The New Apple iPrivilege Phone Is Just For Some...

[MineralMan]

Want to stand out from the hoi polloi?
Want a new cell phone you won't see in the hands of the workers at MacDonalds or iHop?
Want to flash your importance every time your ring tone sounds?

Soon, you'll be able to buy Apple's iPrivilege cell phone, assuming you can afford one. With a price point well above pedestrian phones, it will signal your importance with a distinctive ring tone only available on that model, playing the popular tune, "We're in the Money," loudly enough to be heard in a crowd.

What's the difference between owning an iPrivilege and the lesser phones owned by your lessers? That's simple. It shouts, "I own this and you do not!"

[samnsara]

1. until they put back the head phone jack Im keeping my 6

..and then may switch to Samsung..i need that jack and I lose all those little Bluetooth thingies

[MuseRider]

10. I am a long time dedicated Samsung user but if you depend on

and love to use your Bluetooth you might think differently. I am so disappointed in the company, been with them forever and everything I compute with is Samsung. The bluetooth used to work but now it seems from the forums that the bluetooth is rarely working for most people from the Galaxy S7 (what I have) and the S8 is bad too. Just some advice.

[samnsara]

15. oh great there goes my back up brand

[MuseRider]

26. I love them

they have always been so good, beautiful and easy to use phones. This is supposedly fixed in an upcoming update however there have been bluetooth problems with the S7 all along, mine just started messing up about 6 months ago. So the new phones and the old phones have not been fixed. They tell you to do a factory reset but that does not work. I am hugely disappointed in them, they are making tons of money but this level of support is just stupid.

My husband finally gave up his S3 and got the S8. He does not use bluetooth a lot but since I work outside cleaning horse stalls and doing my farm work I find my bluetooth essential to my sanity and it is just horrible now. I don't need a new phone yet but when I do I will be getting a phone that works with bt. I am sick since my experience up to now with that company has been good but this is just seriously bad customer service.

I am using wired now and that is OK except you have to unplug, get into the phone and turn off what you are listening to to answer a call or a text and you cannot hear them through the wired jack. Grrrrr

Before them I loved my Blackberry but my Motorola phones were great too. I don't know where to go but it will never be with an iPhone. I would rather go back to rotary dialing than give that company another penny of my money. Hate their OS. Good luck. Maybe they will actually fix it soon but still, horrible customer service on this. My confidence is gone.

[OnDoutside]

51. I use a $200 Ulefone Power 2 and am happy enough with it. I could afford the S8 but I can't justify

it. The Power 2 is a 5.5 inch screen. The only downside is the sound isn't as good as Samsung or Apple, but the Bluetooth is excellent.

[NewJeffCT]

35. My daughter hates that the iPhone 7 doesn't have the headphone jack

if she upgrades her phone, she will go from the iPhone 6 to the 6S or 6S Plus. She has a lot of her teen friends that don't like not having the headphone jack, either. I think they like being able to charge the phone and listen to music without needing a special adapter.

I've had generally mixed luck with Droids over the years and didn't like the LG G3 I had, so not sure what I'll get next. I'm hoping for something with great battery life as I can be a heavy user.

[MineralMan]

38. I hear the iPhone SE has the headphone jack, along with the

smaller size profile of the 5. More memory, better camera, etc., though. Might be worth looking at.

[Egnever]

92. Look hard at the first gen moto z play

I looked at quite a few phones before choosing the Moto z .

You can pick one up for about $350 now and up until recently it was the battery king. With heavy use a full charge will go 24 hours . With moderate use I often go 2 days on a charge.

It actually took me a few weeks to get used to not panicking if I was not near a charger. Now I have the opposite problem the battery last me so long I often forget to plug it in for a day or two and then realize walking out the door I am at 10 percent. On the plus side 15 minutes on the charger will get you a half days worth of charge.

Camera is not the best but is good enough.

Favorite phone for me so far and I have used a bunch of them.

[DeeDeeNY]

56. There is a small adaptor for use with headphones.

It connects into the phone's charging opening.

[brooklynite]

2. As I mentioned in another thread, the iPhone X will cost about $10 more a month...

...compared to an iPhone 7. But if it feels good to be self-righteous, be my guess.

[MineralMan]

3. I ain't guessing.

[FreeState]

7. Yep, people are ridiculous at times n.t

[Blue_Adept]

13. Not directed at the OP

But there's definitely a luddite style faction here, which isn't a surprise as DU has always skewed older.

[yallerdawg]

32. Maybe 'the elders' recognize...

Marxist fetishism when we see it.

Enjoy and revel in your Apple products.

[brooklynite]

59. Many people will...my stock will do well.

[yallerdawg]

63. Nothing like the excesses of capitalism...

produced in a communist country!

[TheBlackAdder]

96. And the profits parked offshore to dodge US taxes.

[USALiberal]

73. We get it, you are rich. You bring it up a lot. n/t

[OhioChick]

80. Yes, our "resident 1%er"

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10026118520

[USALiberal]

82. Wow, I would never post that even if true. n/t

[stevenleser]

94. Why not? The statement he makes is great. He supports raising taxes on himself and other 1%'ers

What do you find wrong with that?

[Warren DeMontague]

99. Marxist fetishism?

You mean like a Che Guevara ballgag?

[whistler162]

100. I am a Luddite and proud of it...

30 years in IT from Mainframes to PC and Tablets. Being a Ludite comes naturally.

[NWCorona]

85. Just because the payments are spread out doesn't make the price less rediculous.

Apple's profit margins are well known.

[Mike__M]

4. I don't want to hear

what my TracFone says.
Good thing it only shudders a little but stays quiet until I flip the cover open.

[MineralMan]

5. My ancient Nokia flip phone sounds like a phone

when it rings. That way, I can tell it's my phone ringing. In fact, it rang just a minute ago, with someone calling "Jennifer," the person who had my phone number at least 8 years ago when I got my phone. I explained that, and got told to "fuck off." Life's a hoot!

[Mike__M]

16. Kinda sad, though

that Jennifer lost touch with a friend like that.

[MineralMan]

25. I used to get lots of calls for Jennifer. They've tapered off

now, since probably most people who know her know her new number after 8 years or so. There was this one guy, though, who seemed to think I had Jennifer's phone and was keeping her from talking to him. Seemed jealous or something. Maybe he was the reason she got a new phone number. Hard to say, but she sure was popular. My phone rang a lot, and it was always for Jennifer.

And then, there's our landline number, which previously belonged to a mini-mart in St. Paul. For almost a year, most of the calls I got at home were someone saying, "Are you open?" I felt like a character from "Slackers."

[PJMcK]

39. What's a "landline"?

Actually, I'm an Apple user and I have two laptops, an iPhone 7, two older iPhones, an iPod Nano, two Apple TVs and a couple of old laptops for archival purposes. I've never been disappointed or unsatisfied with the company nor their products. Since I use these devices constantly, the higher prices I paid are insignificant when amortized on an hourly/daily basis. Further, everything I plug into works as its supposed to and I use my equipment for a lot of different applications. But, as with all things, to each his/her own.

It is remarkable, however, that Apple is choosing to price the iPhone X at $1,000 or more. That action pushes all of the cell phone market upwards. And I can't disagree with the "wow" factor of having the first $1,000 phone.

Not that it matters, but I don't have any plans to upgrade. In general, I upgrade computer-based equipment about every 5-6 years so I've got a few years till I have to worry about my phone.

In closing, I truly enjoyed your snark!

[FLPanhandle]

6. Can't you say that about any product that minimum wage workers can't afford?

The list is long. Why stop at just iPhone? New car, nice suit, any kind of boat, a vacation,... Should we all live as minimum wage workers to avoid judgment/condemnation?

[MineralMan]

8. Hmm...it's a matter of choice, I suppose.

There are plenty of very affordable cell phones and plans. A cell phone is a cell phone, whatever you paid for it. If yours is cooler because it cost a whole bunch, well...maybe.

Maybe those minimum wage workers need a raise. You think? Maybe they need a living wage.

[FLPanhandle]

11. It's not just a cell phone though

As I said in another post.

I travel quite a bit. My iPhone is not just my phone, it's my navigation system, camera, picture editing tool, work phone, work emails, personal phone, personal email, travel guide, flight status and boarding document system, weather report, social media platform, electronic hotel room key, payment system, web browser, and on and on and on.

Is it worth the money? Considering people used to spend well over that amount in the 80's/90's for different devices that do less than what this single device does, yes it is...to me.

Maybe to you no.

[dawg]

20. I stick close to either home or the office, so most of my work and correspondence is done on ...

one of my desktops.

Otherwise, I would have a smart phone. And I have always been impressed with Apple products' reliability, quality and ease of use. For lots of people, these things take the place of a laptop *and* a phone, so I don't think it is all that unreasonable that people spend as much on them as they do.

[FLPanhandle]

24. Smartphones are now integrated into other things too.

I have sensors in my boat for readout/alerts on the smartphone, I can integrate home security cameras with alerts on the phone.

The technology is getting deeply embedded into cars, boats, homes, other devices, etc.

I used to have an expensive electronic navigation chart system on my sailboat. Now, it's just another app on the iPhone.

It's kind of amazing to look back and see all devices I no longer need now that this one little device can do it.

[SaschaHM]

9. Sometimes I wonder how much disposable income does DU want people to have.

I'm by no means rich, but a 1k payment spaced out over 24 months isn't going to break my piggy bank. Hell, if anything, I may lose a few pounds by offsetting that payment by not eating out and cooking at home more.

[JonLP24]

28. I think DU is OK

The OP often lectures DUers so I wouldn't pay it no attention.

[PJMcK]

42. Ouch!

MineralMan is a prolific contributor to DU and writes intelligently, liberally and with great wit.

Ignore him if you don't like his stuff.

[JonLP24]

46. Trust me I do

I was just reading the expected responses.

[aikoaiko]

69. Not everyone is a fan of the passive-aggressive writing style.

Some people love it and some people don't.

[dawg]

12. The most powerful private equity CEO in the world uses a cheap flip phone.

... "Schwarzman, who has an estimated net worth of $10.7 billion, pulled out a gray flip phone from his coat pocket."

http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-schwarzman-uses-a-flip-phone-2014-12



dawg here: His is still nicer than mine.

[FLPanhandle]

17. but he has the latest iPad to do everything else an iPhone does

by the looks of this picture



He isn't skimping on his housing costs either

[dawg]

19. I have an $85 Kindle Fire for that stuff.

And my house isn't as nice.

[MineralMan]

41. Yeah, I have an old Kindle Fire, too.

It's my go to device in the evening. Still, I don't like reading books on it, so I'm still using my old Kindle with the eInk screen and a keyboard and no backlight. I have hundreds of books on it, mostly old books from the 19th century you can't find anywhere but on gutenburg.org. I'm going to be sad when that thing dies. I've had one die, but got another one before they quit selling them.

If I need on the road directions, my wife pulls out her phone. I hate it, so I plan my route before leaving home and keep a map book in the car, just in case.

[PJMcK]

43. What's a "map"?

Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

[MineralMan]

48. Really. I have a giant road atlas and one of those big map books of

the Minneapolis St. Paul metro area in the car. I don't use them often, except every time I go into Minneapolis, where I always get lost. What kind of city has numbered streets AND avenues that cross each other. "Meet me at Dive Bar on Third." Third WHAT!. "It's at Third and Fourth." Never mind...see you around...

at Minneapolis, the city with no understandable directions.

[Mosby]

64. do you have a fire hdx?

If not you can still buy them used, the 8.9 inch I got recently for 129.00 (gen 3) was basically new. The screen resolution is as high as the ipads but because it's an amazon product I have direct access to my book library.

[MineralMan]

71. No, it's the original issue fire.

Excellent resolution, though. I just don't like reading on a backlit screen. The earlier Kindle readers were better for just reading. The Fire, though is a great little tablet.

[eleny]

68. I used to resist reading books on my Kindle Fire 8.5

Then I saw how easy it is to look up stuff as you read. You know, highlighting and the dictionary, wiki or browser opens up. I was hooked. I still love reading paper books but now wish I could highlight words and phrases! And it's kinda nice to get ebooks from the library. That might be the most decadent part of this. I really love that instant reading of free books from the library or Amazon.

P.S. My husband still uses a flip phone. He likes the compact shape that fits in the palm of his hand. He can't stand the big phones like my Note3. And he always says that when we're out we look up stuff on my phone. So why give up his small one. He's got a point there!

[Ilsa]

88. I have a Samsung tablet, 8", I bought on sale at Costco.

Normally $190, on sale for $130, I think. I love it, but it is wifi only.

I had used iPhones until 4 years ago. I've had a Samsung 4 since then, but it's getting old, starting to drop calls, etc. So, my husband had upgraded from an iPhone 5s to the next one, so I got a new SIM card for the iPhone 5, and I hate it. I don't like the size, I don't like how it works at all. Can't wait to get a Samsung, maybe by next year.

[moda253]

23. People eat this stupid junk up all the time.

Give me a break. He whips out a flip phone now and again to show "how in touch he is" and people believe that garbage.

[dawg]

34. I don't think he's trying to do it to appear "in touch".

I think the flip phone meets his individual needs better than a smart phone would, so that's what he uses.

[MineralMan]

44. Yes. I use my flip phone as a phone. I make and receive phone calls on it.

I deal with emails on my desktop or notebook. Texts don't really have any value for me, so I don't use texts. My wife does, and is constantly having to deal with beeps on her cell phone with someone telling her something she doesn't care about and then going on and on with replies and more texts. Now that she has started texting with people, she can't stop.

I can text on my flip phone, but almost never do, except in an emergency. How many keypresses is a "t" again?

[delisen]

101. or he doesn't need the status symbol or the features of iPhone

or any other smart phone.

[delisen]

102. Is Apple exempt from anti-corporatist progressivism?

and if so.... why?

[ProgressiveValue]

14. Damn people that have more money!

While we are at it, I say we tell lottery winners we no longer want their vote, as they are now part of the 1%!

And men who drive nice cars definitely have a small penis! That's how anatomy works. If you have nice things, you have a small penis. That's why men purposefully drive the crapiest car they can find, to prove how big it is.

[MineralMan]

45. Funny.

[Major Nikon]

75. ...

[DaleFromWPB]

18. I reject your judgmental condescension

I work hard for my income and enjoy spending it on electronics.

I have an Amazon Alexa (since 2015), I bought a Google Home when it became available and I'll buy the Apple HomePod when it comes out.

In the meantime I'll pay $999 for the new iPhone. I don't do it to impress anyone, I don't do it to feel superior to anyone - I just like electronics.

You're not going to make me feel guilty that someone making minimum wage can't afford the same phone as I can.

I don't think of anyone as a 'lesser'
I don't think of anyone as a 'better'

We all have a certain station in life and live accordingly.

I can't afford a new Bentley but good for those who can!

Please point your upturned snoot in another direction.

[hardluck]

21. just ignore it

Apple product release days always turn into hairshirt days. Everyone starts preening about how they are proficient in morse code and use a telegraph, having recently upgraded from a carrier pigeon.

[jberryhill]

87. What? You don't know semaphore?

[Orrex]

106. Flagged for review

[MineralMan]

31. Cool!

Really...

[Trust Buster]

54. Thank you.

[MyNameGoesHere]

61. Amazon Alexa without a screen?

You're so obsolete.

[USALiberal]

90. Cool story! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. I'm still using a 5s.

It's fine as long as it keeps working. I try to stay at least two models behind until all the bugs are worked out of the new ones. I like new technology but I can wait. Also, I don't buy stuff to flaunt my "privilege. " I buy stuff that's useful to me and that I can afford, and I don't give a crap what other people think.

[MineralMan]

29. My wife just traded her 6+ for an iPhone SE for

a lower bill and a smaller form factor. She showed me how much smaller it was than her 6+, so I pulled out my tiny, free 8 years ago, Nokia flip phone and said

[MineralMan]

27. Say, all you folks trashing me. There really ISN'T an iPrivilege phone, you know.

It's a satire post. This has been really funny. This smiley says it -

[Zorro]

77. Report: New iPhone Will No Longer Secretly Record Every Word You Say

CUPERTINO, CA—In a surprising elimination of one of the product’s oldest features, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced at a product unveiling Tuesday that the new iPhone 8 will no longer secretly record every word you say.

“Although the iPhone 8 will be our most advanced device yet, it will not have the capability to clandestinely preserve every single thing that comes out of your mouth,” said Cook, explaining that, for the first time in its 10-year history, the iPhone will not come installed with a voice-activated recording device that automatically sends audio files of users’ conversations directly to Apple headquarters.

“That said, it’s worth emphasizing that this change in no way affects the functionality of older phones, which will not only continue to gather every spoken word but also permanently archive all your text messages regardless of whether you actually elected to store them in the cloud.”

Cook went on to say that removing the audio recording device helped create additional space for a longer-lasting battery that allows the phone’s camera to capture video of users 24 hours a day.

http://www.theonion.com/article/report-new-iphone-will-no-longer-secretly-record-e-56914

[Takket]

30. What is the difference between driving a Ferari or a used Malibu?

[snooper2]

36. Well, if the Malibu is 1978 or earlier might be worth it, never saw a Ferari before....

Is that some new type of electric car?

[MineralMan]

37. Well, you can drive the old Malibu a lot farther between

getting it fixed than the Ferrari. I was in a traffic jam in my Kia Soul one time, with a Ferrari just ahead of me. Nasty traffic, bumper to bumper. After a few minutes, steam started coming from the Ferrari, and then it stopped running. I went around him. He was on his cell phone, calling someone to come tow the thing away. It was a hot day, but, still...

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

33. Most of the people I know who own expensive cell phones

can barely afford food, rent and gas.

The wealthiest person I know has a three year old Nokia Lumia and says the only smart thing he uses a smart phone for is the GPS when he is driving one of his older cars and the Nokia has better battery life than his wife's iPhone.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

40. Poor people don't get to have nice things.

They should be using tin cans and strings. No iPhones for you, peasants! Maybe the reason the rich guy uses an old basic cell phone is because he has plenty of "real" computers to use for Internet access and other non-phone functions. If you're not so rich maybe a smart phone of some kind is your only computer and your only way to access the Internet, which these days is pretty much the only way to get anything done - like applying for jobs, for example.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

47. I don't care either way

But the young and dumb will spend much of their meager resources for the appearance of affluence.

See: Handbags

[MineralMan]

49. I never notice handbags.

Should I start?

[JonLP24]

50. You can find expensive handbags in thrift stores that don't know any better

As long as you know what to look for.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

52. I wouldn't know how to identify an expensive handbag.

[ProgressiveValue]

57. Coach for the upper middle class.

Chanel for the real rich people.

[onenote]

78. The young have done that for years

Does that make the "dumb"? Were brand conscious teens who bought certain clothes in the 1969s and 70s "dumb" because the didn't but cheap sears brand jeans? Are young people today who buy expensive basketball shoes dumber than their counterparts from 40 years ago?

[TexasTowelie]

53. September 15.

That's my guess as to when we will read about the first person that dropped their new iPhone 10 into the toilet.

[ProgressiveValue]

58. Remember the idiots who fell for "how to drill your own headphone jack"?

I'd have loved to send those, who do not understand how things work, instructions on making their new game age game console play old school games. Step 1, cut Nintendo cartridge sized hole in top of system. Step 2, insert Nintendo cartridge into hole. Step 3, enjoy!

[still_one]

55. but can it make phone calls?

[lunasun]

60. I wish I had more Apple products than I already have

Sent from my IPad

[Proud Liberal Dem]

62. Not sure that I'd want to advertise my extreme wealth and privilege like that

Maybe Trump would but........

[Warren DeMontague]

65. ....slow day at the quarry, eh?

[Major Nikon]

76. My iPhone never gets a good signal down in the salt mines

[Jakes Progress]

67. Here's an idea.

Don't buy one.

It seems the only thing cooler than owning an iPhone is being the contrarian that dumps on them. For pete's sake. It's a phone. Buy. Don't buy.

Do you invest cars or guitars or shoes or coffee with the same power over your emotions?

[Warren DeMontague]

70. No way in hell am I gonna buy one. And here's why.

It's too fucking big. I have zero use for a phone that wont comfortably fit in my pocket. All the bells and whistles in the world wont make up for that.

[Jakes Progress]

109. Okay. And I won't be buying a holly bush.

I'm just not all that emotional and fit-prone over it.

[Warren DeMontague]

110. was I being emotional and fit-prone, there?

Jesus, that's me being calm.

[Jakes Progress]

111. To each.

[Warren DeMontague]

112. don't get me started on the cargo shorts

I tell you what, hoo doggie.

[Adrahil]

72. I want one...

If just to piss off the haters!

[aidbo]

74. Nt

[brokephibroke]

79. Looks like a cool device

Will await the reviews before jumpin in....

[SHRED]

81. My S8 works great

Lightning fast, more versatile, and less expensive.

[cagefreesoylentgreen]

83. If that's your thing

Personally, I prefer to judge people by what they do with their shopping cart once they've finished unloading their groceries.

[AJT]

89. Indeed.

[crazycatlady]

84. I'm a PC/Android girl

However, if someone wants to spend their $$ on a new phone, that's their business not yours.

I have an older Samsung phone (that I'd like to upgrade next year when the S9 comes out). When you think of it, this is a list of all the devices that my Galaxy has replaced.

Landline
Calculator
Alarm Clock
TV
GPS
Music Player
Video Game console
Camera
Scanner (I take photos of what I would have scanned. Works for short documents too)
Printer (I show people things that I would have otherwise printed on my phone)

There are apps available to replace even more functions (ie a flashlight).

If I carried a flip phone, I probably would not be where I am career wise as a smartphone is a requirement for my job (and I'm sure others). In a field dominated by people younger than me, I'd be seen as a Luddite. (I get a stipend to cover my phone).

I know this forum skews older (I'm a generation behind many here) but this strikes me as another get off my lawn type post and is very condescending towards people who choose to embrace current technology instead of hanging onto the past.

[WinkyDink]

98. Same here! PC and an Axon ZTE Android phone that takes awesome photos! Half the price.

[jalan48]

86. I like my i5

[erinlough]

91. This may be true for some.

I have had lots of different phones and I go by what works for me. Bigger phones don't fit in my pockets so the big Apple phones are not my thing, SE or an older 5S for me. Android phones make me mad because of how they work so I go with iOS phones, that said it is a personal preference, not an opinion for everyone else. I backed a new smart watch on kickstarter so I don't need an Apple Watch right now.

My point is, sometimes it's not about privilege but preference. I have found you can come up with the money for things important to you so not only status seekers will get the iPhone ten. It's just too big for me. I would like the OLED screen though!

[Willie Pep]

93. I guess certain brands of phones are now status symbols.

I remember when cars were the big status symbols. I guess that has changed a bit. I never cared about flaunting brands. If people like the more expensive iPhone then that is OK but I am fine with my Android. I never buy Apple products. I have always been a PC person.

[backscatter712]

95. And here I am in Android Land.

Running a Galaxy S8 - pretty sweet phone, not quite as ridiculously expensive as the latest iPhone...

[MattBaggins]

97. I own a Google Pixel

So I am uberleet.

[VOX]

103. Once, we needed technology to survive; now, technology needs us to survive.

Everything is flipped 180 degrees. Or has been for awhile. Nothing makes any sense right now. Every day brings a fresh challenge to reality, courtesy of #45 or one of his mouthpieces.

I mostly use my phone for basic communication, calls and texts (and maybe a little DUing in the wee hours). Going to hold off on joining the absurd crush of humanity in Apple stores until next year, provided the damned batteries don't completely give out by then.

Going through this extravagance every year is foolish business. I try to stretch the intervals out to three years if possible.

[dkhbrit]

104. We could easily afford this, however

1. No matter how good the iPhone is, iTunes is still shit. I mean, really shit.

2. Any phone that you can't just drag and drop files to is useless to me.

3. We use Project Fi which is the best kept secret in cellular phones. The only catch? It doesn't work with either iPhones or Samsung Galaxy. We've never been happier.

[OxQQme]

105. The Silent Generation

Telephones in the 1950s

The 1950s were prosperous years for the United States and saw many technological and economic advances. One of these forward strides was the widespread adoption of the telephone in American homes and businesses. By the 1950s, roughly two-thirds of American households had at least one telephone, with the percentage growing every year. The core technology was already highly advanced, similar to landline technology in the 21st century, but none of the ancillary technologies like voicemail and text messaging existed yet. It was also a different time in that one company, AT&T, controlled nearly the entire industry.

Telephones in the 1950s had a sleek, shiny appearance but were bulky by 2010s standards. They consisted of a freestanding base with a rotary dial on the front -- as keypads had not yet been introduced. The dial had 10 finger holes in it, corresponding to the digits 1 through 9 and zero. By winding the phone from the correct finger hole, callers could dial any number. Behind the dial was a holster for the receiver. The receiver resembled a horn, with a large earpiece and mouthpiece on either end and a comfortable handgrip in the middle. The base itself housed two bells for the ringer, a spring for the rotary dial, a governor to keep the spring from uncoiling too quickly and various electronic components.

A Regulated Monopoly

In the 1950s, people didn't own their telephones. They rented them from AT&T, which wanted to supply universal telephone service to the country and had consented to become a regulated monopoly in 1913, remaining so for most of the 20th century. During this time, AT&T allowed the Federal Communications Commission to approve its policies and prices. In return, AT&T and its subsidiaries became the sole providers of everything a person needed for telephone service. With only a few exceptions, AT&T owned the phones, the phone lines and the networks, and provided both local and long-distance telephone service to the majority of Americans. AT&T was ruthlessly restrictive about the use of its products and services and regularly sued other companies who manufactured their own devices to attach to AT&T phones or lines. For decades, AT&T won these battles, but in 1956, a court ruling went the other way. This eventually led to other companies being allowed to make products that would modify AT&T products and services, which, decades later, would help unravel AT&T's monopoly.

Aesthetic Stagnation

Telephone aesthetics didn't change much during the 1950s. Since it already controlled the market, AT&T had no reason to offer unnecessary choices and complexity. Consumers had their pick of several different models of freestanding and wall-mounted units, encased in shiny plastic that came in a variety of colors -- mostly black, white and brown, though brighter colors like red and teal were available as well. Otherwise, there was little variety available. This differed greatly from the conventions of the 2010s, where aesthetics are a major competitive selling point.

Technological Innovation

Unlike aesthetics, technological innovations continued apace throughout the 1950s. By the end of the decade, nearly all the remaining manual local telephone exchanges, which required a human operator to connect a local phone call, had been replaced by automatic exchanges although operators remained available for directory assistance. Direct distance dialing also came about in the 1950s, allowing callers to directly dial long-distance numbers without an operator intermediary. Another major change was the gradual phase-out of the named telephone exchange system. Until the 1950s, telephone numbers typically consisted of letters followed by numbers. These letters were mnemonics that mapped to words, making phone numbers easier to remember and served as names for the local telephone exchanges that handled those phone lines. As late as 1955, AT&T was still updating and streamlining this system, but in 1958 began to phase it out in favor of the all-number dialing used today.

[betsuni]

107. I just saw this on the news, wow, expensive.

I don't understand what it does that's worth so much money. But then, I'm a Neanderthal: don't like cell phones because I can't hear when I get a call when out because everything's so noisy and nobody needs to talk to me anyway. I still have a land line but never answer the phone because if somebody does need to talk to me I don't want to know why. I like books made out of paper and music out of vinyl. Your modern world confuses me.

[alarimer]

108. It is wasteful consumerism and represents all that is wrong with society

We are a throwaway culture. I mean, why in the hell do you need a new phone every fucking year? I'm sure lots of perfectly usable phones of all sorts end up in landfills.

This sort of think used to be called planned obsolescence- make it so that people have to have the new model every year or two to keep the corporate coffers filled. God, I hate capitalism so much. But that's a rant for another day.