THE CRAVE FOR SMARTPHONES

Cell phones started from being used for calls and sending short messages and later advanced into devices that could take snapshots, gain access to wireless application protocol (WAP), do voice and video recording and even play mp3 songs.  They come in different shapes and sizes from different handset producers with lots of multiple functionalities that the producers try to input to impress buyers. A whole lot of complex things can now be done using a mobile phone and these intricacies have made some phones smarter than others.

        A Smartphone is a phone that can carry out some functions computers can perform with a multi-tasking operating system. Apart from the normal features that came with most phones (calls, SMS, MMS, emails, internet access, chats), a smartphone can be used as a remote controller, a webcam, a scanner, an e-wallet, an e-book reader, a mobile hotspot (Wireless Local Area Network router), a weather forecasting device, a Near Field Communication (NFC) device, a metal detector and report has it that some smart phones can drive cars.

Choice of smartphones depends on what the buyers want. Those who want class and durability go for iPhones, very costly though, but the prestige of keeping #90,000-#120,000 in your pocket is worth bragging on, so those who can afford it go for it. Some go for names and popular brands in the android market, hence Samsung plays the tune for some to dance to, Sony does for some and HTC arrests the interest of some. And for the middle class who desire smart life, Tecno and Infinix have come to save the day with affordable smartphones. Nokia is not left out in the smartphone market; they started with Symbian OS and now concentrate fully on Windows phones. Blackberry cannot be neglected as well coming out with two different operating systems.

It is worth noting that the larger percent of youths find the social networks more appealing. They spend more time chatting through the social networking applications like BBM, WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, 2go and the likes than they make calls or send SMS. So to them it is more important that smartphones offer them easy access to these applications with cool high definition games to go along with in case boredom sets in.

With all the good sides of smartphones and the amazing things we can do with them, their use tend to affect us in some negative ways as well. Smartphones reportedly cause distraction; many smartphone users have the tendency of being distracted by their device at work, at school, in church and even while driving. Smartphones also affect sleep; some stay awake on their smartphones late in the night chatting with friends and loved ones and end up feeling exhausted instead of refreshed when they wake the next morning. Dealing with distraction and sleeplessness won’t be an issue if we learn to discipline ourselves.

                Smartphones have become part of us that we find difficult to part away with for just a day. We get a hold of information of the world at our finger tips with our device handy. If you want to enjoy smart life, go get yourself a smartphone.