Technology catch-all thread

[G&T]

Where are you reading that their reception problems are worse than the iPhone's? I just went through a handful of sites, including apple friendly ones, and got the "haha" impression more than the "This is absolutely terrible" impression. Not that I'm defending either since I have zero horses in this race.

 

Even if the Droid's problem is worse than the iPhone's, no one will notice because Verizon is a better network.

[Balta1701]

Even if the Droid's problem is worse than the iPhone's, no one will notice because Verizon is a better network.

Some of the places I read suggested the problem could actually be related to Verizon's network, either it being excessively hit by a new type of phone or that the phone was struggling to interface with that network.

 

I hate AT&T as much as anyone and that's why i don't have an iPhone yet, but there is some logic to the argument that the reason AT&T's network is below everyone else's in quality is that they have iPhones on it.

 

(Edit: one way to test this of course would be to put an iPhone on another network and let holdouts like me finally have the chance to buy and use them).

[G&T]

Some of the places I read suggested the problem could actually be related to Verizon's network, either it being excessively hit by a new type of phone or that the phone was struggling to interface with that network.

 

I hate AT&T as much as anyone and that's why i don't have an iPhone yet, but there is some logic to the argument that the reason AT&T's network is below everyone else's in quality is that they have iPhones on it.

 

(Edit: one way to test this of course would be to put an iPhone on another network and let holdouts like me finally have the chance to buy and use them).

 

Studies have shown that more data is actually used on Verizon than on AT&T despite the iPhone. Who knows though.

 

By the way, you should ask about AT&T in your area. In smaller cities, AT&T is pretty good. Here, we have no problem. 3G will cut out in the farms, but I don't drop calls. I know a lot of people with AT&T and no one complains. Chicago and NYC are another story...

[Y2HH]

Some of the places I read suggested the problem could actually be related to Verizon's network, either it being excessively hit by a new type of phone or that the phone was struggling to interface with that network.

 

I hate AT&T as much as anyone and that's why i don't have an iPhone yet, but there is some logic to the argument that the reason AT&T's network is below everyone else's in quality is that they have iPhones on it.

 

(Edit: one way to test this of course would be to put an iPhone on another network and let holdouts like me finally have the chance to buy and use them).

 

It'd take more than one or two iPhone's on Verizon's network to make a difference. A few million would be a more "real world" test. In either case, AT&T's network *should* be able to handle the number of iPhones/other phones on it, otherwise AT&T should STOP selling new contracts, because it's obvious they can't support them.

 

And I have to tell you, as an iPhone4 owner/user, the things you've read are FAR overblown hype. My phone works fine, and I've never had dropped call issues aside from in the office I work in, but my AT&T blackberry has the same issues up here on the 18th floor. Aside from that, my data speeds are great, the phone reception is great, too. It's very dependent on where you live, use it, etc...but that applies to all mobiles.

 

As for the Droid 2 reception issues, no matter how far reaching they may end up being, my point was that Moto/Verizon should have done more to assure there were no issues before releasing the phone, the fact that their forums are filling up with complaints show there is an issue. That said, it's just embarrassing in light of the I4 issue they went out of their way to make fun of, they should have been more careful.

[Y2HH]

Studies have shown that more data is actually used on Verizon than on AT&T despite the iPhone. Who knows though.

 

By the way, you should ask about AT&T in your area. In smaller cities, AT&T is pretty good. Here, we have no problem. 3G will cut out in the farms, but I don't drop calls. I know a lot of people with AT&T and no one complains. Chicago and NYC are another story...

 

That study is "per user data", not overall data. On average, Verizon Android users use more data than the average iPhone owner, however, there are millions upon millions of iPhone users, all on one network, where as Android users are spread out across multiple carriers, including AT&T's.

 

I live in Chicago, and almost never have dropped call issues with AT&T, only in the office building I work in, other than that it's fine.

[Balta1701]

Studies have shown that more data is actually used on Verizon than on AT&T despite the iPhone. Who knows though.

 

By the way, you should ask about AT&T in your area. In smaller cities, AT&T is pretty good. Here, we have no problem. 3G will cut out in the farms, but I don't drop calls. I know a lot of people with AT&T and no one complains. Chicago and NYC are another story...

One big selling point for me on Verizon is that I have a habit of winding up using phones in all sorts of nasty, backwoods places, and I can still recall all the amazing points that I've gotten legitimate signal on Verizon's network in the middle of no where while the people on other networks were borrowing my phone at the end of the night.

 

Plus one of my big yearly trips/conferences is downtown San Francisco and that city's one of the constant complaint locations for AT&T as well.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I am in the process of moving my entire organization over to Google Apps. I'm loving it

[DBAHO]

So I feel like a real retard asking this question, but here we go.

 

Going to buy an IPhone very soon for the 1st time, probably the IPhone4 assuming they have it in stock.

 

I basically don't want to get locked into a long - term contract etc. especially if I'm changing countries in the next 12 months, which is still a big possibility.

 

I would assume my best option is to buy it from Apple directly, and then get a month by month micro sim from a provider over here? If I did this (having the phone unlocked from my original purchase), I'd then be able after say 6 months if I moved to the US to take my sim out of the IPhone without screwing it up and get a brand new micro sim deal from say T-Mobile or AT&T?

 

EDIT: That's unless someone can sell me on getting a Samsung Galaxy on the Android platform instead.

[Y2HH]

So I feel like a real retard asking this question, but here we go.

 

Going to buy an IPhone very soon for the 1st time, probably the IPhone4 assuming they have it in stock.

 

I basically don't want to get locked into a long - term contract etc. especially if I'm changing countries in the next 12 months, which is still a big possibility.

 

I would assume my best option is to buy it from Apple directly, and then get a month by month micro sim from a provider over here? If I did this (having the phone unlocked from my original purchase), I'd then be able after say 6 months if I moved to the US to take my sim out of the IPhone without screwing it up and get a brand new micro sim deal from say T-Mobile or AT&T?

 

EDIT: That's unless someone can sell me on getting a Samsung Galaxy on the Android platform instead.

 

Most of these phones cost upwards of 700$ if you buy them without contracts, and many of them cannot be purchased from most retail stores without contracts, either. With contracts, the providers subsidize your price by paying for some of the phone on your behalf, such as an iPhone costing 199 or 299 depending on the storage space, these same phones retail without contracts for around 699$. The same applies to Android smart phones without contracts. The most popular models of phones tend to be sold with contrats only...because they know you want it that badly, they figure they can force you into a deal. :/

 

I doubt you can get an iPhone 4 this way (without a 2 year contract) in a usual manner, you'd probably have to ebay a no contract i4, which like I said, will cost a lot for this very reason. Also, you have to be careful when purchasing a lot of US branded phones, while the iPhone will work in most overseas markets, many other phones sold in the US will not, you have to check first. Since AT&T uses the GSM network, and most foreign countries also use GSM, you can sim swap and have a working phone abroad, many other phones, such as Verizon phones, cannot work overseas as they do not use compatible infrastructures.

 

And this are not stupid questions, either, as this is all very confusing.

 

As for selling you on one platform vs another, there is no real way to do that unless it's done out of fanboi ignorance. I personally use iOS, however, that does not mean iOS is what would be best for you. Same goes for Android, while that works better for many, that does not apply to everyone, either. I would have to know you, your tastes, etc, in order to make a real suggestion, otherwise blindly recommending something is ignorant. Since the iPhone tends to be more locked down (unless you jailbreak it), it's often easier to use for people looking for a modern smart phone with a lot of 3rd party support (in terms of both 3rd party hardware and apps), as it's uniform design assure the same end user interaction across devices. I.E., if you've used one iPhone, you've used them all. Android can be different in terms of look/feel on different hardware, etc., and while this makes Android no worse (some would argue the massive amount of choice is even better), it does add a minor level of complexity that some people do not care for.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Y2HH

[DBAHO]

Most of these phones cost upwards of 700$ if you buy them without contracts, and many of them cannot be purchased from most retail stores without contracts, either. With contracts, the providers subsidize your price by paying for some of the phone on your behalf, such as an iPhone costing 199 or 299 depending on the storage space, these same phones retail without contracts for around 699$. The same applies to Android smart phones without contracts. The most popular models of phones tend to be sold with contrats only...because they know you want it that badly, they figure they can force you into a deal. :/

 

I doubt you can get an iPhone 4 this way (without a 2 year contract) in a usual manner, you'd probably have to ebay a no contract i4, which like I said, will cost a lot for this very reason. Also, you have to be careful when purchasing a lot of US branded phones, while the iPhone will work in most overseas markets, many other phones sold in the US will not, you have to check first. Since AT&T uses the GSM network, and most foreign countries also use GSM, you can sim swap and have a working phone abroad, many other phones, such as Verizon phones, cannot work overseas as they do not use compatible infrastructures.

 

And this are not stupid questions, either, as this is all very confusing.

 

As for selling you on one platform vs another, there is no real way to do that unless it's done out of fanboi ignorance. I personally use iOS, however, that does not mean iOS is what would be best for you. Same goes for Android, while that works better for many, that does not apply to everyone, either. I would have to know you, your tastes, etc, in order to make a real suggestion, otherwise blindly recommending something is ignorant. Since the iPhone tends to be more locked down (unless you jailbreak it), it's often easier to use for people looking for a modern smart phone with a lot of 3rd party support (in terms of both 3rd party hardware and apps), as it's uniform design assure the same end user interaction across devices. I.E., if you've used one iPhone, you've used them all. Android can be different in terms of look/feel on different hardware, etc., and while this makes Android no worse (some would argue the massive amount of choice is even better), it does add a minor level of complexity that some people do not care for.

 

I can get one straight from Apple for £499, which would be unlocked and then I'd be able to swap sims when I wanted to.

 

I was going to look into possibly getting one shipped over from the US, but you can't do that it seems (since you are locked with a provider such as A,T&T from what I've read).

 

With the IPhone 4 you have to use a micro sim now, but you can still swap them over with different sim providers if you're not locked into a contract if the phone is unlocked (which it will be if you buy it straight from Apple).

 

[Balta1701]

Creepy.

When Adam Savage, host of the popular science program “MythBusters,” posted a picture on Twitter of his automobile parked in front of his house, he let his fans know much more than that he drove a Toyota Land Cruiser.

 

Embedded in the image was a geotag, a bit of data providing the longitude and latitude of where the photo was taken. Hence, he revealed exactly where he lived. And since the accompanying text was “Now it’s off to work,” potential thieves knew he would not be at home.

 

Security experts and privacy advocates have recently begun warning about the potential dangers of geotags, which are embedded in photos and videos taken with GPS-equipped smartphones and digital cameras. Because the location data is not visible to the casual viewer, the concern is that many people may not realize it is there; and they could be compromising their privacy, if not their safety, when they post geotagged media online.

 

Mr. Savage said he knew about geotags. (He should, as host of a show popular with technology followers.) But he said he had neglected to disable the function on his iPhone before taking the picture and uploading it to Twitter.

 

“I guess it was a lack of concern because I’m not nearly famous enough to be stalked,” he said, “and if I am, I want a raise.”

[HuskyCaucasian]

Creepy.

People dont realize how dangerous this stuff is. A while back I actually went though Flickr and found pictures with geotag information on them and warned the people involved that you might not want to post nearly naked pictures of yourself and tell people EXACTLY where you live. I eventually stopped because while my intentions were good, it seemed just a little to creepy to me.

[BigSqwert]

Another reason why I refuse to participate in foursquare.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Another reason why I refuse to participate in foursquare.

me too

[lostfan]

Speaking of Foursquare, recently Facebook added "places" which is basically their answer to Foursquare, and it's enabled by default. Granted, it's all irrelevant if you don't participate in it and check in at these l locations, but it's kind of funny how clueless Facebook execs are about their reputation for being s*** with privacy. It's like they literally have no idea what they're doing sometimes.

[BigSqwert]

Speaking of Foursquare, recently Facebook added "places" which is basically their answer to Foursquare, and it's enabled by default. Granted, it's all irrelevant if you don't participate in it and check in at these l locations, but it's kind of funny how clueless Facebook execs are about their reputation for being s*** with privacy. It's like they literally have no idea what they're doing sometimes.

And friends can check in for you with that feature unless you change your settings.

[lostfan]

And friends can check in for you with that feature unless you change your settings.

Right. You'd think they would have you opted out by default and to use it you'd have to opt in, but no. They just turned it on by default for everyone. So dumb.

[BigSqwert]

Right. You'd think they would have you opted out by default and to use it you'd have to opt in, but no. They just turned it on by default for everyone. So dumb.

Oh duh. Probably shouldn't have skimmed your initial post.

[lostfan]

Oh duh. Probably shouldn't have skimmed your initial post.

No, you were right, you haven't contradicted anything I said

[HuskyCaucasian]

Speaking of Foursquare, recently Facebook added "places" which is basically their answer to Foursquare, and it's enabled by default. Granted, it's all irrelevant if you don't participate in it and check in at these l locations, but it's kind of funny how clueless Facebook execs are about their reputation for being s*** with privacy. It's like they literally have no idea what they're doing sometimes.

Did you happen to notice the "places" logo?

Look closely....

[Balta1701]

Looks a lot like the little marker dots that show up on Google maps.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Looks a lot like the little marker dots that show up on Google maps.

yea, but look a little closer. What is the marker on?

[Balta1701]

yea, but look a little closer. What is the marker on?

The number 4?

 

There is an odd break in the purple/green boundary at the edge of the Google style dot where the color boundary doesn't line up on each side, Not sure what else to see.

[HuskyCaucasian]

The number 4?

 

There is an odd break in the purple/green boundary at the edge of the Google style dot where the color boundary doesn't line up on each side, Not sure what else to see.

it's a 4 in a square.... a FourSquare

[Balta1701]

it's a 4 in a square.... a FourSquare

That's pretty weak sauce.