The cycle is in the middle

In the middle of a hectic work / travel schedule. Have a trip to elsewhere in Deutschland on the horizon, immediately followed by a trip back to the Whining States of America. Part business-part familial pilgrimage.

In the interim-between going back and forth to both work and the doctor-I got a new toy:

I finally got tired of my non smart, pre-paid,  German cell phone. Perhaps not the smartest idea I have ever had-especially since I hope to be on my way back to Asia in the next year and a half, but my I-phone will not be able to be unlocked till next winter. I miss my smart phone. ( I use the I-phone now as an American cell when back in the US and this one over here-since one way or another, I would have to pay ATT.)

As an I-Phone aficionado, it was a little hard to make "the switch"-but I find that on the whole I am liking the phone. For one thing-it was cheaper than a new I-phone ( when you included the service contract). Since European phones are sold unlocked-I can use it in my travels which is nice-especially when I go to Israel and back to Asia.

Things I like: The screen is bigger than the I-Phone and the image is just about the same as that of a I-POD with retina screen. I like being able to move files via Windows to the SD card. I like being able to change the SIM card easily. I have figured out how to replicate my apps-so I have most of the ones I used on the I-phone.

I think I-tunes has a better way to present Music-but as for Video-I call it for the Samsung. The other definite advantage of the Samsung is the thinness of the body.

Downside of the Samsung-you have to be careful not to scratch the screen. I bought a case with a flap that covers the screen and is insulated. Problem is-it folds the wrong way, in relation to the buttons that move me through the menus. I am getting used to it however.

Bottom line? I like it as much or more than my I-phone. Sad news for Apple-of which I am a shareholder. I'm still sold on the IPad though.