The Gadgetry Thread

[Raziel]

I don't understand it. Anyone with industry knowledge could spot that disaster coming a mile away. Gimmick features, last year's specs, and premium price... Why anyone would choose that phone over others is beyond me.

People in positions of power in those businesses often don't have a fucking clue.  And often don't listen to people that *do* know what they're doing telling them their wrong.

[evilwaldo]

Hubris and the thought that they could translate the power of Amazon and Kindle into a mobile phone platform.  

 

Apple, Samsung, and Google are so entrenched right now that it will be close to impossible to break their hold.

[Brian Fowler]

Even if it was possible, a mid speced phone for flagship price, on only one carrier... yikes.

If they had built an absolute monster of a phone...

[glfpunk]

It will break.  We are seeing less of a leap in each phone generation at this point and there are more inexpensive options for out of contract phones with decent specs becoming available now.  It's just a matter of time.  You'll always have giants in the industry but these other companies will steadily cut into the profit. 

 

Hell, the Oneplus One has similar specs and size to the Note 4 with a slightly slower processor 2.5 vs 2.7ghz and lacks some features some would call gimmicky and others might call cool and has some added features underneath.  One is pure android with cyanogen underneath and the Note is android with touchwiz phablet features.  They may not be exactly the same phones but you can buy the One for $299 out the door off contract.  The Note 4 is going to cost that same price with a two year contract.  

 

Meanwhile you've got the damn Fire phone releasing at prices competing with the latest Galaxy phone at the time but with specs of a Galaxy from a previous generation.  

[piranesi]

Honestly I've had the same phone for nearly two years now (iPhone 5) and I really don't feel the need to upgrade just because it's nearing the end of a subsidy cycle.  It's a great little device that does everything I want it to.  Of course I had my previous phone (Ericsson) for eight years so maybe I'm just particularly phone inert.

[Kevin Wilson]

The price/contract is what killed it for sure.  There are plenty of people like me that want a smart phone but don't want to be tied to an expensive two year contract, I love my little Moto G I got for $80, its not for everyone but I think Amazon would have been better off not trying to challenge the top of the line phones but trying to find their own little market somewhere.  Kinda surprising to find a company that has successfully challenged large companies before fail so epically. 

[Cliff Hanger]

Especially given that the Fire tablets have done decently well largely by being My First Tablet, with limited features but a nice screen and low price.

[Brian Fowler]

They have a pretty broad range of tablets now, from cheap but okay to "borderline iPad competitor that costs a hundred bucks less."

[Cliff Hanger]

Can you use the 'real' Android store now? Because to me, anything limited to the Amazon Appstore is always going to feel like a shit alternative.

[Brian Fowler]

No, and the Fire OS is definitely the weakest point.

 

Although sideloading apps is quite easy, and the top devices (the HDX 7" and 8.9", especially the new refreshed version of the 8.9) are absolutely top of the line spec wise, and sold at a really great price point (My new HDX 8.9" without special features and with 64 gigs of storage, was under 500) google play services are still a no go (and presumably always will be because Amazon really desperately wants to lock you into their ecosystem.)

 

But the screen on the 8.9 might literally be the best on the tablet market right now (Displaymate's absurdly detailed breakdown http://www.displaymate.com/Tablet_ShootOut_3.htm ranked it just slightly above the iPad Air's display last year, and both tablets have basically kept the same screens this year, except for Apple improving against glare afaik.)

 

It basically depends on what you want your tablet for.  If it's productivity, skip the Fire (if you can afford it, you want a Surface Pro), but if it's strictly for media consumption, the Kindle Fire is probably the best bang for your buck you can find.

[Cliff Hanger]

The thing is, I don't really *know* what I want a tablet for anymore. At the time I bought my first-gen 3G iPad, it was something that could go in my satchel that would take the place of a smartphone, because there was no smartphone that I could physically use due to the tiny screens. (Or rather, no smartphone that I could use for entertainment and dicking around on the internet. The iPhone is actually super-friendly to the visually impaired as far as basic function, but until a month ago it was no way to read if you have to hold it 2 in from the screen)  I got my shitty LG Intuition about 2 months after I got my 3rd-gen 4G iPad, and at this point the iPad is mostly used for comics and movies in bed or at work. All my app gaming happens on the phone if there's an Andy version of the game (and if it's not on Vita). Non-comics reading still goes to a dedicated e-reader (Kindle Paperwhite) but my tablet is generally way less necessary now that there are 5+ inch smartphones on the market. 

[Brian Fowler]

The Kindle Fire HDX is definitely good for comics and movies (although the display is 0.8" smaller than the iPad, and 1" bigger than the iPad mini, so ymmv) given that Amazon has both it's own comic shop and now owns comixology, and you can use Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime/Flixster (and sideload VUDU) on the Fire.

 

But, really, there is nothing that says you have to have a tablet (especially as we move into smartphones that are 5.5", 5.7", or even 6" for the display) and certainly nothing that says you have to upgrade from the iPad you already have.

 

If price isn't an issue, the iPad Air 2 is almost certainly the best overall tablet, between size, performance, ecosystem...  (Except maybe the Surface Pro 3, but that's really a laptop in tablet form)

[Cliff Hanger]

Yeah, my real dilemma forthcoming is that I can't continue to have an iOS tab and an Android phone. I either pay the Apple Tax for an iPhone 6 Plus or get a Gal Note and, when my iPad 4 ceases to be useful, get an Android tab of some type. I don't really like either option, but I like being split even less.

[glfpunk]

It doesn't bother me being split.  I have an ipad and haven't had an iphone for a while.  The only thing I use the ipad for is basically web browsing.  But I wouldn't buy an ipad again to be honest. 

 

I watch a lot of football and have seen tons of ads for the surface pro 3 and it got me intrigued.  And I thought "that would be pretty cool, I think I'll buy one of those." I then went online and saw what the price is.  Have they lost their fucking minds?

[Craig H]

I just read all about the OnePlus One and wow, that is super impressive. I think I may actually purchase that and use my iPhone 5 as just a music streaming device. 

[Cliff Hanger]

Depending on how many times I have to factory reset my Intuition between now and December, I may hold off and try to get in to get a One. It's a very cool phone and a solid price, but the limited availability might mean it isn't an option.

[Craig H]

Damn...The OnePlus website must be getting thrashed right now.

[evilwaldo]

Yeah, my real dilemma forthcoming is that I can't continue to have an iOS tab and an Android phone. I either pay the Apple Tax for an iPhone 6 Plus or get a Gal Note and, when my iPad 4 ceases to be useful, get an Android tab of some type. I don't really like either option, but I like being split even less.

From my perspective I don't see the issue.  

 

I write, a lot, and use an iPad but have no smartphone.  If I get an Android phone I would just use a complementary writing program that works on both the tablet and phone and save my documents to a service like Dropbox or Google Drive.

 

Your apps will work on either platform.

[Brian Fowler]

I don't have an iPad, but as I understand it, you have to buy apps separate for tablet and phone in iOs, don't you?  I could be totally wrong on that.

 

 

It doesn't bother me being split.  I have an ipad and haven't had an iphone for a while.  The only thing I use the ipad for is basically web browsing.  But I wouldn't buy an ipad again to be honest. 

 

I watch a lot of football and have seen tons of ads for the surface pro 3 and it got me intrigued.  And I thought "that would be pretty cool, I think I'll buy one of those." I then went online and saw what the price is.  Have they lost their fucking minds?

 

It's not a tablet in anyway except form factor.  Depending on which of the two versions you look at, it's either running 4 gb ram, or 8(!)   It's a laptop turned into a tablet.  Which you then have to spend another 130 bucks on to turn back into a laptop.  If you don't need it for actual productivity and work related issues, there is no reason to even really consider it.  But it does have up to 512 gigs of storage!

[evilwaldo]

I have no idea but a good portion of apps are free or cost a couple of bucks so it is not like you are paying $100 to Microsoft to get Word and Excel.

 

Cloud apps are free along with most email programs and I believe Google gives away their workplace software.  Google Maps is free if you need directions.

 

Long story short, don't let a decision like that bother you.  Buy what fits your need and tailor your apps around that.  There are enough apps out there that your should be able to find a free version that fits most, if not all, of your needs.

[Kevin Wilson]

Right after complimenting my lil Moto G, I go and pre-order a OnePlus One.  Not sure if that makes me a hypocrite but it dues further my opinion that new cell phones should be affordable and unlocked.  I guess 'affordable' just depends on the person but I'd think most people would agree that $750 for a new iPhone is a lot of money.

[Craig H]

If you have to pay for an iOS app, then you also need to pay separately for the Android version. It's also not a given that the shit you save in one version will be available in another. Basic stuff like Evernote does that, but not everything does.

[evilwaldo]

Price is pretty much what held me back from a new phone.  Not just price for the phone but the service plans as well.  I cannot justify spending $70 a month on a service that I use infrequently.

 

The smartwatches intrigue me from the standpoint of using it for fitness and health but if I choose to go that route I will low end my smartphone and use it as more of a database if the watch can do calls which I think will happen in a year or two.

 

I think in two years smartwatches will all be tethered to your phones making high end phones useless unless you stream a lot of stuff on your phone or play games which I do not.

 

If you take the time you can find a way around everything.

[glfpunk]

Damn...The OnePlus website must be getting thrashed right now

 

 

Yeah they weren't prepared.  But they did extend the preorder time and I got in eventually and submitted my order. Although it's a bummer that I won't have it for 4-6 weeks.   

 

 I guess 'affordable' just depends on the person but I'd think most people would agree that $750 for a new iPhone is a lot of money.

 

 

 

It is.  I bought two Oneplus One's today and two cases for cheaper than that one phone. 

[Craig H]

I nearly pulled the trigger on the OnePlus One, but at the last minute I didn't. I'm so leery of making big purchases right now given money due to finish this divorce, getting my house refi'd into my name only, etc. If my refi goes through and I get enough back, I may reconsider, but for now, my iPhone 5 is probably good enough.