Telstra have actually released some very attractive plans for this phone, with fair amounts of data and calls, not as far as optus, but still fairly good. The phone can also be bought outright for around the $700 mark.

I was very interested in getting my hands on one of these phones, to give it a try, and see how the Android OS goes, and how the UI / UX compares to Apple. Also very interested in how Android talks with Google Apps for Contacts, Mail etc.

At the Toowoomba Telstra store, I played with one a number of times and my initial thoughts where;

• Wonderful, sharp screen
• Very snappy web browser (based off Chrome engine I’m guessing)
• Responsive touch screen
• Not too big, nor too small

However, after further investigation, talking to some people who own the Desire I don’t think I can justify the device.

The Android is super customisable, so much so, it can become overwhelming for a novice – but that’s not really an issue for me.

The biggest things that would make me consider switching would be;

• Battery, better
• Does it make my life EASIER

Every other aspect of the iPhone 3GS I am happy with. Sure, it drops out here and there, is that to blame Optus or Apple? Both point the finger to each other. Coverage isn’t wonderful, but that’s an optus issue, not an Apple one. I am happy with my OK amount of coverage, as the compromise is 1GB of mobile data for next to nothing, Vs better coverage, but not having the freedom of big amounts of data, lots of calls, etc.

So based on those two criteria, to make me switch, no. The Desire doesn’t do either.

Battery

From mixed reports I’ve heard the battery life is the same, and or is worse than the iPhone, depending on how much you use the thing, and I for one use my iPhone quite heavily.

Make life EASIER

Now, maybe all iPhone / iPod users have played into Apples hands here, but ever since my first iPod, I’ve switched to iTunes as my media player, and would die if I had to move all my media over to a different system, re create play lists, etc.  And I’m not sure if the android has any good iPod killer apps. Nor, the ability to plug in the device via USB so it both charges, displays music on the screen and allows me to change songs via the steering wheel.

One of the biggest draws my iPhone has, is that it’s both my iPod + my iPhone. I sync / charge one device and it’s always current.

What use to drive me insane, back in Nokia days, was buying some new music, but not syncing my iPod as it was in the car, and leaving without the new music, or forgetting the iPod at the office.

Whatever the case, the iPhone has eliviated this problem and made my life much easier.

What’s also great, is that my iPhone syncs music from my office PC, and Syncs my Podcasts from the iMac at home. Not sure if it is meant to, but it does, and I couldn’t be happier.

So, nice work HTC, but I think I’m best waiting for the iPhone 4G. If it has a better battery, I’ll be happy.

I’ve been following Mark Pesce’s dedicated HTC desire blog, which has been quite interesting, in both the pros’ and cons’ of the gadget.

In the past, I have used different iPhone apps that play just nice and quiet relaxation tracks, as a means to unwind and fall to asleep which are OK.

Recently, I purchased an iPhone application called pzizz sleep – which was described an NLP structured application and that it wasn’t just some standard relaxation app, but every session was different, not the same recording played every time.

What is it?
pzizz is a powerful new kind of insomnia treatment that’s perfect for you if you have the kind of sleep problems where you can’t switch off when in bed. It will help to quiet your mind, and gently ease you into restful sleep.
pzizz is non-addictive — there are no drugs. And because it’s possibly the most effective sleep treatment available it gives you back your sleeping and waking hours like no other remedy!

NLP – How it works
In simple terms what this means is that the spoken suggestions that are used in pzizz, and the way in which they’re spoken, produce maximum benefit for you every time you use it.

More info on the application which can also be installed on your computer is available here

I have not had a chance to really jump back on the poor old site and write anything, there has been many changes in the last couple of months for me commercially.

Towards the end of December, I re-branded my existing business and founded Alyte Creative, this was after I assessed my existing business arrangements and how things had been running up until that point, and for what was going to be best leading into the future.

Alyte is the crystallisation of the services and level of service I had been providing all kinds of businesses since leaving school. For those who may not have ever guessed, I am an I.T. oriented individual (nerd for short usually works), and focus on providing outstanding websites for business of all sizes. Having a considerable understanding of I.T., server administration, networking and such, this underpins the terrific websites and web apps I produce.

January has been a very busy month, both looking after clients and establishing many new programs for Alyte that I hope to launch in the near future. As I start to gain some time away from the office, I hope to get back to my pattern of posting here once in a while.

For more information on what Alyte is all about, the first stage of the website is live – head over to alyte.com.au

What drew me to the device was the fact that it incorporates physical movement.

After playing with the device at the end of  a day at work or first thing in the morning, I am impressed with the results that the “Wii Fit” game has produced.

I am fairly impressed with the graphics and the advanced human movement controllers, unlike any other gaming device that has nothing but buttons / joy sticks.

The price for a Wii, Some games, Wii Fit, Wii Board and so on, was less than a yearly gym membership, and has many purposes.

Pay Coupon for being Late!

The Flight was rather simple, Hervey Bay to Sydney with Virgin Blue, a 1:45min flight, followed by a three hour break, then another 1:30 min flight to Avalon which is very close to Geelong, my final destination. Booking the connecting flight three hours later, I thought I was being conservative, however, as I soon learnt, that wasn’t the case.

Upon Check-in in Hervey Bay, we were advised that the plane was about an hour late, which is the longest I have had to wait for a flight, but, I that only means I’d have to wait for 2 hours in Sydney, so not so bad after all.

What you get for $12 on a plane

After about an hour of waiting, we saw the flight was now 2 hours, not 1 hour behind. Well this was OK, we would JUST be able to make it, it would be a quick off and on again, which is just enough.

Again, after about 1 hour, the ETA departure time was back another 20-30 mins, so this means, we’d be landing as Check in for my connecting flight closes, which might mean I might JUST get in. IF the plane was on time for the HB -> SYD Flight.

Once on board, all passengers were given a $12 on flight credit, for what ever you wanted on board, and while waiting in the terminal, a $6 food voucher.

However, because the flight was now so late, my Jetstar flight had already left when I got in, and because #WDS09 is during school holidays now, everything is busy! So I couldn’t get any other flight with Jetstar, and Virgin Blue had a flight on at 8:20PM – so I had to buy those tickets, at $310 each! Rather than the normal $150-$200 the ticket would cost.

Rain in Sydney

When forking out the dough, I asked the Virgin blue staff member if there was any discount as they caused this delay and lost my tickets, and the answer I got was one I was expecting, and that was a “no” – however, because these are good (expensive) tickets, I can get good seats (row three), closest thing to business class on these economy flights.

After hanging around Sydney domestic for 3 or so hours, we went to board the plane, and as boarding, we were told that we had been given new seats, at row 12, not row 3 which are the bigger, comfier seats, row 12 is back in economy.

Getting in to Tulamarine as Virgin don’t fly to Avalon, I had to then get a 1 hour shuttle bus to Geelong in 10 degree weather and at 10:30->11:30pm, only 4-5 hours later than I should have!

Thank you Virgin Blue for not doing anything substantial to help!