Y2HH

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 24, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) So, uh, this is bad. I'm not sure how much force he used exactly, but It looks like it didn't take that much. Not sure if this is a manufacturing defect or a design defect. Either way, Apple's got some work to do. Note 3 bend test: In this case, plastic is actually more durable than metal. As with most Apple based news, it's probably being blown out of porportion. The Note 3 aside, as it's made of plastic, I'd be more interested in seeing similar tests performed on other metal phones, such as the Note 4, HTC One/M8...I'm betting they bend and stay bent just the same since it's not going to "rubber band" back into it's original shape like a plastic phone will. That said, I'll know if it's being blown out of proportion in the weeks to come, as I carry my 6+ in my front pocket as these others have claimed. So far, no bend, but it's only been a 6 days.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 24, 2014 -> 08:38 AM) This is a time where Samsung is vindicated for using plastic. I've been watching YouTube videos of people trying to bend the Note 3 and while there is a little give mid-rip, it is back to normal when you let you go. Where Apple f***ed up here, though, is the thinness. The other iPhones could bend, but only if you did something crazy to them. Making these so much bigger and thinner made them relatively flimsy. I'm a sort of phone free agent, and as someone has had a phone break in their pocket, there's no way I feel comfortable getting an i6+ at this point. This will probably affect any phone rimmed with aluminum, or made of aluminum. I'm betting the Note 4 bends much the same since it's surrounded by an aluminum band now, same goes for the HTC phones that are aluminum. I agree, plastic is a better material for bending/retaining it's shape, however, it's a terrible material for feel/look, so what's acceptable to the user is ultimately the question. I've been using my 6+ since release day on Friday, I carry it in my front pocket, I've worked out with it in my front pocket in the gym twice, and my phone is fine. Time will tell, however, if this is just people being careless or if it happens, because I don't use a case, so I'll know in the next few weeks which it is.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 08:28 PM) And how about toilet browsing? I can waste a day on the pot with today's phones While I've never been one to do this, I guess it applies for those that do. The conversion from huge phones in the early 90's to small phones by 2000' back to huge phones in 2012 is somewhat ironic. While they've become infinitely more usable, they have become less portable and prone to breakage. There was a time where cracked screens or bent phones just wasn't a thing. I think people need to adapt to that or adapt to using those huge, invincible otter boxes.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 04:51 PM) I have a 5 inch phone and a 7 inch tablet and when I put them next to each other, I don't see how I can prefer the phone for media consumption or even web browsing. Personal preference I guess...I don't really watch movies or anything on my iPad mini (or phone), I use it to read/browse, and 5.5" is more than big enough for that. You know, stopping to think about this for a minute, it's truly amazing how much has changed since 2007 when it comes to phones/tablets/computers, especially phones and tablets...it's truly spectacular where we've come from in such a short amount of time. First 3.5" was considered huge, complete with low-res screens, then 4" with higher resolutions came around, then 5", then 6"...and it's crazy how much it's changed our habits. Browsing from the couch used to be a chore (in comparison to today), but with bigger phones and tablets, it's now quite amazing.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 03:16 PM) I honestly don't think a phablet can effectively replace a tablet. If you want a bigger phone, it's because you want the bigger phone. In the end, a tablet will always be bigger than a phablet and it'll feel different. I don't see a use for it anymore, I erased it and gave it to my wife, the bigger screen on my phone is more than adequate for everything I used the mini for.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 01:59 PM) So you got a 6+? Do you consider it big at all? It's big, and anyone that tries to say it's not is lying through their teeth but the thinness of the device helps a LOT in this regard. It feels smaller than it is, and it's pocketable so long as you don't put it in a case and make it 2x as thick as it is, but that being said a bigger person with bigger pockets probably could use a case and not care. The pros/cons I weighed when making the decision were based on the fact that during the day I was an avid iPhone user, but the second I got home or someplace outside of work, I'd put my phone down and use my iPad mini the rest of the time (other than making calls, which I almost never do outside of work these days). The industry moved forward from smaller devices, so it's time to adapt and go big or bigger...the jump from the 4" 5 to the 5.5" 6+ is daunting, but the jump from the 4.7" 6 to the 5.5" 6+ isn't quite as bad. I figured if I was going to get used to a larger size, I may as well just get used to the largest size and replace 2 devices with 1. Of course, this could just be me justifying my purchase...but so far I've not been affected by the size and I've really enjoyed not needing two devices anymore. I'd tell a person that often used a phone/tablet combo that it might be a device they'd like, but if you aren't a tablet user, then I'd avoid the +.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 23, 2014 -> 01:27 PM) More on iOS 8 issues: http://www.informationweek.com/mobile/mobi.../d/d-id/1315984 Cliffs: -slowed WiFi speeds -faster battery drain, ranging from ridiculous to marginal -Crittercism analytics shows a huge increase in app crashes (I wonder if this has been observed with past updates) Also, something I've feared happening on several different phones since it broke my Motorola SLVR: iPhone 6 plus units getting bent in users' pockets Haven't experienced the WiFi speed issue, however, my friends phone has issues scanning for WiFi networks from time to time (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and we can't reproduce it at will), but also doesn't experience slow WiFi issues. Haven't experienced the battery drain issue, but I've seen this happen in previous releases of iOS, seems restore specific...I always do a fresh install on a new series phone, so that may attribute as to why I've always avoided the issue. HAVE experienced the increased app crash issue a number of times. HAVE experienced 3rd party keyboard issues. HAVE experienced input issues on certain websites through Safari. This just in, large aluminum phones bend, but so do small ones...I remember this same issue cropping up with the iPhone 5 bending when people sat on it or did something else I consider ridiculous. Anecdotal, but I've been carrying my 6+ in my pocket since Friday and it's not bent...I attribute this to people being careless, as I've seen far too many iOS and Android devices smashed, shattered or otherwise bent/broken over the years and I just don't understand what the f*** people are doing with these devices... EDIT: Oh, and if Steve Jobs was still alive, iOS8 would be completely bug free, and the aluminum shell/glass panels on the iPhone 6/6+ would be indestructible.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 22, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) I don't know where else to post this, but is there an app in the world that crashes more than the Sportscenter app? It's worse than what Facebook was 4 years ago. This is on iOS, but I've tried practically EVERY sports type application for up to date scores, etc, and a LOT of them have these issues. I've finally settled on Yahoo sports, it seems really nice after going through The Score, ESPN, etc.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 11:15 PM) Also, my G2 is experiencing some dead spot issues on the screen. I am still within the 1-year manufacturer's warranty for defects, but I am not sure if that means I will have to be without a phone for like 1-2 weeks while my phone is shipped to LG, and then a new one is shipped back to me. I'm wondering if I can just wander in to an AT&T and see if they can swap out a new phone for me or not. I'm not sure how that works, I've never had an issue with a phone. Also, I noticed there is some sort of $6 phone insurance charge on our family plan, but I'm not sure what that covers, or for whose phone it is even insuring. It's listed under my number, but we all take eachother's upgrades, so I'm not sure it actually applies to my phone. Speaking of which...my new iPhone had a dead pixel on it, just brought it into the Apple store on Michigan Avenue and they gave me a new one. Yes, I wanted an exchange over 1 single dead pixel.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 11:15 PM) Also, my G2 is experiencing some dead spot issues on the screen. I am still within the 1-year manufacturer's warranty for defects, but I am not sure if that means I will have to be without a phone for like 1-2 weeks while my phone is shipped to LG, and then a new one is shipped back to me. I'm wondering if I can just wander in to an AT&T and see if they can swap out a new phone for me or not. I'm not sure how that works, I've never had an issue with a phone. Also, I noticed there is some sort of $6 phone insurance charge on our family plan, but I'm not sure what that covers, or for whose phone it is even insuring. It's listed under my number, but we all take eachother's upgrades, so I'm not sure it actually applies to my phone. If the insurance charge is on your account and listed on your number it should be covered. I'd bring it back and see if they'll exchange it, you shouldn't have to deal with that, ESPECIALLY seeing as that you're paying insurance on it. And if they say that insurance doesn't cover that device you should immediately demand all the money you've been paying into that insurance plan is returned to you. The way I look at it is this, these phones are marketed as having these huge, beautiful, high resolution screens, so that screen should be 100% free of defects. I don't care if a single pixel is out on a 500ppi screen...it shouldn't be since that screen is essentially the highlight of these devices.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 10:40 AM) If the Apple subreddit is any indication, iOS 8 is buggier than all hell. My favorite bug is the music app deleting people's tracks whenever they listen to them. Apple starting to get acquainted with the difficulty of rolling out updates to a myriad of devices After a weekend of testing the release version of iOS 8, these are the issues I've personally observed: 3rd party keyboard bugs that affect every 3rd party keyboard. The companies say Apple is already working with them on fixes, but what all the issues are I'm not sure. The one that I've personally seen is when going into the SMS app, the 3rd party keybaord overlays part of the conversation instead of it scrolling up automatically, you have to do it yourself. Speaking of 3rd party keyboards, IMO SwiftKey is an automatic "hell no", as it requires full internet access, which means they can keylog you. That was uninstalled the second it said it required full internet access. I've been using Swype for a few days now, but I'm not sure it's better or faster than the new Apple default keyboard, but after a series of bug fixes and updates I'm sure it will be a better experience. I haven't tested any others yet. Random but rare resprings. Jailbreakers know the "desktop" on iOS is called springboard, and when springboard crashes it "resprings", which basically kills it's desktop process and reloads it. You'd see an Apple logo on the screen for a few seconds before the phone came back up. I've had this happen twice, but not sure what caused it...I couldn't reproduce it by trying the same series of actions. TouchID and 3rd party implementations. I've only used this with 1Password, and I think it's how 1Password implemented it's use of the scanner that's buggy, and not Apples fault. Reading the 1Password FAQ helped me fix the issue, and I understand why they did this, but I still think they could have made it cleaner. Essentially, you have to set it to only ask for your master password once every 30 days, so the fingerprint scanner will work at all other times, otherwise you have to type in the password every time that master pass is set to 'time out'. They apparently did it this way so users wouldn't forget what their actual master password was since they won't be typing it in much anymore. I get that, but they could made it more clear...it was driving me crazy. I'm sure 8.0.1 will be arriving in short order.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 08:00 PM) Seems like older gens of iPads are being hit the hardest. Alarmingly low RAM on those devices I'm finding out (512MB? Wow. I know iOS is lean, but still) Those are like 3 or 4 years old to be fair, and in technology that's ancient these days.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 10:40 AM) If the Apple subreddit is any indication, iOS 8 is buggier than all hell. My favorite bug is the music app deleting people's tracks whenever they listen to them. Apple starting to get acquainted with the difficulty of rolling out updates to a myriad of devices It's not. It has its share of release issues that's for sure, but nothing they won't fix in short order, and nothing game breaking. Been using it since early betas and it can still use some work. I've never experienced that music bug your talking about and I've had it since beta 2, so probably rare.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Sep 21, 2014 -> 12:40 PM) Apple products just, work. Derp. And Android is completely bug free. Just stop, it's starting to come off as an inferiority complex that only a neckbeard could have. Either add something to the conversation or save everyone from becoming dumber for having to read your posts.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Sep 17, 2014 -> 02:42 PM) After having been an US Cellular customer since I got my very first cell phone at some point in the mid 90’s, I think I need to switch service providers. I talked to customer service last night and they have a “dead zone” along I-90 somewhere between Belvidere and Huntley. I’ve been constantly either dropping calls or not receiving them at all while driving to work in the morning. I was told that it’s likely at some point on the road where my signal switches to roaming. Once I get closer to Chicago the signal seems to be ok but I am roaming. I even went into a store and they flat out told me that I should probably switch to someone else. I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the choices and what would be the best and cheapest option. I currently pay around $180/month for 5 basic phones. I have data on mine but I have no idea how much. I don’t have a smart phone but I do have (barely) internet access on it. My wife and I want to upgrade to smart phones and the kids would stay with basic phones. I checked Verizon’s website last night and it looks like I’m looking at a minimum of $200/month. Is there an easy way to compare plans, prices and coverage? In the interested of consumer protection, there absolutely should be, but there really isn't. Any prices you see quoted from any of the big carriers (and probably the smaller carriers) are base prices, without any of their random/dubious fees and taxes. I have 3 iPhones on Verizon with 3gigs of shared data and my bill is 192$ a month. It's expensive, without a doubt, but I'm open to paying the premium just to be on Verizon's network...it's flat out better than anyone else's, including AT&T, and it isn't even close. The data cap isn't a big deal for me since I spend 99% of my time on WiFi, and when I do go places, I simply do not stream video, however, I do stream music quite a bit and have never gone over my cap. Anywhere I go, I never have signal issues, however, my AT&T/T-Mobile friends almost always do (keep in mind I'm an avid camper/fisherman, so I go to some remote places). If you live in a big city and never really leave it, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile will probably be the same for you, but if you go ANYWHERE, it's Verizon first and then AT&T. As for prices, Verizon is the most expensive (not by much), and then AT&T ... after the big two you'll start saving money, but pay for it in restricted coverage and slower data speeds.

QUOTE (G&T @ Sep 16, 2014 -> 08:26 AM) You should realize that I'm 5'9" and now weigh 165. I don't even know that most people would notice the gain. I'm a bit scrawny. 5'9" and 165 doesn't mean much, body style has a lot to do with this, because it determines to a large extent where the weight is distributed across your frame. I'm 5'7" and 153lbs, but I look sure don't look scrawny.

QUOTE (G&T @ Sep 15, 2014 -> 06:58 PM) I just went to the doctor today and found out I put on 15 pounds muscle in the last 6 months. T25. I also have shoulder pain but that isn't important. I wouldn't say it's not important. It's not normal to have shoulder pain.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Sep 15, 2014 -> 12:37 AM) I don't want to derail the topic you guys started but: I am wanting to get a new phone in the next couple months, I am an android guy so what is the best phone out there? Is there any new ones coming out before the end of the year that are worth the wait? Not really wanting to wait for the newest one because of the prize but depends on the phone/price and the alternatives HTC One M8. And I'm not an Android guy. Quite a few of my friends have various Androids, and by far I think the M8 is the best.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 12, 2014 -> 11:25 AM) My advice: anything but Samsung. They add stuff for the sake of adding it. You see that 2 GB of RAM the S5 has? You're only going to get maybe 800 MB because Samsung's add-ons are going to run in the background most of the time. Your phone is going to seem slow because of this. Touchwiz, while better than before, is still far behind most other manufacturer skins. If you want an Android phone now, look at the HTC One M8 or LG G3. Both have better battery, better software, better build quality, and faster updates. The G3 also has better hardware. I'd probably listen to this advice. Touchwiz takes up a ton of memory, so their 2gigs they brag about are mostly used by stuff you really don't know about or even want. I agree with him on the HTC one M8, my friend has it and it's the FIRST Android phone I was ever somewhat jealous of...and this is me talking...so, that kind of means something.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 12, 2014 -> 10:59 AM) yeah Galaxy is what im leaning towards unless apple blows me away. The best part of Apple devices is that you can use them for a year or two and sell them back for almost as much as you paid for it. Samsung devices tend to hold up pretty well, too, however. I'm not sure about the others. I do this every time, and regardless of what phone you have, I'd recommend it if your old device is just going to lay around and do nothing. I just sold Gazelle my iPhone5 (NOT 5S, but a two year old 5) for 179$. Google, unlike Microsoft, remembers they're a software company, so they made software for iOS, and most of it's quite good. Odds are if it's a Google owned application, if it exists on Android, it exists on iOS, too.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Sep 12, 2014 -> 10:45 AM) To be honest, I just prefer getting one of the main phones because that way I know there will cases, apps, etc that will work for it. Sometimes its just easier to buy mainstream and honestly, I dont really care that much. Right now Im mainly thinking samsung because I have a lot of googlemusic (none through itunes) and Im so lazy I dont want to even look up whether google music works on apple. Thats how lazy Ive become towards technology. Google Music is on iOS. There, now you don't have to look it up.

QUOTE (Brian @ Sep 12, 2014 -> 06:08 AM) PreOrdered the 6 this morning. No problems. Thought for sure I'd be too late and get backordered. The 6+ is having massive back orders, the 6 seems easily available.

Does anyone here have a Samsung Note or a phone of similar size? If so, how is it? With the iPhone jumping the big screen shark, you basically have the choice of going big, bigger, or staying on older devices. Considering I'm a techie and I'm still using a 2 year old iPhone 5, I don't see myself staying behind anymore. I'm somewhat torn between the 4.7 and the 5.5 considering the size difference between the two just isn't that much. From my perspective, going from 4.0 to 5.5 it's indeed a massive jump, but going from 4.7 to 5.5 isn't all that much of a difference. I'm sure after a few weeks of getting used to a bigger device, the difference in a half inch will suddenly seem miniscule. Anyone that has experience with these larger devices, such as anything 5.5" or greater, how is it carrying it around, using it, or putting it in your pocket? :/ It was much easier before my Cupertino overlords starting introducing "choice" into the mix.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 10, 2014 -> 05:06 PM) Ive never played a game on my phone. I do email, text, phone, yelp, Waze, banking, weather. I think the misinterpretation of what I'm saying is coming from what he considers "apps", which aside from games or specific use things such Authy, 1Password, etc., for the most part these apps are merely reformatted websites to be more usable on a handheld. But when it comes to apps such as those, most people aren't using them. I think CHW said it earlier, that a lot of people should just be using dumbphones, because they aren't rally scratching the surface of the power of their smartphones. My wife's iPhone is used for phone calls, facebook, pintrest, texting, emails and about 8 pages of games shes played ONCE. She doesn't use it for anything else.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 10, 2014 -> 04:52 PM) You might a well go use a feature phone then. All of you sound like you're perfectly content with a phone that has 10 pre-installed apps and that's it. That's not the point of a smartphone. Considering the way the vast majority of people use smartphones, that's exactly what a smartphone is. The VAST majority of people tend to text, read a few emails, make a call or two, and browse the web a bit on their smartphones. That's it. They use a total of 4 apps. Don't get me wrong, as a tech person myself, I agree with you. These are things people SHOULD know how to do, and these are things people SHOULD do considering the power of these devices they're holding in their hands...the issue is the vast majority of them just don't care.