Skip to main content

Simon Cowell says no longer using a smartphone is a ‘very strange experience’

For many people, smartphone separation anxiety is a thing. Misplacing your device or having to put it way for a period of time can, in some cases, result in a faster heart rate, clammy hands, and even a few beads of sweat forming on your furrowed brow.

But with smartphones these days used for just about every task known to man — and even, occasionally, for making calls — it’s little wonder that many of us feel the jitters if we can’t use ours precisely when we want.

Recommended Videos

So its all the more surprising to learn that Simon Cowell hasn’t used his handset in almost a year. Even more startling, he says he feels great for it.

The 58-year-old creator of popular TV talent shows in the U.S. and U.K. told the Mail recently that he ditched his smartphone because he started to find it annoying.

‘I literally have not been on my phone for 10 months,” Cowell said over the weekend.

“The difference it made was that I became more aware of the people around me and way more focused. The thing I get irritated with is when you have a meeting everyone’s on their phone, and I was probably in that place, too. You can’t concentrate.”

Far from causing him stress, Cowell claims life without a phone has actually been “good for my mental health. It’s a very strange experience but it really is good for you and it has absolutely made me happier.”

A quick look at Cowell’s Twitter feed appears to confirm his self-imposed smartphone separation, with his 12.5 million followers having received no new tweets since June 2017.

The media mogul is already known to be a bit of technophobe, confessing years ago that he doesn’t even know how to operate a computer.

Of course, a busy fella like Cowell is likely to have a personal assistant helping him with what must be a hectic schedule, and it’s a safe bet they’re not operating sans smartphone. As for Cowell himself, he looks all set to stay smartphone-free for the foreseeable future.

Time management

While many regular folks will be willing to admit they use their handset a little more than they should, the idea of ditching it entirely will seem like a drastic — and wholly impossible — measure to take.

But now tech companies, it seems, are taking the lead. While certainly not encouraging anyone to discard their handset for good, a growing number of tech firms are trying to encourage people to look more closely at how they engage with their device. Google, for example, is rolling out tools to help users better manage the amount of time they spend on their phone, while YouTube recently added a feature that prompts people to take a break from the video-streaming app after a specified amount of time.

Instagram is also believed to be prepping a time-management tool, while Apple, too, may introduce a similar feature aimed at children after shareholders called on the tech company to look at adding more parental controls.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Here’s why the FBI says you should never use public phone chargers
Nomad Base One Max charging an iPhone and an Apple Watch.

When the nation’s premier intelligence agency issues a warning about the device sitting in your pocket and bags, you better pay attention. This time around, the FBI has warned smartphone and laptop users against juicing up their devices at public charging points — citing the risk of malware injection.

The FBI’s warning was posted on Twitter, and even though it doesn’t go into detail about the sheer scale of risk posed by public charging stations, the problem has been well documented. Public charging stations at spots like your nearest cafe, buzzy airports, or shopping malls should ideally be avoided because the outlets might be brimming with malware.

Read more
The best fast chargers for your smartphone in 2022
Best fast phone chargers

 

Fast charging is ideal when you need to power up your iPhone or Android smartphone, and these days, with modern fast chargers, there's no need to wait around. But what exactly is a fast charger? Most major flagship phones on the market offer fast charging, which boosts the wattage of your smartphone's battery. A standard USB port sends 5W to a connected device, so fast chargers raise the amount. Modern devices typically offer 15W power bricks while some manufacturers have 50W, 80W, and 100W chargers. The fast chargers on our list include a range of compact options to cover almost any need, including international travel.
Nekteck 60W USB-C Wall Charger

Read more
iPhone home screen widgets just aren’t very useful — here’s why
iphone ios 14 widgets still arent good

Apple's iOS 14 added a number of long asked-for features to its operating system, including a default way to organize apps in the form of the App Library, and, finally, the ability to add widgets to the home screen. Along with that ability, Apple redesigned widgets and how they work, giving them a modern flair, and some smart features.

But while they look nice, they don't really ... do much now. And that's a problem.

Read more