The iPhone

As I'm going to be on the road quite often, I needed a device which combines many features into one small, functional accessory. The iPhone does this pretty well. After I cleared the initial hurdle of having to dish out a few dollars and force myself into buying into the Apple world, I purchased the phone through my cell phone service AT&T, the only provider for the iPhone. It did not take long before I became and admirer of the device. It's ease of use, practical applications, artistic interface and fun feel pulls just about anyone in. Here are some of my brief takes on this popular device. This is not an exhaustive critique, this is summed up briefly. Search online for exhaustive details.

The iPhone is a phone, thinner than most cell phones but a bit longer and wider. Instead of buttons, the screen reacts to your touches, reacting to the capacitating effects of your fingers. (A french fry or wet swab would work too.) This allows you to touch the screen to select objects, but putting in into your pocket will not activate the buttons, but, unfortunately, it won't work if you press the buttons with gloves on.

Things I use and like:

• the phone works fine, just like most phones

• the Google map button opens up maps of streets and also satellite images. You can press a button and it will find approximately where you are by triangulating your positiong between cell towers. It's great for directions. You put in addresses and it tells you where you need to go. (This is the same as on the internet. The directions are not always the best. But, you can get them in the palm of your hand as you drive!)

• iPod function holds the music you upload, offering a beautiful display of the album covers which shuffle like cards when you touch them from left to right; it also hold the movies you upload as well, podcasts, etc.

• the Web browser I use all the time, searching up any question the pops into my head and getting the response relatively quickly; when you open up a web page of a business, all you have to do is touch their phone number with your finger and it dials it.

• buttons give you immediate access to weather, YouTube, texting, etc.

What I don't like:

• it's Apple, which means that any new application has to first go through the approval of the company. You don't find as much independent and diverse applications as you do the in PC world. However, they have released the Software Developers Kit (SDK for hipsters) which means anyone can make a program for the phone. But... those programs will have to first be approved by Apple. You can also "brake" into the phone and add apps but Apple has updates which try to rout this out
  

• it's slippery to hold

• needs video and sound recorder

• i have become an Apple clone

I do recommend the phone for info junkies and people who need data at their fingertips. It's fun to move images with the touch of your hand and zoom into web pages and photos by touching the image and spreading your fingertips. Apple keeps things simple. It has a little docking base which plugs into computer. You put it on base, it talks to computer. All that you have to do is press buttons like "Sync" and it does everything else for you. The simple Apple world where everything is the same, all of the time.