I’ve been getting a lot of invites to play Word with Friends that start “Are you the person that played ANTIQUER?” ever since sharing my best played word ever. The truth is this often leads to that person’s glee or perhaps disappointment in our match because I’m not a machine. I lose. I lose a lot. A fact my sister (MinderbenderXL for any who dare) relishes in reminding me. I don’t mind losing…that much. What I do mind are people who quit before the game is over. I’ve taken a lot of beatings and one thing is the same with each — not once have I quit the game. But as they say, you don’t have to take my word for it.

I don’t save every game I’ve played (I’m looking at you, Sis) but I have kept around some of the more memorable. They’re mostly losses and here are a few.

About two months ago an iPad app I loved, Print Central, Unlike so many others I tend to READ THE INFORMATION ON WHAT’S BEEN CHANGED.  with version 1.8.2 the developer clearly stated they removed the ability to print through Apple’s AirPrint function.  That told me everything I needed to know.  So I backed up the app BEFORE updating just to see what the real impact would be.  In short I didn’t like it at all and rolled back to my saved copy.

I am very glad the developers clearly informed us instead of trying to hide the change required by Apple.  That’s why I gave it full marks in my appstore review.  Also, the app still did what it was designed to do which is print to any printer.  Yes, the updated version became clunkier now but the dev’s only alternative was to remove it from the app store even though some might still find it a useful app.

Update: The App’s greatest feature had now been crippled by Apple.  Maintaining backup old version of PrintCentral no longer preserves ability to print directly from other enabled apps. Even though it’s still showed up as a valid printer option if you wait two seconds it will vanish.   Apple effectively removed function via latest iOS release.  Thus proving once and for all the folks at Euro Smartz Ltd were force to make detrimental changes to their app in order to continue selling it via the iTunes App Store.

Update: If you do have the app here’s how you’ll now have to print documents and such.  Gone are the good old days where you could just select the app as defined printer.  *sigh*

I am in total amazement.  Why?  Well because this is the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to open my “I Told Ya So” playbook*. A few days ago this post from The Nifty Tech Blog came across my reader and I had to chime in. And Holy Guacamole!!  I nailed it.  Sorta.   Honestly though, even without the use of Phychohistory, it wasn’t hard to predict.  We’re dealing with two large companies (Apple, AT&T) that have shown zero skill at capacity planning time and time again.

Doc Coleman was more than correct in his followup post.  People will have nearly a year to get an iPhone 4 in their hands.  That, however was not the goal for many.  The goal was to have it in one’s hand on June 24th without having to camp outside a store and wait on lines rivaling those of Nov 4, 2008.  People also recall that when the 3G model reached stores they were sold out by the 2nd week of July and the backlog was so great estimates of four weeks before resupply were made.

I reference the 3G model because that was two years ago and AT&T requires that same span as part of their contract agreement.  My guess was that the first three months saw a million or so units sold.  AT&T is allowing upgrades ahead of schedule just for the iPhone 4.  Put those two factors together, sprinkle in a sizable number of smartphone users and potential buyers who are also at the end of their current contract and have been waiting for the iPhone to mature and you have the perfect iStorm.  If nothing else these three factors add up to a number greater than the 600,000 units available pre-order.

As for me, I did not even try ordering.  I made a deal with my wife that she’d get the iPhone 4 and I’d get an iPad.  I did remind her that pre-ordering had started but by that time it was all over the news that the program had been pulled.

For the record, my iPad is magical.  So much so I resist the urge to whisper abracadabra when I flip open my Apple iPad case.  If you listen closely you may catch me in a moment of weakness.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s high time I signed up as an iWhatever developer, slap together some bad code, sell it for $1.99 and watch the Washingtons roll into my bank account.  Dollar bills ya’ll.

*No such playbook exists.