I’ve been very stressed lately and have been doing some window shopping to calm down. I’m interested in gadgets, but a lot of things can just be replaced with apps. I realize a phone won’t replace very large appliances like refrigerators or washing machines so I’m trying to scope my question to portable devices. So what are some portable devices or gadgets that their specialization hasn’t been replaced by smart phone apps? Extra points if they’re super useful and reliable.
Radiation detectors. Such as the Radiacode or the Open Gamma Detector.
Binoculars are quite portable, very useful, and phones don’t do a good job at zooming in like that.
Smart watches integrate with phones but the phones by themselves are not so good at measuring the heart rate and other parameters directly.
Mini projectors. UV flashlights. Tools in general… There is so much actually. What type of gadgets are you looking for?
There were a couple projector phones. Samsung Galaxy Beam 1 & 2
Samsung S2x Ultra has 10x optical zoom. That’s pretty much a <100€ binocular right there.
My experience with phone zoom has been underwhelming so far, but I would like to check out the Samsung S2x’s 10x zoom when I have the chance!
Still, I really like using binoculars because they transport me next to what I am looking at and do so in very high definition. I do have >100€ binoculars though, colors look very nice through them. I think it will be difficult to replicate via a screen.
Well the phone is a bit of a “jack of trades master of none”. You pretty much always will have a better time with a dedicated device, but the fact that the phone is always in your pocket is just so damn convenient.
Not comparable for viewing purposes, don’t bother. But it’s good for capturing a memory of it.
The light isn’t enough, there’s ai artefacts, lower refresh rate makes it obvious the movements aren’t real time. Not a monocular replacement.