You know that smartphone you love, that ultimate expression of handheld convergence that some would call a mobile computer? It's crap. Or so says octogenarian, Martin Cooper, former lead engineer at Motorola said to have invented the handheld cellphone -- really, his name is on the "Radio telephone system" patent and he's credited with making the very first private handheld cellphone call from a busy New York City street on April 3rd, 1973. Well Marty doesn't like those newfangled handsets. In fact, according to our sterling Mr. Cooper, "Our future I think is a number of specialist devices that focus on one thing that will improve our lives." Words uttered this week during a conference in Madrid. Imagine it: a future where we carry a portable radio, film camera, wind-up watch, Kaypro luggable computer, HP calculator, and Atari handheld... oh wait, that was the eighties.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
carcomptoy @ Nov 6th 2009 4:23AM
That's too bad that the "inventor" of the mobile phone thinks that way. If he had thought like that in the 70s, then we might not have had the mobile phone. There's absolutely no point in carrying multiple devices when one converged device can do all the same things in a more portable, efficient, and elegant manner.
McKlonkin @ Nov 6th 2009 5:43AM
"There's absolutely no point in carrying multiple devices when one converged device can do all the same things in a more portable, efficient, and elegant manner."
Oh really? Find me a device that has a better cellular radio than my dedicated cell phone, is a better portable gamer than my DS, and takes better pictures than my 10mpx digicam. Oh, and guess what, if one of those breaks, it doesn't affect any of the others!
carcomptoy @ Nov 6th 2009 6:20AM
I see your point, but what I mean is on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure you don't carry your camera around with you all the time, and yet on some occasions, isn't it useful to have your camera phone, even if you're not taking award-winning pictures?
Furthermore, when portability is key, it's not always ideal to carry around a laptop for the sole purpose of document editing and internet!
ciphotog @ Nov 6th 2009 7:16AM
These guys are stuck in the 80's. Today's mobile phone is not a mobile phone. I use 90% of this "device" for texting, email, networking, pictures, music, etc. His Jitterbug company provides phones (made by Samsung) for $147 designed for dummies.
Jose @ Nov 6th 2009 5:17PM
Pinches Pendejos