Some time ago, Brian was phoned by his mobile phone company to tell him he was eligible for an upgrade and to enquire if he wanted a smartphone. He didn’t like to admit it wasn’t sure what one was and said he’d get back to them later. ?I did stare at him in bemusement as I explained what a smart phone was and how he could perhaps use apps for recording data (and wondering why on earth didn’t he know this … I mean don’t I talk about blogging and apps and so forth most of the day?!)
We did a little research and discovered that the apps he would get most use from (related to our Kingswood programme which records births, deaths, sales, medicines given etc) would only be available on a Nokia Lumia so he went ahead and got the phone and I have to admit I ooohed and aaahed over it, thinking it was almost nicer than my iphone. The apps are still to be released apparently but he’s enjoying using the Nokia Lumia!
I was asked by the IFA to give their new Motorola Defy smart phone a try for a month. ?I have to admit that while I did use it, I kept forgetting about itand I am one of those luddites that once I get used to a phone, I hate trying out something else.
Having said that, this phone is being marketed as a sturdy smart phone being dust proof, scratch resistant and water resistant, and that it seems to be – not that I showered it with water or anything! I downloaded a couple of games for the children and they played with it without any harm coming to it. ?It’s seems smaller than the iphone in terms of screen size but is still fine. ?The battery lasts well too. ?I remember when I first got on iphone, I used to get really frustrated chatting on it as I would be cutting carrots or something with the phone under my ear and next second, the other person would be put on hold! ?I had an iphone but couldn’t have a conversation on it. Luckily my ear seems to have become more used to the iphone so that doesn’t happen any more! I’m not sure whether my ear and shoulder were already sensitive to this when trying the Motorola but I didn’t put anyone on hold unexpectedly when chatting on it.
The Motorola Defy is free to farmers in the IFA at the moment. Do farmers need smartphones? ?Well, my husband doesn’t use facebook or twitter as he maintains he doesn’t have the time. He doesn’t tend to use email that much either. Where the phone will come into its own, is when these Kingswood apps are released and he can upload information as it happens rather than waiting till he’s in front of the laptop.
Having said that, he uses the smartphone to keep up with news and it’s great for providing online weather forecasts. Where he used to spend ages (and a small fortune) phoning the weatherline, he now just consults the phone. ?There is an iFarm app too which provides market prices, weather reports, and farm calculators, it can be received by texting your name and iFarm to 51000.
It wouldn’t compete with the iphone and I have to admit I totally forgot to try out the camera on it but for a farmer that has a basic mobile phone and would like to try a smartphone, it would tick all the boxes. If you have a husband who is continually ringing the Farmers Journal extremely irritating and expensive weather line – sign him up!!
The phone is free if you’re a bill pay with Vodaphone and an IFA member – just phone 1890 924852
Jason DonLevy
You should check out an app called Farm At Hand. Lots on important stuff I need to track in one app rather than a bunch of different ones.