Tasks slated in preparation for my trip to London & Musing on the iPhone

Posted in technology, things i like on 11/04/2009 06:52 pm by karen

Select outfits for each day Done!
Procure hard copy currency Forget about it. I’ll just carry on using my ATM card.
Sort out how to travel with the iPhone.

This last one made me think about my relationship to the iPhone (aside from utter undying adoration).

I don’t want crazy surprise bills after my trip to London, which means I need to turn off the datastream on the iPhone. But turning off the data to avoid international roaming charges pretty much adds up to: “Why would I even bother bringing it?”

The last thing I need the iPhone for is actual phone calls (which may explain why I’m such a satisfied user).

Top 10 Ways I Use My iPhone

10. Blogging.
9. Recording audio reminders.
8. Listening to music.
7. Playing solitaire and mah jongg.
6. Taking photos.
5. Taking notes about random things in “real life.”
4. Reading. Kindle app. I haven’t read a non-Kindle book in months.
3. Taking notes in meetings at work.
2. Emailing and texting people.
1. Googling for general information.

Yup, the number one use, by far, is googling. How tall is Tony Clark? Should dogs eat avocado? What are food sources of magnesium? What’s the deal with CIT? Where is there some good pizza nearby? I seem to need to know lots of random things over the course of a day. Today I looked at the street the shala is on in Bethnal Green. I also located wool tights and read about peptides. When I travel, I google maps. And I need to have maps available at all times, because even if I map before I start my day in a new location, there’s a pretty good chance things are still going to go horribly wrong, finding-my-way-wise. I need to do update mapping and emergency mapping right on the street. Embarrassing, but true.

But I could do without a phone pretty much entirely. I don’t understand why people still use them. Well, except for 911 calls. Otherwise, it’s datastream and apps, baby. That’s what I really need.

 

19 Comments

  1. I love to speak to my parents, especially when I’m travelling.

  2. Certainly the UK iphone automatically turns off data roaming when it is out of it’s home network, that way you don’t incur any charges. I think it’s worth having even without the data turned on, there are loads of places where wifi is free in London and you can use it for all of the useful online stuff!

  3. hi Karen, i just got an iTouch, which is the iPhone without the phone. i like it. i haven’t loaded my lessons into it yet, but plan to. i haven’t figured out, but i guess i could get a roaming signal. right now i have to get to places with wifi to use the internet part there (cafe’s, the office, the apartment, etc.) if i can figure it out, i think i can use it for internet calls thru skype. i just haven’t figured out a lot of things in it yet.
    hugs
    Arturo

  4. You eat pizza?!

  5. I have a meeting slated with the IT Manager here at work — he’s an iPhoneophile and travels frequently. I figure I’ll ask him for some tips and tricks.

    Lauren, yes, lots of pizza. Last night, in fact. Why is that surprising?

  6. I laughed at your random list of things you Google… so similar to mine (I don’t know why, but I have a fascination with how tall/short people are and often look up movie stars, soap opera stars, singers, etc).

    I don’t have a cell phone, but if I ever get one, I’m totally getting the iPhone,

    Though the thought of pulling up a book on a tiny computer seems pretty cool, I can’t imagine not having the lovely tactile experience of feeling the paper, turning the pages, smelling the mustiness! ha! Or reading a used book where a random note the previous reader scrawled on the page. I also like to look at things with the light reflecting from it, not from behind. Ouchie on the eyeballs after awhile.

    Pizza!! mmm.

  7. See…this is a good example of things not translating in writing the way they would in person…I was just kidding around about the pizza, since it isn’t vegan. Now, I know you aren’t vegan, and you know I’m not. I eat pizza too, not all the time because I like other things better.

  8. I hate phones. I hate it when they ring. I hate talking on them. I hate voice mail.

    Last year, I got an iPod Touch, which I *adore*. Apps, email and the web – it’s all good. The one functionality my Touch doesn’t have is a phone.

    I call this a ‘feature’ ;-D

  9. I hate phones too, but they are necessary (Liz you don’t have one?? wow). But I love texting. And everything else about the iphone : )

    I know what you mean about the random facts! How did we get by without being able to check these things on the spot??

    Bring it along, you can still use it for numbers 3 through 9, and like Clare said there’s loads of free wifi!

    Oooo, just a week now : )

  10. Oh and I know where to get you a good pizza here should you need one : )

  11. Until I read this and all the comments, I was dead set against the iPhone because of the lack of cell reception on AT&T or whatever they use that isn’t Verizon. But now I’m beginning to see that the phone feature is nearly outmoded. Adam has been bugging me to get him an iTouch, and I’ve been like, no, what a waste, there’s no phone, and I’m not getting the iPhone, etc. Now, I think I might buy Adam that iTouch after all so as to encourage him to get into the habit of texting me instead of calling me!

  12. Your IT Manager is an iPhonephile….that’s unusual.

    Happy Birthday!

  13. Is it though? The coolest thing in geekdom these days is to be able to program for iPhone – we are even having tech talks here at work even though the approved mobile communicator is the BB.

  14. Our IT department doesn’t support iPhones. The official company phone is…uh, I’m not sure… Crackberry or Treo. I wrangled an iPhone ’cause my team makes online products and the organization likes me to indulge my curiosity about technology. The IT guys bought their own iPhones, and folks on my team bought their own iPhones. So it’s kind of a grassroots movement. “Official phone’s a BB? Forget it! I’ll buy my own!” I am very amused by this.

  15. LI Ashtangini
    11/06/2009 at 5:46 pm

    V, I imagine that whoever is in charge of security at your firm isn’t thrilled about having iPhones in the environment. They’re probably like us and grudgingly let people use them. The iPhone is not at all secure and isn’t nearly as manageable as a blackberry, so is not ideal for the corporate environment. Every executive we have has tried one and given it back. They all love their blackberries. Personally I break out in hives when I come anywhere near anything Apple related….except for my two year old iPod. :)

  16. I love Apple. My next laptop is going to be a Mac (because I’m too lazy to bother with Linux anymore). Windows makes ME break out in hives :-D

  17. Oh yeah, got major stumped last time I was in the UK with my iPhone this summer. At least AT&T did contact me when I had used up my int’l data package. If you’re like me, just get the full monty data package. I didn’t get round to figuring out Skype for the iPhone whilst there, I thought I was doing myself a favour by texting but actually not, that added up. Texting beware…

    I miss blighty… England/Home

    Have fun & if you find a good studio or rather good instructors let me know, cos I’ve been back a couple of times and my mates can’t recommend anyone or anywhere…

  18. Doreen, in London you can find:

    - AYL with Hamish Hendry (certified)
    - Triyoga Soho with Philippa (certified)
    - Yoga Place with Cary Perkins (authorized)
    - Triyoga Primrose Hill with Eileen Gautier
    - The Life Centre with…I think Michaela?

    These are all very good shalas and good teachers.

  19. Michaela Clarke at The Life Centre is great, best Paschimottanasana squisher in London :-)

    Have a safe trip Karen, see you Sunday at YP

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