iOS gets Ingress, I play with iMovie, and the sick boy is starting to feel a little better.

Good Morning!  It's been a beautiful summer so far, and a productive one too!  If you follow me on Google + (or if we're "friends" on Facebook) you know that in June I was at an Ingress Anomaly in Gettysburg, that because we brought JoopyLoopy along we won a pack of T-shirts, and that the Resistance kicked butt.

More recently; we FINALLY figured out how to make our vision insurance work in our favor, and got "sick boy" his glasses.  I'm calling him "sick boy" because for the last few days he's barely left bed.  He's been sporting a fever, the pukes, and lack of appetite. Last night (day 3) he finally started to ask for food; which according to the doctor means he's finally starting to get better.  This stomach bug has had me stressed beyond belief.

Also, Ingress is FINALLY out on iOS!  If you're jailbroken and having issues check out this thread on reddit; which should fix any problems you're having, and note that iOSer's still do NOT have a built in way to submit portals.  Frankly, this has caused me to continue dragging my Android (Moto G) (unactivated and tethered) along with me just in case I find something interesting that isn't a portal yet.


Along with the release of Ingress on iOS, came the announcement of the Eve Badge; which is a recruiting related badge.  I came across a video made last year by a fellow agent which was fairly impressive, and decided to start playing around with iMovie.  I've got one "project" which I'll share with you all when I get it finished; but I warn you...  It will feature Chickens. Yes, my flock of White Leghorns and Black Copper Marans will be featured.   If anyone local is in need of a Rooster; we will likely be looking to home at least 2 Black Copper Maran Roos sometime soon.
"Google Now" is the smallest (I question his hatch date given how small he is)  They are handled as much as we are able, which is not always daily.  The other two are "Hoodie" and "Spike Jr." presently we are undecided on exactly who will be in need of a home; and we aren't yet clear which of the Leghorns are roosters (if any; but we are suspicious).

My own iPhone 5s usage/preference situation update.

It's official.  I don't hate the iPhone 5s.  I know that statement might be offensive to some dedicated Android users reading this; but honestly I've never been one to like or dislike something, just because it makes people happy.

I find the actual experience as a user about equally as enjoyable as the Moto X was.  I absolutely LOVE the fingerprint recognition, which along with some Cydia modifications has made installing apps, and navigating between the ones I'm using pretty easy.  I do need to say that I still find that process easier in Android; given that there is a specific "button" for it.   I miss Moto's active notifications, and voice controls, but I haven't yet had the time to figure out how to set something similar up on the 5S to compare voice controls. I also miss being able to access the Play store for music on my device, as well as having a queue that I don't need to set up every time I open Google Music.

I also have gotten over my prior hatred of it's shape.  While I find that the Moto X with it's curved back and it's "finger dimple" are preferable for a clumsy person such as myself; and I hope I never have to test the durability of the 5S falling down the basement stairs, The iPhone is not uncomfortable to hold or use.  I haven't had any mishaps where the speakers crackle. The camera takes great pictures (unlike the Moto X) and iOS users get at least ONE app from Google that Android users still have not.  YouTube Capture, which simplifies video making (to an extent) for upload to YouTube.

Ingress is regrettably missing from iOS still; but I already hit level 8 mid 2013, so I can deal with using a tethered tablet for that.  Speaking of which; I may have to use some of this incredibly huge amount of downtime at Lionbridge to work on an #ingresswear submission.

Moto X Adventures

If you follow me on Google Plus; you may have noticed that I've got a new phone!  I'm now working with the Moto X, and given that it's SUCH a gigantically different user experience I was surprised how much I actually enjoy using it.

My favorite things (so far):

• Small enough to use easily; and not too small to use for what I actually do with my phones
• Camera is fast, simple and easy to use (quality of pictures is a bit lower than the Note 2, but I no longer have to struggle to both hold my phone still and take the picture) There are also some pretty cool things it lets you do with your pics after they're taken.
•  The look of it!  Lines are simple, and it just isn't a flashy phone at all.
• I have yet to experience that "echo" during a phone call, and I could actually understand what my mumbling older brother was saying the last time he called, and I didn't hear what I said repeated in my ear 2 seconds after saying it.
• GPS is spot on...  We visited Elmira, NY over the weekend to assist in rebuilding their Level 8 status (and yes, to also Max out our inventory) and I experienced absolutely no drift (granted from time to time GPS signal was completely lost; and took a bit of time to get back, however I might attribute that to the area/Network)
• I can actually hear a notification from 2 rooms away w/ a door closed.  I could never do this with the Note 2 even with the volume all the way up. 
• Assist; absolutely has yet to fail at knowing when I am in a moving vehicle!
• "Okay Google Now" yeah; I absolutely love that this works; and only works for my voice. Yes, my family has tried and failed.
• Also; Anyone who has ever bought a smartphone knows that the film on the display usually has a bunch of text or whatever on it; to tell you (who they think must be that dumb) where all the buttons are...  The film on this phone has only a small white corner, and is otherwise clear, allowing me to use it while waiting for the ones I ordered to get here.

The stuff I could do without (so far)?:

• It's a slippery bugger, just like the Note 2 was, only the back panel is prettier (which is helpful since it's not the regular snap-on variety)
• The battery is NOT removeable, which means when the battery dies; you have to be near a power source
• Video chatting in low light; not happening.  It just doesn't gather light the way the Note 2 can.

Oh Dear; Watch your step Niantic!

New weapons only hackable from certain Motorola phones; I never dreamed that I would feel blackmailed into buying a certain phone.  If there is no concession made for those of us loyal and "since the beginning" players, I may have to stop playing.  We were prepared for commercial portals, those only in the game because a business paid for the exposure, and I had even entertained the possibility that item codes might be included with purchases as incentive to spend money at one store over another; obviously, Google would make money by selling the codes to the business as advertising.

This development has a lot of people upset, and I don't blame them.  I do think that perhaps it's worth waiting to find out if Google is really using something that many have made a lifestyle to make the game much less fun without the purchase and use of a Motorola device (Maybe everyone doesn't know Google bought Motorola?).  Either way; I'm prepared to wait and see where this goes.