So yesterday I went to look at Smart phones in my "providers" high st. shop and got persuaded to buy a Sony Experia Miro. I was due a phone upgrade so I thought it should have been free as they always used to be if you stayed on your "plan". But they said not. I could change plan (more expensive than current) and have the phone free or pay for the phone and stay on current plan. So I paid. But then I thought, is this just the salesman giving me a yarn. So, today, I phoned "upgrades" which is how I have upgraded my phones before....... and I ended up with still paying for the phone, still on the same price plan, but with more free minutes and data (no data before)..... apparrently according to reviews the phone has poor screen quality (low pixels) but is otherwise good, and is over hundred ££££s cheaper than similar with better screen quality. So, I will open the box and see if I find the screen quality too poor, as I now have a good deal.
I estimate I will have paid off the cost of the phone by the cheaper tarrif in 2 years so ......... it hasn't cost me anything........... errumm except I could have stayed with my current phone for free........... but one has to trick oneself. ::)
Indeed one does. I suppose I'm going to have to trick myself when this old cell phone finally croaks.
My mobile is still a stone-age job: no camera, e-mail or any such stuff. But it was very cheap, it's pay-as-you-go, and nobody's going to steal it.
I will say, I wouldn't mind a camera; Wendy's is quite useful.
Good luck with your new toy! :D
Personally I prefer Samsung, I'm very happy with my Galaxy SII I bought in sept 2011. The scary thing is that it holds so many functions that I'll be lost without it... :-[
My mother who turned 70 this summer decided she wanted a smart phone after seeing mine and trying some functions on it. I got her a Samsung Galaxy Ace, now she's a bit like a teenager, that phone never leaves her side! ;D She has bombarded me with pictures and SMS messages since she got that phone, because finally she find those functions easy to use. :)
Lindorm has two Sony Ericsson Experia Ray phones (one private and one for work) which works fine for him.
I preferred ( a lot) the Samsung I saw in the shop but it did not have front facing camera which I use a lot to take pictures of myself (saves going to the photo booth every time I need a passport sized photo which keeps happening...... driver licence renew, bus pass renew, etc etc - parking badge,,,, etc etc). I don't have a seperate camera. And also withough a front facing camera you can't do video calls. So that's why I went for the Sony which has my required camera functions........... compromise. Can't afford/justify spending an extra £100 ir more to get a Samsung with the camera stuff.
I still haven't opened the box with the new phone yet. :roll:
If the screen display is really too bad, I will have to think again. But since I've never had a smart phone, I may not realise how bad it is :LoL:
All I really want the smart aspects for is my weekly online shop if my laptop breaks down ;) ;)
After looking at it for two days, I have finally opened the box with my Smart Phone and put it on charge. I have located the User Guide online (which can obviously be downloaded onto the phone, but since one wants to be looking at the phone features when using a guide this is pretty stupid) and downloaded it to my laptop, being very cross that my Kindle would not download the file format (of course I can now convert it to Kindle Speak). Thhe user guide is massive. It will take me weeks and weeks to read it all..... is there anything a Smart phone cannot do, I ask myself. This particular phone is moderated for social networking (do not ask why I chose this !) and will bleep a blue light if anything happens on FaceBreak or Twiitish, as if I want to know, will my 250MB data per month be enough? or would I need to pay for more? if I use that function. I am glad I reserved a whole day to opening the box. One day Smart phones will set themselves up etc. Like how the hell do I know which of about 25 different power saving options I need?
Do not forget that most providers have a 30 day change-of-mind policy, if you find out you really hate it. Some go to 60 or 90 days-- check with yours to be sure.
Just in case.
::) :)
I don't really hate it. I have spent a lot of time customising it. There are some things I am surprised Andriod does not do which my old non-smart phone can do........... but of course it can do wonderful things which my old phone can't do. I have discovered a yen for widgets. I have a nice weather one, which shows weather, temperature, clouds, sun (which turns a dull yellow after dark which I think is a pretence at being a moon), all for my exact location (as typed in - I have turned off GPS to avoid being inundated with stuff localised for me that I don't want......... although I may well use it for maps when I get lost in the car...... so will then get inundated with stuff for wherever I get lost) and it even gives next few days forecast too. I have another widget for news, from unknown provenance but topics same as BBC TV news tonight. My third and final widget for now, is one that allows me to switch off "data" so that there's no risk of being charged for data happening without me knowing, also swicthes of wi-fi (to save battery), etc etc. The beauty of these are they are a scroll and a click away from "home", so no need to go through menus. There are other widgets pre-installed in the same way which are nice........... like one that gives me a music player to play stuff from my SD card to which it defaulted without me having to set it - nice - also a scroll and a click. Similar one for My pictures. I haven't really explored apps yet. They tend to use data, so I need to be careful, though apparently one can set data options for each app. though I have not discovered how. My "touch" screen abilities are improving slightly, though I still find I have to use a stylus when I get desperate.
The deciding factor may be the web pages. I browsed to the TFM and couldn't read it, but it wasn't the mobile version. I should try that next time. I have autofit turned on but it didn't seem to do it. The screen is small, for sure. Other "m" web pages are ok, but I am not sure how one is supposed to stick to "m" pages for more than a few preset favourites. Bit of a mystery. If unable to browse comfortably it's a very expensive toy.
Sounds like you are having fun-- you remind me of me, when I first got my venerable G1 (one of the earliest commercial Android phones available). :D
As for browsing? There is a version of Opera that fits on Android-- check the market. Firefox too. And, naturally, Chrome. The default browser is based on that, but more limited in customizing (the browser, not the phone). You might wish to play with these to see-- there are also quite a number of replacement browsers that the desktop world has never heard of, Boat being one I used for awhile, and liked well enough (such as it was--purported to be simple, and it was).
After my last factory reset? I decided to >only< re-install that which I actually used. As I had a nice Titanium Backup of all the previous proggies, I didn't even need to re-download, if I didn't want. I ended up using the basic browser, and never re-added the others. It works more or less, well enough for my modest phone/tablet browsing.
If I really started using phone/tablet browsing again, I'd need to customize it up a bit-- mostly, changing what happens when I click on a link-- I want it to always open a new tab, never to take away the current page. Alas, I cannot find that setting in the default browser, and know the work-around (a long-press which opens the context-dialog, and choose "open in new tab").
I'm happy for you with your new toy-- I think you'll come to like it very much, and later, wonder how you ever got along without internet-everywhere. :D
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on January 07, 2013, 09:04:07 AM
Sounds like you are having fun-- you remind me of me, when I first got my venerable G1 (one of the earliest commercial Android phones available). :D
I'm happy for you with your new toy-- I think you'll come to like it very much, and later, wonder how you ever got along without internet-everywhere. :D
I am already wondering that. I have already decided to try Opera as it compresses data and uses up much less of the monthly "data" allowance. I am a bit concerned about staying within my budget. An alternative (or even additionally) would be to use Onavo - an Israeli server- which compresses data - all data from the phone provider gets routed to Onavo instead of the phone, gets compressed, then travels onwards to the phone, which means all data gets compressed not just we data. Drawbacks of Onavo, can slow stuff down, although one review said it speeds things up ?, plus they have ALL one's info/usage/data etc - tho' they swear not to use it or pass it on...... I guess some people wouldn't trust an Israeli server ;)
I have played a bit more with the pre-installed web browser. Nothing fits on the screen - or gets autofitted - so zoom in and scroll are a necessity, except the FB and Google web pages seem to fit and are readable.
EDIT
Just checked my provider's records of my usage up to about 2 am - data = 92.465 Kb - much less than I thought - also they have actually given me 500 MB rather than 250 MB in the package.......... since I don't reckon on using the devise as kids do.... I reckon I'll be fine with that.
It's amazing how little data you need, if you keep the settings on "request mobile data", especially as how FLASH doesn't work (there's good and bad about that).
On the other hand, my tablet is strictly WiFi, so I have changed that setting-- it also has a 10" screen, so the desktop is still readable for the most part.
I do find I double-tap alot (which resets & centers the web page, allegedly) to get the screen right. And yeah, I scroll both horizontally & vertically to read stuff. I kinda wish there was a way to inhibit all images, until they are clicked on-- I think FireFox has that, with an add-on, as I used to use that back in the day.
There are several programs & widgets which purport to monitor your data usage, and red-flag you at a set point. I've always had unlimited via either T-Mobile (the original G1) and now with Virgin (runs on Sprint network). Yes, after a certain amount (which seems to vary depending on some magical-mystery formula) I get throttled back to slow-speed. But I've never hit it even once on my phone, after 2 or 3 years (I think).
Grif, If you are at home most of the time, just leave wifi on and that will take care of your data limits. Both my mom and my wife have only 200MB a month and they don't go over because they only use it for the GPS maps, email sync, and the occasional webpage. About the screen resolution, I somehow suspect that a higher resolution would make it harder to read (smaller pixels, smaller fonts). Up to this moment I haven't seen a smart phone with a 'too low' resolution, but reviewers may say so because the dreaded iphone used to have a slightly higher resolution screen, which would matter if you were an eagle... ::)
As for the mobile version of the forum, this is how the imode looks like just loaded from my phone (Samsung Galaxy Relay if you must know):
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l252/anon1mat0/IMG_20130107_095846.jpg)
Illegible but if you pinch:
(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l252/anon1mat0/IMG_20130107_095958.jpg)
(both pictures from my old G2 :P)
Thanks Zone. Mine looks no worse as long as I don't zoom to fit the web page to screen. I'm only 300+ x 400+ pixels so the quality is not too good on ordinary web pages, but if I go to mobile pages, it's much much better and I don't think with my eyesight I'd notice anything being better. And yes I've been leaving wi-fi on. Except for a while when it was off during sleep, a setting I need to change to on during sleep, given that one has no control over apps doing data in or out behind the scenes as it were. On a side note, I am rather appalled at the "permissions" one has to agree to for apps. And I just learnt what a "side load" is - aaargh! more language.
My phone has inbuilt data usage but I might get MyDataManager which looks better and is very popular (free, googlestore). I don't think we have unlimited data any more over here. I am more than happy with my 500 MB anyway so wouldn't pay the huge price such a plan would cost. Bargaining got me a much better deal than is being offered to new customers. I learnt a long time ago it was worth bargaining with cell phone providers. When I sold my house 2 moves ago, I bargained the estate agents down from 2% to 1% of the sale price; my son was in the next room, and was listening (I didn't know); when the estate agent left my son came in really shocked and clearly saw a side of me he didn't know (he was impressed). Generally we don't do much bargaining in the UK. I once got a wandering seller in a huge Italian market in Rome to give me a necklace for nothing by bargaining him down to zero :D.
Quote from: Griffin NoName on January 07, 2013, 03:31:26 PMI once got a wandering seller in a huge Italian market in Rome to give me a necklace for nothing by bargaining him down to zero :D.
:o Did you start by telling him to pay you to take it? :o
Quote from: Aggie on January 09, 2013, 02:47:40 AM
Quote from: Griffin NoName on January 07, 2013, 03:31:26 PMI once got a wandering seller in a huge Italian market in Rome to give me a necklace for nothing by bargaining him down to zero :D.
:o Did you start by telling him to pay you to take it? :o
No. Shame I didn't think of that.
I just kept saying "I don't want it". Eventually he was begging me to take it. Eventually I couldn't cope with his pleas any longer. It was all most odd.
He likely had a quota to meet that day. :)
You likely saved him from a nasty confrontation with his boss. :D
At last! I am typing this on my smartphone!
Woot!
Quote from: GriffinAt last! I am typing this on my smartphone!
You can tell - the letters look much more modern. ;)
Actually, you can tell. There's a little mobile phone symbol top left. Although it is an old style not smartphone.
Blimey, so there is.
BTW griffin, you're close to a full year of not smoking. We must prepare a party!
Quote from: Sibling DavidH on January 11, 2013, 04:17:49 PM
BTW griffin, you're close to a full year of not smoking. We must prepare a party!
Yes, it feels longer than a year........... it still nags at me............ I also think I am operating on a lower setting than I did as a smoker (ie. I am missing the benefits).
Nicotine is a stimulant, what happens to you when you drink coffee or take 70+ cocoa chocolate?
I tried several browsers on my phone before I found one that I liked, I think it was Dave H that pointed me in the direction of "Dolphin"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dolphin.browser&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5kb2xwaGluLmJyb3dzZXIiXQ.. (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dolphin.browser&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5kb2xwaGluLmJyb3dzZXIiXQ..)
It's IMHO better than Opera and very much better than firefox (which was my firs choice) not to speak of the junk that comes with the phone...
For keeping an eye on my data usage I use "Watchdog" which I really recommend.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.rgruet.android.g3watchdog&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm5ldC5yZ3J1ZXQuYW5kcm9pZC5nM3dhdGNoZG9nIl0. (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.rgruet.android.g3watchdog&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm5ldC5yZ3J1ZXQuYW5kcm9pZC5nM3dhdGNoZG9nIl0.)
You can set it on alarm, to warn you when you are closing in on your monthly/weekly quota which I think is a good idea (even though I don't need it I have 1GB a month and I only use a fraction of it...)
Thanks for tips Darlica. I am using MyDataManager at present for data usage - seems fine. Not sure about Dolphin, some of the reviews say it is buggy. But for all I know, Opera, which I am using, may be too, I haven't investigated, I just went for it due to data compression saving costs.
Lots of people swear by Opera on Android. Some complain it doesn't support FLASH, but neither do the others, really--- FLASH support for Android is spotty, and soon to be missing entirely.
But that's because FLASH is now an abandoned idea, according to it's owners.
I still use the default browser, mainly due to inaction on my part-- it works for what I use my smartphone for. And my data is unlimited anyway. So I hardly care either way.
I haven't experienced any bugs in Dolphine but I'm not using it that much...
What I like about it is that the different functions are easy to find and no finger yoga needed. ;)
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on January 12, 2013, 09:05:27 PMmy data is unlimited anyway.
Oooooooh! Can't get that here, or at least, not for an affordable price. I am hoping my cheapish 500MB is ample. It should be as mostly I am at home on WiFi.
After installing everything I need and setting all the settings, I found I had accidently deleted so many things by mistake, I had to "factory reset" to get them all back. Now I have to do all the download, install, settings all over again. This seems to be a major drawback to smart phones, or this one, I need an "undo" button. There's no recycle bin, just a trashcan that appears at foot of screen when something dragged there. Also, while I can backup to my google a/c, I cannot see how to restore from it.
I use everything a little bit, the default browser and Chrome mobile (which is quite nice), Firefox (and I can check all my bookmarks from my desktop, plus it works nice on a tablet IMHO), and Dolphin which seems quite complete, plays Flash better than Chrome at times but has no incognito/private feature. I don't use Opera, and when I tried it a while back it seemed quite clunky for my taste, perhaps it's better now, but no support for flash seems dumb despite it's supposed EOL (still king of the hill on many sites) and all other browsers support it at least under Ice Cream Sandwich.
Quote from: Griffin NoName on January 13, 2013, 06:37:08 PM
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on January 12, 2013, 09:05:27 PMmy data is unlimited anyway.
Oooooooh! Can't get that here, or at least, not for an affordable price. I am hoping my cheapish 500MB is ample. It should be as mostly I am at home on WiFi.
I pay $40 a month for 1200 minutes & unlimited data. As soon as I upgrade/replace my phone, I'll have to go up by $5, but that's still quite reasonable. I've never even once come near the 1200 minutes.
I do have a 2 gigabyte "limit" wherein if I go over that, I get throttled to a somewhat slower data speed-- I've never even come close to that either.
I am thinking seriously of updating my now somewhat dated Android, it's only running Gingerbread (as in "G", when the latest is "J" or Jelly Bean, and K already on the visible horizon...).
The problem is, my current one has a physical keyboard (albeit a tiny one), which I absolutely require-- I loathe the virtual 'boards on tiny screens (less than 8" in size). So my choices are somewhat limited.
The only reason for the upgrade? Is my main memory, being Gingerbread, is somewhat limited (in contrast to later Androids, who require 1 gig or more main memory, and have superior memory management models too). I only have 512meg main memory, which due to the constant updating of must-have apps, is gradually becoming cramped...
... I even drastically deleted several programs I used to use only occasionally... and which is also why I'm on the default browser (it's built-in...). I'm rooted, so I've dumped all the bloatwear already, so that's not an option anymore.
... meh.
I've moved all the proggies to the SD card that will let me do so, but I still am running out. The biggest pig is Google Maps-- but I use that a lot, so... I did dump YouTube (I never used it on the phone--too tiny for me), and all the other video updates-- that helped some. I also dumped all the social proggies I never have time to use on my phone. Helped some more.
But I'm still running out... meh. I wish Google Maps wasn't so frikkin' huge...
Can anyone recommend backup restore s/w ?
Titanium Backup is the one I use, its a paid (but not that 'spensive). Alas, it requires root access.
Apart from that? Most Android phones have some form of built-in (pre-installed) backup engine, sometimes buried deep in the settings menus though.
I saw Titanium but noticed it requires root access. I really would prefer to stear clear of that.
My phone has a "backup to google account" which I have ticked, but when I look in my google account I can't see any evidence anything has been written to my storage - it says ZERO MB of 5MB used .............. I can't find anything anywhere else in the phone to do with backing up. There is no option for restore either, so I can't see that this backup is all that useful. The only time/way any restore happens is on an application restore when it will reset the app data. User guide and googling do not throw up anything else, hence wanting an app.
I'm a bit fed up about this aspect; it ought to be properly catered for.
Services (gmail, gtalk, drive, etc) are cloud based anyway, Google stores which apps you have used to reload them in a different device, the question is what exactly you want to backup, text messages?
I'd like to backup everything that exists in the real world. ;D
I've just bought "My Backup Pro" app. - under £3 - looks ok. Haven't tried it yet. I have an SD card installed - an old one so nearly full up - but I've ordered a new bigger one (bigger GB not physical size....). Hopefully I can then copy out to PC and backup to external USB drive. I believe in having as many copies of stuff as possible. I now have a Google Wallet which I did not particularly want.
I have now imported my old phone's contacts. Always a fiddle, whatever I do as I don't always stick to first, last, full, nickname properly so I get stuff like Old phone: Jo Smith @seaside New: @seaside ~ Smith, Jo ---- ie. my new list has records at the start which begin with stuff like @ or ~ or - etc.......not very useful when searching !! So I have to use Excel to edit records like that to the new format. Excel introduces its own peculiarities, like stripping off the leading zeros in all the UK phone numbers, which then I have to put back. Then there's the whole csv to vcf issue - none of the FREE converters work properly and none of the MS$hit office stuff exports VCF. In the end I had to use Outlook (which I never use) with impor function from phone (could have synced but don't trust google not to also ciopy my contacts to my google account which is not what I want, although all the s/w installed on my new phone insists on access to my contacts even if their function has nothing to do with contacts. Grrr. Finally had to set up my ringtones for people who I have assigned to different tunes...........
So, nearly fully set up now.
:)
I've used Excel in the past-- and you can force-feed it to quit deleting leading zeros-- I've done that before. But, it's been... 7? 8? years since I worked with Excel, so I do not remember the cell/format commands to tell you--I'd have to dig (after re-installing Office 2000, the last working, legal copy I had). I use Open Office at present.
For my smart phone? I do have an Office-type app in there (I think-- it may be only on my andriod tablet, come to think of it). But I did at one point, have a nice tidy Excel sheet (created in Open Office on my PC, naturally) that held my private list of phone numbers. What was nice, that once I had properly formatted these to the US standard: (AC#) 123-1234 (where AC# is the area code), including the parenthesis & dash? My smart phone was clever enough to dial directly from an open spreadsheet-- I'd open the 'sheet using one of the android office apps (Office to go, I think it was), and click on the number, and up pops a nice dialog--one of which was "dial this number". Nice.
Later on, I lamented (once they fixed the category issue with google contacts) and imported everything into there. I do like the fact that it's all backed up on google's servers-- all my android devices have access to my account, if I want.
But I have 20 or 30? A bunch of categories (groups) that let me sort my extensive contacts list. (one is a collection of addresses where I can get cash-money from my local bank-- that list is looong, and statewide too. Handy on rare occasions...) But I have hundreds of entries, so categories/grouping is a must.
I decided to back up to SD card and copy to laptop rather than use google service - for privacy really. Failed to spot I was still logged into my smartphone google a/c on my laptop just now, went to Youtube and got told they'd automatically logged me in with my google a/c. I was really annoyed. I am not a fan of all this joined up stuff. I think it promotes all sorts of security issues, plus anyway I feel it is my choice what I log in as, not theirs.
It's easy to put leading zeros on nummbers for the whole column using format - special - then custom with 000000 - one zero bigger than the longest number.
I have an Office app on the phone - standard Android onee probably, haven't investigated.
My smartphone automatically adds dashes to international numbers, but not UK ones without the country code.
To dial, I just click a contact in the phone memory and press the "phone" symbol that pops up.
A slight irritation.
I got avast on my phone, great, except the "firewall"" requires rooting. The only app that doesn't need rooting is mobiwol and it is easy to see why it doesn't need it,,,..... it's not actually offering a genuine firewall. its just functionality that other security apps include under other headings - ie not under their firewall functions.
Given I don't want to root, I think I'll stick with avast anti-virus (plus some other functions, but excluding using the firewall. A/v more or less does everything. the firewall would block traffic but I assume mopping up by anti-v anyway.
I think this thread should be renamed silly phones.
<quote> Once I am in the middle of a phone call on my smart phone, it is very difficult to do things like press 3 for complaints, as the smartphone does not present sensible screens. Once away from the screen with end call on it, due to doing something else, like eg. clicking hands free, it is almost impossible to get back to the screen with end call on it. It is irritating. Like the phone is great at everything except making phone calls.
<endquote>
Actually I vaguely remember I can click the on off (physical) button to end a call, but I never remember when lost inside my phone. Anyway, that doesn't work if I just want to stop handsfree.
Do you know what version of Android is on your phone? It isn't that different from 1.x to 2.x to 4.x unless the 'skin' has some 'features' preventing general usage, but while you are in a call the screen will show (once you remove it from your face for those with a frontal sensor) the number you are connected to, a red button to hang up the call, and buttons for speakerphone, bluetooth, and a button with numbers that will show the 0-9 + * # that are sometimes used in voice menus.
If you leave the call screen while talking (to open an app, browse, etc) your call screen will be accessible from the status bar on top (the one you access by dragging the top).
Hopefully that is helpful.
Yep it is 4.x whatever. ice cream I think. or it was when bought. it has upgraded itself.
Hmmm. Pull down top = yes, I do a lot of that...... I have interesting stuff running in my status bar........ wonder why it never occured to me for the phoning........... I tend to press the menu button at bottom right of the phone when in screens........ usually uselessly but not always............ I have an annoying habit of learning by usage, pressing this and that, rather than learning how to do anything properly.......... at present I keep phoning people by accident.
Ta.
Can you tell me how to get the phone to take a photo of itself? :mrgreen:
not a screen pic. I know how to do that
Use a mirror...
:giggle:
I'm really starting to like Nokia lately... they are using a different kind of 'smart' in their phones imho:
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-3310-evolve-eco-cell-phone/
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-remade-concept-phone-made-from-recycled-materials/
Alas, these are circa 2008.... :mrgreen:
Some neat ideas for charging, albeit almost as out-of-date
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-unveils-bike-powered-cell-phone-chargers/
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-phones-pull-energy-out-of-thin-air/
(there are now commercialized chargers that can do the latter, store it in a battery and pass it on to your phone)
edited because I realized that the phones shown couldn`t possibly be new units... alas, I still have fantasies of going back to a time when a phone was a phone.
Quote from: Aggie on August 26, 2013, 04:01:57 AM
I'm really starting to like Nokia lately... they are using a different kind of 'smart' in their phones imho:
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-3310-evolve-eco-cell-phone/
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-remade-concept-phone-made-from-recycled-materials/
Alas, these are circa 2008.... :mrgreen:
Some neat ideas for charging, albeit almost as out-of-date
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-unveils-bike-powered-cell-phone-chargers/
http://inhabitat.com/nokia-phones-pull-energy-out-of-thin-air/
(there are now commercialized chargers that can do the latter, store it in a battery and pass it on to your phone)
edited because I realized that the phones shown couldn`t possibly be new units... alas, I still have fantasies of going back to a time when a phone was a phone.
Ooh, Luddite fantasies. Count me in. ;D
I wish that Trac Fone would make a smart phone, but I guess you can't get pay-as-you-go wireless?
You can get a Trac-Fone smartphone for $50 in their website or your favorite megastore...
---
Quote from: Aggie on August 26, 2013, 04:01:57 AM
I'm really starting to like Nokia lately...
Really? Like the new windows phone with a 40 MPix camera? ;) :P
I got my dad a Nokia smart phone because he doesn't like Android (or more precisely because he is a contarian) but those phones you like are in short supply even in the third world.
Quote from: Opsa on August 26, 2013, 07:36:06 PM
I wish that Trac Fone would make a smart phone, but I guess you can't get pay-as-you-go wireless?
I am on pay-as-you-go Virgin mobile, and I have a Samsug Galaxy 3 smartphone.. I've always had android phones on my Virgin account, in fact-- several years now.
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on August 26, 2013, 08:28:37 PMI got my dad a Nokia smart phone because he doesn't like Android (or more precisely because he is a contarian) but those phones you like are in short supply even in the third world.
I'm hoping to find some deals in South Africa if possible this December.
The smartphone revolution is messing with my free will. However, I'm also convinced that my nearly complete avoidance of TV advertising helps free my will to
not want a smartphone, despite not (imho, since I've been told I live in a free market) being able to exert said will to buy a dumbphone that is not deliberately chosen by the cell provider to shame one into stepping up to a smartphone (yes, I know choices exist, but I don't find them adequate in a purported free market). ;) ;) ;)
Maybe something like this would be better, and much less awkward in the pocket (I hate having stuff in my pockets):
http://inhabitat.com/the-hot-smart-watch-transforms-your-hand-into-a-mobile-phone-receiver/
If I was an electronic whiz and a steampunk, I think I'd be trying to hack an old pocket-watch case into a rotary-dial flip phone. :mrgreen:
DUJE! Do the pocket-watch idea. It is brill.
Quote from: Aggie on August 27, 2013, 05:24:53 AM
I'm hoping to find some deals in South Africa if possible this December.
Tiny warning: I got a "dumb" phone in Mexico (an Alcatel if you must know) and it worked fine with one caveat, it is locked to be used only in Mexico (with Telcel in this case). I don't know if South Africa allows locking phones or how easy is to unlock them (the cheap ones are sometimes more expensive to unlock than the price of the phone iteself).
I'll keep that in mind. Coming from Canada (land of wireless gangsters) it may not have occurred to me that cell phone locking would be an issue. I'd plan to have it unlocked over there as well.
Scratch Nokia, though... they are now M$:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/03/us-microsoft-nokia-idUSBRE98202V20130903
They're just formalizing their unholy union, this was a foregone conclusion the day Nokia became an exclusive Windows phone shop.
My smart phone (Android) has started not being able to update apps - not enough storage - I know I can delete some I don't use, but another option is to move an app or two to "internal storage". I don't understand what "internal storage" is. I've looked it up and can't understand the explanations. I would have thought that apps were always stored in "internal storage"
Depending on your version of Android you can move the apps to the SD card in the phone freeing space. Also it is a good idea to clean the browser cache, plus check the all the apps for cache and sometimes specific data. If you are streaming you may have some dead space ready to be freed.
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on September 03, 2013, 06:19:31 PM
Depending on your version of Android you can move the apps to the SD card in the phone freeing space.
Is that what they mean by "internal storage"? Only, confused as using a file manager on my phone the SD card appears as external storage. Does the SD card have both?
Browser cache cleared already, and haven't used it since.
Mostly it's Google apps I don't use, like eg Google+ (I don't understand why I'd want to share anything on my phone or google a/c - in fact I actively do not want to) but am afraid to delete Google apps in case it causes some related app to flip out.
for example my google keyboard app uses google voice app - great little apps
Unless your carrier preinstalled google+ in your phone in the protected area you can uninstall it without issue. If not, you can delete the app's data also without issue more so if you are not using it.
Internal storage is the one the phone has without the SD, depending on how old the phone is, it can be smaller or bigger. if you don't use an app you can nuke it for the most part (again provided it wasn't preinstalled by the carrier).
Thanks for all the information , I was always hesitant to clear the cache fearing I'd lose something important.
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on September 03, 2013, 10:11:26 PM
Unless your carrier preinstalled google+ in your phone in the protected area you can uninstall it without issue. If not, you can delete the app's data also without issue more so if you are not using it.
I think if they are pre-installed you can uninstall at least some of them, but on my phone choosing the option gives a big warning that you might be about to mess your phone up.
Quote from: Sibling Zono (anon1mat0) on September 03, 2013, 10:11:26 PM
Internal storage is the one the phone has without the SD,
But that's just it. It's what I don't understand. My assumption has always been just that, it's on the phone not the card. But then where are the ones that are saying they can be moved to internal storage stored.......... ??? I just don't get it.
And another thing, I would have thought as internal storage is on the phone it would fill up quickly.
And another thing, the SD card seems to be split into what is regarded as an extension of the phone and how big seems to depend on the phone setup (manufacturer install), and the other section which is "free" storage if your SD card is bigger than that. (my SD card is, I swapped the shipped SD card for a much bigger one).
If your Android is version 4 or later?
You can disable the pre-installed bloatware. You'll need to uninstall any updates first.
I have disabled roughly 75% of the pre-installed bloat on mine, with zero ill effects. You do this in the Manage Apps section under Settings.
I also recommend disabling all the automatic updates for all programs--- then **only** update programs you actually **use**. Once every few weeks is more than sufficient to check for updates-- I often go a moth or more before updating stuff.
Obviously, if a particular program is acting up, you should check if an update is available.
To disable the automatic update? Go into Google Play, look under "downloaded" and then the context menu button under each should show a checkbox for "automatic update", which you can clear. It's tedious to do this for them all, but I recommend it.
Then **you** control the updates you want-- don't bother to update programs you never use.
I set it to manual update immediately I got the phone. I hate automatic updates on every platform I have.
I'm Android 4.0.4.
Does disabling actually free up enough space?
I'm still wondering where the apps are installed - the ones where they give the option to "move" to internal storage - from where????
The thing with the cards and memory can be confusing because how the internal memory has been mounted may change and depending on your version of Android you may or not move apps to the SD. From versions 2 - 3 you were able to move to SD but some versions of 4 don't allow it.
A phone has standard RAM, internal memory, and potentially when extra memory is added, it will show up as sdcard even if it really isn't the SD on the phone (which would show up as sdcard2 or extsdcard).
Yes, but what I am puzzled by is when you move an app to "internal storage" where has it come from?
From the other memory, again the main memory and extra are frequently separated. Think that they say that your phone has, say 4GB of memory, that will be split into 1GB for internal memory and 3GB that is considered an SD or a different mount. Because internal is usually less you don't want the programs on internal memory.
As confusing as all of the above may sound, if you go to settings|storage, you should be able to see each memory section and it's usage.
Interesting I'd forgotten that. I have quite a chunk of phone memory left available, so why it is complaining no space for update is odd. and annoying.
Quote from: Griffin NoName on September 05, 2013, 03:21:51 PM
Interesting I'd forgotten that. I have quite a chunk of phone memory left available, so why it is complaining no space for update is odd. and annoying.
If you uninstall all the "updates" for apps you don't use, then disable them? That does free up memory-- each app uses memory for various things, and disabling them eliminates that behavior.
Before you disable them? Under the app manager, delete any cache/data first. Then disable the unwanted app.
That can free up some memory, surprisingly. It also makes start up a wee bit faster, as there are that many fewer apps that can be preloaded.
I've just done something stupid. I've got weird battery stuff going on and one app seemed to be draining the battery.
I decided to disable it.
I uninstalled the "updates" but when all uninstalled there was no disable option, only an uninstall option.
I thought, what the hell, I need to find out if this app is a problem or not, so I hit "uninstall".
A message came up saying "this app must only be re-installed from the factory installed version".
Very stupidly before I'd had time to think I hit "yes, uninstall".
Now I've discovered the app wasn't the problem. The weird battery stuff is still the same (I'll come on to that later).
That's the back story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do I re-install an app from the factory version? Where/how can I find it? The app is no longer listed in "All apps".
I though I could at worst have to do a complete factory reset, but I've discovered that only affects data, doesn't re-innstall apps.
I am kicking myself.
?????????
( I have googled and googled and found precisely zero on this. Also checked out Sony support - it's an xperia - zilch. Also posted question on android forums. )
Perchance, do you remember the exact name of the former app? If so, XDA forms likely has a copy, or would be happy to post one for you. Here's a linky: http://forum.xda-developers.com/ (http://forum.xda-developers.com/)
The people who play there are really into upgrades, customization, etc, and I would be surprised if there wasn't a thread devoted to your exact model and make of smart phone.
At worst, you could post a query there, and someone will likely come along and help.
That's where I learned how to root my previous 3 smart phones, by the way. I haven't rooted my current one... yet. (Samsung Galaxy 3)
Thanks Bob. Will try there. They don't have my phone but I can post in the Questions and Answers forum. My phone is not rooted as it invalidates the warranty.
An AHA! moment.
I discovered the app on my Google Play "All" Apps showing as disabled so have just been able to re-enable it.
FFS! How stupid.
So if you find a pre-installed app appears to have totally disappeared from your phone - go to Google Play.
Lots of apps only show "uninstall" as opposed to "disable", which is irritating when needing to test and check stuff. -- see Battery below.
Battery Issue.
Amount % left is fine, appears to show right amount. Then starts going down too fast, at least if I have wifi on.
But days/hours/mins/secs shows expected time sometimes, but then dives right down, goes up again if I re-boot the phone. I have two different battery apps and sometimes they show the same amount left and sometimes they don't. It's completely erratic. I've got Battery Doctor which has optimised and says all healthy.
I've been checking for apps draining but don't appear to be any that do.
Am about to check WakeLock.
This has only started in the last week, and the week before that I had BT Infinity installed (fast fibre optics broadband). So wary it might be that, but other devices don't seem bothered about their batteries or broadband times, and I don't think it started right away after that (can't be sure as I was slow to realise I was having to charge it every day) - it always charged up to nearly 6 days before, and would actually last me around 4 days min. Also, some app updates done since then as well, so could be one of those has done some stupid change.
It could just be I need a new battery and even when it says it's 100% and "healthy" it's meaningless? I can't find an app which will tell you if your battery won't take a good charge any more - no way of really telling whether the phone etc is the culprit or the battery itself.
Fed up and don't want to fork out on a new battery if that is not the problem.
I have a long-standing habit of putting mine on the charger beside my bed, when I lay down to sleep. It's handy for the time (it lights itself), and if there's an emergency...
... so I really don't know how many days it'd last on it's own. Not many, I suspect-- Samsung is not known for long battery. In fact, when I first got it, I had left several things default, and it wouldn't last the day. I even purchased a humongous external battery to top-up at lunch...
... but playing with the settings, mainly (I suspect), setting the time-out to 30 seconds on the screen, has fixed it. It's rarely below 50% by the time I'm home for the day, and put it up.
Batteries on smart phones are a serious Achillies' problem. There are some "fixes", but most involve replacing the back with a huge bump-out back, and a doubled battery pack. Pass.
Quote from: Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith on September 27, 2013, 12:28:14 AM
Batteries on smart phones are a serious Achillies' problem. There are some "fixes", but most involve replacing the back with a huge bump-out back, and a doubled battery pack. Pass.
;D the thought of luggging around a 1980's type "mobile" phone due to battery packs does NOT appeal.
The reason I think I have a problem is that there wasn't a problem before........ LoL!
;D
In truth, some of the "doubled" batteries only add a little to the overall thickness-- my first Android had a double-battery, but the whole phone wasn't that big (as these go) and I didn't mind. Moreover, it still fit into a ballistic canvas case on my belt.
And there are some extra capacity batteries that fit within the original confines of the phone. Your battery could have failed prematurely-- these things are notoriously finicky beasts-- a barely controlled explosion waiting for just the right mix. ::)
If you do opt for a replacement battery pack, I would recommend going with a very respectable brand-- pay close attention to the reviews (aka Amazon). Not all batteries are made under the same quality control. Many 3rd party el-cheapos fail within weeks or less.
Fortunately, the fail for the majority of these, is to simply refuse to charge after being discharged. A welcome change from not that long ago, when a failed LiIon battery could mean super-hot temperatures to the point of literal melt-down. Or worse--fires.
The safety people have finally figured that out, at least--and even the cheapest uses sensitive temperature measurement safeties.
And that is, I suspect, why the el-cheapo ones fail: the el-cheapo temp sensors quit working, and the charging circuitry (in the phone) refuse to charge the thing.
A note about cases: For me, that's a deal-breaker: if I cannot put it handy, on my belt, at my left side (towards the front, so it doesn't strike things as I go past), then I don't want it.
My current phone is the largest ever, but I found a combination of protective cover and snap-fit holster (Otterbox) that I can live with. In many ways, it's superior protection than my traditional ballistic nylon cases. Took a modest getting used to, though. The protective cover (of which I've used similar in the past) doesn't add much to the phone's dimensions, but adds immense protection. And it's not slick-- a plus.
I really despise CrApple for doing that to us-- super-slick phones may photograph well, but they are slippery and very droppable as a result. Whoever thought super-slick was a good idea, in a device you are supposed to hold, is a moron.
Form must follow function. (one reason why I also despise high heels on anyone, I suppose... serves no purpose apart from appearance, but literally damages the spine, the feet, the ankles. ...meh)
The only battery I can find on Amazon is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battery-replaced-Genuine-cellePhone-ScreenCleaner/dp/B005J8XXQG/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1380243469&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+battery+miro
Otherwise all the batteries I found come from dodgy looking battery sites.
I scoured Sony for a genuine one, but they don't sell them. I don't know how to get a gernuine one.
NB the amazon one is not "genuine", it is the screen cleaner that iis "genuine" whatever that means as if one could have a faulty screen cleaner
Is this the right battery?
http://www.wirelessground.com/sony-xperia-s-battery-sp50kera10.html?gclid=CNWUmsCg7LkCFeHm7Aodfz0Axw
Or this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Sony-Ericsson-BA700-Battery/dp/B005LVMGV4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_1/279-6486496-6807362
There you go!
I would get the OEM one, myself. I've had dodgy batteries that did not last one week.
Thanks Mero. Certainly look the ticket.
I am beset with trivial problems at present, without the energy to resolve them. Too many to list here, but you know the kind of things that just make life silly. And that always come along all at the same time as if Jupiter is not in conjunction with Mars or whatever.
Got my first smartphone today. FML. :duh:
(http://images.electricpig.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Sony-Ericsson-X10-Mini-pro-1.jpg)
I take it that is an older [model] phone (that doesn't look like Android which is what all new Xperias use now).
I think it's somewhere around 5 years old, and uses Android 2 IIRC.
I got it mostly as the best option for a talk-and-text with a physical QWERTY keyboard, but still pocket-size. It's slightly smaller than my hated flip phone, although it's noticeably heavier.
I've used Android since V.1.1 (what came out from the G1 when they hit the market) and that doesn't look like it. It may be using a skin making it look different, or, it may be something else before Sony fully embraced Android.
I don't know a damned thing about Android, but it says android on the box and everything I've read says it is; you might be right on the skin.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Ericsson_Xperia_X10_Mini#Sony_Ericsson_Xperia_X10_mini_pro
Well blow me down with a hedge trimmer! Never thought to see you fall into the Smart phone trap Aggie!! :mrgreen: Next thing we'll be hearing you joined FB. :mrgreen:
What decided you?
Looks like a great phone, I wouldn't mind a physical keyboard, though wouldn't like the weight.
I love Sony Xperia''s - am considering a step up on my current one as I keep running out of space (never mind getting great new apps, I am constantly having to discard ones). Possible it won't be an Xperia, but I shall stick with Sony.
Welcome to the era of the smartphone.
Android 2 is quite usable. ;)
Quote from: Griffin NoName on April 26, 2015, 03:52:01 AM
Well blow me down with a hedge trimmer! Never thought to see you fall into the Smart phone trap Aggie!! :mrgreen: Next thing we'll be hearing you joined FB. :mrgreen:
What decided you?
Looks like a great phone, I wouldn't mind a physical keyboard, though wouldn't like the weight.
I love Sony Xperia''s - am considering a step up on my current one as I keep running out of space (never mind getting great new apps, I am constantly having to discard ones). Possible it won't be an Xperia, but I shall stick with Sony.
Welcome to the era of the smartphone.
Mostly I decided to take (Zono's?) past advice to use Ebay to find a phone I'd actually want to use (loath my flip phone, but the choices from my carrier are either crap flip or full touchscreen smartphone). I wanted a slider with a physical QWERTY keyboard, so this was my best option. Smartphone functionality wasn't a feature I was looking for, and all things being equal I would have preferred a dumb phone. It wasn't, however, enough for me to stop purchasing it.
I already loathe that Google is trying to track me, and immediately disabled as many apps as possible.
In any case, I can't get the bloody thing to connect to my carrier (possibly it's locked), so it may end up being a fancy pocket-size camera/mp3 player instead.
Quote from: Aggie on April 27, 2015, 01:57:48 AM
In any case, I can't get the bloody thing to connect to my carrier (possibly it's locked), so it may end up being a fancy pocket-size camera/mp3 player instead.
Oops. I've used a service to unlock phones and it wasn't that expensive:
http://www.cellunlocker.net/unlock-sony-xperia.php
I believe you need to know what the previous carrier was in order to unlock it though.
There are several phone repair shops around here as of the last year or so; I'll probably have one of them take a look at it to see if I've missed anything obvious. If it's indeed locked, they might be able to unlock it for a reasonable price. I'm a little nervous about the unlock sites, perhaps irrationally, and would pay a bit of a premium to have a human do it for me (even if they used the same site :P).
Normally I would be apprehensive as well, but I've used those guys successfully twice already, just so you know.
Good to know. I appreciate the first-hand recommendation; internet reviews haven't been 100% helpful, and I'm a bit wary of the delay involved in getting codes (usually only 24 hrs, but in our instant-fix society it's hard to wait. ;)).
I do need to know that the actual problem is a locked phone first - it was supposed to be unlocked as sent. Also, I have no idea what carrier it would have been locked to. Looks like a factory phone, with no carrier logos on it or the box.
Locked phones tend to be branded, either on the phone itself or in the system, so things like wallpapers and ringtones give you a hint of the original carrier, that has been my experience in the US, Colombia and Mexico so far. Now, I imagine you bought a GSM phone (using a SIM card, hence how you know is locked, most CDMA or PCS phones don't use SIMs) and only four of those carriers in Canada use it according to wiki: Rogers(Fido), and smaller networks for remote provinces like Lynx, Ice and Keewaytinook. If the phone comes from the US it can only be ATT (Cricket included), TMobile (which are clearly branded BTW) and a small carrier called Alaska Networks. If it comes from the outside world then there is a catch, GSM uses two main groups of frequencies, in North America 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands are used while in Europe and other countries 900 MHz or 1800 MHz bands. In theory your phone is quad band (that is, it should work both in Europe and North America) so that shouldn't be a problem (sometimes foreign versions aren't quad band).
Now, you may have the so-called "international version" in which case if it doesn't connect the problem is the phone itself.
There's a tool on my carrier's (Koodo) website that says the phone should be compatible. It's theoretically going to be connecting through HSDPA I think (Koodo doesn't do GSM).
I don't have a dedicated carrier service desk in my town, which makes it a bit awkward to deal with the company directly. I took it to a service desk for several brands (including mine) and went through a bit of setup there, but I still haven't got it connected to the carrier.
I'm also moving this week, so it's not a top priority if it's going to be a hassle.
HSDPA is for data only, but you have to be connected to a voice network first (hence if it's GSM or not).
Well, carp... I've been purposefully hiding from this tech as long as possible, and know squat about it. Ironically, I only got this phone to try match older technology (slider dumbphone).
QuoteMobile services provided by Koodo use Telus Mobility's CDMA, HSPA+ and LTE networks. CDMA devices, however, have been discontinued by Koodo outside of Northern Ontario and Manitoba.[9] Koodo Mobile's CDMA and HSPA networks use the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequencies while their LTE network uses 1700/2100 MHz (AWS).
But the word is they're phasing out CDMA this year.
Phone:
Quote
Compatible networks
2G
Quad-band GSM/GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32–48 kbit/s/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G
Tri-band UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA: 850/1900/2100/900 MHz
You very well might be right on the GSM thing, which would make it pretty much useless as a phone. Incidentally, the Telus network is by far the best in terms of service coverage in difficult areas, so I'm reluctant to switch carriers in case of outdoor emergencies.
Foolish question, but if SIM cards are for GSM phones, why do I need a SIM card on my non-GSM phone? Everyone I know uses a SIM card.
See, the thing is that on CDMA they're not called SIMs but R-UIM and later CSIMs (all standard SIMs are GSM).
And remember, data frequencies have little to do with voice protocols. The carriers have done some things so that they can share their data networks but they still need the subscriber to be logged on to their parent network, so being able to use HSPA or LTE has nothing to do with the standard used by the carrier (GSM or CDMA).
IOW, if you plan to use a non GSM carrier, you got a lovely mp3/wifi player.
Eh, the price ($100 Canadian all in) was OK for that much. It's a good basic camera for the size, and if I can get it to function as a wifi music player, I'd be happy enough. I suppose I could borrow a Rogers card and see if it does indeed work on that network.
At least I didn't spend $600 one of those big bloody touch-slab phones. If it had worked, I'd have had to use it! ;)
Does Rogers have a prepaid service? You could try that at a very low cost and test coverage yourself.
Does anyone know how to work out what is making a smart phone (android) very slow to load each screen. The delay between clicking an app and the app opening etc is now so long it is really irritating.
Also, is there any way of telling an app not to run in background. I have tunein radio and I suspect many of my problems started with that and it runs all the time whether I want to use it or not.
I got so fed up I've been looking to upgrade to a bigger memory phone but latterly think that it's over-reacting, although not entirely silly as no room to load any more apps and keep running out of space for app updates.
I bought a new phone. It's Android 5.0.2 bang up to date. I am very pleased with it.
I decided I don't want to lock it while at home as typing in the pin number every time I pick it up is very irritating. so I've left it on swipe to open. Once you set a pin, you can never go back to swiping apparently.
I do want to lock it when out and about in case of loss or mugging. So I want a widget I can click to lock and then needs pin to open. Once opened it stays back on the swipe to open until I actually click the "lock" widget again.. ie. not like the provided pin lock on the phone which locks whenever phone not in use. I want to be in charge of the lock mechanism.
I've looked at google play and there are millions of lock apps with no real way of knowing if they work the way I want. Does anyone know of a good widget that might do what I want?
Hi Griff. I have switched to and from pin unlock several times. I'm currently using Android 5.2 and I'm out in the woods atm ,but when i get home I'll go through the steps and write then down for you. Btw, there is a widget called "active apps" just press on a blank page of your home screen and select widgets. Then press the active apps icon. This will put it on the home screen. Pressing this will give you a screen that shows you what is running and allows you to stop any or all of them. I use it all the time and it improves battery life by stopping unneeded apps from using cpu cycles.
If you go down to the woods today.................
I did have Battery Doctor installed but I uninstalled it as I kept pressing Optimise and it always killed my wallpaper and in any case if I went back into it a few seconds after optimising it would tell me to optimise again...... I don't want a phone where I am just optimising all the time;) - it did give the option to stop apps, but I they always warn it might make things stop working properly so very wary of that. So interesting you stop apps. Also everywhere it tells people not to download Killer apps - is that different?
I found an excellent tricks and tips for my phone model. Only trouble was I'd already worked them out for myself. :)
There's no "Active Apps" in widgets (or in apps either for that matter).
I suspect it may have gone the way of several other useful functions that were in previous version.
Everyone is complaining there's no data on/off toggle pn 5.0.2 and none of the google play data toggle apps work on Lollipop. But I've found a toggle switch on my phone built in so I'm not entirely sure what the fuss is about. Admitted, it's not all that obvious where it is, but it's not hard to find if you play with your phone for a bit.
The user guide for my phone is well written and detailed. Only problem is, nothing at all works that way in Lollipop. :irony:
Love the phone.
Hmm, maybe that icon is something my telco has installed. However, I have found another quick way you can kill all running apps. Just tap on the left soft key at the bottom of the screen (to the left of the physical home key) then notice the bar that appears at the bottom of the screen, click on the right hand icon, the one with the x on it. This will close all running apps. I do this (usingf my icon version) whenever I have finished using FB or my web browser etc, in other words when I['m about to put the phone back in my pocket or otherwise not use it. This does seem to make a difference in battery life.
Also, Lollipop 5.2 seems better at battery usage and it certainly makes it way easier to disable apps you don't want such as all that BS the telco likes to "helpfully" include in you O/S bundle. The download is about 900 GB (so you might want to do this via WiFi) and you need to make sure there is enough space on your phone - I have found making sure all your photos are on an SD card usually sorts this. According to the online discussion forums I have visited about the issue 5.0.2 has a number of problems with battery consumption as well as some other issues that are resolved in 5.2, so you might well want to see if you can get it. BTW although I backed everything up before the upgrade, the upgrade was seemless and I did not have to access any of my backed up data. All my apps stayed alive and all my contacts and photos etc remained intact. Of course your mileage may vary, so I would recommend backing it all up regardless.
Oh, and the data toggle (at least in 5.2). Drag down from the top of the screen and select the settings icon (looks like a gear) in quick settings click on Data Usage. There is a check box you can clear to stop Mobile data.
Your phone is clearly quite a lot different to mine. There's no way of getting a bar at the bottom of the screen.
Anyway I don't want to kill all running apps. There's some I want to keep running. So I need a selective feature. I am going to keep rummaging around on my phone to see if I can find anything that gives battery usage and apps. Mostly the apps utlilities only show size of apps. and no stop feature. I don't want to get an app off playstore as people have warned lots of them mess up the phone.
Basically I only run my phone on WiFi as I am at home all the time. I have data turned off. I don't need to go into data usage to switch it on and off. There's a data toggle on/off if you drag the top right status bar down. That's what I meant. It's quicker.
There is a way of stopping apps you've just used on my phone. If you press Home the app stays running. But if instead you use the Back icon to get back to Home Screen then the app is closed. Really handy tip. Of course you wouldn't want to do that for all the crap apps - it would be very tedious to run them all just to back out of them LoL!.
All my photos, ring tones, are on my SD card. Apart from storage reasons it is useful to just transfer them from one phone to another. Although the transfer phone-to-phone Sony supply works like a dream.
I'll see if 5.2 is available for my phone.
Sorry I must have misunderstood. I thought you had a Samsung Galaxy S5. If it's a Sony then that would explain the differences. D'oh! :D
I would still go the 5.2 upgrade though if it's available.