Why is iPhone not for everybody?

Readers says the iPhone is meant for everybody. Other topics: recycling, affordable homes, children's radio

Readers say the iPhone is meant for everybody and not just for the simple-minded. Vincent Yu / AP Photo

I wonder why Apple iPhones are for the simple minded (Review: Apple iPhones are for the simpleminded, 22). Let's look at a couple of things that have been pointed out: "Slow-motion video shooting capabilities in 4K". Which phone has that? I get the 4K part. But slow-motion? You also realise that its day to day practicality is almost zero.

Moving on to the next: “The camera, at just 8 megapixels is rubbish.” I am a photographer and I can tell you that this is the most useless statement when it comes to photography.

So what if the competition offers more megapixels? Do they take better pictures? I guess not.

Anete Thomas, Dubai

Forgive me, but as I sit to work for my doctorate in law and politics with my iPhone and iPad next to me, I don’t consider myself to be simple minded, nor do I want to be told what to think.

Ben Adamson, UK

I used to love Android. Then I realised that I had to do other work. So instead of wasting hours just to get the settings right or trying to get certain programs working together, I bought an iPhone and saved hours every week. It meant I could spend more time working and being creative.

Alexander Larsen, Dubai

Recycling should be mandatory in the Emirates

Recycling has great potential here (Landfills in Northern Emirates causing concern for residents, September 20). It can be a good business for companies and individuals. Yet I wonder why there is such reluctance over recycling.

Make people pay for the rubbish they throw away and use that money to build recycling factories.

Otherwise, I think some celebrities should help to promote recycling in this country. When celebrities get involved in such matters, people tend to follow. We could also harness the power of social media to promote recycling.

Leaflets highlighting its importance and mentioning the locations of recycling centres could also be distributed among residents from time to time. Those leaflets could have tips on how to segregate the waste.

Officials could visit households to educate people about the importance of recycling and make the head of the family sign a statement that they would make an effort in this direction. Gradually, make recycling obligatory, not optional.

Umm Sultan, Abu Dhabi

I feel sad that there is not enough recycling happening here, although recycling bins have started to appear in some places. I always carry bags while going shopping. What shocks me is that despite knowing how harmful plastic bags are to the environment, people happily fill their trolleys with them at supermarkets.

I hope the UAE will address this issue urgently and forbid companies from producing goods that contain ingredients considered dangerous for the environment and enforce a ban on plastic bags.

Name withheld by request

Dubai needs to affordable homes

Your editorial Dubai needs more affordable homes (September 22) has rightly highlighted a problem in the city.

The emirate hosts hundreds of different nationalities in many different professions. A large number of them have modest income. So they often have to move out to other emirates when rents increase. But moving out of the city should not be an option.

They need to stay in Dubai as much as Dubai needs them to stay there. That’s why Dubai needs to build an adequate number of affordable homes.

K Ragavan, India

Children’s radio was needed

While going through your editorial New radio station in tune with children (September 23), I thought that the new radio station would boost listening skills among youth and encourage the young generation to pay attention to what is happening around them.

Over the past decade, the visual media have eclipsed audio news and entertainment channels. It will be good to see more such radio stations in the future. Such initiatives can also help bring families together.

Ramachandran Nair, Oman