Comments on: I Need a Smart Phone, or Something…. http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/ Amy Gahran's news and musings on how we communicate in the online age. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:59:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: MJ http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205975 MJ Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:54:25 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205975 Amy -- I'm curious to learn how your test went. I'm also considering the iphone, and it would be great to know that it works well in Boulder, as my husband and I hope to move back there soon. MJ Amy — I’m curious to learn how your test went. I’m also considering the iphone, and it would be great to know that it works well in Boulder, as my husband and I hope to move back there soon.

MJ

]]> By: Claire Walter http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205897 Claire Walter Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:44:29 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205897 You may have an antiquated cell phone, but I think I'm the last person on the planet without a cell phone at all. I find the iPhone commercials to be cool, but if I did get a cell phone, I'd want onw like yours: barebones. I don't think I need a telephone that takes pictures, shows movies, plays music, does windows, etc. If I had a cell phone, I'd want a phone. Period. You may have an antiquated cell phone, but I think I’m the last person on the planet without a cell phone at all. I find the iPhone commercials to be cool, but if I did get a cell phone, I’d want onw like yours: barebones. I don’t think I need a telephone that takes pictures, shows movies, plays music, does windows, etc. If I had a cell phone, I’d want a phone. Period.

]]> By: David Gerzof http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205894 David Gerzof Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:40:24 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205894 Amy, SimulScribe works with landline, mobile phone and Skype voicemail. To set SimulScribe up with your landline, all you need to do is contact your provider and ask them to set your landline to forward to your SimulScribe voicemail box number whenever your phone rings and you don't answer it. This function is called variable call forward or sometime no answer call forward. If you don't know your SimulScribe voicemail number email me and I'll get it to you. Dave Amy, SimulScribe works with landline, mobile phone and Skype voicemail. To set SimulScribe up with your landline, all you need to do is contact your provider and ask them to set your landline to forward to your SimulScribe voicemail box number whenever your phone rings and you don’t answer it. This function is called variable call forward or sometime no answer call forward. If you don’t know your SimulScribe voicemail number email me and I’ll get it to you.

Dave

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205884 Amy Gahran Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:49:03 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205884 David -- I'm definitely considering an iPhone. I've heard mixed reviews on its local coverage. I've also heard negative things about AT&T's billing. But next week a friend of mine is going to stop by my phone and try his iPhone from here, so we'll see how well it works from my house. - Amy Gahran David — I’m definitely considering an iPhone. I’ve heard mixed reviews on its local coverage. I’ve also heard negative things about AT&T’s billing. But next week a friend of mine is going to stop by my phone and try his iPhone from here, so we’ll see how well it works from my house.

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: Amy Gahran http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205883 Amy Gahran Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:46:39 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205883 James, thanks -- I didn't know about GotVoice, I just signed up for your free trial. I'll blog later about how it works. - Amy Gahran James, thanks — I didn’t know about GotVoice, I just signed up for your free trial. I’ll blog later about how it works.

- Amy Gahran

]]> By: James http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205882 James Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:36:25 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205882 GotVoice Supports many land-line providers (including Qwest). We also just released a voice-to-text service, have visual voicemail and can text your mobile with your transcribed land-line voicemail. www.gotvoice.com GotVoice Supports many land-line providers (including Qwest). We also just released a voice-to-text service, have visual voicemail and can text your mobile with your transcribed land-line voicemail.

http://www.gotvoice.com

]]> By: David Brazeal http://www.contentious.com/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205881 David Brazeal Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:28:51 +0000 http://www.contentious.com/archives/2007/09/20/i-need-a-smart-phone-or-something/#comment-1205881 Amy, I'm not sure if you can still get one, but after the price drop, I picked up a (now-discontinued) 4GB iPhone for $299. That's pretty comparable to a Blackberry. I absolutely love it. Usually, when I really, really want a gadget, I end up being underwhelmed when it's in my hand. The iPhone is actually even better (and more useful/practical) than I expected. When I registered the phone through iTunes, I unplugged it and looked at it -- and it had already synched with iCal, Address Book, iPhoto, and Mail. It could be because I, like you, was using an old Nokia. (I think mine was even older than yours!) I've never had anything approaching a smartphone. I had no idea what kind of functionality I was missing. You won't get capacity for video/audio (although I still suspect that could be coming in a firmware upgrade eventually). I'm not sure about AT&T coverage in Colorado. And I'm not sure about an optional data plan for the laptop. On everything else, I think the iPhone meets your "must-have" requirements. Since you're a Mac person, I think you ought to consider it. I'm a recent Mac convert, and after about 3 weeks with the iPhone, I still find myself amazed at what it can do to make my life easier. (And don't let Edge connection speeds scare you off. My expectations for mobile connectivity speeds are probably low, but I think it's fine.) Amy,

I’m not sure if you can still get one, but after the price drop, I picked up a (now-discontinued) 4GB iPhone for $299. That’s pretty comparable to a Blackberry.

I absolutely love it. Usually, when I really, really want a gadget, I end up being underwhelmed when it’s in my hand. The iPhone is actually even better (and more useful/practical) than I expected.

When I registered the phone through iTunes, I unplugged it and looked at it — and it had already synched with iCal, Address Book, iPhoto, and Mail.
It could be because I, like you, was using an old Nokia. (I think mine was even older than yours!) I’ve never had anything approaching a smartphone. I had no idea what kind of functionality I was missing.

You won’t get capacity for video/audio (although I still suspect that could be coming in a firmware upgrade eventually). I’m not sure about AT&T coverage in Colorado. And I’m not sure about an optional data plan for the laptop. On everything else, I think the iPhone meets your “must-have” requirements.

Since you’re a Mac person, I think you ought to consider it. I’m a recent Mac convert, and after about 3 weeks with the iPhone, I still find myself amazed at what it can do to make my life easier. (And don’t let Edge connection speeds scare you off. My expectations for mobile connectivity speeds are probably low, but I think it’s fine.)

]]>