MagicJack Review Follow-up

I know it's been a long time since I originally wrote about Magic Jack, but I thought I'd post an update because I recently got a comment on my original post. My Magic Jack stopped working. Actually it stopped working about a month after I started using it. I know I should have contacted customer support to try to get it replaced, but honestly, I didn't have the energy or time. And I came to the realization that it would probably never be good enough and trouble-free enough to replace my old fashioned and reliable VoIP service with Packet 8. Over time, I've heard about many negative experiences from others who have tried Magic Jack.

I think that Dan Borislow had an idea that could have been really cool and useful. Unfortunately, he didn't include any real customer support in his business plan. I can understand problems at start-up, but after all this time, having sub-par support is inexcusable. Maybe it was just an experiment of his and he lost interest in it. Over the long term, my opinion of this device and the company behind it have changed 180 degrees. Don't waste your time or money on Magic Jack.

This Is Just A Test

LifeCast is an iPhone app that lets me post to my blogger accounts and my tumblelog. This is just a test to see if I set it up properly and whether or not it actually works.

Posted with LifeCast

iPhone Madness

I got caught up in the hype. I didn't get the first gen iPhone because I decided the price was too high.  I told myself I would get version 2 whenever it came out.  It would have more features and cost less. So today I waited in line for about 3 hours at the Apple Store in the St. John's Town Center.  It was a long time to wait, especially considering I could have gone next week without the wait.  It was also very hot and humid, and 99% of that three hour wait was outside in the sun.  

However, the experience was pretty cool.  All the people there were real mac fans.  We talked and laughed and sweated out the heat together for the same reasons.  There were several Apple employees walking through the line offering free bottled water, loaning umbrellas to deflect the sun, and keeping everyone's spirits up. 

With all the problems with the in-store activations and the heat and time spent, I'm still glad I got my new iPhone this way.  

Most of my friends think I'm crazy.  Maybe I am.

Photography

I've been wanting to do more with my photos lately.  While I was happy with my point and shoot, I wasn't satisfied.  So... I decided to go DSLR and get the Canon Digital Rebel XSi.  Since then, it has been a real experience.  I feel as if the more I research, read, listen and look, the more I realize how little I know about photography.  The good part is that learning is fun, and I have much to learn.  Part of my learning process has been listening to and watching people who's photography I admire.  Those people run the spectrum from personal friends of mine (thanks Rence), to those who I know only through their flickr page, or podcast, such as This Week in Photography (thanks Scott and Alex).

My hope is that my photography skills will improve over time.  You can follow my progress on my flickr page.

My other hope is that I get a Drobo.  LOL.

I think I've found my niche

So I haven't posted here in quite some time.  Where have I been, you ask? Um, besides compulsively updating Twitter, which I can conveniently do via text from my phone, I had spent the past four months traveling way too much.  And all of it for work, and none of it for fun.  While I've enjoyed some of the new challenges this offered, it did put a cramp on my "me" time.  And by "me" time, I mean time to game, surf, blog, etc.  

My travel schedule has slowed down a bit recently, so I've been able to spend more time doing one of my favorite things; playing video games!  I love my Xbox 360 and played through the single player campaigns of Call of Duty 4 and Rainbow Six Vegas 2.  I then thought I'd try the multi-player mode, despite my inexperience and (apparently) noob-ish play style.  

And despite me getting ganked numerous times, I did enjoy it. Except for one minor aspect. The minors.  Kids.  Rude, loud, insulting, foul-mouthed little bastards.  And these seem to be the only ones I end up with in the match-making system.  So I was thrilled to discover a place where I can meet other gamers who are closer to my own age: GeezerGamers.com

Geezer Gamers has a very active forum and I've no doubt that I will be making new friends there and gaming with them on Xbox Live in no time.  Now, I don't quite consider myself a "geezer" at 40 years old, but it's all relative.  I'm sure I would qualify as one to most of those disrespectful little 12 year olds I've come up against in CoD4 multi-play.  

And get off my lawn!!!

Cheers :)

Home for the Holidays

Here I sit in the airport in Ontario, CA waiting to board my flight.  I had to make two unexpected trips to California this month for business, and trust me when I tell you I did not enjoy it one bit (well, not entirely true, I did manage to see one of my best friends). The environment at the home office this time of year is hectic to say the least.  Add to that my disdain for traveling during the holiday season, and you have a recipe for an unpleasant couple of weeks.  Now, on the Friday before Christmas, I am just hoping my flight doesn't get cancelled.  I have a layover in ATL, and I figure if that flight gets cancelled, at least I could rent a car and drive the rest of the way to Jacksonville. 

It's times like this when I realize that home is where the heart is.  I'm a California native.  Spent the first thirty-something years there.  And I still think California is a great place.  But my life now is in Jacksonville and I'm so ready to get back home.  

Merry Christmas to anyone who happens to read this.  I hope you get to spend the holidays where your heart wants to be.

Cheers!

BLOG PARTY

Just want to quickly mention an event at Club TSI this Saturday(15 Dec)... a BLOG PARTY! What happens at a blog party, you might be asking? Don't ask, because I have no idea. But I'm guessing we won't be sitting around with our laptops. Perhaps there will be some life-casting going on. That could be fun. What I do know is this; there will be live music and possibly free swag... reason enough for me to go.
Joey Marchy of Urban Jacksonville is hosting and he has more details.