Are Smartphones the future ???...I will find out

[Channa]

Firstly, I am a joe average pc user surf a little bit, tease you lot now and again, I dont download films etc and if ever I have used IT in a work environment it has been someone elses kit.

I have a laptop on its last legs, battery kerputt, I have a satnav that is poorly, no camera other than on a Sony phone and even that switches itself off and is poorly too.

So in my wisdom, I have finished a contract with vodaphone, and for better or worse gone on a contract with Orange. and acaquired a

HTC sensation XL smart phone. ( with android software google owned)

t has a 4.7 inch screen, built in sat nav which uses the phones gps signal(doesnt eat your bandwith allowance) an 8 mega pixel phone and video recorder ;

E mail, texts etcetc and you cazn even make phone calls on it ..

Smart phones it is predicted by yhe end of this year will outsell laptops ...the end of the laptop ? A reason why it is muted Microdoft are attempting to buy nokia and keep a market of some sorts...Android software seems better than microsfoft, a platform more widely used, and android phones are perhaps more common and cheaper than the i phone alternative

All the apps available offer a multimedia experience for those that want it, and I thinks Phils venture to make the site available for I phone : android is ;good foresight

Due to my lifestyle , charging will be a lot easier and less clutter to carry around.

Your thoughts

Channa

 

[Admin]

The future is the cloud. Or cloud based computing instances.

Basically what this means is that the power and specs of your hardware no longer matters, it is just a screen and input system. The internet connects your remote device with your stuff (programs, photos, music and desktop) which actually exists within the cloud. In theory this means that eventually you will be able to logon to any terminal (smart phone, laptop, car radio, telephone kiosk) and have your desktop and data usable as if you where in front of your own machine.

Businesses are already taking up this system, their staff can logon to any of their systems and have their own personal system instantly. No more carrying data around on disks or usb drives as it is always available. Also with enhanced security and virus protection and realtime ghosting and data backup the concept is great.

The real benefit comes from elastic cloud. This means that the computing power you need is instantly available even if you need 100 cpus and 100 gb of ram, your instance (the virtual pc you are using) simply get extra resources instantly then releases them as it finishes. This is good for low end users (emails and browsing and low online time) as you can use pay-as-you-go computing or pay a monthly fee for a set amount (a bit like a phone contract)

I know this sounds like SCi-FI but this is available today as is being used right now.

 

[Drew]

I am similarly not hugely IT literates but have loads more gadgets, not that I know how to use them or why I have them I just like gadgets.

I have an HTC Legend running Android, which is great, when I have a decent signal, but beware of Google Maps as they need a data connection to work so will eat up bandwidth if used as a Sat Nav device.

I also run Viewranger software with OS mapping which does not use bandwidth but has maps downloaded to the flash drive, doesn't work as a sat nav though, but is great for going out walking until the batteries die. So I have a Power Monkey to keep me going and take OS maps with me just in case, and a big rucsac to carry all the gadgets, and the wife in case I have forgotten anything (she with the good memory). I did try putting things that I might forget on a list on the smart phone but now I've forgotten where the list is in the phone

 

[Admin]

I actually think that tablet devices like the ipad are going to be the new laptops for the common man, but again using cloud services.

 

[landyrubbertramp]

I actually think that tablet devices like the ipad are going to be the new laptops for the common man, but again using cloud services.

i agrre with phil i think it will be a mix of phones and a tablet so you can type easier. and then you will be able to plug it on to ur t v if you want a bigger screen etc. when you think about it the future will make it alot easier and much cheaper for us wildcampers out and about and esp fulltimers. The bigger question is are the machines thier to help us with our pusuits in life or are we just going to spend hrs working them out. I think of the techonolgy like say a broom you se it when you need to sweep up then you put it away you dont sweep up then go and sweep the streets for hrs at a time if that makes sense.

 

[Channa]

Well first post using the smartphone and New app
Channa

 

[Northerner]

I think that Android smartphones are the canine's private parts. I do think though that to get the best from them you need to get acquainted with all Google's applications. I now use Google Calendar, via a third party app called Calengoo, which gets over Google's own calendar limitations of only seeing past events for up to a year.

I use Google Contacts and Google Picasa for all my photos. These are all stored in the cloud and can be viewed on your phone, laptop, PC or whatever.

You should also get a Gmail account as it's the easiest way of sending mail. You can configure a Gmail account to send emails as though they're coming from your other main email address, so recipients appear to receive mail from your normal account and they can reply to that in the usual way.

I would check your sat-nav application as Google Navigation for instance does use data as well as GPS. I use CoPilot which has all the maps stored on the phone and is the finest sat-nav I've ever used. Its features are brilliant and I've used it through France, Spain and Portugal, where I am now, without using any data whatsoever.

So yes, Smartphones are brilliant but I am typing this on my netbook as it's larger and has a proper keyboard!

 

[whitevanwoman]

I :heart: :heart: :heart: my android phone, had it nearly a year now and it's changed my life. I used to take my netbook with me when away from home overnight, but havent used that now for months.

Do be aware of data usage and make sure you switch data off at home when you can use your own wifi connection, and take advan of free wifi spots such as motorway services and various fast food outlets etc.

Also don't download updates for apps over data connection, wait till you get a wifi connection to do it. And switch off any Facebook widgets as that'll eat up your data. You can use Sat Nav with GPS connection only but it is faster and more accurate with data connection enabled too. Am with Voda and they have an app where you can keep an eye on your monthly data usage so you don't go over your free limit (if you have one included in your package - if not have a look a Data Bolt On packages, which will prob work out cheaper than just PAYG data usage).

All my contacts, tasks, calendar etc are now done online using Google - no longer have to carry a diary or shopping list etc. The only prob is that I do have to make sure I've always got my specs with me as I'm at the age now where my arms aren't long enough to get the text in focus but am sure it's only a matter of time before there's a easy read / enlarged text version or app.

The main disadvan is that battery runs down quick so aswell as glasses I always have to carry a USB charging cable but they're cheap enough on ebay (99p) so I bought a few and have one in each van, one in handbag, one in overnight bag etc - the retractable ones which take up no space.

Camera is ok for fun snaps outdoors but as a keen photographer I still take my decent camera pretty much everywhere with me. Am sure that camera quality will improve over next few years though.

Enjoy it, and don't worry if you get hooked on the various games, the addiction does pass after a couple of months.

 

[Northerner]

The main disadvan is that battery runs down quick so aswell as glasses I always have to carry a USB charging cable but they're cheap enough on ebay (99p) so I bought a few and have one in each van, one in handbag, one in overnight bag etc - the retractable ones which take up no space.

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 and I must admit that its only disadvantage is battery life. If your phone has a removable battery buy a spare. I got one on eBay that has a slightly larger capacity than the original battery. I swap them around occasionally and find that the replacement is every bit as good as the genuine Samsung one.

This cost me the princely sum of £7.50 and saves me messing around trying to find charging points etc.

 

[whitevanwoman]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 and I must admit that its only disadvantage is battery life. If your phone has a removable battery buy a spare. I got one on eBay that has a slightly larger capacity than the original battery. I swap them around occasionally and find that the replacement is every bit as good as the genuine Samsung one.

This cost me the princely sum of £7.50 and saves me messing around trying to find charging points etc.

I've been meaning to do that. I've also got a solar charger (PowerMonkey) for backpack camping or when away from van / mains electric all day.

 

[AuldTam]

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Mini Andriod from Argos for £80 but it was locked to 3 network. Then had it unlocked officially through 3 and I now use GiffGaff PAYG sim which costs £10 for 30 days with 250mins calls, unlimited texts and unlimited internet. GiffGaff use 02 network so the coverage is quite good.


Its got poor battery life though and needs charged every night if you use the internet and sat nav a lot.



Whats Cloud??

 

[Viktor]

The future is 'The Cloud'. The reality is we are literally in danger of becoming 'Borg' in the physical sense in perhaps a 100 years or less because of linked and embedded hardware in the human body. Surgically implanted secure data links, vision enhancement, etc will become common place. It will start with people who have lost limbs and eyes in the military and then expand into industry applications. Mark my words - it's as plain as the nose on your face and it IS coming.

 

[whitevanwoman]

Its got poor battery life though and needs charged every night if you use the internet and sat nav a lot.

I think that's common to most Smart phones - they are basically a mini computer and so whatever you do on them is using considerable power. Once you've found your way round it, you'll find out how to tweak the settings for minimum battery consumption but that'll be at the expense of performance. The alternative is bigger battery = bigger phone.

 

[whitevanwoman]

Whats Cloud??

The Cloud is basically a massive computer somewhere which is owned by Google (for those using Android) or various other organisations such as Apple, Microsoft or most large organisations / employers now use the cloud to host their own servers (massive computer storage facilities) on which you (as an individual user) are allocated a little bit of drive space. In this space you can save your personal documents, photos, music etc aswell as your personal settings for using Android to surf the web, and various other bits of information, in much the same way that you would save personal documents on your hard drive on your pc and that Internet Explorer would save your browser settings on your pc.

Then when you access the internet using your Android phone (or other device) instead of that information being downloaded direct to your computer / mobile phone, you effectively access that info using hyperlinks (website addresses), so your device doesn't contain much if any data, it's simply a device for accessing your data saved on the cloud.

You probably already use the cloud without realising - Facebook and other social networks, webmail, online photo or music storage etc.

I'm not a true geek but I think this is what the Cloud is but am happy to be corrected by any true geeks who are better informed than me.

 

[Firefox]

Yes I think we use the Cloud at work without realising it, Googlemail, GoogleDocs etc.

But has has been said it can include processing power as well, not just storage, so all you need to do is interface with it.

The interface is the problem, which is why smartphones will not replace lap tops and tablets in the near future for certain users. I often work with big drawings, photos, large reports, spreadsheets, graphics etc. A decent screen and keyboard is needed for these. That's not to say the handheld device won't catch up with projectable screens or holo screens and other technology like better voice recognition instead of inputting text or even thought recognition so you can think your words onto the screen.

Even with these features, things like holo screens or projector screens will consume a lot of power so we'll have goggle screens and eventually bio implants that can feed the cloud images straight into our optic nerve.

By that time, the smart phone will be long gone anyway, but I still think laptops and tablets will have a big role to play in the transition.

 

[barryd]

I have worked in IT for 25 years, the last ten running my own IT company. I dont get excited by technology but I make a living from people who do. For this reason I look at the whole thing without getting all gooey about the nice new shiny bit of kit. I am only interested in two things. 1. will it do what I want and need when I want it or 2. how much money can I make out of it.

The cloud idea is nothing new, thin client technology has been around for decades. What is differnet is the way it will allow us to collaborate with each other so its good for business or remote work groups but it relies completely on you having a constant internet connection. Now on a motorhome forum we if anyone should know how we struggle with this, especially abroad.

Smart phones have a purpose but will never replace laptops or desktops as they are too small to much more than check emails or browse low bandwidth forums or website apps. 99.9% of the apps for the iphone are pointless toys that I dont need. I have an iphone and its crap. The most over rated sexed up piece of junk ever created. However. Since vodafone Data traveller came out it came into its own as it means an easy and cheap way to stay in touch with emails and simple browsing in any country in the EU for a tenner a month. Thats not a benefit of the phone though its a benefit of telecoms providers finally breaking the mold on roaming charges.

Tablets I beleive will die a death. They again are gimmicks. A few people in business have told me that the iPad has changed their lives!. Everytime I ask them to demonstrate what this wonderful piece of kit has done for them (payed their mortgage? got them laid perhaps) anything they show me I can already do on my laptop quicker and cheaper.

Just my views and I could be wrong on the tablet but I dont think so.

 

[Firefox]

Barry (and others), do you think the laptop will replace the desktop PC?

Compared to a desk top set up, cost has always been a problem, but with miniaturisation and online processing power, the laptop can just become a slim light I/O device with little onboard storage or power, but the space and cost dedicated to graphics and communication chips.

 

[Deleted member 20892]

Wow, all this techno stuff really goes over my head, my phone makes calls, receives calls, sends and receives texts, and takes the odd pic....
As the advert says, i like to keep it Simples..............

jt

 

[Airecraft]

Battery life is relative. I got my first mobile in 1995, a sony mars bar phone, and the battery lasted 8 hrs on standby and needed 15 hrs to recharge.
I'm quite happy to get 15 hrs without charging out of an Xperia X1.

 

[Drew]

Barry (and others), do you think the laptop will replace the desktop PC?

Compared to a desk top set up, cost has always been a problem, but with miniaturisation and online processing power, the laptop can just become a slim light I/O device with little onboard storage or power, but the space and cost dedicated to graphics and communication chips.

At present at work we use desktops, for those of us with a desk, but we also have a number of people who cover more than one site using laptops. Cost is I think a big element in this but here's the interesting thing, all of our computers even the laptops connect to one PC which acts as a server. Each PC is still autonomous but we share files and broadband links through this one PC, if it is switched off we can still work but have no internet, printing or access to shared files or the central server for intranet services. I think that is a bit like a cloud.

When at University we had dumb terminals that worked through a server, that was 15 years ago, which meant we could access our work from any terminal on site, but they would not work if the server was down.

I can see the time in the near future when most people will have a fairly dumb set-up with major processing and storage somewhere, in "the cloud", and just enough locally to use for simple tasks (although I suspect with the Technology that is just round the corner that dumb set up will make what we have today look pathetic).

Whether is will make our lives any better remains to be seen though :bow: