The Cell Phone Thread

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Just updated to Ice Cream Sandwich on my Razr Maxx. Some neat stuff, just trying to figure out how to set stuff up now. Vzw released it yesterday as I understand it, go into settings, about phone, system updates.

Just did the same. Haven't seen many differences yet. If you find anything worthwhile, be sure to post it!

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Just did the same. Haven't seen many differences yet. If you find anything worthwhile, be sure to post it!

Things I like: Facial recognition unlock, ability to swipe individual notifications to the side to delete them, refined widget selection screen (although weird they have it in the all applications top bar??). I'm sure there are others but I do like it so far, it was glitchy for me for a few hours at first but calmed down after a few restarts.

Things I'm not too fond of: Lack of switching off LTE (fixed by downloading LTE on/off for thunderbolt off the play store, dim notifications in top left with no fix apparently (should have access to a brightness slider).

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Another stupid iPhone trick.

Dial the following number exactly as it appears and hit Call:

*3001#12345#*

This takes you to Field Test Mode, where you can see all kinds of technical gobbledygook about your network connection and any cell towers the phone can see. It also turns your signal bars into a number that reflects your signal strength in dBm, which is a lot more accurate. It'll be a negative number, higher (closer to 0) is better. -70 is about as good as it gets, -100 or worse and you're running out of signal.

To get out, do a force quit (hold the lock button until "swipe to turn off" appears, then hold the home button for 5 seconds until you're sent back to the home screen.) You keep the signal number, and can switch back to bars by touching it.

/why yes, I'm a Tech grad, what would EVER lead you to that conclusion?

 

[joecct]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Another stupid iPhone trick.

Dial the following number exactly as it appears and hit Call:

*3001#12345#*

This takes you to Field Test Mode, where you can see all kinds of technical gobbledygook about your network connection and any cell towers the phone can see. It also turns your signal bars into a number that reflects your signal strength in dBm, which is a lot more accurate. It'll be a negative number, higher (closer to 0) is better. -70 is about as good as it gets, -100 or worse and you're running out of signal.

To get out, do a force quit (hold the lock button until "swipe to turn off" appears, then hold the home button for 5 seconds until you're sent back to the home screen.) You keep the signal number, and can switch back to bars by touching it.

/why yes, I'm a Tech grad, what would EVER lead you to that conclusion?

iPhone, not Android... READ the message before typing....

I just jammed the Indian phone system.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

iPhone, not Android... READ the message before typing....

I just jammed the Indian phone system.

Apparently that number works on some Nokias too.

Looks like for other Androids, it's in Settings.

ETA: Nerd menu for Androids is:

*#*#4636#*#*

 

[hockeyplayer1015]

Apparently that number works on some Nokias too.

Looks like for other Androids, it's in Settings.

ETA: Nerd menu for Androids is:

*#*#4636#*#*

Or go download LTE for Thunderbolt from the market, I mean play store (free, works for virtually all androids) and it gives you same info and ability to search for various signals.

 

[The Rube]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tZVdR19E5mU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

My droid works without going to some stupid nerd menu. Well kind of.

My Razr Maxx has had a glitch ever since i downloaded ice cream sandwich. And it only happens periodically. When I'm typing it will think I'm touching a different part of the touch screen, so I'll be sending a text and suddenly 5 random letters get "pressed" or it will hit the send button or something else like that. When its having the issue it's impossible to use, but it goes away after a while. I asked the person at Verizon about it and they had no clue, they told me to do a hard restart when it happens.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

My droid works without going to some stupid nerd menu. Well kind of.

My Razr Maxx has had a glitch ever since i downloaded ice cream sandwich. And it only happens periodically. When I'm typing it will think I'm touching a different part of the touch screen, so I'll be sending a text and suddenly 5 random letters get "pressed" or it will hit the send button or something else like that. When its having the issue it's impossible to use, but it goes away after a while. I asked the person at Verizon about it and they had no clue, they told me to do a hard restart when it happens.

That same thing used to happen to my Android phone that I had until last year. It was incredibly frustrating, but it would only appear if it had been more than three days since I performed a full shutdown/restart. That phone ran Android 2.4.1, I believe.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Another stupid iPhone trick.

Dial the following number exactly as it appears and hit Call:

*3001#12345#*

This takes you to Field Test Mode, where you can see all kinds of technical gobbledygook about your network connection and any cell towers the phone can see. It also turns your signal bars into a number that reflects your signal strength in dBm, which is a lot more accurate. It'll be a negative number, higher (closer to 0) is better. -70 is about as good as it gets, -100 or worse and you're running out of signal.

To get out, do a force quit (hold the lock button until "swipe to turn off" appears, then hold the home button for 5 seconds until you're sent back to the home screen.) You keep the signal number, and can switch back to bars by touching it.

/why yes, I'm a Tech grad, what would EVER lead you to that conclusion?

Apparently I'm dense because I don't see how this helps?

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

So I want the Xperia Acro S, but it looks like it will be AT&T in the US.

Also doesn't look like the Int'l version would work with Verizon. So that's a no go. Only one for Verizon is a older/different model.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

iOS 6 launched today.

And naturally, there's a glitch. Passbook may not be able to connect to the App Store to download after you press the button on its splash screen. Fortunately, there's a workaround. Go into Settings -> General -> Date & Time, turn auto set date and time off, set the year to 2013, then back out and try Passbook again.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Has anyone here rooted their Android device?

I'm considering rooting my Droid Razr Maxx after the upgrade to Jelly Bean, which was a huge mistake on my part. From what I can see, Jelly Bean doesn't do anything more than Ice Cream Sandwich (which I had no complaints about), but now it blocks tethering with my FoxFi App! They are again trying to force people to pay to use the data that has already been paid for! Its complete bull****, and I have a feeling that Verizon is the real problem here....

Anyway, I'm considering rooting now, so I can use a free wifi teathering app again. Any advice on how to go about doing it, or any watchouts would be great. Thanks!

 

[bueller]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Has anyone here rooted their Android device?

I'm considering rooting my Droid Razr Maxx after the upgrade to Jelly Bean, which was a huge mistake on my part. From what I can see, Jelly Bean doesn't do anything more than Ice Cream Sandwich (which I had no complaints about), but now it blocks tethering with my FoxFi App! They are again trying to force people to pay to use the data that has already been paid for! Its complete bull****, and I have a feeling that Verizon is the real problem here....

Anyway, I'm considering rooting now, so I can use a free wifi teathering app again. Any advice on how to go about doing it, or any watchouts would be great. Thanks!

Rooted my old phone with a guide found in the androidcentral.com forums. Just make sure you follow the directions exactly and that anything you flash to your phone is intended for your phone and your phone only. AKA make sure it's for the Verizon Droid Razr Maxx and the Verizon Droid Razr Maxx only. Even if it's the same phone, it will still require a different flash if it's on a different carrier. Anything else can and very well may brick your phone which may or may not be fixable.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Rooted my old phone with a guide found in the androidcentral.com forums. Just make sure you follow the directions exactly and that anything you flash to your phone is intended for your phone and your phone only. AKA make sure it's for the Verizon Droid Razr Maxx and the Verizon Droid Razr Maxx only. Even if it's the same phone, it will still require a different flash if it's on a different carrier. Anything else can and very well may brick your phone which may or may not be fixable.

Yeah, I've read that. My phone is pretty common, so I should be able to find whatever I need for my specific phone. I also found that it seems like there is only one solution available for rooting my phone with Jelly Bean...I had to sign up for some nerd forum to get the links to the files and instructions. Everything I read makes it seem credible, as it is referenced on pretty much every website I can find on the topic.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

So my iPhone 4S is eligible for an upgrade in July. I'm not that impressed with the iPhone 5, so I'm thinking about graduating from the Cult of iProducts and going Android.

My biggest uses are Pandora/music, web browsing, and games. I'd also be new to Android, so something that would be simpler to use would be nice. Honestly, if Apple did an iPhone XL with a 5-inch screen I'd buy that and be done.

Currently leaning toward the HTC One because of the build quality, pixel density, and the awesome speakers. A coworker of mine has one and it looks sweeeeeeet. The Galaxy S4 is in second; lots of features, but kind of gimmicky, it's plastic, and I've heard battery life complaints. Feel free to sway me to other options.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

So my iPhone 4S is eligible for an upgrade in July. I'm not that impressed with the iPhone 5, so I'm thinking about graduating from the Cult of iProducts and going Android.

My biggest uses are Pandora/music, web browsing, and games. I'd also be new to Android, so something that would be simpler to use would be nice. Honestly, if Apple did an iPhone XL with a 5-inch screen I'd buy that and be done.

Currently leaning toward the HTC One because of the build quality, pixel density, and the awesome speakers. A coworker of mine has one and it looks sweeeeeeet. The Galaxy S4 is in second; lots of features, but kind of gimmicky, it's plastic, and I've heard battery life complaints. Feel free to sway me to other options.

My brother and his business partner both had HTC products, I forget which model precisely, and both of theirs failed within the year. When he was talking with the guys at the cellphone store, they said that HTC has major quality control issues, with lots of returns. My brother replaced his with the Motorola RAZR Maxx, and he's very impressed with that product.

As to the Apple product, if you're not in a hurry, the new iPhone gets released in October or November, and the upgrades are supposed to be substantial. It's been a while since I read up about them, but they're supposed to be significant. Along with the new phone, the new iOS will be released at the same time.

I've used both Android and Apple now, and I wasn't impressed with my Android products at all. They wouldn't sync to my PC very easily, so moving MP3 files was a chore, unlike my iPhone that connects without issue. At the same time, there are certain UI advantages the Android system does have over Apple. I remember it being more intuitive on how to do certain things, but other things on the iPhone are easier. One thing that's really overlooked is when you use headphones with the iPhone, you can adjust the volume using the headset controls; with the Android that is not possible. You can start the song and pause the song. And sometimes it takes multiple commands through the headset for the MP3 player to react.

It really comes down to personal preference. While I'm not an iPhone addict/hardcore champion, I do find it's easier for me to use and will stick with it for my next phone.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

So my iPhone 4S is eligible for an upgrade in July. I'm not that impressed with the iPhone 5, so I'm thinking about graduating from the Cult of iProducts and going Android.

My biggest uses are Pandora/music, web browsing, and games. I'd also be new to Android, so something that would be simpler to use would be nice. Honestly, if Apple did an iPhone XL with a 5-inch screen I'd buy that and be done.

Currently leaning toward the HTC One because of the build quality, pixel density, and the awesome speakers. A coworker of mine has one and it looks sweeeeeeet. The Galaxy S4 is in second; lots of features, but kind of gimmicky, it's plastic, and I've heard battery life complaints. Feel free to sway me to other options.

My coworker got the Galaxy S4 last week, a day later he was complaining about battery life. I'd stay away from that one.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

Motorola RAZR Maxx/QUOTE]

Is that on AT&T? All the reviews I've found keep saying Verizon. There is no Verizon store here (they keep saying they're coming, but I'll believe it when I see the building.)

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: The Cell Phone Thread

I have the Samsung Galaxy S3 model and have never been happier with a cell phone. If you are playing phone games of course you will have to charge it every day.

The one before this was a Droid X, so it was a big upgrade for me even though the droid is a smartphone.

I thought about getting the S4, but I don't want to restart all my phone games over again!

Pretty sure RAZR Maxx is Verizon exclusive up to this point.