Comments on: Polite Cellphones Heading Our Way? http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:27:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Zack http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12666 Tue, 14 Feb 2006 22:33:23 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12666 A quiet phone zone signal is a very agreeable idea, but I have a hard time believing that all the manufacturers could come to agreeance to recognize this signal, let alone do so without providing options in the phone to turn off recognition. It's one thing for an establishment to control their environment (jammers, or even something like <a href="http://www.forcefieldwireless.com/products.html" rel="nofollow">this</a>), but I'd prefer they did not have any control over the functioning of my gadgets. A quiet phone zone signal is a very agreeable idea, but I have a hard time believing that all the manufacturers could come to agreeance to recognize this signal, let alone do so without providing options in the phone to turn off recognition. It’s one thing for an establishment to control their environment (jammers, or even something like this), but I’d prefer they did not have any control over the functioning of my gadgets.

]]> by: Rob http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12490 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 23:20:23 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12490 "<i>For that to happen, phones will have to know what you’re doing at every moment. Many phones already have GPS chips that know your location, and more sensors are on the way.</i>" The tin-foil-hat side of me is cringing. GPS + "know what you're doing at every moment" + wire-tap-happy gov't = omgwtf. :( And regarding jammers ... I think they are a terrible idea. I just don't like the idea of a person/establishment deciding whether or not I should have cell service. I think rather than jamming the signal, emitting a "Quiet Phone Zone" signal that turned phones to vibrate would be much more sane. “For that to happen, phones will have to know what you’re doing at every moment. Many phones already have GPS chips that know your location, and more sensors are on the way.”

The tin-foil-hat side of me is cringing. GPS + “know what you’re doing at every moment” + wire-tap-happy gov’t = omgwtf. :(

And regarding jammers … I think they are a terrible idea. I just don’t like the idea of a person/establishment deciding whether or not I should have cell service. I think rather than jamming the signal, emitting a “Quiet Phone Zone” signal that turned phones to vibrate would be much more sane.

]]> by: Omari http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12475 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:05:10 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12475 How about something simpler: Anyone ever seen a phone that can be preprogrammed to turn off the ringer at designated times? When I was a student it would have been handy to program the thing to automatically silence itself during my classes. The phones already have calendar programs, so this doesn't seem to be much of a stretch to me. How about something simpler: Anyone ever seen a phone that can be preprogrammed to turn off the ringer at designated times? When I was a student it would have been handy to program the thing to automatically silence itself during my classes. The phones already have calendar programs, so this doesn’t seem to be much of a stretch to me.

]]> by: N. Lauze http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12466 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:35:59 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12466 I spent a year in Japan, and wasn't even aware of any jammers. Over there everyone is amazingly good about cellphones. Then again, cellphone plans are sane (no roaming, no long distance, no exorbitant fees, no cancellation fees, and you can buy a phone for under $20 without a rebate or contract) and vibrate mode is called "manner mode". Text messaging is extremely popular too - it isn't disruptive to others, and it's cheap. Though I think the reason people are going to the movies less and less is because the movies are getting worse and worse... I spent a year in Japan, and wasn’t even aware of any jammers. Over there everyone is amazingly good about cellphones. Then again, cellphone plans are sane (no roaming, no long distance, no exorbitant fees, no cancellation fees, and you can buy a phone for under $20 without a rebate or contract) and vibrate mode is called “manner mode”. Text messaging is extremely popular too - it isn’t disruptive to others, and it’s cheap.
Though I think the reason people are going to the movies less and less is because the movies are getting worse and worse…

]]> by: Stephen http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12465 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:34:54 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12465 I go to the movies at least 3 times a month. I have not heard a cell ringing in the theater in my memory and if people do check their cells prior to the movie starting its oblivious to me. I don;t hear a thing. This is in downstate CT. I go to the movies at least 3 times a month. I have not heard a cell ringing in the theater in my memory and if people do check their cells prior to the movie starting its oblivious to me. I don;t hear a thing. This is in downstate CT.

]]> by: Michael Santo http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12462 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:56:32 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12462 That's a good one, David. I true to handle this stuff before I get into the theatre. Plus, my phone is a Pocket PC PDA / Phone, so I usually use Voice Command and tell it "Flight Mode On". Heh. Wouldn't want to to that in a theatre. That’s a good one, David. I true to handle this stuff before I get into the theatre. Plus, my phone is a Pocket PC PDA / Phone, so I usually use Voice Command and tell it “Flight Mode On”. Heh. Wouldn’t want to to that in a theatre.

]]> by: Mr. Pointy Head http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12461 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:48:58 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12461 People who use cell phones in restaurants, theatres, etc, should be SHOT. People who use cell phones in restaurants, theatres, etc, should be SHOT.

]]> by: David Johnston http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12460 Mon, 13 Feb 2006 18:48:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/2676#comment-12460 Ironically, another annoying thing about cellphones in movie theaters in particular is that they make noise as people either check all their voicemail/text messages before the movie starts and then proceed to turn them off. Sometimes you walk in to the theater and are greeted with a chorus of beeps, chirps, and buzzes as everyone plays around with their phone in the dark through the previews before (hopefully) turning it off for the feature. Ironically, another annoying thing about cellphones in movie theaters in particular is that they make noise as people either check all their voicemail/text messages before the movie starts and then proceed to turn them off. Sometimes you walk in to the theater and are greeted with a chorus of beeps, chirps, and buzzes as everyone plays around with their phone in the dark through the previews before (hopefully) turning it off for the feature.

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