Phones and the relentless march of technology

[Mr Pig]

I was sent an email a while back that claimed the weight of mobile phone chargers thrown away globally every year was equivalent to the weight of the USS Missouri (around 45,000 tons).

How do they know? How the heck could they possibly know that? I think these so called researchers just sit in an office for weeks playing Kerplunk and when they're pressed for results just make something up.

"Now look here Thompson, you've at this for three months. We want an answer, how many mobile phone chargers are thrown away each year?"

"Eh... a lot"

"A lot! What the f*** is that supposed to mean? That's what your grant has produced, a lot?!!!"

I think that if you laid them all out end to end they're reach to the moo..."

"Don't give me that sh** about them reaching to the moon! That's been done to death, everything reaches to the moon and back these days."

"Well, you know really big stuff, like maybe an aircraft carrier? If you added together all of the chargers into like a big lump it would be as big as that."

"So as big a lump as an aircraft carrier?"

"Eh, yes"

"Sure?"

"Oh yes, quite sure"

"Ok, that'll do. It doesn't really matter if it's bull anyway as no one will ever be able to prove it wrong"

"Nope"

"Good work Thompson. Better get started on how many ducks fart under water each year"

 

[fossyant]

The best tip regarding the iPhone is not to buy one! Nothing to do with the actual phone, I'm sure it's a very clever device, but it's a bit like a BMW car. Everyone who owns one thinks they're great but they just make everyone else you're a tosser! They're only called iPhone because MeMeMePhone was too long.

Really sorry but you'll thank me later ;0)

I ain't got one - woudn't buy one for those reasons....hence the Android phone I have.... My FIL who is in his 70's has one...yes he is a gadget nut.

 

[rh100]

The best tip regarding the iPhone is not to buy one! Nothing to do with the actual phone, I'm sure it's a very clever device, but it's a bit like a BMW car. Everyone who owns one thinks they're great but they just make everyone else you're a tosser! They're only called iPhone because MeMeMePhone was too long.

Really sorry but you'll thank me later ;0)

"Note to i-phone users: you only use the phone, you didn't invent it, now shut up"

(not sure where I saw that, may have been on here somewhere)

 

[Piemaster]

How do they know? How the heck could they possibly know that? I think these so called researchers just sit in an office for weeks playing Kerplunk and when they're pressed for results just make something up.

etc, etc.......

It's like all those programs that quote how big things are "This building is as high as 20 double decker buses and longer than a 747 parked on 3 football pitches...blah, blah" So someone will now have to explain to the masses just how big the USS Missouri is so they can work out how many chargers are...oh I give up.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

It's a regular topic on Radio 4 ... people write in to complain that they're perfectly capable of visualising "two acres" and they don't need the "size of a football pitch" comparison.

 

[ufkacbln]

My MiL is 84 and dropped her phone, so went into a phone shop and asked about repair - was sold a £35 per month contract "Blackberry"

We went back in on the Saturday and after a discussion on misselling (her usage is about £1 per month on PAYG) and exploiting a confused elderly woman we got a refund.


The company I found when looking for a replacement was "DORO" who make arange of simple phones from a big button mobile:

The range even includes a simple pre-programmed phone with no frills, and four press buttons.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Yeah - as someone mentioned earlier, those kinds of mobiles originated in Japan, which has a lot more innovation geared to the needs of its rapidly ageing population...

Plus for a decade now, many Japanese mobiles have been simple 'smartphones' via a system called i-Mode, which is a brilliantly easy way of accessing other services, which has never really been taken up in the west. It will probably now become obsolete because of the next generation of true smartphones, but they were way ahead of us... at both ends of the spectrum of mobile phones.

 

[Mr Pig]

Every time you see a TV program showing current Japanese technology you realize they're using stuff that is still science fiction over here!

so went into a phone shop and asked about repair - was sold a £35 per month contract "Blackberry"

That is so scummy. I would have called trading standards or something.

 

[661-Pete]

It's a regular topic on Radio 4 ... people write in to complain that they're perfectly capable of visualising "two acres" and they don't need the "size of a football pitch" comparison.

If you're talking of the Today programme (most people are), well I have to admit I still listen to it but the stream of patronizing twaddle leaves me speechless at times. How many listeners, I wonder, have demanded that the time be read out as "seven thirty-five" or whatever, i.e. the same format as train timetables and just about everything else - but will they listen? They have 'listeners' but they don't listen...

As for 'football pitches', well since I have no experience of the concept since my schooldays, I decided to look it up once (isn't Wikipedia wonderful!). Next time someone uses the 'football pitch' measure, answer with "yes, but is it as wide as...?" Apparently, according to the laws of Association football, it's legal to play on a perfectly square pitch. Not a lot of folk knew that...

 

[ufkacbln]

Every time you see a TV program showing current Japanese technology you realize they're using stuff that is still science fiction over here!



That is so scummy. I would have called trading standards or something.

We complained to Head Office and the guy was "retrained"

 

[Mr Pig]

We complained to Head Office and the guy was "retrained"

Hopefully as a cleaner.

 

[Mycroft]

The best tip regarding the iPhone is not to buy one! Nothing to do with the actual phone, I'm sure it's a very clever device, but it's a bit like a BMW car. Everyone who owns one thinks they're great but they just make everyone else you're a tosser! They're only called iPhone because MeMeMePhone was too long.

Really sorry but you'll thank me later ;0)

thanks for the insult.

i didn't think it was proper form to call forum members tossers, or is it only senior members that can do that? not very welcoming.

 

[Mycroft]

Mycroft - thanks for the i-phone tips - I'll pass them on.

no problem, glad i could be helpful

 

[peanut]

I bought two of the first symbian o2 Mini S touchscreen computer fones when they first arrived . (I love techy stuff).
Wife hated hers ,too complicated. I found mine too fiddly for serious computer stuff and surfin so it went on the shelf for 2 years until I gave it away.

We both went back to our excellent Nokia 6600 bricks. simple and tough.

Ok ok so we did succumb to the Nokia 5800 when it was released . we don't use the gadgets on those either.

 

[peanut]

My MiL is 84 and dropped her phone, so went into a phone shop and asked about repair - was sold a £35 per month contract "Blackberry"

We went back in on the Saturday and after a discussion on misselling (her usage is about £1 per month on PAYG) and exploiting a confused elderly woman we got a refund.


The company I found when looking for a replacement was "DORO" who make arange of simple phones from a big button mobile:

The range even includes a simple pre-programmed phone with no frills, and four press buttons.

excellent post thanks for the link