When last we discussed my Apple addiction (posterous, blogger), the story had reached 2009 and it was time for a break. Now, read on for the next thrilling instalment!
Actually, having acquired the iPhone, Apple TV and an iPod Touch our Apple cravings were pretty much sated and for the next year or so, the only things we bought were music and movies from iTunes, apps from the App Store and odds and ends (headphones, cables, cases etc.).
So what next? What we really wanted was an iPod docking station for the kitchen to replace the ageing Philips CD player (which had always been a bit rubbish, even when it was new), preferably one that included a DAB radio and a Disc spinner, and that was, if at all possible, a British brand. Finding such a beast turned out to be a bit tricky but eventually we chose the Roberts Roberts MP43 Sound, a very nice piece of kit with a DAB radio, CD player and good sounds quality - bonus!
At the same time we grabbed a Roberts iDream CRD42 to replace the little-used, over-large and ugly stereo in the bedroom. The iDream is rather less of a product (smaller, cheaper, fewer features) than the MP43 but it's still a very good clock radio and it sounds much better than the average bedroom timepiece.
With these equipments installed there was nothing to do but wait for the iPad to reach the UK, which it duly did at the end of May 2010. Let me start the iPad comments by saying that my wife doesn't share my enthusiasm for the iPhone and she wasn't even slightly interested in the iPad. She quite fancies a MacBook and she's got a couple of iPods but otherwise her interest in Apple products is pretty much non-existent.
So what happened? We were in the car on the way to PC World to collect my iPad and the Wife asked "would you buy me one if I wanted one?", to which the only possible answer is "er, yes, love to". Of course, after about 30 seconds playing with the Photo app she was hooked and we left the store with two iPads (64Gb 3G for me, 32Gb Wifi for her), two cases and a bruised credit card. Having two turned out to be a good thing. There's absolutely no way we'd have been able to share one and it would just have caused problems (to read about somebody else's experiences with a shared iPad, have a look at this account from The Unofficial Apple Weblog.)
Early June rolled round and with it the iPhone 4 demonstration. The Wife didn't understand why I might want a new phone as well as an iPad (what can you say?) but I was still out early on the Thursday morning trying to buy an iPhone 4. I failed miserably, of course, and had to wait till the following week to make my acquisition (16Gb, Black). It's great, of course, and I haven't experienced any of the issues reported in the press; if you're using a 3G you should definitely upgrade - it's life-changing.
What next? Nothing for the moment. Various other life events mean that cash might be tight for a few months so even with new iPods and new laptops expected fairly soon we probably won't do more than browse. The new Apple store in Covent Garden, when it eventually opens, will present a daily temptation (it's a five minute walk from my office) but I'll probably only buys with apps and accessories (I fancy a Dodo Case). Might grab a new iPod Touch for the Wife if it has a FaceTime. Might also need a new rucksack, a Bluetooth keyboard and an iPad stand (or two). Hmm. Updates to follow.
Actually, having acquired the iPhone, Apple TV and an iPod Touch our Apple cravings were pretty much sated and for the next year or so, the only things we bought were music and movies from iTunes, apps from the App Store and odds and ends (headphones, cables, cases etc.).
So what next? What we really wanted was an iPod docking station for the kitchen to replace the ageing Philips CD player (which had always been a bit rubbish, even when it was new), preferably one that included a DAB radio and a Disc spinner, and that was, if at all possible, a British brand. Finding such a beast turned out to be a bit tricky but eventually we chose the Roberts Roberts MP43 Sound, a very nice piece of kit with a DAB radio, CD player and good sounds quality - bonus!
At the same time we grabbed a Roberts iDream CRD42 to replace the little-used, over-large and ugly stereo in the bedroom. The iDream is rather less of a product (smaller, cheaper, fewer features) than the MP43 but it's still a very good clock radio and it sounds much better than the average bedroom timepiece.
With these equipments installed there was nothing to do but wait for the iPad to reach the UK, which it duly did at the end of May 2010. Let me start the iPad comments by saying that my wife doesn't share my enthusiasm for the iPhone and she wasn't even slightly interested in the iPad. She quite fancies a MacBook and she's got a couple of iPods but otherwise her interest in Apple products is pretty much non-existent.
So what happened? We were in the car on the way to PC World to collect my iPad and the Wife asked "would you buy me one if I wanted one?", to which the only possible answer is "er, yes, love to". Of course, after about 30 seconds playing with the Photo app she was hooked and we left the store with two iPads (64Gb 3G for me, 32Gb Wifi for her), two cases and a bruised credit card. Having two turned out to be a good thing. There's absolutely no way we'd have been able to share one and it would just have caused problems (to read about somebody else's experiences with a shared iPad, have a look at this account from The Unofficial Apple Weblog.)
Early June rolled round and with it the iPhone 4 demonstration. The Wife didn't understand why I might want a new phone as well as an iPad (what can you say?) but I was still out early on the Thursday morning trying to buy an iPhone 4. I failed miserably, of course, and had to wait till the following week to make my acquisition (16Gb, Black). It's great, of course, and I haven't experienced any of the issues reported in the press; if you're using a 3G you should definitely upgrade - it's life-changing.
What next? Nothing for the moment. Various other life events mean that cash might be tight for a few months so even with new iPods and new laptops expected fairly soon we probably won't do more than browse. The new Apple store in Covent Garden, when it eventually opens, will present a daily temptation (it's a five minute walk from my office) but I'll probably only buys with apps and accessories (I fancy a Dodo Case). Might grab a new iPod Touch for the Wife if it has a FaceTime. Might also need a new rucksack, a Bluetooth keyboard and an iPad stand (or two). Hmm. Updates to follow.
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