I like gadgets like a lot of people. And I like to stay relatively current and relevant. There are some really cool gadgets out there that do really cool things, or they have the potential to. There are also a lot of gadget people out there that will rush right out to get the latest and greatest gadget as soon as it’s available. I am not one of these people in general. And even if my budget would allow for it, I don’t think I would be then either.
I tend to wait a while and think about if I really need it or what I would use it for, and practical stuff like that. Boring. I know. That’s just the how I am about these sort of things. There comes a point though when I can no longer accept the limitations or irritations of my current gadgets and I acknowledge their out-dated-ness and move forward. Sounds good doesn’t it?
This time it is not entirely the case that my gadget is out dated. In that it is only 3G capable, perhaps. It is however, a smart phone and only about 2 years old. I moved recently. Where I moved to, my service provider doesn’t have very good coverage or service. My current contract with my provider ends at the end of this month. You can see where this is going right?
It’s time to upgrade.
The last upgrade had me moving to the smart phone, an iPhone to be exact. This time the upgrade process will have me moving to a new service provider and an Android phone. And probably a tablet.
I suspect my choice to go from an iPhone to an Android phone is probably fodder for a debate as to if it is truly and upgrade or not. I think it is going to be, if for no other reason that perceived freedom. I am just enough of an independent minded geek with a little rebel DNA that I have lately found myself quite vehemently railing against the required conformity and constraints associated with using the Apple devices, in particular, the iPhone and by extension, the iPad.
I recognize that the freedom I perceive to exist with regards to Android devices may just be an illusion. It has the potential to be a danger in that the possibilities of them being infected with malware appears to be greater than for the iPhone and iPad. And yes, I know there are a lot more apps already written for Apple. I get it.
I also get that Apple has decided you can no longer use the app to purchase media, even free media. You must go through iTunes or the Web. Wow. How arrogant and domineering, and a few other things including rude. That’s on top of the fact they refuse to support Flash on their devices, reasons aside. It amounts to them telling me how I can use the technology. Um…I don’t think so.
As I understand it, with Android I have a few locations from which to choose apps. I also have the option of purchasing items, such as books, from within the application. I can view Flash sites if I choose. Oh, and if I want to make my own app I can put it on my device without first having it cleared through the corporate machine or jail-breaking my device.
Do I currently have plans to write my own app? No. That’s not the point. I want the option to, if I choose. That’s the reason I consider going to an Android phone from Apple an upgrade.
Now I just have to spend the money. Ouch.
As to why I’m adding a tablet to the mix? I’ll save that for another post.