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The Apple iphone has 25,000 applications and still counting! It has an app for, well everything, so why not call the iphone the "life gadget"! It makes perfect sense if you rely on the iphone for just about everything.

 

The iphone has emerged into the 3G cell phone world as the "life gadget" because of the many applications that it offers that every person could possibly want, whether it is an application to count calories, find your parked car, read an MRI or to pick out a restaurant for you to eat at. It is a device that many users rely heavily on and can not live without. But, have we become that dependent on a cell phone because it can do just about anything for us? My opinion, absolutely YES!

Although most people rely on their cell phones in order to get a hold of people they need or want to talk to, the iphone is a whole other type of phone and piece of technology. Over one million people bought the iphone the first day that it came out in 2007.  I think that it is obvious that the iphone was going to be a big hit with the large number of people that bought the iphone to begin with, and I am sure that when the upgraded iphone came out, more and more people bought it because of the applications that it offered and its sleek look.

 

Apple has done wonders with the iphone and has even made the iphone so it is corporate  friendly and convenient for all working people. Who wouldn't want to purchase a cell phone where everything they need is right in front of their eyes? It is so convenient. But just because everything you need is right in front of you in an electronic device, does that mean everyone has to become so dependent on a phone? I believe that our world is making a huge transformation with the use of technology  it is hard not to depend on a device such as the iphone when it has everything you need, and is right in the palm of your hand. However, I think that we are losing our ability to do the smallest things that we are all capable of doing like going back to the old ways of using our minds.  The iphone is a luxurious accessory that people HAVE to have and CAN NOT live without, and because of people's dependency on it, it makes me believe that it has become the "life gadget".

 

 

 

Yes, most people would say that it is a must have item, but after hearing some opinions from people and reading articles, the iphone has its flaws too. Many people have a hard time typing on the touch screen  feature the iphone has, which makes it more difficult to handle than the regular cell phone most people are used to. Is it worth it? For most people yes, because it has become such a highly dependent item that once people have the iphone, they can never go back to just a regular phone. 

  

With how our world is transforming, it is hard not to rely heavily on such an easy and accessible device, but when is dependent too dependent?  As long as technology keeps transforming, our dependency on devices such as the iphone will be well intact. As long as there is a new application coming out everyday, the iphone will continue to be the "life gadget".

 

So what's next? An application that will eventually talk for you? I guess we will find out!

It's 10:00 pm and you just missed your favorite show. I can only imagine what is going through your mind, "now I will never know what happened...", "who got booted from American Idol?", "Does Melissa get proposed to on the Bachelor?". Thats exactly what your thinking isn't it? Well what about watching it on the internet? These days it is becoming one of the most popular forms of media consumers are drawn to and that networks are utilizing. Since most of us are guilty of being drawn to reality tv, the last thing we want to do is miss our favorite show, however, all of our favorite programs can be found on the network website and even Hulu where you can watch whatever show you missed that week for free and watch the show in great definition. But what do cable networks have to say about this? Is the internet that we all rely on, taking away from the high ratings these shows pride themselves on? Not at all! Which I find to be very surprising.

The internet has become an important tool in reality tv in both the way that it is run and the way it relays information to its target viewers. Shows like American Idol may use the internet for viewers to cast votes for whomever person they want to win the competetion, while other shows use the internet for viewers to post comments about their opinions for each of the shows they tend to be watching. It is also said that more reality tv shows are getting onto the internet because that is where their target consumers can be reached the best. Is that surprising to you? Absolutely not. More and more consumers in our generation use the internet to go shopping, check mail, catch up on daily news and gossip and catch up on shows they might have missed the night before more than consumers in other generations, such as generation x and the baby boomers.  

Not only do we browse our favorite search engines in order to watch our shows but, a fairly new site, Hulu, has made an astonishing entrance into interactive communication that is known for offering tv shows, movies, Flash video and even the option of high definition. Up until recently, I personally have never heard of Hulu. I think its incredible what Hulu has done to the internet. Why wouldn't someone want to check it out, its completely free and look what you get.  Also, Hulu is another alternative then just the normal website.

  

I believe that the internet has become one of the main forms of media for everything a person could possibly want, whether it be finding information or simply watching a tv program.  In the end, people might think that the internet could ruin ratings for tv networks, but I believe that tv networks on the internet is favoring consumer behavior by making programs and movies available on the internet. Viewers are able to keep up with whatever shows they want to watch, making them loyal consumers to the network because they are up to date with specific programming.  The internet is easy, why not be able to watch your favorite shows at your convenience? 

 

 

Because of our obsession with celebrities, other types of media such as the internet have begun creating blogs and groups through myspace and facebook, for example, for fans to criticize and connect to their favorite fans. People, especially those between the ages of 16-25, depend on myspace, facebook, and other internet vehicles to relay information about celebrity gossip and news. Without these media vehicles, the public would be less informed on a daily basis because of the constant updates and blogs these tools create for the public. Alot of people wouldn't know what to do if they didn't get their celebrity gossip for the day.

Other types of media, such as TV, are using celebrities to attract more consumers through advertisements because of their increase in popularity in our society. However, the percent of celebrity endorsements for this year was a drastic decline from the years before especially with events such as the Grammy Awards. Magazines showcase multiple celebrity advertisements that we are all very familiar with and there are also magazines dedicated to just celebrity gossip and news.

Although our lives are consumed with the gossip of celebrities and what is going on in their lives, it is hard to think what our lives would be like without the knowledge of theirs. Are we just celebrity brainwashed?