The first few days of college are a wild hodgepodge of meeting people, making friends and exchanging contact information. New students rush around, trying to put other people’s names and numbers into their phones — a process made much easier by the fact that an obscene number of them possess iPhones, thanks to the most recent wave of advances in cell phone technology. However, for the unfortunate few who don’t possess these wonderfully intelligent devices, life is much more difficult. They must face the ostracism that comes from not having constant access to the Internet.
The innumerable things Apple has done to improve the iPhone are absolutely insane: Google Maps, iMessage, group chats and a plethora of useful apps, just to name a few. I am an iPhone user myself, and I can’t help but feel guilty every time somebody makes a cultural reference and only one person does not have an iPhone to look it up. And of course, these non-iPhone users are accustomed to being left out, so they just sit there and feel morose. In a new city, finding out where a certain restaurant or residence hall is located is easily accomplished with the Google Maps app. But once again, the iPhone-less are constantly left wondering where the group is going, and unfortunately are forced to follow behind; ignorant of the situation and chosen route. I’m not saying people should forgo iPhones; that would be anarchy. It’s just a tad ridiculous how, as a society, we are resolutely dependent on iPhones.
But what about Androids and Blackberries? While they may also be smartphones, the iPhone is designed to be extraordinarily user-friendly and the device’s popularity has allowed even the most inept cell phone users to understand the intricacies of its operation. The same cannot really be said for the strange BBM system that Blackberry employs. For iPhone aficionados, it’s practically common knowledge that adding a contact is as easy as pressing the plus button in the top right corner of the contacts list and then typing in the contact information in the spaces shown. For lesser-known phones, it’s not quite as easy to figure out how to input new contacts.
While the complaints of those who don’t have iPhones might seem like “first-world problems,” that does not mean it is easy to be the only one in a group without access to the Internet for quick information or thousands of games for moments of boredom. Feeling left out is a universal problem, and being left out because you can’t afford the same nice things as your friends is even worse. iPhone-users: Take time out of your day to consider your slightly less fortunate friends because not everybody has the entire Internet available at the touch of his or her fingertips. And non-iPhone users: Remind your friends that the world does not revolve around their cellphones.
Meanwhile, there is even more for our iPhone-less friends to mope about. It is rumored that long-awaited iPhone 5 will be unveiled at an Apple event that is scheduled for today, Sept. 12.
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 12 print edition. Matt Luo is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
James Hubbard • Sep 12, 2012 at 3:15 pm
I do realize that this is an opinion article, but I think WSN should be publishing more newsworthy opinions. YES, it may suck not having an iPhone – but there are so many other types of phones out there that can do the same exact things as iPhones. I once envied people with iPhones – but I like my android way more than I’ve ever liked interacting with an iPhone. I love how this article relates to the “plus button” to add contacts – but any smartphone these days does the exact same thing. And what’s the point of group messaging? I mean, yeah it’s nice sometimes to be able to have a conversation with a few people at a time – but it’s only taking away from real interactions – not to mention the countless apps on other phones that can do the same thing. Almost every phone has internet, maps, google, etc now – with just as fast speeds as an iphone – I don’t see the validation in your article.
iPhone users don’t NEED to give anyone a break – they aren’t the only one’s with access to ~*fancy*~ iPhone things.
And I would have LOVED to have actually seen some innovation at Apple’s unveiling today – but nope. Same old shit, different name.