scrubbedexpat141

Nah, I like the sellotape fix at the moment, I'll either buy the 5S or maybe hangaround for the 6? I dunno, I just want a new phone, had this 18+months now, so it's time.

I only fly economy, unless Emirates want to be kind and / or take all my miles.

Yeah, my flight won't be excessive but hers will.

weasel decentral

You are habouring a bit of bitterness there Mike, so people like the latest flashy stuff. Why not?
I am not that keen on iPhone as I prefer Samsung for my own use but I can see an argument for both depending on your personal preferences.

The price seems incredibly high to me but the market seems to take it.

NorthernLad

I still see the attraction of them - very simple to use and little maintenance required. I've been on Blackberry for last few years because that's our policy at work, but still yearn to move back to the iPhone.

Regarding the price, outside our region do most people not get them on contracts?

mikewot

Bitter? Maybe or maybe just how you're perceiving my negativity Buying the latest flashy stuff just seems to me to be consumerism, along with planned obsolescence. We're destroying the earths resources just to get new new new! When actually your (Scamps) 18 month old phone is, I bet, still doing what he needs it to do. It's just not gold coloured.

jam25mack

I'm not talking about them being interested in what filth you are searching but more the fact that they will be able to log where you are at any time. How many times would you press said home button in a day? Would your phone be GPS enabled? If yes then they will be able to track your movements.

I'm not saying they are interested in you in particular but it's a dark road to start heading down. How long before this data is available to courts for criminal prosecution. I'm not starting a debate on if this is right or wrong, however, I am stating if its possible then it is open to manipulation. It's the whole big brother thing getting more and more powerful.

Ps. If you like Spooks give Scandal a try.

weasel decentral

Sure I certainly do, as my phone usage is reasonably high I tend to get them free for a 1 year contract. They are unlocked so even on the minimum rate of about 40 euro per month it would be cheaper than buying it sim free.

nottmbantam

I had an IPhone 4, then changed it for the Galaxy S2. Hated it, it lasted a month. Went back to the iPhone 4 and had that for about another year. Then was sold on the Samsung Note 2. Had that five months then went back to iPhone 4S.

Yes, I recognised the pattern too.

No more android for me. However, no iPhone 5 for me either, not enough of an advancement in my view. I will upgrade to iOS 7 then then wait for the iPhone 6.

weasel decentral

There was a murder case in Ireland a few years ago where they proved the location of the defendant by use of his phone, triangulated from the phone masts rather than by GPS.
The phone company was ordered by the court to release his records etc. so it has already been done even without the current advances in technology.

newspaper link

scrubbedexpat141

It still works and all that but so did the candle holders than we sold at the flea market because the mrs bought new ones....so do a lot of things that people want to change, like cars.

I don't disagree that consumerism isn't without cost not just to the individual but externally, but that's life and the beauty of choice.

Yes, I completely get your point. It is a potentially dark road towards that Wesley Snipes / Sly Stallone film...Demolition Man where everything is seen / heard / recorded / punished.

Can they not tap into phones anyway? Surely connected to a 3G network the NSA / CIA / MI5/6 can do what they want?

(Will try it, thanks!)

Further to Jam and your point, I get why people can be annoyed about things like a UK DNA database / ID cards etc...why should normal law abiding folk have to be monitored / recorded like that?

BUT

I see the point of view that if you're not going to do anything wrong, then why the problem?

Whole different debate though eh. The 5S looks cool in gold.

weasel decentral

Infringement of your ol' civil liberties I would imagine. Laws and use of information brought in to trap ze bad guys invariably get used on all the people.

weasel decentral

Of course it's rampant consumerism but without it the west would be bust in short order.
Most of the crap I have built is not to further the human condition but solely related to consumerism; hotels, holiday resorts, office blocks, airports etc.

scrubbedexpat141

Yes. Agreed.

But being devils advohelmet here, if you plan to do nothing naughty, it can't hurt you? If you got mugged or beaten up and they used those same rights-infringing tactics to catch the baddies, would you still be upset?

I don't really care, I'd rather some things in life were private, phone included because it holds so much info...but it's probably not private any more and it's all going on anyway....we just don't know man, we just don't know.

shiva

Did you all miss the stuff about the NSA in te last few weeks.

Those ****ers are already in your phones, most Internet traffic is screened, most tech companies have already given them the back door and keys.
A fingerprint scanner will add almost nothing to the vast wealths of your data they already have and manipulate and are selling/giving to others.

That horse left the stable some time around 2001/2002

Of course it's consumerism for me though its not about having a "new" iPhone it's about having a device I use constantly for work and pleasure that doubles as my main camera these days. Having a better one that works faster and takes better pictures is a solid reason for me to upgrade.

As an aside etisalat have been doing subsidised contracts for a while now so anyone looking to avoid a lump sum upfront should consider one. You also have the added benefit of free replacements if and when they break as its not a grey market import.

shiva

Forget the west, without it the Chinese economy would collapse and millions would starve. A pretty shitty state of affairs but there is no going back now

shiva

We do know look at the leaks about the NSA of late