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Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#231

Post by SifJar »

girvo wrote: post #171
techsupporter wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> unlocking the bootloader will void your warranty (just as on Nexus devices) Unlocking the bootloader on Nexus devices doesn't void the warranty on the hardware; it just removes support for the software. I had a Samsung Galaxy Nexus with a failed USB port. When troubleshooting clearly revealed it to be a hardware problem, Samsung replaced my device even though it was running CyanogenMod and very obviously had the un…

I used to sell and repair phones, for a number of years. Honestly it's a case-by-case basis, sometimes you'll be fine and they'll fix it no issues (like your example, I've seen that plenty of times, and I'd expect the Nexus line to have that happen more often)... but sometimes the vendors will just refuse. That's why the unlock screen says "may void your warranty". So, it's not completely cut-and-dried, but you'll ha…

Yes, I should probably have been more clear on that; it's a "may void your warranty" in that if you've done it, they can refuse to honour the warranty, if they deem it appropriate, and there's technically nothing you can do about it.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#232

Post by SifJar »

RyanZAG wrote: post #191
gcb1 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

hope you don't plan to travel. nexus 5 would work on most network. also get ready to be disappointed with the camera. even the motoX gets owned by old nokia phones. the sad thing about google/moto only churning out low end phones, is that we now will have to give in to weird rooting/unlocking if we want basic features, like a simple sd card or removable battery. i dread the day i have to abandon my old nexus and star…

Odin is certainly not stolen code - it's simply the tool Samsung distributes to partners to update firmware on their devices. Also if you have a problem with Odin for whatever reason, you can use the OSS Heimdall - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=755265

It is leaked internal code never meant for public use. Technically more of a grey area than "stolen", but still a bit sketchy in a legal sense, although I personally would have more of an issue with the fact it's not really fully understood by the people using it (or anyone outside of Samsung, I believe).

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#233

Post by Touche »

kenjackson wrote: post #220
Touche wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I used it there were no podcast apps that would update/download in the background. That's an entire category.

The built in Podcast app does that.

The built in app only allows podcasts from their catalog.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#234

Post by Touche »

alykhalid wrote: post #209
Touche wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I used it there were no podcast apps that would update/download in the background. That's an entire category.

I am currently using PODCASTER[1]. It downloads new episodes over wifi when I connect the phone to charge. [1] http://www.windowsphone.com/en-gb/store/app/podcaster/f5a125...

The reviews suggest the feature doesn't always work. I've experienced the same from other clients.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#235

Post by lnanek2 »

As someone in the US, I'm not really willing to buy a phone with no LTE in this day and age, and carriers will loathe to put them in stores. I think even HTC's Facebook phone from last year is a better attempt than this, goes for free on contract, and could probably be obtained as cheaply off ebay. I doubt this is really meant to sell in the US anyway, though.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#236

Post by auctiontheory »

fixedd wrote: post #187
auctiontheory wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you only use your phone at home or when you have Wi-Fi access? (Do you live in South Korea?) Most US cellular data plans don't allow very much streaming audio, let alone video, before you hit a cap. Certainly not a month's worth. Source: I've easily hit my cap when I mistakenly turned off Wi-Fi.

Smart music services (such as Play) will use this radical new technology called caching so that you don't have to stream everything you listen to if you have things you listen to more often.

Cool. Where are they "caching" the content if not on your device? In the ether?

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#237

Post by glesica »

wvenable wrote: post #158
glesica wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I, and quite a few people I know (admittedly perhaps not average consumers) refuse to sign contracts partly because the phones are so expensive to replace, and breaking the phone doesn't get you out of the contract. That means you need insurance, which adds to the cost. I would rather fully own my device, have the flexibility to switch carriers, and be able to downgrade my plan if my phone breaks or my needs change.

The biggest problem with that is most carriers don't give you a discount if you own your own phone. So you can either pay $50 a month and get your handset for $200 or pay $50 and get your handset for $600. Which one makes more financial sense?

Many carriers are starting to give discounts. T-Mobile does already. Also, I can use an MVNO for quite a bit cheaper than a subscription plan, but I need a phone to do that. Most of the MVNOs will sell you a phone, but it will be a either a full-price model, or a terrible piece of crap.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#238

Post by Zigurd »

ForHackernews wrote: post #229
Zigurd wrote: post #95

Moto G is a great balance of price and performance. It is also much more sensible for a Google-owned OEM to pursue a distinctive niche in the market than to compete with Google's partners across their whole product line. BUT that's just one handset. Nobody knows what Motorola will do next. Is Google shining it up to sell? That would be sensible. Motorola is a huge addition to Google's headcount that produces far less…

My understanding is Google bought Motorola primarily for their patent portfolio, so they'd have some weapons to aim at Apple and ward off lawsuits through mutually-assured destruction. Is it possible for them to sell off Motorola's hardware operations while retaining their IP?

Many people assumed this is what would have happened by now. Maybe it's a problem Google is avoiding: What if OEM + patents adds up to nowhere near $12B? Google risks distracting management and annoying partners by dithering.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#239

Post by fidotron »

DCKing wrote: post #226
fidotron wrote: post #225

I think questions need to begin to be asked about Google getting close to giving the hardware away in return for user information. It gets dangerously close to the kind of practices that got MS in trouble, especially the way it ends up poisoning the market for anyone else. The problem is competition is good, and if users want their privacy they probably should be going to pay for it, but I'm profoundly uncomfortable…

"I'm profoundly uncomfortable with essentially condemning those that can't afford it to having to surrender their rights to privacy." You appear to be implying that you can get extra privacy by buying a more expensive phone. However, the Moto G does not actually seem to be any more or any less invading of privacy compared to any other Android phone out there (and arguably not moreso even compared to Windows Phones an…

OK, I admit it's not a perfect viewpoint, but I don't think any is!

The problem here is these things should be private by default, with the option to break from that, since installing things like Cyanogenmod have external dependencies (like PCs) that cost money and people may not have access to. Features such as weather forecast widgets should not break if you choose not to share your location with Google, and right now many will.

Further, I think Google are monopolising areas such as push email to such a degree they should be forced, MS in EU style, to give you a choice of accounts you can use to access things on the device when first started up. For example, there is no technical reason you couldn't use your twitter (or any OAuth) account as your ID, even when accessing Google services like the Play Store, but they are using all this to weasel Google+ in everywhere.

Re: Google’s $179 Moto G puts every single cheap Android phone to shame

#240

Post by tesmar2 »

bluedino wrote: post #130
Negitivefrags wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand why people in America are so keen to pay for expensive monthly plans. I pay $5-$10 dollars per month on average for my cellphone on prepay. It doesn't make sense all to buy a phone on plan.

There are no $5-10 per month phone plans in the USA aside from things like Tracfone with 50 minutes per month.

Airvoice has 10/month for 250 minutes
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