Recent Smartphone experience that just worked

Just back from a trip where for the first time every my smartphone was actually smart enough to be useful .. Rather naively I have ALWAYS been looking for the perfect PDA experience ... a gadget that would actualy be useable and would actually be helpful .. after the psion 5, various Palms, a HP Jornada, A Sony Ericsson P900 .. a Nokia N97 and Finally an Android Phone .. Samsung Galaxy with 3 Ireland ..

The case in point - hurtling down the A27 trying to catch a flight from Gatwick to Dublin into a Massive traffic jam and completely blocked road.

1. Online Departures information on a browser that was actually readable - No huge internet bill fear because it was on the Three Network in the UK .. and instant notification that amazingly the ryanair flight was actually leaving on time and that we were going to miss it..

2. Next alternative .. back to southamption and flybe the next day or ryanair or aerlingus .. Again browse to all sites find out what the options were .. what the prices were and when the flights left .. Again - It all just worked

3. Ryanair the next morning was the best option but meant staying in Gatwick - Can I get a good deal on a hotel - Hotels.com .. 4* Hotel room for less than 50 quid .. Ryanair support desk offered to get us a special rate hotel for 120 quid / Nights ... Again all done with the Internet, a smartphone and a credit card ..

The first time I have ever actually been able to get everything to work smoothly ..

In the past ..

• I would have given up because the keyboard was just TOO Fiddly
• Or the browser wouldn't support a secure connection
• Or the phone would die..
• Or I'd be terrified about internet costs and Data Roaming ..
• BUT no for the first time it all just worked .. Delighted with that ..