1. My old iPhone 3G was excruciatingly slow – and after updating to the new iOS 4, it became almost unusable. Describing it as “sluggish” would’ve been too much of a compliment. iPhone 4 feels extremely responsive and capable.
2. Battery life has improved substantially – probably 30%.
3. The new camera and its features outperform my point ‘n shoot (Canon) and make it feel slow and dated. Sad, since I just got it for my birthday a week ago…
4. The video app has made shooting moving pictures fun again. It ain’t exactly a HD camcorder, but suffices fine for my modest Facebook needs.
5. Accessibility feature allows me to tap and enlarge anything my ol’ eyes need help reading.
6. Being able to format email text size according to my needs is nothing less than a godsend.
7. Downloading and uploading files (podcasts, photos, vids) via WiFi seems much smoother and faster. Using 3G is still, well, 3G-ish.
8. Facetime video calls are pretty darn cool and I know I’ll appreciate this feature more on my next solo trip when I want to see and speak with Charlotte and Elle.
9. Nike+ exercise features are now integrated into the phone (as with 3GS) so I can finally say adieu to my old iPod nano and it’s tired, inaccurate sensor.
10. Of all the Android phones I’ve seen and tried, none come even close to competing with Apple’s latest offering. It’s not really that the new iPhone is soooooo great. It’s just that everything else is so blaaaah.

Känner mig verkligen lycklig över att bo så nära havet. Inte minst för motionens skull. Att kunna jogga 10 km och under nästan hela sträckan hålla sig längs vattenbrynet är en ynnest av omätbara proportioner. Visst finns det många andra joggingvänliga platser i Malmö – och vi har bott vid flera av dom. Men, i och kring Västra Hamnen är i en klass för sig. Åtminstone om man gillar havs- och hamnmiljö.

Lördagsmorgonens tur började lite segt och det tog nog ett par tusen meter att få igång min 47-årig kropp. Men halvvägs vände det och på nästan fjäderlätta ben kutade jag sedan hem i ett relativt högt tempo med vinden i ryggen och solen i ansiktet. Med kroppen genomsvettig och huvudet rejält syresatt, blev det sedan ett uppfriskande dopp i Öresund innan frukost – en nejlika-kardemumma-kanelkryddig banangröt.

Nu har Aftonbladet publicerat vår senaste resguide, den här gången dök vi ner i danskarnas härliga huvudstad, Köpenhavn. Tjuvkika och ladda ner den (om du är Plus-kund) här.

Igår var sista “Goodnight Sun” konsert för i år. På det hela har vädret varit fantastiskt – för både musikerna och publiken. Under gårdagens grande finale var det bra drag på blåsten här i Västra Hamnen. Här kommer ett foto från fredagens konsert med saxofonisten Inge Petersson-Lindbäck.

Vaknade väldigt tidigt denna min 47:e födelsedag. Klockan 05:30 trädde jag på mig löpardojorna och stack ut på en lång tur längs Ribbersborgsstranden (bilden), genom Kungsparken och tillbaka till Västra Hamnen via Nordmills fabriksområde. Avslutade rundan vid badbryggorna intill Scaniaparken där jag slängde mig handlöst i havet. Underbart skön start på denna speciella dag.

Väl hemma stod tjejerna och väntade på mig med kramar, en rejäl frukost och massor med superfina presenter. What a day this is going to be!

I’m also:
563 months
2,452 weeks
17,167 days

today….

Little brother Tyko was born today in 1967 and as both a blessing and a curse, I remember that very day vividly. In 1967, I was four years old and attending the French Doll House on Melrose Avenue in L.A. – a nursery school owned and run by an eccentric Parisian lady and puppet enthusiast Gaby Boisson.

While taking a nap with the other kids on a foldaway beige cot, one of the nursery’s staff woke and led me to the office where my father waited on the phone. I don’t remember his exact words (or his voice, for that matter…), just that he told me I now had a little brother.

In 2003, Tyko’s life ended and as the years pass since that tragic day in January fade into an increasingly vague memory, I have come to terms with the fact that I will never again hear his voice, feel the warmth from his smile or be comforted by his generous hugs. But, once a year, on July 21, I allow myself a little extra time to remember how much fun we had together and how much I miss him. Happy Birthday Brother, where ever you are. You are missed by many.

Ikväll blir det till att dokumentera en av årets sista solnedgångskonserter på Scaniatorget (eller vad det officiella namnet på platsen vid Titanics hoppbrygga nu är). Förhoppningsvis blir det också kvällsdopp efter att jag plåtat klart.

As much as I enjoy traveling to far away lands, staying at well-designed hotels and eating exotic foods, coming home is always great. Particularly on a day like this when the weather is gorgeous and the ocean is ready to embrace with a welcome home hug. As it did this morning just minutes after we arrived from the airport.

Well, it’s soon time to pack up and head out to the airstrip again. We’ve had yet another wonderfully relaxing and creatively inspiring working vacation in Thailand. And we’re already looking forward to our next visit.

As on a previous trip to Asia, I have been completely sober and nicotine free for the duration of the trip. Only on a few occasions did I miss sipping a beer and/or pushing a pouch of snuff into my upper lip. Mostly, I’ve felt strong-willed about my cold turkey and hope to maintain this (for me) fundamentally healthier lifestyle upon returning to everyday life. For how long? Who knows.

Kan det vara så att en del Bangkok-bor inte har tid att handla husgeråd? Eller är det så att den här mannens kunder hellre köper prylarna av honom än i en av alla trånga, tidskrävande varuhus?

We’re on our way back home and have for a couple of days replaced sand and salty waves for Bangkok’s unforgiving intensity and restless chaos. This is one of my absolute favorite places to photograph. Last night, I walked along a riverside neighborhood where under a bridge, food vendors gathered to serve up dinner to both local residents and commuters on their way home.

They‘re called longtail boats and run on inboard car engines (usually from used Toyotos or Nissans) to transport tourist to and from various places along the coastal regions of Thailand. Met this one the other day on the very beach where the movie “The Beach” was filmed.