Category Archives: Thoughts

The things that go on inside of my head.

Battery Status …

Posted in Gadgets, Thoughts by

In the clock view, in charge mode, you can see the charge of the battery.

Quite a few folks have been asking what I think of the battery life. Will I get a larger battery? How often do I have to charge it.

Before I answer those questions there is one thing I want to explain. Before my love story with the HTC Thunderbolt, I had a Blackberry Tour. I chose Blackberry over any other smartphone because it was something I was accustom to, it was efficient and it did what I wanted it to do at the time — check email, browse the internet and some SoMe here and there. However, the more I used it the more I realised that it really was just an email machine. The browser – though better than before – was still lacking and the social applications were subpar. Yet, I kept it because it was a good phone.

Then disaster.

The trackball got stuck – a known issue – and they replaced it, but for some reason the ball behaved strangely when it got cold and it sometimes decided to be sensitive and other times not. I had an unlimited data plan and I barely used it because the phone itself turned out to be a bad investment.

Then it got worse.

The battery was losing charge within 5 minutes of talk and 15 minutes of data usage. The phone would restart on its own and even though it had a full battery it would be completely drained. If it wasn’t plugged into a power supply it was just a paper weight. Or a weapon. Whatever way you want to look at it.

I waited this out for six months, just waiting for the 4G phone to come to Verizon. There were rumors of a new HTC Incredible, then the Thunderbolt, then the 4G and I just kept waiting. That was 6 months of a useless phone.

So the battery life of the Thunderbolt?

INCREDIBLE. I charge it before I go to sleep. Unplug it (so it doesn’t overcharge like the Blackberry did) while I’m asleep. Let it charge to 100% while I get ready to go out.

I use it nonstop on the train. Sometimes I use it for watching YouTube videos in HQ, or checking out blogs/tweets/facebook and other times I use the Kindle or Evernote apps. By the time I get to work — depending on what I use — it’s either 90 – 60% charged.

I usually plug it into the wall or the USB port around 2 or 3pm and let it charge until 100% or until I leave. If I’m going out after work this is sufficient for me until I get home.

I think this is normal behaviour, especially since I’ve used 2Gigs of data in 21 days of having the phone. I don’t think I’ll get a larger battery. I think that when you have a smart phone you need to be practical and understand that the more data you use, the more apps you use, the more battery you use. It’s like a mini laptop without the mega battery.

So yes, I’m satisfied with the battery life. I’m satisfied with the phone (thus far) and I’m SUPER glad that I’m not throwing away money each month because my phone is inefficient.

 

Let’s help Mighty Max get 1M get well cards!

Posted in Media, Social Media, Thoughts by

Max is a 12 year old from Neola.

Max has been battling leukemia since he was in kindergarten.

Max has one wish. That wish is to receive 1 million get well cards.

Let’s help Might Max reach his goal, address get-well cards to:

Mighty Max Low
P.O. Box 111, Neola, IA 51559

Also, send this along to your friends. =)

The 5:32 Train Gang – revisited

Posted in The Observer, Thoughts by

I happened to board the 5:32 train again yesterday. This time I went into the second car from the front, I didn’t want to deal with the mean 5:32 train gang. However, I happened upon another gang, this one a quieter, friendlier and all around nicer gang than the one in the first car. I’ll call them The 5:32 Train Players.

You see, this gang of friends/colleagues/train riders had two men in their group who sat facing each other, sharing a folder across their laps, with some newspapers to make it sturdier, and were playing Rummy.

I sat there for a minute looking at them play, there was even a point where I was tempted to ask them to deal me in! Who thinks about these things!? I was impressed.

Perhaps I’ll observe this gang of travelers today as well; we’ll see if they play again.

The 5:32 Train Gang

Posted in The Observer, Thoughts by

I don’t usually take the 5:32 train home, however, on occasion I do, and I have observed a thing or two. Well, mostly one thing. There is a gang of about 7 people – men and women – who take that train home together. Also, if I was being honest in my observation, they are jerks.

I noticed the 5:32 train gang the second time I rode that train. I was one of the first persons into the car and sat in the section with the seats facing each other. Unbeknownst to me, I was sitting the the gang’s “territory”. With book in hand, I started reading, but couldn’t help but feel a little strange when the man sitting opposite me started giving me weird looks. Was there something on my face? Is a button open? Why does he keep glancing at me and smirking? Then, I figured it out, his friend walks in and apparently I was sitting in his friend’s seat, so his friend had to sit in the seat behind him. They then proceeded to have a loud conversation with each other and the other five people in their gang.

Unfortunately for the gang, the train is a public ride and I got there first, so they couldn’t tell me to move. However, a woman with her suitcase came in, and there was a seat available in our section, but the men refused to move over to let her sit. Then they all proceeded to mock her and the size of her suitcase when she went to find another seat. Appalling.

The gang seems to be equal opportunity though, not only are they jerks to other passengers, they are jerks to each other. For example, yesterday I sat in their section – though not their seats – and I noticed one of their members try to sit with them, but apparently one of the men was saving those seats for two other men, so he told her no (even though four people could fit in that section). So, she came to sit next to me, then proceeded to have a conversation with the woman in front of her. Afterwards, she proceeded to pull out her mobile and have an animated conversation.

Let’s just say, I’m thankful for my ipod.