Thursday, January 1, 2015

Samsung Galaxy S5 is top smartphone - Jan 2015

If you're looking for a new phone, *the Samsung Galaxy S5 is tops,* according to _Consumer Reports_ magazine. 

If you already like your iPhone, you might still prefer it's familiarity.  Just like you wouldn't sell your car just because a new one has better gas mileage.  On the other hand, just like the conclusion of a car's lease provides an opportunity to reevaluate transportation alternatives and new models, the 2-year postpaid cellphone contracts popular in the US mean people often reassess their equipment needs.

[My extensive comments below are based on my own experience.  *My apologies if it sounds like an advertising pitch, but the device is really *_*that good*_*.*  Plus any good marketing writer would be more concise about benefits, instead of providing such a long list of features! 

Also, I have NOT received any compensation for this review.  I only get the benefit of influencing others to share my techie views about Android and Samsung.  -- Evan]

*The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a bright, full HD screen (1920x1080)* and a 16MP camera, and can *take UHD/4K video for  your *_*next*_* TV*.  It can even shoot video and photos of you (the smartphone owner) and other people *from the front and back cameras simultaneously*, creating a picture-in-picture video.

While *a drop into the sink voids the iPhone's legendary warranty, the Galaxy S5 is waterproof to 3 feet and dustproof (IP67 rating).*  It also doesn't suffer from "bend gate" or "antenna gate" problems.

Its *built-in infrared (IR) transmitter means you can use it to control your TV, cable box or even air conditioner*.   It has an NFC chip, so you can use it to *pay for goods at credit card terminals* which support GooglePay/ApplePay.  You can even buy NFC tags to trigger certain actions when you put the phone by your desk, nightstand, or car console. 

Its battery life is good.  To make it better, it offers *Power Saving mode* which can optionally slow the Quad-Core 2+ GHz CPU or set the screen to grayscale. An *Ultra Power Saver mode even allows it to run up to a week on a single battery charge*, by shutting off all services except emergency essentials such as voice calls, text messaging and flashlight.  I have seen the Ultra Power Saver mode stretch out a low battery's life for hours.  Incidentally, *the S5 has a removeable battety you can swap*, or even install a cordless-charging cover. It also takes *microSD cards up to 128 GB*, and (with an accessory) can read other USB devices like thumb drives. You can also *mirror its screen to a PC or newer Samsung TV*.

*For anti-theft, it has a "kill switch" so you can make it impossible for a thief to activate it if it gets stolen.*  This is something the attorneys general for New York and California have demanded for all phones, even though other phones might not offer it yet.   It includes a fingerprint sensor, and already supports Bluetooth-unlocking when close to nearby approved devices (if desired), even with Android 4.4.4 KitKat.  It even supports *Samsung Knox, which allows you to separate your phone into a "work zone" which only sees work data and apps and a "personal zone" which only sees personal stuff.*  Samsung Knox requires your workplace to use a server-based email system such as Microsoft Exchange.

After reading all this, if you're an iPhone owner, you might be glad that *the S5 also includes tools to help iPhone owners migrate their data to Google/Gmail/Calendar/etc* if they haven't done so alresdy.   After that, however, your Google data will work with any later Android phone too.

[Below are my comments about _Consumer Reports_ magazine, whose reviews are more objective than the gushing description I just posted above! -- Evan]

Founded over 70 years ago, _Consumer Reports_ magazine accepts NO advertising and forbids companies from citing its recommendations (even to the point of suing them to enforce this).  Its revenues are based on subscriptions to its print magazine and website, and posthumous donations.

Their reviews are based on purchases by ordinary people and readers, so vendors cannot provide them with special "loaner" products "tuned" to get peak performance.  While CR might have some bias in favor of energy efficiency, practicality and economical prices, they are not predisposed to favor any particular product manufacturer.  In particular, they are willing to recognize when a new product's quality is worse or better than a previous year's model they recommended.

[References:

_Consumer Reports_ story cited on PhoneArena website, on January 1, 2015.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-S5-tops-Consumer-Reports-latest-smartphone-ratings_id64274

Also mentioned by Christopher Gaul, on Google+

https://plus.google.com/106460272334827467471/posts/7T1iNQfs3vG

]

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Replacing a mouse?

Microsoft's mice which have  "Blue Track" technology (not sure I'd I spelled it correctly) work on all sorts of surfaces - even smooth white trays which seem to confuse other mice.  For instance the 3500, with a list price around $30, but often on sale at Best Buy or Staples for sbout $15.

Any new wireless  today will have a tiny USB connector which can stow inside the mouse when unused, or be left in a laptop's USB slot with less likelihood of becoming detached.  Bluetooth mice don't even need that, but require Bluetooth on the laptop and are usually closer to $50.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Windows 8.1 - Something NOT to sync

As you become more familiar with Windows 8.1, you might review the new settings.  If you are coming from a Windows 7 environment, you may notice new settings to synchronize preferences between computers. Often, that is convenient, because it can simplify preferences for web browsing and even wallpaper.

Think twice before syncing "Start Tile" preferences across PCs. It is turned OFF by default for good reason. Since computers often include different manufacturer-specific apps, if you try to sync the tiles on every PC, you can wind up with the "lowest common denominator" where only apps common to all machines appear in the Start Screen.  All the other apps will be "unpinned from the Start screen".  (You might think this a good way to eliminate any "bloatware" pre-installed by the manufacturer, but it will also remove other apps you installed on only one computer.)

Also, different screen sizes can make Start Screen tile syncing a problem. For example, a 6-row-high layout with wide tiles may look great on a desktop screen, but not fit well on a laptop which can only handle 4 rows tall. (You cannot change the number of rows displayed, though you can select different tile sizes for most icons.)

Although you can fix these problems after-the-fact by turning off the Start Tile sync, you would still need to go to each machine and put back all the icons you removed from the Start Screen.


This setting is found on the SkyDrive Sync settings screen. To see it:

 Swipe-from-left to see the "Charms" bar,
  then Settings ("gear")
  -> Change PC Settings (at bottom-right corner, not an icon)

   The PC Settings screen appears:

    -> Skydrive
    -> Sync settings
    -> Personalization settings
         Start Screen
         My Start screen tiles and tile layout (Off).

Similarly, while you can the list of sync apps installed between computers, that would make it easier to accidentally install apps you might not want.  That setting is also left OFF by default.

On Sync Settings screen described above,
    -> App Settings
         Apps
         The list of apps I've Installed (Off).



Windows 8.1 - Audible confirmation of Caps Lock etc

Newer computers running Windows 8 have flatter keyboards, making typos a little easier for people accustomed to standard depth keys. Some keyboards do not even have a Caps Lock light to warn that you accidentally turned-on Caps Lock.

As a solution, there is an accessibility setting to sound a quick beep when you press any of the Lock keys:


 Swipe-from-left to see the "Charms" bar,
  then Settings ("gear")
  -> Change PC Settings (at bottom-right corner, not an icon)

   The PC Settings screen appears:
    -> Ease of Access
    -> Keyboard
    -> Toggle Keys (On).




The Windows 8.1 Upgrade went well. (But allow at least 2 hours for 3.7 GB of software!)

The Windows 8.1 upgrade(s) went well!
There is only 1 upgrade, but I performed it on several computers.

It's a free upgrade for everyone running Windows 8.0. If you login as an Administrator, just go to the Store app (from the Start Screen), and you will see it waiting to be installed.

It can take awhile to download about 3.7 GB of software (on each machine), so allow at least 2 hours, depending on download speed and the computer's CPU. After the upgrade has completed, each user will need a few minutes more the first time they login, as settings are configured for the first time.

Overall, it's not a major change, but its improvements are welcome. For example, you can create groups of Start tiles and name them, for better organization. You can also press the down-arrow icon below the tiles to see all apps installed. You can even boot directly into the desktop, or use its wallpaper on the Start Screen. The Start Menu appears on the Desktop, but it mainly toggles back to the Start Screen (instead of launching programs, as in previous Windows versions).

As with Windows 8, one of the best enhancements is the ability to sync settings across computers. When you configure preferences (such as wallpaper, or even accessiblity), they are linked to your Microsoft-based ID and take effect on any PC you use (assuming your ID on that PC is linked to Microsoft's system).



Friday, September 20, 2013

Cellular Service

A friend recently asked whether it would be a good idea to switch cellular carriers or to 4G.  He had an iPhone on AT&T on a "grandfathered" unlimited-data plan, and used its voice-plus-data feature often.  He intends to stay with iOS, but is interesting in learning about Android (without buying another phone).

Since I have been using cell phones for nearly 20 years, this is a topic people have asked me about before.  I realized other people might find my reasoning useful, so I decided to put put it into a blog.  That meant editing it to make it a little more generic and introductory.  Hopefully, most people will find it useful.

I live in suburban New Jersey, where coverage is very good.  The state is home to major telecommunications companies and near a large market (New York City).  Since it is a small state, that suggests it is easier to provide coverage, but its high population density means there are more people competing for the available "slots" on each cellphone tower.  There are some "dead spots" without coverage, but that is to be expected when using wireless technologies such as cellular and WiFi.

-- Evan


When considering coverage, what is your "Use Case"?
  • If it is dropped voice calls in the car, you might want to try out other carriers' phones (within a 14-day trial period) to see if you have better luck from the locations where you place or receive calls.  
  • Is it data, such as checking email during kids' soccer matches?  Issues like 4G coverage, speeds and data caps would then play a role.
  • Is it relatively consistent (home, work, school, soccer field) where you can try each place within a week, or do you travel to new client sites for work (where you cannot "pre-test" your coverage)?

It can make sense to keep an old phone to keep its unlimited data plan.

I also have an "old" phone, in my case an Android based on the original single-CPU Galaxy S architecture.  It's not super-fast, but it has a great physical keyboard, and I'm also "grandfathered" for unlimited data on my carrier.  Most carriers abolished unlimited data, so upgrading to a new phone would force me into a 2GB monthly data "cap" unless I paid full price for the phone (around $600).  

Higher data caps than 2GB are available, but they cost more and are still caps.  Incidentally, my usage is generally just below 2 GB/month, but I like the freedom in case I needed to upload photosstream music, etc.  When out of the house, I prefer NOT to use shared WiFi hotspots because they can be less secure than cellular 3G or 4G.  Most people are probably less concerned about security, however.

Another factor is whether you get an employee company discount on service or accessories.  If many of your friends are on the same carrier, calls to those people might not be counted toward your monthly airtime limits.  There's also an incentive for an entire household to be on the same shared or family plan.

Keeping an old phone avoids the need to buy new accessories, such as cases, and even batteries (for phones where you can buy spares).  Even for the iPhone (whose size changes relatively little), new ones can have new connectors or cases.  


If you want to play with Android, a better bet might be WiFi-only tablet.  

There are no carrier commitments, no data caps, etc, and the WiFi is quicker than cellular.  However, without cellular service, you need a WiFi hotspot to use the internet and web-based apps. Some versions of  Google Maps have supported caching so you can pre-load maps and navigation later when there is no coverage .  The Nexus 7 is about $200 and it's gotten good reviews.  You can even get a Bluetooth keyboard if your tasks require more intensive typing.  Just remember that tablets sold at cellular stores typically include the cellular radio and the pricing and/or contract reflects that.


In theory, having 4G LTE in addition to 3G will improve coverage.

It's hard for me to determine if there are places which have 4G coverage but NOT 3G..  I have been pleasantly surprised at how broad the coverage-area is for Verizon's 4G LTE in the past year.  AT&T is said to be doing the same, but I without an AT&T 4G phone, I can't really speak firsthand.

Ultimately, Verizon will be transitioning over the next few years to VoLTE (Voice-over-LTE), a 4G-only protocol, so that all their phones will eventually use 4G instead of 3G.  However, that transition is still a few years away, and should not influence your decision in 2013 unless you typically keep a phone 5 years.

By the way, 4G's speed is excellent and can seem as fast as as WiFi.  Given the choice between a phone with 4G and without it, I would get the 4G.  Some say battery life is shorter on 4G than 3G, but I have not found that to be the case.  On the other hand, if you have a limited plan, faster speeds means you can hit your 2GB data cap sooner.  To help you manage all this, many phones and carriers let you track your data usage, and even use the device in 3G only mode if desired.


Coverage depends a lot on your location and the towers, so your experience may vary.

For example, I once worked someplace where my Sprint phone was the only one which got a signal, despite the fact that AT&T or Verizon were known for better coverage elsewhere.  Still, this sort of situation tends to be the exception.  Ask a variety of people where you live and work for their experience with their carriers.

In my opinionVerizon has the best coverage, based my personal experience and things I have read.  They have made reliability a priority, both with their marketing ("Can you hear me now?") and more significantly, with proactive infrastructure investments.  Their 4G LTE is quick.

AT&T was hit by large data usage from the iPhone.  Their initial response was to try to throttle that (for example, by blocking video-chat), and even encourage customers to use WiFi in crowded markets like New York City,  Now, they are working to improve coverage, including upgrading their infrastructure to add 4G LTE. 

T-Mobile is known to have a smaller coverage-area footprint than others, and I have found places where AT&T and Verizon got services but T-Mobile did not.   To make up for decrease coverage, T-Mobile phones can make phone calls over WiFi using a technology called UMA (Unified Mobile Access).  For example, you could use your T-Mobile phone at home (using your router) or at a McDonalds hotspot.  (Other carriers' phones generally do NOT offer UMA.)

In my experience a few years ago, Sprint's coverage had been somewhere better than T-Mobile and somewhat worse than AT&T and Verizon.  

Your best bet with coverage could be to try out a carrier's device in the areas where you live, work and commute, and see if it works well.  If not, return it within the 14-day window.  (Be sure to find out whether there is any "restocking fee", such as 15% at some electronics stores.)

Other carriers

As for the other major carriers, both Sprint and T-Mobile have needed to compete with the bigger ones by offering either better pricing, features, or technology.

T-Mobile probably has the fairest pricing system.  Most other big carriers encourage you to take out a 2-year contract in return for what may be a lower price (say $200) on what would be a $400 to $600 phone.  But even after the 2 years are done and the phone is paid-off, your monthly payments do not drop.  With T-Mobile, it's a bit more "honest" because some of their plans separate the phone-device-payments from the service charges, so they stop after the phone has been paid-off and your monthly bill goes down.

T-Mobile originally labeled their fast 3G HSDPA service as "4G" because its 42 Mbps speeds were comparable to those of 4G LTE.  They are now upgrading to regular 4G LTE service.

Unfortunately, while Sprint once offered cutting-edge technical advances, they dropped the ball in recent years.  Their innovations included the first web-browsing phones back in 2000, early camera phones, the first 4G (WiMax), and even some 3D-camera phones.  Despite being 4G, however, WiMax was slow, and Sprint is now replacing it with LTE. 

There are smaller carriers known as MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), such as Boost, MetroPCS and Virgin Mobile. MVNOs do not own their wireless infrastructure, and instead provide service over the networks of other carriers (such as AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.).

MVNO's have very competitive prices, and their plans often require no long-term contract.  Still, you need to be careful about data caps and roaming.  Often, they will promise "unlimited" 4G data, but after some limit (say 1 GB in a month), the data speed is slowed to 3G speeds until the next billing cycle.  Even "big" carriers can have similar policies on unlimited plans, though the limits may be higher.  It is always good to read the fine print on company websites, or speak with tech support and sales people.

This year (2013), the big carriers introduced plans where people can trade-in their phones sooner (every year, every 6 months, etc), but it's probably a bad bet for most people (compared with other options).


Some other considerations which might influence your decision-making:

For their 3G service, AT&T, T-Mobile and most of the world uses GSM.  Verizon and Sprint use CDMA.  The 2 3G technologies are mostly incompatible.  There are some "World Phones" which can be switched between CDMA and GSM.

GSM supports simultaneous voice-and-data, so you could search the web while talking to someone.  CDMA does NOT.

Since my phones have mostly been CDMA, I have not generally used simultaneous voice-and-data.  4G LTE is supposed to provide that capability, although I have read conflicting reports over whether phones sold actually have their hardware configured to support that.  (Some have said the 4G iPhones do NOT.)  

On the other hand, CDMA's "soft-handoff" means fewer dropped calls because they connect to the 2nd cell site BEFORE the 1st one is disconnected, unlike GSM.  If you make a lot of voice calls, this could be important.  With CDMA, I have rarely had calls drop.

GSM phones also use a removable SIM chip which stores the phone number and can then be used in a different handset.  Or, you could buy a different SIM to use in your phone (to use a different carrier's plan or have a different phone number).  Most US phones only support one SIM at a time, so only the SIM in the phone can actually receive calls.  (The others would go to voicemail.)

While 4G LTE sounds like it should be inter-operable between carriers, progress on this has been slow.  4G LTE is SIM-based like GSM, so in theory you can swap SIMs and go from AT&T 4G LTE to T-Mobile 4G LTE or Verizon 4G LTE.  As of 2013, the reality is less satisfying.  Carriers normally "SIM-lock" their phones so people cannot buy a phone on contract at a $200-discount, quit after a month, and activate it on a competitor. Early Termination Fees "ETF"s serve a similar purpose.

There are exceptions -- if you are customer "in good standing", they might "unlock" it for you after 6 months if you needed to travel to Europe.  After you have had a phone for 2 years and it has been paid off, you "deserve" to have it unlocked, but carriers typically will not do this unless you ask them.

Even on 4G, carriers sometimes different frequencies for their service (700 MHz, 1700 MHz, etc), making phones incompatible.  Multi-band phones (such as "pentaband" phones) can handle many different frequencies.  Still, they are sometimes programmed or SIM-locked to keep them on only one carrier.  For instance, you could buy a 4G phone for $699 with no contract/commitment, and find it was still "locked" into only using the carrier who sold it.  While some US carriers agreed to open their 4G spectrum to customer's other devices, this issue is still working its way through the appropriate regulatory agencies and courts.


On different note, most carriers have prohibit "tethering", where you use your cellphone as a wireless modem for a device like a tablet.  Even when some now allow it, it is only on capped-plans (not unlimited).  Since a laptop computer can use data faster than a cellphone, you can hit the 2G cap sooner.


Other resources:

About once a year, Consumer Reports magazine ( http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm ) has a good story on cellular service and coverage.

I have also found Android Centralhttp://www.androidcentral.com/ )  to be a great resource for all sorts of smartphone and cellular issues.  They have similar websites for other phone platforms including iPhone/iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry, under the Mobile Nations umbrella ( http://www.mobilenations.com/ ).

Copyright © 2013 Evan Brody - All rights reserved.

First Post

This is the start of the Evan Brody Tech Blog, where I intend to periodically post information people might find useful.