Versatile little device

[Anthony2816]

I'm still tickled with how many former electronic devices I've owned that are now replaced by a single Samsung Fascinate:

1. Cell phone
2. MP3 player
3. GPS unit.
4. eBook reader (Kindle, Google books, etc.)
5. Handheld game console (Gameboy Advance SP)*
6. Electronic dictionary
7. Calculator
8. Clock/stop watch
9. Digital camera (still & video)
10. LED flashlight
11. Electronic language translator
12. Video player

I've really bought and owned all of the above.

And then there's all the functions it has that I've never had in a handheld device; most notably, a web browser, email, barcode scanner, etc. It even holds images of those little key-ring cards that I used to carry in my wallet.


*In addition to games made for the phone, I have a Gameboy Advance emulator with *all* the games ever released for it.

 

[saps]

Indeed, these devices are almost all in one's

 

[s44]

It even holds images of those little key-ring cards that I used to carry in my wallet.

Oh, I'd never even thought of that.

My phone is also my Starbucks card. I'm afraid the day may soon come when it's also my wallet, because that will mean it's valuable enough to steal again.

 

[Frisco]

I'm still tickled with how many former electronic devices I've owned that are now replaced by a single Samsung Fascinate:

1. Cell phone
2. MP3 player
3. GPS unit.
4. eBook reader (Kindle, Google books, etc.)
5. Handheld game console (Gameboy Advance SP)*
6. Electronic dictionary
7. Calculator
8. Clock/stop watch
9. Digital camera (still & video)
10. LED flashlight
11. Electronic language translator

And then there's all the functions it has that I've never had in a handheld device; most notably, a web browser, email, barcode scanner, etc. It even holds images of those little key-ring cards that I used to carry in my wallet.


*In addition to games made for the phone, I have a Gameboy Advance emulator with *all* the games ever released for it.

Nice post, Anthony.

 

[saps]

Oh, I'd never even thought of that.

My phone is also my Starbucks card. I'm afraid the day may soon come when it's also my wallet, because that will mean it's valuable enough to steal again.

Yeah those nfc chips could make it so

 

[davidnmegan6907]

Yeah those nfc chips could make it so

I'm kinda on the fence about that..

 

[nklenchik]

This topic is definitely a +1

 

[Anthony2816]

Oh, I'd never even thought of that.

It's really nice...search the Market for "Key Ring Reward Cards". Not only does it rid your key ring (or in my case, wallet) of those little cards, but it also alerts you to specials from the stores you frequent...for me, that's CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies, Safeway, Sears, Petsmart and Petco. Six cards that I'm now still carrying, but with a thinner wallet.

 

[saps]

It's really nice...search the Market for "Key Ring Reward Cards". Not only does it rid your key ring (or in my case, wallet) of those little cards, but it also alerts you to specials from the stores you frequent...for me, that's CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies, Safeway, Sears, Petsmart and Petco. Six cards that I'm now still carrying, but with a thinner wallet.

Holy Moly Batman. So let me understand this. You basically barcode scan your Safeway card in and then at the grocery store they swipe your phone? This is potentially awesome where the heck have I been

 

[Anthony2816]

Yeah, that's how it works, Saps.

 

[saps]

Yeah, that's how it works, Saps.

Well I DL'd it and it failed to scan a single thing I had

 

[Anthony2816]

Really? How so? D'you mean it wouldn't read the bar code? If so, I found it works better if you don't hold the phone so close that the bar code fills the screen. About 5-6" away is best.

 

[saps]

Really? How so? D'you mean it wouldn't read the bar code? If so, I found it works better if you don't hold the phone so close that the bar code fills the screen. About 5-6" away is best.

Yeah believe me tried it for several minutes at all sorts of distances. 4 different cards none worked

 

[gonzo143]

It scanned all my 10 cards. No problems at all. Just wouldn't do my library card !

you gotta hold it there and watch the "green" lights on the barcode scanner read them for a min.

 

[AlissaLL3]

It's really nice...search the Market for "Key Ring Reward Cards". Not only does it rid your key ring (or in my case, wallet) of those little cards, but it also alerts you to specials from the stores you frequent...for me, that's CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies, Safeway, Sears, Petsmart and Petco. Six cards that I'm now still carrying, but with a thinner wallet.

OMG thank you for this!
10 mini cards and 4 normal sized all scanned.
Petco had some issues but finally scanned. Seems distance can help.

 

[saps]

Well it worked today I got 6 cards in including my American Red Cross kewl

 

[Anthony2816]

Glad you were successful, Saps. One more truly useful use of our Fascinates.

 

[3cutiger]

It's really nice...search the Market for "Key Ring Reward Cards". Not only does it rid your key ring (or in my case, wallet) of those little cards, but it also alerts you to specials from the stores you frequent...for me, that's CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies, Safeway, Sears, Petsmart and Petco. Six cards that I'm now still carrying, but with a thinner wallet.

Tried it with my BiLo (grocery) rewards card and my card for my sports club, neither worked. Wonder if it was because I had a screen saver, or what???

 

[Anthony2816]

What was the problem, 3cutiger? Were you not able to scan the bar code?

I notice that to the left of the bar code scanning screen, there's two buttons to "Use Camera" or "Use Keypad". I assume you can use the latter to type in the bar code's number instead of scanning it.

Bi-Lo is indeed in the list of cards on the app's built-in list.

 

[dbalch]

I'm still tickled with how many former electronic devices I've owned that are now replaced by a single Samsung Fascinate:

1. Cell phone
2. MP3 player
3. GPS unit.
4. eBook reader (Kindle, Google books, etc.)
5. Handheld game console (Gameboy Advance SP)*
6. Electronic dictionary
7. Calculator
8. Clock/stop watch
9. Digital camera (still & video)
10. LED flashlight
11. Electronic language translator
12. Video player

I've really bought and owned all of the above.

And then there's all the functions it has that I've never had in a handheld device; most notably, a web browser, email, barcode scanner, etc. It even holds images of those little key-ring cards that I used to carry in my wallet.


*In addition to games made for the phone, I have a Gameboy Advance emulator with *all* the games ever released for it.

That's why I consider the tablet a step back really. The reason the tablet is being pushed is because they haven't been able to solve the "size of screen" problem of the smartphone i.e. it's uncomfortable for the average user to read print or watch video for an extended time on such a small screen.

Long term, I believe the solution lies in flexible, thin screen that are somehow going to fold out from the phone, allowing us a temporary larger viewing screen when we need it.

Until then, they going to keep trying to convince us we need two devices: a smartphone and a tablet.

Me, I'm sticking with smartphone only.

 

[3cutiger]

What was the problem, 3cutiger? Were you not able to scan the bar code?

I notice that to the left of the bar code scanning screen, there's two buttons to "Use Camera" or "Use Keypad". I assume you can use the latter to type in the bar code's number instead of scanning it.

Bi-Lo is indeed in the list of cards on the app's built-in list.

But the scanner at the store and my gym wouldn't recognize the bar code image on my phone

 

[Anthony2816]

The reason the tablet is being pushed is because they haven't been able to solve the "size of screen" problem of the smartphone i.e. it's uncomfortable for the average user to read print or watch video for an extended time on such a small screen.

I'm at an age where I now use reading glasses, so when I want to read ebooks on my Android...or play complicated games...I just use slightly more powerful reading glasses.

 

[Anthony2816]

But the scanner at the store and my gym wouldn't recognize the bar code image on my phone

Ah, can't help you with that. As a matter of fact, I've only had my phone scanned for Groupons and GeoQpons, and in those cases the scanning at the stores worked fine.

But I haven't tried it for any of my key cards.

 

[saps]

Ah, can't help you with that. As a matter of fact, I've only had my phone scanned for Groupons and GeoQpons, and in those cases the scanning at the stores worked fine.

But I haven't tried it for any of my key cards.

Its real hit and miss. Totally depends on the store and the kinda of scanner they use it seems Im 2-4