"New phone, dammit" written by Heidi on estrip.org

Category: tech

01/21/13 12:08 - ID#57157

New phone, dammit

I need a new phone now. I can't take it anymore. My Droid X (July 2010) is starting to lose its functionality - GPS conks out, I can barely hear, gchats get lost - and is so slow that by the time the mapping kicks in, I should be halfway to my destination but am going in the wrong direction.

I'm stuck on Verizon because it's what works at home ((e:Terry), (e:yesthatcasey) & (e:puddlediving) can attest to days of occasional texts but no data on their AT&T phones). I get a $30 credit on any phone I choose which is factored into the prices below.

Options:

Samsung Galaxy S III ($169)
Droid Razr Maxx HD ($269) (more than I can afford but looks like a sweet phone)
Droid DNA by HTC ($169)
Droid Razr HD ($169)

I want speed and excellent battery life. I'm glad they all come with front facing cameras now, but the mpx on the front facing ones is so low it's almost not worth it.

Opinions?? ((e:paul) in particular)

heidi writes at 04:10:49 01/27/13 - Comment #69146: (e:blue)... Terry's very conservative in this area.
We ordered the noteII off amazon for $199 (possibly will still have a "$30 upgrade fee". It was $299 at the kiosk at the mall (renewal discount + upgrade fee = wash and I'd pay $299). I'll be losing my unlimited data plan unless i buy one at full price :-(. I don't need unlimited texting and calling b/c i pretty much do neither (love my gchat). Unfortunately the estimated delivery date for the phone is March 13. We'll see if Verizon drops its price to be competitive to At&t and verizon. This is just so ridiculous.

puddlediving writes at 10:13:29 01/26/13 - Comment #69144: :::link:::

bluevelvetjack writes at 04:27:23 01/25/13 - Comment #69142: Of course it's a legit business expense. What is wrong with you people?

heidi writes at 03:47:43 01/25/13 - Comment #69141: (e:paul) convinced (e:terry) that this is a legit biz expense so I'm gonna have a Note2 inna few!

puddlediving writes at 02:58:43 01/25/13 - Comment #69140: I love having swappable batteries. Somehow, when I am out drinking is when my battery really wants to konk out on me. Swap in a fresh one, and I'm ready to resume texting. One of my delays is because I know financially I don't want to buy *just* a phone. Once I make an investment, I'm also going to buy a case and one or two more batteries. I'm going to wait until spring. When the new phones come out, I'll either grab one of those or hope the price of the Samsungs come down.

heidi writes at 02:00:08 01/23/13 - Comment #69136

whine# I want an awesome new shiny phone, not one that's practically a year old.

Definitely removable battery.

(e:blue) - no.

uncutsaniflush writes at 08:59:04 01/22/13 - Comment #69134: I got an att&t galaxy s3 (I assume that it is not very different from the verizon version) this summer. As (e:paul) says it has great battery life. It is my first smartphone so I can't compare to other phones. I like it.

bluevelvetjack writes at 02:10:03 01/21/13 - Comment #69130: Incidentally, have you wiped and reloaded your phone down to factory specs lately?

paul writes at 01:33:37 01/21/13 - Comment #69129: The front facing cameras are fine even though low mpx. You almost always use them for closeup face shots for avatars, etc and for videochat which is usually low res over mobile network anyways. Unfortunately, this is a bad time to buy phones because everything came out in the fall and new stuff wont be out till spring.

I personally love the samsung phones but the Razr Max supposedly has an awesome battery life. However, you cant swap batteries which is a total deal breaker for me. My battery lasts two days but I love having extras on trips, camping, etc. Over time batteries suck, bring able to buy $15 replacement ones is awesome.

Samsung Galaxy SIII - good battery life, replaceable battery, like the camera, but only dual core - still pretty awesome phone
Razr Maxx - great battery life and size but dual core processor and non removeable battery
Droid DNA - Quad core but battery life sucks and battery is non removeable, 1080p - but why is that important on a phone - I dont like HTC devices very much.
Droid Razr HD - non removeable battery, dual core chug at times (according to reviews) - poor camera - definite NO

And for the best phone with the longest term viability - I would go galaxy note II. You would quickly get used to the size. plus you can take notes, quad core, removeable battery with long life.

I would be concerned that if you go two years between refreshes dual core is going to get old. Most of the dual core phones are already a year old.

libertad writes at 12:45:41 01/21/13 - Comment #69127: Paul has recommended to me the Galaxy SIII or the Note which is larger and has stylus pen. He says one of the benefits is that they both have interchangable batteries which are not expensive so he carries 3. I have seen on Consumer Reports that they like the Galaxy.

Permalink: New_phone_dammit.html
Words: 171
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/21/13 12:08

Category: work

01/19/13 12:44 - ID#57149

Antique landscapers stamps

As a landscape designer would prepare plans, they would add the trees and shrubs with this kind of stamp. So cool!

Permalink: Antique_landscapers_stamps.html
Words: 24
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/19/13 12:44

Category: pets

01/19/13 12:00 - ID#57148

Nisha on lap

A shot from last sunday for the nisha-on-laps photo series. At A's house, his best friend bubba's woman heather and their son chase.

Permalink: Nisha_on_lap.html
Words: 24
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/19/13 12:00

Category: friends

01/17/13 03:43 - ID#57142

Cute hat

(e:terry) showed off his xmas present from (e:paul)'s mom last night.

Permalink: Cute_hat.html
Words: 15
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/17/13 03:43

Category: tourism

01/16/13 08:51 - ID#57140

Pierce-Arrow showroom, aka First Niagara

I had some banking to do today and decided to stop at the Main-Jewett branch of First Niagara. I hadn't been in the building before. It is beautiful! Classic bank architecture plus the gorgeous car. Bonus shot of windows in ani's church.

Permalink: Pierce_Arrow_showroom_aka_First_Niagara.html
Words: 49
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/16/13 08:51

Category: buffalo

01/13/13 10:21 - ID#57138

Impractical Cartography

A friend of mine wrote:

There's a project called Impractical Cartography that is currently collecting submissions from writers about your experiences at locations here in Buffalo, whether they are "non-fiction prose, humor or poetry."

"So we're building a rather impractical map of Buffalo...

Our map will be based around your short pieces about your experiences in the city. After all, even the smallest city ceases to exist without its people and their stories - good and bad. So let's make something that goes beyond a simple marker of various locations and incorporate ourselves into those spaces.

We are looking for a variety of pieces, whether they are non-fiction prose, humor or poetry. Maybe it's an experience or conversation that shaped the way you think about this city--a conversation with friends and neighbors, a particularly depressing football game, the bathroom of a now closed dive bar. The only requirement is that your work involves a specific place in Buffalo and that it is a maximum of 2 pages.

Let's define our neighborhoods with our own stories."

They would like to include these stories not only on their website but also in the 2013 Small Press Book Fair, so they need any submissions by January 31.

impracticalcartography@gmail.com

Permalink: Impractical_Cartography.html
Words: 212
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/13/13 10:21

Category: weather

01/13/13 05:31 - ID#57137

Fog

Fog is so neat. Bonus shot: happy Nisha :-)

Permalink: Fog.html
Words: 12
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/13/13 05:31

Category: holiday

01/02/13 12:14 - ID#57111

Paul & the ball

This is (e:metalpeter)'s photo cropped a bit - it's definitely my favorite of his set. (e:Paul) looks like he should be engaging in some kind of Men in Black activity, like a space-agey spy.

Permalink: Paul_the_ball.html
Words: 41
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/02/13 12:15

Category: holiday

01/01/13 11:02 - ID#57110

Happy New Year!

I love the new ball!

Permalink: Happy_New_Year_.html
Words: 10
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/01/13 11:02

Category: weather

12/28/12 09:43 - ID#57066

First snow

Y'all remember Dianne from the Halloween party, right? She's from Houston and despite spending a good chunk of last winter in Chicago, she didn't actually get to experience a real snow. Can you imagine? Snow is just such a part of my life that I never realized all the little details that come with it. Like... how do you explain the messes at intersections that snowplows make to someone who has never seen a snowplow in action? Or which kind of snow is right for snowballs? Or kicking the doorstep as you enter to knock the snow off your boots? Or silicone spray for waterproofing? Why hiking boots aren't real good in the snow?

She got a full snow experience Wednesday and Thursday...
I rolled into town just before the snow hit. Dianne was coming from work out on Transit right when it started snowing and was still talking on the phone! Handsfree but the data indicates that is just not a substantial improvement over using the handset:

Drivers engaged in cell phone conversations look out the windshield but fail to see up to 50 percent of the driving environment, missing important driving clues critical to safety, such as red lights, stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles.

Why donâ€™t hands-free devices offer any safety benefit while driving?
Hands-free devices do not eliminate cognitive distraction. Hands-free devices are often seen as a solution to the risks of driver distraction because they help eliminate two obvious risksâ€”visual and manual. Most people can recognize when they are visually or mechanically distracted and seek to disengage from these activities as quickly as possible. However, people typically do not realize when they are cognitively distracted; therefore, the risk lasts much, much longer.

We went for a walk in the snow, had dinner at Cantina Loco, made snow angels, discussed the right kind of snow for good snowballs, and checked out Days Park. These are her pix (obvs, i took the ones of her making snow angels).

Snow with flash

Thursday was mostly a snow day. We both worked a little bit, walked to Cafe Taza then to the office. By the time we headed back to my house, Nisha was all tuckered out. Worked some more, then I took a nap. As I woke up, I realized she was out clearing our vehicles for Thursday street side shift. So I went out and helped her and we moved both in time for the 6pm shift. She needed stuff from Walgreens and I wanted more beer, so she got to try driving in it. Again, all the random stuff that you grew up knowing about snow... can you articulate it in a way that's comprehensible?

Brena & Nisha @ Taza