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OPINION

My next phone

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These aren't the phones I'm looking for

My next phone is great. It's just what I've been waiting for.

It runs all kinds of different bike apps so I can take my pick. The GPS is really good too, they've worked on that. It's ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible too, so I can use any heart rate strap or sensor or power meter I want.

What's more, it's properly waterproof, so I don't have to worry about putting it in a plastic bag every ride. It's rubberised too, nice and tough like. To be honest I'm a bit fed up of shiny phones. I just scratch them up. And it's got some decent-sized hardware buttons on it that I can use to do basic stuff, even when I'm wearing gloves.

Also, it's modular. It comes with a slimline battery like a normal phone, but you can whip that off, and replace it with a high capacity battery so it'll last for an all-day ride, even with the screen on. To be honest, I'll probably leave it like that most of the time. I don't mind that it's a bit bulkier.

Not only that, but the back is hot-swappable - there's a tiny battery in the main phone that keeps it going for a few minutes while you're fiddling around in the drawer for the other back. Both bits of the phone are sealed units so you can even do it in the rain; If you're really going out into the wilds, you can carry a spare battery and swap it in the field.

And best of all: the high-capacity back has a real mounting point. A proper, Garminy, Brytony, twisty mounting point so you can slap it on your stem like a bike computer, instead of putting it in a rubbish waterproof case and trying to fix the whole kaboodle to your bars.

So. That's my next phone. Who's going to make my next phone for me?

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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9 comments

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andyp | 11 years ago
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wierdo...  3

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dave atkinson | 11 years ago
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yeah, but i *do* want a phone when i'm on my bike.

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andyp | 11 years ago
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My Garmin does all the above (or, doesn't need to in the case of the battery stuff).
It doesn't make calls though. Because I don't want a phone when I'm on a bike, I'm too busy riding. Phone gets left at home. Simple.

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Littlesox | 11 years ago
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What do you mean...."next" phone.

My current phone is the one on the left in grey.

I make and receive telephone calls on it, whilst moving about.

Cutting edge !

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CycleBear | 11 years ago
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It would also have a screen that works with gloves on...  39
I do think phone manufacturers need to start looking at more modular devices, think a GoPro phone and you're getting into the right ballpark.

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IRISHGENIUS | 11 years ago
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There is a new samsung coming out, doesn't do all the above but it is starting to go in the right direction

Galaxy Xcover 2

http://techbeat.com/2013/01/samsung-reveals-new-durable-device/

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TERatcliffe26 | 11 years ago
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Id just stick with a nokia 3210  19

I would like a rubberised phone though

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Gkam84 | 11 years ago
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You bugger, you had me thinking....OH I need this as I don't have a mobile phone at all....then I read its your mind doing overtime.

To get a phone like that, you'd be talking big bucks.

It would be a cross between these three

Nokia 5210
http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/ima/Nokia_5210_Orange_2010_01.JPG

JCB Pro Smart
http://richimage.carphonewarehouse.com/image/media/JCB-PROSMART-TP909__1...

Garmin 810
http://sites.garmin.com/edge/m/g/spins/810/edge810_00.jpg

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bigant | 11 years ago
0 likes

Garmin  4

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