MY LITTLE CORNER OF THE INTERNET
June 11, 2010
For quite some time I held out on getting a cell phone. I think it was 2003 before I finally took the plunge. At that time I really didn’t care to have a phone that would allow people to reach me anywhere I was. I still don’t care about being ‘reachable’ all the time (well, maybe somewhat now that I’m married).
However I never go anywhere without my iPhone. I use it all the time. Too often some may say. However I hardly ever use more than a few hundred minutes in a month. I just don’t call people that often and take calls even less. Yet I can’t be without my iPhone.
Why? Its simple. It does so much more. Omnifocus helps me stay on task and get things done when I need to get them done. Mail helps me stay on top of my email. Grocery IQ is perfect for making that list of things I need from the grocery store. Mac Gourmet is there when I’m at the grocery store and wondering what I need to make that favorite recipe. If I don’t have a recipe in mind, AllRecipes allows me to look up recipes. Facebook helps me stay in touch with people (or kill time…). Traffic keeps me from getting stuck in traffic by showing me where the delays are. GasBuddy helps me find the cheapest gas. Navigon tells me how to get places. You get the idea.
The iPhone 4 builds on this and adds some features I’ve been waiting for. The new iOS will have better organization of all my apps (90+ at any given time), allow me to multitask, and other usability enhancements. But really…big deal. The two features I’m thrilled about are HD video and video calling.
Living in CA is great, but one major drawback is all my family and many of my friends are thousands of miles away. Staying connecting with them will now be that much easier and better. I can take high quality video, upload it to the internet and share it with my friends and family. When Emily and I go on trips and want to share it with our loved ones we can. Soon we’ll even be able to have a video chat while driving (pending the technology getting onto 3G) or at least be able to record a video and upload it while anywhere (well anywhere AT&T works…so not everywhere as we all know).
So, wait, didn’t I say it won’t be my next cell phone? Thats right, it will be much more. Basically the iPhone 4 will be for me what duct tape and a Swiss Army knife were to MacGyver, the do anything never leave home without it tool. Phone calls will be just a perk on this otherwise useful device. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that AT&T actually made it cheaper to have one.
Video Calls? Check. GPS? Check. Faster? Check. Cheaper? Check. Those were the features I was waiting for before upgrading. Now it is time to retire my original iPhone, I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of me and our adventures in CA as a result.