In the midst of all the drama of this summer, my flip phone stopped holding a charge. I would leave it on the charger overnight, put it in my pocketbook, and take it out later in the day to make a call, and, nothing.
“Woof?” (not my picture)
So, after years of resistance, I finally gave in and bought an iPhone. The flip phone was embarrassing, but as long as it did what it was supposed to do, I could live with the shame. But once it wouldn’t even do the one simple thing I asked it to do. Pfft. That relationship had to end.
I was still not excited about dealing with the new phone and all of the unknowns though, like: invisible fees building up, the potentially addictive aspect of smartphones, the hacking issues, the dropping-the-darned-thing-on-the-floor issues, etc.
“Please Mommy, don’t make me get a smartphone.” (not my picture)
I forced myself to take a class at the Apple store and realized how quickly I could fall down the rabbit hole, as my instructor clearly had, in choosing ten different ring tones, and buying apps, and staring at my phone at all hours of the day, spending all of my money on its care and feeding. That scared me off for a few days, but then I decided to go at my own pace.
I learned how to type with one tenth of one finger, and I even sent a text, or at least answered one. I haven’t really switched from my regular camera to the camera on the phone, though, both because I don’t know how to upload pictures from the phone to the desktop, and because I don’t know how to take good pictures with the darn thing yet. I thought I would be listening to podcasts and audio books all the time, but that hasn’t happened yet. I can check the news whenever I want to (but this is more of a bug than a feature).
There is not enough peanut butter in the world to make the news bearable.
One thing that I love about my iPhone is that I can do my language courses whenever I want to. I don’t have to sit at my desktop computer, in the living room (where the air conditioner doesn’t reach), and practice my French and Spanish. I’ve become addicted to Duolingo. I can even use Google Translate to help me read Harry Potter in Hebrew (paragraph by painstaking paragraph). And I found some videos on YouTube of songs from the animated movie Moana in Hebrew, and they work very nicely as a way to block out Cricket’s barking when she’s trying to make me do whatever it is she wants me to do.
I still think there should be an iPhone for Cricket, so that she can call Grandma anytime she wants to, like, from the kitchen. She’d probably abuse the privilege, it’s true. But, what if there could be brain games for dogs on the iPhone? Find the Kibble? Or Catch the Leaf? Or Dig out the weeds?! Cricket would be addicted in no time. She might even forget to bark, once or twice.
I have also recently discovered the value of having a phone to stare at when you are sitting and waiting somewhere and don’t want to look like a doofus with nothing to do, even if that’s exactly what I am.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I should probably take more classes to learn how to take better pictures with the phone, and decide which apps are worth buying, but I haven’t had the energy, or the will, to tackle it yet. But I am up practicing my French at one in the morning, so that has to count for something. And, I even made a few phone calls.
rachelmankowitz 
Watch out if you start calling it “my precious”.
Ha!
So funny. My husband finally bought an iPhone when his flip died. He has managed to call me a number of times by mistake by sitting on it, I guess. He misses his flip phone.
That is exactly why I think flip phones are superior, as phones. Every time I saw a joke about butt dialing on TV I would just laugh and laugh. Oy.
😄
There are actually apps for dogs haha! 😂😂
But I need a phone big enough to fit her paws, and strong enough to withstand her version of playing with toys. So, iPad sized and made of titanium might work.
How is Cricket doing?
She’s raised her separation anxiety to level ten, but otherwise, she’s doing okay.
Awww, poor baby. But I’m glad she doing ok overall! And I hope you too!
Thank you!
I look so forward to your new posts each week. Best of luck with your new phone. Bonsoir! 🙃
Thank you, I mean, Merci, Gracias, Todah rabah!
I just wanted a smartphone to replace the Ice Age phone I use now. The cocky young salesman was kind enough to remove his earbuds to ask what kind of phone I had. When I showed it to him, complete with touch pad for ease in typing a text message, he looked at me and said, ‘There is a 6-month learning curve and we don’t do classes here any more.’ Then popped those earbuds back in a walked away. I wanted to punch him. All I want to do is make/get calls and text. Six freakin’ months, buddy??! I walked out, never to return. Seriously, how hard is it to learn, Rachel?
It’s really not hard. There are you tube videos for everything you want to learn, and if all you want to do is make phone calls you just have to get through the set up of the phone and then you’re golden. I keep seeing adds for consumer cellular and things like it where they have smartphones with easily readable screen layouts. If I had known how tiny my “keyboard” would be I would have gone for something like that instead.
Thanks, Rachel. This gives me hope. That salesman was anything but helpful or reassuring.
So often I have said to myself (and anyone else listening); “Technology doesn’t give a rip whether I keep up with it or not! It will go forward without me, and if I want to hold onto a bit of connection, it’s up to me to figure out what works for me.”
Let yourself fall in love with it and take control of the apps. Hugs and doggie smooches!
Each time I find a free app that does something I actually like, I feel two steps closer to addiction.
I was a resister to any new technology, including smart phones. Pretty hard when your hubby is the Director of IT. I have to admit, I had a lot of fun with it the first few weeks, sitting up late trying out all the features, like different ring tones and stuff. One thing I still refuse to do is get email and facebook notifications on it. I mean, enough is enough, right? I want it to work for me, not the other way around. Good luck, you’ll be a pro in no time.
I tried to check facebook on it and my eyes started to cross. I need a much bigger screen for anything more complicated than one or two words at a time.
The one thing the iPhone is not so good at, is being a phone. I think it was the last feature demonstrated in the first video Apple made promoting it! I still insist on the old fashioned ‘ring ring’ ring tone, though. I’ve had one for years and rarely pay for apps. Podcasts are great for long dog walks or boring commutes and most are free. I love podcasts but it does mean I don’t listen to music as much as I used to. The great thing about it is you have the internet in your pocket. You’ll be a pro in no time. My mum got an iPad a couple of years ago and we can’t keep her off the bloody thing now – but it is great as she uses Facebook messenger to keep in touch.
This tech stuff is addictive!
Hope you enjoy your new phone!
I’m trying!
Ah Rachel, you and I must have been separated at birth. I resisted the iPhone for the past however many years they’ve been making them until Pretty insisted I make the leap. I still have no apps that I know of, but I am suspicious of the little weather pictures in the left-hand corner of the phone when I turn it on to painstakingly text someone. I personally would prefer the old party lines and telephones you actually could understand what someone was saying when they called. Progress can be painful.
I still think the phone part of the iPhone should still just be for emergencies, because land lines are so much better for actual conversations, but if I’d had access to Duolingo and a smartphone as a kid, I’d be fluent in ten languages by now – though I probably would have paid absolutely no attention in school.
Isn’t it something when they have classes to teach people how to use a phone!? I remember when I first bought my farm (no cell phones then) we only had to dial 4 digits to get anyone in town! Thank goodness my youngest son and daughter-in-law are close enough to help me understand how to use my phone. And Cricket should have her own phone. In case you decide she’s had enough treats she can call Grandma and turn you in!
Ha! Oh my God, I wonder who else she’s going to call!
Puppy Protective Services. Remy and Henry call PPS whenever they don’t get their way.
I think she’d also like to call the local pizza place, so she can have something to eat while waiting for her protectors.
Oh, geez! I’m lucky the boys haven’t thought of pizza!
Enjoy! There are loads of free apps before you buy any check them out. 😊
There’s no translate into or from canine.
I noticed that! I looked down the list of languages and realized their mistake right away. Can you imagine how much money they could be making?!
I thought I was the last one not to have a smart phone. Maybe next year but I get along!
It’s fun, but I still don’t think it’s necessary.
I am so with you on iPhones. Well actually all cellular phone to be honest, I loathe them. I really don’t understand why everyone who has a cellular phone has to be on the all the time everywhere.
Are we humans so very important that we feel the need to be in contact with others constantly, I think not, but that doesn’t stop cellphone users grunting and exclaiming all over the place in public spaces.
I have never bought a smartphone and probably never will, I have owned two, though I have to admit, both cast offs from my wife. I am the most infrequent user ever I would imagine. I forget to include the phone when I reach for my wallet and car keys when going out.
I happily say no when asked if I have my phone with me when out and unless I know the number, or the phone does, I never answer the damn thing if it is ringing near me. Oh and if you asked me The my phone number I am afraid I couldn’t supply it. I haven a clue what it is.
Unfortunately I am surrounded in my family by people who don’t share my opinion of the iPhone and therefore I am besieged by ring tones ringing and message notifications buzzing which is annoying.
But everyone should be allowed the freedom to enjoy what they like so I tend to keep my Scrooge like grumbles to myself.
One thing I should mention. I have never bought an ‘app,’ as they call the applications and if you explore the free apps in the Apple Strore you should have to because you’ll find that almost everything you need is there for free like Word, and other useful applications.
Actually I bought an iPad and love it, it doesn’t have a phone SIM card so very few people bother me with it it is a sensible size for someone with what seems like giant’s hands when using a smart phone keyboard and as a compromise I have promised to buy the SIM card version next so that I don’t force my long suffering wife to renew her phone when ‘mine’ expires.
I hope you get a lot of enjoyment from your phone. I am sure you’ll get used to it, but wether you grow to love it or not will be something interesting to hear in the future.
I have no idea what my cell phone number is. I didn’t know when it was a flip phone and I don’t know now. Every time I see someone answering their phone while driving, I cringe, and picture fiery car crashes.
Yes, a smartphone is addictive. I’ve had mine for 3 years and last week it stopped deleting stuff . Keeps telling me Storage is full, though! And there’s no access to Facebook anymore, which perhaps is a good thing because FB is addictive, too! Thanks for mentioning Duolingo, I’ll check it out. Enjoy your new phone!
Thank you! Duolingo is awesome, and when I realized that I could add multiple languages, and find a virtual Hebrew keyboard…I lost my mind.
It is awesome indeed! I’m now doing German and Italian, great fun. I wanted to do Russian, but had to install the Russian keyboard, which I found too complicated. Have you managed to install the Hebrew keyboard?
Yes. On my phone it was under settings, general, keyboard, add new keyboard. Good luck!
Thanks. It’s more complicated on my laptop. I’ll give it a miss for a while.
Congrats on the iPhone. They come on handy when (sigh) eating Alone. Are you sure those are not your pictures. They’re pretty darn cute.
That little puppy with the flip phone almost broke me.
🙂
My phone may be smart, but I’m not. I don’t have internet or e-mail facilities switched on and don’t even know how to use the camera 🙂
I’m still unclear on why they made smartphones flat, if they really meant for them to be phones.
🙂
Good luck with the iPhone , I myself have resisted owning one I must say. Lovely to take the pictures of Cricket at random. Enjoy
When I was taking pictures of the baby birds, way back when, I had to remember to bring my camera with me every day. Now, if it comes up again, I’ll have my iPhone with me. So I should probably learn how to take better pictures with it.
Still limping along with my flip phone, which proves I am a complete doofus. (Isn’t Cricket’s phone service her telepathy?)
Her telepathy skills are extraordinary, but she would like to be able to insert thoughts more forcefully into her people.
My flip phone is currently held together with a rubber band, but I can still make calls on it. When my sister noticed it, she gave me a trac phone a co-worker had given her husband (we live convoluted lives in my family), but all I’ve done is charge it and look at it in wonder. I’m wishing my husband would adopt it and figure it out. Then I can text him at work, although I would probably continue to just stop by and bother him (I’m that sort of a wife). Good luck with your new device.
In person visits are much nicer than buzzing phones, any day.
There is an hysterical free app called Binky that I used for a short time and deleted because it was habit forming. It’s a parody that pokes fun at our need to scroll through stuff on our phones. It seems to be a social media app but it actually does nothing!
The amount of time wasting things on my smart phone make me question the whole “smart” moniker.
Yes!
A smart phone isn’t bad. The hidden fees etc etc are concerning, but the advantage of having solitaire or a book evens it out. I’ve had mine for about a year and two months (or so) and never have gotten addicted. It’s still more annoying to me than useful, and I have to be reminded to turn it on, because people in general text these days, they don’t PHONE. Usually it resides in my purse turned off. I have it (just as I had my old flip phone) for car emergencies. And the GPS feature? Marvelous. So there are advantages. Good luck with your journey into smart phone land. Nice to visit, but you would not want to live there..
I agree. The purpose of a cell phone is emergencies, not regular daily communication. But a lot of people seem to think I’m wrong about that. Who knew people were so lonely walking through the supermarket that they needed to be in constant contact with…anyone.
I love Duolingo! I keep up my 42% level of German, and am trying to get back a little Italian too.
It’s so addictive!
Welcome to Apple-land. You will grow to love it even if it is somewhat intimidating. Take it slowly. Apple’s website is a plethora of info and there are 87 gazillion bulletin boards that can love any question you may have need of an answer. All the best of luck exploring applications for these amazing tools aka iPhones.
Okay, now I’m overwhelmed again.
Love reading your posts and good luck with your new iphone.
Thank you!
One of my friend still used a flip phone. She’ll be getting a smart phone this month. I’m sure its going to change her life. It’s a whole new way of doing things. Enjoy.
I’m trying. Thank you.
Next thing we know you will be replacing your dial up, 1200 baud modem.
Ha! I remember dial up and that screeching sound!
I was always behind the times until recent years. Once a 17 year old girl asked me if I had come out with my house phone when I made a call hehe x
Not so many years ago, one of my nephews looked at me with horror and said, “don’t you have an “i” anything?”
Hehe :- D
Good for you! I completely agree, and yet I’ve found it pretty easy to maintain my boundaries. I haven’t gotten sucked into iCulture too deeply, and my forays within are all conscious choices.
I think that a year from now you’ll be pretty happy with it.
You’re probably right. Fingers crossed.
Yes, well, me too!! I have always been a Samsung person and last November I had a sudden rush of blood to the head and changed to an iPhone. Never had one before. I have not really settled into it and I still feel like a traitor for abandoning Samsung. I felt as if I had gone to the Dark Side. However I do use it a lot and although I refuse to have email or Facebook on my phone, I do use the camera quite a bit. Transferring photographs from the iPhone to the computer is fairly easy – connect and it does the rest for you – automatically. I am still getting used to mine, so good luck with your new iPhone.
I was overwhelmed with news stories about Samsung phones blowing up, so an iPhone was probably inevitable. Next I’ll find out that it was all fake news from Apple.
I was a hold out for a smart phone for a long time too. I got mine 2 or 3 years ago because I was a volunteer for our local Relay For Life event and was getting lots of texts. Since it’s hard to respond to those on a flip phone (not to mention the extra cost because I didn’t have a text messaging plan) I decided to give in. I find I enjoy mine and like, as you say, having something to do when I’m waiting somewhere. I think you’ll find you like it a lot, once you get used to it.
fingers crossed!
It’s a great everyday tool. Google for the resources on great apps.
I will. Thank you!
If you ever use the camera and want the pictures in the computer just plug the phone into a USB port on your computer and make sure the phone is turned on so you can find the file. Then it is just the same as finding a file on a camera or flash drive. The key is remembering to turn the phone on, the one step you don’t have to do with other devices.
Thank you!
I have heard all of your anti-iPhone arguments before – my wife is our family Luddite – but now she has an iPhone and does all the things you describe. You will have a great time with your new toy.
I hope so. Thank you!
I just got my first smartphone in March, so I understand. Now I know why people can’t get off their phones! But I still bring a book with me when I know I will have to wait somewhere. Somethings are just sacred 🙂
Congrats on your new phone! My humom’s mom knows exactly what you are going through! She also went to the Apple store to get lessons but ended up asking my humom for more help. She loves her phone now and is glad she got her iPhone because she loves taking pictures of her orchid collection. You’re going to be a iPhone expert in no time! 🙂
I LOVED my old purple flip up phone. I was mortified when it died on me!!! I did the same as you and brought an iPhone. I had to call the helpline because I couldn’t work out where to put the SIM. I remember it stayed in its box for a week as I was too scared to use it lol
I had my iPhone 4 years. Dropped it a few times. It was surprisingly quite robust! there’s loads of free apps you can get so don’t worry about buying them. I’m sure, with patience and time you will get use to it! One app I do recommend is the WordPress app 😊
I bought a new batteryfor my phone for about $4. It lasted 3 years. Then my phone stopped working. It was only 15 years old, too, and I loved the “addams family” ringtone.
My new one is another clam shell, but I don’t like it much. It’s not as easy to use as my old phone. The IPhone had backlighting, which I can’t tolerate, so it’s either the new phone I’m using or nothing.
Technology is great in some ways, desperately lacking in others.
I really enjoyed reading this post.:) Enjoy your iPhone!:) I must admit, I am still a holdout. I don’t have a smartphone yet. Not sure when (or even if) I’ll get one, but I suppose it’s inevitable at some point! I am sure you will master the idiosyncrasies and quirks and ins and outs of the iPhone in no time.:)
I hope so. Thank you!
You’ll get used to it soon…and will take even more pictures, I’ll bet!
I hope so!
I’m still a hold-out for any cell phone. I’m happy that you’re happy and chuckled when you wrote “… realized how quickly I could fall down the rabbit hole, as my instructor clearly had, in choosing ten different ring tones, and buying apps, and staring at my phone at all hours of the day, spending all of my money on its care and feeding.”
Honestly, though, I find Smartphones and cell phones isolate people from each other. If you were sitting in the library looking at your phone, I probably wouldn’t talk to you (even though I might want to) and you wouldn’t talk to me, and we’d never get to know each other.–Sometimes accidental friendships are made this way.
I remember when I worked at the University that there were six students sitting altogether on the semi-circle sofa in the foyer. All of them were looking at their phones and none of them spoke to each other.
I will never get a cell phone, but I know I’m not the “norm” and truly I’m not trying to be a “Debbie Downer”. Congratulations!
I agree with your concerns. I took Psychology classes at the local community college a few years ago and could barely get anyone to look up before the class started. I just had to sit there staring at the walls, flipping through my notebook, pretending I wasn’t a doofus. As soon as the Professor came in, she said that the only people who could have their phones on their desks were people with young children, everyone else would have to put them away, or have them thrown away. And they all listened to her!
In my experience, the best way to take better pictures with any camera, is to take lots of pictures with it. I’ve never been big on reading the manual or watching a video tutorial. Asking a friend, however, can be useful.
I remember the first time someone asked me to take a picture of them with their iPhone – I was like, um, what do I press? It takes a while to change my expectations from camera to phone.
I can totally relate! I had a flip phone and didn’t even text until a couple of years ago. Now I find my little Apple invaluable.
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it, because I did not read through your comments, but if you get a screen protector AND a case your phone should survive a lot. I have dropped mine, it has gone flying across asphalt. It has been stepped on. Granted it is an older model so it is tougher (so they tell me), but I believe the screen protector AND the case (BOTH, ya need BOTH!) have helped it last so long.
Good luck on your new adventure!
Thank you!
Rachel, you just have to plug the phone in the computer to transfer the pictures and there are a lot of free apps, I have never paid for an app on my phone. You should check out the WordPress app, it’s really cool if you want to check your stats or just want to write a post and it’s free. Enjoy your new phone!
Thank you!
Amusing post. Love it.
Thank you!
Beware Rachel. I was recently in Singapore. It’s quite scary being on the MRT surrounded by people like zombies walking on and off the train and up the escalator with their eyes glued on their beloved phones.
Ha!