On the death on an iPhone
My iPhone is dead. It is official. Even an Apple Genius couldn't revive it after the water damage it suffered during a downpour on my walk the other night.
The reason I am posting about it is that it is more than annoying - it is also sad. This thing has been a constant companion and almost like an umbilical with its ubiquitous connection to my family, business, and social networks online. It has entertained me in endless airport queues and told me where I was when I hadn't a clue. I have played with it constantly enjoying the smooth, pebble like sensation as I rolled it in my hands almost as if it were worry beads.
It has been an efficient, aesthetic and emotional delight since I first turned it on and now it lies there without a pulse.
are you going to have a burial ceremony in the garden? ;-) I'd be just as bereft if mine died, you need one of these - http://tinyurl.com/69sree
Posted by: John | July 08, 2008 at 08:26 AM
On PEI at wakes, the tradition is to say "Sorry for your loss"
Posted by: Rob Paterson | July 08, 2008 at 09:37 AM
oh dear - when is the new one out? Do you wait or do you get a replacement??? Ho hum choices choices
Posted by: Andy Boyd | July 08, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Now the question is: will you survive a couple days before the iPhone 2 comes out in the UK? ;-)
Posted by: padawan | July 08, 2008 at 10:45 AM
That does look like a smart idea John as I don't want a case all of the time just in extreme weather.
Andy and padawan I was going to buy a new one when they come out this Friday anyway but the old one was going to be hacked and used by my wife - sadly now not possibe.
Posted by: Euan W Semple | July 08, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I share your thoughts on this one..
I hadn't realized it's importance in my daily nerdy life until I accidentally bric block it. Thankfully it was recoverable, but for those nasty and long hours I really felt a bit lost and sad.
Posted by: Pedro Custódio | July 08, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I sympathise with electronic loss, be they in times of peace, war or act of God.
I'm left with a nostalgic longing for the days when Noel Coward would have penned a suitable chirpy lament to all with terminal iPhone-itis.
Maybe this is a calling and a vocation to become 'the Noel Coward of Web2.0' :-)
Posted by: Steve Nimmons | July 08, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Mine's fine - thank God *grin*
Posted by: Emma Mulqueeny | July 08, 2008 at 11:48 PM
You can go off some people you know ....
Posted by: Euan W Semple | July 09, 2008 at 08:28 AM
A harsh question at this very emotional time for you: is this covered under the warranty and/or any insurance you may have taken out.
Burials cost money you know, someone has to be practical at times like these etc etc :D
Posted by: davidcushman | July 09, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Wait. Water on it's own is very rarely fatal to electronics. My recommendation would be to go and get some ion free water frpom Halfords, the sort that is sold to go in batteries, and to soak the old iPhone in it to rinse out any grit or other crud that may be creating shorts. Then put it in a box in a cool, not hot place, along with a few bags of silica gel to dry it out very very very gently. Give it weeks if need be, but what you're trying to do is get the water out along with any contaminants. No gaurutees, but if you give it time, and don't rush it, that might revive your old friend.
Posted by: ant | July 09, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Horse bolt door aw.
http://itiswhatever.com/2008/03/18/what-to-do-when-your-mobile-falls-into-water/
Posted by: Cormac Heron | July 09, 2008 at 11:29 AM
How thin and fragile this veneer of civilization and how easily the natural elements can pierce the skin and shatter our illusions of control and mastery.
Should we ask the question; do we take our pleasure from the experience itself, the communication of the experience or the experience of the communication?
Where does our loss lie? How firmly does our tongue sit in our cheek?
Posted by: Sam Berrisford | July 09, 2008 at 12:24 PM
I just had a mental image of you on one of your hikes with your new iPhone, ending a call and then popping shiny new iPhone into a plastic food bag and getting on with your hike. This makes me sad.
Posted by: Cormac Heron | July 09, 2008 at 04:44 PM
I just wish ... in Australia ... we could afford to make full use of the i phone which hit our stores (the 3 G version) tomorrow. Download charges are nothing short of astonishing!
Geoff
ps. I hope the replacement brings you as much joy
Posted by: Geoff Brown | July 10, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Hang on to it Euan, It will recover. After I dropped mine down the loo it took about 3 weeks to fully return to its senses. Store it in the airing cupboard - you will be amazed.
Posted by: Geoff | July 10, 2008 at 11:57 PM