Technology catch-all thread

[Rex Kickass]

Just upgraded to the iphone 4 from iphone 3g. Sweetness all over.

 

For those of you who are asking whether they should get an iphone or a droid phone, consider this: The line at every apple store and everywhere else that sells the iphone is a mile long today. How many lines have you seen for ANY other phone before?

 

There were long lines to get into "Snakes on a Plane" the night it premiered too..... just sayin....

[chetkincaid]

Oh boy, you're opening a pandora's box with this one, my friend...

 

Eh... the truth hurts sometimes I guess

[BigSqwert]

Just upgraded to the iphone 4 from iphone 3g. Sweetness all over.

 

For those of you who are asking whether they should get an iphone or a droid phone, consider this: The line at every apple store and everywhere else that sells the iphone is a mile long today. How many lines have you seen for ANY other phone before?

Oh wait...there was a long line? Well I'll be damned. No reason to consider any other factors.

[BigSqwert]

Reading some forums, people are seemingly upset about battery life. I'm also trying a number of tips they provided in the forums, and we'll see where we're at in a few days of making those changes.

 

One cool feature on this phone is, it actually shows you what is eating the battery life. Oddly, the screen is only 8% of my total power consumption. 30%, highest number, is Android and its associated services.

EVO has the same thing. Agreed. Pretty cool.

[Jenksismyhero]

There were long lines to get into "Snakes on a Plane" the night it premiered too..... just sayin....

 

I think you just proved his point

[BigSqwert]

And about all the battery talk, it's a shame battery technology is still back in the 80s and not keeping up with computer/cell phone technology. As far as the Android OS, the new 2.2 release is supposed to be more efficient and should help preserve battery life.

[Big Hurtin]

The one thing that's making me hesitate buying an Iphone is AT&Ts 2GB/month limit. For those of you already using smartphones, is this a reasonable concern?

[RockRaines]

EVO has the same thing. Agreed. Pretty cool.

The iphone has several free apps like that.

[StrangeSox]

And about all the battery talk, it's a shame battery technology is still back in the 80s and not keeping up with computer/cell phone technology. As far as the Android OS, the new 2.2 release is supposed to be more efficient and should help preserve battery life.

 

Is that really true? My guess is we're just sucking down more and more power. See the same thing with car engines--MPG has stayed flat or crept up a little while power increases have gone through the roof.

[SexiAlexei]

The one thing that's making me hesitate buying an Iphone is AT&Ts 2GB/month limit. For those of you already using smartphones, is this a reasonable concern?

Just my input, but I had an iPhone 3G up until about 3 months ago, and I checked my usage. I was using about 2.5gb per month. I was streaming pandora or another radio station all day at work, and while I was running. I also read websites or checked facebook on the train to work every day. So it depends on how much you'll use it.

[G&T]

The one thing that's making me hesitate buying an Iphone is AT&Ts 2GB/month limit. For those of you already using smartphones, is this a reasonable concern?

 

Remember that wifi doesn't count. That can be a huge bonus if your work (or where ever) has wifi and you want to use it there. I will be surprised if I hit 2 gb.

[lostfan]

They are all pretty s***ty compared to my old blackberry. The problem is leaving Wi-fi on, or bluetooth, or loading video. They all eat so much bat.

also GPS.

[lostfan]

So far, except for one thing, I like the phone, and the Droid OS.

 

Problem is the battery. I turned the phone on at about 5:30am after charging fully overnight... and now I am getting a warning (at 1pm) saying the battery is at 14%. WTF? Seriously? If this is the way the battery is going to be, I am going to have to return the phone.

 

I am hoping that over a few nights of charging the battery will improve. If not, I'm returning it. Running out of batter mid-afternoon is not acceptable. Needs to make it through a long single day, at LEAST.

Sometimes the phone incorrectly reads battery charge so if you use the phone until it dies and then charge it to 100% and past that by a couple of hours it'll start working right again. This may or may not be your problem but it's worth a try.

[HuskyCaucasian]

iPhone 4 users having reception issues.... your holding to wrong!

Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way

So, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising. In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are reception issues with the new iPhone -- namely, that if you cover the bottom-left corner of the phone and bridge the gap between the notch there with your naked flesh, you could see some signal degradation. Yes, you read that right: it's not a software or production issue, simply a matter of the physical location of your hand in regards to the phone's antenna. The company's suggested fix? Move your hand position, or get a case which covers that part of the phone, thus breaking contact.

(more at the link... including an e-mail from Steve Jobs)

 

Now Apple tells you how to hold your phone.

[BigSqwert]

iPhone 4 users having reception issues.... your holding to wrong!

 

 

Now Apple tells you how to hold your phone.

Wow. Did they even bother to do any product testing with this version?

[NorthSideSox72]

Sometimes the phone incorrectly reads battery charge so if you use the phone until it dies and then charge it to 100% and past that by a couple of hours it'll start working right again. This may or may not be your problem but it's worth a try.

One of the many things I found suggestions for, was doing "bump charging" the first few days. Basically, you run the battery down... plug it in until its green... unplug it, turn it off completely... plug it in again, until green. Repeat until the green light comes on immediately when plugging it in. Supposedly that gets the battery in better condition.

 

Also, the Droid Inc comes with a 1300 aMh battery, and I just ordered at 1800 from Seito (via Amazon) that has the same form. They also make extended ones that require a new phone back that go to like 3000, but I don't want to have to get a new case for it, etc.

 

[BigSqwert]

One of the many things I found suggestions for, was doing "bump charging" the first few days. Basically, you run the battery down... plug it in until its green... unplug it, turn it off completely... plug it in again, until green. Repeat until the green light comes on immediately when plugging it in. Supposedly that gets the battery in better condition.

 

Also, the Droid Inc comes with a 1300 aMh battery, and I just ordered at 1800 from Seito (via Amazon) that has the same form. They also make extended ones that require a new phone back that go to like 3000, but I don't want to have to get a new case for it, etc.

Plus those extended ones make the phone super bulky. Eff that.

 

They need to make a battery cover with a solar panel. Sure it won't be for charging the phone but it could extend the period between charges.

Edited June 25, 2010 by BigSqwert

[NorthSideSox72]

Plus those extended ones make the phone super bulky. Eff that.

 

They need to make a battery cover with a solar panel. Sure it won't be for charging the phone but it could extend the period between charges.

You do know you can buy compact, super-light, roll-up solar panels that plug into USB's, right? You can definitely charge your phone with solar, its just not built into the phone.

 

[BigSqwert]

You do know you can buy compact, super-light, roll-up solar panels that plug into USB's, right? You can definitely charge your phone with solar, its just not built into the phone.

Oh yeah but who wants to carry that around?

[BigSqwert]

Rebtel Promises Free Android-to-Android International VOIP Calls With New Application

[HuskyCaucasian]

Wow. Did they even bother to do any product testing with this version?

yea, but some dude left it in a bar

[Chisoxfn]

Reading some forums, people are seemingly upset about battery life. I'm also trying a number of tips they provided in the forums, and we'll see where we're at in a few days of making those changes.

 

One cool feature on this phone is, it actually shows you what is eating the battery life. Oddly, the screen is only 8% of my total power consumption. 30%, highest number, is Android and its associated services.

Not sure if it makes you feel better and the battery life you are getting is completely unacceptable, but you won't find a smart phone out there that people won't gripe about the battery life. If your a hard user, you probably won't go more than a full day on a charge on most of them.

 

But again, half a day without being hardcore on it, that is just pathetic and I assume it will get better.

[Chisoxfn]

Just upgraded to the iphone 4 from iphone 3g. Sweetness all over.

 

For those of you who are asking whether they should get an iphone or a droid phone, consider this: The line at every apple store and everywhere else that sells the iphone is a mile long today. How many lines have you seen for ANY other phone before?

Who cares about a line. There aren't near as many Apple stores as other phones.

 

Just an FYI, but the EVO is sold out for a while too at most places.

[RockRaines]

Not sure if it makes you feel better and the battery life you are getting is completely unacceptable, but you won't find a smart phone out there that people won't gripe about the battery life. If your a hard user, you probably won't go more than a full day on a charge on most of them.

 

But again, half a day without being hardcore on it, that is just pathetic and I assume it will get better.

blackberries are the only "smart phone" that i have used that has great battery life, the rest of the touch screen ones are garbage. I guess its the price we pay for being awesome.

[Chisoxfn]

blackberries are the only "smart phone" that i have used that has great battery life, the rest of the touch screen ones are garbage. I guess its the price we pay for being awesome.

My blackberry is ridiculous if I just use it for calls. The thing lasted like my entire honeymoon on two charges (10 nights). I stream Pandora all day and it still goes a full day and a half without getting to low.