30 some odd days with the iPhone

ack ack ack

I figured I’d use the new Apple device a while before piecing together my thoughts. Up front: this is my 2nd unit. The first one didn’t like getting coverage. I took it to the Apple store and they replaced it on the spot with one that works quite well. Reception has been very good.

Now that I’ve kicked it around over a month, I can say with some confidence (as I have in comments before), if I had to choose between my laptop and this phone, I’d probably go with the phone and start designing on paper. Note: if I ever used a Blackberry or similar device, I might say the same thing. Not likely, but possible.

Some quick backstory: When the iPhone was announced, my current mobile phone was dying. I intentionally got the cheapest one without re-upping my T-mobile contract and marked my calendar for the day I could have a single device to charge—a device that would be a music player, capable of texting, web browser, email client, and no less important—a calendar.

Having videos and photos was a bonus, and man the screen makes em look great. The days of tiny photos yellowing in wallets are numbered. This makes sharing fantastic. This doesn’t come without irks. I don’t use iPhoto and it’s a small pain to manage sets of photos there. I’d rather point to a folder on my drive.

Same for events. I like Google Calendar so there are hurdles to make everything appear on both—hurdles so high I’ve given up on the former and begrudgingly use iCal.

Those and minor quirks aside, I am smitten.

So much I wish the next version of OSX took cues from the interface and stopped with the transparency of the menubar and weird 3D dock thing.

Other bits:

I don’t have to open my laptop at home as much. It’s hard enough separating work from life. This helps.

I now have a clock that has more than two alarms. (for me, this is a small blessing)

Pooping got hella productive / entertaining.

Time wasted with Flash is pleasantly shortened. (Though I do wish I could access Vimeo on it)

I vote for my favorite dancers on So You Think You Can Dance (even though this season is lackluster) because dialing is fun. Yep, dialing a phone number… fun.

Maps? Awesome. Calculator? Handy. Visual voice mail? Nice.

It’s a great flashlight. Easily 60% brighter than my last mobile phone.

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So all in all, happy camper here—one that is grateful to have such a thing. Maybe when I get another chance, I’ll talk about the fun standing in line and seeing old friends happenstance when the thing launched. Until then, some goodies:

Download some iPhone Wallpapers I made

Looking for more wallpapers and ideas?
– Airbag Industries iPhone candy
– Trapped – Joshua Blankenkship and friends make good fun with their contact photos
– Iconfactory has made all their sets iPhone friendly
– Garret Murray over at Maniacal Rage has lots too
– The Flickr iPhone Wallpaper pool

Current music: Headphones “Hello Operator”