11.09.09
Posted in Hardware at 9:22 am by cliffwynne
So unless you’ve been living under a rock or really don’t give 2 craps, the Motorola Droid was released on Friday, Nov 6 for Verizon Wireless. Now you may be wondering wth you should care about the droid or whats the big deal. This is first phone released with the Google Android 2.0 OS and its being released on one of the best wireless networks in the nation.
I received my droid on Saturday and ordered it over the telesales line instead of going in store. Why you may ask? Simple the online store actually had an instant rebate on the device instead of the mail in rebate that the Verizon Wireless stores had, in addition it was just so much easier calling in to a number instead of standing in line. I’ll take an instant $100 over plopping down and waiting 3-4 weeks, if your lucky.
On to the nitty gritty so to speak the droid comes with both a touch screen as well as a slide out keyboard which was one of the main reasons that I chose this over the HTC Eris which was released on the same day. I use to have a LG Voyager and I found the touch screen to be slightly lacking but the Motorola’s touchscreen is absolutely outstanding and find myself using it more than I do the keyboard. In fact I can count on my hands how many times I’ve actually found myself using the slide out keyboard. One issue that I’ve seeing with the droid touchscreen is that it holds fingerprints a little too well for me I would advise getting screen protector but make sure you select the right one as some protectors have been known to interfere with touchscreen functionality. This is the one I’m currently using.
The droid also includes a 5MP camera with autofocus and dual LED flash. the pictures are pretty good for a phone and I will be uploading some of the shots I took later. Some people have complained about the pictures but to me the camera is fine for what it is. Its one of the best cameras on a smartphone that I’ve used. There have been reports of faulty cameras shipping with the droid as well as a problem with its autofocus. The issue with the autofocus is being addressed with a software update in the coming months. As for the faulty camera, that is totally a hardware issue and luckily my camera was not one of the ones effected.
Droid also ships with an exclusive new version of Google maps, this is the first smartphone offered by Verizon that does not work with VZ Navigator. Which is great because for 1) Google Maps is free, 2) Google maps for the Droid has spoken turn by turn directions and 3) its free, did I mention the free part no extra 10.00 a month for a feature that you might not use that much.
Application wise there are just a plethora of utilities in the app market that are either free or relatively cheap. For better management of your textings, I installed handcent from the app market, totally free application which improves the texting UI on the droid. As for the homescreen, I’m currently using open home lite which allows for many different skins to be installed which tailors the droid’s main screen. For those of you that listen to podcasts, I’m currently using Google Listen which can either stream the podcasts to your device or allows you to download the podcasts to be listen to at a later time.
Sound quality is excellent and the built in music player is very easy to use. Droid comes with a 16GB micro sd card and you can easily sync it to any of your favorite music syncing applications on your pc. One caveat the first time you connect the droid to your PC you will have to make sure that the droid goes into mass storage mode so that the PC can see the storage and the files can be uploaded. Once its setup then your good the next time you connect.
Sorry for not having pictures but I plan on uploading some later today and seeming that this is just my little review and there are a ton more out there you guys should be fine 
. All in All I would say I love my new droid and probably wont get rid of it as quickly as I got rid of my voyager.
I give the droid an 8 out of 10 on the Cliff scale.
**** Edit: Uploaded some pictures
Permalink
10.09.09
Posted in Politics at 10:46 am by cliffwynne
Now I want to get this disclaimer out the way before I get started on this whee lil rant. I voted for and support our current President on most of his policies the only thing I don’t really agree with him on is raising taxes during a recession and the new healthcare they are trying to push. Anyway let us get to the point of why I created this entry today.
This morning it was announced that President Obama was the recipient of Nobel Peace Prize, the first thought that went through my head was WTF followed by WOW. After the initial shock I tried to call my brother but I guess it was too early so then I called my wife and told her since I know she doesn’t really watch the news and keep up with things. Anyway 5 minutes after getting off the phone with Tanya my brother Nate calls me back and goes WTF is going on, and how did the President win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Now people before you get angry understand where Nate and I are coming from, President Obama just got into office in January and was nominated on Feb 1st for the Nobel Peace prize. Honestly what had he done between Inauguration day and Feb 1 to be even included in the running. Yes he tried to offer an olive branch to the Middle East and bring that area back from out of turmoil but has he really accomplished anything to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. I honestly wanted to post my views on facebook and twitter but I was afraid it would not only start a race war but also a political war between democrats and republicans.
Now sit back and think about this we are giving an award to someone that has up till now done little to actually win it. That Ladies and Gentlemen is exactly whats wrong with this generation and the black culture today. Do nothing and win big, work hard and maybe you might get a pat on the back. Yes I know President Obama worked hard to get into the office of the President but ask yourself what did he do in his political career that has allowed him to even win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Permalink
07.15.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:24 pm by cliffwynne
Well tomorrow I’ll be turning 37, happens once in a lifetime. Even more amazing that as a Black American male growing up in Chicago that I actually made it to 37 without going to jail, slinging drugs, joining a gang or any of the other challenges you face growing up in an urban area.
For that can thank my parents who were strict but kept me in line and my friends Jamal, Nate, Joff, Al, Chauncey and David, who kept me more grounded than anyone. Imagine I’ve known most of those guys for over 20 years and I consider them my brothers and would easily go to bat for any of them. I can also thank my wife and children for supporting us and helping me keep us all together even when I wasnt acting. I love you Tanya, Cammeron, Christina, Quinera and Aaron, no that wasnt in any certain order . Last but not least is my savior who even when I’m lost is there even if I don’t know it.
As I write this, my family and I are at a crossroads, the last year has been very hard on us. Moving 3 times and now possibly having to move again because of circumstances beyond our control. It’s literally tearing us apart on the inside but we are fighting to keep ourselves together. Not only is it hard on Tanya and I but I know it hits the kids even worst. Especially Cammeron who is going through a big transition from teenager to young adult and I can tell you thats not easy at all.
I’m sure we will get through this bump and be all the better for it but from the inside looking out all we see is a dark dark tunnel leading to just more letdowns.
I’m not writing this for anyone to feel sorry for us. I’m just putting words in a blog because I can’t scream. Enough feeling sorry for ourselves though we need to move on past this no matter how hard its going to be. Hey I’ve survived another year to see my children blossom before me that alone is worth the trials and tribulations of this mortal coil.
Lastly I want to welcome Samirah to our family and I say our family cause thats just what it is. Though your fiancee and I arent related by blood but we have a bond that transcends all.
Love to all both friends and enemies and God Bless.
Permalink
06.04.09
Posted in General at 10:07 am by cliffwynne
It’s been a little over a year since I transitioned to my new company. While things are stable on the company front things are quite unstable in the home front. No the wife and I was still ok but Cammeron is still having a devil of a time coping with everything that is happening. I can’t even imagine how hard it is as a child let alone a teenager to be ripped up from all you know and love and to but into a new environment. While he has adjusted to school just find other than always calling his school ghey there are other things that just have hit him a little bit harder.
Having a relationship is hardwork even when your young but having a long distance relationship when your young can take even a bigger toll or your sanity. I had to sit down with him last night and have a serious talk about prioritizing everything. I couldn’t emphasize enough how important it was that he understood he can’t control everything that other people do or that as you get older relationships don’t get any easier but communication is the key. He did let his emotions get the better of him last night as stuff beyond his control caused his anger to rise up enough where he smashed his cell phone. Although I was angry at first I didn’t yell and had to take a step back and analyze the whole situation, plus I know he has seen how me and his mother act sometimes when we let our emotions get the better of us.
I know that their is a plan for our family out there its just hard as heck working through the various ups and down.
Permalink
04.06.09
Posted in General at 10:29 am by cliffwynne
It is interesting how we hardly pay attention to the world around us when everything is going good. Only in times of hardship do we look back and go wtf. 1/3rd of this year is gone and at least for my family and friends things don’t seem to be looking good. 2 of my friends are out of work and actively looking. Our family is going through a financial meltdown which sees us bleeding faster than GM and Chrysler.
Now my wife and I was second guessing just about everyone of our decisions which makes making the “right” decision even harder. But this week I’ve decided to put that behind us as the whole family will be together this week as Easter approaches. So instead of worrying about money or how we are going to get things done, we are going to enjoy each other.
Permalink
03.23.09
Posted in Economy at 2:23 pm by cliffwynne
Well it seems that at least some parts of our economy is in a possible turnaround stage, granted today’s huge performance boost of 497 points is no indication that the markets are in recovery mode but with the last 2 weeks as well as the strong housing numbers from February which included a 5.1% increase, we could be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
We all just have to recognize that we are not out of the woods yet and what comes up can come down. Even the safe havens that was real estate became unstable thanks to corporate greed and consumer stupidity. So people pay attention to what your doing and if it sounds too good to be true get it checked and rechecked not just 2 or 3 times but 5 if you have to. It is more important to you and your family that you know what your getting into before you sign away your family’s economic future.
Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:20 am by cliffwynne
So nice to finally be able to go outside 50% of the time and not dread the thought of the weather waiting for you. I’ve always been a warm weather child, guess that is kinda messed up considering that for 90% of my life, I’ve lived in the midwest which has honestly only 3 seasons: Summer, Winter and Construction.
With spring comes spring cleaning and with the new house that means tons of leaves as the builders and previous owners decided it would rock to plant 21 trees and bushes around the house. I mean who cares its just going to create a TON of stuff to clean up come spring 
.
I jest though, I’m just happy to be to enjoy the good weather again and hopefully the end of the white stuff that makes driving so difficult in small midwest towns.
Permalink
03.03.09
Posted in Economy at 1:38 pm by cliffwynne
How many buzzwords does it take to scare the living daylights out of the average American. If we look at current economic markets, you would think that everything is crashing in around us. In contrary I say this, let’s face it most of us in 401k plans and doing day trading, understand that the stock market is volatile I mean after all its all depends on what others perceive the value of a company is.
What drives me insane are the speculators that start selling at the drop of a hat, was it really that big of surprise people that the major car companies had a bad year, or that the financial institutions have a large amount of consumers no longer able to pay for their products. It’s not called a recession for nothing but instead of riding the waves we are throwing money and people in trying to rescue everybody under sun. Even those that haven’t asked for a rescue in the past now have their hands out.
Let’s be honest, I mean we are all rationally thinking people, it is going to get a lot worst before it gets better. We are all going to have to tightened up and do the things we should have been doing when the economy was great which is living within our means, stop trying to catch up with the Joneses and get yourself in order. As long as your family has a roof over their heads, 3 square meals a day and your not pulling your hair out who cares wtf everyone else has.
Permalink
02.18.09
Posted in irc at 3:36 pm by cliffwynne
That is right you heard it here first folks, IRC is not real life so getting all twisted up over internet big boy talk is really retarded. So many e-peni fights have occured in IRC its ridiculous, threats that wont be carried out at any point in time.
Don’t you just love people that say they wish they could meet you so they could punch your lights out. I’m sorry that is going to make me not want to meet you ever. It’s always those with the fragile ego that take offense to any offside comments.
You too can be an internet tough guy sign up now, no line, no waiting.
Permalink
10.06.08
Posted in Politics at 1:53 pm by cliffwynne
Recently I did an internet interview for a show on the current economic and housing state in the U.S. It goes over basically what my family and I are going through.
I find it a little bit difficult to stomach this economic “rescue” plan which has just been passed since its annoucement the DOW has yet to recover and is in fact as of today under 10000 points. Needless to say that when we do sell our house we will hopefully break even but who is to say.
Its funny how the government wants to help those whose homes are being foreclosed on but have no plans to help those of us that are in a tight situation like mine. We havent missed a payment and yet there is no help for us or any of the others that are trying to sell our homes in this horrible market.
I kind of feel sorry for whomever steps into the shoes to be the next President they will have a big hole to fill and they will pretty much be blamed for anything that goes wrong regardless of whether its their fault or the previous 2 administrations.
Link for the webcast is below.
Radio Netherlands
Permalink
« Previous Page — « Previous entries « Previous Page · Next Page » Next entries » — Next Page »
