When people complain that ubiquitous smartphone and earphone use in public places is isolating us from each other, what I hear is, “HEY! YOU, STRANGER WHO DOESN’T KNOW ME! I’M MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!” My time and attention doesn’t become part of the commons just because I happen to be passing through the commons. (Bringing this up apropos of nothing, including of any major product announcements that may or may not have been made this week.)