OT:Smart Phones

[tjung0831]

The Ubuntu phone OS from Canonical looks pretty good.

http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone

[dbdynsty25]

I don't consider lemming mentality to be a fair assessment of an OS. (NOT accusing you of the lemming mentality, because you're one of the few who actually do some investigation, and a helluva lot more than most...lol). So the whole 'if they were better, people would be buying them' thing, especially in the US (aka The Land of the Low Information Consumer) just doesn't wash with me. I would say that the main issue is one of ingrained userbase thus far, the refusal to even consider change (no matter if the change is for the better-and that's mostly human nature), and the fact that MS's advertising has been, up until recently, pathetic, compared to the 'bright, shiny things' ads for droids and iOS stuff, is largely to blame. I have yet to show my WP8 to anyone who hasn't been very impressed; I've even had a few converts. And that's where MS needs to really start hitting it hard, and where they have been a little more aggressive, thankfully. You have an issue with Notifications; honestly, I suppose I get that, though it's not of particular issue to me, so therefore doesn't affect me. If it's as widespread an issue as you say, hopefully they will address it. But I see that issue, largely, the same way I see the whole 'Google' kerfuffle. I just don't give enough of a damn about Google for anything they do or don't do as a game changer. As it is, they're playing with a little fire right now, and they run the risk of being burned by their own hubris...at least in my opinion.

I know that Nokia Drive is native to Nokia, and that Nokia has done some great stuff. It's one reason why I love the relationship between them and WP8. As an overall OS, though, I still truly believe WP8 to be absolutely fantastic stuff...it just has to get by the low information/high 'shiny thing' crowd. I think it will.

You're 100% correct in this entire statement up until the last line. It will NOT get by that crowd. They are way too far behind. There are Droids (which I have a HUGE problem with, thanks Verizon) and there are iPhones. That's it now. And MS being so far behind, as well as having crappy quality apps compared to their Android and iOS counterparts is a huge issue. Hell, a program that I use daily, Word Feud (scrabble essentially) crashes 5 out of 10 times I launch it on my 8X) so clearly the quality is lacking even though it's a minor miracle there is a WP app in the first place.

I searched for a random 20 apps I use nearly every week on my Android based phone and 14 of 20 don't exist. Sure, that will improve with time, MAYBE. That MAYBE is a huge issue because developers just aren't going to even attempt to port their apps unless there is a significant uptick in user base. We'll see if that happens or not, but I wouldn't put too much money on it. Right now, I'll stick to using the 8X as a music player at the gym because I loved the Zune HD and now the WP8 player, but then again, I can't get Spotify on it so maybe not. Grrrr.

WP8 has potential, absolutely. I'd love to be on the bandwagon pushing it like I was when I purchased the first Droid (lol) and then got all my friends to convert to Android. But at this point, I don't believe it's ever going to take off like you do and it's unfortunate. A third player in the game would be awesome.

[TCrouch]

I rarely feel ignorant or stupid, but reading this argument makes me realize how little I know about tech devices. It's like deciphering Egyptian Hieroglyphics to me.

I just need the sucker to turn on and make calls and texts. But now that I'm finding out all the other crap it can do...wow

[bdunn13]

Microsoft should troll the Android (google play) Market and find small developers with decent apps and give them phones and hope they get interested in the OS and develop for it.

I owned the first ever Android phone (G1) and loved it and what it could do at the time.

I wrote a few crappy apps to learn the Android API - but that phone never got many updates. One thing Google did was give away free phones to top developers. The new phone would have a new API... Google wanted the devs to stop using the older version of the API. I got a Droid for free from Google.. I sold it and bought two Incredibles (contract) with the money I got from the phone from Google... That is how Google brought so many new apps to Android....

I don't develop much anymore for Android since there are so many apps out there and I really don't like Java.. I do like C# and would not mind trying some development for a windows phone, but I don't see myself buying a windows phone anytime soon... and emulators will only take you so far in development before you need to test on a real device.

I have a couple of really crappy apps on the market still and to date have made an astounding $400 I better not quit my day job.

[Teal]

If you like a good Scrabble-type app, give AlphaJax a look. I play over Live on that one with a whole host of people, and really dig it.

[Aristo]

If you like a good Scrabble-type app, give AlphaJax a look. I play over Live on that one with a whole host of people, and really dig it.

It really is good, but I still get sucked into Wordament. Both are free downloads.

[dbdynsty25]

If you like a good Scrabble-type app, give AlphaJax a look. I play over Live on that one with a whole host of people, and really dig it.

But that's the problem. I've got a dozen or so people on Android and iOS who all play Word Feud (scrabble with friends is terrible)...so I'm tied to that system.

[10spro]

After quickly selling out north of the border, the Nexus 4 is once again available for sale. Price wise, I am really tempted to get it for the wife. Now, the Note 2 also stands out to me ans she doesn't care about the bigger size. Any further impressions, opinions, from those of you that own either smartphone?

[dbdynsty25]

After quickly selling out north of the border, the Nexus 4 is once again available for sale. Price wise, I am really tempted to get it for the wife. Now, the Note 2 also stands out to me ans she doesn't care about the bigger size. Any further impressions, opinions, from those of you that own either smartphone?

It all depends what you want. I personally find the bigger screen nice, but I don't want to carry it around. I'm using an HTC Droid DNA right now w/ the 5" 1080p screen and it's almost too big for me. In fact it probably is but I'm adapting to it. It's way more "phone like" than the Note 2 in terms of usability. Spooky is using a Note 2 and absolutely loves it, but it just won't work for me as much as I'd love the screen size.

The Nexus 4 is really the cream of the crop right now...if you're on a GSM provider w/o LTE, then it's an absolute no brainer. I wanted LTE so I had to switch back to Verizon even though it really pained me to do so.

[TCrouch]

I have been absolutely mesmerized by the Note II. I don't mind the bigger size one bit, and it's like having an almost-tablet on 4G everywhere I go. It's big, but still fits in my pocket easily, and I've used this phone more in the past month for everything from movies to checking out Router reviews in the middle of the store when I start to look at stuff, to my apps running in my various racing games and ones running in tandem for my RPGs or whatever. Not to mention the "family calendar" synching when Jill enters something, or my kids' homework logs popping up from the school.

I'm blown away by how much I had been missing. And I went back to use my older phone and felt like it was a miniscule size, so I would HIGHLY recommend the Note II if you're not freaked out by its mammoth size.

[Murph]

And they're talking about the Note 3 having a 6" screen! Talk about an awesome gaming phone!

[10spro]

I don't think the screen size will bother my wife but at this point I guess I'll be going with the budget and it's pointing towards the Nexus.

Terry, my neighbor just loves his Note 2 and after playing it for a bit, I was quite impressed albeit it does look a bit big when you're making a phone call. I just got him one of those wallet cases and he just feels like he's taking a mini tablet with him.

DB, up here we deal with Rogers which has LTE coverage. Does the Nexus have LTE capability or will work only on a 3G network?

[dbdynsty25]

Nexus 4 has no LTE at this point...it's got the chip inside but it's locked. I think in the next few weeks/months you're going to start seeing more rumors of an LTE enabled version. But right now it's strictly GSM w/ a few random hacks that allow for LTE on some weird frequency bands in like 4 cities. LOL. So don't count on that at all.

[10spro]

Also folks any good links for further smartphones information? We've been iphones users forever and I feel like we're missing quite a bit.

Safe to say it's do or die for RIM. Here's the Q10 to be released next week.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/new-blac ... -1.1135516

[dbdynsty25]

Also folks any good links for further smartphones information? We've been iphones users forever and I feel like we're missing quite a bit.

Safe to say it's do or die for RIM. Here's the Q10 to be released next week.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/new-blac ... -1.1135516

http://www.mobilenations.com/

That site has every OS covered...fantastic forums for each and tons of info. Just stay out of the BB/WebOS/WP8 sites as they are all dead in the water. BB10 looks interesting, but way too late to the game when most companies have gone iPhone for corporate users.

[dbdynsty25]

Good news for WP8 today...but might just be delaying the inevitable. Google Exchange Activesync gets an extension. Google fans (that are using WP8 smh), rejoice???!!!???

http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/30/39332 ... nsion-july

[Teal]

More good news for WP8 devices; Nokia Drive is now available to all WP8 phones...free.
http://www.wpcentral.com/nokia-releases ... -8-devices

[Aristo]

More good news for WP8 devices; Nokia Drive is now available to all WP8 phones...free.
http://www.wpcentral.com/nokia-releases ... -8-devices

Nokia really does make owning a WP8 phone even nicer. I have no idea how the selection compares, but Nokia Music for free streaming music is pretty great. It makes it even less likely that i pony up for Xbox Music.

And photobeamer is pretty amazing. It lets you display the pics on your phone on any web browser.

I've had my 920 for almost a month now, and couldn't be happier.

[Murph]

Didn't realize BB (at least the Z10) has even less apps available than Windows Phone and the Android apps that are ported over through emulation run horribly.

http://www.cultofandroid.com/22017/the- ... -review/8/

[wco81]

You'd have to be loyal to the BB brand or tied to BBM, unless you really want that Q10 model with the keyboard, which is delayed.

And BB has said their focus will be on full touchscreen, so they're not even emphasizing the keyboard, which has to be one of the main reasons people got BBs in the first place.

[Teal]

More good news for WP8 devices; Nokia Drive is now available to all WP8 phones...free.
http://www.wpcentral.com/nokia-releases ... -8-devices

Nokia really does make owning a WP8 phone even nicer. I have no idea how the selection compares, but Nokia Music for free streaming music is pretty great. It makes it even less likely that i pony up for Xbox Music.

And photobeamer is pretty amazing. It lets you display the pics on your phone on any web browser.

I've had my 920 for almost a month now, and couldn't be happier.

Completely agree. LOVE that phone, and WP8.

[GameSeven]

Android question for you folks with it here.

My HTC DNA is known for being somewhat limited in the battery department, but I've had some notable degradation lately and I wanted to see if any others have seen the same or have any solutions.

Running the 4.1.1 OS since this phone launched in November and I originally had some issues with battery drain that I'd isolated to Google Maps services and drastically improved the battery life by disabling all Google Location Services. I could routinely get through a day with battery life to spare, and I would see maybe 2-3% battery loss overnight if I put the phone in airplane mode.

However, I've noticed it getting considerably worse lately. Basic battery stats available through HTC's Sense shows Google Maps is once again the high-runner, but nothing seems to have helped get it under control. I confirmed the Location services remain disabled. I've disabled Google Now. Left GPS off altogether... But last night the phone went from 100% to 78% overnight in airplane mode.

With limited screen time and use altogether today, it is sitting at about 50%.

I have 'stopped' Google Maps from the battery screen, but it seems to come back at once.

Plus it's kind of a pain in the ass that basic location services are consuming so much in the first place. Basic things like weather widgets won't update since I've shut everything off in that regard.

Anyone else do battle and win against Google Maps service?

I've seen many threads on the web about similar, but with no concrete solutions.

[dbdynsty25]

No idea what your issue is, it's likely some "other" software besides Google Maps however. Most likely something else on the phone is trying to get a location for something. My DNA lasts me all day no problem and I have all location services on and Google Now enabled (saved me from sitting in traffic yesterday it was beautiful). I'd wipe it and start over personally and just install a few apps at a time until you notice the drain again. Idle, the phone should really only lose a couple percentage points per hour. Not 22% will all radios off, that's way too much. Gotta be app related.

[GameSeven]

No idea what your issue is, it's likely some "other" software besides Google Maps however.

Hmmm... I suppose I'll need to investigate a bit further then. I'll re-enable the shutdown services and charge to completeness before turning in and seeing how things look in the morning. Worse comes to worse, I'll have to dig through the app event logs under battery stats, or invest in Better Battery Stats or something like that.

Thanks anyway. Glad your experience has been better with your DNA.

[dbdynsty25]

No idea what your issue is, it's likely some "other" software besides Google Maps however.

Hmmm... I suppose I'll need to investigate a bit further then. I'll re-enable the shutdown services and charge to completeness before turning in and seeing how things look in the morning. Worse comes to worse, I'll have to dig through the app event logs under battery stats, or invest in Better Battery Stats or something like that.

Thanks anyway. Glad your experience has been better with your DNA.

I know four people with one and none are experiencing what you are. All four people are extremely happy with their devices compared to their last phone. (2 Galaxy Nexus LTEs and 1 Thunderbolt). Then you have me who's had almost every phone on multiple carriers...and the DNA competes just fine from a battery perspective.