REAL LIFE NEWS: LIVING WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE
by Hazed
Regular readers may recall that earlier this year I had my bag stolen, which contained all manner of valuable items... including my iPhone. I went for three days before I could replace the missing phone, and the lack brought it home to me just how much I had come to rely on the smartphone features - in particular the ability to be connected when I was away from a computer.
I use maps when I am walking around, I connect to the Transport for London website to check how long I will have to wait for the next bus, I check the status of the tube lines, I listen to the radio, I connect to a database to log my exercise and calorie intake... and probably lots more I can’t think of right now.
These are all things I need to do when I may not be anywhere near a wifi hotspot. So I would find it very inconvenient to be without access to cellular data.
A journalist recently decided to test whether he could live without cellular data access when he was out and about. Prompted by the question of whether to upgrade to the new iPhone 5, he switched off the cellular data on his iPhone so it behaved just like a regular, non-smart phone, when he was away from wifi access.
Thus, he couldn’t check his email or Twitter feeds when he was in transit; he couldn’t check the grocery store app for bargains while in the supermarket queue; he had to use a paper map to navigate when visiting unfamiliar places.
So, what did he conclude? Go read the article to find out.
