Fighting obsolescence..... - do you REALLY use a smart phone, and if so, how?
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charlieg wrote:
Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone...
I do not own one, let alone use one.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Man who follows car will be exhausted." - Confucius
DavidCrow wrote:
I do not own one, let alone use one.
"My dog has no nose." "How does he smell?" "He can't; he has no nose!" Is what you're basically saying. :-D
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
Here are some of the things I regularly use my phone for:
- GPS navigation when going somewhere new. It's especially useful for ad hoc trips - for example, you find out store X doesn't have what you need, but it is carried at a different chain, chain Y. Put chain Y into the search box and get driving directions to the closest store within 10 seconds. On our honeymoon I used Google Maps to go all over San Francisco by bus with ease, simply by telling it where I wanted to end up - no need to consult bus routes or schedules. Also I was out once and decided wanted to visit a friend I had never actually visited before. Texted him, he sent his address, and I copied it into Bing maps, and voila - directions.
- Music player - I don't even own a dedicated MP3 player, because my phone not only has a good portion of my music library, but it also has internet radio and my GrooveShark playlists.
- Instant messaging - I can chat with friends on the go, or step out to do some errands while waiting for a client to get back to me, without worrying about him getting online and finding me gone.
- Camera - good for quick snapshots at times when I wouldn't be carrying around my regular camera, or for taking a picture of a product or shelf tag that I want to look up later.
- Looking up products or facts - if I want to know if something is worth buying, I can look up reviews, or if someone asks a question I don't know the answer to, I can look it up on the spot.
- eBook and RSS reader - if I have some time to kill and am away from my computer, I can read a book or catch up on the latest from the sites I follow.
- Quick work fixes - I can RDP or Telnet/SSH to a work server to make a quick tweak without getting back to my computer.
- Agenda/lists - I keep a running list of my agenda, todo-list, and other lists on my phone, for access any time. I jot down ideas there too.
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
Nope. No cell phone either. Hate the damn things.
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Chris Maunder wrote:
- Occasionally I use the 'phone' function that I discoverd not long ago. I can talk to other people on my iPhone! Cool.
Amazing isn't it??!!
_________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....
Wait............ A camera you can talk on?! I WANT ONE!
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
charlieg wrote:
So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code
That's what I would use the 'public' folder of my Dropbox account for...
charlieg wrote:
Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful?
Define useful...mines a SatNav, iPod, camera (when I'm not toting my big old D300!) as well as being an internet browsing communications device. Skype is very handy when you're abroad - the calls are so cheap compared to telcos... And of course, ubiquitous internet access lets you sort out all sorts of arguments...
Java, Basic, who cares - it's all a bunch of tree-hugging hippy cr*p CodeProject MVP for 2010 - who'd'a thunk it!
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I have an iPhone and use it constantly for: - Email (triaging emergency emails, quick replies, and social chat only. Serious email on the desktop) - Taking, swapping and viewing pics. Far, far more than I realised I would - Reading the news (Aussie news, gadget news, weather news, PhysOrg - endless news!) - As an iPod while cycling - For directions while (often) lost via Google maps - For weather reports so I can determine how wet and potentially fried I will get while cycling - Occasionally I use the 'phone' function that I discoverd not long ago. I can talk to other people on my iPhone! Cool.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
It took me ten minutes to figure out how to call from my Nokia 5230
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
The phone i own was sold at 1 Euro in a promotion event. So the smart phone descision had not to be made. It has a Multi-MP Camera, MP3-Player, UKW-Radio and some other crap and can phone too. Internet access is possible, but the price is a mystery, so stay away from that option. Until it breaks i think about the smart phones as much as i think about porsches before my mercedes breaks.
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
I have been addicted to mobile computing since the early Palm days. Now I have a Nokia N900, and in addition to my own apps (an English/Finnish translator program and a bespoke text editor) am using it for XMPP chat, internet news, email, photos, calendar and sundry other apps. You can also send SMS and make phone calls! I get that the iPhone is great, but for me being able to run (most) Linux apps on my phone is amezzing. Can't imagine life without it.
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Needed to get something from one of my remote servers but couldn't access it from the company PC. My smart phone couldn't access it because of it's size for whatever reason. However, I was able to write a Windows Mobile application to get the data I needed onto my phone and then I blue tooth transferred it to the computer to put it onto a USB dongle to bring it to someone else's computer who was allowed to print.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
If that isn't doing it wrong, kill me now... :laugh:
Posted from SPARTA!!!!!!!!!! 2.0. Don't forget to rate my post if it helped! ;)
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It took me ten minutes to figure out how to call from my Nokia 5230
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
What do I use my smart phone for? Well... 1) Checking for and replying to emails 2) Managing my calender and tasks 3) Social networking stuff 4) Playing games 5) Browsing the web when I can't be bothered to wait 30 seconds to boot up the laptop 6) Finding out whats happening in the local area and finding new places 7) Reading reviews of products and checking prices before I buy 8) Listening to music 9) Downloading podcasts 10) Satellite navigation 11) Checking the weather 12) Reading news feeds 13) As a calculator Oh and of course making phone calls :) I'm not just reading out a list of apps here, I really do use my phone for all of the above.
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Ian Shlasko wrote:
Now, my only reason is that I don't want to spend an ADDITIONAL 20-30 bucks a month for a data plan, when I'm already paying over 50 just for a low-end voice/text plan...
That's a big chunk of my problem as well. The fact that I'm paying for 3 or more times as many minutes a month as I use isn't that big of a deal because the landline I didn't buy would have ended up costing that much even before long distance fees were added in. $30 for a data plan I see myself using infrequently and that doesn't come close to being able to replace even crappy small town cable internet is something else.
Ian Shlasko wrote:
Verizon is ridiculously expensive, but they really do seem to be the only carrier with decent coverage in this area.
Same here. I guess hills and sky scrapers are all the same to them. :cool:
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
I'm king of in the same boat as you guys. However my thinking is this: Nearly all the smartphones out there have Wi-Fi built in. This means that you do not have to use your cell provider's data plan whenever you are w/in range of a wi-fi hotspot. So, why am I forced to buy said data plan just to have one of these phones? I have every intention to hold out until data plans become part of the normal charge to your cell bill, and at much less than $30/mo (I, too, am on VZW). I just think it's ridiculous that they force you to have X plan if you want Y phone, even if Y phone can avoid using X plan altogether. :mad:
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
I use my phone for: Email Web surfing Calendar Facebook Twitter Games Theatre listings News Weather Google Maps Texting Authenticator Alarm clock Camera Notes eBooks Music/podcasts/movies Phone calls My previous phone I could: play music text Alarm make phone calls So, no going back. EVER.
I need an app that will automatically deliver a new BBBBBBBBaBB (beautiful blonde bimbo brandishing bountiful bobbing bare breasts and bodacious butt) every day. John Simmons / outlaw programmer
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
I bought the original Droid (buy one, get one free) for about $200 a few months back and I've used it far more than I ever thought I would. Day to day uses are: - Web browser - Weather tracker - Email - Web based email - To Do list - Bill/Appointment Calender - Communications (Google Talk (for those with Data plans), SMS, Voice mail, etc.) - Videos - Managing my home network (Almost forgot this one) Weekly uses: - Phone calls (I prefer sending SMS or IMs in place of short phone calls. I rarely go over 100 minutes a month) - GPS/Navigation - Camera - USB Storage - Password Manager Less often (Monthly or less) - Media Collection Tracking (DVDs, Games, CDs, etc.) - Key ring tag manager - Movie Ticket Purchasing - Price checker - Bill Paying - Finding new places to go/eat/explore - Flash Light - Bubble Level - Games - eReader I use it for a few other things every now and then, but those are the main ones. It's so useful that I just recently plugged my computer back in after the move, and that was back in October '09. I typically use over 3 gigs of data a month strictly through my phone (I don't tether) but it's been upwards of 6 gigs on occasion. The only reason I'm finally plugging my computer back up now is there's some .Net projects I want to work on in my spare time. This is the first smart phone I've had and I don't see me giving it up any time soon. The best part about it is I'm only spending about $10 more a month than I was with my previous carrier but I get so much more use out of it. It more than pays for itself in my opinion.
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
I have a dumb phone because when I am away from PC, the last thing I need is to search the internet, answer emails, etc. I make and receive phone calls and once in a while (maybe once a week) I'll send a text message. Other than that, leave me alone when I'm driving, walking, watching TV, listening to music, etc.
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
I use mine for
- talking,
- Google Talk (via phone and PortablePidgin),
- taking pictures/video,
- GPS,
- Facebook,
- Text Messaging,
- checking G-Mail and POP3 mail,
- Weather,
- Listening to Music via Pandora,
- Evernote journaling,
- Monitoring my E-bay sales,
- Clock,
- Calendar,
- Star Gazing,
- tracking my diet,
- getting baseball scores,
- playing baseball video game,
- logging and tracking my running/jogging,
- watching/uploading YouTube videos.
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I'm king of in the same boat as you guys. However my thinking is this: Nearly all the smartphones out there have Wi-Fi built in. This means that you do not have to use your cell provider's data plan whenever you are w/in range of a wi-fi hotspot. So, why am I forced to buy said data plan just to have one of these phones? I have every intention to hold out until data plans become part of the normal charge to your cell bill, and at much less than $30/mo (I, too, am on VZW). I just think it's ridiculous that they force you to have X plan if you want Y phone, even if Y phone can avoid using X plan altogether. :mad:
<sarcasm> Well they need to do *something* to keep their revenue streams growing now that they've saturated the market for basic phone services and have sold texting plans to everyone they can expect to lure onto that bandwagon as well. Family plans are only making it worse for them since the total money they get from them is almost always less than what they would've with separate contracts for each phone. :doh: </sarcasm>
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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I have an iPhone and use it constantly for: - Email (triaging emergency emails, quick replies, and social chat only. Serious email on the desktop) - Taking, swapping and viewing pics. Far, far more than I realised I would - Reading the news (Aussie news, gadget news, weather news, PhysOrg - endless news!) - As an iPod while cycling - For directions while (often) lost via Google maps - For weather reports so I can determine how wet and potentially fried I will get while cycling - Occasionally I use the 'phone' function that I discoverd not long ago. I can talk to other people on my iPhone! Cool.
cheers, Chris Maunder The Code Project | Co-founder Microsoft C++ MVP
But to do it You have to keep it with three fingers only, so talking to people is not serious feature. :laugh:
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So, I'm talking to a friend who needs to give me some source code... he doesn't want to email it, so I tell him to burn it to a CD. He gives me the :wtf: look, and asks if I have a USB drive. First I laugh, then I start to whimper. I realize I am stuck in a time warp - pre USB drive era. Now, I have 4 of them in my pack, it's not that I don't use them, it's just that I scared myself thinking 10 years ago. So..., I get CP's newsletter and see all of the flashy announcement of the Android app contest. Hmmm, sounds cool. I go out to Dell's site to look at their new Streak. Mind you, I am NOT a smart phone lover. In fact, unless it's a customer, I really don't like cellphones. But perhaps a smart phone would be useful, etc. :omg: $549 for a 5" display and the privilege of a long term contract? I'm guessing the other Android phones are priced accordingly, and I know about the iPhone. Seriously - do any of you techies actually USE your smart phone for something useful? Hell, I remember when the next big data driver for the wireless companies was video. So every phone now has a camera. The magazines I read indicate that laptops are sooo old school, and that the growth area is all in mobile apps on these little machines. So, I'm looking for some practical examples.
Charlie Gilley You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house. "Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
From the other view ... I don't even own a cel phone and I would not have it any other way. I've always considered the peace and quiet I get as a result as being a good thing. I've talked to my son - who is one of the constantly-connected generation - about this and I understand his viewpoint. He is a very mobile and unplanned / unscheduled person and is able to keep in contact with his friends for events / parties and such. I don't like surprises. It's not that I plan everything but I like the slower pace of the unconnected life.