Taken with my HTC Evo and edited using the Photoshop Express Android App

Times, they are a-changin’, aren’t they? A while back I wrote an article about how I don’t need a watch anymore because my cell phone had taken that job over.  I think the same has happened in many people’s lives.  Today I can see a similar trend when it comes to picture taking.  When all you are looking for is a quick, point-and-shoot camera, people are moving towards not carrying an extra electronic device and just using their cell phone’s camera.

OK, I know there are some limitations when it comes to moving away from the point-and-shoot cameras, such as optical zooming, but the convenience of the cell phone camera wins over in many cases.  This is because of the improvements in cell phones and their picture taking features.  Here are a few reasons my phone has taken away my desire to pick up my ol’ point-and-shoot:

1. One less device – One less device means less bulk, less batteries, and one less item to worry about damaging or being stolen.  One less device also means less fumbling when a quick pic needs to be taken.
2. Easy sharing – Now with my phone I can very quickly, drop it in my Drop Box folder, post it on Facebook, Twitter, and even my WordPress site in just a few seconds.  Even with my old phone I could MMS my photos either to my email address or even my Posterous site.  All this means freedom from messing with uploading via a USB cable or switching in and out memory cards or sticks.  ”You cannot take my freedom!”
3. On-the fly editing – With many phones these days you can do some quick tweaking right from your phone.  There’s even an app that Photoshop puts out for free that makes many tweaks even easier.
4. I’m sure there are more reasons so if you can think of any more, post in the comments!

Like I said, cell phones obviously cannot take over the whole photography scene, especially when you get past the point-and-shoot category.  In fact, some day I would LOVE to get into photography as a hobby.  One problem for me is the cost of real digital SLR cameras.  I guess I wouldn’t mind learning a bit before investing all of that money.  ShopWiki has some guides worth looking at:

• Cameras and photography
• Digital cameras (in general)
• Digital SLR cameras

Another resource I have enjoyed trickling through is Digital Photography School run by Darren Rowse (who also runs ProBlogger.net).

Basically it comes down to your needs. Do you need some of the features only available on the SLRs?  Do you need only the features available on point-and-shoot cameras?  Or is the convenience of the cell phone camera good enough for you?  Oh, this sounds like another poll question doesn’t it?  How about it?

(this poll will allow multiple answers so you can explain in the comments)

A few weeks back I finally ventured off the beaten Verizon path and signed a contract with Sprint for my new wireless carrier.  I was a bit apprehensive because I had come to trust Verizon’s coverage in my area but since I was looking for an affordable unlimited data plan and since Sprint offered my free roaming off of Verizon’s towers, I caved.

Since I went with Sprint, I had the option to get the HTC Evo, which happens to be an Android touch-screen with a formidably sized screen.  Not ever owning a touch-screen, again I was apprehensive.  Nevertheless I brought my new Evo home.

Once I got used to typing on a touch-screen, my phone life has changed quite a bit.  In fact, my internet life has changed quite a bit also.  I’m finding myself doing quite a few tasks (like email and social media updating) with my phone instead of having to sit at my computer.

Today I am seeing how feasible blogging is from my phone.  Typing obviously takes a bit longer but I am wondering how freeing it can become.  Obviously some of my major posts will still require some one-on-one desktop or laptop time, but the shorter day-to-day tidbits and even photo posts can probably be done via my Android.

Let’s not get too ahead of myself and see how this goes.  This being my first post done totally on my Android, what are your thoughts?  Do you ever blog via your mobile phone?  What activities in your life has your mobile phone drastically changed (ie, email, social media, blogging)?  I’m kind of curious.

Image credits: original posting

The other day someone stopped me to ask me for the time.  I did the funniest thing, something I apparently ALWAYS do when someone asks me what the time is but I never really think about it.  I stopped and checked my cell phone!  In the last ten years my cell phone has replaced any form of watch in my life!  How did this happen?  I’m not really sure but it is interesting… to me.

I do remember the days of wearing a watch.  I remember having various types through my childhood.  I remember having that sweaty mark underneath the plastic wrist band.  I remember having that “farmer’s tan” of sorts from having no sun exposure on my wrist.  I remember replacing those tiny batteries that were never easy to get to.  And, the most annoying part, I remember having to set the time… MANUALLY.

Image by alexkerhead via Flickr

My days of wrist watch wearing did finally come to an end.  It was probably with my first cell phone.  Man, the cell phone just makes everything easier, doesn’t it?  Time isn’t just kept, it’s held in the palm of your hand!  No nuisance of strapping something to your wrist.  No changing tiny batteries!  And no manually setting the time!  Cell phones even change with daylight savings time!  Basically, we carry them around anyway so there’s no reason to having a separate time-keeping device taking up space in your life!

This is really not all that new, cell phones have been in the hands of the everyday person for quite some time.  In fact, it dawned on me the other day how pervasive they have actually become in today’s culture.  Today, ANYONE can afford to carry some type of cell phone.  These days, even those who abhor technology, the Internet, and almost anything electronic (you know the type) break down and carry cell phones, whether or not they know how to use them!  The purpose of this post is just to give a proverbial “farewell” to the age of the watch and to give the well belated “welcome” to the age of our beloved digital pocket watch, the cell phone!

Image via Wikipedia

Am I off my rocker?  Let me know!  Do you wear a watch and are offended by my opinion?  Let me know!  I don’t care, I’ll probably just delete the comment anyway (just kidding, of course)!