Looking at maybe joining this millenium with something like an i-phone

kinda tired of having the lamest-*** phone in the phamily and being the laughing stock of my kids as a result. The fact that I can't post pictures of my food on instagram is really holding me back from being as hep as I need to be.

Work trucks have charger that fits the i5 and the i5 is not quite obsolete yet

I see they come in 5C or 5S and various sizes of gigs
Looks like they cost abut $200 plus an ungodly monthly fee for "data" for the rest of your life. A bonus of having a data pkg might be that I can finally hook up the house alarm via cell phone to make phone calls in the event of an event.

We'll be staying with Verizon probably because of poor treatment from AT&T years ago- so bad we told them to hose off, will never spend another dime at your company.

Any guidance appreciated.
Is there any place to take a course in how to run one so I can dazzle the kids with my awesome technical prowess...

oh gosh as little as $700 buyitnow for a 32G 5S that isn't water damaged and may still work

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...+32GB&_sacat=0

 

I am pretty sure that the Apple store provides "sessions" ,but I think you need to make an appointment with the "GENIUS" bar.
at this the kids know more that the Apple folks not sure how?but I wish you luck with dazzling the kids

 

I dumped AT&T earlier this year and went with Virgin Mobile. I'm paying about half of what I paid with AT&T. Virgin uses the Sprint network so depending on where you live, coverage may be an issue. I live in Chicago and have had no issues at all, my wife and I are very satisfied.

As for learning a new phone, I bet there's something on youtube.

 

Noooooooo go android and get the moto x you van personalize it to you're satisfaction and with a 2yr contract its only 99 dollars seriously its a good deal for the money I phones have been recently prone to I'd info being available to others I would trust my life on an iPhone android all the way trust me I'm a kid UK these things

 

I think no matter what platform you choose you will find the 'cheater' glasses will be invaluable as you try to navigate the labrynth known as the inter web on a phone

 

If you don't want to be bland don't go iPhone they are all the same and android is faster and more unique break away from the rest of the world and go android.
Thismessagebroughttoyoubytheiphonessuckmajorballsa ndtheworldistoodumbtorealizeitagency. Haha

 

Why do they call it a smart phone? Wow, I don't know how I survive without one. Chris, I don't even own a mobile phone.

 

Because it's basically a miniature computer.

It's like many other modern conveniences, like garage door openers. If you've never owned one, you don't miss it, but once you do, you wonder how you ever lived without it.

I use mine all the time. It has an excellent camera, GPS, web browser, which gives you access to the full web at any time from anywhere and which can be very handy when traveling or even just being away from home for any reason, access to email, text, overseas calling for free (I have a daughter living temporarily in mainland China), a way to call if your car breaks down (which is a convenience that dates back to the beginning of the mobile phone era), the list goes on.


To the OP, we've had Verizon for years, and we have a family plan with four phones on it, three of them smartphones. All are Samsung, and all were purchased for $0 as long as we agreed to a 2-year contract on each line, which is really not a problem at all as one normally intends to have a phone for the remainder of one's life. Yes, you can pay $100, $200, $300, or more for a phone, even if you agree to a two-year contract, but there really is no reason to. Our three smartphones run the Android system, and I think it's the most common smartphone operating system in use.

 

phhhht
I bet you don't even have any food pictures on instagram
The cell phone was damn handy last summer when the quad rolled over in a remote wooded area in the dark, and 2 people needed to get to the hospital immediately.

I understand the android thing, but in part I have to have a i-phone 1) to keep up with the Joneses, and 2) to annoy my oldest.

 

You can get an I-phone through Verizon. You're not limited to The Apple Store.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/device/smartphone

 

Whats instagram? I'm almost about as low tech as you can get. I don't see how people can spend all their money on these gadgets. Maybe cause I've never had all this stuff is why I don't need it.

 

You can live as low-tech as you want, even going so far as to having your electric service disconnected and seeing what life was like for humanity from time zero until about 110 years ago. I'll bet it wouldn't be long before you had it turned back on again.

Just because you can do without things doesn't mean that life isn't more interesting, safer, healthier, and more enjoyable with them.

 

I am switching out my wife's pay-as-you-go Verizon phone to a Straight Talk plan at Walmart. $50 unlimited talk, text, and data. Uses the Verizon system so same coverage. Haven't actually got the phone yet (it was one of the black friday ones for $29) but reviews on straight talk seem to be pretty good and not locked into a multi-year contract. If I don't like it, I can cancel anytime.

 

Jaunty, I am civilized with cable, running water, and indoor plumbing. My life just doesn't revolve around gadgets.

 

That's another important point in all this. Prices are coming down. My wife and I decided almost six years ago now, back in January 2008, to get rid of our landline phone service altogether and rely solely on our cell phones as our only phones, and we've never looked back. We couldn't see the point of paying for the same thing twice, and we knew we wanted cell service because we wanted our teenage kids to have cell phones for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was so we could call them and ask them where they were when they were supposed to be home at midnight and it was now a quarter past.

After more than 100 years of building- or home-based telephones and having one at home all our lives up to that point, it seemed weird at first to have no phone in the house. But then you quickly realize that people aren't trying to reach your house when they call your phone number, they're trying to reach you. If you're going to have a cell phone anyway, might as well make it your only phone. Then you have to give out only one number when you want people to have it, and it's the one they can actually reach you on. Plus, you're not paying for a second, basically duplicative service.

 

BUT, if you'd had an iPhone, you'd have been able to tweet it to your followers, post perfectly "aged"-looking photos of it on Instagram, let your FaceBook friends know you were okay, and "pin" it on Pintrest. You could have even started a Tumblr about ATV wrecks, and played some soothing music on Pandora while you waited for help.


Seriously, though, I've got an iPhone5 and use it all the time. I like it, but I could survive without it if I needed to (my wife, on the other hand...).
I use AT&T because I've had an iPhone since they were the only carrier, and because I have unlimited data grandfathered in, but I have no particularly warm squishy feelings about them.

The iPhone is great because it just works, all the time, period.
The Android phones are great because they are MUCH more customizable (Steve Jobs's ghost knows what you like, and has set it up for you, Android is happy for you to spend hours tweaking settings that you never would have imagined existed).
Windows phones are great because they will be highly collectible one day, because of their rarity.

No matter which cell phone you get nowadays, they are all required to have GPS, and they all ping the local cell towers frequently, so you need to be okay with the ability of SOMEONE to figure out your exact location at any time, retrospectively, any time in the future that they decide they want to do so.

- Eric

 

Now you're just talking matter of degree. There was a time when all of those things were considered luxuries that we had always lived without (especially the cable TV), too.

I presume you have a landline telephone. When those first came out in about 1880, people that owned them were laughed at, and newspaper articles made fun of them. After all, we had lived all our lives without telephones, so why do we need them? People considered themselves "civilized" because they used the mail service, telegrams, had gas service for their home lighting, and had a horse and buggy to get around. No need for this "newfangled" telephone, or, worse, that newfangled thing called an automobile. But they (telephones) very quickly became essential to everyday life. Are you prepared to give up yours? Or is that a level of civilization that's just one level too low?

I'm not saying that smartphones have reached the "essential" stage, but I'll wager they're getting there.

 

Actually my wife has a mobile phone, just a mobile phone. We just gave up the landline and I didn't use it much anyway. The only time the damn thing rang was when telemarketers or some political pole called. If people need to get a hold of me they call on her phone. My life is so peaceful. I use cable for my internet on a laptop and it's all I need.

 

I've got an iphone 5S, which replaced a 4S, and an ipad mini, I like Apple stuff, but still fire up my Dell D610 to answer email, and work with documents..

 

We noticed this, too, the moment we got rid our landline phone. The number of junk phone calls dropped to zero and has pretty much stayed there ever since. This is a real benefit, to my mind, of getting rid of the landline phone. I know there are do-not-call lists and all that, but I know people who still get junk calls even though they have supposedly been added to these do-not-call lists. I don't know why cell phones haven't been similarly targeted, and we fully expected that, after maybe six months or a year of relying solely on our cell phones, we would start to get some junk calls. But like I said, so far at least, it hasn't happened.

 

It's funny, but everyone I've ever met or asked who had an Apple or MacIntosh computer, I-phone, or whaterver, always say they love their Apple product. But they always seem to say it through gritted teeth. I think the issue is exactly what MDchanic mentions above. The equipment is very nice, but it's much less customizable, and you're pretty much at the mercy of what the people who run Apple think is best for you. (Sort of like Obamacare. )

 

I believe they recently passed a law pertaining to unsolicited calls and it's finable.

 

It's actually worse than location. It's all data that passes through your phone, which includes location, text, voice, phone numbers interacted with, proximity to others (goes back to location), et cetera. All of which is stored for future use (see here for NSA position on encrypted data, and more).

In California, a court case ruled that a smart phone in a car was subject to search if the owner was pulled over, in the same way that a notebook in the car could be looked at.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that cell phones are subject to the same warrant requirements that landlines are; the law hasn't kept up with the tech.

A smartphone can be activated remotely to act as a microphone: http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/02/fbi...s-wsj-reports/

In general, the only way to prevent a cell phone from being a tracking device is to remove the battery. Here's a step-by-step for the procedure for an iPhone 5: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+5...lacement/10587

As you might guess, I don't use a smartphone. I do have a cheap track phone for occasional use.

 

.


Yes I second that. Get an android,seem where ever you look it is all I phone. Been told also the I phone have issues as well. I have an HTC one and love it. Little bigger screen on it as well

 

If you are going to get a smart phone, make sure you dont text while driving. Over here in NYC, its a $150 fine and 5 points on your license. If you get more than 11 points, your license is suspended for 1-3 months or longer, depends on who or what you hit or killed.

 

What?!

Y'all have indoor plumbing.... in Texas?

:-)

 

I have had windows phones, Android Phones and Iphones. It just depends on what your looking for and MDchanic put it best. Get an android if you are a tech nut and want to customize the crap out of your phone. If you want a phone that is very simple to use and just works get an iphone. I was one of the last people I know to switch to an iphone because I thought they were too fancy and complicated when in fact they are the exact opposite. My android phones constantly froze up on me. I have had an iphone for years now and have never had one freeze on me. I have the regular iphone 5 and I love it. If this is going to be your first smart phone I would recommend the iphone.

 

X2 on the HTC One and Android! You can even use it as a remote control for tvs, stereos etc.
I love being able to shut of the tv, when my girlfriend wants to watch her crappy television series!
Apart from this, even most iPhone users I know don't like the new iOS!

 

I've worked in the cell phone industry all my "professional" life. First at Sprint and now for actual device manufacturer. As many mentioned, MDchanic, said it really well.

iPhones are nice, basic, and pretty much anyone can learn how to use one. However, you are locked to what the iPhone allows you to do.

Android (and not because we only work with it), is much more adaptable once you get past the initial learning curve. It is developed by Google so you know its not going to be completely broken. Plus, if you go android, you can get this sweet Oldsmobilecentral App for free (shameless plug, I know).

I just recommend spending at least a few bucks on a smartphone. The cheapest of cheap ones you can get usually don't have enough memory to truly support the Android OS so you will have a bad user experience.

I would go to a store and quickly look at them. The size of the phone may play a big part for you since they make Android phones from tiny to enormous. Also, all OEMs slap their own little custom twist to Android and that may be your deciding factor. The HTC One got good reviews in the tech world, but I don't like their interface (personal opinion there).

 

I have to agree with OldCutlass. I like to consider myself on the trailing edge of technology and that is why I have a "dumb" cell phone that stays off most of the time. I don't do Facebook, Instagram, or twitter. I also don't spend hours a day posting what I am doing, or reading about what others are doing. I have never stressed out over not having a signal or my battery going dead, and i am as happy as I can be.

 

Apparently we are a small minority Dave.

 

I hate to admit it but I'm addicted to my phone talking to you guys getting parts attempting to sell parts haha

 

I just got my basic I phone 4 about 6 months ago. Only after my flip phone broke into 2 halves. So i needed a new phone, I reluctantly bought the I4. My impression is its just ok, not great not horrible. I can access my email but thats not really necessary. Napa will text me when my parts come in.... again not necessary. I can listen to music.... I have a stero in the house, car, and my garage so..... not necessary. I can make and recieve calls same as my cheaper flip phone. I can text which i hate same as my flip phone. Im committed to a 2 year contract again! Ah the companies do have a way of getting our money. I will probably go back to a basic phone after my contract is up. It is handy to have a phone if your out alone somewhere and have or stumble upon an accident or problem. Or if the car breaks down, or searching for parts while out and about. This I4 is about $40 more a month, not really worth it to me.
Each to his own

 

Just for the record im 59, lived in the not so high tech world for a long time with no problems. There are still alot of areas where there is no signal so the phones are useless sometimes. And i know i misspelled "stereo".

 

"BUT, if you'd had an iPhone, you'd have been able to tweet it to your followers, post perfectly "aged"-looking photos of it on Instagram, let your FaceBook friends know you were okay, and "pin" it on Pintrest. You could have even started a Tumblr about ATV wrecks, and played some soothing music on Pandora while you waited for help."
==============================
EXACTLY what I was trying to say
but much better than I did.
I just feel so left out that I can't share photos of my food instantly with all my tweeter followers on the interwebs. I know both of them are waiting with bated breath.



Not sure I can have my cake yet
Verizon has strict rules I guess about not allowing you an update until it's time. Never mind that we are prepared to step up to $$$$ a month data package also. Maybe I get a less rusty car to use the 403 in instead. Neighbor had a 80's rustfree Riviera for cheap... RWD, V8...

 

Reality TV and smart phones (used incorrectly) are helping dumb down Americans.

 

Not surprising, considering reality TV isn't actually real, and smart phones aren't actually smart.
I't no wonder people are confused.

- Eric

 

True, both are oxymoron's.

 

Riv's went FRONT WHEEL DRIVE in 1979.

That right there is just crazy talk.

While I'd love to debate the issue further .....

I have to go outside & wait by my mailbox for my Nigerian lottery winnings.

 

You guys are jes WAY to technical fer dis ole cracker.