what do real people do with cell phones?
I love wireless technology.
when i was 14 i met a girl whose dad had a phone in his cars and his boat...pure playa in 1985!
At that time the idea that you could make a call from your car was pretty amazing to most folks, let alone from your boat and beyond.
Ten short years later the industry exploded, phones were carried on belts and in glove boxes, and the price of airtime sank from over $1.00 per minute to as little as a nickel. It was about then that expectations began to change; no longer was the celly a novelty, but rather a birth right. "I pay those mother f'ers at the phone company fifty bucks a month and my phone better damn well work!" was a very common phrase.
Now in 2004 the cell phone has evolved even further. Its no longer just a business tool or luxury, the wireless phone is fashion, its freedom, it's a 24/7 connection to the crew. Its a direct path to information via microbrowsers, it's a unique toy personalized with ringtones and graphics, it's candy colored faceplates and games on the go.
I'm still a sucker for new toys, and they don't have to be the crazy expensive kind. I like phones that are easy to use, are laid out well, and take advantage of things that work well TODAY.
Right now I'm carrying a very inexpensive phone, the LG 4015 which is actually pretty nice. It's lightweight but not cheaply made, it's slim, the battery lasts forever, it has a nice (if not a little fuzzy) display, and a good ringer. I think you can get this phone for free with a contract, and for most people I run into think it's wicked.
When i talk to real people (those not involved in the wireless biz) they NEVER talk about bluetooth, UMTS, EDGE, 1XRTT, EVDO, streaming video, browsing, or location-based services. Not that I think these things are irrelevant, but I do think we're so worried about tomorrow that we're under-selling today.
What I do hear people talk about is how often their carrier screws up their bill, how many dead spots they have in their coverage, and how many minutes they get with their plan. They also talk about how "cool" their new phone is based on its size, color, shape, brand, and recently camera/color screen.
I'd like to see the industry take a short break from breaking new ground, and finish what they've started...update/finish their billing systems, bolster their coverage/capacity, and deliver handsets that work well.
If the simple things are done right, the public will be more than happy to try the newest whiz-bang applications.
Here's a little excerpt from a chat I poached a few years ago that's pretty interesting, these are teenage kids talking about cellphones:
surfer_kid11/20/2001 11:50:19 AMI don't have a cell phone. My parents didn't get one yet. I want one so bad. I'm tired of calling collect from track meets and drama practcies and stuff like that. And I think it would look cool. And I want to get one that can download music. That would be cool. I have a huge Christmas list i have to work on still. :)
KoreanTigers11/20/2001 12:39:47 AMPrincess--yea they are sprint phones wit games on em...the TP-1100, has blackjack and puzzle...and there are probably others, but thats the one i have...
RoxyStar34611/20/2001 12:33:58 AMto moonbeamguy: 474 points?!?!?!?! geez, ive gotten up to 1000, its not impossible! to rayhead00: HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOO???? mp3 playas are already available on cellies!!! why is it that tha us are so back with tha times in cell phones???? the 5110 is the oldest phone around!!!!!me and my friends all got hotshit like 8250s!!!! and text msgin is like a million years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "just around the corner"? yeah i know, because around the corner is australia!
rayhead0011/15/2001 1:05:57 PMtheltch, in the next five years phones WILL BECOME multi-medi devices. large video capable screens, mp3 players, and digital cameras built into phones are just around the corner. the sooner you get used to it, the sooner you can join the modern age.
TheItch11/14/2001 11:55:16 PMMy cell phone is meant for calling people; not playing games. Soon we will have people playing games while they drive.
I like that last one...TheItch is right, there are people who play games while they drive. I think that's pretty dangerous, but the risk can be mitigated by choosing a simple turn-based game such as lemonade tycoon or solitaire. I would not suggest playing Tetris while driving ;)
I guess I'll wrap it up by providing a short hardware review:
Motorola V300
Price: Free with contract
Highs:
Camera
Size...not too small, not too big
Screen is very sharp, big enough for games
Ringer is nice, 40 tones
Popular platform so lots of stuff is available from accessories to games and beyond
Lows:
Battery life is just ok
Finish is kinda weird (rubbery)
User interface is a bit confusing, but if you're not already wed to another manufacturer's layout this should not be an issue
This phone is available from Cingular or T-mo and is quite pimpable.
If I were pimping this phone I would start by loading up a couple of Gameloft games including Prince of Persia and Sexy Poker, then I'd get a fully chromed faceplate in real metal, then I'd get some ringers from the Phonepimp.com, and while I'm at it I'd throw down for a couple of animated screensavers featuring a Maxim Girl or two.
The V300 gets five pimps in my book.
Gotta go, I think I smell something burning...
-pj
