Smartphones

[DaveW]

There is constant discussion on the forum on the pros/cons of said beasts. Let’s be realistic modern day life is going to force you that way, maybe kicking and screaming - most likely not.

The subject probably deserves a thread of its own, given the number of times the subject comes up.

There are quite a few people on this forum who are pretty knowledgeable on how to use and operate iPhones/Android phones, who I’m sure would help others in need.

What do you think?

[Chappers51]

Sensible idea, Dave.
I went down the smartphone route several years ago and have an iPhone and iPad, I rarely use my computer. However, there are times when I need advice regarding these devices.

[glazedallover]

Yup, I got my first smart(i)phone in 2021 and already it has taken over..!

[RobertArthur]

I rarely use my analogue Nikon camera or Panasonic Lumix digital camera, today's smartphones are able to produce razor sharp pictures. And always there for a quick snapshot. My screen time: too many hours. Item # 1 for my New Year Intentions. Next steps: find paper and pencil for this list, must be somewhere, not close to my keyboard, but where....

[Blaze]

Having been a real Luddite, some would say dinosaur, I've finally come round to the idea of a smartphone. As a touch-typist, I can't imagine giving up using a keyboard (my computer) but there are several very useful things about a smartphone that make them appealing.

Definitely like SMSs. WhatsApp seems to be missing from my life - a useful tool for group/family chats/keeping up. As RA points out, some have really good cameras so no risk of missing a good photo opportunity. They do pretty well for videos too though I dislike the fashion of portrait videos as opposed to landscape - down to the photographer ??

Looking around, there seems to be a huge range at all prices. I imagine it's best to find a provider that gives a good service in the area.

Can you back up info from a smartphone to, say, a computer ? I wouldn't want phone and computer to be completely synched - I have thousands of photos on my computer that I wouldn't want on a phone.

As I hate talking on the phone, it would be easy enough to leave it on "answerphone" so that I could reply by text .... ?

I've definitely been converted, OH will probably come round if I get one .... Santa, are you listening ???

[glazedallover]

Face recognition on the iPhone and fingerprint recognition on the laptop , so no more remembering passwords.......awesome.

[DaveW]

Having been a real Luddite, some would say dinosaur, I've finally come round to the idea of a smartphone. As a touch-typist, I can't imagine giving up using a keyboard (my computer) but there are several very useful things about a smartphone that make them appealing.

Definitely like SMSs. WhatsApp seems to be missing from my life - a useful tool for group/family chats/keeping up. As RA points out, some have really good cameras so no risk of missing a good photo opportunity. They do pretty well for videos too though I dislike the fashion of portrait videos as opposed to landscape - down to the photographer ??

Looking around, there seems to be a huge range at all prices. I imagine it's best to find a provider that gives a good service in the area.

Can you back up info from a smartphone to, say, a computer ? I wouldn't want phone and computer to be completely synched - I have thousands of photos on my computer that I wouldn't want on a phone.

As I hate talking on the phone, it would be easy enough to leave it on "answerphone" so that I could reply by text .... ?

I've definitely been converted, OH will probably come round if I get one .... Santa, are you listening ???

The easiest way to back up is via the cloud, and to synch pictures. Don’t know which setup you have but all have cloud capabilities. You choose which files are on your phone and your pc. I have a full copy of my files on my home pc and cloud and just downloadable links on my phone
As for answerphone i just don’t answer calls that i don’t recognise or aren’t in my contact list. If they leave a voicemail then i will take notice. I must admit that 80% of my communication these days is via WhatsApp and mostly text.

[Polarengineer]

My bank (ING) pestered me to get a smart thingy until they gave up and sent me a gizmo that receives codes and captures these block bar code thingys on screen, the problem was poor phone reception and a really stupid bank app that could not be installed without an sms code.
The smart thingy has now become very useful since I got my hearing aids. I can play music all day through the Bluetooth enabled aids. Great. Phone calls? Nah, only mrs P-E has the number. Don’t call me..etc. I don’t answer.

[Biloute]

When I was a craftsman I had a very small mobile phone, a very sturdy one (it had fallen from a 5 meter scaffolding and still worked). On the other hand, the very poor network here prevented me from using it at home. When I retired we started to be required to have double authentication for purchases or banking and I had to go to the bottom of the garden in the rain to read the code sent by SMS and when I came back it was too late. That's the only reason I bought a smartphone because the smartphone no longer works with the network, but with the box's Wi-Fi. I rarely use the rest of the functions of a smartphone because the screen is too small and the keyboard is uncomfortable with big fingers. I do a lot of computer-assisted drawing and I can't imagine drawing house plans on a 6-inch screen! When I go to my son's to renovate his house, I appreciate being able to read my emails, having a camera and listening to my favorite music (Country and Rock n'Roll). But I don't use any other functions. On the other hand, my son and his wife do everything on their smartphones and their laptops are covered in dust in the back of a cupboard. Another generation ?

[Spectrum]

Had them for a few years but don't use most of the facility's, yes we need them for second verification for banking, but as said only as good as your signal strength, use "Waze" for the car sat nav, but for me its just a phone that doesn't have a cable, its switched off for 90% of the time even in the car, cant understand why people store billion of files on them their whole life is dictated by what's on the phone, and then when it gets nicked the have a breakdown and have to go into rehab