Ask HN: Will you buy a smartphone without camera, GPS and sensors?
21 comments
> GPS is difficult [...]
How about dedicated GPS receiver connected with bluetooth? I used to carry one, it worked well.
How about dedicated GPS receiver connected with bluetooth? I used to carry one, it worked well.
That'd be my option as well, but more as a workaround for a device that I really wanted otherwise but didn't have GPS for some reason and not as "that's the setup I want". If I were to carry a GPS tracker anyways sometimes (e.g. when I don't have a phone with me), then it might be different.
Nope.
I use the camera all the freaking time. As in, more than I use the phone function. For me, it is one of the more handy functions of the phone. I no longer keep a camera on me at all times.
GPS? Yeah, I kind of rely on it from time to time to find places I've never been before. In addition, I have a very poor sense of direction, made worse by moving to a northern latitude and from a fairly flat place to a mountainous one. I also use it when on vacation.
Things like rotation sensors I would rather have with me. I could probably live without some because I don't realize they are there or how they help.
I use the camera all the freaking time. As in, more than I use the phone function. For me, it is one of the more handy functions of the phone. I no longer keep a camera on me at all times.
GPS? Yeah, I kind of rely on it from time to time to find places I've never been before. In addition, I have a very poor sense of direction, made worse by moving to a northern latitude and from a fairly flat place to a mountainous one. I also use it when on vacation.
Things like rotation sensors I would rather have with me. I could probably live without some because I don't realize they are there or how they help.
without-camera: maybe
without-GPS: yes
without-sensors: (without knowing exactly what "sensors" are) I think yes. But I may be using a "sensor" that I don't know about
The camera is nice for quick snapshots of moments, and when someone else's camera has died, it's nice to be able to take over. But all-in-all I don't use the camera that much. GPS: having turn-by-turn directions is nice, but I can read a map and its nice to understand where you're going before just relying on something telling you to "turn left now"...
There are a ton of sensors in phones now-a-days, so I'm not sure which ones are in use to provide some features that I may really like. Therefore, I'd have to see on this one. My initial reaction is that I don't really use many of them, but this may be a false assumption.
The camera is nice for quick snapshots of moments, and when someone else's camera has died, it's nice to be able to take over. But all-in-all I don't use the camera that much. GPS: having turn-by-turn directions is nice, but I can read a map and its nice to understand where you're going before just relying on something telling you to "turn left now"...
There are a ton of sensors in phones now-a-days, so I'm not sure which ones are in use to provide some features that I may really like. Therefore, I'd have to see on this one. My initial reaction is that I don't really use many of them, but this may be a false assumption.
I considered dumbing down my phone recently after my last one broke. Opted for a cheap android as i wanted a podcast player, and a camera to photograph kids
One thing i want is a cover for my camera lenses - i hate that cases dont have this by default. Also i could live without the front camera
why no GPS?
One thing i want is a cover for my camera lenses - i hate that cases dont have this by default. Also i could live without the front camera
why no GPS?
Some cheapest SoCs still don't have GPS receivers
Currently not, large part of why I have a smartphone is to not carry a bag full of different devices.
Nope, those are the two features of my phone that I actually want to use (camera and mapping) because they're useful to have on hand but not time sinks. I would love to buy one that didn't support web browsing or games, though!
It depends largely on the price. Although I occasionally use the camera, I tend to use my dedicated camera more. I have the location turned off. Since my phone is getting old, I've thought of reverting to a dumb phone, so I might.
Definitely not but I would certainly buy a phone that isn't running background processes all the time or doesn't have to be connected or pinging the internet all the time.
Yes.
Have a point and shoot for decent pictures, my current phone's camera is pants.
Handy as maps are I wonder what privacy I'm giving up using them.
I don't use sensors.
I've actually considered recently getting a dumb phone.
Have a point and shoot for decent pictures, my current phone's camera is pants.
Handy as maps are I wonder what privacy I'm giving up using them.
I don't use sensors.
I've actually considered recently getting a dumb phone.
The 2 apps I use the most on my mobile phone are the Camera app and Google Map. In today’s and age I would not spend money on a Startac Motorola or a Nokia phone.
mmmh it's pretty hard to responde. Sensors?? Yes i could live without, camera ..mmmhhh may be (it better to have 10 good photo than 10000000 of low quality, in terms of frame photo). ..in the gps ..no i could live without even if sometimes it's very useful even only to plot a run or a walking
The absolute minimum I need for a smartphone is GPS and mobile data. I'd rather drop wifi or even SMS first.
Camera and GPS are must haves. I have no interest in keeping track of two more devices.
No. Those are probably the 3 things I use the most.
If the price will be low enough - i might consider.
Isn't that a feature phone?
GPS is difficult, because navigation is so much better when you pull up-to-date maps from the internet - old standalone sat nav units go out of date very quickly, as do printed maps. But at the same time, I don't want the companies behind it to have free rein of my location data to spam me with adverts.
The rest of the sensors aren't that useful - the light sensor is a nice convenience to dim the screen, but Apple introduced the concept over 10 years ago and most laptop manufacturers still handle brightness manually, so swiping the control panel down on a phone and sliding for brightness isn't a big deal. The rotation sensor annoys me, especially if I pick up a device while I'm lying in bed, so I have the screen orientation locked. Other sensors like the health-based heart rate sensor on my S5 are neat, but totally optional.
In short, yes, no (mostly) and yes.