Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Smartphones Flunk IQ Test

Joe Nocera concludes that packing in features is making many phones dysfunctional

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2007 9:31 PM CDT

(Newser) – In a New York Times piece sure to resonate with frustrated smartphone owners everywhere, Joe Nocera unspools a Treo horror story that runs the gamut from weird, intermittent glitches to a lethal software upgrade. After turning in his moribund phone for a new one, and finding the replacement as balky as the first one, he discovers he's not alone in finding the Treo a dud.

Nocera concludes that Treos in particular, and smartphones in general, aren't indeed smart enough to do all the things they're supposed to do. Increasing pressure to put more features in ever-sleeker packages has left some functions in each device unsatisfying. With demand for smartphones, now only 5% of the market, expected to skyrocket, he hopes some company will "get it right" before a lot more people are disappointed.

A Palm Treo 700 phone on display at a Verizon store in Salinas, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2007. Smartphone maker Palm Inc. will sell a 25 percent stake to private equity firm Elevation Partners for $325... (Associated Press)

In this file photo, the new Palm Treo 750 smart phone is seen at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, file) (Associated Press)

A Palm Treo 650 user dials her phone in Salinas, Calif., Monday, June 4, 2007. Smartphone maker Palm Inc. will sell a 25 percent stake to private equity firm Elevation Partners for $325 million and name... (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Palm Pre Gets Big Thumbs Up

Demo of new smartphone has revi

(NEWSER) - Palm's new Pre smartphone is the hottest product at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show by a long stretch, a smitten Lance Ulanoff writes at PC Magazine. Ulanoff heard a lot about the Pre before yesterday's rollout, but was still blown away by the smartphone's impressive specs, fresh interface, and groundbreaking innovations like the below-screen gesture area. More»

You Don't Want to Know What's on Your Cellphone

There's a good chance it's fecal matter: study

(NEWSER) - If you’re reading this on your smartphone, you might want to go wash your hands now: A new study out of London finds that one out of six cellphones has fecal matter on it. UK researchers swabbed 390 mobile phones and the British hands that used them, and found that 16% of both were contaminated with E. coli bacteria—which, yes, comes from poop, Time reports. More»

Wireless Devices Officially Outnumber People in US

Why? Because many of us need a phone and a tablet

(NEWSER) - For every person, a mobile device … or two. In the United States, wireless devices now outnumber people, according to a new survey by trade group CTIA. That’s possible because so many people own more than one such device, for example a smartphone and a tablet. There are now 327.6 million mobile devices in the country and its territories (a 9% increase during the first six months of the year), compared to 315 million people. More from the Washington Post : More»

'Sensual' Phones Kiss, Cuddle

Don't hang up on me, baby

(NEWSER) - Here's a cellphone that's got your number. In pursuit of more "emotional" and "sensory" phones, a designer at the Berlin University of the Arts has come up with three different touchy-feelie models that will blow on your neck, coo, and even kiss, reports the Los Angeles Times . One prototype has a strap that tightens to simulate a hand squeeze and is triggered by an amorous caller on the other end. The kissing phone involves questionable things like wet sponges and a membrane. "Very intense, huh?" asked the designer when he introduced his models at a German conference. He claims the amorous phones are a natural extension of our desire to reach out and touch someone with our calls. Ring-a-ding-ding. More»

33% of You Would Ditch Sex for Phones

Respondents weigh a week of sacrifice

(NEWSER) - If you’d prefer a sexless week to a phoneless one, you’re in good company: A third of Americans agree with you, a survey finds. Some 70% of Americans would turn down alcohol for a week rather than leave their phones behind, and 55% would kick their caffeine habits, Mashable reports. We’re a little more reluctant to give up our toothbrushes, however, with only 22% willing to make that weeklong sacrifice, the TeleNav survey finds. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Smartphones Flunk IQ Test

Joe Nocera concludes that packing in features is making many phones dysfunctional

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Related Links

cell phones • Treo • smartphones • telephone

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Palm Pre Gets Big Thumbs Up

Demo of new smartphone has revi

You Don't Want to Know What's on Your Cellphone

There's a good chance it's fecal matter: study

Wireless Devices Officially Outnumber People in US

Why? Because many of us need a phone and a tablet

'Sensual' Phones Kiss, Cuddle

Don't hang up on me, baby

33% of You Would Ditch Sex for Phones

Respondents weigh a week of sacrifice

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Smartphones Flunk IQ Test

Joe Nocera concludes that packing in features is making many phones dysfunctional

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Related Links

cell phones • Treo • smartphones • telephone

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Palm Pre Gets Big Thumbs Up

Demo of new smartphone has revi

You Don't Want to Know What's on Your Cellphone

There's a good chance it's fecal matter: study

Wireless Devices Officially Outnumber People in US

Why? Because many of us need a phone and a tablet

'Sensual' Phones Kiss, Cuddle

Don't hang up on me, baby

33% of You Would Ditch Sex for Phones

Respondents weigh a week of sacrifice

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?