I have never; and still don’t, understand this obsession with trying to stuff everything we do via the Internet into a device that is designed as a communication device between two people. The idea that we should be able to watch movies, television shows or play games within the confines of a screen that barely makes using it for a telephone bearable just makes me shake my head.

Scott Karp had a post today that covers the topic on a wider range of failings which included a bit on the fact that sites aren’t formatted for the small screen. I make note of this because rather humorously Marshall Kirkpatrick on Twitter said:

marshallk said at 9/26/2007 4:23:44 PM
Would read scott karp’s complaints re the mobile web, but his site doesnt render on my phone!

That aside Scott did also comment about the fact that mobile device screens are too small:

Much of what I’ve read about the future of mobile assumes we will do everything on a mobile device that we do on our desktops or laptops, but even if my complaints #1-3 are fully addressed, technology can’t fix the limitations of human eyesight and hand size — at least not for a while.

I can see cell phones as being an adequate MP3 player as long as I had a way to transfer the music I wanted to because I’ll be damned if I would further line the pockets of the telecom for that ability. I can even see them being the Kodak Brownie or Polaroid of this and future generations but again as long as I had a way to download them locally rather than email them to myself or however it is done.

With all that though I just can’t get my head wrapped around the idea that this is the next great way to play games, watch TV or kick back with a movie. That’s just nuts.

Listening to: Alan Parsons Project - Ammonia Ave - Dancing On A Highwire

Conversation Tags: mobile devices, cell phones, hype