Speaking of inferior, how is that new iPhone 4 going for you guys??

Anyhow, the 2.2 upgrade does indeed carry Flash for viewing videos. After the update installed I went straight to espn.com to view some video blogs, and viola..seamlessly started. Honestly, the browser on this thing is amazing, it truly is a mini computer.

That leads into some hardware specs. These are hands down the most boring thing to talk about and read about, just know that the claims of faster, easier browsing the internet as well as native apps is true. Text messaging, internet, camera etc…all load considerably faster than before. I did not time this, but it is definitely obvious.

New UI, Notice the 'G' in the search bar, and the 3 new navi menu items at the bottom

Next comes the UI. Some changes did occur. The search bar has changed, just asEngadget displayedThere is a new ‘G’ next to the search bar, it is simply to show search history. It will display your search history for the web, apps, and contacts. Not sure how this is an upgrade, probably only and easier way to get caught testing the new flash 10.1 on the ‘adult’ rated sites….

New Twitter app installed with upgrade, better than the current twitter apps

Twitter jumped in the game, with a native app installed upon the upgrade. I was previously using twidroyd, and I can say instantly that the twitter app is much better. Bye Bye twidroyd sorry, however, the only issue I see is the twitter app will update everytime a friend or follower posts either to twitter or DM or just mentions you. If you have tons of friends…you get the idea. Make sure to turn that off simply to save some sanity.

The upgrades seem to be more widespread than just to mobile devices. Google and gmail have upped many of their UI to match the upgrades to the phone I would assume. Gmail got a facelift, latitude is as robust as ever, and google maps with street view on your phone is down right amazing…oh and they added google earth.

The last great expected upgrade is the Mobile Hot-spot. The Droid X and the EVO have it, unfortunately, this upgrade does not. It does however have a tethering option. Although you won’t be able to connect via WiFi..(yet)..you can connect via a USB. The same USB that comes as the charger..that simple. Especially cool when Verizon upgrades the network to 4G. I will be able to spend even more time aimlessly browsing the web for something cool.

It appears at first glance the upgrades are legit, the major one being flash. The browsing capabilities are amazing now, and will create less stress to web developers trying to get their websites mobile. Unfortunately, in my opinion, all for not. HTML5 will be here sooner that later and then we will all have video at our finger tips, and maybe just maybe, Mr. Jobs will be right……NAHHHHHH!

Have you ever heard the expression ‘They got jobbed’..I never understood that, but maybe I do now!

UPDATE: Looks Like a NEW twitter app is coming down the pike…Tweet Deck For Android

On the idea of great shows I saw Bela Fleck and the Fleck Tones. Victor Wooten could be considered the greatest bass player of all time. Bela Fleck is hands down the greatest banjo player of all time. Musically they are amazing, it is technical musicianship at its best.

Second I saw Dave Mathews Band at Red Rocks on Fourth of July Concert. They make multi platinum cd’s and DVD’s from a scene like this. To top it off, a little band known as The String Cheese Incident opened and jammed with them the entire time. Fire works and such in northern Colorado, okay you get the idea.

Lastly I was on stage at the Tempe Music Festival with Blues Traveler, Live, and Collective Soul. Laugh now, but it is unknown how musical these people are. We stood next to the drummer of Live, on stage as John Popper played harmonica…Simply unequivocal.  After the show he gave a harmonica to my brother…but thats another story if anyone is interested.

The point is, I have witnessed some pretty epic concerts, great musicianship, and very excited that these bands were into the music only. They seemed to play for the music and nothing else. I am aware of DMB and their amazingly fiscal tours but, for the sake of argument, they started and still appear to be all about the music.

ZBB did not slack in the musical bliss we are talking about. They are hands down the most musical group I have ever seen…. Yep ever, they are as technical as any band on earth…just saying.  I read an inteview were Mr. Brown said “above all, my band members can play their faces off” or something similar. Anyhow the point is, he claims they are, above all, musicians and they clearly proved it.

It was a moving, emotional experiance and I will pay money to see them again. They have a cruise coming up and I wish I could afford to go. It would be amazing!!

I just need to voice one opinion. I happened to leave my seat and on the way out land in an autograph line….at the front no less. At the end of the show, Zac Brown himself said “We Will Stay Til All Autographs Are Signed!” Awesome I thought…this guy is great!!

45 minutes into the line the security says, if your “passport isn’t signed you don’t get an autograph” the passport is a printed piece of coolness that is givin away upon entrance into the show. The only way the “passport” can get signed is if you buy merchandise. AKA $60 worth of shirts.

REALLY?? Your autograph is only worth more merchandise, not worth the $100 we spent on the tickets?

I felt like I saw the greatest show I have ever paid for, and was belittled into buying merchandise to feel worthy. Just didn’t seem right! I may be making something out of nothing, but so what!!! For the record Gretchen Wilson also did this at her concert. Hers was free to get in, it was held at Toby Keith’s I love this bar, but for the sake of arguement….IT WAS FREE!

Anyhow, great show ZBB you guys are truly epic, your abilities are unparalleled, I will definitely

see you again… ohh and thanks for the super tight shirt!!

They call this thing the greatest show on grass mainly for one reason. The 16th hole. They have turned this thing into a stadium of mayhem and hoopla, drinking games, and general tomfoolery. They found a way to enclose the entire thing with stadium stye seating. They clearly have no consumption limit here, and the frat boys run wild!

Sometimes creative and often stupid chants break out and the entire crowd joins in, and believe me they will say just about anything to get a reaction. Speaking of reactions, this year saw 15 fist pumps, a hat over the face, a iron toss, and a European birdie..(not the good kind).

It is wild, crazy and BRILLIANT. Its one of the easier holes on the PGA Tour schedule. Roughtly 165 – 180 yds, barely any trouble, pretty large size green, they needed a way to make this thing a little harder. Around 2004 the stadium @ the Stadium Course began to develop and you can see a major decrease in birdies. In 2003 43.75% of players were recording birdie on this hole. 2009 say a mere 15% record a birdie.

It gets the exposure to the city, the tour, and clearly the field is getting better and better every year. Even without Tiger, it is well worth the trip. Since they have no limit to ticket sales it is probably the cheapest tournament to go to. With beer gardens, and food stops everywhere you turn, there is no shortage of entertainment.

Recently, well as in 2009 and 2010 they have added a few new places to hang out. Down the 18th hole is quickly becoming a longer version of the 16th hole. Although it isn’t stadium style (yet) its is definitely brewing. The Tilted Kilt has put up a 2 story floating bar, jammed full of their best employees and more draft beer than could ever be consumed. Easy access to bathrooms and easier access to getting the players attention this thing is only going to get better. Secondly, this year straight across from the 2 stories of heaven is a new beer garden. This year I believe it was sponsored by Rock Bottom Brewery. It spans half the hole, open to the public, and had the some Tempe12.com employees getting the party going. I can foresee some interesting events taking place. If one side were to begin chanting, the other would easily hear them…just saying.

The total attendance was down this year, but you can chalk that up to the local weather channels saying saturday was going to be raining all day…It wasn’t! The weather was perfect, the scenery was perfect, the greatest show on grass remains supreme. I will see you guys next year, you will find me on 18 fairway, 2 stories off the grass!

Jake Peavey's WoodJock JamFest

So its been awhile for a post, but we were..umm..uhh..well waiting for the good stuff to start happening for 2010. Yeah thats it! Anyhow, here is one that is near and dear to this humble rockstar at iTourAz. Jake Peavey’s,  WoodJock 2010 Big League Baseball Jam. In a nut shell, some major league ball players are gonna use their musical talents to raise funds for some great causes.

These causes happen to be

• Team Focus: A community outreach program for children 10-18 who do not have a father figure in their life.
• Stikeouts for Troops: This is an organization dedicated to providing the “comforts of home” and lift the spirits of our wounded troops.
• AUTISM SPEAKS: The bombest charity in all the land. These guys provide advocacy and education for families who have individuals on the autism spectrum in their lives. They host the grass roots fundraising effort Walk Now For Autism Speaks. Held every year in Arizona in late October early November. This year it will be on Ocotober 31st!. Yes that halloween, but its in the morning and fun! Amongst being super cool, this particular walk partners up with SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center). I could go on for days about the amazing things they do there but that is for another post. Either way, this is hands down the best charity I have ever known and I would elect them president if I could!! (sorry, I just really like them).

Can you tell which charity I am affiliated with? Well, the point here is to highlight the first kickoff event for this years fund raising efforts. Although the name is sorta weird, mildly catchy, and brings a smile to my face for many juvenile reasons, it is going to be awesome. The first of its kind, it is going to showcase the abilities of some current and past major leaguers who happen to have other talents that don’t involve sticks and balls (hehehhehe).

Here is some inside info for ya. We know that Jake Peavey of the Chicago White Sox is headlining this event. Also committed are some names such as Hall of Famer Peter Gammons your favorite Sportscenter know-it-all. Barry Zito of the Giants, Bernie Williams ex-Yankee and future HOF’er.(hehehe) Just to name a few. Head here to see the entire line-up. I know, thats not insider info, its coming..keep your pants on. It was released today that other famous musicians who happen to be friends with these guys have committed to be there as well as some MAJOR names in baseball. They won’t release the names until closer to the show but rumor has it this thing is getting BIG!

On a serious note, it should be clear that I do have Autism in my life. I have 4 year old on the spectrum. I can say without the help of SARRC  I would have been so utterly lost. My son has made some major advancements and I feel I owe a majority of it to SARRC. So that is why this is an important event. The bonus to all of this is 1) I am on the entertainment committee for the walk so hopefully I can bring you some inside views of some cool fundraisers this year. 2) I will be firmly seated in the VIP section and behind the scenes for this Jam so hopefully I can sneak you some inside info about this awesome event…and maybe about some of these guys behavior, but don’t tell anyone!

So buy your tickets now before they are all gone. The event is Thursday March 11th @ The Venue Of Scottsdale
Tickets vary

• General Admission – $39.00
• V.I.P Admission – $200.00
• V.I.P Group Packages – $700

These prices will change as the event gets closer, so get your VIP and come talk to me and I will hook you up with something good!

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This hack should work on any of the URL Shortening services out there but admittedly we’ve only tried it on bit.ly (which happens to be our favorite!).

Step 1: Type up your long secret message in any text editor.

Step 2: Do a Find and Replace (Spaces for Quotes)

Step 3: Copy and Paste Coded Message into bit.ly

Step 4: Tweet out your secret message bit.ly link

Step 5: (Well technically this should have been step zero) Instruct your followers on how to copy and paste your secret message back into a text editor and do a find and replace on the URL… after clicking the link of course.

Step 6: Profit!!!! (if you have any screenshots of this step in action please send our way as we would definitely like to profit )

I actually enjoyed it myself. The phoenix Zoo Light Display boasts 2.5 million lights and 500 light “sculptures”…Well, put down the false advertising lawsuits because they are CORRECT! The place was lit up like my uncle on New Years Eve, and there was probably MORE that 2.5 million lights. They had an amazing light show that was choreographed by music. Unfortunately, the one we watched, we could only catch the end, but that amount was pretty cool. The music was pretty intense and I am mad we missed it. I guess another reason to visit the Zoo Lights Display again.

The sculptures was the highlight for the kids. They kept screaming out the names of the sculpture and acting silly, and we did manage to catch a few animals out and about. The zebras were practically close enough to touch and I think the badgers were showing off!

Overall, Phoenix Zoo Lights was well worth the $9.00 per person we paid. Sun -Thurs they are discounted to $9.00. Unfortunately, kids and adults are the same price unless your child is 2 or under, then they are free. The last thing on the way out was a Carousel. It is bright and shiny with fun music, so of course we had to go on it. I have 2 young children who were a little scared at first, but as time went on they loved it. And for $2 per child it is well worth it. And for the “older” kids…yeah I mean the parents…They let you on for free to assist your child.! Yep, a little inside number from the iTourAz team, but don’t go blasting it everywhere, you saw what happened to Martha Stewart.

So there you have it. Phoenix Zoo Lights is getting thumbs up from this iTourAz teamster, and I will definitely go back next year. The Zooo is Coooo!!

Enjoying Rustler's Rooste on my Bday last year.

So if you’re a frequent reader of iTourAZ.com you saw our “Eat More Rattlesnake” posting a couple months back. If you didn’t, let me give you a quick synopsis: we heart Rustler’s Rooste. That’s right a few months ago we professed our love for Rustler’s Rooste. I think we told you that we had been long time fans of this great restaurant. Well just to prove it I wanted to share with you a paper I wrote in my freshman year of college at ASU. I think the assignment was to “show through words” as opposed to “telling”… well I don’t claim that I did a fantastic job of that, but as you can see it definitely proves that we’ve loved the Rooste for a while now! So here it is in its entirety, enjoy!

From the moment you enter the Marriott resort center, you know you’re in for something special. As you slowly wind up the mountain towards Rustler’s Rooste you are constantly getting a better view of Phoenix. Rustler’s Rooste is a very unique restaurant. It combines both a fine dining experience and a fun dining experience. People of all sorts come from all around to eat there. There are cowboys, rich people, white trash, and common people alike. After you either park the car or ask the Valet to do for you, you enter the restaurant through the side of the mountain. Next to the entrance there’s a giant bull named Horny (because of the fact that he is a longhorn steer). As you enter the restaurant the smell of food cooking overcomes you, and it sets your taste buds alive.
Rustler’s Rooste was built almost 35 years ago by two people from Tempe. These people built the restaurant from scratch. They poured the concrete and built the tables in the morning, while they ran the restaurant and bar at night. In 1981 the Rooste became the main attraction of the point on South Mountain resort. However, on May 3, 1985 there was an electrical fire. This fire came very close to completely destroying the restaurant. The people who worked there loved the place so much that the very next morning at 6 AM they started cleaning up the place and had the kitchen in working order by the end of the day. Since Rustler’s Rooste opened back up for business it has served 89 tons of red meat, 27,600 pounds of ribs, 17,000 chicken wings, and 3 tons of rattlesnake. There are lots of other statistics but I won’t go into them, and if you are still interested they have them at the Rooste.
Rustler’s Rooste is located on the side of South Mountain in Phoenix. After entering the front door, you walk up a slightly inclined old hardwood floor. On both sides of you are the sheer rock walls of the mountain. A feeling comes over you as you walk up the ramp to the dining area. It is almost as if you have been transported back to the 19th century. As you walk up to the spot where the host stands you can see down to the main dining floor and out the big windows. The view out of the window is absolutely gorgeous. You can see the whole valley and all the lights with the mountains in the background fading slowly away. The hostess behind the counter is wearing a button up collared shirt, black jeans, and cowboy boots. On her head she wears a headset which she can talk to the other hosts or hostesses with, and this sets her apart from the waiters. Once you have told the hostess the name that the reservation is under she leads you off to where you are seated. To get to your seat you have to cross over a wooden bridge. The wooden bridge takes you over the sheer rock side of the mountain, where they have a waterfall running down the side of it. Once over the bridge, you come to a giant slide that goes from the second floor to the first floor, where the main dining areas is at. You can choose to take the slide down or you can take the stairs down. Your hostess then leads you across the dance floor, which is scattered with sawdust, in front of the band and to your table.
After you sit down the waiter arrives and ask you if there’s anything that you would like to drink. He then takes your drink order and tells you that he will be right back with your drinks and complimentary bread, and to see if you are ready to order. He then leaves. The menu itself adds to the whole atmosphere of the place. It is printed on an old yellowish white paper, and it tells the whole story behind Rustler’s Rooste. Everything is named in cowboy lingo. For instance, there is the “Rustler’s cut”, the “Trail Boss”, the “Cattlemen’s”, the “Bronco Burger”, and rattlesnake. They also have areas for people who don’t like steak. For instance they have “The Fishin Hole” for people who want fish, and they also have a section titled “Hey Grazers! (Vegetarians)”, which simply says that they “will have cookie (the chef) whip up something vegetarian (without any meat in it).” The meals range anywhere from $8.95 to $21.95. Our waiter comes back with complementary bread (biscuits and Indian fry bread), which I must say is quite exquisite, and takes your order. He is very polite and takes care to make sure he has everything correct before taking the orders to the cook.
Outside the sun is setting providing a very romantic picturesque view. There is a big group of people outside eating corn on the cob which is being grilled next to a bonfire that the people are sitting around. The waiter returns moments later to refill our drinks and bread basket. I asked him if it would be all right if I asked him some questions about his job. He says that he would be more than happy to answer any questions that I have. “So how long have you been working here?” I ask. “About four years,” he replies. Then I asked how he got into the job and how he actually got the job, to which he replied that he was going to school at ASU and needed the money, and that he actually got the job through a friend. “How much do you get paid,” I asked. “I get a base pay of $2.35 an hour plus tips, but it works out to somewhere around $20 an hour.” Then I asked him what kind of clientele usually comes through the Rooste. He said that in the summer it was mostly locals, with businesses and corporate executives. When I asked him if he had many famous people (which there are lots of that come through the Rooste) he said that he had met Herschel Walker and Ricky Henderson. He also said that there was a list by the guest book that had all the other famous people that had never been there. Some of these names include: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. T., Kirk Douglas, Wilt Chamberlain, Mike Ditka, Richard Dreyfuss, Don Shula, Michael Jackson, Magic Johnson, Steve Martin, Madonna, Dan Marino, Robin Williams, John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, John Travolta, Bo Schembechler, and Dick Van Dyke. He said that the best part of the job is working only nights and that the pay was great.
The people sitting next to us overhear me asking the waiter questions and start remarking about how much they love the place. They also include how much more often they would come it wasn’t so expensive.
After finishing my meal, which was the “Bronco Burger”, and included the Burger, a salad, fries, and cowboy beans all of which was served on a big metal plate/bowl’s and was absolutely divine, we paid the bill and got up to leave. On your way out you pass by a display case that is filled with T-shirts, jewelry, Rattlesnake key chains, hat tacks, belts, paperweights, knives, and antique guns. As you exit you notice a giant guestbook filled with names and addresses from all over the world, and written in several different languages. I then go home with my belly full and my pockets empty and a big smile on my face because even though my stomach hurts from eating so much and my wallet is now a lot lighter it was well worth it because it is such a great restaurant.

So, there you have it in all its glory! Not too shabby for a freshman year English paper by a guy from little old Dryden, Michigan. What grade did I get you ask? Well I got a “B” on this paper the professor said the following:

“Josh, this is good — it makes me want to go. You tend to go a little overboard in the step-by-step details (we can assume the waiter leaves) you also may have wanted to interview someone else — the Cook or the hostess or even the waiter. This may have required more visits at a profile of a good place should be based on more than one visit.”

So that’s the skinny, like I said we LOVE Rustler’s Rooste! Now head on over and enjoy yourselves a rattlesnake!

Event Details
When: Thursday November 26th through Sunday, November 29, 2009
Where: Phoenix Convention Center
Times:

• Thursday 9 am – 7 pm
• Friday & Saturday 9 am – 9 pm
• Sunday 9 am – 7 pm

Admission & Pricing Info

Sunday is Family Day with Children under 12 getting in Free!

Parking
Easy In & Out Parking! Follow Signs Off 7th Street

For Additional Parking Options:
http://www.phoenix.gov/extranet/pccd/directionsandparking.html

What sets the GoGoStand apart from other stands is that you can fold it up and keep it in your wallet. Check out the video here. The GoGoStand really is the size of a credit card and easily folds up flat to fit in your wallet. After using the stand for a while, I have to say that I really enjoy it! It would be nice to have one in the office and one for travel. I also recently flew on a plane and was constantly trying to figure out where to hold my iPhone so that I could watch a video. The GoGoStand would definitely have made the holiday flight easier. If you want to see more reviews, check out the Facebook Fan Page.

A few last points about the GoGoStand 1. It comes in multiple colors 2. It costs $4.99 ( this includes shipping!) 3. There is a 1 year warranty and 4. Watch the video before you put it together. I was very exited to get one and I put it together and then I was sitting there wondering why it didn’t work holding the phone vertically. Duh! I had it put together backwards. It is definitely not hard to figure out, but it works better when you have it put together the right way!

Dean Liou, the creator of the GoGoStand, was gracious enough to answer some questions for us. (Thanks for your time Dean!) Here’s the interview:

Q: How did you come up with the idea of the GoGoStand?
A: Sometime back in September 2008, I came up with the idea for the iPhone Paper Clip Stand (youtube it!). It was created out of necessity. What made it so great was that it was FREE (love that word). What made it NOT so great was that you couldn’t really take it with you in a pocket or purse without a) messing it up b) it messing you up or c) both. So a few weeks later, I came up with a prototype design of the GoGoStand. Lots of grocery store club cards and expired credit cards were cut up and sacrificed in the pursuit of the perfect design. I believe that the GoGoStand is the best and simplest use given the constraints I set for myself. (must be plastic, must be size of credit card).

Q: Are there any variations in the works – different material or models?
A: Yes! In the very near future, a Christmas print designed GoGoStand will be available. I’m also searching for a cheaper, thinner material for GoGoStands so they can be sold in bulk for use as business cards and tradeshow giveaways.

Q: What do you consider the best feature of the GoGoStand?
A: The GoGoStand’s best feature is what I worked hardest on: Making it simple and sturdy (ok, that’s 2 features). In the process of designing the GoGoStand, I came up with LOTS of designs. Some required origami skills, others required house-of-cards-balancing acts. GoGoStand in its final form today is SIMPLE and that’s what I think makes it so great. Once someone sees the GoGoStand set up, they just “get it.” Some criticize that the $4.99 price tag is too steep. I’ve seen people commenting online, “$5 for that piece of plastic? I can cut that out myself with an xacto knife.” That’s totally true; you COULD cut that out yourself. However, it’s important to realize that the GoGoStand’s design didn’t just appear out of thin air and that it took a lot of thought, experimentation and starting over and over to get to this point.

Q: How does it perform on a plane? Does turbulence knock it over and if so have you found a remedy for this?
A: The GoGoStand passes with “flying” colors (groan). Unless the plane performs an airshow maneuver, the GoGoStand will pretty much stay put. It might slide around a bit, but it’s not going to keel over when you’re watching a movie in landscape mode on a bumpy plane ride. We could have some sort of rubber feet embedded in the GoGoStand to prevent sliding around, but then it wouldn’t be as easy to slip in and out of the credit card slot in your wallet. It’d be a nice addition, but would also raise manufacturing costs.

Q: What is the expected life for a GoGoStand? Does the plastic wear out?
A: With normal use, even daily use, I expect the GoGoStand to easily outlast your AT&T wireless contract. And no, the plastic doesn’t wear out. Even though the GoGoStand is the size and shape of a credit card, the GoGoStand is not made out of the same material as a credit card. It’s made of different, more flexible plastic. It’s not brittle like credit card plastic and doesn’t easily tear or crack. I guarantee the GoGoStand’s durability for 1 year. If it breaks within a year of your purchase, send it back to me and I’ll replace it free of charge.

Q: What are your favorite travel gadgets?
A: Other than the GoGoStand, right?
1. My iPhone. Last time we went on a trip, I didn’t bother bringing my laptop.
2. My pocket camera. Panasonic TZ-5 (also used to record the GoGoStand videos for youtube). Ok, it’s no DSLR (don’t own one), but it’s got a nice big lens for great low-light photos and HD video recording with autofocus while recording.
3. Bugaboo Bee baby stroller. Hmm, that’s a big gadget. This stroller sets up and breaks down in seconds, is also really easy to push around even with one hand.
4. For road trips: iPhone windshield mount. If mine broke today, I’d have a new one set up the very same night.
5. Spare contact lens cases included with the Costco 2-pack Alcon Opti-Free contact lens solution. Bear with me here; I can’t believe I almost forgot this. These spare contact lens cases are great for both me and the missus. They are water-tight and big enough to store makeup, hair gel, shaving gel, and medicines. Saves you from having to bring entire cans of product for a 3-day trip! Sure, you could pick up travel-sized products from Target, but where’s the fun in that? Just remember to label the cases with a sharpie so you don’t put shaving gel in your hair and hair gel on your face We’ve collected so many of these over the years that we have to store them in a plastic bag under the bathroom sink.

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