Post 5 - History of the Smart Phone

 History

2007 - The Original iPhone

Revealed on January 9, 2007 and released June 28 that same year, the Apple iPhone was a truly revolutionary communication device. The iPhone had the combined functionality of a cell phone, a GPS, a computer, and an mp3 player in a pocket-sized, touchscreen device. No other phone on the market could compete with the iPhone's convenience or utility.

2008 - The First Android Phone

On October 22, 2008, just over a year after the iPhone's release, the first Android smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, hit shelves. Drawing direct inspiration from the iPhone, the G1 sported a touchscreen and roughly the same functionality as its competition. The main differences between the T-Mobile G1 and the iPhone are their operating systems and the presence of a physical, blackberry-style keyboard and trackball.

Apple Versus Android (Samsung)

This graph shows the percentage of the global market share controlled by Samsung (in blue) and Apple (in gray) from 2009 to 2023. Android is often perceived as only Samsung phones, when in reality, many more companies use Android operating systems in their phones. Still, Samsung is the biggest distributor of phones with Android operating systems. 

Despite Apple's initial advantage and general popularity, Samsung was able to take the top market share spot from Apple for multiple quarters. Recently, the brands have had roughly equal shares in the smartphone market. This is likely due to the current plateau in advancements in smartphone technology. During the height of the two brands' competition (I would say from Quarter 2 2011 to Quarter 2 2020), smartphone technology made leaps and bounds in every regard. Cameras, screens, and chipsets are all exponentially more powerful now than they were at the smartphone's conception. In the past four years however, this smartphone arms race has slowed down, resulting in Samsung and Apple's yearly flagship phones being comparable.

Impact

Staying Connected

The advent of the smartphone revolutionized communication. With smartphones came the rise of messaging applications and social media, two forms of communication through which any person with a smartphone could reach another person, so long as they also had one of their own. Smartphones have quickly become vital to staying up to date and in touch with friends, family, and current events.

In addition to reshaping how we communicate, smartphones have created a variety of norms and stigma, altering our perceptions of others. It is considered taboo to not have a smartphone, and people without them are perceived as out of touch or behind the times. The stigma even go so far as judgement based on what smartphone you might have. Due to Apple's unique standing as the original smartphone brand, the iPhone is seen as a status symbol. The newer your iPhone is, the more affluent and contemporary you are perceived to be. Though functionally identical and comparably priced, Android phones are seen as the poor person's smartphone. This social norm is reinforced by Apple's iMessage lowering the quality of videos and photos sent from Android phones as well as having messages sent by those phones appear in green bubbles instead of blue ones.

Until the next groundbreaking invention in communication, the smartphone will continue to shape the way we connect with others, receive our information, and live our lives.

Sources

Wired article on the iPhone: 

https://www.wired.com/story/guide-iphone/

Statista Apple vs. Android graph: 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/271496/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-vendors-since-4th-quarter-2009/

Textline Smartphone History Article:

https://www.textline.com/blog/smartphone-history

Post 3 - Eight Values of Free Expression

 Personal View

Of the eight values of free expression, the one I resonate with most is promoting innovation. In the world of game design, expression is crucial to success. Like the value describes, in a country where free speech is both protected and encouraged, creativity can thrive. 

Some games, as is true of other forms of media and art, serve to send a message or express the developers' view of the world. One of such games is Metal Gear Solid; a game chock full of anti-war and anti-government sentiment that just so happens to also have an incredibly compelling and complex story. Without the protection of free speech, games like Metal Gear Solid would never get to be appreciated, and would likely be shut down before they ever reached shelves.

Metal Gear franchise portal:https://www.konami.com/mg/us/en/

Social Media and Free Expression

Social media has links to a number of the eight values of free expression, and it very well could be connected to each and every one of them in due time. 

Social media's strongest connection lies in it being a marketplace of ideas. Whatever topic you seek out, you can surely find a massive variety of content on it. Social media is a web of facts, opinions, and falsehoods. The longer you use it, the more difficult they become to distinguish. One can only hope that like the description states, truth becomes stronger than falsehood in their endless grapple that is social media.

Social media isn't purely an engine for confusion however. It can also be an avenue for self-actualization. A great many people have made a career out of social media simply by being themselves. A feat like this is only possible in a society that promotes and protects free expression.

Current Event - The TikTok Ban

Recently, the United States government has moved to ban TikTok, a social media platform that focuses on sharing short-form video content. The app owned by a Chinese company. Naturally, this means that usage data is being collected by said Chinese company. This data collection is unsettling for the U.S. government, as they claim the data collected could be used for malicious purposes, one official going so far as saying it is "a gun pointed straight at our heads."

In my personal opinion, I think this issue is blown somewhat out of proportion. I can understand the U.S. government being upset that the data from one of the most popular social media apps is not accessible to them, but a ban is excessive. A quick glance at the article below reveals some of the justifications senators are using for the ban of this app. To someone in the app's target audience like myself, the points these people make seem outlandish and disconnected. 

Beyond my admittedly biased ranting, to ban of TikTok is to encroach on free expression. The United States government is removing a platform that millions use to make their voices heard. Additionally, thousands are being put out of jobs. As I mentioned earlier, social media is a career path that numerous individuals have chosen, and rebuilding a viewer base on another platform is no easy feat. This ban is not an action a nation that prides itself on protecting free speech should, in my mind, take.

ABC News TikTok ban article: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-mulls-tiktok-ban-amid-us-national-security/story?id=108321771

Post 2 - The Supreme Court

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know? 

The Supreme Court video was full of useful information, as well as some especially interesting and new facts. The most interesting thing that I learned from the video is how the Supreme Court values each certiorari, or case request, that they receive equally. I assumed that some form of prioritization occurred when it came to whether or not the Supreme Court took a case, and I was proven wrong in the best possible way when the justices in the video stated that each of the thousands of cases they review is treated with equal respect. 

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

The most important take-away point about the Supreme Court, in my opinion, is the power of Judicial Review, the court's unique ability to deem the actions of the other branches unconstitutional. No other court in the world holds this much power, nor could any other court wield it so effectively. Judicial Review, in my eyes, is the key piece in the checks and balances the United States' government has.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?

I knew going into the Supreme Court video that justices are able to serve for as long as they want to or are capable of serving. The statistic that most justices serve an average of sixteen years truly caught me off guard. I was further surprised when that statement was closely followed by the fact that many justices can serve for double or more that time. Considering how strictly we in the United States abide to terms for our highest leadership positions, the Supreme Court's lack of a concrete term for its justices surprises me.

How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

The video made me respect the Supreme Court quite a bit more. In addition to concisely and clearly describing the Supreme Court's power and purpose, the video did an excellent job humanizing the justices. Personal connection is very important to me, and the video showing the justices both inside and outside of the courtroom put real people behind what I so often see as a group of powerful figures in big robes.

Post 1 - Top Five News and Information Sources

In this post, I will cover my personal top five sources from which I get my news and information. These sources are in no particular order.

MSNBC - https://www.msnbc.com/

MSNBC is an extremely left-leaning news source, and one I do not use with much frequency, primarily because I do not have access to cable TV in my dorm. I was introduced to this network by my parents, who, like myself are both registered democrats. Like the next two news sources, I watch MSNBC for a perspective on global and national issues I can use to formulate my own stance.

FOX News - https://www.foxnews.com/

In stark contrast to MSNBC, FOX News is an extremely far-right news source. I watch this network because I find it interesting to compare and contrast extreme left and extreme right views on current issues. Like MSNBC, I only consume FOX News content through their TV broadcasts.

CNN - https://www.cnn.com/

CNN is less blue than MSNBC, but I would still consider it a left-leaning news source. It is also the final one of the news sources I inherited from my parents. I consume CNN content almost exclusively through TV airings which I, again, cannot access in my dorm. I use CNN as another perspective on global issues.

Instagram - https://about.instagram.com/

Instagram is an application I use for news related to my personal interests, as I cannot be sure whether or not the information I see on current issues can be trusted. I use Instagram more than the three previous sources combined which is due in part to the fact that it is a social media platform in addition to  a news source.

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/

YouTube is a video sharing platform, and another place that I get news about my personal interests. I have been using YouTube longer than any of the above platforms, but I have only recently been using it as a news source. While I trust YouTube for news on my interests, like Instagram, I would not trust for major stories, unless they were uploads from reliable news sources. Still, I prefer TV broadcast news to video uploads, as seeing the news on my TV as it is cast makes it feel more important.