Why I love the iPhone

Yesterday, I didn't want an iPhone. I thought it would be too many frills and therefore not worth the price, plus I didn't want the extra $15/month commitment required for data as long as the iPhone was being used. What I wanted, instead, was a phone with a hard keyboard and functional web applications. So I tried a Samsung Flight II. Lo and behold, the web applications didn't work properly. I tried some other, similar phones at the store, but their web applications were having the same problem. At this point I decided, with some misgivings, to get the iPhone 3GS, simply because it was the same price as those other phones and I knew it would actually WORK!!

Today, I'm completely in love with the iPhone and can't believe I didn't want one. I do not remember the apps being nearly this cool or useful with the iPod Touch some months ago! As one of my friends said, now that I have an iPhone I'll wonder how I managed to live without one. For me, it's already greatly simplifying my life. With a little baby often in my arms, it can be hard to write things down when they first come up, and my memory isn't what it used to be. Now, I can put these things in my phone quite easily! The way the keyboard corrects typos is amazing. You can even read books on the iPhone, something that I'm sure wasn't available when I had the Touch. Kindle, Nook, and Google Books all have iPhone apps and quite a few free books (mostly classics) available for download. iBooks doesn't have free books that are easily findable, so I haven't made much use of that app yet.

Another thing which can more easily be done on the iPhone is Bible reading. Now we come to the best part of the iPhone so far: Olive Tree BibleReader. The best part about Olive Tree BibleReader is not the actual Bible versions. The only ones available for free are little-known ones, older ones with archaic language, and translations minus the footnotes. Thankfully, my favorite translation at the moment, the HCSB, is available for free minus footnotes. Other mainstream Bible versions are available through the in-app store or on OliveTree's website, from which they can be downloaded to the phone. Other Bible apps, such as YouVersion by LifeChurch.tv (known on the app store as Bible), do a much better job when it comes to translation variety. However, the Internet is often required to access translations on those apps, while Olive Tree's app does not require Internet.

The great strength in the Olive Tree app lies in the Resource Guide and the free resources available. Two classic commentaries, a couple Bible dictionaries, and a variety of books are all available for free through the Olive Tree store, including 1200+ of John Piper's sermons. While reading the Bible in the app, one can click the split window and open the Resource Guide, which will then show you where information about those verses is located in the commentaries, sermon collections, etc. in a list form. Tapping on the book title in the list will show you what is said about it in that particular book. I love this. I also love that I can read these books and commentaries on my phone, and that it's all connected in a way that print sources can never copy. The only quibble I have with this app is that there is no computer software equivalent. However, the company is very good about making it possible for people to switch phones and take their books and such with them to the new phone's app!

The iPhone can do everything, and it's a phone too, so I'll always have it with me - unlike the Touch, which I didn't often take places. I'm sure that the iPhone will be well worth the required data plan! In fact, I may end up loving it so much that I would pick it over the Internet if things got tight...

All about The Princess of Light

The Princess of Light may be only 7 weeks old, but she can talk. Not in words, obviously - my daughter is smart, but not THAT smart. She does, however, speak in gurgles, various cries, and sometimes by wailing. She is quite capable of making her presence known and asking for what she needs.

The Princess of Light is also very cute and adorable. A sleeping baby is one of the cutest things in the world, and The Princess of Light is even cuter! She is not so cute when she needs her diaper changed, however...

The Princess of Light smiles, but they aren't quite real smiles most of the time - instead they are poop smiles or I'm-hungry smiles. But there have been a couple of times where I could swear she was smiling at me...