Technologies Combine - My phone is ultra sexy...
 

So, I just picked up a new cell phone today, it was time to finally say goodbye to the phone that I've had for the last four years or so.

When I was looking through the different options I had to choose from, I came across a phone that had all the latest gadgets and gizmos, but had two incredible features that I had never really seen before - when in reality it was just two of the more recent technologies developed combined.

First off, it has a navigational program - the phone is tracked via GPS, you can input your destination, and it will tell you how to get there. I actually had a similar computer program, but have never seen it on a phone before.

The second feature is probably the coolest thing since sliced bread. The phone also is an MP3 player, but has can broadcast in FM - so I can listen to my MP3s anywhere there is a radio, instead of from the not-so-quality speaker on the phone iteself. It could potentially pretty much eliminate the ridiculous amount of CDs I have in my car, I could hear decent music at work, etc.

I'm pretty impressed, and a little saddened that I didn't think of it first :D

Anyway, I was having a discussion with a friend of mine and we were talking about different technologies combining and making something absolutely fantastic. Although many of you probably don't think my examples are all that impressibe, I'd like to hear some of your own.

I've always loved the thought of wireless earbuds. I hate the cord and would buy a wireless earbud even at $200+

a buddy of mine has the fm broadcast thing in his phone...

doesnt work at all in town...

and in some vehicles it just doesnt work very well even away from cities.... in my car he has to hold it out the passenger window and towards the front of the car near the antenna before it works well enough to be useable...

That GPS system alone makes me swoon. I was reading about a *very* expensive GPS set up where, along with other things, you can preload hundreds of addresses of your own points of interest. Then as you're driving along, you think, "Hmm, I want to go to that kick-butt seafood restaurant" or store, or whatever. And the system will figure out how far you are away from that address and will instantly plot a course from where you are in your car at that moment to where you want to go.

For me, in LA, with my tendancy to get lost, this would be incredible. And to have it in a phone would be even better, as my phone is always with me, but I'm not always in my own vehicle.

I'd like to be able to program my VCR (DVR, Tivo, whatever you use) when I'm away from home.

I can't tell you how many times I've been out and remembered there was something I wanted to tape. If only there was a way to call in and program remotely.

I suppose with distribution models changing, and the potential that all content will be available online, this could be moot.

Yes, but... can you play any MP3 on your phone or do you have to buy them from your phone company? BWA HA HA HA!

Death to proprietary music!

I used to have GPS on my phone, could never get it to work properly though, and it got nicked before i went to ask the shop.

What phone do you have nosoup? Sounds kick ass.

Hope you have a charger everywhere you go - - -An mp3/FM transmitter will go through batteries like crazy ;)

Does the GPS feature require airtime?

I am glad you like your new phone. Personaly I like my items to be specialized. I like my phone for only talking, I like a camera that only takes pictures, I like an mp3 player that only plays mp3's... and so on. My brother always jokes about the way things are all being combined to make an ultra crappy item for everything (as in cameras sucking at taking pictures and being mp3 players), he takes his Cannon Rebel and pretends to talk into it... I think its funny anyways.

I can play any MP3 that I have...

It's called a Fusic, made by LG

http://www1.sprintpcs.com/explore/Ph...artState=group

From what I've seen so far, the FM transmitter actually doesn't use a whole lot of battery - I've probably had it on continuously for 7-8 hours, in addition to normal talk time, before the battery runs out.

I do have a car charger, though, so it isn't really much of an issue - that's mainly where I use the transmitter.

I believe the GPS feature falls under internet usage, although I am not 100% certain. For an extra five bucks a month Sprint offers unlimited internet, so it isn't too big of an issue.

I agree with you to an extent, but with how quickly the quality of combination items are improving, I may not agree for long.

I'm much more likely to listen to MP3's if they are on my phone - point in case, I purchased an MP3 Player a couple of years ago that I don't think I have ever even used. However, my phone goes with me whereever I go, all the time.

Although the camera on the phone isn't the best of quality, it can come in useful, at least sometimes. A friend of mine was in an accident (not her fault) and I used my old phone to take photos of the accident as well as the license plate of the other vehicle. It was fortunate that I did, because the guy ended up just driving off when she called the police.

Using those photos in court made it easy for her to win, plus the guy got charged with leaving the scene of an accident.

I got a Treo 700w a few months ago. It is in sync real time with my work e-mail (Outlook) and I can easily switch over to my home e-mail. The Outlook contacts are awesome to have because you can look anyone up and click on their phone number to dial. It has music and a camera but I don't really use those as I like my digital SLR and Ipod for that stuff.

I would love to hear from anyone who has one of those new wifi-enabled phones or a durable, pocketable one with a really good camera.

Your phone sounds super cool too, would like to see if there's a GSM model of the same thing, I'm looking for a new phone and that sounds like something I'd definitely buy.