My HTC Touch Diamond saga.

So I got the phone. And too, hated it. Not only because of the Windows Mobile platform, but because it took forever to do anything!

But I persevered, convinced it wasn’t the phone’s fault, but TouchFLO 3D. I was right.

TouchFLO 3D is by far the slowest software I’ve ever had to use. Pretty, definitely. Functional, if you don’t mind waiting a few seconds for it to do anything you ask. Pain in my arse, without a doubt.

So I killed it. Eventually. It took me 9 days to find out where to deactivate it. HTC didn’t reply to my email asking how to do it (fuckers), so I soldiered through and finally found where I needed to be. Thing is, I’m positive I got there a few times before, but that option was never available to me at first. And this is my concern.

It felt to me, and maybe I’m crazy, but that more options slowly became available as the days went on. Bizarre?

After 2 full weeks I’ve eventually got the thing working. 2 days to get Missing Sync working 90% correctly (my contacts wouldn’t sync, at all). 10 days to find the best software replacement (I highly recommend Spb Mobile Shell and Spb Diary from Spb Software House, thanks Rich). And finally, only 30 minutes ago, by some divine intervention (I did nothing out of the ordinary when connecting my phone to my Mac), my contacts synced with my Address Book, and now I am satisfied.

Eventually.

Before installing the Spb products I installed some rad Today add-ons. I also installed a bunch of rad little games and apps from Freeware PocketPC, including this little gem, which unlocks my device like the iPhone. Silly, but awesome.

I’d definitely recommend the phone, but expect to be very, very frustrated for at least a week while you get the phone to your working order. I’m hoping these tips will shorten your frustration.

You really can’t understand how much it irritates me when people drive without number plates. Fucking poser bitches, if you can afford the car, you can afford the fines (or is the futurefin lease maxing out the old finances?). Anyway, I love this bit of viral action from the boys at ArriveAlive (shot Cherry).

One wee mistake though, it’s not the speed that kills them, it’s the ego…!

The other day I was paging through Best Life on the plane when I came across what I think is the best ad I have seen in ages.

Here’s the deal, it’s simply a double page spread of the Aston Martin DBS, with no words, and no logo.

Then as as insert, just sitting there, was the financial pages. The message, if you want this super-hot bit of kit (you do), best you get investing (and at R3.6m you know you need all the help you can get).

Most people don’t seem to get it, but I think that’s kinda cool. Make’s you feel like part of the inner circle, and isn’t that what a car like that is supposed to do anyway?

Very well played to Aston Martin for yet again getting it right…!

Update: Wow, seems I’m not in the inner-circle that got it at all. Apparently the ad was for Old Mutual, not Aston Martin. Ha, now I can’t decide if it was good or not… although, I am talking about it.