Reality Distortion Field

iPhone 4S

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…and it’s here.

Let’s see what’s new and exclusive to the 4S (meaning, not part of iOS5):

  • A5 Processor: About 2x faster, 7x faster graphics
  • AirPlay mirroring
  • Siri, which looks like something out of a sci-fi movie
  • Much improved camera, and not just megapixel wise
  • 1080p video with image stabilization
  • Better battery life
  • Faster cellular download speed
  • World phone (CDMA and GSM)
  • Better antennas, presumably more resistant to the Grip of Death

As someone that had the 3G and upgraded to the 3GS, I can tell you how huge the camera and speed and battery life improvements were. They made the day to day use of the phone vastly better. And it was good to begin with. Sure, there were other things, but these three were the biggest (oh, and support for multitasking). So I’m really looking forward to the iPhone 4S.

Some people are disappointed because there wass no iPhone 5. Who cares? The only difference between the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5 are the name and the form factor. I couldn’t care less about the name, and the form factor is already excellent, especially when compared to most of the gigantic and ugly Android phones out there.

Ready to pre-order.

Update: I use my phone’s camera a lot, so I was happy to see this sample, unedited photos taken with an iPhone 4S on Apple’s website.

Around the world

The tragic Cerro de la Silla aerial tramway

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The “Cerro de la Silla” (Saddle Hill) is the symbol of my hometown Monterrey, Mexico. The view in the photo above is basically the view I saw everyday driving from my house to school and college. I remember hearing two interesting stories about the iconic mountain while growing up:

First, the rumor that on top of it there are living pterodactyls (pterosaurs?). While I haven’t confirmed this one, the fact that at least you can find mentions about it online means that at least I did hear it somewhere.

The second was about this building you can see halfway up, on the north side. Map. What I was told as a kid is that a local entrepreneur wanted to build an air tram as a tourist attraction. It was finished but on its inauguration day on the first trip, him and some other people were killed in an accident, making it the last trip as well. More info in this page. Original footage below:

Random junk

Puzzle

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Another puzzle from Wiseman’s blog (don’t click until you’ve solved it).

There are 2 flagpoles that are each 100 foot high.  A rope that is 150 feet long is strung between the tops of the flagpoles.  At its lowest point the rope sags 25 feet about the ground (see schematic diagram below).  How far apart are the flagpoles?

Note: The image below is not to scale.

Tech

Real-life Pipe Dream

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Many of you saw this cool computer animation that went viral a few years ago (you know it’s because it’s hosted on Google Video):

This week at IDF they demo’ed a real-life version. The video is not professionally shot, sadly:

They mention they use a bunch of Intel gear. What they don’t mention, is that the company that put this together, SISU Devices, also used a bunch of National Instruments hardware and software, probably a more key component to the system. Cool stuff.

No ugly people were harmed making this blog.