allmyfriends is a move towards a more intimate, fun and tech-less trend in products that are judged not on their technological features but by how easy they make it to communicate with each other.
The creation of emotional value in the system was of immense importance to a product without an obvious gadget or tech-based edge so fetishised by modern press and public. Each bead is related to a specific gift-giving event rather than just a name in a list.
This sentimental value means you will be less likely to throw away (or 'upgrade') the whole phone and it will last longer.
© J.Godfrey Wood 2006