Smartphones on Snow

It's just nature of the beast, nothing you can do about it. I have a Samsung galaxy s2 and can use it in sunshine if I turn the brightness up, but as you go higher and sun gets brighter, I don't know if it's enough.

Don't waste so much time looking at your phone when skiing and hiking? That should do it.

Did you remove your polarized sunglasses?  Displays often disappear almost entirely when you have them on.

Does shielding the screen with your goggles, for example, help at all?

Or are your eyes so tiny-pupilled at this point that you simply can't make out anything dark?

If shielding the case works, I'd consider some sort of clamshell rig for the phone, either built or bought.

I don't have any problems with my Motorola DROID X...

My Samsung Galaxy is OK for bright conditions. But in the cold my touch screen won't feel my fingers. Of course when it's that cold I can't feel my fingers either. But I've had to remove the battery to hang up a couple of calls. And I've missed lots of calls because the screen would not notice my input to accept the call.

 

It does seem like cell calls on the hill are either some divorce issue, "dude where are you?" or the million dollar real estate deal's problem. Since I'm happily married, my wife is fine by herself on the mountain and whatever million dollar scam can wait till I'm off the hill, the phone is not critical while skiing. But I do need to call Mom from the top of the Fingers...

 

Eric

Time to upgrade to one of these bad boys. Can be seen pretty well in all conditions.

 

That is all.

You know, you really shouldn't use your phone when you're... Oh sorry, that's already been covered.

 

The only thing I could think of would be to take off your helmet and use it to block the sun. Maybe just set the phone in the helmet, holding the helmet in one hand and working the phone with the other. That might block enough light to let you see the screen.

I was just thinking about doing a poll to see if people are in favor of helmet laws. I'll start typing that one up in a sec.

 

Seriously though, I think sticking the phone in the helmet will probably be the best way to block the light and still have a hand free to work the phone (other than taking a break and going inside, obviously). But of course, this only works when you have time to take off your helmet, i.e., when you're responding to messages. When it comes to screening calls, I think you're always going to struggle to see.

 

I find that polarized lenses often make it hard to read. And then you take them off and it's too bright. Sometimes if you alter the angle you're looking from, it helps. Also, rotating the phone/screen can help (remember polarizing is affecting which wavelengths/direction you see light).

Now if we can just get some more options in the tough/waterproof smartphone realm.

I guess smartphones really do inhibit social development.

I have had a Droid X2 for about a month. The screen is pretty good in direct sunlight. Seems about the same as my Blackberry was.

Seriously though, WTF do you stare at a phone on the ski slopes until the point that it's an issue. I pull my phone if I have a call or need to check the time. That's about it.

 

 

Have you seen the new Casio Android Smartphone from Verizon?  It's nearly indestructible and I've heard good things about it for outdoor use.  

I'd been ragging on that phone recently because it didn't have the latest version of Android. But apparently VZW just released an update to get it up to Gingerbread. I thought I'd remembered reading that it wasn't going to be upgraded, so that's great news. It has some compromises mostly in the screen size, but it's a pretty passable device all around, and having one that's rugged would be great. And despite the smaller screen size/resolution, I've read it is very bright and good outdoors. I still wish they'd make a rugged iPhone, but if I switch over to VZW from ATT for my iPhone, and can get the Casio cheap with no contract, I'd consider activating it on days I ski or otherwise need a rugged phone. I'm not sure what it would be like hopping back and forth between iOS and Android, but it's an appealing thought.

I don't know Casio's product plans, but the next version of that device should be pretty sweet. The second gen GZ'one dumb phone was/is a pretty nice update from the original.

Oh damn, I'm off the scale again.  No respect I tell ya, no respect when you're over 50[\rodney dangerfield voice off']

 

 

Can't wait for my iPhone 5 to push the envelope further.

 

Pretty hard to check the time if you can't read the screen.

Oh, and they have this new thing where a time-telling device straps on your wrist, so its always available!

Yeah, nothing like a big clunky watch that's both uncomfortable and begging to be broken! And isn't any easier to get to thanks to tightened jacket sleeves/gloves. And runs out of batteries by the time the season rolls around.

 

It's not that hard to either check in the gondola or shade it with your hand/jacket so that you can see it. Glare need only be a problem if you're dicking around with your phone for an extended amount of time.

They're just OK in powder, don't hold an edge on packed or ice.

I've noticed that there are clocks at lift shacks, prominently displayed for the public to see.  They usually work pretty well and my gloves and jacket don't usually block my view of them.

You're slarving them, arentcha?

The thing I really like about my Droid is the early rise... helps the phone float better on my hand while checking my email.

 

Ah, but is it stable at speed?  Or does it tip this way and that when you go over 60?