Android phones, apps and tablets

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomers

Fuck off, I'm not that old, you friendless phone zombies

Phones seem to get snatched on a daily basis outside my office.

It's not a huge risk but I don't check my email that often that a fingerprint would be a huge inconvenience. Given that other mail apps offer it I'm surprised that gmail doesn't.

Anyone with a Pixel 8 getting the green screen static thing? It's shit, eh?

I lost my AirPods a while back, they were my OH's old ones so no great loss but I'm finding that I do miss them.

Are the Google Buds any good? Any other recos out there? I don't wanna spend a fortune, cheap and okay quality will do me, don't need noise cancelling.

CMF Buds Pro 2, been using them for a couple of weeks and I'm pretty happy. 60€

I like the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. Compact case, decent sound quality and just work (unlike the deeply annoying Cambridge Audio ones I had before them).

Lots of cheap, unopened second hand ones out there as they came free with various Samsung phones.

Anker whatevers, I like my a30i, p30i are basically the same and £26 at the mo, Amazon though.

Took all your advice onboard, had another look online, went to the shop for a browse, got blinded by all the choice, bought gen 3 AirPods. 🤦‍♂️

Kid B (18 yo) broke his phone the other day - fair play to him, he went out and got the screen replaced and paid for it himself, but it hasn't worked and the phone now turns itself off constantly.

So I want to get him something decent, refurb or SH, for about £200-250.

Samsung S21 seem plentiful and in budget. I know nothing about Samsung phones - is that a decent option? Anything else spring to mind?

Samsung S21

I like Samsung, but I've never been able to persuade myself that S models are worth the extra. At 18, I'd tell him to make his own decision on the basis that you'll contribute £250 towards it, then it's up to him whether he wants to add his own funds to get something tarty or get a more modest phone and a round of drinks.

Good idea, thanks.

A35 / A55 look decent options too.

S21 is a good phone. I've had one for a few years from new and have bought 3 more for family members (used condition from warrantied online sellers)

S21 is a good phone

Agree, I just don't think it's worth the extra. I spent a while trying to persuade myself before getting my A34.
Obviously, the price difference is less significant to people richer than me.

Cross post from Photos from Mobile Phones, because camera lag is such a persistent and crappy thing, and this solved it for me:

Just checking that everyone here is using ProShot.

You know how there's always a huge lag between telling the phone to take the photo and the phone actually taking the photo, and buying a nice phone doesn't seem to make any difference?

Solved it. I'd guess my lag, on a Samsung A71, is under 150ms now. On top of that, it also seems to be the camera app to end all camera apps. Not free, but there's a little app to check how compatible it is with your phone first.

https://www.riseupgames.com/proshot

The evaluation app didn't tell me anything about the lag, so I sent an email asking about it, and also how the licence worked; here's the reply:

Thank you for asking! Please accept my apologies for the late reply.

While I am not sure if the lag you're referring to is fixed by ProShot, I can tell you that ProShot will take a photo as soon as the camera button is pressed. If you're finding that the lag in too much, you can either refund the purchase through Google Play, or reach out to me and I can process it.

Finally, ProShot is a one-time purchase and it's tied to your Google account. So long as you're logged into Google Play I believe it can be installed on any device.

Kind Regards,
Eddie Kezeli

conclusion to episode:

asked Kid B if he wanted me to give him the funds and he could get his own phone, he said no, could I just get him one please and he didn't mind what it was.

I looked at various things, eBay, Amazon etc, ended up getting a refurb Pixel 7a from GiffGaff for slightly more than I had originally budgeted. Ordered yesterday evening, arrived before midday today, so far everyone's happy other than my credit card balance.

Also a slightly amusing symmetry in the Kid A has my old 4a as he refuses to buy new phones, I have a 6a and Kid B now has a 7a. Soon I'll get an 8 or 8a and donate my 6a to Kid A (screen's shattered on the 4a but he just carries on using it with a fragmented screen) and we'll go along on our merry Pixel way.

Just seen the details of the new pixel 9 pro.

Horrid angular design and all about the pointless AI.
They want £1000 for that? It's a no from me.

I quite like it, reminds me very much of the iPhone 4 which I absolutely loved as a piece of design. The folding version is kerayzy. Small Pro for me, I'll be getting one before the end of the tax year, hopefully much cheaper by then. I had to buy a full price Pixel 8 this time around just because my 5 died when it did.

I refuse to buy phones with camera punch out holes or notches. Worst design choice ever, still can't comprehend it.

I've been able to avoid it thus far and maybe next time I need a phone this will finally have been gone away for good.

Currently using an Xperia 5V after my S9 battery became too annoying to handle (less than 1h30m of screen on time)

My pixel 4a is getting pretty janky, battery life is not great, can barely make it through the day on average usage. Screen responsiveness is really starting to go making constructing messages annoying. Plus it's no longer getting updates and I wouldn't mind going 5g. I'm eyeing up the 7a as I have been on the nexus/Moto/pixel pure android since the 1st Nexus. From a quick compare on gsmarena there doesn't seem to be much difference other than chip and camera. Just wondering if anyone has one and could report on their experience

Got a pixel 7 pro. Only just found out it has an astrophotography mode. Put it on the night shot setting attach to a tripod or prop it up so it's completely still and it automatically goes into astrophoto mode.

Ooh that is quite interesting, I was very impressed with night mode on the 4a

cough

https://www.riseupgames.com/proshot

Check the trade-in you may get against the 8a

Battery life on my pixel 6 is now terrible, annoying as the phone is fine generally. Ismash will replace the battery for £50 which I'm tempted to try.

Other options are an 8a (about £400 with trade in) or a 9 (about £550 with trade in which is a bit rich). Saying that, I've only had this Pixel 6 for two years so I'm not that convinced by getting another one.

Other option is some kind of refurbed Samsung for ~ £300-£400.

Anyone taken the battery replacement route and found it has made a decent difference?

The screen has pealed away on the front on my pixel 6. Not super impressed.

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