When you look at their track record, Smartphones are technological hit-men, taking down category after category of stand-alone electronic devices:
Cisco’s recent announcement that it was closing its Flip mini-camcorder business got us thinking. It’s pretty clear that today’s smartphones, with their excellent HD video cameras, are partly to blame for the Flip’s demise. But how many other consumer products and services — digital or analog — are being killed off by the big, bad smartphone?
We’ve assembled a list of likely victims here. If you know of other smartphone-induced casualties, please tell us in the Comments section — or contact your local law enforcement authorities. Let’s start with the most obvious victims…
The only two items on their list I disagree with are stand-alone GPS units and paper maps. Paper maps because the portable GPS units are excellent for what I think of as tactical directions — take this turn, drive this distance, etc., but are not as useful for strategic purposes. Paper maps aren’t dead yet.
And the reason I don’t think GPS units are quite dead isn’t technological, but financial: I can’t afford to use my iPhone for GPS because of the insanely high data costs when I’m roaming, especially if I’m in the United States.
In place of paper maps, put vibrating sex toys on the list and that should cover it.
Comment by Lickmuffin — April 20, 2011 @ 11:38
I realize a lot of people are still waiting for the convergence of teledildonics and the “real doll”. (I shouldn’t need to say NSFW and don’t blame me if you Google that and don’t like what you get . . .)
Comment by Nicholas — April 20, 2011 @ 11:40