I recently passed my iPhone one year anniversary, and I thought I would reflect on what, if any, changes it’s made in my life and business. And no, downloading iOS4 yesterday didn’t influence this at all.

Let me start by saying that the iPhone has made bigger changed in both areas than almost any other piece of tech I’ve owned. Arguably, my first Palm OS device was bigger because it launched me from an analog and paper world to primarily digital, but in practical application, I still think the iPhone was bigger.

My old Blackberry introduced me to mobile email and frustrated me because it couldn’t cut it as a solo device. I still had a Palm organizer, an MP3 player and a stand-alone ebook reader.

Then I got the iPhone. One device does it all, and it does it all well. I can walk out the door with wallet, keys and my phone and manage my entire day. I’ve never been able to get away with so little.

Lots of people are writing about simplifying their life by getting rid of smartphones and other tech. Frankly, I think they are nuts. By having everything I need in one small package, my life is simpler. One thing that makes this possible is “Airplane Mode,” where I can disconnect completely while still having access to my productivity tools. My old Blackberry was much harder to disconnect from.

I’m almost completely paperless now. With a really good way to manage my calendar and tasks, I don’t need a paper organizer. Evernote allows me to take and keep quick “notes to self.”

But it’s not just lack of paper. My netbook could have allowed that. The iPhone allows me to have everything I need with me at all times. Oops! I can’t remember exactly where my next meeting is? No problem, I have the email where we set up the meeting in Evernote. Do I have time on the Metro to work? No problem. I’m actually writing this post on the train to a meeting in Bethesda

I don’t even wear a watch anymore. The iPhone fulfills that function too.

Plus books, music, movies and, don’t forget, Plants vs. Zombies! I use it for work, and I’m more productive. I use it to relax. It goes with me on vacation (in Airplane mode, of course). I kind of can’t remember what life was like before it.

I don’t think Blackberrys can do everything my iPhone can. ‘Droid phones probably can. I have mixed feelings on the iPad. One of my friends uses it more than his iPhone now. I think it’s a great device. But the portability factor of the iPhone can’t be beat.

And now off to play with my new OS. And dream about my future upgrade to an iPhone 4.

Tags: iPhone, task management, time management

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 am and is filed under iPhone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.