Slashdot Mirror
Just a Phone?
LiquidCoooled writes "Vodafone in the UK have released a mobile phone which caters to those people craving a simple handset. For far too long we have been overpowered by extras we don't need; this looks to be a very nice solution. These phones feature a large format screen and buttons and a simple interface making this phone more accessible to a larger audience." I'd sure prefer better sound and simpler menus to the useless camera and gimmicks built into my current phone.
This probably sounds a bit hypocrytical coming from someone who has written java apps for phones, but one thing that does annoy me about the modern handsets is the sluggish interface due to the anti-aliased true-type fonts, animation, heavy operating system overhead (relative to the CPU), colour menus and other crap that gets in the way when you just want to make a quick call. I've lost cound of the number of times I've called directory enquiries, got a number and tried to type it in before forgetting it, (I'm too lazy to use a pen) and after tapping away, realise it's missed the first one or two digits. My 7 year old wireless home phone handset can take the digits as fast as I can punch them in, so why can't a mobile costing 300-400 pounds?
While I'm at it, am I the only one who wishes that directory enquiries could beam a number to your phone in a specific format, so that you could just call by viewing the text message and using a "convert to number" type option (in the UK we do get a text message, but it's a case of reading the message, remembering the number, backing out back to the main interface and typing it in)? Maybe other countries do this?
Back to the topic, why not have "Advanced user", "Normal user" and "Dimwit" settings. Default to "Dimwit", mode which would have by default two menu options "stored numbers" and "settings". If stored numbers was picked, it would show a list of 9 numbers (maximum, or whatever will fit on the display) and a prompt text telling the user to just press key 1-9 to call, or 0 to cancel. If from the main menu the user starts typing in a number, the two options are "Store number", or "Cancel". The settings menu for the "Dimwit" user would only allow a change to another user type. Probably best not to use the word "Dimwit" in the option list though I guess...
Really, it's not rocket surgery, using a phone though, and as long as the extras don't get in the way of normal functionality, who cares how many bells and whistles there are? If you don't want to use them, then don't. You wouldn't decide not to buy a car simply because it had too many gadgets, would you? Defaulting to predictive text is one of my pet hates though I hate predictive text, and always disable it, but plenty of handsets make doing so difficult or at least non-obvious.
Code, Hardware, stuff like that.
It's about time someone put an end to hardware feature creep on cellphones!
I don't need cameras, a million different ringtones, games, instant messenger, etc on my cellphone. All I ask of it is that it make reliable calls, have a somewhat long battery life, and be easy to read (I have a hell of a time reading the text on my LG) and use.
Cellphone companies in America, please take note.
"Think about how stupid the average person is, then realize that half of 'em are stupider than that!" - George Carlin.
speak for yourself; i for one am quite glad to be able to run midpSSH anywhere there's a tower within range!
I don't know about that one. I don't know how many times I've gotten a call from someone who has his phone in his pocket and it presses the key that is speed dial to my phone. I'm not sure emergency services wants to hear people's drive-thru orders. (Please tell me I'm not the only one that happens to....)
For example, my grandma doesn't need a camera or games, that kind of stuff just confuses her. Her eyesight isn't so great at close distances, so larger text (both on the screen and on buttons) is a plus. Also, she has mild arthritis, and a larger phone with larger buttons would be a lot easier for her to use.
as a telephone to talk to people. I don't use my landline much, but haven't dropped it yet.
as a text pager. My system monitors and trouble report mail addresses all route to my phone.
tetris on the shitter
Raise your children as if you were teaching them to raise your grandchildren, because you are.
It would be great if users could choose what features they wanted on their phones rather than just having to choose from some standard models.
Users must be allowed to select what they really need and nothing else.
I, for one, am heartily sick and tired of the technology industry catering to the ill-informed desires of children rather than to the real needs of the adults who actually pay the bills.
I have no need or desire for a camera in my phone. I do not have the time to waste on text messaging through a cramped interface. I think that video on a cell phone is idiotic. I don't need a game on my cell phone to exercise my brain. I don't need my cell phone to play music.
What i need is:
1. A phone that is comfortable to use.
2. A phone that can be operated easily with one hand.
3. A vibrating ringer that doesn't disturb others.
4. A speakerphone for when my hands aren't free.
5. High speed IP access (preferably via a wireless connection like Bluetooth) for my PDA and laptop.
6. A simple interface.
7. Long battery life.
8. Conservative, modern styling
9. Worldwide coverage.
10. Macintosh compatibility.
11. Good customer service.
12. and a reasonable price.
Everything else is unecessary and unwanted. I'm a business person, and I want a tool that helps me do my job and stays out of my way. I'm not a child with ADHD that needs to be constantly entertained.
I'm not one who enjoys a phone that just lets me call people (I have used and enjoy all the extra features my phone has) but I would think the people who just want a phone for calling still care about the look of the phone. Those are the two ugliest phones I've ever seen. Usually when something is that ugly it makes up for it with all the extra things it can do. I can't imagine these two phones selling well at all, and why can't there be a flip phone? It's nice having a large screen, but at least a flip phone can protect that screen from scratches/dust and whatever might be in your pocket when you stick the phone there.
But is it because older people can't learn as quickly and are set in their ways, or is it because they are older and wiser and refuse to be fished in to subscription and usage fees for gimmicky services of dubious usefulness? I have noticed that the young people who are keen to fiddle with every silly bell and whistle are also more likely to fall for crap like "Forward this email to everyone you know and Bill Gates will pay you $100 for every address because he is testing out his new email system."
Sometimes you just want to be able to pick up something and use without having to study a manual and remember sequences of buttons. Imagine what life would be like if the same so-called level of innovation was applied to common household items like the kitchen faucet or the toilet.
Those phones are nice... As a Radio Shack associate who sells cell phones all the time, I agree with the statement in the article that mentions the "older crowd"... I get practically cussed out half the time because a career or middle age adult comes in to buy a phone, and they are incensed that most phones have cameras and camcorders and mp3 downloads and picture messaging. Sprint PCS (my personal carrier) has gone back to the basics with a new line of Sanyo phones. One model has speaker phone with no external LCD, one has a 1 line external LCD with speaker phone, and one has an internal antenna and no external screen; while all of those are flip phones, to me they represent a fundamental shift in the marketing target of the cellular industry. The cameras and frills nailed the younger audience, and now they are attempting to increase their base to include the older generation. The shift has become such that phone service at home is becoming obsolete slowly but surely.
Sniper's Motto: One shot, One kill- If you run, you'll only die tired.
There's one feature I think all phones should have: if anyone selects a ringtone with that @#$% frog in it, the phone should detonate the battery and spray acid in their face.
I'm scared of numbers that can't be written as a fraction. It's an irrational fear.
Everytime a cell phone is discussed on slashdot we get cries of everyone going "I wish they'd just have a phone you could call people on! wa wa wa camera wa wa wa ring tones wa wa wa...."
These comments are usually brought up because the poster thinks they are being witty, pointing out something that does not exist, while in fact, they are WRONG.
Almost every carrier offers a base model phone, usually for free, for becoming a new customer. Sometimes these free phones still come with extra features which may upset the "simple phone denizens". Shame on the carriers for trying to give you more for free! They will surely pay for this!
Thats where carriers who allow you to use whatever phone you want with their SIM card come into play. I know Cingular in the US does this and I"m sure countless others do. Then you can buy whatever old phone from 1995 you want that only makes phone calls.
Even still, modern carriers still offer bare bones phones. Sure, they don't put them on the front page of their websites but they exist. I just found this phone in about 3 seconds on nokia.com and Cingular is even offering a plan with it.
http://www.nokiausa.com/phones/1261
This phone came out years ago, this whole "bare bones" phone thing is NOT NEWS. You really think the first cell phones were bloated with features? I remember using a Motorola Startac, and that didn't even have an LCD. So stop your whining and actually look at the products available.
I'd like to see a Bluetooth earpiece that's "just a phone", with an "answer" button, and a speeddial scroller that says each name, then calls. With all the other functions, like PIM, internet, display, texting, etc, all in the phone carried in my pocket (or nerdbelt). Make it a stereo earset, and I'll feel like everything has converged in my ear, effortlessly. A pocket mainframe, with Bluetooth terminals and 3G WAN, is right where I want to be.
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make install -not war
Hopefully it will have more features than version 1.