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What would be some actually cool innovations for smartphones?

Arnox

Master
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5,285
Sorry, one more phone thread. The top-of-the-line smartphones used to be about having the best of all kinds of phones. Or at least as much as they could. Now you're just paying for the specs and nothing more. This is different from my last thread in that the features we talked about before were baseline. What are some NEW features that would actually intrigue you? Here's some of what I was thinking of.

1. Easy App Data Transfer

Exactly what it says on the tin. Whenever you get a smartphone from our fantasy manufacturer, you have the option of transferring some or all of your app data to the new phone.

2. Document Digitizer

Just point the camera to the document you want digitized and hit the capture button. It will translate the document straight to a clean PDF. With the specs and the cameras we have now on modern smartphones, this should be dead easy.

3. Direct Short Range Phone-to-Phone Communication

If the phone is within a certain range of another that supports this as well, the phones can call and send texts and data to each other. Alternatively, you can communicate within a Wi-Fi network. No service provider is required at all for this.

4. A Calculator That Doesn't Suck

We got stuff like Mathematica and Desmos, yet the stock calculator we get STILL only has the same features as a calculator from the freaking 80's.

5. Wireless Basic PC Control

If your phone is connected to your PC via Bluetooth, it can send basic keyboard and mouse inputs. Great for if you want a super quick and easy way to pause and play a movie you're watching and, for whatever reason, you're not within distance of the keyboard and mouse.
 
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Houseman

Zealot
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1. Easy App Data Transfer

Exactly what it says on the tin. Whenever you get a smartphone from our fantasy manufacturer, you have the option of transferring some or all of your app data to the new phone.

When I got my Google Pixel, it came with a cable adapter that allowed me to plug my new phone and my old Samsung phone together, and then it gave you the option of transferring everything over.

So yeah, this exists and this is a cool feature. I don't know how accurate it is, but I didn't seem to lose anything.


What I'd like is a way to share contact information with someone within range. Just touch your phones together, and now you have each-other's number.

I think this already exists. I remember seeing it once before, but I never used it, and don't know if anyone still does. It should come back into style.
 

gaijinkaiju

Lord Inquisitor
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612
Eh, can't really think of anything honestly. Maybe its because I just don't use my phone often enough to need many features. An image translator would be nice, just point the camera at what you want translated and it'll do it. I know my S9 has a similiar feature, but I've yet to actually try it out.

3. Direct Short Range Phone-to-Phone Communication

If the phone is within a certain range of another that supports this as well, the phones can call and send texts and data to each other. Alternatively, you can communicate within a Wi-Fi network. No service provider is required at all for this.
Sounds kinda like apples iMessage app. Alternatively there are third party apps that do just about the same.

5. Wireless Basic PC Control

If your phone is connected to your PC via Bluetooth, it can send basic keyboard and mouse inputs. Great for if you want a super quick and easy way to pause and play a movie you're watching and, for whatever reason, you're not within distance of the keyboard and mouse.
I don't know, sounds kinda pointless to me. I feel like most people who are going to be watching something on pc would be in range of mouse/keyboard. Maybe if you had a streaming pc in the lounge, but even then wireless mice/keyboards exist.

When I got my Google Pixel, it came with a cable adapter that allowed me to plug my new phone and my old Samsung phone together, and then it gave you the option of transferring everything over.

So yeah, this exists and this is a cool feature. I don't know how accurate it is, but I didn't seem to lose anything.
My S9 came with an adapter too. Never used it though, just used Bluetooth instead.
 

bluegate

Disciple
Sanctuary legend
Messages
292
Pretty sure all of those are already a thing.
Yeah, pretty much.

Want to migrate data from one phone to another? There's migration software to do that.

Want to scan a document by making a photo of it? There are apps that do that.

Want to communicate between phones without internet? There are apps that allow you to communicate through Bluetooth or by setting up a local wifi network. Sending files through these local methods has also been possible for years.

Want an advanced calculator? Just download an app that does it or visit a web-app that does it and make it available offline.

Want to use your phone as a remote keyboard and mouse? Just download an app that does it, there are apps that do this.

That's the beauty of modern phones, even if certain functionality isn't included in the phone's OS, you can add to it yourself by installing applications.

Sounds kinda like apples iMessage app.
How does it sound like iMessage if iMessage either sends its messages through texting or through active internet connections?
 

gaijinkaiju

Lord Inquisitor
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Sanctuary contributor
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612
How does it sound like iMessage if iMessage either sends its messages through texting or through active internet connections?
Which is exactly what arnox says
Alternatively, you can communicate within a Wi-Fi network. No service provider is required at all for this.
Admittedly I've never used iMessage, so maybe it works differently to how I think it does
 

bluegate

Disciple
Sanctuary legend
Messages
292
Which is exactly what arnox says

Admittedly I've never used iMessage, so maybe it works differently to how I think it does
It is not what Arnox said and it is not how iMessage works.

Messages sent through iMessage will go up to Apple's servers and then get pushed down to individual phones through an internet connection.

What Arnox was describing is a way for phones to talk to each other on a local network without involving the internet. At least that is my assumption, because they can't possibly be talking about wanting a simple internet based messaging system, because there are a fuck ton of those around.
 

gaijinkaiju

Lord Inquisitor
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Messages
612
It is not what Arnox said and it is not how iMessage works.

Messages sent through iMessage will go up to Apple's servers and then get pushed down to individual phones through an internet connection.

What Arnox was describing is a way for phones to talk to each other on a local network without involving the internet. At least that is my assumption, because they can't possibly be talking about wanting a simple internet based messaging system, because there are a fuck ton of those around.
Which is how i thought it worked and I'm assuming arnox is talking about involving the internet, maybe they should clarify what they mean.
 

Vendor-Lazarus

Arch Disciple
Sanctuary legend
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936
Implementing another interface system completely.
Move away from the small screen to a "google monocle" thing (with built in headphone) that folds up when not in use.
Use the surface area as a mouse icon mover. Make it more like using a desktop.
Have it be strapped on to your wrist/forearm.
 

Arnox

Master
Staff member
Founder
Messages
5,285
Yeah, pretty much.

Want to migrate data from one phone to another? There's migration software to do that.

Want to scan a document by making a photo of it? There are apps that do that.

Want to communicate between phones without internet? There are apps that allow you to communicate through Bluetooth or by setting up a local wifi network. Sending files through these local methods has also been possible for years.

Want an advanced calculator? Just download an app that does it or visit a web-app that does it and make it available offline.

Want to use your phone as a remote keyboard and mouse? Just download an app that does it, there are apps that do this.

That's the beauty of modern phones, even if certain functionality isn't included in the phone's OS, you can add to it yourself by installing applications.

How does it sound like iMessage if iMessage either sends its messages through texting or through active internet connections?
Not everything is an app actually, and some of it would just be better if it was a base app. For example, the best calculator you can get on your phone is Desmos, but Desmos is limited in many ways that even a TI-84 isn't.

I think iMessage was planned to do short range communication but it was dropped. I think.
 

Monoochrom

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Messages
275
It is not what Arnox said and it is not how iMessage works.

Messages sent through iMessage will go up to Apple's servers and then get pushed down to individual phones through an internet connection.

What Arnox was describing is a way for phones to talk to each other on a local network without involving the internet. At least that is my assumption, because they can't possibly be talking about wanting a simple internet based messaging system, because there are a fuck ton of those around.
Those also exist though. Generally for Businesses. Just sent a application to a company that made one today.
 
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