The Eph You Phone by Google

This is pretty clever:

In all seriousness, though, there isn't (and likely never will be) an iPhone-killer. Because Apple was first and the most innovative (and they have the cool rep), they basically established a pricing umbrella that makes it impossible for other companies to compete on a "gotta have it" basis. Palm/RIMM/Google can't price at $299 or $399 (thus keeping the phone as a "high-end" device) because you can get an iPhone for $99 or $199. They can't price for free to lure people in, because that pricing has shown to destroy brand value. They can't price exactly the same (the Pre launched at $199) because people say, "shit, for that price I can have an iPhone."

What they are left with instead is to try to market the crap out of their devices (see weird Palm Pre adds and lame-O BlackBerry ads) trying to push smart (or now for some dumb reason, "super") phones as a category in general.

Oh, and the pricing logic totally ignores that they iPhone has a gajillion apps available in the store as compared to 1,000 for the Pre and like 100 for the Android O/S (and I think 3 for BlackBerry O/S). If Apple ever figured out the enterprise email app, RIMM would be out of business.

One last thing: the Nexus One is a fucking HTC phone with Android...just like the Droid, the Droid Eris, the Motorola Sholes, the Motorola Cliq and a bunch of other Android phones. Yes, it will be marketed differently (sold directly by Google, available unlocked, etc.), but it's not anything new to get excited about.

FW

I have been fortunate enough to convince a wonderful woman to spend the rest of her life with me. As we have taken the plunge into wedding planning the last few months, I've come to despise the term fiancé. Maybe it's that Seinfeld episode playing over and over again in my head, but I hate the word:

I've recently taken to referring to her as my "Future Wife," or "FW." That felt like too many syllables/a mouthful, so I tried to shorten it to "F-dub," but it was pointed out to me that "F-dub," sounds suspiciously like "Ephed Up." I'm really not trying to make any kind of comment about modern engagements or marriage; just that I hate the word fiancé.