The New Cellphones [rant]

[Corona688]

Suprisingly, I am a cellphone troglodyte. I figure cell phones are devices used to talk to people. I call people. People call me. That is what it is for.

It needs no fancy text messaging, image messaging, annoying turn-on sound that takes 20 minutes of manual reading to turn off, annoying turn-on/turn off graphical animations sequences that can't be disabled, happy flapping butterflies distracting me while I'm trying to remember phone numbers, backlight that could light a stadium, ringtones designed to annoy anyone in a 40 foot radius, integrated web browser that's too slow and small to use(at 5c per kilobyte), and billions of special telephone features that I really don't want and all cost money to use. The one feature I do want, the ability to tell me what the hell number it thinks it's using, is lacking. Do people actually like these things? Am I a freak for wanting a cell phone that's actually a cell phone and not a direct-to-tyler-advertising-channel/random-music-clip-player/flashlight/pay-through-the-nose-as-you-go-internet module with a cellphone addon?

[viscousmemories]

I actually like the animation sequences, start-up/shutdown music and the musical ring tones. Who says phones have to sound like digital katydids? Web browsing is useless (try coming here to read a PM some day) and I don't really care about any other features.

[Ronin]

Two words:

Bikini-clad hotties in poses that would make Hugh Heffner blush wallpaper.

:stunned:

[Corona688]

That's what my computer's for. :p

[LadyShea]

I use my phone for talking. And I only use my cell phone, I don't ever pick up my home phone, ever. It's a company phone so I just got the cheapest because I don't need a bunch of shit.

It has a camera, but the pictures are crap so I don't use it, going online via phone with a 1/2 inch screen seems insane, and I flat out don't get text messaging. I can call and talk to the person and convey a helluva lot more information in a shorter time frame than I could hack out in a text message. I found I couldn't hear thr "Mozart" or whatever rings when the phone was in my purse, so it's on a plain old ring. I don't turn it off and on so don't know if there's some sequence, but there is a little alien I see sometimes. I do find the calculator handy though.

Lauri was visiting me not too long ago, and she had lost her phone so her friends were calling mine. Suddenly I heard this bizarre series of rings and didn't know what the hell was going on and I was literally "What the fuck is that noise?"...it was my first ever text message, LOL!

[Corona688]

I use my phone for talking. And I only use my cell phone, I don't ever pick up my home phone, ever. It's a company phone so I just got the cheapest because I don't need a bunch of shit. hear hear. It has a camera, but the pictures are crap so I don't use it I've a friend with a camera-phone. The pictures are terrible, but they're often good enough, or would be if it wasn't for yet another unique "feature". The phone informs it's user when it's out of it's service area by "not turning on". So if he's behind too much rebar to get a good signal, he can't take pictures.I flat out don't get text messaging. I can call and talk to the person and convey a helluva lot more information in a shorter time frame than I could hack out in a text message. If you could hook a decent keyboard up to these things, then maybye. Until then not a chance in hell.I found I couldn't hear thr "Mozart" or whatever rings when the phone was in my purse, so it's on a plain old ring. Your phone has a plain old ring? Wow! You got the deluxe model! :D All mine has are hi-fi music, jazz, yelling people, and one that sounds like a red-alert klaxon. Since that's the least intrusive, that's what I use.I do find the calculator handy though.

Lauri was visiting me not too long ago, and she had lost her phone so her friends were calling mine. Suddenly I heard this bizarre series of rings and didn't know what the hell was going on and I was literally "What the fuck is that noise?"...it was my first ever text message, LOL! I can probably forsee that happening in the near future, now that my sister has my cell #. :qsigh:

[The Lone Ranger]

I'm something of a Luddite in some ways. I don't have a cell phone and have no intentions of ever having one. Granted, my field work means that I'm sometimes in quite remote locations in potentially dangerous circumstances, so I've considered getting one and carrying it only when I'm on the road or out in the field -- just in case some sort of emergency might arise and I'd need to call for help.

Otherwise, I most-definitely don't want to be so accessible!

Cheers,

Michael

[CARLA]

:cellphon: I agree there are for making, and receiving calls period. :yup:

I have had a cell phone since they first came out. I got it in the beginning for emergencies only. Now I use it if need for calls, other than that I could care less about the zillions of other things it can do.

They are worth every dime in an emergency, everyone should have one just for that reason alone.

Frankly I'm sick of having to listen to conversations of others. I think it's rude to talk where others can hear you. At least have the courtesy to step away, turn around, and talk softly. Just rude !! :fuming:

NO ONE IS THAT FLIPPIN IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEIR DAMN CELL PHONE ATTACHED TO THERE HEAD 24/7...NOTHING IS THAT IMPORTANT THAT IT CAN'T WAIT TILL YOU CAN TALK IN PRIVATE.. PHYSICIANS ARE THE EXCEPTION. YOU DON'T SEE MANY OF THEM WALKING AROUND TALKING 24/7, THEY USE IT TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS PERIOD.. :fuming:

[WinAce]

I like my cell phone camera. It's perfect for taking quick, disposable snapshots where you don't need much quality or whatnot, and being able to email them to any address from the phone is just perfect.

I also like customizeable ringtones. Not just for the coolness of hearing Abba music when someone rings me, but for the "audio caller ID" feature (assigning specific tones to different numbers, so I can instantly tell if it's a call I'd like to take, or not have to fumble if it isn't).

A feature that hasn't been mentioned yet, but that I find invaluable, is the datebook/alarm clock. A PDA can do it too, but I find it so much more appropriate that the phone rings when it's time to keep an appointment, or whatnot. Since I carry mine around with me always, as opposed to sometimes (with the Sony Clie), it makes even more sense.

Finally, instant messaging on a phone rocks! Especially if you're stuck somewhere without a laptop or phone line, yet want to communicate with net-only friends. It's so much less awkward than a Palm handheld and a dialup modem (although if you get wireless Internet, something more suited to actual browsing would rule even more). After a reasonable amount of practice, you could probably enter text via the phone keypad quicker than many would type. :) Well, even if they didn't have AIM, the ability to send romantic poems right to a loved one's phone via SMS is a marvellous ability! :D

Vive la pseudo-phone handheld computers!

[ceptimus]

I always used to say I would trade most of the features for enhanced battery life. But with lithium polymer batteries, the time between recharges is pretty good now anyway.

I used to complain about the camera, but recently, I was involved in a car accident, and the photos I took with the phone (I didn't have another camera with me) proved invaluable in settling the insurance claim. No more complaints about the camera from me!

I used to complain about the FM radio, "Who wants a bloody radio in their phone?" But as I don't have a car now, and am walking / busing to work and back, I listen to the radio as I go, and I don't have to carry a separate radio or iPod etc.

And I use the calculator, organiser and even the alarm clock feature when I'm staying in hotels. I even use the web browser occasionally, when I can't get to a PC.

So other than the annoying tunes and graphics, I do make use of most of the phone's features. Damn you technology for luring me into saying this!

[TomJoe]

Granted, my field work means that I'm sometimes in quite remote locations in potentially dangerous circumstances, so I've considered getting one and carrying it only when I'm on the road or out in the field -- just in case some sort of emergency might arise and I'd need to call for help.

That is a sure indication that your cell phone won't work. Mix together "remote", "dangerous" and "emergency" and you get the words "No Signal".

[LadyShea]

The only reason we even still have a home phone is that we've had the number for years and my cell phone is from work and I didn't want to lose a permanent number. We took it down to the most basic service however, it doesn't even have long distance.

When we move, we will probably not have a home phone installed unless it's required with the DSL (I need a static IP so I can telecommute, and I guess cable doesn't provide that). Cellphone plans include long distance, the numbers can now be ported if a service change is desireable, and finter-family calls are often free, so I see no reason not to go 100% mobile.

[Shake]

The phone I have now is the wife's old one. She works for Verizon Wireless, and she told me there wasn't any way to shut off the turn-on/-off sounds. It took me about 10 seconds to prove her wrong. I don't even use mine much. Since she's with the company, my plan is 100 minutes for $5/mo. I haven't come close to using even half the minutes yet.

I use it more for text messaging -- still just to the wife -- and she had already paid to get some custom rings, so right now, it's KoRn's Did My Time for my main ringer, although I've got several others. Oh yeah, she also downloaded Tetris -- but now I get confused when I try to play one of the versions here, because the "up" button does different things (it drops the piece on the phone).

She had upgraded to a camera phone some time ago, which is how I got this one. But due to security reasons, I can't bring a camera phone into work. We use hers for long-distance at the house, but keep the land line in case of power outages and also to be able to be able to get through in case of emergencies. We've got a 4-year-old, so we don't ever want to not be able to get through.

[JoeP]

I stay a few steps behind current with cellphone technology, but I need one. I resisted getting one for as long as possible, but couldn't now. Howver, I'm with you Corona: don't need all them other features. I don't use the alarm/datebook features - it's too fiddly to enter them and I do carry my Palm everywhere for that.

One thing that I find very useful compared to some of you is SMSes or texting. If I didn't have to sit in meetings, or communicate with other people sitting in meetings imight live without it - but some of the others benefits are having a visible record (that's why you SMS phone numbers or directions to someone you've just spoken to), and being received instantly without the recipient having to phone into voicemail.

joe

[Corona688]

I need a static IP so I can telecommute, and I guess cable doesn't provide that Move to Saskatchewan, where information flows like water and cablemodems have static IPs. :D

[copiae]

..This marks the first of my non-edit posts (whatever is typed initially is kept, excluding typos)*, as I need to mentally prepare for physically writing in an examination, something that I have fallen out of practice with in recent times.


Anyway, I'm somewhat ambivalent about the whole cell-phone revolution. I own a Nokia 6610, which was one of the first of its kind (colour screen, polyphonic ringtones, no camera). I got it when it was relatively new, and I won't deny that the "cool" factor was a large part in my decision to get it. However, the phone is eternally on silent, as ring tones tend to annoy me.


I really like my phone; Its got great battery life (a one hour recharge lasts me about one week), the signal reception is pretty good, and it has a few extras that are quite useful in a pinch (rudimentary calculator, basic units converter, calender and alarm clock).

So, er, yeah. I'm not particularly opposed to the recent trend of making mobiles more complicated, and the day a mobile comes out with a camera that equals a normal digital camera, I'm reasonably certain I'll upgrade to it - if i have money.





*Incidentally, I broke this rule already. Gah.

[livius drusus]

Good effort though, copiae, and I'm sure you edited less that you would have otherwise. Keep it up and your exam will be a breeze. :thumbup:

[copiae]

Hehe, I edited it once. 'Twas suprisingly hard to leave it at that.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I wonder how people managed back in the days of old where editing was not really an option (apart from starting over, I guess)...


100% Sidetracking completed. :D

[Corona688]

..This marks the first of my non-edit posts (whatever is typed initially is kept, excluding typos)*, as I need to mentally prepare for physically writing in an examination, something that I have fallen out of practice with in recent times.


Anyway, I'm somewhat ambivalent about the whole cell-phone revolution. I own a Nokia 6610, which was one of the first of its kind (colour screen, polyphonic ringtones, no camera). I got it when it was relatively new, and I won't deny that the "cool" factor was a large part in my decision to get it. However, the phone is eternally on silent, as ring tones tend to annoy me.


I really like my phone; Its got great battery life (a one hour recharge lasts me about one week), the signal reception is pretty good, and it has a few extras that are quite useful in a pinch (rudimentary calculator, basic units converter, calender and alarm clock). See, those features actually sound useful. As does a camera, if done right. It's the useless expensive fluff that really gets me. I'm reasonably sure they outright gave me this phone because of the statistical expectation that I would buy more ringtones, send chat-images hither and yon, and press that big shiny blue internet button lots and have a bill in the hundreds before I knew it. Why else would they not be willing to give their customers cheaper, basic phones? I'm not asking for the world here. I'm asking for something that would cost THEM less money.

[Ensign Steve]

Granted, my field work means that I'm sometimes in quite remote locations in potentially dangerous circumstances, so I've considered getting one and carrying it only when I'm on the road or out in the field -- just in case some sort of emergency might arise and I'd need to call for help.

That is a sure indication that your cell phone won't work. Mix together "remote", "dangerous" and "emergency" and you get the words "No Signal".

No kidding. Like the time my mom and I were driving through the Sequoia forest in the northern California mountains. In a thunderstorm. On Christmas Eve. At midnight. And we got a flat. I wish I was kidding. :P