Smart Phone

I did not think I needed a smartphone.  What did I know?  Look at me today:  I am working on the computer, and watching the Tigers vs. Yankee (Major League Baseball) game on my smartphone.  The game was supposed to be on TV, but Fox Sports has a full line up of college sports, which has faced a rain delay.  So in an effort to get complete coverage of their college games, most specifically University of Texas Longhorns vs. University of Maryland Terrapins on TV, the baseball game is being aired on the Fox Sports app.  So, I have my smartphone propped up in my book holder, and I can monitor the possible TV coverage, work on the computer, and watch the game!

Yeah smartphone!

Grayscale on Electronics

I was watching the Today Show Monday and they were talking about not being addicted or as addicted to your smart phone.  One of the suggestions they used was to change the screen to grayscale.  And it is true:  the screen is much less interesting and does not stimulate the pleasure centers as much.

I began thinking about it.  I have begun watching the original Perry Mason shows on TV.  These are the old ones in black and white.  And, I find that even if I do not watch the show closely, by the time the show is done, I am lulled and ready for bed.  It makes sense.  First of all, it is the lateness of the night (10:30 PM.)  But it is other things:  the repetitive music, the absence of loud noise, usually, and the boring black and white scenes.  Even when the plot has twists and turns, I still am usually ready to go to bed after the show.  

Maybe grayscale does have sedative or at least, non-stimulating properties. 

Fix My Phone

I did not think I needed or even wanted a smart phone.  Since I have had the IPhone 6, I have become addicted to it.  I really appreciate the access to everything it offers me:  phone service, text, access to the Internet, maps, directions, applications for news, weather, sports, booklists, and games to name many of the things for which I use the IPhone. It was working just fine on Thursday.  Friday afternoon, it was not working right. I do not recall dropping the phone, or putting it in harm's way. I do not recall updating the operating system Thursday night, although I could have.  I think that last time I updated the system was some time ago ( a couple of weeks or more.) This afternoon, I saw an advertisement that the IOS 10  http://www.apple.com/ios/ios-10/ update affected IPhones in very much the way mine was affected, but it came out after mine was not working properly. However, in retrospect, I wonder if something else may have occurred.  I first noticed that my phone was not working when I was in Wal-Mart https://www.walmart.com.  The really unusual thing was that it was opened to the Wal-Mart application.  But, I do not know. I could have hit the Wal-Mart application accidentally. Anyway, I thought that was strange, because I did not recall opening the Wal-Mart application.  And then, the phone did not work perfectly, although I could still get Facebook notifications and texts.

I decided not to take it into Sprint to be repaired over the weekend. I have been at the Sprint service center on Saturday before: even with an appointment I had to wait about 2 hours.  I thought I might have the chance to go during the work day this week.  I dragged out my insurance papers, and went this afternoon. 

The young man who checked me in was very nice. He complimented the condition of the phone.  I have a Lifeproof cover, which is expensive, but obviously worth the price.  As the techician said, the Lifeproof cover is doing its job. He checked me in, took the Lifeproof cover off, had me sign off  Icloud, and told me to come back in about 2 and a half hours. He told me they would guarantee to save my contacts, videos and something else, but not photos or apps.  I was happy to know my contacts would be saved.  I do not have many photos on the phone, and I could reload the apps.

I did return as told. The phone was ready.  It had required a software reset, and everything was saved! A different technician signed me out.  And replaced the Lifeproof cover for me. And told me I would get a survey on customer service, and 9s and 10s were the level they were striving for.  I told him they would get a 10! 

Smart Phone

I did not think I would really benefit by changing to a smart phone, and my friends and colleagues kept telling me I would wonder how I got along without it.  They were right!  A perfect example occurred tonight.  I missed the local weather when I got home from work, and quickly fed the cats and headed out to meet some friends for dinner. 

On the way, I watched a small cloud cell approach Lubbock. Before I went into the restaurant, I checked the local weather, and saw that the front was still miles away, and moving East, so probably the heaviest part of the weather would pass North of us.

After dinner, we went to the Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ Mystery Book Club.  I checked the local weather again before I went into Barnes and Noble.  During our book club, one of the members had the local weather on her Ipad or tablet.   This allowed us to keep an eye on the weather:  There was concern for serious, damaging weather, which did not develop, at least yet.

Checking the weather, the storms have now moved to the South and East, and will, for now, miss Lubbock.  Oh well.  At least I can keep on top of it!