Lessons from My iPhone Outage

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Bruce Keener

As noted in a recent post, I damaged my new iPhone 3GS and had to do without for about a week, until a replacement arrived.

During this “outage time” I used my BlackBerry Curve, which I am now glad I did not sell … it’s nice to have a backup phone, just in case.

Anyway, in addition to learning to be more careful with my iPhone (and to not carry it in my pocket), I learned a couple of other things from this episode.

I am not as “ADHD-like” without the iPhone

When I began using the BB Curve, I noticed that I was only using a small amount. Viewing the web with it is not so much of a pleasure, so I did virtually none of that, whereas I frequently browse with the iPhone. Trying to read Google Reader on the BB is a total disappointment and is just not practical in my view. On the other hand, the experience is so nice on the iPhone that it is my primary way of viewing Google Reader.

I could list more examples, but you get the point. With the iPhone’s incredible 3G speed, its having an app for everything, and its delightful user-interface, I used it frequently throughout the day. I would check Twitter with it every 20 minutes or so, same with Google Reader, same with stocks, tinker with my ToDo list, and so on. I literally became ADHD-like in my use of it, interrupting other tasks so I could use it. But, with the BB, I just checked my email every couple of hours and made calls on it, and that was pretty much it.

So, I learned that the iPhone had become a distraction for me, a rather big one. Great tool, but I personally overused it. Although I will use my replacement iPhone far more often than the I did the BB, I plan to moderate my use of it somewhat. I’ll still use it a lot … I just will try to not be addicted to it.

I gained respect for AT&T

Several tech bloggers have recently observed that Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile would likely have had network slowdowns and crashes if they had been awarded the iPhone exclusive contract instead of AT&T. That is, AT&T had a network that had a decent reputation until it became loaded down with millions of iPhones using megabytes of data per day.

I must say that I now fully appreciate this perspective. With the iPhone, I used literally megabytes of high-speed bandwidth every day, whereas I used far less than that on the BB.

Also, for the past couple of months I have been using AT&T’s U-verse, and I am very impressed with the technology. AT&T has good technology, but has gotten bad press because they bit off more than could chew. I’m sure that, in hindsight, they realize that they should have been more ready for the iPhone, but I don’t think anyone knew what a phenomena it would be.

Anyway, as several others have observed, they are now beefing up the 3G networks, adding some nice 850 MHz coverage, and the performance has improved a good bit.

I should backup more often

When I was getting ready to restore my settings to the replacement iPhone, I noticed that the most recent backup was the end of August. Turns out that this was no big deal, since all of my data is available in the cloud and syncs to the iPhone, so it quickly updates to the most recent. However, it would be a good practice to update more often than I have been. (Looks like I was backing up only every couple of weeks.) So, I’ve added a calendar entry to remind me to back it up weekly, which should be good enough for me. You may want to set up a reminder for yourself, too, if you commonly just recharge your iPhone without connecting to the computer.

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  • Andrew Berrigan

    Bruce,

    I particularly liked your anecdote about not being as “ADHD-like” without the iPhone. There’s a good bit of insight there: that new gadget or bit of technology might be an outstanding tool for personal productivity, but it can also almost become an addictive sort of end unto itself. I’ve observed many times how this same phenomenon occurs with email and the World Wide Web. How much time have I wasted just browsing email or surfing the web? Probably too much! On the other hand, would giving those tools up make me more productive? Most certainly not (at least on the whole!)

    I discovered your blog over the last few days while consulting the almighty Google on the topic of the iPod Touch’s suitability as a PDA. You see, we recently purchased an iMac for the household (I suppose it was only a matter of time–PC guy that I am (was?), Apple got its tentacles wrapped around me when I first started purchasing iTunes music several years back, sheepishly discovering later that I could only play my music portably if I purchased an iPod), and my wife and I have really grown to like it. Anyhow, I got to thinking about how my Pocket PC has been gathering dust for some time now, and how if I could find something with better battery life that might somehow also manage to be smaller and more powerful, I might start using a PDA again. (Didn’t someone just mention how addictive those things can be?)

    It occurred to me that the iPod Touch, though marketed as a portable Fun Device, might make an ideal PDA (and without the trappings of a monthly subscription to any particular cell carrier; prepaid cellular currently fills my portable phone needs). The great and powerful Google spewed forth the link to your blog article on the same topic, and lo and behold, here I am.

    I read several other of your articles, and I soon started down a rabbit hole which resulted in my ordering an iPod Touch, downloading a trial version of OmniFocus for the Mac (I’ll soon be purchasing the license, as I am quite satisfied with the product), and purchasing David Allen’s book Getting Things Done. My wife and I are looking forward to the new hardware and software with enthusiasm somewhat akin to that of a child’s the night before Christmas; we’re practically giddy with the prospect of getting dramatically more organized, efficient, and productive. I can’t wait to tear through Getting Things Done, and I’m actually looking forward to reading through the OmniFocus user’s manual! How weird is that?

    Maybe it’s not that weird at all, if taken in context. I mean, we’re talking about the same guy who actually purchased a standalone spell checking program for his new iMac (this would probably sound ludicrous to most PC users), and –now here’s the clincher– I’m actually digging it.

    So, I’m anxiously awaiting the Touch (and, following, the Touch version of OmniFocus), and I’m looking forward to putting this new task management system (GTD) and software (OmniFocus) through the ringer with what are, for me, some very complex goals indeed.

    While I take this new adventure into gadget-fueled productivity, I look forward to returning to your blog for insight, light reading and motivation.

    Cheers,
    Andrew

    • http://www.keenerliving.com/ Bruce Keener

      You made my day, Andrew, knowing that my articles helped you make up your mind. You are definitely going to love the Touch … it makes the best PDA I’ve had, and I have had a ton of them (of course now I primarily use the iPhone, but same thing as the Touch with some extra bells and whistles, pun intended).

      Best wishes to you. I look forward to your future comments.

      Best
      Bruce

  • Thomas R. Hall

    Not sure about you, Bruce, but I only do short replies on my iPhone. I’ve found that in comparison with a BlackBerry (or other full, physical keyboard smartphone), I use it for content consumption much more than content creation. With my BlackBerry, I can type a LOT and often do. I’ve also found that with the myTouch 3G, I don’t type as much as when I had the T-Mobile G1, mainly due to the lack of keyboard. I can only stomach typing short replies.

    Just an observation. Wondering what your feeling on this is.

    • http://www.keenerliving.com/ Bruce Keener

      I just do short replies on it, too, Thomas, but that’s pretty much the way I did with the BB Curve … I just never really got the hang of speed typing on a cell phone keyboard.

      Like you, the iPhone is more of a data consumption device for me, although I do use it for some input (entering a new task when it occurs to me, or a tweet, or short email). I do like the iPhone pretty much as it is, though, and would not want it to have a keyboard hanging on it (it’s just something else to fail, too, as Jobs would point out). If I were traveling and did not want to carry a laptop, it would be nice to have a BT keyboard to go with the iPhone. Other than that, I’m pretty happy with it.

      • Thomas R. Hall

        That makes perfect sense. I wondered if you only did light data entry on your iPhone and BlackBerry. Figured as much. I am just an unusually heavy mobile user…

        Thanks for the thoughts! I would love to be able to use a Bluetooth keyboard as well!