Category: Life

The New T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, aka My Next Phone

When it comes to getting a new cellphone, I am extremely picky. In the past, I wanted really random features–from being able to use any mp3 as a ringtone to being able to have a front facing screen that could have a different background as the main screen. I know, I’m strange.

Ever since I got a smart phone however, I demand speed, power and versatility. I was late to the smart phone game, and bought one of the cheapest Android phones out there; the LG Optimus T. Prior to finally caving and buying a smart phone, I went through at least one cell phone a year, maybe more. Since I was sixteen, when I got my first Samsung flip phone, I have constantly sought out the next big thing. Only problem is that I seem to fall in love with the worst phones.

Before I really starting learning about cell phones, my main motivation to choose one phone over another was a) brand and b) features. My favorite brands were Nokia and Samsung, least favorite Motorola. By features I mean does it have a full text keyboard, or can I use any mp3 as a ringtone?

Rarely did I understand specs, let alone look at them. That really changed when I met my boyfriend, a super techy savvy writer who reviews mobile phones for a living. Yet despite his wonderful advice, I still ended up with a weak, slow smart phone that can barely run a program. This must change.

Graduation is rapidly approaching and with that comes gifts. What’s on my list for things I want? Money and a new cell phone. Which cell phone you may ask? Well I’ve got my sights on the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, read on to find out why.

Copyright © 1995-2011 SAMSUNG

Sidekicks have long been a favorite of many T-Mobile customers. I had many friends when I was younger who had all the different models of Sidekicks and absolutely loved them. They are largely meant for social media and messaging and designed to perform such tasks easily.

A huge part of the appeal of a Sidekick is the full-text keyboard. The reviews sing the praises of the Sidekick 4G’s keyboard, which brought up my excitement level around this phone. I am no stranger to typing on a touchscreen–I had a 2nd generation Ipod Touch. However, after using the horrible screen on my LG Optimus T, I want real keys to push. I can’t even begin to articulate my frustration with trying to type on a poorly responsive plastic screen. Even trying to use Swype is difficult.

The specs of the Sidekick also catch my eye. I am coming from a phone with a 600 MHz processor and 170 MB of internal memory. The Sidekick boasts a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor with 512 MB of RAM. This is highly important to me because the lag on my current phone is unbearable. Also, because the processor on my Optimus T is so slow, running a program while background processes are active is near impossible. My whole phone freezes and applications crash daily. The Sidekick 4G runs Android 2.2, aka Froyo. This is essential to me because I love the Android operating system.

For anyone who has a powerful smart phone, like the HTC Evo or Droid Incredible, being able to view flash based video and websites is no big deal. For me, coming from my Optimus T, having a phone that supports flash is awesome. This is where the Sidekick makes me smile!

From the reviews I’ve read, the camera isn’t great; only 3 megapixels. But because I don’t use my phone as a camera, this doesn’t phase me.

I am also quite impressed with the fact that this version of the Sidekick is made by Samsung. I would say that about 80% of the phones I’ve owned were made by Samsung and they are probably my favorite cell phone manufacturer. I have a soft spot for Nokia because I have loved the Nokia phones I’ve had, but they’ve always had software issues. I trust Samsung to produce a quality phone that lasts.

As irrelevant it is to the performance of the phone, I love the way it looks and the color scheme that was chosen. I am sucker for anything pink, so the magenta and white version of the phone does it for me.

My only issue I have with the phone from just reading reviews and looking at pictures is the look of the Android experience overlay. In my opinion it’s ugly, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers. I am also sad that the design did away with the swivel hinge to reveal the keyboard, something that was characteristic of past Sidekick models. When I was younger that was part of the appeal of the Sidekick, so I will miss it.

Overall, I am impressed with this phone and see it as a dramatic improvement over the lackluster LG Optimus T I currently have. The design and specs of the Sidekick 4G really impress me:

  • Real keys that are well spaced out? Check.
  • Snappy processor that can effectively run apps? Check.
  • Flash support? Check.
  • Appealing design? Check.

Ever since I began dating someone who reviews phones, it has become commonplace for me to research phones before I buy them. Hopefully my research has paid off and I can enjoy the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G by this time next month. If I do buy the phone, I’ll post a review!

Four Months of Curly Hair

So back in December I finally started the process of embracing my curly hair.

Four months later, I am completely in love with it. Everyday my hair is bit different; always full of surprises.

Today was one of my best hair days in a very long time, and that includes when my hair was straight. I am so happy that I have stuck with the Curly Girl program (which includes giving up silicones and sulfate shampoos). My hair has never looked better and hasn’t been this health since before I started chemically processing it when I was 13!

Just thought I’d share my happiness and new found love for my hair!

Is Decency Dead?

Forgive me for a minute while I climb up on my soapbox.

I have my rants and I have my raves. Some things bother me but aren’t really worth spending much time thinking about. However, some things really bother me and are worth trying to do my part to fix.

What really gets to me? The lack of common decency in San Francisco, and frankly in the United States. I know, I am preaching to a choir that either completely agrees with me or isn’t even listening. That doesn’t stop me from thinking that it people need to be more considerate.

I feel like lately I have seen more and more examples of people being rude, inconsiderate, or just down right terrible. Everyday I encounter crazy drivers; people who deliberately run red lights and cut others off. I’ve had people ram into me because I apparently was in their way and saying “excuse me” apparently didn’t cross their mind. I see people who let doors slam in others’ faces. There are awful bullies in schools all over the US who attack people with such force that the victims commit suicide. People in the media cut others down for entertainment.

The most terrible act I’ve been exposed to lately is the Giants fan who was beat by two Dodger’s fans at the Dodger’s home opener. Over two weeks later, he is still in critical condition at a hospital in Los Angeles. Come on people. People in this society are willing to beat people into a coma over nothing? Willing to physically hurt someone because he is a fan of a rival baseball team? We can’t be decent people? How incredibly sad. The men who performed that horrible act took something as innocent baseball and turned it into something worth committing assault over. That is not the kind of society I want to live in.

I am no angel, I am no saint. I am not a perfect person who is always nice and considerate of others. But I damn well try to be. I was raised to be kind and polite to people around me whether I know them or not. Saying please and thank you, holding doors, letting others go before me at a four way stop when its not clear who stopped first: all things I was taught to do because it was the kind thing to do. I believe that those small acts of decency can go a long way. These acts are becoming more and more uncommon in our society. It kills me to see younger kids and teens who are rude to others; they will grow up and contribute to the problem.

So please be nice. This world, OUR world, needs more love, decency and kindness. Hatred and indecency gets us no where. To quote one of my favorite bands Nada Surf; “Always love, hate will get you every time”.

I will climb back down from my soapbox now, thank you for reading.

Writer for Hire Indeed

So unfortunately, I had to leave my internship due to a lack of funding. I don’t blame my company; they are a start-up trying to make their business work and costs needed to be cut. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given because it helped establish my portfolio and expand my skills. I learned so much about social media and added skills to my resume that I didn’t even know existed.
So whats the moral of this story? I am a writer for hire! So hire me! Links to my professional and academic work are under the professional work tab and my resume has its own section too. If you like what you see, email or call me!

Finding My Glamorous Self

Growing up, I never really struggled with body image. I was a very skinny child, preteen, and teen. Looking back at pictures, it is shocking how skinny I was. Never having to worry about my figure, I ate whatever I wanted. For years and years I rarely thought about if the food I was eating was fattening or high in calories.

That changed after I turned 21. Hormone changes, stress, and growing out of puberty changed my body figure and left me confused.  I started gaining weight that I couldn’t get off; something that had never happened to me before.

At first, gaining this weight was fine. Actually it was more than just fine: it was great. I had always been teetering between being a “underweight” and “normal” BMI. Slowly I started to naturally fill out my figure and become curvy instead of stick-skinny. When I reached an ideal weight and body shape, I was happy. However, problems arose when I kept gaining weight past my “ideal”.

Right now I am healthy and well within my normal BMI range. However I still struggle with my body image. There are times where I think I look just fine, and times where I feel like I should be exercising and eating much better. Like many other women, I have days where I am happy with my body and days where I am just not.

Today, I decided to feel great about my body. The sun was out today in San Francisco and I got one of my favorite magazines in the mail. The beach was calling my name, so I decided to walk the 4 blocks to the ocean to lay out on the sand and read. I slipped on my new navy maxi dress, put a cute flower clip in my hair, and loaded up my beach bag with a blanket. It was such a lovely day; I laid out in the sun and watched the waves crash into the beach. I was surrounded by kite flyers, surfers, sun bathers, people walking their dogs in the surf and many other happy people.

Something amazing happened when I was laying on the beach: I felt glamorous. My maxi dress and curly hair swayed in wind, my pink toenails dug into the sand and I was so incredibly happy. I felt like someone right out of the magazine I was reading: well put together, stylish and beautiful.

It was such an amazing experience to sit on the beach and feel glamorous. I believe that every woman needs to have that same experience every day. So often, women are cruel to themselves. They criticize every part of their bodies; pointing out every perceived flaw in the mirror.

My advice to anyone out there who feels down about themselves: find what makes you feel glamorous. It doesn’t matter who you are, there is something that makes you feel like a million dollars. If it happens to be something material-a skirt, top, or necklace- then wear it! If it is a feature of your body, then play it up!

For me, glamour comes from embracing my curly hair and wearing clothes that I feel look great on me. Take it from someone who struggles with body image like any other women: find your own glamour and celebrate it.