April 5, 2011 marked the thirty eighth anniversary of the first prototype mobile phone. It took its first test run on the streets of New York. Back then, seeing such a device confused and dumbfounded those who witnessed it. In 1973, even the thought of being able to walk freely in public and talk to someone on a phone at the same time was incomprehensible.

The first cell phone could be categorized as a brick. It weighed over a pound and measured 13.5 inches long. It had only 9 buttons– recall, clear, send, store, function, end, power, lock, volume plus the keypad. It took over 10 hours to fully charge and had a maximum talking time of 30 minutes. To top it off, it had a price tag of around $3500. Aren’t we glad that cell phone technology has come such a long way?

Having internet-capable, wireless mobile phones was just science fiction a decade ago. Now, instead of carrying around cell phone bricks, we’ve got beautiful iPhones and BlackBerrys, all of which we can bling out and make our own with cute cell phone cases and custom Swarovski cell phone covers.

But then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if cell phone bricks make a ‘retro’ comeback sometime in the near future as an homage to our technological past. What do you think? Would you use one that resembled a 35 year old cell phone?

Source: Geekwithlaptop

Besides being mega successful artists, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and 50 Cent are all pop culture icons who have incorporated the discussion of technology into their own creative works. I’m not talking about using technology to create songs (or in Gaga’s case making a telephone out of hair), but rather, adding to lyrics the talk of gadgets and gizmos.

Just take a look at Britney Spears’ chorus in her song “Phonology” from her Circus premium album:

I’m in to phonography
And I like my bluetooth
Buttons coming loose
I need my handsfree
Then I let my mind roam
Playing with my ringtone
He got service I got service baby we could talk all night

Britney makes handfree bluetooth devices sexy here by intertwining bedside chatting with high-tech gadgets.

More recently, one of the biggest duo hits in 2010 is “Telephone” by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce in Gaga’s second release The Fame Monster. Consider these lyrics:

Just a second,
It’s my favorite song they’re gonna play
And I cannot text you with
A drink in my hand, eh
You should’ve made some plans with me,
You knew that I was free.
And now you won’t stop calling me;
I’m kinda busy.

We see here that Gaga and Beyonce (“Gagonce”?) are toting their “don’t leave home without it” telephone or, more precisely, cell phone to the club. However, unlike Britney’s technology that is a solution to her problem, Gaga and Beyonce’s telephone acts as chain to their clingy, possessive ball. Whoever is blowing up their phone is just annoying the heck out of these independent ladies!

50 Cent and Justin Timberlake in the duo hit “Ayo Technology” also take an “annoyed” view of technology. Timberlake chimes:

Baby this a new age, you like my new craze
Let’s get together maybe we can start a new phase
The smokes got the club all hazy, spotlights don’t do you justice baby
Why don’t you come over here, you got me saying

Ayo, I’m tired of using technology,
Why don’t you sit down on top of me
Ayo, I’m tired of using technology,
I need you right in front of me

Even though I’m not exactly sure what kind of “technology” Timberlake is tired of using, I do know that he doesn’t want to use it anymore because he’d rather see this girl physically close to him. Again, the difference between Britney and Justin is that for Britney, her gadget is empowering her while Timberlake’s is getting in the way. (Is it any coincidence that they’re exes?)

What’s interesting in Beyonce’s “Videophone” featuring Lady Gaga is that she may be taking a jab at all the celebrity sex tape scandals. She slyly croons:

Them hustlas keep on talkin’
They like the way I’m walkin’
You saying that you want me
So press record, I’ll let you film me

On your video phone, make a cameo
Tape me on your video phone, I can handle you
Watch me on your video phone, on your video, video
If you want me you can watch me on your video phone

One can argue that instead of being a victim, Beyonce takes control in this situation. She plays various fantasy characters for audience to record on their videophones but they can never literally touch her. It’s obvious that technology is ubiquitous and pervasive in our daily lives, and it is evidenced by how often gadgets and gizmos are mentioned in pop music.