[gaius]

The uneducated masses of soldiers and workers are much easier to dazzle

Time Traveler: look at this iPhone!

WW2 soldier: that’s a flimsy looking walkie-talkie, wouldn’t last a day fighting the Waffen SS. Do you mind? I got work to do.

[mmirate]

Superficial; after, at worst, a brief demonstration, a stereotypical Nokia would elicit a different response.

[bluGill]

No, you would be very disappointed. The vast majority of usefulness from a smart phone happens because it is connected. Since there would be now towers for the phone to connect to, most of the things you want to show couldn't be done.

You could use it as a personal organizer - but without connectivity it can be argued that a paper organizer is easier to use. There are a few other programs that will also work in a fashion, but again lacking connectivity the paper equivalents are as good if not better.

There are also a few games that will work: you can really impress them with the games you can play.

The only thing impressive will be the camera - a full color picture that you can zoom in on and save is interesting. Having 10000 photos (plus some videos) in your pocket will get attention. Of course once the phone breaks you lose all that, but still it will be impressive.

[gaius]

Of course once the phone breaks you lose all that, but still it will be impressive

You would also have no way to charge it, it’s not like any modern phone has simple inputs for 5v or whatever.

[ceejayoz]

If only they had the sun back then.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Cell-Phones-Accessories-...