I've heard great things about the G4. Android is definitely different than iOS, but you should be able to pick it up pretty quick. Be careful going down the rabbit hole that is customization though. Tons of options available, depending on what you're looking for.
Speaking of, is there still a list of recommended Android apps around? I think there used to be one in the Android thread at one point.
Nah, blackberry seems on life support. I won't be getting a phone by them until they at least survive another product cycle.
LG... How is their android update policy? At least sony is pretty good in that regard, they will update all phones to marshmallow back to the z2 and will release android sources for many older phones.
had to factory reset my nexus 9. OTA 6.0 broke it. corrupted the launcher somehow, it gets stuck in an infinite loop of "settings has stopped" on the lock screen and can't proceed forward. tried reapplying the 6.0 update and wiping the cache partition and still ended up at the same place.
hoping the reset solves it
edit: oh good - that only made it worse.
now what?
you could flash the factory image.
is that not what the factory reset is?
my bootloader is still locked, so I'm not 100% on what my options are here. I haven't delved deeply into flashing anything on android devices before.
EDIT: and it's not quite just a factory reset. Think of it like formatting a hard drive and re-installing windows from scratch from a disc. Similar analogy.
Ah yes. "Reviews" of the 6P and 5X are starting to trickle out. Phones were delivered to reviewers on Friday, and by monday morning a few publications already seem to think they have a full handle on the devices.
These are good reads, but take a good chunk of it with a grain of salt, especially around things like Battery life.
I also don't really know where to go with my next upgrade.
Sony - Don't like the huge screen bezel
Huawei was great with the mate 7, then they decided that making it even thinner was worth it even if it meant a shit battery time
Samsung... Eh, too expensive, and too apple
Motorola. ONLY had bad experiences with every single of three motorola phones I had. Nope, thanks.
I wish huawei made a mate 8 instead of a mate 7 slim
You will *probably* be able to import a Sony Z5 Compact from somewhere before too long (if you're in the US). If you're not in the US, it will probably be available in your country pretty soon.
Ah yes. "Reviews" of the 6P and 5X are starting to trickle out. Phones were delivered to reviewers on Friday, and by monday morning a few publications already seem to think they have a full handle on the devices.
These are good reads, but take a good chunk of it with a grain of salt, especially around things like Battery life.
This is why I like to wait on reviews from sites like Anandtech or Tested because they actually use the phones for a few weeks before putting out very detailed reviews. Granted, I didn't wait this time because I needed a new phone before Verizon raises the cost on my monthly bill, but even based on the preview-reviews I'm fairly confident I made a good decision to get a 5X.
I also don't really know where to go with my next upgrade.
Sony - Don't like the huge screen bezel
Huawei was great with the mate 7, then they decided that making it even thinner was worth it even if it meant a shit battery time
Samsung... Eh, too expensive, and too apple
Motorola. ONLY had bad experiences with every single of three motorola phones I had. Nope, thanks.
I wish huawei made a mate 8 instead of a mate 7 slim
You will *probably* be able to import a Sony Z5 Compact from somewhere before too long (if you're in the US). If you're not in the US, it will probably be available in your country pretty soon.
You misunderstood me, I LOVE a huge screen, and the huawei mate 7 was the best phone I had fir myself, screen wise
I hate the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE fuckhuge empty real estate above and below sony phone screens.
I mean wtf?
I have no problem with a huge screen. But I HAVE a problem with carrying huge empty space around.
NEO|PhyteThey follow the stars, bound together.Strands in a braid till the end.Registered Userregular
Project Fi invite arrived, I have officially spent moneys on buying a smartphone. Went with the 32GB Nexus 5x.
It was that somehow, from within the derelict-horror, they had learned a way to see inside an ugly, broken thing... And take away its pain.
Warframe/Steam: NFyt
What's a good music player app that will let me arrange albums by an artist by release year? I like a lot of bands with very long histories and have always liked to keep music filed in order of release within that artist's list.
e.g.
Black Sabbath is a good example, I've got 26 albums of theirs and I have them thusly:
Black Sabbath (released 1970)
Paranoid (1970)
Master of Reality (1971)
Vol 4 (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Sabotage (1975)
etc...
I can forgive if albums released the same year, like the top two above, are in the wrong order because they get alphabetised - that afflicts Rush with Fly By Night and Caress of Steel, both released 1975, for example.
On my iPhone, after iOS7 utterly ruined the Music app, I switched to an app called Picky that is probably the best two quid I've ever spent. It effectively recreates the iOS6 (and 5, I guess) music interface and chucks in a few more optional features. One of those features, very awesomely, is indeed sorting by release, which is seemingly rather an unusual feature, and now I'm incredibly used to it since it's how I always had my CDs/vinyl/cassettes once upon a time and would rather not go back to boring and annoying alphabetical order.
I'd heard that Winamp for Android could do this, but upon installing it, apparently that's not the case. Unfortunately it also doesn't fade the volume down when Google Maps is giving a turn-by-turn navigation instruction, which is a thing I do quite often; the iPhone and the stock Android music app both do this. I like Winamp's interface look, though; I always liked skeuomorphism and was sad when Apple dumped it.
Any recommendations?
EDIT: after I type all that up, I find Rocket Player. And that not only does it, but does it by default. And it pauses when Maps gives an instruction; less slick than a fade out, but at least functional. So I'm probably sorted. Wow. Any other recommendations are welcomed, though
My phone has been my go-to music device for years now. Not with the internal speaker, of course (although the G4's isn't awful), but with either headphones, or hooked into my car stereo (via a little FM transmitter at the moment), or Bluetooth'd to my soundbar if I'm listening at home.
I listen on my laptop occasionally as it has pretty good speakers, but not often.
I should clarify I don't use any streaming service outside of the very occasional trip to Youtube to check out a new thing. All my music is local copies and I want to keep it that way, which is why the G4's microSD slot was a killer feature for me.
Probably old news to ya'll but just in case anyone was unaware. Google is giving anyone instant invites to project fi for the next 24 hours( I think it started this morning).
edit: I app'd and was instantly invited so it's def legit!
For music players, I'll throw in another vote for PowerAmp. I used it for ages, although recently I've been using n7player because I rather like the UI. I also use Rocket Player specifically for study music.
I wish there was a music app that could independently handle two different folders of music
So I've been quite happy with my newish (1 month) Note 5 until this morning when the stylus broke. Inside the phone.
So I have half a stylus stuck inside the little stylus docking spot and it doesn't want to come out. Any tips for getting it out of there? Any suggestions for a more durable replacement when I do?
Can shaker at a paint store? Toothpick? Some sort of long wire (possibly coat hanger)? Otherwise, maybe take it to a kiosk somewhere and see if they have tools that can grab it.
If your Note5 is that new, send a mail to Samsung and do some respectful bitching. You should be able to get it replaced for free.
So I've been quite happy with my newish (1 month) Note 5 until this morning when the stylus broke. Inside the phone.
So I have half a stylus stuck inside the little stylus docking spot and it doesn't want to come out. Any tips for getting it out of there? Any suggestions for a more durable replacement when I do?
you can apparently pull it out with enough force, but it breaks the little sensor that detects whether or not the pen is inserted in to the phone. It apparently doesn't affect functionality other than the auto menu that pops up when you take the pen out won't show up. It's a pretty well documented flaw, mostly when inserted backwards.
There is no replacement, since the pen is proprietary to the phone. Your only real option is to contact your carrier, and if they tell you to go away to contact samsung if you want it replaced.
Yeah, I didn't put it in backwards, it just broke in two pieces and one of them is still inside. I'd like to get it out so I can replace the stylus (I really fucking like having one, I now realize). I'll try some crazy clue and a paperclip or something after work. Maybe some respectful bitching at Samsung/Verizon too. Thanks, guys.
Yeah, I didn't put it in backwards, it just broke in two pieces and one of them is still inside. I'd like to get it out so I can replace the stylus (I really fucking like having one, I now realize). I'll try some crazy clue and a paperclip or something after work. Maybe some respectful bitching at Samsung/Verizon too. Thanks, guys.
if it outright broke and wasn't put in backwards, take it to your carrier before you try getting it out. if you put crazy glue in there and damage it more they can tell you to gtfo since you broke it. in a case where it broke without you doing anything I'd try every avenue to get a RMA to get it replaced first before a DIY tactic, especially so soon after buying it.
My 5X just shipped and will be here a week before what my order initially said. Possibly as soon as Friday.
Still no ship date on my Project Fi sim, but as long as that gets here before November 15th I don't car too much. Still, hopefully it comes no more than a few days after the phone.
MichaelLCIn what furnace was thy brain?ChicagoRegistered Userregular
How is the LG G3?
I know it's a year old, but I've finally been given approval from the boss lady to drop Sprint so I'm looking at Verizon and new phones. Want 32GB, but doing want to pay N6 prices.
Any good or bad stories about Verizon also appreciated.
I know it's a year old, but I've finally been given approval from the boss lady to drop Sprint so I'm looking at Verizon and new phones. Want 32GB, but doing want to pay N6 prices.
Any good or bad stories about Verizon also appreciated.
I had Verizon for many years and it was as good as anything else. Coverage is amazing so if you travel to rural bumblefuck places you will still get a signal.
my only concerns with the G3: when it first came out there was some unknown with software jitteryness. people weren't sure if it was the GPU in the phone not being able to push 1440p, since it was the first phone with that resolution, or if it was the software that was fixed later in an update. I've never held it, so I do not know. The battery life, iirc, was middling, not great, but not awful.
The biggest concern might be on software updates though. The phone is clsoer to 2 years old than 1, and while there's a decent chance it'll get 6.0, but after that? who knows.
Someone could update me, but back when I was with Verizon I had the following issues:
1) Every time you got a new phone - even if it was not through Verizon - you had to go to a VZW store to get it "activated."
2) Similar to #1, Verizon still doesn't use SIM cards to transfer accounts between phones. While this isn't a major issue for most, it's why you need to "activate" a new phone, and it makes it difficult to swap phones regularly (I have to do this for work).
3) They are still slow receiving newer versions of phones. The exception seems to be the iPhone.
4) I had more than one instance where I had to tell multiple Verizon reps/techs that I did NOT want insurance on my phone. And at least one time that I can remember, I was essentially told I was an idiot for not getting it; without using those words.
5) Anything regarding service for hardware problems takes a long time and/or is immediately met with, "Let's see if we can upgrade your phone!"
6) VZW adds proprietary software to their branded phones. A lot of it. This may have changed recently.
7) They are, at best, the top-3 most expensive plan for everyone.
Someone could update me, but back when I was with Verizon I had the following issues:
1) Every time you got a new phone - even if it was not through Verizon - you had to go to a VZW store to get it "activated."
I don't know how true this is anymore. When I got the Moto X two years ago, I didn't have to go to the store, and just did everything through the web/the phone itself. That being said, I wasn't renewing a contract, so maybe that was part of it?
I'm also not sure whether or not point (2) is still true, but the rest of your points are pretty accurate.
On the plus side, I've never had trouble getting reception with Verizon, even when far from urban centers. (That being said, I'm almost never far from urban centers, so maybe I'm not the best gauge for this.)
Someone could update me, but back when I was with Verizon I had the following issues:
1) Every time you got a new phone - even if it was not through Verizon - you had to go to a VZW store to get it "activated."
I don't know how true this is anymore. When I got the Moto X two years ago, I didn't have to go to the store, and just did everything through the web/the phone itself. That being said, I wasn't renewing a contract, so maybe that was part of it?
I'm also not sure whether or not point (2) is still true, but the rest of your points are pretty accurate.
On the plus side, I've never had trouble getting reception with Verizon, even when far from urban centers. (That being said, I'm almost never far from urban centers, so maybe I'm not the best gauge for this.)
my last verizon phone (galaxy s3) was mailed to my house with sim card, and I did the activation over the phone (in 2012)
this is only second hand from me since I'm in Canada, but Verizon does in fact use SIM cards now, and generally, when you pop a verizon sim into an unlocked phone it will work*
*your mileage may vary on that. since it's still verizon you may see an edge case where it doesn't work, but most reviewers do pop verizon sims into new phones to see if they do, and I can't remember the last time it didn't work. it's just something we have to say that "it isn't 100% guaranteed to work" to cover our asses if you do buy a shiny new phone and popping in the SIM in does not work. It will, but maybe it won't.
I've got a couple of friends with G3s, and one's a pretty hardcore tech-head, and he loves it. It might be worth coughing up the extra for the G4 just because of the G3's age, though.
Both have microSD so you won't be stuck for space. G3 supports up to 128GB cards IIRC, G4 supports up to 2TB (!).
Words cannot describe how excited I am that the 6P should ship next week. My Nexus 5 has shit the bed, so it's been sent to android heaven. After flashing it back into a working state it did the exact same boot loop 2 days later, so I had to give up.
I pulled my 3 year old Nexus 4 out of a drawer and got that set up. Around lunch it spontaneously rebooted itself, and then sat on "optimizing apps" for about 45 minutes, before finally booting. and the battery meter is now all screwed up, it's saying the battery is the same percentage for like, half an hour, then it just drops 10%. Now that i'm back at my desk and can plug it in again I'm rebooting it and plugging it in and hoping that fixes the battery meter.
I've never been so excited for a new phone for the simple fact that at the rate my I'm going I'm going to have to start using smoke signals to communicate with people by the time the 6P is in my hands.....
MichaelLCIn what furnace was thy brain?ChicagoRegistered Userregular
Wow, thanks for all the info. Sounds like VZN will be no worse than Sprint and is cheaper so probably go for it.
Good to hear about the phone too. Looks like the G4 is same price as G3 right now. Just need to hold it since it's bigger than my N5.
Wow, thanks for all the info. Sounds like VZN will be no worse than Sprint and is cheaper so probably go for it.
Good to hear about the phone too. Looks like the G4 is same price as G3 right now. Just need to hold it since it's bigger than my N5.
I'm not sure what your financial situation is, but I'm telling you to do everything you can to NOT buy your phone through Verizon. There will be so much shit on it that you won't need, plus they will roll the phone financing into your contract; which is just bad in general.
was finally able to materially address my S6 battery issue.... ive got it now where its fairly reasonable
on this version of Android, it misdiagnoses any internet comms from any app as "cell standby"
just aggressively harvesting all background updates of apps got me significantly more life... way more things on Android seek to do background updates than on Apple... shit I didn't even think of, like the MLB app, which apparently defaults to constantly polling for data
Posts
I've heard great things about the G4. Android is definitely different than iOS, but you should be able to pick it up pretty quick. Be careful going down the rabbit hole that is customization though. Tons of options available, depending on what you're looking for.
Speaking of, is there still a list of recommended Android apps around? I think there used to be one in the Android thread at one point.
Sony - Don't like the huge screen bezel
Huawei was great with the mate 7, then they decided that making it even thinner was worth it even if it meant a shit battery time
Samsung... Eh, too expensive, and too apple
Motorola. ONLY had bad experiences with every single of three motorola phones I had. Nope, thanks.
I wish huawei made a mate 8 instead of a mate 7 slim
LG or that new Blackberry posted earlier look like the choices for you?
LG... How is their android update policy? At least sony is pretty good in that regard, they will update all phones to marshmallow back to the z2 and will release android sources for many older phones.
It's super easy to do. If you can follow a guide, you can do it. Just have to install a couple things, and type a couple commands. Guide here: http://www.talkandroid.com/guides/beginner/how-to-install-the-marshmallow-factory-image-on-your-nexus-device/
EDIT: and it's not quite just a factory reset. Think of it like formatting a hard drive and re-installing windows from scratch from a disc. Similar analogy.
These are good reads, but take a good chunk of it with a grain of salt, especially around things like Battery life.
You will *probably* be able to import a Sony Z5 Compact from somewhere before too long (if you're in the US). If you're not in the US, it will probably be available in your country pretty soon.
This is why I like to wait on reviews from sites like Anandtech or Tested because they actually use the phones for a few weeks before putting out very detailed reviews. Granted, I didn't wait this time because I needed a new phone before Verizon raises the cost on my monthly bill, but even based on the preview-reviews I'm fairly confident I made a good decision to get a 5X.
You misunderstood me, I LOVE a huge screen, and the huawei mate 7 was the best phone I had fir myself, screen wise
I hate the HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE fuckhuge empty real estate above and below sony phone screens.
I mean wtf?
I have no problem with a huge screen. But I HAVE a problem with carrying huge empty space around.
Warframe/Steam: NFyt
e.g.
Black Sabbath (released 1970)
Paranoid (1970)
Master of Reality (1971)
Vol 4 (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Sabotage (1975)
etc...
I can forgive if albums released the same year, like the top two above, are in the wrong order because they get alphabetised - that afflicts Rush with Fly By Night and Caress of Steel, both released 1975, for example.
On my iPhone, after iOS7 utterly ruined the Music app, I switched to an app called Picky that is probably the best two quid I've ever spent. It effectively recreates the iOS6 (and 5, I guess) music interface and chucks in a few more optional features. One of those features, very awesomely, is indeed sorting by release, which is seemingly rather an unusual feature, and now I'm incredibly used to it since it's how I always had my CDs/vinyl/cassettes once upon a time and would rather not go back to boring and annoying alphabetical order.
I'd heard that Winamp for Android could do this, but upon installing it, apparently that's not the case. Unfortunately it also doesn't fade the volume down when Google Maps is giving a turn-by-turn navigation instruction, which is a thing I do quite often; the iPhone and the stock Android music app both do this. I like Winamp's interface look, though; I always liked skeuomorphism and was sad when Apple dumped it.
Any recommendations?
EDIT: after I type all that up, I find Rocket Player. And that not only does it, but does it by default. And it pauses when Maps gives an instruction; less slick than a fade out, but at least functional. So I'm probably sorted. Wow. Any other recommendations are welcomed, though
Steam | XBL
I listen on my laptop occasionally as it has pretty good speakers, but not often.
I should clarify I don't use any streaming service outside of the very occasional trip to Youtube to check out a new thing. All my music is local copies and I want to keep it that way, which is why the G4's microSD slot was a killer feature for me.
Steam | XBL
edit: I app'd and was instantly invited so it's def legit!
Bnet tag: Nermals#11601
at least its still under warranty
I wish there was a music app that could independently handle two different folders of music
Huawei is releasing another high end phone this year, news just hit.
Please please let it be the mate 8
Leaked imaged look like a mate 8
I may be interested in your 5X, then. Assuming it would work in the 'States.
So I have half a stylus stuck inside the little stylus docking spot and it doesn't want to come out. Any tips for getting it out of there? Any suggestions for a more durable replacement when I do?
If your Note5 is that new, send a mail to Samsung and do some respectful bitching. You should be able to get it replaced for free.
you can apparently pull it out with enough force, but it breaks the little sensor that detects whether or not the pen is inserted in to the phone. It apparently doesn't affect functionality other than the auto menu that pops up when you take the pen out won't show up. It's a pretty well documented flaw, mostly when inserted backwards.
There is no replacement, since the pen is proprietary to the phone. Your only real option is to contact your carrier, and if they tell you to go away to contact samsung if you want it replaced.
if it outright broke and wasn't put in backwards, take it to your carrier before you try getting it out. if you put crazy glue in there and damage it more they can tell you to gtfo since you broke it. in a case where it broke without you doing anything I'd try every avenue to get a RMA to get it replaced first before a DIY tactic, especially so soon after buying it.
Still no ship date on my Project Fi sim, but as long as that gets here before November 15th I don't car too much. Still, hopefully it comes no more than a few days after the phone.
I know it's a year old, but I've finally been given approval from the boss lady to drop Sprint so I'm looking at Verizon and new phones. Want 32GB, but doing want to pay N6 prices.
Any good or bad stories about Verizon also appreciated.
I had Verizon for many years and it was as good as anything else. Coverage is amazing so if you travel to rural bumblefuck places you will still get a signal.
The biggest concern might be on software updates though. The phone is clsoer to 2 years old than 1, and while there's a decent chance it'll get 6.0, but after that? who knows.
1) Every time you got a new phone - even if it was not through Verizon - you had to go to a VZW store to get it "activated."
2) Similar to #1, Verizon still doesn't use SIM cards to transfer accounts between phones. While this isn't a major issue for most, it's why you need to "activate" a new phone, and it makes it difficult to swap phones regularly (I have to do this for work).
3) They are still slow receiving newer versions of phones. The exception seems to be the iPhone.
4) I had more than one instance where I had to tell multiple Verizon reps/techs that I did NOT want insurance on my phone. And at least one time that I can remember, I was essentially told I was an idiot for not getting it; without using those words.
5) Anything regarding service for hardware problems takes a long time and/or is immediately met with, "Let's see if we can upgrade your phone!"
6) VZW adds proprietary software to their branded phones. A lot of it. This may have changed recently.
7) They are, at best, the top-3 most expensive plan for everyone.
I don't know how true this is anymore. When I got the Moto X two years ago, I didn't have to go to the store, and just did everything through the web/the phone itself. That being said, I wasn't renewing a contract, so maybe that was part of it?
I'm also not sure whether or not point (2) is still true, but the rest of your points are pretty accurate.
On the plus side, I've never had trouble getting reception with Verizon, even when far from urban centers. (That being said, I'm almost never far from urban centers, so maybe I'm not the best gauge for this.)
my last verizon phone (galaxy s3) was mailed to my house with sim card, and I did the activation over the phone (in 2012)
*your mileage may vary on that. since it's still verizon you may see an edge case where it doesn't work, but most reviewers do pop verizon sims into new phones to see if they do, and I can't remember the last time it didn't work. it's just something we have to say that "it isn't 100% guaranteed to work" to cover our asses if you do buy a shiny new phone and popping in the SIM in does not work. It will, but maybe it won't.
What's somewhere on a sliding scale from really bad to just rather annoying about Verizon:
Source: Verizon customer since 2007, switching to Project Fi as soon as my Nexus 6P gets delivered next month.
Both have microSD so you won't be stuck for space. G3 supports up to 128GB cards IIRC, G4 supports up to 2TB (!).
Steam | XBL
I pulled my 3 year old Nexus 4 out of a drawer and got that set up. Around lunch it spontaneously rebooted itself, and then sat on "optimizing apps" for about 45 minutes, before finally booting. and the battery meter is now all screwed up, it's saying the battery is the same percentage for like, half an hour, then it just drops 10%. Now that i'm back at my desk and can plug it in again I'm rebooting it and plugging it in and hoping that fixes the battery meter.
I've never been so excited for a new phone for the simple fact that at the rate my I'm going I'm going to have to start using smoke signals to communicate with people by the time the 6P is in my hands.....
Good to hear about the phone too. Looks like the G4 is same price as G3 right now. Just need to hold it since it's bigger than my N5.
I'm not sure what your financial situation is, but I'm telling you to do everything you can to NOT buy your phone through Verizon. There will be so much shit on it that you won't need, plus they will roll the phone financing into your contract; which is just bad in general.
on this version of Android, it misdiagnoses any internet comms from any app as "cell standby"
just aggressively harvesting all background updates of apps got me significantly more life... way more things on Android seek to do background updates than on Apple... shit I didn't even think of, like the MLB app, which apparently defaults to constantly polling for data