Why I bought the Samsung Galaxy S III

I know there are topics out there more interesting than why a 28 year old stay at home dad purchased a particular phone ... I know our economy is tinkering from left to right/up and down in this upcoming election. I know shit's going down in the middle east ...

But OMG I got 19 comments on my Facebook when I announced to the world I purchased the Samsung Galaxy S III! With that kind of interest I knew I could bump the AdSense here on my blog, earn a few pennies from the traffic and maybe ... just maybe ... get retweeted by a few celebrities.  By writing this long winded, pretty much pointless, review/comparison on this silly little phone my peers can and should reaffirm my nerdiness and rest assured I wasn't taking drugs when I went into Best Buy and bought a phone other than the iPhone 5.

So let's begin. And let's be honest, if I would've found the iPhone 5 before today, I would've bought it. I had made my mind up weeks ago to just wait patiently, call a few times here and there, maybe stop in an Apple store just to check - but I wanted the process to be painless and seamless.  I have two children, btw, so waiting around in a store for an hour while AT&T takes my blood type and checks for a criminal record, while transferring phones, does not sound fun.

But last night I watched this video;

I was kind of blown away.

I've been an iPhone user since the first generation came out back in the summer of 2007. Since then I've purchased every iPhone up to the 4, (my wife currently owns the 4s), a Mac Book Pro, an iMac, and iPad2, Apple TV and many an app from the App Store. My friends, family and enemies know me as an Apple Fan Boi.

But look at all those cool features! Google Maps, face recognition, voice commands, real multi tasking, removal batteries, mini sim card, live wall papers, 8 megapixel camera, and more!

Today, my wife and I, plus 1 child, went into a best buy and purchased the Galaxy S III. I walked out of there only putting $115 down too (and that included a case)! Not too bad, but there's no turning back. I traded in my iPhone, I have 14 days to decide if I like it before my upgrade expires or, well, I dunno, I wasn't paying attention. I was just too excited to get my new phone!

Here is what I've noticed/liked so far about the Samsung Galaxy S III.

• The battery life is great. I only charged it up to 80% today after taking it out of the box, and I haven't had to charge it since, unlike my old iPhone which I had to charge at least twice a day.

• The camera is great! It's just as clear, if not clearer than the iPhone 4. I've noticed no problem and even found my favorite photography apps so my transition as a mobile photographer has been seamless.

• It's SUPER fast. I was working on an older phone, but this one flies. Be it the internet on 4g, or just switching from app to app, I can get more done quickly so I can spend more time with my family.

• Google integration. This was my big seller. I use Google a lot for business. Our business phone number is integrated through Google Voice. So being able to answer calls, listen to voice messages and answer e-mail quickly and efficiently via Google Apps is profitable. 

• My contacts are all in Google. When using the iPhone I had figured out how to sync my Google Contacts w/ the phone. Now, I don't have to go through a bunch of BS - I can edit a contact online, or on my phone, and it's synced everywhere. 

• While we're suckin' up to Google - Google Calendar is the main calendar on the phone. No more syncing w/ iCal and praying it transfered over. It's all there, crystal clear and easy to edit.

• It's bigger! I'm not much to brag about size ... but it's a lot bigger than the iPhone 4, and I like that. It's not too big to hold, or to fit in my pocket, and YouTube videos look amazing on it.

• Google +. You know me, you know I like G+. This phone does too. 

Every phone is different and meant for specific users needs. The Samsung Galaxy S III is not better than the iPhone 5. I repeat, the Samsung Galaxy S III is not better than the iPhone 5! I'm not going to get into that flame war. For me, the nerd, tech, Google guy, it sold me. For my wife, who's more into simple interfaces, Social Media, and just taking pictures - the iPhone works perfectly for her.

I'm happy with my purchase so far. Stay tuned to see if I'm still happy in a 14 days or less.

Cheers!
-marc

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Lover of the Lights

My last post was on April 30th, 2012... whoops?!

Hmm... better late than never, right?

Today was one of those days you wish would never end. Or one that would just be on repeat. We woke up, rode our bikes to breakfast, and on the way home stopped by the Pumpkin Patch to pick up a few pumpkins.

Upon arrival home we painted, or carved, our orange vegetables fruits and then got some chores done around the house. The girls were really good today - not that they're not every day, but the older they get the better they play together and are ... less "terrible" (aka "terrible twos). It was a beautiful day to play and paint outside. Mom went to pick up groceries, came home, made dinner, schedule me a surprise massage, I got to stop by the bar and got an excellent "Old Fashion" (whiskey drink). Now we're home, the house is clean, Stacey's filling out thank you cards for Z's b-day party and life couldn't be better.

I read my friends blog tonight - JohnAndChels - and it inspired me to write. I actually babysat this kid (or as I thought of it "Making sure the siblings don't kill each other") and was the photographer at his wedding. His wife is amazing, raising two twins, and she reminds me of my own mother.

Anyway - I just randomly thought to write tonight, inspired by other moms who have written lately.

Did you know Zoe is part of a Co-Op Preschool? It's so cool. I'll hafta explain more later.

For now - I could ramble all night but I'll spare you. What am I kidding - you're here reading, you could read as long as I could write! I know I have a lot to catch up on, but for real... I'm done.

Cheers,
-marc