I got my iPod in January of 2006. I remember excitedly opening the box and examining my new, shiny piece of technology. The screen, which now has thousands of scratches, was smooth and crystal clear. The rolling wheel thing below the screen was confusing to use in the beginning, but once I figured out that scrolling clockwise moved down the menu list, and scrolling counter-clockwise moved up the menu list, I had a pretty firm grasp on how to use the iPod.
The iPod itself is a tiny object. It can easily fit into a pocket or can be carried around in your hand. The iPod is only about 4 inches in length by 2.5 in width, and it is only a half inch thick. The screen of the iPod is a 2 by 1.5 inch display, and it displays the song name, the artist, and the album the song came from. It also displays the artwork from the album cover. Underneath the screen is the rolling wheel. The circle inside of the rolling wheel is used to select an item from the list, whether you want to listen to music, watch videos, view photos, etc. The icons on the rolling wheel are pretty self-explanatory. Press down on each icon to do what each one represents. Press the left one to rewind/go back to the previous song, press the right one to fast forward/skip a song, press the top one to go up to the previous menu list, and press the bottom one to play/pause a song. On the top of the iPod is a hold switch, used to lock the iPod so that there will be no response from the iPod if a button is pushed, and a headphone jack. On the bottom of the iPod, is a USB jack used to allow the iPod to be connected to a computer to add songs.
When I first got my iPod, it represented something new and shiny to cherish, but now it represents an object which helps me boost my mood and distracts me from what’s going on in my life. When I listen to the songs on my iPod, I tend to let my mind wander and I escape from reality. That is why I can’t listen to music while studying, or doing anything that requires all of my concentration, because it’s so easy to get distracted by the music.
I don’t know how to end this blog entry. I thought about leaving a link to a song I like to describe the types of songs that I have on my iPod, but there are just too many to choose from, too many different song genres, too many songs I like depending on what I'm doing at that exact moment. Eventually, I decided to go with this relaxing song.
2 comments:
I have the same feeling after I bought my first Ipod in 2005. It feels smooth and still very shiny. But now, it is now full of scratches because i dropped it way too many times.
As of today, i think Ipod is a part of our necessity instead of an entertainment. I heard a lot of people saying "You don't have an Ipod? Do you live in a stone age?" That is an example of how an Ipod has transform into something more than just an entertainment. It becomes a necessity, as you have described in your blog, right now you don't need it for entertainment, but an object for boosting up your mood.
I really like how you take the time to explain the (now seemingly obvious, to some) controls of the iPod. Your post both examines this commonplace personal device as a monolith, yet also demystifies its monolithic status by simply describing its features almost as an anthropologist. Your ending is particularly great, with a self-aware sense of being overwhelmed by options, which nevertheless narrow into a single 'choice'. Nicely done, Arlen.
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