Tag: tiger

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Choosing stable over newest

Well, all that in my previous post about not being able to use a newer iPhone with Tiger O.S. …

Problem solved.

I got the new phone.  It’s great.  I can hear my phone calls again.  It’s not an iPhone 4, but for $199 I got the 3GS with 32 GB.  Not bad.

Even though the specs on the Apple website say that you need 10.5.8, you don’t.  They are assuming that you will upgrade the iPhone OS to 4.1.  I didn’t.

So I’ll continue using Tiger OS on the Mac and 3.1.3 on the iPhone.  No multitasking.  No Facetime.  So what?  It’s a stable system for now.

The phone works.  When I received my first phone call — from my wife at the grocery store — I heard every word she said (something I haven’t experienced in a year or so with the 2G iPhone).

And with 32 GB, I can load all my audiobooks.

I’m not a game player or a highly sophisticated user.  I want a phone.  I want to listen to books.  And I use a few apps to keep track of my tasks, phone numbers, appointments, and calories.

So I bought a brand new older phone with no OS upgrade path.  But it’s proven to be a stable system.

Besides, the iPhone 5, or 4.5 — which I’m guessing will be soon — might not have the call-dropping and face sensing issues.

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Dear Apple: I want to buy an iPhone but can't

Dear Apple,

I want to buy a new iPhone but can’t.

My current computer, a dual 1.8 G5, still works like a charm.  It runs OS 10.4.11, aka Tiger.

The PPC processor can’t run Snow Leopard, even though we own the family pack.

Yes, I know I could run plain Leopard, 10.5.8 — and I could get the new phone and sync.  This would cost me an additional $129, which makes the new phone a little pricey (still less than I paid for the Original iPhone I currently use).

However, because I use several different graphic packages, and have a working driver that prints to a rather old but very expensive digital duplicator — and my business depends it — I’m afraid an OS upgrade would break something, cause serious problems to my workflow, and disrupt my business — thereby putting me out of business.

I’ve used the Mac since it was invented.  Before that, I used an Apple IIc.  Before that, beginning in 1982, an Apple II+.   I’ve got a little museum of old Macs on the floor of my office.

Alas, one of the reasons so many of us love Macs is because they work so well and last forever.

But now I feel caught between a phone and a hard place.

The 2G phone reception on my Original iPhone is getting worse and worse because AT&T seems to be degrading this service in favor or 3G.  That’s okay, if I could get a new iPhone that uses 3G — something I want to do.

But I’d like the phone to sync with my computer.

Tiger is an excellent operating system.  The G5 dual processor Power Mac is a great computer.

I would buy a phone today, if I could.  But I’m not in the position, currently, to buy a new computer, new duplicator, and all new software.

So my question is this:  Why not let your engineers allow the newer iPhones to sync with the older Macs?  Users of older PC’s CAN do this.  Windows XP is nine years old, and users of this OS are able to buy new phones and sync with their computers.  Why not Mac users?

Sincerely,

Sam

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iPhone 4 – stuck between generations

I want an iPhone 4.

Even with the well publicized reception problems, it’s probably better than the one I’m using now:  the original iPhone 2G. The reception was great when I got it (which is why I decided, shortly thereafter, to do away with the home phone).

But it’s not the same now as it was then, three years ago.

The signal has been degrading ever since the iPhone 3g was introduced. There are only a couple of rooms left in my house that I can use.  I drop calls all the time.  I’m eligible for an upgrade, and almost ready to buy it.

Because of AT&T’s lousy reception, I would possibly switch phones and carriers altogether, but I enjoy the iPhone.

I got my iPhone before the App Store existed.  Switching from years of Palm use, I sorely missed the absence of a to do list — but I managed with iCal.

Then came the apps, and it hasn’t been a big deal for me.  But there are a couple I us a lot.

•Put Things Off (the most simple and best task management system I’ve ever used).  In the past, I’ve paid serious money for PIM packages.  Put Things Off is perfect for me.

•Lose It! I’ve lost 26 pounds with this little gem.  It’s free.

I’m sure I could find similar apps for an Android phone, but I might not find anything as cheap, or as simple, or as elegant.

Anything else I use (iTunes, mail, contacts, calendar) is on every phone.  But do they sync nicely with Macs?  Probably not.

The rest of it I could probably live without — although I do need the better GPS that 3g offers.

I could switch to another smartphone.  They all have mail, contacts, and calendars. But I’ve used a Mac since it was first invented, and I’ve used PDA’s since they first came out — and iPhones sync better with Macs.  And I love Lose It! and Putting Things Off.

Alas, the new problem now is syncing anything at all.

I use Mac OS Tiger (10.4.11).  It’s a good OS.  The iPhone 4 requires OS 10.5 or above.

I already own 10.6 family pack — but it won’t install on my G5 (a 1.8 dual processor Powermac.  Top of the line in its day.  The big, expensive tower).

I can barely afford the phone, and I’m certainly not looking to buy a new computer.  There’s plenty of life left in the one I’ve got.

If I upgrade to plain Leopard 10.5, things would be cool — phonewise.  But that’s another $129 — and it’s likely to break my old version of Final Cut.

I spent a lot of time making films with this computer and although I seriously doubt I’ll ever do anymore video editing on this machine, I want access to those films — just in case Hollywood decides to pay me a million dollars for Coffee Therapy, with a few edits.

Upgrading the OS could break some of my graphics software also.  I depend on this system, on a daily basis, and don’t want to break it or spend money on lots of new packages.

So I’m stuck between generations.  Wanting the newer phone — not wanting to let go of my computer system.

I could forget about syncing altogether.  Not a great solution.