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These are the most recent forum messages posted by cellphonesaretools:

Re: Available to First Responders
Jun 13, 2018, 9:21 AM
in the Article: AT&T-Run FirstNet More Generally Available to First Responders forum

Remember in the first few days after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, regular telephone and regular cellular service was out, but Nextel's push-to-talk (PTT) was still functioning? I recall Nextel loaned something like 5,000 of their PTT phones to officials, first-responders, many even went to Verizon and AT&T repair technicians so they could communicate with each other while repairing their damaged systems. After a few days they began to restore regular telephone & cellular service, but for ...

possible caveat
May 26, 2018, 4:12 PM
in the Article: Best Certified Phones for Verizon Wireless forum

Not sure if the reason given is true or not, but a relative recently brought a new unlocked smartphone to Verizon, switched their account from post-pay to prepaid, and although the activation went fine, Verizon store personnel could not transfer the contacts from the old flip-phone to the new, unlocked smartphone. So we went home and entered most of the contacts by hand. A few months later, my relative went online to their Verizon account, no contacts showed at all, ...

How about a review of the Harmon-Kardon Invoke?
Apr 13, 2018, 7:57 PM
in the Article: Review: Harman Kardon Allure Alexa-Powered Speaker forum

So it seems that the H-K Allure is basically "meh". The H-K Invoke reportedly has the best sound-quality of the existing crop of smart speakers. Have you experienced the Invoke Eric? Can you (and will you) review the Invoke? Cortana is a ways behind in terms of connectivity to IoT and smart-home devices, but in terms of being a personal assistant, she's still tops. A comparative review would be nice, if you can get one for review. Thanks.

18:9?
Nov 20, 2017, 9:34 AM
in the Article: Honor 7X Boasts Twin Cameras, 18:9 Display forum

What's with "18:9"? It should be stated as "2:1". Every kid learns that in elementary school when beginning to learn about fractions. Are we as a nation really that poorly educated now, we can't even state basic fractions correctly?

More and more like each other...
May 13, 2017, 10:53 AM
in the Article: Google Says 'Project Treble' To End Device Update Woes forum

It's interesting how Google is racing to add basic features and capabilities and better integration at the "one core" level like Windows 10 and Windows Phone/Windows 10 Mobile have had for awhile, and at the same time, Microsoft is adding features and capabilities to be more like Google (Windows 10 S vs Chromebook). Not quite sure what Apple is up to, but the competition between Microsoft and Google is a good thing for us consumers.

Re: Sprint PTT has always been a joke
May 8, 2017, 11:44 AM
in the Article: Sprint Likely Switch from Qualcomm to Kodiak for PTT Services forum

RE: "Any CDMA provider with roaming agreements, like Sprint, is going to provide superior coverage when compared to GSM. Regardless of how "good" a GSM network might be, rural coverage is still a huge gap." >>>That was not our experience at all. Sprint always had lousy coverage in the areas we used it (chiefly, CA, CT & NY), whereas both Verizon (spouse) and AT&T (me) have not had any issues with coverage since we switched away from Sprint. I don't know ...

Sprint PTT has always been a joke
May 5, 2017, 4:28 PM
in the Article: Sprint Likely Switch from Qualcomm to Kodiak for PTT Services forum

Originally Nextel customers, our family switched to Sprint's Qualcomm-based PTT in 2013, just a couple of months before Sprint shut down the iDEN PTT network. Sprint's PTT was absolutely horrible, largely because Sprint's 3G and 4G networks themselves were so horrible (terrible coverage, and too slow in the few places where there was Sprint 3G/4G signal). As soon as our contracts were up, we left Sprint and for the most part just started texting instead of using PTT. I wonder ...

Re: They should have bought ESChat
May 2, 2017, 3:43 PM
in the Article: Motorola Solutions Acquires PTT Provider Kodiak Networks forum

All good points. We used ESChat for a full year, it performed much better for us than the local school district got out of it's AT&T Kodiak implementation, which they hated (they had been former Nextel PTT users, so were very disappointed and disgruntled with AT&T's Kodiak-based PTT). I believe ESChat is a better technical solution than Kodiak in terms of PTT performance, but as you correctly point out, that is only one facet of the larger picture.

They should have bought ESChat
May 1, 2017, 2:20 PM
in the Article: Motorola Solutions Acquires PTT Provider Kodiak Networks forum

Too bad Motorola Solutions didn't buy ESChat (www.eschat.com). ESChat's 3G/4G PTT is phenominal.

Re: Why AT&T to a lesser degree?
Mar 25, 2017, 9:19 AM
in the Article: FCC Relaxes Rules Governing 800 MHz Spectrum forum

Good question. I'm surprised the article didn't mention Sprint, given that it inherited all of the Nextel 800/850 MHz that formerly was used for both Nextel's PTT (push-to-talk) and cellular voice services. I can recall 12-15 years ago when Verizon was so pissy about Nextel having as much 800/850 MHz spectrum as Nextel did. Props to them for their great network, but VZ has always been two-faced and a back-biter - never get into a pissing contest with VZ, ...

Seems rather Cortana-like
Mar 20, 2017, 10:49 AM
in the Article: Samsung Galaxy S8 to Include 'Bixby' Voice-Based User Interface forum

The description in this article makes "Bixby" sound a lot like "Cortana", in that there is not a fixed, predefined set of verbal commands. Rather, "Cortana" is designed for interpreting user commands on the fly and responding as "she" (the cloud-based Artificial Intelligence servers) interprets, while "learning" adjusting in real time. I use Cortana daily for handling text messaging hands-free while driving, plus a few random searches or navigation requests daily, and for those things Cortana works superbly. But one ...

Re: RT Redux?
Dec 8, 2016, 11:35 AM
in the Article: Microsoft and Qualcomm to Bring Windows 10 to ARM-Based Snapdragon Processors forum

I don't think so. From what I've read (for example, at WIndowsCentral.com), Windows 10 on ARM will have a full-on emulator capable of running any legacy x86 programs (within the RAM and processor limits of a given device). Windows RT just flat couldn't run legacy Windows x86 programs locally, it had watered-down apps to mimic the real-deal Windows programs. So far they tech journalists are making it sound like W10-on-ARM will be fully capable of running the legacy apps.

Re: Cortana+headset=safe, hands-free driving
Nov 26, 2016, 11:32 PM
in the Article: DOT Wants to Block Most Phone Apps In Moving Cars forum

How about we keep it entirely out of the government's hands, and take it straight to a "supply and demand" or "market-based" approach, so to speak? If a person wants to use their smartphone in their vehicle: 1) They agree to take a special driving course (both classroom instruction and in-vehicle training , similar to the training that law enforcement goes through at the academy). If completed successfully, they get a stamp on their driver's license showing they are qualified ...

Re: Cortana+headset=safe, hands-free driving
Nov 26, 2016, 11:03 PM
in the Article: DOT Wants to Block Most Phone Apps In Moving Cars forum

My car has Bluetooth, but the audio quality is so poor going both ways, it's effectively unusable. I know a lot of people who use their car's BT, but 90% of them are really terrible - an impediment to communication, not an aid. I know there are a few models that have good audio and good, noise-cancelling microphones built in, but only a very few models, and they're way out of my price range. Plus, the VXI Xpressway 2 headset ...

Cortana+headset=safe, hands-free driving
Nov 25, 2016, 10:42 AM
in the Article: DOT Wants to Block Most Phone Apps In Moving Cars forum

It's all well and good to try to make unsafe drivers safer, but it's too bad that it takes Congress meddling in our daily lives to do it. Cortana running on a Windows 10 Mobile phone, paired to a high-quality, noise-cancelling headset, already makes my driving completely hands-free and fully eyes-on-the-road. There are many good Bluetooth headsets, but my preference is the VXI Xpressway 2 because of its very good noise-cancelling ability (when the foam sock is placed on the ...

piezoelectric speakers
Oct 26, 2016, 9:35 AM
in the Article: Hands-On with Xiaomi MIX forum

re: "The idea isn't too dissimilar to bone conduction, which we've seen on phones from the likes of Kyocera. Bone conduction doesn't emit actual sound waves in the air, however, and Xiaomi's piezo actuator does. Totally neat." >>>Your choice of words is confusing. I used a Kyocera Torque phone with Kyocera's "Smart Sonic" speaker for a few years, it worked great. Besides giving great sound when held to the ear (even when wearing hearing protection earmuffs around noisy equipment), the Kyocera ...

Grandstanding
Aug 15, 2016, 7:19 AM
in the Article: Sprint's 3-Channel LTE Reaches 295Mbps forum

All I can say is, since I dropped Sprint for AT&T six months ago, and spouse dropped Sprint for Verizon a year ago, we've never been happier with our cellular services. For us, Sprint was just plain lousy (southern California area), and it is a huge relief to be away from Sprint. As one poster pointed out, Sprint's main problem is its inferior coverage, and I will add, followed closely by it's long and well-known history of over-promising ...

Google finally catching up to Here Maps
Aug 10, 2016, 8:07 AM
in the Article: Google Maps Gains New Offline/Roaming Powers forum

Funny, that Google is just barely catching up to some of the basic functionality that Here Maps has had for years. And of course the Google/Android Minions will assume that Google invented it ;-)

Re: wow they might actually sell 100 of these!
Jul 20, 2016, 8:17 AM
in the Article: Acer Jade Liquid Primo Hits Microsoft Store forum

I have found Windows 10 Mobile to be far more productive, and more pleasant to use, than either Android or iOS. Everyone has their own likes & dislikes, but for me Windows 10 Mobile has a much richer user-interface, the total package is better integrated (Outlook, Office, OneNote, OneDrive, file transfer, etc.), and it's just easier to use than either Android or iOS. Not to mention the way Cortana handles incoming texts & voice-to-text replies over BT ...

All Apps list: Jump-to capability
Jun 4, 2016, 11:50 AM
in the Article: Review: Microsoft Lumia 650 for Cricket Wireless forum

I believe the author's complaint about the "endless apps list" is misleading. Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile have a "jump to" capability that allows one to tap on the the letter at top of list which brings up a matrix of all of the letters in the alphabet, and you tap on the letter of the first name of the app and it jumps to all apps with name beginning with that letter. It doesn't matter where you ...

Android getting closer...
May 25, 2016, 9:57 PM
in the Article: Google's Speech-to-Text App Gains New Powers forum

...to matching the text-to-speech and speech-to-text that Cortana has had for a couple of years. The way Cortana handles incoming texts and allowing voice dictation of replies to texts while connected to Bluetooth (either a BT headset or a vehicle's built-in BT) is superb. Hands-free, safe, efficient, productive. It'll be nice for all those Android users when Google Now finally matches Cortana's capabilities there.

Re: In other words
May 25, 2016, 9:49 PM
in the Article: Microsoft to Cut 1,850 Smartphone Workers forum

Microsoft definitely dropped the ball, big time. That said, because now "Windows Phone" is "Windows 10 Mobile", and Windows 10 Mobile IS Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile will be supported and further developed for years to come. W10M is completely viable and completely competitive with iOS and Android, AT THE OS LEVEL. If one needs or wants specific apps that are not available on the W10M platform, then of course W10M is a non-starter for them. But ...

Re: Gboard wins over Word Flow
May 13, 2016, 10:12 PM
in the Article: Review: GBoard and Word Flow Keyboards for iPhone forum

It turns out you CAN make Word Flow recognize swear words, at least for the Windows Phone version of it, although it takes a concerted effort: http://www.windowscentral.com/how- swear-using-word-flow-keyboard-windows-phone- 81 It will be interesting to see if anyone can do it on the iOS version of Word Flow. I'm betting parents would prefer the Word Flow approach, at least on their kids' phones ;-)

Word Flow on Windows: Can swipe to numeric keyboard for single characters
May 13, 2016, 9:34 PM
in the Article: Review: GBoard and Word Flow Keyboards for iPhone forum

For 2+ years I used the Swype keyboard on Android, it was great. Besides the ease and efficiency (for me) of swiping vs typing, Swype's/Android's automatic "personal dictionary" worked extremely well. For the past year, I've used Microsoft's Word Flow on a Windows Phone, now on a Windows 10 Mobile phone. Overall, I like the Word Flow keyboard even better than the Swype keyboard, although I do miss the "personal dictionary" from Swype. That said, Microsoft bought Swype, so it ...

Cortana and hands-free
Mar 8, 2016, 11:17 AM
in the Article: Review: Alcatel Fierce XL with Windows for T-Mobile forum

Nice review, seems straightforward and balanced. One thing Windows Phone and Windows 10 Mobile reviewers always seem to miss is the phenomenal capability of Cortana combined with either a Bluetooth headset or earbuds for safe, efficient hands-free use, either while driving, or working around the house: 1) Listen to and REPLY TO texts without touching the phone, using strictly voice. 2) Dictate emails through the headset. 3) ...

Re: Just a disappointment
Jan 9, 2016, 12:07 PM
in the Microsoft Lumia 950 forum

I love the 950 handset itself, it doesn't feel cheap to me at all...no "flexing", no squeaks, just very solid. I prefer the lighter phone, so I'm happy Microsoft chose all polycarbonate construction...that's a PLUS in my book. I'm with you on the comments that Windows 10 Mobile is still just too slow and buggy for general release. My Lumia 950 came with build 10586.0, it recently auto-updated to 10586.29, and frankly I've noticed no improvements at all with the ...

Re: Caller ID
Jan 9, 2016, 11:57 AM
in the Microsoft Lumia 950 forum

I loaded the "Truecaller" app by "True Software Scandanavia AB" on my Lumia 950 a few days ago, it seems to work fairly well so far.

Not just for Windows die-hards
Dec 17, 2015, 10:00 AM
in the Article: Review: Microsoft Lumia 950 forum

I have a Lumia 950 dual-SIM, purchased unlocked at the local Microsoft store. I love it. Love the display resolution, love the Windows 10 user-interface, love the integrated Microsoft productivity apps, love the preloaded maps/navigation, love the fact that it's a dual-SIM phone with twice the memory of our iPhone 6, yet cost us $100 less than the iPhone 6 did, love the camera. I disagree that it is only suitable for Windows fans, I think it is entirely suitable ...

Great Review!
Dec 11, 2015, 7:47 PM
in the Article: Review: Microsoft Windows 10 Mobile forum

Thank you for the very in-depth review of Windows 10 Mobile ("W10M"). Typical thoroughness and fairness that are Phonescoop hallmarks. I've added my comments below, but first I have to ask again when you think we might see a hardware review of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL...I'm keen to see how they stack up as phones, in addition to all of the good stuff in W10M. How is their signal-holding ability? How do the incoming calls sound to you ...

Phonescoop review of Lumia 950 & 950 XL?
Dec 5, 2015, 11:32 AM
in the Article: Microsoft Pushes New Windows 10 Preview forum

Speaking of Windows 10 Mobile and the recently-introduced 950 & XL, it seems to me rather conspicuous by its absence is Phonescoop's usual in-depth review of either or both of those devices. Most other websites published their reports days ago. AM I missing something here?

HERE Maps
Dec 4, 2015, 9:21 AM
in the Article: Nokia Closes Sale of HERE Business to Car Companies forum

I love HERE Maps, on both Windows Phone 8.1 and Android, and I especially like HERE Drive+ on my Windows Phone, they work extremely well. In fact I have found that I much prefer the HERE products over Google Maps. So I hope the new owners don't mess up HERE with a new management style - leave HERE alone to operate as it has been, because it's great as it is.

Re: Unique Direct Connect Number no Longer Available?
Dec 1, 2015, 10:36 AM
in the Sprint forum

As I've posted before, you might want to give ESChat a look (www.eschat.com). Their service costs $5/line/mo, but it truly is a high-end, professional PTT system with more features than Sprint Direct Connect (incl sending secure images & text, also ESChat has a genuine PC-based dispatch console for the front office). It's also fully encrypted (256-bit encryption, I believe). It's carrier-agnostic (only needs a data connection) and it is perfectly happy running over WiFi as well. Overall, for ...

When full review of Lumia 950?
Dec 1, 2015, 10:21 AM
in the Microsoft Lumia 950 forum

I'm just wondering when Phonescoop will have a full review of the new Lumia 950 (preferably unlocked, preferably the dual-active-SIM model)? Phonescoop is the only website that gives legitimate information on how each device performs as a PHONE, in addition to all of the other specs & performance measurements of interest. I believe I would like to buy the unlocked, dual-SIM 950 from Microsoft, but without seeing Phonescoop's review of it first, I'm not buying anything. Thanks, I look forward to hearing ...

Re: Phones like this have always seemed so pointless to me
Oct 20, 2015, 7:31 AM
in the Article: Review: CAT S40 forum

Because add-on cases don't do a thing for things like the far, far louder speaker output of these ruggedized phones, background-noise-cancelling microphones, ability to use the touchscreen while in the pouring rain, or wearing gloves, etc. Is your car properly protected when operating out in the elements, or do you drive it around with a car cover on it? Oh, you DON'T drive it with a cover on it? Well, then, it must have been designed from the ground up ...

Because Verizon is Anti-Windows
Oct 18, 2015, 2:30 PM
in the Article: LG Lancet Drops Windows Phone for Android forum

No surprise that VZ is promoting the Lancet with Android rather than Windows, because it is obvious that VZ is anti-Windows (or perhaps anti-Microsoft). Just two days ago (Oct. 16, 2015) I was in the local corporate-owned Verizon store, and the paltry display for Windows-based phones is a two-phone counter at the back of the store, no banners or anything, so I had to search them out. When I asked the sales person if they had, or would soon have, ...

Re: bad move
Oct 7, 2015, 1:32 PM
in the Article: Lumia 950 Coming To AT&T forum

I agree with the original poster. IMO, even if Microsoft gets other carriers to pick it up, the damage is already done. People with VZW/Sprint/T-Mo that are interested in looking at Windows 10 Mobile and Microsoft's hardware will have lost interest by the time Microsoft recovers from this apparent blunder. All of yesterdays oohs & aahs will have lost their momentum. Also, not having any other mainstream phone manufacturers with Windows 10 Mobile announcements yesterday shows how naive Microsoft is, ...

Lacking CDMA support, dual-SIM
Oct 7, 2015, 8:26 AM
in the Article: Hands on with the Lumia 950 and XL forum

Seems like a good effort on Microsoft's part, but IMO it is a FAIL that they omitted CDMA support and dual-active-SIMs. If Microsoft truly wanted to become the de-facto phone for businesses and "knock it out of the park", they just blew it. (1) They should have exactly mimicked the RF capability of the iPhone6 and made the 950 a truly world phone. (2) They should have made dual-active SIMs standard on these "flagship" phones. That would have been a great ...

CDMA GSM
Sep 4, 2015, 6:37 PM
in the Article: CAT S50 Coming Soon For Verizon forum

Thanks for the follow-up that the Cat S40 will soon be available on Verizon. Do you know if it will have GSM as well as CDMA radios? Will it be a decent "world phone" with the proper SIM installed? Thanks.

Re: Apple All But Gives Up on Smartphones
Jul 25, 2015, 8:16 AM
in the Article: BlackBerry All But Gives Up On Smartphones forum

I haven't carried a Blackberry for ten years now, but I always appreciated Blackberry's (a) superb battery life, (b) reliability, (c) overall efficiency. I know that was then and this is now, but still, credit where it is due. I respect Apple's products, but I'm just not an Apple person. I tolerate Android because once a person dismisses Apple, Android is pretty much the only viable option. I actually PREFER the Windows 10 Mobile interface over either iOS or Android ...

Re: Unique Direct Connect Number no Longer Available?
Jul 11, 2015, 8:19 AM
in the Sprint forum

Up until the time we abandoned Sprint Direct Connect a few months ago, we were still operating SDC using our original Nextel DC numbers (111*22222*3), so obviously the SDC system can still use them. My impression is that Sprint wanted to eventually weed out the iDEN-style DC numbers in favor of the regular telephone numbers, because if during phone upgrades one forgot to tell the sales/support person to check the box to keep one's old Nextel DC number, the system ...

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