I've just bust my phone, and I'm thinking Is it really needed in life? Is a modern smartphone really an essential of life these days? Because of my job I'm going to be away for a significant part of the year I suspect (no, I'm not a bank robber!!!) so thinking is it really possible to be a fully functioning human (well, as much as normal!) without one in the meantime? I've got an ipad so can communicate with those I speak to most through text messaging and other instant messaging services, but only when at home (wifi). I email others I see less frequently. I've got land lines to talk to people if I wish. Basically, is it now (believed to be) essential to be contactable 24/7? Could I manage without a phone? What would I play with (no puns please!) when I'm bored at work? (As an aside, would the new iPhone 6 (the plus in particular?) even fit in my bike jacket pocket? Would I be bonkers if I went phone hunting in my bike coat, just so I can 'test drive' it for size?)
A while ago I bought a JCB phone, it was aimed at the building trade, no camera, waterproof and tough. Sold it about a month later and bought an iPhone, never regretted doing that.
One more for iPhone. Only use it as a phone for work, texts and whatsapp for friends. Best thing about it and what makes it really worthwhile is Google maps. Best gps I've ever used!
A smart phone isn't essential but I would struggle without access to the interweb; the essentials of life are slowly migrating online. What I will avoid at all costs is using a smart phone for banking and contactless (wtf?)payments.
~Essential for work unfortunately, but not for private times, although I always have mine to hand, I don't know why! Must try to change!
Got a basic £15 Nokia and a £15 a month sim only contract. Not camera, no internet. I dial numbers and talk to people, it rings and I answer and that's it. Don't need any more. I think I've made two calls this week and received about the same. I cancelled the answer phone years ago. Got fed up with paying to listen to "where are you? Answer your phone" messages. Unless their work demands it I don't think anyone needs to be contacted 24/7. There's no way in the world I'd bother with an iphone unless I was going off the beaten track abroad. I'm staggered at the sums people spend on these things each month. I can think if a hundred and one things I'd rather do with the money. The internet is useful and forums like this are a bit of fun but its not essential day to day for me. When I've been without it I've managed to survive. I've used internet cafes or library computers once a week to catch up on e-mails, look up information or buy things. The corporate giants who produce, market and control all this communication technology have made trillions by convincing people that everyday life is insupportable without continual electronic surveillance and a constant flow of inane chatter. For everyday life read corporate profits.
Forgot to take mine to to work the other week, and it felt like the whole world was having a party but I had not been invited, weird. Yes, I think they are compulsory. :Bawling:
A mobile phone is a benefit, the rest of it I can manage without. A phone now does everything, at the moment I'm happy to use my ipod, Nikon camera, sat nav in the car ( I even used a map the other day, can you believe it ), lap top, pocket diary etc etc. One day i'll chuck all that away and buy a smart phone
I have two iPhones, one for work, one private. On the few occasions I have forgotten one or both I feel uncomfortable. I used to drive 50,000 miles a year and thought we were cutting edge when we were given phone cards !
I use mine for just about everything, from quick calculations on site, maps, photos, checking CAD drawings, music, internet, banking and even phone calls... Could I survive without it? Yes of course, would I want to? No...
I don't have my own mobile/smart phone but I was given a smartphone by work just recently. I'm not sure why, though, they have refused to enable data across 3G. I do get data across wifi - this means that when I am at work, sitting in front of my work laptop, I have a fully functional smartphone. No, I do know what the point of all that is and I hardly care, either. I'd be happy with no mobile phone whatsoever.
Only time I carry one is out the Ducati..............................for that all essential call to the breakdown service
I really wanted a smartphone to make texting easier, as I often text in 2 languages and swapping dictionaries for predictive text was a total pain in the arse. I like having everyone's contact details in it, as there is no way I can remember all the numbers. It's handy for emails on occasion. Best app is the Swiss weather app which is super accurate and tells me at what time it is going to rain on me. You can use the satellite data on bike trips to work out where the storms are going to be so as to avoid them. The calendar is very useful, as it sends me a beep to remind me of meetings or things I should be doing (which I would otherwise forget). Camera not essential but handy on occasion. The internet radio is perfect for following test matches while gardening, or listening to Radio 4 when doing mundane jobs. Don't have any games on the thing. So yes, when I don't have it around, it's a pain, but I don't spend all day fiddling with it. Couldn't give a monkey's about Facebook.
