A love letter to my iPhone
Filed under: gadgets and gizmos, innovation, iphone, lifestyle
Dear Perry,
Thank you for being my iPhone. You know I love you. I love the way you respond to my touch. Your colour, life and movement—I love everything about you. Well, actually there is one teeny thing we need to talk about. It’s not you – it’s me.
This is difficult for me Perry as I didn’t think my love for you had boundaries. Here it is: I can’t stand reading books on you. I thought I could – I tried, I really did. I got the app, bought the book and sat back for a lovely read with a cup of tea and a slice of something delicious. It was a recipe you gave me Perry. The slice was delicious but you left me unsatisfied.
Where was the sound of the page turning? It always makes me smile when people press the button on a digital camera and it makes the sound of an old fashioned lens clicking. I missed the sound of the page turning on your book.
Whilst I love your sleek façade Perry, I missed the feel of paper. The frisson of a potential paper cut, the thrill of spotting a typo and knowing that millions of copies have been printed and the annoying dust jacket that seems to fall off every minute. I missed it Perry. I missed it all.
They say there are two types of people in the world: bookmark users or page folders. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m a habitual page folder. Never lend me a book unless you’re prepared for it to come back looking like an origami class reject. Well Perry, I missed the fold.
Now, the hardest part. Despite my missing the sounds, feel and fold of paper books I am actually thinking of cheating on you, Perry. We both know that reading is my passion and I know this sounds hypercritical and crazy but I’m tempted to light my electronic reading fire with a Kindle. Maybe one day I’ll be able to read for hours with a solar-powered book. Or perhaps my favourite newspapers and magazines will come to me via my new toy. I could be lulled to sleep by a Stephen Hawking-esque voice reading to me from my favourite tome, or my friends could find new places or uses for it. To be honest the point isn’t really about time or money-saving, voices, screens, designs, coolness or battery life.
I think I know why the Kindle might be in and you are out – it’s because I associate you with calling, texting and emailing. Maybe my private reading world is something I don’t want a call, SMS or email to intrude on. Sorry Perry but there are limits.
Don’t worry. It’s not over completely. I’ll still talk to you every day and we’ll stay in touch. It’s just that I will never, ever, ever read a book on you again. Don’t cry. You may fizzle something.
Love
Kristen
Kristen, as a religious bookmarker I can’t believe you’re a folder!
In reference to the page turning sound affects on the Kindle I hear it can be a little loud in the wee hours.
Perry shouldn’t be upset, after all nothing can be all things for all circumstances.
Marc and I are cousins and I have long suspected his side of the family of being bookmarkers. Hmmm – page turning sound effects. There must be a way to turn it off. I hope.
Don’t do it!
Not just yet anyways.
There is something not too far off (link: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/09/apple-tablet-everything/)that could ignite passion between Perry and yourself plus make Kindle a distant memory, a love lost sitting on a jetty as a sunsets slowly in the distance.
And Kindle, well… is just Kindle, it’s just an e-book reader, nothing more. Sexy e-ink it may have but a multi-purpose do everything, multi touch evolved Perry would be far more attractive wouldn’t you say?
And while you might leave your Mills & Boon on a seat or in a train as part of some sort of bizarre social experiment, (link: http://www.bookcrossing.com) you sure as Hades ain’t gonna leave a Kindle.
You really should read what Gizmodo have to say about the Kindle, it’s good but it ain’t-all-that-sista (link: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/10/amazon-kindle-international-edition-review/) ahuh.
Really cute post Kristen! And I was thinking the same thing. Those Kindles are very tempting. I like the name too…there’s just something about it.
But why wonder when you can google!
Here’s the low down:
http://nancyfriedman.typepad.com/away_with_words/2008/12/how-the-kindle-got-its-name.html
I’m a fantasy book lover myself. I also think a kindle would at the very least cure the guilt I feel when I hear my old library teacher’s voice in my ear as I fold the pages back and break the spine
Michelle
Hate to sound like a broken record, but whilst Kristen loves her iPhone, Telstra doesn’t seem to have the same feelings. The device is crippled on the Telstra network, despite other Australian providers offering the full range of features that the innovative iPhone offers. Don’t get me wrong – I LOVE NEXTG, it’s the best mobile network hands down. But why can’t I tether my iPhone with my laptop? And why can’t I get visual voice mail? The deafening silence from Telstra in regards to these issues is quite disappointing.
Hi Robert.
No broken records – we need to hear from you. David commented today on iPhone tethering.
I can’t comment on visual voice mail. I know your contribution will be read though.
Kristen
Hi Kristen,
Thanks for your response and thanks for letting me know that David had responded to my earlier post.
I can’t say I’m overly pleased. You guys are making the effort to listen but there is no consequent action to back up the listening. David unfortunately repeated the standard Telstra PR line on tethering – i.e. that Telstra is working with Apple to resolve the issue, with no promises on the date.
It’s prudent to remember that the iPhone 3GS has been on the market in Australia since July and I can scarcely think of a reason why it would take 5 months to adjust a carrier profile. Such nonchalant lethargy might be the standard over at SingTel Optus, but not at Telstra. I know the change is simple because tethering unofficially worked on Telstra using an unsigned carrier profile. That unofficial method was blocked by Apple when the iPhone was updated to OS 3.1.2.
I will once again state that Telstra continues to avoid straight, honest answers with respect to these issues.
Kristen,
I’ve lost you again!
I was going to tell you I had this thing all worked out but I can’t find my previous comments and your answers. I think I need a bit more study on this site after all!
Don’t be too concerned, though. I’m not a real brilliant web operator.
Hi Stewart
Here I am! Maybe I should explain how the site is laid out. If you go up to the top of the screen, you will see three tabs: Home, View Point and Telstra Now.
Home has the latest 2-3 posts no matter which category they fit into or who wrote them. View Point is a filing cabinet for all the technolgy related stories and Telstra Now is the filing cabinet for all the stories that are about Telstra.
So, your previous comments were in response to my welcome post – which you can find in the Telstra Now filing cabinet. Go to that story and then click on the link that has the number of comments and yours will be there.
This post, about Perry my iPhone, is technology related and so is filed under View Point. I write both Telstra news and technology news so my posts will rest on the Home page for a couple of days and then will be found in either of the two filing cabinets after that.
Hang in there – you’re doing really well.
Kristen
Hi Stewart.
Oh well – I tried! Good luck finding your way around the site – you did seem to find these comments though.
Cheers
Kristen
Hi Kristen, my niece,
This my first time on facebook. Good to see a name I know. How is that side of the family?
Regards Aleisha.
Hi Aunty Aleisha
Unfortunately this isn’t facebook. This is Telstra’s coporate blog and tens of thousands of people we don’t know are reading this!
Anyway, everyone is fine thanks. Dad was excited by The Netherlands getting into the finals of the World Cup and Mum continues to be thrilled by everything Essendon does. So that’s it from a ball sports perspective.
Thanks for getting in touch anyway. Best I get on with talking about Telstra business now!
Cheers
Kristen