Turn off your phone today.

[Petrushka]

To those who haven't got a smartphone: why not consider it? I was reluctant to change my trusty but aging (non smart) phone last year but glad that I eventually took the plunge. Don't worry about the technicalities, as being a notorious non techie myself, the shop assistant kindly set the whole thing up for me. Much of what you see will replicate your computer anyway.

Whether we like it or not, the world moves on and those who don't move with it risk getting left behind. I know a few in that position and it must be difficult for them to navigate their way through daily life.

[Dave2002]

Whether we like it or not, the world moves on and those who don't move with it risk getting left behind. I know a few in that position and it must be difficult for them to navigate their way through daily life.

I am reasonably "computer literate" and I dislike smartphones with a vengeance.

Maybe I'll post some reasons later.

[vinteuil]

To those who haven't got a smartphone: why not consider it? I was reluctant to change my trusty but aging (non smart) phone last year but glad that I eventually took the plunge. Don't worry about the technicalities, as being a notorious non techie myself, the shop assistant kindly set the whole thing up for me. Much of what you see will replicate your computer anyway.

Whether we like it or not, the world moves on and those who don't move with it risk getting left behind. I know a few in that position and it must be difficult for them to navigate their way through daily life.

... wise words, I suspect. I rely on a cheap-and-cheerful pay-as-you-go non-smart phone (initial cost £3.99), and proudly use it to show my non-techie status - but 'fess up to piggy-backing on my wife's smartphone when we're out and about. The news of the impending closure of 3G will probably nudge me in to becoming a grown-up and having my own smartphone...

.

[french frank]

Whether we like it or not, the world moves on and those who don't move with it risk getting left behind. I know a few in that position and it must be difficult for them to navigate their way through daily life.

It's obviously a personal choice. But if I had decided not to have one, I would want to sit down and rationalise carefully why I was against it. It does make many things easier, it does help you to keep your finger on the pulse of many things. So far the downside hasn't yet hit me. I haven't become a junkie and the only nuisance is when I can't remember where I put it and have to ring it on my landline.

[cria]

So far the downside hasn't yet hit me. I haven't become a junkie and the only nuisance is when I can't remember where I put it and have to ring it on my landline.

But if your landline is cordless, you'll need to ring it from a mobile to help you find it

[Serial_Apologist]

It's obviously a personal choice. But if I had decided not to have one, I would want to sit down and rationalise carefully why I was against it. It does make many things easier, it does help you to keep your finger on the pulse of many things. So far the downside hasn't yet hit me. I haven't become a junkie and the only nuisance is when I can't remember where I put it and have to ring it on my landline.

I only wish I could say the same for myself. I got my smart phone relatively cheaply 2 years ago, enthused by the idea of joining most of humanity and the 21st century. But the thing has defeated me, along with attempts by at least three people to teach me how to operate it. There's just too much basic information needed - the symbols on the main menu are lost on me, and when it comes to on screen touch I might as well be wearing boxing gloves. The same that would apply to a laptop applies doubly so because of the smallness of the appliance, and so one feels like an elephant trying to dance on a thimble. So there it sits, forever on charge unless the spark from heaven falls, and emitting a short warble roughly three times a day which means nothing, or feels like a threat. I only keep it on charge to maintain the battery, and when the time came to renew my provider they wouldn't recognise my email address or bank account numbers for some reason, so I am not off the map in any case. And yet, it did receive yesterday's "emergency rehearsal call".

Like so many aspects of life these days I really don't feel like I belong to the 21st century or even much want to.

Stop the world, I wanna get off!!

[Bryn]

I only wish I could say the same for myself. I got my smart phone relatively cheaply 2 years ago, enthused by the idea of joining most of humanity and the 21st century. But the thing has defeated me, along with attempts by at least three people to teach me how to operate it. There's just too much basic information needed - the symbols on the main menu are lost on me, and when it comes to on screen touch I might as well be wearing boxing gloves. The same that would apply to a laptop applies doubly so because of the smallness of the appliance, and so one feels like an elephant trying to dance on a thimble. So there it sits, forever on charge unless the spark from heaven falls, and emitting a short warble roughly three times a day which means nothing, or feels like a threat. I only keep it on charge to maintain the battery, and when the time came to renew my provider they wouldn't recognise my email address or bank account numbers for some reason, so I am not off the map in any case. And yet, it did receive yesterday's "emergency rehearsal call".

Like so many aspects of life these days I really don't feel like I belong to the 21st century or even much want to.

Stop the world, I wanna get off!!

Regarding touch, have you not tried one of the little styli to be found in Poundland, etc.?

[french frank]

I only wish I could say the same for myself. I got my smart phone relatively cheaply 2 years ago, enthused by the idea of joining most of humanity and the 21st century. But the thing has defeated me, along with attempts by at least three people to teach me how to operate it.

Well, you tried! I've a friend who is a complete technophobe, but at least he manages to use the thing as a telephone (which I very seldom do). He also seems to have mastered dictation which solves his Fat Finger Syndrome. When I went on holiday I always packed my travel clock and camera (holiday snapper) until a friend pointed out that I didn't need either if I had my mobile. I use the alarm and timer quite regularly, plus the InterRail app which has all the train details needed, plus buschecker to see if a bus is due, leafsnap for identifying wildflowers, the app for opening the gym entry system. Plus other things like bank app … some times rail tickets … validation codes … Oh, where would I be? But there are many things I haven't manage to get to grips with.

[Serial_Apologist]

Regarding touch, have you not tried one of the little styli to be found in Poundland, etc.?

Thanks - must admit, didn't know about them. I suppose one has to start somewhere!

[Pulcinella]

I only wish I could say the same for myself. I got my smart phone relatively cheaply 2 years ago, enthused by the idea of joining most of humanity and the 21st century. But the thing has defeated me, along with attempts by at least three people to teach me how to operate it. There's just too much basic information needed - the symbols on the main menu are lost on me, and when it comes to on screen touch I might as well be wearing boxing gloves. The same that would apply to a laptop applies doubly so because of the smallness of the appliance, and so one feels like an elephant trying to dance on a thimble. So there it sits, forever on charge unless the spark from heaven falls, and emitting a short warble roughly three times a day which means nothing, or feels like a threat. I only keep it on charge to maintain the battery, and when the time came to renew my provider they wouldn't recognise my email address or bank account numbers for some reason, so I am not off the map in any case. And yet, it did receive yesterday's "emergency rehearsal call".

Like so many aspects of life these days I really don't feel like I belong to the 21st century or even much want to.

Stop the world, I wanna get off!!

Like the washing machine that can do 40 different things, but you only need three cycles, your phone will have loads (but not of dirty washing, ha ha) that you may never in all probability need to use or know about.
Pop into your provider or where you bought it, and see if your home screen can be tidied up to appear much less daunting.
Many apps could probably be moved onto a later screen you could scroll to if and when required.
And you could perhaps buy a small stylus to help you avoid fat finger syndrome.

[Bryn]

Thanks - must admit, didn't know about them. I suppose one has to start somewhere!

They probably cost more like £1.50, these days. Just little aluminium sticks with a conductive rubber tip.

[Nick Armstrong]

To those who haven't got a smartphone: why not consider it? … Much of what you see will replicate your computer anyway.

Exactly. I was a relatively late adopter, when I retired (almost 7 years ago now!) as I didn’t need one at work being surrounded by computers. But I reached the point a couple of years back where I abandoned PCs/desktops entirely, and only have the smartphone and its companion iPad. I value enormously the convergence of so many functions in two compact items that can be carried in one hand, and taken with complete ease everywhere I go.

The phone is like a sci-fi daydream I had when little: a small object that can do everything I need - phone calls obviously (and living in a property with pitiful phone signal, the WiFi Calling phone option has transformed phone calls at home), video calls free with the other side of the world, radio, music player for the car, camera (of astonishing quality now), photo album, secure contactless payment device, banking hub, alarm clock, torch, metronome, trombone-tuning assistant… the list goes on.

Still didn’t get the Armageddon alert though

[Serial_Apologist]

Well, you tried! I've a friend who is a complete technophobe, but at least he manages to use the thing as a telephone (which I very seldom do). He also seems to have mastered dictation which solves his Fat Finger Syndrome. When I went on holiday I always packed my travel clock and camera (holiday snapper) until a friend pointed out that I didn't need either if I had my mobile. I use the alarm and timer quite regularly, plus the InterRail app which has all the train details needed, plus buschecker to see if a bus is due, leafsnap for identifying wildflowers, the app for opening the gym entry system. Plus other things like bank app … some times rail tickets … validation codes … Oh, where would I be? But there are many things I haven't manage to get to grips with.

Well good for you is all I can say. I did take the thing out a few times - risking being mugged - before acquiring a new wristwatch on Saturday, because I needed to keep a check on time. If I had intended making full use I would have had to take a magnifying glass as well, the text print being so small, and especially in bright light, which is another problem.

[Beresford]

Quote: "Emergency alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks widely used by smartphones. This
will not include older ‘non-smart’ phones but the 3G technology that they use is being
switched off next year."

What they don't say is that 2G is not being switched off next year - something to do with it being used by lots of telemetry instruments and controls as well as phones.
So if your old phone is 2G, it may still work. My 15 year old Motorola flip-screen is 2G. It fits in the palm of my hand, or a small pocket, has real keys, doesn't get scratched, and is fine for calls and receiving texts (but sending texts is very clunky compared to a smartphone, and the camera is rubbish).
I have a smartphone (Realme), but the only thing I like doing on it is WhatsApp, which is great for group or family messaging. I must get round to learning Satnav. The User Guide is 243 pages........

I also have an old Nokia N8, which has better sound quality than most phones. I wish I could get Folderplay on it, but that is another story.

[teamsaint]

Exactly. I was a relatively late adopter, when I retired (almost 7 years ago now!) as I didn’t need one at work being surrounded by computers. But I reached the point a couple of years back where I abandoned PCs/desktops entirely, and only have the smartphone and its companion iPad. I value enormously the convergence of so many functions in two compact items that can be carried in one hand, and taken with complete ease everywhere I go.

The phone is like a sci-fi daydream I had when little: a small object that can do everything I need - phone calls obviously (and living in a property with pitiful phone signal, the WiFi Calling phone option has transformed phone calls at home), video calls free with the other side of the world, radio, music player for the car, camera (of astonishing quality now), photo album, secure contactless payment device, banking hub, alarm clock, torch, metronome, trombone-tuning assistant… the list goes on.

Still didn’t get the Armageddon alert though

IMHO opinion you really can’t improve on the old style human “ Trombone Tuning Assistant”……

I do see your general point, and Apple are superb at integration, but I am very resistant to payment systems of this kind, and use cash wherever I can. The bookies love it……

( and there is still the “ dropped it in the lavatory” issue of course….)