Modern technology!!

olias

Ok, I'm going to sound like a grumpy old f4rt here, but.........

I've just been reading about the new Samsung phone and I can't help thinking, why don't these manufacturers make what they have currently work better, before racing off to 'upgrade' things when what we have currently doesn't work properly yet?

I have a smart phone, as do most people I know, and everyone of them has problems - no signal, or signal dropping out at crucial moments, apps not working correctly, screen going funny. I 've lost track of how many times Ive heard people say, 'I don't know whats happened, but thats not supposed to be there', or 'it usually works, I don't know why it isn't now', when they're trying to show me something on their phone. In addition, most people I know, don't know what half of the things on their phone are, or how they work. With me its more like three quarters!

I live in a rural area, but in a reasonable sized town, and near a large industrial conurbation, yet I can't even get a signal to use my phone unless I hang out of the window, in fact I would say once out of town, I frequently have no signal, or at best a patchy one.

Similarly with broadband, they are talking about bringing 'superfast' broadband to my area. Normal broadband doesn't even work! Average would be good, nevermind superfast!I live in town, have the latest router, and yet I frequently get speeds as low as 1 or 2 mbps, and the signal regularly drops out.

I just want the technology we currently have to work well, before worrying about more!

Olias

Azari

Seconded.

This applies to all sorts of everyday items.

The humble kettle is a good example. Manufacturers insist on bringing out a new model each year and yet the basic function of the things hasn't changed for around a hundred years and the last substantive change - the fast, flat, element has been around for over twenty.

And yet, trying to get a kettle without some annoying feature or design flaw is not at all easy.

If the manufacturers would just stick to a model and make small incremental changes to sort out the minor design flaws I sure it would make a lot of people happy.

Of course, they might not replace their kettles as often.

System

My kettle glows in the dark. While my toaster has an egg poacher attached to the side of it.

These technological advances have improved my life significantly

On the phone thing it annoys me that you sign up on a 2 year contract and yet by the end of the 2 years about 4 better versions of your phone have been released. Its too expensive to break contract and constantly get the best one!

Although I would say I don't know about none apple phones but apple regulalry update their IOS system on all models so even though it doesn't have all the new hardware advances, software wise its very good.

olias

goater78 wrote: »

apple regulalry update their IOS system on all models so even though it doesn't have all the new hardware advances, software wise its very good.

I don't even know what that sentence means! lol.:o

Olias

OlliesDad

goater78 wrote: »

Although I would say I don't know about none apple phones but apple regulalry update their IOS system on all models so even though it doesn't have all the new hardware advances, software wise its very good.

Its the same for Android, although dud to there being a lot more phones on Android than IOS they are done as a staggered roll out.

I personally don't have an issue with the new technological releases as long as they do not stop offering support for older units. After all, new releases mean the price of previous versions reduce dramatically.

securityguy

olias wrote: »

Similarly with broadband, they are talking about bringing 'superfast' broadband to my area. Normal broadband doesn't even work! Average would be good, nevermind superfast!I live in town, have the latest router, and yet I frequently get speeds as low as 1 or 2 mbps, and the signal regularly drops out.

How do you propose improving broadband performance without improving the technology? If you live x metres from an exchange, there will be at least x metres of copper. If you say that fibre to the cabinet or fibre to the curb or streetcab DSLAMs or the rest of the "superfast" technology should delayed until the existing copper-based solutions work better, precisely what do you propose be done? Polish the ends of the wires and hope?

malcumms7898

olias wrote: »

I have a smart phone, as do most people I know, and everyone of them has problems - no signal, or signal dropping out at crucial moments, apps not working correctly, screen going funny. I 've lost track of how many times Ive heard people say, 'I don't know whats happened, but thats not supposed to be there', or 'it usually works, I don't know why it isn't now', when they're trying to show me something on their phone. In addition, most people I know, don't know what half of the things on their phone are, or how they work. With me its more like three quarters!

I live in a rural area, but in a reasonable sized town, and near a large industrial conurbation, yet I can't even get a signal to use my phone unless I hang out of the window, in fact I would say once out of town, I frequently have no signal, or at best a patchy one.



Olias

Firstly, a lot of (most of) apps are produced by third parties and not by the likes of Samsung or Apple. They just provide the platform, there will always be people making apps that don't always work correctly. The fact that some developers have not tested their apps properly does not mean that phone technology should be put on hold. There were buggy computer programs back in the 80s but if we had waited for those software developers to get their act together then you would not have modern computers, colour screens, or be seeking advice on MSE now.

The same goes for phone signal. This is largely the responsibility of phone networks and not the manufacturer of your phone. I am sure the signal technology within phones has actually advanced tremendously even in just the last 5 years let alone the last 20 (it wouldn't have previously been possible to stream videos for example). The real problem is phone companies not updating their networks quickly enough and not providing that coverage across a wider geographical area. But these things cost money and the company has to ask itself if it is worth spending money on expensive network infrastructure in very remote rural areas where not many customers are going to be using them.

artbaron

securityguy wrote: »

How do you propose improving broadband performance without improving the technology? If you live x metres from an exchange, there will be at least x metres of copper. If you say that fibre to the cabinet or fibre to the curb or streetcab DSLAMs or the rest of the "superfast" technology should delayed until the existing copper-based solutions work better, precisely what do you propose be done? Polish the ends of the wires and hope?

That's not the problem for most people. The problem is that their exchange is not enabled for fast broadband because the catchment areas is small and it's not financially viable.

Re the OP: Every week I watch Click on BBC. I don't much like it but I hold out hope that one day there'll be something on there which I'll see and think ah, that sounds useful. So far I've listened to descriptions of literally thousands of 'apps' and not one has been worth a jot to me.

Dave_C_2

I live in a housing estate in the country and have to agree with the OP here in some respects but not others:

Agree
In our house and the local pub my ancient Siemens "not smart at all hasn't even got a camera" phone will get a good signal when visiting friends / relatives with iPhones and Samsungs can't. I would love a Smartphone but I want one I can use!
I cannot buy a phone with a guarantee that it will work in my house or my money back!

Apple and Samsung, please improve reception on your handsets.

Disagree
Recently upgraded to BT infinity 2Gb/s to 40 Gb/s in one jump, with free Youview thrown in. Most excellent.

Dave.

Angry_Fanboy

olias wrote: »

I've just been reading about the new Samsung phone and I can't help thinking, why don't these manufacturers make what they have currently work better, before racing off to 'upgrade' things when what we have currently doesn't work properly yet?

Because the masses buy phones for these all singing, all dancing features of which you speak, regardless of whether they work properly or not.

System

Dave_C wrote: »

I live in a housing estate in the country and have to agree with the OP here in some respects but not others:

Agree
In our house and the local pub my ancient Siemens "not smart at all hasn't even got a camera" phone will get a good signal when visiting friends / relatives with iPhones and Samsungs can't. I would love a Smartphone but I want one I can use!
I cannot buy a phone with a guarantee that it will work in my house or my money back!

Apple and Samsung, please improve reception on your handsets.

Disagree
Recently upgraded to BT infinity 2Gb/s to 40 Gb/s in one jump, with free Youview thrown in. Most excellent.

Dave.

I would suspect you are getting a 2G signal on your old Siemans, Smart Phones tend to be a bit rubbish if they can't get a 3G signal.