I HAVE had a handy of my own ever since. The Motorola was it for me then. It had a bag of its own and some spiral wire that was attached to it. It was a technical wonder. Who would have thought that phones could be carried anywhere and everywhere.
Then in 1992 and while working in the United States I was introduced to something even more advanced. This was a Motorola that had eliminated all or any wires. Indeed it was the ultimate handy. I just had to get one. An antenna as big as that of my car was present.
Soon after I was introduced to a phone that I could keep in my pocket. It was the latest Motorola that had a folding flap that opened to the number keys. The antenna can just be pulled when needed. It was indeed compact. A thinner version soon emerged. I just had to have one. I did too.
I did have this while I was still teaching. I was the coolest. I had nothing to do with my pager after all this. I was soon introduced to an even smaller Alcatel. It was so small and like nothing I saw ever. It can fit in my hand closed to a fist.
I was soon introduced to a texting machine. It was a Nokia. It had a radio, some game called Snake, that could communicate without making any call, just a text message. It had some musical ring tone that was so different from any ring tone. It had a tone. Soon everyone knew the tone.
I would from then stick to the brand. Tried every new model. My favorite was the Communicator. I saw many using it, it was expensive, it was a computer in my pocket. Politicians all used it. I later learned that it was the only cellphone that couldn't be hacked then. No wonder. A newer one was introduced and I had to get it too, I got two.
It was ten years ago when I was introduced to a smart phone called the iPhone. I soon got one, the first one. It was different from any Nokia I ever had. No buttons, many functions. It was very functional especially when I went to the United States.
Ten years after and I am still with an iPhone. Seven it is now for me. I especially enjoyed it with the 6s. I guess it was because of the camera function. It took superb pictures. I especially enjoyed my travels because of it. Surely many more enjoyed my pictures from it.
I used to carry with me a camera bag that was heavy. A Canon 1D Mark lll. A 10m birdseye lens, a 10-17 wide lens, 17-24 a 24-70, my favorite, then a 70-200 zoom lens with a 2X extender to double the length. Believe me it weighed a lot and a bad back. It was confiscated for awhile during a Lakers Playoff game, in Staples Center, they said it wasn't allowed, no way.
I did carry it in -40 degrees weather atop a mountain peak, amazingly it worked still. However at one time the body and my lip stuck frozen from it, I even had to defrost it, the last I will do. Although I did it again to Mount Pulag. Not as cold.
It is rain and splatter proof too. The best for beach sunsets and cruise trips. I used it to catch eagles, bears and whales in Alaska. Not for sunsets as there was none. The sun never set.
I do all these today without my loved camera. My iPhone does it all. It is also water resistant. Better yet it is WiFi. It doesn't stop to amaze me. Surely other brands do too. But it is just so amazing.
JB my brother would always chide me about it. He says you don't need anything else anymore. For news and information it is instant, "ATM" at the moment. Everything can be accessed by it. He would always say, let me Google it first. When lost, Waze.
My foreign trips have been very much enjoyable from it. I get to see the weather before hand. No more speculations. Anywhere in the world. A raincoat or shorts, not a problem nowadays.
My postpaid bill is 1,800. I don't have to pay more nowadays. Time was when I paid 10K a month. Yes I was given a MacBook or the latest iPhone, still I can't imagine paying more today. And I use it every time more than ever.
Emails are made and received. The world definitely is smaller from Facebook. Travels without Joy or my kids are never miserable as I get to see them on my phone everyday. My son who is away from me for college is just like having him in his old room as a kid.
Communication so easy, and cheap, oh FREE. There's Viber or Messenger, calls can be made to someone far or away at no cost. News is also free, including the fake ones. I can read SunStar news everyday even when I'm far away. It is online if you just wish to know. Just click SunStar Baguio and look for my name, PETER REY or ALL IN GOOD TIME.
Mine is the iPhone7, I would want the 8, obviously for sentimental reasons. But unlike my 7 it does not come with the 256G only 64G. So there you go. Still imagine this to just 10 years ago it was a wonder at 256MB now mine is 256G!
As of the moment I may have 50K pictures. That of my previous travels to Europe and Asia. I just got it as a birthday gift last April from my kids. It is just a wonder. Travel is just so easy with it nowadays.
I cannot be without one today. It makes the office and the world so close and easily accessible. Never did I ever think it would come to this, I just love it. My I Phone.