Author Topic: Cell phone discussion  (Read 65693 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline nickmitch

  • You can edit these yourself now?!
  • Score: 82
    • View Profile
    • FACEBOOK!
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #75 on: March 14, 2020, 09:21:43 PM »
I have an iPhone XR.  I was upset when the iPhone stopped coming in pink or rose-gold, but the coral looks nice.  I needed a new phone and for it to last me a while though, so I was glad to buy it when I did.

I'm actually really interested in what Apple does going forward with their phones.  Other manufacturers have taken up foldable form factors and other things, while Apple seems to just stick to "thinner with a better camera".  They need to find the next sparkling innovation.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2020, 09:23:37 PM by nickmitch »
TVman is dead. I killed him and took his posts.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #76 on: March 14, 2020, 09:28:10 PM »
It really feels like for the first time Apple has fallen behind in terms of design. The current iPhone design with the notch just has not aged well compared to the current age of hole punch cameras. It was always kind of an ugly design and in the age where we have so many companies coming out with stand out designs (especially Samsung) the iPhone just stands out in the worst possible way.

Offline nickmitch

  • You can edit these yourself now?!
  • Score: 82
    • View Profile
    • FACEBOOK!
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #77 on: March 14, 2020, 09:34:51 PM »
Agreed.  The notch is bad.  It doesn't impact most of the videos I watch on my phone, but when it does, it's hard to ignore, especially when otherwise the screen would be bezel to bezel.  They need to bring in the hole punch design.

I also don't like that the camera has to stick out from the back.  I had an iPhone 4, I think it was, and the glass in front of the camera got damaged because of that design, and all my pics had this awful bloom to them.  I've resented the design ever since.  Even with the "crystal" or w/e, I still don't like that my phone doesn't lay flat on a surface.
TVman is dead. I killed him and took his posts.

Offline NWR_insanolord

  • Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor....DAMN!
  • NWR Staff Pro
  • Score: -18986
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #78 on: March 14, 2020, 10:13:22 PM »
Rumor has it this year's iPhones will be getting rid of the notch, with the FaceID camera now being able to fit in the top bezel.
Insanolord is a terrible moderator.

J.P. Corbran
NWR Community Manager and Soccer Correspondent

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #79 on: March 14, 2020, 11:46:56 PM »
That'll help but the other issue with the iPhone design imo is I feel like they went completely wrong with how they went about the whole bezel-less design thing. The device ends up having this weird black border that doesn't look that great.


Offline NWR_insanolord

  • Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor....DAMN!
  • NWR Staff Pro
  • Score: -18986
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #80 on: March 14, 2020, 11:55:29 PM »
I like the border like that. I've never been a fan of screens that go all the way to the edge, and that's a simple and distinctive design.
Insanolord is a terrible moderator.

J.P. Corbran
NWR Community Manager and Soccer Correspondent

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #81 on: March 15, 2020, 12:26:58 AM »
I also don't like that the camera has to stick out from the back.
The Pro1's camera setup is recessed and it's something I kind of appreciate.

Offline ejamer

  • Does he even know Khushrenada?!?
  • Score: 24
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #82 on: March 15, 2020, 09:43:10 AM »
...
What features are you looking for in a phone and what are less important to you?

Features?  Nothing fancy is needed; I work from home, and am married with two kids.. so it's mostly just to have a contact point for business and community volunteer activities, and to enable two-factor authentication which is becoming mandatory at a few too many places for my liking.

Social media will be limited, camera/video not a concern, and it's not going to be used for gaming. Data plans are ridiculously expensive in Atlantic Canada, so online usage will be limited except when I'm using wifi at home.

I just need an affordable and well designed phone. Something new enough that I won't have to upgrade in a year or two, and isn't actively designed to be obsolete (due to hardware or software). I'm leaning away from iPhone, as their design choices tend to actively punish people who don't embrace the full Apple ecosystem.


Bonus points if a small drop or putting it in my back pocket won't ruin the phone - which is probably more a call for good cases than phones. I tend to be clumsy, and really don't want replacement fees in my future.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2020, 09:45:51 AM by ejamer »
NNID: ejamer

Offline BeautifulShy

  • Shifting my body across the galaxy
  • Score: 79
    • View Profile
    • My streaming page.
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #83 on: March 15, 2020, 11:22:16 AM »
...
What features are you looking for in a phone and what are less important to you?

Features?  Nothing fancy is needed; I work from home, and am married with two kids.. so it's mostly just to have a contact point for business and community volunteer activities, and to enable two-factor authentication which is becoming mandatory at a few too many places for my liking.

Social media will be limited, camera/video not a concern, and it's not going to be used for gaming. Data plans are ridiculously expensive in Atlantic Canada, so online usage will be limited except when I'm using wifi at home.

I just need an affordable and well designed phone. Something new enough that I won't have to upgrade in a year or two, and isn't actively designed to be obsolete (due to hardware or software). I'm leaning away from iPhone, as their design choices tend to actively punish people who don't embrace the full Apple ecosystem.


Bonus points if a small drop or putting it in my back pocket won't ruin the phone - which is probably more a call for good cases than phones. I tend to be clumsy, and really don't want replacement fees in my future.
Do you use lots of apps for your volunteer activities or other things for your phone? Do you need lots of space on the phone or not?
Maxi is dead. I killed him and took his posts and changed genders.
Alexis, she/her/Miss

Quote by Khushrenada in Safe Words 15.
Quote
I'm happy with thinking pokepal148 is just eating a stick of butter. It seems about right for him. I don't need no stinking facts.

Offline Order.RSS

  • Resident Evil 420
  • Score: 32
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #84 on: March 15, 2020, 11:40:09 AM »
I just need an affordable and well designed phone. Something new enough that I won't have to upgrade in a year or two, and isn't actively designed to be obsolete (due to hardware or software). I'm leaning away from iPhone, as their design choices tend to actively punish people who don't embrace the full Apple ecosystem.

Bonus points if a small drop or putting it in my back pocket won't ruin the phone - which is probably more a call for good cases than phones. I tend to be clumsy, and really don't want replacement fees in my future.

For work from home I would assume you're chiefly looking for a dual-sim, so people don't call your private number, so that's worth looking into. A feature I used to put a lot of stock into was a replaceable battery, but the truth is the device I had previously died before the battery became unbearable. Nokia still has a few of them though, the 2.2 and their 1Plus for example. (Not to be confused with the Chinese manufacturer OnePlus.)
Smartphones are not designed to last more than a few years. Many Androids just outright stop receiving security updates 2 years in, and Apple is literally settling a court case over planned obsolescence at the moment. Expect to charge them every 2 days at minimum.

If you're looking for sturdy, it might not be a bad idea to look into CATphones. Few of those seem solidly in the brick category, although I don't love their prices, but there's some midrange options at least.

I personally find smartphones really annoying to find useful coverage on, because every review I find is obsessed with details, rather than use cases. They'll be counting megapixels, comparing the three cameras on there, whining about bezels and aesthetics, fingerprint scanners integrated into screens, speaker quality, whether the screen is Amoled or not, Siri/Bixby and other A.I. assistants, etc.
None of these things are essential imo if you're not a power user. Features which actually matter for me are fast charging over USB-C, long battery life, blue light filters, dual-sim, 3.5mm headphone jack, flashlight function, and the ability to use apps in split-screen mode. It also helps if they come with a bunch of storage, since they bloat quickly with app updates. Shouldn't be a concern anymore nowadays though.

Definitely consider size by the way, phones are skewing larger every year and it just means you'll need to hold them in both hands now and they won't fit in your pockets.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #85 on: March 15, 2020, 02:44:14 PM »
Quote
None of these things are essential imo if you're not a power user. Features which actually matter for me are fast charging over USB-C, long battery life, blue light filters, dual-sim, 3.5mm headphone jack, flashlight function, and the ability to use apps in split-screen mode. It also helps if they come with a bunch of storage, since they bloat quickly with app updates. Shouldn't be a concern anymore nowadays though.


The Fxtec Pro1 has all of those things. :D

Personally I'd add three things to that list. The device needs to be durable, and the camera needs to be at a point where you can easily take solid pictures without even thinking about it, which most phones are nowadays so it's kind of moot, and It also needs a strong enough cooling system that it doesn't become an overheating piece of **** later in it's life like the Blackberry Priv did.

The one thing ejamer really needs to look for is USB-C. It's just becoming way too difficult to find good micro usb cables these days that won't die out if you look at them wrong.

Offline ejamer

  • Does he even know Khushrenada?!?
  • Score: 24
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #86 on: March 15, 2020, 11:30:34 PM »
... The one thing ejamer really needs to look for is USB-C. It's just becoming way too difficult to find good micro usb cables these days that won't die out if you look at them wrong.

I wouldn't have thought of it, but makes sense.
NNID: ejamer

Offline nickmitch

  • You can edit these yourself now?!
  • Score: 82
    • View Profile
    • FACEBOOK!
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #87 on: March 16, 2020, 01:25:41 AM »
I like the border like that. I've never been a fan of screens that go all the way to the edge, and that's a simple and distinctive design.

I second this notion. I think it looks nice.
TVman is dead. I killed him and took his posts.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #88 on: April 15, 2020, 04:29:37 PM »
Apple just stomping all over Oneplus's thunder with the iPhone SE announcement is hilarious and I love it.

It looks like a nice little phone for $400 and it's nice to see a smaller phone come out with a decent bit of push in today's age where everything is a phablet.

Offline nickmitch

  • You can edit these yourself now?!
  • Score: 82
    • View Profile
    • FACEBOOK!
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #89 on: April 16, 2020, 06:54:37 PM »
It's also nice they used touchID for it, which makes sense since they seem to be using the iPhone 8 body.
TVman is dead. I killed him and took his posts.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #90 on: April 16, 2020, 07:32:34 PM »
Just a quick update: The Fxtec Pro1 is still an incredible and well made phone.

Offline Adrock

  • Chill, Valentine
  • Score: 138
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #91 on: April 16, 2020, 08:56:29 PM »
Damn, they still make phones with physical keyboards?! Do you use the Fxtec Pro1, pokepal?

It would be so nice if my employer gave this to us for our work cell. New employees are given the Galaxy S10. I have a Galaxy S7 (I think). I still prefer touch screens for my personal phone. However, the keyboard would make composing work emails much easier. The Galaxy S7’s screen is so small by today’s standards, it feels awkward to use. I know how first world problemy that sounds.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #92 on: April 16, 2020, 09:21:18 PM »
Yeah the Pro1 has been my personal phone for a few months now. It's a really nice little thing.

Offline Kairon

  • T_T
  • NWR Staff Pro
  • Score: 48
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #93 on: April 16, 2020, 10:15:15 PM »
Just a quick update: The Fxtec Pro1 is still an incredible and well made phone.

OMG that is GORGEOUS! I've wanted a physical keyboard for ages!

Unfortunately the other big thing I long for is just a small phone, I'm not a fan of giant displays. So I guess when it comes time to upgrade my phone I may have to weigh the two desires I have and see what path I take.
Carmine Red, Associate Editor

A glooming peace this morning with it brings;
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head:
Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things;
Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:
For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Sega and her Mashiro.

Offline BlackNMild2k1

  • Animal Crossing Hustler
  • Score: 409
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #94 on: May 14, 2020, 01:17:51 AM »
So guys, how do we feel about that Galaxy S20 Ultra?

It's what I got my eye on and been actively looking to pickup once back in stock.

Offline nickmitch

  • You can edit these yourself now?!
  • Score: 82
    • View Profile
    • FACEBOOK!
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #95 on: May 14, 2020, 10:33:10 PM »
That camera is really impressive.  But 8K? Seriously? Who needs that in a phone?
TVman is dead. I killed him and took his posts.

Offline BlackNMild2k1

  • Animal Crossing Hustler
  • Score: 409
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #96 on: May 14, 2020, 10:56:30 PM »
ULTRA ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

that's why. (I'm guessing.....)

It's in stock....
I'm able to get a 20% discount and possibly even an additional 10% on top of that....

question... does anyone here use Rakuten?
and if not (they are giving the possible 10% cash back), can I send you a referral code so we both get free money?

just askin'

Offline BlackNMild2k1

  • Animal Crossing Hustler
  • Score: 409
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #97 on: June 11, 2020, 04:01:25 PM »
So I got my new phone... about 2 weeks ago.

Galaxy S20 ULTRA 5G 512GB
bought an extra 512GB mSD card to go with it.

this phone is like a large brick compared to my other phones.
my other personal phone and the work phone were about the same size.... they both feel like light little toys phones in my hand after handing the new phone.

I got the glass screen for the front and the camera in the back and a nice shock absorbing case to go around it, so if it wasn't a heavy brick of a phone before, it sure is now. LOL

anyway, it operates so much smoother, and I have soooooooo much more space (previous phone was the Galaxy 7 32GB w/ a 32GB sd card)

I haven't had the opportunity to really play with the phone's camera too much in an outdoor natural light setting, so I'll have to get back to you on that one, but after having looked at my boys new iPhone X camera, I can only assume it's on par if not better as that's what I've been told by another friend that sells phones for a living.

This is the first phone I've bought since the S3 however many years ago that was.... everything since then has been a warranty upgrade. So I'm kinda excited about the differences a new phone will make, since the old phone frustrated me to no end in it's lagginess and always running out of space.

Offline pokepal148

  • Inquire within for reasonable rates.
  • *
  • Score: -9967
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #98 on: June 15, 2020, 06:34:14 PM »
I'm surprised you had issues with the S7. Phone hardware just holds up better than it used to as far as performance goes. Even after it thermal throttled itself into oblivion the Priv's performance was generally solid. There were issues on occasion whrn the thermal throttling reached the point where it became borderline unresponsive but that wasn't what killed the Priv for me by any stretch of the imagination and the S7 to my understanding does not have the Priv's issues with thermal throttling and had better software optimization.

Apparently manufacturers are starting to include higher refresh rate screens in their phones. It's an interesting feature but it doesn't feel like something that would be worth the cost of battery life.

Offline UncleBob

  • (PATRON)
  • NWR Junior Ranger
  • Score: 98
    • View Profile
Re: Cell phone discussion
« Reply #99 on: July 08, 2020, 09:11:59 AM »
Looks like I should have peeked in this thread some time ago.

My first phone was the LG VX6100.  That dates me a bit.  From there, I lusted after the glorious LGG VX 9800 - The V.  Finally got in on the LG VX9900 - the EnV.  Then popped up to the LG VX10000 - The Voyager, commanded by Captain Janeway.

At some point after that, I finally joined the smartphone/android family with the Samsung Stratosphere, then, sometime in 2013ish, I upgraded to the Stratosphere 2... and until two days ago, that was the phone I still had.  Yes, I was sporting a seven year old phone and wasn't that interested in upgrading, thus I did not think I had anything to add  to or gain from this thread.

About two weeks ago, I found out from Verizon that they hate me and are retiring their CDMA network at the end of the year.  This is going to slaughter many older phones, including my precious Stratosphere 2.  So, I needed a new phone.  It wasn't so much that I didn't *want* a new phone, but that all these newfangled phones are missing a feature I have come to love.  If you're familiar with older phone models (or bothered to search the models listed above), you'll probably be able to guess what that feature is.

A physical QWERTY keyboard.  At this point, pokepal has to be all "hey hey hey!"

Now, there's been a few attempts at physical keyboards since 2013 - but who tf wants a squished Blackberry keyboard?  Go home, Blackberry.  The Stratosphere 2 was the last decent smartphone with a keyboard.  Ever since Steve Jobs came along with his vision of the future that included no buttons, every major cell phone manufacturer has been chasing the design of the iPhone, failing to realize or acknowledge that they'll never catch up with Apple's sales because, no matter how they design their phones, they won't have an Apple logo on them and Apple fans are second only to Nintendo fanatics when it comes to brand loyality.  Instead of trying to cater to underserved niche markets, they're all just copying Apple and doing a **** job of it.

Enter f(x)tec and the Pro1.  Now, I'm not ready to do a full review of this phone yet - I've had it two days and I have to decide what things are actual design issues versus what things are just "not the same as the phone I've had for seven years" (Seriously, why don't you have sticky shift key out of the box, phone?), but my initial impressions are very favorable.

The immediate downside is that the phone has an 8-12 week waiting period to get - and if some of the complaints on the forum are to be believed, some people have been waiting much longer.  Thankfully, I scored a lovingly used phone from someone who got it and did not like it as much as they had hoped - I would have prefered a brand new one, but with Verizon killing my phone "by the end of the year" and their undependable shipping issues, I didn't want to leave it to chance.

tl:;dr  pokepal, I'm on the f(x)tec Pro1 train.
Just some random guy on the internet who has a different opinion of games than you.