New cellphone rant.

[Chubbo]

My son recently spent a couple of hours programming my new AT&T cellphone. Computer programming was his profession, before his retirement, from, an agency of the State of Ohio.
I just made my first attempt to use that new AT&T cell phone. It was a complete disaster!
It would be easier to stand, on your head, in a corner, and try to defecate in your vest pocket, than to get that hateful Phone to operate.
It also proves an old adage; ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’.
AT&T sent me this new CF, free of charge. They made this new cell phone mandatory, by rendering their old smartphones obsolete, and inoperable.
My old Smart-Phone had 45, subscribed apps, available for my use. One by one, most of them were, rendered unusable, by AT&T. A large sum of my money down the drain, unrecoverable.
Bluetooth, for hands-free car use, and the camera were the most useful of the apps.
I no longer drive, and don’t need the Bluetooth app, and seldom use the camera.
My candid opinion is; the producers of today’s electronic devices, should strive to make them less, and not more, complicated.
In no way, do I advocate, hindering, our highly intelligent, people, but There are also, far more of us old, folks, that are, forgetful, and easily confused, in this world, that need uncomplicated, electronic devices.
Since I’ve been struck with, 'dumbassity', and declared a curmudgeon, I along with countless others, need help in this matter.

 

[Leatherman-Cowboy]

I feel the same way in reference to these new phones. To much to screw up for my taste. Phones make and receive calls - need a pc,,,then get one. Granted that many people work through their phones, but the majority are just comparing how much money was spent on the phone, and how special they are,,. I use the solid flip phone - punt - no junk spam etc.

Thank you,

Henry

 

[sigp220.45]

They still make Jitterbugs.

Lively Cell Phones & PERS Devices for Seniors

 

[waffles]

They still make Jitterbugs.

Lively Cell Phones & PERS Devices for Seniors

Beat me to it!

Out of curiosity, what programming was being done?

 

[mckenney99]

I also was provided one of AT&T's replacement phones since my old phone service would be turned off around February of 2022 when they shut down 3G in our area. The replacement phone was FREE and it shows it. It uses a proprietary operating system that is beyond confusing. Also due to the unique operating system it was impossible to transfer all my old "contact's" info over from the old phone, I had to spend several hours re-entering all the "contact's" info manually into the new phone. I don't use my phone as a portable computer, I use it to text and make calls and this replacement phone struggles to even do those things well. When I had this new FREE phone activated (2 months ago) I considered just buying a new phone but the local AT&T phone store I was using only had 3 other phones available for purchase and they were all the high end (expensive) phones that I would have absolutely no use for. Apparently cell phones are another thing that are in short supply due to the lack of "chips" & COVID. With this new phone I have to shut off and then restart it every couple of days or it will tell me I have incoming texts but it will not retrieve them until the phone is re-booted. With the keypad, you can enter whatever number you want and you get what numbers the phone is willing to provide.
Chubbo, you are not alone, sometimes new technology is NOT an advancement.

 

[arjay]

I ditched my landline 13 yrs ago and when I finally realized I was retired I ditched my cell too.. Email or text is it.Drives everyone nuts ;-)
(It might be an emergency to you,but for me..meh)

 

[len917]

You guys should walk away from AT & T or any of the other big names, T-Mobil, Sprint, Verizon etc. I use Consumer Cellular,My wife and I got Motorola phones, easy to use and C.C. is much less expensive.
I hate gadgets whether phones, TV, and the new cars. I don't listen to the radio, I'm tired of listening to my MP3 player and I still use maps.
I do like electric windows, mirrors, electric seats, auto wipers, comfort control.

 

[Golddollar]

I had to look at the title twice. I thought it said "New Cellophane Rant" and wondered, "Why are people mad at cellophane?"

 

[Greyman50]

My new one is going to get the “2 45 solution” soon. Already asked guys at the range they should have blast your cell phone day. Waiting.

 

[Onomea]

I had to look at the title twice. I thought it said "New Cellophane Rant" and wondered, "Why are people mad at cellophane?"

'Cause the damn stuff is always sticking to itself before I can wrap it around whatever I am trying to wrap, dad gummit!

 

[hemiram]

I don't mind getting a new phone, as long as they...make phone calls. The two I had before my present one(Consumer Cellular, a Samsung A20) were just disasters. I don't get a huge signal in my apartment, but I had no problems making/getting calls on my old Samsung phone that was beginning to have a screen failure. So I went and bought a phone online, as I almost always do. Everything was great on the new phone, except making phone calls was almost impossible! I sent it back and got a Moto and it was worse. On top of that, when I tried to return it, Virgin said it was past the return date. I got Visa involved and they refunded the cost. Virgin didn't seem to care, I still have the phone. I went to CC and ordered my new phone and have had no issues. The camera has been a lifesaver several times when I cannot read something on my stove, for example. I couldn't read the Model# or Serial#, no matter what glasses I wore, and finally took a pic and then blew it up, and I could read the label! Being a "gadget freak" has helped me deal with new phones and ham radio stuff a lot over the years. Some of the older handheld ham radios had manuals that were just amazingly bad. They made using the radio a giant pain for no real reason. When the manufacturers started having US people write the manuals, they vastly improved. Cellphone manuals haven't progressed as much as a lot of the ham manuals have. Youtube and google can help a ton.

 

[BigBoy99]

Just about a year before I retired, my company issue me a cell phone to carry. I carried as per my company instructions. When I retired, I turned in my company cell phone. In that short one year period of having a cell phone convinced me that I NEVER wanted to have one on my own! I've been retire for 16 years now and have a landline with an answering machine and I get along just fine. Yes, I'm a curmudgeon but I'm not bothered by SPAM because I never answer the phone. I only reply to messages which are left on my answering machine.

 

[prairieviper]

I use a prepaid flip phone. On the rare occasion when I get a new phone, it always looks like and works just like my old phone. No apps and stress free, which is just how I prefer things to be in my life.

 

[mmb617]

I'd fit right in with most of you. I have a Galaxy S4 which is at least 4 generations behind the current models and pay a total of $23.15/month for Net10 service. I don't have any problems sending and receiving texts or calls which is all I ask of a phone.

Oh wait, I do use it as a camera too. It does a good job taking pictures or video which I then upload to a real computer for editing.

When I need a computer I have a desktop with a big monitor. It's the right tool for that job.

 

[GaryS]

I use my cell phone all the time. Voice calls, texts, GPS, camera, various apps.

I'm old, but I'm not a fossil stuck in 1986 when the VCR was king and high rollers had answering machines in their homes and only the really rich had cell phones in their cars.

 

[kmyers]

Both of us here keep it simple as can be. $20 phone and roughly $100 a year for minutes for the year. Same type and model phone for the two of us.

 

[Chubbo]

Beat me to it!

Out of curiosity, what programming was being done?

I have no idea. I don't understand a thing about that hateful phone.

 

[Dave_n]

When I "worked" for Uncle Sam I had an issued Blackberry. It actually had a keyboard not an image. However, since I did a lot of overseas traveling, the first thing I did was to not activate the phone number. No more calls when I was 15 or so hours different from my office and asleep due to people not asking where I was. I wore out two Blackberrys before I retired. I simply told people that they could email me and I would reply at my convenience, rather than be woken in the middle of the night. Today, 7 years retired, my plain vanilla Android cell phone is only used for the occasional call (I refuse to text). If a cellphone with real buttons for the alphabet ever came back I would be the first to buy one. Dave_n

 

[prairieviper]

I do not text or accept texts from others. If you have something to say that requires phoning me, just use your voice and we can have a normal conversation. I have no desire to have something misinterpreted, try and decipher misspelled words or abbreviations or spend twice the time texting back and forth that it would take to just say it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I love my smartphone.

I love my tablet.

I love technology.

Gimme all ya got.

 

[Imissedagain]

We're old school.
Just spool out the wire.

Troubleshooting a boat named Jaws, on a voyage from Miami to the Brazilian race car drivers home country, it would have been nice to have a camera/video in that phone, as he was 75' up the stick, in a storm, talking to me while eating dinner and listening to a great alto saxman play with a buddy's trio on Christmas eve.
And my dinner was cold when I got the boat/gear going.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Texting works great when hunting..........NO noise.

 

[Absalom]

My i-phone is through AT&T, and it‘s never needed any “programming”. I get a new one every few years, mostly because the cameras keep getting better. The guy at the AT&T store transfers the stuff including apps from old to new for me and I’m on my way. I communicate by whichever works best for the occasion, or is used to contact me, whether talk, text, whatsapp, or e-mail.

It’s a tool. Refusing to learn and use it just punishes yourself. The world gets on just fine without you.

If I don’t understand an app or function, I just google “How do you do X on i-phone 12?” and follow the plentiful written or video instructions available.

Other than being technology-resistant just as a point of old fart pride, I don’t get the frustrations.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Yep, you can call me old fashioned. This is what I call my "dumb" cell phone. It can take phone calls and record them if I'm driving or otherwise occupied. I can make phone calls with it. I can call long distance for as much as I like and not get charged for that like a land line.

That's right; it's a phone. I don't do text messaging, I have a way better camera when I want to take pictures, and I keep a point-and-shoot digital in the car if I want to take snapshots. I don't want to do quadratic equations on it, but it does have calendar feature that I find useful sometimes, and it's nice that it can double as an alarm clock.

It's also very compact; I keep it in a small leather holster on my belt, and it's no trouble to find it when it rings. It's pretty rugged, designed for field crews, so if I accidently sit on it, it can take it.

And that's it. Life is complex enough without downloading a million "aps" to do things I really don't want to have to bother with. My KISS principle - keep it simple, stupid! Works for me.

Yes, I do have a land line. It's purpose is to absorb robo-calls, and when it rings, I don't answer. If it's a friend or important, they can leave a message and I'll decide if I want to return the call. The damn thing is annoying, but it keeps the robo-calls on my cell phone to a minimum ("Your car's warranty has expired" and "Thank you for choosing Marriott" are the most annoying.)

John



P.S. The "ring tone" is a RING just like the old phones used to have. I don't want to listen to "76 trombones" or some other nauseating tunes (although I might enjoy The flight of the Valkyries) - a simple ring will be fine to alert me that I have an incoming call, thank you.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I see some here have substituted cellphone for lawnmower and are using the bathrobe & shovel approach.

 

[kmyers]

I see some here have substituted cellphone for lawnmower and are using the bathrobe & shovel approach.

Why the need for a bathrobe? It doesn't help with mowing.

 

[Golddollar]

I'm old, but I'm not a fossil stuck in 1986 when the VCR was king and high rollers had answering machines in their homes and only the really rich had cell phones in their cars.

I resemble that remark!

 

[PALADIN85020]

We're old school.
Just spool out the wire.

Troubleshooting a boat named Jaws, on a voyage from Miami to the Brazilian race car drivers home country, it would have been nice to have a camera/video in that phone, as he was 75' up the stick, in a storm, talking to me while eating dinner and listening to a great alto saxman play with a buddy's trio on Christmas eve.
And my dinner was cold when I got the boat/gear going.

dit-dit-dit dah-dah-dah dit-dit-dit

John

 

[Rustyt1953]

Do any of these hit home?

 

[Golddollar]

P.S. The "ring tone" is a RING just like the old phones used to have. I don't want to listen to "76 trombones" or some other nauseating tunes (although I might enjoy The flight of the Valkyries)

Mine has Chubby Checker singing "The Twist." I figured nobody else would have that.