Anyone else "over" smartphones?

[Artdeco]

I'm burned out on them, they got good enough about a year ago.

 

[lxskllr]

Never been into them. I like having a computer in my pocket, but I find the technology uninteresting, and the systems too limited.

 

[Zaap]

Been bored of them since the new 'standard' seems to have become "be as Apple-like as possible and keep removing features and function for the sake of form (and profit)".

I feel like the forward momentum stopped around mid 2014.

 

[dawheat]

I think it's more the fact that software hasn't kept up with hardware advances. Even the iPhone 6S with it's amazing SOC does the same things every other new phone can do, albeit fractions of a second faster. After an initial "cool", you go back to doing the same things you did last year.

I do think cameras made a big jump in daily usability and quality from 2014 to 2015 and if that jump can continue in 2016 (e.g. Samsung's rumored 12MP camera with f/1.7 lens and a big sensor), that alone would be worth a purchase for me since my phone takes 98% of my baby's pictures and videos.

Besides the camera, I do think everything else has plateaued in regards to daily usability - whether it be displays, SOC, biometrics, and so on. Yes they're faster and better but they don't materially improve your experience.

I don't think we're going to see a real advance until one of the following there's a significant step forward in usability. For example - foldable or expandable displays that don't compromise mobility, size, or weight - go from a one handed 4.5" phone to a much larger two handed phone display.

I will say that I certainly hope that someone steps up and moves the market with 32/128GB storage options for $100 considering how cheap storage is.

 

[foghorn67]

Picked up a Nexus 5x and haven't looked back. Mid range everything seems to be capable enough. I might jump on the next Nexus if the battery life is improved. That's the only thing that has me wanting. The Galaxy s6 is sitting in my tshirt drawer unloved.

 

[cbrunny]

Sort of, yes. My next phone will be a utility rather than sex appeal. I want something that has a strong and reliable GPS & Bluetooth antenna and small enough to fit reasonably in my pocket and be used with one hand. The Xperia compact line is my target, but will see what is on the market when my contract expires in September.

 

[Lyfer]

Everything now a days is a minor bump. Canned bacon is the next major tech trend IMO.

 

[theeedude]

Pretty much over them. It's a mature market like televisions.

 

[Eug]

We're close but still not quite there yet IMO.

That said, I'm still using my 2013 iPhone 5s.

 

[AMDisTheBEST]

I think it's more the fact that software hasn't kept up with hardware advances. Even the iPhone 6S with it's amazing SOC does the same things every other new phone can do, albeit fractions of a second faster. After an initial "cool", you go back to doing the same things you did last year.

I do think cameras made a big jump in daily usability and quality from 2014 to 2015 and if that jump can continue in 2016 (e.g. Samsung's rumored 12MP camera with f/1.7 lens and a big sensor), that alone would be worth a purchase for me since my phone takes 98% of my baby's pictures and videos.

Besides the camera, I do think everything else has plateaued in regards to daily usability - whether it be displays, SOC, biometrics, and so on. Yes they're faster and better but they don't materially improve your experience.

I don't think we're going to see a real advance until one of the following there's a significant step forward in usability. For example - foldable or expandable displays that don't compromise mobility, size, or weight - go from a one handed 4.5" phone to a much larger two handed phone display.

I will say that I certainly hope that someone steps up and moves the market with 32/128GB storage options for $100 considering how cheap storage is.

Manufacturers have been releasing new Octacore SoC recently, some, like the Mediatek is even releasing a whopping 10 core processors in a 3 clusters big.LITTLE configuration. Screen resolution is also getting higher. 1080p to 1440p, and even 4k screen! Gorilla corning glass 4 which can resist drops and scratches is also very exciting development. I find all of these very interesting news. I hate IOS but android has a wide array of custom roms available. Some which are insanely good. Plus, customizability is awesome. i am never bored with mobile android devices.

 

[poofyhairguy]

No not really. Not at all.

I mean iPhones have had the same form factor for forever (too much bezel). The iPhone 7 will cut it down to LG levels and people will treat it like the second coming.

On the Android side we still don't have a phone with:

1. A GOOD fingerprint reader
2. A non garbage SoC (aka not 808 810)
3. Not made by Samsung

Also I want to see how 4K screens work with VR. Very excited about mobile in 2016.

Tablets on the other hand....

 

[poofyhairguy]

Pretty much over them. It's a mature market like televisions.

Televisions are also pretty exciting right now if you got money. UHD, OLED, 4K, etc. The best 4k LG OLED just blows the old average 1080p LCD off the map.

 

[bradly1101]

It's interesting. I'm "over" them being such a distraction. The thing is, they have an effect of shrinking wait times at the expense of noise to the mind.

Look around anywhere, or Google "benefits of slowing down or bring the mind to stillness" and you will see how that cannot be accomplished with focus on a phone and its multimedia interface.

I catch myself doing it at times, mostly to Tapatalk my way in here.

The benefits of a still mind also lie in the ability focus intently for school, jobs, art, music, etc.

I'm over the way they have captivated us.

 

[biostud]

I'm still interested in windows phone and continuum. But I'm not going to get a new smartphone until my 920 dies, or battery time gets too crappy.

Bettte battery life is also something that would be interesting. I don't game so gpu power is not that important to me.

 

[Commodus]

I'm not strictly over them... I just think we're running into diminishing returns. There was a time where I was getting a new phone every year. That has since extended to two years, and it might be even less frequent if it weren't for being a tech junkie.

My real bag lately is smartwatches. Whether or not you think they're the future, it feels like there's so much more room for them to grow... performance, battery life, thickness (and most importantly) functionality. I'm waiting for the day when a cellular-equipped smartwatch is thin and still lasts all day.

 

[elitejp]

Ive always thought windows phones would be one of the best platforms to use.
What I never understood was why on just about every audio website you can download podcasts for free and have it automatically keep up with new podcasts but cant dot he same with wp or android.

But yes other than improvement in camera quality phones are already quite good.

 

[ChronoReverse]

On the Android side we still don't have a phone with:

1. A GOOD fingerprint reader
2. A non garbage SoC (aka not 808 810)
3. Not made by Samsung

You mean this as in all three together right? The Nexus phones only miss #2 and even then, has the best implementation of the SD810/808 in terms of throttling.

 

[StrangerGuy]

It's the same to me for all consumer tech, will follow the new stuff for fun but spending money on them is a tall order because the returns on utility is so meh.

 

[pcgeek11]

Everything now a days is a minor bump. Canned bacon is the next major tech trend IMO.

Canned bacon has been around for Decades. We had canned bacon when I was in the service say 1973ish and it was old news then.

I have never had a smart phone. Flip phone for me.

 

[Aristotelian]

In a way, yes. I'm very happy with my Xperia Z3, and if the screen hadn't cracked I'd be keeping it for a while. Likely going with a Z6 when it comes out. On the 'everyone becoming more apple-like' I'll laugh - wasn't the case for screen size, battery life, or sd card slot. YMMV.

I've been spending some EUR 600 a year on phones ever since the first iPhone came out and look back, thinking about the thousands of EUR I have spent on phones and think about whether or not it's worth it considering I don't game on phones at all, and even 'high end' phones are so common they are not worth considering as a status symbol.

Getting over them, pretty much.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

It isn't about you, but your cellular service. Like home, you can never go back to an unsmart (ahem, stupid) phone world.

 

[Artdeco]

For me, I wanted 4G speed and a good SOC, passable camera, decent large screen, and the iPhone 6+ covered that, a nexus 6P and several other phones would meet my needs as well.

 

[biostud]

Ive always thought windows phones would be one of the best platforms to use.
What I never understood was why on just about every audio website you can download podcasts for free and have it automatically keep up with new podcasts but cant dot he same with wp or android.

But yes other than improvement in camera quality phones are already quite good.

You have to add the xml file for the podcast, but then it works fine.

 

[gorcorps]

I still get kind of excited about new phones, but not as much as I used to. Still was happy to go the Nexus 6P route as staying with Samsung was getting stale.

We'll see

 

[MongGrel]

Still use one of the wife's old LG slide phones myself I guess.