Android phones, apps and tablets

When do you want WiFi off?

There are smart profiles to do it based on location etc.

woah, volume buttons take pictures? how have i missed this?!

TiL...

It's been an option for ages.

volume buttons take pictures? how have i missed this?!

Maybe you had a proper phone with a dedicated shutter button 🙂

I've reluctantly joined the Pixel 6a club.
( was out clearing Himalayan Balsam from the Ruislip Pinn yesterday afternoon,
when my Moto G 5G made a break for it,
and left my belt pouch.
The hedge trimmer I was using to clear the swathes of himbal meant I didn't hear the splash,
and, I only realised it was gone when I went to take some photos.
I did retrieve it, but it was immersed for roughly an hour,
so, it is unlikely to work even if it ever dries out.
One of the camera modules has condensation ).

Collected a Pixel 6a this morning,
and set it up.
Followed the on-screen guide and all seemed to work OK,
Google even found a back up from the Moto,
which required the in code for that phone.

A while later, with the screen relaxed to black,
I was asled to input my pin code.
Well, I've only input one pin code.
'incorrectly typed'
Tried again, in case a finger had slipped to a wrong digit.
No, 27 times later still can't get into my new Pixel.

Is there a factory reset method to overcome this impediment to phone use?

Is there a factory reset method to overcome this impediment to phone use?

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4596836#zippy=%2Cwith-your-phones-buttons-advanced

Ho, ho, ho.
Even after a factory reset, the Pixel 6a set up process aks again for the (unknown) Pin Code.

Then to complicate matters 2FA, to verify I am the person with the Google Account wants to send a code to my mobile, ( I have swapped the sole sim card I use into the Pixel 6a),
which is yet to be set sufficiently that I could read a text message.
This loop appears unsolvable.

Thanks,
the first 'help' I read stated 'Volume button 'Up' with Power button'.
I got to the required options with 'Vol down + Power).

After the last heatwave my pixel 4's battery has started bulging and is forcing the back cover off. iFixit want £40 for a new battery and the procedure doesn't look that bad but then I discovered iSmash (who Google use for warranty repairs) will do the whole thing for £20.

The battery states "do not heat above 45°C"!

I recently found out my pixel 4a is still under warranty for another 2months which was great news as I was searching for battery replacement as mine is knackered. Unfortunately it's a post in for 7-10days which I can't really do and no walk in stores in the country. Looked up ismash as a Google verified repairer but they are all out of stock to replace batteries on a walk in basis

I don't know if it's any use for you geographically but I had my Pixel 4a repaired by a place called Bromley Mobile Repairs (in Bromley funnily enough). It needed the motherboard replaced after I dropped it down the stairs and nowhere else would touch it. It's a really dodgy looking place that also functions as an off license so was a bit of a last ditch attempt to get it sorted before I bought a replacement.
If you're nowhere near there, maybe it's worth finding a similar, well reviewed independent place?

Then to complicate matters 2FA, to verify I am the person with the Google Account wants to send a code to my mobile, ( I have swapped the sole sim card I use into the Pixel 6a),
which is yet to be set sufficiently that I could read a text message.
This loop appears unsolvable

Can someone lend you the use of their phone for 5mins? Pop your SIM in their phone, use it for 2FA

That's not super far from me, will check it out cheers

Thanks for the reply.
Finding myself in a loop, I did a 2nd factory reset.
A mistake I made was to confuse the (4-digit) screen unlock code
from the amphibious Motorola with the Pixel 6a's 'pin code'.

On this attempt, I still did not see a 'Set a pin code' option anywhere, as I attempted to set up the 6a again, (emails adresses etc).

A 3rd factory reset, and a minimal set up did result in a 'Set the pin code for this phone',
which I of course did, and then set up email addresses etc.

I then regained access to email accounts by simply clicking on the message sent by Google to the new 6a.

A frustrating morning, but hopefully not to be repeated for a couple of years.

Does anybody know if there is a decent android app that will give you turn-by-turn directions from a GPX file?

AFAIK gpx files don't include turn by turn info, just route info.
you can import gpx files into komoot and that will generate turn by turn.
you might need to purchase the map for the area you want though...

Thanks, I may end up using ride with GPS, load it into my Garmin and have that on my dashboard!!

as in your car dashboard?!

Yes

Does anybody know if there is a decent android app that will give you turn-by-turn directions from a GPX file?

OSMAND

Any other Pixel 6a users?
Having trouble with the GPS?
My amphibious Motorola G 5G had a demonstrably better GPS function:
always quick to get a 'fix' when starting an exercise app,
never lost the GPS signal mid-exercise,
unlike this 6a.

Mine seems OK I think.

But I'm abroad so not really able to calibrate as I have no fucking idea where I am most of the time at the moment.

Android 13 just dropped. Maybe force the update if you've not received it automatically and see if there's been a fix?

It's a really dodgy looking place that also functions as an off license

sounds great! but no, really if it fixed your phone then alles ist gut

have no fucking idea where I am most of the time

Most people's lives?