Smartphones make life easier, which to me is simplifying. Sure I survived just fine without it, but apps do make you more efficient. A few weeks ago I was on the road (parked) and needed something dry cleaned overnight on a weekend. I googled dry cleaners (don’t need to enter the area, it knows where I am), touched the phone number which puts it in the dialer, called to ask if they could help me. Three calls later I found one, then touched the address to navigate there. Sure, you could do the same thing with a flip phone and pen/paper/GPS, but a smartphone makes it effortless. In the dark ages, I would have needed a phone booth, yellow pages, and a pocketful of quarters.
Not to mention zillowing and calculating mortgages while house hunting, a grocery shopping list sorted by aisle (with pics of the items, which drop to the bottom of the list as they are checked off – the other day it took me 5 minutes to load up $200 worth of stuff), comparing prices and reading reviews while looking at the actual item in the store, IMDB’ing that actress on TV without moving from the couch, etc. It is the most useful tool I own – more useful than my PC, although not as essential.
For those who don’t like to text (me included), those moments when you have no choice become not only bearable but easy. The ringer is off when I’m at my desk or in bed. You are only as accessible as you want to be.
