iPhone4 not cool enough?

It was my birthday morning, I wake up to some noises. Actually it was the happy birthday song from a very familiar voice. I saw a gift-wrapped package on the couch. It was the new iPhone 4. My DH sang and recorded happy birthday for me and set it as a ringtone on the phone. Wow, it was super cool. The look and feel of it, the glass... just felt good holding it. I soon found myself using it in great many ways: text, email, chat, blogs, maps, music, movies, tickets, restaurants - the applications were great many. And best of all, I didn't read any manuals or research on google to use the phone.

DH did all the research for me before buying the phone. He usually gets the best phone that suits my needs. After all this I end up returning the phone and getting a new one - just so I make some noise to prove my existence. I came across a few android phones and got to play with them. For the short period of time that I used, it seemed great - integration with Gmail, Picasa, GTalk was so much better. Someone mentioned that I could easily unlock the phone and just replace the SIM card to use it in India. Getting iPhone to work in India isn't so straight-forward.

So this and some other insignificant reasons set out my mind to android phones. Plus it is google: open systems, freedom to write better apps etc. Meantime, my iPhone was working great. No antenna issues (personally, I think the antenna issue was just a hype... couldn't replicate it on my phone unless you do a little dance with it), good call quality and skype worked flawlessly over wi-fi. DH was convincing me to keep the phone. I would have chosen to keep it if it was my choice. But it was DH's... so had to find something wrong with it.

My trial period was ending and I was still debating whether or not to keep the phone. DH said he bought the phone not just because he liked it but because he thought I would like it. Ohhh... how sweet? ... But my mind doesn't work that way. So here goes my iPhone back into the package for return - for no real reason! After having it for 19 days, I felt so crippled the next day.

I went to the AT&T store to look at my next phone -the androids. And guess what: the androids didn't have the same charm as before. For some reason, when iPhone was in my hands the androids did seem better. Also, I learnt the same day that skype only works on verizon's androids. I understood two things about androids:

1. It is difficult to make apps that will work on all android phones due to the wide range of firmware available. So whether an app will work for you or not is a question.

2. Though android is an open system, the service providers are not so open - cutting down the abilities of your phone. AIM doesn't work on wi-fi, vonage allows only wi-fi and no 3G calls, skype works only on verizon.
Way too many restrictions placed by service providers. Seems like true open system is not yet achieved by google's phones.

So a day has passed since my iPhone had gone and I am left with nothing but these thoughts. I am sure DH is mad at me for returning the phone. It was a birthday present, how could I do it! On the outside I am still speaking great of the androids but inside I hate myself for returning the iPhone. So that night I ask DH to call AT&T and get back my iPhone. So DH calls next morning, I guess he must have told them one of the two things:

1. Oops! I returned my wife's phone accidentally. Can you send it back to me?
2. Oh, I am dumb. After this many years, I still haven't realized that when my wife says a no, she actually means a yes. I shouldn't have returned the phone, can you give it back please...

Well, whatever he said we don't know but basically they were unable to send back the phone. My next option was to get the android that I secretly wanted or to re-order the iPhone. iPhone asked for activation fee again, so I decided to go for the Samsung captivate. It was a cool phone - just saying this to cool myself off. Since I was already on AT&T, they couldn't port my number over again. So placed an order on wirefly, new number.

So on went a few phoneless days - it felt kind of connected and disconnected: connected to people near me, disconnected from rest of the world. I was preparing food in the kitchen one hot summer day when I heard some vague noises, thought it must be a kid’s toy so searched for it to switch off. The sound came from my bag - opened it to see my new phone. This time it was singing "I love you..." I was totally thrilled. DH mentioned that the happy birthday song wasn't lucky, that's why this time he tried a different song. I wondered how he couldn’t give up after all this. Ah! I know... not that he loves me so much but the love for cutting edge technology – he can research and try out new phones in my name. Whatever it is, I was surprised that he had the guts to spend on another phone for me.

First day with my phone - I was completely psyched, showed off to anyone and everyone I met that day. I liked the alerts for new messages on IM or mail with out interrupting the current application. I love how you can directly upload pictures from camera to Picasa albums. Oh and I love the Swype keyboard - so fast and easy to type. And I love the unique looks as opposed to the so common, everyone carries an iPhone look.

On the flip side, I couldn’t get Vonage, Nimbuzz, Sipdroid or other VoIP apps to work in it. Either AT&T blocks them or apps don't support the newer firm wares yet. There seems to be issues with the GPS, but forums say Samsung will come up with a fix for that. I greatly miss the glassy feel of the iPhone. AT&T has not yet confirmed my return. I secretly wish they don't approve and send back the phone.

Meantime, I am trying to enjoy my new phone – just because it is my choice!