May have to buy a Smartphone?

[ppppenguin]

Not being a user I didn't realise that many iphones don't have a home button. One of the things that annoys me when I use Ruth's iphone is not having a back button. I think this is true of all iphones.

On my old Samsung Galaxy 8 the home button (and the back button) is actually a spot on the screen with haptic feedback.

[Mark Hennessy]

Yes, I thought I'd miss the back button, but in practice it's not been a problem as in most apps a back option appears when you scroll up (if it's not there all the time). It's something I quickly got used to and it's a habit you never think about. And of course, you get the screen real-estate in exchange. And they are nice screens (though that's obviously true of most alternatives these days, but long before I had an iPhone I'd always credited Apple for pushing screen quality generally).

I had a basic Sony phone that put the back, home and something else (can't remember) icons below the screen, thus making best use of the screen itself. A good compromise, but of course, the icons were fixed as they were screen printed on the bezel. It also had haptics. If anything, the haptic was probably better than the 2016 SE, but later models are better in that regard.

If you don't have a home button, you get the notch in the top of the display. I've never got used to that. The SE models are based on much older designs with space above and below the screen - the tech reviewers are quick to criticise, but personally I prefer that. Guess I'm getting old... These spaces above/below the screen gives you another place to grip the phone without pressing the touchscreen. A good case is essential, as they are very slippery on their own. Also, the models with the notch and no home button are generally quite big and heavy - my son's 13 is quite chunky compared to my 2022 SE, and I'd struggle to carry it in my pocket. Using it with just one hand isn't really possible for me either. There's a lot of cases of RSI now that phones are as big and heavy as they are now - the SEs are much better in that regard, for me, at least.

Another thing to get used to is the lack of headphone jack. If you need a physical connection, the Lightning to 3.5mm adaptor is only a tenner. It was included in the box at first (with the iPhone 7), but that was dropped a while back. I've still not got around to picking one up - don't really need it. If I need to play some music while setting up a PA but before my laptop (and USB to XLR DAC) is set up, I'll just use the iPad - which is a remote control for my sound desk.

And of course, they no longer ship chargers by default. Any USB charger will do the job, and it does make sense to re-use these things, so I don't actually mind this. Genuine original chargers aren't expensive, and should last well (my 2016 original is still going strong, and has been plugged in continuously in all that time, charging my phone overnight every other night, and my wife's on alternate nights).

I mentioned Lightning - this is what they use instead of USB. At first I was wary about a propriety connector - especially when I thought about buying a spare cable and found out how expensive the genuine ones were (about £15). Clones are available, but still pricey compared to micro or mini USB cables - that's because there is a chip embedded in the plug, which was supposed to prevent cloning...

But 6 years on, I'm really impressed with Lightning. The only leads we've had fail were second-hand ones that came with the s/h phones we bought - presumably abused by non-technical previous owners. My original is still perfect, despite daily use. I can't say that about micro and mini USB - I've found those to be spectacularly unreliable, and we'd only managed to get between 6 and 12 months out of a cable before having to chuck them away (after several bursts of contact cleaner along the way). Lightning goes in either way, like USB C, and is mechanically much more rugged than USB alternatives. Literally, the only thing you have to do every year or so is clean out the pocket lint from the sockets with a pin or similar - you can tell when that needs doing because it doesn't click quite so positively when you plug in. Even the cheap after-market cables we bought are still going strong, which I really didn't expect. Generally, I have far less experience with USB C, but mechanically it doesn't inspire anything like the same confidence. Of course, Apple will have to drop Lightning for USB C in a couple of years time. While there's some sense behind that, I'll miss Lightning.

While you don't get a charger these days, the cable is still included. These days it'll likely be USB C to Lightning, rather than USB A. That's less convenient for users of older computers with USB A only who might want to transfer data such as photos manually to your computer (rather than going through iCloud).

As I'm sure is the case for Android too, wireless charging is on most of them now (certainly, the X mentioned in the first post, plus the 2020 and 2022 SEs). Lots of modern cars have a charging pad as an option, including one that I owned for a couple of years, so that's quite convenient. Plenty of official and 3rd party options too. Obviously it'll take longer to charge than a cable, and in these days of being energy-conscious, it doesn't seem right to use it as your primary charging method, but it's good for car use. In the case of the car I had, the phone was held by a spring-loaded clip in the space under the armrest, and even though I only had the 2016 SE during the time I owned that one, I still popped the phone in that position as it guaranteed that it couldn't be touched while driving (not that I ever would, but it was the most convenient place to put it without worrying about it sliding around or rattling).

Wireless charging means glass back panels. That's another reason to invest in a good case!

[joebog1]

Mark brings up some good points.
The Umidigi drongoid fone I have is tough as already explained. There are no "hard cases " available as they arent needed.
It has a 5Ah battery so it only needs charging about once a week. The charger that comes with it charges it at 2 amps !!!!!!!!. It gets pretty warm, but only takes around an hour to charge.
Its heavy!! and as I carry it around in my shirt pocket, there is no room for much else although I can just fit in my clutch pencil, little notebook and my fountain pen.
The operating system is atrocious !!!. Its truly a horrible thing. Yes lots of free apps from the app store. ALL WITH 500 gigs of adds, add adresses and even switches that require a reboot to get back home.
The switches will take you to some website selling some garbage that one would never buy in a million years and there is no back button, return arrow or safety net.
Reboot!!!!!

I did root the phone and changed the OS to something I had a little control over, but nothing as good as iOS. Its automatically friendly whereas drongoid is made to be cantankerous, nasty and totally non intuitive.
It does come with two sim slots that can be two different providers, or one can be a memory card. It does have kids controls and tracking, but as I dont have "kids " as such around that is all switched off.
Especially the tracking!!!! If you go into a shopping centre, it will automatically start send drongoid ( as in the people who own the stores ) adds of what to buy today!!!. So its HIGHLY intrusive, and for an old eccentric like me,
NOT helpful at all. I tried to use the mapping and that works well, UNTILL an add pops up that says, " To continue using maps go to the app store and pay ". You cant get out of it.

I am not one of those that happily walks into telephone poles as they are reading their screens. Or looking like a total dickhead in the middle of a store talking crap to someone else.
I maybe make 3 phonecalls a week, but I make many texts. That requires two hands. I occasionally send a photo to the kids, and likewise get many back from them, especially the two daughters that both had babies in the last four months.
My take ??? Buy an apple phone!!! I still have my I6 and it works in a fashion, but needs a battery. Thats about the same price as the drongoid fone I bought. To add to that its super weak, designed to crack at the smallest provication screen
has a tiny chip in it, and it will completely breakup if removed, so add a new screen !!! Again about the same price as the Umidigi. If I won the lottery the Umidigi would go in the bin in a flash and I would buy a new apple, WITHOUT the skanky little wristwatch that says " Yes you are still alive " or tells me I have "walked 500 steps today ". WHO invented such stupidity ????? and useless apps ??? whats an app ??? isnt it a little program???

Well thats my say,

Best wishes over the holiday season, take care driving
and be of good cheer.

Joe

[Pye Man]

My first smartphone was a Windows one and I still think the easiest to use. It conked two months after the guarantee and contract ended and as I was desperate not to miss any work-related calls I zipped down to the local Argos and bought a Doro dumphone for about £25. Next Smartphone was an Android. I found it far less intuitive after the Windows but conked and went back under guarantee. Out came the Doro again. Eventually, they gave me my money back. Only really needing phone and text I stuck with the Doro for a few years – especially as I found it would bounce off a concrete floor – until I got the one I have now; a Moto(rola) Android. Sub £100 but full Android latest system.

Today iPhones, iPads and Apple stuff in general have become a fashion statement. In my working life a lot of it was originally done on Macs so I had to use a Mac to be compatible. When computers became more common in the home, and PCs were far cheaper than Macs, Windows became dominant and Mac users, who at the time did have the benefit of a slicker and generally more robust OS, were often accused of being snobs or superior. I got tired of pointing out that in areas of my industry Macs were industry standard and if I went on a course at the local tech which, inevitably, was equipped with PCs I tried to keep that I used the ‘opposition’s’ system under my hat. I invariably got found out when I didn’t understand that I should be right-clicking something (only one butten on a Mac mouse in those days) or used the Windows key when I should use Control.

People and friends who knew I was a Mac user would usually have a sneery dig as I was seen as the odd one out – especially when I couldn’t readily read their Microsoft documents or my Mac editions caused their layout to fall to pieces on my more expensive kit. Ironic now that I use Windows 11 (and also Linux), a cheapo but perfectly adequate smartphone, and my newest Mac is now twelve years old, all those who sneered back then all now sport iPhones, iPads and several are using iMacs and MacBooks!

This not to have a dig. A relatively more expensive iPhone might be supported longer or last longer physically than my Moto so might work out cheaper in the long run. I haven’t studied this but at the time decided I didn’t want to commit much money. What I will say is though I am more used to it now it took me quite a while to figure out how to use the Android system – I don’t find it at all intuitive. Having said that I know several people who have just the same complaint about their iPhones and iPads!

[joebog1]

Its a pity Linux phone didnt take off!!. I have been a Unix user since 1979.
My present system is Linux of course, no dual boot here.
I have never played with apple pads, or computers so cannot comment.
I did have a very slick Amiga 2000 when I worked out that Massive Shyte would never work properly.
The apple phone is easy to modify to suit yourself.


Joe

[Mark Hennessy]

I'd say that the expensive iPhones - the ones with the screens that take up the whole of the front face, minus the "notch" - probably could fall into the category of "fashion statement", but if you want a smart phone that has long support, is relatively easy to use, and just works, the the SE is where I'd look. As mentioned earlier, a 2020 SE can be had for around £200 second-hand, and that's what I'd buy if I had to return my work phone (currently a 2022 SE, which replaced the 2016 SE when support for that model ended). I'd expect it to be supported until at least 2026, and of course, it should continue to work well after that point. The original battery might need replacing after 6 years or so, but that's not terribly expensive. Invest in an appropriate case, of course. There are some extremely rugged ones available for those who are prone to dropping their phones.

I didn't get much opportunity to play with Windows phones, so didn't form an opinion about them, but I heard lots of positive things from their owners. It would have been nice to have a viable alternative to iOS and Android, but sadly it wasn't to be.

Joe, just a very gentle reminder of rule 2 - we try to be family-friendly, plus it's a bit of a faff to add to the naughty-word list

[joebog1]

I apologise to all.

Thanks for the reminder Mark.

Joe