Technology Android

[dilla]

Yeah I think GSMArena started in Europe, in Czech Republic when "GSM" was pretty much equal to "mobile phone", it still is here.
They do cover international variants and American ones as well, they have offices based in the US too. There are even tests of most US variants as well.
Anyways they might grow on you, they do great reviews and have best tests in them.

Well, I took another look at it after you suggested it, and it seems a bit better. They've changed the look of the site, too, since I've last been there.

The thing is, this isn't really a tech blog. Well, it is, but only for mobile phones. It's not like Tom's or Anandtech's. Are there are sites like that, which review other parts of the tech world, and not just phones. Tablets, notebooks, etc.


I also might be a little late to the party, but it was about a month ago that a friend told me about www.thewirecutter.com. That site is great, although it's more on the side of Engadget and all, and not at all like Anandtech. But it's given me some real good info on the best of the best out right now.

 

[dilla]

So what if Google does buy Whatsapp? I have lots of conversations saved on there and if they decide to integrate that coonshit into fucking Babel, I'm gonna be mad.

 

[ARon]

They want to buy it? wtf. That's my fav third party free calling app.

 

[dilla]

I don't think you can make free calls on it.

 

[ARon]

99 cents a year is free

 

[dilla]

99 cents a year is free

Oh, I haven't had to pay for mine yet. I guess it's running out in September, so I'll see then.

When I try to call now, it tells me the call will be placed through my carrier, not my internet connection.

 

[dilla]

New Play Store download link: http://www.droid-life.com/2013/04/09/download-new-google-play-store-4-0-25/

 

[THEV1LL4N]

If you wait a couple of days, you'll get the extension - you don't have to pay for it.

 

[dilla]

So I have read that the Global version of the S3, despite having the more impressive benchmarks than the US S3, still lacks continuous CM support. Is that true?

Or is it just a lack of support for nightlies?

I ask this because now reports have come out that the S4 Global version is better in benchmarks than the US version again and I'm thinking if I were to ever buy the S5 or whatever they have in two years or so, would I be left out in the cold with CM? It's the only ROM I have ever used on my S3, and was also my favorite on my OG Droid. It also powers my TouchPad.


If there is no CM support for Global/International versions of the Galaxy devices, then I think the benefits of it far outweigh the benefits of having an unlocked GSM device, even with better performance.

EDIT: Well, the global model doesn't have LTE, which is a big enough deal for me to double-think about it. LTE is everywhere in my city and I would feel bad paying so much outright for a phone that only did 3G. Best to stick to the MC-support, "slower" US/European model with LTE.

This is the article I was reading: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheBoyGeniusReport/~3/nsG3luZGAno/

 

[Casey]

Team Hacksung, the guys responsible for CM on previous Samsung phones, are not planning to develop for the S4. In fact, there still isn't a complete ROM for the global S3. As I understand it, Samsung have held back on certain drivers and documentation to do with their Exynos chips that mean that a full CM ROM isn't possible for the devices running them, and that's frustrated Hacksung enough to be done with Samsung. Also, I believe Cyanogen himself has stepped down from his job at Samsung.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...ther-confirms-nor-denies-plans-for-cm-on-gs4/

CyanogenMod have said that Hacksung don't speak on behalf of CM as a whole, but given that it's those guys who did most of the work for all previous Samsung devices, it seems questionable.

 

[masta247]

^ From the above I understood that there's no stance yet.Just a guy from hacksung mentioned how he's not going to develop for the S4.

Also, wasn't Pittsey running CM on his SGS3?

 

[dilla]

Well, running a custom ROM is definitely a huge thing for me. Moreso than LTE or hardware performance. I really can not warm up to the notion of using anything but stock or CM, which is essentially stock to me.

Not that I'm in the market for an S4, but maybe the next iteration in the Galaxy line, and that's not gonna have the steady, quality support of CM, then I may have to pass. It's possible that by then another manufacturer will have overtaken Samsung (in quality, not sales) like Sony or LG or something, so that might be worth looking at soon.

If I want an unlocked GS3, let's say, I'd just buy the AT&T or T-Mobile version unlocked.

 

[masta247]

Samsung might release the driver code for their Exynos chipsets, also the S4 is mostly Snapdragon 600, which is the most popular platform at this point so I'm pretty sure the custom ROM support is going to be huge.

 

[Pittsey]

^ From the above I understood that there's no stance yet.Just a guy from hacksung mentioned how he's not going to develop for the S4.

Also, wasn't Pittsey running CM on his SGS3?

I was at some point. Yes.

 

[dilla]

I dunno if it was in this thread, or another, but did we ever get around to listing big tech blogs that were like Tom's Hardware or Anandtech?

 

[S O F I]

I had a chance to hold the HTC One today. It's the best-looking smartphone I've ever seen. It is fucking amazing looking. Goddamn. It feels real, like a piece of hardware and not plastic. Much realer than an SGIII. I can't speak on the SG 4.

 

[masta247]

I thought the One's design is pretty good, but the bezels around the screen actually show and holding it next to the SGS4 you can see the SGS4 looks like newer tech. Also because of this I think HTC One's design will get old quick. It does look better than the Xperia Z, which in real life doesn't look as good as on pictures. I think both phones don't really feel that great in hand though. I have to give it to Samsung that not using sharp edges is a good idea for comfort of use.
Also, in the end I prefer the smaller size and lighter weight over a slightly more solid feeling phone, especially since the Galaxy phones really do feel solid (and certainly are) despite what people seem to write on the internet.

I played with the One and black SGS4.

Coonie, frankly from the international websites I only visit those that I mentioned regularly. I often stumble across a good test while googling as well but I never note where I found them. Another good example of how good tests should be handled is notebookcheck.net , but they are focused on laptops, tablets and PC components.

 

[Pittsey]

I think it's nice looking, I haven't seen the S4 though. I thought it looked like the S3.

Speaking of which. I picked up my old S3 the other day, which I had given to my mum. The build quality is fine. It's plastic, but solid plastic. I think even I had been brainwashed into thinking it felt shitty. It doesn't.

 

[masta247]

^ The SGS4 looks like the S3 but the bezels are smaller and the body is slightly less pebble-shaped - the corners are less curvy and less shiny. I think it's amazing that the phone is also actually smaller. I think these really make it look better, I'd say it looks good - not really fashion-sense stylish, but it feels simply like cutting edge tech. Also, it's the same design language but there are lots of minor touches here and there that make a difference:

Also, the back cover looks more classy even though it's similar/same material.

 

[S O F I]

shut up. i'm right, you're wrong. thanks.