Android phones, apps and tablets

Fack

Has there been any confirmation that a Pixel 9A would be making an appearance at some point? I think 2025 might be the year my 6A needs an upgrade

I dropped my 6a the other week and cracked the screen. The screen protector appears to be holding everything in place for now. Looking back a few pages seems like ismash is the recommended repair?

Didn't know about the battery bloat. Partner has a Fairphone 3 which is shuffling off this mortal coil and is looking at the 5, the specs look ok to me, would consider for next phone as the 6a hasn't impressed me too much (I had Pixel 3a XL and Pixel 2 before).

Google ai chat was particularly unhelpful. Awaiting a "technicians response" about a replacement battery. Given they wanted photos of front/back/4 sides I'm assuming it will be "we can only do a refurb for £200. I'll book ismash for Monday.

This is exactly what I had. Lots of photos, said they'd email me in 24 hours.

Next day they emailed about a free replacement.

Ismash do it but it was very expensive from what I remember (£150 or something) which I'm not convinced is worth it.

Smart phone addiction. Trying different ways to cut down, and was entertaining the idea of a Nokia 6310 as a crude way of still using WhatsApp app on the move. Even that is no longer an option as Kai OS and WhatsApp are no longer friends. Also, having a half decent camera and maps in your pocket does have advantages. So it really comes down to sticking with a smartphone and making it a bit less attractive.
One thing I'm trying is turning it to greyscale, an idea from the Mac thread. For Androids, you can do it through Accessibility settings, Colour and Motion, at least from Android 13 and up. 11 doesn't have that option as far as I can see, not sure about 12.
Anyone else tried it? Turned it on yesterday, let's see how long it lasts!

Just get a partner that tells you to "put the fucking phone down" every time you start scrolling through Instant Face Twat etc.

Timers set on phones to stop late night use.

Personally I just move apps like Untappd and IG to a secondary page and that's enough to stop the "oh why don't I just check this" feeling.

Yeah timers, no shortcuts on main page, screen black and white after 9PM, log out after session to make more annoying to quickly check it etc... Are all helpful ways to reduce random consumption

You forget your partner is watching real housewives of overboard bachelors so it feels like a piss take that "you are on your phone too much" even gets anywhere near their lips.

No, I'm the one telling my missus to put the phone down.

I think that as an old, jaded software guy I don't want to see us staring at screens unless we're getting paid for it, so I'm more militant about that kind of thing. She's more of a Bake Off, Taskmaster fan too.

Why is this even a question - didn't Edward Snowdon put it beyond doubt?

This is fun*

*not fun

https://youtu.be/wVyu7NB7W6Y?feature=shared

I found that getting a 'smart watch' was quite helpful.

now all my texts and WhatsApps go to my wrist so I don't have to get my phone out of my pocket to check it every time it goes bleep.

Stealing, sorry, consuming, your audio is not a new concept. What is new is that this mob are actively marketing it.

OK, thanks for explaining (I hadn't actually read the linked article but I have now).

I guess that's the way it goes, step by step.

Now it is beyond doubt that people are being listened to, they can use that fact openly. Pre-Snowden many/most people would probably not have believed they could do it so there would have been no value in them claiming it.

Thanks! Contract (ugh) ends in March so I'll just suck it up and buy a new handset eventually.

behind every fortune there's a crime

Success with Google. They posted a new pixel 6 today and told me to "dispose of the old one locally"

Just in time for my wife and child1 to destroy their phones. So now I'm repairing the old one with a new battery anyway.

Has anyone tried any of the Nothing phones? I'm potentially tempted by the Nothing 2a, quite like what they're doing with the UI/UX of their OS based on Android and I feel like the price is very reasonable for the total package

my mother lives in a stone built cottage on an island. This means
a) her broadband is a router that works over 5G
b) wifi penetration across the house is low

she wants to be able to watch stuff on a tablet in a room where the wifi doesn't reach. i'm not sure how to do wifi extension when the router is 5 G device- or perhaps that doesn't make any difference?

as an alternative should I just get her a tablet with sim card? I don't mind paying £10 a month for data if it makes her life simpler and easier. she'll need a new device in any case.

Mesh network on the router. Like tp link deco.
I have a 5g router with deco plugged in then deco boxes around the house, my walls are 80cm think. I barley get signal in the house due to walls, the router is cabeled to an external antenna.

The I've got 99 problems but my WiFi isn't one thread would be more help.

thanks - sounds like a similar scenario. i'll look into this deco thing :)

fair comment on the thread choice. i had forgotten about the 99 probs one.

My Pixel 5 is on its last legs, occasionally locks up, battery life dire. Bought a Pixel 8A. What a palaver trying to get it set up how I like it.
Gone back to my 5 will try another day with more patience.

Can't you just migrate your settings/data straight across from your old phone? I run Nova Launcher which makes life a little more complicated but even that is pretty straightforward. Most annoying part is setting up your apps when you go to use them for the first time, hate that.