Smart Phones

What you think of the new Smartphones. Love them or hate them?

I much prefer the old flip ones. I can never answer the new ones. 

You slide to answer but I never can.

Everybody is accusing me of ignoring  them, well it does come in handy at times 

They certainly have a variety of flexible uses - not that I (can) do most of them. 

Texting on any phone takes me forever!
Give me a full keyboard anytime... 

Irene wrote:

They certainly have a variety of flexible uses - not that I (can) do most of them. 

Texting on any phone takes me forever!
Give me a full keyboard anytime... 

It used to take me forever to compose a text message with my old phone, but with my new smartphone I can just dictate it, it's very accurate usually and makes very few errors.

For me it is the swipe answer. My hubby was in fits yesterday as clearly I just cannot do it.

He said it is no good staring at the screen and muttering now I wonder who that was.

I am too mean to ring back.  :;smile:

I had a Microsoft Lumia at first which seemed to have a mind of its own and I found difficult to use.

I chose it because it was large and used installed maps - so it could be used as a sat nav, speed camera warnings etc without an internet connection

However - it proved too big and too fiddly with a very sensitive touch screen and I swapped it for a Samsung Galaxy A3 which is a very nice phone and easy to use. I chose this Android model because it can sync easily with the car using Android auto.

My wife has resisted ever having a smart phone until I had the Samsung and she gave it a try. The clincher was me downloading an app that allows me to watch UK TV via wifi when we are abroad. So she now has the same phone and has mastered the touch screen etc very well.

She can facebook and snapchat to keep an eye on the grand kids and would now not be without it

As a family, we find a couple of 'apps' useful. 
We have a 'group' in both Find Friends and WhatsApp.

Since we all have no problem with being 'tracked', the Find Friends is handy.  When I have Hospital or GP appointments, I often get a message through WhatsApp asking if all is ok.  :;smile:

Whats App for me is vital to keep in touch with family. 

I am not on Facebook so this suites me 

Oh yes and hospital appointments for us too via simms.

AlanHo wrote:

The clincher was me downloading an app that allows me to watch UK TV via wifi when we are abroad.

Try though I may, I have never discovered an app that would allow UK programmes to be screened whilst abroad.

malcolm wrote:

AlanHo wrote:

The clincher was me downloading an app that allows me to watch UK TV via wifi when we are abroad.

Try though I may, I have never discovered an app that would allow UK programmes to be screened whilst abroad.

 You can buy a holiday sim  Malcolm if you are in Spain . Vodafone generally do them.

It gives you data plus app plus watch tv. More expensive to ring the UK though. I believe there is one for tablets too.

Really I didn't know that, but I have never paid for any computer service ever !
My philosophy has always been .... If the app is not free then I don't want it
But thanks for the info

I have two smartphones. I didn't plan it that way but Mrs Mart said I should try a smartphone and I got an inexpensive Lumia running on Windows 8 (now upgraded to Windows 10). Then she got a new phone and I thought I'd see what her old Samsung S4 mini (Android) was like.

Both have more or less the same useful Apps installed. These being 'Map My Walk' (maps cycle rides as well) and 'Next Bus UK'. They both have collections of photos and music on them and the Kindle App.

I tend to favour the Lumia because it has a larger screen. However, I have a Motorola non-smart flip phone too and find this much better when it comes to phone calls. Very robust for being bounced around in the saddle bag, it doesn't need a case because the lid flips down and it can be answered more quickly.

When I go out on the bike, I carry the Motorola. If going somewhere like the pub, I take the Lumia so I can use 'Next Bus UK' to tell my friend when his bus is due, plus it stores photos that others might be interested in seeing.

malcolm wrote:

AlanHo wrote:

The clincher was me downloading an app that allows me to watch UK TV via wifi when we are abroad.

Try though I may, I have never discovered an app that would allow UK programmes to be screened whilst abroad.

I have used FilmOn Live TV with some success - but it does need a robust WiFi connection which in some hotels varies in strength during the day. I s'pose it's the contention ratio kicking in with too many guests on line at the same time.

I cannot recommend Windows phones, I am not happy with mine at all.  I cant wait to trade it in when my contract expires.

I have a Micosoft Lumia 640 LTE which I bought because the Navtec maps were stored on the phone and it could be used as a satnav without a data or WiFi connection.

It is the best phone for that feature but the screen response was iffy - it had a mind of its own. Not only that - I found it too big and the lump it caused in my trouser pocket resulted in unwarranted smiling glances.

So, after 12 months, I chucked it into a drawer and bought a Samsung Galaxy A3 2016 model which is smaller and out-performs the Lumia in almost every respect. The Google maps can be stored on the Samsung FOC but have to be downloaded every month which I do overnight when the phone is recharging because my selection of UK and Europe maps takes a couple of hours.