Certainly the iPhone 3G has changed a lot about how we think of our mobile devices, but I guess I never thought we would discover the ultimate geek magnet -- the nerd whistle of all App Store apps -- the Phonesaber.
Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn't allow it. (Credit: CNET Networks)
Regardless of the experience, the point of the adventure was to check out the new iPhone 3G. It's my first iPhone so once I got back to the office, I went through and marveled at all the regular features. I checked out the mail program, the calendar, Safari, the camera, and the experience of Google Maps on a phone. Then I looked at the GPS (Hey, that's me!) and a couple of YouTube videos before I ventured into Apple's new App Store. I went directly to the free section--no need to buy Super Monkey Ball right away, right? I just wanted to check out the overall App Store experience.
After finger-scrolling through the list (can I say that?), I stumbled upon a download called PhoneSaber made by TheMacBox. It claimed to make the sounds of a Star Wars Lightsaber, and I like Star Wars as much as the next guy, so I downloaded it.
PhoneSaber shows a small lightsaber handle in the lower-center part of the screen with five different color choices on the left. As a regular law-abiding Jedi on the side of all that is good, I chose blue. Immediately I heard the familiar sound of a Star Wars Lightsaber coming to life. As I slowly moved the phone from side to side I heard the low electronic wooshing sounds I associated with watching epic battles between Luke and Darth Vader. I realized PhoneSaber was using the iPhone's motion sensor to generate the appropriate sounds. When I started chopping at the air, the PhoneSaber made the sounds of lightsabers violently crossing paths in the ultimate sci-fi melee.
In my reverie I didn't realize (but should have) that the entire cubicle section around me now had their eyes trained on the nerd waving his iPhone around in the air like Obi Wan. After a couple of moments of embarrassed silence, the other iPhone owner in the room said, "What's that one called?"
"Oh that?" I answered quietly, "PhoneSaber." I'm not totally sure, but I think within a couple of minutes I heard a lightsaber spring to life from across the room only to be quickly extinguished.
That was yesterday. Now as I walk through the office, I've heard more than a few PhoneSabers spring to life. Certainly the iPhone 3G has changed a lot about how we think of our mobile devices, but I guess I never thought we would discover the ultimate geek magnet -- the nerd whistle of all App Store apps -- the Phonesaber.
-- Posted by Jason Parker