Database Info

[Q] What would you do?

Hi everyone! I just wanted to throw this question out there to all of you on XDA. On August 1st, I will be eligible to be reimbursed up to $80 a month for my cell phone bill through work. I am currently on a TMobile Family Plan using a Samsung Vibrant. To make things easy, I am going to go onto my own plan. I can pick any carrier, any plan, and any phone. If you guys were in this situation, what phone would you pick? I am not up to date on phones that are going to be released soon, so if some are coming out in the next month, I'd wait and consider those as well. Just wanted some input from people I'd trust! (aka XDA users!)

SGS II for me is the best phone out there at the moment and the forseeable future.
If you are into modding the SGS II devs are the best, Pulsar, Hacre, Noonski to mention a couple.
Of course only my humble opinion.

2452sgtb said:
SGS II for me is the best phone out there at the moment and the forseeable future.
If you are into modding the SGS II devs are the best, Pulsar, Hacre, Noonski to mention a couple.
Of course only my humble opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually she(hope i am right , referred the picture) did make clear that she is not into phones, so there is no way that she is into modding (my opinion). and very few working people spend time modding/flashing roms.
and yea i would suggest u go for sgs2, iphone ( if u r somehow still into modding these are still the best choices )

Thanks to both of you for responding! Yes, I am a she (that is me in my picture) and actually, I am into modding my phones... I just wish I knew more about it, and really understood what went into creating ROMs. I am always amazed at how smart everyone here is! I usually am up to date about all the new phones coming out and such, but haven't been around here much the past few months to know what's great and up-and-coming! So thanks for helping me out!!

[Q] WebOS Long-term outlook

Hi everyone,
I have an opportunity to buy an HP Touchpad for quite cheap (about $100 for a 16GB wifi) but after doing some research it kind of looks like WebOS is dying. I've had a hard time even tracking down an ereader app, and the only one I've found looks a bit questionable in terms of tablet-optimization. It would be great if I could just install Android on it, but it doesn't look like that's possible. So, basically what I'm wondering is whether WebOS–particularly as a tablet platform–is likely to grow and improve very much, or is it really as dead-in-the-water as it looks? I know you guys might be a bit biased, but I figure you also have much better knowledge of the OS than I do .

m_piedlourde said:
Hi everyone,
I have an opportunity to buy an HP Touchpad for quite cheap (about $100 for a 16GB wifi) but after doing some research it kind of looks like WebOS is dying. I've had a hard time even tracking down an ereader app, and the only one I've found looks a bit questionable in terms of tablet-optimization. It would be great if I could just install Android on it, but it doesn't look like that's possible. So, basically what I'm wondering is whether WebOS–particularly as a tablet platform–is likely to grow and improve very much, or is it really as dead-in-the-water as it looks? I know you guys might be a bit biased, but I figure you also have much better knowledge of the OS than I do .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just check this and tell me by yourself if the tablet is dead... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1202444
Also you can check at precentral Forum at Touchpad section and you will find everything about the HP Touchpad overthere.

WebOS has the full support of HP.
dont listen to the haters out there, remember when android first came out.
Everyone said "they will never make it, apple has the market locked up" and now look @ the market share android controls. Remember that the TP, VEER and Pre3 are first gen HP WebOS devices. Palm is gone along with the hardware. The WebOS ecosystem will be a major player in the enterprise market and consumer as well.
Unlike WP7, HP makes hardware and that is a huge advantage imop. android is everywhere, but the experience varies by manufacture. HP is creating a family of WebOS products that all have the same great experience and the will talk to each other. I dream of the day when my WebOS refridgerator that is synced with my phone will allow me to answer a call, order pizza, alert me of a text or email and all kinds of things. i know it sounds crazy, but electronics, appliances and cars all synced in one ecosystem would rule!
check out "http://www.webosroundup.com/" - "http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Main_Page" - "http://www.precentral.net/"
article and links to the world of WebOS!

Or check this and tell us if its dead.....
http://www.precentral.net/app-sales-skyrocket-and-developers-join-game-webos-not-dead

m_piedlourde said:
Hi everyone,
I have an opportunity to buy an HP Touchpad for quite cheap (about $100 for a 16GB wifi) but after doing some research it kind of looks like WebOS is dying. I've had a hard time even tracking down an ereader app, and the only one I've found looks a bit questionable in terms of tablet-optimization. It would be great if I could just install Android on it, but it doesn't look like that's possible. So, basically what I'm wondering is whether WebOS–particularly as a tablet platform–is likely to grow and improve very much, or is it really as dead-in-the-water as it looks? I know you guys might be a bit biased, but I figure you also have much better knowledge of the OS than I do .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
noooooooooooooooooooo it will die every time webOS makes a nice little change android make almost 3 big changes

jamcar said:
noooooooooooooooooooo it will die every time webOS makes a nice little change android make almost 3 big changes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be so negative, everything has pros. and cons.

TravisAntonio said:
Don't be so negative, everything has pros. and cons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's true i had a htc hero ( android phone before android took off) but it was stolen and i got a palm pre for $20 and now that android did take off a cant wait to get another android phone

I was wrong, HP dropped us (webos users) like a used tissue
http://www.pcworld.com/article/238417/hp_says_so_long_to_webos_devices.html

Cptnjarhead said:
I was wrong, HP dropped us (webos users) like a used tissue
http://www.pcworld.com/article/238417/hp_says_so_long_to_webos_devices.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Man, I feel for you... it's not often someone has the Cajones to show up on a forum days later and say "bow, was I wrong"....
Honestly, I just used my first WebOS device days ago. Not a Touchpad, an original PRE... I can see why it failed.... and why it had promise. The device was neat, but too quirky. I got it set up and working for a friend, and actually usable thanks to the folks over at webos internals...
Now, as far as HP's closing of the WebOS unit.. and their promise to monetize it.... In the current mobile tech climate, it's BLATANTLY OBVIOUS why they did this.
They JUST realized that WebOS/Palm is worth more as a patent portfolio than as any actual production. Expect one of two outcomes shortly:
1) Lawsuits...
or
2) Portfolio Bidding War...
Both strategies are going to earn HP enormously more shareholder value than continuing to struggle along. Though, I hear echos of Monty Python's "'Tis but a Flesh Wound" and "I'm not dead yet!" in the distance. Good lord, look how long it took Amiga or OS/2 to die.

if i was a dying phone company (looking at you Nokia!!) i'd seriously consider buying WebOS....a truly unique system

ace9988 said:
if i was a dying phone company (looking at you Nokia!!) i'd seriously consider buying WebOS....a truly unique system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nokia's already got an under-the-table deal to sell to Microsoft if its WP7 phones don't start bumping up its share price, or I'll eat my hat. (with mustard)

kiwifruit said:
Nokia's already got an under-the-table deal to sell to Microsoft if its WP7 phones don't start bumping up its share price, or I'll eat my hat. (with mustard)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know but if it wants a good system of its own rather than suckering up to microsoft as it has, then this is a good opportunity, since it's abandoned a really good system like Meego aswell

I think Nokia is dead in the water. They are not that great with updating OSes.
Take symbian for example. Nokia taking up WebOS would be like tying 2 anchors together.
LOL, reading this thread makes me giggle. It's funny how people are saying webOS is alive and kicking and then all of a sudden HP throws it away.
Very unexpected and tragic. But with android and iOS dominating everything, it was a matter of time.

I wouldn't take HP's action today as a referendum on WebOS. As a matter of fact, WebOS is the one thing that they are holding on to. What they are dropping is their entire consumer product line. That's all tablets, desktops, and laptops. They sold half a billion dollars worth of product in that division last year, but the margins are too small and the risk is high with so much competition. This is about much more than lackluster sales for WebOS products (which haven't even been on the market for six months).
The question is, if HP's not building WebOS hardware, who is?
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App

Anyone think that the hp pre 3 well make it to the US after the big announcement today
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA Premium App

Leo says "I wuz wrong, dead wrong!"
Cptnjarhead said:
WebOS has the full support of HP.
dont listen to the haters out there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to change your tune?

DoogieDC said:
The question is, if HP's not building WebOS hardware, who is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OOOOO! OOOOOO! I can answer that one! I can answer it right now!
The answer is: Nobody

almightyjoe82 said:
Anyone think that the hp pre 3 well make it to the US after the big announcement today
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a snowball's chance. None of the carriers wanted it, that's why only Orange in the UK offered it.
All of the US carriers smelled bad news earlier this year; Sprint publicly announced that they were done with webOS. Verizon, TMobile and ATT didn't even bother to make a statement.
As a 15 yr Palm fanatic, it's a sad end to Palm. Wonder what we'll see next from Jeff Hawkins and team? He did lead the design of the first iPad back in 1989, manufactured by Samsung and sold as the GRiDPad.

mourning Touchpad demise
i bought a touchpad 13 days ago from staples. 32gb for $399! it was a steal. I wasn't sure about keeping it or not but the more i read, the more i believed that HP would see this project (webOS) out to success, that they would continue to develop an amazing operating system. but after today's news it was a no brainer not to keep my TP. Luckily Staples offers a 14 day return policy so i returned that sucker post haste! im still pretty peeved though, in those 13 days i really came to love webOS. oh well this is what i get for turning my back on android. any good suggestions for android tablets?

Hp is dropping webos, but it should be possible to get android running on the touchpad via the same methods they got ubuntu running on it. What would be better would be webos on my dinc2 but alas...
SENT FROM MY DINC2

Which of these copy android phones is the best?

Getting a little tired of looking poor .... I guess it's time to retire the old iPhone 4 for the bedroom.but I do not want to get the new iPhone 4S.So I want to try android phones,and wait for iPhone 5.
Anyway, these seem more I can squeeze,Which of these copy android phones is the best?
I went to Best Buy and Target. Can not really tell you a bit of difference between each copy iphone. When the sales guy at Best Buy started telling me that plasma leakage and only last 6 months, I knew it was time to go (Best Buy has always had long 'oh yes, 2/3s of our products are junk, buy this instead of tactical sales approach ... weird, but whatever)

What?
10char

They are all terrible. I'm looking at the specs right now and my LG Optimus beats them all. One is even priced at 200 and you can get a brand new real LG Optimus One for $130. You won't get the full android experience with these crap china phones.

you get what you paid for.
if you want a proper android phone, get ready yo dpend $700
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Carden12 I am just going to do my best NOT to be biased nor make myself sound like some salesman or anything. First things first though. As far as what these phones are that are listed here is any ones guess.
What I am saying here is that it might be hard to track down exactly what kind of phone any of these phones you have listed in that link are. Like are any of them made by HTC,Samsung or Sony etc is any ones guess. You also have to realize that it might be hard at that point to actually do anything with the phone.If you do not know what make model what kind of processor they have in them ect.
What I am saying here is you might have problems actually setting a phone like that up.
As far as the guy telling you if you want a good Android phone you would have to pay seven hundred for it I can assure you that is not true at all. It all depends if you want to own the phone outright or if you want to do something like with what I did. I took a promotional offer and I was able to get a seven hundred dollar phone for nothing to use on my carriers plan they were promoting at the time.
If I were you though I would honestly search on google look at reviews on phones ect I just really have been skeptical of buying things from china that have not already been shipped here from a viable company like HTC Samsung Sony ect.
I just do not really know what to tell you other than this as that is honestly with what I did and to not be biased I will not tell you anything about my findings but you waiting for an I Phone honestly search good and hard that is all.

Bubsmash said:
Carden12 I am just going to do my best NOT to be biased nor make myself sound like some salesman or anything. First things first though. As far as what these phones are that are listed here is any ones guess.
What I am saying here is that it might be hard to track down exactly what kind of phone any of these phones you have listed in that link are. Like are any of them made by HTC,Samsung or Sony etc is any ones guess. You also have to realize that it might be hard at that point to actually do anything with the phone.If you do not know what make model what kind of processor they have in them ect.
What I am saying here is you might have problems actually setting a phone like that up.
As far as the guy telling you if you want a good Android phone you would have to pay seven hundred for it I can assure you that is not true at all. It all depends if you want to own the phone outright or if you want to do something like with what I did. I took a promotional offer and I was able to get a seven hundred dollar phone for nothing to use on my carriers plan they were promoting at the time.
If I were you though I would honestly search on google look at reviews on phones ect I just really have been skeptical of buying things from china that have not already been shipped here from a viable company like HTC Samsung Sony ect.
I just do not really know what to tell you other than this as that is honestly with what I did and to not be biased I will not tell you anything about my findings but you waiting for an I Phone honestly search good and hard that is all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is really useful.thanks very much~

Feeshie said:
They are all terrible. I'm looking at the specs right now and my LG Optimus beats them all. One is even priced at 200 and you can get a brand new real LG Optimus One for $130. You won't get the full android experience with these crap china phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh c'mon maybe not really terrible. But for what they offer the price is too high... I agree about the LG Optimus One thing... If you want to buy a smartphone without paying too much buy an Optimus One or a Galaxy 3

root-friendly devices; used and/or cheap sources ??

Speaking as an aspiring tinkerer with a practically non-existent budget, I would like to ask:
Are there any tricks/tips/pointers that anyone is willing to share for finding devices that are root-friendly AND maximally affordable ??
What I seek need not be new, can have an older OS like 4.x, and really all I care about is that it remains fully functional and not broken/beaten badly.
I have visited Swappa a bunch of times and see that most unlocked devices there are in the over $100 range.
For this old guy, even $50 is a stretch - and the device would have to be a very good one for even that much to be spent.
In a perfect world I'd love to get my hands on a GSM phone device with a 4" screen that is unlocked (or AT&T friendly) and rootable so that I can use it with my cheapie phone service and also via Wifi at home.
In the real world I will be very happy with even a carrier-locked CDMA device which can be rooted - but has a 4" screen.
There must be devices like these around, given how many are replaced daily by folks who NEED to have the newest of everything ?!?
I will very much appreciate any helpful info that anyone is willing to share.
Thanks.

vtsnaab said:
I hope this is an OK query for here...
Speaking as an aspiring tinkerer with a practically non-existent budget, I would like to ask:
Are there any tricks/tips/pointers that anyone is willing to share for finding devices that are root-friendly AND maximally affordable ??
I have visited Swappa a bunch of times and see that most unlocked devices are up in the over $100 range.
For this old guy, even $50 is a stretch - and the device would have to be a very good one for even that much to be spent.
In a perfect world I'd love to get my hands on a GSM phone device with a 4" screen that is unlocked (or AT&T friendly) and rootable so that I can use it with my cheapie phone service and also via Wifi at home.
I will very much appreciate any info that anyone is willing to share.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are not going to get anything "very good" for $50, or $100, for that matter.
maybe could get some off brand junk for that price.
if thats all you are willing to spend, and expect it to be good, smart phones probably arent for you.

Hmmm...
Fascinating reply:
bweN diorD said:
you are not going to get anything "very good" for $50, or $100, for that matter.
maybe could get some off brand junk for that price.
if thats all you are willing to spend, and expect it to be good, smart phones probably arent for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have multiple LG devices - none of which cost over $20 and they are quite satisfactory EXCEPT that they have screens too small for my comfort - and squinting at tiny screens is unpleasant.
The Alcatel device I just bought was even cheaper - and has a very nice 4" screen - but thus far there is no working method to root it to be found.
For someone on a very limited budget there is a simple key that I have seen to work very well:
Most folks are quite overcome with some NEED for the latest & greatest stuff; this results in the 'older' stuff (like v4.x devices) being put out at fire sale prices.
The Alcatel phone I just got was marked down from $70 to a mere $5 simply because it has the 'old' v4.x in it.
Referring to my OP - I did ask for pointers, yes - but I did not ask to be publicly criticized due to my age or financial (in-)abilities.
Thus far I am doing quite well with my tinkering efforts and it is a very pleasant little hobby for me; I am fine with things like older OSes and have no desire to have the fanciest, or newest stuff - I just want stuff that works fully.
This (IMO) means that any Android device I have needs to be rooted - and as such:
My 'ancient', $20 LG-L38C with v 2.3.6 can do some nifty tricks that its newer cousin with v 4.x cannot do a'tall.
Good thing I'm not allergic to cheap, old stuff, yes ??
Thanks.
PS:
By 'very good' I mean used is OK - but beaten to death is not OK; this was not meant to imply anything fancy or super-duper.

vtsnaab said:
Fascinating reply:
I have multiple LG devices - none of which cost over $20 and they are quite satisfactory EXCEPT that they have screens too small for my comfort - and squinting at tiny screens is unpleasant.
The Alcatel device I just bought was even cheaper - and has a very nice 4" screen - but thus far there is no working method to root it to be found.
For someone on a very limited budget there is a simple key that I have seen to work very well:
Most folks are quite overcome with some NEED for the latest & greatest stuff; this results in the 'older' stuff (like v4.x devices) being put out at fire sale prices.
The Alcatel phone I just got was marked down from $70 to a mere $5 simply because it has the 'old' v4.x in it.
Referring to my OP - I did ask for pointers, yes - but I did not ask to be publicly criticized due to my age or financial (in-)abilities.
Thus far I am doing quite well with my tinkering efforts and it is a very pleasant little hobby for me; I am fine with things like older OSes and have no desire to have the fanciest, or newest stuff - I just want stuff that works fully.
This (IMO) means that any Android device I have needs to be rooted - and as such:
My 'ancient', $20 LG-L38C with v 2.3.6 can do some nifty tricks that its newer cousin with v 4.x cannot do a'tall.
Good thing I'm not allergic to cheap, old stuff, yes ??
Thanks.
PS:
By 'very good' I mean used is OK - but beaten to death is not OK; this was not meant to imply anything fancy or super-duper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol,
good luck with your search.
if you get your panties in a bunch over some constructive criticism, you can probably add xda to the list of things not for you.
btw, the phones you mentioned were junk new, and that hasn't changed now that there not.
perhaps your query should have been something to the effect of, looking for a cheap low end device that can be rooted. that would have been more consistent of what you are trying to find.
either way, if you continue to post that you want something very good, and post a price expectation of $50, you are unlikely to get any constructive responses.

Title & OP edited to reflect a more exacting query as suggested.
Bunched panties are for younger folks who have things to prove or that perhaps enjoy arguments;
Some of us older folks just want to have a happy life & to leave that stuff alone.

Essential up for sale, next phone cancelled

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...hone-maker-essential-is-said-to-consider-sale

shocker

We'll...
Like the stages of grief, I was initially frustrated and upset. After thinking about it for about 3 minutes, just about every possession I own is for sale, for the right price. Go get it Andy!

Kinda sad, was tempted to buy a ph-2. But now I'm happy I'll get a chance to buy a ph-1 when they go on fire sale. It will fit right in with my nextbit Robin.

this was a response from Essential that Android Police received
An official Essential spokesperson responded to our request for comment. Here's what we got:
"We always have multiple products in development at the same time and we embrace canceling some in favor of the ones we think will be bigger hits. We are putting all of our efforts towards our future, game-changing products, which include mobile and home products."
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

Damm! I've been so looking forward to the new phone! I'm sure it would have been a much bigger success.
(another article about it, based on Bloomberg report https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/24/...ncels-phone-development-considers-sale-report )
So do I buy another backup one as there really doesn't seem to be an alternative.

IronRoo said:
Damm! I've been so looking forward to the new phone! I'm sure it would have been a much bigger success.
(another article about it, based on Bloomberg report https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/24/...ncels-phone-development-considers-sale-report )
So do I buy another backup one as there really doesn't seem to be an alternative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah.. all the phone needs is oled screen and it would be perfect.. though the lcd is very good
Sent from my PH-1 using Tapatalk

Do you think we'll still get continued support for the PH-1, as getting the security updates quick, and getting updated to the official release of android p?

Thomas Cloutier said:
Do you think we'll still get continued support for the PH-1, as getting the security updates quick, and getting updated to the official release of android p?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just wondering that myself.. let's hope the support continues for years to come. I have no plans to upgrade. Love my PH-1

I would not count on continued support for very long. You can’t hardly get decent long term support from phone companies that stay in business...

Sad day really. Especially the cancellation of the phone. I really believed the second one was going to get it right. I only had two problems with the phone: Low light performance of the cameras and poor signal strength (mostly indoors)
I don't think it would have been hard to improve in those areas for their next phone. He is giving up to easy.
P.S. won't be buying their other products if this is how it's going to go.
Maybe we need a petition started to give him more confidence.

It is sad, the Essential Phone had such promise. But sometimes in business "Promises" won't pay the staff or the bills. I was looking forward to PH-2, but now I am, I can't believe I am saying this, looking at the iPhone X.
I have use Android phones ,Nexis< from the beginning. Nexus left us in favor of the extremely expensive and hamstrung Pixel, I was really hoping Essential would fill that void, the one thing is the universe is constant "Apple" seems to always keep thing consistent.
Damn I need to call my therapist, its just a fuc____g phone...

Oh no. That's bad news. What a beautiful phone and not being continued.
First my wonderful Lumia, now the Essential.... Sometimes you wonder what it takes to break into this market.

oldman_58 said:
It is sad, the Essential Phone had such promise. But sometimes in business "Promises" won't pay the staff or the bills. I was looking forward to PH-2, but now I am, I can't believe I am saying this, looking at the iPhone X.
I have use Android phones ,Nexis< from the beginning. Nexus left us in favor of the extremely expensive and hamstrung Pixel, I was really hoping Essential would fill that void, the one thing is the universe is constant "Apple" seems to always keep thing consistent.
Damn I need to call my therapist, its just a fuc____g phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Essential and iPhone X. When it comes to size I constantly confuse the two of them. The Essential phone was the first Android device that felt like Apple quality to me. Can’t go wrong with either one.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Damn, that really sux. This was the best phone I ever owned

sam2c said:
Damn, that really sux. This was the best phone I ever owned
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, good thing for now is that we still own the best phone we ever owned.

derausgewanderte said:
Oh no. That's bad news. What a beautiful phone and not being continued.
First my wonderful Lumia, now the Essential.... Sometimes you wonder what it takes to break into this market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You jinxed it!
Don't buy a OnePlus 6 please...
Jk

Bummed on this one for sure. I've been impressed enough with this phone and especially the support to have considered replacing my wife's aging Nexus 5X with the second generation one (assuming the camera was better than the ph-1).
this feels exactly like what happened to me when Google sold Motorola soon after I bought my 2013 Moto X, which is still my all time fav phone. Google was supporting it (we got KitKat FAST) and then BAM the support was yanked out when the company got sold. I was starting to like this phone almost as much.

SHOCKKR said:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...hone-maker-essential-is-said-to-consider-sale
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rumors.
From Andy:
"We always have multiple products in development at the same time and we embrace canceling some in favor of the ones we think will be bigger hits. We are putting all of our efforts towards our future, game-changing products, which include mobile and home products."
Where does that say the company is closing or that PH-2 is dead?
The article is from a confidential source.

tech_head said:
Rumors.
From Andy:
"We always have multiple products in development at the same time and we embrace canceling some in favor of the ones we think will be bigger hits. We are putting all of our efforts towards our future, game-changing products, which include mobile and home products."
Where does that say the company is closing or that PH-2 is dead?
The article is from a confidential source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cmon dude he posted it as a response to the articles
"we embrace canceling some in favor of the ones we think will be bigger hits."
I think that is pretty clear, unless you're being intentionally obtuse.