Smart phones are beyond convenient. They have
allowed the average person to basically carry an entire 1990s
electronics store in their pocket on a daily basis. Whether it’s
an iPhone or a Droid device, they both have many uses. As my annoyed
college logic professor once said, “if you need help, you have the
sum of all human knowledge in your pocket, so look it up.” In more
polite words, the internet and all its wonders are at our fingertips
whenever we so desire.
Even though we have a camera at our disposal at anytime,
smartphone photos are more utilitarian. The latest in mobile technology allow
the everyday user to take quality images, watch entertaining content, and
play games to pass the time when there is nothing else to do. Alas, as
useful as these devices are, they do have some major limitations. They
may be able to do almost everything, but they are not the best at
everything.
Even though we have a camera at our disposal at anytime,
smartphone photos are more utilitarian than artistic. Phones take great
video, but a digital camcorder that uses a large internal hard drive or
an SD card is easier and more flexible when one wants to transfer large
amounts of video content. The same is with still images. Smartphones are
great for snapshots, but a professional DSLR camera is still the way to
go if you want to capture exceptional photographs.
Apple changed the digital frontier when they introduced
the iPhone in 2007. Since then the iPhone has become the main digital
communication device for many of us. However, Apple’s cellphone is not
quite enough for an enjoyable digital session. Sitting down in front of
Apple’s iMac desktop computer with its powerful operating system,
wireless peripherals, and much larger screen can be a more pleasant
experience when partaking in screen time.
When it comes to fun, smartphones still have healthy
competition. Simple tap games are a great way to pass a little time, but
traditional console systems such as those from Nintendo offer the most
fulfilling video game experience. Consoles also give you the opportunity
to spend time with friends by blowing each other up with turtle shells
in “Mario Kart.”
Even though there has been controversy surrounding them,
smartphones have profoundly changed our lives since their introduction
within the last 15 years. Even though phones are capable of many tasks,
tailor made devices to give the best performance possible within their
medium are still more powerful and useful than ever.
