Saturday was a fairly seminal day for me.
At 0400hrs (on the dot) I woke and uttered the words "Hey Siri, what time is it?" The response from the phone at the bedside was "4am". So I know that at that moment my beloved iPhone 14 Pro Max companion was alive and well. Alive, anyway.
At 0700 I got up, collected my phone from its charging cradle and went to the bathroom to ablute. Oddly my phone screen was blank. I automatically turned it on wondering why it had gone off. It wouldn't turn on. After a few minutes came the realisation that it was absolutely dead. It had been on the charger all night so had to be fully charged. Nonetheless I put it on a cable charge in the kitchen just in case. After a while it was still dead.
In 14 years or thereby that I've had iPhones I've never had a fault of this magnitude so was stumped.
Still in my goonie I made coffee and looked up the Apple helpline. Using the landline (an exceptionally rare occurrence - I use my mobile for everything) I phoned Apple Support. Within seconds the phone was answered by Andrew who, after checking my credentials and phone details, enquired how he could help me. I told him my nice new phone had died. Andrew then went through the usual things to check that it was attached to a cable charger (iPhones are all capable of wireless charging). We then went through the usual start up and re-boot procedures all to no effect whatsoever. To which Andrew immediately responded by arranged for another one to be sent to me.
And it was not yet light outside.
Interestingly Andrew was in Tiree. So many work from home that didn't really surprise me. I was, I thought, chatting to someone 100 miles due south as the seagull flies, EXCEPT that he added. "Australia". Oddly I hadn't discerned an Ozzie accent.
So I was absolutely over the moon with Apple's service.
I then set about living with the realisation that with a Sunday and Bank holiday ahead I was going to be 3 days without a phone. Okay, I have a spare iPhone I keep in the car for emergencies such as leaving My Phone at home accidentally. However that is the very least of the uses for my Phone.
It is the way I communicate daily and sometimes hourly with my friends in this country, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden etc. using Telegram, WhatsApp, Messenger, iMessage and so on. It's where we play Wordle and Scrabble. It's where I read and often write my emails.
It is also where I can read using the Kindle app.
It operates my printers and scanner.
And, of course, it's my camera. No longer do I cart my big DSLR around with me everywhere.
I know that there are many of you are not phonoholics not least YP who would rather die with a broken leg and hypothermia somewhere on one of his beloved mountains than carry a cellphone.
If I were a club joiner (I'm not) I would go to Mobiles Anonymous. My Name is Graham and I'm a Phonoholic.
Hi Graham, I'm in the same club.
ReplyDeleteIf my phone broke down I'd beg, borrow or steal to replace it asap.
I use it for emails, calls, messages, games, social media, research, banking and sometimes blogging.
Btw, I got Wordle in three tries today 😊
Kylie, it's so good to know that I'm not alone. BTW well done, I took 4.
DeleteI confess to being the opposite, and not for any perverse Luddite leanings, I have just somehow never gotten used to really using it. Sometimes it sits in the hallway for a couple of days, or gets left in the glove compartment in the car, and someone will call my landline, or email me, to tell me they texted a message a couple of days earlier. If I join a club it would have to be Resisters Anonymous, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteDavid, for long and boring reasons I won't bother you with I wanted to go and see my parents in 1991 in the middle of a long work crisis. I was granted permission so long as I could beg, borrow or steal a mobile phone to stay in touch at all times. I hired one. A large brick with a separate handset like an 'ordinary' phone of the day only much heavier because of the battery. I have had one ever since. When my parents were aging I went to Australia for a holiday over 25 years ago. By this time I spoke to my mother every night if only for a few seconds to let her know I was okay and make sure she was too. I was astonished to find a signal in the Australian outback. I am now almost phobic about being out of touch.
DeleteGreat post Graham, such gems hidden in there. My grinning got wider and wider as I got towards the end. I am also attached to my phone and it fills the same position in my life as yours does.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel. I. forgot to add that when I'm in hospital I just stick my earbuds in and can watch TV or a film as well.
DeleteI had to Google goonie...
ReplyDeleteGood Glasgow word, JayCee.
DeleteWell, I'm with Graham. I don't have a cell phone but I should because of car emergencies.
ReplyDeleteRed, the emergency facility has been use a few times by me in the middle of The Highlands.
DeleteGlad you had good service from Apple and hope your new phone arrives soon!
ReplyDeleteEllen, I occasionally get peeved with the extraordinary prices Apple charge but with their constant free security updates and their superb service I grin and bear it.
DeleteThe Apple man sounds like a really helpful guy, and I hope your replacement iphone will arrive soon.
ReplyDeleteI use my iphone daily, too, but not quite to the extent that you do.
In the morning, my Mum, sister and I exchange a "good morning" message - this stems from the time when my Dad had a big fall on New Year morning a few years ago, and we were really concerned (it was not the start of his decline, but sped things up considerably) about our parents' wellbeing and need of assistance.
I also exchange a midday kiss with O.K. every day except weekens when we're togehter (there, you now know one of our little romantic secrets).
I depend on my mobile for public transport - not only does it give me the often needed information about connections, delays and alternatives, but it also holds my tickets.
And, of course, it is my easily portable camera, and very occasionally (really rarely) I use it for directions on a walk in unknown territory.
I do not like to read and write emails on it, or read anything else; although my eyes are much better since my operations, I still don't like the tiny screen and the clumsiness I experience when typing on anything but a "proper" keyboard.
Meike, I'd forgotten about the public transport use because I'm so rarely on the mainland but it's invaluable for knowing when planes are late (a significant problem of Island life) with knock on effects for onward transport. All my tickets are electronic as well. I also forgot that I no longer swipe a bank card. I use my phone for all payments. Like you I prefer to use a keyboard (as I am now) for writing anything long such as emails.
DeleteI have only one question. What is a goonie?
ReplyDeleteMrs. RWP and I both have iPhone 11 or 12 (I forget which) and have not had any problems to date. I dread the day it happens, even more so since I recently had our landline discontinued. Wish us luck.
Bob, a 'goonie' is a good Glasgow word for a house coat or dressing gown.
DeleteAs it happens, Bob, I still have a landline as part of my internet package but calls are very expensive because I don't have a package because I don't use it! However the call to Apple was a Freephone number so cost me nothing. I also have the landline because, as I live on my own, I have been persuaded to wear an emergency call button around my neck. It automatically raises the alarm and a neighbour is informed or the emergency services are called. It is a sad fact of life that as we get older we are more susceptible to falls or, as happened to a dear friend of mine in Canada, she had a stroke and lay for 4 days before her family (in Australia) raised the alarm.
DeleteMy phone may not be used as much as yours, but it has become my sole camera and is my lifeline to stay in touch with friends and family. I hope your replacement arrives soon. Mxx
ReplyDeleteMargaret, it's the fact that it's so useful for the purposes you mention that makes them important to us.
DeleteSince I got my tablet a few years ago I don't use my phone as much for "everything" any more - preferring the bigger screen of the tablet for most apps. If the phone suddenly died on me (and as I've had it 8+ years, I'd not be too surprised), I'd certainly miss it, though, and would no doubt also try to find a replacement asap (even if I too have also kept an even older one as back-up for emergency phone calls).
ReplyDeleteMonica, the tablet is a whole new world!
DeleteGraham, on the other hand the phone is of course still superior when it comes to being multi-functional, easy to take with you everywhere, and not needing WiFi. As I'm rarely away from home for very long at a time, I keep my phone offline when I go out, though (only turn it on if I need to).
DeleteI so wonder what I did without my phone. I worked, did the shopping, visited friends, kept the house clean, looked after children. Now, I cannot do anything in a day without it. First thing, Wordle with my family group. Then the news from around the world. Some of it translated into English. E-mail. Then a visit with a couple of friends. Facebook. Pinterest. What should I cook for dinner? What is the weather here and wherever my children are? After dinner, read and read. Books and articles and take painting lessons and sewing and knitting lessons on YouTube. And on it goes. I know that I am much smarter about some things then I used to be. And if I don't know something? Google!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that man walks all over England with no communication. Just glad I am not his spouse worrying about him every single day!!!
Donna, you are a breath of comfort to me! I'd forgotten about Facebook and, of course, Google - how could any one live without Google and Wikipedia? I have a particular reason to be concerned about people who don't carry a phone. A friend left his behind by accident one evening. He went for his evening constitutional but decided to take a path he had never taken before. He fell and broke his hip. They searched all the usual walks which he was know to do. The police were informed and they brought in a tracker dog and he was found some hours later in the dark. He was fortunate.
DeleteIn the days without, you might find more within.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn, that is absolutely fascinating. You are correct I might. For the first few days I'd probably be fretting too much though. I once thought about going on a retreat. I've never had the strenght of will though. I'm also a bit scared of what I might find 'within'.
DeleteThink of it like this...we're hybrids running mainly on our brain power. Retreats are the charge that helps us feel more powerful because our brain engine makes less noise on idling. We can hear ourselve purr.
DeleteOh Graham, That gave me such a smile. I shouldn't be amused by your separation from probably your most prized gadget. On the bright side, you will have more time for your other gadgets for a day or two! Keep your chin up. Pauline
ReplyDeleteThanks Pauline. I've survived!
DeleteI use my iPhone almost exclusively for WhatsApp and as a camera.
ReplyDeleteCro, they are two pretty important uses in my book.
DeleteI am also a phonoholic! I even use mine to plan my hikes. Xx
ReplyDeleteJules, that is so comforting to hear. My days of hiking were all done with OS maps. The number of times I've tried to read one in the pouring rain up a fellside is uncountable.
DeleteFor how many millennia did human beings survive without telephones let alone these highly addictive, expensive and energy-draining smartphones? I would get one if I arrived at the conclusion that I need one but so far that hasn't happened. I hope your replacement phone arrives as promised - oh and while I remember - Happy New Year Graham!
ReplyDeleteI take your point YP but let's face it how many millennia did human being survive without just about every single thing that we possess today. Even in our lifetime we lived as kids without central heating, cars and just about everything else we now take for granted. Your point about a cellphone as an emergency tool (I know some people who still have ancient Nokias which just make calls or sends texts for emergencies) only comes into play when you find yourself alone somewhere with a broken ankle in the rain as night falls. I hope that never happens.
DeleteI admit to owning a flip phone that I carry religiously in my pocket and the auto dial is set to 911 (our emergency number for EMTs). I do this because I live alone and want an emergency connection in the event of a fall. I agree with YP, I see no need to own a smartphone! Of course, I know I'm in the minority (my lawyer-daughter lives with hers glued to her ear), but I'm content to communicate with the world via my trusty computer.
DeleteJill, I accept your point absolutely. In the absence of my phone I lived through my laptop. For emergencies I still have another phone in the car in case I forget my phone (which does happen occasionally). My phone is not usually glued to my ear but my eyes are frequently focussed upon it.
DeleteWhatever the opposite of a phonoholic is, I am that. My pedometer often shows that I have walked 23 steps, or thereabouts. It is not true of course. I bring the phone down stairs in the morning, sit in on a table and never think of it again.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous, you may, or may not, be in the majority.
DeleteYou are not alone Graham as there are many phonolics around. I see them every time I walk down the hall to the elevator, on the street and in their cars. I admit to not being as attached to my iPhone The iWatch bought last year lets me know when there's a text message, which is sometimes annoying, but less so then the phone's incessant dinging if the text isn't acknowledged as it's just a slight vibration. The compliment you gave regarding Apple Support is exactly WHY I always have bought Apple products and also added the extra service plan. I have always received help for my issues which thankfully were not as critical as a dead phone. Were you given any indication of why it might have failed?
ReplyDeleteBeatrice, Andrew gave me no idea as to why it may have failed but it's not an unknown problem with that particular phone. I suppose when one thinks about it, the computing power of such an iPhone far outstrips any computer produced when the first man stepped upon the moon.
DeleteAs usual, late to the party... I think I'm a fence-sitter in this conversation.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, security is the main reason I value the cell phone. Easy to carry around, easy to call for help.
On the other hand, I often have to park my Jeep and run back into the house to get it because it's hard for me to remember to put it in my handbag before leaving. Probably more to do with my age than the phone, but there you have it.
On one hand, it is great to be able to whip it out and play solitaire when I am waiting somewhere for someone else to figure out what, exactly, they get paid to do for a living (more on my blog about this later).
On the other hand, I see so many people sitting with their "significant other" at a restaurant or in the park, staring at their screens and not interacting - this is time they will never get back, and when one of them slips their goonie and heads off to the great beyond, it is my considered opinion that the sex lives of the celebrities, the weather, or whatever other nonsense they were obsessed with on their phone will no longer seem so important, and they will long for more time with their loved one (time they actually could have had if they were not on their phone).
On one hand, of course it's handy to be able to look up a word ("zeugma" for instance, which I found in Miriam Margolyes' new autobiography...)
On the other hand, I would MUCH rather be using my desktop computer with the big screen to watch any sort of video. Squinting at a tiny screen is one of the most frustrating things I can think of - and it's so unnecessary since we have huge screen TVs and computer monitors!
On one hand, I love keeping in touch with my relatives, all of whom live in another state.
On the other hand, even though I have literally five people who might call me on the phone, it's really hard to get through one TV program or read a book for more than half an hour without having to "deal with" my phone pinging, ringing, beeping, buzzing, or in any other way annoying me. Yes, I could just turn it off, but as I have an elderly mother who lives alone, I am loathe to cut off communication completely. I may be superstitious, but I feel as if the moment I turn off my phone, something bad will happen and I will be haunted the rest of my days because someone called me for help and I was unavailable. Of course there's nothing I could do from hundreds of miles away, but maybe I could get to get to talk to someone one more time.
At the end of the day, I consider the phone MY tool. Its purpose is not to convey advertisements or intrude on my life. I'm paying for it. (More about this on my blog later.) It's there for when I WANT to communicate or gain information. When I sense it encroaching on my life, I take a step back.
On the other hand, every person has their own reasons for having a cell phone. If it gives people comfort and a sense of connectedness, I make no judgements - I think that's wonderful.
Last comment: Where I work, I am required to receive a computerized call to which I respond on my cell phone keyboard - and then I am granted access to my work computer. Without my cell phone, I couldn't work. So there's that.
Oh. I wrote a response days ago but obviously didn't press 'send'. Oh dear. That means I have to re-engage my brain with this post.
DeleteThere are many things these days where life is so much easier using a cellphone. One is paying in the supermarket if you also have a discount club-card etc etc. Just get out the cellphone, place it on the reader and face recognition does everything else. And you have a complete record of everything in the phone instantly.
I only use my phone (with wireless buds) for TV when I'm in Hospital. Gone, thank the Lord, are the days when there was a TV screen on at the end of the ward usually dominated by the lowest common denominator programme. In these days of limited visiting, though you can communicate with your 'visitors' any time at all without them leaving the house.
Yes me too. Love my iPhone and Apple support. Haven't a 14 yet still excited with my 12 Pro. We now have Apple watches also mainly for if we fall it will call emergency numbers. They are fun to learn too but the older we get the harder it is. That would have been annoying getting a dud but glad that they will replace it. I believe in the future people won't need computers just a mobile.
ReplyDelete