Friday Fave: iPhone 3GS

Happy Birthday to me! I actually celebrated my 26th several weeks ago, but my husband's gift didn't arrive until Monday. To be honest, I haven't been able to put it down since...but at least I've been putting it to good use! I thought this would be a perfect topic for Friday Faves, so read on to find out how the iPhone has become an integral part of my life as a music therapist.

1. Calendar
Until now, I've had your basic, run-of-the-mill flip phone that doesn't do much besides make calls and send texts. It did have a calendar feature, but it was nowhere near as user-friendly and helpful as the iPhone's. Keeping track of my summer schedule - music therapy appointments, lessons, meetings, deadlines, etc. - has never been easier. I can input my events via my computer (and then sync with the phone) or just the phone itself. I can also set an alarm to remind me of events either the day before or the day of.

2. Voice Memos
This is a brand new feature on the iPhone, and one that I've already come to rely on. As a songwriter, I'm always coming up with song ideas at the most inopportune times. Whether it was in the car, at the grocery store, or what have you, I was constantly forgetting melodies and lyrics I couldn't record or write down in time. Not anymore! Now I just pull out my phone, sing or say my idea right into the speaker, and come back to it later.

3. Checklists
I don't know about you, but I'm a list person. My husband is constantly teasing me about the paper lists I keep, written neatly in colored pen and then marked through with squiggle lines when each item is completed. With the checklist application on my phone, I can now keep separate lists for different areas of my life (music therapy, blogging, errands, groceries) and mark items with a check at completion. Simple, but a list-maker's dream.

4. TweetDeck
I've written previously about my love for Twitter; now thanks to my iPhone, I can "tweet" on the go and keep up with what my "tweeps" are doing. TweetDeck allows me to view both of my Twitter accounts, and I can update either one right from my phone.

5. Email
This is probably the most useful aspect of my iPhone. I'm an email junkie, so having constant access is a real thrill. I can receive and send messages from all three of my accounts, and my phone is kind enough to alert me when I have a delivery to my inbox :)

I really could keep on going here, but I'd hate to bore you. The bottom line is that the iPhone allows me to stay connected, organized, and productive amidst the wonderful chaos that is my daily life. What did I ever do without it? (just kidding...kind of.)