I cannot tell you a way my life has genuinely gotten better since the advent of "smart" phones.

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Look, are there downsides? Absolutely.

But, just thinking about the few days for Christmas:

Buddy and I were out and making plans to swim. Using our phones we found out what time the pool was open, then found out whether there was bbq nearby. We then added this to our calendars. All at thr same time without having to go home, look it up, coordinate then write it down.

The next day, I got groceries. I used my grocery app which also contains a couple hundred recipes I've collected. The grocery store had a great deal on something I hadn't expected so I pivoted, used my phone to look through my recipes, found an appropriate one and adjusted.

Later, running errands on my bike and finished a bit early. On a whim, I checked to see if a movie I wanted to catch was anywhere near. It was but not in an area I bike often. Booked my tickets on the phone, navigated there and streamed music to listen to as I rode.

Heck, when I visited for Christmas, a friend sent a message warning the ferries to come home were getting cancelled. I checked while we were out at dinner, found the last ferry was still running and had space so was able to make it home instead of getting stranded.

Outside of this week, I've dated a bunch of girls whom I'd have never met were it not for "the apps." Say what you will, it expands the network of dateable folks well outside your own social networks.

In summary: streaming music everywhere, all sorts of apps making things easier (in this case, recipes etc) navigation, making plans on the fly, dating all sorts of folks, booking things without having to find a computer and way more.

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I love how they are very robust and can handle just about any video game I've played in the last 30 years except the smart phone gaming industry is completely cooked and when titles do get released for mobile you have to wade through an ocean of shit to find them.

ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed

Smartphone can be used to organize protests.

See: Hong Kong Protests (they didn't suceed in their goals, but still, they did put up some resistance)

Also, union activity. Encrypted chat apps to prevent employers finding out what you are up to. Prevents emplpyers preemptively fireing you before you legally form the union and get legal protection. Make strike-breaking harder.

Encrypted communications is very useful for people in abusive relationships. Smartphone cameras and microphone can record evidence of abuse. And data connection could also be used to save it to cloud and prevent deletion of evidence. Also, while not a "smart" phone specific feature, text to 911 is very useful if the abusive spouse is nearby and you need to call for help, and need to keep quiet. GPS positioning makes it easier to locate you.

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Don't get the down votes, its not like you were expressing anything but a reasonable point of view. Anyway happy new year!

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If you don't find value in smartphones I can respect that

You'd have to pry my own from my cold, dead hands. I have a map of the entire world (mostly) in my pocket! That in itself I find invaluable. I use Google Maps all the time. To find places and to navigate to them. On foot, public transit, and car. Here and in other countries.

Sure, I used to manage before Maps was a thing but do I ever want to go back? Nope.

That is one killer feature for me

And yeah I definitely see how life changed for the worse because of them. I actively moderate my own behavior.

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Smartphone can be used to organize protests.

Oof, what about all the disinformation and basically the breakdown of democratic structures because of it?

Also, union activity. Encrypted chat apps to prevent employers finding out what you are up to. Prevents emplpyers preemptively fireing you before you legally form the union and get legal protection. Make strike-breaking harder.

While encryption is super cool and has been really hard fought for (really interesting stuff) it has not been widely adopted and the data breaches we've seen since the entire culture has shifted to existing online are beyond description.

As a tool a smart phone is undeniably remarkable. As a tool to live your daily life it's kind of underwhelming considering a the implications.

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I'm not going back that's for sure. I do feel kinda of dragged along though, I didn't have a cell phone until my early 20s and only became a full adopter when smart phones were ubiquitous. I just can imagine a life that was just a fulfilling without the existence of the "smart" phone.

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Happy new year!

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Oh man where to start.

No tertiary devices. No GPS or iPod in my car. Just my phone. For so many useless gadgets. Cameras, video cameras...CALCULATORS, All in one place. That's number 1.

2 would be that these devices are all a part of an ecosystem that grew so fast... Not only did our phones suddenly all have GPS, but it'd tell us about traffic. That used to be someone's news beat. Gone, overnight

Mobile browser. What?! You mean every time that annoying know it all friend starts confidently talking about something they know nothing about You can just Google it right in front of them instead if having it be some annoying thing.
For better or worse, I am never bored.

That's just the first few that come to mind...

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What if i liked my ipod?

What if know about traffic didn't stop me from driving straight into 99% of the time?

What if me and my friends were never far from a browser and any disagreement could have waited the 10 minutes it took to get to a computer?

I always feel fucking bored.

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Sucks to be you, bro, but that's not a universal experience.

I grew up when cell phones weren't common, then flip phones were the thing. I didn't get my first smartphone until I was already out of high school. My life was improved immensely. Not just the connection that allows me multiple vectors of communication to the people who matter to me, and the ability to plausibly ignore communications from those who don't, but the absolute plethora of utilities now at my fingertips.

Do you even know how to balance a checkbook? Have you ever had to do it? In less than a minute I can see not only my bank balance, but all transactions going back months.

My teachers all told me I wouldn't have a calculator with me all the time. Turns out that was not to be.

If I need to know something, anything, ever, I have a device on my person that allows me immediate access to the sum total of human knowledge. Whether it's a question of what time the hardware store opens, how to fix a cracked pipe, or what rocket fuel the Saturn V used, the information is right at my fingertips.

I don't ever have to be lost again. First time in a city? I can get directions to anywhere, from anywhere, any time I want.

I even have a freakin flashlight at all times.

Yeah, it sucks that some people get stuck in a narcissistic spiral on facebook or obsessively doomscroll to the detriment of their own health, but that's not the smartphone's fault any more than it is just the invention of electricity's fault.

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Does it suck? To not be reliant on something like a "smart" phone?

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I hear ya. I too was a late cell and smart- phone adopter.

If I couldn't use them anymore I would be annoyed at first. But I would adjust and yes, would certainly lead a fulfilling life regardless.

I myself am in between both extremes. Here are some ways I remain old school even though I've bought into the smartphone era:

I remain in a real sense anti-app and keep them to a minimum on my phone. I keep their permissions as locked down as I can and I review every update pretty extensively. It's ridiculous how everyone and their brother wants me to install their app. No thank you. I'm quite content getting up to adjust the thermostat and don't need a fully automated smart home.
If I'm socializing with someone they get my full attention. If I need to look something up, respond to a text, etc I excuse myself.
When I'm out and about I'm present in my environment. "Smartphone zombie" behavior is foreign to me.
I take full advantage of the digital well being and bedtime features of my phone. I set timers for my addicting apps.
Oh, when I do drive I am hands off with my phone. If I really do need to use it then I pull over.

Etc

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The 'smart' is the only part of my phone I like.

the good:

wife can see when I'm running late because I chose to share GPS location
I have maps
I have zello
I have messaging and asynchronous comms is so great
I have email
I have web so I can see my monitoring green-light

The bad:

it would ring, if it wasn't set up as a tablet
if i installed IG or FB or Twitter, I'd have those, which are apparently toxic

So, yeah.

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Sure, I used to manage before Maps was a thing

Remember keeping a stack of bus route maps in your bag? Ha ha ha, dumb times.

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Sometimes u just wonder if we, as a people, will set down the phone and say, "that was interesting." And kinda move on. Not like throwing them away but maybe just realizing, this isn't everything.

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What if i liked my ipod?

Psst. There's music in your phone. That's a plus. Load up songs, play songs, be happy.

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These days, they are ultra expensive glass rectangles that exist to serve you endless ads and harvest every piece of info about every facet of your life.

It sounds like you need to delete some apps.

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Printing out the MapQuest directions. Keeping the Thomas Guide in your car.

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You mean portable GPS devices that have been around for a decade before smart phones?