App-rehension.

Okay, so I am totally interrupting my home tour to ask a question that has been burning in my mind of late.

"What is the point of having a smart phone if I am not smart enough to use it to it's full potential?" Actually, it is not a question of intelligence, but rather a question of apprehension surrounding the whole Oh-my-gosh-what-if-I-do-something-and-lose-everything worry.

I have an unnatural fear of technology in regards to anything related to computers and home entertainment. (I guess that pretty much covers it all, now that I think about it, unless you count learning all of the bells and whistles on our multi-faceted kitchen range.)

(Which I still haven't done, although that is not out of fear, but more-so the fact that I seem to learn most kitchen-cooking-baking lessons by using a good level of wild abandonment coupled with the trial-by-fire method.)

(Literally. Trial by fire. Or smoke. Or oh-it's-still-cold.)

Aaaaanyway.

Along with wanting to get organized this year, I want to use my Generation-Zero iPhone to it's fullest capacity such as that may be, and that requires that I install (yikes!) a few...Apps. (low and behold, just as I was thinking I needed to do this, I was approached by BlogHer to participate in an affiliate program with appSmitten, and I'll receive a small payment for newsletter subscribers...)

Where was I?

Oh yes. First off, let me say that I had not a single clue what "Apps" is short for, so I googled it. It turns out that APP is an abbreviation for "application".

Go figure.

Alrighty-then. Makes perfect sense. (Seriously, am I the only one that didn't know that here?)

Now, in case you are wondering exactly which "App" prompted me to want to figure out the whole learn-how-to-install-and-use-it thing....well, it was the flashlight app. Up till now, I have been using the clock icon on my lil desktop (is it called a "desktop" on a smart phone?) and going to the Alarm page, coz it's pretty light and bright, compared to my contacts list.

I am the Queen of Jerry-rigging.

Ehem...Just so ya know, the flashlight App is much brighter than using your clock face. (Another lightbulb moment for me...no pun intended.)

So.

This got me wondering what other amazing Apps I have been missing out on. Plenty of them, it seems. You see, I found out about the coolest site. It's called Appsmitten. (Kinda cute name, don'tcha think?) and they tell you about all the latest and greatest Apps out there, and send the descriptions and links to download them to you via an email newsletter. (You've just gotta sign up for the Newsletter! It's Free, and it's got so many cool Apps!)

I discovered I could easily be checking my banking (yes, I have seen commercials for this, but figuring out who-where-when-what-and-oh-good-Gawd-HOW is quite a different story. This newsletter took the scaryness out of it all...

I have to say, thanks to this sweet lil Newsletter, I discovered that there's a whole new frontier out there for me. Oh! And it turns out that one of my friends is a contributor for Productivity Apps! She recommended an App that is now going to be helping me achieve my word goal for the year. (My word is Organize in case you have forgotten.) How cool is that?!

So, if you have a Smart Phone of any kind, and are interested in finding lots of cool new-to-you Apps that you can download and install (without the help of a fifth grader)that can totally make your life more organized (or just more fun, and in the case of fun, more is more) hop on over to Appsmitten and get yourself signed up for the free newsletter, like I did! (Even if you don't have a Smart phone, but maybe your kids do, it's a great newsletter to check out!)

I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, and...well,even though I am quite sure that the guys at the Genius Bar, nor the Geek Squad aren't going to try to head-hunt me away from my day job anytime soon, I'm still feeling ever so mildly tech-savvie right about now, if I do say so myself.

And, I'm on my way to being that much more organized!

Comments

[Sue@Serendipity]

This is my second Iphone and I feel more and more confident all the time. A gal in the shop one day admired how quickly I could help her with something on hers-terrific boost of confidence for me!!

Enjoy!! (After all, if it is backed up in the cloud - isn't everything safe? - My techie son says so!)

[Jamie]

I have a grocery list app that I LOVE! You just touch the screen and it will mark off the items on your list as you put them in the cart. Changed my life...except for the fact that my five year old wants to help and then crosses off things that shouldn't be crossed off.

[Bring Pretty Back]

I also have a fear of technology! It is so confusing to me!
Great post!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin

[Christine]

Glad you like it! Unfortunately, a lot of us can't afford the smart plans. Frankly, I feel really lucky I have any phone at all after the divorce. So I'll stay in the dinosaur age for now. Besides that, no one I know can afford a smart phone, so who'd I text and whatever?? It's all just so special.

[krista colvin]

Hi Friend! Nice to see a shout out on your blog :)