Post #415,445
11/11/16 11:29:38 PM
11/11/16 11:48:08 PM
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Decided I just can't do it. New T-Mobile $330 LG V10 looks like a possible winner.
The Pixel is still out of stock with no indication of it becoming available (some are saying December). It's just too much money, and there are rumors that next year's Pixel 2 model will be "so much better!" :-/ The LG V20 is too expensive, too. So, I was looking at Spectrum Gateway again for what works on T-Mobile. I want either a branded T-Mobile phone or something that has been verified to be fully compatible with Band 12 (including WiFi calling and VoLTE) when unlocked. I don't want to be forced to buy a new service plan. I checked out eBay and Swappa. I don't want a used or "refurbished" phone - there are too many potential issues... And B&H. And what did I find at B&H? LG V10 H901 - T-Mobile Branded, Unlocked for $330. Snapdragon 808, 4 GB RAM, 32 64 GB/microSDHC, removable battery, 5.7" 1440 screen, good camera, great audio, unlocked. (Dunno why B&H says 32 GB when it has 64 GB.) Lots of people screech about "bootloops" and other issues with LG phones, but I've never had that issue with this LG Nexus 4. It's worked very well for a long time (unless it gets hot, and unless the battery gets very low). This LG V10 is really, really, really tempting and I may order one Saturday evening (their cart is locked on the sabbath). It should work very well for me for a year (or two). (It's supposed to get Android Nougat in February or so.) What gives me a little pause is it is big - much, much bigger than my Nexus 4. But I want a bigger phone, and I don't/can't texting or do most other things on my Nexus 4 one-handed so that's not really an issue. If it doesn't fit my shirt pockets, we'll I'll live with it. It has gotten several very good reviews. The 1440 screen is apparently a bit of a battery hog, but that's not unexpected. And I already have to charge my 720 p Nexus 4 during the day most days (apparently because it keeps trying to find the network, and because the battery seems to fall off a cliff after about 50% remains), so it can't be worse. ;-) I haven't had the advantages of having a Nexus device for a while (it's still on 5), but apparently the LG skin isn't horrible (and may be better under 7). I can put up with a lot for a year or two. ;-) Another "complication" is that the Nexus 4 uses a micro-SIM while the V10 uses a nano-SIM. So I'll have to figure out what to do about that (many new SIM kits come pre-activated and I don't want that...). I guess I'll be doing surgery unless the T-Mobile kit came with a nano cutout already. I'll keep looking, but I'm very much leaning toward getting it at the moment... If I get it, I'll try to find the time to post a timely review. [edit:] Storage size is 64 GB, not 32 GB. Cheers, Scott.
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Post #415,449
11/12/16 10:35:20 AM
11/12/16 10:35:20 AM
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New ones at eBay for $280.
eBayI'm probably still going with B-H because they include a 1 year warranty (and the eBay place only as a 30 day return policy, with possible 20% restocking fee). Cheers, Scott.
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Post #415,522
11/16/16 8:21:33 PM
11/16/16 8:21:33 PM
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It arrived today.
I'm letting it warm up to room temperature now. I'll begin charging it in an hour or so.
I've decided to get a SIM cutter rather than trying to do it myself. And I've got to make sure everything is backed up and that I know how to restore stuff on the Nexus 4 to the new box (this is only my 2nd Android phone).
So, I'm not going to mess with it until late Friday. Anticipation!!
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #415,525
11/16/16 8:50:45 PM
11/16/16 8:50:45 PM
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when I get a new, the local tmobile store is happy to put a sim in for me free
always look out for number one and don't step in number two
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Post #415,550
11/17/16 8:42:08 PM
11/17/16 8:42:08 PM
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Good to know.
I haven't had the greatest luck with trying new SIMs (e.g. a couple I got for Europe trips), and I don't want to mess up my plan.
Just another day or so!
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #415,551
11/17/16 8:56:46 PM
11/17/16 8:56:46 PM
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they are as competent with their products as the applestore folks with theirs
always look out for number one and don't step in number two
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Post #415,563
11/19/16 7:29:50 PM
11/19/16 7:29:50 PM
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Bah. The cutter, etc., won't arrive until Monday. Grr...
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Post #415,564
11/19/16 8:57:11 PM
11/19/16 8:57:11 PM
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Patience, Grasshopper! :)
Alex
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
-- Isaac Asimov
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Post #415,597
11/22/16 11:22:28 AM
11/22/16 11:22:28 AM
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Initial thoughts.
I got the phone from B&H (with the 2 year drop warranty), and an Obliq Flex Pro black rubber case, a Tech Armor glass protection screen, a $40 128 GB Samsung Evo Select SD card (80 MB/s read, 20 MB/s write) from Amazon. The memory isn't the latest and fastest, but I can't see the need to spend $1/GB for the latest until I know I need it.
I backed up thing with Google and transferred them with it, with LG Backup, and via copying things to the PC (Pimlical has to be transferred manually). It generally went fine (all my texts were transferred, apps too), but the "copy to PC then copy to new phone" thing occasionally burped with some generic error. Avatars for my SMS contacts weren't transferred, nor were my wallpapers - I've got to figure out how to get those over.
If I had NFC on the Nexus 4, apparently the transfer would have been more straightforward. An argument for not waiting too long to upgrade to a different phone.
Cutting the micro SIM down to a nano SIM was easy. I just had to take my time and use the metal standard to micro adapter in the cutter. I used a YouTube video for confirmation on how to insert the cards.
The back comes off easily (lots of little snappers) and snaps into place securely.
The phone is quite a change from my Nexus 4. About the same width, substantially longer, substantially thinner. It has no buttons on the side ("How do I turn this thing on??") There are up/down buttons outside the rear center button for adjusting volume, etc., as appropriate.
I haven't set up the fingerprint sensor yet - some say one should do it after a case is on. It apparently works with hand contact to the metal bars on the sides, but we'll have to see about that.
It boots to a T-Mobile screen and tones. The white isn't perfectly uniform on the screen, but it's not annoyingly nonuniform.
It came with Android 5.1.1 but after installing the SIM I see that T-Mobile has 6.x available for it (it apparently decides on its own when to install it).
I get much better reception with it than with my Nexus 4. Unsurprisingly. :-)
It fits easily in my shirt pocket, even with the case. It sticks out a little over an inch from the top of the pocket (on this shirt, anyway).
I used it with Google Maps on the way in this AM. I couldn't figure out how to turn off the voice directions (didn't know about the up/down buttons on the back yet).
A free sound pressure meter works properly with it. On the Nexus 4 it pegs at 80 dB. Here it works for levels much higher than that, as it should.
So far, I'm very happy. I haven't done much with it yet, but it seems like a great bargain at $320 (+ whatever accessories, warranty, etc., you want).
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #415,613
11/22/16 2:59:04 PM
11/22/16 2:59:04 PM
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heh, just got a new t-mobile android phone
alcatel PIXI4 4G LTE makes phone calls texts and does intarwebb $19.95 all in NIB :-) always look out for number one and don't step in number two
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Post #415,614
11/22/16 3:21:46 PM
11/22/16 3:21:46 PM
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:-) Rub it in. ;-)
I don't get phones very often and want it to last a while. I'm happy.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #415,623
11/22/16 4:48:57 PM
11/22/16 4:48:57 PM
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Any privacy concerns with Assistant on your part?
Snowden certainly is no fan. bcnu,
Mikem
I think religion should be treated with ridicule, hatred and contempt. And I claim that right.
Christopher Hitchens.
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Post #415,625
11/22/16 5:15:34 PM
11/22/16 5:15:34 PM
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Not yet.
I haven't used any of the "Ok, Google" stuff in the past - I assume the Assistant is just a fancied-up version of that.
I'm almost always around a bunch of noise, so I don't really see the benefit of trying to yell at my phone or some gadget in the house, yet. My past interactions with voice recognition have almost always been less than satisfactory.
E.g. being at an airport, calling an airline and getting some voice system while some announcement comes on and confuses the system. :-/
I recall someone doing a thought experiment of being on TV for New Year's (or something) and yelling out "Hey Siri, What's the best way to ...!" and trying to crash Apple's servers that way.
I don't worry about the privacy stuff. There are enough important things to worry about as it is...
YMMV.
Cheers,
Scott.
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Post #415,626
11/22/16 5:36:43 PM
11/22/16 5:36:43 PM
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Voice recognition is vastly better in my new phone
Don't know if it's the hardware or the software. I suspect recognition is happening locally now, based on the speed.
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Post #415,627
11/22/16 6:03:01 PM
11/22/16 6:03:02 PM
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Agreed (vastly better) for my G6
Not sure about the local statement. My vr has problems as I drive away from my house, and wifi data disappears. 3 seconds later it works again when my non wifi data connection firms up.
I actually test to see how quietly spoken, quickly (running words together), and in heavy wind noise it will work. And am amazed how well it deals with it. The visual shows a series of mistakes and then it corrects itself, showing it understands not just the sounds I make but the context in which they make sense.
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Post #415,629
11/22/16 7:36:55 PM
11/22/16 7:36:55 PM
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Did some looking
Found this note on StackOverflow.
"From what I can establish, Google tests the availability of a connection prior to deciding whether to use offline or online recognition. If a connection is available initially but is lost prior to the response, Google will supply a connection error, it won’t fall-back to offline."
That seems to describe your testing.
And I just tested, VR works in airplane mode.
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Post #415,630
11/22/16 7:47:21 PM
11/22/16 7:47:21 PM
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Thanks
While it works offline, I bet it doesn't work as well. For the vast majority of use (set alarm, launch known program, etc), local should be ok. But when doing complex dictation, I ASSUME online (with deep context analysis) would have an edge.
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Post #415,631
11/22/16 8:41:41 PM
11/22/16 8:41:41 PM
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Yeah, online is actually faster
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Post #415,670
11/25/16 3:23:11 AM
11/25/16 3:23:11 AM
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Privacy is the least of your worries on Android
The massive shambling shitshow that is the security and updates situation, that's your big worry.
/flees
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Post #415,825
12/2/16 2:49:37 PM
12/2/16 2:49:37 PM
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Re: Privacy is the least of your worries on Android
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Post #415,832
12/3/16 2:36:30 AM
12/3/16 2:36:30 AM
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Re: Privacy is the least of your worries on Android
Good point, although that's iPad-specific.
The issue is really the update situation, and it's two-fold*:
1. Even Nexus devices don't get OS updates for long enough - basically every Android device on the planet drops off the support roadmap after about two years
2. Carriers are chiselling grasping bastards
3. Vendors are chiselling grasping bastards
4. Google can't or won't use the Google Play Services agreement to circumvent 2 and 3 (e.g. by enforcing a rational Android OS update programme)
There's lots wrong with Apple, of course, but 2 and 3, whilst still true, don't prevent updates from getting to my phone.
There's a hypothetical 5, too - the ability to tick the box that says "use unknown app sources" or whatever it's called. I'm pretty sure most people who do that in order to get App X on their phone aren't fully cognisant of the implications, and there's piss-all Google can do (short of having real-time dynamic app security analytics including static analysis - basically the security audit that's done as part of accepting apps into the Play Store - built into Android itself) to protect people.
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Post #415,683
11/27/16 2:54:55 PM
11/27/16 2:54:55 PM
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Down to $300 at B&H now.
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