Fone Phun

I have been experiencing fone phun lately, or what some of you might call phone fun. Actually, it isn't all that much fun for those who were brought up on attached, black, rotary, dial phones, which we accessed via a party line. My best recollection is even that didn't even occur until I was 7 years old. I don't think I had even chanced to see or hear of the newfangled, devilish devices prior to that.

I'll try to be brief, but I don't know if I can manage, for I do have a bit of a narrative to unfold.

My cell phone started getting hot -- very hot -- when charging or even after just a few minutes of normal use. Having already replaced the battery once after earlier shenanigans and provocations, I decided that my iPhone6 had fought the good fight, run its course, and was destined for the hereafter..

After dithering and seeking advice, I ordered a new one from Apple -- not the latest and greatest, unless you were to set your clock back a few years.

After several days of keeping the old phone unplugged and safely in quarantine, I decided that I needed to charge it up for the impending switchover. Lo and behold, it did not heat up then. Nor did it heat up later in the transfer process, for which I, thankfully, had help from my tech support SiL.

While not the latest and greatest iteration of phone technology, which could have set me back an additional grand, it is red, and I like red. I have a red winter coat and red caps. Don't ask me why I like red. I just do. I like red so much that I have just ordered long, red, wool socks.

Just Unboxed

Setup was easy peasey, at least at the hands of my expert helper, and I was soon getting used to the workings which differ slightly from my old model. Soon enough, it was bedtime when I often listen to a podcast for a short while before Mr Sandman drops by. 

Before trundling into the dark where my beauteous wife lay in sweet repose, I scrolled to my podcast app and readied the podcast that I wanted to listen to that night. I keep my earbuds by the bed, so all that remained was to plug in the earbuds in the dark once I got into bed. I do that all of the time. It isn't difficult.

But on this newfangled and fandangled device, I could not find the earbud hole in the dark.

I took my spiffy red phone out into the hall, turned on the light, and examined the phone-edges studiously, looking for the appropriate entry.I turned it over and over and around and around.

What the heck?! No earbud opening. At all.

Upon messaging with my personal tech support fella in the morning, he inquired if I wasn't sent one of these (look << thataway) adapters to connect earbuds to the newer phone.

Uh, no! I was only sent a cord that I didn't recognize.

He informed me that I could order one from Apple for $10.

OK fine! But what is the cord that they did send me, which I could not recognize? It was not a USB adapter.

But oh yes, it really was a USB adapter but for the next generation of USB. I think it is called USBc.

No. Of course, they don't send an actual plugin box along with the new style cord. No siree. You have to purchase that box separately as well. Of course you do. Thankfully, I do have my antiquated USB paraphernalia, and it will work with this phone.

Oh, by the way, you can also charge this phone wirelessly. But guess what. That device also costs extra.

Fortunately, I have my personal tech support guy, or I would be lost. What do others do? I suppose if they purchase directly from a store, they would be told and sold all of this stuff in the first place. But how do you go to a store during a lockdown when you are only permitted to shop for essentials?

Anyway, I have ordered the $10 adapter and my old USB connector will work fine. In the meantime, I do have an old iPod which will connect me to podcasts if needed. 

But goodness gracious me oh my! Why oh why must it all be so complicated?