13 April 2012
Before we go any further, I have to admit that I am a slave to Apple and it's products. From the first time I got an iPod, to right now. What I cannot even begin to fathom is how my perseverance with the brand has remained untouched for almost four years. It started with an iPod touch, second generation. I remember eagerly tearing the paper on Christmas day back in 2008 and seeing it, in it's simplistic plastic box and couldn't wait to get downloading my applications. In hindsight, I only wanted it for one thing; Tap Tap Revenge. I had a measly 150 songs to my name and never could have imagined filling a whole 8gb with anything.
The iPod touch turned into an iPhone 3G, which I got a job to pay for. The girlfriend who I was with at the time told me that I could either see my favourite band play at a festival (Aveneged Sevenfold, at Sonisphere) or use my money to buy an iPhone. Not a hard decision to make.
It wasn't until later that year, about 5 months afterwards, that my iPhone got stolen. I was at a Papa Roach gig, and within the first five minutes found myself frantic and frustrated. It ruined the entire concert, and I haven't listened to the since. I got it replaced through insurance, but it wasn't my phone; I had lost hundred and hundreds of pictures, memories.
The iPhone 4 was released, following months of hype due to the lost prototype, I was excited because my contract ran out that week. A new beautiful phone, a chance to FaceTime everyone else and not to mention - video recording! I went to the O2 shop and waited patiently. Then he told me, there were none left. I left, consolidated myself with a cup of tea and had an idea. Maybe I could upgrade to the 3GS? It's still an amazing phone, and it takes videos! I went back in, and walked out with my new phone.
I stayed with my 3GS until my friend broke the screen. He knocked it out of my hand, and it was never the same after that. I got the screen replaced, by a dodgy bloke, and it didn't work properly. In stupidity, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S and assumed that would be that. But I grew tired of its lagginess, and it's un-Applesque interface. I went to an exchange shop, and swapped it for a 16gb 3GS.
Not too long after, I went into a Comet store to look at the iPad. They had always fascinated me; how they were 'just a large iPod touch' but so much more. They were a hit, though, there was no denying it. And my laptop WAS dying. I justified myself, and spoke to the man about getting one on finance. When he told me that there was only one left, I couldn't turn it down. It didn't even matter to me that the iPad 2 was due to be released the following week. I wasn't bothered. And I don't regret selling my laptop to get one. I didn't sleep at all that night. I played on it for hours, downloading Angry Birds HD and ArtStudio to draw things. I was obsessed.
The iPhone 4S was announced, and my 3GS was started to lag. It had a huge chunk missing from the screen and that retina display was becoming all the more a necessity. I received an email from O2, telling me I could upgrade early. Unaware that they meant for free, I played around on the Internet looking at prices, and accidentally ordered myself an iPhone 4 in white. I was amazed, it was free, and the contract was even less than what I was on currently. I waited 3 days by the door. Ironically, the woman to deliver it was not in a van. I was pulling up outside my house when a white car pulled into the side of the road. I was really confused, because she didn't indicate and I almost crashed into her. I pipped my horn and turned around, to find her walking to my house with a package. I apologised, more than I'd probably ever apologised to anyone. I ran inside, and I've been happy ever since.
My friends say I'm a bit sad for being so obsessed with Apple, but it's something that deeply intrigues me. I still just flick through the homepage, just because of how the technology is made, and the marriage between hardware and software that are made for each other. Hopefully, Apple won't fall for a while. But no doubt, I'll be there every step of the way.
iOS Devices In General • Opuss № I