Cell phones. Blech!
15I’m not happy with my new cell phone.
Maybe it’s because I haven’t quite figured things out.
For instance, why do apps want to know so much about my own private business before I can use them? Are they offended when I tell them “no”?
And why do they keep updating? My phone is almost always wanting to update an app. Didn’t they get it right the first time?
Does anyone else get tired of having to carry their phone everywhere? I mean EVERYWHERE! My phone doesn’t fit in my pockets, so I am having to learn to do things one handed or not at all. If I put it down, I forget it when I move to the next room/place I’m going to.
Why can’t they come up with a longer lasting battery? After all, we put a man on the moon, didn’t we? But I will admit, that I like the turbo charger that my new phone has.
Yes, I know all of the above is disjointed and probably making no sense to most/all of you, but there are lots of things bugging me about my new smartphone. (Don’t even talk to me about installing screen protectors. I had to order a second pack of them.) People keep telling me that “I’ll figure it all out”. No, I don’t think so.
So, I guess what I’m really asking is, “Am I the only one who is finding no love with cell phones?”
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I lovelovelove my cell phone! Call me and I’ll tell you how much! 248-434-5508!
@therealjrn Aren’t you tired of being rejected by me?
@therealjrn Heh. Nice try though.
I consider the cell phone a tool, and vaguely useful, especially as I get older. I have TWO apps on my phone (other than the silly crap which comes preinstalled, and which I carefully put in a folder called…Crap).
I use the Weather thing, and the Stock Market thing, so I let them be. I have my phone in a Penguin case, and it has a little stand that allows it to be upright. During the day, it lives in the computer room, downstairs. In the evening, I take it upstairs for a while, but it goes back downstairs before I go to bed (the bedroom is upstairs, and at the opposite end of the house from where the phone sits at night).
The only apps I have that didn’t come with the phone are a library app, and the Kindle app, and I don’t use them, and should probably delete them.
If I’m going somewhere, I toss the phone in my purse. If I’m outside, gardening, I figure that anyone who wants me will check back, or find someone else to bother.
Interesting. I just noticed that I have two folders (neither is named Crap, so I lied), one named “Games” and one named “Utilities” and there are no games in the games folder, but the App Store is in it. The utilities folder has things I use on rare occasion, such as the Contacts.
I’m going to quit before this becomes book length. :-}
@Shrdlu I enjoy listening to your thoughts. We don’t hear from you enough.
As a property manager, I used to try to designate my cell “for emergencies only” but I quickly found out everybody thinks their need to talk to me is an emergency so I dropped my land line.
As a result I use my cell for both personal and business. It’s convenient for me to have everything in one place, but I do worry about a “single point of failure” situation if the phone gets lost, broken or stolen.
I use the thing for texts, calls, emails, looking stuff up…pretty much like a little portable computer when I’m out and about. I keep an older version on the shelf ready to replace it in case a disaster happens.
My situation is so different from yours @Barney, I can’t really talk you into keeping your phone.
Before she passed on, I did get Mom a Jitterbug brand flip phone for emergencies for her to carry and I still have it. Your welcome to it if you want to give it a spin. It’s an over-sized “clamshell” type phone that has a dial tone when you open it and a basic contacts list.
It’s probably 4 years old and I imagine it would still be good for reactivation at greatcall.com . Let me know if you want it.
@therealjrn Give Google Voice a shot? https://www.handymanstartup.com/how-to-have-2-phone-numbers-with-1-phone/
@therealjrn Thank you for your kind offer, but I still have my old clamshell TracFone and it is still operational with somewhere around 5k minutes on it. (I had registered two TracFones in my name and when Mom died, they allowed me to port all of her phone minutes over to mine. She seldom used hers, so I ended up with a bunch of minutes.) Every so often I add some minutes to keep it active. I guess it is my backup phone now?
I’m still going to keep using my new smartphone, I’m told that I will come to find that I can’t get along without it. I doubt that, but we’ll see,
@Targaryen Hm…Google Voice huh…I’ll have to look into it. What happened before was people would try one number, then turn around and call the other if I didn’t answer.
I probably need to deploy some op sec compartmentalization with my phone number(s) distributions.
@Barney It has taken me several years to get around to using google maps. Before that paper maps, written out directions (which I still do for longer trips). I do find that useful when I leave somewhere and forget if I am turning left or right, for example, or am tired and want warning I have a turn coming up.
I don’t hate cell phones - I just hate the “smaller than a tablet, but too big for a pocket” flat “smart” phones. They are awkward to carry, tend to be highly skilled “escape artists” that are too damned nosey about personal info, and they need constant feeding. So are cats, but at least cats are snuggly, which phones are not.
“No, phone, I do NOT want you to stay lit up because the front camera can “see” that I’m holding you. That would be difficult since I have an adhesive dot over the front camera.”
“No, phone, I do NOT want that app that wants my DOB and credit card # to work.”
I do not like that my fingers are too big for the tiny keypads, so I need to use a stylus pen, and there are almost no phone cases that have a place to put the pen. I hate that I have to use a case because phone makers make their products greased-pig slick. I hate that I have to remember to take the phone out of my bag/jacket pocket as soon as I get home because it needs to be fed. I hate that I have to use a case with a loop attacked so I can tether it with a carabiner to my bag, to keep it from escaping.
I could go on. I could also get away with not having one - until I can’t. So I have one, but I can’t see myself ever loving it. I’m almost gleeful when one of mine dies until I remember that I will just have to get another. Sigh.
@rockblossom You’re my kind of people.
@Barney Old and cranky?
@rockblossom Exactly!
Why apps need know private business?
Sometimes to enable features within the app, other times to spam your contacts and use your stats for marketing.
Are they offended?
No. If you don’t want to give the app permission, choose no. Later, when using the app, you may encounter a feature that doesn’t work without that access. (ex: accessing camera to scan a bar code) You can decide whether to allow access at that point.
Why updates?
New features, bug fixes, security patches.
Tired of having to carry the phone around?
If doesn’t fit in pockets, there are clips, fanny packs, cases, leashes, etc that could help. If you don’t want to have it with you, you can leave it on the charger and use bluetooth speaker to have it ring in different rooms. (if hearing it ring is the concern) I once got a wireless phone handset from woot that allowed you to pair the cell phone through bluetooth then answer it and make calls all through the familiar cordless phone handset while your cellphone stays plugged in. (sold it on ebay)
I think that’s just you.
Why no longer lasting battery?
Size, mostly. If you think the phone is too big now, imaging it with a laptop battery attached to it. Screen usage is the #1 battery killer. When not using the phone, make sure the screen is off. You can also leave it on the charger as I mentioned and have bluetooth speakers alert you to a call. There are always portable power banks you can use as well.
@medz I don’t know whether to feel enlightened or depressed.
@medz I chose the pixel instead of the pixel xl because I want a phone that comfortably fits in my pocket. My new $20 fitness tracker watch vibrates when my phone rings or I get a text, which is extremely convenient since my idiot $1,000 pixel randomly decides to turn itself to do not disturb. My fitness tracker also vibrates when I get about 30 feet away from the phone, which was convenient last night when I tried to drive off and leave it at my friend’s house. It also will vibrate when an alarm or reminder on my phone goes off. It’s been a very convenient assistive device for my sometimes extremely frustrating phone. As far as battery life, unless I play a crazy amount of games on it, the phone only has to be charged once a day, and will fully charge in maybe half an hour. Fitness tracker will go more than a week on a charge, it will also charge in half an hour. So recharging is not a problem.
@medz @moondrake My meh-Martian watch does the same. It is handy for not leaving the phone behind somewhere. I found that I dislike wearing a wristwatch though, so I’m back to doing the “self-pat-down” whenever I’m changing locations during my travels. lol
@moondrake @therealjrn I’ve purchased a misfit tracker. I wonder if it does that. @sammydog01?
@Barney @sammydog01 @therealjrn Dunno, that’s a more expensive unit than mine so one would hope it has that capacity.
@Barney @moondrake @sammydog01 Julie says it doesn’t. But it will keep tracking your fitness. She had a phone die, but when she synced to the new phone it had her data.
@Barney @moondrake @therealjrn Nope, it doesn’t vibrate when it gets out of reach of the phone. Personally I would find that annoying.
@Barney @moondrake @therealjrn The one Barney bought is higher tech than the sparkly ones- it does vibration notifications and alarms and it will buzz you if you don’t move for a while (I keep that turned off.)
@moondrake @sammydog01 @therealjrn At least it’s not an electrical shock.
@Barney @sammydog01 @therealjrn You can turn the lost phone thing on or off.
I’m not an expert on this sort of thing, but this is similar to what I was talking about…
https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-XT801-Waterproof-Cordless-Bluetooth/dp/B077GDBW9D
It’s a secondary handset that pairs to your cellphone’s bluetooth. So you could have this in your living room and your cellphone in the bedroom or whatever.
Other folks here may have a better recommendation.
@medz Belated thanks for the tip. I looked into this a little bit and ended up buying a cordless Panasonic phone at Costco that lets me use the cordless phone linked to the cell phone.
@cf1 Awesome. I hope you told 'em medz sent ya!
@medz Of course I did. I’m sure they’ll send you a big referral bonus.
What type of phone do you have? Just the model name will do for example: Samsung s6 edge, iPhone 4s etc.
@Targaryen Moto G6. I’ve named it Stanley, because when I was a kid, Stanley was the classroom troublemaker. I didn’t like him at all.
@Barney try this video or maybe if you are bored you can search Youtube for a “How to use” type video that will help you visually understand the phone a bit better.
@Barney @Targaryen
Another interactive resource for you:
https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/motorola-moto-g6/simulator/
Basically, allows you to select a topic on the left then step through how to do it on the right via your computer so you can see how it works.
You android version may be newer, however…
@Targaryen Thanks! I already feel cheated, though, the phones sold in the States don’t have the clear protective cover.
@medz @Targaryen Thank you, I’ll give this a try, too.
@Barney @medz That’s handy as well. Need to show my mother that one.
@Barney @Targaryen Mine is named Microvac. Google Assistant is named AC. Asimov fans will get it.
@moondrake If Stanley ever decides to get on my good side, I will rename him Mike from Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I’m not sure yet about using Google Assistant.
@Barney I live by Google Assistant and Alexa, though both of them can be real bitches at times. I’ve found it convenient to have both Google Home and Echo Dots in hailing distance of one another, because when one is proving difficult the other is usually more cooperative. Although it’s funny, when I accidentally call the Home “Alexa”, it gets hurt feelings and tells me, “That’s not my name. I’m your Google Assistant”. Alexa just ignores me when I “OK Google” her.
@moondrake I’ve started using Google Assistant a little bit. I don’t know, something bothers me about this, but I haven’t figured out why.
If you turn off wifi and data, your battery life will increase tremendously.
I keep wifi and data off on mine all the time. It lives in about three different designated areas, whether I’m at home or at work. I also have background data disabled for all of my apps. Occasionally I’ll remember and turn wifi on for a bit so my apps can update.
I don’t keep track, but I probably go a week between charges, unless I used wifi or data.
@Limewater That’s a good idea. I may do that when I get through playing with it and finding out how utterly incompetent I am when it comes to using a smartphone.
@Barney @Limewater Good point. Pesky apps can’t update if they ain’t got a data connection!
By default, “airplane mode” will also turn off your ability to make and receive phone calls, so make sure you’re only turning off Cell Data and Wifi. You’ll still get calls and simple texts (SMS), but not multi-media (group messages, pictures, and such) messages (MMS).
Project Fi does use wifi for calls if the cell reception is bad, so you may want to leave wifi on for that…
@Barney @Limewater @medz “Project Fi does use wifi for calls if the cell reception is bad, so you may want to leave wifi on for that…” On paper. Not so much in RL, at least with pixel. If I want my phone to use wifi calling, I have to turn off cell. Then of course remember to turn it off and on every time I leave the house. Otherwise, living in the shadow of the mountain upon which the cell towers sit, smoke signals would be more useful for communication. It’s been a big complaint with pixel+Google fi for many users.
@Limewater I just plug my phone in by my bed every night. That way I can check to see if Meh has a waffle iron for sale if I wake up in the middle of the night. It’s my backup alarm clock too.
@Barney @Limewater @medz @moondrake Smoke signals! Why didn’t I think of that?
/image smoke signals
@moondrake I have the original Pixel and it seamlessly (mostly) switches to wifi calling when I go down into my basement.
EDIT: Have you checked under Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network > Advanced > Configure IMS calling
Make sure Wi-Fi Calling slider is on there.
How crappy is your wifi/internet speed?
@medz checked your suggestion and it is on. I’ve been through fi tech support and all they could offer was the turn on and off cell data nonsense. When I can remember I dial out using Hangouts dialer because it automatically uses Wi-Fi. But incoming calls are incomprehensible. My internet speed is terrible but not nearly so terrible as my cell connection at home. I literally am able to hear perhaps one out of three words someone says to me on the phone. Nobody else has a decent cell connection at my house either, regardless of provider. The cell tower is shooting over my house from the top of the mountain.
@moondrake Have you looked into the cell signal repeater things? They are expensive, but the idea would be you could have an antenna on a pole way high on your roof that would relay the signal to a transmitter antenna in your house.
@medz If it were inexpensive and easy I’d try it, but I doubt it would make much difference. I am one block from the mountain. The cell, tv and radio transmitters are a few hundred feet almost straight overhead. They just shoot right over us toward the bulk of the city. I tried a couple of roof antennae for tv years back and got nothing out of it. Poor cell and radio reception and no tv reception is the price I pay for having the mountain between me and the murderous setting sun in the summertime. It’s a tradeoff I’m glad to make. It just came as a big surprise to when I supposedly traded up from my Moto X with Republic Wireless to my Pixel with Google Fi, and lost home phone access without having to jump through ridiculous hoops to get what was promised in their advertising. But thanks for thinking of me.
@moondrake Take a 3 star review gamble for $50?
https://www.amazon.com/Repeater-Booster-Amplifier-Extender-Antenna/dp/B077CF94SG
You’ll have to provide your own pole or mount. That one is for 850MHz which I think is among the ones Project Fi uses…
You know what might be useful is some type of call screener. I don’t know about anyone else but I get a 1-3 robotic calls per day. I can only imagine you probably have or will be getting the same soon. It might be worth seeing who is calling (and some call screeners will tell you if it a scam number) so you don’t pick up every call that comes in.
After that you can do fun things like taking friends and relatives photos and apply some fun ringtones and such as well so you know who is calling when. That will also help you not feel like you need to be attached.
@Targaryen I use Mr. Number.
@moondrake @Targaryen +1 on Mr. Number. Not perfect, but it helps.
@Targaryen Another option might be https://www.nomorobo.com/
This is a good cell phone review that is relevant to this topic: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mathonan/google-pixel-3-review-android
@dave A painful read. "I saw you at the playground looking at your phone while your child’s life passed you by. " That really hurt. I don’t even have kids, but I have beloved dogs that would like to play and go on walks. I think about the time that I wasted with loved ones now departed that I would move the world for one more minute with. These things are indeed a blessing and a curse.
@dave @moondrake I am not going to be trapped by my phone. My computer didn’t do it to me; I won’t allow my phone to do it.
I’ve said it before, it’s still accurate: frequently I leave the house without my cell. On purpose.
I wouldn’t say I despise cell phones, but I would prefer if I could get along without one more often. I also dislike txt messaging. SO many people abuse it. Txt is NOT a substitute for email or a phone call!
BTW, I’m also not a fan of phone calls, and I barely tolerate email. Don’t care for it when someone tries to chat me up in the checkout line at the store or bank either.
@ruouttaurmind Um, how do you feel about friendly talks on a forum?
/giphy be my friend
@ruouttaurmind Due to the 24 hour nature of my business, I do carry my phone with me everywhere. What I do isn’t heart transplant important, but then I don’t want little problems to bloom into big problems either.
That doesn’t mean I can’t put it on pleasure mode and leave it in my pocket when I’m talking and meeting with the 3D people or driving. Especially when I’m driving.
/image bag phone
@therealjrn
Same boat. Fortunately I’m in a position where I can designate a PIC for times when I just don’t wanna be an adult.
@ruouttaurmind I need to get me some of them there PIC’s.
@Barney Friendly chats in a forum are ideal! I can socialize without actually having to be social.
@ruouttaurmind
/define blech
INTERJECTION
/giphy blech
/image blech
/youtube blech
@jst1ofknd look at all those things tagged blech because they know people don’t know how to spell bleach.
Or they don’t know how to spell bleach themselves.
Interesting.
@RiotDemon
I r a spelin genus.
/giphy spelling genius
@jst1ofknd @RiotDemon
/giphy Tori Spelling?
I don’t carry it with me. I rarely put it in my pocket even if I have one. Although, since I recently moved I am carrying it with me more than usual because of reasons (I am expecting a lot of different returned calls) and I now have a 2 story house and it’s like washing a car for rain. If I go upstairs, the phone is ringing downstairs and verse visa. But I rarely run for my phone and I miss a few calls. I’m not a slave to it but I have gotten used to the convenience of it. When microwave ovens first came out I didn’t like them at all. Now… how does one live without it? How do you reheat your coffee?
Believe it or not, you will get accustomed to it although you will want to chuck it at the wall every now and then. But more than that, you’ll want to chuck the customer service people you deal with when something goes wrong with your phone.
And yes… the day you start using a tablet or a smart phone, everything about you is out there. Permissions or not… “they” know everything about you now. Including how many bowel movements a day you have.
Such are the days we live in.
I do put the do not disturb thing on. If someone wants to call me between 10:30pm and 7:30am… ain’t happenin’.
I only turn mine on when I’m expecting a call from the vet’s office. And even then I wear my bluetooth earpiece because I can’t answer the phone quickly enough and the call goes to voicemail.