The Steel Guitar Forum

Charlie McDonald wrote: I would have bet on flying cars before anything like this happened.

You're not keeping up, Charlie.

Chicks been digging flying cars for close to 70 years.

I'm still using a flip phone. I only use it for phone calls, nothing else. I have GPS in my cars and truck, plus, they have phone capabilities. I have an I-Pad for my computer stuff and maps, if needed. It also takes marvelous pictures. So, I have no use for a smart phone.

I still use the original Motorola Android phone I first got in 2009. At this point, my phone is a $10-20/month add-on to the account the rest of my family uses, which costs a fortune. I mainly use it for a travel phone and to tether my laptop for an internet connection when traveling, plus occasional texting with people who ONLY will text or facebook (and only rarely answer their phone or use regular email). If it got expensive again or I lost that internet connection tethering ability, I'd just go back to a texting flip phone.

Unlike my wife and daughters, I will not allow my life to be controlled by a smart phone, or as I call them, "life thieves." They have turned my family into zombies. I Have to work for a living. My hands hold tools all day. I don't have time for such nonsense.

Amen, brother. OK, I don't work with tools all day - I teach at a large university, but I feel the same way. I work with this technology all the time - I teach software engineering and system development. And I think technology, used well, can be great. But my philosophy is, "Just because you can, doesn't mean that you always should." Similar to my philosophy of playing music.

Smart phone here. Use it mainly for large time display that I can actually see without my glasses. Some texting. Calendar. Camera ( I take pictures and videos of the cute baby goats in the pasture behind my house). For the 2 months I had no internet service inside the house, I used it for internet connectivity and a hotspot for my iPad.

I really hate that phone function. I can't figure out why they put that in there. Very annoying.

IPhone 6+ ....... I use it constantly for phone calls, SGF, texting, web-searches, news, Facebook, medical applications, camera, music library listening, ballistic calculator, GPS, strobe-tuner, set lists and about a thousand other things daily.

I have no way of knowing if this is true, but why do I suppose that the flip-phone devotees will probably be revealed to preponderantly favor state-of-the-art late-model Infinity, Williams, Rittenberry, Fessenden and Mullen guitars? Maybe no correlation at all between flip phones, Fender 400s, Harlin Multi-Kords, Domlands or Sho-Bud Crossovers.

(iPhone 4 and ZB, ZB, Sho-Bud Professional and Emmons Student, since you were about to ask.)

Mostly, I play a fairly-modern Millennium, but I also play a Fender 400 on occasion, and I have several other old steels, as well (but don't play them very much). The Fender is a real "hoot" to play, so neat and so much more fun than a more advanced guitar.

I find it truly remarkable these days how many fancyphone users are rude, ignorant, and self-absorbed. It's worse than a drug because there are no 12-step programs or half-way houses for "phone-a-holics"*. :LOL:

*(my own copyrighted term, thank you)

I have an iphone AND an Android. iPhone sucks; hate it. No back button, and they make it hard to navigate on purpose, just so trendy users can brag they use one. My Android is by far more user friendly.

Interesting data being compiled about this study.

I had to upgrade because Tracfone told me that the towers in my area would no longer support my old phone. I opted for a $20 Android. Now I have to recharge every 2-3 days instead of once a week.

The only real advantage I get out of it is access to my Google calendar and texting. The kids and grandkids do everything via text, and the calendar is handy when making appointments or booking gigs.

I might take the plunge and get an iPhone this year. I hear a lot of good things about them.

While I was in Iraq, I took the apple plunge because of the numerous and problematic issues related to the PC platform. Viruses from the feed of internet we were getting from Germany. Getting a MacBook computer resolved that issue. I was strapped for time getting to the mission and didn't have time to let the anti virus do it's thing. I needed a computer to work when I opened it without issues. More time doing what I needed to do and less time sitting at the computer.

So, when I returned, permanently, I saw it fitting to foster the addition of the iPhone.

When I got to Clemson University, that was the preferred computer/smart phone. A MacBook. Trendy maybe? I think so. Apple has created a cult like following as such.

While at Clemson, I also learned about Moore's Law. Basically, technology will change at a pace every 24 months-ish. Now, it doesn't mean that every person will need that substantial advancement of technology. But, it's there for those that do.

I am at an iPhone 7 plus. Size Matters.... I can utilize this for various needs relating to music and other electronic leash habit forming idioms.

For me, it's the same as for John De Maille. Got OnStar with all kinds of phone stuff, apps and gps in my new truck. Also have a laptop and a tablet.

So for me... The Flip Is Hip !!!

In fact, I just got a new flip last week. Got a bonus for getting it (my wife has one too) and reduced our monthly payment to $50.00 per month for the two of us with no limits with the same major carrier. Cooool..!!

It also fits perfectly in the cupholder in the console of my bassboat and will not fly out at 70 mph. A larger phone would have departed long ago.

Chris "Tiny" O.

Tiny Olson wrote:For me, it's the same as for John De Maille. Got OnStar with all kinds of phone stuff, apps and gps in my new truck. Also have a laptop and a tablet.

So for me... The Flip Is Hip !!!

In fact, I just got a new flip last week. Got a bonus for getting it (my wife has one too) and reduced our monthly payment to $50.00 per month for the two of us with no limits with the same major carrier. Cooool..!!

It also fits perfectly in the cupholder in the console of my bassboat and will not fly out at 70 mph. A larger phone would have departed long ago.

Chris "Tiny" O.

Good story Tiny. The flips are cheaper to replace for sure!

I wish Dave Beaty from Telonics would chime in here. He has a real good story about "FLIP TOP" mania!

b0b wrote:I had to upgrade because Tracfone told me that the towers in my area would no longer support my old phone. I opted for a $20 Android. Now I have to recharge every 2-3 days instead of once a week.

That didn't sound quite right, and since I'm naturally curious, I did a chat with Brenalyn at Tracfone sales and she gave me this reply:

Brenalyn: Yes, the phone will work in the 95425 ZIP code. Base on what you told me, this Samsung S336C is a Hearing Aid Compatible phone. The phone is a flip phone so by the time that someone will be calling you, the call can be answered automatically once you flip the phone open. It has Text Messaging and Hands-Free Speaker. It has a 1.3 MP Camera. You can also take advantage of our FREE 3 day ground shipping. This phone will cost you $29.99 excluding taxes. How does that sound for you?

I know that they have flip phones that will work in my area. It's just that my old flip phone wouldn't work. I think Tracfone said it was G2 and I needed G4. Since I had to get a new phone anyway, I decided to try a smart phone. It was only $20. Amazing price for such a powerful little computer!

My wife had to upgrade too, and she got a fancier smart phone. It was too smart for her, so she ditched it and got a new flip phone from Tracfone, which she likes. I think she spent $30 on it.

I was talking to Lloyd this morning and in a whimsical way asked, "How did you get to the Panther Hall gig. He said, we "You-Berd". I think we are on the brink of a Smart phone for this Mr.Nashville Sound guy. He's still holding on to his "Flip Top" phone, though.
So, i'll cast a flip phone vote for one, Lloyd Lamar Green in abstentia.

I find my smart phone an invaluable tool, and not for just making calls obviously - online banking, currency rates (handy when travelling), booking hotels, rental cars, airline flights, ....checking Rugby results hehe ... my Petersen Guitar tuner, Music player, Camera, Photo storage, weather updates, Grocery list, GPS for finding places, Youtube clips, interent access, ....and most importanly showing brag photos of my two grandaughters :-}

I've found that it is good "filler".

I can look at the steel guitar forum essentially anywhere and anytime. Social media keeps me connected with other steel players. It has expanded my network of people and players that I enjoy chatting with. Folks like Paddy Long!
It cures the curmudgeon blues!

Who gives a rat's ass? Stay with the steel and the music. Go to facebook if you want to discuss phones.

The chick in the flying car was cool....

One of the best pictures I've seen. Hope to see you in Dallas

Wally Pfeifer wrote: Who gives a rat's ass? Stay with the steel and the music. Go to facebook if you want to discuss phones.

At first, I thought this post should have been shut down. But reading some of the posts, I see that a smart phone can be a good tool for steel guitar players.

I myself use mine for my playing. My band changes around their set list every gig or two. Even if I print out the lists at a 48 to 60 font, I can't read them if they are on the floor. So I started making a document with the lists. I upload them to dropbox. I can then use my phone to view the lists. I just set the phone on my keyhead, and have no problem seeing them.

As some have mentioned, there are tuner apps available that they use instead of a dedicated tuner. I personally use a Stroboflip, but I am glad I had a tuner app on my phone. I had used my Stroboflip to tune my acoustic guitar at home, and forgot to put it back in my seat. Phone came in handy for that gig.

I have had times when the band would want to do a song not on the set list that I didn't know the chords. I was able to go online and check out the chords at break time.

The GPS in my phone comes in handy for finding my way to and from gigs.

Not to mention playing break music, finding gas stations, restaurants, music stores, motels, etc...

I think this qualifies the cell phone as a tool for a musician. Much like any other tool we use. That, to me, allows this subject to be discussed. Not positive which section it should be in though.

Richard

Love this commentary, thank you! Hope to see you in Dallas!