Re: Technology and Gadgets Thread

by **Schumacat** on Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:07 pm

S2 will definitely get an upgrade to Android 4.0. There are already a few leaked ROMS from Samsung online. Red Devil is running one such build on his S2. But most of the other Android phones from Samsung will be stuck on 2.3.X.

Regarding the OS updates from Apple, don't get fooled by that. Apple does provide the latest OS update to most of its phones ( the current one and the past 2 models ), but they rarely work very well. Most of the time, a lot of the new features are not available to the older phones and the updates cause a lot of problems to the people using the older phones ( slow, battery drain, etc ). This has been observed in almost all of the major iOS updates so far. For instance, Siri is not available on Iphone 4, although there was a Siri app earlier that worked just fine before ( The app was removed from the store once Apple bought Siri ) and most of the processing for Siri takes place on the cloud.

But yeah, Android manufacturers need to improve their OS updates. Nokia is the king in this aspect. They keep supporting and upgrading their phones long after they even ceased production. Sony has promised an upgrade to Android 4.0 for all its phones released in 2011, which is a good thing. Samsung has so far promised an update only for the S2.

The good thing though is that since Android is open source, once the manufacturer stops updating your phone, you can try lots of new builds that are made by groups like XDA developers or Cynogen which give a new lease of life to your phone, unlike iOS users who are stuck with what Apple wants to give/ not give them.

by **Rus-Evo** on Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:32 pm

The thing I don't like about Android is that although it is free, it is far less regulated and therefore more dangerous. I wish there was a secure app store that you know was secure.

Also you can pay for apple apps with prepaid card that you buy in a shop, I don't know how I would pay for an android app.

I would like a balance to be struck between freedom and safety.

by **Rus-Evo** on Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:33 pm

S2's are SO droolworthy.

by **Schumacat** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:05 am

Rus-Evo wrote:The thing I don't like about Android is that although it is free, it is far less regulated and therefore more dangerous. I wish there was a secure app store that you know was secure.

Also you can pay for apple apps with prepaid card that you buy in a shop, I don't know how I would pay for an android app.

I would like a balance to be struck between freedom and safety.

Android Market is regulated but not as much as iOS store. The biggest danger is when you install apps from sources other than the Android Market. This option is disabled by default though, so if you enable it and download it from an unverified source, you should know what you are doing. Besides, when you download an app, it is better to check the comments of the users who have downloaded it and also check the rating of the app, as well as the permissions required for the app. Ofcourse, if you do not want to do all that and just download an app without worrying, iOS is the way to go. I guess that is the price to pay for freedom.
Not that iOS store is completely secure. Recently one developer had pointed out a security issue in iOS and when Apple did not fix it after a long time, he created an app that could use that bug and the app was accepted into the App store without any issues. Ofcourse, when he revealed the news to the press, his developer license was revoked and his app was removed. So much for screened content.

Regarding paying for an app, you can use your credit card to pay like you do for any online purchase. Apple has something similar too but the problem is that they save your credit card details on their server so that you don't have to enter those details again when you purchase something. Somehow, I'm not comfortable with that Laughing

. Luckily, my last credit card that I had saved on the Apple servers has expired now and I dont have to worry about it anymore.

by **Rus-Evo** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:58 am

I don't want to use my credit card....... maybe I should get a debit card.

by **PURIST** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:25 am

Rus-Evo wrote:
PURIST wrote:I've heard Galaxy S3 will be released later this year. Does this mean S2 won't get upgrades? If not, I will opt for iPhone. Samsung and other Android companies should upgrade their phones' OS every time a new system is released. It's a service they must provide to the users.
Well standard updates like with windows is understandable. I don't know about whole OS upgrades for free. Do we expect to upgrade to Windows 7 for free if we use XP for instance?

They are different situations(Windows and Android) because with Windows, if you want to upgrade to the latest version, you can buy and install yourself whereas we need to rely on the manufacturers to get OS upgrade with smartphones. However, if there are private technicians who can do that for us as Schumacat said, that makes the situation a lot better. What I'm thinking about doing is to buy Galaxy S2 late this year when S3 is released for cheaper price and get OS updates. If that is not a valid option, I may consider getting iPhone 5 which will be released around same time. However, I prefer Android so I'm strongly leaning towards Galaxy S2 or even S3.

by **Rus-Evo** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:44 am

We had nothing like these devices only a few years ago.

by **Schumacat** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:57 pm

The S3 is going to be a monster when it is released. They are talking about a 2 GHz Quad core processor, 1.5 GB RAM, full HD Super AMOLED III Screen Resolution, 352 PPI pixel density, Android 4.0 etc. Even if half of those things come true, it is going to be huge.
I think they might announce it at the MWC in February.

Meanwhile, I have noticed that my S2's battery life has increased by a lot since my move to 2.3.6 . Earlier, the battery used to get drained a lot if I had left the Wifi on overnight. Now, even if left the Wifi on the whole night, the battery lost only around 8%.

by **Rus-Evo** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:02 pm

Thats not bad!! I want to get a PowerBee explorer for travelling. It would charge a smart phone about 3 times but also has a solar cell to help get more than that if conditions allow.

by **Rus-Evo** on Fri Jan 20, 2012 11:07 pm

On the subject of smartphones. I never am an early adopter getting the premo stuff. I am a middle adopter buying super value things. So what I am wondering is what 2012 brings for me.

I think maybe a value tab that is about as good as the original Galaxy Tabs (or maybe close enough). Or maybe a big screen phone.

by **Schumacat** on Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:59 am

If you are looking for a value tab, you might get some good deals on the Blackberry Playbook. The ASUS Transformer is also selling at around 349$ and I think it would fall more, now that the Transformer Prime has arrived and is selling out everywhere.

by **PURIST** on Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:03 pm

Rus-Evo wrote:On the subject of smartphones. I never am an early adopter getting the premo stuff. I am a middle adopter buying super value things. So what I am wondering is what 2012 brings for me.

That's me you are talking about, Rus. Very Happy

by **Rus-Evo** on Sun Jan 22, 2012 12:45 am

A fellow middle adopter who gets tech when its cheap, works well and is mature enough? Well done!

Wheres my Galaxy S1 at?

Twisted Evil

by **Mach** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:06 am

Research In Motion’s, BlackBerry makers, CEO and chairmen Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have resigned!! pc1

by **Schumacat** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:53 pm

I don't think changing CEOs will change anything for RIM. They are behind on their new product and OS. Until that comes out, they will be struggling to maintain their market share. And it might be too late by the time it comes out. I hope the new CEO can do something but, the CEO is just one person.

by **Rus-Evo** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:08 pm

Well Blackberries are known as business machines. Maybe they can get back their core customers by looking after their needs first.

Try making business applications run as smooth as anything and encrypted and safe.

Android is cool, but I feel a bit unsafe when browsing apps, and I know whil my 2.2OS has a lot of good features it is nowhere near as stable and easy as the OS in an Iphone.

Blackberry should not try to clone the others, but to excel in its area..... and market it expertly.

by **Rus-Evo** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:09 pm

How do I block the annoying asudio ads that this site assaults me with?

by **Sailqueen** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:54 pm

Rus-Evo wrote:How do I block the annoying asudio ads that this site assaults me with?

Rus, I use Firefox v9 and the AdBlocker Plus add on and don't get the audio ads. I believe Google's Chrome browser also has some type of ad-block but have not tested it.

My 2cents.

by **lightmas** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:05 pm

I use it for Chrome and I dont get the audio ads!!

by **Rus-Evo** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:23 pm

Thanks..... now I need Schumacat to tell me how to do it on the best browser of all!

by **Sailqueen** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:49 pm

How can it be the best browser of all if you are being assaulted by annoying ads on this site? Laughing

by **RaySinKa** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:01 pm

I just mute my sounds!

Ray

by **Schumacat** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:15 pm

Rus-Evo wrote:Thanks..... now I need Schumacat to tell me how to do it on the best browser of all!

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/noads-advanced/1.3.4/?display=en

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/opera-adblock/0.52/?display=en

To Check which addons you have installed, Use CTRL + SHIFT + E or go to OPERA Menu -> Extensions -> Manage Extensions.

Another good Addon that I use is called Ghostery, that removes all trackers from the websites to protect your privacy.

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/ghostery/0.9.3/?display=en

by **Rus-Evo** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:18 pm

Sailqueen wrote:How can it be the best browser of all if you are being assaulted by annoying ads on this site?

Thats not the browsers fault, its some fool who doesn't realize that this pushes me into blocking ALL ads and therefore lessening the value of the good ads. Very Happy

by **Rus-Evo** on Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:21 pm

Schumacat wrote:
Rus-Evo wrote:Thanks..... now I need Schumacat to tell me how to do it on the best browser of all!

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/noads-advanced/1.3.4/?display=en

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/opera-adblock/0.52/?display=en

To Check which addons you have installed, Use CTRL + SHIFT + E or go to OPERA Menu -> Extensions -> Manage Extensions.

Another good Addon that I use is called Ghostery, that removes all trackers from the websites to protect your privacy.

https://addons.opera.com/en/addons/extensions/details/ghostery/0.9.3/?display=en

Thanks..... my goodness that was easy.

I don't think Ive ever done an addon before...... I will have to see what else there is.