The Cult of iPhone
The love affair with Apple products isn’t a religion but some people seem to think it is:
“It’s not like it’s a computer, it’s not like it’s a phone, it’s like a living sculpture in my hands,” said Dale Larson, a mobile business consultant in San Francisco.
This guy needs to get to an actual museum. Or a few jars of Play-Doh.
I hope Larson didn’t have a problem activating his iPhone. He might still be on the floor of his apartment in the fetal position weeping.
“iPhone Owners Complain of Glitches” [via Hot Air]
UPDATE: Dale Larson left a comment. It’s only fair to put it in the main post:
Though I was quoted a little out of context, my point was exactly that I have been to many museums and enjoy beautiful things. I don’t want to carry something ugly in my pocket, but have always had to up until now. The iPhone really points out how unpleasant other interfaces are, how ugly and unwieldy. The iPhone responds immediately with rich and beautiful feedback to everything you ask it to do, making it beautiful to look at and a beautiful experience to use it. And yes, it is only a phone, and it is mortal: it has plenty of limitations and things I’d like to improve about it (3g, mail that kept my folders and was easily searchable as well as giving text-only as an option). When other companies are forced to bring as much attention to design to their devices, and pulling together as many features seamlessly, hopefully the bar will keep being raised for all.
In Larson’s defense he sounds like he hasn’t fully drunk from Steve Jobs’ Kool-Aid pitcher.
I can’t blame the reporter for using Larson’s quote. Likening a gadget to a work of art reinforces the frame that Apple fans are a little hyperbolic.
Let me second the great design Apple has put into their products. My iPod is the ideal way to carry thousands of my songs and access them. iTunes is my software jukebox of choice. Ever since Apple went to using Intel processors I’ve been eyeing a thin, small MacBook or MacBook Pro. These products look good and seem productive.
I was a little harsh. My apologies.
Though I was quoted a little out of context, my point was exactly that I have been to many museums and enjoy beautiful things. I don’t want to carry something ugly in my pocket, but have always had to up until now. The iPhone really points out how unpleasant other interfaces are, how ugly and unwieldy. The iPhone responds immediately with rich and beautiful feedback to everything you ask it to do, making it beautiful to look at and a beautiful experience to use it. And yes, it is only a phone, and it is mortal: it has plenty of limitations and things I’d like to improve about it (3g, mail that kept my folders and was easily searchable as well as giving text-only as an option). When other companies are forced to bring as much attention to design to their devices, and pulling together as many features seamlessly, hopefully the bar will keep being raised for all.