van continued bouncing along and each bump seemed to jolt her in the most uncomfortable way. She tried to make out what the men were saying but she couldn't maintain consciousness and passed out again. Annie woke with a thud that sent a pain through her back. She had been pulled by her feet out of the van and landed squarely on her back on a hard floor. She opened her eyes and was nearly blinded by the intense light from above her.

"Don't hurt her you imbecile."

"Sorry Sir."

"Annie? Annie can you hear me? Wake up dear."

She opened her eyes just enough to see a face about 3 inches from her own.

She struggled for words. "Who are you?"

It became apparent to the man standing above her that she was struggling to open her eyes.

"Turn off those bloody lights already, he barked."

The lights were dimmed almost immediately and Annie was able to blink a few times and finally fully open her eyes. Her eyes took a moment to focus and once they did she saw a man standing above her, apparently the one in charge and barking the commands. She recognized him. He had a somewhat round face with dark eyebrows and hair. She knew she had seem him somewhere but couldn't remember where. She started going through every dark corner of her brain in hopes that the memory would put a name with the face she was now seeing. However, her mental exercise was interrupted.

"Annie, you know why you are here right? Your husband, Jack, has something very important to us. The technology he invented belongs to us but he doesn't seem to believe that. You see, he is trying to maintain involvement for the next 18 months and that simply can't be allowed. He is also holding back a key portion of the code that we need. We really didn't want to have to do it this way but this is a sticky situation and my hands are tied. Things are turning desperate. And you know what they say about desperate times right?

He laughed to himself. A very obnoxious loud laugh.

"So thanks for coming with us Annie. Don't worry one bit....we feel confident that Jack will do the right thing. Smile!"

The man pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of her. When he moved the phone away she got another look at him and she nearly lost her breath. She recognized him as one who had sat at the same table as her and David at a special dinner they had attended in DC. She didn't want to believe it but she was pretty confident that there, standing over her, was the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense.

The Contract - Chapter 4

If you haven't read chapters 1-3 yet, please start HERE.

Chapter 4

As David approached the house, he noticed that the garage door was open. So was the front door. This became even more alarming when David realized that he couldn't see a single light on inside the house. He quickly jogged up the steps to the front door. His eyes had pretty well adjusted to the darkness from the walk. He saw that the coffee table was overturned and the lamp was broken to pieces all over the carpet. David's heart began beating quickly as he stepped toward the light switch. Nothing. He swore again. This time it was barely audible due to the fear that was gripping around his mind like a vice grip. He ran into the kitchen and noticed the stove was still on high and a pot of stew was boiling over onto the range top and down the front of the oven. He quickly turned the burner off, somehow managing to not burn his hand in the process. Then he saw something that made his stomach churn. He couldn't contain it and barely turned in time to throw up all over the kitchen sink. There on the counter, barely visible through the moonlight coming through the sliding back doors, were strewn the internal remains of some sort of animal. David was able to regain composure, retrieve a flashlight from the pantry, and return to the disturbing site. He saw a piece of paper sticking out from the mess. He gingerly reached for it and turned the paper over. Then he read the words that for 17 years he had feared would one day resurface. "Hi Jack, we found you."

Okay readers, I need your help. I want you to suggest in the comments what you think should come next. Who is Jack and what is going on here?

Month of Concerts

This month has been the month of concerts.

And boy has it been great.

The month started out with Mr. Mat Kearney himself.

I have blogged about Mat Kearney before. Click HERE to enjoy that post.

This was the second time I have seen Mat in concert at In the Venue.

Tragically, he didn't headline this show. Those honors went to Owl City.

Mat killed it. I cried when he played his last song of the night.

He will be back(hopefully) on his Young Love tour later this year or early next year.

I will be there.

Note: Associates in crime: Mr. Ben Barlow, Sarah Fennemore, Sam and Chelsea Lake.

Concert number 2 of the month was The Decemberists who performed at Pioneer Park

as one of the Twilight Series Concerts.

There were 36,000 people there. So not many.

Lots of pot being smoked.

But the music was awesome. And the price was great. FREE!

Partner in Crime: The beautiful Ms. Hattie Nicole Gardner.

Concert Number 3.

KATY PERRY!

I knew that this concert was going to be great. I hoped for amazing.

It was epic.

Blew past every expectation I had and more.

Became the definition of entertainment.

The lights, the music, the dancing, the dresses, the decor.

Unreal.

Katy is sexy and she killed it.

Partner in Crime: Mr. Benjamin Barlow. Or @argentino15

Month of Conerts: A Raging Success!

Benjamin

This is Benjamin Spencer Lake.

He is the closet thing to Spiderman a 5 year old can come.

Watch out.