What's Left to Innovate in Smartphones?

As Patent Office Commissioner, Charles Duell, in 1889 allegedly said, 'Everything that can be invented, has been invented'......so of course there simply are no more advances to be made.

Past predictions of the future are humorously offbase. Looking back, current ideas about what the future holds will be qually funny ....(except my own of course).

I have noticed that most cell phone users when other side person is giving some number or name try to hold phone between shoulder, ear and then look for a pen and paper; With so much technology why it is so???? Is ther still something left over to invent or improved upon?

very smart idea. ga

I believe the innovation will not be over till the 'Fat Lady Sings' and the fat lady drinks coffee before she starts to open her mouth to sing and the smart phone can still not make a cup of coffee yet!!!!!!

I want one that is JUST A PHONE!

Well done Tom - simplicity is everything. (IMO)

The latest mobiles are amazing - things before just not thought possible!
e.g. Would you ever believe a compass would become obsolete?
Yes, my latest phone has an accurate "software" compass! More new apps.
include just passing your phone over a charging machine, to pay the bill!

I have made a simple calling web site (www.mycall.mobi) for mobile phones,
and that's all it does - call whatever you need. It is ... K.I.S.S.?

My car radio is the same. It has so many buttons on it - I cannot use it!
Please give me back the simple knob to turn, click on.. volume up.. click off.
Life was a lot simpler, and easier, and more relaxed, 50 years ago.

jt.

Is it worth starting a movement for retro?

My compass NEVER needs charging!

Hi!

Are they really smart phones?

Why don't they warn people when they use them driving or walking on busy intersections? Many lives are lost or maimed due to accidents caused by careless use of mobile phones.

All handsets must have some automatic switch off mode the moment they sense fast moving pictures or high wind velocity. The service providers have to accept their social responsibility.

Mahess

I do like that idea! Even for a phone that's just a phone, it should detect motion associated with driving...maybe need a sensor in the vehicle (could be on buss/trains/planes) too, so you can tell when it's in the drivers seat and the car is moving...or a proximity sensor that can detect the steering wheel? Or may be the vehicles need to detect the presense of "devices" in the drivers seat? (then what?)

That would once again place the responsibility on the back of somebody else.

If one of those idiots gets an accident while talking on a phone that is supposed to prevent this, he will sue the company because the phone let him do something dangerous!

Also, what happens to the car passengers? Can they use their phone?

......................

I am looking for a "simple" intelligent phone...

Hi!

Are humans 'thing that learn'? Then the proverb, 'History Repeats' would not have found its use. Agreed that a few enlightened souls continue to learn, but majority of the mass even does not recognize what is learning.

The disobedient majority is large then the obedient minority. There are laws against drivers using 'smart phones' while driving. But who can catch them always? Only the handsets can catch them.

Let there be a separate discussion to find technical solution how that can be done.

The point is if the phones report the errant drives, the law enforcing agencies can nab them. In my home town the traffic authority publishes periodically the fines collected from errant drives not observing traffic laws. The revenue collected is very large.

If the phones start reporting, the ignorant humans start learning not to use phones while driving and the rest of the humans can stop worrying.

Mahess

GA; I too have suspected who put this Q? When windows 98 released Microsoft already having Win 2000 but they have waited till they do max business with win98. I have many suggestions for cell phone improvement but just gave only one.

One of the issues is calling it a "Smart Phone" Most of the aps have nothing to do with the "phone" aspect. I am addicted to my Iphone. the GPS maps and contact addresses, the book readers, the suduko game, looking stuff up on the internet while at supper, reading my emails while waiting in line at the store. It is convenient that there is a phone attached, so I don't have to carry a phone also, (OK, two phones, since I also have my Business Blackberry with me.) Smart Phones need the the same as computers. better software, better displays, better interface. One of the things I expect are computers with built in interfaces to smart phones to better merge the smart phone and computer. not syncing, but merging. The biggest flaw in this is the lack of a "standard for smart phones. We are still enough in the inovation stage, that the Smart phones are still changing too rapidly to develop a true standard that would not hurt the smart phone +Personal small computer+ development.

I just want to think of who I want to send a message, then the message, and then I want the receiver to "hear" the message. No keys, no screen, nothing to start...just change the battery once in a while.

For all you guys on this blog (from an engineer's wife), we women still need:

A washer that loads itself into the dryer (why can't the wet clothes just drop like a shoot into the dryer?!)

An iron and vacuum without a cord

A dishwasher with separate sections for each stack of dishes and utensils that unloads itself into the cabinets (like an automated line)

A refrigerator that cleans itself

- p.s. I don't need a level on my phone!

very inspiring ideas!

1) Revolutionize the human interface; go beyond the QWERTY keyboard or key touch pad. Some sort of thought or brain wave translator or some revolutionary short hand information translation.

2) Do away with currency (paper, coins, credit cards, checks, IOUs, etc). The smart phone (smart phone infrastructure) becomes the universal money manager. The cop collects the speeding fine on the spot OR the device provides immediate feedback on personal budget variance ("Dude, if you buy that 42" HDTV, you will pay $5,700 in credit interest over the next 5 years)

Better batteries and perhaps a Taser or at least a laser to blind thugs for personal protection. To replace a PC they would just have to be much larger.