Turn off your phone today.

[Petrushka]

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

Heard that one more than once but a no less bizarre incident happened to a farmer friend of mine. He was driving a tractor along a country lane and his phone fell out of his pocket only to be crushed under the wheels of the car following.

The brother of a friend of mine will not have a mobile phone, computer or credit card being a total technophobe. His sister (my friend) pays all of his bills for him etc but as both are in their 70s it's a big worry to her if she predeceases him. He's utterly lost in today's world and you can understand her concern. I wonder how many people there are like this.

[teamsaint]

Heard that ne more than once but a no less bizarre one happened to a farmer friend of mine. He was driving a tractor and his phone fell out of his pocket only to be crushed under the wheels of the car following.

The brother of a friend of mine will not have a mobile phone, computer or credit card being a total technophobe. His sister (my friend) pays all of his bills for him etc but as both are in their 70s it's a big worry to her if she predeceases him. He's utterly lost in today's world and you can understand her concern.

Tough world for the technophobe.
And that is just parking the car. I haven’t tried explaining parking apps to my mum yet……..

[oddoneout]

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.

The only times I think it might be useful are when I'm out and about and want to take a picture, and sometimes being able to listen to music might be nice if I'm having to wait for a bus or somesuch occasion. The other functions are of little interest as I don't have occasion/inclination to use them. The only use my existing dumbphone gets these days is for verification codes; I have to remember periodically to make an outgoing call to stop Tesco terminating the contract.
In due course I imagine I will have to have one - my son every now and again offers to set me up with one of his spare ones, and the withdrawal of 3G would be a trigger - but currently my rather limited life doesn't make it a priority. The cost aspect doesn't appeal - as with broadband I would be shelling out a lot for access to things I don't/won't use as far as I can see.

[Old Grumpy]

I resisted smartphones for quite a while (much to the amusement of my offspring!). However I am now hooked and couldn't do without some of the apps, particularly the OS app which allows me to peruse at scale 1:25000 upwards, with a red triangle showing me where I am.

[Nick Armstrong]

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

It’s certainly important not to be a complete klutz, yes!

[Serial_Apologist]

Heard that one more than once but a no less bizarre incident happened to a farmer friend of mine. He was driving a tractor along a country lane and his phone fell out of his pocket only to be crushed under the wheels of the car following.

The brother of a friend of mine will not have a mobile phone, computer or credit card being a total technophobe. His sister (my friend) pays all of his bills for him etc but as both are in their 70s it's a big worry to her if she predeceases him. He's utterly lost in today's world and you can understand her concern. I wonder how many people there are like this.

More than two, I can vouch!

[mopsus]

Those people who, because of their circumstances(domestic abuse etc) may have a "secret" personal phone for protection will not be put in a good place by having said phone making a loud noise and advertising its presence. Whether those same people will even know what is planned, what to do to prevent it causing a problem, or even in a position to do so, is questionable in many cases.

I'm a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator and was asked to circulate a message about the alert, pointing out the risk to those with secret phones, for this reason. But there is a general problem that those who might benefit most from being in their local NW are the ones who aren't in it.

The alert happened in a choir rehearsal for a concert I shall be singing in: it sounded on Bb/Ab at 3 precisely and one member got one on C/Bb a few minutes later. My smartphone was switched off and I did not get an alert when I turned it back on.

[smittims]

re the discussion about whether or not to buy a smartphone:

I don't mind admitting to being an old-fashioned person who doesn't even like the 19thcentury telephone, though I have appreciated CDs and DVDs. I don't like being 'pushed ' into buying something I don't need jusy so it will make a profiyt for some big company. Recently I tried to fill in an on-line form for two different organisations and they both insisted I enter a 'mobile phone number' before I could complete and submit the form. Nothing else would do. In the end I felt the only way to get the form submitted was by entering my partner's number, and risk the backlash.

[oddoneout]

re the discussion about whether or not to buy a smartphone:

I don't mind admitting to being an old-fashioned person who doesn't even like the 19thcentury telephone, though I have appreciated CDs and DVDs. I don't like being 'pushed ' into buying something I don't need jusy so it will make a profiyt for some big company. Recently I tried to fill in an on-line form for two different organisations and they both insisted I enter a 'mobile phone number' before I could complete and submit the form. Nothing else would do. In the end I felt the only way to get the form submitted was by entering my partner's number, and risk the backlash.

The mandatory mobile contact number was a stumbling block with admin for various Covid vaccination matters. I don't now mind the assumption on forms so much as my dumbphone acts as a useful deflection for unwanted calls - my landline number is not listed and I don't give it out routinely. The mobile is always off unless I'm using it, and can't accept voicemail, only text messages; it is of limited use for data harvesting purposes I think!
About 4 years ago the GP surgery insisted it had to have a mobile number even though it already had my landline number, and I pointed out the limitations as a way of contacting me. They put a note on my records to the effect that the landline was the primary contact, but that failed when they outsourced the vaccination delivery to another surgery and passed on my details(without letting me know in advance) without that caveat; I received text messages, often some time after they were sent as I wasn't at work so not submitting pay claims that needed a pass code, that assumed I had a smartphone so included links to click on. Trying to sort that out was "interesting" - and did nothing to improve my view of my own GP surgery; it was a suggestion from a forum member here that broke the deadlock.

[Serial_Apologist]

one member got one on C/Bb a few minutes later.

The phone being customised for children's use, presumably...

[Serial_Apologist]

re the discussion about whether or not to buy a smartphone:

I don't mind admitting to being an old-fashioned person who doesn't even like the 19thcentury telephone, though I have appreciated CDs and DVDs. I don't like being 'pushed ' into buying something I don't need jusy so it will make a profiyt for some big company. Recently I tried to fill in an on-line form for two different organisations and they both insisted I enter a 'mobile phone number' before I could complete and submit the form. Nothing else would do. In the end I felt the only way to get the form submitted was by entering my partner's number, and risk the backlash.

Like so much else in modern life, the necessity is increasingly for the "right kind" of previous - experience when applying for a first time job, as an example.

[Dave2002]

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

Maybe I'll post some reasons later.

Despite the comments here, I still dislike smartphones - and yes - I do have one, which for the most part I keep switched off. It's slow compared with using a proper computer, and of course it tracks me if it can.

Today I was in Lidl, and pulled it out in order to scan the Lidl Plus "card" - which for the most part is a complete waste of time and effort. Then I had to wait while apparently it reloaded, then decided that I had to reaccept the terms and conditions, all taking extra unnecessary time whle it reinstalled something - I've no idea what. Just so that the shop can occasionally give me offers I probably don't really need or want, such as cat food or baby's nappies, but with the hidden agenda of tracking my actions and purchases.

[oddoneout]

Despite the comments here, I still dislike smartphones - and yes - I do have one, which for the most part I keep switched off. It's slow compared with using a proper computer, and of course it tracks me if it can.

Today I was in Lidl, and pulled it out in order to scan the Lidl Plus "card" - which for the most part is a complete waste of time and effort. Then I had to wait while apparently it reloaded, then decided that I had to reaccept the terms and conditions, all taking extra unnecessary time whle it reinstalled something - I've no idea what. Just so that the shop can occasionally give me offers I probably don't really need or want, such as cat food or baby's nappies, but with the hidden agenda of tracking my actions and purchases.

So why have it?

[french frank]

So why have it?

Yes, they're not compulsory. If it's more of a nuisance than a benefit put it in a drawer and forget about it.

[Pulcinella]

Yes, they're not compulsory. If it's more of a nuisance than a benefit put it in a drawer and forget about it.

Wasn't the question: why have the app?