Are smartphones the future?

MartinC · 08-04-2011, 02:05 PM

The UK telecoms regulator Ofcom says that one in three adults in Britain now uses a smartphone, according to a BBC news story today.

Amazon are tight-lipped about the actual number of Kindles in use, but doesn't this make smartphones the effective platform of choice for e-reading?

Skibble · 08-04-2011, 02:09 PM

Not for me. Reading on those screens for long periods gives me a headache.

Phogg · 08-04-2011, 02:11 PM

It is not an either/or option.

Do people who live in cities drive cars and ride motorcycles, or do they ride public transportation? Which is it?

DiapDealer · 08-04-2011, 02:29 PM

Casual readers? Sure; phones might work great for them. But there's always going to be a need for book-sized (approximately) screens... especially for those who read for several hours a day on average. And lots of overlap between those two demographics as well. I just don't see "one type of device to rule them all" ever happening... or even needing to ever happen.

HarryT · 08-04-2011, 02:33 PM

It's a case of using the right device for the right job. For web browsing, a Smartphone is the right choice - I'm writing this on my iPhone. For reading novels, my Kindle is much better.

DiapDealer · 08-04-2011, 02:35 PM

Besides... I hate having to answer my book when it rings.

OtterBooks · 08-04-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinC

The UK telecoms regulator Ofcom says that one in three adults in Britain now uses a smartphone, according to a BBC news story today.

Amazon are tight-lipped about the actual number of Kindles in use, but doesn't this make smartphones the effective platform of choice for e-reading?

It certainly makes them the effective platform for smartphoning.

jbcohen · 08-04-2011, 02:37 PM

Speaking as an avide book worm that uses both a smart phone and Kindle for reading books I must say from experience that the small screen does not bother me that much, simply necessistates more screen changes then otherwise necessary. However the real difference between the smart phone electronic books and the ones of the readers, that I can see, is instances where space is going to be an issue. If I am going to and from working with big packs in hand and a lot of things in my gym bag then I am going to go from the berry otherwise I would preferr to go with the Kindle since it has a larger screen then the berry does.

I can see where smart phones would be the defacto starting platform for electronic book reading since most of the phones out there these days are smart phones and since they are already paying for the phone might as well make it do everything that it can for you.

sufue · 08-04-2011, 02:55 PM

I have no problem reading for long periods of time on my smart phone (Xperia X10). I love the fact that it is backlit (great for reading in bed), that I can have multiple e-readers on it (fbreader, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, etc.), and that I can pull it out of my pocket anytime, even just for a couple of minutes standing in line. Even though I also have the small Sony PRS-300, which I really like too, it doesn't really fit in a pocket, although it fits great in my backpack. Yeah, yeah, I know it's lame to whine about the effort to open my backpack, but that's just the way it is.

For me, the PRS-300 is now pretty much reserved for reading in the sun (one of my favorite restaurants has a great outdoor patio) and for trips or other occasions when I need to conserve the battery life on my phone.

For me, the smartphone IS my primary e-reader now.

HarryT · 08-04-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

I can see where smart phones would be the defacto starting platform for electronic book reading since most of the phones out there these days are smart phones....

This is not so. According to this recent report:

http://venturebeat.com/2011/06/30/ni...ice-purchases/

most (62%) phones in the US market are currently "dumb" phones, although smartphones do now account for the majority (55%) of new sales.

DiapDealer · 08-04-2011, 03:07 PM

My cell phone was so dumb that I eliminated it entirely. Quite liberating actually. Not to mention all that extra money for books each month.

Ditchleyportrait · 08-04-2011, 03:12 PM

i would not want to own a cell phone. that's why i went with the dx.

din155 · 08-04-2011, 03:19 PM

Un-surprisingly none of the people listed reading on Smartphone as one of the uses! Or maybe it wasn't even in the question.

din

din155 · 08-04-2011, 03:23 PM

It will be interesting to see these percentages against all the devices. That may give a better indication. On its own, Smartphone is supposed live up to its name. So this survey shows nothing new in terms of usage.

DMB · 08-04-2011, 03:26 PM

When it comes to technology, "the future" (as in the title of the thread) tends to be of short duration.

I remember back in 1980 being quite excited by my IBM PC with its single floppy drive and I didn't have a mobile phone at all or the internet.

08-04-2011, 02:05 PM	#1
MartinC Hanger on Posts: 148 Karma: 1355233 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dorset, UK Device: Kindle 3, Galaxy S, Sony PRS-505, Sony tablet	Are smartphones the future? The UK telecoms regulator Ofcom says that one in three adults in Britain now uses a smartphone, according to a BBC news story today. Amazon are tight-lipped about the actual number of Kindles in use, but doesn't this make smartphones the effective platform of choice for e-reading?

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08-04-2011, 02:09 PM	#2
Skibble Runs With Scissors Posts: 115 Karma: 1173596 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Device: Kindle Voyage	Not for me. Reading on those screens for long periods gives me a headache.

08-04-2011, 02:11 PM	#3
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	It is not an either/or option. Do people who live in cities drive cars and ride motorcycles, or do they ride public transportation? Which is it?

08-04-2011, 02:29 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Casual readers? Sure; phones might work great for them. But there's always going to be a need for book-sized (approximately) screens... especially for those who read for several hours a day on average. And lots of overlap between those two demographics as well. I just don't see "one type of device to rule them all" ever happening... or even needing to ever happen.

08-04-2011, 02:33 PM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's a case of using the right device for the right job. For web browsing, a Smartphone is the right choice - I'm writing this on my iPhone. For reading novels, my Kindle is much better.

08-04-2011, 02:35 PM	#6
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Besides... I hate having to answer my book when it rings.

08-04-2011, 02:37 PM	#8
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Speaking as an avide book worm that uses both a smart phone and Kindle for reading books I must say from experience that the small screen does not bother me that much, simply necessistates more screen changes then otherwise necessary. However the real difference between the smart phone electronic books and the ones of the readers, that I can see, is instances where space is going to be an issue. If I am going to and from working with big packs in hand and a lot of things in my gym bag then I am going to go from the berry otherwise I would preferr to go with the Kindle since it has a larger screen then the berry does. I can see where smart phones would be the defacto starting platform for electronic book reading since most of the phones out there these days are smart phones and since they are already paying for the phone might as well make it do everything that it can for you.

08-04-2011, 02:55 PM	#9
sufue lost in my e-reader... Posts: 7,543 Karma: 52440304 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: sunny southern California, USA Device: Android phone, Sony T1, Nook ST Glowlight, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus	I have no problem reading for long periods of time on my smart phone (Xperia X10). I love the fact that it is backlit (great for reading in bed), that I can have multiple e-readers on it (fbreader, Nook, Kindle, Kobo, etc.), and that I can pull it out of my pocket anytime, even just for a couple of minutes standing in line. Even though I also have the small Sony PRS-300, which I really like too, it doesn't really fit in a pocket, although it fits great in my backpack. Yeah, yeah, I know it's lame to whine about the effort to open my backpack, but that's just the way it is. For me, the PRS-300 is now pretty much reserved for reading in the sun (one of my favorite restaurants has a great outdoor patio) and for trips or other occasions when I need to conserve the battery life on my phone. For me, the smartphone IS my primary e-reader now.

08-04-2011, 03:07 PM	#11
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	My cell phone was so dumb that I eliminated it entirely. Quite liberating actually. Not to mention all that extra money for books each month.

08-04-2011, 03:12 PM	#12
Ditchleyportrait Fanatic Posts: 504 Karma: 780086 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: ny Device: Kindle DX Graphite	i would not want to own a cell phone. that's why i went with the dx.

08-04-2011, 03:19 PM	#13
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	Un-surprisingly none of the people listed reading on Smartphone as one of the uses! Or maybe it wasn't even in the question. din

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08-04-2011, 03:23 PM	#14
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	It will be interesting to see these percentages against all the devices. That may give a better indication. On its own, Smartphone is supposed live up to its name. So this survey shows nothing new in terms of usage.

08-04-2011, 03:26 PM	#15
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	When it comes to technology, "the future" (as in the title of the thread) tends to be of short duration. I remember back in 1980 being quite excited by my IBM PC with its single floppy drive and I didn't have a mobile phone at all or the internet.