All you really need is an iPhone camera

[M. Valdemar]

This morning I had to be in court at 111 Centre Street early in the morning. God awful place to be early in the morning. After I finished, I took a mid-morning stroll through Chinatown.

In court, you can't bring cameras, large bags, anything "suspicious", so I left my good camera and little keychain knife back home. They didn't take my iPhone, which I kept in my pants pocket (it didn't set off the metal detector), and so I used it for snaps during my stroll.

The Prodigal is down for the count as I exit:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday1918.jpg

Ask not for whom the bell tolls.......

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday2982.jpg

Cut through Little Italy:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday3209.jpg (http://xs.to)

"A fool for a lawyer"

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday4208.jpg (http://xs.to)

Approaching the best Vietnamese sandwich shop in NYC:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday5486.jpg (http://xs.to)

All it needs is a video screen to be a "Bladerunner" phone:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday6542.jpg (http://xs.to)

No fresh fish store is complete without a Buddhist shrine:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/_friday7328.jpg (http://xs.to)

Too rich for my blood. I bought a couple of flounder and a nice piece of skate:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday8690.jpg (http://xs.to)

The building with the rotunda is a bank designed by Sanford White:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday9294.jpg (http://xs.to)

Beginning of the world....beyond is desert and chaos:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/_friday12540.jpg (http://xs.to)

Good fortune for sale:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/_friday9912.jpg (http://xs.to)

Apple is beaming down on you everywhere:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday11611.jpg (http://xs.to)

Cheap protein. 93 cents, while u wait:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/friday13726.jpg (http://xs.to)

The Five Fat Brothers will hold down the fort, even as I exit:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/fat398.jpg (http://xs.to)

The Bowery, the Bowery, I'll never go there any more!

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/bye586.jpg (http://xs.to)

[kshapero]

has a quality that reminds me of an Olympus 35c that I had in the 80's. I dropped it in a creek and from then on it had this sort of filmy quality to it. Sounds like we have a whole new genre here, " iPhone RF".

[MickH]

"Approaching the best Vietnamese sandwich shop in NYC"

You mean there's a choice?

[kshapero]

"Approaching the best Vietnamese sandwich shop in NYC"

You mean there's a choice?
Haven't been in the states lately? Hell, when I lived in Charlottesville, Virgina we had three of them.

[M. Valdemar]

There are maybe 30 or 40 of them, maybe more including FLushing. This is the BEST, bar none:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=vietnamese+sandwich&near=Manhattan,+New+York&fb=1&view=text&latlng=18015419252695863253

[sepiareverb]

Do all you people with iPhone cameras ever consider that your ideas about what's "cool" may change in a few decades, or is the "future" a nebulous concept?

For those in their 40's or above. Take a look at that old camera you had and note the quality of those negatives from 20 or 30 years ago. Isn't it great that those things are permanent?

Who would want to be an old man with this insane iPhone sticking to your drooping folds of skin?

I think this whole "iPhone" fashion is a form of mass insanity.

:D

(note smiley my tongue is in my cheek)

[M. Valdemar]

Totally agreed in the event I had images of the iPhone tattooed on each of my ass cheeks.

As it is, I bought this one unlocked on the street for $150.

Do all you people with iPhone cameras ever consider that your ideas about what's "cool" may change in a few decades, or is the "future" a nebulous concept?

For those in their 40's or above. Take a look at that old camera you had and note the quality of those negatives from 20 or 30 years ago. Isn't it great that those things are permanent?

Who would want to be an old man with this insane iPhone sticking to your drooping folds of skin?

I think this whole "iPhone" fashion is a form of mass insanity.

:D


OK, just to make you happy, this photo of a MacArthur "genius grant" winner was taken with Ilford XP2, a 50mm f1.5 uncoated Zeiss Sonnar, and a Contax IIA camera.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3817/ben5fk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[MickH]

I don't even know what a Vietnamese sandwich is!

[steverett]

Do all you people with iPhone cameras ever consider that your ideas about what's "cool" may change in a few decades, or is the "future" a nebulous concept?

i see what you did there.

[M. Valdemar]

If you have never had a GOOD one your life is seriously lacking:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A1nh_m%C3%AC

[MickH]

bánh mì - a new culinary world opens for me.

[mabelsound]

Who is that guy? I actually know TWO MacArthurites...a poet and a short story writer...

Those photos all have what future collectors will call the "iPhone glow."

[Paul T.]

$8.90 a lb for lobster? You guys don't know you're born! Makes me fume almost as much as $150 for an unlocked iPhone...

[M. Valdemar]

That's expensive for lobster. You can get "culls" (missing a claw or slightly damaged), three for $18. About 1 1/2 lb each.

So $6 per lb. (no, it's less, I lied. you do the math)

PS: The "glow" might be because I keep the phone "naked" in my pocket and perhaps the lens got a light scratch or two. It's just a crummy injection molded plastic meniscus lens.


.

[Paul T.]

So $6 per lb.


Ah, but the plane-fare from Heathrow might bump up the price...

[M. Valdemar]

Here's my lunch today with Erich Saloman's camera:

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/9414/sanwichka9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[crawdiddy]

Totally agreed in the event I had images of the iPhone tattooed on each of my ass cheeks.

As it is, I bought this one unlocked on the street for $150.




OK, just to make you happy, this photo of a MacArthur "genius grant" winner was taken with Ilford XP2, a 50mm f1.5 uncoated Zeiss Sonnar, and a Contax IIA camera.

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3817/ben5fk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Apparently, in Flushing, you can't swing an unlocked iphone without hitting 3 or 4 MacArthur genius grant recipients....

You know, all Erich Saloman needed was an iphone.

[Scarpia]

What is the address or location of that sandwich shop?
Kurt M.

[kshapero]

There once was a man who took 5 toy poodles into the V....... sandwich shop......

[Joe Vitessa]

What's on that sandwich? Looks good!

Joe

[M. Valdemar]

If you click on my links in posts #5 and #10, they show the restaurant, address, reviews, and discussion of Vietnamese sandwiches.

[M. Valdemar]

If you're having Vietnamese food, no meal is complete without "Cafe Du Monde" with chicory filter coffee with sweetened condensed milk.

Fiery hot sauce is on bottom left shelf.

Very tasty, served in all Vietnamese restaurants:

http://xs228.xs.to/xs228/08255/cafe333.jpg (http://xs.to)

[digitalintrigue]

Used first gen iPhones will be available in scads beginning July 11, dropping the price to near nothing. Even if you don't use it as a phone, it's a nice video iPod, and the fact it has a camera is just a bonus.

[M. Valdemar]

First gen iPhone prices will not go down quickly. They might go up. 2nd gen iPhones might be almost impossible to unlock, they require physical activation at store. 1st gen are easily unlocked.

Here are some photos I took about a year or so ago. Prices have gone up about 25% or so.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4044/viet1cf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8242/viet2kl6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/2919/viet3vr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/3402/kenmarecg9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/3788/graffitos1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[lZr]

Now I have a dilemma - what should I get? IPhone or sandwich? Or both?

[digitalintrigue]

First gen iPhone prices will not go down quickly. They might go up. 2nd gen iPhones might be almost impossible to unlock, they require physical activation at store. 1st gen are easily unlocked.

Yep, activating at home allowed the export market to prosper. :) But there will be significantly less demand for unlocking this time around, as there are far more countries that will be selling the 3G from day one.

The vast majority of phones were never unlocked, so there should be plenty of used ones available when people upgrade to 3G.

[M. Valdemar]

Now I have a dilemma - what should I get? IPhone or sandwich? Or both?

An old man, Eli Mandelbaum, checks into a fancy hotel.

He calls room service.

"Is it true you can send me ANYTHING I want?"

"Yessir. Anything you want.", says room service.

"OK. Please send me a 6 foot tall blond hooker with a bullwhip, an African midget, 50 gallons of Jello, 20 Viagras, and a latex body suit."

"Yessir, right away sir."

Twenty minutes later, the room phone rings.

"Sir, I'm terribly sorry, but we got everything you wanted......except the African midget. I'm so sorry."

"WHAT!!!!! NO MIDGET???!!" says Eli. His face falls.

He puts the phone to his ear again.

"OK, OK, just forget the whole thing and send me up a prune danish."

[gb hill]

All I really need is an iphone!!:eek: Why would I care to spend that kind of cash on a dinky 2 megapixil camera.:D

[M. Valdemar]

Doesn't matter. People don't like locked GSM phones.

Yep, activating at home allowed the export market to prosper. :) But there will be significantly less demand for unlocking this time around, as there are far more countries that will be selling the 3G from day one.

The vast majority of phones were never unlocked, so there should be plenty of used ones available when people upgrade to 3G.

[M. Valdemar]

It's a nice toy for young computer/text messaging nerds and fashionistas. YOU are not the target market.

All I really need is an iphone!!:eek: Why would I care to spend that kind of cash on a dinky 2 megapixil camera.:D

[gb hill]

Seriously the photos have really nice colour. I like the dreamy mood of the photos.

[gb hill]

It's a nice toy for young computer/text messaging nerds and fashionistas. YOU are not the target market.
I have to agree with you.

[digitalintrigue]

Let's see, how many people own locked iphones? Close to 6 million. Nah, no one wants locked GSM phones. :)

[M. Valdemar]

When out and about, it's better than no camera.

Also, one can fumble with the phone as though one were checking their text message or something, and people are completely unaware you are taking a picture.

Seriously the photos have really nice colour. I like the dreamy mood of the photos.

[M. Valdemar]

There are about 3 million iPhones outside the USA.

All are unlocked.

It takes 30 seconds to unlock the Gen 1 iPhone with public domain software.


Let's see, how many people own locked iphones? Close to 6 million. Nah, no one wants locked GSM phones. :)

[digitalintrigue]

I know all about unlocking iphones, I've been exporting them for months.

But there is no way there are 3 million outside the USA. Not even close.

Apple has sold close to 6 million, before they ran out a few weeks ago. No way 50% of them are outside the US.

[M. Valdemar]

Not only that, unless an iPhone is "jailbroken" (unlocked), you cannot install apps.

Your estimates about unlocked iPhones with the AT&T plan is way off, in my opinion. You're entitled to believe whatever you want.

People all over Europe, Russia, Asia have unlocked iPhones. There were millions exported and grey marketed.

[digitalintrigue]

Thanks for letting me believe what I want, heh. :)

No question there are plenty of unlocked iphones used outside the US; i exported a large qty myself. But no way its 3M. Apple might approach or even reach 50% overseas sales when it has full intl distribution, but the gray market could not approach that percentage.

[lZr]

I'll go 5 Mpixels with N95.:bang: Better with 10 Mpixels from Samsung, SCH-B600. Its price is = Leica and is better. I think it doesn't have thread for my tripod. Bad!

[M. Valdemar]

The only thing good about the iPhone is the clever software that lets you flip pages, etc etc.

1) As a mobile phone, it's mediocre. The volume is too low, it drops calls, you need too many strokes to dial, the ringer isn't loud enough, the reception is sub-par.

2) The camera is cute but no better than the cheapest of focus-free digital cameras, basically a toy.

It's a very impressive TOY with very SNAZZY SOFTWARE and INTERFACE. It has some nice mail/text/photo integration.

My Motorola RAZR is a far better appliance phone, but what the heck. Now I can join the rest of the grinning and pecking fools.

What I want to do is program the iPhone with my SIPPHONE settings and use it as a WIFI VOIP voice phone with GIZMO, then I can ditch my 2 year old wifi VOIP phone, which works well but is a slow clunker to acquire a signal.

[lZr]

So, no IPod and no N95. I believe you and I vote for sandwich.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=60935&d=1213997627

[M. Valdemar]

Speaking of tattoos, here's Spider Webb, circa 1985. He was/is a tattoo nut job just as the modern tattoo craze was starting to gain momentum. Heavily tattooed people used to only appear in carnival side shows or Diane Arbus photos:

http://xs128.xs.to/xs128/08255/webb449.jpg (http://xs.to)

[MickH]

Tatoos? Check out the "Leopard Man Of Skye". I bet, like me, he's never heard of Vietnamese sarnies... and as for iPhones, well.

[digitalintrigue]

iPhone is a dinky toy phone for spotty nerd teenagers.

Exactly...that's why they are adding so many enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and 802.1X authentication to the 3G version. :)

[digitalintrigue]

Norway? That's where most of the ones I exported ended up. :) Including to some well-known RFFers. :)

[steamer]

Six dollar lobsters and three dollar Vietnamese sandwiches, more than "hope you can believe in," that's the greatness of the USA.

[jmkelly]

M. Valdemar you are living very near paradise.

My designer hooked me on bánh mì several years back. When he comes to visit he brings four up from his favorite shop in San Francisco (there are at least 50). Says he wants one for his "last meal" and I can't argue. We get ours with the chicken AND the pork AND the pate, and go a little light on the fresh green hot peppers. I keep a bottle of sriracha at the office just for these sandwiches.

I'm getting my wife the 3G iPhone for her birthday, for no other reason than that she wants one. I was tempted to get an unlocked 1st-gen phone, but was distracted by someting else shiny and got a 1936 CZJ Sonnar instead. Oh, and a Blackberry Curve for work. Apple did hook me with the Air, but I've learned to wait for at least the second version with all their products.

I don't see $6/lb. lobster out here, even the culls at Costco are spendier. Must be the fuel prices. These days I'm trying to buy all my protein raised or caught close to home, so no lobster.

[M. Valdemar]

New York City Chinatown food prices are probably amongst the cheapest in the USA.

Improbable combinations in NYC too (not in Chinatown):

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1368/food1mv4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

One of my favorites. $2.95 plate of spicy tripe:

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8493/food2uk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Now if you want to spend $200 instead of $20, here's some very good Japanese food:

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?neighborhoodid=0&restaurantid=5075

THIS lobster is very tasty:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/5517/friday4au1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Almost close to what you can get in Japan:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/6014/dscn0488ef2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)