28 thoughts on “iPhone 16: The Preordered Guilty, Expensive Pleasure? Necessity or Luxury?”

  1. This is a great subject, Antonia. There are times that I would rather go back to the time when the internet and cell phones were just a thought.

    While I do enjoy the technology I am old enough to remember life without these devices and technology, it was a great world! Kids went outside to play with friends and stayed out until the street lights came on.

    Nobody was obese because we were all very active. I could ramble on but will spare you. Technology is great until it takes over people’s lives.

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    1. Aw thankyou! So do I, switch off the cellular for a day or two for a mental and spiritual cleanse. Life was indeed far more simple and productive I’d say. Phone’s do have a habit of complicating your life by the ping of a notification, you’re side-tracked. The accessibility can make it difficult to entirely switch off. Google is the answer to any of life’s queries, which many might say is a blessing and a curse.
      Imagination which stems from the human mind is AI’s enemy – which is now built into new mobile devices.

      Technology is great, it comes with a power-off switch, a button we actively opt-out of. It’s engrained in society, too late to disconnect; to the detriment of our advancement… or so we’ve become accustomed to believe!

      Thankyouu for sharing your knowledge, John!😊

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      1. You are welcome, Antonia. Honestly, I avoid Google as much as possible but they have their fingers in everything internet, I even watch the bar when my blog loads up. I see the word Google in that sadly. I saw on the so-called news yesterday that Google was in our federal court system yesterday for trying to monopolise things, no surprise there at all. Be well my friend! ❤️😊🇬🇧❤️

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      2. Yes, cookies are everywhere scanning over everything we do, sadly. On your blog too? How do they even do this?!
        I heard about that case too, it’s very worrying if a company we all tend to use daily and somewhat trust with our personal data, ends up in court for illegally monopolising and if I’m not mistaken, overcharging also.
        It makes you want to switch off your WiFi completely!

        Thankyouu so much for sharing your informative insight, John!
        Hope all is well with you and that you’re having a nice, relaxing Sunday!😊🤍

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    1. Thankyouu, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed reading this post! Precisely, each software update keeps us connected and reliant on a multi-billion dollar companies. Almost like a subscription service we’re unable to unsubscribe from. It’s sadly become a warped twisted part of our identity. ‘Smartphone pinky’ has become part of our musculoskeletal makeup! If that’s not a sad reality check, I don’t know what is😂.

      Thankyouu so much for sharing your wisdom!😊🤍

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  3. I have an iPad 16.

    Here in Canada, landlines are only $15 a month.

    If I owned the house I lived in, I’d have a landline 📞 to be on the safe side just on the off chance that the West gets hit by an electromagnetic pulse (because Vladimir Putin for example gets pissed off at the way NATO and the West have been treating him) so at least there’s one way of communication.

    It’s also good to have an old fashioned battery operated radio (with working batteries) on hand to find out what’s going on in the outside world should that happen.

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    1. Oh wow, how do you find the iPad 16? So if I’m not correct, you’ve opted out of mobile phones as the iPad still keeps you in the loop just the right amount?

      Yes, that’s very affordable compared to certain countries! You’re very right, I’m keeping up to date with everything news related but I do rely on electronic devices like my mobile, television etc and since there may be a world war anytime now, I definitely need to invest in an old fashioned battery radio. I’m sure many have thrown their old ones away thinking they’re unnecessary and outdated today, which is far from the truth!
      It’ll be like when PPE in the covid pandemic surged to a ridiculous price due to demand. The only thing we all need now is a bunker, not the latest iPhone!

      Thankyouu so much for sharing such useful info as always!😊🤍

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      1. I find I’m really enjoying the iPad 16.

        It’s very easy to figure out how to use and very handy and useful.

        Plus it’s a great screen size to watch movies on.

        And they do a good job of keeping your photos.

        So I’d definitely recommend the iPad 16. 🙂🩵🌷

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      2. Wow, I’ll most definitely look into the iPad 16! It doesn’t sound like it’s just another disposable gadget, but actually one which offers good, resourceful usage! Screen size is everything, gadgets you need a magnifying glass to function correctly is very outdated and unnecessary.

        Thankyouu so much for the recommendation!!😊😊

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  4. “Smartphones are an extension of our life” seems to me a substitute for life. I was invited for afternoon tea at a rather posh restaurant, we sat down and as soon as the waiter had taken our order and left, I expected the conversation to start up “What have you been up to since last we met” but no everyone at the table almost in unison took out a smartphone, one even sending a text message between mouthfuls. What happened to going out with your mates and having a good blether or hearing a few jokes? And if not already should these phones should be band from school totally, not just the classrooms.

    I have to agree that they are helpful, getting around an unfamiliar town or city, and an aid for hill walkers, although they should still learn to read a map and use a compass. Let’s face it, most everything else can be done from home.

    I have an old computer – a big black box at home that is hard wired into the system, landline. I use this mainly for word-processing, for I touch type, and a commuter keyboard makes light work of writing emails, letters, and keeping lists. – I do have a phone – a very simple pay-as-you-go that ran out of credits yonks ago, however I do need it for my bank believes that at my age I am too stupid to buy anything online without being conned so insist on sending me a code to put in before the transfer can co ahead, security, thankfully I don’t have to pay for the text.

    I don’t find life difficult quite the opposite. I know that if I even look at something online, within no time at all I will be bombarded with all sorts of companies offering similar goods. Artificial Intelligence is everywhere and yes taking over our life. And I’m sure that governments love you downloading the BBC app (or whatever is the MSN broadcaster in your country, for in the UK the BBC is purely their mouthpiece, and propaganda spin doctor) I think already that people have cottoned on to seeing the BBC in that light, telling you what they want you to hear and what they want you to believe, their narrative.

    The marketing men have been using branding for over a century – things like advertising is not about selling you a product but turning a product into a brand, for a brand gives customer prejudice in favour of that brand. The Heinz beans mum, the Volvo driver…….. apps on your phone are just that to make it easy to market a brand or for a government to get their message across. If you download the BBC app – then that is the only media you are likely to listen to, the gospel according to the powers in Westminster, the censored news.

    We have become a nation that no longer questions anything and much of that is down to Smartphones, we need to leave them at home more often and start communicating and sharing ideas as we once did in pubs, in clubs, in restaurants, not taking pictures to upload on Facebook.

    I feel so much better after that wee rant.   

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    1. Really? I think it’s simple etiquette and mannerly even in the present day to not use smartphones / mobile devices in general at the dinner table. Especially replacing simple communication, there’s a time and a place, it definitely isn’t that.

      They do have their place in society as you’ve mentioned and are ever so helpful in times of need, problem is people tend not to have a cut-off point. It’s become their first port of call for any event, good and bad; a staple in life, more so than human interaction I’d say.

      Oh wow hehe, do you still have a computer with a separate desktop? I do miss the retro way, back to basics as everything is so instant nowadays, there is no processing system to think of.
      Yes, the separate keyboards do make light work of these tasks without dramatically turning to touchscreen or AI to fulfil these tasks on your behalf. Pay as you go phones really are the best option for control in its entirety. No dreaded rolling contracts or direct debits.
      Yes, banks have made it almost impossible to manage your accounts and finances without turning to either an app, online banking or telephone banking; all of which possess the risk of security breaches.

      Cookies following your every move and tracking your searches and data feels like you’re constantly being watched and monitored. We effectively subscribe to be followed by multiple authorities.
      Yes, there’s far too much propaganda easily accessible within the palm of our hands or streamed through our television screens by numerous platforms and channels for a variety of reasons.

      Propaganda is often sold to the highest bidder, the one with the loudest mouthpiece. The agendas at play know no bounds, other than our own sanity.

      Thankyouu so much for sharing your enlightening words as always, Walter! Without fail making me think of all possibles and hehe I’m glad you feel much better!😊🤍

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  5. Your article was thought-provoking and professionally written. The points you brought up are noteworthy. For examples:

    • “It’s no longer a lifestyle choice, but a necessity…Banking, communicating, work, healthcare, crisis; they’re all reliant on tech.” (complete control over our lives?)
    • “The tech market has a rapid turnover…” (planned obsolescence?)

    As for your question, is it impossible to ever go back to a life where smartphones didn’t exist in our lives?

    Unfortunately, all this tech is a ‘necessary evil’ to survive in today’s world; however, at some point, we may have no choice but to go back. Great piece of writing, excellent job!

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    1. Thankyouu, I’m so glad you to hear that you enjoyed reading this!
      And you’re right, there may be a time nearing where all electronic methods of communication are seized due to external regimes beyond our control.

      Aw thankyou ever so much again, so happy that you enjoyed this write-up!😊🤍

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  6. Thank you for this post. The internet and smart phones have become a part of our lives. Many bloggers read about the different apps they have to use in their daily lives. But here most of us are not using them now. Recently I was listening to a talk about changes in our lives. The seniors of each generation face them. They look back and think of the past when life was simpler. And the youngsters of thisbtime will face the same when they become the seniors. And life goes on 😊

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    1. Precisely! Life has a habit of returning back to basics due which isn’t always a bad thing. Life was much simpler historically and when we zoom out to reflect via a Birds Eye perspective, have we progressed? I think some may say otherwise, sadly. It’s a social experiment lived out in front of our own eyes. And the obscene amounts we spend to participate in this rat-race which is technically just a processing system dictated by a ‘logic board’ we’ve been manipulated into relying on.

      Life was never so complex, so why now?

      Thankyouu so much for sharing your enlightening insight, Lakshmi!😊🤍

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  7. I just hate that the first thing I do in the morning is look at that phone!….I really thinking of leaning the other way to go with a dumb old classic phone, I miss the simplicity of my old Samsung clamshell…..there’s a huge fight here now with kids using their phones in classrooms….I can see the use of a phone to record a lesson, but most are using social media, playing games during class times…..but what do you do? You can’t go backwards, but, well, at some point those kids will get jobs were using a phone could cost them their job, or endanger others (like air or rail traffic controllers)….

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    1. I know, right? Our initial thoughts aren’t drawing the curtains to let light in, to witness and capture nature’s beauty that we’re gifted with everyday; nope it’s to stay in the dark for a few more moments after awaking to instantly detach ourselves from reality with a few taps on a pixelated, illuminated, digital touchscreen. We live in a world within the real world. We’ve somehow humanised an inanimate object with connectivity features to cell towers!
      The good old classic Samsung or Nokia phones, Motorola even! They’re underrated for when you want a detox from the ready-made, biased schedule called ‘life’.
      I can see the pros and cons with children of secondary school age having mobile devices – in classes I’m not so sure. I think it could distract not only the teacher but children. For it to be the norm it could feel quite mechanical and potentially dangerous if somewhat safe spaces are exposed to external factors / distractions.
      I think the boundary lines should be clearly marked as just like you’ve mentioned, adult life is not so forgiving.

      Thankyouu so much for sharing your enlightening viewpoint, Warren!😊🤍

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  8. It’s a delicate balance as I’d say you’ve inferred here, Antonia. I like my tech and how my phone and computer mirror each other’s content, but have to stop myself occasionally when I’ve forgotten to put it on silent and it beeps to me while I’m focused on my beautiful grandson whose every move and word is bliss to experience.

    I think the most important thing is not losing a sense of presence, and not getting swept up in buying new just for fancy features. After all, these devices are hard on the environment and disposing of them when they are perfectly good makes no sense.

    Thank you for opening up such an important dialogue.

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    1. It does make life much easier and seamlessly duplicate’s without the additional challenge of transferring your data each time.
      Aww yes of course, you definitely wouldn’t want to disturb those special moments in time that you only witness once🥹🤍.

      Exactly, it’s defining if and when it’s a necessity to you and not just accumulating excessive tech gadgets just to feel relevant. Anything that makes your life that bit simpler, why not?

      Aw no, thankyouu for sharing your knowledgable viewpoint, Steve!😊🤍

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  9. Everything moderate is ok to use. For example if you eat food excessively you might get sick! As said , there should be a balance in use. I know , sometimes I just want to throw this iPhone of my mine in the bin and back to the simple life – but unfortunately I have to live with it as I need to do my banking, shopping , navigating and so many things … I was naive when I took my first phone as Sony Erickson – I thought only sending a text message is fun ! I don’t know it will claim my whole life eventually ! So , as we are drawn to it , then we need to teach ourselves how to balance it in our life. Ok to pay the bills or send a text or video to loved ones – they are great . And it is all depends on individuals – everyone has a way to pause or use. We are guilty of it and we all in together : | . Who knows maybe one day we back to where was thing set. No phone , no computer – simple life with family and friends and neighbours..

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    1. This! Everything in moderation. There are pros and cons when it comes pretty much everything, especially when used excessively. As mobiles can and do make our lives far easier regarding practical tasks, communication, banking and much more. They’re a miniaturised computer which processes information and data far more efficiently than the human mind. So why not use it to one’s advantage?
      Haha I remember my first phone too, the simplicity to send an SMS we all thought was groundbreaking.
      And topping up your payg credit at the local store or an ATM.
      Retro!
      Yes, you’re right. They do dominate our life, as they almost structure and categorise our lives for us at the drop of a hat. They say devices are highly addictive and many of us are hooked without realising. It’s abnormal to be offline, so it’s crucial to almost set mental reminders/boundaries to exercise healthy limitation. If not, we tend to rely on our mobiles as an alarm clock, telephone, navigation map, bank, supermarket, mailing system and much more all in one. We technically can spend all day doing many different jobs all on one device. That can be quite unhealthy for an individual, mentally and physically. So it’s vital to remind ourselves that there are other methods of fulfilling certain tasks. The easiest option is not always the most beneficial. In the near future, AI will make soaking up knowledge almost obsolete. The dangers with that is if we have an outage, what would we do? The world would come to a standstill due to a reliance on gadgets, our brain is an organ which can store and memorise almost like gigabytes if used correctly. We should give ourselves more credit, there’s always a time and place for the digital world, but prioritising learning and accessibility to knowledge is something that cannot be withdrawn; tech giants have that power if we don’t apply caution.
      I say this whilst typing from my iPhone😂🤦‍♀️. It’s a difficult balance!
      One day without phones, computers – just spent with loved ones would be blissful. Reason for that is because we always want what we can’t have! It’s the realisation of what life is all about. I think everyone should have that for at least one day a year if possible, whether that’s at Christmas or so, unless it’s for use in an emergency. The smallest things can make all the difference!

      Thankyouu so much for sharing such an incredibly, insightful viewpoint!😊🤍

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