Monday, August 11, 2008

Christian, The Lion

This video really moved me!!!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Me, Myself and IPhone 3G

When Apple's Steve Jobs announced the release of new Iphone 3G, I was not one of those people who went "Yayyyyyyy...I have to own that piece".. All i said was "Huh!!"...Clearly, i was not taken by the whole gadget madness and i am not a Techie person...

So, A couple of weeks backm my 2 year contract w/ the cell phone company (AT&T) ended. I got an email stating i was eligible for free upgrades and new free cell phone...I owned a phone that looked more like a "Power Adapter" (Thanks Madhu!!!) and had more scratch marks than a cat's scratch pole.. All excited, on a Saturday morning, i walk into the nearest AT&T store...Talking to a sales rep, I got to know, i can actually buy the new Iphone 3G, what with the price slashed etc! The cool feature, i was told, was, I could access unlimited internet for just additional $30 to my already existing plan. People who know me, know that i need to be connected at all times...I dread the travel time from Home to work & back, as i feel completely cut off!!! I know its one of the many bad habits i posses...But hey!:):)

The whole idea was Extremely tempting!!!!I gave in and ordered a Black 8Gig Iphone 3G...Yeah! you have to place the order, wherein they take your credit card info and put you on a waiting list...Guaranteeing a phone in 5-10 business days. It is called "Direct Fulfillment" (DF), it seems.

At this point, all i thought was, why cant Apple manufacture more phones when this high a demand was in fact anticipated...I was told, i could check the status of my order, online by using my contact information (Cell #)
I walk out of the store and forget about it for the rest of the day... Monday morning, I log in to AT&T and check the status and it says "Order In process"...While browsing through their website, i came across a Forum that was started by AT&T customers...A platform to exchange information pertaining to the phones, services etc...What shocked me the most was the Forum on IPhone 3G....There were thousands and thousands of threads and posts on this...

Every single user was desperately waiting for their DF'd Phone. It was Emotions Galore- anxiousness, frustrations, Anger and disappointment....They would talk about 'how it was day 10 and they did not hear anything about the phone', Suggestions to 'how Apple and AT&T shoulda/ coulda managed it better', 'How irritating to was to find strangers using the Phone when they had to be on a perpetual waiting list'...I was hooked! Every day, i would log in just to read these posts and would come across the occasional "Good news" :- Like "My Iphone is on its way, hope you get urs soon" :) :)...

With days passing by, I saw myself, getting increasingly anxious, checking the status, every 15 minutes (I know!!!:)).
Finally, on Day 8, a ray of hope,....The status says "Shipped"...I call my AT&T store, as they would receive it and i had to go there to get it activated in store!
The Rep who answered my call:- "Did we call you"?
Me:- "No, but i see that my phone will be shipped today".
Rep:-"Well, Patience is virtue, so wait for our call".
Me:- "Huh??????" Click (Dial tone)...

A couple of hours later, I got the much awaited call, asking me to come in, the following day...

It was a Friday....I just could not work...I let my AT&T forum friends know, I got the call and in turn received many "Congratulations" "Hope you love urs" etc....It felt like, i had been offered a high position in one of those Fortune 100 companies!!!!!

At 5:00pm, I step into the AT&T Store and catch a glimpse of my love...It was a cute black sleek phone....So fragile...I am already scared of dropping and breaking it...It does not come with a warranty of any kind...:(...Careful, Careful!

Here's a pic of the baby:-

But, I totally love it and i am hooked...I have now had it for whole 2 days and it has already fetched many compliments like "Sexy", "Sleek & Hip", "Beauty" etc!!! Yeah, i am pretty sure they were talking about the phone! Duh!!! I just can't wait to spend more time checking its various cool features...

So, if you really want more from a phone than just calls and pictures, i highly recommend an Iphone 3g...I am sure it has its own short comings...But for now, I really love this piece of Art:) :) I see myself committed to this relationship for a very very long time!!!