Well, Palm Centro SmartPhone wins

After spending a couple months reviewing various "smartphone" options and plans with AT&T (our current wireless provider), I had just about decided to not make any move. However, this past weekend my current cellphone "smartcard" decides to die. Not knowing exactly what the problem was, I take this as a sign that it's time to make a move. So, off to the AT&T store to talk about various options. After some more serious consideration and review, I opt for upgrading both mine and my wife's cell phones to the Palm Centro.

Why the Palm Centro instead of an iPhone? Well, the biggest reason has to do with the fact that both me and my wife have been using Palm PDA devices for the past few years. So, we were both familiar with the Palm operating system, and it's features. Combining that function with the cellphone, means we are able to consolidate two devices into one (that's a good thing). After mail-in rebates, the Centro price was $69 each. Not so bad for our first "smartphone" experience. The Palm Centro features "bluetooth" capability that supports data transfer (which isn't on the iPhone), photo and video function (iPhone doesn't support video - yet), full QWERTY keyboard (although pretty small), and internet browsing capability (via Palm's "blazer" browser). There are some other minor functions. I am able to add up to 4GB in additional memory via MicroSD card. The unit does not have Wi-Fi like the iPhone, but I'm not looking for this to be my primary internet access device. Although I can appreciate many of the functions of the iPhone, the bottom line was that the Palm device fit my needs more appropriately. There is also the idea that this is our first move into "SmartPhone", so we already have more features than we know what to do with.

As with most any plan from AT&T, the extra data piece (unlimited use) is an extra $30 a month per phone. This is not the most economical option out there, but does fit conveniently with our existing "family" plan. This DOES NOT include "texting", however there is various "instant message" options available on the Centro and that works as "data use". So, that fills that need, if we decide to use it.

The one issue that I'm seeing is with most "smartphone" options is that battery life is greatly reduced when using the "advanced" functions. Things like activating the "bluetooth" functions, activating the "instant message" accounts, or any other option that keeps the phone "awake", all is a drain on the battery. If you are able to keep these features turned "off", you will see the Centro go into "standby" mode and that doesn't eat up nearly as much battery. I had read that the Centro had about half the battery life as an iPhone, so I'm not entirely caught off guard with this. On the plus side, the Centro has an easily replaced battery, while the iPhone requires you to send it back to the factory for battery replacement. While this may not be an immediate concern to the common consumer, it is something that should be given consideration.

Overall, I'd say the Palm Centro on the AT&T network is the best "value" for the consumer looking to move into the "smartphone" arena. It's certainly not as "cool" as the iPhone, but does have some key features not supported in iPhone. Neither is perfect, so review your needs and go with what best fits your lifestyle.

Some Concert Reviews from last week

As mentioned previously, I was at some concerts over the past week, and I thought I'd share some thoughts on them.

Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys at Meijer Gardens (Aug 7):













My first surprise of the evening was the Los Lobos was opening the show. Considering their almost legendary status, I wasn't expecting them to start things off. But, these road veterans wasted no time getting their Tex-Mex sound going. Los Lobos has a nice combination of roots/blues rock with a decent amount of traditional Mexican flavor added to the sound. The 1hr 15 minute set went by quickly, and yet seemed just about the right amount for what the crowd wanted. Next up was the currently popular and Grammy nominated (didn't they win?) trio from Texas. Combining rock and blues, this group of brothers reminded me of both Stevie Ray Vaughn and ZZ Top, with the added bonus of some outstanding vocal harmonies. The guitarist was able to cover quite a bit of musical ground, showing influences from all the greats of the past, while still adding some of his own identity. Bassist for the group was amazingly subtle with the amount of foundation he provided in the music. The casual listener wouldn't have noticed that it frequently sounded like more than just one guy playing behind the guitar solos. The drummer was solid as could be, and frequently added a third vocal harmony. He was another understated performer, but the talent was unmistakable. Overall, both bands were outstanding and neither seemed to overshadow the other. In fact, towards the end of the Los Lonely Boys set, they brought out members of Los Lobos for a few songs of fun and jamming. Either band is worth catching, but both on a single night was something special.

"Legends" sets at Unity Fest in Muskegon:

















On Saturday afternoon (Aug 9), Unity Fest brought together 3 of the legends of Christian "rock"/"contemporary" music. First up was Randy Stonehill. Having started back in the 70s, Randy still knows how to entertain a crowd with just his voice and a guitar. Randy brought no fancy gear or backing musicians, but gave the crowd a great sampling of his past and present. Including songs he wrote with Keith Green, and up to a new yet-to-be-released song, he shared for about 45 minutes. Next up was Phil Keaggy. Phil is amazing on guitar, and this was similar to Randy (just Phil and a guitar). Phil did make use of his "looping" pedals, and created many great soundscapes that need to be heard to be believed. Phil's voice was in fine form as well. He shared songs from all across his long career, including some new material (written as recently as a week before the show). Last was a reunion show from Resurrection Band. This was the last reunion show scheduled for the band, so there was quite a bit of interest in how this would go. The band concentrated mostly on their early material, rarely getting into anything beyond 1985. Wendi Kaiser sounded great on vocals, and Stu Heiss was doing some great lead guitar work. In general, the band wasn't as tight as I had hoped, but it could have been worse. Overall, I would say all 3 gave the crowd an education in the foundation of Christian "rock". It was a unique chance to see all 3 in a single afternoon.

That is all for now.

"Major Labels" and their stupidity

In the music industry today, there are what is called "major labels". These are typically the big corporate labels that put huge dollars behind million-selling artists. Labels like Sony BMG, Warner Music, EMI, and Universal. These are also the same guys who are complaining about the digital music revolution (iTunes and the like), while continuing to overcharge for audio CDs (in most cases).

The labels are continuing to put their money behind a 25 yr old technology (audio CDs), and haven't been able to find a new technology that appeals to the masses. To casual music consumers, a typical audio CD has been more than satisfactory. The recent popularity of the iPod and other MP3 devices has only proved the the public is looking for more convenience, rather than increased quality. If the music sounds very similar to an audio CD and I can put my entire catalog of CDs onto a unit that fits in my pocket, that is proving to be something I'm willing to invest in. In other words, the major labels haven't been the best at chasing new technologies, and are now upset that the public is finding alternatives.

When your favorite band puts out a new CD, you typically will run to your local retailer and pick up the copy. Sometimes it will be on sale, as part of a new release promotion. But, you don't mind paying $10-$15 to help support your favorite band. You also help the band by getting them better initial sales results (possible chart position). You get to hear the new music, the band gets sales on the new CD, and the label sees some profits. A year or two later, your favorite band releases a CD of all new music, and the cycle repeats itself.

Lately, I've been seeing a new "trend" which further proves the major labels have only "money" as their driving force. A band will release a CD today, and start a tour to support it. If they happen to get some momentum behind the CD and it becomes popular, labels are now "re-releasing" these popular CDs (sometimes within 12 months of original release) as "expanded" versions. Basically, the fan who originally went out and bought the bands CD, now has to buy the whole thing over again to get a select few new tracks. Not only does this effectively penalize the consumer for buying the initial release, but it also tends to delay the release of an entirely new CD.

An example is the recent news of the debut CD from "Daughtry" (released Nov 2006)now being re-released with 3 newly added "acoustic" versions of songs from the CD (releasing Sept 9, 2008). A "bonus" DVD is also being included in the new "expanded" version. If you've already bought the original, are you going to buy again for just a few new add-ons? If you haven't bought the original, will this motivate you?

Rather than releasing an "expanded" version of the initial CD, why not go with the idea of a new "EP" (shorter format) CD with DVD, and put the new material out as a new product? Simply repackaging the original with some "extra" material seems to be a slap in the face to the existing fan base who has supported the original release.

This isn't the first time a label has done this sort of thing. The current popularity of "remastered" versions of CDs has provided labels with a new way to get a consumer to re-buy their favorite CD, in hopes of getting some enhanced product. In many cases, some additional "previously unreleased bonus" tracks are added to help the value. However, in the case of the "Daughtry" CD, we aren't even talking about remastering. This is purely slapping a few "bonus" tracks onto a popular release, and trying to milk a few more dollars. Not exactly the best way to keep the fans happy.

How many times have you repurchased a release? Did you originally buy something on vinyl record, then cassette, and now CD? Would you be willing to buy an "expanded" version of a CD you bought within the last 24 months, if they added the bonus DVD and a few songs?

Concerts this week

So, after a bit of a lull in concert attending, this week we have two on the schedule:

Tonight (Aug 7) - Meijer Gardens (here in Grand Rapids) is having a great double bill show. The evening will start with the Blues/Rock sounds of Los Lonely Boys (great trio), followed by the road veterans Los Lobos. Los Lobos has been around for decades, and have reached almost legendary status. Los Lonely Boys came to national attention a few years back with their hit "Heaven", and are known for their great live shows. Should be a night of some outstanding music, with a Tex/Mex flavor.

Saturday (Aug 9) - We are going up to UnityFest in Muskegon (www.unitymusicfestival.com) on Saturday, as they are hosting a "legends" package in the afternoon. Starting off at 2:30, Randy Stonehill will perform a solo acoustic set. Phil Keaggy will follow at 3:30 with a similar set. Then a reunited Resurrection Band will perform a set starting at 4:45pm. Considering this is the second of only 2 reunion shows for Resurrection Band, this is a "must see" for me. Reports from their first show last month at Cornerstone Festival were very positive, so expectations are high.

Other shows of note coming in the next month:

• Friday (Aug 8) - Although we aren't going on Friday, Unity Fest (www.unitymusicfestival.com) is having headliners Skillet and Toby Mac both on Friday night. That's a good combo, if you ask me, but I can't make it.

• August 23 - Bill Haley's Comets, Hastings SummerFest, Downtown Hastings - Afternoon outdoor performance - Although this no longer includes Bill Haley (who passed away in 1981), the group reportedly is now led by "original" bass player Al Rappa.

• September 23 - Monte Montgomery, The Intersection (front lounge), Grand Rapids - www.sectionlive.com - Rumor has it that local favorite Ed Englerth may be opening the show (just rumor at this point)

• October 2 - Jon Olivas Pain and Circle II Circle, The Intersection, Grand Rapids - www.sectionlive.com - Jon Oliva is one of the main composers behind Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but is more known as a founding member of the band Savatage. Circle II Circle is a band founded by a previous lead vocalist for Savatage. This is a rare opportunity to see both bands on stage in one evening, and may see a mini-reunion for some Savatage tunes. Should be a good night.

That is all for now.

Fun with PSA

Sorry I dropped off for a couple weeks, but it's been a bit of an anxious time.

About 6 weeks ago, my family doctor told me a blood test had shown an elevated "PSA". This was part of a series of standard tests he did, as part of renewing some prescriptions. He explained to me that "PSA" was "prostate-specific antigen" and can be an indicator of prostate cancer. If the number exceeds specified ranges, further investigation by a Urologist is recommended. In my case, being 43, I should have been in the 2.x range (which was where I tested 2 years ago). This year, I was slightly above 4, which put me in the "concerned" range. So, off to the Urologist I go.

I would like to note that I was not having any symptoms of prostate trouble, and was told this would not be unusual for early stage Prostate cancer.

My first appointment with the Urologist involved a follow up exam, verifying that there was not any other obvious issues. The Urologist suggested scheduling a Prostate biopsy, and a second PSA test was ordered, just to make sure there wasn't some odd reason for the original high rating. This second test came back a tad lower, but still within the "concerned" range. So, the biopsy appointment was kept on the calendar.

Last week, I had the biopsy taken. This was not what I would call a pleasant experience, but probably is far less troubling than previous methods. If you want details of this procedures, it is explained at http://men.webmd.com/prostate-biopsy I was told 12 samples were taken. After a few days, I was told that all samples tested negative and I do not have any prostate cancer at this time. There are still some ongoing issues with the recovery from the biopsy, but nothing I haven't been warned about.

So, why tell you this? Well, if caught early enough, Prostate Cancer has a high survival rate (over 90% will survive). The current PSA test isn't full proof, and there are many factors that can contribute to a high result. However, the PSA test has also been catching many Prostate cancers in the early stages, and is felt to be a major contributor to improving the survival rate. As I was told, in the early stages of Prostate cancer, there can be no symptoms. It is reported that by the age of 40, men should be having a PSA included with their regular blood tests. There needs to be a "base" level determined, so any increases can be monitored. In my case, my PSA numbers almost doubled within 2 years, which was concerning.

There is some concern about PSA tests and Prostate cancer being very slow growing, and that many men will die from other ailments before the Prostate cancer becomes an issue. This is reported to be more of an issue in older men (say, over 70), but with younger men (say, under 50) Prostate cancer could spread to other parts of the body and become a serious threat. It all depends on the age of the individual, and what other ailments are in play. On the other side of the coin, it is reported that Prostate Cancer is the 2nd leading cancer killer of men (exceeded only by lung cancer). It is also reported that 1 in 6 men will have Prostate cancer. There are many contributing factors, but bottom line is that many men will get to have some dealing with this.

If you are over 40 and don't know if you've ever had the PSA test done, you should talk to your family doctor about it. Getting the "base" level set can be important for your future health. I know recent reports are saying that men over 75 should seriously consider not bothering with PSA, and I can understand that point. But, I'm talking about much younger men. In my opinion, avoiding the issue could result in much more serious problems.

A related note is that biopsies performed based solely upon elevated PSA levels return a positive cancer result in less than 30% of the cases (typically much less). I wouldn't say this is reason to avoid the procedure, but is more a reason to not get overly anxious about the procedure. As I've been told, the most reliable way to determine whether cancer exists is via the biopsy. However, it's not 100% reliable, as there is always a chance that all samples taken happen to not reveal a growing cancer.

My point: If you're a male over 40, you need to at least ask your doctor about PSA and how it relates to your specific health care.