Comments on: So, You Gonna Get an iPhone?

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:58:06 +0000

Sorry guys, don’t mean to be a party pooper.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:46:11 +0000

Believe me, I covered telecommunications for eight years at two major dailies. Sure, nothing wrong with telecommunications helping the world, well, communicate with each other, writes blogs, etc… that’s all great. What’s wrong is what I original said, is that people are more inclined to wait overnight for an iPhone than protest the things that truly — and I emphasize truly — matter in life. Apple should donate the tens of millions of dollars is has probably saved in advertising costs to addressing some of the world’s real problems. Have a fancier cell phone isn’t one of them.

As for needing a break from trivial doomsday clock, I agree — but a break from what? I break from doing nothing about it?

Anyway, it’s a cool gadget — don’t get me wrong. But it’s just a gadget.

By: Eric Eldon

Eric Eldon — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:24:49 +0000

Tyler, innovation in communication is one of the main ways that we can confront the issues you mention. Most people in the world can’t afford computers, meaning they have less to no access to information on the web — and these people are buying mobile phones. Put the pieces together: A phone with great mobile web access (iPhone) means web access for hundreds of millions who couldn’t really get it before. Which means more communication about the issues. Which means people understanding more about each other, and about what’s really going on.

I know it looks like this stuff is all trite fun and games but its real, and it’s making a big difference.

By: Magnus

Magnus — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:20:28 +0000

Sometimes the world needs trivial breaks from the media doomsday clock. With the Iphone you can blog and twitter your discust in humanity in super fast 3G every waking minute, while driving an SUV to Wall Mart ;).

By: Mark Evans

Mark Evans — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:08:41 +0000

Tyler,

You’re absolutely right but this is how our consumer-obsessed world works. It’s all about getting something new and shiny. It doesn’t always make sense but it’s how many people roll.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:41:31 +0000

This is such a pathetic issue. The world can be frying up, nuclear projects can be hundreds of millions of dollars over budget, the price of flour can triple, and people can be starving around the world, yet the only time the public gets revved up is when it can’t get its precious electronic toy for a lower price, or when it wants a novelty gadget (and lines up outside a store overnight) that won’t be novelty in a month or two.

Humanity, in many respects, deserves what it gets. Neil Postman certainly got it right with Amusing Ourselves To Death. Society is sick.

By: Magnus

Magnus — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:51:51 +0000

Thanks for adding the “I love my Blackberry” option in the vote. I have no interest in the Iphone, I’m not anti Apple and if you saw me in person you would say I fit the “look” of a Iphone buyer. The Blackberry Bold has me more excited but I have no interest in the touch screen keypad on the Iphone or the one coming out with Blackberry for that matter.

By: David S. ( @seemsArtless )

David S. ( @seemsArtless ) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:36:16 +0000

I’ll wait for the upgrade around the new year. I can’t justify paying that much without at least an improved camera and stereo music out through Bluetooth.