Has your phone replaced all other devices?

I'm not very tech trendy. My PC is older than some members (rocking a 15" CRT) and I haven't had a cell phone in while. My last two phones though were touchscreen "feature" phones and I hated them. Inaccurate and broke if you blew too hard on 'em. I'm considering getting one again, but can't decide whether to go smart or dumb (as in a phone with actual buttons).

Other than browsing the web, what do people actually use their smartphones for? Do they still have an advantage for someone who doesn't "tweet" or care to be inundated with various notifications and such? Have touchscreens gotten less wonky?
 
Kiah said:
I'm not very tech trendy. My PC is older than some members (rocking a 15" CRT) and I haven't had a cell phone in while. My last two phones though were touchscreen "feature" phones and I hated them. Inaccurate and broke if you blew too hard on 'em. I'm considering getting one again, but can't decide whether to go smart or dumb (as in a phone with actual buttons).

Other than browsing the web, what do people actually use their smartphones for? Do they still have an advantage for someone who doesn't "tweet" or care to be inundated with various notifications and such? Have touchscreens gotten less wonky?
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In the last 2 years or so there has been enormous changes in the mobile market. We went from resistive touch screen and anemic power to capacitive screens and enough power to get the job done. The only reason to recommend a dumbphone (candybar or clamshell with a numberpad) is if you really only are making phone calls and/or need to stretch your phones batteries into the multi day range.

Here are a few of the things I use my smartphone for though perhaps a tablet of some sort would suffice in this role if you want to avoid the exorbitant smartphone contract fees in the US.
- Maps
- Navigation
- Clocks of all flavors (alarm clocks, timers, stopwatches, interval and workout timers)
- Accessing documents on the move
- Timetables for public transit
- Email
- Camera for making quick scans of documents
- Weather updates
- Compass
- Calculators of all sorts (viewing and editing [poorly because of limited UI] spreadsheets, financial calculators, scientific calculator)
- Ebook reader
- Music player
- Flashlight!!
- Calender (though I mostly input entries from the desktop with a proper keyboard)
- Notepad
- Phone
- Skype access
- RSS access
- Access to any data I might need on the go from the world wide web

Yeah, I guess it does come in handy.
 
Wow, that thing has a lot of butt wash options.
 
Unfortunately, I still need a computer for work.

I use my phone for music, reading, watch a movie here and there and other entertainment stuff ... as well as talking of course (same as my ipad).

I also use my dslr for my piccies (and my computer for editing).
 
My tv, ps3, computer all collects dust and I use my phone for texting calling or Internet.

I find that these new giant smartphones are very handy.

once they lose their shimmer its a nice gadget to have. (I was downloading apps like mad at first but theyrr mostly useless)

Very easy to research while youre waiting or killing time.
 
Nope.

My phone is a phone. I suppose it can play backup to my PC, watch, flashlight, alarm clock, camera, music player, and calulator. But, when needed, I find the actual tool much better the all-in-one substitute.
Kinda like grabbing a knife and screwdriver instead of a leatherman.
I have enough trouble computing on laptops - I need a mouse and full-size keyboard to get anything done.

It does seem to function just fine as my sole GPS device, though, so that's something.
 
sideways said:
In the last 2 years or so there has been enormous changes in the mobile market. We went from resistive touch screen and anemic power to capacitive screens and enough power to get the job done. The only reason to recommend a dumbphone (candybar or clamshell with a numberpad) is if you really only are making phone calls and/or need to stretch your phones batteries into the multi day range.

Here are a few of the things I use my smartphone for though perhaps a tablet of some sort would suffice in this role if you want to avoid the exorbitant smartphone contract fees in the US.
- Maps
- Navigation
- Clocks of all flavors (alarm clocks, timers, stopwatches, interval and workout timers)
- Accessing documents on the move
- Timetables for public transit
- Email
- Camera for making quick scans of documents
- Weather updates
- Compass
- Calculators of all sorts (viewing and editing [poorly because of limited UI] spreadsheets, financial calculators, scientific calculator)
- Ebook reader
- Music player
- Flashlight!!
- Calender (though I mostly input entries from the desktop with a proper keyboard)
- Notepad
- Phone
- Skype access
- RSS access
- Access to any data I might need on the go from the world wide web

Yeah, I guess it does come in handy.
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Thanks. Doubt I'd use most of that. The idea of ever-present email is just awful IMO. The web access interests me, but my area is 2G and no Wi-fi to speak of, so not sure how well it'd work. Will look into it a bit.
 
Kiah said:
Thanks. Doubt I'd use most of that. The idea of ever-present email is just awful IMO. The web access interests me, but my area is 2G and no Wi-fi to speak of, so not sure how well it'd work. Will look into it a bit.
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Yeah to get the most out of smartphones you almost need to live in an area with good wireless coverage. For the email thing I use the device mostly as a way of automating the notifications on my end of the email process. In earlier days I was constantly logging in to my email accounts to check if there was anything actionable there. Now I only log on when there is something that needs doing.
 
Up until last week my smartphone had me computer free since about two and half years ago. I'm still rollin' with the original Droid X. I'm too cheap to pay full price for a new smartphone and I'm damned sure not giving up my unlimited(Verizon)plan willingly.

I just bought an Asus Q500 laptop for the knife business needs. It'll also serve as my bladeforums machine when I'm not at work. I'll still use my phone for about everything else when I'm out and about though.
 
Android 4.0.4 and up With OTG USB hosting functionality and the proper software (apps) you don't need anything else.

Even a tablet with HDMI out will enable large screen, a USB keyboard/case fugghedaboudit..

Two of the most important apps that I can think of to enable functionality would be Archidroid (enables opening of all file compression types- .zip,rar, ect.) and Officesuite (allows creation and viewing of Microsoft Office type documents- word, excel, ect.) allowing you to survive Android in a windows environment.

Go a step further and install a good DOS emulator on your phone and you can do all kinds of whacky stuff (I have windows 3.1 on my phone through DOS)

If your into game Emulation it will also pay to buy "UnECM" app, between this and Archidroid I can setup anygame I want to run sucessfuly without a computer to do the "hard" work and I ran games up to PSX such as Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit flawlessly on my dual core Android without a hitch.

That's a good bit of power under the hood, in fact I use the game as a test for satisfactory hardware (getting the car up to full speed with no lag= ok to me)
 
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Don't have a computer at home any more but I do have a work computer(laptop) if I ever need to print anything(which is rare), I do it at work.

Almost everything else is done on my ipad. My phone is an older blackberry so it doesn't have the functionality to replace my ipad. But once my contract is up I'm seriously considering the Samsung Note II and just using that instead. We'll see though. My wife has an iPhone and an ipad mini and she quite likes that combination.

When we're travelling, her iPhone has been extremely useful. Finding sites, restaurants etc. unfortunately the browser on,y blackberry is terrible and so is the camera. Great keyboard so it's good for texting and emails but that's about it.

Next phone I get has to have a full screen, with a decent camera and fast browser.
 
Kiah said:
Thanks. Doubt I'd use most of that. The idea of ever-present email is just awful IMO. The web access interests me, but my area is 2G and no Wi-fi to speak of, so not sure how well it'd work. Will look into it a bit.
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As someone who does their business over the internet, I'm a bit surprised that you wouldn't want quick access to email, but if it's your practice to just do such correspondence once or twice a day (morning/night), and from a computer, then I can understand why you might not want to have it in your pocket. Most smartphone features or apps for me are a convenience rather than a necessity, and some are simply boredom killers. Chiefly, internet access. Between web browsing, IMDB, Amazon, and Wikipedia, if I need to know something - be it a curiosity or a necessity, having the wealth of the knowledge of the world at my fingertips is an amazing thing. Weather is important to me, especially this time of year (monsoon season). Up-to-the-minute radar wherever I am is essential.

Beyond that, if you've made it this far in life in the place where you live with a "dumb" phone, you probably don't need a smartphone, especially if a decent connection can't be had. If you know where you're going, you don't need GPS and navigation. Instant email access isn't important to you. Most everything else is merely a convenience. That leaves you with mobile internet access. Again, it's a convenience, but it's a big one. But is it worth another $30/month to you, especially if you're limited by poor coverage/speed? I'm going to bet that it isn't.
 
How much is the average smart phone plan per month in the U.S.?

It's highway robbery here in Canada.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Wow, that thing has a lot of butt wash options.
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Both butt and twat washing by mist or power jet, air dry, powder spray, five seat temperatures, a selection of deodorizing scents and sound effects (from a mountain brook to mask your tinkle to a tropical thunder storm), a robotic cleansing wand for the bowl, electrolyte water rinse, and of course the auto-flush and auto-lid can be disabled by those who desire more "hands on" control.

This is a flow chart of the wireless remote's back panel menus:

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Who could deal with that in an emergency? That's why I'm waiting for an Android or iOS app to control my Toto S400 washlet.

Now imagine yourself 50 years ago when I was a lad. Imagine you'd written a science fiction story about a future world where you needed a hand-held super computer and a wireless video telephone to take a dump. Who would have printed that? Weird Tales? Mad Magazine?

Toto_Remote.jpg
 
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Cell phone replace my computer??? LOL!

I do have a cell phone though, and it's normally found in a drawer somewhere, turned off, and with a dead battery.

When they make a cell phone with a 24" screen, decent graphics for gaming, enough RAM for CAD and GIS, a real keyboard with an acceptable level of tactile feedback, CD/DVD burner, card reader, surround sound, photo-editing capabilities, that works in areas with no cell reception, connectivity for printing and scanning... well, then, will it still be considered a phone?

Anything a phone can do, a real computer can do better. Outside of making phone calls of course. ;)

Or in the instance of GPS, camera, mp3 player, etc., anything a phone can do, a dedicated specialized device can do better.

I do get a kick out my Samsung Galaxy Player. It's basically the same as a smart phone, but without a phone bill. ;)
 
tjswarbrick said:
It does seem to function just fine as my sole GPS device, though, so that's something.
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Does it have an actual GPS receiver, or is it dependent on cell towers?
And do you find that the smartphone has enough internal memory for storing maps and data?

Just curious.
 
Bob W said:
When they make a cell phone with a 24" screen, decent graphics for gaming, enough RAM for CAD and GIS, a real keyboard with an acceptable level of tactile feedback, CD/DVD burner, card reader, surround sound, photo-editing capabilities, that works in areas with no cell reception, connectivity for printing and scanning... well, then, will it still be considered a phone?

Anything a phone can do, a real computer can do better. Outside of making phone calls of course. ;)

Or in the instance of GPS, camera, mp3 player, etc., anything a phone can do, a dedicated specialized device can do better.
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A few snips for brevity.

Theoretically everything you listed as the benefits for your computer can be attained with a phone with the right peripherals/docking station. You can already connect a cellphone to a large display and keyboard, that is not a problem. Getting enough power to run heavy software like CAD or photoshop/lightroom is still a ways out but I do not doubt that it will be possible on mobile hardware in a few generations. The real problem is porting legacy software to mobile devices and getting hardware mfg's to put in high speed peripheral support. Printing and scanning is possible with the right combination of devices but it is not as easy as with a windows pc.

I submit that a phone is better at sitting in your pocket as you go about your business than a "real computer". Then there is also the always on/always connected aspect. Phones are better at passively sitting there in the background keeping track of stuff. Syncing mails and calendars.

About the dedicated devices being better you are correct, but how many dedicated devices do you want to carry around with you on a daily basis? I do not need a scientific calculator every day, but on the days I do need it I can't do without it, having one as software on my phone for when I need it sure beats lugging around my old texas instruments brick. :D What about a camera just in case I need to scan something or make a note of something? Most of the time I know where I am going without a GPS, what about on the days I don't? etc etc
 
sideways said:
About the dedicated devices being better you are correct, but how many dedicated devices do you want to carry around with you on a daily basis?
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I don't carry much around daily, not even a phone, but I'm a sucker for gadgets.

And I still propose that the dedicated devices perform better than the cell phone integrated versions. Think a cell phone can take photos as well as a real camera? Try out this website. Pick a smart phone, pick a camera, and then vote on side-by-side photos to see which you prefer. http://camerashowdown.com/

The scientific calculator aspect may be an exception, with the use of an emulator. There used to be TI emulators available for Windows, and there probably are for cell phones too, or perhaps apps that perform the same functions.
 
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