Technology Android

[dilla]

So my preceptor got a new M1 MacBook Air and brought it in today. He was upgrading from his 2010 MBA, which was still going on strong but I think he just wanted an upgrade. I don't know if I'll get a chance to use it but I am pretty interested in it. He's been upgrading a few of his computers around the office and he was asking for my input. We just got a new AIO for the front desk from Lenovo. It has an unusual design, but it looks pretty cool at the same time.

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/deskto...500-series/IdeaCentre-AIO-5i-27/p/FFICF500348

One cool thing I didn't know it had until it had arrived was a built-in wireless charging pad. It's on top of the "tower" and I think it even supports Fast Charging. Everyone has an iPhone 7 or later, so I don't think it has wireless charging, except for me and the receptionist who have S10s or newer. Not sure which Samsung she has but now we both use it throughout the day. Pretty cool but also not something I'd get this AIO for, alone. Oh it has a touch screen too so that's been a novelty everyone has been enjoying.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

So my preceptor got a new M1 MacBook Air and brought it in today. He was upgrading from his 2010 MBA, which was still going on strong but I think he just wanted an upgrade. I don't know if I'll get a chance to use it but I am pretty interested in it. He's been upgrading a few of his computers around the office and he was asking for my input. We just got a new AIO for the front desk from Lenovo. It has an unusual design, but it looks pretty cool at the same time.

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/deskto...500-series/IdeaCentre-AIO-5i-27/p/FFICF500348

One cool thing I didn't know it had until it had arrived was a built-in wireless charging pad. It's on top of the "tower" and I think it even supports Fast Charging. Everyone has an iPhone 7 or later, so I don't think it has wireless charging, except for me and the receptionist who have S10s or newer. Not sure which Samsung she has but now we both use it throughout the day. Pretty cool but also not something I'd get this AIO for, alone. Oh it has a touch screen too so that's been a novelty everyone has been enjoying.

Lenovos make some really good AIOs.

 

[k69atie]

I have caved, bought the S21

 

[dilla]

I have caved, bought the S21

The release turned out to not be as bad as most people thought, myself included. Some reviews that I watched framed the 1080p screen criticism as something Samsung did to keep 120hz more attainable and that most people didn't switch from 1080p/120 because they liked/preferred the high refresh rate on the S20. I can understand that and I may have done the same, or at the very least flipped back and forth between high res or high refresh rate.


In other news, the iPhone 13 might get an AOD, finally.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/02/14/iphone-13-always-on-display-matte-back/

I used mine for a week or two when I first got my S7 5+ years ago but the novelty wore off and I saw it as more of a battery drain. Not too big of a drain, but enough that I felt it outweighed the benefit of an AOD. My mom still uses it since day one on her S7 and now her S10 but I don't know if others do the same as well. I don't know how prevalent it is and if people also don't just turn off AOD.

But Apple is 5 years too late to the party on this one.

 

[k69atie]

The release turned out to not be as bad as most people thought, myself included. Some reviews that I watched framed the 1080p screen criticism as something Samsung did to keep 120hz more attainable and that most people didn't switch from 1080p/120 because they liked/preferred the high refresh rate on the S20. I can understand that and I may have done the same, or at the very least flipped back and forth between high res or high refresh rate.


In other news, the iPhone 13 might get an AOD, finally.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/02/14/iphone-13-always-on-display-matte-back/

I used mine for a week or two when I first got my S7 5+ years ago but the novelty wore off and I saw it as more of a battery drain. Not too big of a drain, but enough that I felt it outweighed the benefit of an AOD. My mom still uses it since day one on her S7 and now her S10 but I don't know if others do the same as well. I don't know how prevalent it is and if people also don't just turn off AOD.

But Apple is 5 years too late to the party on this one.

It was too good an offer to turn down, they will give me £285 for my old S9, 6 months free airtime, free air buds and 6 months amazon prime so cheaper than what I am paying now which is madness.

I haven't had an Iphone since the Iphone3 was so happy to get rid of it I hated it, won an Ipad hated that as well. Apple is just not for me whereas others love it

 

[dilla]

It was too good an offer to turn down, they will give me £285 for my old S9, 6 months free airtime, free air buds and 6 months amazon prime so cheaper than what I am paying now which is madness.

I haven't had an Iphone since the Iphone3 was so happy to get rid of it I hated it, won an Ipad hated that as well. Apple is just not for me whereas others love it

Yeah that seems like a pretty good deal. I haven't heard the term "airtime" in quite some time. What is that?

 

[dilla]

Anyone use BitWarden? I saw a post on Reddit about 1Pass changing their plans to limit a sub to just one device and the comment section was filled with suggestions of switching to BitWarden, a free alternative, at least for the basic features that 1Pass provided. I may give it a shot even though Firefox on my Mac and on Android has me covered for 99% of what I'd need a password manager for.

Also, my preceptor got that M1 MBA but I don't think he knows about the TB3 ports and lack of USB-A. He may be looking to get a monitor to hook his MBA up to and he'll either need a USB-C monitor or invest in an adapter for HDMI. I read the refresh for the 16" MBPs later on this year may have Apple bring back the legacy ports, including the SD card reader. Maybe Apple really jumped the gun on forcing USB-C on users 5 years ago and they're backtracking on it now. Same with MagSafe which may be seeing a return. And the same with the TouchBar which might get the axe soon, too.

I'm OK with the TB, but it was unnecessary to force it on people who bought the Pro models. It was probably better off as a $200 option, or something, for those who would really get some use out of it, but that was probably a $250 option and not something that would bring the price of the MBPs down by ~$200...because Apple.

 

[k69atie]

Yeah that seems like a pretty good deal. I haven't heard the term "airtime" in quite some time. What is that?

Ha ha airtime is what we call like your minutes, texts and 5G etc

 

[dilla]

Ha ha airtime is what we call like your minutes, texts and 5G etc

Oh wow, so they gave you basically 6 months of free service to take an upgrade on your phone? That's a sweet deal; I'd do that too.

 

[k69atie]

Oh wow, so they gave you basically 6 months of free service to take an upgrade on your phone? That's a sweet deal; I'd do that too.

Yep how good is that? With the free earbuds and everything else as well

 

[dilla]

Yep how good is that? With the free earbuds and everything else as well

You guys have far better deals than the US. For us, the discount might be steep on the hardware but no way do they touch the carrier/cell service.

 

[dilla]

So Android 12 Preview was released.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/...nds-today-with-more-changes-than-we-expected/

 

[Casey]

My Pixel 4 XL died and I don't know how long it'll take to get fixed/replaced so I bought a Xiaomi Mi 10t Lite.

Multiple camera including a superwide, 5G and a 120Hz refresh rate display for £200 is insane. It performs just as well as the Pixel 4 XL did, and that was flagship-priced.

 

[k69atie]

You guys have far better deals than the US. For us, the discount might be steep on the hardware but no way do they touch the carrier/cell service.

I think maybe they needs sales, who knows

 

[dilla]

So I got the notification for Android 11 and OneUI 3.0 this morning. Downloaded it on my drive to work lol and it was done by the time I got here. Now I just have to find the right time to restart the phone so I'm not stuck if I need it.

 

[dilla]

In typical Android fashion, looks the same. Just a 30 min inconvenience to restart the phone to install it.

 

[dilla]

Looks like a fire was lit under Samsung and they're going to support devices for 4 years now

https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-updates-knox-2021-1202942/

I may reconsider upgrading to iOS this year if that's the case so I can continue to use MST and also still be covered under Samsung's upgrade plan.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

My Pixel 4 XL died and I don't know how long it'll take to get fixed/replaced so I bought a Xiaomi Mi 10t Lite.

Multiple camera including a superwide, 5G and a 120Hz refresh rate display for £200 is insane. It performs just as well as the Pixel 4 XL did, and that was flagship-priced.

Xiaomi is always a good option.

 

[dilla]

Samsung's website is bundling a Z Fold 2 and a Tab S7 for $2000. Or basically the full price of the phone and a tablet for free. The S7+ is just $100 more. It would be a slick deal for someone that plans to get a Samsung device anyway and not someone who considering other options before continuing with Samsung or not. The removal of MST still has me butthurt. I use Samsung Pay 99% of the time now due to COVID and I've noticed that more and more places that used to require me to use a card are now changing their ways so that mobile payment is much easier. Drive-thrus at fast food places now have those handheld kiosks so that you can just put the card in yourself and take it back out, as opposed to handing your card to the cashier and them handing it back after charging you. You'd think COVID restrictions and precautions like that would see NFC and MST both be useful but instead Samsung decided the S21 didn't need it.

I have yet to hold a Z Fold, or even a Flip, in my hands and use it but I do want to at some point and see if it's something I'd like.

 

[Casey]

Foldables will blow up in the next 24 months, because they'll be the new status symbol. Hard to floss your £1200 iPhone when every other phone on the market looks the same from a distance.