Archive for: August, 2008

Iphone 3G Inaccurate Accelerometer

Aug 27 2008 Published by under Apple

If you couldn’t tell from my last post, I am somewhat infatuated with the new iPhone 3G. So with a lot of joy, I found a UPS box sitting on my counter top when I got home the other day. Inside, was the nicest phone I’d ever owned, but an hour later I knew I’d have to send it back!

The iPhone 3G, like the original iPhone and the iPod Touch, have accelerometers that sense the orientation of the device. Unfortunately, the iPhone 3G that I received had an inaccurate accelerometer. In fact, you could describe the tilt sensor as being ‘stuck’.

Using the Dual Level app that I downloaded from the iTune’s app store, I confirmed that my iPhone was getting incorrect readings from one of the accelerometers. Because of this defect, my phone believed that it was permanently placed in a landscape orientation. After witnessing the anomaly in a couple tilt-based games, and also when using the built-in calculator, I called up my telecom and got a replacement shipped out pronto.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. During the phone call to tech support, they had me reboot the iPhone a couple times and they also activated my SIM. By the end of the call, the accelerometer was no longer stuck, but it was still showing a heavy preference for the left landscape orientation — it wouldn’t even sense a right tilt. But then, several hours later, I noticed that it was suddenly responding to right tilt movements and that the Dual Level app was showing the accelerometer’s inaccuracy down to just ~15 degrees. Had the phone came like this, I probably would not have requested a replacement. However, the problem is more noticeable when apps, like games, delicately use the accelerometers. I could easily live with the phone in this state, but reselling it down the road could be a bit sketchy, and I have no plans to keep this thing into the next decade.

I’ve dealt with a lot of tech gadgets in my time, and to occasionally receive a defective product is not surprising at all. Sure, it’s disappointing, and I’d really like to start loading my iPhone with all sorts of apps and media and be on my merry way, but I’ll have to tough it out for a few more days while I wait for the replacement. In the meantime, I still get to use this almost-perfect iPhone, and it’s already made me realize that having a web browser in my pocket at 3G speeds is something that I’ll never be able to live without now that I’ve experienced it!

Do you own an iPhone or have an opinion about it? As much as I like the product, I am a bit weary of Apple’s quality control measures…

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Beatmaker for the iPhone 3G / iPod Touch

Aug 25 2008 Published by under Apple

The other day I was browsing through iPhone / iPod Touch apps, hoping to find something that would catch my interest because I am seriously considering getting an iPhone 3G.

I am ecstatic to report that there’s a whole lot more than just Super Monkey Ball to load up on the iPhone. The most exciting app I found is Beatmaker. This app is a surprisingly capable music sequencer that uses 16 touch pads to hold and playback audio samples that you can upload to the iPhone. If you don’t know much about samplers, sequencers and music composition in general, it’s not very hard to pick up. Basically, you strike the touch pads and they playback a short segment of sound (e.g. drums, stringed instruments, vocals, etc.). Then you record the pattern than you played and loop it. Finally, you can string together different loops for a song.

The app costs $19.95, which is relatively expensive compared to the other offerings at the iTunes Store, but with Beatmaker, you are getting a professionally developed app that has a lot of features and capabilities; don’t confuse this app with the torrent of amateur projects that you’ve seen released for the iPhone, in fact, check out some videos of it in action to see just how awesome it can be!

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Guitars and Sandwiches

Aug 24 2008 Published by under Opinions

Have you ever walked home from work, went into a deli, bought a sandwich, felt good about the sandwich, walked into the guitar shop next to the deli, and bought a guitar? That’s kind of what happened today. And by ‘kind of’ I mean ‘exactly’. I assure you, this isn’t a regular habit of mine – certainly not on my budget – but the funny chain of events played out exactly as I described.

What did I get? Being just a novice player, I went with a no-frills Godin Exit-22, which has a lovely mahogany body with a clear finish. The guitar feels great in my hands and is certainly a step up from my el-cheapo Epiphone Gibson that has not aged gracefully.

In its price range, The Godin Exit-22 is considered a decent bargain, as its materials are from Canada and it’s assembled in the States. Most guitars these days come from countries with much cheaper labor costs, and as such, their quality cannot always be guaranteed. It feels nice to buy something domestic, and hopefully this Godin will last me for years to come.

Do you play guitar, or another instrument? Are you happy with what you own, or are you always wishing to add or upgrade your equipment?

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Coldplay is Sometimes OK

Aug 22 2008 Published by under Music

I’ve never been a big fan of Coldplay, but I’ve always respected their music. Lately, I’ve formed a certain bias for British entertainment, especially for their music and comedy. Perhaps this is why I occasionally give Coldplay’s music a chance when I’m completely bored of listening to everything else.

Today I was listening to their latest single, “Viva la Vida” and for the first time I found myself interested, and somewhat enchanted, by one of their songs. Usually I would describe Chris Martin’s voice as too feminine and wimpy for my taste, but today I could only take notice of its gentle, melancholic nature. He seemed to perfectly execute the lyrics.

So there you have it. I wouldn’t call myself a Coldplay convert — I doubt I’ll like the tune as much tomorrow — but for that little piece of satisfaction, in a day filled with rushed meals, new coffee stains, unappreciative clients and overly sensitive co-workers, I am glad to have felt it.

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