TechCrunch: Arrington's Showing His Ignorance.

Posted on August 1st, 2009 by primatage

Yesterday on TechCrunch, Mike Arrington posted a rant article proclaiming that he “Quit The iPhone.” I began reading the post with the usual trepidation, since lately it’s just not possible to predict what Arrington might do in what seems to be an endless bid for the world’s attention. My fears were indeed confirmed as he went on, after several self-affirming pats on his own back, to explain how the monumental injustice (allegedly) perpetrated by AT&T and Apple against Google in regards to Voice has simply left him no other option. In fact, given the high school angst flavoring of the piece, it reads much like a suicide note might read.

It’s interesting to note that most suicide notes are written in desperate attempts to get noticed.

This comes at a perfect time, since only a couple of days ago I posted about my thoughts on Apple, AT&T, Google and Voice. I postulated that AT&T may have actually had nothing to do with the blocking of the app, and that it was simply a row between Apple and Google. As updates became available I later added that not only is the FCC as interested in this as we are, but that AT&T has officially denied any role in the drama.

I also poked fun at the fact that many of the loudest to complain in this case are those who have never actually used Google Voice, and were simply regurgitating hearsay and often bad information when drawing their conclusions. Conclusions which seemed to unanimously point the finger of justice at AT&T.

Which brings me to the core issue: I didn’t expect to be forced to the conclusion that I was, that I would be made to believe that Mike Arrington has not actually used Google Voice on an iPhone, and possibly has not used it at all. Sure, he’s got knowledge of it, he cites his own blog’s posts about it several times, posts which are several months old. He nearly always refers to it as “formerly Grand Central.” That’s all well and good, but it’s not Grand Central anymore. It’s Voice, and the myriad of problems Arrington rails off through the article all seem to be from some alternate reality where I don’t have my iPhone in front of me, with Voice at the ready, proving him wrong at every turn.

I think the best way to handle this is to simply go paragraph by paragraph in excerpts from his post.

What finally put me over the edge? It wasn’t the routinely dropped calls, something you can only truly understand once you have owned an iPhone (and which drove my friend Om Malik to bail). I’ve lived with that for two years. It’s not the lack of AT&T coverage at home. I’ve lived with that for two years, too. It certainly isn’t the lack of a physical keyboard, that has never bothered me. No, what finally put me over the edge is the Google Voice debacle.

Most of you won’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll explain.

Yes Mike, AT&T has spotty coverage at best, and we all hate dropped calls. The grass is always greener though, isn’t it? Because last time I checked, customers of other wireless service providers were complaining about the same thing. But that’s not what I want to point out in this excerpt, the last line is: “Most of you won’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll explain.” Really? Well thanks Mike Arrington, because I was sitting here completely befuddled by the moonspeak you were spewing. Please, go on.

Google Voice is a call management service that lets you determine what calls get through to you based on who’s calling and what time of day it is, among other factors. It has amazing features, like automatically transcribing all your voicemails. And you can forward calls to any other phone easily and automatically. Here’s an overview of the service if you aren’t familiar with it.

What I want to note here is that the article he links to supposedly explaining to us simpletons what exactly Google Voice is, is in fact from back in March.

This is what we’ve really been waiting for:

I’ve always wanted to use Google Voice but there’s a big switching cost – changing your phone number. Too many people have that phone number and use it to call in great stories. There’s no way I’m giving that up. And there’s another problem with Google Voice. When you make outbound calls from a phone, it (obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number, so recipients don’t know it’s you calling. Those were two hurdles I wasn’t willing to jump over.

There it is. “I’ve always wanted to use Google Voice but… …hurdles I wasn’t willing to jump over.” Wow. He’s just basically admitted that he is speaking entirely out of his ass. And these unavoidable “hurdles” he names? Not so much. I think it’s nothing short of amazing that the great Mike Arrington is willing to bestow such “obvious” knowledge upon us. Especially since it’s completely wrong.

  • When you set up your Voice account, you choose a phone number. This will be your Google Voice number for as long as you choose to keep it. It does not replace the phone number attached to your iPhone, that’s AT&T. Your friends who have this number saved will still have the number saved, and will still see your face when they dial it. If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!

  • As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.

    • He doesn’t stop there, he actually continues, striding boldly forward into oblivious serenity, laying down his sage learnings cooly and methodically:

    But now Google is planning on rolling out number portability, so I can move my mobile phone number to Google. None of my friends, family or contacts have to store a new number.

    That still leaves the problem of outbound calls, though. I can move my mobile number to Google and then get a new iPhone account, but outbound calls won’t be identified because they are on the new number. Google has a solution for that too, though. They are releasing apps for a variety of handsets that effectively take over the native dialer, address book and call log. Problem solved. I can use any phone I like, or a bunch of phones, and just choose the one that makes sense at any time. I never have to be tied to a carrier and their restrictive contracts again.

    Or so I thought. Apple and AT&T are now blocking the iPhone version of the Google Voice app. Why? Because they absolutely don’t want people doing exactly what I’m doing – moving their phone number to Google and using the carrier as a dumb pipe.

    So I have to choose between the iPhone and Google Voice. It’s not an easy decision. Except, it sort of is. Google isn’t forcing the decision on me, Apple and AT&T are. So I choose to work with the company that isn’t forcing me to do things their way. And in this case, that’s Google.

    Where do I begin? I’ve already covered his being obsessively wrong about the outgoing calls business, so that’s done. In doing so I’ve now covered the use of the web-app, so that’s taken care of. Earlier in my last post I covered the issue of AT&T’s involvement (or lack thereof) in the blocking of the native Voice app, something which Arrington believes he can simply state as fact (as he does everything else). So all that’s left is his plaintive cry for help, because he’s been so unreasonably forced to choose between his iPhone and Google.

    Don’t misunderstand me, if there were ever an actual moment that truly did force such a decision, I would choose Google over my iPhone. Mike Arrington has not been forced, in any way whatsoever to make this choice. Mike Arrington has shown that he has no idea what he’s talking about, and that he simply wants attention. In this case, he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple, because he probably believes he has that kind of clout. He very well may. Too many people have placed laurels on the head of this man, and the combined weight of all that crowning glory seems to have caused a severe over-inflation of his ego. My suggestion to Mr. Arrington is this: If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone. While you’re at it, give the people at JitterBug a try, they might be more your speed.

    Addendum: The Wall Street Journal doesn’t seem to have a clue what Google Voice is, either.

    151 Responses to “TechCrunch: Arrington's Showing His Ignorance.”

    Seth Rubenstein • August 2nd, 2009 at 18:01

    I love you. Thats all I wanted to say. Arrington has lost his mind over the past year it would seem seeing fit to fill the pages of TechCrunch with his vitriolic politically charged hate and uninformed ramblings. I've stopped reading TC alltogether because of it.

    Seth Rubenstein • August 2nd, 2009 at 18:01

    I love you. Thats all I wanted to say. Arrington has lost his mind over the past year it would seem seeing fit to fill the pages of TechCrunch with his vitriolic politically charged hate and uninformed ramblings. I've stopped reading TC alltogether because of it.

    Seth Rubenstein • August 2nd, 2009 at 18:01

    I love you. Thats all I wanted to say. Arrington has lost his mind over the past year it would seem seeing fit to fill the pages of TechCrunch with his vitriolic politically charged hate and uninformed ramblings. I've stopped reading TC alltogether because of it.

    Seth Rubenstein • August 2nd, 2009 at 18:01

    I love you. Thats all I wanted to say. Arrington has lost his mind over the past year it would seem seeing fit to fill the pages of TechCrunch with his vitriolic politically charged hate and uninformed ramblings. I've stopped reading TC alltogether because of it.

    LANjackal • August 2nd, 2009 at 23:41

    “Yes Mike, AT&T has spotty coverage at best, and we all hate dropped calls. The grass is always greener though, isn’t it? Because last time I checked, customers of other wireless service providers were complaining about the same thing.”
    - you might wanna check with Verizon users on that one, seriously

    Good article otherwise.

    LANjackal • August 2nd, 2009 at 23:41

    “Yes Mike, AT&T has spotty coverage at best, and we all hate dropped calls. The grass is always greener though, isn’t it? Because last time I checked, customers of other wireless service providers were complaining about the same thing.”
    - you might wanna check with Verizon users on that one, seriously

    Good article otherwise.

    LANjackal • August 2nd, 2009 at 23:41

    “Yes Mike, AT&T has spotty coverage at best, and we all hate dropped calls. The grass is always greener though, isn’t it? Because last time I checked, customers of other wireless service providers were complaining about the same thing.”
    - you might wanna check with Verizon users on that one, seriously

    Good article otherwise.

    LANjackal • August 2nd, 2009 at 23:41

    “Yes Mike, AT&T has spotty coverage at best, and we all hate dropped calls. The grass is always greener though, isn’t it? Because last time I checked, customers of other wireless service providers were complaining about the same thing.”
    - you might wanna check with Verizon users on that one, seriously

    Good article otherwise.

    Tane Piper • August 3rd, 2009 at 01:05

    I haven't like Arrington in a while, but after reading that post I only came to one firm conclusion: Michael Arrington is the Perez Hilton of the tech world, a shock-jock “journalist” (I use that word in the loosest sense) of sorts. I've stopped following tech crunch on twitter completly now, I don't think I can handle the stupidity that comes from it anymore.

    Tane Piper • August 3rd, 2009 at 01:05

    I haven't like Arrington in a while, but after reading that post I only came to one firm conclusion: Michael Arrington is the Perez Hilton of the tech world, a shock-jock “journalist” (I use that word in the loosest sense) of sorts. I've stopped following tech crunch on twitter completly now, I don't think I can handle the stupidity that comes from it anymore.

    Tane Piper • August 3rd, 2009 at 01:05

    I haven't like Arrington in a while, but after reading that post I only came to one firm conclusion: Michael Arrington is the Perez Hilton of the tech world, a shock-jock “journalist” (I use that word in the loosest sense) of sorts. I've stopped following tech crunch on twitter completly now, I don't think I can handle the stupidity that comes from it anymore.

    Tane Piper • August 3rd, 2009 at 01:05

    I haven't like Arrington in a while, but after reading that post I only came to one firm conclusion: Michael Arrington is the Perez Hilton of the tech world, a shock-jock “journalist” (I use that word in the loosest sense) of sorts. I've stopped following tech crunch on twitter completly now, I don't think I can handle the stupidity that comes from it anymore.

    photosharing • August 3rd, 2009 at 03:55

    Im glad it exposed the Google Voice / AT&T / Apple drama.

    I hope it made a difference

    photosharing • August 3rd, 2009 at 03:55

    Im glad it exposed the Google Voice / AT&T / Apple drama.

    I hope it made a difference

    photosharing • August 3rd, 2009 at 03:55

    Im glad it exposed the Google Voice / AT&T / Apple drama.

    I hope it made a difference

    photosharing • August 3rd, 2009 at 03:55

    Im glad it exposed the Google Voice / AT&T / Apple drama.

    I hope it made a difference

    Peter • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:15

    “My suggestion to Mr. Arrington is this: If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone.”

    Isn't that exactly what he did?

    I don't see any point of that article. Can't anybody quit iPhone? Can't write about it? Can't have most idiotic reasons or whatever to do that? I don't understand – why is this anybodys business at all? I'm going to drop my iPhone too. As soon as Pre GSM becomes available. And I'm going to write about it too. And the reason of doin this is i'm an ignorant douchebag. Now what?

    Peter • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:15

    “My suggestion to Mr. Arrington is this: If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone.”

    Isn't that exactly what he did?

    I don't see any point of that article. Can't anybody quit iPhone? Can't write about it? Can't have most idiotic reasons or whatever to do that? I don't understand – why is this anybodys business at all? I'm going to drop my iPhone too. As soon as Pre GSM becomes available. And I'm going to write about it too. And the reason of doin this is i'm an ignorant douchebag. Now what?

    Peter • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:15

    “My suggestion to Mr. Arrington is this: If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone.”

    Isn't that exactly what he did?

    I don't see any point of that article. Can't anybody quit iPhone? Can't write about it? Can't have most idiotic reasons or whatever to do that? I don't understand – why is this anybodys business at all? I'm going to drop my iPhone too. As soon as Pre GSM becomes available. And I'm going to write about it too. And the reason of doin this is i'm an ignorant douchebag. Now what?

    Peter • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:15

    “My suggestion to Mr. Arrington is this: If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone.”

    Isn't that exactly what he did?

    I don't see any point of that article. Can't anybody quit iPhone? Can't write about it? Can't have most idiotic reasons or whatever to do that? I don't understand – why is this anybodys business at all? I'm going to drop my iPhone too. As soon as Pre GSM becomes available. And I'm going to write about it too. And the reason of doin this is i'm an ignorant douchebag. Now what?

    Nicholai • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:25

    Yeah, you really don't loose calls with Verizon, I can vouch on that one. With the exception of riding the metro underground where you get no service at all, there really isn't a place in a busy metropolitan area, in my case Los Angeles, where Verizon dosent do the job.
    But then whats new. Verizon is the shit. Arrington is comparable to a monkey shoveling his own feces. Its really kinda humorous to read his articles at times, he should get a job at the Onion or something

    Nicholai • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:25

    Yeah, you really don't loose calls with Verizon, I can vouch on that one. With the exception of riding the metro underground where you get no service at all, there really isn't a place in a busy metropolitan area, in my case Los Angeles, where Verizon dosent do the job.
    But then whats new. Verizon is the shit. Arrington is comparable to a monkey shoveling his own feces. Its really kinda humorous to read his articles at times, he should get a job at the Onion or something

    Nicholai • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:25

    Yeah, you really don't loose calls with Verizon, I can vouch on that one. With the exception of riding the metro underground where you get no service at all, there really isn't a place in a busy metropolitan area, in my case Los Angeles, where Verizon dosent do the job.
    But then whats new. Verizon is the shit. Arrington is comparable to a monkey shoveling his own feces. Its really kinda humorous to read his articles at times, he should get a job at the Onion or something

    Nicholai • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:25

    Yeah, you really don't loose calls with Verizon, I can vouch on that one. With the exception of riding the metro underground where you get no service at all, there really isn't a place in a busy metropolitan area, in my case Los Angeles, where Verizon dosent do the job.
    But then whats new. Verizon is the shit. Arrington is comparable to a monkey shoveling his own feces. Its really kinda humorous to read his articles at times, he should get a job at the Onion or something

    Charbax • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:27

    Arrington is right, the iphone truely sucks. And any apple fanboy that hasn't realized yet that it's an overpriced piece of junk need to wake up. Android FTW.

    Charbax • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:27

    Arrington is right, the iphone truely sucks. And any apple fanboy that hasn't realized yet that it's an overpriced piece of junk need to wake up. Android FTW.

    Charbax • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:27

    Arrington is right, the iphone truely sucks. And any apple fanboy that hasn't realized yet that it's an overpriced piece of junk need to wake up. Android FTW.

    Charbax • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:27

    Arrington is right, the iphone truely sucks. And any apple fanboy that hasn't realized yet that it's an overpriced piece of junk need to wake up. Android FTW.

    Charbax • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:27

    Arrington is right, the iphone truely sucks. And any apple fanboy that hasn't realized yet that it's an overpriced piece of junk need to wake up. Android FTW.

    G • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43

    “he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple”

    Lol, good joke, although I certainly think he must have gotten at least $50k from Google for that post.

    G • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43

    “he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple”

    Lol, good joke, although I certainly think he must have gotten at least $50k from Google for that post.

    G • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43

    “he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple”

    Lol, good joke, although I certainly think he must have gotten at least $50k from Google for that post.

    G • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43

    “he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple”

    Lol, good joke, although I certainly think he must have gotten at least $50k from Google for that post.

    G • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:43

    “he probably expects to get a free iPhone 3GS from Apple”

    Lol, good joke, although I certainly think he must have gotten at least $50k from Google for that post.

    seyr • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:48

    A pointed argument, like Arrington's is a bid for attention, but an article written for the singular purpose of ripping another person isn't? You're worse than he.

    seyr • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:48

    A pointed argument like Arrington's is a bid for attention, but an article written for the singular purpose of ripping another person isn't? How much misinformation/speculation is your article oozing? You're worse than he.

    seyr • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:48

    A pointed argument like Arrington's is a bid for attention, but an article written for the singular purpose of ripping another person isn't? How much misinformation/speculation is your article oozing? You're worse than he.

    seyr • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:48

    A pointed argument like Arrington's is a bid for attention, but an article written for the singular purpose of ripping another person isn't? How much misinformation/speculation is your article oozing? You're worse than he.

    seyr • August 3rd, 2009 at 04:48

    A pointed argument like Arrington's is a bid for attention, but an article written for the singular purpose of ripping another person isn't? How much misinformation/speculation is your article oozing? You're worse than he.

    Deceth • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:06

    So… what was Mike wrong about? His opinion that AT&T might be the culprit whereas you disagree? Because as for the other stuff, seems to me he was correct. A web-app is not the same as number portability and is something that would prevent the average user from even considering use of Google Voice.

    And personally, why are you so mad a guy shared his opinion on why he is switching to Android? Google Voice is great. Your advice is “If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone”. That doesn't even make sense. Google Voice is blocked on the iPhone, that's why he is switching to Android!

    Deceth • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:06

    So… what was Mike wrong about? His opinion that AT&T might be the culprit whereas you disagree? Because as for the other stuff, seems to me he was correct. A web-app is not the same as number portability and is something that would prevent the average user from even considering use of Google Voice.

    And personally, why are you so mad a guy shared his opinion on why he is switching to Android? Google Voice is great. Your advice is “If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone”. That doesn't even make sense. Google Voice is blocked on the iPhone, that's why he is switching to Android!

    Deceth • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:06

    So… what was Mike wrong about? His opinion that AT&T might be the culprit whereas you disagree? Because as for the other stuff, seems to me he was correct. A web-app is not the same as number portability and is something that would prevent the average user from even considering use of Google Voice.

    And personally, why are you so mad a guy shared his opinion on why he is switching to Android? Google Voice is great. Your advice is “If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone”. That doesn't even make sense. Google Voice is blocked on the iPhone, that's why he is switching to Android!

    Deceth • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:06

    So… what was Mike wrong about? His opinion that AT&T might be the culprit whereas you disagree? Because as for the other stuff, seems to me he was correct. A web-app is not the same as number portability and is something that would prevent the average user from even considering use of Google Voice.

    And personally, why are you so mad a guy shared his opinion on why he is switching to Android? Google Voice is great. Your advice is “If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone”. That doesn't even make sense. Google Voice is blocked on the iPhone, that's why he is switching to Android!

    Deceth • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:06

    So… what was Mike wrong about? His opinion that AT&T might be the culprit whereas you disagree? Because as for the other stuff, seems to me he was correct. A web-app is not the same as number portability and is something that would prevent the average user from even considering use of Google Voice.

    And personally, why are you so mad a guy shared his opinion on why he is switching to Android? Google Voice is great. Your advice is “If setting up and using Google Voice is too much of a hassle for you, maybe you should indeed put down the iPhone”. That doesn't even make sense. Google Voice is blocked on the iPhone, that's why he is switching to Android!

    Connor Treacy • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:30

    It's probably worth thinking behind the article. Arrington was instrumental in creating the CrunchPad concept, which goes to market later this year. The CrunchPad is a MID designed specifically around quick access to the internet. While the CrunchPad is currently Ubuntu-powered, Google's upcoming ChromeOS would marry perfectly with the concept, and Arrington is sure to be courting Google at every opportunity.

    Couple the above with the omnipresent rumours of an Apple tablet launch this year, and you start to see the bigger picture behind Arrington's rant.Rather than score some free Apple hardware, he's using his loyal reader base to undermine Apple's current hold on the MID market, and allying with their fast-emerging enemy, Google, to guarantee the success of his CrunchPad when it launches.

    In my opinion, once his device is on the market, a seemingly-unbiased tech blog would be a conflict of interests for Arrington, which should further cast doubt over his journalistic integrity.

    Connor Treacy • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:30

    It's probably worth thinking behind the article. Arrington was instrumental in creating the CrunchPad concept, which goes to market later this year. The CrunchPad is a MID designed specifically around quick access to the internet. While the CrunchPad is currently Ubuntu-powered, Google's upcoming ChromeOS would marry perfectly with the concept, and Arrington is sure to be courting Google at every opportunity.

    Couple the above with the omnipresent rumours of an Apple tablet launch this year, and you start to see the bigger picture behind Arrington's rant.Rather than score some free Apple hardware, he's using his loyal reader base to undermine Apple's current hold on the MID market, and allying with their fast-emerging enemy, Google, to guarantee the success of his CrunchPad when it launches.

    In my opinion, once his device is on the market, a seemingly-unbiased tech blog would be a conflict of interests for Arrington, which should further cast doubt over his journalistic integrity.

    Connor Treacy • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:30

    It's probably worth thinking behind the article. Arrington was instrumental in creating the CrunchPad concept, which goes to market later this year. The CrunchPad is a MID designed specifically around quick access to the internet. While the CrunchPad is currently Ubuntu-powered, Google's upcoming ChromeOS would marry perfectly with the concept, and Arrington is sure to be courting Google at every opportunity.

    Couple the above with the omnipresent rumours of an Apple tablet launch this year, and you start to see the bigger picture behind Arrington's rant.Rather than score some free Apple hardware, he's using his loyal reader base to undermine Apple's current hold on the MID market, and allying with their fast-emerging enemy, Google, to guarantee the success of his CrunchPad when it launches.

    In my opinion, once his device is on the market, a seemingly-unbiased tech blog would be a conflict of interests for Arrington, which should further cast doubt over his journalistic integrity.

    Connor Treacy • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:30

    It's probably worth thinking behind the article. Arrington was instrumental in creating the CrunchPad concept, which goes to market later this year. The CrunchPad is a MID designed specifically around quick access to the internet. While the CrunchPad is currently Ubuntu-powered, Google's upcoming ChromeOS would marry perfectly with the concept, and Arrington is sure to be courting Google at every opportunity.

    Couple the above with the omnipresent rumours of an Apple tablet launch this year, and you start to see the bigger picture behind Arrington's rant.Rather than score some free Apple hardware, he's using his loyal reader base to undermine Apple's current hold on the MID market, and allying with their fast-emerging enemy, Google, to guarantee the success of his CrunchPad when it launches.

    In my opinion, once his device is on the market, a seemingly-unbiased tech blog would be a conflict of interests for Arrington, which should further cast doubt over his journalistic integrity.

    Connor Treacy • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:30

    It's probably worth thinking behind the article. Arrington was instrumental in creating the CrunchPad concept, which goes to market later this year. The CrunchPad is a MID designed specifically around quick access to the internet. While the CrunchPad is currently Ubuntu-powered, Google's upcoming ChromeOS would marry perfectly with the concept, and Arrington is sure to be courting Google at every opportunity.

    Couple the above with the omnipresent rumours of an Apple tablet launch this year, and you start to see the bigger picture behind Arrington's rant.Rather than score some free Apple hardware, he's using his loyal reader base to undermine Apple's current hold on the MID market, and allying with their fast-emerging enemy, Google, to guarantee the success of his CrunchPad when it launches.

    In my opinion, once his device is on the market, a seemingly-unbiased tech blog would be a conflict of interests for Arrington, which should further cast doubt over his journalistic integrity.

    techfanboi • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:38

    Arrington is correct. No other device manufaturer has so much control on their hardware. Another Apple troll using interwebs to smear arrington who stated some clear facts.

    techfanboi • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:38

    Arrington is correct. No other device manufaturer has so much control on their hardware. Another Apple troll using interwebs to smear arrington who stated some clear facts.

    techfanboi • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:38

    Arrington is correct. No other device manufaturer has so much control on their hardware. Another Apple troll using interwebs to smear arrington who stated some clear facts.

    techfanboi • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:38

    Arrington is correct. No other device manufaturer has so much control on their hardware. Another Apple troll using interwebs to smear arrington who stated some clear facts.

    techfanboi • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:38

    Arrington is correct. No other device manufaturer has so much control on their hardware. Another Apple troll using interwebs to smear arrington who stated some clear facts.

    Ramon J. Gonzalez • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:46

    Is this a serious article? Ok, I confess, I don't love Arrington, especially after the Leo argument, but I don't hate the guy either. And he is entitled to an opinion. I feel that this article is as misguided as it claims Arrington to be. You state that “If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!”. Now that may not be a big deal for someone that has about 3 or 4 friends or contact for that matter. However, the rest of the people, usually the ones that would have a smart phone to begin with have many more than that. It is very difficult switching to a new number and that is precisely why the US Government allowed people to keep their numbers by LAW! As soon as I read that statement I knew what this article was going to be and I took it with a grain of salt. Arrington has mad valid points and rightly so choose a course of action that you yourself even suggest, putting down the iphone.

    Additionally, using a web app to make outgoing calls?! Are you serious? Anyone that uses a phone for more than just playing games would know that this would not be acceptable in the least. Think about it, you could only make a call after using an application on the web, yea that seems really easy and efficient. And then you go on to your so called “argument” as if you have solved this problem for the rest of the people that are in this situation. This was such an outlandish statement that I do not even want to comment further.

    I suggest you seriously check yourself next time you choose to try and rip someone's VALID opinion and attack them personally claiming it was a cry for help when you yourself are doing the exact same thing if not only in a worse fashion. Again, I just want to state that I am no way a fan of Arrington, but this article is just out of hand.

    Ramon J. Gonzalez • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:46

    Is this a serious article? Ok, I confess, I don't love Arrington, especially after the Leo argument, but I don't hate the guy either. And he is entitled to an opinion. I feel that this article is as misguided as it claims Arrington to be. You state that “If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!”. Now that may not be a big deal for someone that has about 3 or 4 friends or contact for that matter. However, the rest of the people, usually the ones that would have a smart phone to begin with have many more than that. It is very difficult switching to a new number and that is precisely why the US Government allowed people to keep their numbers by LAW! As soon as I read that statement I knew what this article was going to be and I took it with a grain of salt. Arrington has mad valid points and rightly so choose a course of action that you yourself even suggest, putting down the iphone.

    Additionally, using a web app to make outgoing calls?! Are you serious? Anyone that uses a phone for more than just playing games would know that this would not be acceptable in the least. Think about it, you could only make a call after using an application on the web, yea that seems really easy and efficient. And then you go on to your so called “argument” as if you have solved this problem for the rest of the people that are in this situation. This was such an outlandish statement that I do not even want to comment further.

    I suggest you seriously check yourself next time you choose to try and rip someone's VALID opinion and attack them personally claiming it was a cry for help when you yourself are doing the exact same thing if not only in a worse fashion. Again, I just want to state that I am no way a fan of Arrington, but this article is just out of hand.

    Ramon J. Gonzalez • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:46

    Is this a serious article? Ok, I confess, I don't love Arrington, especially after the Leo argument, but I don't hate the guy either. And he is entitled to an opinion. I feel that this article is as misguided as it claims Arrington to be. You state that “If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!”. Now that may not be a big deal for someone that has about 3 or 4 friends or contact for that matter. However, the rest of the people, usually the ones that would have a smart phone to begin with have many more than that. It is very difficult switching to a new number and that is precisely why the US Government allowed people to keep their numbers by LAW! As soon as I read that statement I knew what this article was going to be and I took it with a grain of salt. Arrington has mad valid points and rightly so choose a course of action that you yourself even suggest, putting down the iphone.

    Additionally, using a web app to make outgoing calls?! Are you serious? Anyone that uses a phone for more than just playing games would know that this would not be acceptable in the least. Think about it, you could only make a call after using an application on the web, yea that seems really easy and efficient. And then you go on to your so called “argument” as if you have solved this problem for the rest of the people that are in this situation. This was such an outlandish statement that I do not even want to comment further.

    I suggest you seriously check yourself next time you choose to try and rip someone's VALID opinion and attack them personally claiming it was a cry for help when you yourself are doing the exact same thing if not only in a worse fashion. Again, I just want to state that I am no way a fan of Arrington, but this article is just out of hand.

    Ramon J. Gonzalez • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:46

    Is this a serious article? Ok, I confess, I don't love Arrington, especially after the Leo argument, but I don't hate the guy either. And he is entitled to an opinion. I feel that this article is as misguided as it claims Arrington to be. You state that “If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!”. Now that may not be a big deal for someone that has about 3 or 4 friends or contact for that matter. However, the rest of the people, usually the ones that would have a smart phone to begin with have many more than that. It is very difficult switching to a new number and that is precisely why the US Government allowed people to keep their numbers by LAW! As soon as I read that statement I knew what this article was going to be and I took it with a grain of salt. Arrington has mad valid points and rightly so choose a course of action that you yourself even suggest, putting down the iphone.

    Additionally, using a web app to make outgoing calls?! Are you serious? Anyone that uses a phone for more than just playing games would know that this would not be acceptable in the least. Think about it, you could only make a call after using an application on the web, yea that seems really easy and efficient. And then you go on to your so called “argument” as if you have solved this problem for the rest of the people that are in this situation. This was such an outlandish statement that I do not even want to comment further.

    I suggest you seriously check yourself next time you choose to try and rip someone's VALID opinion and attack them personally claiming it was a cry for help when you yourself are doing the exact same thing if not only in a worse fashion. Again, I just want to state that I am no way a fan of Arrington, but this article is just out of hand.

    Ramon J. Gonzalez • August 3rd, 2009 at 05:46

    Is this a serious article? Ok, I confess, I don't love Arrington, especially after the Leo argument, but I don't hate the guy either. And he is entitled to an opinion. I feel that this article is as misguided as it claims Arrington to be. You state that “If you want them to start using your new Google Voice number, you simply give them the number and tell them so whenever they call you. What a hurdle!”. Now that may not be a big deal for someone that has about 3 or 4 friends or contact for that matter. However, the rest of the people, usually the ones that would have a smart phone to begin with have many more than that. It is very difficult switching to a new number and that is precisely why the US Government allowed people to keep their numbers by LAW! As soon as I read that statement I knew what this article was going to be and I took it with a grain of salt. Arrington has mad valid points and rightly so choose a course of action that you yourself even suggest, putting down the iphone.

    Additionally, using a web app to make outgoing calls?! Are you serious? Anyone that uses a phone for more than just playing games would know that this would not be acceptable in the least. Think about it, you could only make a call after using an application on the web, yea that seems really easy and efficient. And then you go on to your so called “argument” as if you have solved this problem for the rest of the people that are in this situation. This was such an outlandish statement that I do not even want to comment further.

    I suggest you seriously check yourself next time you choose to try and rip someone's VALID opinion and attack them personally claiming it was a cry for help when you yourself are doing the exact same thing if not only in a worse fashion. Again, I just want to state that I am no way a fan of Arrington, but this article is just out of hand.

    babysinister • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:02

    and here i am thinking

    didnt everybody already know that if you want to join the gravy-train of mobile innovation,
    apple is a company to stay far away from.

    oh and matthew rogers, how about writing something yourself next time, instead of bashing other bloggers.
    surely you are able to reach your deadlines without reverting to a kindergarten state of mind?

    babysinister • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:02

    and here i am thinking

    didnt everybody already know that if you want to join the gravy-train of mobile innovation,
    apple is a company to stay far away from.

    oh and matthew rogers, how about writing something yourself next time, instead of bashing other bloggers.
    surely you are able to reach your deadlines without reverting to a kindergarten state of mind?

    babysinister • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:02

    and here i am thinking

    didnt everybody already know that if you want to join the gravy-train of mobile innovation,
    apple is a company to stay far away from.

    oh and matthew rogers, how about writing something yourself next time, instead of bashing other bloggers.
    surely you are able to reach your deadlines without reverting to a kindergarten state of mind?

    babysinister • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:02

    and here i am thinking

    didnt everybody already know that if you want to join the gravy-train of mobile innovation,
    apple is a company to stay far away from.

    oh and matthew rogers, how about writing something yourself next time, instead of bashing other bloggers.
    surely you are able to reach your deadlines without reverting to a kindergarten state of mind?

    babysinister • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:02

    and here i am thinking

    didnt everybody already know that if you want to join the gravy-train of mobile innovation,
    apple is a company to stay far away from.

    oh and matthew rogers, how about writing something yourself next time, instead of bashing other bloggers.
    surely you are able to reach your deadlines without reverting to a kindergarten state of mind?

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Wayne Williams • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:04

    I remember watching the video of Arrington getting bitch slapped by Leo Laporte a few weeks ago. Leo was hot and I was hysterical! I lost respect for Arrington that day.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    Stefan • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:07

    Arrington is an arrogant bastard, but you are far worse. I regularly comment on techcrunch articles saying how lousy they are and how I don't understand that they get paid to write crap like they write. but lousy articles like yours make me realize that, sadly, the techcrunch writers are among the best of tech blogging world.

    Thanks for making me appreciate Techcrunch again.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    KarenPost • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:15

    So, you're saying you call into a web app, which then calls you back, and then connects you to your party? “It's really no different than any other call…”

    Um, yeah, it is. Maybe you're just used to the extra steps since you sound as though you have been using Voice for a bit. To me it seems silly. But then, I have a BlackBerry, so I'm used to efficiency.

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    anonk • August 3rd, 2009 at 06:22

    Dude – he was talking about calling from his cell WITHOUT the app! How wrong can you be?

    “As for the second revelation, that when making outgoing calls your phone “(obviously) doesn’t use your Google Voice phone number” (and that your friends will have no idea who is calling if you should try it): This is absolutely ridiculous. All I have to do in order to make an outgoing call is to hit a contact’s name or enter a number to dial in the web-app furnished by Google. I am called by my own Google Voice number, I answer, and the system connects me to the party I’ve dialed. They see my Google Voice number in their caller ID, just like normal. All the Google Voice features are enabled, they work by touchtone during the call, you still have a dialer and a finger. It’s really no different than any other call once you get past the act of not initiating it with the dialer.”

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    tdhurst • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:10

    First he was wrong about Google apps not being free, then he tried to paint himself as a saint by not releasing all the Twitter documents and now this. Perhaps he and Chris Anderson need to get together and plot how to sell stupid.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    CJ Millisock • August 3rd, 2009 at 07:27

    Matthew Rogers, you are full of crap lol. Have YOU even used Google Voice?

    I'm a Google Voice and iPhone user. I can confirm first hand, Michael Arrington's complaints about Google Voice on the iPhone are legitimate.

    Your two main bullet point arguments for why you think Arrington is wrong, are ridiculous.

    1- You think it's not a big deal to tell all of your contacts you have a new number.
    You must not have very many friends (let alone business cards in countless places across the country as I'm sure Michael Arrington has). And no, it is not acceptible to just have “2 phone numbers”, keeping your old number is a fallback.

    2- You believe that it's a viable option to open a web app every time you want to make an outgoing call.
    Are you serious? Do you understand how long it takes to dial out with the web app? This is what you have to do:
    1. Load google.com/voice in Safari (you will probably have this bookmarked)
    2. Navigate page after page until you find the contact you want to call
    3. Cick on the contact
    4. Click on the right phone number (mobile/home/office etc)
    5. Wait for Google Voice to call you
    6. Accept the call

    This is NOT an option for making all of your outgoing calls. I'd rather use the iPhone dialer and have my old phone number display to the recipient.

    The choice between iPhone and Google Voice IS forced. I'm in the same boat as Arrington. I, too, will be switching to an Android phone as soon as possible.

    phoner • August 3rd, 2009 at 08:28

    I second that. I've had AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all in Los Angeles. and AT&T was the absolute worst. I always had a land line with AT&T because my cell phone would never have reception at home… and I moved around to different parts of the city 3 or 4 times with AT&T… didn't work anywhere. Never had that problem with Verizon or Sprint. Verizon always worked, and Sprint occasionally gives me roaming problems.

    AT&T sucks. It was the #1 reason I didn't get an iphone back then…and #1 reason I don't now.

    phoner • August 3rd, 2009 at 08:28

    I second that. I've had AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all in Los Angeles. and AT&T was the absolute worst. I always had a land line with AT&T because my cell phone would never have reception at home… and I moved around to different parts of the city 3 or 4 times with AT&T… didn't work anywhere. Never had that problem with Verizon or Sprint. Verizon always worked, and Sprint occasionally gives me roaming problems.

    AT&T sucks. It was the #1 reason I didn't get an iphone back then…and #1 reason I don't now.

    phoner • August 3rd, 2009 at 08:28

    I second that. I've had AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all in Los Angeles. and AT&T was the absolute worst. I always had a land line with AT&T because my cell phone would never have reception at home… and I moved around to different parts of the city 3 or 4 times with AT&T… didn't work anywhere. Never had that problem with Verizon or Sprint. Verizon always worked, and Sprint occasionally gives me roaming problems.

    AT&T sucks. It was the #1 reason I didn't get an iphone back then…and #1 reason I don't now.

    phoner • August 3rd, 2009 at 08:28

    I second that. I've had AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all in Los Angeles. and AT&T was the absolute worst. I always had a land line with AT&T because my cell phone would never have reception at home… and I moved around to different parts of the city 3 or 4 times with AT&T… didn't work anywhere. Never had that problem with Verizon or Sprint. Verizon always worked, and Sprint occasionally gives me roaming problems.

    AT&T sucks. It was the #1 reason I didn't get an iphone back then…and #1 reason I don't now.

    Anon • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:06

    you are trying to be an attention whore by using Arrington.. something that Arrington did when he was your age ( in blog years )

    Anon • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:06

    you are trying to be an attention whore by using Arrington.. something that Arrington did when he was your age ( in blog years )

    Anon • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:06

    you are trying to be an attention whore by using Arrington.. something that Arrington did when he was your age ( in blog years )

    Anon • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:06

    you are trying to be an attention whore by using Arrington.. something that Arrington did when he was your age ( in blog years )

    aut0maticdan • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:44

    Although you may have shown he knows little about google voice, you haven't really deflated his argument for leaving at all (which was really a matter of principal rather than what you portray it as). You also haven't defended Apple's position. So what is the point of your article?

    I don't think he will actually leave the iphone, mind you. If you read carefully he mentions how he is leaving, not that he has left. There is a big difference. It was quite a struggle for me to give mine up, but it just doesn't work in NYC. I tried leaving for other smart phones, but until the Pre came out, I preferred the bad network over the bad device.

    aut0maticdan • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:44

    Although you may have shown he knows little about google voice, you haven't really deflated his argument for leaving at all (which was really a matter of principal rather than what you portray it as). You also haven't defended Apple's position. So what is the point of your article?

    I don't think he will actually leave the iphone, mind you. If you read carefully he mentions how he is leaving, not that he has left. There is a big difference. It was quite a struggle for me to give mine up, but it just doesn't work in NYC. I tried leaving for other smart phones, but until the Pre came out, I preferred the bad network over the bad device.

    aut0maticdan • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:44

    Although you may have shown he knows little about google voice, you haven't really deflated his argument for leaving at all (which was really a matter of principal rather than what you portray it as). You also haven't defended Apple's position. So what is the point of your article?

    I don't think he will actually leave the iphone, mind you. If you read carefully he mentions how he is leaving, not that he has left. There is a big difference. It was quite a struggle for me to give mine up, but it just doesn't work in NYC. I tried leaving for other smart phones, but until the Pre came out, I preferred the bad network over the bad device.

    aut0maticdan • August 3rd, 2009 at 12:44

    Although you may have shown he knows little about google voice, you haven't really deflated his argument for leaving at all (which was really a matter of principal rather than what you portray it as). You also haven't defended Apple's position. So what is the point of your article?

    I don't think he will actually leave the iphone, mind you. If you read carefully he mentions how he is leaving, not that he has left. There is a big difference. It was quite a struggle for me to give mine up, but it just doesn't work in NYC. I tried leaving for other smart phones, but until the Pre came out, I preferred the bad network over the bad device.

    don • August 4th, 2009 at 09:37

    Guys, guys, guys.

    Please stop pi$$ing around to try and show who's the alpha male and who has the biggest wang.

    If Mr. Arrington doesn't want to use an iPhone, fine. STOP WHINING LIKE A LITTLE CHILD ABOUT IT.

    I have heard that AT&T has terrible coverage in NYC and San Francisco. If you didn't check real coverage out BEFORE you bought an iPhone, YOU'RE AN IDIOT! Where I live, coverage by Sprint was horrible but coverage by AT&T is great. I have NO trouble with dropped calls or lack of coverage. I did the research and got something that works for me.

    So stop behaving like little children and GROW UP. QUIT WHINING. “Boo hoo! My Apple action figure doesn't work with my Google toy. I'll smash them both then go into a corner and eat worms.”

    Just grow up and quit your whining.

    ddadm09 • August 10th, 2009 at 16:49

    The iTablet is getting closer to reality! It's coming! Apple Tablet may be launched this Christmas or possibly as early as September and might cost $800.00 with Verizon as the carrier. I honestly hope that the Apple tablet is a grand slam that goes out of the park completely. As one of the fans like me notified, I also want the Apple tablet to reach high-school and college students because with all those developers out there, I think there is a lot of potential for increasing knowledge with specialized study applications. I hope this will be another great rally for apple earnings. I will buy one of this for sure. Being a great fan of apple products I collected some good information (more than 200 sites) about Apple Tablet(News, Videos, Pics, Pre reviews, Rumors etc.,). If you are interested take a look at the below link
    http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/apple-...