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 So what are some portable devices or gadgets that their specialization hasn’t been replaced by smart phone apps?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.
In these responses I tend to omit obvious items that have no digital component unless there’s an app that can function as the non-digital item. So, no knives or multi-tools.
Along with the mirror, tape measures fall into this category. I’ve tried several digital length-measuring apps, but none provide and accuracy that I’d rely on. I do, however, own a laser measure about the size of a Bic lighter that is extremely accurate; it’s digital, portable, and accurate, so I think it counts.
Even that laser measure isn’t good enough to replace a real, physical measure for detail work, but apps can replace neither except in an emergency, and even then are useless except for coarse-grained measurements.
how bout car keys
Excellent one! I have a car I used to be able to unlock with an app on my phone; I almost never used it because it was worse that having the key in my pocket.
Great one!