Concerned Citizens

Okay, I’m the first to admit it. I’m a techno-nerd all over. New technologies excite me in a big way. But I’m also a tech critic. Do it right and you have me won over. Screw the technology up and I’m outta here and will tell the world how bad you screwed it up. You see, technology these days is more about how you creatively put together technical components for everyday tasks than the old days of just seeing “Hello world” flash on a computer screen. So when Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone I liked it but it missed the mark in several ways. Slow network, no stereo bluetooth and several other missing features. But let’s face it, if Apple didn’t leave us hungering in some way we’d never come running like pigs to the Apple trough every June.

The new Apple iPhone 3G S finally hits my technology sweet spot so I finally bit and bought. It pushes the data network to the AT&T max and has many other cool features. It’s also got the best user interface of any of the smartphones I’ve seen on the market. The Nokia N97 probably comes the closest but it’s still not where Apple is on UI. Let’s face it. The guys in Cupertino just have a way of making the best of the screen and the tasks below it. Nokia came from the phone market and would have been just content to deal with a menu and 12 keys. They have a ways to go before they match Apple’s task-based user experience. Besides, I’ve had my N95 for over two years so it’s time to trade it in for a new model of phone. Isn’t that the guy thing to do?

I ordered my iPhone 3G S on the day it was announced around 4 p.m. that afternoon. It took that long for the hords to walk away from the Apple website so I could get my order in. In the first few hours the darn site crashed more than took orders. Apple may get phones and laptops but they sure don’t have a clue about enterprise e-Commerce. Throttling is your friend, Apple. After hearing a lot of rumors it was finally confirmed. I would get my phone on the first day it would be made available in the stores, June 19th. Since mine was being shipped to my home I get to avoid spending the day in sweltering heat at the Apple Store. I’m not an Applenista so I don’t get the rush and high of hanging out with others supposedly like me then walking into a freshly air conditioned store surrounded with Everything Apple.

What’s funny is that delivering a phone from Shenzhen, China to arrive at thousands of US homes on June 19th is a logistical nightmare. So much that the tidbits of info people are getting in the process are giving them emotional highs and lows. Many people got tracking notices yesterday saying their phones would be delivered today. Now it appears Apple added a twist in the plot and has told UPS to hold the phones for delivery on June 19th along with everyone else. Regardless, by this weekend I’ll hopefully be talking on a brand new iPhone 3G S and will join the ranks of all the cool kids. I get to become as annoying as everyone else, flicking and pinching and tapping.

Technology, you gotta love it.