I love the simplicity of the iPhone, and often tell people it “just works.” That’s a lot different than previous cell phones I’ve used. It isn’t for everyone, but as the growing sales numbers reflect, more people are paying the premium for Apple’s elegant mobile computing solution. A friend just purchased a new iPhone, and we’re getting together for lunch today for a little tutorial. Apart from the basics, here are some notes I made of tips I need to tell him:
Buy a charger for the car. Unfortunately, your phone will need recharging at the most inopportune time. Make sure you have it when you need it by plugging it in while you drive. Cost: Deals online for as little as $3-5.
Buy an external battery. There are batteries that snap into the phone’s dock/charging port and provide several hours of power. You’ll find a battery handy when you phone runs out of juice just when you need it most. I keep one in my laptop bag at all times. Cost: $15-25.
Buy and use a headset. Be smart, be safe, and use a headset. While the corded earbuds that come with your phone are alright, untangling the cord is a big pain – and it is impossible to do while driving. If you don’t have one, find a good Bluetooth headset. I have a Plantronics model I picked up at Amazon for half off, and I really like it. Cost: Range for good headset is $50-$75.
Take advantage of free apps. Developers often have special, limited-time free offerings. Also, many dvelopers offer a free “lite” version of an application, with reduced capablities, in hopes that you’ll like it so much you’ll want to pay for the full version. Either way, this is how I’ve found some gems, and it is really the only way I get games (I don’t have this phone for games, but every now and then it is nice to let the kids play something while we wait at the doctor’s office, for instance). Cost: Nothing! I check dealnews.com daily for the latest freebies.
Buy a few select apps. I’m not inclined to pay more than $.99 for a phone application, but I have done so for a travel app that tracks flights and keeps me up-to-date on airport weather. I also bought an audio recording app (before Apple made that functionality standard in the iPhone OS). I’ve been very selective about the apps I’ve bought, and I’d advise slow-going for new users. Cost: Varies widely, although most apps are under $10.
I’m sure “power users” could add some tips, and I’d welcome those comments.
Here’s a thoughtful, engaging conversation about how to reach Gen Y – what they value, how they relate to the messenger AND the message. Takes about 20 minutes, and the interview begins around the 3:20 mark. The stats alone make it worth your while, although there’s much more here.
In the U.K. people use their phone more for texting than making calls. That’s just one of the data points in this research brief. Check it out to see what Americans do most with their phones.
You’ll probably agree with the premise of this WSJ piece by Robert Lee Hotz. You know intuitively that this is right. And you may even yearn for what is described:
…Our brain is most actively engaged when our mind is wandering…
The article cites research that supports the benefits of daydreaming, and notes that those who have had historically significant “Aha!” moments discovered something important when they were allowing their minds to wander.
Now, don’t use this research as an excuse for being inattentive and lazy; rather, consider the need in your life for some downtime, some space. That means getting away from the phone/laptop/paperwork and the crush of the routine, and giving your mind permission to sort, ponder and discover.
Related: You might want to get this classic book, Margin, by Dr. Richard Swenson. He illustrates this same kind of principle by referring to ink on a page. Nobody can read a book that has text running from top to bottom, side to side, without any margin. That white space that every book (and indeed, every website) has surrounding the text allows the brain to process and understand. In the same way, we need “margins” in our lives, so we don’t overstimulate and overload.
And, in this audio discussion, Dr. Archibald Hart offers a scientific look at anhedonia, a condition in which an individual is addicted to overstimulation. It is a growing problem, especially amongst younger people who are constantly bombarded by sensory input.
Maybe today will mark the start of something different for you? Turn off the electronics, get away from the calendar and let your mind wander. Who knows, you may discover something really, really big!
Did you know that more than 33 million moms are regularly online? They also are among the most effective word-of-mount fans a company could want. (More details here.)
So what are you doing to capture moms with your online content?
There’s a lot to be said for measuring customer satisfaction, but many companies need to refine their use of “decision trees” and other consumer feedback mechanisms. Here’s a good piece about ways to improve the feedback loop – and to make better marketing decisions.
Keep it simple, stupid. In difficult moments, I rty to condense things down to one or two salient points. Keep it simple. Yeah.
Keep it simple? Seems that not many manufacturers are able to remember this simple bit of advice. For instance, how many models of GPS devices a particular company makes (and I really like this company and their gadgets)? One report suggests there are 82 different Garmin GPS models. 82?!
Contrast it with…Apple. I know, I know. Call me a fan boy. I love what they do and how they market things. But you can’t deny that something in their approach is (still) working. Can you say, “$10 Billion” in revenues during 2008?
Here’s a money quote from a recent piece in CrunchGear that should remind you that your customer may not want as many choices as you think:
Consumers hate choices. They say they love them, but have you ever stood in front of a wall of plasmas and LCDs with a random person? I have and did for years at Circuit City. They get overwhelmed by the amount of options, but Apple has made it easy but producing top-notch products that are easily available.
There’s no doubt Jobs’ has been most effective streamlining the company’s product lineup. Less stuff equals less clutter equals less confusion.
I’ll suggest that in our world of communication, less is more. Work on making your products and messages simple, and you may find that you actually increase effectiveness and reach.
Application for those in media: There’s some wisdom in, “Keep it simple, stupid.” Maybe we don’t have to splinter our message. Maybe we don’t need to offer so many ways to reach us. Perhaps you really shouldn’t be spending so much time on that fancy Powerpoint with all the swirling graphics and such.
Who will will the battle for user numbers? Who is number three? And are there other metrics that matter? Here’s a good piece about the growth of social networks.
Feedback requested: How would you rate the various measures in the article?
