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I don't use a cellphone, AMA. I have a "Nokia 101" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101) for emergency situations th

by kome 10y ago

I don't use a cellphone, AMA. I have a "Nokia 101" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101) for emergency situations tho.

backpropaganda 10y ago
How do you manage if you needed to use Uber or Google Maps? Unfortunately, for me, these two apps are the only absolute reasons why I can't seem to abandon my smartphone.
- Arizhel 10y ago
  It's easy. For Uber, you don't use it, and you use cabs instead. Just use a convenient landline phone (or a pay phone) to call a local cab company and wait for them to send a cab. You might have to wait an hour or so, but that's no problem. For Google Maps, you instead buy a paper map, and then navigate with that unfolded while you're driving. Easy. /s
amorphid 10y ago
Without Google Maps, or functional equivalent, or do you ever manage to find your way anywhere? When I think about leaving the getting rid of my phone, my first thought is that not having maps would suck. I planned a bus trip from Point A to Point B yesterday, and without a phone, that would have sucked. And I like Lyft a lot. It'd be a pain to get rid of that.
- backpropaganda 10y ago
  Funny how we both asked exactly the same question. I wonder if there's a niche for making phones which just have the basics + Maps and Uber/Lyft. Perhaps Uber or Lyft should try to make such "devices".
  - CalRobert 10y ago
    A GPS (Tomtom, garmin, etc.) with access to transit feeds would be really useful. We already have a standard for transmitting traffic information via FM radio; maybe it could be put to use transmitting bus/train info as well? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel Phones are pretty good at nav but I still really like having a standalone GPS.
- w0utert 10y ago
  I feel the same, yet I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm overestimating the importance of always being able to catch the first available bus, have a perfect connection at the train station, or not having to ask around for directions. For example when taking the train, I got used to obsessively checking transit apps to see exactly how late I would be at the next stop, how much time I would have to transfer, what time I would be home, etc. If you think about it, this introduces stress (train is delayed, will I catch my bus?) that is almost never worth it. 9 out of 10 times half an hour delay is perfectly fine, and in the transfer time you can simply walk around a bit, contemplate, get a snack, etc. With maps I have the same thing, sure it's nice to never take a wrong turn, but on the other hand it's usually not so bad and it can even bring you to interesting places. Asking instructions is usually not much of a problem either, and neither is reading a paper map, or simply jotting down some reference points for yourself before you leave. I used to do this all the time when taking the car back when Google Maps didn't even exist, and I usually managed just fine. There's one exception though, which is driving in an unknown city. I absolutely hate that, and I would not want to miss GPS for that, the opportunities of getting lost are simply too high, and the stress of navigating a city by car having no idea where to go is just too much for me. That said, cars and big cities don't go together well anyway...
- badosu 10y ago
  Not a non cell phone user, but I can tell my experience avoidind GPS as much as possible: - Not delegating the responsibility of knowing your way externally (Maps) you get a better sense of location on your own city that builds up in time. - You also improve your spatial memory and ability to solve location problems. As time goes by you need less information to figure out the path problem. E.g. instead of solving A -> B and knowing C -> B where C is near A you just ask A -> C. - In unknown locations you actually talk to people and it's not very difficult to solve your problem using that - You also can always use G Maps on your desktop and take notes or memorize the path, it surprisingly works well and has a great positive effect on your brain. I guess that's one thing we are optimized for.
- 0x445442 10y ago
  Thomas Guide FTW! http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.html?SCCampaign=tbhome http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.h...
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

by kome 10y ago

I don't use a cellphone, AMA. I have a "Nokia 101" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_101) for emergency situations tho.

backpropaganda 10y ago

How do you manage if you needed to use Uber or Google Maps? Unfortunately, for me, these two apps are the only absolute reasons why I can't seem to abandon my smartphone.

Arizhel 10y ago
It's easy. For Uber, you don't use it, and you use cabs instead. Just use a convenient landline phone (or a pay phone) to call a local cab company and wait for them to send a cab. You might have to wait an hour or so, but that's no problem. For Google Maps, you instead buy a paper map, and then navigate with that unfolded while you're driving. Easy. /s

amorphid 10y ago

Without Google Maps, or functional equivalent, or do you ever manage to find your way anywhere? When I think about leaving the getting rid of my phone, my first thought is that not having maps would suck. I planned a bus trip from Point A to Point B yesterday, and without a phone, that would have sucked. And I like Lyft a lot. It'd be a pain to get rid of that.

backpropaganda 10y ago
Funny how we both asked exactly the same question. I wonder if there's a niche for making phones which just have the basics + Maps and Uber/Lyft. Perhaps Uber or Lyft should try to make such "devices".
- CalRobert 10y ago
  A GPS (Tomtom, garmin, etc.) with access to transit feeds would be really useful. We already have a standard for transmitting traffic information via FM radio; maybe it could be put to use transmitting bus/train info as well? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_message_channel Phones are pretty good at nav but I still really like having a standalone GPS.
w0utert 10y ago
I feel the same, yet I'm starting to realize that maybe I'm overestimating the importance of always being able to catch the first available bus, have a perfect connection at the train station, or not having to ask around for directions. For example when taking the train, I got used to obsessively checking transit apps to see exactly how late I would be at the next stop, how much time I would have to transfer, what time I would be home, etc. If you think about it, this introduces stress (train is delayed, will I catch my bus?) that is almost never worth it. 9 out of 10 times half an hour delay is perfectly fine, and in the transfer time you can simply walk around a bit, contemplate, get a snack, etc. With maps I have the same thing, sure it's nice to never take a wrong turn, but on the other hand it's usually not so bad and it can even bring you to interesting places. Asking instructions is usually not much of a problem either, and neither is reading a paper map, or simply jotting down some reference points for yourself before you leave. I used to do this all the time when taking the car back when Google Maps didn't even exist, and I usually managed just fine. There's one exception though, which is driving in an unknown city. I absolutely hate that, and I would not want to miss GPS for that, the opportunities of getting lost are simply too high, and the stress of navigating a city by car having no idea where to go is just too much for me. That said, cars and big cities don't go together well anyway...
badosu 10y ago
Not a non cell phone user, but I can tell my experience avoidind GPS as much as possible: - Not delegating the responsibility of knowing your way externally (Maps) you get a better sense of location on your own city that builds up in time. - You also improve your spatial memory and ability to solve location problems. As time goes by you need less information to figure out the path problem. E.g. instead of solving A -> B and knowing C -> B where C is near A you just ask A -> C. - In unknown locations you actually talk to people and it's not very difficult to solve your problem using that - You also can always use G Maps on your desktop and take notes or memorize the path, it surprisingly works well and has a great positive effect on your brain. I guess that's one thing we are optimized for.
0x445442 10y ago
Thomas Guide FTW! http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.html?SCCampaign=tbhome http://store.randmcnally.com/thomas-brothers/thomas-guides.h...
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]