| I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165592] |
Fri, 06 April 2012 21:24  |
 |
WD0AFQ
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
|
Senior Member |
|
|
My phone is giving me problems, so I am looking for something different. We run an air card in a mobile router in the GMC. I do not have internet on our seperate phone package. But, I would like a touch screen phone with wifi. I look on ebay and the wifi touch screen phones run 70 dollars to as much as one wants to pay. I'd like to stick around 100 bux with 3g phone. Any suggestions?
Dan
3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers
One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm
355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng.
Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System
Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows
Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165613 is a reply to message #165592] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 01:37  |
jtblank
Messages: 237
Registered: June 2007
Location: Tulare, CA
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Dan,
If I remember right you are a verizon wireless customer?, I sometime back, reluctantly switched to a smart phone(currently a Motorola Droid Bionic).... ends up being the best thing I ever did. The phone is 4G LTE, I pay about 100/mo and that includes data plan. Instead of paying Verizon for mobile hot spot, I have an app (FoxFi) that lets me use the phone as a mobile hot spot that I can run my laptop and Vizio internet TV with speed from 10-20Mbs(fast). When I'm in the GMC I just run FoxFi and I can surf the net and the wife can watch Netflix, Hulu or what ever, the mobile hot spot is like a router. At home I got rid of the cruddy AT&T DSL line and use my phone. $100/mo for cellphone, data and internet connection isn't bad!!
If you are a current customer just call customer support (611)
ask them to review your account and get a price on the Bionic, depending on how long since you last upgraded it could be 75-100 bucks. A friend of mine just two days ago did the same and after some haggling got it for 75. Worth a shot.
PS some people think the Apple 4s is "the" phone but my son's wife has one, (he has the Bionic as well) and the iphone is a good phone but really don't see why you would pay more for it.
FWIW
John Blankenship
'76 Palm Beach
Tulare, CA
|
|
|
|
| Re: I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165619 is a reply to message #165592] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 08:16 |
 |
Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Dan,
The following is all based on my personal experience and understanding of the current markets and rated structures.
If you want 3G capability, that pretty much means a smartphone. This can be a mixed blessing.
Learned - If you work it right the addition of a smartphone to an existing plan can be affordable - even for us. In your case, you may be able to trade/push the aircard plan for the smartphone at no increase and no contract extension. In my case, the business required that I use the Razr to tether just about all season and that pushed the plan cost to nearly full time.
Look at coverage maps before you spring for 4G. Coverage is still pretty spotty once you get out of major urban areas. Some 4G devices are reported to not back down to 3G reliably (different RF band).
I have been running a MotoDroid2 (slide out keyboard) since about a week before DuQuoin. (Lesson - Don't travel with a brand new smartphone.) It has been very effective since I have learned to use it. It was a lifesaver during the most of a year I was caring for and ferrying grandsons all over the place. Most of the following is referenced to Droid OS devices and while much may be applicable to iOS and BBOS but that is not a given.
I hate screen keyboards. I do not have the finger dexterity to make them be effective. (Read - He has short fat fingers.)
You MAY be able to tether the smartphone to your existing Cradle Point, you can probably do that with either Easytether or PDAnet (full version of both are not free). This is not a real good bet as I have to load a driver on my laptop for Easytether. (I have had easytether since I got the phone.) Or, you might try a new app I just loaded called Foxfi (a free app). Foxfi makes the phone create a hotspot like Verizon's mobile hotspot app, but with no additional cost. Foxfi does work, but does not work on all Droid devices. I have run it, but I have not wrung it out - yet. I do not know how many users it will accommodate and the website is not specific.
If you buy on EB, it will probably need a uSD card to be effective. This can double or more the devices storage capability. Get at least the 8gig card a new phone came with to make 16 total. It will need at least that.
The USB cable is a strange micro-USB, make sure you get one and the line and car chargers (cheap on EB). A desk stand is nice to have too.
Whatever you do get. Get screen protectors. The good move is the go to a store and pay too much for the first few and have one of them put the first one on. Watch Very Carefully. When that gets garffed up, buy a package of very cheap ones on EB and try to put a new one on by yourself. Then peal that one off and try again. That's why you bought the cheap ones on EB.
There are two GPS travel guide apps. VZNavigation costs to use and I have never even looked at it. Navigation by Google works great and it even knows about traffic and construction areas. It is still terrible for planning, use S&T (I like SA better) for that.
There are several voice control apps. I tried one for a while, it did work pretty well, but had to give it up. I am a sailor and often speak like one when alone and I got very tired of the phone telling me that it could not find "Oh - You Mother...." or similar. If you are interested, you can run all the phones functions by voice, but I suggest you use a BlueTooth headset. It gets confused easily.
Byron did a really great session on smartphone/tablet apps at Shawnee. I don't remember if you were in that one. Most of what he showed us was available for both iOS and Droid. He promised to publish the list on GMCES under the lifestyles tab, but I haven't seen it yet. Watch for it. He showed us some really neat free/cheap packages. If you get a Droid, get back to me and I will pass you a list of apps I have that I think are valuable.
Secret For Dan....
Don't let Teri find out about the GPS Essentials app (free). It makes the phone into a deadly GeoCasher. Mix that with the free version or GPSUtility I already gave her the link for and there is one serious set. Get to me off net is you want to know more about that.
Well, I have places to go and people to annoy.
Matt
The information contained in this message and any attachment may be proprietary, a partial fabrication, marginally in error or just plain bullshit. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient and/or does not know or care who is, he is free to ignore and delete it just as the intended recipient probably would. If you have received this communication in error, please don’t notify me this won’t even be close the biggest screw up of my day. Thank you.
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
|
|
|
|
| Re: I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165627 is a reply to message #165592] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 09:17 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| WD0AFQ wrote on Fri, 06 April 2012 19:24 |
My phone is giving me problems, so I am looking for something different. We run an air card in a mobile router in the GMC. I do not have internet on our seperate phone package. But, I would like a touch screen phone with wifi. I look on ebay and the wifi touch screen phones run 70 dollars to as much as one wants to pay. I'd like to stick around 100 bux with 3g phone. Any suggestions?
Dan
|
Dan,
About a year and a half ago, I switched to a smart phone (an HTC Incredible Android phone). Not being overly wealthy or into runaway consumerism, I went with the most affordable option Verizon offered at the time. My business partner and I got two phones for $100.00 IIRC. The phone has much more technical capability than I have ability to use. I can do almost anything on it that I can on my netbook, but I use it as a tether wifi hotspot. We had to extend our contract for an additional two years to get the deal. No problem since we have been with them ever since they were Altel and we carried big "brick" phones. The data plan is "unlimited", and there are countless aps available for the "phone". Whatever you get, make sure it has a glass screen. some of them used to have plastic screens and were prone to getting scratched easily.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165657 is a reply to message #165592] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 12:05 |
RadioActiveGMC
Messages: 1020
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hot AZ desert
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
When using a phone on the web its pretty darn tough on the eyes. The iphone is about as good as it gets reading emails and responding on a phone isn't always the easiest of tasks. They have gotten a lot better and you can use a external keyboard. You may want to try a friends out before you make a investment.
***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia-
Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
|
|
|
|
| Re: I Need a New Touch Screen Phone For the GMC [message #165658 is a reply to message #165592] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 12:07 |
RadioActiveGMC
Messages: 1020
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hot AZ desert
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Another thought, you'd almost be better with a inexpensive tablet for emails. I do not like non apple tablets but you can pick one up now a days for under $100. 1saleaday has one for $49 right now.
***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia-
Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
|
|
|
|
| Talkatone [message #165662 is a reply to message #165641] |
Sat, 07 April 2012 12:49 |
bukzin
Messages: 840
Registered: April 2004
Location: North California
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Dan,
You might have a look at the Talkatone app.
Does email, voice, texting etc over both 3g and WiFi
I have it on both my ipad and Android smartphone.
Free
Bukzin
1977 Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Talkatone [message #165717 is a reply to message #165705] |
Sun, 08 April 2012 09:52 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
If any of you use MajicJack at home, try the free app on your phone and make and recieve free calls with your same number--works flawlessly. No ads either.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
Can I do that?