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Anyone else not too excited over the benefits of smartphone anymore? A couple of years ago having internet access anywhere was something I dreamed about but on a smart phone (and I have the large Samsung Galaxy Note) it just isn't as comfortable as a computer.
No regrets because it seems the price for 4G has come down in the past couple years. But most apps are toy apps (I don't "do" facebook), not a lot of really useful apps other than traffic and email and calendar. Sure, Google Sky is cool but it really is just a fun app.
At home, I absolutely will use my computer for anything online-related. If I worked from home, or didn't leave the house a lot, I'd see no need for a smartphone.
But I have a job that has me travelling all over the place for work. I love my GPS. I love that I can look up a business, or the news, or some factoid, anywhere and anytime. I love that I can take and share photos, check email, write a job estimate and send it to a client, check product pricing, set up reminders or check my calendar etc, when I'm on the job or on the road. Also it's sort of nice for music.
That said, I don't do FB or twitter or games and agree with you that most apps are "toys." Also I think that the rush for the next biggest and betterest phone can get sort of silly.
I have an LG Esteem (which is a pretty nice phone though not as cool as the Galaxy) and pay $40 a month for practically unlimited 4G data. I'll keep this phone until it dies, probably. But overall, you'll have to pry my smartphone from my cold, dead fingers. I can't imagine not having one now.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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It's no longer a novelty, it's become a standard necessity. People have already become dependent upon them, and feel naked without them. Ask anyone that has forgotten their smartphone at home in the morning. Most will go back and get it at the risk of getting in trouble at work for being late. When I go home on the bus there are usually about 60 people on board. Of those, 2-3 will be reading on a tablet, the rest are either online or listening to music on their smartphones. As recently as two years ago I would see half a dozen on a laptop, but not any more.
Anyone else not too excited over the benefits of smartphone anymore? A couple of years ago having internet access anywhere was something I dreamed about but on a smart phone (and I have the large Samsung Galaxy Note) it just isn't as comfortable as a computer.
No regrets because it seems the price for 4G has come down in the past couple years. But most apps are toy apps (I don't "do" facebook), not a lot of really useful apps other than traffic and email and calendar. Sure, Google Sky is cool but it really is just a fun app.
Yeah I agree with you. I just got a smart phone - Samsung GS3 - it is quite feature packed and I spent and still am spending a bit of time to learn it all to justify the extra expense. For me, I really don't need it. I just wanted to be a part of the times - forward progress and all . I have downloaded a couple of apps and are learning them as well. For example, the note taking and calendar apps at this point seem like more work than writing. I'm sure its because its all still new.
Last edited by oldhousegirl; 04-07-2013 at 03:25 PM..
Anyone else not too excited over the benefits of smartphone anymore? A couple of years ago having internet access anywhere was something I dreamed about but on a smart phone (and I have the large Samsung Galaxy Note) it just isn't as comfortable as a computer.
No regrets because it seems the price for 4G has come down in the past couple years. But most apps are toy apps (I don't "do" facebook), not a lot of really useful apps other than traffic and email and calendar. Sure, Google Sky is cool but it really is just a fun app.
Smartphone apps I could not live without:
Omnifocus (I literally do not know how I got by without it)
iCal (or whatever the iphone calls it now)
Collector (it hasn't quite replaced my $8k trimbles but its damn useful)
AyeTides (again as a field researcher I can't over state how useful this has been) and various other marine related apps
Attendance
I don't personally have or want one but i don't thnik so. From waht I see its just getting started prepalacing perosnal computers.Mt wife hardly uses her laptop any more really comapred to past.
I like to post on CDF and when I am waiting at a doctor's office or my kid's soccer practice or killing time elsewhere, I can't use the phone for posting - it's too difficult. And, most of the websites (LA Times, CNN, Orange County Register, etc) I visit most frequently have an Android version which isn't as rich as the computer version. And, there doesn't seem to be a way to comment on the stories like I can on the computer version of these sites. If I plan ahead, I'll bring my dell mini 10" laptop and teacher it to my phone so at least I will be operating a regular computer with a keyboard.
The reason I didn't get one until just about a year and a half ago is because I have internet at home, in the car, and at work. Not attached enough to internet to need to have it in my pocket 24/7.
So I can see people just taking it for granted and not being all "ooh, ah" about it now.
With the advent of technology, you'd think they could come up with a battery that would make it through a full day without having to be recharged.
To answer your question, I think people are very used to smart phones now. They aren't the exciting novelty they once were.
20yrsinBranson
I bought three spare batteries and a wall charger for about $15 (I know, that's pretty darn cheap). I keep a couple of these spare batteries with me and swap out a dying battery around 4PM if necessary. Android.
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. I have downloaded a couple of apps and are learning them as well. For example, the note taking and calendar apps at this point seem like more work than writing. I'm sure its because its all still new.
