Apple's second-generation iPhone was unleashed on the unsuspecting (or rather well-informed) masses in SA last week. It's the first time in a long time that a product launch has made such a splash, with coverage in online business-to-business through to broadcasting media.
South Africans are certainly not alone in their excitement around the launch of the iPhone. The second-generation little touch-screen device, with its sleek Apple-style finish and design, has stirred something of a frenzy around the world.
According to the 2007 Year-End Google Zeitgeist figures, iPhone was the fastest rising search term in both global and US search bars - still, that isn't anything to be concerned about. But something really is wrong with the world when a piece of technology creates a frantic stir that would put terrorists to shame.
Overpriced religion
Tech enthusiasts and technology crazes are old friends. When I heard the iPhone was coming to SA, I was as excited as the next person.
Months before Vodacom announced the arrival date, we speculated on when it would arrive, discussed its features and literally had to hold back our excitement for fear of losing all dignity. On the Monday before the launch, my TwitterFox application could not contain the barrage of tweets discussing the “media launch” of the device.
Bloggers had a field day - “The iPhone arrives on Friday - unconfirmed - will update on confirmation”. I bet companies that develop other technologies, like business intelligence for example, wish they had Apple's marketing team.
Another thing I picked up on over the week (and I'll admit that it seems to have been going on for a while) is that the iPhone 3G has now been dubbed the “Jesus phone”. Looking at the local prices for the phone, I am inclined to believe that is one expensive church visit.
Brain goo
Tech enthusiasts have a history of religious-style fervour for technology, but the iPhone has leaked that fanaticism into the mainstream population.
Candice Jones, journalist, ITWeb
Friday's launch saw all thoughts of dignity fly out the window, even for me. I clamoured to play and twitched to fiddle as any gadget-hungry girl would. But, after a few hours with the toy, I realised it was just another smart phone. I foolishly believed the novelty would wear off.
Which brings me to my title: my thought is that the iPhone has turned the brains of normally intelligent and rational people to mush. While I will admit, some of my more hard-worn and cynical friends have lost the excitement around the device, most are slightly more than overjoyed at having one.
At a dinner party with friends on Monday night, there was one who refused to let anyone touch his brand new iPhone 3G. Another friend at the same party washed eight or nine times that night just to show photos, or worse, to send an SMS. Any device that makes you compulsively wash your hands can't be good for your psychological health.
Historical fervour
Tech enthusiasts have a history of religious-style fervour for technology, but the iPhone has leaked that fanaticism into the mainstream population. In countries across the world, people queued for days and kilometres to receive the coveted device.
I used to think the most annoying conversation one could have with a tech enthusiast was whether Microsoft or Linux was better. Most people will choose a side and will argue a null point unwaveringly - a similar thing has happened with the iPhone.
With myriad devices on the market that have similar capability and seem more practical than the iPhone, people are still clutching their new devices close to their chests - generally accompanied by a maniacal grin.
I must point out that this is not a review; I have not had enough time on the iPhone to fully qualify all the features and compare it rationally to another phone. I'm not saying the iPhone sucks, because I don't believe it does.
At the end of the day, it is a pretty piece of machinery. My question is: does it really warrant the kind of response that it has received?
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