Thursday, July 5, 2007

iPhone reflections for the un-iPhoned

It's interesting the sensation that can come out of a consumer product. I'm sure last weekend you either bought an iPhone or talked with your friend who bought one. Justin, my friend, drinking buddy and main source of information for all things technology, had his at the party. For an insider's view, read his last few posts. We all got to see his iPhone, many of us got to touch it. It produces a strange emotion: envy combined with awe and a sense of revolution against all things Steve Jobs. I often try to fight trends. I need neither an MP3 player, a new phone, or a portable television internet device, in spite of all its innate coolness (though while finding our way to the party, I couldn't deny the usefulness of an electronic, real-time map on a glowing screen). Of course, I don't need a mobile phone, air conditioning, a notebook computer or slick Swiss shoes I bought in Stuttgart. Heck, I even started online social networking!

The iPhone hype may indict our culture of greed, envy and idolotry, all of which we need to reckon with in some way. But within that, our ability to create amazing things, be it one of the old (or new) 7 wonders or the latest in innovation Steve Jobs, there are some amazing sites to behold. There has always been beauty to be found on the cutting edge of technology.

The New York Times has some interesting thoughts on the iPhone.

Sunday, July 1, 2007

We are Finke

Perhaps not quite as inspiring or heartbreaking to US sports fans as "We are Marshall;" nonetheless, the final essay from Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger about SC Freiburg's famous coach is worth reading.