However, other new features like the faster processor, the improved camera, MMS, and the ability to capture video don’t mean much to me. The faster processor would be nice if I wasn’t stuck on the slow Edge AT&T network most of the time. A year ago, AT&T said that 3G service would be in my area very soon, but that hasn’t yet materialized. So for me, and thousands of others, AT&T charges us the same monthly fees, even though we can’t get high-speed service. For those of us in this position, it would be ridiculous for us to upgrade to the new iPhone 3GS because instead of the “S” standing for “speed”, we would find that it stands for “slow”.

I am not unhappy with my iPhone. In fact, I still think it is one of the best choices out there. The problem is that AT&T hasn’t kept promises of an expanded 3G network They charge exorbitant amounts for SMS messaging on the iPhone, and they delay rolling out new features so they can make more money.

I understand that when Apple announced the new iPhone, every time that AT&T was mentioned the crowd roared with laughter. Although the new iPhone will handle MMS messages (the ability to send and receive picture and video messages like text messages), AT&T will not support this until later this summer. Tethering, which is the ability to use a phone’s Internet to power the browser on a computer, will be supported by 29 carriers in 76 other countries, but evidently will not be supported by AT&T.

On top of that, since I am only one year into my AT&T contract, I would have to pay the full price for a new iPhone. So I won’t be upgrading my iPhone this year. My only hope is that by the time the next iPhone comes out Apple will have ended their contract with AT&T and the iPhone will be available from other carriers.

That’s why a website that i visited recently called Casino Examine.com intrigued me. This website offers recent online casino and gambling related news, a list of US-friendly online casinos, and most important to me, online casino game rules. It explains slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, Keno, video poker, and other casino games. It gives basic rules, variations, strategy, and tips.

Casino Examine.com also gives reviews of online casinos that includes a rundown of the playability, graphics, type of software, minimums, and other pertinent information including telephone numbers.

Online gambling is big business. Playing at casinos online can be different than gambling in person. I am not encouraging everyone to play, but if you do, check out a site like this first. Get information about the online casino itself, and learn all that you can about the games that you will be playing. Don’t get carried away by the pretty graphics and the thrill of the game. If you play responsibly, you can have fun and be happy with the outcome.

Defective iPhone Power Adapter

Defective iPhone Power Adapter

This is the white adapter that plugs into the USB end of the iPhone charging cord and is used to power up the phone from a regular outlet. Apple is asking people to avoid using the adapter until it can be replaced. In the meantime, they suggest charging the iPhone from a computer with a USB port.

The adapters can be exchanged at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10th or you can order a replacement via the web at the Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter Exchange Program website.

More information can be obtained at the Apple Exchange Program website. You can see that Apple prefers to call this an exchange program rather than a recall. But whatever you call it, you will want to stop using the power adapter until you can get a new one.

iTunes & Safari

iTunes & Safari

Now, however, Apple is getting on my nerves. For the last few month’s every time I update iTunes I am presented with an update window with a pre-checked box in front of both iTunes & QuickTime and Safari, Apple’s web browser. Safari is not a bad browser. I use it on my Mac, but I prefer to use Firefox on my PC. My gripe is that it sounds like Apple is doing me a favor to update my Safari browser, but it says the same thing even if Safari is not installed.

If you don’t uncheck the update Safari box, Apple installs Safari for you, whether you want it or not. This is obviously very confusing to many people who have written to me asking what Safari is and how it got on their computers.

Apple should be ashamed of themselves for these pushy tactics. If Microsoft tried to install Internet Explorer on a Mac machine when someone installed Microsoft Word, everyone would be up in arms. Yet Apple seems to get away with it!

So to answer all of you who have written about Safari, no it is not spyware. It is a web browser like Firefox and Internet Explorer. If you have inadvertently let Apple install it on your computer you can uninstall it from the Control Panel.

iFrog Treadz Back

iFrog Treadz Back

One of my first choices for an iPhone case was the iFrogz Treadz. I use an iFrogz case for my iPod video and have been very happy with the fit and the protection it provides.

The Treadz was quite unique. As you can see the design on the back looks like a tire tread. Although the website said it would take up to 12 days for delivery, I received the Treadz in 2 days. As expected, the case had a great feel — firm but slightly rubbery. It prevented the iPhone from sliding around on a desk and had a nice feel in the hand. I loved the Treadz look.

The Treadz came with a clear plastic screen protector that covered the face of the iPod to protect it from scratches. Unfortunately, the screen protector came with a crease across it, making it unusable. I went to the iFrogz website requested another screen cover. I was amazed to get a response the same day that the new screen cover was on its way. I was equally amazed two days later when I received another complete iTreadz case with the screen cover.

iFrogz TreadZ

iFrogz Treadz

As shown in this picture, the black plastic casing of the Treadz ran all the way around the face of the iPhone. You can barely see it in the photo, but there plastic runs over the bottom of the face of the iPhone with a hole in the plastic for the iPhone button. Although my small fingers should have been able to press the button, I couldn’t seem to get used to pressing my finger in the “hole” every time I wanted to press the button. Also, the black plastic on the bottom interfered with the bottom buttons on the screen. Although these complaints were pretty minor, I was not happy with the Treadz case because of them.

Back at the iFrogz website, I asked if I could return it and choose another. Again, the answer came quickly and was positive. I was given the address to return the 2 cases that I received. Almost immediately after the return, I received a phone call from iFrogz suggesting that I try the 3G Luxe Case and asking which color I would like.

I’ll let you know how I like the new case, but in the meantime I can highly praise the iFrogz company and their customer support. I purchased the case directly from their website, so to them I was just another customer rather than someone who was reviewing their product.

Every time I contacted iFrogz, I was greeted with a quick response from an intelligent and caring representative. They were accommodating to all my requests. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Also, we have had the same landline telephone number for more than 15 years. What if some old friend wants to reach us? We didn’t want to give up our number.

Luckily we didn’t have to. You can now keep your landline number and move it to a cell phone — it’s called “porting” the number over. Unfortunately, the process was not as smooth as it should be.

First we made the arrangements with AT&T, our cell phone carrier. According to the AT&T agent, she would handle everything and within a few hours, the number would be moved to our cell phone. Ah! If only it were so. Several days later when it became apparent that the move was not made, I called AT&T again and I was told that the request had not been entered or at least had not been entered properly. I went through the entire scenario again. This time I was told that the move would take “a few” days.

Wanting to be sure that everything was handled properly the second time, I went over to the AT&T store. At the store they said everything had been done correctly and the number would be working properly within a few hours. No such luck!!

We went away for the weekend assuming that the number would be ported over while we were gone. We came back to a message from AT&T saying the the completion of the porting would not happen until July 10th — a full two weeks after we made the initial request. I hope that it will happen then, but there is certainly no guarantee.

AT&T says that Embarq (our local carrier) is sitting on the number for as long as they can… of course, the longer they keep the number the longer they can charge us for it! Embarq says this is not true, that AT&T is at fault. I think they are both at fault. Embarq certainly could have released the number sooner. Why should it take so long? It is also apparent that no one at AT&T knows how this works or knows how long it should take. I got contradictory information from each of the 4 agents I talked to at AT&T.

The idea of being able to keep my old telephone number is a good one. Now if only the landline folks were forced to perform more quickly and the cellular folks would train their employees properly, it could be a good experience.

It’s not over yet. Oh, Oh! Maybe I shouldn’t have written this so soon. If someone from Embarq reads this, they may sit on my number even longer! I’ll let you know.

FOR AN INTERESTING UPDATE ON HOW THIS TURNED OUT, BE SURE TO READ CLICK ON THE COMMENTS BELOW.

Just as I was considering another service, I received the letter that offered me an increase in download speed from 5 Mbps to 7 Mbps as a free upgrade. All I had to do was trade my modem in for a new one. Since I was not getting anywhere near the 5 Mbps and had tried to get them to replace my modem previously, I was thrilled. One of the TW reps told me that the rollout of new modems was routine. So my complaining didn’t get me the new modem offer, but I was happy anyway.

I went online and arranged for the new modem. It was delivered yesterday, so I decided to install it today. The installation was simple. It amounted to unplugging the old modem, plugging in the new one, and moving the cable from the old to the new. I was done in 5 minutes. All that was left to do was to call Time Warner to activate the new modem.

It should have been easy, but it turned into a two-hour nightmare. First I called the 800 number on the installation instructions that came with the modem. After a 25-minute wait I was informed that I needed to be transferred to my local TW representative….I could have saved 25 minutes of my time if they had listed that number on the form I received, but Time Warner obviously doesn’t think that my time is valuable. So I was transfered to a local representative. The 20-minute wait time was really aggravating. The girl who took my call was abrupt, but not rude. After about 15 minutes, she told me that everything was activated and working. I told the lady that the modem was not working. She had me eliminate the possibility that there was something wrong with my router by plugging the modem directly into my computer. Still no luck.

She told me that she could help no further and would transfer me to the Road Runner national tech support. After another 20 minutes on hold, I was told that she had connected me to the wrong department, so I was transferred again and was again in for a 20 minute wait. If I heard “You call is important to us” one more time, I was ready to scream!!

Fortunately, the tech support person was who finally took my call was sympathetic and knowledgeable. I was put on hold for about 5 minutes while he investigated the situation.Unfortunately, the modem had not been activated and was not properly attached to my account. In order to do that the tech support person needed to contact the local TW representative. I guess he had a hard time getting through because I was on hold for another 20 minutes. Then the local representative came on. Fortunately she was more knowledgeable than the first local representative and was able to straighten everything out.

Finally, I was able to get back on the Internet. The speed was at the 7 Mbps that was promised and I was able to successfully watch a streaming video on the Web.

Of course I was happy to receive the new modem, but the stress and aggravation of dealing with Time Warner’s bureaucracy was totally exhausting.

In the mail today I received a letter from Time Warner asking me if I wanted to add their digital telephone service to my account. Fat chance!!!