Silence be still

Silence and quiet. What do you hear when you are still and listen? There is always something to hear. Even if it's the air flowing in and out of one's own lungs. So much of the time we are so busy that we are surrounded by noise. Even when we look to have some around us when it's just too quiet. Maybe we are left feeling uncomfortable silence? Where would our thoughts wander off to you if left alone? Not often enough do we allow ourselves to just be completely still.

This morning as I sit here in quiet I can not just be still in this moment. To allow my brain to just be at a waking restful pause. Maybe though it would be a good thing. So I shall back away from my electronics and just be still. 

Otterbox case for iPhone 5 / 5s

With my new phone I got an otterbox commuter case to protect it.  I used the commuter style phone case for my Motorola Droid RAZR, and it worked great. The case had the interior rubber portion, with the exterior hard plastic casing.  I could put the phone screen side down on the table, and the rubber insert would keep the phone from sliding around. 

However, this is not the same design for the iPhone 5 /5s style. This turns your phone into a HIGH DOLLAR hockey puck. I mean, it can really slide around any counter top, or table.  Not only that but it helps to make it too easy to slide out of one's own pocket. Never had that problem with the Droid version.  

So I took the case back to the store - and looked for another case. Turns out all the commuter series cases are this same design. With that in mind, I would be careful selecting that case. I chose the otter box brand so that I could protect my phone investment. This did not leave me feeling as if I was secure in protecting my phone. Finally I did choose to go ahead with upgrading my case.  The otter box defender - is a larger phone case.  Though the design uses a hard plastic shell casing that snaps together. Inside this plastic casing there is a layer of rubber, to add more shock absorption.  You can see that in the picture below.

Oddly this photo does not show the true colors of the otter box defender for the iPhone 5s - this case is actually quite purple with the hard plastic interior a hot pink. 

This pictures were taken from my carrier's website. (so they own them, I do not) 

I always wonder why companies don't go ahead and develop phones that are people proof. One's that are sturdy - and can at least the test of time most contracts run for the period of two years. I figure they make more money on people breaking their phones, and having to purchase another. But this would be a further long and boring diatribe, so I won't go down that path.

Now I think I will do the geeky thing. I'm going to read the user's manual. At least skim it more than I probably did some text books I still own. (sshh)

Drum roll please

Not going to keep you in suspense any longer. My carrier didn't make me wait until my upgrade date. That's right, they kindly allowed me to upgrade two weeks early. (Miss the days when you got to upgrade two months early and got a $50 credit towards your next phone) 

Of all the choices I went through, and talking to different sales associates I had a hard time picking between two phones. Ironically coined the 5s and the s5 by two competitors. 

There are so many things I really liked about the s5. I prefer android, being able to tap type or use swype makes it easier to operate. The heart rate monitor was a joke in my eyes. Being able to enlarge text at any point with pinch zoom was nifty. Lots of options to customize your phone experience, but then so much of it was fluff. Alright it might serve a useful purpose, but to me I glossed over all that. 

The large screen was nice, but I think ultimately that was the item that tipped the scale. The screen was brilliant and clearly brighter than my droid razr. My hands however probably could not hold the phone all day. I think I have nerve issues developing from the 29 years of diabetes and probably sprinkled on top with repetitive stress injuries. (All that typing, and I don't have a light touch. I whack the keys, even on a touch screen) 

So my choice came down to these factors. My family has iPhones and often they misplace said phone. Well I can't use icloud on an android device to beep their phones. ( they tend to keep their phones in silent mode) I actually have all my music on my iPod. Since I had it on there I never bought music for my phone. Then that also comes to apps. All of them are on my iPod. Never bought apps on my droid, except for swiftkey. One app I love on my iOS devices is called Shopping List by hensoft. Great shopping list app I have used for years now. And it can sync across multiple devices, so anyone in the family can add to the list. So convenient! No more pieces of paper trying to scratch through. Or even better loosing said piece of paper. While shopping with the family each has their own copy of the list and they can head to that section. Really speeds up the process when time is limited. So even with a smart phone I would carry my iPod with me as well. How redundant that felt to keep flipping between devices. 

The iPhone has always been priced so high. I could get some what of a deal with the iPhone 5c but really that is an already two year old phone tech wise. A 5c is all the components of an iPhone 5 but now with a plastic case. For many people that's just fine. And probably would have worked out great for me as well. But right now both phones are the same prices. That's right the 5c and 5s are both $99 for their 16gb versions. So I might as well get the better of the two. There isn't much difference. But I do notice the speed a lot when using my iPod touch 5 vs the 5s. The phone is so much faster. The speaker is just awesome. I rarely used the speaker on the iPod. It was not that great but worked ok enough.  

So there you have it. I have gone the way of main stream folks and celebrities that all sport iPhones. And yes they really are every where. I don't notice really much what people wear, but I do notice their phones. Not like a phone is a status symbol. Just me admiring their techy toy. 

So an iPhone 5s is now in my possession. I have an otter box commuter case for it. But the casing is all a smooth plastic that turns my phone into a $700 hockey puck on counters. My iPod case is a hard rubber and doesn't slide. Thinking I ought to change my choice in cases. But don't worry, I'm not going to do a blog on the case I end up with. I figure my blog here about phone choices was more than enough. 

Mishelle

Deleted - Blogs

Dug through several of my old blog entries. Boring stuff, though don't think they will be missed by anyone.  

Not even me since they went back to 2002 when I started blogging.

A few entries, were really just ramblings.  Some of them just probably should of never been written let alone shared.

So here is to moving forward. Writing new material and hopefully worth reading. By you, and at least a few others.


Mishelle

Google Nexus 5

Recently another phone has been brought to my attention as a potential consideration.  Viewed the specifications on the google website and it looked quite promising.  This particular phone has CDMA network capabilities - however since you have to buy the phone directly from Google, my cell phone provider does not allow the phone to be used on their network.  Although there might be more technological reasons for this decision, this is my arbitrary conclusion.  They are not making money off the sale of this phone, and also since it is purchased out right, you don't have to renew your contract again for 2 years. 

The lovely thing about the phone is the price point. You get a 5 inch screen, great battery life. And the out right cost is $349 - not the $500-700 cost for some of the phones out there.  I wouldn't mind spending that much if it means I'm not stuck two years with a phone that I am not all that fond of.  This is part of the reason I have been doing homework. Though I don't exactly have that kind of change lying around, I'm just saying.  

The phones I have been eyeing are on sale right now. Reducing the price with the 2 year contract renewal. If I was up for renewal I would definitely take advantage of the sale. Though I can't do that right now. I have to wait until the contract is up.  I used to like the days when my provider allowed for early contract renewal. Sadly, they have done away with that option. Since I have other phones on this calling plan, I am stuck with this provider so I will more than likely renew.  This is how they suck you in. 

So if you are on another network provider than the big RED that uses CDMA - I would suggest you do your homework on the Google Nexus 5.  That just might be a good phone that would give you good options for the price, and not be stuck with a contract. Then if you choose to leave your current provider, you can take the phone with you.  Just offering a suggestion.