PlayJam's Jasper Smith on Nokia's lineage and two-piece smartphones
Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire.
In the latest version of our weekly smattering of queries, PlayJam's CEO Jasper Smith reflects on Nokia's early device design and dreams of a space-scooting future. His thoughts on those topics and much more reside on the other side of the break.
What gadget do you depend on most?
My BlackBerry, my iPad and a multi-country power adaptor.
Which do you look back upon most fondly?
SodaStream - can you still get them?
Which company does the most to push the industry?
ARM.
What is your operating system of choice?
Android. Nice and open, but Tizen will be interesting.
What are your favorite gadget names?
I like names that say what the gadget is - which is why we picked GameStick - it is a stick for playing games.
What are your least favorite?
Nexus - it sounds like a government agency for benefits.
Which app do you depend on most?
My alarm clock and Google Maps.
What traits do you most deplore in a smartphone?
Design over function. The early iPhone suffered from being slow and not being multi-threaded; it was annoying to use. I make a lot of calls, so a simple phone that makes calls is just great for me.
Which do you most admire?
Simple navigation and good battery life.
What is your idea of the perfect device?
Looking back, the early Nokia phones were brilliant. Simple, strong and lasted for hours.
"I don't think I despise any advancements; even if it doesn't work, it's normally a stepping-stone to something that does."
What is your earliest gadget memory?
A Motorola phone that was the size of a small suitcase. I actually thought it was cool. Unbelievable.
What technological advancement do you most admire?
The internet. Although I am quite interested in flexible screens at the moment.
Which do you most despise?
I don't think I despise any advancements; even if it doesn't work, it's normally a stepping-stone to something that does.
What fault are you most tolerant of in a gadget?
None really, I am quite impatient.
Which are you most intolerant of?
Insane roaming charges and intermittent crashes when you are mid-way through an email.
When has your smartphone been of the most help?
Hmm. I was sailing across the Bering Sea some years ago in a small boat that had engine and battery failure, so no radio. I called the Coast Guard using my last bit of battery about three miles off the coast of Dutch Harbor, Alaska to ask for help - they were great.
What device do you covet most?
My son Harper asked me for a Space Scooter. It sounded cool, so I want one of those please.
If you could change one thing about your phone what would it be?
I would like to have a modular phone where the processing unit was separated from the screen. The processing unit could be tiny. The screen, foldaway and flexible. Smartphones have become like bricks. There is a better way.
What does being connected mean to you?
Work, mostly.
When are you least likely to reply to an email?
When I am annoyed with something - or asleep, although some would argue otherwise.
When did you last disconnect?
[A] 14-hour flight from LA to China last week.
