Once in November while jogging I fell iPhone 4 and has, as a result, greatly damaging the screen. The first thing that came to mind - go buy an iPhone 5, but before that I decided to stay at least a month without a smartphone and see how much I depend on him.
Avid smartphone users I was in the last five years: started with the iPhone 3, then moved on to 3GS and later 4. Looking back, I say "thank you" to the case that led to its failure.
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disconnection
Modern life is hard to imagine without a computer and a smartphone we all the time in touch. During wakefulness, I was available on Facebook, on Twitter, by email, iMessage, in Hipchat, Skype, by phone and in person. Although in the early stages I and disabled push-notification, but in most places, is still present and has been available. A small amount of free time was spent on checking e-mail, Twitter's and Facebook's. I was a little bit in all these social services. networks throughout the day, but in fact I was not really anywhere else.
Without the temptation to get a smart phone out of his pocket, now I feel more realistic life. Of course, highly dependent I was not, but the case of breakage and subsequent smartphone abstinence gave me a great lesson, I want to share with you. I became more free! I felt the benefits to be constantly online. When I'm not at the computer, my only true friends and colleagues can contact me by phone. Smartphone helped me to fill in small gaps of free time with all sorts of meaningless activities and entertainment, pushing me out of the context of what I have done and what going to do. I have found that it is context switching plays a much more important role than I thought before. Much more useful it would be to concentrate on your own thoughts, instead of spending every waking moment on the Angry Birds, news reading and status in social networks.
Minuses
I had a few problems when instead of a smartphone, I returned to my old one one brick Nokia:
No camera
Although I've never done a lot of pictures, however, I liked my single and rare photos in Instagram. When I went to travel, it is always done with a dozen images that reflect the essence of the trip. Out of this situation - to borrow a camera or not take it at all.
The absence of music
While walking or riding on public transport, the presence of music in my ears makes life easier. Nevertheless, I have decided that I will not buy their own iPod. When I really want to listen to music, I am able to do it on the computer. In addition, the lack of music in the ears allows a better feel for the world around us. Of course, from time to time I want to be alone with him, but for the purchase of iPod plans I have.
absence card
Maps on your smartphone I've used very often, when visiting friends, traveling or using public transportation. My topographic ability not brilliant, so I decided to improve them and rely mostly only on themselves. As a result, GPS absence taught me that the need to plan. This was not a problem. But in foreign countries, where the ability to navigate was well needed most, I used real paper maps. In any case, there is nothing wrong to ask a stranger or to call, whom you came.
unexpected discoveries
3 months of use have led me to unexpected discoveries of the old phone:
I would often call people. On the iPhone it is very convenient to exchange text messages. But after I switched to the Nokia older, I found that was the call more frequently, as it is simply more convenient. It's funny how rarely I called during the use of the iPhone and how surprised people of my generation, when they receive an incoming call. I rediscovered my basic phone function, and eventually got more pleasure from voice communication, rather than just communicating through text messaging.
I no longer worry about your phone. Now I just throw the phone in your pocket or bag and move on. I'm not worried about how he had not been stolen or not scratch the screen or case. And no need to check before going to bed, where you threw it. This is no longer an expensive item, which is so worrying. The less of such things, the better.
Of course, as I wrote above, a simple phone, there are downsides: I miss the built-in camera, music and maps. However, I also found that I could live without these things. Certainly convenient to have all these things in one device, but now the pros outweigh the cons for me.
I am not going to return to smartphones
Currently, I do not see any compelling reason to go back to using your smartphone. I was pleased to know that in my pocket so powerful device, and not very nice it was to be so dependent on him. How it was natural to grab the $ 1,000 on a new smartphone, in fact, in many ways the smart phone has become a kind of device, "expanding the frontiers of consciousness." But I feel that the iPhone does not have a great influence on my life, so quietly leave this experience behind. I do not really like to keep abreast of recent developments and the like do not have another expensive item for concern. This little temptation in your pocket sometimes leads to the fact that you lose focus of those who are near.
And how nice to think about charging the phone through the weekend! I urge you to abandon the use of a smartphone for a month and share your feelings.
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