The Daily Peeve / Rant

[iris lilies]

Is the phone an iPhone? If both the iPhone and iPad are logged into the same apple account the iPad will ring when you get phone calls. I’ve never tried answering my iPad so I have no idea if I can actually accept the calls that come in. (It’s an old second or third generation non-cellular iPad)

Yes, Ipads and Iphone. I can answer the Ipads, some of them anyway.

[Alan]

Oddly, I get audio calls on my iPad devices. I’ve no longer try to figure out why that works sometimes.

If you have multiple iDevices logged in using the same Apple ID you can answer calls on any device, that is if you have enabled the 'Calls on other devices' switch on your iPhone's 'Settings' - 'Cellular' option. My wife answers calls on her iPad all the time.

You can also make a call from your iPad even though it doesn't have the traditional phone app installed, just go to your Contacts and tap on whoever you want to call, then when that contact's info comes up tap the 'Call' button below their name.

[catherine]

If you have multiple iDevices logged in using the same Apple ID you can answer calls on any device, that is if you have enabled the 'Calls on other devices' switch on your iPhone's 'Settings' - 'Cellular' option. My wife answers calls on her iPad all the time.

You can also make a call from your iPad even though it doesn't have the traditional phone app installed, just go to your Contacts and tap on whoever you want to call, then when that contact's info comes up tap the 'Call' button below their name.

Thank you for this. I get phone calls through my computer, iPad and Apple Watch. Very convenient, but wiith Zoom meetings, sometimes I have been very rudely interrupted by phone calls coming in through the device I'm having a meeting with. So, my practice now is to put my phone on DND during meetings, but this is really good to know in case I want to simply dis-enable that function so that I can get phone call alerts on vibrate.

[Alan]

Thank you for this. I get phone calls through my computer, iPad and Apple Watch.

Unlike my wife and you, I don't use any other Apple products besides my iPhone and have noticed that my phone doesn't have the same 'Calls on other devices' option in my settings. I'm assuming that's because I'm not logged into multiple devices. If that's correct I find it interesting that the OS is smart enough to only give you options to features you can actually use.

[ToomuchStuff]

So what protects a "dumb" phone from such exploits, as they have text messaging as well?

A dumb phone IS a computer, but it is a dedicated computer, in the way a calculator is. A regular computer loads the hardware on bootup (phone does that when turned on), then the software that allows a human to interact loads next (same with a smart phone).
Unfortunately, there are no dumb phones in 4G or later that I am aware of. The closest I am aware of are the Acatel and new Nokia (that reuses an old model number), that use KAI OS (modified Android), and some startups, such as the Pinephone and the Purism phone. These are all still software phones.

Someone mentioned battery life. My old candybar phone, I charged once a week. Most smart phones require charging once a day, depending on use and habits (leaving things on you are not using). Having good habits of turning things off (bluetooth, wireless, etc) and wanting a more durable phone, what I ended up with has an 8000Mah battery (average battery I saw was 3000Mah). It goes once a week between charges but could actually go longer.

[GeorgeParker]

A dumb phone IS a computer, but it is a dedicated computer, in the way a calculator is. A regular computer loads the hardware on bootup (phone does that when turned on), then the software that allows a human to interact loads next (same with a smart phone).

As a semi-geek I define "computer" as a computer that has an operating system that will run whatever software the user chooses to load onto it. IOW a computer is what they used to call a "programmable computer". Non-programmable computers and limited function computers (like a programmable calculator) don't fit the current definition of the word "computer". So a dumb phone is not a computer, it is an electronic device with built-in functions whose settings can be altered but whose processes can't be altered except by reflashing it with a different/updated operating system.

Flashing defined (in case anyone doesn't already know what it means) https://www.techwalla.com/articles/w...ey-are-flashed

[Alan]

As a semi-geek I define "computer" as a computer that has an operating system that will run whatever software the user chooses to load onto it.

So I'm assuming you're using a personal computer running either Microsoft, Mac, Linux or Chrome operating system to surf the web for the copious number of links you share with us as well as for sending/receiving emails, interacting with whatever social media platforms that may strike your fancy and perhaps even shopping or interacting with your bank or other financial institution. This makes me wonder about your stated hatred for smart phones, which as you imply are essentially computers with telephone capabilities, as if one hardware platform was inherently more dangerous than another. Of course it's none of my concern but I do find it odd, am I missing something?

[JaneV2.0]

I consider my cell a necessary tool that is always handy, and I occasionally use it to listen to TuneIn, but I vastly prefer my laptop when home. Like IrisLilies, I find the tiny screen irritating. I also like my landline for the occasional call--much better sound quality.

[GeorgeParker]

This makes me wonder about your stated hatred for smart phones, which as you imply are essentially computers with telephone capabilities, as if one hardware platform was inherently more dangerous than another. Of course it's none of my concern but I do find it odd, am I missing something?

Yes, you're overlooking the fact that some hardware and some software and some computer operating systems are indeed more dangerous than others. I use a reasonably safe operating system running reasonably safe software vetted by the FLOSS community that oversees that operating system. My computer is hardwired to the internet via a modem that has a password of my choosing protecting it's settings. That modem acts as a NAT router. There is a hardware firewall+router between the modem and my computer. My computer OS also has a built-in firewall, which is turned on. And installing or updating software or the OS requires entering the password of my Admin account, which is only used for that purpose, never for general internet access.

So on the whole I'd say my internet access is safer than the average wifi user and much safer than using a smartphone. Therefore I'm definitely more cautious than the average bear, even though none of us can be completely safe online or IRL.

[Alan]

Ahh, a Linux user, I approve! I think that makes you the third such user I'm aware of on this site. I still don't agree with the stated aversions to smart phones though, even a semi geek can protect their smart phone just as well as their pc. No worries though if you're just not interested.

By the way, what's your favorite flavor? As a semi-geek myself I keep one laptop for playing around with different distros, usually Ubuntu based, just to see various communities take on the core Linux kernel. Currently dual booting Mint and Elementary but have my eye on the newer MX Linux distro which I may install soon.