How have smartphones changed your life?

[Max Power]

(Apologies of this question has been asked before; a cursory check didn't reveal a similar thread.)

Ever since I first gained internet access in the late nineties, I realized whenever someone released a device which allowed that same access but through a handheld mobile product, I would be attached to that device day and night. Ten years later, and enter the smartphone (and my current iPhone 3G), and this is exactly what has happened.

Probably 70% of my online time is conducted through my phone. But with the smartphone's media capabilities, probably 80% of my media consumption is also through my phone. And now that my phone has been jailbroken and has tethering capabilities, an additional 15-20% of my online time is also mediated by my phone. Basically, my smartphone has revolutionized the way I gather information; I am never more than two minutes from an answer to a question, if that answer exists.

So I'm wondering, how have smartphones changed your life?

 

[sag7392]

Yes they have! I've always had a love for the mobile world since bag phones were the rage...dang, I kind of dated myself, lol. I got into smartphones when I picked up a HTC MDA a few years ago, and haven't looked back since.

My current BB 8900 is like an appendage to me. One day I left it at home and felt naked the entire time. I mean I use it for damn near everything. I have my life on it...from a resume, references, music, movies, apps galore, pics, etc. I seriously can't imagine not having one.

 

[dan330]

before my hero....
the smartphone that i have had.. has not really affected my internet much. it was to much of a hassle and aggravation.
i might check for weather and movies and tv listings.. but not much more.

then came the hero.. and android.
i find myself.. playing with phone a lot... as a toy.
online...
market for more interesting apps to try.
navigation and google searches.

with the EVO larger screen.. I will be more comfortable to be online.. with the 4G data speed.. i might hardly be on the laptop.

 

[Max Power]

I have my life on it...from a resume, references, music, movies, apps galore, pics, etc. I seriously can't imagine not having one.

I have DocsToGo installed on my iPhone, but it is mostly unused. If Apple had native file sharing as part of its OS, probably my phone would also double as a flash drive, and I would use it more for productivity in a pinch. As is stands, using my netbook is still 300% easier for tasks such as file downloads/transfers and document editing (to say nothing word processing from scratch). But I can see this situation changing once I get on Android.

i find myself.. playing with phone a lot... as a toy.

True for me as well. Much of my attraction to Android and Sense is that the UI is so much more visually appealing and interesting than iPhone's OS, with its lack of custom background and widgets.

 

[neodorian]

I've always been a fan of the whole idea. I like having access to all of my info, communications channels, streaming media, web, etc. away from the house or office. Ever since I picked up a Treo 650 I've been glad to see the kind of convergence I had been waiting for since I first got into computing as a kid. Nothing like having access to just about anything in your pocket, be it answers, information, media, or entertainment.

I personally think that as these things keep growing in power and integration, things like location aware services and general interconnectedness will have a big effect on society in the places where people can afford the services and devices. Thankfully, as the premium devices raise the bar, the basic functionality gets cheaper and more common for everyone.

The only down side is that for every new service and ability you gain, dependence grows and the less able you are to function well without.

As a minor example, how many phone numbers do you actually know anymore?

When I was a kid I knew all of my friends' numbers as well as home and relatives.

Now I am lucky if I can recall my number, my girlfriend's, and my personal office. How do you think that is gonna play out when GPS and location awareness is the norm?

Anyone remember going to concerts pre-cell phones? Remember having to set meeting points and times for the inevitable separation from your friends? Now anyone is a quick call or map point away.

 

[jeffdlb]

For me, the basic cell phone (1996), then PDA (1999), then smart phone (2005) were the life-changers. Society's transition from phones that are tied to a room or house, even if the place if empty, to phones that are associated with people regardless of location is huge. Although I don't make many phone calls, that is the capability I require the most and would be most loath to give up.

The PDA functions are great--having my personal data with me at all times is useful. Calendar -- with audible reminder -- and contacts are especially useful. Add to that an encrypted password database, a general-purpose mobile database, e-books, games, et cetera and the device is nearly indispensable.

Converging the phone+PDA into smart phone is tremendous, not only because it eliminates one device but because you now have access to the world's information as well your own--Wikipedia, news sites, forums, etc. I refer to my smart phone as my auxiliary brain. Also, adding a keyboard (even virtual) to the phone makes text messages actually worth bothering with.

I agree with neodorian that having all that information in our pockets makes us more dependent on them and less able to memorize stuff. I recently read an article about ... hold on, it's on the tip of my tongue ... what was it? ... oh yeah, it was about how in the past students were required to memorize very long poems and texts and to recite them out loud, but that as different things have been added to the school curriculum (e.g., standardized tests) the rote memorization has been reduced or eliminated, and as a result people's ability to memorize has been reduced. The article said memory is a skill like others that should be practiced to be kept in in shape.

 

[excav8ter]

I need my phone to do make calls and get email. I love it that phone have become such an integral part of our lives, it seems to help us stay productive, keep in contact and entertained all in one device, even though the can be frustrating at times to people like my self who are technically challenged. I feel lost when i leave mine at home when i leave for work. I am not an educated person or technologically smart, but i have a passion for keeping up with the latest phone trends.... my wife calls it "phone envy".

 

[Caloy]

I don't think a smart-phone will really change my life. I would've found a way to do what I want without it. But it did made my life a little easier if not more entertaining.

 

[sitlet]

When I got my first smartphone a few years ago, I thought to myself, why would I ever need to get email on the go? Well, not that I have it, I cannot live without it. I use it MANY times a day for my job, which I wouldnt have if I wouldn't be able to do that.

The other big thing for me is GPS/ google maps. I honestly don't know how I got around finding things without it. I literally use it every day now to get a gps route, or usually to find a restaurant, business or phone number.

 

[LisaFitz]

Smartphones have changed both mine and bf's life dramatically! We now use our phones in place of our laptops on the go which is amazing of how technology has progressed!

We mobile bank, check emails, txts, take and send pictures, watch videos, browse the internet, ckeck out ratings for many stores/resteraunts, find phone numbers, get directions, read the news, read e-books, play games when bored etc...

And the best part is it keeps getting better and more sophisticated, with my newest edition the Moment and our first Andrioid phone (he has the Palm Pre) I was able to yesterday pull up a coupon and have the merchant scan my phone for a mothers day gift, it was great!! I am a big shopper so scanning barcodes to make sure i am getting a deal and having all my store keycards in one place make my phone almost surreal ..

Assuming that my bf gets the EVO it will make our new laptop seem like a waste of money - ah well sometimes its nice to type on a real kepboard (especially for school purposes something a phone has yet to master)

 

[Msnay8907]

I use my phone in everyday life and will never go back to a regular phone. The first smartphone I had was the Treo 800w (which was terrible) but gave me my first taste of the smartphone world. After just 3 or 4 months, I got rid of it for the Touch PRo. The TP wasn't as bad as the Treo but it was still Windows based lol. It was better to use because of the bigger screen and Touch Flo 3D but the usual WM lag and freezing drove me to the Tour when it was release. I get a lot more functionality out of the Tour and use it for everything. I have my 4 emails accts synced, use the calender for my school schedule, navigation (I'm terrible with directions) and a lot of other things. Now that I have tried WM and Blackberry, Android is the next step with the EVO. I hate Palm phones and I have been looking at Android for a while but the Hero and Moment weren't enough to make me want to change over butt he EVO is worth it!

 

[Max Power]

Regarding the impact of mobile technology on how we exercise our intellects, I had read an article in Wired magazine (last year) on this very subject. The author's thesis had it that pervasive information technology would place a premium on creative thinking, and the ability to ask meaningful questions while identifying the critical and core issues. Which contrasted with the advent of civilization when the premium was placed on organizational and information retention abilities. So essentially, with the continued development of IT and eventually AI, we'll see a shift from an emphasis on the left-brain to the right-brain. Which is not necessarily a negative development, but a natural development as our culture evolves and continues to integrate information technology.

Anyway, thanks, everyone, for the replies!

 

[JEB770]

Just thought that I'd introduce a new slant on this discussion (and ask for a bit of help at the same time!!)

I am a UK based university student and am gathering research material for my final year dissertation.

I would like to hear from anyone who has an opinion on how smart phones impact on our everyday life performance.

By performance, I am talking about concepts introduced by the performing arts theorist Richard Schechner has his idea that everyday life is a performance which is part of a continuum

I am linking the use of smart phones to the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter

I would be interested in views on how smart phones have changed our behaviour

With smart phones providing mobile and continuous access to social networking sites everyone

 

[Android XTC]

I have lost weight because of the huge bill I have now from Sprint for all of these extra smart phone access charges I now have to pay. I have less money for food now.

 

[quest7]

I got hooked when a friend of mine, had a cricket phone with internet. When I was away from a computer, I would look for him(his phone). Then I got one, and wanted more, so I got a tp2, and loved it. But then I wanted more, so I when to Android, and my phone is the most important thing in my house. I don't own a pc, so my phone helps me keep up with the rest of the world. From watching movies and videos, listening to music, reading the news, emails, and info searching my phone is always in my hand or pocket.

 

[Thefoodman52]

How have smart phones changed my life...

Well, I used to have to deal with people and boring face to face conversations, now I can just video chat when needed, and continue checking Androidforums.com when I could be out with people... I mean, I thought before that having a social life was cool, damn was I wrong. This is where it's at!

 

[mcatdtDROID]

it's gotten me laid more.... and that's no kidding.


being available, facebook, email, IM, text. I have so many booby pics on my phone for college girls it should be illegal lol

 

[Thefoodman52]

Another thing that's changed for me: Life isn't worth living if you can't browse the web at 3G speeds while on the throne.

 

[substring]

The phone part is actually the one feature that I use the least. Most of my friends do not answer phone calls, but they will answer text messages.

I am heavy on the data side. I use my phone for all my emails, and updates on Twitter, Facebook and FourSquare. I use my phone for news, entertainment, and navigation (VZ Navigator). It becomes so important that I cannot leave my house without it...and not because I need to make any phone call.

 

[gutted]

I've lost that anxious, excited feeling of logging into my email to see if anyone has emailed me. Now I know that the instant it happens (takes the fun out of it!)

 

[pastafarian]

Before smartphones, I worried about my PDA's battery going dead confident that my phone would last for days. Now I worry that I'll be completely off the grid by 3:00 if I don't economize on use. That's progress!

 

[quest7]

Another thing that's changed for me: Life isn't worth living if you can't browse the web at 3G speeds while on the throne.

Amen...

 

[jroc]

I have many useful things at my fingertips.

I used the the web and GPS a few weeks looking for a restaurant,
I can check the weather when I wake up and unplug the phone,
When leaving out for work I check the bus schedules (pdf's) on my phone - lets me know do I wait for the bus or walk to the subway
I listen to the FM radio and mp3's on the ride to work

Smartphones basically made my life easier, or easier to manage.

 

[PinkMirrorKirby]

Long ago, I've been using Feature Phones (Dumbphones), until one day I got this Android device, since then I've been playing with it A LOT, it does everything I needed it to do like syncing e-mail, updating status on Facebook and Twitter, checking the weather, listening to music, surfing the web.

If you are lost, Google Maps is the best way to know where you are!

 

[mauiblue]

Never thought I would be into a smartphone until a couple months ago. That's when I started doing a bit of research and listening to talk radio tech shows. Iphones never appealed to me because the power pack was built in and was not owner replaceable. But with the android phones, you can have mulitiple batteries that are easily replaceable. After I caught wind of the HTC Droid Incredible, I was hooked. I could easily setup my phone numbers and addresses, do Facebook and Twitter, have Google's power just with the stroke of my fingertip, and have free apps galore. I can carry around my music, play games to kill time, and always be connected via email, texting, phone, and social networks almost instantaneously. Simply amazing. I am up for a phone upgrade in about 9 months so I can't wait to see what next phone I'll be using next year. Wooohooo!