Apple Karma or Attack of the iPhone Killing Ice

Last week I wrote that I hoped that the Patriots would win the Super Bowl. What I didn't mention was that if the Giants won I would win a playoff pool. I had picked every game correctly from the start with the exception of Indy's first round loss. Yes, from the very beginning I picked the Giants to win, one of only three out of the 175 or so entries.

Since money won is much sweeter than money earned I spent Monday night perusing gadgets. I seriously considered a new Digital SLR camera an HD Camcorder and the Apple iPhone. After carefully considering each I decided on an iPhone. The next day I went to the AT&T store and 5 minutes later walked out with my new toy. It was by far the easiest phone purchase ever. The salesperson didn't even try to convince me to buy other things.

The phone is amazing! Five minutes after turning it on I new I had made the right choice on what to buy. Over the past few days I've spent some time programming numbers, taking pictures, adding web applications etc, to personalize my phone.

After an evening at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) and stopping by my old fraternity house, the drive home was treacherous because of the ice that had formed under the snow. My car slid a few times but I got home safe. However, as I was walking from my car up the driveway to my garage I bit it hard. As I stepped with my left foot it slipped underneath me and before I new it my left side hit the pavement - HARD - knock the wind out of you hard. Unfortunately I was holding my new phone in my right hand and the force of the slip sent it flying out of my hand, straight up in the air.

When I hit the ground I realized my phone had slipped out, I also noticed that I hadn't heard it hit the ground yet. Instinctively I started to count in my head 1-2- and right before 3 I hear it hit...oh boy. I jump up, avoid stumbling again and notice my phone laying in the snow. I picked it up, brushed it off, turned it back on, unlocked it...my phone had survived, and thanks to the case, not a scratch.

Then this morning happened. To see how cold it was outside this morning (since it was supposed to be in the single digits) I pressed the weather widget on the home screen...no response. Fifteen seconds later I realized that the entire top half of the screen was no longer touch sensitive.

Shit.

Double shit.

Shit times 400 (dollars).

My only option was calling apple support. The guy I talked to said to take it into the store and that they would give me a loaner phone to use while my phone is being repaired and then I would need to bring that phone back in a few weeks when my phone was available. I can think of several things I'd rather do on a Sunday than that!

I was not looking forward to going to this store. Not even a month ago Amy took her computer in for repairs, needing it ASAP for her graphic design school work only to discover that it just sat in the store for more than a week collecting dust rather than being sent in to apple.

So I reluctantly scheduled an appointment and they just gave me brand new phone. All things considered this was the best possible outcome. Instead of having to eat a 250 dollar replacement cost I just had to reprogram my contacts- I'll take that deal any day.

And so, my faith in Apple support has been restored, along with the firmware on my iPhone.