Apple, Apple, Apple

I'm feeling pretty frustrated lately with Apple. (skip this if you don't want to hear a rant...if you've been linked through a search, I'd love to hear your iTouch story)

If you remember, about a month ago, I decided to enter the world of MP3 players...went with Apple because of the ease of use, quality etc.. Well, unfortunately I dipped my feet in the water just a few months early or late depending on how you look at it. I happened to hit BEST BUY right as the new iTouch iPod was released, so I guess I'm in the guinea pig phase that often happens at the launch of a new product.

Being a guinea pig sucks!

Do you see the helpless stare in the little fella's eyes?

After falling madly, deeply, passionately in love with my iTouch iPod...I found out it has a little glich. I'm just soooo pissed because now I'm too committed to the relationship to walk away. My blood pressure actually rises when I see the cool new T.V. ads. But still, I can't part ways with my iTouch. Thus far I've spent about an hour on the phone with Appple Support (not so impressed) and had to go back and return my original- in hopes of fixing the problem.

The problem is that the iTouch is somewhat selective about which video's it will play back. At first I thought it was just a DVD I ripped for my son, then I realized I had the problem with videos I PURCHASED from iTunes. I went to BEST BUY yesterday and the manager was like "oh, yeah we've been seeing problems with this." I had also googled it and noticed the issue is common enough that it was easy to find.

So, I exchanged my iTouch and also purchased a Nano. (Against the advice of the BEST BUY people who said the software etc.. was the same) Well, the video that won't play on my iTouch will play on the Nano...


What did the folks at Apple say? Well, the first two guys I talked to hadn't heard of the problem!!! Which irritates me because I found it on THEIR discussion boards. The second guy tells me the problem is that the iTouch only plays videos in H.264 format. So I direct him to Apples tech page on the iTouch to prove to him it also supports MPEG-4. Infact, if you rip/burn a file in the H.264 it won't play at all on the thing. It will however, give it the old college try on an MPEG file (plays 5, 10 or 15 minutes then shuts the iPod down or locks up the video then returns the main menu). THEN Apple tech guy tells me it must be a software problem and that they have already had a couple of software updates on the iTouch...asks me if I have updated my software. WHAT!! Do they tell their tech support people anything? The big talk on the iTouch is that iTunes is still has 1.1.1, the original software. Yet, units shipping to Europe are preloaded with 1.1.2. Which you can download on the web, from a NON-Apple site...but probably not the best idea. The guy is like "Oh...let me check that...you're right" By now I'm sounding pretty pissed. This, by the way, is the same guy who tells me I can't trust BEST BUY on the whole "getting a lot of machines returned thing." Gee, seems like they know more about the product then the Apple Tech Support.


So...if I really want to be able to play ANY video...guess I'll be getting a Nano (well, returning the one I have and getting one with more memory). And if I want to continue to enjoy the wifi...I'll be keeping my iTouch. As I write this, I realize that...hummm that's a lot to pay to be able to lay in bed at night checking my email, visiting blogs.


So...I may have to break up with my iTouch after all. On the bright side, I have to say, that new Nanos are pretty darn sexy...


p.s. so if I decide to keep my iTouch, should I Jailbreak it? Coley / Steve feedback please.

Halloween

Yes, well better late than never. We went to a really cool event this year: A "Trunk or Treat" you go from car to car to trick or treat. They all have their trunks open and decorated. We made a great haul in about 15 minutes.

Tonight I went to add Declan's candy to his pumpkin from last year:

>

Yes, that is what is still left from LAST year.

I'm going to take the old stuff to school next week to get rid of it. Trust me the kid does have treats...just not a lot. I don't want him developing the same bad habits I did as a kid. Halloween night he ate two pieces.

The Weekend

I guess this will be a multi-topic update..

My illness
I caught a cold and of course it went right to my chest. Coughing, wheezing, cackling and such. I cancelled the beach trip so that I could minimize the recovery time. That turned out to be a good thing as Declan vomited in the middle of the night on Friday. He was fine the rest of the weekend, but glad I didn't have to deal with that in a hotel room.


Declans School
I was watching our Disneyland video recently (stay with me, it's related) and Declan said, don't watch that Mom, it makes me want to go back. Disneyland is the funnest thing in the world! Well,,, I guess it's the SECOND funnest thing, school is the funnest. :0



Teacher conference went pretty well. It is interesting because his teacher said he was a bit "immature" which really surprised me, I can think of a lot of adjectives to describe Dec, but immature has never been one. It seems to me he has often been a half a step ahead of his peers from walking and talking to his interests and arguments. He gets along better with older kids. So I asked his teacher in what ways is he immature (she had already said he was on the academically advanced side) she replied, "well he loses things a lot." I had to laugh...umm that's a genetic thing and he certainly doesn't have good modeling from me in that department. She also said he looses interest quickly...also guilty in that department.

I've always processed things very quickly and I'm ready to move on far faster than the rest of the class. That's why during grad school I sat with my laptop and wrote papers and blogged.

So, from my perspective, school is going great. Declan is finally reading. He has a ton of friends and he loves it.

Surprise from my X

We're trying to finish up the new child support order now that I have a new job. I was surprised to also receive a new Parenting Plan last week. I was REALLY surprised when I saw the changes to it. The ONLY changes were:

I would drive an extra two hours a month for weekend visits
She would get an extra 2 days of vacation a year
and, drum roll please...
She proposes we add her girlfriends name to our parenting plan. As in, if my X dies, her girlfriend would get 30 days visitation per year. (yes, this is the woman she cheated with..)

I'm curious...what is she smoking??!!

Jon and Kate plus 8

This TLC show is Declan's FAVORITE program. Today on the way to school we talked about it.

D: Can we watch Jon and Kate plus 8 tonight?

Me: It's not on. Why do you like that show so much. I find it kind of stressful to watch. Life with those 8 kids seems pretty crazy. And don't you think the Mom yells at the Dad alot?

D: Well, you know...it's stressful having 8 kids.

Honestly, I'm getting tired of the show. It seems seriously stressful. They have one set of twins who are 6, and they have sextuplets who are 3. I think one kid is crying all the time...and the Mom is often yelling. I'm not sure why Declan loves it soooo much.


As for an update about the fire drill. Everything was fine. I knew it wouldn't be an issue...just bad timing. The V.P. said our leaving was totally O.K., but they have to figure that out.

I also had my first evaluation yesterday, it went very, very well (in spite of my nerves). I was also told by two different students that I was the best teacher they EVER had. Have I mentioned that I love my job?