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LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

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Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#241
The mobile phone ecosystem is sick, and I don't see it getting better.

The fact that there is not a third choice is maddening. Even in the worst parts of the Microsoft era we had Apple as the underdog. Apple products had issues, but Apple die-hards at least could rest easy knowing that they were buying into a company who stood for something.

In the mobile space the underdog is Google; a company who sees dealing with people as an unfortunately necessity on the way to get to gobbling up more data.

I can't but feel that Android has sucked the oxygen of the space. I can't go out and buy a Tizen or Windows phone in large part because of Google's pathological Android licensing. Google force carriers to choose between their, supposedly open, ecosystem and shipping alternative OSes.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#242
post #15

What happened to the Android phone ecosystem? Android phones used to offer unique and useful features like removable batteries, headphone jacks, IR blasters, SD cards, etc. Now it seems that Samsung and Google are obsessed with copying whatever Apple does, even their controversial decisions like removing the headphone jack, even after making fun of Apple for doing it. No thanks, why would I buy a shittier iPhone with…

They're obsessed with making money. No 3.5mm means you're more likely to buy bluetooth earbuds. No SD? Cloud services. Battery? You'll get a new phone after 18-24 months. No charger? Wireless charging pad. Apple can "get away" with it because to a lot of people it's a luxury/lifestyle brand. Android vendors copy them because they want to create new revenue streams by removing features/out of nothing too!

But I will get a new phone after 24 months. It is going to wear out because I am constantly using it.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#243
post #66

I never understood why Samsung phones were constantly receiving praise by tech reviewers while LG got crapped on. Samsung always wanted to do things their way -- different (shitty) UI, Samsung versions of all the core Google apps (but worse), reorganizing preferences for no reason, the stupid bottom button placement, non-remappable Bixby button, aggressively killing apps for power management and breaking widgets, etc…

Sony phones too seem to be quite underappreciated. The Xperia X line came with amazing built-in noise-cancellation, which only required a special purpose made $20 NC31E earphone with a 5-pole connector. The performance of this combo to my surprise was amazing! It matched WH-1000XM4 and Bose QC20 in home-office environments. Not having to carry around yet another earphone that needs charging was radical. Sadly, the wh…

Often it is not just about the products.

Sony as a company has shown so many times what their perspective on customers is (installing root kits on customer devices, the whole PS3 + Linux debacle, etc.), that I try to avoid Sony products as much as I can.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Samsung absolutely decimated the other manufacturers in marketing - including Google. I remember seeing GQ articles that were interviews with celebrities that was kind of a "30 questions" thing where each celebrity was asked the same set of questions. One of them was: "iPhone or Samsung?" It didn't matter that the answer to every single one (in that issue) was iPhone. It didn't surprise me that celebrities would be 1…

When 6-year-olds use Samsung as a synonym for Android, you know that Samsung's marketing is crushing it. Which is a shame considering how poor their overall software quality is.

FWIW I've had good experiences with recent Samsung devices. The OS is fast and stable and adds some useful things to stock Android. Their bundled apps aren't terrible either. I use their mail & notes apps. At this point I'd rather have a flagship Galaxy phone than a Pixel since Android doesn't bring that much in terms of new features with major releases these days.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Apps aren't gold standard. I own a Samsung phone I have replaced launcher (MS launcher) /SMS (SMS organizer). Contacts and Phone app maybe Samsung's but they never troubled me. Only Settings search is unexplicably slow which annoys sometimes. In terms of hardware/updates Samsung is good enough. Only Chinese phones may give better value for money but they come with too many software quirks, which I don't like.

OnePlus has decent value and while being Chinese it doesn't have a lot of quirks and is geared towards western markets. Motorola also has some decent phones in the budget category. Pixel a series are also great value. I got a Samsung last generation and gave Samsung ecosystem a go (smart watch, buds, TV). They do great hardware but they should just leave software alone - tizen os is a major PITA on TV and Watch (lack…

RealMe phones also seem decently build and value for money.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#246

What happened to the Android phone ecosystem? Android phones used to offer unique and useful features like removable batteries, headphone jacks, IR blasters, SD cards, etc. Now it seems that Samsung and Google are obsessed with copying whatever Apple does, even their controversial decisions like removing the headphone jack, even after making fun of Apple for doing it. No thanks, why would I buy a shittier iPhone with…

I recommend Motorola phones. They have headphone jacks and (almost) stock Android

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if it did that is an extremely deliberate press, it’s not a button you randomly push.

Well Samsung has the exact same setup. So why blame them when you give a pass to apple?

Samsung does not have the same setup. They added a separate button mapped exclusively to this feature. The iphone has an alternate mapping most aren't even aware of for a multifunctional button

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#248
post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the hardware omissions are blatant copy from Apple as the way to have more markup and revenue from accessories, software services but I like to differ on the OS front. Android's power user ecosystem couldn't be matched in iOS. Even without root, Tasker can automate every single aspect of the OS - Want to send and receive WhatsApp messages over email?[1], Want better accessibility e.g. Voice summary of ne…

> Even without root, Tasker can automate every single aspect of the OS - Want to send and receive WhatsApp messages over email?[1], Want better accessibility e.g. Voice summary of news?[2], Want a butt triggered pomodoro timer?[3]. Termux runs a Linux container and it can run complete Linux distribution inside it with PRoot[4]. Best of all, Tasker & Termux can communicate with each other for endless possibilities. Do…

You got downvoted but you speak the truth.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if it did that is an extremely deliberate press, it’s not a button you randomly push.

Well Samsung has the exact same setup. So why blame them when you give a pass to apple?

Samsung users makes it sound like they are activating Bixby constantly, while Siri can’t be activate when not enabled. So is Samsung allowing users to disable Bixby? It sounds like they’re not.

Re: LG is getting out of the mobile phone business

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that the hardware omissions are blatant copy from Apple as the way to have more markup and revenue from accessories, software services but I like to differ on the OS front. Android's power user ecosystem couldn't be matched in iOS. Even without root, Tasker can automate every single aspect of the OS - Want to send and receive WhatsApp messages over email?[1], Want better accessibility e.g. Voice summary of ne…

The amount of work & installs you have to do for all that is laughable though.. assuming you can get a jailbroken iPhone.. the terminal app is easy to install.. small install & full on posix compliant terminal is right there w/ a more normal pkg manager to boot. I dunno shortcuts & a jailbroken iPhone is equally powerful & there’s far less tinkering involved imo. But I’m sure you’ve not used an iPhone enough to reali…

Having to jailbreak an iPhone is what makes the iPhone more work -- Termux is a single install and works on stock Android, and comes with a package manager
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