Android: Phone News and Discussion Thread
Probably won't jump on the pre-order like I have been doing in the past, but might wait until it hits the price break before putting the 4a into my backup phone position.
So far the 4a has been a good transition from the 2. Only thing I've noticed lacking is the squeeze to launch Assistant. I never used it a lot, but enough that I notice this one doesn't have it.
I could use an upgrade. My phone's battery is slowly dying. However, still have no reason to travel, so I might wait until the 5 goes on sale next year when travel seems like it might resume.
I need to see what the real price point is.
Probably won't jump on the pre-order like I have been doing in the past, but might wait until it hits the price break before putting the 4a into my backup phone position.
So far the 4a has been a good transition from the 2. Only thing I've noticed lacking is the squeeze to launch Assistant. I never used it a lot, but enough that I notice this one doesn't have it.
Probably won't jump on the pre-order like I have been doing in the past, but might wait until it hits the price break before putting the 4a into my backup phone position.
So far the 4a has been a good transition from the 2. Only thing I've noticed lacking is the squeeze to launch Assistant. I never used it a lot, but enough that I notice this one doesn't have it.
Sensor on back just like god intended.
4G speed is more than enough for your average user. 5G is mostly hype.
Then there's the issue with range and penetration
. 4G gives you better range than 5G since most 5G being rolled out is millimeter wave, and 4G is better able to go through walls.You need sub 6 GHz if you want long range with 5G. But sub 6 GHz 5G isn't really much faster than 4G and the carrier with the most sub 6 GHz frequency is T-Mobile, so if you're not on T-Mobile, well...
AT&T has some, but not as much as T-Mobile. That's why those little bitches at AT&T (and Verizon) are complaining to the FCC...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...rum-advantage/
T-Mobile amassed “unprecedented concentration of spectrum,” AT&T complains
9/21/2020
AT&T and Verizon are worried about T-Mobile's vast spectrum holdings and have asked the Federal Communications Commission to impose limits on the carrier's ability to obtain more spectrum licenses. Verizon kicked things off in August when it petitioned the FCC to reconsider its acceptance of a new lease that would give T-Mobile another 10MHz to 30MHz of spectrum in the 600MHz band in 204 counties. AT&T followed that up on Friday with a filing that supports many of the points made in Verizon's petition.
T-Mobile was once the smallest of four national carriers and complained that it didn't have enough low-band spectrum to match AT&T and Verizon's superior coverage. But T-Mobile surged past Sprint in recent years and then bought the company, making T-Mobile one of three big nationwide carriers along with AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile also bolstered its low-band spectrum holdings by dominating a 600MHz auction in 2017.
"The combination of Sprint and T-Mobile has resulted in an unprecedented concentration of spectrum in the hands of one carrier," AT&T wrote in its filing to the FCC on Friday. "In fact, the combined company exceeds the Commission's spectrum screen, often by a wide margin, in Cellular Market Areas representing 82 percent of the US population, including all major markets."
T-Mobile's large spectrum holdings demand "changes in how the Commission addresses additional acquisitions of spectrum by that carrier," AT&T said in another part of the filing. AT&T also posted a blog on the topic, saying that "Additional spectrum leases with Dish will cause T-Mobile to exceed the 250MHz screen by as much as 136MHz."
[ . . . ]
9/21/2020
AT&T and Verizon are worried about T-Mobile's vast spectrum holdings and have asked the Federal Communications Commission to impose limits on the carrier's ability to obtain more spectrum licenses. Verizon kicked things off in August when it petitioned the FCC to reconsider its acceptance of a new lease that would give T-Mobile another 10MHz to 30MHz of spectrum in the 600MHz band in 204 counties. AT&T followed that up on Friday with a filing that supports many of the points made in Verizon's petition.
T-Mobile was once the smallest of four national carriers and complained that it didn't have enough low-band spectrum to match AT&T and Verizon's superior coverage. But T-Mobile surged past Sprint in recent years and then bought the company, making T-Mobile one of three big nationwide carriers along with AT&T and Verizon. T-Mobile also bolstered its low-band spectrum holdings by dominating a 600MHz auction in 2017.
"The combination of Sprint and T-Mobile has resulted in an unprecedented concentration of spectrum in the hands of one carrier," AT&T wrote in its filing to the FCC on Friday. "In fact, the combined company exceeds the Commission's spectrum screen, often by a wide margin, in Cellular Market Areas representing 82 percent of the US population, including all major markets."
T-Mobile's large spectrum holdings demand "changes in how the Commission addresses additional acquisitions of spectrum by that carrier," AT&T said in another part of the filing. AT&T also posted a blog on the topic, saying that "Additional spectrum leases with Dish will cause T-Mobile to exceed the 250MHz screen by as much as 136MHz."
[ . . . ]
When are they going to roll out 5G to rural areas though? As far as I'm aware, 5G is mainly in cities because of distance/coverage issues due to the type of 5G (millimeter wave) AT&T and Verizon have been rolling out.
4G speed is more than enough for your average user. 5G is mostly hype.
Then there's the issue with range and penetration
. 4G gives you better range than 5G since most 5G being rolled out is millimeter wave, and 4G is better able to go through walls.
You need sub 6 GHz if you want long range with 5G. But sub 6 GHz 5G isn't really much faster than 4G and the carrier with the most sub 6 GHz frequency is T-Mobile, so if you're not on T-Mobile, well...
AT&T has some, but not as much as T-Mobile. That's why those little bitches at AT&T (and Verizon) are complaining to the FCC...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...rum-advantage/
4G speed is more than enough for your average user. 5G is mostly hype.
Then there's the issue with range and penetration
. 4G gives you better range than 5G since most 5G being rolled out is millimeter wave, and 4G is better able to go through walls.You need sub 6 GHz if you want long range with 5G. But sub 6 GHz 5G isn't really much faster than 4G and the carrier with the most sub 6 GHz frequency is T-Mobile, so if you're not on T-Mobile, well...
AT&T has some, but not as much as T-Mobile. That's why those little bitches at AT&T (and Verizon) are complaining to the FCC...
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...rum-advantage/
Also, I have t-mobile.

I don't think mmWave will take off that fast due to the rather substantial limitations of the technology. Also, I believe most of what's being rolled out is sub-6 5G, not mmwave.
I completely forgot about this... 
The Hold For Me in Google Assistant is sweet when sitting on hold for a long time.
I'm torn between the 4A 5G and the 5. I need to do some homework on the differences.

The Hold For Me in Google Assistant is sweet when sitting on hold for a long time.
I'm torn between the 4A 5G and the 5. I need to do some homework on the differences.
Well lucky for you, that's a thing right there in the Google store:
https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel
5 to 4a differences are not enough to make me jump right now. Although the green is very tempting.
https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel
5 to 4a differences are not enough to make me jump right now. Although the green is very tempting.
Audio
Stereo speakers
USB-C™ audio
3.5mm audio jack
Stereo speakers
USB-C™ audio
3.5mm audio jack
I'm a bit disappointed that the 5 doesn't have a more powerful processor (compared to the 3XL and 4XL), but the addition of 5G and the appealing price is reeling me back in.
Now to decide on preordering now or waiting until we get closer to the holidays for potential deals...

I went through the preorder process and added my trade in ($168 for the 3XL - not too shabby), and added it to cart. Go to cart. Cart is empty. Go back to the main P5 screen, click preorder, and the green version is now out of stock.
Neat.
EDIT - Now it's completely sold out for Verizon and Fi.
Neat.
EDIT - Now it's completely sold out for Verizon and Fi.
Last edited by civicdrivr; Sep 30, 2020 at 03:37 PM.
I WAS using Google Play or whatever... but now looks like Android is getting rid of it and moved me over to YouTube Music... now the situation is worse... it still starts playing music automatically, but at least in the past.. it would start playing whatever song I left off... now it plays random songs 

I went through the preorder process and added my trade in ($168 for the 3XL - not too shabby), and added it to cart. Go to cart. Cart is empty. Go back to the main P5 screen, click preorder, and the green version is now out of stock.
Neat.
EDIT - Now it's completely sold out for Verizon and Fi.
Neat.
EDIT - Now it's completely sold out for Verizon and Fi.
Though I'm debating just waiting for a black friday sale...
This. I'm listening to it right now.
Yeah the unlocked version is available now. Before it was all sold out.
BTW - I'm annoyed that we're not getting the same (or similar) promotion that they're getting in the UK - a free pair of Bose QC 35 IIs if you preorder the 5 or the 4a 5G.
https://support.google.com/product-d...nswer/10070211
I'm just going to wait it out and see what sort of promotions we get in the coming months.
BTW - I'm annoyed that we're not getting the same (or similar) promotion that they're getting in the UK - a free pair of Bose QC 35 IIs if you preorder the 5 or the 4a 5G.
https://support.google.com/product-d...nswer/10070211
I'm just going to wait it out and see what sort of promotions we get in the coming months.
Yeah the unlocked version is available now. Before it was all sold out.
BTW - I'm annoyed that we're not getting the same (or similar) promotion that they're getting in the UK - a free pair of Bose QC 35 IIs if you preorder the 5 or the 4a 5G.
https://support.google.com/product-d...nswer/10070211
I'm just going to wait it out and see what sort of promotions we get in the coming months.
BTW - I'm annoyed that we're not getting the same (or similar) promotion that they're getting in the UK - a free pair of Bose QC 35 IIs if you preorder the 5 or the 4a 5G.
https://support.google.com/product-d...nswer/10070211
I'm just going to wait it out and see what sort of promotions we get in the coming months.
The UK is getting a free pair of $200 headphones? WTF? I would have been happy with a free chromecast lol.
My Pixel2 is running fine (knowck on wood) but it's time, and the 5 looks nice. I think I will wait to see what deals/freebies can be had, though. Honestly, my Pixel 2 is running like a champ, bought it 2/2018.
Looking forward to wireless charging and the much larger battery.
Looking forward to wireless charging and the much larger battery.
I WAS using Google Play or whatever... but now looks like Android is getting rid of it and moved me over to YouTube Music... now the situation is worse... it still starts playing music automatically, but at least in the past.. it would start playing whatever song I left off... now it plays random songs 

But, in reference to your problem, my YouTube Music starts off too with the most recent album I was listening to but ONLY if I toggle the Android Auto feature in my car. If I do not switch to Android Auto in my car, it will just play whatever is on the XM or radio. I guess I just noted that there is really no way to stop auto-playing music if you engage Android Auto. At least I can't find that setting in the app so far.
As for how it's connected to my Mini Cooper, my car only has Bluetooth for calls, NOT for music. And it's connected to my car constantly for calls... but the phone recognizes that there's a connection every time I start the car and just starts playing music.
I have the Note 10 Plus, and it just had an update yesterday, so whatever the latest firmware
As for how it's connected to my Mini Cooper, my car only has Bluetooth for calls, NOT for music. And it's connected to my car constantly for calls... but the phone recognizes that there's a connection every time I start the car and just starts playing music.
As for how it's connected to my Mini Cooper, my car only has Bluetooth for calls, NOT for music. And it's connected to my car constantly for calls... but the phone recognizes that there's a connection every time I start the car and just starts playing music.1) go to bluetooth settings, find your cars connection, tap settings, and disable media
2) go to settings, search for modify system settings, find the player that's causing the issues, and deny its ability to modify settings.
Well I just said fuck it and ordered the P5 in green. Not supposed to show up until November so if the reviews start coming out like they did for the P4, I'll just cancel the preorder.
So, I just looked at the specs of the new Pixel 5 compared to my 3 XL, ummm, dare I say it, "Other than 5G and a better camera, I'm not impressed"; it seems the 3 XL outperforms the 5 in pretty much every other metric. What am I missing?
The processor on the 3xl is technically more powerful in the multicore and graphical tests, but I'd like to get my hands on one to see if it makes a real difference. I am disappointed that they didn't use a flagship chip though.
Aside from that and the slightly smaller screen, where else does the 3xl outperform the 5?
Aside from that and the slightly smaller screen, where else does the 3xl outperform the 5?
The processor on the 3xl is technically more powerful in the multicore and graphical tests, but I'd like to get my hands on one to see if it makes a real difference. I am disappointed that they didn't use a flagship chip though.
Aside from that and the slightly smaller screen, where else does the 3xl outperform the 5?
Aside from that and the slightly smaller screen, where else does the 3xl outperform the 5?
I'm glad they decided to go with a cheaper chip to make a cheaper phone...though I would have liked to see it cheaper than it was...
so... the only thing that kinda caught my attention with Amazon Prime Days, was a 256GB micro SD card... so what's the best way to move ALL the contents in the current micro SD card to the new one? I have that Samsung Dex installed on my desktop... but I can't see anything in there for this kind of transferring
so... the only thing that kinda caught my attention with Amazon Prime Days, was a 256GB micro SD card... so what's the best way to move ALL the contents in the current micro SD card to the new one? I have that Samsung Dex installed on my desktop... but I can't see anything in there for this kind of transferring
I found the guide below and it worked perfectly, Reader's Digest version:
1) copy ALL files/folders from old SD card to your PC using funky XCOPY flags to make sure everything comes (even empty files, hidden files and folders)
2) copy ALL files/folders from PC image of old SD card onto new bigger SD card using same funky XCOPY flags to put everything back
https://forums.tomsguide.com/threads...axy-s-5.68262/
@is300eater Not sure if you resolved this issue yet but...I found how to disable auto-play of music.
Open Android Auto on your phone and then: Settings > Turn off "Automatically resume media" option
That should do the trick. Hope that was what you needed.
Open Android Auto on your phone and then: Settings > Turn off "Automatically resume media" option
That should do the trick. Hope that was what you needed.











Google. Surprised they brought back the 3.5" jack. Apparently, 5G is available in my area. Even worth it from LTE yet?
