I am testing two phones at the moment. I normally carry two iPhones day to day as one is mainly used as a handheld computer and I hate having a call on a phone I am conducting an interview with so one only really gets used for data.
I tried carrying the four phones for about five minutes before I realised just how ridiculous that was. That said.. due to my mobile digital communication needs I still feel I should still have one iPhone to hand (mainly for Audioboo). I have seen others in the mobile tech industry who everyday have five or more phones on their person. Yes I know it’s their job to do so but I can’t help but think whoever is out there designing mobile tech.. should really try a little harder. Of the three phones I am carrying now, all have a couple of great features on each of them but not enough in one for me to leave the other two behind. Are the mobile phone companies working together to always leave the customer wanting.. always looking to the next upgrade? An upgrade they are ready for six months into an eighteen month contract? We can get over specced watches, cars, washing machines.. most things, but for the discerning geek there has never been ‘one phone to rule them all’. Maybe we just expect too much. I am not going to list the few features I feel the ultimate mobile should have. They reside between the hardware/firmware/online and social integration and ease of use. Everything I feel I would like in one device exists now but spread out over about four handsets. Feel free to use the comment section below to add your wish list. You may have had the same phone for five years and are perfectly happy. You may not even have a phone and be equally happy. Occasionally I feel I should liberate myself from this ridiculous tech quest but if i am honest.. I love my job. What’s your one phone to rule them all?
When @cgbj was in India I felt really stupid carrying both his iPhone and mine. I don’t think I would get my head round carrying 4 or even 5 mobiles – keeping track of my iPod and BB at the same time is challenging enough lol.
IS there a reverse bell curve here, where one reduces the amount of tech one carries (dropping ipod in favour of integrated player on phone, camera likewise) and then starts increasing it all again as one realizes that the phone doesn’t do everything easily?Carrying crackberry for email, nokia for calls, flip for video-recording, hmm, really need a mic for that.Mind, if the Nokia 8800 had a better battery pack (and dind’t start turning itself randomly off after about six months) I’d be sticking to that, however few features it has. Stainless steel and a satisfying clunk when opening are all I need.
V. I think you hit the nail on the head there.. I have a sack full of tech. mainly because I like to test stuff but also because I like to be ready for any eventuality. You would think i would have that ‘one device’ but when ever i get my hands on something it’s not too long before i find what it’s lacking.
I am currently trying to decide which “new” phone I should upgrade to. Currently I carry a blackberry, and a nokia (which was a sony ericsson until it died). They are my email, camera, video recorder, audio recorder, interent browser, notepad and many other things. Neither does everything, between them they don’t necessarily do everything well (video recording is noticable poorer). Any upgrade (and everyone is telling me iphone), but the is motorola’s dext and droid, blackberry’s storm 2, and others as well. Whatever I ultimately choose they still won’t all do everything. I still feel the need to get a mi-fi and a kodak zi8. Thank goodness it’s nearly Christmas 😉
Hi Tonto.. On your list I would scrub the Blackberry. I think they are totally overrated. Yes they were the first to do email properly but I fail to see why people keep buying them other than being loyal to the brand. I use the iphone for email/twitter and general browsing.. it still lacks decent low light photos and has to be charged halfway through the day.Good luck in your quest. 🙂