Same in Norway, that being said: when someone says “mobil” people will usually think of a cellphone and voice communication (or SMS), but that meaning will probably change.
"Handy" simply denotes a mobile telephone. While virtually all mobile telephones have technological features that wired telephones did not, it does not capture the difference between a basic mobile phone and a modern smartphone; the former is a phone that may do computer-like things while the latter is a pocket computer that also makes phone calls.
"Smartphone" may not be the best possible name, but it seems to communicate to most people "Android, iPhone or similar".
If you're a startup working on a mobile-related software or device, the comments there are a whole wealth of the ideas for your brand name... Damn, jeejah.com is taken... ;)
> "When my so-called phone rings, my first reaction is "Shit. What's wrong now?" ..."
This is so true. Partly because we've trained our contacts this way. I only ring people when it's 'important' (read: shit+fan) and tend to expect the same in return.
It's odd since a 30 second phone call can usually replace 10 minutes of back and forth over email (albeit without the paper-trail).
I saw somebody not too long ago say something like "I wonder if 30 years from now, ringing someone on the phone will be considered as rude as we now consider showing up on their doorstep unannounced to be".
I think telemarketers are helping with this, especially when you start getting automated calls on your cell. When I know there's the automated calling going on, I won't answer a call unless the person is in my contacts (I don't want caller ID on my cell as it makes filtering much easier)
It is. It is and it always has been. Because since we've all had phones, we've been under a social contract with them. When the phone rings, you have about 30 seconds to choose between being ripped out of your current focus (work, reading, eating, in-person conversation, etc.) or to not answer at all (which can come off as rude).
Sure, caller-ID and voicemail have mitigated these problems somewhat, but at the very least your concentration is broken when the telephone rings. Email and other textual messaging are much less invasive and you respond when you choose.
Having said that, I do find some rare cases where a phone conversation is better than a textual one (complex but short instructions, for example).
I have the same negative reaction to going to the mail box these days. With the exception of the odd expected delivery from amazon, nothing good comes from checking the mail.
More people will have "phone" computers than laptop computers so eventually we can just refer to "phones" as computers. Laptops can still be laptops or PCs.
Pocket Computer is the term that sprang to mind as well. Eventually we can drop the 'pocket' part when it becomes redundant. Alternatively, shorten it to PC.
> "Granted, there could be some confusion if a head is contemplated as a gift item, but that's a risk I'm willing to take."
That's why it fun to read Scott's stuff. Right there in the middle of a 'serious' discussion on finding a new name for a phone he drops this little LOLbomb.
I think calling it a memex would be interesting as well...going way old school. ;-)
I was down until he got to what he wanted to call it. Really? Can we just choose something that isn't already tangled up in 50 pounds of sexual innuendo?
But on the topic at hand (as it were): I was hoping for some German-inspired mashup name, like "Device that allows one person to sometimes hear part of what another person is saying, no matter where they are, at least 80% of the time".
Well, now that I type that, I suppose it's not very funny. But arguably more funny than calling it "head".
We are starting to call that thing a "screen" in my home, because we might hook it up to Nintendo, DVD, computer, cable, what have you.
I agree "box" may be a little overloaded but the context will usually make things clear. There is only one thing you can do with broadcast television: watch.
We also have "the tube" for broadcast television (a little dated because the tubes are disappearing), or "cable".
My dad always told me: 'the phone is there for your convenience, not for for anyone else'. If I don't feel like fielding a call at a given moment, I simply won't pick up. But I'll take texts or emails anytime!
What about emergencies? A certain protocol exists for friends and family in double-ringing the phone which always gets me to pick up immediately.
Because my grandmother was insanely cheap, we had this thing where she would call and hang up after one ring, and then we would call her back. Then the phone company got priority ringing, so we just wouldn't pick up when she called.
Anyway, your thing about double-ringing reminded me.
"Leave a missed call" was so popular in South Africa that the networks implemented "Send a call me", where you send a GSM code with the target person's phone number and the network sends that person an sms message from your number with the text "please call me", your number, and an advertisement.
Normally sending messages attracts a charge per SMS but a "please call me" is free, advertiser supported and limited in how many one can send per day.
Also known in the UK as a "one-ringer" or "missed call" (as in - "I'm running low on credit, I'll just missed call you when I'm there?"). Amusingly enough, my brother, who had eked out 10p of credit for several weeks this way, once got quite annoyed when I was a little too prompt to answer the phone...
I vote for phone. It just has a different definition now, in a generation or so nobody will even remember that it was originally something used solely for voice conversations.
that's how I think of my iPhone. It's my comm unit. Cross between a Star Trek communicator, tricorder and portable Spock science console. We just need to add phaser.
"Phone" is Greek for "voice", so perhaps a different name would be in order.
But neither "mobile" nor "cell" says anything about voice in particular, so I would think they are suitable terms for "portable communication device connected to a cellular network" even when the device primarily deals with non-voice services.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 119 ms ] thread"Smartphone" may not be the best possible name, but it seems to communicate to most people "Android, iPhone or similar".
However, I liked his observation about the recipient of every phone call being a "victim."
Points to anyone who knows the reference.
Points to anyone who can use Google.
> "When my so-called phone rings, my first reaction is "Shit. What's wrong now?" ..."
This is so true. Partly because we've trained our contacts this way. I only ring people when it's 'important' (read: shit+fan) and tend to expect the same in return.
It's odd since a 30 second phone call can usually replace 10 minutes of back and forth over email (albeit without the paper-trail).
Sure, caller-ID and voicemail have mitigated these problems somewhat, but at the very least your concentration is broken when the telephone rings. Email and other textual messaging are much less invasive and you respond when you choose.
Having said that, I do find some rare cases where a phone conversation is better than a textual one (complex but short instructions, for example).
Especially if there are windows next to my door and the only path to my clothes goes in front of the door. (Just speaking hypothetically here.)
I've always hated Apple like the pox, but I give them this - they made it fashionable to carry around a pocket computer.
That's why it fun to read Scott's stuff. Right there in the middle of a 'serious' discussion on finding a new name for a phone he drops this little LOLbomb.
I think calling it a memex would be interesting as well...going way old school. ;-)
But on the topic at hand (as it were): I was hoping for some German-inspired mashup name, like "Device that allows one person to sometimes hear part of what another person is saying, no matter where they are, at least 80% of the time".
Well, now that I type that, I suppose it's not very funny. But arguably more funny than calling it "head".
"That's the kind of question I ask the magic box."
For me this thing means knowledge. It's the oracle, the multitool, the utility belt, the mystic key.
I suggest we all call it "the box".
I agree "box" may be a little overloaded but the context will usually make things clear. There is only one thing you can do with broadcast television: watch.
We also have "the tube" for broadcast television (a little dated because the tubes are disappearing), or "cable".
Maybe this is a regional thing though.
What about emergencies? A certain protocol exists for friends and family in double-ringing the phone which always gets me to pick up immediately.
Anyway, your thing about double-ringing reminded me.
Well, at least for a certain class of 'smartphone'
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/05/iphone-4...
comm
that's how I think of my iPhone. It's my comm unit. Cross between a Star Trek communicator, tricorder and portable Spock science console. We just need to add phaser.
But neither "mobile" nor "cell" says anything about voice in particular, so I would think they are suitable terms for "portable communication device connected to a cellular network" even when the device primarily deals with non-voice services.