Our family got our first new iPhone (we actually got three) one year ago this weekend. It has been a fantastically interesting and fantastically fun ride since then.
I wanted to take a post to reflect on the changes that I have experienced in using the iPhone 4s, and to mention some of the accomplishments, and the apps that helped get me there.
I confess that the longer I use Apple products, the more I become a fanboi. Well, it’s worth the criticism: Apple products are simple and elegant all at the same time.
Nothing more so than the iPhone.
So what is different?
Exercise – Among the first apps I installed on my iPhone when I got it were apps that helped me with health and fitness. I have been exercising for the past 7 years, virtually all of the time with some type of Apple device to listen to music. Yes, you can listen on other devices, but I bought iPod Shuffles, and Nanos (actually I won the last one I used), and even purchased the Nike + accessories to go with my last Nano.
Still, when I exercised with the Nano, it never quite felt like my distances were correct. In the earlier versions of the Nike+ accessory for running you had to “train” or “tune” the device to track your steps (length of your stride while running x steps = 1 mile).
But when I got the iPhone, a 4s, the device itself had all the tools needed to get more accurate with distances: GPS. At first I used then MapMyFitness app, but I grew to dislike it the more I used it.
So I purchased the iPhone version of the Nike+ app. I have really enjoyed using it with the iPhone. I’ve logged almost 200 miles (not a great deal really) since I started with the app in June.
I have maintained my own exercise program, but have moved to a better experience by using these iPhone apps.
Weight - The second app I installed when we first got iPhones was Lose It. I really enjoyed using the app, and found actually being aware of how many calories you are consuming in a day is a great start to losing weight.
While I have had a complete rethink about what causes weight gain and how to lose weight (after reading “Why We Get Fat, And What To Do About It”, I am pleased with what I have accomplished in the past 12 months. I have lost 32 lbs since October 2011, and weighed in at 185 lbs yesterday!
Productivity - The iPhone puts all your data in your hand, virtually where ever you go. I have become more productive by using great apps like Scanner Pro, Evernote, Text Grabber, Box.com and Dropbox.com. I also make use of Chatter for iPhone, as well as IMO.im’s iOS app.
Photography – I have always liked to take pictures, but the iPhone has made it amazingly easy to grab great shots of things I might have missed otherwise (because I would not have had a DSLR with me while out for a run, but with the iPhone I was able to grab some great photos while running. Aside from the excellent camera app native to iPhone, I particularly enjoy an app called Camera+.
Maps – The Apple iOS 6 maps problem notwithstanding, I cannot remember when I last printed a map to go somewhere. With the iPhone I just used the phone (so I guess it has been at least a year since I printed out a map).
Reading – While we were on our trip to Taiwan in late June, I used the Kindle App for iPhone to read several good books. I enjoyed the experience enough to buy a Kindle! iPhone is a great device for reading for much the same reason it is a great camera — you have it with you pretty much all the time.
So, has life improved immensely? No, probably not. But I have enjoyed the experience and have continued to find new uses for the iPhone. Well worth the expense.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Well I guess that’s the thing. I think iphones are w aste of money and people get them to fit in and because of the image. BUT! LIke you say, you’d be happy without it, but you’ve really enjoyed having it, which means, that it really was a good purchase for you. Image or not, you seem to appreciate the product and are grateful for the services it’s given you. You get the TB stamp of approval, lol! Good work buying something and continuing to appreciate and like it
TB at BlueCollarWorkman recently posted..Are Fake Shutters Worth The Money?
There are certainly lots of folk who have to upgrade as soon as the newest comes out, regardless of the cost. I’m not among that crowd (but make money off of ‘em – I own a few shares of Apple stock). But the same has been true of cell phone owners from before the release of iPhone in 2007. That’s why you see people endlessly upgrading their Android phones too.