No, I'm not talking about this stupid shit. I'm talking about THIS STUPID SHIT!
Anybody that's really gotten to know me over the course of my two years spewing here knows that I spend a great deal of my time via our trusty T-Mobile Sidekick smartphone. As a matter of fact I found DailyKos on the Sidekick back in December 2007 as I was searching for more and more updated information about the Presidential Candidacy of Barack Obama. I didn't need anyone to convince me he was the man for the job. I had seen his 2003 anti-war speech on TV which convinced me to vote for him to represent my home state of Illinois as U.S. Senator in 2004. I just needed information and was surprised when I learned I could get it off of the phone!
Soon after the 2004 election I moved in with the future MrsJarHead who had lived in Southern Wisconsin for several years. In the fall of 2007 she bought the original T-Mobile Sidekick and had it all to herself until the primary heated up and I needed more and more information that I just wasn't getting in the traditional media. After lurking throughout the primary wars, I created my dKos account via the T-Mobile Sidekick on June 8, 2008. Even when I got cable internet I still used the Sidekick quite often. My stepdaughter and I liveblogged the Addington/Yoo hearing using both in tandem. In December 2009 I had to give up the cable internet connection because I just couldn't afford it any longer. It's been the Sidekick and the public library ever since.
Even though I can't publish diaries or recommend comments and diaries from the Sidekick, I've researched and composed the majority of my diaries in the last year and a half in the Sidekick's notes function. (Note: Before the DK4 transition I could at least recommend diaries) Anyway, I collect my links, code the HTML, and write the majority of the text with my thumbs. I then copy and paste the diary into an email and send it to my pvtjarhead(dot)dkos(at)gmail(dot)com email account. When I get to the library where my time is limited (2 hrs/day) all I have to do is cut and paste my work into a new diary, do any needed fixes, and hit publish. It's a system I've gotten used to and it's worked pretty this last year and a half.
It has limited my capabilities. I've started a part time job which means I can't get to the library most days. As we all know in the blogosphere, timing is everything. Quite often when I finally get a chance to get on a PC, what I wanted to post is old news and someone else has already covered it. Which has kinda opened up a niche for me. I look for the stories that no one else is covering instead of the latest huge breaking story. That's how I hit on my most recommended diary to date WI-SC: THIS IS A BIG F*ING DEAL!!
All that's about to change...
After May 31, 2011, the Danger Service (a subsidiary of Microsoft) used by T-Mobile Sidekick customers for data services will no longer be available on Sidekick devices.
T-Mobile will provide offers for our Sidekick customers before May 31, 2011, to help make an easy transition from their existing Sidekick device to a new device. We will have more information to share about these offers with our customers in the weeks ahead.
To ensure the best possible transition for our loyal Sidekick customers, an enhanced Web tool is available on myT-Mobile.com to easily export their personal data, including contacts, photos, calendar, notes, to-do lists, and bookmarks, from the Danger service to a new device, computer, or a designated e-mail account. An application is also available in the Sidekick Catalog to make it easy to export personal data to the Sidekick’s memory card. Many T-Mobile stores can transfer data from that card to a new T-Mobile device if the customer brings in the memory card and Sidekick.
After three and a half years of being loyal Sidekick customers they're pulling the plug on us. Our contract isn't even up until December and we'd still be able to use the phone, but it just won't be capable of doing anything else. It won't even be able to store phone numbers! WTF!?!?! Luckily MrsJarHead and I got the heads up and made a big stink with their customer service department. They've let us out of the contract and we're getting a different phone... Just not a T-Mobile Sidekick.
MrsJarHead has decided on the HTC EVO Shift 4G. Her brother has one and we got a chance to see it and check it out over the weekend. I was able to recommend diaries and comments with it, which the Sidekick couldn't do. The screen was bigger and displayed the page just like it's seen on a PC, which the Sidekick didn't. I'm hoping I'll be able to actually publish diaries from this thing... That would be awesome! MrJarHead says that as soon as I start working full time I'm going to have to get my own mobile device. She's sick of sharing. :) I figure that's fair enough. We've pared our spending down so much in the past 2+ years (I'm an underemployed 99'r) that we'll be starting with a bit of a clean slate again when I find a good job.
The "end of the world as we know it" doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing.
Updated by PvtJarHead at Thu May 19, 2011 at 11:45 AM CDT
I forgot to mention that the HTC EVO Shift is bought and paid for and should be here in the next few days... It's a done deal, but I'd like to hear any reviews of the phone.
I'm also interested in getting some imput from the community regarding what device to get once I'm gainfully employed. Should I get a netbook? Are there any inexpensive laptops with WiFi that are worth the money? Are there any phones/plans with good deals that you know of? Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.
Updated by PvtJarHead at Thu May 19, 2011 at 02:50 PM CDT
Watch out! The HTC EVO Shift 4G was delivered by UPS less than 30 minutes ago. Now begins the fun of trying to get it up and running. With any luck I'll be posting a diary tonight!
I promise it'll be better than this one! :)
Updated by PvtJarHead at Thu May 19, 2011 at 08:08 PM CDT
Holy crap! This thing really works!