Remember me?  I’m that nerdpundit guy that disappeared for a while because life got out of hand, but managed to stay in touch with the world due to the awesome (sarcastic) iPhone.  Trust me, I love, LOVE the phone.  Probably a little too much.  But after seeing pictures of and reading about the Android Market on Google’s upcoming iPhone slayer, I got a bit upset.  Frankly, I like the iPhone as a device better than everything out there.  Even the almighty HTC can’t give me a design that I think is nicer and easier to use than the iPhone.  But, that’s my opinion…and I’m sure dissenters are abound.

Well, here’s the big problem: anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch should take it out now and take a peek at it.  See those pretty icons and apps?  See that Maps one? How about the YouTube one?  Did you download the Google one?  What about Safari: does it use Google to search for things?  Wait?!  Do you have AIM?  Yes, Google makes all of those things…  My take: Apple played with people with the iPhone in order to get an idea as to how to make an iPhone 3G, screwing millions of people along the way. What did Google do?  Let Apple take the heat and make a (potentially better) competitor.  Kudos to the beast that Google is becoming. Hell, in the light of all of this, Microsoft is starting to look pretty damn good as a company.

So, as I write this post from my insanely beastly iPhone 3G, I’m suffering. I’m standing in the NW section of Washington, DC (where I’ve been with only this phone as a connection to the interwebs: sad face) and my connection keeps dropping. Just like my calls. Seems like all of those Apple and AT&T ads were lies.

Then, I called AT&T. The kind rep was actually asking me about configuring the phone. In particular, he asked me if I could turn 3G off, like other phones apparently can. I found this to be a really weird way to respond to my question, “I just left Verizon, a company that never had me drop a call in 5 years. Care to explain why your all-over network made me drop a call to the same person, who was using Verizon, three times in about 5min time?”

Apparently, this dude gets iPhone calls all the time about this very problem. The moral: Apple couldn’t figure out how to tell this phone to switch bandwidths unless the phone is on it’s home screen. I told him how to disable 3G and he was grateful since he now has something to say to other customers. His previous MO was to transfer the calls to AppleCare, who certainly could/would do nothing. Moral: due to the phone and battery issues with this beast, people should just turn 3G off. Makes little sense to have purchased the new model over the old one, but it’s something we’ll have to do until the September fix Apple is prepping.

On the flip side, I don’t know of any other phone that would have a native program as easy as this to post on nerdpundit. As I get settled into the move, expect some random posts from the phone an me to get back into full swing sometime in September.

There are few bands out there that have been able to give me the nostalgic feeling of my teen years, the new TAI album has officially achieved that. Their third release “Fast Times At Barrington High” brings a cleaner, poppier sound reminiscent of my teenage hay days of Blink-182, New Found Glory, etc. The album is a straight forward pop-punk album with a sprinkle of emo lyrics (that’s pretty much all William Beckett can write), but the difference this time is that it WORKS! It Pops! This is the first album release of the summer that I can honestly say is a full-fledged summer CD; unfortunately its release is at the end of summer 08. This third venture by the Chicago-based band is definitely a step above their sophomore effort “Santi” and showcases how the band has grown and how they’ve finally learned not to take themselves or the music they make so seriously. If this album is anything, it’s fun! The title of the album refers to the high school William Beckett and Adam Siska went to and each song involves one failed, tragic relationship or attempt at a relationship while in high school. Now on to the detailed review!!! OF COURSE!! Keep reading > >

site: here

Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People (or SBCGAP) is actually a real treat.

It costs 1000 wii points but is well worth it. The game harkens back to a time when “I watched every video before all these n00bs did” which basically means that the jokes are funny, and it wasn’t painful to sit through the cartoons.

You play as Strong Bad in what is essentially a point and click RPG. You can interact with most items in the background, and even use items on them. COOL! 

Basically the game is genius… (spoiler) Keep reading > >

The summer is slowly coming to its demise! Some great albums have been released and even better albums have been scheduled to be released. But the question remains, “what were you listening to this summer?” Below is a playlist of what was playing in my iPod the summer of 2008! So in an effort to celebrate summer 08 and to help usher in the inevitable Fall 2008, I am asking everyone to reply with their Top 25 song s of Summer 2008 Playlist and feel free to comment on my list!! Keep reading > >

A story like this is enough to wake any sleeping giant.  Cue the laziest editor ever!  We all know Grand Theft Auto is a violent game.  With the mixing of realistic settings and the ridiculous freedom to do anything your vicious heart desires, it’s no wonder that the game is always blamed for “teaching” America’s horribly misguided youths in the ways of destruction.  After reading this article on Joystiq, I was infuriated.  How is it possible that after so many lawsuits, settlements, years, and the obvious ignorance I’ve grown to loathe about our American government, that this is still a subject of discussion?  Are you really going to tell me that there’s enough validity in the idea that video games teach violence, that our government and its judicial system will give the time of day to legally hold game developers and publishers responsible for training killers?  Don’t we have a war to take care of?! Lest we forget about good ol’ Jack Johnson, who was expelled from a Florida court for twenty-something charges of misconduct. He was leading this battle against video games, but it now seems that he needs a little therapy himself.  So, I guess the Uni-Bomber had a really advanced copy of GTA as well, you know, because he did violent things too.  Or did Pong teach him?  I’m seriously sick of hearing this excuse. Keep reading > >

…kinda

I played it recently with some friends and some beers.

To my surprise, it was sort of fun.  So I’ll add another half star to my rating.

The controls are still a bit sluggish, but surprisingly accurate.

This game needs to be played with friends, and as my friend Chip stated: “This game is beer pong for people who don’t want a mess.”

It’s worth the 800 Wii points in my opinion.

The music scene nowadays is full of pop idols, lip syncers, horribly lyrically tribes and rappers who rap about… crap…. But within this shattered landscapes sits a band that has (in my opinion) a solid sound, an honest approach to song writing, and an impeccable ability to write the catchiest and most motivating music you’ll ever listen to! If you haven’t heard of Andrew McMahon and his newest musical experiment Jack’s Mannequin.. then you better get your ticket and jump aboard the boat… the new CD is promising to be the best alternative/pop/punk album of the year.. and the first single Resolution, is up for your listening pleasure.

Keep reading > >

I picked up an iPod touch last night because I wanted to jack It and turn it into a fake iPhone. However I was shocked at how dope this thing is.

With the App Store, I turned an 8 gig iPod into a completely pimped PDA that handles my email, blogging, portfolio, social networking, sports scores,

directions, to-do lists, and more.

Being the insane productivity nut I could not be more delighted.

What about making phone calls? Well being that I avoid my phone like the plague, I don’t need the iPhone. I carry my digicam, iPod touch, and cell phone. I can even stop carrying my hipster PDA!

Btw, this post was made with the iPod touch’s wordpress app while I am chillin at the beach.

So .. here’s an odd yet interesting piece found on the internet. It appears that Max Bemis of Say Anything has declared that he will write a song for any and all his fans who email him a story about their lives, etc. The song goes for $150.00 a pop and is completely personalized!!!! This is the first time I’ve ever encountered this and think its a stark achievement.. if he can pen that many songs and make sure they’re all personalized!!! Kudos to Max for thinking differently and trying to shape a different musical landscape… I’ll skip a night of heavy boozing to have a personalized song from Bemis….. would you?

O yea.. here’s their newest video for Shiksa (Girlfriend) ~ ROCK ON!