Technology catch-all thread

[BigSqwert]

Checked out the HTC One at the mall this afternoon. That is one sexy phone.

[chw42]

Sony just released 4.2.2 AOSP source code for the Xperia Z on their Github. There will be working builds of stock Android for the device very soon (along with the ZL).

 

[Chisoxfn]

So I think we are going to buy an Ipad to serve as a baby monitor (vs. buying an independent baby monitor). It will serve two purposes...one our entertainment and eventually our kids...and 2 a baby monitor (which can be synched to our laptop, iphone's, etc). I have never looked into one before and I'll ultimately end up googling some stuff too, but is a new one coming out soon. Not sure I'd buy the new one...but figure I'd get the price cut on the older version.

[chw42]

So I think we are going to buy an Ipad to serve as a baby monitor (vs. buying an independent baby monitor). It will serve two purposes...one our entertainment and eventually our kids...and 2 a baby monitor (which can be synched to our laptop, iphone's, etc). I have never looked into one before and I'll ultimately end up googling some stuff too, but is a new one coming out soon. Not sure I'd buy the new one...but figure I'd get the price cut on the older version.

 

You'll definitely end up using it for #1 as opposed to #2.

 

And I don't think a new one is coming out for at least 3-4 months.

Edited April 24, 2013 by chw42

[Balta1701]

You'll definitely end up using it for #1 as opposed to #2.

 

And I don't think a new one is coming out for at least 3-4 months.

They released a "new version of the ipad" last fall with no fanfare at the same time they released the iPhone5. It was an incredibly minor upgrade at the time and since they stopped adding model numbers with the 3rd release, they didn't push it at all.

[lostfan]

Since T-Mobile isn't offering discount pricing on the HTC One or Galaxy S4 and on some bulls*** I'm seriously thinking about switching carriers. Input anyone? I currently use T-Mobile and as long as I'm in or around a major city, it's ok. They have the best prices so I haven't felt compelled to change.

[Steve9347]

Since T-Mobile isn't offering discount pricing on the HTC One or Galaxy S4 and on some bulls*** I'm seriously thinking about switching carriers. Input anyone? I currently use T-Mobile and as long as I'm in or around a major city, it's ok. They have the best prices so I haven't felt compelled to change.

Sprint. Best prices anywhere. Everything 450 plan cannot be beaten.

[lostfan]

Sprint. Best prices anywhere. Everything 450 plan cannot be beaten.

How's coverage and data speed?

[Jake]

I'm probably still a month or more away from my next phone purchase, but right now it looks like the HTC One will be it.

[Steve9347]

How's coverage and data speed?

Sprint upgraded their network all across the land. Chicagoland got upgraded about 8 months ago, and now it's great. It was pretty brutal for awhile as they made the upgrades, but they're done now.

[StrangeSox]

I'm considering switching to Sprint when my contract with Verizon is up. Verizon's coverage is great but it's just too damn expensive.

[BigSqwert]

How's coverage and data speed?

It was terrible in Chicago before I left and it's terrible in Seattle. I'm counting down the days until my contract ends.

[southsider2k5]

How's coverage and data speed?

 

I've had sprint for a long time and love it. I tried ATT and Verizon at different points and had no luck. The unlimited data thing is very nice.

[lostfan]

Sprint looks like it does have the best prices and they have huge subsidies on their phone, the HTC One is $99.99 (plus I have the $100 manufacturer's rebate from signing up early). Seems like AT&T is the best speed from what I can tell but their prices are pretty awful. Gotta see what people in Baltimore and DC say about Sprint's coverage.

[Jenksismyhero]

So I've got my PS3 player running through a Sony receiver (recent model) and then the receiver running to the TV, which has something which is called Audio Return Channel...this essentially allows audio to be sent back to the receiver from the tv.

 

Anyways, everything has been fine up until this point, when I threw in Mad Men season 1 blu ray on the PS3 last night. The audio was slightly ahead of the video and it was driving me nuts. For whatever reason, the audio is being processed by the receiver faster than the video is being processed.

 

I fixed the problem by running the PS3 right to the tv, but that of course ruins the whole point of the sound system if I can't watch Blu Rays using it.

 

Anyone have any fixes for this? I tried turning on the sync features of the receiver, via HDMI control on, as well as A/V sync, and neither eliminated the problem. I also tried playing with the audio settings on the PS3, but could not seem to make a difference either.

 

Just use two different cables - one to the receiver and one to the TV. And then change your ps3 settings accordingly (e.g., video is HDMI, audio is optical or vise versa). Not really a true fix, but that should solve the problem.

[southsider2k5]

Sprint looks like it does have the best prices and they have huge subsidies on their phone, the HTC One is $99.99 (plus I have the $100 manufacturer's rebate from signing up early). Seems like AT&T is the best speed from what I can tell but their prices are pretty awful. Gotta see what people in Baltimore and DC say about Sprint's coverage.

 

They also offer some pretty solid corporate discounts. I'd check and see if your company is on the list, or even ex-military.

[Y2HH]

It was terrible in Chicago before I left and it's terrible in Seattle. I'm counting down the days until my contract ends.

 

This is what I've found. Especially if you travel anywhere. AT&T and Verizon are the most expensive, but their networks have the most coverage, and I think Verizon is even a bit better than AT&T in this regard. The savings outside of AT&T/Verizon are nice, but the coverage just isn't there, making it not worth it to me.

 

I take frequent road trips, especially in the summer, and it's nice having coverage regardless of where I happen to go, Sprint and Tmobile just can't do this for me.

[lostfan]

They also offer some pretty solid corporate discounts. I'd check and see if your company is on the list, or even ex-military.

Pretty sure it is. They have "unlimited everything" for $109.99 (before discounts and fees)

[iamshack]

Just use two different cables - one to the receiver and one to the TV. And then change your ps3 settings accordingly (e.g., video is HDMI, audio is optical or vise versa). Not really a true fix, but that should solve the problem.

Ahh, I hadn't thought of that...thanks!

 

The interesting thing is the problem seems to have corrected itself as we have gotten further along in season 1...who knows...

[StrangeSox]

This is what I've found. Especially if you travel anywhere. AT&T and Verizon are the most expensive, but their networks have the most coverage, and I think Verizon is even a bit better than AT&T in this regard. The savings outside of AT&T/Verizon are nice, but the coverage just isn't there, making it not worth it to me.

 

I take frequent road trips, especially in the summer, and it's nice having coverage regardless of where I happen to go, Sprint and Tmobile just can't do this for me.

That's discouraging. I went with Verizon specifically because of travel.

[Y2HH]

That's discouraging. I went with Verizon specifically because of travel.

 

Sprint and Tmobile (and other small carriers) tend to be fine inside of big cities or major areas...but anywhere outside of that, even in many suburban areas, the coverage is intermittent or shoddy at best.

 

Also, when some of these carriers claim to have coverage, they do...so long as you stand on your car, don't move, and the wind is blowing toward you, then you'll get one bar that will undoubtedly drop out the second you actually try to use it. I've even experienced this with AT&T, having full coverage in the middle of downtown Chicago and being unable to use the Internet. I finally went to Verizon and love the coverage...it's the same price as AT&T, too.

 

While I think Verizon has the best network, and AT&T a close second, I hate both companies for gouging their customers just because they can. I look forward to the day that Sprint or Tmobile or someone can actually compete with them when it comes to coverage area.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Y2HH

[Jenksismyhero]

Ahh, I hadn't thought of that...thanks!

 

The interesting thing is the problem seems to have corrected itself as we have gotten further along in season 1...who knows...

 

Maybe it's the disc? Have you tried re-watching early episodes that had the problem?

[iamshack]

Maybe it's the disc? Have you tried re-watching early episodes that had the problem?

I tried putting in other discs in season 1 and 2, and it seemed to have the same problem. Then I put in a disc from True Blood, and it seemed fine. So I assumed it was something with the way the Mad Men discs were formatted or whatever...however, about 3 episodes into the first disc, the problem seemed to be much less noticeable. Maybe the system is gradually syncing up everything better as it plays or something.

 

I have no idea...

[Y2HH]

I tried putting in other discs in season 1 and 2, and it seemed to have the same problem. Then I put in a disc from True Blood, and it seemed fine. So I assumed it was something with the way the Mad Men discs were formatted or whatever...however, about 3 episodes into the first disc, the problem seemed to be much less noticeable. Maybe the system is gradually syncing up everything better as it plays or something.

 

I have no idea...

 

The video is probably compressed more than the audio, causing it [the audio stream] to process faster.

 

You can solve this by using your receiver as the A/V hub, which is especially easy with HDMI cables. Connect all of your devices to the receiver, and connect the receiver to the TV, this way all the audio/video streams run through the receiver, and the receiver controls not only audio output, but video output, too.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Y2HH

[iamshack]

The video is probably compressed more than the audio, causing it [the audio stream] to process faster.

 

You can solve this by using your receiver as the A/V hub, which is especially easy with HDMI cables. Connect all of your devices to the receiver, and connect the receiver to the TV, this way all the audio/video streams run through the receiver, and the receiver controls not only audio output, but video output, too.

That is how I have it set up. For whatever reason, and I set it to HDMI Control, which is supposed to sync up all that stuff, and it still wasn't working. The only thing that did work initially was bypassing the receiver and hooking up the ps3 directly to the tv, but I didn't want to not have my sound system for all the blu rays, so that doesn't really work for me.

 

However, now it seems to have corrected itself somehow.