Contemporary phone in 8ACV04

[on:]

In 8ACV04, Fry appears to have a contemporary mobile phone in the scene from 1:16–1:48. This strikes me as odd, especially since Fry already has his eyePhone (as shown in the next episode, 8ACV05), and I haven't noticed any other 2020s-style phones in this season so far.
I presume it's present just so Fry can say "When I go to the movies, I don't wanna have to look up from my phone."
While rewatching the scene to make this post, I realized the phone switched from Fry's right hand to left hand to right hand again lol

[Reply #1 on:]

I think the show has often used non-futuristic tech in the name of ironic humour. An extreme example would be the silent hologram from "That's Lobstertainment!" or Benders tape recorder in "A Head in the Polls".

As for the eyePhone, I find it interesting that it's shown up multiple time in season 8 after a very long unexplained absence. Since "Attack of the Killer App" was less than stellar, they might have been afraid to double-down on a concept from an unpopular episode. I guess Susan the singing boil returning is the next logical step, while the PE crew watch endless reruns of Leela's show from "Yo Leela Leela"

We come to PEEL vivivi!

[Reply #2 on:]

I think the show has often used non-futuristic tech in the name of ironic humour. An extreme example would be the silent hologram from "That's Lobstertainment!" or Benders tape recorder in "A Head in the Polls".

Very true. However, thinking about it, all the other examples I can recall have the tech either exaggerated somehow or otherwise different from contemporary-reality for purposes of the joke, whereas this phone just seems to be a 2020s-smartphone verbatim. Maybe that's why it stood out to me? (Or maybe there are other such cases which I'm not recalling?)

As for the eyePhone, I find it interesting that it's shown up multiple time in season 8 after a very long unexplained absence.

Hmm yeah… I'd theorize about it being a parallel to contemporary smartphones' increased ubiquity if it were not for the aforementioned contemporary smartphone's simultaneous existence

We come to PEEL vivivi!

Thanks for the welcome

("aforementioned contemporary smartphone's simultaneous existence" is a good password )

[Reply #3 on:]

Not for my account!

[Reply #4 on:]

And now there's been another contemporary phone in 8ACV06, right before the credits; this one Amy's.
I guess characters having both eyePhones and mobile phones is just what Futurama is doing now.

[Reply #5 on:]

Good eye(phone)!  I didn't notice these!