What phone now?

[My Pet Powder Goat]

How's the speakerphone? Loud? I use mine daily and a quiet speaker is the shits

The S8 will have dual speakers, and stereo for the first time.

I know you were primarily asking about the pixal, but if audio is important to you it might be a good option

[EZB]

A bit of a threadjack for the geniuses up in here...

Do other non-Apple folks have trouble when their iPhone friends text videos? I get "File type not supported (video/3gpp)".

I've been using a Google Voice number-for-life for ten years of so (grandcentral.com era LOL). So I can get texts and MMSs on my Android phones, Android wifi-only tablets, or any PC/laptop/Windows/Linux/etc. Image MMSs work fine. How do I get or download video MMSs?

To isolate if Google Voice is the sole culprit, linking a friend's iPhone number to my Google Voice number then another iPhone send a video would be a possible test, hmmm. But I think it's more complicated than that.

[RShea]

A bit of a threadjack for the geniuses up in here...

Do other non-Apple folks have trouble when their iPhone friends text videos? I get "File type not supported (video/3gpp)".

I've been using a Google Voice number-for-life for ten years of so (grandcentral.com era LOL). So I can get texts and MMSs on my Android phones, Android wifi-only tablets, or any PC/laptop/Windows/Linux/etc. Image MMSs work fine. How do I get or download video MMSs?

To isolate if Google Voice is the sole culprit, linking a friend's iPhone number to my Google Voice number then another iPhone send a video would be a possible test, hmmm. But I think it's more complicated than that.

You either need to get an APP on your phone and PC that can play the 3gpp video files, or spend the time to convert them to the much more popular and supported MP4 or other video file type that can be played on more devices. The Apple IPhone sending a little used and rarely supported file format is to blame not the Google Voice, PC, or Android phone.

[EZB]

Thanks! None of my devices will even let me download the 3GPP file. Maybe if I had CyonogenMod or something with more built-in media capabilities.

Alternatively, does iPhone's Contacts app have granular Settings (per contact). If iPhone can send in iMessage format, it will. So tell the interface to "Always send as SMS" for contact EZ Bee? Maybe?

[Danno]

For those who are on Fi, how does it do picking up (and dropping) wifi signals as you move?

Comcast's new xfinitywifi hotspots cause me a shitton of problems when I commute. While they are great as a general matter (nice to wifi in all sorts of places), they are a pain when I am commuting. My phone constantly picks them up, connects me, and then disconnects me as I move out of range; my phone doesn't really care how good the connection is so long as there is a network in range that it "knows". This has the effect of screwing my network access for a period of time, and I usually end up having to turn wifi off for the commute. But I am assuming that the Fi algorithm for connecting to wifi and switching between them is better, and that it would not constantly connect me to networks that have a bad signal. But I'm just assuming. Any experiences to share?

[riser4]

For those who are on Fi, how does it do picking up (and dropping) wifi signals as you move?

Comcast's new xfinitywifi hotspots cause me a shitton of problems when I commute. While they are great as a general matter (nice to wifi in all sorts of places), they are a pain when I am commuting. My phone constantly picks them up, connects me, and then disconnects me as I move out of range; my phone doesn't really care how good the connection is so long as there is a network in range that it "knows". This has the effect of screwing my network access for a period of time, and I usually end up having to turn wifi off for the commute. But I am assuming that the Fi algorithm for connecting to wifi and switching between them is better, and that it would not constantly connect me to networks that have a bad signal. But I'm just assuming. Any experiences to share?

Well, I never travel around logged into xfinity. So I don't have direct useful knowledge there. Otherwise I haven't had a lot of trouble. However, I might not be the best use case. I very deliberately don't use a Comcast supplied wifi router. And this is a good reminder why. I don't normally go anywhere that I need to log into xfinity. And I often turn off wifi to save battery.

What I am noticing is that I really wish I had AT&T coverage. It is annoying to not get signal at the back of the grocery store and in many other large buildings.

[Danno]

Well, I never travel around logged into xfinity. So I don't have direct useful knowledge there. Otherwise I haven't had a lot of trouble. However, I might not be the best use case. I very deliberately don't use a Comcast supplied wifi router. And this is a good reminder why. I don't normally go anywhere that I need to log into xfinity. And I often turn off wifi to save battery.

What I am noticing is that I really wish I had AT&T coverage. It is annoying to not get signal at the back of the grocery store and in many other large buildings.

Well, Fi doesn't "want" you to turn off wifi, part of their pitch is to use wifi to reduce data.

As for xfinity, and not going anywhere that you need to log in, it's not a need. It's actually quite cool, to reduce data and increase speed, due to all of the hotspots. It's just that while traveling/moving, my phone isn't able to discern when it should log in and when it shouldn't. I am wondering how Fi does this, since this is, ya know, one of their selling points. But if you use Fi with wifi turned off, that's not a very good data point on this feature.

[riser4]

Well, Fi doesn't "want" you to turn off wifi, part of their pitch is to use wifi to reduce data.

As for xfinity, and not going anywhere that you need to log in, it's not a need. It's actually quite cool, to reduce data and increase speed, due to all of the hotspots. It's just that while traveling/moving, my phone isn't able to discern when it should log in and when it shouldn't. I am wondering how Fi does this, since this is, ya know, one of their selling points. But if you use Fi with wifi turned off, that's not a very good data point on this feature.

I hope you find your answer. You probably need some proprietary data to truly understand it.

I'm glad Xfinity works for you. It drives me nuts. Since you mentioned commuting, I guess this where I am genuinely puzzled. To me it seems obvious to turn the wifi off during the commute because as you observed you will constantly be passing through different wifi on the street. And you will save battery. It doesn't seem desirable to connect to each one for a few seconds. Unless of course there is wifi traveling with you (vehicle, someone's portble hotspot, etc). Then you of course would want it on. Obviously yes, once you are not commuting and have reached your destintion, wifi on is ideal. My problem with Xfinity is that I find that it is "aggressive" and usually tries to connect when I would prefer some other network. Like certain rooms in my house. I would rather use my own wifi than my neighbors. I was a lot happier when I made my devices forget Xfinity.

[Danno]

I hope you find your answer. You probably need some proprietary data to truly understand it.

I'm glad Xfinity works for you. It drives me nuts. Since you mentioned commuting, I guess this where I am genuinely puzzled. To me it seems obvious to turn the wifi off during the commute because as you observed you will constantly be passing through different wifi on the street. And you will save battery. It doesn't seem desirable to connect to each one for a few seconds. Unless of course there is wifi traveling with you (vehicle, someone's portble hotspot, etc). Then you of course would want it on. Obviously yes, once you are not commuting and have reached your destintion, wifi on is ideal. My problem with Xfinity is that I find that it is "aggressive" and usually tries to connect when I would prefer some other network. Like certain rooms in my house. I would rather use my own wifi than my neighbors. I was a lot happier when I made my devices forget Xfinity.

Well, yes, much of what you describe is my experience as well, on a Samsung Galaxy S5. xfinity does work for me when I am stationary, but not when I am moving.

What I am asking about is whether Fi phones do this better, as they advertise that they do. I don't want it to connect to wifi for 2 seconds, I'm not asking for it to do that; in fact I want a phone that does the opposite, that only automatically connects to strong signals. Which is, again, what Fi advertises that their phones will do. Seeking real life feedback from people who use the service as to how well it does that (connects to truly usable networks and doesn't connect to non-usable ones).

Given that Fi doesn't want you to turn wifi off (or so they say) and that they charge by data usage, I would like to know how well it works. Because I often do turn off wifi while commuting, and then annoyingly don't remember to turn it back on, which will be even more annoying if I'm paying for data usage. I'd prefer to be able to leave wifi on.

[El Chupacabra]

Fi doesn't grab passing WiFi signals. You have to choose to go onto WiFi most of the time. It does remember previously used or logged in WiFi spots, and will automatically connect to those.

I still really like Google Fi.

[riser4]

Fi doesn't grab passing WiFi signals. You have to choose to go onto WiFi most of the time. It does remember previously used or logged in WiFi spots, and will automatically connect to those.

I still really like Google Fi.

Even with Xfinity? That's the variable that Danno is asking about. Xfinity is insidious (in my opinion) and once you log in once at one location it will automatically log you in at any other location that is an Xfinity location. It is one giant network. There's utility in that, unless of course you are in a situation where there isn't. Such as in the case of your commute crossing lots of Xfinity WIfi networks. I am not sure I am willing to test it because of how much I passionately dislike Xfinity Wifi. YMMV

Fi does automatically switch you to saved Wifi networks. Which is nice when I get home. It goes from cell to my home Wifi. And not my neighbors Xfinity. If I signed in to Xfinity then their Wifi would grab me once I hit my driveway and not let go as long as I stayed in range. So there's that data point. That's a situation I have experienced.

[El Chupacabra]

I don't know about Xfinity. YMMV...?

[Danno]

Even with Xfinity? That's the variable that Danno is asking about. Xfinity is insidious (in my opinion) and once you log in once at one location it will automatically log you in at any other location that is an Xfinity location. It is one giant network. There's utility in that, unless of course you are in a situation where there isn't. Such as in the case of your commute crossing lots of Xfinity WIfi networks. I am not sure I am willing to test it because of how much I passionately dislike Xfinity Wifi. YMMV

Fi does automatically switch you to saved Wifi networks. Which is nice when I get home. It goes from cell to my home Wifi. And not my neighbors Xfinity. If I signed in to Xfinity then their Wifi would grab me once I hit my driveway and not let go as long as I stayed in range. So there's that data point. That's a situation I have experienced.

Weird, what you describe is what every phone does with Wi-Fi, but Fi marketed theirs as different. Sounds like it is just marketing.

[El Chupacabra]

Fi has a built in list of safe free wifi hotspots that it will connect to automatically, even if you haven't connected before. In my experience, it's not that many. Starbucks, McDonalds, some restaurant chains.... They have to be ones that don't require you to accept T&C to sign on.

[Dantheman]

Weird, what you describe is what every phone does with Wi-Fi, but Fi marketed theirs as different. Sounds like it is just marketing.

Not exactly. They do what El Chup described above, and also add encryption to anything sent/received on those unsecured networks. Fi will also automatically switch to WiFi calling if your WiFi signal is stronger than your cellular signal. Your situation is unique to xfinity customers (maybe even a subset of xfinity customers?) and I don't think anything about Fi's service is specifically meant to resolve that particular issue.

[Danno]

ok, gotcha, thanks for the clarification guys.

[riser4]

Danno, you get the email from Comcast? Maybe that's your answer. Although I am not sure how they are going to solve the problem either. I am not interested. Comcast + Verizon. I need an AT&T based solution around here. Still sticking with Fi for now. Even though Sprint + T-Mo coverage isn't as robust here as I would like.

[RShea]

McDonalds and some of the ones you mention do have a T&C to sign on in every wifi installation I have been involved with. Reach a splash page on their network and if you are trying to reach a https page, sometimes it does not automatically redirect you to the acceptance page. AT&T Wifi for all the McD's in my area (and I think they have the guest wifi across the nation. Starbucks also used AT&T wifi for a while, then moved some of their locations to Google Wifi. There are some browsers that will try and connect you to Wifi for certain businesses. UCBrowser is one I tested and tried for a short period. Every time I'd stop at FedEx Office it nagged and want to connect no matter which app I was using. Not sure if Google and Project Fi works any different than a PC or Smart Phone at these locations or not (since Google is doing some of the Startbuck's wifi and Project Fi is their product also.)

[Danno]

Danno, you get the email from Comcast? Maybe that's your answer. Although I am not sure how they are going to solve the problem either. I am not interested. Comcast + Verizon. I need an AT&T based solution around here. Still sticking with Fi for now. Even though Sprint + T-Mo coverage isn't as robust here as I would like.

What email?

[ex-powderbroker]

It wasn't "Find My Android" that guy this fucker busted.... heh

http://gizmodo.com/coachella-bandit-...ter-1794396332

[riser4]

What email?

Comcast is going to offer Mobile phone service thru a combo of its wifi network and verizon. You can use the Googles to find out about it.

[iceman]

It wasn't "Find My Android" that guy this fucker busted.... heh

http://gizmodo.com/coachella-bandit-...ter-1794396332

That's kind of a nice little feel-good story. Well except for the thieving bastard, but the rest of it.

I'm fairly stoked about getting unlimited data back on Verizon, what on earth happened to make them act reasonable all of a sudden?

[Danno]

if google offered a discount on the pixel I'd sign up, but the price is hard to stomach. I'm ok with sticking with my service, but am looking for something new.

[east or bust]

I heard a rumor verizon is going to start offering the ISuk with a plan again cause they're selling like shit now. can anyone confirm?

[riser4]

if google offered a discount on the pixel I'd sign up, but the price is hard to stomach. I'm ok with sticking with my service, but am looking for something new.

I hear ya. I liked it back when they were going the other direction with Motorola. And then the Nexus 5x and 6p. Affordable.