Smartphones

[rowyn]

One of the things that I thought would be nice about having a new smartphone was that it'd play Youtube videos and such like. Because the Android OS supports Flash.

And for about three weeks, my phone could play videos. Then Youtube and apparently every other video form on the web upgraded to a new form of Flash which Adobe hasn't released of the Android, and my smartphone can no longer play videos.

...

Between the crappy keyboard* and the no-cut-and-paste-email, I am almost tempted to buy an old Sidekick from e-Bay.

* Salesperson on the crappy keyboard: "You get used to it."
Me on the crappy keyboard, after 12 days' use: "I think I'll get used to it."
Me on the crappy keyboard, after two months' use: ".... I think what I'm getting used to is NOT WRITING on my phone."

Comments

[rowyn]

Hahahaha no. Virtual keyboards are the CRAPPIEST OF THEM ALL. I didn't like the keyboard on this phone when I got it. When I tried to use an iPhone I was stunned and amazed by just how awful it was. People can say "you get used to it!" but having heard that about the no-number-keys problem this phone has, I am not remotely convinced that my experience with an iPhone would be all that much better than my initial impression of ZOMG UNUSABLE. It would make more sense just to not get a phone at all and save the money.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

I own neither an iPhone or an iTouch, but when I was on the campaign trail this past cycle, I started getting used to texting on the iPhone. It took me awhile to figure out some of the clever stuff Apple was doing, but it started clicking. I'm sure I'd get used to it after a week of owning such a device.

On the flip side, my biggest gripe about the iPhone/virtual keyboards is the lack of tactical response; ergo, I believe that you'll always type slower on the iPhone because it involves two senses, not just one.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I had an ipod touch for a while (technically, I still do, but I haven't used it in almost a year -- I replaced it with one of those USB thumb-drive mp3 players) and the keyboard was the worst thing about it by far. If they were doing something clever it didn't work on my fingers.

[rowyn]

"I replace it with a USB MP3 player" is pretty harsh condemnation, when you think about it. :D

[rowyn]

Yeah, even on a thumb keyboard I touch type, and I don't see that working that well on a virtual keyboard. You also don't get that instant I-know-I-hit-the-key feedback, and I think it's a little less comfortable to type on an unyielding surface.