Earlier today I wrote a somewhat tongue-in-cheek post about how personal technology, particularly the now ubiquitous cellphone, has evolved over the last quarter of a century.
In a comment I received from Teresa at The Haunted Wordsmith, she wrote about her smartphones, “We rarely ever use them as phones.”
That got me thinking that I, too, rarely use my iPhone as a phone (i.e., making and receiving phone calls). So if I don’t use it as a phone, what do I use it for? Well, here’s my list, in no particular order:
- for texting
- for WordPress
- for instant messaging
- for Google
- to surf the net
- for games
- to get sports scores
- to get the latest news
- to get the current temperature and weather forecast
- as a camera
- as a photo editor
- as a GPS device
- to track my daily steps
- as a notepad
- as a reminder
- as a dictionary/thesaurus/encyclopedia
- as a calendar and appointment book
- as an e-reader
- to play music
- to watch videos
- for streaming
- as a timer/stop watch/alarm clock
- as a stock ticker
- as a place to make online purchases
- as a mobile banking device
But as a phone, not so much.
So what about you? Do you have a smartphone? How do you use it?
This, That, and the Other 
For me…1. Games, 2. Spotify (although probably tied with 1), 3. alarm clock, 4. calendar and weather (especially in the spring and fall tornado seasons), 5. text, 6. calculator
I hate speaking to people on the phone. Text or email is all that is needed. Occasionally I will use it for pictures.
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Same as you, sans sports and steps.
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They make calls? Well i never
..
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Who knew?
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What, you can CALL people with a smartphone? But why would you even do that? (Reverts to Spotify; turns volume up to max)
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Seriously, why?
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I barely use mine at all. For anything.
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And I hardly use my laptop.
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I turned mine on the other day when someone asked me what my number was, but I did warn them that I never answer it.
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Mine is always on, but I I don’t recognize the number of the calling party, I won’t answer the call.
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I’m right there with ya, I do use the phone, sometimes. I use the apps, sometimes. I use the camera A LOT and the alarm settings. It’s pretty much become my pda. 😉
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Youtube, WordPress, banking, online shopping, net surfing, maps.. Yeah.. That’s it. I’m planning to buy a new one for me.
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👍
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Our phone is 10+ years old.
Made before “Smart” arrived.
It makes calls, and a new fangled thing called texting.
Anyway Smart ‘whatever’ scares me now.
That and the cost of running them.
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🙂 I use my smartphone to do all of those things except for the purposes of mobile banking, as a stock ticker, to track my daily steps and as a photo editor.
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I’d be afraid about dropping it in the drink and all would be lost. Will stick to my little nokia. Works for me, and Noah recommended it.
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Mostly texting, a phone, camera, occasionally a reminder, email, that’s it.
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Mine is mostly used for texting and to phone a cab if I’m out somewhere. Everyone I know uses it to take pictures. I have almost bumped into people in the elevator in my building because they don’t look up from their smart phone.
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I’ve seen people walk into parked cars, telephone poles, etc. while walking around with their eyes affixed to their smartphone screens.
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Mine is used as a phone, instant messenger, texting, camera, a few games, and on occasion email and word press. Most of my online activities are still on my laptop.
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Mostly use for checking mails,daily task remainder,communicating with client and etc….Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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Thank you for responding.
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