Author: Patrick

New York City kid, aspiring graphic artist and soon to be photography hobbyist. Former Android user, heavy critic of iPhones and Apple in general.

Breaking My Phone.

This is my third Droid Incredible 2 by HTC. I have so many gripes with it.

A) Single core processor, so it lags like all hell.

B) 3G, so it’s a bit on the slow side.

C) The charging port is extremely fragile, and if you actually use your Dinc2, you will break it.

D) It’s stuck (as of now, and probably for the rest of its damned existence) with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. (refer to my posts from before)

Now, my contract with Verizon isn’t ending for quite a while  (I’m eligible for an upgrade in May), and it really has been a terrible experience with this phone.

My phone died (became utterly useless because of charging port issues) twice in the first 10 months, and it has happened again, but that’s not the actual problem that is rendering this damned phone useless for a third (and hopefully, final) time.

This time, it just does not want to stay turned on, even with battery. I’ll be in the middle of composing a tweet or maybe texting someone, lock the screen and go do something, and then when I go to finish what I’d started, the phone screen would be black entirely, and I’d end up having to do hard resets (battery pulls).

Apparently, this is a problem with many HTC devices (which, of course, furthers my relationship with the Taiwanese company) such as the first Droid Incredible and the HTC Thunderbolt.

Safe to say, I’ll be steering clear of any HTC devices in the future (I personally don’t like the bulky Sense UI nor do I like how light it is compared to the darkness of stock Android).

At this point, I’ve highly considered suspending this phone line without billing (which is a period of 90 days, maximum of twice in a 12 month period, which would give me enough time to cancel this line) and add a new line with new two year contract and get that oh-so-beautiful Samsung Galaxy S III in black for $70 via Amazon Wireless.

My best option, however, is to graciously receive The Big Cheese’s old Droid Bionic (which, as you may know, he hates due to extreme bugs) and wait until my upgrade period begins in May so that I can pick up something like the ever anticipated Samsung Galaxy S 4, or if it is cheap enough, the Galaxy Note 2.

My worst case scenario would be to scour for an iPhone 5 for Verizon with a clean ESN (good luck to me, right?). Worst case because I really REALLY dislike iPhones. REALLY.

Earworm: “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac

Top Gear series 19 episode 2 featured in their ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car‘ drummer and namesake of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood.

During the interview, Jeremy talked about the success of the band and the history of their best selling album, Rumours. I never learned so much about the history of one album in such a short span of time.

A song that I’ve heard countless times before, Go Your Own Way, was mentioned, and it’s been stuck in my head ever since.

Here it is.

HTC and Verizon FINALLY Bring ICS to HTC Thunderbolt

It’s too late now, though.

The Thunderbolt, the first 4GLTE phone on Verizon, has always been a disappointment in the Android community. It’s processor was nothing to write home about, it’s connectivity issues were definitely something to complain about, and it’s bulky (and faulty) design made this phone one of the most hated in America.

It came out of the gates with Android 2.2, and only now in 2013 has it been confirmed to have an Android 4.0 update ready to roll out any time soon. At this point, 4.0 is 2 updates behind the second iteration of Android Jelly Bean, Android 4.2 (and it seems as though Google is prepared to launch Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie [or, and I’m dreading the name, potentially Kandy Kane] in the coming months at Google I/O 2013).

It’s been 5 months already. 5! The Thunderbolt (and it’s younger sister, the Droid Incredible 2) were promised to have gotten the ICS update by September 31st!

I think people have finally come to grips that HTC on Verizon has been a failure and have actually given up hope on both devices, leaving for newer, more premium devices on the carrier (or even on another carrier, or even worse, to an iPhone on another carrier).

–I am very much for Android. I am fascinated with how much better it is overall than other mobile operating systems; however when companies fail to appease the customer, it makes me very angry. HTC and Verizon have failed me in the department of customer satisfaction, and in the future, I shall not be purchasing from HTC. At the moment, I cannot do anything about being on Verizon (in fact I would not want to leave VZW because of how amazing their service is), but when upgrade time comes, goodbye HTC devices. I’m really hoping I can grab a SG Note II or an SIII, maybe even the GNex like The Big Cheese. And if worst comes to worst, if my mom sees that an iPhone 5 is on BOGO come upgrade time, iPhone 5 I shall settle.

Related articles

Something I Need

I need my favorite show(s) to air already.

Top Gear UK (in my opinion, the only Top Gear that should be around) has begun airing series 19, and they don’t cease to disappoint.

Well, as you see, my favorite shows are those from the BBC. Doctor Who, Top Gear, and Sherlock compose of my Top 3 live action shows.

Sherlock, I believe, hasn’t even begun shooting the 3rd series (someone correct me if I’m wrong) due to Martin Freeman (Dr. John Watson) just finishing with all the hullabaloo of The Hobbit.

So, here I am, waiting for Series 7 Part 2 of Doctor Who. My last taste of the longest running sci-fi show in history was the last episode of the series to date, which introduced a new companion for that maniacal alien.

The writers for the show are genius (and actually, also write the adapted stories for Sherlock) and pretty much fill my brain with new ideas. I need the shows back to occupy my brain!

Anyway.

Top Gear is back with a new title intro, and Doctor Who has done the same. I can’t actually find a video that showcases all the title intros for Top Gear, but I have found one for Doctor Who. So, enjoy. (Don’t mind this space. This space right here, within the confines of these parentheses, are for the future embed link that I shall procure for all of you in the future that showcases the title intros for Top Gear)

Doctor Who title intro (All)

Earworm: “Many of Horror” by Biffy Clyro

Ah, Biffy Clyro. The band with the mystery name.

Now, you all know by now that I love the Northern Irish band Two Door Cinema Club. Biffy Clyro is a trio of Scots, and I love their music, too.

This here song, Many of Horror, is one of their most popular, and there’s no questioning as to why.

*On a side note, I’m really hoping you guys see that Kaley Cuoco commercial. A, it’s hilarious. B, she is fine as all hell.*

Earworm: “Now” by Paramore

Ah, good old Paramore. Although, this isn’t old Paramore. This is a different sound, and it’s a little reminiscent of early 2000’s pop-rock, like No Doubt.

Paramore’s Now is the first single off their new album Paramore, and it has been stuck in my head since I first listened to it last night. It’s actually a really good song. The lyrics have meaning, the guitar is crazy, and it doesn’t really hurt that I love Hayley Williams.

She can do no wrong, in my eyes. Except that crazy hairstyle she rocked in the music video for B.O.B’s Airplanes… That was… Interesting.

Anyway, here’s the audio released by FueledByRamen, hope you enjoy the song!

Upcoming this week (from Cheesecake)

With a lot less time due to midterm week, I have no been able to post as regularly as I’d have liked.

That’ll change starting tomorrow, as I have quite a few things in store.

Expect an in-depth review of a video game that has been infuriating The Big Cheese and I as of late, a few Earworms, and a personal rant about high school.

Earworm: “Radio” by Lana Del Rey

I know what you’re thinking. “Who the fuck is Lana Del Rey?”

She’s a hipster icon, if there were any other way to describe it.

Many girls in my school, (‘ratchet hoe” or not,) try listening to her music. The majority of those, of course, understand none of it, and still say they “love” her music. Many other girls just plain hate her guts.

I’m by no means in love with her music, but I do believe she has talent. Certain songs are better than others, just like with every artist.

Lana Del Rey has her own unique style and her voice has incredible range. It really helps her that she’s incredibly beautiful (to some, meaning, well, me).

I dig her music, she’s an individual and is a different sound from all the crappy pop that we’ve all been exposed to in the recent months, and her album Born To Die isn’t a bad listen. I like it.

My favorite song off the whole album is Radio, and it is one of those songs that gets imprisoned in your head. It’s been an Earworm for a while, and I’ve put off telling you guys about it until now, and I hope I wasn’t wrong in this decision.

Hope you guys enjoy it, if not, try other songs, too. Don’t be a one track mind! (One track. Get it? Music… heh)

Earworm: “Lost” by Frank Ocean

Sorry. Nearly two weeks without a post from me. Being sick, being bombarded with Spanish tests (thanks a mountain, Ms. E), and in general just not having enough time, my posting has dipped. It’s midterm week starting tomorrow, and I’m not stressing so much as I am just happy the school year is flying by.

I guess, with all the schoolwork, you could say I’m lost in the heat of it all.

Frank Ocean will start my Earworms off right, as it ended the past season of Earworm fairly well.

This song, Lost, is the 11th song off of his debut album, Channel Orange.

Surely Frank will be nominated for Grammy’s this year, and hopefully he wins some (even though, in my mind, awards for doing what you love doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy).

Anyway, enjoy the song.

IT’S BACK!

Welcome back, we dearly missed you, our precious, rugged ice hockey.

The NHL season is back on, after a strenuous lock out and immense pain in the hearts of hockey fans in North America.

I’d just woken up when I read on Twitter that the NHLPA and Bettman had come to an agreement.

(I must’ve woken up my whole house from my scream of happiness…)

As of writing this post, I texted The Big Cheese that hockey is back. When he replies, I’ll let you know his thoughts. Or I’ll pry for him to make a reaction post as well.

HOCKEY IS BACK MY FRIENDS