Being without a mobile for a week wasn’t that big of a deal — but I wouldn’t have wanted to go much longer.
After seeing all the crappy phones and interfaces that are currently being offered here in the States, I ended up going for small and simple — the Motorola V70 shown above.
After getting used to a camera-phone during my year in Japan, I had been shopping for a similarly equipped unit here — mostly for use in posting pics directly from the phone to this site. But all the models I saw were either too large, too clunky (physical design or interface), or just plain ugly. It’s still first-generation time here in the States when it comes to camera phones.
I was considering the Sanyo 8100, which is offered by Sprint, since I used a similar Sanyo in Japan. But although the 8100 was a bit shorter than the one I’d been using, it was noticeably thicker — to the point where the, um, pocket bulge would be too much.
It seems like most people in the States still carry their phones tucked away, out of sight, whereas in Japan mobiles have basically become accessories to be carried, displayed and in view much of the time. The cascades of dangly baubles just adds to the “notice-my-phone!” factor.
I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to do posts to this site from my phone, but glad to have gotten a small, simple, no-nonsense phone. I figure within the next year there will be more appealing camera phones.
On the subject of camera phones, Dan Gillmor has a few comments about some of the social consequences of the devices. He only scratches the surface, and his thoughts seem almost quaint to me after having lived in a society where camera phones are already so pervasive. I suspect there will be many more social problems with the use of camera phones in the U.S.
We may as well get used to the idea that visual recording devices will be everywhere before too long. The trick will be to use technology to offer solutions to counter-balance the invasive nature of this trend.
In the meantime, your ass may end up here.
