Hope everyone's had a happy Mom's Day!!! We treated mi mum to breakfast in bed, Sizzler's for dinner, and a year's stock of various perfumes. For the first time ever, mom turns to us all and asks:
Are all you saying I smell bad?
Truth be told, we didn't know whether to answer or not. So instead, I started laughing. And laughing is contagious...
The Nyko iTop Button Relocator
The beauty part of being an avid Mac fan (and then, an iPod fan) is that you know where to go to check out add-ons, programs, and other such stuff pertaining to Apple before newcomers catch up and on! Such was the case when J&R Music World introduced us to the Nyko iTop, then priced at $20. Realizing that I'll be the first on da block to check it out, I quickly shelled out the cash, and added the Burberry sticker from my shades for personalization, and began trekking around town with my iTop/iPod.
In a nutshell, it does serve its purpose with shifting most of the controls to the top for easy access. I take the iPod out of its case fewer times with the iTop than without it! Aside from that aspect, it's a rudimentary accessory; the only other purpose it serves is to help look the iPod look cooler. While sometimes the function keys act up [they at certain instances won't function properly], it's not a serious issue. There's not much else to say, except that it's the coolest looking accessory I've seen since the iTrip.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nextel, here I come!!
I wish this story had a happy ending.
I even went and helped Tavie & friends move on Tuesday (more on that later) in the high hopes that this story has a happy ending, amongst other reasons. But it doesn't. It just doesn't.
In September/October, it will be three years since I had Verizon Wireless. And up until three to four weeks ago, I never had a problem with my phone or its service. Recently though, in places where I'd get 4-5 bars of reception, I would get 0-1 bars. Imagine walking into a Verizon Wireless store, and everyone can make calls but you. It was that bad.
I went last Saturday to get it checked out; but it was several minutes to closing. What kind of service would I get in minutes to store closing!? It's weird as a service rep., I say that. But unfortunately, when it's close to 9PM, you know they only care about going home.
Next day (Sunday), I go get it fixed. And there was so much confusion, I was more frustrated than pissed off. One rep tells me my phone, the LG VX6000, is still under the extended warranty; next rep/technician says it's not under warranty. One rep tells me that the insurance I pay $6 a month for doesn't extend my warranty, the other rep/tech says it does. There was only one thing both reps said consistently about the whole damn thing: due to a piece falling off the phone, I must pay $54.32 to get a new phone, minus the battery, even though that too is dying out. You'd think the reason would be the same too, right? Nope; while one rep says it's because that one piece falling off the phone is "physical damage", and under LG terms, voids the warranty, the other says it's because I have no warranty, and the insurance charge for a replacement (still w/o a new battery) is $54.32.
Now, let me see something. In September, it will be two years since I had the VX6000. So, from 9/03 til now is about 20 months. 20months * $6/mo in insurance is $120. Adding the $54.32 -- $174.32. How much did I originally pay for this phone? $162.93, with tax. So, not only have I been paying too much for insurance, but for the last 20 months, I have paid for two phones. Can you believe this shit? I have bought a new and a refurbished phone over almost two years!!! The frustration in my head led to one conclusion:
It's time to explore my other options.
So far, Nextel has always been a choice I've had considered for a long time, hugely in part because most of the kliq uses Nextel. Only my coworkers and Dennis use Verizon. And two of them nearly begged me to stay with Verizon. I said to them (and eventually myself) that I'd give it some time; after all, I had four months left in my contract to decide for renewal. But then a new series of events changed that. Through the internet I ordered a new battery for my refurbished phone (29.99 added to 174.32, that's over $200; damn!!!!) I get it on Monday, charge it Monday night, go to use it Tuesday, and to my surprise, the battery is defective! Good thing I carried the dying battery with me, Tavie would not have found me otherwise! This must be a sign for me, go with your gut instinct. Go to Nextel. And see about getting this rather bulky yet sleek camera phone.
What about Cingular? Well, my guts did say Nextel. Maybe in the future, that instinct will change...
Tavie Moves In!!
Shout-outs, dedications, and such the nature go out to Tavie, Gina, Cheryl, and Erin for moving in together in their new apartment. So, aside from bringing some joy in people's lives, why did I come"...over from Brooklyn on his day off and carried stuff around on his back like Superman. It was amazing and a little scary... to break his head at one point..."? Bottom line: I haven't done it since my home delivery days. I miss those days. And through Tavie, I was able to relive my glory days, where I like Superman, I would lift things with relative ease. I was not bad for someone who's gained a pound or two since those days...
More stuff as time progresses...