"Smart"phone update excitement: they're like bored children - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 12:02:10 am
content: Okay, I admit I used so-called (not at all)"smart"phones, but one thing that never ceases to astound and confuse me, and has for years is this:Every single year, you see hoardes of supposed "tech enthusiasts" lingering around "tech" (ugh that phrase!) social media, getting themselves all worked up into a frenzy, obsessively and repetitively asking "when will my phone get the new <blah> update?" again and again.So a new phone comes out, and I'll wager the farm that less than 2% of "smart"(pahahah)phone owners know how to make the technology actually do TRULY useful things for them, nor have they actually dug deep and discovered the built-in features.Okay, so this obsession with the next update, when the *current* one has barely landed more than a month or so ago, I don't get it... it's like the lemmings are truly sucke(re)d into the whole "moar improvements coming soon" marketing nonsense... it also reminds me of toddlers who've been bought a new toy, have played with it for an hour and are then bored of it and want a new one.This behaviour is everywhere in the vacuous, idiot world of smartphones, Macs, iPads and Android. What went wrong with people that they have SUCH short attention spans, and that they need constantly to have "new and shiny" when they barely use OLD and shiny?Just something which has always bothered me.

author: wilfred
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 12:45:50 am
content: We all have our little vices. Is it really all that necessary to sit back and judge?

author: greenpossum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 01:16:01 am
content: Why am I not surprised to see who the OP is?

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 01:32:00 am
content: Because marketing.They can claim removing features like removable batteries, expandable storage, and headphone jacks, is itself a feature, and people are too stupid to see through the illusion. I've noticed even the generic Chinese models, which used to be very featureful, have taken this path, presumably so they can reduce cost and increase profits even more.Smart phones, dumb people.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 02:02:26 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on September 27, 2020, 12:45:50 amIf observation, thought and comment on a subject is "judgement", then we have a forum full to the rafters with judgemental people, eh? Ironically, you'd judged me by assuming I'd judged the people about whom my topic pivots.I'm observing, and yeah maybe I am a little judgemental of *the obsessive behaviour* (not the people, since how could I, not knowing them?).It's pretty hard to make assessment without judgement - try it yourself.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 02:08:21 am
content: Quote from: greenpossum on September 27, 2020, 01:16:01 amAh, right.I'm sure you were also equally as unsurprised at the sun rising this morning, and yet somehow I'm sure you didn't think to comment on that, eh?If you disagree with the way I think and how I observe and comment on life, perhaps you might find a way to better spend your time, as you've made it clear you find my topics beneath you, so don't feel you'll upset me by not replying - I'm pretty thick-skinned (and sometimes a little thick!) so I won't get offended.Feel free to go and discuss intelligent topics if you wish.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 02:14:02 am
content: Quote from: amyk on September 27, 2020, 01:32:00 amThose dumb people are the source of the (supposedly) "smart" mechanisms being pumped into the devices silicon from afar. I'm afraid the "smarts" are anythingbut.The fact they have to CALL them "smart" is pretty bold.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 03:34:06 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on September 27, 2020, 12:45:50 amTo me, it's like modern day Statler and Waldorf.Carry on.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 05:05:33 am
content: This whole "CoNsUmErS aRe DuMb ShEeP wHoSe OpInIoNs ArE dUmB" schtick is stupid and tiresome. Not everyone has the same interests or priorities as you do when it comes to consumer electronics or anything else and that doesn't make them wrong or dumb. Get your head out of your ass and realize that the world doesn't revolve around you or what you in particular think is important in a consumer device.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 05:33:37 am
content: I don't mind updates when I have choices and the GUI is left alone and I can turn the new things on/off as I please.Sarcasm: When I find decorations put on there that get in the way and interfere with everything I do with warning messages appoearing that your phone or app is at risk because I refused the latest GUI look I tend feel a bit angry and makes me want to smash it to bits. It sorts of becomes their phone as I no longer feel in control with the way I want it to suit me.I was given a Samsung J5 and had a difficulty with many things like trying to turn off the suggestions, autofill, spell checker, word collect, auto zoom, animations and auto stuff that assumes what I want.That is why I am afraid of spending any money on these "smart" phones.I'd rather an unwanted given to me that is out of warranty so I can do unroot it and do I want so if I break it nothing is lost.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 07:02:41 am
content: Quote from: ajb on September 27, 2020, 05:05:33 amSo they're not? They sure seem to behave like it if you take a look at the complete junk people allow themselves to be sold to them. Not necessarily always their fault, and marketeers are certainly to be held largely responsible, but I'd say the majority sit there in blissful ignorance and wouldn't even question whether a "5 star rating" was legitimately a fair and accurate product assessment, or just some characters on a website that were paid for by shovelling freebies in the direction of the person attributing the stars, in exchange for fake "reviews".I can't fathom the mentality behind spending £3,000-£10,000 on a TV... ***A TV*** and on top of that, expecting it will only last 3-5 years before "a better one" is released, rinse and repeat. People ARE STUPID with great frequency, and the fact that you tried so mockingly and impotently to defend them, only serves to further prove the point I'd made.The western world has become increasingly a dumbed down society. Chinese companies laugh themselves all the way to the bank at all the billions of tons of cheap tat they churn out, that we fall over ourselves to consume and then pile into landfill on a daily basis.Yeah, people ARE stupid when it comes to informed purchsses, but because they know no better due to the deceptive, crooked world we live in which worships money above EVERYTHING, above truth and morality and decency. No wonder people get taken for mugs.

author: iteratee
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 07:47:01 am
content: Consumers are morons. Always blame the user. The user is the reason we can't have nice things. Take revenge by selling them garbage for profit and lulz.

author: eti
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 07:50:28 am
content: Quote from: iteratee on September 27, 2020, 07:47:01 amSince you and I are also consumers, do we fall under this too? I've had ny fair share of moron moments, LOL.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2020, 03:44:18 pm
content: I've never seen much point to smart phones. They're expensive toys requiring expensive data plans to be useful. All I need a phone for is to make and receive calls. I have an incredibly smart phone that I bought for $20 which meets that need for under $10 a month in fees.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2020, 03:26:47 am
content: QuoteMy phone is jolly useful for me, yet I rarely use any of the 'data plan' (it's PAYG, except I seem to hardly pay anything). Voice calls are even less: actually zero.I would suggest that the extrapolation of your situation across the entire world is not necessarily a good fit.

author: HobGoblyn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 30, 2020, 08:27:16 am
content: Thing is, you might consider spending 3k + on a TV to be stupid (as do I in most situations), or consider having the latest I phone to be insane (again if you’re paying for it yourself, I agree), but others probably think what you and I spend money on to be just as stupid.Up until 2 years ago I had never spent more than £1,700 on a car, 2 years ago I spent 3k on one with just 27,000 miles on the clock (genuine mileage), I simply don’t get why people buy new cars (company car is a different matter) where they loose a few k just driving off the forecourt.I also don’t get why people lease cars (UK) when you end up paying say 10k + over 4 years and your restricted on mileage and you don’t even own it.Sure many would argue they need a reliable car for work. My wife’s a mobile hairdresser, she uses our car all day every day, in the 10 years she’s done that job, two days the cars been in the garage (again except for most recent, all cars under £1700 and on average we kept for 3 years)However, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at spending 3k + on a synthesiser and over the years since I was 18 (am now 56) I would hate to think of the many many thousands I spent on my synth hobby. I’ve owned many expensive synths, sold them at a loss as I wanted newer models, and now, many sought after vintage synths that go for thousands, I used to own (even gave one away free to a friend and the current used price starts from £2,300)My point is, we all have things we love, to me it’s synths etc. To others its cars. I consider a car to be a metal box that gets me from A to B hence have zero interest in most aspects of them.Some people want the latest and greatest phones. I don’t get why, but they wouldn’t get why I’ve spent so much money on synths (and lately software synths).Then there’s our hobby, I’ve got cheaper end of stuff in my lab, although I did upgrade my microscope to a nice Amscope (and also bought a camera for it off of one of this forums members, have zero interest in putting up vids of myself, I just wanted one).My bench top multimeters cost about £125 each (Vici VC8145) and at the moment they are more than adequate for me, yet if I look on this forums for sale section, there’s a Rigol DM3068 selling for £450 and retails around £759.I see that as being no different than people and their phones (although I do have concerns about school kids and young adults who believe they need the latest and greatest just to be cool/fit in).I have a iPhone 7, my wife has a Samsung. Both bought second hand and we are both on contracts that give us unlimited calls and text , 8 GB data (that carries over for 3 years) for £10 a month each. Data balance carried over is currently at around 168 GB and either phone can use it.I can log into my bank using fingerprint Id on my phone, check my transactions etc all in under 20 secs. It has a lot of very useful uses apart from using it only as a phone