If you read my Symbolics discussion, it is easy to predict what I will say next:

Since I mentioned Mary Tyler Moore (TV Programme, 1970-1977) and the technology visible on the programme, I actually prefer that technology.

That technology, while impossible to fit into pocket (backpack likely, or briefcase) and also while very heavy, very expensive, and very complicated, the technology was built to last.

I will refuse forever the Apple iPhone and the Google Android. If I am left In The Dark, so be it. It appears that these devices will want the software update, the firmware update, and the "replace the entire device." update.

New companies are omitting websites to be able to access the member account. Instead, they want everybody to have the newest and perhaps the "trending" device.

I have limited my online activity to Zazzle and Google. and occasional message boards. With Zazzle creates money (photography), and with Google also creates money with You Tube videos (my films of rail transport) and my free time is mainly spent there. Also I limit my communication with people with Call. Text. Email. (I have Gmail. I am also going to try Proton Mail.) ... But I will not migrate from one "trending" site to the next simply because everybody else is. I will not jump. I will not ask "How High?" when asked to jump. And I will not jump off of cliff simply if everybody else is.

There is the other saying: "If everybody else jumps off of cliff, would you also?" I guarantee the that other people say "Of course we will. If 'jump off of cliff' is trending."

I also observe others being unable to communicate without device in their hands. (and in many instances, without alcohol and without cigarettes.)

But much more important:

These older "social" platforms still have websites. There is one, "Instagram" (I hate it.) that had only "App" access, but then launched a complete web access. Twitter is a platform accessed with apps, and text messages, but also a website.

The new "social" platforms appear to be "App" only. They do have websites, which only say "Download the app!" and "(We restrict to the newest and the Trending device only.)" .

"Snapchat" is another and perhaps stupidest.

"We Chat" is another.

and

"Periscope":.

All appear to be the "App" only.

I have watched other people's YouTube videos, specifically Freight ("Trucking") and also Rail Fan videos. and a few others such as Fitness "Experts", Vlogs, and India Vegetarian recipes. and etc. And sometimes Independent News.

About Vlogs:

I notice on one of the comments of a Vlogger giving a tour of his new house, somebody saying "Where are your books?" This person had many replies saying "Kindle!" "Kindle Is Trending!" "Books Are Obsolete!" "Pollution!" I joined the conversation saying "I do not like pollution either. I am very much Ghost In The Shell when it applies to Technology. And when I want to read a book, I want to pick up a book and read it. I do not want to be interrupted for a Software Update. Nor a Firmware Update. And certainly not a forced upgrade of the device. And I doubt people recycle their 'obsolete' devices which causes more pollution compared to any paper book."

About The News:

A TV News Channel anchor used to have two programmes: An Interview programme and a Hard News programme. He closed his Hard News Programme around the time period that News everywhere opened "Social" accounts (particularly on FaceBook. where people comment about the news and fight with each other in the comments.) He closed The Hard News programme to spend more time moderating the comments and publishing "Breaking News" (which means publishing the news online because he says it circulates faster.)

That was several years ago.

But there is another news anchor that has a one hour programme in the mornings, and a three hour syndicated radio programme (mostly online) and simulcast and published on YouTube. He is shutting down the radio programme.

I can understand if these anchors want to shut down one of their programmes because they do not have enough time to do both programmes. But they are saying that Radio and Television is obsolete.

I don't need "The News". They lie all the time anyways. But it is very annoying to observe what appears to be the decline (or an attempt to destroy) Radio, Television, and Websites.

and that several YouTube personalities are leaving because they prefer whatever "Facebook Live" is.

If the New, "Trending", it is only available on "Apps", I will gladly do without it. It is probably useless rubbish where people play video games, "share" (spam), and argue with each other, with an extremely complicated and malfunctioning interface.

Is this going to be the future? Will Apps replace Websites? And will Laptops no longer be sold?

If so, then MorphOS could become the final surviving computer operating system.

I am probably the only person who does not like "Social" and "Trending" "Apps". But thanks anyways for reading this.

[ Edited by In_Correct 21.12.2016 - 22:01 ]

Well, you are not alone there.

I have a Facebook page, but only as a convenience to make logging into other sites easier, AND I don't have my face displayed on it (just an avatar).
And apps? They can really be annoying. Today I was required to use one to get a specific "deal", but when I went to use it the app claimed it had been replaced by a new version, AND the new version claimed it wasn't compatible with my phone (which is hilarious, since that phone is still being sold).
Giant facepalm for THAT technology and a big "Way to go!" for the vendor as it actually drove me to a competitor.

Websites DID replace BBS' and list servers, but apps can't replace websites (except for those of us with severe AADD).

So don't let it worry you too much, I don't think we're all going to be tied at the hips to our phones (unless we want to be).

And frankly, I'm one of those Cro-Magnons that like to turn that thing off once and awhile.

[ Edited by Jim 21.12.2016 - 13:58 ]

Quote:

I doubt websites and notebook/desktop computers will go away completely. But market will shift further. It has shifted quite a lot already and w/o some smartphone and facebook or such your not having access to everything already.
I don't have a facebook account and I don't want one. I got a tablet a while ago because I started writing an Android app (with Hollywood) and needed one for testing. But I don't like apps. Call me old fashioned, but for general usage I rather prefer a keyboard + mouse as input instead of touching the screen*. It's so limited. When I was developing my app I realized how much a touch UI differs from a classic UI. And IMHO the outcome is not for the better.
And hence I am sure the classic way of computing will sustain, but will lose further on market share.
But tech evolves, things come and go. Some things stay, some fade away. It's not always the good that succeeds, but also good things usually sustain (somehow at least). I am not too worried about the future. My personal taste seems to differ from mainstream in some aspects, but who cares? I think all we Amigans show since ages that sustaining in a kind of digital underground is kind of possible. That's the good lesson learned from the Amiga failure. It does go on - limited but still.

--
* My touch dislike is rather old, when I was playing with the idea of a MorphOS multimedia device about 10 years ago (my Efika based eframe) I decided against touch input already. Okay, part of it MorphOS not being the best touch OS, but part of it generally and against ugly fingerprints on the screen in particular.

Quote:

I doubt websites and notebook/desktop computers will go away completely. But market will shift further. It has shifted quite a lot already and w/o some smartphone and facebook or such your not having access to everything already.
I don't have a facebook account and I don't want one. I got a tablet a while ago because I started writing an Android app (with Hollywood) and needed one for testing. But I don't like apps. Call me old fashioned, but for general usage I rather prefer a keyboard + mouse as input instead of touching the screen*. It's so limited. When I was developing my app I realized how much a touch UI differs from a classic UI. And IMHO the outcome is not for the better.
And hence I am sure the classic way of computing will sustain, but will lose further on market share.
But tech evolves, things come and go. Some things stay, some fade away. It's not always the good that succeeds, but also good things usually sustain (somehow at least). I am not too worried about the future. My personal taste seems to differ from mainstream in some aspects, but who cares? I think all we Amigans show since ages that sustaining in a kind of digital underground is kind of possible. That's the good lesson learned from the Amiga failure. It does go on - limited but still.

--
* My touch dislike is rather old, when I was playing with the idea of a MorphOS multimedia device about 10 years ago (my Efika based eframe) I decided against touch input already. Okay, part of it MorphOS not being the best touch OS, but part of it generally and against ugly fingerprints on the screen in particular.