Struggling Daily to Maintain a Seven-Year-Old Smartphone
In the ever-evolving world of technology, a 7-year-old smartphone can feel like a relic from the past. This is the reality for an individual who has been using a Samsung J3 since 2017. The limitations of this device, such as its 16GB internal storage that is not expandable, have become a forced tool for disconnection.
The smartphone's age is evident in its inability to quickly test applications or access certain features due to its limited memory and resources. For instance, visiting the FranceTV Info site often causes the device to crash due to the site's resource requirements. Similarly, turning mobile data or Wi-Fi back on after they were turned off results in the device becoming unusable due to simultaneous app activation and data retrieval.
One of the most frustrating aspects is the inability to uninstall or transfer pre-installed apps like Google Maps to a microSD card. While Waze, another navigation app, can be transferred to a microSD card, freeing up space on the smartphone, LinkedIn profile validation poses a challenge. The requirement to download the LinkedIn app to take a photo of a passport is difficult for the user due to the smartphone's limitations.
The author has encountered compatibility issues with certain websites on his 7-year-old Samsung J3 smartphone. Social exclusion is also a reality, as the user experiences difficulty sending photos in instant messaging groups and watching videos.
Developers and businesses focus on the most significant proportion of devices in use to develop features, considering older smartphones like the author's not worth supporting. This leaves the user in a predicament, as without a company deciding to create applications specifically designed for smartphones 5 years and older, the user may have to give up the fight.
However, it's not just developers who hold the key to making smartphones last. Applications and websites also play a role in fighting software obsolescence. For instance, apps frequently download data, causing them to gain weight over time. By optimising their data usage and reducing the size of app updates, developers can help extend the life of older devices.
Android's flexibility allows developers to make a choice about whether to allow their apps to be transferred to a microSD card. This decision balances the benefits of expandable storage against risks of instability, security concerns, and performance trade-offs. Developers consider factors such as performance, security and data integrity, functionality limitations, user experience, app type and size, and whether allowing installation on external storage improves the user experience by freeing internal storage versus potential problems caused by app unavailability when the SD card is removed.
The author rooted his smartphone to become an administrator, allowing him to delete pre-installed apps. To clear app cache, he goes to the smartphone's settings, selects the app, clicks on the Storage line, and then clicks on the Clear Cache button. This helps manage the device's limited resources.
In conclusion, while the 7-year-old Samsung J3 smartphone presents numerous challenges, the user continues to navigate the digital world with resilience. The author hopes that developers and businesses will consider the needs of older smartphone users in their decisions, helping to extend the life of these devices and ensuring that everyone can stay connected.
Technology has rendered the Samsung J3, which is 7 years old, slow and inefficient, making it difficult for the user to access certain websites or use features on smartphones, like quick application testing or simultaneous app activation and data retrieval. The author's limited 16GB internal storage, which is not expandable, has led to a forced disconnect, as he struggles to transfer or uninstall pre-installed apps like Google Maps, and encounters compatibility issues with various sites. Despite these challenges, the user persists, hoping that developers and businesses will take into account the needs of older smartphone users, thus helping to extend the life of these devices and ensuring everyone's connectivity. The role of developers in managing software obsolescence is crucial, as they can help older devices survive longer by optimizing data usage, reducing app update sizes, and considering whether to allow app installation on microSD cards, all of which can help manage limited resources on older devices.
