Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#1

Post by karanganesan » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 7:17 AM UTC

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Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#2

Post by askafriend » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 9:25 AM UTC

It'll get unbundled into AirPods + Watch + Glasses and maybe further down the line Brain Implants will come into the mix.

It won't be going away for a long time though. It's here to stay a while.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#3

Post by croo » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 10:22 AM UTC

Never. A better question is how will smartphones evolve.

Phones are humanity's magic crystals which enables everyone to send instant communication channel to anyone else and tap in the greatest common knowledge base ever. I don't think there is a reasonable future without everyone having his own personal device for this function. Maybe it won't called a "smartphone" but it will provide these functions.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#4

Post by Rannath » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 12:14 PM UTC

A smart phone is just a programmable computer welded to a cell phone, that's here to stay. So I'm going to answer what I think your real question is: "When will smartphones change form factor?"

The current form factor is a best-we-have compromise between ease of use, and utility. I think the next big thing will be the decoupling of utility and ease of use. AR/3D gesture tech in a discrete google glass-like thing maybe.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#5

Post by mortivore » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 2:30 PM UTC

When a better(greater functionality, easier to use, etc.) convergence device becomes available.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#6

Post by Raed667 » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 6:26 PM UTC

When glasses with display become usable.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#7

Post by imhoguy » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 7:54 PM UTC

When any surface you look at or touch will interact with you. There will be no need to put anything in pockets.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#8

Post by 0xdeadbeefbabe » Thu, Oct 17, 2019, 8:37 PM UTC

When UI is so slow and so full of useless notifications that you can't use it to answer quick questions.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#9

Post by p1esk » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 12:10 AM UTC

askafriend wrote: post #2

It'll get unbundled into AirPods + Watch + Glasses and maybe further down the line Brain Implants will come into the mix. It won't be going away for a long time though. It's here to stay a while.

Yes, I stopped carrying my iPhone with me when I bought Watch 3 cellular 2 years ago. The only thing I miss is a camera.

Re: Ask HN: When do you think smartphones will become obsolete?

#10

Post by hamid_ra » Fri, Oct 18, 2019, 12:30 AM UTC

When AR (already happening) and human brain/AI symbiosis happens!