On Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:30:13 +0100
David Cantrell wrote:
Fine, but that means you're relying on a device that could be lost

That's your own stupid fault

stolen,

As is that, usually.

Thats as maybe, but given that the original suggestion was to replace maps
etc with apps on a smartphone then this has to be taken into account.

have no connection

Not likely in any place with a significant transport network.

It might not be down to lack of a network but lack of a roaming agreement
with your phone company. Also if they only offer 2G then good luck with
using anything web based and assuming free wifi will always be available as
an alternative is assuming rather a lot.

I forget when was the last time I was foolish enough to let my phone's
battery run out when I needed it. Years ago, at any rate.

If you use smartphones a lot the battery can go within a day which isn't much
use if you're spending the day away from the hotel. Unless you carry the
charger and adaptor everywhere you go and hope you can find a socket somewhere.

degree. It won't work when a Chinese tourist who doesn't speak English
is lost in London, where no-one (yeah, yeah) speaks Chinese.

If someone visits a country that doesn't speak a language they know and they
don't even bother to learn basic emergency phrases in the local lingo then
more fool them.

B2003