Attention self proclaimed "gadget-freaks"

dshadle
without users there is no experience.

Having the opportunity to work with a group of guys who seem to have a new device every couple of weeks, it always makes me wonder what it will take for them (or you) to be completely sold on one specific model.

What features do you always looking for in say, a mobile phone?

What features are loaded by default but you never use? Why?

Do you actually download photos or videos taken with a mobile phone?

What brand would you say "does its homework" and consistently improves the user experience?

What feature(s) do you use the most?

What is the most common feature failure that makes you give up and search for the next device?

How long before we will be able to perform our jobs soley utilizing a mobile device (ie. sans-laptop, desktop PC)?

If you had to give up the device currently attached to your waist - and no devices younger than 6 months was available - what would you choose?

Loadsgood
What is your answer?

I replied to each of the questions in italics.

What features do you always looking for in say, a mobile phone?
I want programs built in. In my current phone Nokia 3660, I have to download programs like word editor and stuff that should be there by default. A mobile should allow me to do what I want straight out of the box.

What features are loaded by default but you never use? Why?
N/A

Do you actually download photos or videos taken with a mobile phone?
Not really. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the videos or photos that have been taken with mobiles. But I do take photos often (not videos because I've only got a 10 seciond recording time).

What brand would you say "does its homework" and consistently improves the user experience?
I can't say Nokia, since I've suggested a few things but they never responded nor did anything about the suggestions. Therefore I end my answer with a N/A.

What feature(s) do you use the most?
Text messaging.

What is the most common feature failure that makes you give up and search for the next device?
The crap grahics in videos and photos.

How long before we will be able to perform our jobs soley utilizing a mobile device (ie. sans-laptop, desktop PC)?
When we have secure wireless services.

If you had to give up the device currently attached to your waist - and no devices younger than 6 months was available - what would you choose?
Any PDA, Palm Pilot etc. that I could write on and it accepts my writing as instructions, word documents etc.

jkendrick
...using mobile devices since they weighed 30 lbs.

There is no such thing as the single best device. Everyone's needs are so diverse and likes and dislikes so different that such a single device will never exist. That's a good thing though as it makes everything a lot more interesting.

PeterF
Early Adopter

Feature:
Sending nicknames and pictures when you call, they can then appear in the display of the one being called.

Never used feature:
Infrared or bluetooth: they decrease the battery time significantly

photo's:
Until mobile phones reach a certain display fineness, like 640x480, you wouldn't really enjoy pictures. Video's still are putting too much money in the operator's pocket.

Brand:
Nokia seems to streamline the usability of most-used features. Siemens sometimes hides those features too deep within the menu structure. I haven't got any other user experience with other brands though.

Feature most used:
Calling and SMS'ing

Feature failure:
Bad reception, bad battery time, bad SMS T9, too much buttons to press, no defines for shortcuts.

only mobile devices:
Maybe when plastic surgery gives us miniaturized fingers and eagle eye sight. Human Interaction is still cumbersome on small devices.

Waist device
A pocketpc with 640x480 display with good battery lifetime (12hrs minimum) which synchronizes with the Media Center so I wouldn't need a seperate mp3 device.

shreyasonline
Push The Limits !

Feature:
SMS is most used. Accessing some premium GPRS info comes second. Infrared and USB most important thing to connect your cell phone with laptop.

photo's:
Mobile phone with cams are really best.

Brand:
Nokia. And Nokia only.

Feature most used:
SMS

Waist device
Palm tops which are neither a mini computer nor a cell phone. A complete waste of money.

Drsql
Is it nap time yet?

dshadle wrote:
What features do you always looking for in say, a mobile phone?

Communication via spoken word is pretty obvious, but there are others that are as important to me. Internet connectivity, good browsing, and email features for starters. I like to be able to get information when I am in any situation.

Smartphones are pretty good, but the browser is not so great right now, though it does the job. Ability to play multimedia, audio is a must, and video is becoming that to me. I like the device I carry around to keep me connected, and then protect me from boredom. I use instant messaging from my phone some, and games just a small amount.

I also use it to carry bible software, so I have it everywhere I go. Mapping software is quite useful too, but limited memory (especially when carrying around a lot of video!) can make it too much of a "plan ahead" situation.

dshadle wrote:
What features are loaded by default but you never use? Why?

I never use tasks, voice dialing, voice notes

dshadle wrote:
Do you actually download photos or videos taken with a mobile phone?

No, though I carry video and photos from other sources

dshadle wrote:
What brand would you say "does its homework" and consistently improves the user experience?

dshadle wrote:
What feature(s) do you use the most?

Checking email, playing video/music, and SMS messaging.

dshadle wrote:
What is the most common feature failure that makes you give up and search for the next device?

For me it is a balance. I gave up my Palm Smartphone because I wanted better browsing and music. It crashed far less than my Microsoft Smartphone, but I am really quite happy with this phone (Samsung i600)

dshadle wrote:
How long before we will be able to perform our jobs soley utilizing a mobile device (ie. sans-laptop, desktop PC)?

Not for a very long time, I wouldn't think. I expect them to do more and more in terms of augmenting our use of a larger device, but it would take a major leap in paradigm to make a physical desk irrelavant.

dshadle wrote:
If you had to give up the device currently attached to your waist - and no devices younger than 6 months was available - what would you choose?

Weird question. Obviously I would like to get something close to what I have, even an earlier version of it. I certainly would chose something that gave me as much functionality in as small a space as possible.

Jaz
From the depths of Wales I come

1. I always look for a candybar phone, flip phones have never intrested me. Recently I got a SE (my fave brand) K700i. It's a beautiful phone, Why did i go for it? it's a candybar, it's light, it has a camera which is a novelty and bluetooth which i really wanted. The feature i really want in any mobile phone today is simple use and bluetooth. I want my SMS messages backed upto Outlook and the ability to send them via Outlook.

2. Video and photo messaging i rarely use, it costs a bit too much and i don't see the point, i prefer to use the camera as a camera and upload them to my PC for email or other useage rather than sending on a phone. Email i never use either as thats too costly, plus i don't think ive reached that stage in life where i need to instantly get information right here right now.

3. Download? do you mean upload to PC, i will upload pics once i get my bluetooth dongle.

4. Has to be SonyEricsson, however i wish they'd do a Windows Mobile Phone.

5. Voice calls and SMS quite easily.

6. Bluetooth was the last one

7. I give it 5 years

8. a Pocket PC phone with a 5gig HD

Attention self proclaimed &quot;gadget-freaks&quot;