ALL SCI-FI

[bulldogtrekker]

Flip phones are hip again

In an age of the iPhone 6 Plus and massive Android tablets, flip phones are inexplicably making a comeback....

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Among the young and hip, flip phones are making a comeback
Motorola popularized flip phones in 1996 with the StarTAC
Vogue editor, NFL quarterback among those seen with flip phones
Some say it's about simplifying their lives



WANT TO READ MORE; LINK
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/20/tech/mobile/hip-flip-phones/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[noetic_hatter]

Fascinating. Your post just sent me on a websearch, and I have read a number of fascinating articles about this trend.

I like the idea. I am one of those people who is glued to my iPhone all day ever day, and I sometimes dream of cutting the cord and going back to a simpler way of living. I secretly have a bit of a luddite streak, though.

[Krel]

One of the things people like about the flip phone, is a longer battery life. On mine, the battery lasts for days without needing a recharge, unlike a smart phone. I was at my Brother's house to day, he had a large group of family and friends. I saw three people looking for a place to plug in their smart phones.

People also like the small size of the flip phones, which makes them easy to carry and use. I've seen some smart phones that are so large that they are uncomfortable to hold.

Some people have started carrying both types of phones. A flip phone to talk on, and A smart phone to look things up on.

I have a flip phone because my Mother is in her late 80s. Also because for six weeks after hurricane Katrina, the only phone we had was a cell phone.

When they first came out, I thought that cell phones ere great, but over the last fifteen years, I have personally gotten to dislike these electronic tethers. More than once, I have been standing on a street corner, and had to jump back, because someone clips the curb, they have the box glued to their ear. When I see somebody weaving on the road, they aren't drunk, they have the box glued to their ear. I have seen more times than I like to think about, people walk to their car in the parking garage, and pull out the box. They then proceed to back out, the parking space, and drive around the garage with the box glued to their ear, with me playing doge-the-car!

I think that I may be turning into a bit of a Luddite.

David.

[noetic_hatter]

[Bud Brewster]

[Brent Gair]

I don't own a cell phone (or smart phone or tablet). I never have. I never will.

I'm not a doctor .

One of my pleasures in life, going back to when I was a little kid, has been escaping from people and devices who interrupt my personal time. In the 1980's, I even got into the habit of unplugging my phone on weekends so that my boss couldn't phone me. I've always referred to cell phones as "electronic leashes" and the idea that I would voluntarily carry one in my pocket everywhere I go seems totally absurd.

People are funny about their phones and they get so wrapped up in them that they don't realize what is going on. Everybody I know tells me the same thing, "Oh this phone is for MY convenience...not for the convenience of others". And they convince themselves it's true. I was at a car show with my buddy...and he got four calls in the space of 90 minutes. In every case, he said he HAD to take the call. Really? I've known this guy since 1968 and he never HAD to take a call until he got a cell phone. Now he HAS to take every call.

I got into this conversation with another old friend. He said to me, "But if I didn't have a cell phone, how would I know where my kids are"? Gee, Bob, I dunno...how did our parents keep track of us when we were in high school? (Answer: We told them where we were going).

But like most drugs and technology, people become dependent on it. They get hooked on it and then invent reasons why they truly need it. I'm no different...I admit my addiction to going online (as I am right now). But, because I recognize the addictive nature of these things, I've also learned not to indulge in drugs, cigarettes and cell phones.

Edited to include a picture of my only phone (state of the art in 1979)

[orzel-w]

[MetroPolly]

I have a flip phone, and I'm fine with it. It lasts a nice long time and I keep it on vibrate. I don't even have a landline anymore, not enough people call me to warrant both.

It's also cheap to keep. I'm on a pay as you go plan, so I barely have to spend a dime. I have a tablet ( a Kindle to be precise) but I only use it for reading (and the occasional game, darn candy crush). Here in CA, we have laws against texting or talking behind the wheel, not like that keep idiots from doing it anyway.

[Gord Green]

I have a flip phone and love it!

I have an IPad mini that I can use for functions other than phone calls and it works out fine.

I also use a pay-as-you go-plan and it only costs me about $100 a year. No hassles!

[Krel]

At least ninety percent of the calls I receive on my cell phone are nuance calls, and I'm on the do-not-call list! We get them on the land line, which is also on the list! The list is useless!!

My favorite opening is "we are returning your call...". LIARS!!!

David

[Gord Green]

The best reply to those nuncience calls is to ask the person to repeat what they said because you were listening to something else. Repeat over and over for them to say again....because it throws them off their script....then ask if this is a sex call because you have to get ready!
Never say the word "yes"....just say "what?"
Drives them crazy and wastes their time!