Smart Phones

[DaveM]

Well you now start to ask yourself how did we live without smart phones, these days 90% of their use is for something other than making a call. There seems to be an apps to keep you updated on just about anything with a lot of them giving us the ability to help in all other situations.

Our national Power Provider Eskom has now got an apps out that will tell us at what times they will be switching off our power in any area you live in

 

[Rocky]

well, at least they are warning you of ahead of time.

That doesn't happen over here except when a storm brings down the power lines - as it did today for nearly six hours.
Our power supply is pretty rock steady and reliable.

I have a smartphone and hardly use it except for some texting and the very rare call. I won't be a slave to the stupid device like 99% of people are. Days can go by and I don't even use it.
My PC gives me all the thrills and chills I need

I carry it when I'm out on the road alone on a bike just to stay in touch.
I used to text my wife with updates, but now that I'm a widower the kids like to know where I am and that I'm OK.

I'm not the least bit offended by that. I'm very thankful that my kids still care about me. Not every parent can say the same thing.

 

[triumph david]

Well that would be a heck of a call to get, they don't say anything to us if something like that happens, but then again its rare that they shut us down unless its something in relation to emergency's.

 

[DaveM]

I now find that I use my phone for all sorts of things through the day. I can go a week without making a call but have my phone used most of the day. I find news to be a big attraction and mostly get all my news from the phone.

 

[DaveM]

Well I had to renew my contract for my phone today. I ended up getting a better deal for the same cost plus a new phone.

I have just finished setting it all up and these are my most used apps that are now on my home screen.

As you can see I have a few news sites that I follow.

 

[Rocky]

Very nice.
I have excellent eyesight, but I find squinting at those small screens a bit tedious.
I have a 27" monitor with my PC so I guess I'm spoiled

 

[DaveM]

The funny thing is I also have a huge monitor on my PC. However I don't find the screen that bad on the phone for what I use it for.

 

[Qship]

Dropped mine yesterday and broke the screen.
Don't know if I can just replace the screen or if whole phone will have to be replaced.
Going to find out today.

 

[DaveM]

They should be able to just replace the screen.

 

[Qship]

Yup, screen can be replaced for $125+ tax(of course).

 

[shanered6]

Whats smart about them ??

 

[Rocky]

Yup, screen can be replaced for $125+ tax(of course).

Yikes, that's a pretty deep cut!

 

[DaveM]

Yikes, that's a pretty deep cut!

I was just about to ask if that was expensive your side or not.

 

[Rocky]

I was just about to ask if that was expensive your side or not.

I've never had a screen replaced or know what's involved, so can't say if that's expensive or not.
It sounds expensive

 

[DaveM]

If I do a direct currency conversion then it works out to about the same as what they charge here, and I think it is rather pricey. It depends on what you currency is worth to you I suppose.

 

[Greyfell]

Expensive would depend on how new/old the phone is and whether the phone can be used or read with the cracked screen. If it usable and near the time for an upgrade anyway, deal with it until upgrade time comes.

 

[DaveM]

Expensive would depend on how new/old the phone is and whether the phone can be used or read with the cracked screen. If it usable and near the time for an upgrade anyway, deal with it until upgrade time comes.

Also true

 

[Qship]

Yikes, that's a pretty deep cut!

Sure beats the $325-400 for a replacement. Phone was only a year old. It was a "rugged" style phone with a case on it, but can't protect them from all falls. I buy my phones usually, that way I am not commited(read contract) to any phone company. Also not into all the lastest, greatest techno crap. If it sends and receives call well, has good battery life, I am happy. I work out in some remote areas, and need those qualities in a phone as well as a little durability
The newest and greatest phones are selling for $700 and up to $1K. That's rediculous.

 

[Rocky]

Agree, the latest and greatest is silly money

 

[SarahP]

I think I"m on the other end of the spectrum from most of you. My smartphone is as almost as much of a survival piece of kit as anything else that I have. It certainly makes my life easier as long as I'm on the road thousands of miles away. If I were fully retired and at home, I might not need it as much.

I'm rocking a relatively older iPhone SE. I have two iPhones -- my main one and one as a backup when I'm on the road (Three is two, two is one, one is none). I buy them refurbished, and as much as I like my smartphone and its capabilities, you will NOT see me buying a $1000 phone. Criminey! No judgement on someone if they can afford it outright (that doesn't mean paying $45 a month to buy it on time!). But that's just not for me.