Griptioneer Dan and my Favorite Piece of Tech

by Dan Jenson
in Gripping Outdoor Gear · Gripping Tech Gear · Gripping Thoughts
— 28 Apr, 2014

Me, pondering about awesomeness in front of Delicate Arch

You may be wondering what “Griptioneer” means. You can see the definition here: GRIPTIONEER. Basically, it’s a person seeking awesomeness in all things.

I’m Dan. One of the founders of Gription Gear. I consider myself a Griptioneer because of my intense desire to discover tech that makes life more enjoyable. I seek awesomeness constantly.

Awesomeness in tech gadgets. Awesomeness in the great outdoors. Awesomeness in great tech to improve the outdoor experience. This is what I’m about. This is what Gription Gear is about.

Me with Andy, Mike, and our Dad in Arches, UT

I started Gription Gear with my brothers, Mike and Andy, to allow us to share what we find as Griptioneers in the world of tech and the outdoors. I want to share with you every awesome product I use to improve my daily life. My brothers share this mission and passion.

So what gadget has gripped me the most through the years? What is my favorite, most useful piece of tech yet?

My iPhone!

iPhone 5S

I love my iPhone. It has changed my life immensely since my first one in 2008. I stood in line with my good friend Jordan, at 5:30am at a local Apple store. It was absolutely worth the wait.

7-11-08, the Apple Store in SLC, UT in The Gateway Mall

7-11-08, standing in line for my iPhone 3G

Before this, I had a Motorola Razr, and before that, a handful of other flip phones. Each one was very basic and I used them solely for phone calls and texting, no other data. After using the Razr for a about two years and waiting for the second version of the iPhone (3G) to be released-it was finally time for me to dive into the Smartphone era.

Motorola Razr flip phone

Check out these interesting articles on the Razr’s popularity and the transition from this to the Smartphone era.

Remembering the Razr; Status Symbols: Motorola Razr; Wikipedia: Motorola Razr

I also had a Pentax digital camera I would use often for capturing average quality pictures and videos. I had a new iPod Photo I thought was so amazing (a month later the iPod Video was released for the same price)!

iPod Photo

I also had a series of camcorders I used through the years: The more recent included a Sony Handicam with 8mm tapes, a JVC Mini DV, and then a JVC Everio HDD. All with their problems and limitations in functionality.

Smaller than a can of Dew!

Bottom line, I had three devices I was using almost daily. And then came the iPhone. Three devices in one! Well, three devices, plus more with all the apps available (web browsing, calendar and notepad, calculator, GPS, Google and Apple Maps and thousands more)!

The current home screen for my iPhone

With one purchase I essentially eliminated the need for all these random devices. This was the epitome of simplicity for me. The photo above is a screenshot of my current iPhone home page. This is a glimpse of all the apps I use and have access to daily.

My iPhone, starting from the iPhone 3GS, and currently the iPhone 5S, has been glued to my hand and pocket for the past 6 years! I have anxiously awaited the next iPhone release every year since.

A work of art, iPhone 5S

Andy loves to mock me. He has used an iPhone, a Windows Phone (Nokia Lumia), the Samsung S3 and S4 and now the LG Flex with Android OS. He touts the fact that he can change themes easily, or add widgets to his home screen and other amazing things, but I have yet to see anything amazing enough to cause me to make the switch. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all great technology, but there are just too many things about Apple devices and iOS that I love. I rarely, if ever, have a problem with my iPhone and if I do-it always gets fixed in an update or I can find a solution quickly.

I love the Apple logo-simple, clean, and crisp

Okay, I’m into Apple products. Do I get protective and defensive of my Apple device? Yes. I admit it. But it was such a pivotal moment for me as a Griptioneer when I first experienced the iPhone and all it offered me.

I could bring one device, with one cable on all my adventures. I could capture decent quality photos and videos. I could play music without an external speaker or headphones! I could browse the Internet and Google anything at almost any time.

So yes, I’m an Apple fan (more on this in another post). I will be forever. But as a Griptioneer, I am open to all things awesome.

I still love all the amazing products Google is creating. I am amazed by Windows 7 and how useful it is during my workday (Windows 8 is another story). I am impressed by Samsung and the Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

I love technology. I love bringing technology on my outdoor adventures to enhance my experience. I love Gription Gear.

I hope I have conveyed my passion for awesome tech to you, my fellow Griptioneers. Keep exploring awesomeness always and please, share what you find with us! You can use the Gripping Gear Review Form to do so.

Thanks for reading.

-Griptioneer Dan

Tags: adventure amazon amazon.com arches Awesome camera Cell Phone delicate arch gadgets Gear Gription griptioneer iphone iphone 3gs iPhone 5 iphone 5s outdoors Phone Samsung galaxy s3 smartphone tech technology

— Dan Jenson

Hi I'm Dan. I'm a Digital Marketing Specialist. I’m a full blooded Utahn and a father of three. I'm obsessed with awesome tech and outdoor gear. I spend my time wrestling my kids, capturing memories with my iPhone, and sharing my experiences through social media.