Showing posts with label TMobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TMobile. Show all posts
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Samsung Stratosphere and Verizon.
Battery remaining: 65%. Time on battery: 10 hours. Yes, I'm pleased with the battery life on the Stratosphere (especially compared to the MyTouch 3g slide i had on T-Mobile previously, which typically wouldn't last even 15 hours). I'm also pleased with the Verizon coverage, which is why we quit T-Mobile (or will quit them this week). I think my wife is happier with her Android phone (a Pantech Breakout) than she was with the Nokia E73; happier than she thought she'd be with a touch screen phone, too. So, happy mobile technology here.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
GMail for Mobile, anyone?
Stupid phone (Samsung T429). Stupid T-Mobile (T-Zones). Stupid GMail for Mobile (uh, Mobile GMail - better to click that from a mobile phone). IT'S NOT WORKING AGAIN (in case you couldn't tell). I guess I'm just going to have to give up and get some sort of smartphone or something (like a Blackberry or a Treo or some HTC device, or maybe something with - egad - Windows Mobile). If only I was rich... :)
Anyway, some questions: anyone out there get GMail Mobile to work (reliably and consistently) with the Openwave browser that comes on low-end Samsungs? Particularly on T-Mobile's T-Zones plan? Every other WAP site seems to work, and quite a few non-WAP sites as well, but the GMail (or really any Google mobile site) login page doesn't want to work (or when it does, it won't get past the secure login page).
Other than that, anyone have suggestions, recommendations, or thoughts on various smartphones, PDA phones, and the like? Including where to get one really cheap (or even free)? If you have info on the latter, feel free to e-mail it to me at the link above if it's limited information (e.g., a single phone offered for free), so that I won't lose the chance to act on the opportunity if someone else reads your comment before I. (Yes, that's grammatically correct: there's an understood "do" verb at the end of the sentence, thus requiring the subjective "I" instead of the objective "me.")
You know, even a good, uber-cheap or free non-T-Mobile but unlocked (so it can be used on any network) GSM cell phone might be usable... since I could likely then install the GMail mobile Java Midlet application and not have to bother with the WAP browser for that site anyway.
Thanks in advance...
Anyway, some questions: anyone out there get GMail Mobile to work (reliably and consistently) with the Openwave browser that comes on low-end Samsungs? Particularly on T-Mobile's T-Zones plan? Every other WAP site seems to work, and quite a few non-WAP sites as well, but the GMail (or really any Google mobile site) login page doesn't want to work (or when it does, it won't get past the secure login page).
Other than that, anyone have suggestions, recommendations, or thoughts on various smartphones, PDA phones, and the like? Including where to get one really cheap (or even free)? If you have info on the latter, feel free to e-mail it to me at the link above if it's limited information (e.g., a single phone offered for free), so that I won't lose the chance to act on the opportunity if someone else reads your comment before I. (Yes, that's grammatically correct: there's an understood "do" verb at the end of the sentence, thus requiring the subjective "I" instead of the objective "me.")
You know, even a good, uber-cheap or free non-T-Mobile but unlocked (so it can be used on any network) GSM cell phone might be usable... since I could likely then install the GMail mobile Java Midlet application and not have to bother with the WAP browser for that site anyway.
Thanks in advance...
Monday, January 14, 2008
Frustration, again... but the post gets better
I was going to make a funny post about road-related things, but I've been frustrated by my phone again and don't feel much like laughing at the moment (I'm pretty irritated by T-Mobile at the moment). T-Mobile's T-Zones service is not accessing the GMail mobile site. Or maybe it's my phone. I don't know; but it's really, really frustrating and irritating. That's how I try to stay in contact with my world, which admittedly isn't very big, but I like to stay in touch.
Ok, slightly less frustrated now... I went out for coffee with my wife, and I'm in a better mood now. We were going to go to Starbucks (to use a gift card I received as a Christmas gift for working with the youth choir - thanks "Jane" [or Cecily, if you prefer], mainly for the opportunity to work with the youth choir), but Starbucks was crowded; so crowded, in fact, that there wasn't even a parking spot, so we went to Joe Muggs over in Books-a-Million instead. The coffee was ok, the company excellent.
In an effort to succumb to the valiant efforts of the Joe Muggs/Books-a-Million, that is, they put "buy one get one half off" on their mints at the order/pay station, I suggested to my wife that we get a couple of small tins of mints. She got the peppermints and I got the cinnamints. (Note: they were $1.99 + tax, or $1.79 after the 10% discount card discount, not the $1.61 they are online; but we did get two for that price, so we still beat the online price overall.) Anyway, later on, I took a look at the tin; check out these two photos of the front & back of the tin, and see if you notice anything odd (click them to view larger images if necessary):
Well, if you didn't catch it, let me clue you in: take a look at the serving size and number of servings (on the back) and the net wt. (on the front). The last time I checked, 17 * 2 is 34 (or, 20/2 is 10). Um, hello? Who did the math on this number of servings compared with the net weight? Maybe that's why they were buy one get one free...
As I sit here (intermittently) writing this post, I'm watching "American Gladiators" on NBC. An entertaining show. Not quite as good, in my opinion, as the original series, but entertaining anyway. (If you don't recall, we only have broadcast television, so don't bother telling me about some great series on some obscure - or even not-so-obscure - cable channel; thanks anyway!) My wife wonders at times if it's scripted, but I don't think any writer could script such poor monologues... :)
Anyway, what about road-related things? Well, I've recently found myself frequently shifting into neutral while coasting downhill and saying, "I'm coasting down a hill in neutral." That's illegal in Alabama (and, apparently, in Rhode Island as well, according to this site). Funny, though: according to the Alabama law, if you're the driver of a "motor vehicle" you can't "coast [on a down grade] with the gears or transmission of [your] vehicle in neutral or the clutch disengaged," but if you're the driver of a "truck or bus" you only can't "coast with the clutch disengaged." Um... I guess Alabama doesn't consider a "truck or bus" a "motor vehicle," at least not if you're coasting down a hill. And if you're in a truck or bus, you apparently can coast in neutral as long as your clutch is engaged (now we have to determine whether, in an automatic with the gearshift selector placed in neutral, is the clutch engaged or not? What technically defines the clutch, when most automatics have the transmission and engine connected via the fluid in the torque converter?).
Hmm... loophole (?) here: "A law enforcement officer or a peace officer of any incorporated municipality or town which has less than 19,000 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census shall not enforce this section on any interstate highway" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-171 (8)). Thus only state troopers could legally ticket you for speeding on an interstate highway (you know, those numbered roads whose names start with "I-"). But we wouldn't be speeding anyway, now, would we? Ok, forget this paragraph...
Another regulation that probably isn't regularly enforced (or even known, even though it makes sense): "Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-214).
Now here's one that makes sense, yet I find ignored all the time (it's one of the "inconsiderate" ones): "Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway" and "any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-215). In the research park where I work (and in various neighborhoods around here, although not my own, since we don't have sidewalks), I frequently see people walking or running on the road right next to a perfectly good, serviceable sidewalk. And I've even moved my car out of the regular lane and into a turn lane, without turning, to avoid said idiots jogging several feet out onto the road when there's a sidewalk a few feet away. Oh, did I say "idiots"? Oops.
It's also illegal to solicit contributions or employment or to distribute any materials from or near a roadway, and it's illegal to fish from a bridge or trestle unless the bridge or trestle is marked with a sign that specifically authorizes such fishing (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-216).
Also in Alabama you can't:
Oh, and my T-zones seems to be working, somewhat, again. Well, for GMail - it was working for non-secure sites before, just not for secure sites (the GMail mobile site, indeed all Google mobile - and non-mobile - sites, uses secure pages for the login, but then switches to the non-secure pages once you've logged into the site). Hooray (for now)!
Ok, slightly less frustrated now... I went out for coffee with my wife, and I'm in a better mood now. We were going to go to Starbucks (to use a gift card I received as a Christmas gift for working with the youth choir - thanks "Jane" [or Cecily, if you prefer], mainly for the opportunity to work with the youth choir), but Starbucks was crowded; so crowded, in fact, that there wasn't even a parking spot, so we went to Joe Muggs over in Books-a-Million instead. The coffee was ok, the company excellent.
In an effort to succumb to the valiant efforts of the Joe Muggs/Books-a-Million, that is, they put "buy one get one half off" on their mints at the order/pay station, I suggested to my wife that we get a couple of small tins of mints. She got the peppermints and I got the cinnamints. (Note: they were $1.99 + tax, or $1.79 after the 10% discount card discount, not the $1.61 they are online; but we did get two for that price, so we still beat the online price overall.) Anyway, later on, I took a look at the tin; check out these two photos of the front & back of the tin, and see if you notice anything odd (click them to view larger images if necessary):
Well, if you didn't catch it, let me clue you in: take a look at the serving size and number of servings (on the back) and the net wt. (on the front). The last time I checked, 17 * 2 is 34 (or, 20/2 is 10). Um, hello? Who did the math on this number of servings compared with the net weight? Maybe that's why they were buy one get one free...
As I sit here (intermittently) writing this post, I'm watching "American Gladiators" on NBC. An entertaining show. Not quite as good, in my opinion, as the original series, but entertaining anyway. (If you don't recall, we only have broadcast television, so don't bother telling me about some great series on some obscure - or even not-so-obscure - cable channel; thanks anyway!) My wife wonders at times if it's scripted, but I don't think any writer could script such poor monologues... :)
Anyway, what about road-related things? Well, I've recently found myself frequently shifting into neutral while coasting downhill and saying, "I'm coasting down a hill in neutral." That's illegal in Alabama (and, apparently, in Rhode Island as well, according to this site). Funny, though: according to the Alabama law, if you're the driver of a "motor vehicle" you can't "coast [on a down grade] with the gears or transmission of [your] vehicle in neutral or the clutch disengaged," but if you're the driver of a "truck or bus" you only can't "coast with the clutch disengaged." Um... I guess Alabama doesn't consider a "truck or bus" a "motor vehicle," at least not if you're coasting down a hill. And if you're in a truck or bus, you apparently can coast in neutral as long as your clutch is engaged (now we have to determine whether, in an automatic with the gearshift selector placed in neutral, is the clutch engaged or not? What technically defines the clutch, when most automatics have the transmission and engine connected via the fluid in the torque converter?).
Hmm... loophole (?) here: "A law enforcement officer or a peace officer of any incorporated municipality or town which has less than 19,000 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census shall not enforce this section on any interstate highway" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-171 (8)). Thus only state troopers could legally ticket you for speeding on an interstate highway (you know, those numbered roads whose names start with "I-"). But we wouldn't be speeding anyway, now, would we? Ok, forget this paragraph...
Another regulation that probably isn't regularly enforced (or even known, even though it makes sense): "Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-214).
Now here's one that makes sense, yet I find ignored all the time (it's one of the "inconsiderate" ones): "Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway" and "any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway" (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-215). In the research park where I work (and in various neighborhoods around here, although not my own, since we don't have sidewalks), I frequently see people walking or running on the road right next to a perfectly good, serviceable sidewalk. And I've even moved my car out of the regular lane and into a turn lane, without turning, to avoid said idiots jogging several feet out onto the road when there's a sidewalk a few feet away. Oh, did I say "idiots"? Oops.
It's also illegal to solicit contributions or employment or to distribute any materials from or near a roadway, and it's illegal to fish from a bridge or trestle unless the bridge or trestle is marked with a sign that specifically authorizes such fishing (Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-216).
Also in Alabama you can't:
- Cut off your arms to get people to feel sorry for you and give you money (already mentioned here) - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 13A-14-1
- Run a marathon on Friday and then run another one on Saturday (note: if you also run in one on Sunday, that then become a second count of offense) - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 13A-14-3
- Pretend to be a minister or a nun - so don't get all dressed up for your rendition of "Sound of Music" and then, during a dress rehearsal lunch break, think it's funny to try to trick the McDonald's cashier or patrons into thinking you're really a "sister" - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 13A-14-4
- If you're going to pass a pedestrian while operating a "electric personal assistive mobility device" you have to give an audible warning - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-19-1
- You can't watch TV while driving - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5-219
- You can't ski behind a car - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 32-5A-262
- If you catch a steamboat going under a railroad drawbridge without giving three loud whistles at 3 miles, 2 miles, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile before reaching the bridge, let someone in authority know and you're entitled to 1/2 of the $500 fine - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 37-2-88
- You can't sell or transport horse carcasses unless they're clearly marked as such - Code of Alabama, 1975, section 2-17-15
Oh, and my T-zones seems to be working, somewhat, again. Well, for GMail - it was working for non-secure sites before, just not for secure sites (the GMail mobile site, indeed all Google mobile - and non-mobile - sites, uses secure pages for the login, but then switches to the non-secure pages once you've logged into the site). Hooray (for now)!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Phone #3
I'll be sticking with this one (T-Mobile won't accept returns after you've taken your third phone, even if you're within the 14-day return window). The battery life on the Blast turned out to be horrendous... went from fully charged, just unplugged the charger to "low battery" in less than 16 hours. And (like I said last post) the e-mail features weren't working for GMail or for my Bellsouth e-mail (well, I could read, but not send/reply/forward). And when I tried to use the TMobile "web sync address book" (which is supposed to allow you to edit and sync your phone's address book through the T-Mobile web site) to change something in the Blast phonebook, the phonebook broke. I couldn't enter any starting letter from "M" onwards, or scroll in either direction past the apparent broken location in the address book (in the M section). I decided that with all these issues, mainly the battery issue, that it really wasn't worth my time or the extra money for the Blast, so I got a Samsung t429 instead.
TZones will let me get to my e-mail. The camera, while still only a VGA camera (and not a match for the camera on the Blast), is better than the RAZR camera. Interface is familiar (to me) Samsung. Display resolution is not as good as the Blast, and it doesn't have the Suretype keypad (which I had started to get used to and like on the Blast), but the battery life is supposed to be much better (haven't fully charged the phone yet, it's charging now). As a note to anyone considering this phone: it does have Bluetooth, but it's only for devices... it doesn't seem to want to transfer files via the Bluetooth. Meaning you'll have to send your pictures via picture message to send it to your computer or somewhere. And you'll have to find another way to get your ringtones onto your phone (check out this site for a convenient way to upload your MP3 ringtones to your phone, and Audacity is a great, freeware way to grab a clip from your favorite MP3 file to use as a ringtone).
One of these days I'll probably want to upgrade to a more data-ready phone, but I don't know when TMobile will unveil their 3G network, and when they do, most current phones won't work on it anyway, the exceptions being the Samsung T639 and Nokia 6236 (the latter of which is actually available at TMobile already, and the former apparently in some places like New York City). Perhaps I should have checked these phones out at the TMobile store (although I'm not sure either is available in my area; pretty sure the T639 isn't, not as sure about the 6236), but (even if available) they are more expensive than the t429 (and require a rebate to get the listed purchase price anyway). Plus they're still TMobile phones... meaning the Java interfaces are (probably) locked down and unable to access the network. If and when I upgrade to a 3G phone for TMobile, I'll probably get an unlocked version.
Anyway, enough of my phone(y) stories... I should get some sleep before I have to get up again and go to work in the morning. Oh, and my right pinky toe, which I think I broke about three months ago, is hurting me quite a bit tonight for some reason. Ah, well, until next time...
TZones will let me get to my e-mail. The camera, while still only a VGA camera (and not a match for the camera on the Blast), is better than the RAZR camera. Interface is familiar (to me) Samsung. Display resolution is not as good as the Blast, and it doesn't have the Suretype keypad (which I had started to get used to and like on the Blast), but the battery life is supposed to be much better (haven't fully charged the phone yet, it's charging now). As a note to anyone considering this phone: it does have Bluetooth, but it's only for devices... it doesn't seem to want to transfer files via the Bluetooth. Meaning you'll have to send your pictures via picture message to send it to your computer or somewhere. And you'll have to find another way to get your ringtones onto your phone (check out this site for a convenient way to upload your MP3 ringtones to your phone, and Audacity is a great, freeware way to grab a clip from your favorite MP3 file to use as a ringtone).
One of these days I'll probably want to upgrade to a more data-ready phone, but I don't know when TMobile will unveil their 3G network, and when they do, most current phones won't work on it anyway, the exceptions being the Samsung T639 and Nokia 6236 (the latter of which is actually available at TMobile already, and the former apparently in some places like New York City). Perhaps I should have checked these phones out at the TMobile store (although I'm not sure either is available in my area; pretty sure the T639 isn't, not as sure about the 6236), but (even if available) they are more expensive than the t429 (and require a rebate to get the listed purchase price anyway). Plus they're still TMobile phones... meaning the Java interfaces are (probably) locked down and unable to access the network. If and when I upgrade to a 3G phone for TMobile, I'll probably get an unlocked version.
Anyway, enough of my phone(y) stories... I should get some sleep before I have to get up again and go to work in the morning. Oh, and my right pinky toe, which I think I broke about three months ago, is hurting me quite a bit tonight for some reason. Ah, well, until next time...
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