BITTERSWEET MAGAZINE
CONSUMER RATED GOODNESS ON PAPER
// NOVEMBER 2009
THE iPHONE 3GS EDITION Apple brings the speed with its newly updated uber-phone $4.95 US // $5.95 CAN // Issue 1
+PLUS • CHEAP BEER •ROCK BAND vs. GUITAR HERO • MINI does CONVERTIBLES
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BITTERSWEET MAGAZINE: NOVEMBER 20 09
USUAL SUSPECTS: 6 Letters to the Editor 8-11 Quick Hits 13 On Your Screen 30-32 Music Reviews 34-36 TV Reviews
FEATURES SIDE BY SIDE: Guitar Hero World Tour & Rock Band 2
15
BitterSweet addresses the debate being raged in college dorm rooms around the globe. Which is truly better?
SHOWDOWN: Subway VS. Quiznos
17
Which sub chain truly delivers the ultimate sandwhich? One man makes it his mission to find out through a three week study. Tasty.
MINI COOPER does CONVERTABLES
19
We test drive and review the 2009 Mini Cooper Convertable to see how BMW's little cousin fairs in the emerging tiny sportscar market.
iPHONE 3GS BRINGS THE SPEED (cover)
22
We take a closer look at Apple's new and improved uber phone and whether an upgrade to the new 3G "S" model is truly worth it.
Bittersweet Magazine is a consumer review publication dedicated to bringing you, the consumer, useful time and money saving tips for buying the "stuff" that can put you in a "Bitter" or "Sweet" mood. Bittersweet magazine is edited by Nicholas Romanos. The layout is the work, additionally of one, Nicholas Romanos. Mr. Romanos would like to thank his team of wildly talented photographers for supplying the images needed to create each month's issue. The work of these individuals can be found within the pages of www.google.com/images. The articles are cited according to their specific authors, however, we must take a moment to, once again, to recognize the special efforts of one, Nicholas Romanos for supplying several of the articles out of the brilliance of his own mind and the kindness of his heart. To find out more about Bittersweet Magazin and Mr. Romanos, please visit his amazing website, nickromanos.com or (for the scholarly types) www4.ncsu.edu/~nwromano. As always, thank you for your unyielding loyalty to our individually published effort. We hope you enjoy this issue.
>> YOUR VOICE
HOLLA at us. {letters to the editor} Dear BS, I always knew there was something strange about Slim Jims. The texture, the "skin" the overwhelming saltiness, I knew there was a reason I shouldn't be eating this food. After your last issue, I now have scientific backing for this and I can say, in confidence, I will never eat another Slim Jim as long as I am alive. Thanks a bunch. Ronny, Little Rock, AK Dear BS, I wish I had subscribed earlier! I recently bought a MacBook Pro prior to your last month's article regarding buying the "AppleCare" plan with your new computer. rest assured, two months later, the damn battery is dead. The warranty is going to cover it this time but next time, well, I will probably be "up the creek" without power (if you know what I'm saying). Anyway, maybe it's not too late for me to get it.I appreciate the warning,
Dear BS, Seriously, I have no idea how you could say Facebook is a better social networking website than MySpace! Everyone at my high school is on MySpace! It has so many more features like music and page backgrounds and other stuff. You guys really missed this one. Jenny, Charlotte, NC
Dear BS, I really don't like the way this magazine is so focused on Apple products. All you guys seem to so is rave about the beautiful designs and blazing speed! I will have you know my PC plays every game there is and that's all I need it for. Maybe keep the gamers in mind when reviewing computer stuff. Dan Houston, TX
Dear BS, I really liked you guys' feature on the Big Boss Brewery in Raleigh, North Carolina last month. It's nice to sort of shift away from technology and media for a bit and discuss other topics that might be of interest. Don't get me wrong, I subscribed because I love the tech-reviews but please, keep it coming with these short articles about other things. That last one was really informative! Best, Charles, Atlanta, GA
Jane, Kansas City, MO
Want YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD?
visit : bsmag.com or follow us on Twitter or Facebook (search BS Mag).
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 6
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
>> QUICK HITS:
CHEAP, PARTY BEERS: 2/10 BUSCH LIGHT • Watery • Flavorless • Cheapest There is only one reason to drink this beverage and that is to consume it in mass quantities and becoming inebriated. If you "sip" Busch Light, you really gotta take a look in the mirror my friend. Gross.
4/10 PABST BLUE RIBBON • Awesome Can Design • Move Flavor than Busch • Tradition! PBR has seen a surge in sales recently and this can likely be attributed to the "Hipster" movement. For some reason, white kids coming from middle class families love this barely passable lager.
5/10 BUDWEISER • Not too bad of an aftertaste! • Not too wattery • "America's Beer" Budweiser is the American beer classic. While it might cost you a bit more than PBR or Busch, it could be seen as a worthy upgrade because although this is certainly not the tastiest beer, the flavor won't make you gag.
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QUICK HITS: CHEAP PARTY BEERS
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 6/10 COOR'S LIGHT • Wide "mouthes" makes for easy chugging • Easier to take down than heavier beers • More flavorful than all other light beers What does it say about a beer when it's brewery advertises it through it's high-tech can (it has some FlavorSeal feature)? Who knows, but Coors was definitely the best light beer reviewed hands down. So binge away.
6.5/10 MILLER HIGH LIFE • Dirt Cheap • Comes in 40oz bottle • It's the "Champagne of Beers" The High Life is a servicable brew and if you are willing to upgrade from cans to bottles, it's actually not a halfbad flavor. It costs about the same as PBR but is infinitely better. Whatever you do, don't let it get warm though.
8/10 YUENGLING • Flavorful • America's Oldest Brewery • Considered More "Up-Scale" in Bars It's filling and flavorful so it's probably not the best beer for a college house party, but if you are willing to grow up a little bit and drink more for taste, Yuengling has a full, lager flavor that can't be beat for the price.
QUICK HITS: CHEAP PARTY BEERS
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 9
>> QUICK HITS:
SMALL TVs 3/10 Dynex® - 15" Class / 720p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV • Tabletop stand • Remote • Owner's Manual "I bought this tv because it was relatively inexpensive compared to other tvs. Big mistake. I wasn't able to receive any channels because it put me through this ridiculous "auto scan" thing.
6.5/10 Insignia® - 19" Class / 720p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV • Two 3W stereo speaker • Ultraslim design (2-3/5" deep • 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio "This is by current standards a small and rather inexpensive product and feels like it. The remote does not have a channel identification button, so one has to go either up or down to find out where one was."
9/10 Toshiba® - 19" Class / 720p / 60Hz / LCD HDTV • 1366 x 768 screen resolution • DynaLight backlight control • Gaming mode "This Toshiba TV far exceeds the quality compared to other manufacturers similar models in this price and size range. The picture is crystal clear and sound is also clear."
QUICK HITS: SMALL TVs
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>> ON YOUR SCREEN: Kris De Leon – buddytv.com
DEXTER: SEASON 4 New episodes air at 9PM ET, Sundays on SHOWTIME
W
ith Dexter Morgan now living the dream as a husband and father, can season 4 possibly exceed Dexter's gripping third season? I'd like to believe so after watching the first episode of Showtime's hit series. Like most of you, my expectations for Dexter are pretty high, especially with the addition of John Lithgow, who is so creepy and outright scary as the Trinity Killer. But it's a little bit different where I'm coming from since I'm not just a fan of the show ---I also have spoilery knowledge of what's in store this season, making it all the more difficult to enjoy the series. In spite of that, however, the fourth season opener absolutely blew my mind. OK so maybe I'm exaggerating a little. It wasn't one of those episodes where you're on the edge of your seat most of the time. I admit that it was even a bit dragging. It also didn't cause my heart to palpitate in any way, at least not at first. But it was a very subtle yet disturbing introduction that will gradually build up your excitement for the episodes to come. By the end of the episode, you'd know why. I won't give out any spoilers here but I will tell you that I've been watching this show since season 1 and have never seen Dexter this exhausted. Obviously, "Living the Dream," the title of the season 4 premiere, is a clever play on words because we all know that he has everything he could possibly want except the one thing he actually needs ---which is time to kill. Season 4 can pretty much serve as a new chapter in Dexter's life so it's not that difficult for you to enjoy the new season even if you haven't seen season 3. At any rate, the first couple of minutes offer a montage of clips that gets you up to speed for the new season.
ON YOUR SCREEN: DEXTER SEASON 4
"It makes you feel sympathetic for America's favorite serial killer even more."
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 13
>> SIDE by SIDE: Blake Snow – msnbc.com
&Rock Band 2
Guitar Hero WorldTour
P
lant either “Rock Band 2” or “ Guitar Hero World Tour ” in front of four people, and you'll have an instant party. I promise. But which one’s better? Well, that’s a matter of taste. At first blush, “World Tour” appears to be the better game thanks to improved instruments, refined gameplay, and more enjoyable note-plucking. But isolated reports of hardware bugs, a sloppy menu, and a less-than-desirable online mode complicate the choice. For the uninitiated, “World Tour” and “Rock Band 2” feature downward-scrolling notes that must be played to the beat using a wireless toy guitar, bass or drum set. Singing is performed using a wired microphone, much like karaoke. The overall effect is extremely convincing, even for musicians, making your ordinary self feel like a bona fide rocker of real-world music. While MTV's “Rock Band” was first to add drums and singing in 2007, Activision's “World Tour” upgrade to “Guitar Hero” is more innovative. Guitar controllers are more responsive, making you feel better prepared to hit incoming notes, and there's a new touch pad high on the neck for playing solos. (Watch out Ace Frehley.) “World Tour” drums and
singing are also improved over “Rock Band 2.” The drum set is quieter, features a softer kick pedal, and adds two raised cymbal pads, which not only make more sense than the primitive flat pads of "Rock Band," but the are easier to hit and more fun to play. “World Tour” singers also enjoy cleaner vocals. Unfortunately, some “World Tour” owners are reporting drumming misfires. Activision has quickly addressed the issue, offering a free tuner cord that connects to a computer and corrects the problem. But it will require extra effort on your part, and it makes “Rock Band 2” more reliable out of the box and better suited for the technically challenged. (Author’s note: I’ve played one “World Tour” set that works perfectly, and another that had problems registering snare and high-hat hits). “Rock Band 2” is also more dependable when it comes to band chemistry, even if its instruments are inferior. Both games support a four-player band mode, but only “Rock Band 2” lets players gauge
SIDE BY SIDE: GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR & ROCKBAND 2
WORLD TOUR ROCKS: • Improved instruments • More aggressive track list • Better tablature makes you
RB 2 ROCKS: • Better band chemistry makes you feel like a group • Easier setup, no buggy hardware • Unmatched online play
easily how everyone’s doing, and assist bandmates if they’re failing. What's more, the menus in “Rock Band 2” are easier to navigate, as is playing others online. But if you want to create your own original music and cover songs, “World Tour” is the only way to go, since it’s the only one of the two that includes a robust recording and mixing studio. The music samples sound more like a cheap Casio keyboard than something you would expect from a professional recording, but there are a variety of passable presets. In terms of music, each game features more than 84 songs,
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>> SIDE by SIDE cont... many of which are included in both games. I found both track lists to be more than compelling, but there are differences. Van Halen, Coldplay, Jimi Hendrix, and Michael Jackson are exclusive to “World Tour,” while “Rock Band 2” has the lock on AC/DC, Panic at the Disco, Kansas, and The Offspring. If you want to download more songs, however, “Rock Band 2” has a bigger online store, but both stores are growing. In the end, musicians and experienced rhythm game fans will likely prefer the innovations of "Guitar Hero: World Tour," while “Rock Band 2” will
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CAN"T MISS HITS: appeal to casual players and online gamers for its ease of use and proven experience. Rabid music fans will likely want both of these games for a maximum number of songs, and this is the best way to do it: "World Tour" has the best instruments, and both games are compatible with the other's peripherals. So buy the complete band pack of “Guitar Hero: World Tour” for $190 (a second guitar controller and mic stand costs extra), then drop $50-60 on the stand-alone “Rock Band 2” disc for more song fun.
'GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR': 311 - “Beautiful Disaster Billy Idol - “Rebel Yell” Coldplay - “Shiver” Michael Jackson - “Beat It” Steve Miller Band - “The Joker” Sublime - “Santeria” Van Halen - “Hot For Teacher” Wings - “Band on the Run” 'Rock Band 2': Billy Idol - "White Wedding" Bon Jovi - "Livin' on a Prayer"* Foo Fighters - "Everlong" Interpol - "PDA" Lit - "My Own Worst Enemy" Modest Mouse - "Float On"* Squeeze - "Cool for Cats"
>>SHOWDOWN Pikie Melago – accosiatedcontent.com Which Sub Shop Makes a Better Sandwich?
SUBWAY VS. QUIZNOS S
ubway sandwich shop has been around for as long as I can remember... They have made a name by featuring sub sandwiches that are made fresh to your specifications. A few years ago they started making commercials with a fellow named Jared, who lost an amazing 100 pounds eating Subway sandwiches with 6 grams of fat or less for lunch and dinner everyday. Then Quiznos came to town and I found myself asking: Which restaurant is better? I wanted to approach a comparison of the two restaurants with complete fairness. To do this I would need to have several people willing to eat sandwiches from both restaurants at the same time. It would also mean several weeks of trying different sandwiches. It would be unfair to try to draw a conclusion of which restaurant makes a better sandwich by eating just one from each store, so I asked 3 friends to join me in the taste test. I decided to make paper ballots which would include favorite sub and comments. These would be deposited in a coffee can and counted at the end of the sub shop trials. In an effort to make the taste test fun, I decided on a small weekly get together that would involve 2 different 12” subs from each store that were similar. I’d serve chips on the side and a choice of soda, beer or bottled water. Each 12” sub would be cut into four 3” pieces, one for each of us.
WEEK 1 SANDWICHES: Subway Hot & Fresh Toasted Italian
BMT and Meatball Marinara and Quiznos Signature Classic Italian and Real Deal Meatball
Week one was a mixed vote. Three out of four liked the Subway Italian BMT over Quiznos Classic Italian. The comments were: “Good pepperoni” and “onions have a better taste.” Quiznos Real Deal Meatball Sub got all 4 votes with comments that included: “better tasting meatballs”, “tastes like homemade spaghetti sauce” and “more cheese makes it taste better”. WEEK 2 SANDWICHES: Subway Classic Tuna Sub and Fresh Value Turkey Sub Quiznos Real Deal Deli Tuna and Signature Smoked Turkey Sub The second week had a tie and a winner. The Tuna Subs were voted 2 to 2. One comment said they liked the Subway Tuna salad better because of the mayonnaise. Another comment mentioned the Quiznos Tuna salad was creamier and had real mayonnaise. The comparison went a little better with Quiznos Smoked Turkey sub winning 3-1. Comments included: “Rosemary Parmesan bread is excellent”, “turkey tastes better than Subway” and “smoked turkey and dressing delicious.” WEEK 3 SANDWICHES: Subway Oven Roasted Chicken and Veggie Delight and Quiznos Honey Bourbon Chicken and Veggie Sub The final week had Quiznos as the hands down winner. Four out of four picked the Honey Bourbon Chicken sub with comments like: “Yummy sauce”, “Doesn’t taste like a low fat sandwich”, and “zesty flavor.” The Quiznos Veggie sub was favored by all four testers with comments: “The guacamole makes the difference”, “I like the cheddar cheese and guacamole” and “better dressing.”
"So, who would I recommend?The next time you’re hungry and looking for the perfect sub sandwich try Quiznos because you get fresh bread, better quality meat and tastier dressings." SHOWDOWN: SUBWAY VS. QUIZNOS
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SO SWEET. 2009
thecarconnection.com – Colin Mathews
MINI COOPER CONVERTABLE:
T
he 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible is based on aural cues from intake to exhaust. Both the new-for-'08 Cooper hatchback bones (the engines displace 1.6 liters and feature the 2008 convertible was based on the first-gen performance and fuel-efficiency benefits platform). We lauded the new generation last year for of direct injection. Even the base 2009 its even more delightful ride/handling mix, greater MINI Cooper Convertible, at 120 horseinterior room, baked-in BMW solidity, sprightlier pair power and managing a 0-60 time of 8.5 of engines, and (finally) the banishment of the CVT seconds with the six-speed manual, is a automatic that was at odds with the Cooper's sportblast to drive and feels quicker than its ing nature. Given the changes, the MINI Cooper Conacceleration numbers suggest. Move up vertible offers even to the turbocharged, fewer compromises 172-hp engine stan"Everything about the MINI's and merits serious dard in the MINI driving experience forces a grin. consideration for Cooper Convertible buyers looking for a S models and revel tenacious runabout in 177 pound-feet of that provides surprising interior room (at least up torque that's delivered in a relentless front), pure driving joy nearly unmatched in the autowave from 1,600 to 5,000 rpm (0-60 in motive realm, and a brilliant balance between sport about 7 seconds). A turbo six-speed and day-to-day livability. But in Convertible format, manual requires absolutely no downshiftthe MINI Cooper is really a two-person vehicle; we ing to pass at highway speeds; hit the stick to our assertion that the backseat is a place for throttle, wait a millisecond, and the turbo occasional riders in a good mood. The 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible gets all the subtle styling upgrades made to the hatchback last year. The interior strikes a great balance between cute and functional, though the massive central speedometer is one form-over-function touch that sent our eyes to the digital speed readout in the tach every time. Stereo controls are well-integrated into the center stack, but a visual oddity is the lonely volume knob below the rest of the audio buttons. Engines are perfectly suited to the MINI's mission, providing lively response throughout the operating range and a sweet demeanor with perfectly tuned SIDE BY SIDE: GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR & ROCKBAND 2
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 19
Model Year: 2009 Make: Mini Model: Cooper Style: S 2dr Convertible (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 6M) Base Price: $26,800 Price as Tested: $32,700 Options on Test Vehicle Sport Package ($1,500 -- includes 17-inch alloy wheels, Dynamic Traction Control, xenon headlights); Premium Package ($1,250 -includes multifunction steering wheel, anti-theft alarm system, chrome trim, automatic climate control); Interchange Yellow Cloth Leather ($1,000); Cold Weather Package ($500 -- includes heated power-folding mirrors with washer jets, heated front seats); Rear Park Distance Control ($500); Bluetooth and USB/iPod Adapter ($500). EPA Fuel Economy (mpg) 26 city/34 highway/29combined
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 20
will waft you swiftly past traffic with ease. That all of this performance is achieved with EPA numbers of 28 mpg city, 37 highway (base) and 26/34 mpg (S) proves the intelligence of BMW engineering acumen and the indisputable advantages of a lightweight vehicle. If you're at all prone to manual transmission, get the six-speed; slick and sweet, it makes you look like a skilled driver every time. Everything about the MINI's driving experience forces a grin. The joy is perhaps most noticed in its chassis, which combines MacPherson struts up front with a sophisticated central-arm rear axle to strike a sublime balance between razor-sharp reflexes in town and all-day driving comfort even at 80 mph and above. The sport suspension, with its performanceoriented 17-inch wheel/tire combo, does suffer some impact harshness and nervousness over rough roads, but its dizzying levels of grip will provide copious rewards for aggressive drivers. The biggest drawback in the Cooper S Convertible is the electrically
"For the front cockpit anyway, MINI has maximized comfort and ergonomics in the Cooper Convertible." boosted power steering, which has a rather digital, numb feel that's out of character with the rest of this vehicle; while an extremely accurate implement, it's a bit of a letdown, especially compared to BMW's typically brilliant feel. One other gripe: The S-mode, which heightens throttle response, alters steering effort, and raises shift points in the automatic, should really be the default setting for a car of the MINI's intent and demeanor. Without the S-mode button depressed, the electronic throttle feels a little sluggish and non-linear. For the front cockpit anyway, MINI has maximized comfort and ergonomics in the Cooper Convertible. Even those surpassing six feet tall will find ample room and a hospitable driving environment, courtesy of three seat levers that allow both front seats to con-
2009 MINI COOPER CONVERTABLE REVIEW
form to a rider's physique. Along with the tilt/telescoping steering wheel, this tidy car is uncanny in its ability to suit drivers large or small. One ergonomic letdown is marginal rearward visibility due to prominent rear seat headrests. A premium 10-speaker stereo is optional, as are a nav system ($2,000) and a USB iPod interface ($250) that augments the standard aux-input jack. Amplifying the brand's eccentric joie de vivre in the 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible are touches like the seemingly silly Openometer, a prominent analog gauge to the left of the tach that tracks hours spent with the top down. But even as a tool to make you take the world less seriously—as well as work on your tan and soak in some Vitamin D—the Openometer ends up playing perfectly into the Convertible's grin-inducing kitsch. A surprising touch is a convertible top that features a built-in sunroof for fresh air without the full alfresco experience; if you want to go all the way, the automatic top scissors back and down in only about 15 seconds with the touch of a button. Radio and conversations can still be heard well with the top down at freeway speeds as long as the windows are up. Another nice touch is the convertible's tailgate that renders the rather tight luggage space accessible and convenient. The 2009 MINI Cooper Convertible includes Dynamic Stability Control and anti-lock brakes, even at the base Cooper level. Airbags are front, sideseat-mounted (thorax protective on the convertible), and side curtain units on Coupe and Clubman models. Dynamic Traction Control comes standard on Sport models. Notable safety options are xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps, Park Distance Control, and run-flat tires with certain wheel/tire combos (standard on S models). NHTSA testing for the Coupe results in a decent four-star performance in most measures of impact safety (small, light vehicles do have their limitations), though the MINI's low center of gravity allows for a perfect five stars for rollover resistance.
2009 MINI COOPER CONVERTABLE REVIEW
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 21
iPHONE 3G BRINGS THE
s
PEED. GIZMODO.com – Jason Chen
There's a reason why Apple called this the iPhone 3GS for Speed and not the 3GC for "compass" or 3GV for "video recording." Speed is the central upgrade here, and probably is the single biggest reason you would upgrade to a 3GS from a 3G. And if you're coming in as a virgin iPhone user, there's definitely no question: The 3GS is worth an extra $100. There's a reason why Apple called this the iPhone 3GS for Speed and not the 3GC for "compass" or 3GV for "video recording." Speed is the central upgrade here, and probably is the single biggest reason you would upgrade to a 3GS from a 3G. And if you're coming in as a virgin iPhone user, there's definitely no question: The 3GS is worth an extra $100. That declaration may be weird to most of us since we usually look for features, and not specs, when we're evaluating phones—and iPhone 3GS doesn't blow us out in the feature department. Instead, it's like getting a bigger TV or a faster car. Your old machine works just fine, but once you've tried the new one for a week, you'll never want to go back, even if it costs you a little extra. Like we said, from the outside the 3GS is exactly the same as the 3G. It's slightly heavier and has glossy text on the back, but if Steve Jobs whipped one out in public before it was announced, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. By holding the 3GS next to the 3G, you'll notice that the screen is slightly more reflective because of the new fingerprint resistant oleophobic coating. It even has a little bit of a rainbow effect if you reflect a monitor with it. Surprisingly, the coating actually works in preventing a good deal of fingerprints and iPHONE 3GS BRINGS THE SPEED
face grease, and it allows the phone to still be smooth and usable even if there are fingerprints on the surface. The shot above illustrates the fact. The two phones may look similar in how much finger and face grease are on the screen, but the iPhone 3GS is still usable and doesn't have the problem of "sticking" in certain areas that are slightly greasier. It's also easier to clean just by wiping on your shirt. The glass treatment won't eliminate smudging from your bodily secretions altogether, but it's a very useful improvement for something you're touching all the time. The 3GS display is ever-soslightly warmer than the 3G's, having a yellow/orangish tint when viewed side by side. If you remember, the 3G's screen was also warmer than the 2G's. It's not distracting in any way, and the warm screen is slightly easier on your eyes even if the brightness is bumped up high. What does this speed increase mean for future iPhone apps and games? With the iPhone 3GS running on a 600MHz CPU with 256MB RAM (up from 400MHz and 128MB), there's a much higher
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 23
performance ceiling for apps to hit. The OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics standard that's now supported paves the way for an impressive visual boost. Hubert (a former Nvidia developer) from Ubergizmo says it's somewhere along the lines of going from Half Life 1 to Half Life 2, which is essentially going up a console generation. Gamers should pay attention. Like we said before, the iPhone 3G will still run most of the games for the near future. That 40 million unit potential market of iPhone/iPod Touch devices is too big to just ignore and put out an app just for 3GS phones, so your old phone will still be able to keep up. But developers are like alcoholics. If you put more system resources in front of them, they can't help but use all of it just because they can. Also, they drink a lot. Apple hates to emphasize specs in products like the iPhone 3GS, but even they couldn't resist bragging about the speed boost. That S is there for a reason.
"Apple hates to emphasize specs in products like the iPhone 3GS, but even they couldn't resist bragging about the speed boost. That S is there for a reason.." The 3GS also has a 3-megapixel camera, adding auto focus and video recording. You even get an interface that lets you tap on a section of the screen that you want to focus on and the phone will automatically adjust the focus to that point in space. By tapping on the screen and activating the auto-everything— not just auto focus but improved auto exposure and auto white balance—you're gaining the ability to control more of what your shots look like. It's most obvious in macro shots where the subject is only a few inches away (above). Those two photos were shot from the exact same distance in the exact same lighting. You can also see in the gallery below that the 3GS is slightly better in low-light conditions (something the 3G was no good at), as well as having better overall auto white balance. I wouldn't say it's a mindblowing revolutionary step for the iPhone camera, but it's definitely more than just shoving in more megapixels and leaving it at that. The video quality, on the other hand, is pretty good for a cellphone. Apple claims up to 30 frames per second, and as this video of an HD recording of SNL shows, it comes pretty damn close. Even if it's not quite 30FPS at all times, the video is smooth as hell. Recording still isn't great in low light since it's a physical limitation of cameras in general, but at least it's fluid. The tapto-focus (and re-expose) feature also carries over to video, which you can use to "aim" your camera at a part of the scene. You'll also want to use the quick trimming feature before you upload your videos directly to YouTube to cut out the excess at the front and back of your clips. The quick trim is just like trimming a clip in iMovie, with the yellow draggable borders. Apple BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 24
says that the 3G doesn't have video because the old processor isn't capable of handling it, and after taking the 30FPS videos on the 3GS, we can believe that they didn't want to settle for just 15FPS videos. Data hogs will also be happy about the increased 7.2Mbps data speeds the 3GS can achieve. We used the Speedtest app in the App Store and over multiple days and multiple times (early, mid-day and late at night), clocked the 3GS at an average of 1568Kbps, whereas the 3G only measured 1165Kbps. Their uploads were relatively equal, at 226Kbps (3GS) and 209Kbps (3G), but there was a noticeable difference in latency with the 3GS pulling ahead at 174ms to the 3G's 231ms. Although on average the 3GS scored about 50% higher than the 3G, occasionally, in individual runs, iPHONE 3GS BRINGS THE SPEED
"Customers are voting and the iPhone is winning.” - Steve Jobs; CEO Apple
SPECS: Price: $199 for 16GB or $299 for 32GB Height: 4.5 inches (115.5 mm) Weight: 4.8 ounces (135 grams) Capacity: 16GB and 32GB capacity Additional Features * Assisted GPS * Digital compass2 * Wi-Fi * Cellular
iPHONE 3GS BRINGS THE SPEED
it could have ranged anywhere from twice as fast to about the same speeds. The speed boost for downloads is interesting, seeing as AT&T hasn't even begun to really roll out their 7.2 HSPA in very many places yet. Since we're testing this before the actual 3GS release date, we'll see how much loads of 3GS users will impact overall speeds, and we'll see how fast the 3GS speeds increase once AT&T has the infrastructure to support it. If you're talking practical use scenarios right now, the increased network speeds and the increased processing speeds help to cut down wait times for both the email and Safari and whatever other app you use that grabs a bunch of data often. Even if you're on Wi-Fi, the fact that there's a faster processor on board mean that you're going to be done faster than on the 3G. The compass app, along with the magnetometer, is great at pointing you somewhere in the general direction of North. It also doesn't matter which way you're holding the phone— either parallel or perpendicular to the ground—the arrow and numbers will still more or less give you a sense of where you're facing. As a bonus, if you hit the "find me" button in Google Maps a second time after it's located your GPS position, it'll re-orient your map to reflect the way you're facing. It would have been extremely useful when I was on foot, lost in San Francisco trying catch the last train, not knowing which way was which since the street signs are so small and the
"If you're looking for a refined, augmented version of what you already know, a phone that, not for nothing, runs all the tens of thousands of apps on the App Store, choose the iPhone 3GS." blocks are so large. If I had this, I wouldn't have to have gone a block in the wrong direction just to figure out I should have been heading the other way. The compass may not sound like a great feature, but apps like Layar, an augmented reality browser, are now capable of running on the 3GS with the help of the magnetometer and GPS. Nike+ support is something that I've been looking forward to for a long time—so much so that I even bought an iPod Touch 2G to use it. Well, it's here, and it works. The app is exactly like the one on the 2G Touch, and enables you all the running features you're accustomed to using on any other Nike+ device. What's nice about using your phone when running is that you always have your phone with you, and if you have a stereo Bluetooth headset, you'll be able to listen to music, run and answer a call if need be. Voice control actually works. As long as you know the right commands, like "call" for calling someone on your contact list and "dial" if you want to dial a number. The accuracy is quite high, and the app can recognize what you're saying as long as there's
not too much background noise. It's also fairly smart. If you say "call Mike" and you have multiple Mikes in your list, the iPhone will say the names of all your Mikes and ask you to be more specific. The song control works, but gets confused occasionally because bands have weird names that aren't exactly English—they just share the same letters. The iPhone kept confusing "Phoenix" with "INXS" or "DMX", for example, but managed to actually get commands like "pause music", "who is this song by", "previous track" "what song is playing?",
"shuffle" and "play more like this" correct. And if you're worried about figuring out what to say to control your phone, just activate the Voice Control function and watch the screen; eventually the command you want will come floating by in the background. What's also surprising about the 3GS is that you wouldn't expect battery life to be improved, but it is. Apple's figures that measured improvement over the 3G in every category except 3G calling were more or less what we found in our own testing, which means you should be able to last the entire day on one charge with no problems. Plus, since the phone is faster, you'll probably spend less time looking up directions or getting to a restaurant's web page—which also saves battery. The iPhone 3GS is not an insignificant step forward in the iPhone family. The Nike+ support, magnetometer (compass), video recording, voice command, better camera, better battery life and faster data network are all improvements nobody would call a step backwards. But the biggest day-to-day improvement over the 3G is undoubtedly the increased processing speed, which is why Apple called this phone the 3GS (with the S standing for super fast) in order to designate that it's basically the 3G, but better. 3G users have the unfortunate question of asking themselves whether or not they want to spend the $399/$499 to upgrade to the 3GS right now. If you're eligible to upgrade in July, August or September, AT&T's letting you do so at the full subsidized $199/$299 price. If not, you'll have to wait until your 18 months are up. It's definitely a better phone, but AT&T's plan of making early adopters wait another six months from now until they can get the standard $199/$299 price is frustrating, since we'll already be halfway into the iPhone 3GS lifecycle. And by then, it'll be worth waiting until June 2010 for a true revolutionary jump in iPhone design, instead of just an evolutionary improvement on the 3G. Our first generation iPhone review verdict was to wait. Our iPhone 3G review gave the go-ahead to finally mount up. The only issue with the iPhone 3GS, if you already have the 3G, is that it's not all that different of an experience. Like I said in the Palm Pre review, I'm a bit bored of the iPhone look and feel. If you're looking for something new, something different and something you're not quite familiar with, there's the Pre or the MyTouch 3G. But as a whole, the iPhone 3GS is the best all-around smartphone available. If you're looking for a refined, augmented version of what you already know, a phone that, not for nothing, runs all the tens of thousands of apps on the App Store, choose the iPhone 3GS.
iPHONE 3GS BRINGS THE SPEED
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COUNTERPOINT:
iPHONE IS AWESOME BUT:
AT&T WASTES MONEY AND TIME. pissedconsimer.com – brienf
I
ordered high-speed internet from AT&T in mid September 2009. I was told the internet would be connected on September 30. When asked if I would need a modem, I said that I already had one; the person eager to sell me services said that this would be fine and never bothered to ask me what type of modem I have. My cell phone (serviced by AT&T) disconnected me during this phone call, but the person (Albert) eager to take my money called me back so that we could finish the order. On the evening of September 30, I plugged in my modem and learned that I still did not have the internet. I called AT&T and was told that I would have service by midnight if I did not already have it. Midnight came and went; no internet access. I waited nearly two weeks to deal with the company again, hoping that surely someone would actually connect me to the internet before I made time to call tech support and ask them to rectify this. No one gave me access to the internet, though AT&T did find the time to send me a bill. Tonight, October 12, I called tech support. I was disconnected four times during the hour and a half I spent on my AT&T cell phone with AT&T tech support employees. While each person I spoke with asked for a call-back number, none of them attempted to call me
back, so after each disconnection I had to call back and begin this process over again. During my conversations with Gavin, Albert 2.0, and Steve, I learned that AT&T does not support my modem and do not know how to help me with a Motorola cable modem. This was disturbing for two reasons: (1) Motorola isn't exactly an unheard-of company, and (2) I was led to believe that supplying my own modem would be fine when I first ordered services. I was not offered any disclaimer or warning that AT&T is actually confused by a black Motorola cable modem. Steve suggested that Support Plus might be able to help me, but agreed that this would probably cost more money. Given that I did not want Support Plus and still suspected that this problem rests with AT&T or the infrastructure of this building (I recently moved and this is my first time trying to get cable in this building), I am uninterested in adding yet more costs to an internet connection that has yet to connect. When I was told that supplying my own modem would be fine, I was not told that I was potentially adding yet another service to my bill. I told Steve that his offer of Support Plus was unacceptable, and that I wanted a plan from him or his company regarding how I would get the internet, or I wanted to cancel my service. He had no plan to
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offer, but said he could send me to the department that would cancel my service. He put me on hold, and after 8 minutes, 5 minutes of which were dead silence rather than the annoying recorded hold message, I hang up. I called again, and spoke with yet another employee, who at least stayed with me long enough to inform me that the department that could help me end this internet fiasco had closed about a half hour ago. Had anyone been able to help me faster, or called me back when I was disconnected, I might have reached this department before they closed. So I am currently still expected to pay for an internet connection that has never connected, lost 90 minutes to a lazy tech support department that seems determined to waste as much of my life as possible, and will have to start this process again tomorrow morning. My loathing for AT&T continues to build. I cannot wait to end this account for internet services and will argue vehemently that I should not have to pay the bill I received for worthless services. I am stuck with AT&T for my cell service until my contract expires; hopefully by then the iPhone will not also be restricted to AT&T because I would prefer anyone to a company that permits me to be treated the way I have been treated through this internet fiasco.
iPHONE IS AWESOME BUT ATT WASTES TIME AND MONEY
>> MUSIC REVIEW austin360.com – Jonathan Tjarks
50 Cent Before I Self Destruct. “I’ve got more guns than a gun store”
5
0 Cent tries to reconnect with his gangster rap roots on his new album, “Before I Self Destruct.” Besides a few Dre tracks and the lead single “Baby By Me,” the album has a consistent and monotonous sound — harshly melodic beats with hard pianos and drums behind them. With no other guest rappers besides Eminem and Lloyd Banks, the album rests entirely on 50’s shoulders. Such a bright spotlight does him no favors. He rarely switches up his flow, mostly sticking with the same gravelly sing-song rhyme scheme that sounds like he’s talking out of one side of his mouth. And he’s certainly not the cleverest lyricist, using lazy metaphors like “I’ve got more guns than a gun store” and “I’m like Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness; in my hood we hustle in pursuit of the same
(expletive).” Eminem out-raps him on “Psycho” so badly it’s embarrassing. “Before I Self Destruct” is a full-throated return to the hardcore lyrics of his underground years: “You want some, come get some / It’s murder one when you see my gun / I just squeeze and squeeze till the whole clip done / You just bleed and bleed until the police come.” That’s the most surprising part of the album - 50 hasw made hundreds of millions of dollars over the past seven years, yet he doesn’t sound very happy. The only reason girls have sex with him is to “have a baby by me and be a millionaire.” Even his usually witty one-liners are tinged with bitterness, such as slams against banished G-Unit members Young Buck and Game. The scars from a messy custody
battle with the mother of his son are still fresh: “She don’t care about me, she just wants some cash / I’m thinking damn girl we used to be friends.” But anytime he shows any vulnerability, he quickly scrambles back to the psychological safety of the gangster pose. He mentions the pain he felt when his mother blamed him for the missing furniture his crack-head uncle stole, then immediately boasts “he pistol-whipped that (expletive) till his face was purple” to retaliate. As “Psycho” shows, a rapper as talented as Eminem and a producer as talented as Dre can make great music about nothing, but 50 doesn’t have nearly the skill of his mentors. He spends most of “Before I Self Destruct” trying to scare us, when it really sounds like he just needs a hug.
4/10 The only thing that really makes this CD worthwhile at all are cameos by Dr. Dre and Eminem, other than that, fagedaboudit. We'll pass.
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MUSIC REVIEW: 50 CENT– BEFORE I SELF DESTRUCT
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 31
>> MUSIC REVIEW latimes.com – Mikael Wood
MUSE The Resistance “They won't control us.”
T
his over-the-top English trio has long played to smaller audiences in the United States than it does throughout Europe, where Muse is considered among the biggest rock bands on Earth. (In 2007 it played two sold-out shows at London's 75,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.) Yet singer-guitarist Matt Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard received a considerable boost on these shores last year when their song "Supermassive Black Hole" was featured prominently in the hit movie "Twilight." And last week came news that "Uprising," the lead single from the band's fifth full-length, had topped the U.S. alternativerock radio chart. In some ways, "The Resistance" seems designed for an American breakthrough: "Undisclosed Desires" rides a
lithe R&B groove that could've come from a song by Nelly Furtado, while "Uprising" finds Bellamy sympathizing with folks who consider themselves victims of Wall Street greed. Over a thumping disco-glam beat he sneers, "It's time the fat cats had a heart attack," a line that's likely to draw a huge reaction later this month when Muse opens a string of U2 shows on the East Coast and in Texas. On the other hand, much of "The Resistance" reflects how uninterested the members of Muse are in dialing down their appealing flamboyance to attract Daughtry and Nickelback fans. That arty intransigence often improves the band's music, as in "United States of Eurasia," which proceeds from a pretty piano-ballad intro to an Arabian-accented orchestral-rock climax. Occasionally, though, it can
make Bellamy and his bandmates sound like the world's most successful sourpusses. You don't have to make it all the way through "Exogenesis," the three-part symphony that closes the new album, before you start hankering for a Nickelback-style chorus.
5.5/10 "Uprising" finds Bellamy sympathizing with folks who consider themselves victims of Wall Street greed. Over a thumping disco-glam beat he sneers, "
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 32
MUSIC REVIEW: MUSE– THE RESISTANCE
>> MOVIE REVIEW illinoistimes.com – Chuck Koplinski
Where the WildThings Are Directed by Spike Jonze
D
irector Spike Jonze knows he’s treading on sacred ground with his big-screen version of Maurice Sendak’s children’s classic, Where the Wild Things Are. This seminal tale is a favorite of children, ages 4 to 90. While the book itself is slight, its theme of hanging on to your youthful imagination is one that resonates with all who read it. Be that as it may, it hardly seems the sort of material that could be expanded into a featurelength film. If Jonze’s work has a fault, it’s that it nearly overstays its welcome. Max (Max Records) is a precocious pre-teen with a lot on his mind. Dealing with his parents’ divorce, a sister who ignores him and a mother who’s spread too thin (Catherine Keener), he’s left alone a good deal of the time. His vivid imagination helps him fill the void but he feels a great deal of anger
and frustration because of his situation. His behavior is erratic and, at times, violent. After an explosive argument with his mother, he leaves his home and sets sail on a rough sea until he reaches a mysterious island. There, he finds an assortment of odd creatures from a dysfunctional tribe. Carol (voice by James Gandolfini) is Max’s Id, the personification of his repressed feelings given free reign. The boy, who the creatures name their king in his wish-fulfillment fantasy, does his best to build a society with his new friends, but it’s a dicey proposition as personality clashes erupt that threaten them in unexpected ways. At times scary and more than a bit violent, the film offers a unique vision of childhood pain and abandonment. Max only wishes to exercise some measure of control in his life, yet finds that having to contend with other wild
things is an exercise in futility. In seeing this, he gains a greater understanding of his mother, which forges a stronger bond between them. Shot in Australia, the film utilizes the continent’s various climates to marvelous effect, creating a place that straddles the line between reality and the imagination of a 10-yearold. The wild things seem perfectly in tune with their environment as well, not real, yet springing organically from this place and Max’s mind. One gets the impression that Jonze was reluctant to leave, as the film bogs down during Max’s reign and flirts with stalling altogether. However, the film’s unique aesthetic and the story’s primal pull save it in the end. While it fails to deliver the emotional knockout punch Jonze was striving for, I was still happy to see Max return to the warm dinner that was waiting for him.
7.5/10 "...the film’s unique aesthetic and the story’s primal pull save it in the end."
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 34
MOVE REVIEW: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
>> MOVIE REVIEW washingtoncitypaper.com – Tricia Olszewski
Michael Jackon'sThis Is It Directed by Kenny Ortega
T
here’s no mention of Michael Jackson’s death in This Is It — not even dates under his photo in the closing-credits dedication. But even if director Kenny Ortega had chosen to acknowledge the King of Pop’s passing, it’d still be easy to forget the fact while watching this extraordinary and eye-opening cobble of footage shot during rehearsals for Jackson’s fatefully named tour. The last decade or so has framed Michael as an alleged pedophile and frail freak, the butt of jokes and scorn whose decision to perform 50 shows in London this year seemed a desperate attempt to dig himself out of bankruptcy. The truth of his past, however, feels irrelevant in light of the truth shown in this film: By the time the tour was gelling, the Weird One had left the building. Ortega, who was also the show’s director, generously filled the nearly two-hour This
Is It with mostly performance footage. Of course, there are snippets of interviews with Jackson’s dancers, musicians, and other crew, all of whom gush (and occasionally tear up, even before his death) about the opportunity. And even viewers whose fandom has grown latent will quickly see why. Jackson looks thin but hardly feeble. His feet were still fluid, his voice still silky. The precision of his choreography is astounding. (When asked how he’ll be able to respond to a visual cue if his back is turned, he hardly waits a beat before saying, “I gotta feel it. I’ll feel it.” You believe him.) And when anything was off, he’d try it again and again, never hesitating to hammer out details that would seem minuscule to us commoners. The film’s arguably more impressive achievement, though, is showing a Jackson who’s human — and likable. He was often funny and unfailingly
kind, whether correcting someone or coaxing his 24-year-old lead guitarist, “It’s your time to shine.” This is the oxygentank-sleeping chimp lover? With the tour’s debut only a couple of weeks away when Jackson died, this footage also showcases the show’s elaborate set pieces, including a 3D film and floating ghost-brides and -grooms to accompany “Thriller” and an alternately amusing and action-packed backdrop to introduce “Smooth Criminal,” in which Jackson’s inserted into the 1946 Rita Hayworth movie, Gilda. (He catches a glove she tosses to the audience after a performance.) It all points to a concert that would have been spectacular, and a talent who was rightfully adored.
8/10 "...His feet were still fluid, his voice still silky.The precision of his choreography is astounding.
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 36
MOVIE REVIEW: MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT
>> NEXT MONTH'S ISSUE:
THESE BURNING QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
• Will Google Wave run the social web? • Have we found a replacement for your morning Starbucks? • The Apple Tablet: Myth or Real? • How does FOX News attract more viewiers than CNN? • Why SHOULDN'T I buy the cheapest toilet paper in the store?
stay tuned amigos...
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 38
NEXT MONTH.
BITTERSWEET // NOVEMBER_2009 | 39