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(Almost) End of an Era

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AngliaGT

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin
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I got a cell new phone today.I was told that my old flip phone
won't be supported much longer.The new one is another flip phone,
but it's bigger.
I hate high-tech,when I'm TOLD that I have to replace things like
this that I like & understand how to use.
 
Often tough to do, but better they warned you *before* it dropped off their support radar. Mine (Tracphone) stopped working - wouldn't call out or receive calls. I called customer service and was told they had dropped their support a few days earlier!
 
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Verizon supposedly put me on a list for a free gen 4 flip phone about 8 months ago because they were going to phase out G3. Heard nothing so far. I do not want an I-phone either.
Bob
 
I’ve always been curious to know what some folks have against smartphones and what they have to offer.

I’ve never asked anyone so I’ll start by asking here.
 
For me,it's because I use mine to just make phone calls,
& don't need ( or care about) all the other things on the Smart-
phones.
Plus it really irks me how addicted (& distracted) people
are to them.We have a lot of young people where I work that just
have to check their phones every 10 minutes or so,while they are
on the clock,& nobody in management will do anything about it.
 
I don't have anything *against* smartphones. But I don't use mine except for emergencies. A few negatives for me are:
- organizations requiring me to use a smartphone (Chromecast ended laptop control, and requires smartphone use instead)
- organizations requiring two step login verification using your cell number, assuming you carry your cell 24/7
- smartphone use shares my cell number over the 'net, so the number becomes just another way to send me "notifications" and alerts.
- smartphone use tends to make users expect immediate response when leaving a message
- smartphone use tends to make users expect 24/7 communication, even from automated systems
- organizations pushing "go paperless". Ever try to read an electric bill on a 4" smartphone screen?

Yep - there are exceptions to all the above. But I don't want to have to jump through all those hoops. I see dozens of people every day who never stop staring at their smartphone screens, which constantly show "alerts" and notifications ... and the occasional call or message from a real person.

PS - I once made the mistake of clicking "Show Notifications". Gak - never again!
 
All this smarphone use and other tech aids... Computers were supposed to be labor saving devices; I think they are labor shifting devices - we do the work of others.
 
Trevor Triumph said:
All this smarphone use and other tech aids... Computers were supposed to be labor saving devices; I think they are labor shifting devices - we do the work of others.
Click to expand...

Thoreau:

“Men have become the tools of their tools. Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul. Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.”
 
Scargo said:
I’ve always been curious to know what some folks have against smartphones and what they have to offer.

I’ve never asked anyone so I’ll start by asking here.
Click to expand...

The "smartphone" in a nutshell homogenizes us. Making humans a commodity. And IMHO a clear violation of The Fourth Amendment. If the thing is constantly "on" it has two-way information exchange, the implications are maddening. And some units are "on" no matter what. Use one to look for a pair of shoes or new underwear and your "preferences" are Internet accessible, including ALL personal info. No matter the "VPN" or "firewall" schemes employed (sold BTW as panacea against such dissemination), the user becomes a demographic marketing target, for just one example.
 
As one fellow curmudgeon put it: "Don't need no *expletive deleted* smartphone. I ain't that *expletive deleted* important!"
 
DrEntropy said:
As one fellow curmudgeon put it: "Don't need no *expletive deleted* smartphone. I ain't that *expletive deleted* important!"
Click to expand...
I think I might know that guy ;)
 
DrEntropy said:
The "smartphone" in a nutshell homogenizes us. Making humans a commodity. And IMHO a clear violation of The Fourth Amendment. If the thing is constantly "on" it has two-way information exchange, the implications are maddening. And some units are "on" no matter what. Use one to look for a pair of shoes or new underwear and your "preferences" are Internet accessible, including ALL personal info. No matter the "VPN" or "firewall" schemes employed (sold BTW as panacea against such dissemination), the user becomes a demographic marketing target, for just one example.
Click to expand...
While all the above comments are true you don’t have to own a smartphone to give up your personal info. Unless you pay cash for everything your credit card info regarding purchasing and spending habits are sold. Drive a newer car? Every time you stop telemetry transmits your speed, routes you take, where you stop, etc and sends the info to the car manufacturer. That info is sold for big bucks to insurance companies and others who pony up $$$. Does your daily commute take you past McDonalds? You just might be getting coupons showing up on your infotainment screen.
Car manufacturers stand to make lots of $$$ from selling your data.
Just who owns YOUR data?
 
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Elliot - this sounds like a good idea for a new thread: "cars sending personal info", or something similar. I'd like to see some details on the cars that actually do share data, in addition to Tesla. I'd thought that only happens if you have a smartphone with a car-related app.

Thanks.
Tom M.
 
NutmegCT said:
Elliot - this sounds like a good idea for a new thread: "cars sending personal info", or something similar. I'd like to see some details on the cars that actually do share data, in addition to Tesla. I'd thought that only happens if you have a smartphone with a car-related app.

Thanks.
Tom M.
Click to expand...
Definitely not. I bought a new 2019 Mazda 3. Last year there was a software update. I took it back to the dealer and was told that they would have to first install a telemetry module in my car before they would update the software in my car (my car did not have this module on the car when I bought it. Later cars had the module installed).
I refused to have the tracking module installed and to date have not had the software update.
 
Back to flip phones for a question. My wife loves her LG flip phone but it too is being closed out by Verizon. I have been shopping for a new one and I am getting confused by the ratings on the various brands. Verizon offers a few, but all seem to have very bad consumer reviews. What basic phones are the rest of the group using and how do they perform? Thanks
 
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