In addition to functioning as a tea timer, it also browses the web, does email, plays music and makes phone calls. It really is an amazingly flexible device. As such, I can start timing my tea in seven simple steps:
step 1: press power button
step 2: swipe to unlock
step 3: press the home button
step 4: locate and launch clock application
step 5: select clock mode to timer
step 6: enter desired time with round wheel-thingies
step 7: hit start
Actually, by the time I hit start, my tea is pretty much done. That is why I don't use the greatest. most flexible tea timer in the world, I use a simple, dedicated hardware device - the same one I've been using for the past 15 years that I purchased form a scientific catalog. I use this device instead of a kitchen timer because it has a 10-key pad instead of H:M:S buttons. Pressing the 'S' button 30 times in a row on a Monday morning before you've had any caffeine can cause irritability and occasional stabbiness.
Sometimes a single, dedicated-use device is better. I use the tea timer every day, multiple times. In other words, I use it frequently enough to warrant having a dedicated hardware device. I don't have to fish around in my bag looking for my phone, or locate, launch, and set up a software application.
My tea timer may not be able to play games or send text messages, but, for its purpose, it totally kicks the iPhone's ass.
