An Apple Today

I would like to say it is not much like me to be opinionated about things in my life, but anyone who knows me knows that would be one the largest, dare I say it, fibs ever.  I am not only opinionated, I rarely keep those opinions to myself - but I really do not try to push them off on others, unless there is something that I just can't contain and keep inside.  Well, everyone, this is just one of those times.

To say I am a huge fan of Apple and the products they make would not exactly describe me at all.  I'm more just a connoisseur of their products.  Yes, I own an iPod (mini, nano and touch).  When I purchased my new car a few months back, I also bought an iPhone because I was enamored with the OnStar app that would start your car from anywhere.  I love my iPhone, but am a bit disappointed because the ONE car I purchased does not have that feature through OnStar, so all I can do is lock and unlock my doors and, seriously, where is the fun in that?  Finally, for my classes at Mason I bought myself an iPad because I thought it would be so much easier to carry around, download my books to and take notes on - none of which I've really been able to do because my books are not available via iBooks, I suck at typing on the screen, and I really need a computer to do most of the work I do for class.  I'm not saying I don't like their products, but to say I am a fan? Eh, not so much. 

To me, being fan of something means you sort of live, eat and breath whatever you happen to be a fan of - for instance, Trace Adkins.  Now, in my case, I would consider myself not just a fan, but a HUGE fan.  So much so a stalking order would probably have to be put in place if I lived anywhere near where he lived.  Seriously, when it comes to Trace Adkins, I am definitely coo coo for cocoa puffs.  On the grand scheme of things, I would not put Apple on the same plain as Trace - barely even on the same planet; HOWEVER, I must tell you, after what happened to me the other night, my stock value in Apple has gone from simply Ho Hum to, "Ya know, I think they really got something there".

Last Thursday, class ran a little late, so my dutiful husband called to see if I was okay.  Not realizing, after I answered his call, I neglected to put my iPhone back into my purse.  When class was over, I said my goodbye's and off I went.  It wasn't until after I'd gotten home that I realized my phone was not with me.  I will tell you, I'm not one of those people who is so addicted to their phone that my heart began to race and I thought I was going to pass out because I didn't have it.  Instead, after making sure it wasn't in my car or jacket pocket, I called my professor to see if she had left campus and when she said she had, asked if she wouldn't mind looking for it when she returned the next day and if she found it just keep it until we saw each other again.  I also sent an email.  Not terribly alarming, I know, but it did occur to me that I might have to replace it and, since it was not my turn for an upgrade, I wasn't looking forward to spending the $400 to get a new one.

Suddenly, I had an epiphany.  I have a TON of apps on my iPad - mostly games that I don't play - but one day when I was downloading apps I came across one that helped locate your iPhone if it was ever misplaced.  To me, misplaced does not mean lost - it just means I set it in the house somewhere and couldn't remember where I left it.  Since I have this problem A LOT, I decided that this was probably a good app to have, so I downloaded it and set it up.  I've had the app for about 6 months and for the first couple weeks, had a lot of fun playing with it.  I would set my phone down and then walk through the house trying to trace it.  Once or twice I forgot it and left it at home and, while at work, would do a search for it and sure enough, it would show up safe and sound at my home address.  So this was my epiphany.  I ran upstairs, grabbed my iPad, opened my app and marked the phone as lost.  Sure enough, it showed up as still being on the campus at George Mason (although it didn't give an exact location - maybe Apple can work on that).  Feeling better about it, I password protected it (because it normally isn't), set a phone number on it to call in case it was found and off to bed I went.

In the morning, I was working from home so I began my routine as normal.  Got up, showered, dressed, grabbed a cup of coffee and went into the livingroom to begin doing a lot of, mind numbing, data entry.  When I noticed my iPad sitting on the table I thought, what the heck, let me see if my phone is in the same place as it was the night before.  I opened the app, and much to my chagrin, the phone had moved.  The app even showed the trajectory in which the phone had gone from one place to another. Again, no buildings, but I knew it was still somewhere on campus. Instinctively I walked back into my kitchen and sure enough, the message light on my home phone was flashing.  I checked the message and lo and behold, at 2:22 a.m. my phone had been found and was sitting in the office of the campus police.  "Wow", I thought, "how cool is that?"  I called campus police, described the phone, verified it was mine and in less than an hour had my phone back.

So what did I learn from all of this?  First - don't ever answer the phone when your husband is calling during class. Second - if you have an iPhone and another piece of Apple equipment, download and install the "locate my iPhone" app.  Third - Apple really isn't a bad company after all and some of the apps they make can be useful and helpful.  I do look forward to dumping some of my games and really looking into other useful Apple apps - but that will be after I finish my Master's class.  For now, I'm happy to have my phone back, and as a special gift I bought it a new cover today.  It's completely blinged out in pick and white rhinestones and has a giant rhinestone peacock on it.  I mean, if I'm going to have my phone back, it's going to look good too!

So thanks Apple, for making what could have been a really bad situation turn out great.  Believe me, I will be sharing this experience with my students and making sure they have, if they haven't already, downloaded this app so they have it because, as we know, teenagers NEVER know where they leave their phones, and if this can get even one back it's worth the download!