Six Ways the iPhone Has Changed My Life

I recently upgraded to the iPhone 4 from a non-smartphone and have been impressed by how much my phone experience has changed. But with the change in phones, my life has changed also. In this article, I describe how the iPhone has changed my life.

I Am More Organized
To start, the iPhone has allowed me to become a more organized person. I have my personal Google Calendar synchronized with my phone so that I can see what events I have coming up, and I've also synchronized my iPhone with my personal and work email so that I can check and respond to my email while I am on the go.

I Am More Productive
Tying in closely to organization, my iPhone has allowed me to become more productive. I have a to-do list on my iPhone in the application SimpleNote, which I have synchronized with Notational Velocity on my MacBook. Because I always have my to-do list with me, I can determine what tasks I can address at any given moment and use downtime more effectively. I also have a flashcards application and mp3s of class lectures on my iPhone, so I can study when I have a few minutes to spare.

I Am Less Productive
On the flip side of things, the vast array of games available for the iPhone can make it difficult to focus on tasks. Likewise, the fact that the iPhone is internet-capable augments this problem. The temptation to play games or browse the web on the iPhone instead of paying attention at meetings or in class can be difficult to overcome.

I Am More Connected
As I mentioned above, I have my email accounts synchronized with my iPhone. I have Skype, Meebo (an instant messaging client), Google Voice, and Twitter on my iPhone. And of course the iPhone functions as a phone and text messaging device. All in all, I'm significantly more connected than I was with my older, non-smartphone.

I Am Less Connected

But all of this connection to the internet and media can be detrimental to real-life relationships. It can be tempting to look at the iPhone in situations where I should really be focusing on another person or other people around me. Granted, this may not be the case for everyone, but I know of a number of people that have difficulty detaching themselves from their phones in social settings.

My Belongings Are More Consolidated
One thing I really appreciate about the iPhone is that the iPhone is so many devices rolled into one. It is a phone, camera, mp3 player, e-reader, notepad, and more. It's nice not to have to carry all of these devices on my person (which I didn't do before I got the iPhone anyway). When there's something worth taking a picture of, I can take the picture with my iPhone. When I need to jot a message for myself for later, I can do that as well. All in all, the multifunctionality of the iPhone simplifies my life a lot.

While I have no qualms saying that the iPhone has allowed me to become a more organized person, I have a difficult time saying outright that the device has allowed me to become more productive or connected, when there are drawbacks as mentioned above. Some may struggle with these as mentioned above. I know that I do. And I'm working on making the best of the iPhone while not letting it hinder my productivity or social skills.

If you own an iPhone and can think of any other ways that it has changed your life, feel free to share them in the comments below. Thank you for reading.