Meet Vivian, my iPod Touch, I call her Viv!  She is the newest addition to my nerdy birdy portable media gadgetry collection.  It wasn’t more then a few months ago that I rolled my eyes at the idea of owning one.  I was completely unable to fathom a reason to include it into my already complex cacophony of cables and power adapters that were constantly getting tangled by my anally expulsive bad organization style.  That is until I played with Boy Genius’ sleek piece of electronic trim, and I fell in love at first Touch! 

From the moment I slid the unlock across it’s silky smooth screen and gave it a little “pinch” to zoom in on a photo, I knew I had to have one of my very own.  Thank goodness the Boy Genius is a very close personal friend of Santa Claus, because he got him to stick one under the tree in a pink box with a pretty pink bow! 

Viv and I have spent the last few days getting to know one another, and with out a doubt I love her madly.  HOWEVER, if I didn’t know that I had the option to hack it, or that come soon an SDK is expected to flood us Touch touchers with a myriad of application options, I would be asking “So, ummm that’s it?”, “Doesn’t it like do anything else, like vibrate or make coffee or something?” 

While the stock version (1.1.2 Firmware) comes with some of the standard apps you would expect, i.e., contacts,  calendar,  music, and web browser, it’s software is lacking in rudimentary ways that could only be explained by a mental mishap or a bad hair day for His Apple Majesty, Mr Jobs.  To explain: there is no task list, to do list, or notepad!  There is no card game, or any game for that matter!  Eeeekk, says the Gametart, a brilliant device like this and I cant jot down a quick grocery list?   Shameful!  The Vivian demands a plethora of games, webapps, photo editing tools, multi skinned notepads, to do lists, add ins, plug ins, and loop-de-loops.  So now what? 

I had initially decided not to hack the Vivian. I was going to be patient and wait, but she deserves a little variety.  Besides, my personality type is markedly deficient in patience.  It took a grand total of 30 minutes, downloads included, and I now have lots of games and to do lists making Vivian a full service gidget! 

So here’s the hack-to-do list for dumb blondes, or for very intelligent people of any hair coloration variety:  

Notes

I read a bunch of words about 1.1.2 downgrade not working for peeps, but I had no issue at all, in fact, I didn’t even get the expected 1015 error.

After your done, instructions will tell you to upgrade your Touch back to 1.1.2 through iTunes on the summary tab.  Don’t do it.  You’ll be back at square 1, so skip the last step unless your feelin lucky… 

There are lots of in depth tutorials out there for specific issues or details.  Surf man! 

Happy Hacking. 

Kiss Kiss,

Dawngrrl Gametart

Damn!  I admit it!  A die hard windows junkie wants a Mac. Not because I think it is better by any stretch, and I certainly don’t believe it’s more powerful than a PC – apples to apples. However, the iMac got up on stage and smoked ‘em in the wet T-shirt contest and my tongue is still on the floor.

It’s sleek, sexy, and sophisticated.

iLife 08 is pimping some ridiculously hot software as well, and though I’d never agree to Mac monogamy, I certainly am willing to sneak out my Microsoft bed to have a steamy affair.  I love out of the box design and thinking and that’s what Apple’s innovative navigation is.  This year Mac is laying the smackdown on everyone with their edgy and smart new take on ‘getting around’.  Somehow Apple really knows “cool”, and as much as I feel sucker punched watching the PC & Mac guy duke it out in the commercials, when I look at what Apple does with hip; iLike. 

I don’t think Bill would mind much, considering my other 5 PC’s are running varying degrees of windows and MS Software, and I’m sure I’d Parallel Windows on this beauty.  I’m looking at BG this week with puppy dog eyes, hoping that as he slides behind the saddle of his smokin hot new MacBook Pro, he gives me the green light on buying an iMac. 

Infidel! 

Kiss Kiss

Dawngrrl Gametart

What the hell ever happened to happiness in the success of others? Have we really taken the me generation to the next level of selfishness where everything that claims fame fortune or glory is a giant blood sucking monster in our society unless we have our own piece of its pie? Are you not the very same people that still rail against capitalism? Let me guess, you won’t shop at Wal-Mart because you feel that your refusal to buy pickles in the specially sized and priced jar forced upon Vlassic by the demands of the GIANT soul castrating corporation is a better protest then growing your own cucumbers? You are also the person that wishes Tiger Woods would really break his leg because you are so tired of seeing him win. You are the guy that claims freeware and open source is the only righteous way to travel the road community computing goodness because in your altruistic view no one company should make so much money. You hate the iphone because nothing can be that good and if it is you don’t want to hear about anymore.

I have every intention of buying of iphone. It’s smart, it’s sexy, and it’s the pioneer of mobile consolidation. I don’t care who made it.

I don’t want to grow my own pickles. I’m not really a pickle person.

I hope Tiger Woods wins every time for the rest of days. Extraordinary athletes are motivation for millions of people and fostering the hopes and dreams of millions more to come.

If you are successful in what you do, I am truly happy for you.

Kiss Kiss

Dawngrrl Gametart