Introduction to smartphones?

[notposting]

MetroTube: Excellent YouTube app. Runs much better than any native implementation on WP8. MyTube is also popular.

I love MyTube, fwiw. Interface is very appealing to me. Lots of updates too.

Browsing the forums (and editing out most of that quote is definitely easier on a bigger screen than this 520 for sure (in browser, anyway).

PSA don't get the MS Solitaire collection. It's a battery rapist for now.

 

[Muse]

When you get enough apps you will see the alphabetical letters appear, tap them and you get a grid, tap whatever letter you want and it will go right there.

Ah, I was wondering WTH that was! It's been happening since late last night, at the end of my downloading orgy! :ninja: Thanks for the tips, I'll try that stuff.

This morning I'm going to give a shot at using the GPS in my car.

Is HERE Drive just in beta? Um, I saw HERE Drive in the Store but it said "Europe" so I figured that was for there, but reading the info I guess it's for "95 countries," I'm going to install it now.
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Edit: Crazy! The 520 knew my address last night, I didn't enter it, it knew. I open HERE Drive today and it gets the house behind me. I go to my front porch and it gets 2 houses east. I walk a bit west and it gets it wrong again. I don't see a way to correct it. Oh, well, I guess if I let it think I live in a house nearby it won't be too bad. I saved my house as a "favourite" but HERE Drive still thinks I live on the street to the north of me... feh.
/Edit
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Edit2: My first use of the GPS will be a trip to the golf course. Hopefully it will tell me how to get there (I've driven there a few hundred times! It's about 15 minutes). The neat thing about golf is there are NO technical glitches. Well, I will bring my laser rangefinder and golf GPS, but if they fuck up, it's no big deal. I'm pulling my cart, have my analog clubs and balls, I can still play golf. Time disappears when you are playing decent golf. It's like playing pick up basketball, well, it should be.
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This smartphone thing, I have to think that it's central to the burgeoning technological revolution we are in the midst of.

 

[notposting]

You can update Here Drive (it's out of beta now). Try the one you saw (it will say update on the bottom if you have the right one) or update via sysapp pusher as well.

If the cell radio isn't in use (not sure how it works without a SIM, but it doesn't even pull time from the towers as far as I can tell), it will be using wifi location and then GPS, which can take awhile for a precise lock.

 

[Muse]

I've got my trip lined up on my 520, but have no confidence it will do anything but display it. It hasn't made a sound. How do I make sure it will announce directions as I drive, through the speaker? I presume the volume rocker will make it softer/louder. There must be a way to turn the announcements on/off. I don't see it and the videos I've watched are lame.

 

[notposting]

Back out of navigation back to the maps. Make sure volume is up first. Then go hit Start Navigation again and she will blather at you. For settings within the Nav app, swipe up, they are "below" the main screen.

(note: I have a Garmin and I mute that wench, I just check the screen now and then, a dash mount is good for this)

I also had to insert the Satan-SIM to test this. Damnit.

 

[Muse]

Back out of navigation back to the maps. Make sure volume is up first. Then go hit Start Navigation again and she will blather at you. For settings within the Nav app, swipe up, they are "below" the main screen.

(note: I have a Garmin and I mute that wench, I just check the screen now and then, a dash mount is good for this)

I also had to insert the Satan-SIM to test this. Damnit.

Where's Start Navigation? I started my trip to my saved destination but still have heard nothing. The volume is 30/30, i.e. maximum, AFAIK. I set that with the rocker switch only... I'm going to try the manual, it's on page 72 or so...

OK, I got her talking. It's not going to be my favorite route right now, but I'll play along. Sounds OK in my kitchen.

 

[notposting]

Sorry. Start Navigation is actually in Here Maps, I usually use a map program (Here or the hidden original WP one) to search and look at route, then send to Nav program.

 

[Muse]

Sorry. Start Navigation is actually in Here Maps, I usually use a map program (Here or the hidden original WP one) to search and look at route, then send to Nav program.

I need to get my feet on the ground with it but today was a first off. I got her talking and knew it would work from then on if I didn't hit the wrong keys or strokes.

I heard her fine, absolutely fine. I think the volume was all the way up, I had the radio off, everything she said was crystal clear to me, well almost. Close enough! Now, the route she chose had me scratching my head. I didn't want to take her route, but finally I started taking her directions anyway, curious what she was up to. She didn't take the best route. I had to wonder if some road was missing in the maps. The worst of it is this: I got to the last crossroads before my destination and I go straight through it to Golf Course Drive (I was on Centennial Way and it continues after going straight through the intersection as Golf Course Drive). She instructed me to turn right onto Golf Course Drive, WTF! Well, of course, I went straight and the next thing that comes in 1/4 mile is my "destination." That was weird.

Going home was a whole lot better. In fact the route taken was the one I used to take, but I take a slightly different one, a parallel street that has several less traffic lights. The app never got the hint and kept trying to get me on the other street. What was crazy when I started my trip home was the fact I had to reenter my destination on the keyboard even though I'd saved it as a favorite, WTF! I must be missing something.

Anyway, I figure the Garmin probably has it's own quirks and shortcomings. I'll probably return it brand new in it's unopened package to Costco in a few weeks on my next run there.

 

[notposting]

I remember Google Nav on my old Droid was kind of doofy around here in the Detroit area. It's a standard grid pattern for the most part, some streets will be faster (better timed lights maybe) but it would want you to stairstep your way across town (turn every mile). These things aren't always geniuses (neither is my Garmin ).

Also, try playing with the setting for the route. See what "fastest" gets versus balanced, for example.

 

[Muse]

I remember Google Nav on my old Droid was kind of doofy around here in the Detroit area. It's a standard grid pattern for the most part, some streets will be faster (better timed lights maybe) but it would want you to stairstep your way across town (turn every mile). These things aren't always geniuses (neither is my Garmin ).

Also, try playing with the setting for the route. See what "fastest" gets versus balanced, for example.

Yeah, I've seen some info about changing/setting routes. I'll mess around with that. Her voice doesn't bother me but it is quite mechanical, but what do you expect... There's no lane assist, or anything like it AFAIK, although I presume (will see) that it will guide me when it comes to decision making on the road. Will drill down into the possibilities with HERE Maps and HERE Drive. It's confusing that there are two applications, why couldn't they just have one app and have the maps as just something you install? Maybe that's contrary to the paradigm, but just saying. I was pretty confused yesterday. You expect (well, you hope) that your software will be intuitive, but I can't give this more than a B minus so far for being intuitive, and that would be generous.

I LOVE the screen. If I'd used a 928 for a few months I would undoubtedly sense the 520 screen's inferiority, but from my viewpoint it's absolutely fantastic. The performance of the 520 strikes me as extremely snappy, certainly compared to my laptops and PCs!

I had some chats with one of my golf partners yesterday about smartphones. He has an iPhone and is on Verizon. Current score is Verizon 4, other carriers 0. He told me that Consumer Reports in their coverage research has said that AT&T has inferior service in all major metro areas in the US. Dang. My partner told me about a fantastic app he uses, I think named Moves. He turns it on in the morning and checks it at the end of the day. He doesn't access it at all in the interim and it tells him all kinds of statistics about his day, such as how far he biked, walked, ran, how fast he did these things, and more. Of course, he has an iPhone. I may get one some day, at least it could use Verizon. Or maybe I can get a Windows Phone on Verizon. Anyway, maybe I can try a no contract AT&T plan now and see how it goes, I can always just ditch it, I guess.

 

[RossMAN]

Muse,

Hey there just checking in as it's been a few days. You've had your new smartphone for about a week now.

Have you been able to activate it yet to actually make/receive phone calls?

How is the GPS going so far? What about apps?

Most importantly do you think you'll keep it? Are you able to return it to Amazon.com or would you sell it on Swappa or Craigslist.org? Wow are these really selling for about $110?

Another option is the superior Moto G for $90 + $30 flash fee which has the following benefits:

Overall better phone with Android ecosystem.
After flashing it will work on PagePlus which is basically Verizon.

However I'm not sure if it offers offline GPS or how it handles it.

Questions?

 

[Muse]

Muse,

Hey there just checking in as it's been a few days. You've had your new smartphone for about a week now.

Have you been able to activate it yet to actually make/receive phone calls?

How is the GPS going so far? What about apps?

Most importantly do you think you'll keep it? Are you able to return it to Amazon.com or would you sell it on Swappa or Craigslist.org? Wow are these really selling for about $110?

Another option is the superior Moto G for $90 + $30 flash fee which has the following benefits:

Overall better phone with Android ecosystem.
After flashing it will work on PagePlus which is basically Verizon.

However I'm not sure if it offers offline GPS or how it handles it.

Questions?

Hey RossMAN! Well, with all the Sochi Olympics stuff, I haven't gotten to activation, speaking of which you posted here:

Now I just need to find the right T-Mobile or AT&T MVNO which is no easy feat when you factor in the 20+ choices, roll over minutes, roaming, text, SMS, throttled data, etc. *This has actually inspired me to create a prepaid cell phone MVNO web site resource, it should launch by 2020.*

Got any ideas? I figure before springing for Airvoice I should check out some alternatives. For me, rollover would be nice. Maybe not essential. It would be cool if I could get in/out easy and without penalty. I'm going to start poking around now. I was up in the hills on Monday and was getting zero coverage on the golf course and my partner (on Verizon, that makes the score Verizon 5, other carriers 0 in my poll of smartphone users around here!) was getting coverage fine. Driving by the university I got bars, that's no surprise that they would put up a tower near the U. Well, I figure I can get a cheap plan, cancellable, just to see if I 1/2 way like having a plan. I don't make a lot of wireless calls, so possibly I won't be too inconvenienced by AT&T's coverage woes.

The Nokia GPS was decent for sure. I'm going to return the Garmin, almost for sure, within a couple of weeks when I make my next Costco run.

I'm just starting to get into the apps. I installed Amazing Weather HD ($1.99, I had to set up my payment on the 520 using a CC), my first paid app. I watched a ~8 minute video by a guy at Windows Phone Fanatics on Amazing Weather H: Amazing Weather HD for Windows Phone 8 app review Whew! I'll have to watch it a few times, there's a lot of stuff in there I just don't get yet. He has it set up as his lock screen, I believe. I haven't done any stuff like that.

I've printed out 5 copies of the manual! The first three had the font size just too small, damn. My eyes would start to get tired after a while, so I installed Foxit Reader, which allowed me to print it in the same format (booklet) but with a significantly bigger font. I printed out two more copies like that.

Good question, should I keep the 520. Hmm. If I can't get 1/2 decent coverage with it, maybe I should sell it and look for a Verizon based smartphone!

Yup, the Moto G, I think I can get that with Verizon. Actually, from what I've been reading I'm wondering if Windows Phone wouldn't be better than Android. But there's all those Android apps, people say, so that's a big plus. Have to check out GPS on the Moto G. The big knock on the Moto G for me is the limited storage -- no SD card. Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Muse]

Got my Airvoice SIM, activated and got on their $10/30 days 4 cent phone, 2 cent text, 6.6 cent/MB no contract plan. Did this yesterday, but don't have my voicemail set up because I can't make a call from my house. I get between zero and two bars and when I make a call it invariably drops. Well, I'm not surprised. I wasn't planning to make calls with it from the house, anyway. I have free telephone on my land line in the continental USA with my DSL plan. Will try to set up my voicemail from somewhere else, somewhere I have a good signal, maybe close to campus, that's where they have good coverage, I think.

Edit: Out in my backyard, still didn't get real coverage, however I discovered that upstairs in my computer room I got 4-5 bars, so I set up my voicemail. Funny thing is in my bedroom, which is almost right next to the computer room, I got no coverage at all.

 

[RossMAN]

Got my Airvoice SIM, activated and got on their $10/30 days 4 cent phone, 2 cent text, 6.6 cent/MB no contract plan. Did this yesterday, but don't have my voicemail set up because I can't make a call from my house. I get between zero and two bars and when I make a call it invariably drops. Well, I'm not surprised. I wasn't planning to make calls with it from the house, anyway. I have free telephone on my land line in the continental USA with my DSL plan. Will try to set up my voicemail from somewhere else, somewhere I have a good signal, maybe close to campus, that's where they have good coverage, I think.

Edit: Out in my backyard, still didn't get real coverage, however I discovered that upstairs in my computer room I got 4-5 bars, so I set up my voicemail. Funny thing is in my bedroom, which is almost right next to the computer room, I got no coverage at all.

How is coverage elsewhere away from your house, at the gym where everyone else and their uncle has Verizon?

 

[Muse]

How is coverage elsewhere away from your house, at the gym where everyone else and their uncle has Verizon?

Glad you asked. I just got back from the gym. First thing I did there before descending to the weight room was check my coverage. 4 bars. I figured, alright, I should be able to open Amazing Weather HD and get the satellite view and see if there's rain in the vicinity. Instead it said that it couldn't connect to a network! Wah? Same thing in the weight room. I have to wonder if there's something I have to do to get the 520 to pull data. I certainly have it activated, made some calls today from the house, basically setting up voicemail. That I pretty much have set up OK and figured out, I think.

AFAIK I haven't gotten any data charges yet. The CSR's at Airvoice tell me there's no way I can check data usage, only how much credit I have remaining.

I guess I'll call them again tomorrow and see if they have any take on my data problem. Some of them are better than others. I asked one today how I can restart a recorded message and she said press 9. She went to check on that and came back and confirmed. However I'm finding that pressing 9 only saves the message. To replay from beginning you press 1. To pause or start from where you are you press 2. They should have a place where this stuff is documented but the girl who didn't know 1 from 9 said to Google for voicemail rules! Well, maybe a differnt CSR will have another idea. Poking around their website I see documentation and a FAQ, but voicemail minutia I did not see.

I'm finding coverage at my house to be inconsistent. In my computer room today I saw as many as 5 bars a couple of times, but at other times I only see 1!!! Are the networks' coverage dependent on the changing (i.e. current) usage of the customer base?

Edit: I went into the Settings and found that by default data connection is Off. I just changed it to On. There are settings in there I am utterly unsure how I should have them. Specifically "Restrict background data." I figure that should be on if roaming, but don't know what kind of hit it will have on my plan if I don't restrict it otherwise. 1/2 my monthly allowance would disappear if the background data consumption was 75MB. I have no idea how much background data the 520 is apt to pull. They won't tell me my data consumption, but I can deduce the consumption rate because I can determine my current credit. Actually, I don't know how to do that yet. I connected today to find out and presumably there's a text message telling me but I don't know where it is! If I make a call, it tells me at the end what my remaining credit is, but I should be able to get that without making a call. I guess I'll call them in the morning and find out how exactly I can do that.

Then there are means of adding APNs, both for Internet and MMS.

 

[Muse]

A reviewer of the Nokia Lumia 520 at Amazon who is in Canada said this to me:

There's no AT&T here. I used the phone with Speakout (prepaid), and occasionally with the Telus SIM from my work phone. You have to enter the APN settings to use data. You can find all the information here, in case you ever need it:

http://www.unlockit.co.nz/mobilesettings/
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What is that stuff? How might that information benefit me? There's a huge picklist to find the settings, and you pick your country/carrier and get a chart. What does that stuff mean?

 

[sm625]

If you are using a garmen for your GPS needs then you probably dont need a smartphone. It's sort of a litmus test...

 

[Muse]

If you are using a garmen for your GPS needs then you probably dont need a smartphone. It's sort of a litmus test...

I'm going to return the Garmin, it's unopened in the shipping box awaiting my next Costco run, which should be within a week or so. The smartphone is 0.4 the cost and has other functionality. I don't drive that much, the smartphone's GPS should be adequate AFAIK.