My Red Lumia just got an Indigo Upgrade

Apple should take note…Siri-ously.

Tomorrow users of Windows Phone and Android will get a chance to try out a new app that I’ve been playing with for a few days.  The company, Artificial Solutions, has been innovating NLI (Natural Language Interaction) for other companies’ sites and gadgets, but now is releasing their own Indigo app.  My red Nokia Lumia 920 has been officially upgraded with the presence of this app.

From my testing over the weekend, I’m impressed.  Besides the generally accurate voice recognition and picking up cues from natural speech, which are no slouch, they have already implemented a few tricks that make the app stand out.  Here are two that I find fascinating:

DalyDose of…Union+AT&T Savings

Please note that what I am telling you about here applies to ANY union member, who is (or wants to be) an AT&T Wireless subscriber.  My message is geared toward actors, but is just as applicable to unions of all jobs, in all industries across the land.  Now on to my regularly scheduled blog.

This is the first blog entry where I’m saving you money on technology and productivity.  Yay me!  How about I start it off with a quick JD video intro…

Read on to learn HOW to take advantage of the savings!

DalyDose of…Zombies, Run!

Two things that I’m not that interested in: zombies and running.  Who knew that pairing them up would result in some fun and motivating fitness?  I got so motivated that I recorded a short video at the end of my run.

WARNING: This video is unrehearsed and immediately follows a non-runner’s run.  I can’t guarantee the level of awesomeness that you are accustomed to, but if sweaty truly IS the new sexy, you won’t be disappointed!

*photo taken with Nokia Lumia 900 (Windows Phone). Zombie effect by Photofunia app.
Hilarious wisdom and insight by yours truly.  Read on!  WAIT…first the video…

Why Nokia Wins – Post Beta Test

There is finally some good hardware competition going on with Windows Phone.  Samsung and HTC have really been repackaging successful Android devices and Nokia is focused solely on Windows Phone.  That focus seems to be paying dividends.

Nokia is now the best-selling Windows Phone device after being in the market for just a few months.  The reviews have been great and the customer satisfaction has been off the charts.  The greatest testament was when Siri got caught recommending the Lumia when asked “What is the best cell phone ever”.  Apple has since hard-coded the answer to be more Apple friendly, but the customer satisfaction data that Siri originally based her answer on, doesn’t lie.  Now let’s look at WHY Nokia is winning and elevating the status of Windows Phone.

DalyDose of…Quirky Gratitude

On Facebook, I started a post asking people to declare the little things in life that they are thankful for.  You can see the action HERE.   This got me thinking even more about gratitude.  I wanted to quickly think of a few things that I could be thankful for that don’t appear to be objects worthy of thanks.  Here is said list:

• I am thankful for the collective economic distress by my peers in Los Angeles.
  I don’t say this because I want everyone in the same leaky boat with me.  I say this for a couple of good reasons.  First off, I believe that lots of great accomplishments come after disappointment.  I’m also glad to be in an environment where we aren’t always “keeping up with the Joneses” and can focus on our creative pursuits.

• I am thankful for being single.
  The “inner-jerk” in me would say that I’m thankful to enjoy different selections from the menu vs. only getting to enjoy my favorite entrée day after day.  In fact, I would say that the ability to roam in social situations has allowed me to expand my network.  Of course, I’ll be thankful when “she” makes “herself” known to me so I can have a teammate in this game of life.  I’ll also be glad to stop typing about “her” in quotation marks.

• I’m thankful for bills and collections.
  Seriously, these people expect me to pay them and believe that I will.  I appreciate their optimistic attitude regarding my economic prospects.  There are times that I’m not sure and then I’ll get a piece of mail or a phone call demanding that I fulfill my potential and pay them.  That’s true support.

• I’m thankful for the death trap that I’m currently driving.
  No, I don’t have a passive plan to leave this life anytime soon.  I appreciate living in an area where I can walk for entertainment, shopping, dining, etc.  It’s good for my health and I get to know the area in ways that you can’t from locked inside of a vehicle.  To be honest, I’m even grateful for the vehicle as it allows me to travel beyond walking range.
•  I’m thankful for not being the obvious ideal in the dating pool.
  Let’s be real. People aren’t dating me for my money, power, prestige or underwear model contract.  I truly know that I’m being loved for being myself.

Well, that’s my quirky, unexpected list of thanks to go along with health, friends, family and all the other “big stuff” that everyone always gives thanks for.  I’d also like to give thanks to anyone who read this often neglected blog.   Hmmmm…maybe I should consider the blog for my 2012 list of resolutions.  Last year’s 10 Single Resolutions was all about living the single life and I think Mr. Inner-Jerk took over that list. Hmmmm….

Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you all find reasons to be thankful for anything and everything you have in your lives.

I’m off to San Clemente to meet the #StumbleBaby.

Mango-nificent Love

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” -Mother Teresa

Could both hungers be satiated with a little mango?

I love my Samsung Focus as much as one can love an electronic device, but that is not what this blog entry is about.  I have a developer unlocked device and thus, I have Microsoft’s test version of the latest iteration of Windows Phone, codenamed “Mango”.

This writing is not 100% mango centric.  Many of the apps are available for any major smartphone platform.  There are some features that are built-in to Windows Phone Mango and I’ll point those out.

DalyDose of…WP7 Apps Wanted

I love my Samsung Focus, I really do.  The Windows Phone 7 experience is amazing and I no longer get the “I feel sorry” look from iPhone users.  Sure they still speak in terms of superiority, but the “cool gap” is closing.

Part of what makes up the “cool gap” is apps.  In 6 weeks of existence, I don’t expect Windows Phone Marketplace to have caught up to iPhone and Android app stores in quantity, but I expect some quality competition.  I have been active in app collection and have found quite a few; that list is forthcoming.  This post is a Wish List of apps that I’d love to see.  Maybe the developers will give us all a happy holiday treat in the near future.

Here is my Top 10…scratch that…Top 9 list of wanted apps

DalyDose of…SmartPhone Down!

This phone is only good for talking…it’s useless!  -JD

Tilt 2 pics from GSMArena.com

Remember the film “Black Hawk Down”?  That wasn’t nearly as tragic of a problem as I’m currently facing.  This blog entry has two purposes.  The first is to give you an idea of what happened.  After that I will pontificate on how important having a smart phone has become in my life.

Let me lay out the scenario for you:

I was out doing the ‘ole Hollywood networking thing; I was meeting people, they were eager to join the JD Experience.  I whip out my trusty AT&T/HTC Tilt 2 to load up some contact data.  I have to swipe my finger to bring up the unlocking code input screen.  I started to do so, but the screen wouldn’t respond.  You read that correctly: The SCREEN wouldn’t RESPOND.  That meant that I couldn’t even unlock the phone.  It was now useless to me.

DalyDose of…iPad – and I’m Underwhelmed

I’m underwhelmed by this iPad thing, especially with all of the hype surrounding it.  It’s no secret that I’m a well documented iPhobe, but I’ve tried to put that aside and be objective here.   I predict that only the most hardcore iSheep will be flocking to this overgrown iPod Touch.  I can see a future for the device and others like it, but it’s not there in the present.

What’s wrong with it?

• No camera.
• No phone calling.
• Another $30/month for unlimited Internet access on top of what you’re paying for your phone and home Internet access.
• That *name*!!! Sounds like something that will revolutionize how women deal with uh…well…you get what I’m saying.
• It’s kinda big to lug around and it will DEFINITELY need a case to protect all of that glass.  You might as well keep using your laptop/netbook.
• It’s too small to get “real” work done, especially with no keyboard.  Again, keep your laptop/netbook.
• New, untested processor that Apple designed in-house.  Why didn’t they use Intel?

What’s good about it?

• The claimed battery life is amazing.
• The multi-touch capability on a device that size might change things…someday.
• This would be great to watch movies with on a plane.
• I imagine there will be some niche applications that will be great;  I can see in-the-field photo editing and possible video work.

I looks like it would be an OUTSTANDING book/magazine reader, albeit an expensive one.  The kindle is monochrome and really only for books.  Something tells me that Amazon might kick it up a notch now though.

Speaking of books: I hope one day kids will just have to carry something like this vs. the backbreaking load of tree carcass that they have to walk around with now.  The only concern is that Apple is notoriously proprietary so I’ll have to root for equal marketshare for Kindle and iPad and Sony and whomever else jumps in, so that there can be a standard file type and users can CHOOSE which device they want to carry around.

What’s the damage?

• 16GB = $499
• 32GB = $599
• 64GB = $699

The Internet access is provided by AT&T exclusively, but the device isn’t locked and there is no contract and can be used with WiFi only.  Here’s what the access will cost you:

• 250MB/month $14.99
• Unlimited Access $29.99

So it appears that I’m in no danger of making my 1st ever Apple purchase.  Although, with some improvements and openness to 3rd party content (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon), I *just* might in the future.