Before David Pogue wrote his review of the Droid, he had trouble deciding what to call the device. He argued that “smartphone” is an outdated label for the “iPhone-like” devices coming out and so he looked for a new one.
Our Jason Chen discussed this issue in the past and coined the term “com,” but here’s Pogue’s take:
https://gizmodo.com/smartphone-is-a-dumb-word-we-need-a-new-name-5061705
What should we call these iPhone-like, touch screen Wi-Fi phones with music and video, real Web browsers, e-mail, sensors (light, tilt, location, proximity), and, above all, app stores? These machines can download thousands of free or cheap add-on programs – “apps” – and become GPS units, musical instruments and medical equipment.
“Smartphone” is too limited. A smartphone is a cellphone with e-mail – an old BlackBerry, a Blackjack, maybe a Treo. This new category – somewhere between cellphones and laptops, or even beyond them – deserves a name of its own.
I invited suggestions on Twitter. The best came from @mentalworkout: “app phone.” Bingo. Apps distinguish iPhonish phones from mere smartphones, so “app phones” it is.
I disagree with both Chen and Pogue and prefer to think of the gadgets as “Things I Can’t Live Without,” but what do you think they should be called? [NY Times]
