Memo to iPhone users: Stop the rudeness

Posted in iPhone News by admin. Published June 20th, 2009

If you read any technology news this week — or spent much time reading “Tweets” from friends on Twitter like I did — you may feel like you are missing Some Great Thing by not having an iPhone.

The Internet, Apple stores and just about anyone who loves technology was abuzz this week about several new iPhone products. First, the company released the iPhone 3.0 software which includes the much-demanded cut, copy and paste function, a GPS turn-by-turn direction system and programming tools so the exploding industry of iPod application developers can add to the many “apps” available online.

And on Friday, Apple released the $200 to $300 iPhone 3G S, the most powerful and fastest iPhone ever made. It looks snappier too.

iPhone envy

But the older generation iPhones are no slouches either. I spent Sunday afternoon flipping through a new friend’s photo album on his iPhone, checking out Google maps of my neighborhood and looking at some cool applications, or “apps,” designed just for the iPhone. In fact, last week I subjected myself to an article on Spike.com about applications that will make the opposite sex more attractive to one another.

I am jealous. I admit it.

Having access to the Internet 24-7 is a treat. Before deciding on a dinner spot, my friend checks Yelp.com on her iPhone. Another friend used his iPhone to Tweet live from a lecture by UC Berkeley journalism professor and author Michael Pollan. And with this phone’s newer video technology, I am sure I am going to be subjected to more videos than ever of my friends’ cats snoring.

Got it? Flaunt it

Although I am envious of the usefulness of this gadget — I’d love to get rid of the camera, GPS, and phone in my purse — I am put off by the rudeness of what seems to be the iPhone culture. Yes, many of you are being startlingly obnoxious with your little toy.

While you’re Tweeting, snapping photos and sending them to Flickr and surfing the ‘Net during dinnertime, those of us without iPhones are stewing.

I don’t have an iPhone for several reasons, one being that I am stuck in a contract with T-Mobile, and I can’t get out unless I want to drop $200. My Blackberry is fine — I take photos and listen to music on it — but I am not connected to the Internet. I feel surprisingly serene about that knowing what I know about rabid iPhone users.

I’ve literally been in the middle of a conversation with someone who pulled out their iPhone to update their blog, shockingly unaware that I actually cared about what I was saying to him and wanted him to care too. His online life was apparently more important than what was right in front of him, breathing and trying to connect.

Stop the iInsanity

So here are a few tips on how to be a polite iPhone user, saving the sanity of all of us who don’t have one.

Say “excuse me”: If you don’t want me to grab your phone out of your hand and throw it to the ground, do us both a favor and excuse yourself before you log on to Twitter to post about the Bubble Gum on the sidewalk that looks like a pink elephant.

Be honest: If you really don’t care about the person you’re spending time with IRL (in real life) tell them. There’s nothing worse than someone you think is a friend who loves her iPhone more than you.

Keep tabs on your toy: A missing kid being reported over the BART announcement system? Sure. Your precious iPhone fell out of your pocket? Not so much. I heard three announcements about three different missing iPhones during two trips on BART over the weekend. Something tells me they wouldn’t stop the presses on BART for my missing $60 Blackberry.

Reach Laura Casey at lcasey@bayareanewsgroup.com or 925-952-2697.

[Thanks: http://www.insidebayarea.com]

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