Inspired in part by my search for a new cell phone, and in part from last week's "waiter tablet" discussion, I'd like to open up a discussion on the merits and drawbacks of smart phones.
For our generation, phones are the new car. They're a status symbol, a mass produced object we use to advertise our personality. Have a Blackberry? You're an efficient, business-oriented type. Have an iPhone? You're young, want to be seen as creative, and probably like indie rock. Have a land line? You're probably ancient. Nowadays, choosing a phone is as much a fashion decision as a utility decision.
Personally, I've been trying to assess the value of upgrading to a smartphone. On one hand, I have this line of thinking: why, honestly, should I have internet access in my pocket all day long? Do I really need to spend more time checking my email or playing flash games? Is that what my life is "missing" by just having a call/text phone? But then I wonder: just because I have the capability of wasting time, does that mean I have to use it irresponsibly? Why keep myself in the last decade? There ARE advantages to having the technology available, like GPS when you're lost, or using apps for productivity and organization.
And so, I bring the debate to you: If you have a smartphone, how do you interact with it? Is it a tool or a toy? What are your favorite apps?
And if you're in my camp, what are your reasons for resisting the trend? Is it the cost, are you stuck in a contract? Or is it a more intentional rejection?
I have an iPhone and I personally love it. Like you said, just because you have an object with the capability of wasting time, that doesn't mean you have to waste time!
ReplyDeletePeople who pick up and play with my iPhone always make fun of me because I have productive apps and not that many games. Honestly, the reason I have most of the games that I do have is because my cousin (she is 3) insisted that I have something fun so she could play. (How mean of Mommy to take the iPad with her to work!!)
My phone has apps like The Weather Channel, my Calendar, Tribune News, NY Times, and grocery list. I also have fun apps, but I find that I generally only use them when I'm waiting for something like an appointment.
My old phone was also a smart phone, but it wasn't as good at syncing with my calendar, which is what I honestly use the most (especially during times when I'm off school and have multiple activities happening, like my internship last summer).
I really think the iPhone or another smart phone is worth it if you have a lot going on and aren't easily within reach of a computer usually. I know mine has saved me many times from going to classes that were canceled last minute. They have many uses.
I have an Xperia Sony Ericsson (AT&T) which is basically like the iphone and it looks like the iphone, but is less expensive. It is a smartphone, and I really love it. I really don't want to always have the internet at my fingers all day long so I choose to only be on it when I need information on something and I can't access a computer, or if I want to check Facebook every now and then.
ReplyDeleteI don't use many apps although I do have an app that shows you how to make different drink and cocktail recipes and I have the game Jewels on there. I really don't use them that much unless I am really bored.
Overall, I think the iphone and the smart phones are great and you will definitely fall in love with them, they just make things easier. Good Luck on your search!
I have an iPhone and the apps that I most use is the MapQuest, Y! Music, CNN, and any sport related news apps. I also forgot Words with Friends.
ReplyDeleteI love your stereotypes for each phone. I am an advocate for the smart phone. I personally am a Blackberry fan, or a Crackberry person because I am addicted to my Blackberry, it does everything I want it to do and more. Yes, having all this technology at the palm of your hand on a constant basis may be something that seems excessive, but it's all about how you use and abuse it.
ReplyDeleteI have a Samsung Galaxy, and the way I suppose I use it is a central hub. For me, I don't have adobe products on my computer at home so I'm always going to 1-5 labs that I can access between running around for the club I'm in. The way it works for me is small portions of news, knowledge at my fingers if need be, and potentially a time passer if I'm stuck at the DMV. The big thing is the ability to receive and send emails if I am sitting on the train.
ReplyDeleteI have a few games here and there but it is mostly sports apps and news apps for me.
I have an iphone
ReplyDeletei got it 2 years ago for free and i have been treating it like a new born baby ever since...because i probably wont be able to afford a new one if something happens to it! lol
due to my iphone having internet i don't have internet at home since the phone can bring up websites just as a normal desktop computer. CTA buss tracker is enough for me to want to keep the smart phone going. I also love how the phone has a youtube app.
Although I know I could still function with just a basic phone I still love the convenience of the iphone!
I have the t-mobile MyTouch 4g. I love it! If you remember my smartphone spectacle project that I did in Zacks class I made a comment on how smartphones become so integrated into our lives that we almost expect it to do everything for us. Nonetheless, I think my phone is awesome. Since I am on t-mobile I get my 4g network and can use my phone as a hotspot and tether to my comp to get internet everywhere I go. I have a bunch of apps but I refuse to pay for one. There are a lot of cool free ones and there are a ton of apps that are useless that cost money.
ReplyDeleteUltimately the whole smartphone market is a battle between huge companies such as Apple and Google. So I must say, if a new iphone comes out, at least wait for your the first wave of guinea pigs to use the phone and not to mention till your contract to be finished before you get the new one because when it all comes down with it, we did survive when our phones could just make calls.
My family just purchased my mom a Kindle for Mother's Day. I was given the responsibility of picking it up from the store, and I was surprised to see a rather inexpensive model. This model, however, was so cheap because it showed ads as screen savers. I'm curious to see how the screen saver ads look given its black and white design. But this too is another example of ads stretching into the hand-held technology world.
ReplyDeleteI was never really into getting the "latest and greatest" version of mobile phones. At the moment I have a simple little pay-as-you-go Virgin Mobile model that my dad bought for me from Target, and all I use it for is calling for a ride from my parents or texting people when I don't feel like calling them. But I'd eventually want to upgrade to something like an iPhone or a Droid because I feel like having certain apps and having easy internet access would be an asset later on in my career: being able to check on jobs and e-mail, easy lookup of maps and directions, and so forth.
ReplyDeleteI think I am slowly becoming a luddite.
ReplyDeleteI have an iPhone and it's a tool and a toy in one. I'll look up recipes, directions, etc but I'll also play scrabble all day with my family and friends. It's helpful to be able to check my email quickly if I'm gone all day too.
ReplyDeleteI HEART Angry Birds!
ReplyDeletei use my iphone for a ton of things, but honestly, its email that steals the show. i got a smartphone initially for email. without email on the go, the other apps are just toys.
ReplyDeleteI have a Droid and I love it. When I first got it I was so excited I probably went on an overload app spree. It got to the point where I would forget why I even downloaded a certain app in the first place. I have the MyTouch3G and when the system update happened my phone went haywire (kinda like Shanna's phone). Thankfully my one year warranty was still in effect so I got the same phone, but just a new one and vowed to not download an app unless I really need it. Ever since doing that my phone has worked just fine, and I feel that I spend less time on it.
ReplyDeleteP.S I would have loved to see Julie's app design.
After reading this post and having my older brother over the house to celebrate Mother's Day, I decided to play Angry Birds (he has the application on his phone). I must say that Angry Birds is an EXTREMELY ADDICTIVE game!
ReplyDeleteI used to have similar thoughts about smartphones...until I got one for myself. Now I definitely couldn't live without one!
ReplyDeleteGiven my annoying ability to lose things of importance on a very regular basis, including my phone (which I can't stand to be without), I decided that I shouldn't upgrade to an iphone or anything else that will make me go crazy if I just so happen to "misplace". However, you guys are making it very difficult for me with your wonderful comments!!:-)
ReplyDeleteI do have a smartphone, but to be honest, I kind of wish times were as simple as they used to be. We really don't need to be THIS connecting to everything.
ReplyDeletei have an iphone and i use it for both work and play. i certainly use the facebook app, ipod, and angry birds as stress relievers. but i also use my phone a lot to keep in touch with my supervisor via email, keep up with current events on the internet, and map out my day with the calendar.
ReplyDelete