smart phones

[himitsu]

I know that there are a few threads already related to mobiles, but I hope you don't mind me making a new one chiefly about smart phones, for the sake of clarity.

Anyway, I have also become now one of the fancy modern people with a smart phone. Some special AU offers (like the price for the device: thanks to special discounts, it only costs me 130yen) convinced me to finally switch to the new technology.
I got an Android HTC (the whole process took about 2 hours), which is supposed to be one of the best out there, at least so I was told. And yes, it is smooth, has some neat features, but unfortunately I was soon facing a bunch of problems as well (I don't know if it's normal, or I was just unlucky). I don't even remember all, but let me talk about the ones I do remember.

- Emails don't work: This was by far the biggest and most annoying malfunction. The very next day after I got my new phone, while I was on the train, when I tried to check mails I got an error notice that "email service has suddenly stopped". And after that I could never access my mails (not even the inbox, outbox, etc. menu) anymore (gmail was ok though). Went next day to AU, but they couldn't find out what the problem is and gave me a new device (same brand). I spent over 3 hours in that shop! (waiting time not included) And of course it meant I had to redo all the changes I had done already (like making folders for the contacts).
And guess what! Next day same problem happened again! (and again on the train) Back to the AU shop, staff again clueless, but after she reset and renewed the software and I don't know what, surprisingly emails worked again. But it meant another 2 hours spent there.
Has anyone experienced this? (I suppose not..)

- Pre-installed software doesn't work: there are 2 games from the beginning there - Spider-Man and NFS. Well, you still have to download them, but the icons are there. Spidey was ok, but after downloading NFS, it said "not suitable for your device" or sth like that. Huh??? Well, I'm not a racing fan anyway..

- Some features which seem natural (at least they were there on my old folding phone) not included - like note pad or dictionary. I know it can be all downloaded, but it's still troublesome. Instead there are lots of applications pre-installed which I will never use for sure..

- pre-installed applications not deletable - somehow the storage they use can be deleted, but not the icon! That's quite annoying - I don't want my application list to be filled with junk don't need and use, like facebook, twitter or games that don't work anyway...

- Japanese voice recognition doesn't know punctuation: especially as it's rather troublesome to type mails with a smart phone (wonder if one can actually get used to it..), I found the voice recognition feature wonderful. However, I miss two things: 1. Automatic language recognition or at least a quicker way to change the language (you can only do it by clicking through some menus); and even more 2. punctuation recognition for Japanese. Maybe it's there, and I just don't know the right words (neither did the AU staff tho), but when I say "question mark" in English, ? will appear, but in Japanese "クエスチョンマーク".. same for "hatena (mark)" or "bikkuri mark".. That means I always have to switch between the voice recognition and typing way. Quite troublesome, especially if you are outside and have gloves on.. was disappointed to find out that smart phone don't work with gloves. Always when I get a phone call, they hang up before I make it to take of my glove and answer the phone...

This much for now, but there's still plenty ^^'

[jeisensei]

Quite troublesome, especially if you are outside and have gloves on.. was disappointed to find out that smart phone don't work with gloves. Always when I get a phone call, they hang up before I make it to take of my glove and answer the phone...'

I can't give you an answer to any of your questions or most of your comments, but I can tell you that most conbini sell gloves that work with smart phones in this day and age. They come with a special super thin metal thread woven in the tips of the fingers and thumbs so they work just like normal (AKA the same as with the gloves off) for the most part. They are truly a life saver in the dead of winter.

[himitsu]

Oh, didn't know that, thanks!

[azuhlLt.]

HTC what? HTC usually don't lock their bootloaders, get on XDA developers (sounding like a broken record here) find your phone, learn how to root it and load a new ROM. Custom ROMs are built by people who want what the phone can't offer. It's usually based on the stock kernel, so you never lose functionality, only gain it. You may have to try a few ROMs before you settle on one you like, it's a weekend job.

[himitsu]

I`m not sure I understand what that`s about (I`m not so good with tech stuff), but I`ll have a look, thanks!

[pakalikaPakalika]

With smart phone the batteries die pretty quick also. Look on the market and down load battery savers, and some utilities to help your phone out. Also turn off the things you do not need. Like the GPS, do not make your screen so bright, the rotation button and when not using your phone, put it in airplane mode. It will save you some battery time. I went and got a extra charger for my phone that charges my phone in a hour to 100%. I do it before I leave school since I kill the battery down to 50% on my way to school.

[Otaku]

Anybody buy that case for your smart phone that costs about 10,000 yen? Comes with an extended battery built into it. Just wondering what the reviews on those things are...

[jeisensei]

I was thinking of getting that but I decided to go with cheap plastic case and rechargeable smart phone battery bought in a conbini.

[pakalikaPakalika]

I though those are only for iphones. Do they have them for smart phones now?

[Paul]

I first had the google android, now I have the GalaxySII, it was working fine until this past Sunday afternoon when it decided to go futzin nutz on me.

I took it to the shop and spent 3 and 1/2 hours waiting for them to decide to have it sent in for repairs. Other than that, I like it alot!

[jeisensei]

I though those are only for iphones. Do they have them for smart phones now?

Some of the lower end models have plug ends that can be changed out so that they work for all smart phones, but it is always best to get one just for your brand of smart phone.

[azuhlLt.]

HTC have started using mini and microUSB as standard...as the rest of the industry promised they would four years ago, so any MicroUSB charger should do the trick. Get down to Akiba and you'll defo find one there.

On a side-note, 10 000Y is too much to pay for a battery-extender, imo. No more than 8000 should be spent on an iPhone and even less on a HTC phone.

[himitsu]

With smart phone the batteries die pretty quick also. Look on the market and down load battery savers, and some utilities to help your phone out. Also turn off the things you do not need. Like the GPS, do not make your screen so bright, the rotation button and when not using your phone, put it in airplane mode. It will save you some battery time. I went and got a extra charger for my phone that charges my phone in a hour to 100%. I do it before I leave school since I kill the battery down to 50% on my way to school.

Thanks for the tips! (didn`t understand the rotation button part tho)
and what is the airplane mode actually?

[moolooman]

Airplane mode turns your phone into a lump of electronic stuff that is an island. It doesn't submit or anything. That way it won't mess with the plane guidance system, and you won't fly into a school bus full of smiling children.

[jeisensei]

Airplane mode turns your phone into a lump of electronic stuff that is an island. It doesn't submit or anything. That way it won't mess with the plane guidance system, and you won't fly into a school bus full of smiling children.

I have yet to figure out why the FAA (and the other defenestrations like it along with the companies that own the planes) keep trying to spread that myth.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/disruptions-fliers-must-turn-off-devices-but-its-not-clear-why/

[pakalikaPakalika]

With smart phone the batteries die pretty quick also. Look on the market and down load battery savers, and some utilities to help your phone out. Also turn off the things you do not need. Like the GPS, do not make your screen so bright, the rotation button and when not using your phone, put it in airplane mode. It will save you some battery time. I went and got a extra charger for my phone that charges my phone in a hour to 100%. I do it before I leave school since I kill the battery down to 50% on my way to school.

Thanks for the tips! (didn`t understand the rotation button part tho)
and what is the airplane mode actually?

when you are not using your phone in school, it is better to turn it to airplane mode. I do it because the signal is low in the teachers room. so i do not want my phone wasting battery searching for a signal. it is a button that looks like this. http://cdn3.staztic.com/screenshots/airplane-toggle-widget-8-1.jpg

[sum1wholikesengliped]

Hi Everyone,

I just found a good website for all you geeks and non-geeks alike. It may also be valuable for information and opinions from people who have different/more experience than us teachers.

Ex: I just read an article that read '5 reasons why I'm ditching Android for and iPhone'.

It had some interesting views, non of them were discounted.

http://www.geek.com

[azuhlLt.]

http://www.geek.com

My 'school' browser just shut it down...even bypassing the proxy, sometimes there are sites it doesn't like...and it simply won't access them. I wish I could install Firefox and Chrome.

[sum1wholikesengliped]

My 'school' browser just shut it down...even bypassing the proxy, sometimes there are sites it doesn't like...and it simply won't access them. I wish I could install Firefox and Chrome.

I just tried my 1st link, and got the same as you.

Try this:

http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/5-reasons-why-im-ditching-android-for-an-iphone-2011034/

[himitsu]

when you are not using your phone in school, it is better to turn it to airplane mode. I do it because the signal is low in the teachers room. so i do not want my phone wasting battery searching for a signal.

I can always choose it as an option when I'm turning off my mobile, but don't really understand its usefulness when you are not using the mobile any way (like at work). Why not just turn it off?

Ex: I just read an article that read '5 reasons why I'm ditching Android for and iPhone'. It had some interesting views, non of them were discounted.

What I miss most with the iPhone is the tethering function, as I'm intending to save the 3000 I'm paying for internet at home.

[himitsu]

Spent another 2 hours in the AU shop yesterday, over the past 2 weeks it's become my 2nd home...

Not only have I got some new issues, I also asked about some of the aforementioned things.

- email size: I got a longer email (not that long though) from a friend (containing a link), but it was suddenly interrupted and said "size too large, not able to display" or so... that never happened with my old foldable phone, so I made some tests: copied a text from wikipedia (containing some linked words) and sent it to my phone by pc, and guess what, same thing happened.
When I went to AU and asked the lady staff (why is the staff always female? They have NO bloody idea about mobiles) about it, she called somewhere (tech center or I don't know what), and they said "the size must be too large" (halleluja, real geniuses there..). Then I asked her if it's not possible to see the size of the mail, she said "no, it's not" with uncertainty.. I just left it at that..
At home then I sent the same text to my girlfriend and another friend (both docomo, not sure if it matters though), and both of them could see the whole text with all the links. Their phone also displayed the mail size, 60 kb. My settings are set at the max, which is 2MB, so the size shouldn't be the problem.
So I have no idea what's going on..

- punctuation for jp mail dictation: she called the center again, after 5 minutes they said there is none... what's the point then of the whole thing?? Do they really expect people to switch manually between typing and speaking, every time we need a comma or full stop??

- NFS game: of course the lady had no idea why it doesn't work, calls center again, speaks with them and gives me the answer: it's installed by the maker you have to call the maker and probably send it in for repair (would be the 2nd time within a week to change it!) - can't you call them for me? - no, customers have to call by themselves..

- Bluetooth: in the settings under bluetooth there's an option to choose RTF server (or sth like that) and I asked what it's for. Again she calls the center (surprise surprise... and actually I had told her in the beginning to better wait to hear all my questions so she won't need to call every time...), speaks with them, turn to me and says "it's for sending data wirelessly" ............ I wasn't sure how to react, or Somehow controlled myself and just thought "Fcking hell, I bloody KNOW what bluetooth is! Obviously you don't!" So I asked what the difference is if it's on or off, she asks the "tech" guy, and finally says that data transfer from the pc is only possible if it's on, vice versa works if it's off as well (hope it's true, haven't tried it out yet..)

I had some other questions about functions as well, and got mostly uncertain answers, if at all... It was actually a different shop from the first 3 times, so it's obviously not just that one person..
I wonder, am I really expecting too much from them? But on the other hand, they are selling this stuff and talking us into buying it, aren't they..

[jeisensei]

I wonder, am I really expecting too much from them? But on the other hand, they are selling this stuff and talking us into buying it, aren't they..

No, you're not expecting too much. But, than again, low expectations do make for happy people in the end for the most part.

I have never heard of someone having so much trouble with one phone. Are you sure you didn't dunk it into water or get it peed on by a disgruntled student?

[himitsu]

haha ^^ no, actually the troubles started already before school restarted.
maybe it's some punishment by the smart phone gods for not getting on this train earlier (or apple for not choosing iphone; yeah, that must be it, a new virus made by apple to force me to change to an iphone...)

[Jeimuzu]

I've had a quick scan of the thread and I've not seen you actually mention what HTC model you are using. Sometimes the issues could be down to the phone itself, particularly if its an old model or just a plain budget phone.

[sum1wholikesengliped]

Himitsu,

One of the points given in that article, that I posted above, mentions the uniformity of coding for Apple products (iPhone), and that the Android platform has various companies making smart phones, all having different coding for their product. Meaning it bogs the developers down. I also read that the very popular game( Angry Birds) had 500mill downloads. When they tried to format for Android, they hit all kinds of coding issues, and they couldn't give the game to all of the Android models. They also mention the question 'Why is it Apple that comes out with the new app, only to have Android users waiting for a conversion that may or may not happen?'

Not sure if this is the issue your facing, and I think even iPhone users have had some trouble like your mentioning. Then again, people with the same phone that you're using may have never had any trouble, and that it's just not cool that it's happening to you. ;(

[sum1wholikesengliped]

I just noticed, my icon is a white ninja. I feel very stealthy...

[jeisensei]

One of the points given in that article, that I posted above, mentions the uniformity of coding for Apple products (iPhone), and that the Android platform has various companies making smart phones, all having different coding for their product.

It's not really that the coding is different. I took a small foray into Android programming a while back (and I will go back into it again after I get my TESOL certificate) and the same backbone is used for all android programming. It uses a java base with another layer for display. The problem is that there are so many different types of handsets with so many different types of screen sizes and other properties that developing for android can be a big headache if you don't do it in a streamlined and flexible fashion.

[moolooman]

My icon is a black ninja. I feel very marginalised.

[jeisensei]

My icon is a black ninja. I feel very marginalised.

In a few levels I will be a shite brown ninja, so I don't think you really have anything to worry about

[himitsu]

By the way, I had also asked that lady last time how I can make a shortcut on the home display for calls to certain contacts and she said I have to download an app (that was her answer for about every 2nd question). Yesterday more by chance I found out that how to do it and that no app is necessary...
How I hate it when they just don`t dare to say "I don`t know" and tell some BS instead...

I've had a quick scan of the thread and I've not seen you actually mention what HTC model you are using. Sometimes the issues could be down to the phone itself, particularly if its an old model or just a plain budget phone.

evo 3D, should be a pretty new model.

Then again, people with the same phone that you're using may have never had any trouble, and that it's just not cool that it's happening to you. ;(

Thanks, and yeah, I can`t imagine that other or many users have my problems, if so htc wouldn`t be there anymore...