Have Phones Become Too Complex?

NOTICE: I just got out of the shower, and I hadn't combed my hair yet at the time of the video.

Over the past few days, for those of you who don't know, I've been playing with the Jitterbug to get it ready for a relative. Using it made me think: have phones become too complex? Originally a cell phone was designed for emergency calls. Then, all of a sudden, they've become peoples' primary lines. I have no problem with that. I have no problem with calling, texting, or even a simple date book to keep track of your day. What I do have a problem with is the complexity of these phones. Why do we need a phone to play MP3s? Or check email? Originally the email features & document support were intended for businesses, not consumers. Thanks to the iPhone, this is changing, and fast. However, again, do we need all this? Why not just go back to a simpler time?

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Verizon
• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Sprint
• Phone
• Simple
• Easy

[zkrisher]

Since you have an iPod Touch, a smartphone is redundant for you.

I require a smarphone for it's accessibility features, either built in like the iPhone 3GS or third party like Mobile Speak.

I don't use internet features on the smartphone but I do use multimedia features to listen to music and audiobooks.

I do like redundancy when I'm on the road so I got an iPod nano to back up my N95.

If I had the option to keep my phone simple, I would have gone with the iPod Touch.

[rml695]

I have an iPod Touch so I guess I can see now why I'm thinking a cell should be simple. LOL

[mthwkln]

I think you're really, really off on this one. The past is gone and there is no reason to go back. The fact that smart phones were originally marketed toward businessmen doesn't mean anything. The computer wasn't developed so you could make youtube videos my friend, they were originally used for science. Same kind of thing with the internet. If you want a simple phone, they are available and you're free to use one.

[rml695]

I'm not offended or mad, but I am curious, think I should remove this video? Sounds like I put my foot in my mouth with this one.

[Nazmus1992]

there are hundreds of phones with the plans and contracts from provides like Varizon. Those phones are small and sweet!

[Nazmus1992]

I still love my flip phone!

I decided to get another flip phone over a smart phone because I like physical buttons, and I like the small size of the flip phones.

[sonofsam73]

If you want a basic phone get a pay as you go phone

[tehfujicory]

I personally don't think there's anything wrong with the opinions expressed in this video, however the original commenter is coming off as a little self-righteous.

Computers weren't invented for people to throw thinly veiled insults at one another, but you can use it for that too. :)

[SikKidExclusiveTv]

agreed man.......

[peterjameswalsh]

MP3 player. I guess I get this from my parents. (Both older folk!) Keep 'smart phones,' fine but there is always going to be a need for a simple phone. I think my main qualm is that something such as the Jitterbug is not available in Australia. I guess they reckon that we are too small a market. Something like that would be very popular here especially if manufactured by a quality company like Samsung instead of a tin pot operation that charges $500 for a phone that falls apart after 6 months.

[peterjameswalsh]

Hell no did you put your foot in your mouth with this one. My dad is completely blind and since we live in Australia, options are limited. There is no one offering a subsidised phone with Talks loaded such as Verizon and the Owasys is a piece of crap. My dad has been through two of them. The build quality on many of these specific phones is marginal and it really needs a large manufacturer to combat this. I'm 18 and I hate digital convergence. I would prefer to have a speperate phone and...

[xxxpianoperson]

consumers don't really NEED a smartphone but consumers WANT a smartphone. So its really what the people really want than what we need.