Other The thrill is gone

[Roller]

I have tried embracing the future multiple times. Apple Watch Series 5--riddled with bugs. iPhone X, couldn't get used to the gestures one bit--kept getting the wrong result, such as recent apps when I wanted to home, or vice versa. Lack of headphone jack, forgetting to charge up the Airpods case one day I chose to nature walk and had to go without music! The screen is too big. Tried a Galaxy A01 running Android 10--well, my phone number leaked out and my data got breached. Had to turn it off and return it. Also too big. Full of 'nagware' designed to protect me from myself, such as a service that 'conveniently' shut down apps I wanted to use and caused issues such as me having to pull my phone out of my pocket to restart the music app when I wanted to use bluetooth in my car.

None of this crap happens with my older stuff. They all work perfectly fine, fit me too well, I love small screens, I love sliding keyboards (if you like looking through fingerprints, well, all the power to ya), I love headphone jacks and not having to keep up with bluetooth batteries along with the phone battery. I like a device that has skeuomorphism mixed with nature. I like a device that has nothing running in the background draining my battery, while my music apps keep working as they should, so I can just get into my car, and my music continues as it should.

The future is flat, oversized, has less features, and too much nagware. Sorry, I tried it, and the past or at least, 2012-era tech just works better for me.

The 3GS is a fun phone. At least the UI looked decent, and didn't burn my retinas in, and buttons and clickable actions worked and were easily defined as they should be.

Again, if you like what's offered today, great. I hope something comes along that gains my interest but so far they're taking away stuff, marking up the price to an unwarranted level, and the UI looks designed by Playskool. Oh and battery life hasn't improved since 2010 either. At least my devices have replacable batteries which reduces e-waste. Not everyone needs a new phone if their old one works perfectly fine. I'm satisfied. I still wish folks made interesting phones and the OS wasn't trying to protect everyone from themselves (Google SafetyNet, Samsung Device Care, 'this notification can't be turned off', etc) and I hope small phones one day return, and that skeuo comes back since I can't stand flat, never could, even during the days of DOS. Flat is NOT modern, it's a throwback to limited hardware/graphics in the 80s. Why revisit that part of the past?! Flat gave way to skeuo, which could have given way to holographic, or better AR, but no, we went backwards with iOS 7 and modern Android.

I still miss the wild wild west days, the days of the T-mobile Sidekick, the Galaxy SIII, The original Galaxy Note, the iPhone 3GS or 4, iOS 6, Android 2.3-4.4, features not being suddenly declared 'bad' and having to be taken away for the sake of change.

There's a ton of features that either don't exist or got taken away that I find greatly useful:

1. Voice control unlock. I can say 'unlock' to my S Relay, and it unlocks. I can also dismiss alarms without that nasty swipe mark on the screen. I can also start music playback or open apps, all done offline, no internet needed.

2. SD Cards, Don't need to be connected or have a decent signal to enjoy music, as all of it is on an SD Card, not harming my internal storage. I don't have to be like those poor saps at work who listen to ads on Pandora while bleeding off our wifi, only to hear them complain when it stops because they went outside of wifi coverage and their iPhone 11 Pro has no signal.

3. Sliding keyboards. They're useful, are there when you need them, gone if you don't, the on-screen keyboard is there also if you want it. It's a nice feature to leave your screen visible without an on-screen keyboard taking up space, or staring through smudges. Accuracy is better--just ask a BlackBerry user.

4. Notification LEDs. They're one of my favorite features, and use far less battery and don't burn in the screen like an AOD. It's nice to, at a glance, know if I missed a call, or text, or email, or see my device's charge status, just by the color of the LED.

5. Headphone jack. Ever want to listen to music but realize too late you forgot to charge up your Airpods case or bluetooth headset? I have, multiple times, and had to go without during a hike or when I wanted to listen to music and not bother everyone else by using my phone as a speaker.

Just a few things my older devices do that most newer ones took away or don't support. I don't need a dozen cameras, especially when I have a DSLR. I don't want to revisit the graphic design of Amiga WorkBench or Tandy Deskmate. I don't want a phone that looks like every other phone out there. I like standing out. Older devices were just far more interesting to me, and instead of me having to lament it and 'get used to' a device I hate that doesn't fit me well at all, why not just let me be happy with the stuff I got from Amazon that is old, sure, but works for me best?

The 3GS was my first upgrade after the original iPhone. At the time I thought it was a big step up, with a 3 MP camera, a 320 x 480 display, and 32 MB of storage. But it couldn't do a fraction of the things I rely on my iPhone for every day. If I had an iPhone 11 Pro, I probably would have kept it another year or two, but the 12 Pro makes enough of a difference to me compared to the iphone X to make the jump worthwhile.

I have fond memories of my first 128K Mac too, but it would be nearly useless to me for what I do personally and professionally on my iMacs. Such is the way with technology.

 

[nickdalzell1]

The 3GS was my first smartphone. It wasn't a choice of mine, as then I was comfortable with the Nokia 5185i (was used to it then, as I am my older Samsungs today) but batteries eventually fail hard, especially old NiMH batteries. Boss at work handed me a 3GS, told me to toss out the Nokia, or be fired (couldn't reach me during service calls because battery died a few seconds into a call).

I was dead-set against smartphones, having witnessed the failure of the Apple Newton, and seeing the iPhone as the second coming. Couldn't imagine why anyone would want to stare at a screen covered all over with fingerprints over a proper keyboard such as a BlackBerry Curve had...But once I experienced that 3GS's UI (skeuomorphism in all its glory) all that changed. It was a super fun device that literally became whatever you needed it to be, a radio, phone, iPod, internet communicator, camera, notepad, the works. I was saddened when iOS 7 got installed on my later iPhone 4 and took that experience away.

But at least the screen wasn't huge. I have always seen tablets as the proper media consumption devices and using a smartphone as a tablet will just hurt your eyes, and your battery will be toast before lunch. You'd totally become a wall hugger using a smartphone as a tablet all the time. No one asked for smartphones to get huge, and since companies are supposed to produce what the consumers demand, how this happened is beyond me. I feel the same about losing headphone jacks, and removable batteries. Not long ago large phones were a separate category, and that was fine. But now they're all huge. There's zero option if you want a modern or updated smaller phone. Smaller being 4" and under, not a Phablet, or thin phone that's as long as a remote control.

My 'downgrades' haven't hurt me as I don't get on social media anymore, never understood Instagram or Snapchat, and don't use Whatsapp, I still use SMS. SMS on my Samsungs has a UI similar to an IM client and that works perfectly for me. No data needed, so 5G doesn't do anything for me. I can't get a signal 85% where I go, so having my content stored on my phone is a must. My S Relay is using EDGE and so long as the weather widget/app updates, MMSs come through, and voice control works, I don't notice it being all that slow (no Google account helps too). My apps are basically SMS, phone and the Music Player, with the web browser doing some quick searches or downloading additional wallpapers. I got a file browser that I can wirelessly transfer stuff to and from an NAS at home. I don't use 'the cloud'.

The Pandemic has decreased the need to use a smartphone proper, so contactless payment is gone, in favor of me using Amazon. I don't use as many 'apps' as I once did. All I need it to do is play music and keep me in touch with my girlfriend. So in 2020 my needs have seriously lessened. I'm not in a market to upgrade since no options exist for myself, not that I need one anyway, but I have to speak for those who still want a smartphone that's smaller, and I take a lot of crap for being this 'luddite' even though I am not dead-set against modern tech. I just don't like modern smartphones. Nothing wrong with keeping what you like. I can fairly criticize what I feel is a mistake though.

 

[^^BIGMac]

So there are some new iPhones out. Who cares, really? I don't know whether it's the year (pandemic). Perhaps this year has made me realize that phones aren't a very important thing in life, especially when the phone I have is more than sufficient. Spend another $1,000 on something that really doesn't matter, adds no meaning to life, will be a temporary "wow" and nothing more? Nah.

Am I alone? These new phones don't excite me. Beyond that, they're downright boring. There are just more important things to lust after--like normalcy.

Hey, it’s 2020. Cheer up.

Buy a new toy.

Life is short.

Don’t take yourself so seriously.

 

[JCCL]

Edit: lightning was introduced on iphone 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_(connector)

Seems like far more than specs as well. Fairly big update.

• 2.5x vs 2x telephoto optical zoom
• Sensor Shift OIS vs Single OIS
• 5mm larger 7P vs 6P lenses
• F/1.6 vs F/1.8 wide angle lens aperture
• Larger sensor and pixels for better low-light shots
• LiDAR camera for AR/VR apps
• Dolby Vision video, Smart HDR 3, Deep Fusion 2, Night Mode Portraits
• 5G
• Magsafe

problem is, except for 5G and MagSafe, all of those are specs, make little to no difference to the average user.
Experience-wise, upgrade is minimal, and not much of a difference experience coming from a XS or 11 Pro

 

[nickdalzell1]

5G doesn't even register for me. I don't use data. Most of my internet usage is on wifi. the rest of my content is on my phone's SD card. I live in an area where 85% of rural country has no service. At best, I got Edge/1x. So even 5G means nothing to me. MagSafe should have never stopped being an option on Macs. It's nice it's coming back to phones, though. Not enough to want a brick in my hand but still nice.

 

[I7guy]

problem is, except for 5G and MagSafe, all of those are specs, make little to no difference to the average user.
Experience-wise, upgrade is minimal, and not much of a difference experience coming from a XS or 11 Pro

Except LIDAR turns into a VR experience. Better camera (dolby vision, hdr 3 , framerates, etc.) turns into a better photographic experience. 4gb vs 6gb. Faster CPU etc, Yeah, specs. Each of us will take away what we want and leave what we don't. And depending on our viewpoint we will think of it as "not much of a difference experience from an xs or 11 pro" or "a wow difference.

As far as the pandemic. I'm using my smartphone more than ever. Apple pay when I go shopping for contact-less payment and not having to take out my CC. 5G? We are going to back to normal at some point and 5G will make a difference...the world keeps moving forward.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I don't go into stores since I hate seeing folks in masks and being forced to wear one is an an instant 'I'm not supporting you'. It's far easier to browse Amazon or Walmart online at home via my Mac. Saves gas too.

I was using Samsung/Apple Pay like crazy but the only store not yet forcing the mask rule on us here is Dollar General, and they haven't enabled NFC ever. Ingenico terminals have major issues with MST on Samsung watches such as the Gear S3 Classic. I once brought down their payment network at Lowe's a year or so ago trying to use it at a self-checkout.

Been using drive thru a lot more too. The only really modern apps I'm using are on my Galaxy S5, and that's walmart, Little Caeser's, Best Buy and Amazon (built-in).

I still work though, golf car demand has skyrocketed given more people stay home, but at work my primary goals are well, work. My phone acts as just that--a phone. Music player during times I need to concentrate without distraction. Only two apps I'm using on my Relay, with SMS after work at home (T-Mobile sucks in the country.)

Everywhere I need data there's wifi. Work has wifi, home has wifi, most public places have wifi--even a place I walk often--Panther Creek Park-has wifi. I don't really need data. 5G would make no difference when 4G LTE is sparce. 75%-95% of the time I drop to EDGE or 1x, or H+, whatever that is. EDGE seems to be the only network the phone actually can use though, funny enough.

 

[joonyaboy]

I’m having a blast with this new phone!

 

[Mellofello808]

The phones I am really excited for are the folding screens.

It doesn't look like apple has one on the horizon, so I am probably going to splurge on a fold 2 next year when there are deals to be had.

Playing with one in the store is the first time I have gotten a rush like that from a tech product in the past few years.

 

[Apples n' Stone]

So after saying I would sit this one out with the X I decided it was a nice thing and I wanted one.

I posted my impressions of the device on the other thread, but this is what I have gained from a 3 Year old iPhone X

• Impressive All day battery life
• Night mode was a big change
• Screen size balances portability with functionality better than 5.8 imho. Also much brighter.
• Design sides easier to hold.
• 5G is not in my area so unable to test
• My Magsafe is delayed so no idea

Battery, while the one in the X had aged to 80% health, this new one is what I would call true all day battery life. I had a Sunday lay in until 8:00 but it was at 30% when I slept around 22:30. Max Users shouldn’t be disappointed with the mAh.

The camera, especially at night, is significantly better. We had heavy rain do I didn’t go exploring, but night mode was able to use one street light to illuminate my whole street. I could read a numblerplate from about 150 meters when I wouldn’t be able to in normal light.

Screen size, it’s nice to have more screen without losing the portability. Those with a 5.8 inch iPhone will find this an upgrade, I did.

It is a very nice phone! The difference is people that upgraded to the X for example were met with a new design and functionality. It had more of a wow factor, I take that point. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a very nice phone!

 

[fatTribble]

i think it’s important to find happiness wherever you can. If a new iPhone doesn’t do it for you then that’s the answer. For many of us the new iPhones represent progress. It’s a real sign that something is improving even if it’s incremental. I do the iPhone Upgrade Program. I feel lucky to be able to get a new iPhone every year. I’m willing to cut back in other areas if needed. It just makes me happy.

 

[Ortiz83]

So there are some new iPhones out. Who cares, really? I don't know whether it's the year (pandemic). Perhaps this year has made me realize that phones aren't a very important thing in life, especially when the phone I have is more than sufficient. Spend another $1,000 on something that really doesn't matter, adds no meaning to life, will be a temporary "wow" and nothing more? Nah.

Am I alone? These new phones don't excite me. Beyond that, they're downright boring. There are just more important things to lust after--like normalcy.

Well first, I care. Second, who the heck lusts over phones? Is that what you did before? That’s sad if so. I care for the new phone because I want the latest phone out there from Apple. But caring for the new phone doesn’t mean I lust for it. That’s for my family.

 

[MacDuggy]

I don’t jump at new stuff ... I wait until the technology has been around for a while and the bugs if any become manifest.
I have a late 2012 pre retina 13” MacBook Pro and was considering a newer retina model. A friend who has a retina model had issues with his retina screen overheating and burning out and I hear this is not uncommon. I think I’ll wait a while longer as my upgraded (ram & ssd) MBP is still giving me good service.

 

[imagineadam]

I didn’t read all of the other posts yet but what I really wanted was the 120hz screen. Then I would have been excited. Sounds like it might be next year. So one more year with my trusty 7.

 

[FunkyTang]

So there are some new iPhones out. Who cares, really? I don't know whether it's the year (pandemic). Perhaps this year has made me realize that phones aren't a very important thing in life, especially when the phone I have is more than sufficient. Spend another $1,000 on something that really doesn't matter, adds no meaning to life, will be a temporary "wow" and nothing more? Nah.

Am I alone? These new phones don't excite me. Beyond that, they're downright boring. There are just more important things to lust after--like normalcy.

I guess you’re going to keep your Subaru?

 

[JM]

Late to this thread, but I basically stopped following phone news all together this year, with losing my job and finding myself a new career, I'm far too occupied, and at this time taking care of my family is the most important thing.

With that said, I am thrilled about the iPhone 12 mini. Exactly what I want in a phone. Compact but not tiny screen, with all the high end features. Been waiting for this since the first iPhone SE. This one will probably be my favorite phone of all time. Perfection would be no notch, but you can't have everything.

I think others like me would feel bad for buying the mini this year only to see the notch less one come out next year!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m having a blast with this new phone!View attachment 974223

Location and time of the night please.

 

[jay968]

If someone has a specific and valid criticism of a phone that's fine. But the OP's whole "adds no meaning to life" sounds like signs of an existential crisis and not a valid critique

I know this goes back to an early message in this thread but I just had to say something...
I actually think that the OP's original statement is in no way a sign of any 'existential crises' as alluded to here but rather a mature realization that worshipping things such as cell phones is a sickness that has stricken society in general. I read countless posts here of people who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than agonize over decisions such as what color phone to buy, or whether they should send it back because it's got a tiny piece of dust under the sensor. Or the one I love the most..worrying whether or not the battery life having gone down a percentage point is something to worry about, especially when most doing that kind of worrying will more than likely replace that phone FAR before the battery gets too old anyway. Or almost as good...ohmygod what do I do? My phone has a notch!
I often wonder exactly who frequents some of these forums. Is it responsible, knowledgeable people, or is it a bunch of 15 year olds with expensive toys to look after.
Sorry, don't mean to be arrogant or condescending, but again, someone who has realized life is about more than one's cell phone is a revelation and not a sign of an existential crises.

 

[SBruv]

I know this goes back to an early message in this thread but I just had to say something...
I actually think that the OP's original statement is in no way a sign of any 'existential crises' as alluded to here but rather a mature realization that worshipping things such as cell phones is a sickness that has stricken society in general. I read countless posts here of people who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than agonize over decisions such as what color phone to buy, or whether they should send it back because it's got a tiny piece of dust under the sensor. Or the one I love the most..worrying whether or not the battery life having gone down a percentage point is something to worry about, especially when most doing that kind of worrying will more than likely replace that phone FAR before the battery gets too old anyway. Or almost as good...ohmygod what do I do? My phone has a notch!
I often wonder exactly who frequents some of these forums. Is it responsible, knowledgeable people, or is it a bunch of 15 year old with expensive toys to look after.
Sorry, don't mean to be arrogant or condescending, but again, someone who has realize life is about more than one's cell phone is a revelation and not a sigh of an existential crises.

You are indeed being decidedly condescending, but you’re also so, so right.

 

[TechLord]

I know this goes back to an early message in this thread but I just had to say something...

You are indeed being decidedly condescending, but you’re also so, so right.

I often wonder exactly who frequents some of these forums. Is it responsible, knowledgeable people, or is it a bunch of 15 year old with expensive toys to look after.
Sorry, don't mean to be arrogant or condescending, but again, someone who has realize life is about more than one's cell phone is a revelation and not a sigh of an existential crises.

No, he isn't right.

The fact is, the OP came to a "realisation" over a position unique to him/her/they which almost no one actually holds. Almost no one expects a new iPhone to "bring meaning to their life", so there's no point in taking the extreme minority viewpoint of the OP, and extrapolating it to the consumer base. Tech is a hobby like anything else; but I highly doubt there's anyone here who will buy an iPhone 12 expecting it to change their life; merely it can improve specific aspects of what already exists. How can the OP message be a "mature realisation" when they have repeated it year on year out? If someone is being mature, they make their message, and then make peace with it. They don't force it upon other people year on year.

The 1-year consumer culture that Jay has decided to strawman, is a minority community limited more or less to the internet tech space. The average iPhone user upgrades every 4 years. Finally, straw-manning anyone who disagrees with him as a 15-year-old is the height of immaturity. But moderation here has a selective memory, so I'm sure this reply will be deleted by them once again.

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

I know this goes back to an early message in this thread but I just had to say something...
I actually think that the OP's original statement is in no way a sign of any 'existential crises' as alluded to here but rather a mature realization that worshipping things such as cell phones is a sickness that has stricken society in general. I read countless posts here of people who apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than agonize over decisions such as what color phone to buy, or whether they should send it back because it's got a tiny piece of dust under the sensor. Or the one I love the most..worrying whether or not the battery life having gone down a percentage point is something to worry about, especially when most doing that kind of worrying will more than likely replace that phone FAR before the battery gets too old anyway. Or almost as good...ohmygod what do I do? My phone has a notch!
I often wonder exactly who frequents some of these forums. Is it responsible, knowledgeable people, or is it a bunch of 15 year olds with expensive toys to look after.
Sorry, don't mean to be arrogant or condescending, but again, someone who has realized life is about more than one's cell phone is a revelation and not a sign of an existential crises.

I am one of the people who was critical of the OP early in the thread. I’m responsible as well as knowledgeable. However, I have also been a member long enough to know the OP’s history of complaints. Each year, it’s the same thing. Honestly after a while, it just gets a bit tiresome. No one has to ‘worship’ the new phones. But they also don’t need to be a consistent killjoy to those who are finding interest and excitement in a device.

 

[klasma]

I think others like me would feel bad for buying the mini this year only to see the notch less one come out next year!

Usually one can get a good price when reselling an iPhone, so upgrades are relatively affordable. According to industry insiders the 2021 iPhones will still have a notch, but significantly reduced in height. Everyone can make up their mind whether they will be okay with buying one of the current models now.

 

[anitak1982]

So you have an iPhone X yet somehow still need a charger and headphones? You’re the exact reason they think people don’t need these things.

Thinking like this doesn't take into consideration that charging cords wear out, headphones stop working. If I buy an expensive new phone, I want a brand new charging cord and headphones!

 

[Sam in SoCal]

Thinking like this doesn't take into consideration that charging cords wear out, headphones stop working. If I buy an expensive new phone, I want a brand new charging cord and headphones!

Alrighty then. Well here comes the savings instead of getting a new cord and headphones. you were given things instead of them to cover margins. so this is what they did. they KEPT THE SAME starting price on the pro and pro max and you don’t get the extra bump in price for inclusion of the Qualcomm LTE and 5G modem That other competitors are charging extra for like Samsung. Next. Apple is starting with 128gb this year instead of 64gb base storage. double. So you get the first 5 nanometer processor, ceramic shield, better speakers, better cameras, better gpu, better water resistance, new design, larger phone etc etc. And they didn’t include your 19$ headphones from last year? sorry I’m not sympathizing. Go buy them separately. One day you may own a business and discover the concept of profitability and margins. Until then continue your rants. Lol

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Alrighty then. Well here comes the savings instead of getting a new cord and headphones. you were given things instead of them to cover margins. so this is what they did. they KEPT THE SAME starting price on the pro and pro max and you don’t get the extra bump in price for inclusion of the Qualcomm LTE and 5G modem That other competitors are charging extra for like Samsung. Next. Apple is starting with 128gb this year instead of 64gb base storage. double. So you get the first 5 nanometer processor, ceramic shield, better speakers, better cameras, better gpu, better water resistance, new design, larger phone etc etc. And they didn’t include your 19$ headphones from last year? sorry I’m not sympathizing. Go buy them separately. One day you may own a business and discover the concept of profitability and margins. Until then continue your rants. Lol

Wow, you are a very accepting consumer. Are you this sympathetic to other companies who offer less than what has been historically offered? Spec improvements are an accepted evolutionary aspect and of course a company will push the boundaries in terms of profit, but only as far as the consumer will reach. Apple aren’t doing us all a favour with these products. They owe us much more than we owe them in the grand scheme.