The return of 'dumbphones'

[herr_oberst]

Smart phones have magnifiers, too. I made a little stand so I can hold the phone perpendicular above an item that I need to examine closely.

[GG Allin]

I'd be happy with a smartphone running a non Google version of Linux.

[ramonesfreak]

I bought one of those tiny Nokia phones and had it about 20 minutes. I dropped it in the snow on the corner of prince st and thompson st in NYC in 2002 on my way home from the store and never saw it again

[GH85Carrera]

I remember the early days of cell phone getting smaller and smaller. It was the only time in history men stood around and talked about who had the smallest one. One of our customers had a cell phone that truly looked like a toy from the back of the comic books. It was not bigger than his ear and did not even come to his jaw bone joint. Then Smart phones started appearing, and now they are huge again but have so much power.

I remember a short story by Issac Asimov. He envisioned a far off future where everyone carried around a small computer all connected to Multvac, and had information to everything. He saw it as a black screen, and a red text display. A man known for imagination in his science fiction could not dream up that it was also a phone, full color high resolution display, video camera, still camera, computer and all the things we do with smart phone today.

[speeder]

Maybe I should start a new thread but I was told by my carrier last week that my iPhone 8 will not work after March 31st because it's not 5G? That I needed to get a new phone?? Does anyone know about this? Haven't had time to look into it further. TIA.

[KFC911]

^^^ Methinks all the 3G networks have already (or will be) phased out... doubtful yours is that .... it's probably 4G.

[RBNetEngr]

I started working in telecommunications in 1984. At that time, we sold video conferencing systems made by a company called Compression Labs Inc (CLI). At that time, their video codec could do point to point video conferencing between two locations, at a data rate of 1.5Mb/s. This was state of the art video compression at that time. The system was housed in a cabinet, that stood six feet tall, and was filled with shelves of circuit boards. And I think it cost somewhere around $300k (1984 dollars).

Now, we have multipoint video conferencing of much higher definition video, running on a computer or a smart phone. Massive improvements in cost, quality, size, power consumption, etc.


-rb

[GH85Carrera]

Dennis, my iPhone 11 Pro is not 5G either, but the entire network will not convert. The newer phone are 5G, but mine will work fine for now. Contact your carrier, and talk to them if that is possible.

If nothing else find a carrier that will work with your 8 assuming you don't want a newer phone.

[RBNetEngr]

Originally Posted by speeder

Maybe I should start a new thread but I was told by my carrier last week that my iPhone 8 will not work after March 31st because it's not 5G? That I needed to get a new phone?? Does anyone know about this? Haven't had time to look into it further. TIA.

iPhone 8 supports 4G LTE. Your carrier is a liar and is trying to sell you a new phone. And 4G LTE will be around until at least 2030.

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP767

The CDMA networks listed for one model of iPhone 8 are the 3G networks that are being shut down this year by Verizon and TMO/Sprint. So they won’t be available, but LTE will be available.

-rb

[KFC911]

In '84 I was fresh out of college in R&D at IBM Communications Division... micro-processor based high end network stuff for it's day. Sorta like my (and Glen's) Carreras, time moves on, but Glen ain't getting rid of his 911 either .

I keed .... it all depends upon what you want, or need imo.

The "toys" of today are impressive .... and don't cost literally millions either .

[pwd72s]

Don't see how Cindy & I are surviving. We're on a dumb phone through trac phone. $100 minutes card more than lasts us a year. Wouldn't have bought even that except no more pay phones. Carried only when we're out & about.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rusnak

^ I don't do any of those things on a phone. That's what a laptop is for. I would be happy to ditch the smartphone. The only time I ever use it as something other than a phone and actually enjoy doing so is when I rent a car and use the Bluetooth to stream music. But even then, the iPod is better and has more songs and way way way more playlists.

I don't even like to send text messages. I think that's for children or childish adults.

I would pay big money for a Nokia 6162 that works.

I haven't streamed music that was stored on a device in at least 10 years. I use Pandora to stream via data. I don't have to buy a sheiße ton of music, and can listen to lots of stuff and have greater variety that would be tough any other way. I also get introduced to music that I might otherwise never hear.

Texting is another form of communication that under certain circumstances is better than making a call, but has some similar characteristics.

What's really great is that since I have a Mac, I can be on a call for work, and my wife can stop at the store and text me "do you need anything at the store?" and I can respond with no or a quick list without ever having to interrupt my work meeting since the texts show up on my phone and my PC.

Or, my wife can leave our kid's place and send a quick "on my way." A whole call would have been unnecessary, but it's nice to know that she's left (the drive is 1:45-2:00).

Texting can be taken to crazy, silly, extreme levels, but can also be a good thing. It's a tool.

[speeder]

I agree. ^^^

And I’m one who thinks that a lot of modern technology is BS but texting is very useful. You don’t have to stop what you are doing to answer a call, (can reply one minute or one hour later), etc.

Of course, calls and texts each have their pros and cons and there is a place for each.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by RBNetEngr

iPhone 8 supports 4G LTE. Your carrier is a liar and is trying to sell you a new phone. And 4G LTE will be around until at least 2030.

https://support.apple.com/kb/SP767

The CDMA networks listed for one model of iPhone 8 are the 3G networks that are being shut down this year by Verizon and TMO/Sprint. So they won’t be available, but LTE will be available.

-rb

So they completely lied to me and scared me into thinking that I needed to run out and get a new phone at a time when I’m already busier than a one-armed paper hanger. Nice.

Thanks, though. I needed a knowledgeable voice.

[aschen]

I thought this thread would be about something like this. I always feel like a dinosaur when I travel with corded non active noise cancelling headphones.

I feel eyes of confusion and judgment from the younger observers, but I am hifi or die yo.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by svandamme

that's the thing, MFA authentication cannot be done on the laptop where you need the authentication to happen.

Don't tell my boss, and especially don't tell my company's security team, but I set up call authentication to a google voice number, that forwards to my work number, that I can answer via Cisco Jabber installed on my laptop.

[RANDY P]

Can't stand carrying a smartphone because it's just a portal for text and telephone spam. Need it for MFA.

rjp

[Baz]

Originally Posted by URY914

We got some real dinosaurs here. You guys still use the hand crank on your 356's?

You mean for the sunroof?

Even in '64, Porsche had electric powered sunroofs!

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^ Methinks all the 3G networks have already (or will be) phased out... doubtful yours is that .... it's probably 4G.

3G phone is unlikely to work right in California. I had to update to 4G, which is supposed to work for the foreseeable future

Originally Posted by rockfan4

Don't tell my boss, and especially don't tell my company's security team, but I set up call authentication to a google voice number, that forwards to my work number, that I can answer via Cisco Jabber installed on my laptop.

You can almost certainly use an I-pad for this, I do.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by aschen

...

I thought this thread would be about something like this. I always feel like a dinosaur when I travel with corded non active noise cancelling headphones.

I feel eyes of confusion and judgment from the younger observers, but I am hifi or die yo.

Apparently I'm also a dinosaur. - Campfire Audio Honeydew.