Ice Cream Sandwich

[Fallenman]

I kind of want to talk about phone OS's in general precipitated by the eventual release of the new Android OS in November.

First off what kind of phone do you use now, and which one do you prefer (doesn't have to be the same answer).

Are you at all interested in the emergence of Window's phone as possible contenders, and what features do you think are lacking in OS's today?

Where do you see the evolution of this new network society ending up? Ericsson thinks that in this age we're going to see an increase in connectivity, where if a product benefits from being connected, to the net, then it will be.

What kind of world do you think that will look like? Think, Google Wallet, where your phone becomes your new debit card. Hell, your new bank account.

I'm just trying to get a taste for people's sentiments towards the current developments in this market.

 

[Meer]

I predict that a lot of people will walk, sit and stand around in public fiddling with little plastic boxes like a bunch of annoying cunts.

 

[Fallenman]

I can see the resentment. Where does it stem from?

I think it's incredibly useful to have the worlds largest database at my fingertips at any moment of the day.

 

[Meer]

Yes, having a wikipedia in my pocket would be occasionally useful, but it seems like most of the other functions of these devices are just shiny fluff. The usefulness to waste ratio is too low. It's unnecessary and misguided consumerism.

Then again, I have never owned a phone.

 

[Minuend]

I have a smart phone, but I'm too lazy to use it to its full potential. There's this app that register your sleep pattern and claim to be able to wake you in one of your light sleep stages. It monitors the movement of your mattress or something. And now you might think that there are certain group activities that will hinder a accurate reading, but let's face it, we're all lone desperate nerds here.

I predict that a lot of people will walk, sit and stand around in public fiddling with little plastic boxes like a bunch of annoying cunts.

Why would that be annoying, though? It's not like they pay attention to you anyway. When walking down the street for instance. Unless you're a frustrated flasher.

Then again, I have never owned a phone.

 

[SpaceYeti]

When I saw this thread I was like "Yay, ice-cream!", but then I was sad.

 

[pjoa09]

Apple purchased Siri. Android is still pissing me off with shitty half-baked transitions.

Android might never be the best mobile OS anymore.

I use a Nokia E51 handed down from my brother.

But really, artificial intelligence kills.

 

[Nibbler]

I like and enjoy most mainstream technology, especially computers/laptops and the internet. But when it comes to phones, I still have my 7 year old flip LG from Verizon.

The only reason I will get a new one later this year is that a CS rep last month told me their system was updating to include my plan (I pay as you go on purpose) so I will have to get a new technology phone.

If it weren't for that, I'd stick with a phone that just makes calls and the occasional text. And it's nice and heavy weight, not a piece of shit plastic.

I find that phones encourage people to behave like morons and disengage their brains from being actively engaged with at least their own thoughts.

By the way, I've recently become a new viewer of the podcast show on Roku called Tech News Today. Produced by TWiT tv. They are constantly mentioning "Ice Cream Sandwich" and each time I think, "What a stupid name for a technology."

 

[Nibbler]

Why would that be annoying, though? It's not like they pay attention to you anyway. When walking down the street for instance. Unless you're a frustrated flasher.

I'll give you examples:

Standing in walkways.
Texting in doorways.
Driving dangerously.
Walking slowly in the way.
Walking across crosswalks slowly and not paying attention.
Holding up cashier lines.
Interrupting people in the middle of a sentence to read the phone.
Generally not being in control of themselves or their behavior as it affects others.
Believing it's their right to do all the above but *not* reap the ramifications.
Encouraging other dumb people to do all the above.

And then it feeds on itself from one person to the next, and we're left dealing with even dumber and helpless people from even just a year ago.

 

[Amagi82]

Personally, I love my droid. It's a couple years old, but I can't imagine how I used to live without it. I can't wait until we figure out how to better hybridize technology with the human brain, so we can have this technology implanted in our bodies and displayed in our vision.

 

[Mello]

Heyy, I was just about to flash my droid. ;3

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1535035

https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/40228437/2/Sample Album/CONCEPT ICS V.1.3?h=eab0e6#/

It's hot.

 

[Fukyo]

Yes, having a wikipedia in my pocket would be occasionally useful, but it seems like most of the other functions of these devices are just shiny fluff. The usefulness to waste ratio is too low. It's unnecessary and misguided consumerism.

Then again, I have never owned a phone.

Heh. While I don't harbor a dislike against them, I do think smartphones are largely redundant to the average person. I mean, most people already have a computer (and a camera). A computer that can do everything a smartphone can, and better to boot. They are also not exactly safe, considering the uprising of android malware, and a lack of information on which security apps are actually efficient. Av test has only recently launched a first preliminary comparison of security apps, and the smartphones have been around for years.

They're also way expensive.

Do I really need to be able to browse internet at any waking moment in my life, even when I'm involved in a different activity? Do I really need to be able to IM and upload photos as soon as I take them online, at any point in time? No, I don't.

It's great for lovers of immediate gratification, I suppose.

 

[crippli]

I'll give you examples:

Standing in walkways.
Texting in doorways.
Driving dangerously.
Walking slowly in the way.
Walking across crosswalks slowly and not paying attention.
Holding up cashier lines.
Interrupting people in the middle of a sentence to read the phone.
Generally not being in control of themselves or their behavior as it affects others.
Believing it's their right to do all the above but *not* reap the ramifications.
Encouraging other dumb people to do all the above.

All you mentioned is legal, except driving and using the phone. Getting annoyed seems pointless to me. Will just raise your stress levels and shorten your life even more.

Not getting tracked, innocently placed in a scene of crime. And similar situations that can have serious ripple effect. Those I consider to be real good reasons to leave your phone at home. If other people is in a hurry, it's really not the person who is not in a hurry's problem.

 

[Mello]

All you mentioned is legal, except driving and using the phone. Getting annoyed seems pointless to me. Will just raise your stress levels and shorten your life even more.

Not getting tracked, innocently placed in a scene of crime. And similar situations that can have serious ripple effect. Those I consider to be real good reasons to leave your phone at home. If other people is in a hurry, it's really not the person who is not in a hurry's problem.

If you're innocent, then why worry at all?

 

[crippli]

If you're innocent, then why worry at all?

If you leave the phone at home, there is less need to worry.

If one is not innocent, one should certainly leave the phone at home.

Either way it seems a good idea to leave it at home.

 

[Nibbler]

All you mentioned is legal, except driving and using the phone. Getting annoyed seems pointless to me. Will just raise your stress levels and shorten your life even more.

Not getting tracked, innocently placed in a scene of crime. And similar situations that can have serious ripple effect. Those I consider to be real good reasons to leave your phone at home. If other people is in a hurry, it's really not the person who is not in a hurry's problem.

It's not a question about legality. You're confusing legalities with what is just plain messing up the system. It's annoying to have your system messed up by dimwits. Simple. It was asked, so I answered.

I'm not sure your'e an INTP if you don't understand what I'm saying. It's not about who's problem it is. It's just about why it's annoying.

By the way, your second paragraph is beside the point. It's paranoia and justifying ineffective behavior and less-than-probable scenarios. I'm not sure INTPs are prone to such thoughts very easily.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I have a Tracfone (costs me about $150 a year) for calls and texting. I have an older iPod Touch (32 gig) that's WiFi only. I have WiFi at home, at work, and as it's available for free in a lot of places, it does about 85% of what I need.

There are a few times when it would be nice to have 3G or 4G, but, compared to my $150 a year, it's pretty damn hard for existing packages to compete.

That said, I do like having access to almost all my data through the iPod.

 

[Nibbler]

I do think smartphones are largely redundant to the average person. I mean, most people already have a computer (and a camera). A computer that can do everything a smartphone can, and better to boot.

Exactly. Talking to someone before about this very topic, we said the same thing. I don't get it, either. Well, I guess I get it in the sense of what you say: instant gratification. But if I have that much need to know, I'll get to my laptop or desktop if at work--something I can see much better and use with more comfort.

I guess I still remember what it's like to have questions go unanswered for days until I could get to a library or call the librarian. Hey, remember that? Calling the local library for a fact and the librarian would look it up for you?

 

[crippli]

It's not a question about legality. You're confusing legalities with what is just plain messing up the system. It's annoying to have your system messed up by dimwits. Simple. It was asked, so I answered.

I'm not sure your'e an INTP if you don't understand what I'm saying. It's not about who's problem it is. It's just about why it's annoying.

By the way, your second paragraph is beside the point. It's paranoia and justifying ineffective behavior and less-than-probable scenarios. I'm not sure INTPs are prone to such thoughts very easily.

There are different opinions about functional and prosperous systems. IMO slowing down the rush is beneficial for 'the system' as a whole. Will provide a bit more time for thought. It's generally not in abundance. At least I often find this beneficial. The time lost is gained 10 fold when the train of thought has been initiated.

But the main point is the stress. People who are stressed make mistakes. For the system, usually much more expensive then the dimwits hanging on the corner smoking grass and texting on the sandwich.

Agree with your second paragraph. But will people get annoyed unless there is a perceived problem? To solve the problem, first step is often to recognize who's problem it is, so those responsible can get to it.

Last paragraph. It's not paranoia. Perhaps hyperbole though.

 

[Nibbler]

There are different opinions about functional and prosperous systems. IMO slowing down the rush is beneficial for 'the system' as a whole. Will provide a bit more time for thought. It's generally not in abundance. At least I often find this beneficial. The time lost is gained 10 fold when the train of thought has been initiated.

But the main point is the stress. People who are stressed make mistakes. For the system, usually much more expensive then the dimwits hanging on the corner smoking grass and texting on the sandwich.

Agree with your second paragraph. But will people get annoyed unless there is a perceived problem? To solve the problem, first step is often to recognize who's problem it is, so those responsible can get to it.

Last paragraph. It's not paranoia. Perhaps hyperbole though.

I disagree. People who are distracted (people with phones in their faces) make mistakes. I didn't say I was stressed, I said I was annoyed. I'm less prone to making mistakes than most people because I pay attention to the system I'm operating in.

I want to slow down so I can think, too. That is why I want to get to where I'm going so that I can do it.

Lastly about the problem and who it belongs to. I am looking at the larger picture and not instant gratification picture. The instant gratification people are slowing down the system so that it affects the neighboring system. Soon enough we have even dumb people noticing how hard it is to operate in modern society but no one will recognize each cog in the machine that screwed it up is to blame.

Someone said to me recently because of a personality issue at work: everyone recognizes responsibilities but some seem to forget that it applies to them, too.

Example: People complain about traffic and then they summarily go out into it and not keep up when it starts to flow free again. And then they will complain the roads are congested.

Basically by suggesting I recognize the problem is with me is asking me to ignore a problem with the system and not think of ways it can be better and dream up solutions. That's not natural for me (ignore what's triggering my thought processes) and that will stress me out, not the actual annoyances.

Pretending there isn't a problem unless I let there be a problem in my mind is not possible for me. I have tried. It makes me angry and stressed because clearly there is an overt problem. It's dishonest to "pretend" there isn't.

 

[Mello]

If you leave the phone at home, there is less need to worry.

If one is not innocent, one should certainly leave the phone at home.

Either way it seems a good idea to leave it at home.

What if you need to text or call a friend?

 

[crippli]

What if you need to text or call a friend?

I don't know. When younger and didn't have phones, we planned. And actually went out together.

I like smartphones for gps navigation, and router capability. So I bring it more with me then I like too.

I am concerned with logging of electronic tracking. That the technology will be exploited. For one, it's very profitable. You are not concerned?

 

[Orja]

I have the first Motorola Droid, but it has Cyanogen v7 on it now and the Google account was removed when they came out with their new privacy policy. I obviously can't use the market or a Google voice number anymore, but I don't need them. At this point, I need my phone to help with business, it allows me to actually leave the house from time to time and still be accessible to clients by phone, IM, text, and email (after all, some ninny promised them 24/7 support). However, client privacy is an issue and there are so many "wares" that track and spy. So, you have to be careful what you install. I was looking forward to Ice Cream Sandwich, but now I worry about how easy it will be to preserve some semblance of privacy with it. In fact, I wonder if it would be better to go back non-smartphones.

 

[Lydia]

When I saw this thread I was like "Yay, ice-cream!", but then I was sad.

I double this and what not.

 

[crippli]

I was looking forward to Ice Cream Sandwich, but now I worry about how easy it will be to preserve some semblance of privacy with it. In fact, I wonder if it would be better to go back non-smartphones.

Tracking is done by sim card and triangulation. So not going to help you even if you have it turned off on your old phone and you carry it with you. But if gps is engaged, and surfing etc, you will leave a wider trail.

 

[xbox]

I WANT ICECREAM