The Most Shocking News of the Year.
It happened.
I opened my mouth. Without thinking about the consequences of my words, I let it slip that I had been free of the chains of a cell phone contract for quite some time. Instantly, Mr. Husband smelled an opportunity to seek and destroy something electronic. Within minutes, my inbox was filled with suggestions and ideas and links to discounts and such.
The only way to make sure I would get to really make the decision on my own was to go ahead and pull the trigger before he could get further invested in the hunt. So, I did it.
People, I bought an iPhone. In other words, hell has frozen over. Yes, yes it has.
I've had it for nearly a week. Every day I wait for that moment when I can say that it has changed my life. I wait to be able to say that I'm an addict. I wait to confess that I can't imagine life without it.
Umm . . . it hasn't happened. While I'm sure it will at times be very convenient, I still don't see myself becoming that person who walks around with their nose buried in an iPhone app at all times.
However, someone else's life has changed. Someone else has become an addict. Someone else no longer can imagine life without it.
Someone else has had her nose buried in an iPhone app every. single. day.
The kid barely has her buns in her carseat before she begins begging to play games on my phone. So far, I've only downloaded a couple of free apps, and all of them are of the annoying educational variety.
She doesn't care.
She would happily spend hours spelling word after word after word and matching letters to sounds and finding the shapes and whatever else her little heart desires.
I give it another week and she'll be better at using the thing than I am.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Reader Comments (39)
Who are you, and what have you done with Burgh Baby?
I too have an iPhone, and aside from loving how it syncs just perfectly with my iMac... I have yet to discover how it's helping me fully operate in my day to day activities.
And sadly... I don't even have any games on mine. My poor kids...
This is completely off topic but OMG YOU HAVE A BULLDOG!! I soooo want one!
There will come a day when you stop denying the iPhone hasn't changed your life. You won't know exactly when it happens. You won't know, but people will start commenting about the use of the phone. You'll once again deny and say something like, "It's a phone, I don't use it for much else." Then you find yourself reading FML, playing bejewled blitz or scanning bar codes with the red laser app looking for the best deal on toys, games and clothes. Mark my words, it will happen!
;-)
Well, I, for one, am glad you're not one of those people with your nose buried in an app. In other words, I'm glad you're not like me. Not constantly tapping Tweetie. Not dying to DoodleJump. Still, I think you'll enjoy it the more apps you explore. And when you check out the photography apps, you may be in trouble. And to Alexis, please be patient with Mommy. She'll understand one day.
Love my iPhone for everything except actually talking on. AT&T sucks and my calls get dropped regularly. I lose service driving through certain neighborhoods and going around certain corners. But by god I can figure out a mortgage payment before you finish asking and I can look up the taxes on a property you're interested in buying. Just please be standing next to me while I work my magic because if I'm on the phone with you the odds are we are going to get disconnected.
My 6 year old plays games on my husband's iPhone every night before bed. I wasn't entirely too pleased with my husband when he first bought the thing, but after seeing how much my son loves it I can't really be mad anymore.
The fourth best day of my life was getting my iPhone. (Married, three kids.) Yes, I'm that pathetic or the iPhone is that great. Either way.
Congrats.
Oops. I need to get an iPhone app for math. That was supposed to say fifth best day of my life . . . Heh.
It's so cute that you think it'll take a week ;-)
Tomorrow, she'll be more adept than you. And just wait.. that's all I"m sayin' ;-)
I am embarrassed to know you. Just sayin'...... ;-)
Or should I say, to "know" you...on the blog world. :-)
First, I think it's hilarious that the topic of this post is Alexis' love for your iPhone and she's wearing a pink "BFF" shirt while posing with the phone. Thumbs up to that juxtaposition.
Second, a couple of game suggestions (my 5 year old was IN LOVE with my iPod touch and still is except that he got a DS so that took precedence).
JamPacked: There is both a free and a pay version. The pay version is, I think $2. It's a spatial relationship game. You're given shaped objects that you have to fit into a space - blocks in a box, fruit in a suitcase - that sort of thing. My kid is fascinated with it and he's a pretty visual thinker so he loves the game.
Sighwords: if Alexis is starting to pick up words this might be a great app. I think it's free, too, and it is exactly what you think - different levels of basic sight words from "i" to "because." You can press a button and the device will speak the word.
Bug Squash: Yes. It is exactly that. Kill as many bugs by squishing that as you can in the allotted time. The only problem with this game is the squish sound that comes with it. Ew. probably also free.
Bubblewrap: Again, a silly free app. Pop bubble wrap.
And if you want one for you and enjoy word games (you *are* a writer after all) try Word Warp. That game has addicted my husband, me, and my father-in-law.
I'm sure that the day I get an iPhone will be the day they unveil whatever it is that will render the iPhone obsolete. Guaranteed.
Crap. I just noticed a big spelling error. That should be "Sightwords." Sigh. I'm sorry!
I still don't believe it. I'm shocked.
YAY you got an iPhone! Now go download Words With Friends, okay?
When you actually DO start enjoying playing games & such on your new toy? Good luck getting it away from the kid. My 7 year old is completely addicted.
Have fun!
Will you be answering this phone?
Since I was also a late comer to the iPhone (and seriously can't imagine life without it anymore - waiting at Drs appts, etc.); Juliana taught me how to use it...every conversation with my mom starts like this: Hi Nonni, can I have your phone?
Most used functional app - Groceries - The Grocery Shopping List (there are lots of similar apps) - I keep a list for the stores I shop in most - add items as I think of them, plus keep the regular stuff always on the list. And I use Echofon for Twitter.
But I still have a huge balance of iTunes credit because I don't but apps very often.
At least we know Alexis won't be bored on the flight to Disney.
My kid has her own PAGE of apps on my iPhone. We've already decided she's gettinga cheap refurb iTouch for her birthday because I can't take it anymore. I want to play Words weith Friends and I can't because she's playing Dress Me Pretty.
I was you 8 months ago. Holding onto my regular old cell phone from 2003 hoping the tape would hold the antenna together so I could keep it another year. I loved it and never wanted to "upgrade" to the world of smart phones - I hate being on my phone so why would I want something that made me want to be on it? Anyway, my dear husband starting getting the iphone itch and before I knew it, I was standing at the AT&T counter talking to the rep. It was like a blur - how did I get from no way to agreeing to buy the damn thing and chaning our plan?! AGGGHHH!! And then I said well if I'm paying all this money I damn well better use it to its full extent (which I still don't).
But now we are like that commercial, when the dad is on the couch tweeting "i am sitting on the couch" and his wife sitting across from him. Its sad but funny. I went from turning my phone off when I got home and keeping it in my purse to leaving it on next to my bed! But yes great to distract the kid in the car and other necessary times. There are some really good educational games for her too which she likes. And I will say it came in handy when our flights got cancelled on the way to NC and no one had a laptop - none needed with the iphone. Much better than my blackberry too. Just hate the no flash part and the dropped calls b/c AT&T service stinks.
((And just an aside, if you ever drop it in water, put it in a bowl of rice overnight - don't call the Apple store, they'll try to sell you a new one.))
You have to post again in a few months and tell us if the evil Apple empire has taken you in too. :) Enjoy!
Ha...well, that's why you aren't an addict yer- you haven't spent time with your phone yet!
Or you're just one of those people who doesn't get addicted to stuff. Which is cool. I guess. ;)
the apps I use the most are tweetdeck, Flickr, and facebook. I have a bunch of games, but those would be my husband's.
Because you invited us on Twitter to tell you what you *MUST* own, and because I want to know what my fellow iPhone drones use...
--PHOTO STUFF--
Photo fx
CameraBag
Mill Colour
TiltShift Generator
Photoshop
AutoStitch (excellent panoramas--rotate phone on axis, though, rather than moving side-to-side)
TrueHDR
ToyCamera
Best Camera
OldBooth (create old yearbook style photos)
ColorSplash
Hipstamatic
Animoto (create automatic slideshows)
--VIDEO--
Vintage Video
--GAMES--
DoodleJump
RagDoll Blaster (fun with physics)
Labyrinth
Words With Friends (Scrabble you can play with other iPhone users. Can start-and-stop games--don't have to be with your phone constantly)
Wurdle (Boggle)
--OTHER--
MultiCam Plus Pittsburgh (live views of all the PennDot cameras on the Parkways, Turnpike, etc. So handy)
SnapTell (take a photo of a bar code on a book, cd, dvd, etc. and learn about it, get pricing, etc.)
Google Earth
SoundHound (better than the much-heralded Shazam. Capture a song from the radio, or even sing or hum a song, it identifies it, you can then buy it from iTunes, even watch the video.)
Musee du Louvre (the official app from the Louvre, shows what can be done with a museum iPhone app)
Wikipanion (the best Wikipedia app)
Consumer Reports
New York Times
Bloomberg
CNN
Boxcar (alerts you to Twitter DMs or @ replies, depending on how you set it up)
Tweetie 2 (my favorite Twitter app)
--MUSIC--
Pandora
AOL Radio
iheart radio
--KIDS--
Cowbell Plus (one of lots of music apps, shake or tap)
Ducky Derby
Highlights Hidden Pictures
(lots, lots more depending on age)
--APP REVIEW SITES ON THE WEB--
appvee.com
macworld.com/appguide
time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1823107,00.html (Time Mag top apps by category)
OKAY, I'LL STOP!!!
Who are you and what have you done with the anti technology person I've come to know via the webz?
In other news, Alexis is adorable with her - I mean your - iPhone. ;)
It took me about six months to say I couldn't live without my iPhone. And to start downloading fun apps. My favorite things from the beginning, though, are the mapping app and the calendar with reminders. For your child? Talking Carl. The only app I've paid for, and worth every one of the 99 cents.
Oh it creeps up on you... when you least expect it. Enjoy your last days of freedom.
I am trapped in a verizon contract that I don't think expires until I'm eighty, or so. They keep pulling me in with this whole, "new every two" crap where you get a new phone for free but you have to renew your contract... my phones are always SO battered and bruised from all the monkeys I have playing with it all the, I can't seem to resist shiny, new and FREE.
My sister has an iphone and loves it... Since I live in the middle of nowhere, it wouldn't matter much for me anyway. AT&T has very little coverage around these here parts... so Verizon really is my only option. Maybe that's a good thing? I'm not sure I want to be able to say I can't live without a phone...
I was the anti-iPhone. My hubby got one when they first came out, I got a Blackberry. A year later, due to some "bubble" on his screen, he was able to get a newer one for free. My contract wasn't up, but I HATED the Blackberry, so I went with an HTC Fuze. 24 hours later, I was back at the AT&T store begging them for the iPhone. I didn't love it when I bought it. It definitely took a while. That was November 2008. By last summer, I was hooked. Now, all I want is the newer iPhone. I barely use the phone part, but since 3 out of 4 kids are teenagers, the texting is the only way I get them to talk. I also use Echofon for Twitter, and 2 Facebook apps. I barely ever turn the darn thing off anymore. Welcome to the dark side, my friend.
OMG YOU WILL LOVE IT!@!!!! IT WILL CHANGE. YOUR. LIFE!!!!
I laughed when it popped up on facebook that you had downloaded the iphone app. I really want an iPhone-but I doubt I can afford the plan that I would need with it-I am already fighting with verizon over their insistence I have a data plan if my husband gets the phone he wants. I'm saving pennies for an iTouch..which comes after saving pennies for a zoom lens-so just I'll end up with one after never.
I have a Hero (Google's answer to the iPhone). It doesn't have as many fun apps as iPhone - only 50,000 or so. Heh. But seriously, I think it is fun but could live without it. I don't have to carry a book with me to places with waiting rooms. And, in theory, I shouldn't get lost. Otherwise? I'm don't really get the whole smart phone craze.
Perfect! Teach her how to pencil things in to your appt book and "dictate" return calls for you while you're driving and you have your own little personal assistant! You can pay her in fruit snacks to peddle. :)
Yep. That would be me. I know I wouldn't get addicted to it. I have no desire to get one either. Now my kids. Well, I'm sure they would be happy to take it off my hands. ;)
That Alexis is one SMART cookie!
Have you ever seen the movie "SHORTS". Well in it they have something called the Black Box. Every time I hear people talking about the iPhone I crack up because all I can think about is that movie and the Black Box.
You will be sucked into it, I'm sure.
I sorta wish Verizon made an iPhone
I knew there was yet another reason why I like you so much! I finally caved and got a Blackberry last fall - we already pay for all of the data and messaging plans because hubby is required to have it for work, so why not? While it is nice to be able to check my e-mail or peruse Facebook when I am out running errands and all 3 kids have fallen asleep in the car, I have yet to see a real purpose for it beyond that. I suppose I could actually take the time to look at the apps available and find some that I would use, but if my kids caught word that I could put games on it, I would never get it back!
Oh, it'll come. My husband talked me into the G1, and for months I barely used it, it sat at the bottom of my purse like a pretty, white waste of money. But, then he started to show me these things they call "apps" :) and he put my email on there and now? Glued to my hand, I swear. I'm that pathetic mom at the park who is always checking her email, checking the weather, finding a restaurant for dinner, really anything but making a phone call haha.
I don't have one, but Steve does, and Griffin is addicted and knows how to use it way better than I do.
You give her a week? I'd be thinking 4 or 5 days tops!
When I was 4 we had a rotary phone. It baffles the mind the technology that kids know how to use these days. Seriously. I'm so glad SHE likes it! ;-)
I have no interest in the iPhone. Too much stuff I don't need. But my husband loves it. As does my one-year old. Hubby bought the Baby Apps. The little one mostly controls it by luck but has a good time doing it. Oh, and the baby likes to bang it on the floor. My husband sometimes drops it too, since he is accident prone and has destroyed several iPods. I'm wondering which one of them will break the thing first. Meanwhile, I haven't looked to see if there is an equivalent to Baby Apps for Android. Call me crazy, but I don't want to encourage the kid to play with MY phone.
Yep. My girlys LOVE my Blackberry. LOVE it. They are far more adept at Brickbreaker than I. They love sending text messages - they send random texts to everyone in my contact list. Fun stuff. So much fun.
They want their own touchscreen cell phone. NOT GETTING IT! NOPE NOPE NOPE!