Regarding the latter, the user experience, it manifests in such ways as the little "bump" that a scrolling page exhibits when it reaches the end of the page, to provide the user with visual feedback. A very significant element of Apple's advantage in UX is the touchscreen. The iPhone touchscreen offers everything you want in a touchscreen: button presses are recognized the first time, with a natural level of force required from the user; multitouch is implemented throughout the OS; and the screen accurately traces the user's finger.

Both the Droid and the Pre Plus come up far short. The most noticeable shortcoming is in recognizing button presses, where you have to press an on-screen button multiple times before the press is recognized. This writer's account of Pre Plus frustrations rings very true for me. (I can also confirm his complaints about abysmal battery life and copy/paste frustrations, but enjoyed the integrated SMS/IM app.) Using these phones feels like you are navigating a touch screen that has a layer of petroleum jelly on it, or using a mouse on your computer with your opposite hand--everything is a bit more frustrating, you have to be more deliberate, and so on.

As the Wired article notes, both hardware and software aspects are important in creating a good touchscreen experience for users, so I am not sure which come up short for iPhone competitors. Probably a bit of both. I'm curious to see how long it takes smartphone competitors to catch up. Although the Pre Plus' webOS platform is very young, I'm more surprised by that phone's failings than the Droid, given that Palm has control of both hardware and software for the Pre and there are a great many former Apple employees at Palm. Insufficient resources, perhaps?

Anyway, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I'm happy to be back using a smartphone that eliminates the little frustrations that make you curse...

The Annenberg Space had a great career retrospective up for two of the best sports photographers of the 20th century (and both are still working), Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer. The exhibit was a treat for me, as a huge sports fan (and lifelong Sports Illustrated subscriber, as the two contributed much of their work to that magazine) and budding photographer, but I think the rest of our group enjoyed it as well.

The movie, however, was not to the same level. Metacritic gave it a 47 rating, in the yellow zone, which usually means "mediocre but enjoyable." I think the rating should have been more around 35, in the red. Not worth the time. There was a ridiculous cross-country treasure hunt (which Vanessa reports was not in the book), a "hip, urban sidekick" satyr who cracked wise to obnoxious effect and some tiresome "missing daddy" Psych 101 plot elements. Oh well. For Vanessa's sake, since she enjoyed the books, I hope the second book is better and has different screenwriters.

We had a gougere, this amazing puff pastry, that is very light. This was made with gruyere and pepper. See photos 1 and 3, below.

I had a frangipane tart with seasonal fruit on top. It was super tasty, but unfortunately V had to avoid it due to her food allergies. See photo 2.

V also got a currant scone, great as well.

I'll miss Tartine. Shame I didn't go more during my time in the city, although that is probably good news for my waistline.