Keep the stupid phone

The New York Times has “10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology” today (thanks to Ian Birrell). They are useful, although I disagree with no 1 and don’t see the point of nos 4, 9 and 10.

1. GET A SMARTPHONE
2. STOP USING INTERNET EXPLORER
3. UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS TO THE CLOUD
4. GET MUSIC OFF YOUR COMPUTER
5. BACK UP YOUR DATA
6. SET UP A FREE FILE-SHARING SERVICE
7. GET FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
8. GET A BETTER DEAL FROM YOUR CABLE, PHONE AND INTERNET PROVIDER
9. BUY A LOT OF CHARGING CABLES
10. CALIBRATE YOUR HDTV

1. Now is precisely the time not to get a “smart” phone if you do not need one. They are largely time-wasting devices, and their popularity means that you can get really cheap deals on ordinary phones. Ask for a sim-only contract and watch the price fall.

4. Most people know how to get music to where they want it, headphones or speakers, without shelling out for expensive Apple accessories.

7. Avast is good, but I recommend installing Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (also free) as well.

9 and 10. If your grandmother is still with you after Christmas, you could also show her the best way to suck eggs.

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• http://twitter.com/David_Wickes David Wickes

  1) No, get a smart phone. Just don’t get an iPhone. If only for Google Maps. An old Nokia 5800 will sort you out in this respect.
  4) So, what you mean is ‘yes’ – why not invest in Spotify Premium for your smart phone instead of Apple’s bloatware.
  7) AVG and Peer Block
  9 & 10) Agreed.

• http://twitter.com/charlesbarry Charles Barry

  Seriously disagree with you on 1) JR. I recently (3 months ago) got a smartphone, the HTC wildfire, and it has become an extension of my brain.

  Take today: someone randomly asked whether Denmark was in the euro, while we were driving to a pub for lunch. The answer (no) was found by a quick google on the handset. Meanwhile directions to the pub were provided by the phone and its inbuilt GPS allowed us to know exactly when to turn right.

  Also, AVG Free is very good.

• Richard_SM

  Ref #4. GET MUSIC OFF YOUR COMPUTER

  Do they mean GET MUSIC OFF YOUR COMPUTER (a useful feature) or do they mean GET MUSIC OFF YOUR COMPUTER (it slows it down) ?

  Hmmm

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PZCIZSSNFRIQOGPJS4S5A6EDD4 Kamal

  John,

  1) I have a smartphone and it really does help manage my affairs. You can get cheap phones but they tend to die quickly while my smartphone is very well built with so many apps available to extend its usefulness to me.

  4) Not sure what you are going on here?

  7) There a multitude of free AV software, I like Microsoft’s Security Essentials.

  10) What is the use of buying a HD tv you do not calibrate, again I am not sure what you getting at.

  You didn’t think very hard or long about this little piece, where you on the way out to celebrate New Year.

• http://idiotsguidetolastlongerinbed.com last longer

  I agree with some of your drive here like using malwarebytes and for the record I stopped using IE for browsing a long time ago. Google chrome is faster and much better aesthetically.

• http://blogbasics.com Paul Odtaa

  2011. It’s going to be a good year John that’s the third post you’ve made that I agree with. Hopefully there’s more to come.

• Francarange

  9 and 10. Grandmothers – undervalued and unwanted by the younger generation of today. Useful for childcare but otherwise of no consequence. Sad.

• Richard_SM

  I’m still using the mobile phone I bought in Jan 2005. It has a diary and appointments system; task list; notes and reminders; and voice recorder – all of which I use a lot. Cost me £40 from Tesco six years ago, reduced from £79.99. Still with same battery. I usually drop it in the road a few times each year – sometimes in puddles. The only thing that’s likely to let me down: the little plastic guides on the charger are bent. I stepped on the connector a while back. Still, I could get a new charger.

• http://www.best-registrycleaner.net Best Registry Cleaner

  I agree this, Google chrome is faster and much better aesthetically. I love google chrome.

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